Showing posts with label Contemporary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contemporary. Show all posts
I missed releasing this post last week so here it is. I'm back with a series of books that I read a long time ago, but I remember enjoying them. What can I say? I go through a rockstar romance phase every once in a while. Have you read this series before? Have you tried this author? Hopefully my reviews inspire someone to give Nora Flite books a chance.
Hard Body Rock
She thought she was stepping into fame.
Meeting Drezden Halifax should have been a dream. But dreams are supposed to be sweet, fragile things that whisk you away. Not monsters crafted from hard fingers, gritty vocal cords and a voice so powerful it could tear my guts right out.
Maybe my heart, too.
Becoming the guitarist for Four and a Half Headstones was everything I needed.
Too bad the band's lead singer is doing his best to ruin everything I am.
He thought she would solve his troubles.
Lola Cooper, god damn Lola Cooper. She was the perfect guitarist, fingers that could summon a sweet song or punch a chord. She's supposed to save my band, make us come out of this tour in one piece...
But I just want to tear HER to pieces.
No one should make me feel this way. One look at her, one smell, and I knew I'd have to have her. She does things to me that scare the shit out of me. Make me want to slam her on a wall and listen to her cries: eager or fearful, it doesn't matter.
I'm a monster...
And I don't even care.
Rating - 
I'm new to this author and found her writing edgy, funky and unique. I can't recall reading anything else like it. That being said, I kind of got lost in translation. I felt like the book was too descriptive that I kept getting confused about what was really going on. Where Drezden's POV was pretty clear and direct, I found Lola's was convoluted. It was all over the place, especially the scene in the bathroom. Wth was that?! A bunch of useless words to say that you fell in the bathtub and felt his hard-on. I hope the next book is clearer because I feel like I just walked out of a fog!
I'm new to this author and found her writing edgy, funky and unique. I can't recall reading anything else like it. That being said, I kind of got lost in translation. I felt like the book was too descriptive that I kept getting confused about what was really going on. Where Drezden's POV was pretty clear and direct, I found Lola's was convoluted. It was all over the place, especially the scene in the bathroom. Wth was that?! A bunch of useless words to say that you fell in the bathtub and felt his hard-on. I hope the next book is clearer because I feel like I just walked out of a fog!
Slow Body Rock
He knew he was addicted.
I thought it'd be smoking that killed me. Lola is more addictive than tobacco could hope to be.
After feeling her warm body, touching her skin... even if it was an accident, I've given up.
The monster inside of me is going to consume her.
I'm too tired to fight it.
And I honestly don't want to.
She knew it was risking everything.
Why is he trying to mess up my ONE opportunity at success?
My very god damn existence?
I can't handle this pull between us... a gravity that wants to knot our bodies together and leave me merged.
Ruined.
I thought Drezden cared about his band, that he wouldn't dare do anything that might break them-- and me-- apart.
When did I become the one thing worth losing it all over?
Rating -
Once again the author has wowed me with her words... gritty and raw. The way she weaves the music, the talent, the performance into what is happening in reality makes for an intense read. I'm starting to get a better picture of what makes Drezden and Lola tick. They both seem really broken and I can now understand the draw, the fascination they have with one another. Now that they've taken a risk, I wonder how it will play out.
Once again the author has wowed me with her words... gritty and raw. The way she weaves the music, the talent, the performance into what is happening in reality makes for an intense read. I'm starting to get a better picture of what makes Drezden and Lola tick. They both seem really broken and I can now understand the draw, the fascination they have with one another. Now that they've taken a risk, I wonder how it will play out.
Flawed Body Rock
She wanted to be a rockstar:
I finally have everything.
Fame, presence, the world knows who I am.
Now my life is even harder.
What do you do when every eye watching you is full of jealous hate?
I'm strong enough to not let strangers hurt me...
But when it's my own brother, the stakes change entirely.
He just wanted her to himself:
My claws are in her, but I'm trapped, too.
Waking up, my first thoughts used to be about music.
Lola's changed all of that.
She consumes my dreams; my existence.
My band... the girl I'm obsessed with...
Is there room in this world for both of them?
If not, which do I choose?
Rating -
With patience comes great reward. That is definitely proven when reading this series. Through this book I feel like I finally have a clear picture of both Drezden and Lola. What she went through (and what it seems he went through) was terribly unfair. I really like how this author writes. I was completely absorbed right until the cutoff. I like how the music is such an integral part of each piece of the story. I feel like there is so much more story to read. Hopefully I'm left satisfied with the next and last book.
With patience comes great reward. That is definitely proven when reading this series. Through this book I feel like I finally have a clear picture of both Drezden and Lola. What she went through (and what it seems he went through) was terribly unfair. I really like how this author writes. I was completely absorbed right until the cutoff. I like how the music is such an integral part of each piece of the story. I feel like there is so much more story to read. Hopefully I'm left satisfied with the next and last book.
True Body Rock
He never wanted to look back.
I've always run from my past. It's what keeps me sane; whole.
But what if not facing it means losing the girl I love?
Telling her the truth must sound so simple.
It's a request that could leave me more broken--more hollow and wrecked--than ever before.
She never saw it coming.
Answers.
Answers answers god damn answers.
How far do I have to go to find out what I need? To get to the bottom of the filth and finally find the real person waiting? The man behind those delicious green eyes and intoxicating lips?
If Drezden won't talk to me...
I'll find someone who will.
But why does it feel like they're the one who's been waiting for me?
Rating -
While this conclusion embodied what I've come to know as Nora Flite's raw and gritty talent, the only complaint I had was that I wanted more!! Her theme of honesty ran through this series from beginning to end and I love how it tied in to Drezden and Lola's HFN. And how great was it for her brother Sean to come full circle with the Four and a Half Headstones??? Awesome!
While this conclusion embodied what I've come to know as Nora Flite's raw and gritty talent, the only complaint I had was that I wanted more!! Her theme of honesty ran through this series from beginning to end and I love how it tied in to Drezden and Lola's HFN. And how great was it for her brother Sean to come full circle with the Four and a Half Headstones??? Awesome!
It was kind of exciting that Zip knew so much about me and my career.
I wasn't sure why.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
I wasn't sure why.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Killing Booth by Lani Lynn Vale
Rating -
Standalone - Welcome to the Circus #6
Genre - Contemporary Romance / instalove
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - explicit scenes
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 262 pages
Every single thing you want is going to require you to be uncomfortable.
Those words had been shared with her by the one man she didn’t think she could take a chance on. She just didn’t know that he was right, or that he was going to be the one making her uncomfortable.
Nash Wilder Christopherson was the world’s golden boy.
For fifteen years, she watched Nash race from the safety of her phone. Every single race, PR event, ESPN interview—she was there for it. He was the one thing that kept her sane while having to live the life her father forced her to.
That was all he’d ever be to her, though. A face on the other side of the screen.
Until he showed up at her apartment complex, carried her sister down hundreds and hundreds of stairs during a fire, and changed her opinion of him.
Nash Christopherson was Mean. With a capital M. And he couldn’t stand her.
***
He thought he had everything under control. Then he met her.
Nash knew from the moment he saw Zip waiting in her apartment, looking panicked, that she was going to damage him. She was going to pull him in, chew him up, and spit him out.
What he didn’t know was just how much damage he could take.
Nearly a year passed as he tried and failed to stay away.
A full year of her smiles, her playful jabs, her teasing, her eyes on him.
Then he got news that changed his life, and she finally took matters into her own hands, forcing herself into his life and pretty much giving him everything he ever wanted.
Everything was great, until it wasn’t. Life smacked him hard, and when the dust settled, she was gone. The only sign that she was ever there was the cracked and bleeding heart, half beating inside his chest, that yearned to hold her one more time.
Those words had been shared with her by the one man she didn’t think she could take a chance on. She just didn’t know that he was right, or that he was going to be the one making her uncomfortable.
Nash Wilder Christopherson was the world’s golden boy.
For fifteen years, she watched Nash race from the safety of her phone. Every single race, PR event, ESPN interview—she was there for it. He was the one thing that kept her sane while having to live the life her father forced her to.
That was all he’d ever be to her, though. A face on the other side of the screen.
Until he showed up at her apartment complex, carried her sister down hundreds and hundreds of stairs during a fire, and changed her opinion of him.
Nash Christopherson was Mean. With a capital M. And he couldn’t stand her.
***
He thought he had everything under control. Then he met her.
Nash knew from the moment he saw Zip waiting in her apartment, looking panicked, that she was going to damage him. She was going to pull him in, chew him up, and spit him out.
What he didn’t know was just how much damage he could take.
Nearly a year passed as he tried and failed to stay away.
A full year of her smiles, her playful jabs, her teasing, her eyes on him.
Then he got news that changed his life, and she finally took matters into her own hands, forcing herself into his life and pretty much giving him everything he ever wanted.
Everything was great, until it wasn’t. Life smacked him hard, and when the dust settled, she was gone. The only sign that she was ever there was the cracked and bleeding heart, half beating inside his chest, that yearned to hold her one more time.
Previous books in the series:
Fun House * Freak Show * Show Off * Clown Motel * Sold to the Circus
Sweet baby love, this story wrecked me and I'm sitting here kinda rocking in my couch, typing this review, wondering when I'll start feeling normal again.
Zip was a firecracker. She was cranky, sweet and so tenderhearted even when she was mad.
Nash was a sweetie, even when he was doing his best to be cruel and push people away.
Their dynamic was intense, full of feels and I'm a mess here in the end.
I'm being intentionally vague here. There is so much to experience in this book and you really to experience it all for yourself.
Know this: This story will tear your heart out. It will also make you smile and swoon and believe in the love between Nash and Zip, far sooner than they did.
Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today bestsellers.
Visit https://lanilynnvale.com for more information.
Why the hell am I trying to make her the enemy?
It seems that's what she's endured all of her damn life.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
It seems that's what she's endured all of her damn life.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Naked Truth by Lisa Renee Jones
Previously published as the Naked Trilogy
Rating -
Standalone - Scandalous Billionaires
Release - March 7, 2024
Genre - Contemporary Romance / revenge
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - explicit scenes
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 688 pages
Jax North. He's handsome, brutally so, and wealthy. Our first encounter is intense and sex is my escape. I go with it. I go with him and what a ride it is. And then, I say goodbye. Only you don't say goodbye to a man like Jax if he doesn't want you to. I've challenged him without meaning to. He wants me. I don't want to want him, and yet, I crave him. And he tears me down, my resistance, my walls. But those walls protect me. They seal my secrets inside. And I forget that being alone is safe.
Before long, my secrets begin to be revealed, and I trust him so deeply that I think maybe he can handle them. Maybe I dare to believe that alone isn't better.
Until I discover that Jax was never an accident.
He has secrets.
He knew my secret. He came for me.
Before long, my secrets begin to be revealed, and I trust him so deeply that I think maybe he can handle them. Maybe I dare to believe that alone isn't better.
Until I discover that Jax was never an accident.
He has secrets.
He knew my secret. He came for me.
The eldest North son is dead and it has been ruled a suicide. However, Jax has some serious doubts. All clues point to the Knight family's involvement and he intends to take them down. That is until he officially meets Emma Knight, the woman he was meant to use to further his revenge. She was nothing like he expected and he's got a choice to make—love or vengeance?
Emma tended to drive me up the wall, but I enjoyed the heck out of this story. Jax more than made up for any ill will I may have felt towards his lady love (which wasn't much). The bond that quickly grew between these characters drew me in like nobody's business. I was glued to these pages and I didn't just want, I needed to know how it would all turn out. Was Chance just like his father? Would Brody be okay? Have I already read Savage's book because dude needs his own story. And how exactly did Hunter die? Besides all that, thank you dear author for giving me some glimpses of the absolutely yummy Grayson and his equally delicious best mate, Eric.
So why 4 and not 5 stars?
In all honesty... and I'm no expert... but I think this story could have been shorter than it was. A lot of the happenings, though exciting, got a bit repetitive and I kept waiting for the plot to move along.
LRJ has been a favorite of mine since I rediscovered my love for romance novels. She delivers stories full of intensity, whether it's through feels, suspense, or heat. Her stories are easy recommendations to make.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy – a modern girl we all can identify with.In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Visit https://www.lisareneejones.com for more information.
Off limits romance, intensely alpha hero, MF, standalone, dual POVPreviously published as the Filthy Trilogy, BUT this has been heavily updated. Same deliciously sexy story, new and improved delivery and scenes.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Filthy Deal by Lisa Renee Jones
Rating -
Standalone - Scandalous Billionaires #1
Release - March 7, 2024
Genre - Contemporary Romance / forbidden
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - several descriptive scenes
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 581 pages
They say my father is ruthless, CEO of the Kingston empire, while I remain the illegitimate backup heir, son to his mistress. He sent me to Harvard where he no doubt expected me to fail but I don't fail anymore than I take charity. My mother is dead, and not only do I blame him, if I had my way he'd be dead, too.
But I finished school and did it on my own dime. Now I'm the right-hand man to Grayson Bennett, the billionaire who runs the Bennett Empire, only a few months from being a billionaire myself. I don't need my father's company or his love. My "brother" and my new stepmother can have it all.
And then she walks in the door, my stepsister, the princess I'd once wanted more than I'd wanted my father's love. She wants me to come back. She says my father needs to be saved. She doesn't know how dangerous a ground she walks, how deadly, too. I don't want to save my father, I want to end him, but on the other hand, I do want her. Deeply. Passionately. More than I want anything else.
But she's the princess and I'm the illegitimate son. We don't fit. We don't belong together and yet, she says he needs me, that she needs me. We're like sugar and spice, we don't mix, but I really crave a taste. Just one. What harm can just one taste do?
After all, I'm just like my father, or so I'm told.
I'm ruthless in business and ruthless about getting what I want.
And I want her.
But I finished school and did it on my own dime. Now I'm the right-hand man to Grayson Bennett, the billionaire who runs the Bennett Empire, only a few months from being a billionaire myself. I don't need my father's company or his love. My "brother" and my new stepmother can have it all.
And then she walks in the door, my stepsister, the princess I'd once wanted more than I'd wanted my father's love. She wants me to come back. She says my father needs to be saved. She doesn't know how dangerous a ground she walks, how deadly, too. I don't want to save my father, I want to end him, but on the other hand, I do want her. Deeply. Passionately. More than I want anything else.
But she's the princess and I'm the illegitimate son. We don't fit. We don't belong together and yet, she says he needs me, that she needs me. We're like sugar and spice, we don't mix, but I really crave a taste. Just one. What harm can just one taste do?
After all, I'm just like my father, or so I'm told.
I'm ruthless in business and ruthless about getting what I want.
And I want her.
Part One: The Bastard ~ This story was almost overwhelming in its passion. It felt at times as if I was stuck in the erotic embrace of the couple while learning virtually nothing about the situation at hand. There's something going on at Eric's dad's company... something that is potentially dangerous... something that has jeopardized lives... and yet I'm no closer to figuring out what that something is at the end of this book. I hope it all becomes clear in the next one.
There's no doubt that Eric and Harper share a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Their connection never broke during their six year separation. I'm not sure what the future holds for this couple but knowing LRJ, their happy ending is somewhere on the horizon and I'm eager to watch it unfold.
Full review HERE
Part Two: The Princess ~ Aside from wishing that this was told entirely from Eric's perspective, hating Harper, and finding out that it's a filthy trilogy and not a filthy duet, I'm totally on board to discover all of this story's hidden truths and find out what's really going on. LRJ has the amazing ability to completely hold me captive to her stories and keep me guessing and I love it. With one heck of a cliffhanger, where Harper is once again questioning Eric, I'm really looking forward to how this author will close out this couple's saga.
Full review HERE
Part Three: The Empire ~ I love Eric so much! This man, this savant, this SEAL, this self-made billionaire, this honorable and incredible man earned a special place in my heart. I loved him for his inner strength and for his vulnerabilities. I admired his perseverance and his ability to see the big picture. I never doubted him and I'm glad that Harper learned not to as well. I must admit that I found parts of their dialogue and Harper's inner thoughts a bit repetitive, but I was still able to be wowed by this couple's romance. The Empire perfectly wrapped up the love and intrigue that the Filthy Trilogy successfully portrayed and I can't wait to see where all of these characters end up next!
Full review HERE
Beautiful Betrayal is a contemporary, intensely emotional standalone romance with a HEA after a lot of struggles and misconceptions that might be upsetting to some to get there. This book contains a possessive alpha hero, plenty of explicit sexual content, and some profanity.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Beautiful Betrayal by Lisa Renee Jones
Previously published as the Dirty Rich Betrayal duet
Rating -
1/2Standalone - Scandalous Billionaires #3
Release - March 7, 2024
Genre - Contemporary Romance / second chance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - several vaguely descriptive scenes
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 460 pages
The minute I met Grayson Bennett I was charmed. I had no idea he was the billionaire boss, I'd just started working for. The minute I found out, I tried to pull back. I had reasons to need my job and rather desperately, and I couldn't risk an affair with the boss, destroying my career. I tried to stay away, I did, but our attraction was magnetic and Grayson's a man who knows what he wants, and he doesn't stop until he wins his prize. I was that prize and a willing prize at that. I fell in love, and hard, and how could I not? Grayson was nothing like what you'd expect of a man with insane amounts of money and power. He never made me feel like I was less than him, in fact, he made me feel as if I was everything to him, the reason he breathed. And he said, I made him feel whole for the first time in his life.
But something happened, and the world as I knew it shattered.
My heart shattered.
The man I loved and trusted hurt me in ways I didn't know were possible. I will never be the same.
Then suddenly life throws us back together and demands we face a common enemy, and just that easily I'm melting with his touch again, desperate to push him away and yet just as desperate to feel him close. I can feel how easily I could fall under his spell again, how easily my delicately mended glass heart could shatter all over again, how easily he could break me.
I have to be strong.
I will not fall in love with Grayson Bennett again.
The problem is I'm not sure I ever stopped.
But something happened, and the world as I knew it shattered.
My heart shattered.
The man I loved and trusted hurt me in ways I didn't know were possible. I will never be the same.
Then suddenly life throws us back together and demands we face a common enemy, and just that easily I'm melting with his touch again, desperate to push him away and yet just as desperate to feel him close. I can feel how easily I could fall under his spell again, how easily my delicately mended glass heart could shatter all over again, how easily he could break me.
I have to be strong.
I will not fall in love with Grayson Bennett again.
The problem is I'm not sure I ever stopped.
What do you do when the man you love and what you feel for each other is just too perfect? If you're Mia, when you see the slightest hint of trouble, instead of talking to your billionaire fiance, or trusting in him and what you've built together, you run. I was dumped right in the middle of the beautiful reunion of two lovers who should have never been apart. Unfortunately when you're as incredible as Greyson is (and he really was AMAZING), there's always someone out there who wants to see you fall.
I loved that the author didn't make their reconciliation an easy one. It was an honest look at moving towards forgiveness and accepting the wrongs that each of them committed. Both Greyson and Mia had to work through their feelings of hurt and anger in order to really move forward. It was obviously hard but their love was more than enough to get them through and there was no lack of love in this book.
Did I mention how fantastic Greyson was? I really wish there was more of his POV in this story. I didn't feel like I was in his head enough. He was this strong, charismatic, intelligent, ethical and moral man so full of passion for his woman and I wanted to experience much more of that than I did. Maybe I'm just greedy. But he was so hot and how can getting more of his hotness be a bad thing?
I loved Mia and Greyson so very much and the only thing I didn't like about this story was that it had to end. This story was a second chance romance full of feels, high in intensity, with touches of suspense to keep the plot more than a little bit interesting. The second part read like an extended epilogue and for someone who adores these two (ME!!), it was very appreciated.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy – a modern girl we all can identify with. In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Visit https://www.lisareneejones.com for more information.
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