Tag Archives: Sensitive Scene/Issue

Forgotten Promises

By Jessica Lemmon

Synopsis

Morgan Young had a perfect upbringing, and now she’s got a perfect boyfriend and a perfect future—until her twenty-first birthday changes everything. First Morgan finds out, in the most painful way possible, that her relationship is a sham. But that’s nothing compared to the nightmare about to unfold.

It’s too late for Tucker Noscalo. A brutal childhood left him with a bad reputation and a criminal record. Fresh out of jail, Tucker has a score to settle with Baybrook’s crooked chief of police—his own father. Nobody will believe Tucker’s explosive accusations without proof and a good lawyer, neither of which he has on his side. Until he sees someone he used to know, someone who just so happens to be the daughter of the best lawyer in the county.

He needs Morgan to convince her father of the ugly truth. But first he has to convince her, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get her to listen. Confronted by the story of Tucker’s dark past, Morgan feels utterly compelled to help him. And as their connection grows into a fierce bond fueled by raw passion, Morgan finds herself falling for the wrong guy—but never has the promise of love felt so right.

Review

Tucker is on the run after beating his father⎯again⎯as soon as he’s released from prison. He has evidence proving his father is the real criminal at his family’s home, but he got caught trying to retrieve it. He sees another opportunity for help when he spots the county’s best defense attorney’s daughter at a convenience store. Morgan’s 21st birthday goes from bad to worse thanks to Tucker. As if being told by her boyfriend that he’s been seeing her best friend on the side isn’t bad enough, she gets kidnapped and thrown into the trunk of Tucker’s car. Worst. Birthday. Ever! Tucker needs to gain Morgan’s trust so that she’ll convince her father to defend him and put his father in jail. But he also needs to trust her with the details of his past and trust that she’ll do the right thing when the time comes.

FORGOTTEN PROMISES is told in dual POVs and is a stand-alone. It’s also a novella, so it’s a fairly quick read. That being said, I thought the story flowed very well, not too fast or too slow, with the exception of the final chapter or two; once Tucker has his proof, the story moves very quickly. I thought this was a great read and I thought the author did a good job with how she handled the difficult topics mentioned in this story. Do I think the book could have been longer to address these topics better? Yes, I do, but it was still an enjoyable read and I was happy with the level of closure we got.

Please note: This book discusses topics which may be triggers for some readers.

Forgotten Promises

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Falling in Deeper (Wicked Lovers #11)

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By Shayla Black

Synopsis

After a violent tragedy nearly destroyed her, Lily Taylor ran away, changed her name, and started over. When her deadly nemesis resurfaces to eliminate his loose end, she turns to the last man she should trust—a stranger with a history of violence and an intoxicating sexuality she can’t refuse…

Though strong-armed into locating Lily to help put away a drug lord, ex-con Stone Sutter isn’t anyone’s snitch. When he finds the terrified beauty, he vows to keep her safe—but he isn’t sure he has the strength to shield her from his own desires.

As an unquenchable fire sparks between them, Lily’s tormentor stalks ever closer, and she must overcome her darkest fear to survive. Can she trust the bond she and Stone have formed as they’re falling in deeper?

Review

Falling in Deeper followed in the foot steps that makes this series absorbing reading. I loved how it reminded me of the first novel in this series (Wicked Ties) where it was just Jack and Morgan in the fishing cabin This time it is Stone and Lily taking refuge in the fishing cabin for part of the novel.

Lily is really a shell of a women. She constantly lives in fear of everything from events that happened earlier in her life. She had to flee her home and start over. There are only a few people that she can trust. As her story progressed I felt that she really grew as a character and she really was a great addition to the list of strong women already in this series.

Stone is a man with an ulterior motive. He is an ex-con who is given an offer he couldn’t refuse. Stone fits in with just about all of the guys. I loved him from the very beginning.

A few of the usual suspects showed up in this edition of the Wicked Lovers Series. I really love how they have grown into their roles. I can’t wait for the next volume.

Quote: “No I need to be like other women.”

“I’m not interested in them.” Stone Scowled. “Listen to me. There’s no normal.”

Falling in Deeper

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Defending Hayden (Second Chances # 7)

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By L.P. Dover

Synopsis

No one’s tougher than Carolina Cougars linebacker Derek McLaughlin. But when a fatal car accident claims the life of his girlfriend, Derek finds himself caught in a destructive spiral of drugs, alcohol, and meaningless sex. But not even a string of one-night stands can ease the hurt. Football is all he has left. Then fate leads him back to the scene of the crash, and into the arms of a kind, gorgeous woman who sees past his façade to the man he once was . . . and can be again.

When a chance roadside encounter brings Derek into her life, veterinarian Hayden Hunter isn’t fooled by his bad attitude: All bark and no bite, he’s hiding a wounded heart beneath that gruff demeanor. And Hayden wants to be the one to kiss it all better. Soon they both find that a dose of passion is potent medicine. But when a hidden enemy lashes out at Hayden, Derek steps up to do what he does best: put his body on the line in the name of love.

Review

When you start reading DEFENDING HAYDEN, make sure you have your tissues handy because it starts with Derek reliving the nightmare where his pregnant girlfriend was killed in a car accident. Six months have gone by but he has not yet been able to move on. Needing to get away from everything that reminds him of his loss, he leaves town for a destination unknown. He returns two months later and quickly bumps into Hayden, and it’s from this point the story really starts.

I liked Hayden a lot and thought she was a smart and easygoing woman with a huge heart. She has doubts about why a famous and wealthy man like Derek would be interested in a nobody like her, but she doesn’t dwell on those doubts; she quickly accepts that he likes her and rolls with it. There was no drama with this woman at all. I liked Derek as well, but I didn’t connect with him like I thought I would. He suffered a terrible loss, but apart from the nightmare at the beginning, his loss and his feelings about it are hardly mentioned again. It’s like all the healing he had to do was done behind closed doors.

DEFENDING HAYDEN is told in dual POVs and it’s said that it can be read as a stand-alone. Technically that’s correct, however a lot of information about the previous couple and past events is presented at the beginning, done so to explain some of the players involved and how Derek lost his girlfriend. As someone who hasn’t read the previous books in this series, it was information overload. Other than that, what are my thoughts about this book? I liked it. I did. It kept me engaged and I was able to finish it fairly quickly. However after a few days, my initial thoughts go to what I didn’t like about it. I thought their feelings of love came in too quickly considering they hadn’t spent a great deal of time together. We’re told they love each other, but I for one didn’t feel it. The conflict between Derek and Hayden has been done many times before and I’ll admit it evoked a sigh and an eye roll. When things started to go wrong for Hayden, it was very obvious who was behind it, and I could be wrong here, but I don’t think an NFL player’s girlfriend would be allowed to stand with the team during a game. I know I’ve listed quite a few dislikes, but as I said, I did like this story, just not as much as I was hoping too.

Defending Hayden (Second Chances # 7)

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Second Chances Series

Shadow Rider (The Shadow Series #1)

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By Christine Feehan

Synopsis

Whether it’s fast cars or fast women, Stefano Ferraro gets what he wants. When he’s not fodder for the paparazzi, he commands Ferraro family businesses—both legitimate and illegitimate.

While their criminal activity is simply a rumor yet to be proven, no one knows the real truth. The Ferraros are a family of shadow riders capable of manipulating light and dark, an ability Stefano thought ran in his family alone—until now…

With little left to her name, Francesca Cappello has come to Chicago in hopes of a new life. She wasn’t expecting to attract the attention of a man with primal hunger in his eyes, driven to claim her as his to protect and to please. And if he discovers her secret, it could ruin her…

Review

Christine Feehan took us to a world with a code that the Ferraro family sticks to in order to have a neighborhood where kids can play freely on the street. That code has little to do with the legal law but everything to do with moral law. They also have a secret that is well hidden from the outside world that allows them to follow their moral law.

Francesca Cappello is a woman on the run and looking to get her life back. She is a very compelling character. She has nothing and what she does have she is willing to give away. I found her to be completely adorable and the kind of friend I would love to have. She is strong and refuses to take money that she hasn’t earned. Everything that she thought she understood about her world is about to come crashing down when she attracts Stefano.

Stefano Ferraro is the very definition of an Alpha Male. Good looking, rich and uncompromising when it comes to the safety of his family and neighborhood. I wanted to hate him but his complete loyalty to his family and neighborhood won me over. And now he has his eyes set on Francesca. Once you are considered family then you have protection.

Besides the family, the neighborhood is definitely another character in the story. All the residents have their pieces of this book that help shape why the Ferraro family offer their protection.

Quote: She had to know the truth. “Why is everyone afraid of you?”
His blue eyes held hers captive for so long she heard her heart pound. “Because I’m not a man you ever want to fuck with.”

Shadow Rider (The Shadow Series #1)

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Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest Series #3)

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By Tijan

Synopsis

Sam’s first day at Fallen Crest Public doesn’t go well. Some girls want to be her. Some girls want to destroy her. And some just don’t like her. All in all, despite being protected by Mason and Logan, it’s still only the strong survive. Sam will not only have to survive, she needs to learn how to conquer too, but there’s another battle growing. Things are about to come to a disastrous end between the towns, Roussou and Fallen Crest. Sam’s other main dilemma? Keeping Mason and Logan from getting arrested or hospitalized.

This is the third book in the Fallen Crest Series.
Fallen Crest High
Fallen Crest Family
Fallen Crest Public

Review

My how the mighty have fallen in book 3, this is my most favourite book of the series so far, Sam moves to the Public school and all hell breaks loose! This was my third time reading Fallen Crest Public and I still get goose bumps and hate/love characters and struggle with the bullying component of this book.

The first time after the physical bully scene I put the book down for two days, it simply affected me on a level, my how I hurt for Sam, Mason & Logan. I felt such injustice and that Kate had to pay for the games she was playing with her friends at the Public School.

Is it wrong that I felt affection for Brett Broudou, he again is one character I enjoyed in this section of the series and he of course played an important role in securing Sam’s safety when pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place. Mason, Logan and their gang played their cards close to their chests and when push came to shove they in my opinion were such an incredible team of friends – I was fist pumping all the way towards the end of the book.

This had great drama, mystery, game playing and had me again guessing.

Another favourite part of this story was Sam and her dad David, their beginning journey to reconciliation and perhaps a new life going forward together as Father and Daughter and I loved the new dynamic in David’s life being his new love and how she stepped up and was the carer for Sam in her recovery.

Onto Fallen Fourth Down and cannot wait to continue with Sam and Logan in their final year at Fallen Crest Public, want to follow Sam with her running and also find out more about Tate and her opinion on Logan’s love.

Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest Series #3)

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Fallen Crest Family (Fallen Crest High #2)

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By Tijan

Synopsis

Samantha and Mason are together. Everyone knows it. Not everyone is dealing with it. While Mason’s ready to give them the middle finger, there’s one not going away. Her mother. Threats are issued. Ultimatums are given. Even blackmail is used, but only Samantha can put a stop to Analise. However, when a trauma from her past is triggered, she may not have the courage or strength to do what’s needed. If she doesn’t, Mason’s future could be destroyed.

Review

Book 2 of the Fallen Crest Series definitely gives you drama, heated moments and more chemistry from Mason and Sam. What I loved the most was like the title tells you, it gives you a greater understanding of all the family dynamics, both for Mason & Logan but then for Sam & Annalise. The flashbacks given do answer so many questions from book 1but it gives you so many more questions for book 3!

This book covers the summer break, Sam is leaving Fallen Crest Private and transferring to Fallen Crest Public – yes I am really scared as there are some really mean girls and the power shifts are changing.

Whilst yes I love Mason and Sam, I do have an incredible soft spot for Logan and I think all his jokes mask perhaps some real hurt and betrayal however his connection to Sam as a stepsister is really endearing.

Love this series, love the characters, love the drama and look forward to picking up Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest Series #3).

Fallen Crest Family (Fallen Crest Series #2)

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Stronger With Him

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By J A Hensley

Synopsis

After breaking up with her abusive boyfriend, graduate student Rebecca Maio wants a man who is the complete opposite of her ex. When she meets her sexy new neighbor, Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to the powerful and compassionate man.

Agent Colin Schaefer’s in town for an investigation and needs to stay focused on his job, but he can’t ignore the beautiful girl next door. For the first time in his life, the elusive man wants more with a woman, but he can’t shake the feeling that Rebecca also needs his protection.

Is their love strong enough to survive the secrets they’re both bound to uncover? Or will her past and his job tear them apart?

This novel is intended for readers 18+ due to explicit and hot sex scenes and adult situations. If you love these kinds of things, then please, read on!

Review

This is my second book by this author and I really enjoyed this story, we got both POV of main characters along with suspense, humour and passionate scenes. Colin definitely helped Becca to be Stronger With Him.

So Colin and Becca are two great characters and I easily connected with them. I actually found Becca’s two friends a bit annoying at the beginning of this book but they kind of grew on me by the end and when it counted they stood up for her and were the friends she needed.

I struggled with the kidnapping chapters, I felt it was rushed and all of a sudden they found her and it was all over red rover. I needed some deeper build up with Ron and Becca and I also found some characters in the book just disappeared where I felt they could have added further dimension to the story. For instance with Adam the nightclub owner I though he could have been bought further into the story, considering he and Becca had a moment as they say. He could have been involved in Ron’s world or perhaps as an ex uncover agent on Colin’s side of town, it was just something I thought odd and it would have added further depth to the whole undercover/drugs story line with innocent Becca in the middle and all these hot guys wanting her.

I loved how Colin came in and supported Becca in her journey to escape her aggressive boyfriend Ron and their sex scenes were hat and I thoroughly enjoyed them.

Stronger With Him

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Torture to Her Soul (Monster in His Eyes #2)

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By J.M. Darhower

Synopsis

Don’t say it unless you mean it…

It’s a simple concept, one I’ve said time and again, but something people don’t seem to comprehend. You should choose every syllable carefully, because you never know when somebody will hold you to your word.

Somebody like me.

I’m not a good man. I’m not. I know. I have enough darkness inside of me to rid the world of every stitch of light. But there’s one I could never harm, one light I couldn’t bring myself to snuff out.

Karissa.

She thinks I’m a monster, and maybe I am. I taunt her with my touch, get a thrill out of torturing her soul. But I’m not the only one. The world is full of monsters, and I’m not the most dangerous one out there.

Not even close…

God help me, I love her.

I do.

And God help anyone who tries to take her from me.

Review

Great continuation from Monster in His Eyes (Monsters in His Eyes#1).

This is told from Naz POV which is interesting to see how he monitors the inner torture and turmoil that Karissa is struggling with and how he monitors and communicates with her. I loved the mind games, the way they did not overly converse at the beginning but how body language and their daily actions were portrayed and gave you such emotion and raw power.

The story flowed really well for me and I could easily follow the many storylines with Ray and then both Naz and Karriss’s families.

More family secrets are revealed, we learn more of Naz and his Mob connections and how they continue to affect everyone around him and who is playing games.

How strong is Karissa to stand up for what she feels and believes she deserves, her love for Naz is amazing and Killer was a beautiful addition to the end of this story.

I am scared but really looking forward to reading Target on our Backs (Monster in His Eyes #3). I have so many wishes for these two characters and I would love for Ray to get his just desserts. I am not sure if I am ready to say goodbye to Naz and Karissa.

Torture to Her Soul (Monster in His Eyes #2)

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Heat It Up

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By Stina Lindenblatt

Synopsis

Some games are hotter off the ice…

Sofia Phillips feels cursed. Her father cheated on her mother, her boyfriend cheated on her—she’s done with dating. A summer work-exchange program in Finland is the perfect escape. But instead of gaining experience as an athletic trainer, she’s cleaning toilets. Awesome. The trip is a disaster, and even better, she meets Kyle Bennett. In the sauna. Naked.

Sexy hockey player Kyle was the star right wing for an NHL team. But after an accident killed his wife and left him injured, Kyle has appreciated the “therapeutic” benefits of booze and puck bunnies. Now in Finland for the summer, he’s coaching in an elite hockey-training camp for teens. When Sofia’s grandmother decides to set her up with a nice Finnish man, Sofia recruits Kyle as her make-believe boyfriend. Neither expects their first kiss to sizzle. And neither expects, while stranded on an island during a storm, to have a scorching night of passion.

But as their charade, and then their attraction, develops into something deeper, the past comes back, threatening to destroy them. They must decide if their feelings for each other are strong enough to survive—or it will be game over.

Review

Unknown to each other, Sofia and Kyle have travelled from Minneapolis to Finland to get a temporary break from their painful pasts. When they happen upon each other at the local sports centre, the attraction is instant, but Sofia doesn’t trust men to be faithful and Kyle is too busy enjoying his current lifestyle of one-night stands to consider a relationship. But as they spend more time together, they wonder if they’ll get more out of this trip than they were expecting.

HEAT IT UP is told in dual POVs and at this point in time, it appears to be a stand-alone. I liked both Sofia and Kyle; I thought they made a great couple and I could feel their attraction through the pages. However, I did feel that Sofia was a little weak with how she handled the love triangle, and it was hard to sympathise with Kyle at times when his lifestyle of booze and women was less “grieving widow” and more “making up for lost time”. I’m not a fan of over-the-top drama and angst, so I was really happy to see that I didn’t need to be worried about that in this book, especially given the youngish ages of Sofia and Kyle. That being said (and this is where I come across as completely hypocritical), I think this book could have used a little more angst and/or drama, as everything that happened between Kyle and Sofia was a little too easily forgiven and resolved. Overall, I thought HEAT IT UP was a nice way to spend a few hours.

Heat It Up

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Filthy Bastard

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By Emily Minton & Shelley Springfield

Synopsis

She’s a poor little rich girl.

With a vindictive mother and an obsessed brother-in-law, all Adyson Sloan wants is a little freedom–for her and her sister. She dreams of having a little room to breathe and making her own choices. But when she’s kidnapped by the Grim Bastards MC, freedom comes at a much higher price. Terrified, but determined to get back to her sister, Addy’s plans are ruined when she falls for a bastard with a chip on his shoulder.

He’s a bastard without a heart.

Sergeant at Arms Brew Decker plays by his own rules. To him, nothing is sacred but the brotherhood. He lives and dies by the club and would do anything for them–even kidnap an innocent woman. After all, she’s merely a pawn in the bigger game. But everything changes when he meets Addy. Suddenly, he’d do anything for his captive.

Can love between a rich girl and a bastard survive without someone losing it all?
Each book in the Grim Bastards MC series includes an HEA and can be read as a standalone.
Dirty Bastard includes sexual situations and graphic violence. Not suitable for anyone under 18.

Review

Brew is not a Bastard and he helps Addy believe she is not filthy – each gives the other a belief they are worthwhile to have a shot at happiness and new beginnings – to let go of their tainted pasts and look forward to love and family.

We get POV told from both Brew and Addy which helped connect both their stories together in making supreme sacrifices for their sisters and how their connection to each other was so intense and believable.

I really enjoyed the range of emotions thrown at the reader, it kept me guessing which way we were going to be taken, who was going to be made to pay for hurtful actions. I shuddered with fear, it made me cry and I held high hopes of Addy’s and Alex’s dream of being safe and away from their parents coming true.

Alex simply stole my heart, the sisters relationship was so strong and beautiful to follow throughout this story, so glad we got to see Cam grow up and also how Addy and Brews relationship transpired into the future. I wanted so much for Alex, I had her married off to Hack midway through this story, I dreamed big for her considering the awful way her parents had treated her and how strong and brave she was on Addy’s graduation night. Fair warning their are some pretty intense emotional scenes that cover forced sexual encounters and also some graphic violence – in my opinion helped make this story really emotional and gave me closure for some characters.

Although you do not necessarily need to read Dirty Bastard which is Trix’s story (Addy’s college friend), I highly recommend you do as it is a great read too. You also get to meet all the characters who return in Filthy Bastard which overlaps a period of time covered in Dirty Bastard which is how Addy and Brew meet.

Filthy Bastard

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Visit Author: Shelley Springfield | Emily Minton