Interview with Author CD Reiss and Giveaway

CD Reiss is a New York Times bestselling author. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God, but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well hauling buckets. Born in New York City, Reiss moved to Hollywood, California, to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere—but it did give her a big enough ego to write novels.

Reiss is frequently referred to as the Shakespeare of Smut, which is flattering but hasn’t ever gotten her out of chopping that cord of wood. If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine. Text cdreiss to 77948 to get a notification whenever she has a new release.

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ARC Review: King of Code by CD Reiss

I love CD Reiss. I mean love love love her. You have to read some of my other Reiss reviews to really get a feel for how serious I'm being. I started reading Reiss with Songs of Submission. I gobbled up Jon and Monica's story including Coda and the follow up. I then went on to read the other books about the Drazen siblings and loved every single one on a level that is hard to describe. And I know you're all 'what about King of Code?' but give me a minute because I feel like this background is important. I love the hard core erotic action/romance Reiss and it's very difficult for me to say anything negative about her writing. Part of me feels like, if you give the world the kind of brilliance Reiss delivered with her Drazen novels and OMG The Marriage Games duet, you get a pass forever. So all that being said, it's kind of difficult to write this review of King of Code and you need to know that it's probably a more generous representation of my feelings than I would normally give. So here it goes. 

I did not like the characters in King of Code. I really really didn't like them and that made this book a struggle. Taylor is an egotistical, sexist know-it-all who doesn't really know much. He's built some indestructible code that's going to change the whole entire world and is totally unhackable until it gets hacked to pieces. Taylor follows clues left by the hacker to some small town trying to figure out the hack and close it off. In small town USA he finds Harper. From the beginning of the book Taylor's sexism is so front and center that it's actually a bit much. Harper pops up everywhere when Taylor arrives in town. She mysteriously knows every convenient answer and is around to give Taylor a ride when his car breaks down but Taylor never suspects she is the hacker because girls don't know computers. Whatever. And then there is Harper who is as you know from the synopsis the hacker. Harper is truly crazy. I know it's supposed to be the appealing sort of crazy but I was not amused. I wanted to punch Harper. Harper lies about absolutely everything. I won't spoil anything but I will tell you Harper is what my mom called a "lying wonder." Like she lied so much it was wondrous. 

The entirety of the book (well at least 70%) is Taylor trying to figure out why Harper wanted him to come to Barrington and how he can get his code back. Harper sets up this series of task for Harper to perform and gives him his stuff back piece by piece as he performs. I'm not even going to get into what the tasks are because just, no. But I will tell you that I was infuriated by Harper leading Taylor around by the nose. I was pissed at Taylor for being so awesomely weak. Taylor is portrayed as a tech guy who can't fight. He basically out snarks his opponents and f-cks their girlfriends, his words, not mine. I don't like that at all. I'm sorry but give me my alpha men with the short fuses who will go to war for their women. I don't want some weak guy who lets a woman completely manipulate him and then out of the friggin blue falls in love with her. 

In my opinion (and in the actual book) Harper just destroys Taylor s life and Taylor gets on his knees and worships her for it. I honestly did not understand the connection between these two characters. It's like they bond over the rubble of Taylor's existence and I was just like, huh? The book is told in Taylor's POV so I really had no idea what the hell was going on in Harper's head, I just knew I wanted to smack her. For as weak as Taylor was, Harper was indecisive and unstable and kinda friggin immature. 

And I know this review is long but let's talk about the Barrington story line for a second. I appreciate Reiss' efforts to highlight the plight of many places in the U.S. that have been hit hard by automation and globalization. Hell, I'm from Michigan. I've seen first hand in painful detail, the story Reiss is trying to tell. My problem is totally selfish. I don't want to read about it in a romance novel. At least I don't want to read a novel where that is the focus in the way it was in this book. I want to get away from reality, not be immersed in it for several hours. This is totally subjective but that's how I feel. I just didn't like the stark portrayal of Barrington or Silicone Valley. I know there were some important nuances but the whole book was so frustrating for me, I just couldn't get there.

In summary, I love CD Reiss. I can find no fault in her writing style or storytelling. However, I hated weak Taylor and neurotic Harper and I did not enjoy reading about them. That's all I got.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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ARC Review: Bodyguard by CD Reiss

Bodyguard is the second book in the Hollywood A-List series, but each book can be read as a standalone story. While the first book wasn't my favorite, I wanted to read more from CD Reiss. I have heard such good things about her books, and while I have since read and enjoyed other books by her, this one wasn't my favorite either. I think maybe this series is just okay for me, but that won't keep me from reading other books by her. 

Emily enjoys her fame and the perks that come with it, until it also brings back her dangerous ex. Bodyguard Carter Kincaid is the best in the business, and beyond sexy. But with Emily being his new client, things between them are off limits. The more time they spend together, the more the lines start to blur. But Carter has his own past and secrets, and being with Emily would mean letting her in. 

I thought that Carter and Emily did have chemistry and I could feel the attraction between them. However what I lacked was a real connection and any kind of depth. Both were likable characters, though Emily did get on my nerves. It drove me nuts how she seemed to have no regard for her safety and was constantly putting herself in danger by ignoring Carter's rules. (I will admit that this is a common problem for me with bodyguard stories, but it tends to happen in so many of them) While I liked Carter, there were a few times that I felt he was a bit over the top. 

The other thing I was missing besides the connection between Carter and Emily was between Carter and his son. It didn't really seem like he was that close to his son, and I missed that bond. (This was a problem I had with the first book as well.) I also felt like this story was a bit slow, which also didn't help my attention span. There wasn't much going on in the story except for what felt like too much angst and drama at times. I wanted more, and it just felt like something was missing. I have really enjoyed other books from CD Reiss, and this won't be the last I read from her. I just think maybe this series isn't for me, but I do recommend giving it a shot if you think it might be one you would like, especially if you were a fan of the first book.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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ARC Review: Prince Roman by CD Reiss

I was excited to read Prince Roman from CD Reiss, though I am normally not a huge fan of novellas. This was a great story though, and I found it hard to put this one down. I will admit at the beginning I was a bit lost with some of the tech speak and jargon being thrown around and I also didn't know Raven's character having not read King of Code. But this story is a standalone and you don't need it to enjoy Prince Roman. I will definitely be going back to read King of Code though after finishing this story. 

After the end of her casual office relationship, Raven is determined to start her new job off on the right foot. She knows she can't have any more office hookups, but after meeting Roman she knows that will be a challenge. Especially when he is across the hall from her and is just as attracted to her as she is him.

I liked both Raven and Roman. Raven was strong and determined, and I loved that she was herself and could admit her desires. She wasn't afraid to have something casual with no strings and I liked that she accepted things for what they were. But when she met Roman, she knew they were different. While she could have fought it harder than she did, I was grateful that she didn't. She knew the risks and had every reason to avoid Roman, yet she could also tell that he was worth taking that chance. Roman was sexy and powerful, but beneath all of that he was genuine and easy to like. He wasn't over the top cocky or arrogant, and I absolutely loved that. He was perfect for Raven, and I loved seeing these two get dirty and steamy together as well as have a connection that was believable beyond just attraction. 

Overall, this one was short and engaging. I liked the story and the characters and I can't wait to read more in this world from CD Reiss. I definitely recommend this one if you have read King of Code, but if you are like me and haven't I think that you will enjoy this one just like I did.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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ARC Review: Bombshell by CD Reiss

Bombshell is actually the first book that I have read from CD Reiss, but I have heard nothing but good things about her books so I was really excited to give this one a go. Unfortunately this wasn't what I had been hoping for, but it seems like others have said that her other books are better so I am curious to give her other books a shot. 

Bombshell centers around Hollywood bad boy Brad Sinclair. For those who have read Shuttergirl, he will be familiar to you, but if you are like me and haven't read it you can understand this one just fine as this is a standalone story. Brad finds himself suddenly a father after a cute five year old is dropped in his life after losing her mother. Cara DuMont doesn't do celebrity fathers after some bad experiences, but as a nanny who sees a young adorable girl in need of help she finds herself saying yes to a temporary position taking care of Brad Sinclair's young daughter Nicole. She never expected or wanted to fall for him as well as his daughter though, and she quickly realizes that no matter how hard she tries she is unable to fight the connection she feels to them. 

Part of my issues here were the characters. I felt like Brad had his moments where he was completely unlikable, and unfortunately that continued throughout the entire book. Right up until the very end, I just had so many times where he was a self-centered jerk and really didn't seem to think about any kind of consequences. I never felt like there was a true turning point for him, and that had me not believing that there could be anything truly real for these two. Cara talked a good game about how she couldn't be with him and was against anything unprofessional, but when it came down to it she hardly put up a fight. She seemed to change her mind far too easily and I couldn't relate to her or get behind it. All that being said though, I really never felt like the connection between these two was fully formed. It felt like it was strictly physical, and I just didn't believe in the long term for them. They had great chemistry and a ton of attraction between them, but that was it for me. Nicole was adorable, and I did believe that they both cared about her but I wanted to see more. 

I also felt like a lot of this story was about Brad wanting someone to help make his life easier with  Nicole, and that he at least partially was just looking for a mother figure for her. While he said that wasn't true, at times his actions, thoughts and words spoke to a different story. As much as I wanted to feel differently, that never changed as I continued to read. While I had been hoping for more, I had to force myself at times to pick this book back up. It just didn't hold my attention like I wanted it to, and without feeling invested int he characters or story it made it hard at times to want to read. Overall, this wasn't one that I would recommend, at least if you are new to CD Reiss like I was. I will give some of her other books a shot since I have heard so many good things about her, but for me this one was just okay and was more problematic than successful.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Forbidden by CD Reiss

There is no review that is going to be adequate to convey the meaning of a book like Forbidden.  Fuck what you know about romance and literature, this book is on an entirely different level. I've read a lot of books, I've reviewed a lot of books but I honestly can't remember the last time an author was able to effect me the way CD Reiss can with her writing.

I originally read this book when it was a series so I started with Kick, then Use and Break was my final voyage on this journey. I want to first tell you that if you have ANY triggers, this book probably isn't for you.  This is a book about the deep down darkness in the human heart and the lengths people will go to just to find meaning in life.  Read between the lines, it's ugly, crazy and relentless.There is consensual sex but with all kinds of uncomfortable taboo features, there is nonconsensual sex, same sex sex, the main characters have sex with other people, it's a free for all, really. BUT there is nothing in this book that is gratuitous unless the gratuitousness is the point.  Everything that happens in this book is an expression of the author's purpose in explaining what makes Fiona empty, desperate and honest even in her dishonesty.

To say the characters you will encounter in this book are complex is like saying the Grand Canyon is big.  I mean, that's true but it's ridiculously inadequate.  You don't really know any of the characters, you discover them in the book as they discover themselves.  I can't tell you who the heroes and heroines of this book were, everyone is just who they are, there really is no good or bad, it's all relative. 

A love triangle develops in the book but even that is not fully descriptive.  It's not a "love" triangle so much as it is three people, Fiona, Deacon and Elliot trying to figure out who they are and where they belong in Fiona's life. The dynamic between Fiona and Deacon is fascinating, it's a situation where one person loves another because she hates herself.  Elliot and Fiona is something else entirely, mutually assured destruction but with a startling willingness.

I know I haven't given you a summary of the plot but this isn't that kind of review.  CD Reiss is fucking brilliant and sitting here trying to tell you what this book is about wouldn't work and would do the book a disservice.  The book is an exploration in survival and redemption.  The story is told in language that makes you uncomfortable reading other books because you wonder if anybody else really knows how to write.  You have to be in the right head space to read this because a lot of it is kind of dark in its brutal honesty. This book will stay with you long after you've read the last word.  You won't forget these characters or this story and you will be telling everyone how amazing CD Reiss is. Or, you'll be like that was some sick shit and never pick up another Reiss novel.  Either way, this book is going to stick with you.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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Review: Coda by CD Reiss

I really didn't want to write a review of this book because I know I can't express what this book means in this pitiful little box of letters and symbols. I feel like I owe CD Reiss this review because even though I paid $2.99 for this book, I got so much more in return, I owe her.

I have had the misfortune of picking up books written by some of my favorite authors that purported to conclude series for which we thought we had already read the conclusion. To be honest, most of them have felt like afterthoughts and have been insulting in their apparent financial motivation and disregard for the readers. I love Reiss' writing, I have loved it from the first page of the first book I read by her but I still had reservations. My reservations were proven to be without cause.

This book was written as if it were always a part of Jon and Monica's story. Nothing about it felt thrown together for the sake of financial gain. In fact every piece of this book seemed like it was bled from Reiss' veins on to the page. The book felt like it was birthed, not just written.

I am a highly critical reader and I have a disturbingly short attention span so you can believe me when I tell you, these five stars I'm giving this book don't really approach how agonizingly good it was. While I was reading it I was asking myself 'How do you conceive of sex and intimacy in this way? How do you make words breathe?' How, how, how does CD Reiss do it? I don't know. I don't care. I'm here for it. Give me hope, break my heart, make me laugh and then make me cry, I'm here for it. Fu-k a book, this was a work of art.

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