Category: B reviews (Page 33 of 74)

Scoring Wilder by RS Grey, narrated by Jessica Almasy

March 20, 2015 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I was provided with a review copy by Audible Studios.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) What started out as a joke— seduce Coach Wilder—soon became a goal she had to score.

With Olympic tryouts on the horizon, the last thing nineteen-year-old Kinsley Bryant needs to add to her plate is Liam Wilder. He’s a professional soccer player, America’s favorite bad-boy, and has all the qualities of a skilled panty-dropper.

• A face that makes girls weep – check.
• Abs that can shred Parmesan cheese (the expensive kind) – check.
• Enough confidence to shift the earth’s gravitational pull – double check.

Not to mention Liam is strictly off limits . Forbidden. Her coaches have made that perfectly clear. (i.e. “Score with Coach Wilder anywhere other than the field and you’ll be cut from the team faster than you can count his tattoos.”) But that just makes him all the more enticing…Besides, Kinsley’s already counted the visible ones, and she is not one to leave a project unfinished.

Kinsley tries to play the game her way as they navigate through forbidden territory, but Liam is determined to teach her a whole new definition for the term “team bonding.”

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I have the print version of this book on my TBR but my TBL is far shorter so I find it easier to listen when I have the opportunity. Kinsley is a little… hyperactive on occasion and new-to-me narrator Jessica Almasy depicted that well. I couldn’t fault the way she portrayed the character. While there were times Kinsley felt very young (and therefore me old) the narration was true to the text. I also thought Ms. Almasy had a great “hero voice” and I liked the way she delivered Liam’s dialogue.
Continue reading

Rocky Mountain Freedom by Vivian Arend

March 11, 2015 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I bought it because I couldn’t wait for the audiobook (which I think will be available soon, just not soon enough for me!).

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Three hurting hearts. Too many secrets. One chance to conquer their fears.

Over the past year, Travis Coleman lost the two people he allowed closest to his heart. Both gave him ultimatums—then left. Hell if he needs that kind of pain again. Time to move forward without the friends he thought might save him from his dangerous cravings.

When Ashley Sims returns to Rocky Mountain House, her rambling lifestyle isn’t all she’s hoping to change. Travis snagged a piece of her, and while getting tangled in his issues again might be crazy, she hasn’t given up on him.

Nine months ago, Cassidy Jones walked away to stop his best friend from making a huge mistake. Temptation lingers, though, and when Travis shows up on his turf accompanied by a sensually uninhibited woman, the combination tosses fuel on the banked fire.

Passion flares among the three of them, as hot as the summer days. But are they willing to push the limits, and fight for love?

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I was in the mood for hot and sexy and reliably good so I checked where I was up to in the Six Pack Ranch series and downloaded Rocky Mountain Freedom. My favourite kind of menage book is where all three are romantically and sexually involved. Here, I thought there was perhaps a bit of a fairytale acceptance of the polyamorous relationship but the problems weren’t entirely glossed over either and I was able to buy into the fantasy of the romance without any trouble.
Continue reading

Across the Line by Kate Willoughby

March 3, 2015 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: This is one from my own TBR.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Calder Griffin needs to get back in shape. Sidelined last season by a knee injury, he’s determined to return to the San Diego Barracudas and play the best hockey of his career. This might even be the year he gets out of his talented older brother’s shadow.

For months, Becca Chen has poured her energy into Cups, the restaurant she owns, desperate to prove to her parents that she can succeed in the career of her choice, not theirs. But after she spends a five-hour plane ride flirting with charming, magic-on-the-ice Calder, she tells herself she needs a fling.

Becca and Calder can’t keep their hands off each other, but they know the relationship can’t last. They live on opposite coasts, and they’re both too devoted to their careers. All they have to do is prevent their feelings from crossing the line from lust to love…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I enjoyed On the Surface, the first book in the In the Zone series very much so I really have no excuse for taking so long to buy and read this one. Especially because it turns out, I pretty much lapped this one up with a spoon.
Continue reading

February Round Up

March 2, 2015 / Kaetrin

Monthly Mini Review

Protecting Their Mate (Part 1) by Mia Thorne – B- (review copy provided via author) This is a very hot, very short read, coming in (heh) at around 30 pages. Ashley is a 20 year old wolf shifter who has been kept away from the pack by her parents, to live only in the human world. Every month it is increasingly difficult for her to manage the sexual craving she has at the full moon and her parents lock her away in the basement. This month has been even worse and it has been four days and no-one has given her any food.

The local pack Alpha has sent his second, Blake, to find Ashley after hearing word she is being mistreated. When he finds her, she is not only in serious need of his help (in a number of ways) he also finds that she is in mating heat. It appears she’s the only remaining female werewolf who can bear offspring. This obviously makes her very important to the survival of the pack. Continue reading

Four Seconds to Lose by KA Tucker

February 20, 2015 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I reviewed this one for ARRA. (NB: This review first appeared in the ARRA members November 2014 newsletter.) The book was provided to ARRA by the publisher for review.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Cain Ford owns a strip club, “Penny’s” in Miami. His parents and sister were killed in a drug related murder and Cain feels some responsibility, in particular, for his sister’s death. He feels he should have looked after her better and if he had, she would not have been with their parents when they were attacked. Cain made a lot of money from underground fighting and then opened a strip club with the express purpose of giving girls who choose that line of work (for whatever reason) a safe place. He actually goes further than that – he will help girls get out of that line of work and into something better if he can – this includes paying for therapy and helping them get an education and/or get clean of drugs. He has a strict “no sleeping with the staff” policy and he runs a clean place – strictly no drugs and no prostitution. The girls can do whatever they wish as long as it’s legal and he will see they’re protected and offered opportunity to move on if that’s what they want. Cain’s halo is very sparkly and the only thing that saves him from being a complete white knight is that he has a darker edge to him. He is not above using violence or setting someone up for a drug offence if it means protecting his girls. He can be pushy and he does a thorough background check of any potential staff but he’s mostly just a really good guy – except that he will cross the line in pursuit of a good cause. Continue reading

Trade Me by Courtney Milan

February 11, 2015 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the author via NetGalley.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Tina Chen just wants a degree and a job, so her parents never have to worry about making rent again. She has no time for Blake Reynolds, the sexy billionaire who stands to inherit Cyclone Technology. But when he makes an off-hand comment about what it means to be poor, she loses her cool and tells him he couldn’t last a month living her life.

To her shock, Blake offers her a trade: She’ll get his income, his house, his car. In exchange, he’ll work her hours and send money home to her family. No expectations; no future obligations.

But before long, they’re trading not just lives, but secrets, kisses, and heated nights together. No expectations might break Tina’s heart…but Blake’s secrets could ruin her life.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Lots of people in my little corner of the internet have been loving this book and it’s certainly generated a lot of buzz. It took me a little while to get into and I thought the back half was stronger. It also challenged my thinking in some areas and that’s always worthwhile. Continue reading