The Billionaire's Rules by Kelly Favor

October 14, 2024


Please Note:
The Billionaire's Rules by Kelly Favor is a 16-book series and I stopped reading at #13. I read this back in 2015 so keep that in mind.

About the Book:
Twenty-one-year-old Ivy Spellman has always played by the rules – get good grades, stay out of trouble, and avoid bad boys at all costs.

But when she takes a temp assignment at a multi-billion dollar drug company, she can’t help but become intrigued with the sexy and ultra-demanding CEO, Cullen Sharpe.

Cullen Sharpe is used to getting what he wants, and his dark and damaged desires are locked on Ivy. Her good girl innocent routine is enough to drive him over the edge, and after Ivy makes a mistake at work, he senses an opening to teach the shy temp the pleasures and seductions of being bad...

…as well as the punishment that goes along with it.

Soon the two of them are locked in a game of mystery, seduction, and raging desire that knows no bounds. But as Ivy is pushed beyond her sexual limits, she begins to crave more from the dark billionaire.

However, Cullen guards his secrets and his heart for reasons that run deep. And if those reasons were to ever be revealed, it just might destroy them both.


Discipline


The Billionaire's Rules #1

Wasn't sure how to rate this.
It was over pretty quickly. I am, however, interested enough to read the next book.
Ummmm... Does Cullen have OCD? Is he a germaphobe?
I understood by the end (though I guessed from the start) that Ivy was a virgin, but that doesn't mean she has to act like a nitwit. I hope she develops a damn spine in this series.

I gave this TWO STARS.




Consequence


The Billionaire's Rules #2

Not sure what to make of this one. At least Cullen finally touched Ivy, no matter how briefly. The scene wasn't hot per se. But it was something. What I wouldn't give to read his POV. Ivy is annoying me :(

I know nothing of this man other than that he's the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, has a lot of money, is crazy hot, likes to be called sir or Mister Sharpe, and likes to dole out consequences. Ok ya but who is he?? These facts were enough to decide to give up your virginity Daisy? Seriously? You've known dude for a day.

I gave this THREE STARS.


Truth


The Billionaire's Rules #3

Still don't know who Cullen is but he seems just as obsessed as Daisy. She's just weird. I'm glad to see she's capable of independent thought but it's still not enough to win me over.

I shouldn't really categorize this as sexy because the one sex scene just wasn't. Which woman ever lost her virginity and thought "ooh that felt soooooo good?" Ummmmmm hell to the naw. That just isn't realistic. And dude knew she was a virgin. Where the hell was the prep??? Dude doesn't know about friggin foreplay??? I would not be giving up my hymen to someone who doesn't put in work. Shoot, she didn't even get a date. Well at least he gives her a paycheque.

I gave this THREE STARS.


Lies


The Billionaire's Rules #4

Ridiculous. The first clue we have as to who Cullen is comes from his rival Xavier (Dude was a neurosurgeon for 10 years?! How OLD is he???)

Do not get me started on the coffee shop scene. Ivy goes from klutzy, naive, hapless virgin one day to BJ lessons on a washroom floor? I'm not new to the sex game, but there is absolutely no way I would be servicing some guy on my knees in a random washroom. Especially for the first time!! There was no mention of this washroom being sterilized. WTH?!

That Lucas co-worker has seemed suspect from book 1. I want to see how he plays into the secrets surrounding Cullen. I wish Daisy luck in the upcoming books because she seems to be really falling for this man, albeit a little bit too quickly. How do these heroines fall in love with men they don't know?

I gave this THREE STARS.


Threat


The Billionaire's Rules #5

Ok now we're getting somewhere. I'm still on the hunt to discover the secrets about Cullen.

OMG did anyone else think Lucas was capable??? I just thought he was a lam-o. I knew he was up to something, but not that.

It seems Cullen is truly developing feelings for Ivy so I've decided to cut her some slack. I truly hope she catches a break in the next book.

That ending? Does this mean we may get Cullen's POV? Here's to wishful thinking!

I gave this THREE STARS.


Expose


The Billionaire's Rules #6

Well it seems we are finally getting to know more about Cullen.
He's finally opening up to Ivy, but holy crap she has to go through some ish to get it.
He's really rude and I just don't understand how she continues to put up with him.
I don't care how fine a man is. You disrespect and I'm out.
Fish in the sea and so on.
Maybe she's got some real strong self-esteem issues.

I guess we'll learn more about him in the next book. I wonder how his suggestion on how they can stay together is going to go over. I'm just glad she doesn't have to lie anymore.

I gave this THREE STARS.


Commit


The Billionaire's Rules #7

Wow. I didn't expect that to be Cullen's secret. Good to know he's devoted and loyal to someone. Guess he's not an android after all.

I'm just as confused as Ivy as to Cullen's motives to marry her. I was quite surprised at the arrangements he made to make her happy. It was sweet but I feel like it was all part of his manipulation.
I think there are obviously more secrets to be told.
That ending said it all lol.

As for Lucas... He's just evil.

I gave this THREE STARS.


Defy


The Billionaire's Rules #8

Wow... Looks like Ivy grew some balls in this one. She's not taking any bull from anyone. Good for her. I actually liked her in this one!

I'm trying to figure out if Xavier really likes Ivy or if he sees her as a weapon against Cullen. He's described as a good guy but something is off.

And I knew Cullen was crazy but damn! He beat up a car! I'm starting to see his possessiveness as a display of affection. I guess he truly cares for Ivy.

In a totally wrong way, but still.

I gave this THREE STARS.


Trouble


The Billionaire's Rules #9

Dammit Ivy's backbone keeps disappearing. And Cullen is just getting ruder.
Did I miss the part where it said he was crazy?
Like seriously crazy.
Mad. Sick.

And her mom did what any good mom would do. If one of my daughters called me up with Ivy's story, you better believe I'm rushing to her side and defending her the best way I know how. That's what her mom did. Maybe she didn't know all the facts, but she saw her baby girl hurting. What else was she supposed to do?

Whatever, his ass belongs in jail. He may not abuse her physically, but he does abuse her.

I gave this THREE STARS.


Risk


The Billionaire's Rules #10

Well I wonder if we'll see Cullen perform surgery ever again.
I wonder what his dad's role will be in his and Ivy's future.
I wonder if Cullen truly loves her.
Or is he still trying to manipulate and control her through her emotions.

I wonder if Ivy will be stronger in the end.
I wonder if there will be a HEA.
I wonder if they deserve one.
I wonder if there will be a semblance of closure for all parties involved.
That's why I'm still reading this series.

I gave this THREE STARS.


Fall


The Billionaire's Rules #11

I think this was the best one yet.
Finally I can feel the love (ok not really but at least Ivy says she does).

So much happened here.
So much drama.
A life hangs in the balance and only Dr. Cullen Sharpe can save it.

I wonder what Cullen's dad needed $2.6 million for.
Will Ivy forgive her mom?
And will Cullen have to face a trial and/or subsequent prison sentence?
Will it a all be revealed in the next book?
Well I'm gonna read to find out.

I gave this FOUR STARS.


Cherish


The Billionaire's Rules #12

I don't even know where to start.

This is the last book to tell Cullen and Ivy's story and it gave me NO satisfying conclusion.

Those who should be in trouble aren't.
The relationship still doesn't make any sense.
And I just read 12 books to get this?
Why?

I gave this THREE STARS.


Hunt


The Billionaire's Rules #13

I am disappointed.
I was glad to see another book, but I didn't get what I wanted from it.

I don't think enough time was spent on closing out the story of Cullen and Ivy before we were introduced to Brayden and Lanie.
I didn't care for it. At all.

I'm actually quite pissed.
I feel like I was pressured to finish the first part of the series.
It just didn't work for me.
Yes, the bathtub scene with Lanie was hilarious. But it could have been included in its own book.

I would have rather have read more about Cullen and Ivy and finished their story in a more satisfying way.
At least they got their HEA.
I guess that's what's important.

I gave this THREE STARS.

Invidia by Colette Rhodes

Invidia by Colette Rhodes

Invidia is the fifth book in the Shades of Sin series, featuring humans and their not-quite-so-human partners. For readers 18+

Find more information HERE


Invidia by Colette Rhodes

Invidia by Colette Rhodes


Rating -
Book 5 of the Shades of Sin series
Release - July 5, 2024
Genre - paranormal romance / instalove
POV - dual 1st person
Heat - explicit
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 270 pages

Tallulah is confident, happy, and looking for love.

At least, on the outside.

Evrin is kind, thoughtful, and has plenty of love to give.

At least, on the inside.

In a world where it feels like they’re the only ones who don’t know where they belong, can Tallulah and Evrin find that sense of home in each other?

Or will they be too afraid to take a chance?


Tallulah put on a show while Evrin was self-assured, but they both had a problem: they didn't know how to communicate.

Get ready for a lot of time wasted believing one thing when it's really the other and you'd know if you would JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!!

A little frustrating, but they do finally get there and I ended up loving these two together.

There were some growing pains and some insecurities to overcome, but I loved how these two supported each other once they were on the same page.

The suspenseful element was handled very well and I'm excited to see what else is to come from uniting hunters and shades.

Previous books in the series:
Luxuria * Superbia * Gula * Tristitia * Avaritia

Invidia by Colette Rhodes


Colette Rhodes is a huge fan of paranormal romance and reverse harem books. They're what she loves to read and what she loves to write. #WhyChoose, right?

Colette studied both History and Ancient History at university and loves including both historical facts and ancient mythology in her work.

When she's not writing, you'll find her spending time with her husband and daughter in beautiful New Zealand.

Visit https://coletterhodes.com for more information

Avaritia by Colette Rhodes

October 12, 2024

Avaritia by Colette Rhodes

I was all in on Theon, Duke of Lindow. We were going to make each other very f*cking happy for the rest of our days, and no one was going to get in the way of that.

Find more information HERE


Avaritia by Colette Rhodes

Avaritia by Colette Rhodes


Rating -
Book 4 of the Shades of Sin series
Release - March 30, 2024
Genre - paranormal romance / captive
POV - dual 1st person
Heat - explicit
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 270 pages

If there’s one thing Verity will consistently do, it’s spontaneously make terrible decisions. Sometimes they work out well—so far, smuggling her rescue cat into the shadow realm has been a great success—but more often than not, she ends up with a bigger mess to clean up than she started with.

If there’s one thing Theon will consistently do, it’s plot his brother’s demise after losing his spot in the line of succession to King Allerick. It has yet to work out well for him, but there’s a first time for everything, right?

Especially now that Theon has got himself an ex-Hunter of his own to feed from, and he’s stronger than ever.

But Verity isn’t going to let Theon get away with his treasonous ways, not when he has so much to offer the shadow realm. For the first time, someone believes that Theon has the capacity to do good in the world.

If only he believed her.


If I were to get on TikTok right now (finally) to promote a book, it would be this one. I freaking loved it!!

I didn't much like Verity going into this book and I didn't like her in the beginning of it. But then something happened... the way she interacted with Theon made me see another side to her. Actually, several sides and I realized that I was oblivious to the nuance of her character and then I fell in love. Was she still a silly, vapid, superficial woman? Yes, yes she was. But she also had so much depth to her, especially when it came to bringing out the best in Theon and allowing him to bring out the best in her.

I found I had a ton of sympathy for Theon and I wished that he had a better relationship with his brothers. Hopefully with the way things unfolded in this story, their relationship will become stronger than ever. Honestly, the way Verity constantly came to his defense made me smile so big. A male who never had a defender suddenly had the staunchest of supporters.

Go Team!

Seriously, this story ended up being one of my favorites of the series and now I'm even more excited to read the next one.

Avaritia by Colette Rhodes


Colette Rhodes is a huge fan of paranormal romance and reverse harem books. They're what she loves to read and what she loves to write. #WhyChoose, right?

Colette studied both History and Ancient History at university and loves including both historical facts and ancient mythology in her work.

When she's not writing, you'll find her spending time with her husband and daughter in beautiful New Zealand.

Visit https://coletterhodes.com for more information

Alien Romance Holiday Spectacular, Volume 2 by Grace Goodwin

October 11, 2024


These reviews will be short and sweet, but if you're someone who enjoys mushy scifi romance, these stories are for you.
This collection gave me a sample of some of this author's series and a glimpse of how much I'd enjoy them.
I did skip one of the books, Mated to the Cyborgs, because I knew right away that it wasn't for me.

Enjoy!


Assigned a Mate


dual pov, explicit heat, arranged marriage

When a potential threat against her life forces Eva Daily to seek shelter on another world, she has only one option available to her. She must offer herself to the Interstellar Bride Program. After a deeply humiliating assessment of her suitability, Eva will be assigned a mate and transported to his world to become his bride.

Upon arriving on the desert planet Trion, Eva soon learns that things are quite different than she is used to on Earth. Her assigned mate, the powerful, handsome High Councilor Tark, makes it clear that she will be expected to submit to him completely, and she quickly discovers that disobedience will earn her a painful, embarrassing spanking on her bare bottom.

An intimate examination from her new mate leaves Eva blushing crimson, but to her surprise Tark’s mastery of her body arouses her beyond anything she could have ever imagined. Soon enough she finds herself naked, bound, and unable to resist the urge to beg for more as his skillful lovemaking brings her to one shattering climax after another.

It doesn’t take long, however, for Eva to realize that there is much more to Tark than just a dominant brute who will not hesitate to take his misbehaving wife over his knee and redden her bare bottom thoroughly. But just as her passion for him begins to blossom into love, events back on Earth threaten to tear her away from him forever. Can Eva find a way to remain at Tark’s side and in his bed, or will she be left with nothing but memories of the man who has claimed both her body and her heart?

Rating -

While this was heavy on the smut and not so much the romance, I enjoyed it. It's a short and dirty read, perfect filler when you're done with a plot heavy book. I liked both Eva and Tark and would have loved to spend more time with them. That's a good sign.


His Virgin Mate


dual pov, explicit heat, instant connection, arranged marriage

Twenty-one and single, Alexis Lopez hopes her lackluster response to men is a problem she's eager to solve by volunteering for the Interstellar Brides Program. One look at the large, dominant alien who claims she belongs to him sets her body on fire. When he tells her, in explicit detail, how he'll claim her in every way, she is eager to give her mate everything, body and soul.

Von of Everis is a ruthless and high ranking Hunter who's spent years fighting in the Hive wars. But his bed, and his life, are empty until Alexis arrives. One look at his innocent little bride and he knows she belongs to him.

Simple, right? Nope. The match is challenged by one of the most feared warriors on the planet and stolen kisses and mind-numbing pleasure won't save Von from a deadly duel. But Von is a Hunter, a warrior, a protector, and someone is trying to take what belongs to him. Only him. He will do whatever it takes to protect, save and claim his virgin mate.

Rating -

I liked that Alexis held all the power when it came to deciding how far she would take things with Von. If she wasn't really feeling him or found someone more enticing, she could simply walk away. So cool. Lucky for Von, he was everything she could possibly want in a man and the shared dreams and experiences only served to cement their bond. There was just enough juicy bits (aside from the sex) to keep this story interesting.


Maid for the Beast


dual pov, explicit heat, fated mates

An Atlan Warlord in Mating Fever with two choices: Be the latest bachelor beast on an Earth reality television show to find his perfect mate or face certain death in an Atlan prison. Braun's not sure which is worse... until a female enters his hotel suite with towels and cleaning supplies.

She isn't part of the television show.

She isn't available.

She isn't interested in mating with an alien.

She isn't his.

Try telling that to his beast, because one look at the maid and Braun knows he will do anything... anything, to claim her.

Rating - 1/2

Okay, if you read this book and don't immediately fall into instant like with Braun... I don't even know what to tell you. This alien was amazing and Angela got really lucky. Hot and entertaining, if all of Goodwin's books are like this, I'll be reading her entire list.


The First Starfighter


dual pov, descriptive heat, instalove

It was just a game. The newest, hottest video game release of the year. Choose a role. Build the perfect hero who joins you on missions to save the Vega star system from the evil Queen Raya and her merciless Dark Fleet.

Play for hours? Check.
Obsess over the in-game romance between your avatar and the sexiest alien you've ever seen? Check.
Win? Beat the heck out of the game? Check and check.

Open your door at 3:00 in the morning to find that smoking hot alien you thought you made up in your head standing there? Um... okay.

Wake up on the other side of the galaxy with that same alien insisting you're his... and that you haven't been playing a video game, but completed the training program to become the first Starfighter from Earth?

Holy sh$t.

Rating -

This story stretched my imagination too far and I've got a pretty great imagination.

Jamie plays a video game with some online friends. She created her online companion, they go on missions together, and she beats the game. Then her online companion shows up at her place because he's actually a real person (alien) and the game she was playing was actually a training simulation. She's this alien world's best hope of beating back their ruthless enemy.

Are we being for real?

She's supposed to be able to fly and fight based on a game. And she excels at it.

BFFR.