Book Review: The Strongest Steel

Author: Scarlett Cole
Publication Date: July 7 2015
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperback
Genre:  Romance, Romantic suspense
Source: Received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Contains excerpts.

Review: Now, trust me when I say this is harder for me to write than you may believe. The first novel that introduced me to Scarlett Cole’s writing was The Purest Hook. I swore up and down that there was no way any of the other books in the Second Circle series could beat Dred and Pixie’s romance. 

This is now painful for me because I have to take back my own words! Something I usually don’t even do…. like seriously never. I know, I know I’m stubborn. However, The Strongest Steel just could not let me win. As soon as Trent (male lead) sees Harper (female lead) walking past the shop one afternoon, you already know he’s got a thing for her.

As she got close, he could see she was holding a pastry box from the coffee shop down the street. 

“Those for me darling?” he shouted across the street, breaking out the smile that chicks seemed to go for. She looked confused for a moment before she realized he was calling out to her. Damn. A slow, shy smile – and then there was that simple flush of her skin, Such a turn-on. Holy shit.

What you don’t know is how tormented our poor Harper is. She moved to Miami due to a devastating…. and when I say devastating I am not being dramatic here folks… incident. Let’s just say she was in a relationship with a man she shouldn’t have been with and he literally almost took her very life.

She goes to trent looking for a tattoo to mask the proof of her previous life. She’s hoping that Trent is the guy who can make that happen.

“I googled you,” Harper said, turning to face him.

“Learn anything interesting?”

“You’re one of the best there is.” 

 He revealed two striking dimples as he smiled. 

Not only does Trent take on the job, he also takes on the responsibility of being Harper’s very life line. She spends her days wasting away, working at a coffee shop and hiding from life until she meets Trent. He shows her how to live again and how to put her demons behind her.

Of course nothing is perfect in life and that isn’t any different for our leading couple here. It’s clear that they love one another more than words but Harper’s past comes back to haunt them and it’s one long bumpy road till the finish line.

Even with the trials and tribulations Trent refuses to back down. He just made my heart melt with his sweet nature and adorable pet names.

“I know what you’re up to,” she said.
“And what would that be?” he asked with a devious smirk.
“You know.”
“Is it working?”
She looked over her shoulder to where he was still reclining against the wall, watching her patiently. All the reasons she’d vowed to stay alone, to remain uninvolved, fled as he grinned at her.
“Maybe.”

There isn’t a woman alive who would turn down some extra loving is all I’m saying. Trent knows how to make Harper feel special but also knows how to let her be independent. He’s a man with confidence. And he wants his woman to feel the same about herself. *Sigh* I just really loved him in this novel.

I’m telling you guys right now this is a 1-click novel. Seriously, if you can download, buy or order it today! I will be reading more from Scarlett Cole. She’s amazing.

4 stars of steel for this baby! 

Book Review: Primal Instinct

Author: Tara Wyatt
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Publication Date: 5/31/2016
Genre: Romance
Source: I request this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

May contain spoilers ahead.

Review: Let us first start with some background. Primal Instinct written by Tara Wyatt is a romance novel about a former Army Ranger ( Colt Priestley) who becomes a body guard for Taylor. Taylor is a world famous singer who is caught in a rut within her career. She’s suffering from a broken heart and as a result hasn’t made the best decisions.

Let’s just say that Colt and Taylor have immediate sexual tension between the both of them. Of course they become involved but what they don’t know is that Taylor has a creepy stalker dude who is out for blood! Listen when I tell you guys that this man is a 10 on the stalker scale…. it’s ridiculous. He will stop at nothing to get Taylor and Colt will stop at nothing to protect what is his. Unfortunately for both Taylor and Colt not only does she have a stalker she also has an abusive father who owes the wrong people a large sum of money. So guess who they come after? Yup, Taylor.

Over all the story line is amazing. It’s sexy, action packed and has all the makings for an amazingly hot and spicy story. Unfortunately for me there were times where I felt like it may have dragged on.

With all that said I didn’t think it was a bad story but I also wasn’t completely sold either. It took me a while to read which doesn’t happen often with me.

I’m going to give Primal Instinct a 3.5 out of 5 stars. If an action packed, sexy novel with some cliche areas is your thing than I would definitely recommend this book to you! As a matter of fact you’d probably love it.

Book Review: Something More Than This

Author: Barbie Bohrman
Publication Date: 4/26/2016
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Romance
Source: I received this book via NetGalley for an honest review.

Review: Something More Than This by Barbie Bohrman has the cuteness factor down 100%. The lead heroine is Katy a girl who grew up with her brothers and is the type of chick that prefers football instead of cheerleading. Some may even call her a “Tom Boy”. Over all she’s a pretty girl who was undoubtedly in love with her childhood best friend Conner.

See this would have been cute but let’s just say that Conner breaks her heart. Luckily for Katy she meets a man named Dylan in college. He becomes her friend, confidant and, later on in life, Boss. Of course he also becomes the second man that she’s declared herself in love with.

I have to say that I’ve never read a story with a love triangle that had me wanting both men to be the women’s choice. Barbie Bohrman however has a sweet, loving and angst ridden novel that has you loving every single one of her characters. Conner was adorable, Katy was a girl that we have all been at one point in our lives, and Dylan was a man that we all wished we had waiting for us at home after a long day of work.

I will say that I enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to a friend. It was simple, sweet and really captured my attention from start to finish. Sure, there were some spots that could have been left out but it was nothing that would have me drooling over my kindle almost knocked out from boredom.

All in all I would definitely read another book from Barbie Bohrman. I’m giving Something More Than This 4/5 stars!

Book Review: Arouse

Author: Nina Lane
Publication Date: 1/24/2014
Publisher: Snow Queen Publishing
Genre: Romance
Length: 406 pgs. Print length
Price: $3.99 ( according to iBooks)
Source: I requested and received this book via NetGalley in order to give an honest review in return.

Review: First let me start off by asking “Why the hell haven’t I read this novel before?!”

Seriously I have read many romance novels all about finding love, meeting Mr. Perfect and even exploring your deepest and darkest fantasies BUT never have I read a story about a married couple whose passion is undeniable and yet life still manages to knock them off their feet and as a result they have to fight for the relationship they once had.

The main couple – Dean aka Professor and Olivia aka Liv – captured my heart. I found my self stressing over the outcome of their relationship as if they were real people. This book tells a story of how even the most well meant secrets can almost destroy a “freakishly happy” marriage.

Let me just tell you ladies (or dudes) that Dean West is the epitome of “Tall dark and handsome.” He absolutely made me swoon! He was polite, a gentleman, and loved Olivia with a love so deep I found myself envying her character. (Uhm hello don’t we all want someone to treat us like we’re their treasure?!) His very character just had me completely hypnotized.

“Liv,” he said, his voice rough with tenderness, “you don’t have to be afraid.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ll slay the monsters for you.”

Dear Heavens!! *sighs* As you can see from above Professor West is definitely a ladies man and when Olivia confides in him knowing that her past is definitely one that would have most women needing a shoulder to lean on that is exactly what Dean provides her.

This was just a very realistic heart-wrenching story about two people who loved each other more than anything and even when all their chips fell they refused to accept that as their reality.

Fall seven times. Get up eight.

“I don’t want to lose you,” I whisper.

“You’ll never lose me.” He slides his hand to the back of my neck. “I want you to come home.”

Overall my biggest complaint is that I haven’t read this book until now. If you haven’t read it already I suggest that you do! I don’t doubt that Olivia and Dean’s love story will capture your hearts as they did mine. You’ll find yourself stressing when they stress, tearing up when they cry, and feeling happy as hell when life isn’t beating them down. Not only was this story moving it was also saucy! Nina Lane is amazing at what she does let me tell you this book probably has the best written sex scenes I have ever read * fans myself*

Arouse is book 1 in a series make sure to read them in order

1. Arouse: A Spiral of Bliss Novel
2. Allure: A spiral of Bliss Novel
3. Awaken: A spiral of Bliss Novel
4. Adore: A spiral of bliss Novel
5. Book 5 coming soon

I’m giving Arouse a 4/5 stars!

Book Review: In His Corner by Vina Arno

Author: Vina Arno
Publication date: 04/14/2015
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages/Type: 480/E-book (110 print length)
Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Review: Where do I begin?! How about with the fact that this book was definitely a hard hit to miss. Tommy aka Juggernaut who is a young man focused on becoming the best in his craft -boxing-falls for Siena who is an Ivy League graduate and a more than competent MD.

While Tommy may be only 22 years old he is far from immature. Life has definitely given him a few lemons and when you look at how far he’s come with his career you can say he sure knows how to turn those lemons into lemonade!

Siena on the other hand has had everything she could ever want her whole life. She appreciates the finer things in life- or as Tommy would say she’s a snob- and has never dated anyone who wasn’t an Ivy League grad…before Tommy that is. Even she found his boyish but rough charm irresistible.

The one thing I loved was that Tommy knew how to have a good time and his witty humor was a plus. He’s definitely wise beyond his mere 22 years and while he may not be book smart he has street smart down 100%.

I have to say Vina totally captured my heart with the Juggernaut. He was kind, sensitive, and yet was 100% alpha in his persona. It was nice to see a man who was confident in himself without having to control the woman he was with!

Siena on the other hand was…well honestly a huge snob. At some points it was more than I could take! I just wanted to shake some sense in to her every time something ridiculous set her off. I had a hard time warming up to her until I realized that she loved him just as much as he did her.

All in all I would definitely read another book by Vina Arno again. If a steamy romance with an alpha male who knows how to treat a lady and isn’t afraid of showing how hard he’s falling catches your heart like it does mine than this book is a definite go!

I’m giving In His Corner a 3.5/5 !

Book Review: The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter

Author: Kate Baxter
Publication Date: 6/2/2015
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Review: If a dangerously sexy no bullshit type of guy – er vampire – is your thing then this book might be the one for you. Michael or Mikhail is ( as the title states) THE last true vampire! Literally!  The poor guy is the sole carrier of something called the collective memory, basically a History book of every last detail/memory having to do with his kind. Let’s just say that he’s had to carry this burden on his shoulders since the 1600’s when a secret society called the Sortiarti completely slaughtered his entire race. These guys are no joke. They go around dressed as priests basically cleansing the world of these demonic soulless creatures aka vampires.(If you’re a vampire lover like me I’m sure you resent that notion! haha)

Michael may be the only true vampire on earth but there are kin wandering around with him called Dhampirs. Basically a half-blood that can only be turned through a  full-blood’s (Michael’s) bite. Unfortunately the only way that can happen along with the restoration of the entire Vampire race is if Michael can tether his “untethered” soul. *sigh* Did I mention how  much I feel for this guy? Basically being “untethered” means that  your soul is missing – yikes! the price one must pay for immortality right?- and you can only hope that one day in your unending life you will be able to be whole again by finding your true mate.

Well, let me tell you when Michael does meet his mate – and oh boy the instant connection is electric!- the book is a constant battle field from then on and I mean that both figuratively and literally. Let’s just say Kate Baxter had me glued to my seat not even wanting to put the book down for a second. I must be honest while I have enjoyed every single book I’ve reviewed so far it’s been a long time since I’ve found a book that’s made me want to skip breakfast, lunch, dinner, hell even classes just to see what the hell Michael was going to do with his very HUMAN mate.

Did I forget to mention that before? Yeah his mate is none other than a bad ass human who is beautiful, tough and can totally handle Michael any day of the week. Which is why I love her! As much as I want to continue on and on I can’t cause then there would be no story for you guys to read! lol Seriously I couldn’t have asked for more in a Paranormal Romance. Kate Baxter’s The Last True Vampire had me thirsting for more till the very end! So if you haven’t read it yet I recommend that you do as I will be getting the second book in this series – The Warrior Vampire– ASAP!

Source: Personal Collection.