I'm back with a series of books that I read a long time ago (2016), but I remember enjoying them.
The Dark Billionaire Series is a contemporary romance with a BDSM theme.
Hopefully my reviews inspire someone to give this series a chance.
His Gift: Part One
Lacey Miller is two days away from being kicked out of her apartment when her best friend offers her a job for some quick cash. Easy as cake, right? Wrong. Billionaire playboy Jake Carville has been looking for years for the perfect submissive. On his birthday, he's looking forward to a special a girl who can satisfy his every dark craving. But when Lacey walks through the wrong door and into Jake’s arms, she’s everything he’d hoped for... and nothing he ever expected. How can he lose himself, heart and soul, to a girl he was never supposed to meet?
Rating - 
This was not what I expected. It was better. I'm grateful to the author for not rushing straight to sex between the main characters (sorry to those who were expecting some). This allows us to see some type of buildup, some form of chemistry. I'm not completely sold on the chemistry but I'm intrigued enough to read book 2.
Surprisingly, despite her tomboy virginal ways, Lacey is not an annoying female lead. She had spunk and enough qualities to make her likeable. Jake on the other hand is still a mystery. Sexy. Green-eyed. Dark hair. Rich. Appreciates art. Dominant. Into bondage. And??? Does anyone else think he's the tag artist Kage that Lacey admires and respects?
This was not what I expected. It was better. I'm grateful to the author for not rushing straight to sex between the main characters (sorry to those who were expecting some). This allows us to see some type of buildup, some form of chemistry. I'm not completely sold on the chemistry but I'm intrigued enough to read book 2.
Surprisingly, despite her tomboy virginal ways, Lacey is not an annoying female lead. She had spunk and enough qualities to make her likeable. Jake on the other hand is still a mystery. Sexy. Green-eyed. Dark hair. Rich. Appreciates art. Dominant. Into bondage. And??? Does anyone else think he's the tag artist Kage that Lacey admires and respects?
His Gift: Part Two
He's going to punish me, I know it.
I was just delivering a cake for a friend - I sure as hell wasn’t a birthday gift to a billionaire. But now that I was here, I didn’t dare leave.
Even if I wanted to, he wouldn’t let me.
Rating -
Maybe Lacey's not as cool as I thought. For such an innocent, she allows Jake too many liberties. He seems charming one minute and rude the next. And what is his problem with being called by his name? And as per Lucas, what secrets surround his family? Well I'm going to read book 3 to hopefully find some answers. Maybe some sex even lol. This series isn't very sexy or erotic so far.
Maybe Lacey's not as cool as I thought. For such an innocent, she allows Jake too many liberties. He seems charming one minute and rude the next. And what is his problem with being called by his name? And as per Lucas, what secrets surround his family? Well I'm going to read book 3 to hopefully find some answers. Maybe some sex even lol. This series isn't very sexy or erotic so far.
His Gift: Part Three
I'm tied up, blindfolded... and aching for his touch.
When Lacey walks through the wrong door and into Jake’s arms, she’s everything he’d hoped for... and nothing he ever expected.
How can he lose himself, heart and soul, to a girl he was never supposed to meet?
Rating -
Not bad. What threw me though was when Jake finally talked about his past, revealing the secret of his family. He said the problem was that he didn't want to take over the business but... Everything happened when he was 4 years old. Not a lot of 4yo CEOs nowadays.
So that contradiction made the rest of the story blah for me. At least there was finally sex!! LMAO!!
Not bad. What threw me though was when Jake finally talked about his past, revealing the secret of his family. He said the problem was that he didn't want to take over the business but... Everything happened when he was 4 years old. Not a lot of 4yo CEOs nowadays.
So that contradiction made the rest of the story blah for me. At least there was finally sex!! LMAO!!
His Ransom: Part One
Some secrets are darker than others...
I knew that there was more to billionaire Jake Carville than what he showed the world. But I didn’t know that Jake’s past was so dark... and so dangerous.
… and that’s why she’s the perfect hostage.
Rating -
This was pretty good.
I completely got why Lacey felt inferior but she needs to stop comparing herself to Jake. He's a friggin billionaire. A successful business man. And he's 10 years older than her. That's 10 years more life experience. She should just be grateful he's willing to guide her art career and stop bitching at him before he decides to guide someone else.
This was pretty good.
I completely got why Lacey felt inferior but she needs to stop comparing herself to Jake. He's a friggin billionaire. A successful business man. And he's 10 years older than her. That's 10 years more life experience. She should just be grateful he's willing to guide her art career and stop bitching at him before he decides to guide someone else.
His Ransom: Part Two
Lacey Miller is just a curvy girl, a tomboy, a street artist. When she steps into Jake Carville’s life, his obsession with her will lead her into a world like she’s never seen. A world of wealth and power. A world of unquenchable passion and unspeakable cruelty.
Jake Carville, billionaire playboy, has never found a woman he can open up to. Not until Lacey. She’s the only woman he cares about. His gift. His love.
Rating -
Wow! This one was better than the rest! I finally got to see some action (not just the sexual kind).
Lacey put herself in quite the predicament because she allowed her insecurities to get the best of her. I'm not saying she's wrong for having doubts. They've only been together for about a month. However, instead of letting these doubts fester into a real problem, she should have talked to Jake about them. Now she's stuck and the story just got interesting!
Wow! This one was better than the rest! I finally got to see some action (not just the sexual kind).
Lacey put herself in quite the predicament because she allowed her insecurities to get the best of her. I'm not saying she's wrong for having doubts. They've only been together for about a month. However, instead of letting these doubts fester into a real problem, she should have talked to Jake about them. Now she's stuck and the story just got interesting!
“I can’t fight this world without you. It’s you and me, remember?”
“Not sure what’s going to happen in this life, but it’s you and me.”
“Not sure what’s going to happen in this life, but it’s you and me.”
Knight Awakening by Rebecca Zanetti
Rating -
Standalone - Scorpius Syndrome #6
Release - February 25, 2020
Genre - SciFi Romance / apocalypse
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 372 pages
The Line Between Obsession and Love has Disappeared
The world has changed. Any rules that might’ve been in place before the Scorpius bacterium ripped through civilization and decreased its population are no longer in place. Obsession and survival are the new reality. So, Marcus Knight, after a hellish time in captivity that stole most of his memory and all of his soul, has one focus, and that’s keeping Dr. Penelope Kim safe in the aftermath. She’d risked her life to save him once, and she’s all that matters. For months, he’s kept his distance, protecting her from afar, because he knows that one touch—one sigh—one kiss—from her will never be enough.
Passion is a Dangerous and Deadly Temptation
Penny Kim is one of the few doctors still living, and she alone holds the key to ensuring the human race continues. Several of her friends are pregnant, and the clock is ticking down on their survival. Her days are filled with experiments and hope, while her nights are consumed with visions and dreams of the hard-bodied and powerful soldier who’s made her safety his one and only mission. She should be wary of him; she should be terrified of him. Yet all she feels is an unreal craving for his touch that gets stronger every day. Life is short, and she’s unwilling to wait, unaware of the danger already hunting them both. Some risks are worth it, even in this new and dangerous world.
The world has changed. Any rules that might’ve been in place before the Scorpius bacterium ripped through civilization and decreased its population are no longer in place. Obsession and survival are the new reality. So, Marcus Knight, after a hellish time in captivity that stole most of his memory and all of his soul, has one focus, and that’s keeping Dr. Penelope Kim safe in the aftermath. She’d risked her life to save him once, and she’s all that matters. For months, he’s kept his distance, protecting her from afar, because he knows that one touch—one sigh—one kiss—from her will never be enough.
Passion is a Dangerous and Deadly Temptation
Penny Kim is one of the few doctors still living, and she alone holds the key to ensuring the human race continues. Several of her friends are pregnant, and the clock is ticking down on their survival. Her days are filled with experiments and hope, while her nights are consumed with visions and dreams of the hard-bodied and powerful soldier who’s made her safety his one and only mission. She should be wary of him; she should be terrified of him. Yet all she feels is an unreal craving for his touch that gets stronger every day. Life is short, and she’s unwilling to wait, unaware of the danger already hunting them both. Some risks are worth it, even in this new and dangerous world.
I loved Marcus. He was such a damaged hero, who had forgotten who he was and wasn't sure who he could be. All he knew was that he had to protect Dr. Penelope at all costs. I was entertained by every moment that he allowed himself to feel, the time he spent with his brother, and the budding intimacy that he was sharing with the other inhabitants of Vanguard. He was dark and deadly and there was so much to him buried beneath the surface. I had fun being in his head and he made me laugh, which is always great.
I hated Penelope. Seriously, I really disliked her so freaking much. I haven't liked any of the heroines from this series and was hoping the best was saved for last. Nope. She was the worst. Aside from being on call to help with injuries, she had nothing to recommend her. She was pushy, rude, abusive and manipulative. If her characteristics were attached to a male character, I'm sure many of us would not approve. So why should I be a fan because she's a woman?
Jax sighed. "The Ripper has to go, Marcus. Either I do it, or Penny does it, and I vote for me."
"Me, too," Marcus said quietly.
"No." Penny held up a hand. "I need your help. Get your brother out of her, please." She kept her gaze on the prone man.
Marcus didn't move.
"Marcus?" Penny asked, partially turning to look at him.
"Me, too," Marcus said quietly.
"No." Penny held up a hand. "I need your help. Get your brother out of her, please." She kept her gaze on the prone man.
Marcus didn't move.
"Marcus?" Penny asked, partially turning to look at him.
Girl, are you serious? Jax is the LEADER of the group. The leader. You're being a part of the group is compliments of his courtesy. And honestly, you're there because he wants his brother there and you happen to be part of the deal. Where do you get off?
She kept talking about how she had to find a cure for Scorpius. How? When Scorpius hit, she had just finished medical school. And she thinks she's the best option when the leader of the CDC (Lynne), who had been working on Scorpius, is there looking for a cure? Is this girl for real?
There were so many examples of how horrible this heroine was, but Marcus was so great that I took my time enjoying him and he and all of the other characters and the plot were the only reason this story worked for me.
Previous books in the series:
Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over forty romantic suspense, dark paranormals, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Upcoming series are: The Blood Brothers, The Realm Enforcers and The Scorpius Syndrome.
Visit https://rebeccazanetti.com for more information!
Hey everyone and welcome to another Throwback Thursday! Every other week I'll be sharing my book recommendations within a specific romantic trope or theme.
Today I'm sharing five Fake Relationship books I've read, reviewed and loved on the blog. Isn't it fun to know just where the romance is going, but enjoying the journey anyway? Love this trope!
If you've got a recommendation, please send it my way!
Ex Games by Stella Rhys
What’s ice-cold but hotter than hell? Rebounding with your ex’s older brother, of course. I enjoyed the characters, especially Mason and I thought I'd be grossed out by the fact that he was the older brother of the woman's ex, but I wasn't. So there's that :)
Find my review HERE
Safe Bet by Monica Murphy
Crazy how it only takes one week for two people to fall head over heels in love… I don't usually go for a new adult romance story, but this one worked. I think it helped that I had read the series that this book was a spinoff of. I love getting the chance to revisit favorite characters!
Find my review HERE
Magnificent Bastard by Lili Valente
F*ck Prince Charming. Sometimes, you need a Magnificent Bastard. I've read a few books from this author, but this one remains my favorite. Sebastian was amazing and the entire story is told from his perspective, which worked well because he was that strong of a character.
Find my review HERE
Fake Fiancee by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Fake engaged to the hottest quarterback in the country? SCORE. I guess this could be categorized as a sports romance too. Sunny and Max had a destiny vibe going on with their friend/relationship and it worked really well for the story. Again, I'm not usually a fan of new adult reads, but this one was a definite winner.
Find my review HERE
Lost in Between by K.L. Kreig
For the next four months I’ll be Shaw Mercer’s arm candy, his beck and call girl, his faux girlfriend. This is still my favorite story from this trope. In fact, the Finding Me duet is one of my favorite romance stories of all time. Shaw had so much depth and Willow was no slouch. She's getting paid to fake it, but what happens when what lies between them is all too real?
Find my review HERE
“It may take you a while to get settled into it, but you’re covered, April.
I’m not letting anything happen to you.
That’s a promise.”
I’m not letting anything happen to you.
That’s a promise.”
Winter Igniting by Rebecca Zanetti
Rating -
Standalone - Scorpius Syndrome #5
Release - February 20, 2018
Genre - Scifi Romance / apocalypse
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 374 pages
His only goal was survival until he met her...
With nothing to lose, former cop Damon Winter agrees to an undercover op, infiltrating a cult in the dangerous post-Scorpius world. After one look at his new partner, he knows she belongs far away from not only the cult, but from him. She's sweet and kind and has no business being in peril, but she's determined to help. Suddenly, the part he's playing as her man explodes into a passion neither of them had expected.
She hadn't purposefully faced risk until she met him...
April Snyder has survived loss, pain, and uncertainty. Now she's ready to live again. There's nothing left but to make a difference for others, so why not go undercover in the cult? Now all she has to do is keep it professional and ignore her handsome, deadly, overbearing partner, who's too sexy for her peace of mind. Intrigue, risk, and danger make for an irresistible temptation--until enemies close in, threatening everyone they've sworn to protect.
With nothing to lose, former cop Damon Winter agrees to an undercover op, infiltrating a cult in the dangerous post-Scorpius world. After one look at his new partner, he knows she belongs far away from not only the cult, but from him. She's sweet and kind and has no business being in peril, but she's determined to help. Suddenly, the part he's playing as her man explodes into a passion neither of them had expected.
She hadn't purposefully faced risk until she met him...
April Snyder has survived loss, pain, and uncertainty. Now she's ready to live again. There's nothing left but to make a difference for others, so why not go undercover in the cult? Now all she has to do is keep it professional and ignore her handsome, deadly, overbearing partner, who's too sexy for her peace of mind. Intrigue, risk, and danger make for an irresistible temptation--until enemies close in, threatening everyone they've sworn to protect.
There's something about the men in these books, who would risk it all to keep people safe, that really makes this series work for me. Survival is paramount, but along the way, these men are rediscovering their humanity and their hearts. The romance is definitely key for each story and Damon was no different.
He lost it all when Scorpius hit. His entire family was wiped out by the virus and he found a new one with the Mercs. He and Grey had turned a group of men just trying to get by into something really special. Now that they've allied with Vanguard, the goal is to lead all of their people and provide hope in this new world.
He and April are tasked with infiltrating the Pure church to make sure that all of the members are there willingly. Things didn't seem right with this cultish group, which was obvious in the previous books. It only became clearer here and I was actually really scared for what April might have to face. Thankfully Damon had her back. Their fake relationship for their undercover op turned into something real. April was understandably afraid because she had lost it all too. But what they shared was precious in a world full of loss.
There's talk of moving everyone to Wyoming and I'm guessing the plans and the actual trek will happen in the next book, which is for Marcus. Hmmm... that man is something else. Big and scary, he makes his brother Jax look like a nice guy. I'm excited to dive into his story.
Okay, so I did have an issue with this book and it almost made me stop reading.
In previous books and this one, Damon was described as a Shemar Moore lookalike.
The man on the cover looks NOTHING like Shemar Moore.
Is this because a black man was created for our reading pleasure by a white woman?
Do all black men look basically the same?
Can you not see the difference? The only thing they share is a strong jaw line. Even their color is different.
So yeah, this is an issue I typically have when reading a black character that wasn't created by a black author.
As a romance reader who happens to be black, it does bother me.
Previous books in the series:
Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over forty romantic suspense, dark paranormals, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Upcoming series are: The Blood Brothers, The Realm Enforcers and The Scorpius Syndrome.
Visit https://rebeccazanetti.com for more information!
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