Insider: Olivia Cunning

Blurb:

She thought she was ready to rock... 
Toni Nichols put her aspirations on hold while she raised her little sister, but now she's reaching for the stars and living her dreams as the creator of a revolutionary interactive biography about the rock band Exodus End. Creating the book requires her to go on tour and immerse herself in the band's world as an insider, but can she gain the trust of four veteran superstars who've been burned by the media before? Or will her dreams crumble at her feet? 

He's always ready to roll 
Logan Schmidt was born an adrenaline junkie. He lives for the rush he gets from playing his bass guitar before thousands of fans. When he's not performing on stage or in the bedroom, he's looking for his next endorphin high in extreme sports. So what is it about the sweet and innocent journalist on their world tour that gets his heart pumping and captures his full attention? Is she the real deal or is she posing at being his perfect woman to get inside secrets on Exodus End? 

They're both ready to experiment 
Though Toni was innocent the first time she climbed the bus steps, that didn't last long once Logan set his sights on her. He's so much more worldly than she is and she's ready to learn how to please a lover and explore all the ways she can be pleased. Logan can't believe his luck. Toni's a phenomenal woman and she wants him to teach her how to rock and roll in the sack? Not exactly a burdensome task. Until she starts to get too close to his heart and takes her insider look to a place he never anticipated.

Review: 4 Stars

I think anyone that has read the Sinners on Tour Series has been eagerly awaiting the start of the  Exodus End Series.  The former series combines fairly smutty erotica with hot musicians and interesting storylines.  What's not to love?

The first book in the series, Insider, features the bass guitarist, Logan.  His personality reminded me a bit of Eric Sticks in that he is high energy and goofy.  Toni, the female MC, comes on to tour with Exodus End to create a interactive biography of the band, which is kind of a cool idea.  It seems a bit far fetched that she would arrive a 25 year old virgin, only to have that "rectified" within an hour.  But, if you're ready to lose it, why not go for it on a tour bus with a hot musician?

Although some sex scenes are explicit, I'd say this book was fairly tame compared to most of the Sinners' books.  I tend to prefer the insta-love story lines over the extended denial of feelings.  But, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next ones to come.

My one beef was the lack of grovelling.  Toni was, at points, treated poorly by the band, by her mother and by her boss.  She really never took any of them to task.  

30 Lays in 30 Days: Kate J. Squires

Blurb:

The world's sexiest bucket list.

After emerging from a loveless marriage, Cat realizes hers is a life half-lived. What's a recently-single woman in the prime of her life to do? Have her first ever one night stand. But her experience leads her to more than just an evening of pleasure. Cat has a revelation: she's sick of being a good girl. It's time for this Cat to take a walk on the wild side.

Cat pledges to try 30 different sexual experiences in the next 30 days, before she turns 30. Her list sends her on a journey that will lead to indescribable pleasures and some risky situations, and Cat will learn more about herself than she ever thought possible. Most unexpected of all, she may even find love.

Do you dare take a peek at her list? Read on …

Review: 3 Stars

For this one, I really had to turn off that part of me that wants to find a couple who are passionately in love and devoted to each other from the start.  I mean, you can't fault a book called "30 Lays in 30 Days" for having a promiscuous female lead.

Basically, it's porn with a bit of a storyline.  That's not a positive or negative statement.  Sometimes, after a particularly heavy read, I just want an easy, steamy read.  But, like watching porn, sometimes it can get boring.

I think the whole storyline with Cat's ex-husband was ridiculous.  I was willing to just roll my eyes and go with it, but the way Jackson reacted when he found out that Cat was being blackmailed changed my view of him.  Then, Cat quickly justified Jackson's response, which is on my list of pet peeves (female character blaming herself for partner's poor behaviour).

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

The Apartment Novels: Amanda Black

After reading and really enjoying The Single Game, I figured I would "back up the bus" and read The Apartment Novels Series.  These books focuses on Lily and Ethan, Eden's aunt and uncle.  Most of the book is set before Eden is born.

Blurb:

Lily has spent a lifetime putting everyone else’s needs before her own.

Ethan is struggling to find a place in the home he left behind.

When the two meet by chance in an empty apartment, everything changes. Drawn together by an inexplicable desire, Lily and Ethan discover a passion neither knew existed. And so, they make a pact: Nothing from their outside lives will enter the apartment—not even their names.

But what will happen when the apartment’s walls inevitably come down?

Review: 3.5 Stars (my review pertains to both The Apartment and its sequel, The Blank Canvas)

Whenever I read a series that features the same characters across more than one book, I pay attention to whether there was enough of a story there to warrant more than one book.  These books are borderline in that regard.  Amanda Black certainly does not shy away from sex scenes.  There probably could have been about half as many of them here without diminishing the connection between the main characters.  Also, the extent to which every sex scene was 'earth shattering, split you into a million pieces, circle the planets and come back down to earth in a lusty post-coital fog' was a bit over the top.  

Despite this, I did enjoy Lily and Ethan together.  Clearly their chemistry is off the charts.  There were some opportunities for more plot that were not explored.  I wouldn't have minded a closer look into Ethan's past; maybe even an appearance by Rachel (or at least more about how things turn out with her new protege).  Lily really got off easy with Scott; there could have been more consequences there.  Lily forgives Ethan quite quickly.  Nothing really came of Lily's interactions with her colleagues; I thought there might be a throw down with  Kim.  After reading a fair bit about Maggie and Eric's miscarriages, Eden's birth feels glossed over.

I was somewhat distracted/confused by the timing of things.  These books are written in the present, with reference to recent popular culture.  But, The Single Game also includes present-day cultural elements when there two stories are meant to be a couple of decades apart.  So, it seems to me that the books should be written to reflect that.

I wonder if this series will continue from here - maybe Emma's kid or one of Lily and Ethan's kids?

Opening Up: Lauren Dane

Blurb

The men of the Twisted Steel custom motorcycle shop are great with their hands... and they're not afraid to get dirty.

PJ is exactly the kind of woman Twisted Steel owner Asa Barrons doesn't need. The last thing he wants to do is mix business with pleasure, and PJ has some of the best custom detailing he's ever seen. But the chemistry between them won't be denied, and soon he's introducing her to a whole new world in the bedroom, pushing her far beyond anything she's ever experienced. PJ finds she can't get enough, but how far is too far before he consumes her completely?

Review: 4 Stars

I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable Opening Up was.  Every time I read a few duds, I start to get down in the dumps and convince myself that I'll never read a good book again.  (I know, completely unrealistic and overly dramatic).  Thankfully, Opening Up brought me out of a slump. 

One thing I quite liked about Opening Up is that the main characters talk to each other quite a bit.  So often, I have a hard time believing the connection between two lovers because there is minimal dialogue.  Asa and PJ actually had thoughtful conversations, which helped to make their connection feel genuine and believable.

I also really appreciated Asa, who exudes alpha hotness without being a jerk about it.  So often, alpha males act like they're always right and the women in  their lives just yield to whatever beliefs the alpha enforces.  Asa is a strong, dominant man who can also show vulnerability, admit when he's wrong and grovel with the best of 'em.  His flexibility also leaves room for a interesting dynamic between him and PJ, who is a no nonsense, intelligent and self-possessed woman.

The whole "daddy issues" got a bit boring after a while, but that's just a minor quibble.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

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

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.

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?

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?

Try & Take: Ella Frank

I'm going to review the first two books of the Temptation Series, Try and Take, by Ella Frank, together.

Blurb: Try

Sex. Logan Mitchell loves it, and ever since he realized his raw sexual appeal at a young age, he has had no problem using it to his advantage. Men and women alike fall into his bed—after all, Logan is not one to discriminate. He lives by one motto—if something interests you, why not just take a chance and try?

And he wants to try Tate Morrison.

Just coming out of a four-year marriage with an ex-wife from hell, a relationship is the last thing on Tate’s mind. He’s starting fresh and trying to get back on his feet with a new job at an upscale bar in downtown Chicago.

The only problem is, Tate has caught the unwavering and unwelcome attention of Mr. Logan Mitchell – a regular at the bar and a man who always gets what he wants.

Night after night Tate fends off the persistent advances of the undeniably charismatic man, but after an explosive moment in the bar, all bets are off as he finds his body stirring with a different desire than his mind.

As arrogance, stubbornness and sexual tension sizzles between the two, it threatens to change the very course of their lives.

Logan doesn’t do relationships. Tate doesn’t do men. But what would happen if they both just gave in and…tried?

Blurb: Take

Logan Mitchell is a man who’s always been more than happy to take what he wants. It’s a philosophy that’s proven lucrative in both his business and personal life, and never was it more apparent than the night he laid eyes on Tate Morrison. After pulling out all the stops and convincing the sexy bartender to give him a try—he’s hooked. 

Now, Logan finds himself in a predicament that demands more from him than a smart-ass answer and his innate ability to walk away when things get too deep. 

He has a choice to make, and it’ll force him to do something he’s never done before—take a chance.
Tate Morrison knows all about taking a chance. He took the biggest one of his life the night he showed up at Logan’s apartment to explore his unexpected reaction to the man. 
Ever since then, he’s thought about little else.

At first he was convinced his attraction was based solely on his body’s curiosity. But the more time he spends with the silver-tongued lawyer, the more Tate realizes that their physical chemistry is only the beginning.

He’s starting to catch a glimpse of what life with Logan would be like, and it’s one full of excitement and satisfaction—a far cry from what he had in the past with his soon to be ex-wife.
Each man will face their fears as they begin to understand the true meaning of give and take. Their feelings for one another will be tested, as will their very beliefs. But now that they’ve found love where they least expected it, will they be brave enough to reach out and take it?

Review: 4 Stars
After recently reading my first m/m romance, Carry the Ocean, which was fairly PG, I thought I would give some m/m NC-17 a try.  

I have been interested, lately, in the psychology behind sexual preference in romance/erotica novels.  I have so many questions about how/whether sexual preference of the author influences the way characters are portrayed when their MCs have similar or different sexual preferences to that of the author.  Why do women want to write about a m/m relationship?  In popular culture, so often straight men are portrayed as being interested in/turned on by f/f couplings.  Is the truth that women (homo- or hetero-sexual) are just as turned on by m/m erotica?  Is there distinct patterns in the way m/m relationships are portrayed when the story is by a woman vs. a man?  Are the audiences for these books distinct in terms of gender (e.g., Do gay men prefer reading m/m books written by gay men?  Do straight women prefer reading m/m books written by straight women?)  Are there consistent differences in the way m/m relationships are portrayed relative to m/f relationships?

Ack - I could go on with all of these questions!

So, now, to talk about Try and Take, in particular... It took me a while to get into the books.  I wasn't into Logan's character for most of the first book.  His aggressiveness felt more like sexual harassment than anything else.  When the MCs got together, it took a long time for it to go beyond sex, which was a pretty obvious difference from the m/f books I've read.  I don't recall any m/f erotica where the emotional connection lagged behind the sexual one for so long.  I'm not sure that that lag would work for the readers of traditional m/f erotica.  

At times the books dragged for me.  I think this has to do with writing style; the characters often don't finish their sentences.  Then, they are prompted by the other character to finish the thought.  It ends up slowing down the pace of conversation.  There is a lot of sex in the books.  It's basically sex, conversation that leads to sex, and then more sex.  

By the end of Take, I was happy with where the Tate and Logan were in their relationship.  I'm astonished by Tate's ability to be so honest with himself, his family and the world about his relationship.  I can't imagine that there would be very many men who have been exclusively straight come to be so open, so quickly, about being in a same sex relationship.  

I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for the next book in the series, which is supposed to come out this spring.  I'm curious to see what happens next.

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!