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!!!).

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.

The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden: Jessica Sorenson

Well, if you're looking for some nice light reading, the Coincidence Series isn't for you.  I'll start off with the first two books in the series, The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden and The Redemption of Callie & Kayden.

Blurb: The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden

For Kayden, suffering in silence was the only way to survive. If he was lucky, he could keep his head down, do as he was told, and make it through the day. But one night it seemed like his luck -- and his life -- might finally end... until an angel named Callie appeared just in time to rescue him.

Callie has never believed in luck. Not since her twelfth birthday when everything was taken from her. After the worst was over, she locked up her feelings and vowed never to tell anyone what happened. Now, six years later, she continues to struggle with the painful secret that threatens to consume her.

When fate lands Kayden and Callie at the same college, Kayden is determined to get to know the beautiful girl who changed his destiny. Quiet and reserved, Callie still fears letting anyone else into her world. But Kayden is certain that Callie has come back into his life for a reason. And the more he tries to be a part of her life, the more he realizes that, this time, it's Callie who needs to be saved...

Blurb: The Redemption of Callie & Kayden

The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is finally out. Worse, he's facing charges for battery. The only way to clear his name is for Callie to speak up-something he'll never ask her to do. Instead, he'll do whatever he must to protect her . . . even if it means letting go of the only girl he's ever loved.

Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But that means facing her greatest fear and admitting her own painful secrets aloud. The thought of breaking her silence terrifies her-but not as much as the thought of losing Kayden forever.

Deep in her heart, Callie knows the time has come for her and Kayden to forget the pain of the past. With the help of her friends Seth and Luke she makes a plan to show Kayden the life they could have. But can she convince him they can make a fresh start together-or is she already too late?

Review: 4.5 Stars (for The Coincidence) and 4 Stars (for The Redemption)

I came across this book when I was going through a list on Goodreads for Best Book Boyfriends.  After reading Broken, I was ready to read about a good guy.  Kayden was just that, a good guy; but he's also not a laid back, drama-free guy. 

I loved the first book in the series because it was about Callie and Kayden getting to know each other and drawing strength from each other.  Callie is one of those characters that you can't wait to see flourish.

The Redemption was a harder book to read.  Kayden's issues come to a head and it makes for more angst and a darker storyline (not that the first book was all sunshine).  I'm not a big fan of the whole "I'm not good enough for her, but I can't stay away" story line.  It gets a bit old after a while.  But, I do love to see characters rid themselves of the negativity that has held them back and take their power back.

I am a few books ahead of these two in the series, but was a bit surprised to see that #6 returns to these two characters.  Looking forward to reading it -- though I am a bit weary about the need for three books.

Isn't She Lovely: Lauren Layne

I often find myself wanting to jump into a book midway through a series that I have yet to read.  With the Redemption Series, I was able to resist jumping ahead because the blurb for the first book in the series, Isn't She Lovely, peeked my interest too.

Blurb:

Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she's pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn't exactly Ethan Price's type, either. He's probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund... or does he?

As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie's a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan's brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.

But when Stephanie steps into Ethan's privileged world, the "acting" begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating "them." And Stephanie faces a question she's too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?

Review: 4 Stars

I'm  sucker for a story like this - watching two people who seem to be complete opposites finding more common ground than expected.  I was pleasantly surprised with this book.  I liked the banter between  Stephanie and Ethan, as they poked fun at each other after being paired together to work a project for their screenwriting course.

And how do I know you won’t go rogue on this project and turn in our screenplay with a dead bird smashed on the front?”

The end of the story is a bit weak, in my opinion.  But, a fun read nonetheless.  I've already moved on to reading the next book in the series!

The Music of Temptation: Verity Jacobs

Pretty much the second I finished The Science of Attraction, I went back to Amazon and purchased The Music of Temptation.

Blurb:

Margot Duke can’t keep her long-distance relationship alive any more than she can the cells that are supposed to be taking center stage in her PhD thesis. Both seem to be suffering an inexplicably long and drawn-out death, and she’s spent more than enough time fretting about it, without any solution in sight.

It figures that the one day she chooses to pack it all in and stop caring is the day she meets Jonathan Young.

Jonathan swings through town with his band, just long enough to knock Margot off her feet, and leave her feeling a little giddy in his wake. The encounter proves once and for all that her inter-continental love affair is over, but can she really stomach the idea of starting another one right on its heels? And with the darling of the indie rock world at that?

Review: 4 Stars

The quality and style of writing is similar to the first book.  A really enjoyable read.  I couldn't put it down.  However, I preferred the storyline of the first book to this one for a few reasons.  For starters, I don't really like reading about angsty long distance relationships.  They're hard on the main characters and hard on my heart.  However, I did like how Margot's labmates rally to support her.  

Like Tom, from the first book, Jonathan is a go-all-night sort (rivals for Gideon Cross, perhaps?)  It's hot and all, but after a while, I started to feel bad for real men who have to compete with the likes of these guys.

Here's my plug for a bonus chapter on Jonathan's POV following their performance in Lisbon.   I'd like to know where his head was at while Margot prepared for her review and the conference.  Also, I'd like more information on any emails that might have been diverted in that timeframe.  This was mentioned in the book, but never picked up on again.

I can't wait for The Risk of Seduction and will be keeping an eye out for a publication date.  Hopefully sooner than later!

The Science of Attraction: Verity Jacobs

Sigh....kind of crushing on Tom and Jonathan right now.  I just finished a bit of a marathon reading of two really great books: The Science of Attraction and The Music of Temptation, both written by Verity Jacobs.  I'll stick to writing about The Science of Attraction for now.

Blurb (Science of Attraction):

She’s the hot new recruit at the most prestigious research institute in Germany, and she’s determined to live up to the hype — even if it means working day and night. Stress relief comes in the form of a no-nonsense affair with her neighbor, who also happens to be the director of the institute. Who says sex should be anything more than a contract between two people who have other things on their mind?

So when Tom Baker saunters into her life, Kate is understandably upset to see this well-oiled machine splutter and seize. Tom is young and smart, and far too pretty for his own good. Kate can’t help but be drawn to him, even if giving in to the attraction would mean risking everything she’s worked for.

Review:  4.5 Stars

I kind of love romance books set in an academic setting.  In my real life, I don't deal with CEOs, motorcycle clubs, rock stars, star athletes, etc.  In contrast, I have a lot of dealings with academics.  I spent about 10 years in university (between my undergraduate and graduate degrees) and a lot of my friends are academics.  So, I already feel a kinship to characters who are slogging through their academic research.  

Added to this, I was really excited to find out that the book is primarily set in Bonn, Germany.  The first international conference I attended was held in Bonn.  I even dragged out my external hard drive to find a picture from my visit.  

Having been there and walked the streets around the university, helped me feel more immersed in the story.  It's a pretty city, with a large cobblestone centre.  Now, I kind of want to pack up and move to Bonn.  Okay - moment of insanity passed.  No packing.

I really liked this book.  Tom is basically a dream guy.  My only small critique is that there could have been a little bit more plot and less sex.  But, I loved reading about the Kate and Tom.

I've also been enjoying the prelude the author has been writing about Tom on her blog.  Go check it out here!