Tag Archives: Tattoos

Storm (Ashes & Embers # 1)

By Carian Cole

BR Storm

Synopsis

The calm before the storm… 

I lived in the quiet stillness.  
I felt the wind rustle, warning me, telling me to get out of its path. 

But I didn’t. 

I never stood a chance. 

A series of weather and road mishaps leaves me trapped in the middle of a blizzard with a complete stranger. In the back of a pickup truck. For forty-eight freakin’ hours. 

A stranger with long hair, tattoos, and rippling with muscle.  
A stranger with an insanely sexy voice and a wicked smile that turned my insides to jelly.  
A stranger who held me in his arms, calmed me, and then set a fire in me that I couldn’t put out. 

Storm lives up to his name. Beautiful. Dangerously inviting. Tumultuous. Dark. A clash of hot and cold. 

He’s used to getting everything he wants. 

And now he wants me. 

Some people chase storms for the beautiful thrill. What happens when the storm chases you?

Review

Evelyn meets Storm when he comes to her rescue after she has a slight accident driving in the snow.  But as luck would have it, he also crashes his truck, leaving them stranded for two days until the blizzard stops.  She’s very fearful of him at first but they spend their time together getting to know each other and end up liking each other.  Sort of.  Their meeting might have been unconventional, but their connection was undeniable.  He wants her and she wants him, but she has a long-term boyfriend and is not willing to throw away a 12 year relationship on what might just be a fling.

Initially, Evelyn annoyed me because she acted like a princess throughout their ordeal and she was very rude to Storm several times, even when he was trying to help her.  But I quite liked her by the end of the story because she became more strong and independent.  Once she made her decision to be with Storm, she never went back on it or questioned it.  She stood up for herself during the break-up with her boyfriend as well as Storm’s wannabe-girlfriend.

Storm:  “You’re like a little spastic kitten.  One minute you’re cuddling and purring, and the next, the claws are out and you’re pouncing in five directions.”

Storm I loved because he’s so friggin’ sweet but so friggin’ dirty at the same time.  You could see he was in love with Evelyn because only a man in love would put up with her crap.  He was always there for her whenever she needed him, even when she thought she didn’t need him.  And man oh man, does he have a way with words.

Storm:  “What I want, what I fantasise about with you … is you being my sweet angel during the day and my whore at night.”

I really enjoyed STORM and didn’t realise it was a debut novel until I started writing this review.  I felt that at times the story moved a little slow and for a series based around a band, there’s surprisingly very little band time.  Obviously it’s a series and throughout this story we meet Storm’s brothers and cousins who I assume will be getting their own books.  VANDAL and LUKAS are already out, with TALON coming out in next month.

Storm (Ashes & Embers # 1)

My Rating:  5 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon

Visit Carian Cole:  Click Here


Ashes & Embers Series

Whatever You Do (Try Again # 2)

By Stephanie Smith

BR Whatever You Do

Synopsis

How do you trust someone who is everything you’re trying to avoid? 

Harper Lindell is having a bad day. You know, if a bad day consists of getting fired from your cushy job and then catching your boyfriend red handed playing hide the salami.  Sick of meeting the same guys over and over, Harper decides to try her luck at Internet dating. How bad could it be? Right? 

Tate Washington wasn’t looking to meet anyone. Still dealing with the consequences of his one serious relationship, all he’s interested in is revamping his family’s behind-the-times café.  He didn’t plan on seeing the beautiful receptionist from Argo again, walking into his life to use his café as a dating hub, and using him as a BFF. 

Can Harper really trust Tate, who is everything she thinks she needs to steer clear of? 

Can Tate wait while Harper works through her insecurities and fears?

Review

WHATEVER YOU DO starts with Harper having what is probably the worst day of her life.  After getting fired as soon as she arrived into work, she heads to her boyfriend’s place seeking comfort, only to catch him in the act of cheating on her.  Obviously she’s angry and hurt, but even more so because he’s just the latest man in a long line of men who have cheated on her.  She’s determined to find a man that’s different from her usual choice and thinks turning to online dating is the way to go.  Each date is a disaster and is witnessed by Tate, the owner of the cafe where her dates take place, who’s had a thing for her since he first laid eyes on her.  It takes him a while but he’s finally able to convince her to give him a chance and sets out to show her he’s unlike all the rest.

I quite liked WHATEVER YOU DO and the disastrous dates were hilarious to read.  I loved Tate and thought he was amazing and so patient, but sadly Harper didn’t really win me over as her trust issues annoyed me.  Apart from those issues, she’s a good person, one who’s kind, caring and loyal to those she loves.  The story is told in dual POVs and also includes little snippets about Brooke and Saxon from WHEREVER YOU WILL GO.  I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Whatever You Do (Try Again # 2)

My Rating:  4 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Stephanie Smith:  Click Here


Try Again Series

Sustained (The Legal Briefs # 2)

By Emma Chase

BR Sustained

Synopsis

A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will turn you on. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy and Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and arguing cases in the principal’s office.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, defend her…and the kids.

And that—that, I know how to do.

Review

Jake is a defence attorney and a very good one at that, representing spoiled millionaires and wife-beating politicians.  A chance encounter with a thieving young boy leads him straight to Chelsea, a young woman who is the legal guardian to her six nieces and nephews.  He’s never been interested in the idea of a wife and kids, but he quickly finds himself stepping up and helping Chelsea and the kids with whatever they need.  He becomes their protector and defender, but when things become too familiar, Jake’s past causes him to question whether he should go on or cut ties before it’s too late.

SUSTAINED has something that you don’t see very often in M/F romance stories and that is that the story is told entirely from the male’s perspective.  That’s right, SUSTAINED is told in Jake’s, and only Jake’s, POV.  And it’s hilarious.  The way he thinks and where his mind goes was an absolute blast to read.  Yes it’s immature, but I loved it anyway.

Jake:  Up my sleeve, down my pants.  I’ll show her anything she wants to see.

I liked Jake.  I thought he was a very funny, down to earth, tell-it-like-it-is guy.  He’s very successful but I didn’t like his job except when he used his powers for good instead of evil.  Chelsea was wonderful, so kind, caring and patient.  Stepping into the parental role for six children aged between six months and 14 years was very selfless and that one act alone really showed the kind of woman she was.

The only disappointing part of the entire story was the breakup.  I just didn’t get it.  Without trying to give anything away, I don’t understand why Jake felt he couldn’t be who Chelsea and the kids needed him to be when he’d already been that person for months.  But other than that, I thought this was a fun and light-hearted read and I enjoyed it very much.  SUSTAINED is part of the Legal Briefs series but it can be read as a standalone.

Sustained (The Legal Briefs # 2)

My Rating:  5 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Emma Chase:  Click Here


The Legal Briefs Series

A Fighter’s Desire: Part 2 (Gloves Off # 0.6)

By L.P. Dover

BR A Fighter's Desire 2

Synopsis

When you’re told to stay away from someone or something it only drives the urge to go after it more. In this case, that was exactly what happened. For years, Gabriella Reynolds–younger sister of MMA’s Heavyweight Champion, Matt Reynolds–was warned by him to stay away from his fighter friends; she deserved better and they would only break her heart.

Did she listen? Yes, for a while, but temptation can only consume you so much until you fall into its trap. There’s a certain fighter she’s interested in, and it just so happens that he’s her brother’s best friend, the only one that is completely off limits to her. However, she’s not the only one fighting temptation. Tyler Rushing can’t deny his attraction to her, but he’s afraid she’ll want more and he can’t give that to her. When he finds out that’s not the case … everything changes.

Secrets can be dangerous, but they can also be thrilling and intense. Gabriella and Tyler have no choice but to keep their time together a secret … and it’s a secret that’ll stay with them forever.

Review

A FIGHTER’S DESIRE: PART 2 is a prequel novella to the Gloves Off series, introducing us to a slew of new characters as well as touching base with a couple from the previous novella.  Tyler and Gabriella have been dancing around each other for a while now.  Gabriella’s brother, Matt, is Tyler’s best friend, and Matt has warned each of them to stay away from the other.  But Gabriella’s a big girl and decides it’s time to make a move on Tyler, and with Ryley’s help, she’s able to get her man, even if it’s just for a weekend.

Tyler is another manwhore, rivalling the likes of Ryley and Camden from PART 1.  Other than that, there’s not much you learn about him.  Gabriella seemed like a strong and confident woman, going after who and what she wanted, but at the same time she was willing to be used and forego her self-respect just for a chance to have sex with Tyler.  Gabriella knows he’s a manwhore and Tyler knows absolutely nothing about her past, but both were willing to have sex without a condom right from the start.  Apparently being on the pill is good enough.  A lapse in the heat of the moment I could understand, but what they did was not safe or smart and it’s a big pet peeve for me.

So I’ll be honest here, I’m still not sold on this series.  After finishing PART 2, I took a good look at the rest of the series to see if it could help me decide whether I should continue on or not.  Spoiler Alert:  Tyler and Gabriella don’t even end up together; both have their own books with different love interests.  My first thought when I realised this was “What’s the point of this book then?”.  Gabriella gave up a man who was crazy about her to be with Tyler, and he was willing to risk his friendship with Matt to be with her, so I just don’t get it.  Call me old fashioned or just plain silly, but when I read a story about two characters, I expect to see a happy ending for them…together.  Despite the amazing reviews this series has received, I feel that it isn’t one for me and I don’t think I’ll be continuing on with it.  I’ll stick to her other series that I’ve enjoyed.

A Fighter’s Desire: Part 2 (Gloves Off # 0.6)

My Rating:  2 Hearts

Buy Links:
Amazon.US:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 2
Amazon.CA:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 2
Amazon.UK:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 2
Amazon.AU:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 2
B&N:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 2

Visit L.P. Dover:  Click Here

A Fighter’s Desire: Part 1 (Gloves Off # 0.5)

By L.P. Dover

BR A Fighter's Desire 1

Synopsis

Two is always better than one.

What would you do if you were given the chance to spend the night with not one, but two fighters? Would you do it? Could you open yourself up to the pleasures they offered and do exactly what they said in order to pass on to the next round?

It was common knowledge that Ryley and Camden Jameson, well-known MMA fighters and identical twins, were just as aggressive and passionate in the bed as they were in the ring. The only problem was that if you didn’t pass their test on the first night, then you didn’t proceed to the next round. They loved a good fight, and that’s what they got when they met Ashleigh Warren.

Ashleigh knew what was going to happen when the twins approached her with a proposition, and needless to say, she knew exactly how to handle them … or so she thought. The rules had changed, and in order to get them both she had to first spend one night with each and last until they were done with her. It was a proposition she couldn’t refuse, but she knew it wouldn’t be easy to win. However, it was one that she was going to enjoy.

Review

A FIGHTER’S DESIRE: PART 1 is a prequel novella to book 2 in the Gloves Off series, RYLEY’S REVENGE.

I’m just going to jump right in and say that I found it very hard trying to like Ryley and Camden given that they’re both egotistical manwhores.  And what kind of a woman do they want sandwiched between them?  They want a woman who has sex like a whore but hasn’t slept with a lot of men.  Can you say double standards?  Then they meet Ashleigh and they’re suddenly desperate to have her, all because she rejects them and tells them that they would never be able to handle her.  Apparently her words are enough to convince the twins that this is the girl they’ve been looking for.

Ashleigh was ok, but she also had an ego and I don’t get where it came from.  Bragging to two manwhores that they couldn’t possibly handle her was a little farfetched, and considering that she didn’t do anything spectacular, again, I don’t get where her comments came from.  I felt she was all talk and no action.  She starts a sexual relationship with Ryley and very quickly feelings develop on both sides.  But she’s in love with her good friend, Colin, and has been for years, so when Colin sees that he might lose her to Ryley, he decides to tell her how he feels.  Ashleigh makes her choice and this is where I assume RYLEY’S REVENGE comes in.

I have mixed feelings about this novella.  I read it a few days ago and I still can’t figure out how I feel about it.  I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.  I’ll admit, I was rooting for Ashleigh and Ryley, and they do get their own book in the series, so I’m assuming they will get their HEA at some point.

A Fighter’s Desire: Part 1 (Gloves Off # 0.5)

My Rating:  3 Hearts

Buy Links:
Amazon.US:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 1
Amazon.CA:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 1
Amazon.UK:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 1
Amazon.AU:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 1
B&N:  A Fighter’s Desire: Part 1

Visit L.P. Dover:  Click Here

Him (Him # 1)

By Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

BR Him

Synopsis

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died. 

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever. 

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions— 
can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend…and a big one to learn about himself. 

Warning: contains sexual situations, hotties on hockey skates, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

Review

I’m loving Sarina Bowen’s The Ivy Years series and I’m also loving Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series.  So when you put these two authors together, you end up with HIM, a sweet, hot, heartbreaking and beautiful story that is one hell of a ride.

I absolutely loved both Wes and Jamie.  Wes is gay, he acknowledged that about himself years ago, but Jamie is straight, having only ever been with women, except for that one night four years ago when he messed around with Wes.  Wes comes off as a confident and cocky young man, but just under the surface you see his fear and insecurity; fear about how his sexual orientation will be accepted by his NHL team, and insecurity that as much as he loves Jamie, he can’t see a future between them.

Wes:  I feel sick when I picture him leaving me.  I feel sicker knowing I’m competing with not one, but two gender pools for his affection.

Jamie is amazing.  He’s confused by his growing feelings and desires for Wes, but being the laid back guy that he is, he simply accepts them as a part of who he is.  I like to think that Jamie easily accepted his sexual relationship with Wes not because he came to the realisation that he was bisexual, but because it was Wes; that entering into a sexual relationship with his best friend was simply the natural progression of their friendship and affection for one another.

I absolutely loved HIM.  The chemistry was amazing.  The sex was hot.  The relationship was beautiful.  The roadblocks were heartbreaking.  Jamie’s family was adorable.  Wes’s family sucks.  It’s a story you don’t want to miss.  A must read.  In fact, HIM is going on my Must Read Again shelf pronto.

Wes:  He doesn’t need skill-he just needs to be here.  Him.  Here.  With me.

Him (Him # 1)

My Rating:  5 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit Sarina Bowen:  Click Here
Visit Elle Kennedy:  Click Here


Him Series

Badass In My Bed (Badass # 1)

By Rae Lynn Blaise

BR Badass # 1

Synopsis

Rachel’s life is music. She plays it, she lives it, she breathes it. And next week she’ll start playing her cello with the Boston Symphony, which isn’t exactly the kind of music career she wanted, but one that will make her father happy. And her happy enough. 

But the weekend before she leaves for Boston, she meets Dylan. Tattoos. Biceps. Killer smile. Hard cock. Total badass. It’s a surprise that he’d ever be interested in her, but he is. He goes against everything she ever wanted in a man… or, thought she wanted. But it’s only for one night, right?

Review

BADASS IN MY BED is the debut novel from Rae Lynn Blaise and be warned, it is a serial novella.  I’m not sure how many books will be in this series, but currently books 2 and 3 are available for pre-order and are available for free with Kindle Unlimited, which is good because I personally think that paying $2.99 for a novella is too much.

Rachel is out with her best friend for their last girl’s night before she moves to Boston to take her place with the Boston Symphony.  Before she goes, her friend tries to convince her to live a little, to maybe have some fun with the hot tattooed guy she can’t keep her eyes off of.  With some meddling from her friend, she winds up at Dylan’s table and does something crazy and out of character; she takes Dylan home where he gives her a night she will never forget.  But Dylan is so enamoured with her that one night isn’t enough and he comes back for not only a second night, but also a date.

Right from the start, you know that Dylan is hiding something about who he is and that he likes that Rachel doesn’t know who he is.  He’s very perceptive and surprises Rachel with how well he can read her and what makes her tick.  There’s definitely a spark between the two of them, which I think surprises them both considering she’s your prim and proper good girl while he’s your typical tattooed bad boy.  These two couldn’t be more opposite yet they connect on more than just a physical level.

The novella doesn’t really end with a cliffhanger, but it does end with Rachel finding out who Dylan is while on her flight to Boston.  What she’ll do with this information will hopefully come out in book 2.

Badass In My Bed (Badass # 1)

My Rating:  4 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon

Visit Rae Lynn Blaise:  Click Here


Badass In My Bed Series

Play Me: The Complete Story

By Tracy Wolff

BR Play Me

Synopsis

My name is Aria Winston. I’ve fought desperately to escape the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas. Now I’m on my own, in control of my own life and my own destiny . . . just the way I like it. Until Sebastian Caine changes everything.

Working as a cocktail waitress at one of Vegas’s hottest five-star casinos means putting up with a ton of bad behavior from the big spenders. But it pays the bills—and that’s all that matters to Aria, who needs every last dollar to escape from her father’s destructive grasp and the brutal man he expects her to marry. But when she lashes out against a billionaire who won’t take no for an answer, she nearly loses everything—until Sebastian steps in. The owner’s son and handpicked successor, Sebastian is dark, sexy, and kinder than any rich man should be. And when he apologizes and offers to keep her job safe, Aria can’t help the way her body reacts to his. Suddenly her job, and the security it brings her, isn’t the only thing Aria wants.

Review

Play Me: The Complete Story was originally published as five serial novellas:  Play Me Wild; Play Me Hot; Play Me Hard; Play Me Real; and Play Me Right.  Each novella takes about an hour to read and is the story of Aria Winston and Sebastian Caine.  Part way through the series, Ethan Frost (from the Ethan Frost series) makes his appearance asking Sebastian for help on a private matter, which Sebastian is happy to give, even more so when he finds out the people involved hurt Aria.  So I guess you could categorise this as a spin-off series.

I liked both Aria and Sebastian, but Sebastian was definitely my favourite.  He’s dominant, he’s an alpha, but he has a kind heart and good morals.  He cares about his staff and abhors the harassment they face on a daily basis, which is how Aria appeared on his radar.  He did hurt Aria, but he was in a bad place at the time and didn’t realise he was hurting her until it was too late.  And when he realised what he’d done, he was very angry with himself and desperate to make amends.  He likes control in all things and doesn’t react well when he doesn’t have it.  Aria is strong, doesn’t take crap from anyone and she stands up for those that can’t or won’t stand up for themselves.  But there is a hidden fragility to her that calls to Sebastian.  The chemistry between these two is off the charts.  And the sex?  Wow, the sex is totally hot.  I mean seriously hot, fan yourself and change into a new pair of panties hot.

The only issue I had with this series is the repetition of dialogue.  Something bad happened to Aria 14 months ago that caused her to walk away from her entire family (with the exception of her very sick younger sister), giving up the family’s name and money.  You know something bad happened to her because she thinks about it several times throughout each novella.  After a while, I stopped finding this suspenseful and just found it annoying, especially when it’s not until right at the end of the series that we find out what actually happened to her.  There’s also a tonne of talk about control, which to be honest, I started skipping over as I couldn’t make sense out of it some of the time.

Play Me sort of ends in a HEA, but at the same time, it sort of doesn’t.  They have sex, Aria reveals her deep dark secret, Sebastian vows to avenge Aria and the series is over.  There’s no prologue several months or years down the track to see how they’re going.  It just ends, which gives the series a bit of an incomplete feel to it.  But at the end, there is a notation that says to look out for Sebastian and Aria’s cameo in Exposed (Ethan Frost # 3), so maybe it’s been left incomplete for a reason.

Play Me: The Complete Story

My Rating:  4 Hearts

Buy Links:
Amazon.US:  Play Me: The Complete Story
Amazon.AU:  Play Me: The Complete Story
B&N:  Play Me: The Complete Story

Visit Tracy Wolff:  Click Here

No Limit (Armed & Dangerous # 1)

By L.P. Dover

BR No Limit

Synopsis

Murder. Lies. Betrayal.

I deal with those things every day. My name is Jason Avery, one of the best undercover agents in the country. I have yet to fail on a mission, which is why I’ve been sent to Vegas. Countless women have been abducted, tortured, only to show up dead in the middle of the night. It’s my job to find out which sick f*** is responsible. Unfortunately, every lead sends me to a dead end; at least, until Aylee McFadden shows up at my door.

Aylee is a stubborn, headstrong FBI agent and also one of the sexiest women I’ve ever seen with a gun. In joining me, it gives us the leverage we need to get on the inside. She fights me at every turn, but soon realizes there’s more to me than tattoos and a dirty mouth. I can’t get enough of her. Now that we’re in the game, we’re one step closer to solving the crime. However, gambling with money isn’t what the big boys want. They want the one thing I’m not willing to give.

It’s a no limit game, and if I back down I lose everything. I will lose her.

Review

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect with NO LIMIT.  When I signed up to review and promote this, I did so because I recognised L.P. Dover’s name, but then I realised that this seemed to be a complete 180 from her books I’ve read before in the Forever Fae and Second Chances series.  And then when I saw the cover, I got really worried.  But I shouldn’t have judged this book by it’s cover, because WOW, I loved it and didn’t want to put it down.  The story was good, the case was thrilling, the characters were likeable and the sex was hot.

There’s a killer leaving his mark on Vegas working girls, with all the victims coming from one high-end escort service.  The Madam has temporarily shut down her business but her girls are still turning up dead.  Jason is called in and goes undercover as a high roller hoping to get inside the group of wealthy suspects.  After months of no luck, the FBI send in one of their agents to help him out.  Enter Aylee, who plays the part of Jason’s paid companion.  Thanks to her assistance and the appearance of an unlikely ally, they’re able to get inside the group and start eliminating the suspects one at a time.  I had my suspicions as to who the killer could be, but I was shocked at how it played out.  Well done Ms Dover, well done.

I loved Jason and Aylee and I thought they were perfect for each other.  Jason’s used to working alone and is therefore not used to having to place his trust in a partner.  And trust is something Aylee is reluctant to give after being betrayed by her partner on a previous case that almost got her killed.  Jason isn’t a violent man, but he has no problem becoming violent when the situation calls for it.  He has a deep sense of doing the right thing, justice and protecting the innocent.  With Aylee being FBI and Jason being an undercover cop, you just know that right off the bat they’ll hate each other.  But as they work together, they start to respect each other’s skills and qualities, and they realise there’s so much more under the surface.  And when feelings of like and love become part of the equation, Jason’s not so keen to use her as bait anymore and will do anything to protect her, even if it means pissing her off.

The story seemed to move very fast at the beginning.  By the middle it seemed to have slowed down, so either the pace did in fact slow down, or I got used to the fast pace and didn’t notice it anymore.  NO LIMIT is the first book in the Armed & Dangerous series, but it mentions characters that have appeared in her Gloves Off series, at least I assume they’re from that series.  After meeting Kyle, I’m thinking I might have to add that series to my TBR list.  In fact, I just did.

No Limit (Armed & Dangerous # 1)

My Rating:  5 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon | iBooks

Visit L.P. Dover:  Click Here


Armed & Dangerous Series

Behind The Lens (Sexy Series # 1)

By Heather Dahlgren

BR Behind The Lens

Synopsis

The only thing Kallie Gregory ever wanted to do was take photos. She’s been doing it for as long as she can remember. Having succeeded in becoming an up and coming photographer, she is living her dream daily. She’s not willing to risk anything to ruin what she’s built.

Jax Burke has been living his dream. He’s one of the most sought after male models with his sexy look, muscular body and brilliant tattoos that are becoming increasingly more recognizable. He has no problem getting anything that he wants, including the ladies.

When Kallie and Jax meet there’s an instant connection. They become fast friends and spend the majority of their time together, both realizing how much they have in common with their dreams and goals. The closer they get to each other, the stronger their attraction becomes.

Only problem is, Jax is willing to risk it all for a chance at love, but Kallie is not.

Is it possible for Jax to convince Kallie to see what is behind the lens?

Review

Kallie runs her own photography business and she has one golden rule:  Never have sex with the models.  And that rule has served her well over the years as she’s watched other photographers and models ruin their careers just for some fun between the sheets.  But then she meets Jax.  She wants Jax and Jax wants her, but she’s determined not to break that one very important rule.  As Jax gets to know her, he understands where she’s coming from and he’ll take her any way he can get her.  If friendship is all she’s offering, friendship is what she’ll get.  But that doesn’t stop him from trying to convince her to break the rules just for him.

I liked that Jax wasn’t chasing after Kallie just because she said “No” to him.  And while it was hard for him to remain just friends when he wanted more, he never felt like he was wasting his time with her, he never pushed her away nor did he give up on what they could have together.  Despite his frustrations (aka blue balls), he wanted more than just sex with her; he wanted a relationship.  And reading about it was totally swoon-worthy.

I thought Behind The Lens was a very nice story and the relationship between Jax and Kallie was very sweet.  I think their relationship moved from friends to lovers at a good pace and was very realistic.  That being said, I did have some issues with the book.  I thought the story as a whole was a little slow and I wished it moved a little faster.  The writing style distracted me as I found a good majority of the sentences to be short and very choppy, but at the same time, overly descriptive in what was happening at any given point in time.  There was also a great lack of contractions used.  Instead of using words like I’ll or We’ve, it was almost always I will or We have.  I think the author was trying to use correct and proper english, which is fine I guess, except people just don’t talk like that nowadays.  There also seemed to be some issues with the timeline, and there’s a little bit of back and forth between past and current events that were hard to follow.  This could have been solved by using breaks or a different font to identify the change.  I did have an ARC of this book, so perhaps this is not a problem in the published version.

Character wise, I didn’t like to read that some of them smoked.  I get that in real life people smoke, but reading about it in a book doesn’t do anything for me, nor does it make them seem cool or more real to me.  All it did was make me realise that almost none of the 800+ books I’ve read over the years had smokers in them.  And why doesn’t Kallie know her father?  That’s a question that was never asked, but never answered either.  Did he die?  Did he abandon her?  There’s just nothing, which I thought was odd.  If you’re going to mention that a character doesn’t have a father, at least mention why.  Otherwise why even bring it up?  Unless that’s going to be mentioned in a future book one day.  Who knows.  Of course, that could be my OCD coming out, demanding the answers to the universe.

Behind The Lens (Sexy Series # 1)

My Rating:  4 Hearts

Buy Links:  Amazon

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