Tag Archives: Novella

The Professor (Fox University – FU # 1)

By Luke Prescott

Synopsis

I’m Professor Drake Grayson. I’ve been teaching Psychology for the last few years at Fox University. It’s a great university, filled with a wide variety of students. Some eager to learn, some eager to get in my pants.

I’ve never crossed that line. I’ve never taken advantage of the power I have. I’ve never wanted to bend a student over my desk like I have with Emma Bower. She makes me want to forget I’m her professor and teach her things that she’ll remember forever. But is the risk worth it?

I’m Emma Bower. I’m in my last year of Fox University as a Psychology major. I can’t wait to get out into the real world and pick people apart. It’s been an amazing four years filled with memories that I’ll never forget.

Especially the penetrating stare of Professor Grayson. That man has been in every fantasy I’ve had since the day I walked in his class. I know he’s untouchable, forbidden, he’s my professor, my mentor. But what if his touches lasted longer and his eyes darkened with a wicked grin? What if the professor everyone wants, wanted me? Would the risk be worth it?

There’s only one way to find out.

Review

THE PROFESSOR is the first book that I’ve from Luke Prescott and it won’t be the last.

I really liked Drake. A professor sleeping with his student is scandalous, but you know that he has never done this before and that he fights his attraction to Emma pretty hard. He doesn’t treat her like he has power over her and he was not afraid of his growing feelings for her. I really liked Emma too, who was smart and very mature and not at all annoying like some college-aged characters can be. Though I did roll my eyes when she described being torn in half every time she and Drake had sex.

Speaking of sex, it was good. Some of the hottest I’ve read in a loooong time. Emma and Drake were damn hot together. DAMN HOT!

I really enjoyed this story, but there’s one big reason why I only gave this 4❤ instead of 5❤, and that reason is the ending. The epilogue is sweet but at the same time disappointing because the story felt unfinished. There’s no HEA or even a HFN, at least in my opinion, and the next book in the series will be about another couple. I’m really hoping that we’ll get updates on Drake and Emma’s relationship from the other books coming out in this series.

THE PROFESSOR is told in dual POVs and is the first book in the Fox University – FU series.

The Professor (Fox University – FU # 1)

My Rating:

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Fox University – FU Series

Bought by the Boss

By Stacey Kennedy

Synopsis

HIS PRICE
I’ve wanted Aria Finley from the moment I met her.
We flirt, we laugh, we connect. It could be perfect.
She’s even best friends with my assistant.
Problem is, she works for my archnemesis—Jackson Keller—and she’s the kind of girl who stays loyal unless you give her a reason not to.
Besides my hard-on there’s something hot between us, and I won’t rest until I put my finger on it.
So when I get the chance to buy Aria for the weekend at a charity auction, there’s no limit.
I’m going to take her home and take what I want because I’ll make her want it too.
And by Monday, she’ll know she’s mine.

DIRTY MONEY
Liam Maxwell thinks he can get to me through my assistant.
Well, two can play that game.
Now Mallory Beckett—Liam’s assistant—is mine for the weekend.
Only she has no idea who bought her at the charity auction.
This is going to be worth every penny.
But soon I realize that Mallory has been waiting for my touch all along.
What starts as a fling turns into something more.
From the beginning, I was so focused on stealing her away.
I never thought about the fact that I’d drown if I lost her.
Now the game has changed. And she needs to know that she belongs to me.

Review

BOUGHT BY THE BOSS is made up of two novellas: His Price (Liam and Aria) and Dirty Money (Jackson and Mallory). Once upon a time, Liam and Jackson were best friends and college roommates, but the actions of one destroyed their friendship. Several years later, they’re both very successful corporate lawyers who hate each other with a passion and are always trying to one-up the other. Their rivalry comes to a head when they each bid on the other’s assistant at a charity auction.

Being novellas, both stories are very short, with lots of sex and not a great deal of character development. Despite all the parties knowing each other for at least two years, each story is an insta-love. Both stories are told in dual POVs and while the ending was a little abrupt, it does come with a HEA for both couples.

BOUGHT BY THE BOSS was a good way to spend a couple of hours, but I am glad I got this on sale. I almost never comment on the price of a book, and I know that the author has no say in the sale price, but I do think $4.99 for two novellas totaling less than 200 pages is a bit much.

Bought by the Boss

My Rating:

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It’s Complicated (Awkward Love # 1)

By Missy Johnson

Synopsis

They call him the Anaconda, and I’m pretty sure it isn’t because he likes snakes.

Nick Jenson is my neighbor. My hot, oh-so-sexy, very-well-equipped neighbor that I’d spend hours watching from the safety of my bedroom window.

I saw lots of things I probably shouldn’t have. Sometimes I’d touch myself, imagining it were his hands roaming over my body instead of my own. I had just one mission—to find out if the rumors were true.

Then one day, he caught me watching him.

I was mortified. I was prepared to quit college, move to another country, and live the rest of my life saying, “Nick who?” But, apparently, life had other ideas.

Because Nick? Well, he isn’t just my neighbor … He’s also my father’s best friend. If I thought things were difficult before, they were about to get a whole lot more complicated.

Oh, and those rumors? Holy fuck, were they true …

Review

IT’S COMPLICATED is a short, sweet and spicy read. It’s the first book I’ve read from Missy Johnson, but I don’t think it will be the last.

I’m not usually a fan of romances that involve Daddy’s Best Friend. In fact, I don’t recall ever reading one of them before. But this one sounded lighthearted and fun, and that’s exactly what I felt like reading. Despite Nick being Anna’s father’s best friend, the age gap between them was not as bad as I thought it would be. However, I do think that at twenty-two, Anna was too young for thirty-seven year old Nick.

I enjoyed IT’S COMPLICATED, though it did have some minor issues. At times I struggled to follow conversations/thoughts/scenes because they didn’t seem to flow well. I laughed quite a bit, but sometimes the humor felt a little forced. Finally, I think it’s fitting that the series is called Awkward Love, because sometimes when Nick and Anna were together, it was…well…awkward.

IT’S COMPLICATED is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Nick and Anna. While it’s part of a series, each story is about a different couple, so they can be read as stand-alones.

It’s Complicated (Awkward Love # 1)

My Rating:

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Awkward Love Series

Killer (Karma Inc. # 5)

By Gillian Zane

Synopsis

The final book in the Karma Inc. Series is here! Cassandra Mercier’s last Karma case…or is it?

Case # 5 of the Karma Incorporated Series.

Karma never forgets.

Working for Karma Incorporated has taken its toll on Cassandra Mercier. She might have died to get this job, but being a worker bee in the bowels of Afterlife Corporation have proven to be more than she can handle.

Her latest case feels a little too personal as Cassandra finds herself playing psychic at her old stomping grounds, the precinct where she used to work before she died. Her job on the case is to expose a dirty cop while using her cover as a psychic to help solve cases. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems. The cop she’s meant to expose was a good friend of hers, pre-death, and someone she can’t imagine being dirty. To make matters more complicated, she’s asked her to help solve her own murder.

Is it too good to be true? Can Cassandra out a dirty cop, no matter how squeaky clean he looks, all while finding her own killer? Or will the Powers That Be put an end to her selfish investigations and end her career with Karma Incorporated completely?

Review

KILLER is the fifth and final book in the Karma Inc. series, a series that I believe was originally going to be a six-part serial. CROOK was meant to be the title of the fifth book, so I’m not sure if that story was pulled or if the name was simply changed.

Since the very first book, the story has been focused on Cassandra’s death; how did she die and who killed her? So it was disappointing that when she finally learnt the truth, she was quickly whisked back to Afterlife where the focus of the story changed immediately. Instead of seeing her killer get what they deserved, we got a hard-to-follow explanation on the different classes of gods and other beings, and the identities of her biological parents were revealed.

Don’t get me wrong, her identity explained a few things, but up until that point, figuring out who her parents were had barely been a blip on the radar in the previous books, so it felt like it came out of nowhere. But her identity didn’t explain everything, like why she couldn’t remember her past life or why she was held in limbo for a year after her death before being sent to Karma Inc. As far as I can tell, those questions remain unanswered.

There are also some inconsistencies that started popping up in the third book that carried over into this book and were a little too big for me to ignore.

As a whole, I have enjoyed this series and have given all the previous books a rating of 4❤. The mystery surrounding Cassandra’s life, disappearance and death, as well as trying to figure out who and what Drake was, kept me turning the pages and coming back for more. So it pains me to say that I felt as though KILLER did not do this series justice. Though I am disappointed with how this series was wrapped up, I would read from this author again.

Killer (Karma Inc. # 5)

My Rating:

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Karma Inc. Series

Pretty as a Peach (Sex and Sweet Tea # 4)

By Juliette Poe

Synopsis

Mainer Farms is steeped in family history, but it’s also deep in debt from the effects of the ever-changing farming industry. Not about to let his family’s legacy go under, Colt Mancinkus is willing to do anything he can to save the farm.

Darby Culhane is the new farmer in Whynot, North Carolina, and she’s proving to be quite the forbidden temptation for Colt. Darby isn’t looking for anything but a fresh start, and she’s got it all figured out. Get settled in? Check. Apply for the rural county grant? Check. Confrontation with the steaming mad, smoking hot local farmer? Well, that wasn’t on the agenda.

As pretty as she is sweet, Colt can’t help but be drawn to Darby’s…peaches. No really, she’s a peach farmer. Get that mind out of the gutter, and get on down to the farm to see what happens when circumstances force Colt and Darby to team up. They may just find that the peach trees aren’t the only things in bloom.

Review

PRETTY AS A PEACH is definitely a sweet addition to the Sex and Sweet Tea series. Darby and Colt are very likable characters who were kind of perfect for one another. Colt became a wonderful father figure to Darby’s daughter Linnie, and Darby seamlessly became a part of Whynot’s tight-knit community very quickly.

PRETTY AS A PEACH is a novella, so the story moves fairly quickly. However, the romance between Darby and Colt is a slow burn. A very slow burn. Usually this bothers me, but I found I didn’t mind it in this case.

PRETTY AS A PEACH is told in dual POVs, comes with a HEA for Darby and Colt, and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The previous books had some humorous scenes in them, but the actions of Darby’s husband are slightly disturbing that if there was any humor throughout this story, I don’t remember it. I loved the two encounters between Larkin and the Harley-Davidson riding Deacon Locke, who will get the next book. Larkin is so shy and Deacon is so sure of himself, that I think their story will make for interesting reading.

Pretty as a Peach (Sex and Sweet Tea # 4)

My Rating:

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Sex and Sweet Tea Series

The Movie Star’s Red Hot Holiday Fling (Sweetbriar Springs # 1)

By Christine Glover

Synopsis

One dare and he’ll lose his heart…

Determined to qualify for the fire department’s grueling physical, former marine Jessie Sullivan never gives up, despite the pins in her leg. The last thing she needs is a tall, incredibly hot action movie star sharing her gym…and who makes her want to trade in her reps for some sexy physical activity. Of the naked kind.

Blake Johnston is more than just a Big Screen Sex Machine, and he’s willing to prove it. Especially to a spirited and sexy ex-marine like Jessie. But when a harmless dare leads to sizzling fireworks, Jessie and Blake’s workout ends up generating some serious heat between the sheets. And it’s more than Jessie could have imagined. Much, much more.

But flings don’t last forever. And in two weeks, Jessie will have to say goodbye to her red-hot Christmas fantasy…

Review

THE MOVIE STAR’S RED HOT HOLIDAY FLING was not a bad read, but not one that I’d pick up and read again. Given that it’s a novella, I thought this would be a quick read, but it just didn’t grab me and it ultimately took me a couple of days to finish it.

I didn’t feel a connection between Blake and Jessie, and the conflict was predictable.

I also thought it was a little too neat and tidy that Blake—an action movie star—was the only person who had the investigative skills and technology required to solve Jessie’s mystery. Was it sweet and did it give Jessie the closure she needed? Most definitely. Was it realistic? No, not really.

My biggest issue was the huge amount of inner monologue throughout this story. In one chapter, there was one page of conversation followed by nine pages of inner monologue. There was so much that sometimes, by the time the second character spoke, I’d forgotten what the first character had said or asked.

THE MOVIE STAR’S RED HOT HOLIDAY FLING is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Blake and Jessie.

The Movie Star’s Red Hot Holiday Fling

My Rating:

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Sweetbriar Springs Series

Undone By You (Chicago Rebels # 2.5)

By Kate Meader

Synopsis

Dante Moretti has just landed his dream job: GM of the Chicago Rebels. And screw the haters who think there should be an asterisk next to his name because he’s the first out managing executive in pro hockey. He’s earned the right to be here and nothing will topple him off that perch—especially not an incredibly inconvenient attraction to his star defenseman, Cade “Alamo” Burnett. Cade has always been careful to keep his own desires on the down low, but his hot Italian boss proves to be a temptation he can’t resist. Sure, they both have so much to lose, but no one will ever know…

As Dante and Cade’s taboo affair heats up off the ice and their relationship gets more and more intense, they’ll have to decide: is love worth risking their careers? Or is this romance destined to be forever benched?

Review

UNDONE BY YOU was a sweet, hot and enjoyable read, one that fits in nicely with the Chicago Rebels series.

Dante is the newly appointed, openly gay GM of the Chicago Rebels. Cade is one of the team’s defensemen, who is in the closet and not ready to let the world know who he really is. Knowing that Dante is someone he can trust, Cade seeks him out, and after a bit of a rough start, the pair embark on a secret relationship.

I loved Cade and Dante, as individual people and as a couple. Dante is older and serious. Cade is younger and the life of the party. Together, they just worked. Despite Cade being in the closet, I loved how open and honest he was with Dante. Again, that’s because he knew he could trust Dante, so he was never afraid to hide his thoughts or his feelings from him. I absolutely loved that about him.

UNDONE BY YOU is told in dual POVs and while it’s part of a series, it could be read as a stand-alone. It is a novella, one that focuses mostly on the M/M romance side of the story. So if you’re expecting to read several scenes about games, the team, or get more insight into the sister-owners, you might be disappointed. I’m not saying those things aren’t in this story, because they are, there just isn’t a great deal of it. UNDONE BY YOU comes with a happy ending, and I absolutely loved, loved, loved the epilogue.

Undone By You (Chicago Rebels # 2.5)

My Rating:

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Chicago Rebels Series

Barking Up the Wrong Tree (Sex and Sweet Tea # 3)

By Juliette Poe

Synopsis

Things in Whynot, NC have gone to the dogs, and that’s just the way the town’s only veterinarian, Laken Mancinkus, likes it. No matter if she’s up when the rooster crows, or working until the cows come home, Laken never leaves an animal in need. So when a gorgeous Yankee comes begging for help herding some wily goats, Laken is up to the task.

Jake McDaniel is looking for a tax break, and what better way than to take up…farming? This ex-football player turned businessman turned unwitting goat farmer is up to his knees in goat drama. Runaway goats, dehydrated goats, and a baby goat that wants no one other than him, Jake needs more help than he cares to admit. Good thing the sexy veterinarian is right there to coach him on how to be a farmer. The only problem is, Laken’s not looking for anything more than a good time, while Jake is looking for his forever girl.

Will the baby goat, and Laken, be enough to get Jake to stay? Or will he take his tax break and hoof it back to Chicago? One thing is for certain…what happens on the farm doesn’t always stay on the farm.

Review

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE is the third book in the Sex and Sweet Tea series, a series where each book can be read as a stand-alone.

I liked Jake and Laken, and I loved their chemistry in the beginning. Jake is a no-nonsence, take-charge kind of guy, and Laken has a take-no-shit attitude that puts Jake in his place several times throughout the story. Frustration, attraction and sex make an exciting combination.

I loved the first half of the story, but I felt a little let down by the second half. When their sex-only arrangement morphed into a relationship, their connection started to fizzle out, because their wants and desires didn’t match up anymore. On top of that, the conflict appeared and was resolved very quickly in the final pages of the story.

BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE comes with a HEA and is told not only in Jake and Laken’s POVs, but also in Pap’s and Herman’s POVs. Herman is Laken’s dog, and yes, you get to hear his thoughts on what’s going on, and it was adorable. All the sex is behind closed doors, so you’ll have to use your imagination when it comes to Jake and how good he is in bed. We were introduced to Darby, who is Jake’s ex sister-in-law, and she’ll be getting the next story— PRETTY AS A PEACH—along with Colt.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree (Sex and Sweet Tea # 3)

My Rating:

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Sex and Sweet Tea Series

Royally Raised (Royally # 2.5)

By Emma Chase

Synopsis

“He’s a joy to us. They all are. When they’re not busy giving us migraines.” ~King Henry

No one ever said raising children was easy…but raising a future monarch? That’s another story all-together. Get a glimpse into the happily-ever-after of Wessco’s irresistible royals in Royally Raised – a sweet, sexy, heartwarming short story set twenty years after Royally Matched.

Review

ROYALLY RAISED is a very quick read, one that is told in Henry and Sarah’s POV and takes place twenty years after their ROYALLY MATCHED story ended. And when I say it was a very quick read, I really mean it. It took me about thirty minutes to read, which made it the perfect book to pick up just before going to bed. It was nice to get a glimpse of Henry and Sarah’s future, but it did have an unfinished feel to it and was certainly left open for more. As a fan of this series, I really hope there will be more to come.

Royally Raised (Royally # 2.5)

My Rating:

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Royally Series

Forbidden Desire (Lee County Wolves # 3)

By Teresa Gabelman

Synopsis

From the moment Marcus Foster saw Roxy Patel, he knew she was his mate. Remaining patient because of her troubled past, he was determined to build her trust. She was his and nothing would change that, not even time.

Leaving her past behind, Roxy refused to remain a broken shell of a woman. Determined to start afresh, moving to a new town was just what she needed. With the help of her new friends, and a wolf shifter wanting to make her his own, all Roxy needed was the chance to thrive again.

Review

FORBIDDEN DESIRE is the third book in the Lee County Wolves series, and while the last Foster brother has now been mated off, the series has been left open for more books. More wolves have been brought into the pack for protection, and their alpha—Garrett—has come to a decision that will greatly affect the pack. I am interested in seeing where the author will go from here.

I liked Marcus, but Roxy was definitely the stand-out character. Garrett rescued her from her abusive husband, and she’s been living in hiding with the pack ever since. She’s been using that time well; building up her confidence and breaking free from the conditioning her husband instilled in her.

We got to see the previous two couples, but more of Garrett and Janna because Janna’s pregnant and Garrett’s still being challenged for his alpha position. Hunter was his usual playful self and really brought in the humor.

“Why don’t you claim her, bro?”
“Because she’s still married.”
“Okay, well let’s kill the son of a bitch and then she won’t be married anymore. Easy fix.”

FORBIDDEN DESIRE is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Marcus and Roxy.