Review: The Jaguar King by Anna McIlwraith

The Jaguar King by Anna McIlwraith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 Ms. Emma Chase's world is getting ready to be turned upside down. Not only is her roommate a Jaguar shifter but he has brother (no big whoop ... right?) that shows up out of nowhere with a whole shifter horde on his tail. Not to mention the yummy god chilling in the backseat of the getaway car. The author did such a wonder job of bring all the elements of this story together. There was a great array of characters (heck there is a creepy yet sweet were tarantula and a hotter than hades blue skinned jaguar king), world building and the story telling is pretty darn good too. Readers shouldn't be confused by the title because that particular character is just a vehicle to introduce Emma and her gifts/importance to the readers. Though I love a cocky self-important male lead (they are the best when they fall) and the Jaguar King definitely had all of that going for him. He's just not going to serve the role that some readers would want him to. Heck, there are so many potential males leads that it is hard to pick a favorite. So far that cast of characters have been shifters, vampires and a couple of gods. Excited to see what turns the Caller of the Blood takes next.

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Review: The Boss (Book One) by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliot

The Boss: Book One by Cari Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Just a couple things ... more than a couple. 1) Story has promise. Meaning if it hadn't ended abruptly it would have been a fuller reading experience. Writing was good but when your just really getting into the characters ... BOOM its done. 2) Didn't get to know both the leading characters well. Would have liked to know a little more about the male lead (Mr. Carson) other than he had shoulders that fill a doorway. Though this peeks my interest (I like tall, brooding and sexy) it isn't enough to keep me interested in the next half of the story. 3) The story sums up to girl in trouble, workaholic/demanding billionaire is the pseudo bad guy, a lot of intense staring, some pseudo public sex, awkwardness and then the end.

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Review: Make It Hurt by Jackie Ashenden

Make It Hurt by Jackie Ashenden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sexy bikers and tough ladies ... well this was like getting that one piece of pie - you know the very last piece and everyone is looking for ways to steal your pie. THIS WAS JUST THAT GOOD!

This entry in the Texas Bounty by Jackie Ashenden has a classic theme with the boy from the wrong side of the tracks and the innocent/sheltered rich girl. If the story stopped there it would be only half done and the reader would never get to enjoy the angst concealed within the pages of the story.

It was a treat to read about a heroine who doesn't buckle under the pressure of a strong male lead. The character of Nora Sutcliffe is well developed and is an equal to her male counterpart. There aren't any fight scenes in this entry where the heroine gets to kick a little butt (it really isn't that kind of story) but the reader gets to experience the hurt she has gone through. First with the loss of her first love and then the loss of father. The adult Nora is no longer the curious young woman lounging about. Heck, with her life as a bounty hunter who has time to lounge around? She's too busy burying her past and forgetting about lost opportunity.

Smith knew Nora as soon as he heard her, seen her, smelled her but that wasn't going to be enough to tempt him to let down his guard. After so many years apart he's let his heart harden and his 'golden girl' definitely wasn't going to change who or what he was. Riding into his domain putting his balls in jeopardy definitely won't win her any points either. But there is just something about sweet Nora that this battle harden MC president just can't stay away from.

Just a couple of elements that I would have liked to have seen but it doesn't take anything away from the story that is being told.


  Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


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Review: The Strongest Steel (Second Circles Tatoos, #1) by Scarlett Cole

The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For those who are on the fence about picking this one up ... PICK IT UP! There isn't any guess work whether a reader would enjoy this one. Especially, if the reader is a fan of the genre. The Strongest Steel has great lead characters and a strong supporting cast.

Lets start with Harper (the female lead in this tale) who shows the reader how loving someone can blind you to the truth and when the blinders finally come off its way too late. You're stuck ... in way too deep to dig your way out. For Harper she finds that love can be down right deadly and once she survived its onslaught all she could do was run. Not just run but she has to heal (physically and mentally) from the torture she endured. But its hard to heal when you carry around the constant reminders ... many, many constant reminders. Lost in fear and self doubt Harper finally builds up t the courage to seek help. Trent Andrews is the least likely of those Harper would consider her knight in shining armor but hope and love sometimes can come in the strangest of packages. So, when this tattooed knight starts to break down her walls and bring her back into the world, I wasn't surprised to see the inner strength that the author had written into Harper's character. Though her character endured a lot the author made sure that this character's inner strength came shinning through.

So what works? 1) The relationship between our two main characters. Especially, in the romantic scenes, I totally got that Trent truly treasured, adored, loved (whatever you want to call it) Harper. There was true feeling written into a couple of those scenes and I must say that I appreciate the effort it took not to mess it up. 2) The secondary characters are really good. Cujo is a cocky ass and I LOVE IT. Harper's best friend Drea is feisty and ready wreck shop whenever she has to.

In the end I was hoping that harper had more time with her tormentor and with the legal system that failed her. I was all geared up and ready see our heroine bury her foot so deep in his backside and in the end I didn't get to see the revenge Harper's character totally deserved. In this case, was looking forward to the bad guy getting what her deserved.

  ~~~~Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review~~~~



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Review: For 100 Days by Lara Adrian

For 100 Days by Lara Adrian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, I was already aware of the author's other popular series and when I came across this one I didn't hesitate to try it out. Now, I am giving this a four star rating but there are some things that prevented it from getting a five star rating.

Like a lot of romance readers, I love a take charge alpha male lead and the author skillfully delivers with Dominic and he has that personality that leaps off the page that had me salivating. Other than knowing he was rich, secretive and used to getting his way, nothing else is really learned about this character. Meaning, I want to really, really, REALLY know this character's background. I want to know what makes him tick and I feel that it wasn't given (at least not fully). Maybe, I am a spoiled reader and I want all my candy at once. What Dominic's character has proven is that he has one hell of a heart. Now, to the heroine (Avery) who was good but didn't hold my attention as much as the male lead did. Readers will discover this portion of the series mainly is about Avery and whatever secret she is harboring. I just wanted her secrets to have a bigger role in how the story played out. Just wanted the element of danger or additional angst. Both characters worked because she was the happy recipient of Nick's attention.

This is an erotic novel and it's truly jammed packed with our lead characters getting it in but that alone can't carry a story. Though these scenes are fun to read sometimes it just over shadows the story that is being told. Don't get me wrong.I definitely appreciate Nick but there has to be balance. For sheer steaminess of this read it was hard to put down.

☆•☆•☆Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review☆•☆•☆


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