Operation: One Night Stand -- Christine Hughes

Blurb:

Caroline Frost had it all-until her boyfriend banged the superskank intern, and poof! Caroline's happy little bubble disappeared. Now it's been six weeks of weeping, a mountain of ice cream, and a permanent buttprint on the couch. Enough is enough. She and her ladybits need an intervention-now.

Enter Operation: One Night Stand: Find a man who is hotness personified and have some much-needed sexy time. The only problem is that Caroline is torn between a flirtatious, well-built guy and the ridiculously hot bartender serving her shots. This was supposed to be all fun and no games, but like the perfect scotch on the rocks, no good fling finishes without a twist. 

Review: 3 Stars

This book felt a bit like a Sex and the City episode -- close girlfriends, lots of alcohol, lots of men, explicit sex...you get the picture.  Parts were very funny (the gym scene had me cracking up) -- I may have woken my husband up while reading and laughing in bed.

To me, the book felt a bit rushed.  I think it mainly has to do with the lack of development of the relationship with the ultimate love interest.  I never got any warm fuzzies reading about them together because things just kind of happened and then the week after that cemented their relationship was kind of glossed over.  I think the development of that relationship was particularly important after the time Caroline spent with other men.  Maybe I'm just not used to reading about casual sex with multiple partners.  The ending also felt abrupt.

A free ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Single Game: Amanda Black

Blurb:

In this third, stand-alone installment of Amanda Black’s Apartment Novels series, sparks fly during a sexy party game.

When Eden Foster’s parents tell her they’re moving from Chicago to the Illinois suburb of Aledo, Eden is crushed. That is, until she runs crying to her jock boyfriend, who she finds on top of her so-called best friend. Moving’s not looking so bad anymore.

Now a senior at Mercer County High, Eden is ready to re-enter the dating scene. Still burned over the betrayal of her ex, she’s looking for someone sweet and innocent. With the help of her two new friends, Zoe and Amy, Eden makes a list of what she’s looking for: an eager virgin, ready for training—and no jocks.

Eden thinks she’s found what she’s looking for in Logan Black, a shy and geeky classmate. But why are Zoe and Amy convinced that the answer to her search is a party game…with kissing?

Eden better get ready, because she’s about to play the Single Game.

Review: 4.5 Stars

Once I realized where this book was heading -- falling for a shy guy -- I was all in!  Part of me felt guilty for being so invested in a high school relationship and the other part of me was too busy reading with a cheesy grin on my face to even care.

After a bad experience with an asshole ex-boyfriend, Eden was ready to find a good guy who is pretty much the opposite of her ex.  No jocks.  No manwhores.

"...I'm tired of smarmy guys who think they're all that.  I'd rather have someone who didn't know what he was doing, but was honestly willing to learn."

Well Eden, you're in luck.  I think I'm in insta-love with Logan.  Book boyfriend alert!

"He's not the kind of guy you play games with or try to outsmart.  He isn't looking to hit it and quit it."

There's something that is simultaneously nice but scary about meeting your forever guy early on in life.  "Nice" because you don't have to deal with the dating scene bullshit.  "Scary" because you're so young and everyone talks about how much you change in your 20s.  I met my husband when I was 20...We count our anniversary as the day we started living together (which we did within a few weeks of meeting each other).  There's more to that story...but it was a bit scary to think about all the ways that arrangement could go wrong.

This book is a straight-up romance.  Minimal angst and drama.  It's refreshing, if you're cool with a low-drama read.

I love this quote (and the fact that it actually originated from the author's husband):

"I feel like I won the million dollar jackpot the very first time I played.  Why would I keep trying to get something better?  There is no better. I'm not stupid - I know how to cherish the treasure I've been given."

Oh Logan - I love you....and Luke (the author's husband) -- if you inspired that quote, points to you too!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Here's to Falling: Christine Zolendz

Blurb:

Every girl has that one guy…that one guy who steals her heart and never gives it back.

We were all friends…until we weren’t.
We depended on each other…until we couldn’t.
We were in love…until we were ripped apart.
We moved on…even when we didn’t want to let go.

This is our love story.

Review: 4 Stars

Not an easy read by any means.  Most of the first quarter of Charlie's life epitomized the expression "kick them when they're down."  This book is inspired by real events and although it is not entirely clear which parts are fictional, there are a couple of heartbreaking "boom" moments that will stick with me well after I have moved on to other books. 

You taught me to be strong before I ever knew there were things in this world you needed strength for.

I think I need some light reading to recover from this one.

The author does an excellent job of weaving past and present along with dual POV.  I can't say I was thrilled with the time jump in the epilogue.  Selfishly, I feel like I earned a bit of present day love, rather than 50+ years in the future.  But, the character development was strong and there is no doubt about the connection between the MCs.  

Veiled Innocence: Ella Frank

I'm on a bit of a 'student-teacher relationship binge reading' kick lately.  What can I say?  Forbidden love is kinda hot!  When I saw Veiled Innocence, I was immediately interested because of the subject matter and the author (I enjoyed Ella Frank's Temptation Series).

Blurb: 

Tick, tick, tock.

Time.

That’s all I have now.

A small room, a photograph, and time.

They want me to trust them and confess my sins.

They told me they wouldn't judge me—they lied.

I thought we could convince the world that this wasn't a crime.

We were wrong.

Time doesn't stand still.

The clock keeps ticking, the world is unconvinced, and now…

Now he is gone.

Review: 3.5 Stars

This book started off a bit rough for me.  Although it can be formulaic, I kind of prefer when the student-teacher relationship starts with the two MCs being unaware of the other person's status (as their teacher/student).  This type of glitch relieves some of the guilt associated with the forbidden hook up.  In Veiled Innocence, the relationship starts after Addison walks into Mr. McKendrick's class and decides she wants him.  His struggle with the ethics of his feelings made it difficult to want to see their characters together.  It emphasized how wrong the relationship was and made Addison's pursual feel overly aggressive.  

I will say, however, that the book got better for me toward the end as the past and present storylines started to come together.  For a long time, Addison's refusal to speak (in the present) made it difficult to latch on to the story. 

One thing I didn't understand throughout is why the relationship was illegal.  Immoral, yes...unethical, sure...Breaking professional conduct rules, absolutely.  But...illegal?  Is it illegal (anywhere is the USA) to have consensual relations with an 18 year old?

Absolute Beginners: SJ Hooks

Blurb:

Professor Stephen Worthington's life makes perfect sense. 

He teaches classes on Tuesdays and Fridays. He has dinners with his parents on the weekend. He goes to the gym with his comically crass stepbrother, Matt, a few days each week. And every night, he heads home at a reasonable hour, alone.

There’s only one thorn in Stephen’s perfectly organized side: Ms. Julia Wilde. Never has Stephen dealt with a more unruly student. She’s rude, provocative, infuriating—and she dresses in a way that is completely unbecoming for a lady. Stephen can’t wait for the semester to be over, and then he’ll never have to see her again.

That is, until Stephen finds himself out of the classroom and in Julia's apartment. Suddenly, the student/teacher roles are reversed, and the professor receives a much-needed lesson between the sheets. Stephen thought his life made sense, but after his tryst with Julia, he finds himself changed in more ways than one. Maybe he’s coming down with something.

Or maybe, something a little out of the ordinary is exactly what this stuffy professor needs to really live.

Review: 4.5 Stars

Most erotica portrays the male MC as a highly experienced, extremely confident (cocky) lover that does all the right things at the right time.  Oh...and they're all hot and have massive cocks.  Shit, if my husband were reading about the female equivalent to that, I'd feel a bit insecure.

In the end, the books with normal guys or even guys like Stephen, who are a bit stuffy and inexperienced, drive the story lines that stick with me.  I loved the spin on the power dynamic in this professor-student romance.  You would expect the power to sit with Stephen, who is about 10 years older than Julia and her literature professor.  But when it comes to pleasing women (or even interacting with them), Stephen is the student.

I didn't get a strong sense of who Julia is, primarily because she is holding back in this "sex buddy" arrangement.  Basically, the reader learns that she is intelligent and, it seems, sexually experienced.  I am looking forward to learning more about her in the next book.  That aside, I really appreciated Julia's open-mindedness to Stephen's inexperience.  I think a lot of women would be impatient or turned off by a man who is so insecure in the bedroom.  But, with a little bit of a coaching, it becomes clear that he is a diamond in the rough.

I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book (read: I can't wait!!!).

Where the Sea Meets Sky: Karina Halle

Blurb: 

Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can't get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life.

It's not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma's name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go even when you know you have to say goodbye. 

Review 3.5 Stars

It's a good thing that I love reading about New Zealand.  I think the author's life as a former travel writer is pretty evident with this book.  At times, it took over the fictional story.  If I could redo my early 20s, I would get a work visa and live in New Zealand.  I spent about 2.5 weeks travelling around New Zealand and loved it.  But it was no where near enough time for me.  Closer to 6 weeks would be perfect, which is pretty consistent with the length of the Josh and Gemma's road trip.


I feel a bit conflicted about this book.  I have liked Josh since Love, in English.  Although he doesn't have all his shit together, he's a solid guy.  Both he and his sister (Vera) have kind of coasted through life, feeling disconnected.  They both were longing for connections to friends and family that is missing in their own lives.

My family may be tied through blood but the ties are weak and constantly unravelling. Suddenly, I think of Vera and can’t blame her in the slightest for wanting to form her ties elsewhere.

I loved the idea of him throwing caution to the wind and going to New Zealand.  Whereas I started off liking Gemma, I found it was difficult to maintain that throughout the book.  Like Love, in English, the relationship between the MCs takes a long time to fully develop.

After a while, I wasn't routing for Gemma anymore.  I was routing for Josh to find someone else who could recognize a good thing when she has it.  Rather than chomping at the bit to find out what happens next, I was just working on getting through the story.

But, it was really nice to reminisce about some of the places I visited in New Zealand (inserted are some of the pictures I took while travelling in New Zealand -- picture 1: Sky Tower in Auckland; picture 2: vineyard around Napier; picture 3: Lake Wanaka; picture 4: Milford Sound).  I also came out of this book loving Josh even more!

Love, in English: Karina Halle

Most of the books I read are new publications.  The challenge with the new reviews, I find, is that the ARC reviews tend to be mainly 5 stars.  I don't know if people who get routinely get ARCs are just very agreeable people who effusively rave about books or if they feel obliged to say positive things, but I often end up feeling like I've read a different book from the reviewed one.  After feeling ho-hum about some of the recent books I've read, I searched around on some blogs for something a bit older that has strong reviews.  That is how I found Love, in English.  

\

Blurb:

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.

I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now. Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks. 

Review: 5 Stars

I loved this book!  First, I loved the whole premise of going to teach English in exchange for all expenses paid in Spain.  I spent a couple of months teaching English in Winnipeg. The weather was shit and the students were young (i.e., 'first time being away from home' kind of young).  I should have opted for something overseas instead.  

Second, the heartache of falling for someone in such a complicated situation made my heart hurt.  The age difference, the geographical distance, Mateo's marital status, Vera's stage in life, the list goes on....

On the one hand, I wanted to see Vera and Mateo together.  On the other hand, them getting together would be straight up infidelity, I don't care how miserable a marriage.  If you want to be with someone else enough to pursue it, end the marriage.  

I had hoped to get more of Mateo's POV because Vera's lack of self confidence didn't really allow her to present herself as a desirable person.  So, I didn't really understand what Mateo saw in her.  I also wanted to know how he felt when they first met and how that developed over their time at the school. There is a follow up book, Love, in Spanish, which is written from Mateo's POV.  Interestingly, it is more about what happens after Love, in English.  

Sincerely, Carter: Whitney G.

Blurb:

Just friends.
We’re just friends.
No, really. She’s just my best friend... 

Arizona Turner has been my best friend since fourth grade, even when we “hated” each other. We’ve been there for one another through first kisses, first “times,” and we’ve been each other’s constant when good relationships turned bad. (We even went to colleges that were minutes away from each other…)

Throughout the years, and despite what anyone says, we’ve never crossed the line.

Never thought about it.
Never wanted to.

Until one night changed everything.
At least, it should’ve ...

Just friends.
We’re just friends.
I’m only saying this until I figure out if she’s still “just” my best friend…

Review: 3 Stars

I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately.  The past few books I've ready have been just okay.  Unfortunately, Sincerely, Carter didn't hit the mark for me.  I didn't feel particularly connected to the characters.  I can't really wrap my mind around knowing the intimate details of a manwhore BFF's conquests and then being next in line.  The transition to more than friends happened pretty abruptly.  One second they are saying that intimacy with a friend never works out and then later that day, they have sex with each other.  

For most of the book, the balance of power in the relationship was with Carter.  It made Arizona seem like a rag doll in the relationship.  I was happy when the dynamic shifted later on in the book, though maybe I just wanted to see Carter be miserable for a while.

Sweet Filthy Boy: Christina Lauren

Blurb: 

One-night stands are supposed to be with someone convenient, or wickedly persuasive, or regrettable. They aren't supposed to be with someone like him.

But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out, Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume, her sweet, filthy fling to France for the summer, and just play.

When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away.

Review: 4.5 Stars

I try to make notes on aspects of a book that stick with me, so that I remember to incorporate the thought into a blog post.  All I wrote for this book, after the first main sex scene (i.e., the morning after) was : holy hotness.  From them on, I was too consumed by the read to make notes for myself.  Well, I may have noted some French translations that I never managed to pick up in my French classes.

Cristina Lauren are becoming some of my favourite authors.  I've enjoyed both the Beautiful Bastard and Wild Seasons Series.  I love the banter they bring to each relationship and the diversity of male characters.  Considering both series, I think I'm a Sweet Filthy girl.  Ansel shows that being sweet and filthy is a great combination.  I love that he is trying to do what is right and even though the circumstance is fairly awkward, both MCs have great chemistry.

Although the relationships across their books vary, there is a similar rhythm in many of them. One aspect of this is the point in the book where the MCs separate because of the behaviour of one or both of the people involved.  I like that the authors make the characters work for reconciliation.  I also appreciate it when the reason for the division is not black or white in term of whether the behaviour was a deal beaker in the relationship.

Professor's Pet: Tara Crescent

Blurb:

Have you ever been dangerously attracted to your professor?

Jake Ballard. He is smug and mocking, but his body is the stuff of epic fantasy. Now, through an unfortunate twist of fate, he holds my smut-filled Kindle in his hands.

I have a decision to make. Can Professor Ballard be my instructor in this world of bondage, dominance, and submission? And, eight weeks later, when my class is at an end, can I walk away from Jake? 

Review: (2.5 Stars)

Okay, I'll admit.  I can be a bit impatient.  I don't like when I'm more than half way through the book and the MCs are still dancing around each other.  This book is kind of the opposite extreme.  It starts so quickly that I felt like it might be a dream sequence (the kind where the character imagines something improbable happening).  I'd prefer somewhere is the middle of the two extremes; let me get to know the characters, care about them a bit and build up some tension.  But, not to the point of wanting to pull my hair out.

After a while, my book grinch side came out -- I just wanted them to break up and find better matches.  I didn't really like the dynamic between these two.

Already, after one weekend, I could tell this situation had trouble written all over it. She was having difficulty building her walls. If I had any sense at all, I would walk away. But then, she’d probably go do something crazy and unsafe, and god-knows-why, I didn’t want that to happen. I needed to stay and teach her enough to ensure she played safely.

There were, however, some aspects that I liked.  I think the author clearly and succinctly  demonstrated an important issue that many BDSM books kind of gloss over:

But it’s always a bit of a dilemma. Do you find someone who is sexually compatible with you, and then figure out everything else? Or do you search for someone who you connect to, and then figure out the kink? 

I also really liked the "net" analogy and how that was picked up on again at the end.  

If I could wave a magic wand, I would like more character development at the beginning and throughout the book.  I was kind of hoping for more of a professor-student dynamic.  The book starts off with Emily defending her Ph.D., so there wasn't really a power dynamic in that sense.  I'd also add an epilogue to see what happens with these two over the year and after the one year.   I also didn't really understand the exchange between Sanjay and Emily at the end.  Emily was not in the wrong for her behaviour, despite how Sanjay reacted to her.  I also didn't get Jake's plan to show Emily the seedier side of things to make sure she didn't fall into any abuse relationships -- how did taking her to a BDSM club do that?

My Time in the Affair: Stylo Fantome

Blurb:

I made a conscious decision to cheat on my husband.

Now, before you judge me, hear my story. Hear how much I'm like you, how similar my thoughts are to your own. Yes, I'm a horrible person. Yes, I've done horrible things. Yes, I don't deserve forgiveness. Yes, bad things happened because of my actions.

But I'm willing to bet I've done things that maybe, just maybe, you have thought of doing.

Maybe, just maybe, you're not as innocent as you'd like to think.

Or maybe I'm not so guilty ...

Review: 4 Stars

I kind of expected that this book would be about an affair that would be easy to forgive because of the husband's abusive/absent behaviour (or something along those lines).  Instead, the husband is actually   a decent guy.  So, it's less black and white.

At first I didn't like Tal.  Appearance wise - tall, dark, former Israeli army guy -- loved him.  But, personality wise, not so much.  He was pushy, slutty, and purposefully pursuing a married woman.
Then, things became not so black and white again -- he started to develop feelings for Mischa and actually became a good guy.  Though, I will say that his POV early on in the story didn't seem to match with the information we learn later on in the book (in terms of how he felt about Mischa from the beginning).

I think the author does a good job of writing a compelling novel, while taking on the challenge of writing about an affair that is not easy to excuse.  I've read books where the affair doesn't really register as such because the husband (being cheated on) is so miserable that you want him to hurt.  That's not the case here.

The Mistake: Elle Kennedy

It seems like everyone was chomping at the bit to read The Mistake.  The first book in the series, The Deal, was a great read.  So, I'm not surprised.

Blurb: 

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

Review: 4.5 Stars

I think this book was just as strong as The Deal.   I can't stand when a female character lets the guy off easy for bad behaviour.  The fact that Logan has to work his way back into Grace's good graces (don't mind the pun) made me happy.  I also really liked the truth about Logan's feelings for Hannah.  It's a nice shift from the alphas who are convinced they don't want to commit.

I don't really get the cover.  Apparently men with good abs sell books.

The Destiny of Violet & Luke: Jessica Sorenson

If the first two books in The Coincidence Series were sad, the next three are downright depressing.  The covers for The Destiny of Violet & Luke, The Probability of Violet & Luke and The Certainty of Violet & Luke feature the same two people, so I'll just put one image up.

Blurb (for the Coincidence of Violet & Luke)

Luke Price's life has always been about order, control, and acting tough on the outside. For Luke, meaningless relationships are a distraction-a way to tune out the twisted memories of his childhood. He desperately wishes he could forget his past, but it haunts him no matter what he does.

Violet Hayes has had a rough life. When she was young, she was left with no family and the memory of her parents' unsolved murders. She grew up in foster homes, living with irresponsible parents, drugs, and neglect, and trying to fight the painful memories of the night her parents were taken from her. But it's hard to forget when she never got closure-and she can't stop dreaming about what happened that tragic night. To make it through life, she keeps her distance from everyone and never allows herself to feel anything.

Then Violet meets Luke. The two clash instantly, yet they can't seem to stay away from each other. Although they fight it, they both start to open up and feel things they've never felt before. They discover just how similar they are. But they also discover something else: The past always catches up with you . . . 

Review: 3.5 Stars

Very much like the first two books in the series, Luke and Violet face a lot of difficulties, primarily due to the adults that have failed them throughout their lives.  Also like Callie and Kayden, the two MCs of this series cope with their issues in unhealthy ways.

I was a bit saddened by the lesser importance Callie and Kayden seemed to have in Luke's life than the reverse.  Even though Callie was a bit nervous around Luke, he became apart of her inner circle and played a fairly prominent role in her life.  In these books, it almost seemed like Callie and Kayden were more annoyances to Luke than anything.  

These books were a tough read because they primarily centred on how difficult their lives were and how much of a challenge it was to move on in life.  So, it's hard to say that it was an enjoyable read.  It was a depressing read.  Honestly, I started taking on their sadness and ended thinking about depressing things in my own life.  I need a break from the series before I go back from Seth's story.  

Still, the writing was compelling.  I like Luke and Violet together.  I would have been happy with two books instead of three.