Three NewAdult/Adult Romance 5-Star Mini-Reviews

These are not YA/Teen, so I decided to group them together, although one isn't really quite the same as the others, it matches most closely for how I wanted to group them.  I've reviewed them in order of steam in a way.  While the first one is a paranormal romance, the age of the characters make it New Adult, and it is just slightly sexy.  The last one in the review is VERY sexy, probably way more than some people are interested in, so you can stop before that if you want to.  Again, trying to get caught up on my reviews!

Brave (A Wicked Trilogy #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout:

Genre:  New Adult Paranormal Romance
Published:  December 11th, 2017
Source:  Purchased physical copy
My rating:  5 stars

After the end of the second book in the series, Torn, I was so ready to read on, I just didn't quite have the time to pick it up right away. But, as usual, with any JLA book, I picked it up and could barely put it down to go to sleep!  I love the way the end all went down.  It was a battle worth reading, the build-up, the betrayals, the things that had to be sacrificed, all of it was so good.  And as usual, I adored Tink.  So much about him in this book. And then of course, there was Ren.  I love Ren, but I'm with Ivy when she gets mad about him trying to keep her out of the action.  Even if you get his motivation.  There were also very steamy moments with Ivy and Ren.  I loved the twist with the Prince, and the Queen, and all of it!  I won't say a lot, because I won't give stuff away for those who haven't read the other books in the series.   In case you haven't read even the first one yet, go check out my review of Wicked, HERE.  So far, I have yet to find anything that JLA can do wrong when writing a story.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

Ivy Morgan hasn't been feeling like herself lately. Not like anyone can blame her. After all, being held captive by a psychotic fae prince hell-bent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld is bound to leave some mental scars. 

It’s more than that, though. Something dark and insidious is spreading throughout Ivy, more powerful than she could ever imagine... and it’s coming between her and the man she’s fallen deeply in love with, elite Order member Ren Owens. 

Ren would do anything to keep Ivy safe. Anything. But when he makes a life altering choice for her, the fallout of his act has far reaching consequences that threaten to tear their lives apart. 

If Ivy is going to have any hope of surviving this, she must put aside the hurt and betrayal she feels, and work with not only those she loves, but with an enemy she would rather kill than ever trust. War is coming, and it soon becomes clear that what Ivy and Ren thought they knew about the Order, themselves, and even their enemies, has been nothing but a cluster of dangerous, deadly lies. 

Ivy knows she must be more than just brave to save those she loves--and, ultimately, to save herself. 

Because behind every evil fae Prince, there’s a Queen….

Felony Ever After:  A Domino Anthology - 13 authors - 1 story:

Authors:  Debra Anastasia, Belle Aurora, Nina Bocci, JM Darhower, Helena Hunting, Vi Keeland, SM Lumetta, Liv Morris, Leisa Rayven, KA Robinson, Katherine Stevens, Tijan, Penelope Ward
Genre:  Adult Contemporary Romance
Published:  March 22nd, 2016
Source:  Won copy in FB giveaway, gifting did not influence my opinion
My rating:  5 stars 

Can I just say WOW?!  This book had every chapter done by a different author, but honestly, I couldn't tell it was a different person writing!  Normally you get a little bit different feel, but not with this, it flowed perfectly!  And the story was a fun one, maybe had a few predictable aspects to the story, but they played out uniquely and kept my interest.  In fact at one point it went in a totally different direction than I expected.  Also, hilarious!  The hilarity of each chapter is another thing that amazed me.  Normally not all authors can do the same funny, but these all did!  I'd had this sitting in my room for awhile to read since I won it, but decided to finally pick it up and read it when I realized there were several authors in it that were new to me, but that I would get the chance to meet them at Book Bonanza in July.  I also am interested to read other books by these authors now.   Oh yeah, I love when books use things like emails or instant messaging, etc., to tell the story. This one included Twitter posts, which were part of what made this such a hilarious story.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:  

Verity Michaels is new to New York City, but even she knows riding in a stolen cab is not a normal way to meet someone. Damn it if that tattoo-covered would-be felon isn’t everywhere now, and lighting everything on fire under her skirt.

His name is Hudson Fenn, and he’s frustratingly impossible to pin down. He works as a bike messenger, but has the manners of a prince—along with a strange tendency toward breaking and entering. As much as Verity knows he’s not her type, and likely to land her in jail, she can’t help but find her truest self when they’re together.

Can she be brave enough to give Hudson a real chance? Will he be bold enough to reveal the man beneath the ink, or will his secrecy doom their connection? Also, WTF is the deal with Verity’s boss? No less than thirteen of your favorite romance writers have teamed up to tell this sexy, wacky, snort-inducing tale. With them you’ll visit the world’s most irritating office, a VIP room of questionable cleanliness, and the fanciest apartment a bike messenger has ever inhabited, but you’ll still never see this ending coming.

Rock F*ck Club by Michelle Mankin:

Genre:  Adult Rock Star Romance
Published:  April 10th, 2017
Source:  Purchased copy from author at KIKC 2018
My rating:  5 stars  

So this one is a LOT raunchier than the other two books in this post, so I saved it for last.  If too much sex, taboo sex, etc., is not your thing, or offends you, you probably want to stop reading this post.  Because as you can probably tell from the title it is basically about sex.  I'm going to be honest, and you know I liked this book, I gave it 5 stars.  But honestly, I love that it didn't water down what the actual plot/storyline was supposed to be.  She really did follow through with her 10 rock stars, well, for the most part.  Early on in the story she did meet the one that she ends up with, the one that she will fall in love with. But at first he was kind of irritating to her.  So she kept going with her plan.  There was one of the guys that turned out to be a bad guy, and intended to do things she didn't want to do, force her even.  And the way the author handled that whole situation was done well in my opinion.  This book definitely was one that gave the woman the power, the permission if you will, to take her sexuality and do with it as she wanted, not to feel she had to conform to what society believes.  It also showed that not only was it okay, there was a guy out there, who while he may not have been happy, he was jealous, he didn't shame her or look down on her as society does. And I think that is important in the world of romance, that it can be shown that way.  Again, that is my opinion.

I met this author for the first time at the Kinky in Kansas City Convention this past March, and I look forward to seeing her again at Book Bonanza in July, and will probably buy another book from her.  Well, if I decide to do any pre-ordering!  But I know I will read more by her in the future.  She knows how to put the steam into the love story.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

10 cities in two weeks 10 famous rockstars. On my knees. Against the wall. On my tits
I don't care. As long as I get the evidence to prove it. Why? Because I caught my former prick of a boyfriend from Heavy Metal Enthusiasts doing a groupie doggie style backstage on the night we were supposed to be celebrating our 1 year anniversary.

He told me I was too uptight. Too vanilla. Too boring. So I got drunk with my bestie, Marsha West, the aspiring videographer. I ranted. I raved. I came up with a crazy idea. What I didn't know was that my best friend recorded me. Marsha put the video up on YouTube. It went viral with 10 million hits. Now I've got fans and sponsors offering me big bucks.

Rockstars are volunteering to be my f*ck buddy.
Hollywood is calling.
I get to choose which rockstars I want.
The stakes are high.
This sh*t just got real.
What could go wrong? 

Three Adult Contemporary Romance Reviews - Theresa Hissong, Kristen Proby, and Sarah Title

Still playing catch-up!!  So here are three reviews of physical books I had to read.

Fatal Desires (Fatal Cross Live #1) by Theresa Hissong:

Genre:  Rock star romantic suspense
Published:  August 14th, 2015
Source:  Purchased at Kinky in Kansas City Convention 2018
My rating:  4 stars

So this is the first book by this author that I've read, but won't be the last.  I met the author at the 2nd annual Kinky in Kansas City romance author convention this past March.  I didn't get a picture with her, because I usually only do that with authors I already have read and know that I like their books.  This was definitely a book that was hard to put down.  I'd pick it up, and tell myself I was only going to read a chapter or two before bed, but before I knew it, I'd read several more chapters than that.  I liked all the characters, and I like that it seemed like it was pretty realistic the way things were handled.  There were definitely moments that had me crying, based on what what happening to the characters or how they were feeling about things that had happened or things that they'd done.  I like that it puts in the fact that drugs are probably pretty matter of fact in the world of rock stars, but that our characters are all fighting to stay sober and clean.  Of course I also loved that the tour went to Kansas City, my town!  My only real issue with the book, and it is totally silly, is that there were no page numbers.  :-)  It  made it hard for me to keep track in Goodreads how far I was.  I know, that's stupid.  And it isn't anything that made me mark it down in rating.  Just something that bugged my anal reading habits.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
For years, I have worked behind the scenes for my cousin’s band, living my life as simply as possible. Running the inner workings of a rock band is the only thing I know to do. My only saving grace is a long vacation soaking up the sun in some exotic locations around the world between tours. 
One steamy night on an island with Taylor Vaughn, the guitarist for the rock band Fatal Cross, and my world is turned upside down. When he doesn’t return my calls, I end up going through hell alone. Little do I know, he’s fighting his own personal demons. 
 
When he fills in on my cousin’s tour for a few weeks, I am forced to work with the man who stole my heart months before on a private island. It isn’t easy being around him, but I am determined to keep my head low and pray this tour ends soon, but does anything ever go as planned?

Falling for Trouble (Librarians in Love #2) by Sarah Title:
Published:  June 27th, 2017
Source:  Purchased 
My rating:  4 stars 

So, I loved the first book in the series, The Undateable, and this one was pretty good as well.   It was a quick read, and hard to put down.  While I didn't necessarily connect with the female in this one, I did connect with all the stuff about the library funding that the male character was dealing with.  The small town was funny, and I loved how all the women would have to go outside and watch the new hot librarian, Liam, when he was jogging in the morning.  The storyline behind Joanna's band, as well as her problems with the other small town characters was a blast.  A cute fun read.  Definitely recommended!  Not a lot to say on this one other than that, guess it's really a mini-review this time!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
The riot grrrl and the bookworm--just the pair to get the whole town talking... 
Liam Byrd loves Halikarnassus, New York. He loves its friendliness, its nosiness, the vibrant library at the center of it all. And now that Joanna Green is home, the whole town sizzles. A rebel like her stirs up excitement, action, desire--at least in Liam. 
Joanna never thought she'd have to come back to her dull, tiny fishbowl of a hometown ever again. She almost had a record deal for her all-girl rock band. She almost had it made in L.A. And then her deal went sour and her granny broke her leg . . . and now here she is, running into everybody's favorite librarian every time she heads to a dive bar or catches up with old friends. 
He has charm, he has good taste in music--and the sight of him in running shorts is dangerously distracting. But when he loves her old town and she can't wait to check out, their new romance is surely destined for the book drop...

Savor You (Fusion #5) by Kristen Proby:

Published:  April 24th, 2018
Source:  ARC won from Goodreads giveaway
My rating:  5 stars

I've only read one other book by this author, Easy Love, which is part of an entirely different series. But I've wanted to read this series for awhile.  I've met the author, I believe it was at Apollycon, or maybe it was at NOLA Storycon the year before that.  I was excited to win a copy of this book from Goodreads, and I was not disappointed with it at all.  In fact, I'm now so excited to get my hands on the earlier books in the series so I can learn where all the couples mentioned in this book got their starts and what their stories are.  About 30 pages in I was giggling at the "twitch" moment.  It's an inside joke from NOLA Storycon.  Not sure I'll ever be able to read that in a book and not giggle these days.  Then there was the moment when I learned that shower sex may not be as glorious as it is made out to be in romance novels.  That's something I've never tried, so I'll have to take the word of the character in the book about how it's not that great for the girl a lot of times.  And then there was a quote towards the end that was perfect.    "When a person tells you that you've hurt them, you don't get to decide that you didn't".  That's something I feel like I've dealt with.  People tell me they didn't hurt me when I tell them what they've done.  Instead of apologizing and realize I felt that way, they don't get to decide that they've hurt me. They can say they didn't mean to, and they're sorry that it hurt me, but they can't say they didn't hurt me.  Sorry, a little soapbox moment for me.  

I loved our slightly overweight heroine, totally identified with her. And I loved her guy.  I loved the story, and loved the whole world this book was a part of.  I'm sure you'll see me review more of these books in the future.  I'll have to even check to see if they're available as audiobooks from my library.  I'll be getting the chance to see this author again at Book Bonanza, will have to get this ARC signed!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
In the next sizzling romance in Kristen Proby's New York Timesbestselling Fusion series, two celebrity chefs compete in a culinary competition, but resisting each other will prove to be the greater challenge.

Cooking isn't what Mia Palazzo does, it's who she is. Food is her passion . . . her pride . . . her true love. She's built a stellar menu full of delicious and sexy meals for her restaurant, Seduction. Now, after being open for only a few short years, Mia’s restaurant is being featured on Best Bites TV. To say Seduction is a wild success is an understatement. All the blood, sweat, tears, and endless hours of work Mia has put into the restaurant has finally paid off. 

Then Camden Sawyer, the biggest mistake of her life, walks into her kitchen . . . 

Camden's celebrity chef status is world-renowned. He's the best there is, and the kitchen is where he's most at home. He can't resist the invitation to Portland for a showdown against Mia for a new television show. Mia was in his life years ago, and just like before, he's met his match in the beautiful Italian spitfire. The way she commands the kitchen is mesmerizing, and her recipes are clever and delicious. He's never had qualms about competition, and this is no different. He can't wait to go head to head with Mia. But can he convince her the chemistry they share in the kitchen would be just as great in the bedroom as well?

As Mia and Camden face off, neither realizes how high the stakes are as their reputations are put on the line and their hearts are put to the ultimate test.

Five Mini-Reviews

I started the year so well, February I had no unfinished reviews as the month started. But then I got behind, and I began March with three.  One of them was part of a blog tour, so it is already done.  But here it is over halfway through the month, so I thought I'd better get a few of these past due reviews, plus a few from this month done.  These are all pretty much adult romance, but not all five fit the same category under that heading.  So that's why the generic title for this post.  Oh well, let's get to it!

The Spring Girls by Anna Todd:

Genre:  Contemporary - Little Women retelling
Published:  January 2nd, 2018
Source:  Purchased paperback
My rating:  4 stars

If you've followed my blog for a while, you know that I loved the whole After series by Anna Todd, and so I'm excited to read any and all books that she puts out.  To be honest though, I've never actually read any of the Little Women books.  So while I know the characters basically from being a reader, the story itself wasn't anything I knew exactly.  However, I really enjoyed this book despite not knowing the original.  It did not make me want to go back and read it, but the way it ended, I really do hope for a sequel.  What was really cool was that only 22 pages in, they mentioned my friend's bar in New Orleans, Spirits on Bourbon, and it was a location used for one of the character's jobs in the book.  About a fourth of the way in, I was already hooked. There were definitely parts that I was crying a bit during.  And at the end, there was a twist I did NOT see coming.  Another great story from a great storyteller, Anna Todd.  Here's hoping there will be a sequel!

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Four sisters desperately seeking the blueprints to life—the modern-day retelling of Louise May Alcott’s Little Women like only Anna Todd (After, Imagines) could do.

The Spring Girls—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—are a force of nature on the New Orleans military base where they live. As different as they are, with their father on tour in Iraq and their mother hiding something, their fears are very much the same. Struggling to build lives they can be proud of and that will lift them out of their humble station in life, one year will determine all that their futures can become.

The oldest, Meg, will be an officer’s wife and enter military society like so many of the women she admires. If her passion—and her reputation—don’t derail her.

Beth, the workhorse of the family, is afraid to leave the house, is afraid she’ll never figure out who she really is.

Jo just wants out. Wishing she could skip to graduation, she dreams of a life in New York City and a career in journalism where she can impact the world. Nothing can stop her—not even love.

And Amy, the youngest, is watching all her sisters, learning from how they handle themselves. For better or worse.

With plenty of sass, romance, and drama, The Spring Girls revisits Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women, and brings its themes of love, war, class, adolescence, and family into the language of the twenty-first century.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon:

Series:  Outlander #1
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Published:  June 1st, 1991
Source:  Purchased paperback
My rating:  5 stars

So of course I had been wanting to read these for about a year.  I'd purchased the boxed set for my sister-in-law for Christmas back in 2016.  Then when I switched my cable from U-verse to Direct TV this past fall, I was lucky enough to get a free trial of Starz.  So I decided to start watching the tv show first.  Of course I fell in love.  I started reading the book about the same time, however the book is so long that I didn't finish it until a while after I'd finished all three of the seasons of the show that are out.  I loved the book just as much though.  I felt like the show did a pretty good job of following the book. Obviously there were things that were left out of the show, and they also had to change some things in the show just to make it work as a tv show.  But overall, I was very pleased.  I found myself going back and rereading scenes over and over that I really enjoyed.  And while I found myself kind of skipping over some of the details and descriptions as I read, like I used to do when I had more time to read, I'm okay with that. Because I know that this is a book I will read over and over.  I didn't think I could love Jamie any more than the show made me love him, but I was wrong.  Boy was I wrong.  I can't wait to have the time to pick up the next book in the series.  I'm now converted to a huge fan of both the books, and of course the show.  Loved it, loved it, loved it!  If you haven't tried it yet, you need to soon.  And because I love Jamie so much, I've got to share a gif from the show.




Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

#Player by Cambria Hebert:

Series:  Hashtag #3
Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance
Published:  March 6th, 2015
Source:  Purchased audio from Audible
My rating:  5 stars

I've really enjoyed this series, you can read my review of book one and two at these links:  #Nerd and  #Hater.  Book two definitely ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, and it was so frustrating that my library did not have it for me to download. So when I resubscribed to Audible, I decided to just go ahead and buy this next one.  And honestly, I loved it.  First off, is there such an alcoholic beverage as Smurf Balls?  Because I want to try it.  I'm hoping to get to meet the author at Book Bonanza in Denver in July, so maybe I'll ask her for the recipe.  And then there was BBFL - Big Brother for Life.  Then, there are the little intros to each chapter, and the one for chapter 33 is something that I know I've posted myself on Facebook or Twitter many, many times, and that is: 
“The most annoying sound in the world is a morning alarm. #firstworldproblems”
I love that this book totally wrapped up Rimmel and Romeo's story, but I want to read more from the Hashtag world, especially to hear BBFL Braeden's story.  So I'll be listening to that one somewhere down the road!  I definitely recommend this series.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Players gotta play.
Hate is like a poison. It contaminates everything.
So does doubt.
Even though I deny what I overheard, even though I insist it isn’t true, the seed of doubt has been planted. I can’t help but be tormented with the endless what-if’s that have taken over our lives.
Romeo and I were happy in love. The future stretched before us brighter than any star in the darkest sky. Now everything is broken. Literally broken. Romeo’s entire career is at stake, my entire future is threatened… and my past?
It’s coming back to haunt me.
To haunt us.
Romeo says we’re in this together and right now the only sure thing is us. But how far can a love so new be pushed? The lengths we will have to go to save each other puts everything at risk.
Romeo is a #player but how much of the game can one person play?

The Player by K. Bromberg:

Series:  The Player #1
Genre:   Sports Romance
Published:  April 17th, 2017
Source: Received audiobook from author
My rating:  5 stars

Let me tell you something about this author, she really knows how to get you with a cliffhanger!  I had assumed, yeah-yeah, I know what assuming does, that this was going to be a series where each book was about a different player on the team.  Just so you know, I was wrong.  The way this ended, GAH!  The narrators were some of my favorites, Andi Arndt and Joe Arden.  I had to stop in the middle to listen to another audiobook by the author that I was supposed to review by a certain date.  But when I started listening to this again I was hooked right back in.  Not to mention I'm still a little unsure about Santiago.  I thought maybe one thing was going to happen, but then at the end there was a whole twist that I did NOT see coming.  And wow was it a good one.  Of course I had already used my February credit on the Meghan March audiobook I'm listening to currently, so I had to wait for my March credit to get the sequel to this one.  Which I cannot wait to get started on and find out what is going to happen!

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Baseball has never been sexier in an all-new novel by New York Times Bestselling Author, K. Bromberg.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty. The game is his life. His passion. His everything.

So, when an injury threatens to end Easton’s season early, the team calls in the renowned physical therapist, Doc Dalton, to oversee his recovery. Except it’s not Doc who greets Easton for his first session, but rather his daughter, Scout. She may be feisty, athletic, defiant, and gorgeous, but Easton is left questioning whether she has what it takes to help him. 

Scout Dalton’s out to prove a female can handle the pressure of running the physical therapy regimen of an MLB club. And that proof comes in the form of getting phenom Easton Wylder back on the field. But getting him healthy means being hands-on. 

And with a man as irresistible as Easton, being hands-on can only lead to one thing, trouble. Because the more she touches him, the more she wants him, and she can’t want him. Not when it’s her job to side in the club’s best interest if he’s ready to play. 

But when sparks fly and fine lines are crossed, can they withstand the heat or is one of them bound to get burned?

Son of Kong by T.S. Joyce:

Series:  Sons of Beasts #2
Genre:   Shifter Romance
Published:  August 23rd, 2017
Source: Purchased paperback
My rating:  3 stars

So, no, I'm not a normal fan of shifter stories.  And this one didn't really turn me into one.  It wasn't horrible, but it really wasn't that good.  I only bought it because, well, because of the cover model, as well as I was meeting the author at the Kinky in Kansas City romance author convention earlier this month.  Plus, the people in line in front of me were going on and on about how much they loved her books, and the people in line behind me. I did purchase one with the same cover model last year when I met her, again, the only reason I was in the line was to meet him really.  Okay, but on with my review.

Like that one former author friend of mine that didn't like my reviews of her books, I have some of the same issues with this.  It definitely needed some extra editing. But when you're self-publishing, you don't have to do that I guess.  I have been lucky enough lately to read a lot of self-published books where the authors took the extra time or spent the money to have someone do that for them, and it really makes a difference.  The story was okay, not horrible.  One of the characters made me laugh, Nox, I think probably who was the main character of the first book in the series.  And there were things left for the next book that while I am kind of interested in, I don't think I'll ever read on.  At least I doubt I'll have the time.  I do need to share the picture of me with the cover model and author here.  I did also pick this one, because hey, son of King Kong?  Just sounds like fun.

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Torren Taylor has a gorilla problem. The birthmark on his back says he is supposed to be the new Kong, but he wants nothing to do with his people. Shunning their traditions means his silverback is out of control and on a one-way track to crazy-town. He accepted his shortened life a long time ago, but right now all he wants to do is live long enough to for a couple last bucket list items. When a rare beauty shows up at his door and offers to keep his animal steady for two hundred bucks a week, well, he’s mighty tempted to pay to prolong his life. Especially if it means spending time with Candace, who seems to have a knack for calming dominant men. She’s a good girl gone bad, and he wants to corrupt her even further. But something’s brewing against his crew, and drawing her in closer will put her at risk. And now Torren is torn on one important decision: be selfish and live longer, or shorten Candace’s life with the danger building around the Sons of Beasts. 

Candace Sumner needs a change. She’s back in Foxburg paying off big debts and taking desperate measures to do so. She had to give up her dreams to come back to her hometown, and now she wants a break from the monotony. And maybe a friend or two wouldn’t hurt either. An offer to keep a local silverback shifter steady sounds like an adventure, but when she sees Torren for the first time, her plans at aloofness are squashed. He is the type of man who is the perfect combination of sweet and deadly that could finally make her feel safe in her life. Too bad he’s going crazy, and his crew could go down in flames at any second. 

Candace wanted an adventure, but she didn’t bargain for love, betrayal, and a group of the worst-best friends a shifter like her could ask for. 


Content Warning: Explicit love scenes, naughty language, and piles of sexy shifter secrets. Intended for mature audiences.