ARC Review: Something So Right by Natasha Madison

Something So Right is the debut novel for Natasha Madison, and that is always a bit of risk for a reader. While this book and the premise did have promise, ultimately it just didn't fully work for me. I think that Natasha Madison does have talent, but this book didn't feel polished and much of the time felt forced. 

Parker caught her husband and high school sweetheart cheating on her, and her entire life changed. After that, Parker lost her faith in men and love. Focused on her kids and career, she was determined to live her life for them. But then NHL star Cooper came crashing into her world changing everything once again. While Parker's life is her kids, Cooper's life is hockey. But their connection is unlike anything they have felt before, and soon they begin to realize that while their worlds are completely different, together everything feels right. 

I did like the characters here. Parker and Cooper were great, they had a ton of chemistry and I liked seeing how things started between them and then progressed with the story. While I was rooting for them, I did feel like much of this story felt forced. It just didn't feel natural, even with the chemistry they had. Parker's kids were cute, and I enjoyed them. But overall, this just felt predictable and as though the drama was all created for the sole purpose of driving a story that didn't feel quite right. I also hated the OW drama here. It also felt forced, and just seemed to keep coming up. 

The story also had several points that just didn't seem to fully connect for me. It would feel like a stopping point would happen and then the story would just go on. It was disjointed and threw me off. The story felt like there were several smaller arcs happening rather than one large story arc overall. I also felt like the author's writing style felt a bit off to me. It was more like she was talking to someone and telling the story rather than showing us the story as it unfolded. There were several grammatical errors and problems with the context. I did have an ARC, so some of this could have been fixed before the final version, but this copy was filled with things that were more than just minor mistakes and this seemed to be a rough draft more than a polished final copy. I really think that Natasha Madison could benefit from a good set of beta readers that can help make some of these changes, because there was potential here. I just think that there were too many things that were problematic here for me to love this one despite the many glowing reviews I have seen for this book. If this sounds like one you would enjoy, I encourage you to give it a chance. There are a lot of people who seemed to really love this book and they didn't have the problems I did here. This could just be a case of it being me personally.

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ARC Review: Seven by Amy Marie

Seven is the first book I have read by Amy Marie. There was a lot that I really enjoyed here, but I will mention that this book is not a standalone. It ends with a cliffhanger, and I really wanted more. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long to get more here though, as I definitely want to know what happens after where Seven left off. 

After being done wrong, Annie wants to get revenge on a group of seven guys that she refers to as the PITCREW. They were the most popular guys in school, but having it all wasn't enough. They needed something more, and that was making a bet to see which one could sleep with Annie first. As if that wasn't bad enough they filmed it and released it to the whole school. Now ten years later Annie has reinvented herself as Embyr and she has come up with a plan to make them all pay. But when she makes it through her list to Casen, she finds herself falling for him. Embyr quickly finds out that life doesn't always follow along with the plans you make. Can her and Casen possibly have a future together, or is there be too much history between them? 

This book was hot! There was so much chemistry between these two and honestly I couldn't get enough! Embyr and Casen were perfect examples of there being a fine line between love and hate. There was so much here that was unexpected, but I don't want to spoil the story for those that haven't read it yet. Suffice it to say though that not all was as it seems, and there was so much more going on that I had no clue about in the beginning. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to like Casen because of all that had happened in the past, but that wasn't the case here at all. I ended up really loving him! I liked Embyr as well, I will admit that I really wanted her to get her revenge. As the story continued though and things started to unfold, it became so much more complicated than I expected and I didn't know quite what to think. I also felt like there was a bit of a disconnect for me with her character later on in this book.

While I really liked the first half, the second half didn't feel as strong to me. I did enjoy this book a lot and the ending definitely has me anxious for more. I am especially looking forward to getting Casen's POV. But I will say that while I didn't like the second half as much as the first half, that this book kept me guessing with twists and turns the whole way through. I hadn't known that there was a cliffhanger before starting this one, so I think that could have been some of what made this second half feel as though it wasn't as good as the first half. I don't like to be surprised, and there was absolutely no mention of this one not being a standalone story in the blurb. I still recommend this book though, and I think if you go into it knowing that it has a cliffhanger that it probably won't be as shock as I had here. I am looking foward to more from Amy Marie though as I really liked her style and didn't want to put this one down.

**ARC Provided by Gossip Girls PR**

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ARC Review: Trust Me by Sophie Holloway

Trust Me is the third installment in the Lessons in Seduction series by Sophie Holloway. This is the last part of the series and does need to be read in order as it continues Eva and Jack's story. Trust Me picks up right where Take Me left off, with Eva having been taken. Jack is determined to get her back and do whatever it takes to protect her and find those responsible. But can Jack and Eva figure out who is behind everything, and will they be able to figure it out before it is too late? 

Jack and Eva's connection seemed to be stronger here than in previous books, even if it still felt a bit rushed to me. I feel like we never fully saw it develop, but with everything that has happened it was more believable that their feelings would intensify with that. I wish I had seen them really get to know one another better, since there weren't that many interactions between them besides their lessons. The chemistry and heat was still there for them and as strong as ever, but I was just never fully sold on their relationship turning into more because I didn't feel like their emotional connection was fully developed. I wanted to believe in them, but I just didn't see enough happen to find it entirely realistic.  

The other thing that kept me from loving this series was the mystery/suspense portion of this series. Things seemed to be resolved far too easily and while there were some twists here they were a bit too far fetched for me to believe at times. I really wanted to love this series, but overall it just fell a bit flat for me. It wasn't a horrible series by any means, but it wasn't anything really special or fantastic either. It didn't hold my interest like I had hoped, and the main reason I continued after the first installment was to find out what happened as things played out. If you like some mystery/suspense with your romance and are looking for some quick reads, you might give this series a shot. This one was just okay for me though.

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ARC Review: Take Me by Sophie Holloway

Take Me is the second installment in the Lessons in Seduction series from Sophie Holloway. These have to be read in order as the story continues from one installment to the next. Take Me picks up right where we left off with Teach Me. Eva and Jack are doing lessons together to teach her how to please a man. But someone is watching Eva and is out to get her. Jack is determined to do whatever it takes to protect her, but can they figure out who is behind it all before something happens to her? 

I had a few issues with Teach Me that kept me from really loving it, so I was hoping that this one would deliver a bit more and in some aspects it did. The chemistry and attraction between these two is undeniable, and I love how hot they are together. That is the one thing that I can say without a doubt that there is no problem with. I had felt in the first installment that their connection wasn't strong though, and for the majority of this part I felt the same way. I did see more of that start to develop towards the end of Take Me though, and I was glad to finally start to see them getting somewhere. As much as I want to love these two together, their relationship is taking a bit too long to really show any progress for my liking. I am not a huge fan of insta-love relationships, but I do need to see something happening in order to keep my interest. So it was nice to see them connecting on an emotional level a bit here instead of just in a physical way. 

It was also nice to see Eva taking the threats a bit more seriously here rather than coming off as naive as she had in the first installment. It was obvious that there was definitely someone out to get her, and Jack was determined to protect her. I loved seeing that side of him come out as well, and I felt like that helped a lot to seeing that his feelings for her are beyond what he ever expected. His ex Lucy made a few appearances here, and I seriously want to hit her. She was absolutely awful, and I really hated how horrible she was to Eva. I wish that Eva had been able to ignore her and see exactly what she was doing because it led to Eva doing something really stupid at the end of the story here. It will be interesting to see what happens from here, and I am curious to find out who is behind everything happening with Eva. I am hoping for a strong finish in the third installment, Trust Me, with more depth and development to their relationship. Though their chemistry is every bit as strong as it was in Teach Me, I still find myself struggling to believe that it is much more than sex between them.

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ARC Review: Set the Pace by Kim Karr

Set the Pace is the first book in the Detroit Love Duet from Kim Karr. With this being the first of two books, readers should know that this isn't a standalone and it does end with a cliffhanger. Luckily it appears as though the second book is coming in May 2016, so readers shouldn't have to wait too long to see what happens next for these characters. I am a huge Kim Karr fan, and I really enjoyed this story. It has everything that I have come to know and love from her, and yet this one felt new and fresh! 

Jasper Storm had a rough childhood, but he is finally where he has always wanted to be. Him and his friends have developed a new cutting-edge car that could help turn things around for not only them, but also Detroit. But when the girl next door from his childhood returns, he can't help but try to figure out what her agenda is. She was once his best friend, but the Charlotte Lane before him is no longer the Charlie that he remembers. When she tells him that she is back to get answers about their past, he has no interest in dredging up bad memories after finally being on the cusp of moving on. But when Jasper is suddenly a murder suspect and everything ties back to his past, the one girl that he always tried to save as a child could be the only one that can save him.

I really loved these two. They had such an interesting dynamic between them. Jasper and Charlotte had history and a connection as children, but as adults there was so much more. Both were a little wary of who the other had become, yet there was a really strong pull between them that only seemed to have intensified with age. There was so much chemistry and sexual tension between these two, and I loved the slow burn their relationship took here. Jasper was known for being a player and yet Charlotte didn't judge him for it. Charlotte was interesting and different from other heroines that I have read about before. I felt invested in these two right away, and I knew that we were in for a ride when it came to their relationship. 

The one thing that I will say is that I didn't fully understand Jasper's initial reaction to Charlotte. He was so mean to her at first, and appeared to absolutely hate her. I didn't quite get that as all I could figure out is that he was mad about her disappearing (which she had no control over as she was a child) and the fact that her father was who he was (also something she had no control over). While I could understand that from a child's perspective, I would have thought that as an adult he would have seen beyond that. But other than that, this book was really great. Things were a bit slow at times, but I was drawn in right from the start and couldn't wait to find out what was going on. As I said there is a cliffhanger, and I honestly can't wait to get more answers! Kim Karr is a really great writer, and I am looking forward to finding out what happens for these characters next! If you like suspense and steamy tension with your romance, I recommend giving this one a shot. Kim Karr is one of my favorite authors, and I think that romance fans will really enjoy this one.

**ARC Provided by Gossip Girls PR**

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ARC Review: Teach Me by Sophie Holloway

Teach Me is the first installment in Sophie Holloway's Lessons in Seduction serial. Since it is the first part of three, it does end with a cliffhanger. 

Eva Fiorini has wanted Jack Bennett for years. As her older brother's best friends, they have always been strictly off-limits to each other. He is Manhattan's biggest player, and exactly the man she knows can help teach her about sex. Jack at first tries to fight his attraction to Eva, knowing that he promised her brother he would protect her. When it becomes more than he can resist, Jack gives in to feelings he hasn't allowed himself to feel. But when Eva starts to feel as though someone is watching her, it appears as though Jack will have to protect her from more than just himself. 

Though I did feel the attraction and chemistry between these two, I found myself wanting more. It was clear that they had known each other for years and had an easy relationship. They liked one another and had things in common. Yet, their entire relationship felt surface deep to me. I just wasn't really feeling any kind of depth here. They had some steamy moments together, but even with those I was left wanting. I am hoping that as this serial continues we get more, because I really do think that there is promise here. 

I also felt the same way when it came to the mystery/suspense portion of this story. It seemed that Eva brushed everything under the rug and not much was really explored here. My interest started to wane as this book continued because I just wasn't feeling like anything was happening. I kept waiting for something big to grab my attention and to really draw me in, but it just didn't happen. I am mildly curious as to where the story will go from here, but overall I just felt like this installment could have delivered so much more than it actually did. With a serial, the first installment has to really draw the reader in if you are expecting them to come back for the rest of the story with future installments, especially if you end each with a cliffhanger. But I had a tough time really caring much about what would happen after this installment since I really didn't feel invested in the characters or the story at the end of this one.

**ARC Provided by Gossip Girls PR**

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ARC Review: Some Sort of Love by Melanie Harlow

Some Sort of Love is the third book in the Happy Crazy Love series from Melanie Harlow. Each book is a standalone story and features a different Nixon sister. This book is about Jillian, and I couldn't wait to get her story. Her story was adorable and on the sweet side, but as with any Melanie Harlow book there was plenty of steam as well. 

Jillian Nixon's life is almost perfect, but the one thing she is missing is the thing she most envies about her sisters...love. They have each found the perfect match and as happy is she is for them, she wants the same for herself. But when she runs into her sexy one night stand from college, the two reconnect and realize that there is still the same spark. Levi Brooks is sexier than ever, but he is also a single father and that leaves little time for anything else. Though things are hotter than ever between them, Levi believes that Jillian deserves more and he won't be enough for her. Jillian knows better and will do whatever it takes to convince him that she wants something more with him and his son Scotty. 

I really liked Jillian and Levi. These two had amazing chemistry right from the start, and they were super hot together. It was clear right away that their connection went beyond that though, and I loved seeing them get to know one another. Because of the situation they didn't have a lot of time together, but they made the most of it. Jillian was really understanding and caring, and I was glad that even when things would change she handled it well. She would of course be upset, but she understood that Scotty was a priority for Levi and was so supportive of him and whatever he needed. She really just wanted to spend her life with Levi and show him that he deserved everything, and I was glad that they were able to take things slow. It felt real and natural, and their relationship was very believable. Levi had a lot of fears and insecurities that he needed to work through, and I felt like Jillian was perfect for him through it all. 

Overall, this was a really good story. There were times that it almost felt a bit too sweet if that is possible. But it was also funny, heartwarming, and of course extremely sexy. I am a huge fan of Melanie Harlow's because each book is such a great balance of everything I look for in a romance. If you are looking for an all around great love story, her books are a must read. I honestly can't wait to see what she writes in the future, and I am looking forward to reading more from her.

**ARC Provided by Gossip Girls PR**

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ARC Review: Current by Abby McCarthy

I'll admit that the blurb for this book instantly drew me in and I knew I had to read it. I have read book by Abby McCarthy before and really enjoyed them, so I was really excited to start Current. I could not put this book down, and the book definitely lived up to the blurb. This was such a great story, and it just reminded me of everything that I have loved about Abby's books in the past. It was well written and captivated me right from the start, and I loved that it was different. 

June Withers and Jake Daniels fell in love when they were just kids. But life tore them apart and destroyed everything that they had found together. Years later, June is writing an article about a band and the keyboardist resembles the man that she believes Jake would look like after years of aging. But Lucas shows no recognition of her, and she finds herself falling in love all over again, this time as an adult. June and Lucas move forward though he reminds her of Jake, and once again June's happiness is torn away just as she had found love. As June learns that what she thought she knew was actually a web of lies, she must once again try to pick up the pieces and move on. Six more years pass before June is finally at peace with her life, but once again everything changes when a love from her past reappears. This time though, June is the one that has a secret. 

I can't really go into much here, because I really don't want to spoil anything. So I will just say that I really loved these characters. They were real and easy to relate to, and my heart really went out to all of them. They didn't always make the right decisions, yet I understood their actions perfectly and really got their motivation. I thought that there was a lot of love here, and I hated that these characters had dealt with so much loss and that there were so many things always seeming to stand in their way. I really believed that Abby McCarthy would do all of them justice though, and to me she did.

Overall, this was a really great story. It was emotional and captivating, and I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I thought it was such an interesting and different story and I hadn't read anything like it. I will say that at times it did seem to be a bit far fetched and convenient, as some of the things that happened and the amount of bad things that happened just seemed to be too many and too frequent. But I was so drawn in and invested, that I enjoyed the story regardless and took it for the work of fiction that it was. I am becoming a huge fan of Abby's, and I know that this won't be my last book from her. I highly recommend this one, and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this story as much as I did.

**ARC Provided by Gossip Girls PR**

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ARC Review: Tied in Knots by Z.B. Heller

Tied in Knots is a short novella from Z.B. Heller that continues the story of Ryan and Brandon from Tied Together. If you haven't read Tied Together, you will need to start there since this is not a standalone story. I was interested to see what would happen next for these guys, so I jumped on the chance to read this new novella featuring them. While I did enjoy seeing a glimpse into their HEA, I have to admit that there were a few things that kept me from loving this one. 

Now that Ryan and Brandon are married, they have a four year old son. Ryan left his job to stay at home with Ethan, while Brandon took over the entire practice when his partner left. Working long hours as a doctor, Brandon spends less and less time at home leaving both Ryan and Ethan to miss him. But when Brandon decides it is time for baby number two, things begin to fall apart and both Ryan and Brandon will have to work harder than ever to keep their marriage and family together. When Brandon's past suddenly returns, things go from bad to worse making both of them question whether they can overcome anything together or if there are some obstacles that are just too big. 

I liked these guys, but I still feel like they had some of the same issues as they had in the first book. Here we are 7 years into their HEA, and they are still having some communication issues. Marriage is hard and takes a lot of work, especially with a child/children involved. I really wanted Brandon to lean on Ryan, but he didn't. He assumed the worst and avoided Ryan more than he already had been. I felt so bad for Ryan, he was basically raising their son on his own. It was clear that the feelings were still there between these two, but I just felt a huge disconnect between them that never really felt solved here. While the chemistry was still there, I just wanted to see these two on the same page and working together before the very end here. It felt rushed and still partially unresolved. I think fans of Tied Together will enjoy seeing more of these guys, as well as Moxie, and of course Ethan was absolutely adorable. But I had just been hoping for more here.

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ARC Review: Play Hardest by J.T. Fox

Play Hardest is the third and final installment in the Hot for Him series from J.T. Fox. This installment picks up after the events of the first two books and needs to be read in order as it is the continuation of Jordan and Eric's story. After how the last installment ended, I couldn't wait to get more of these two. I needed to know what happened, and I enjoyed seeing more of these two sexy guys. 

Jordan and Eric have been trying to figure out who is blackmailing them, but so far they have been unable to. At the end of Play Harder, it appeared that the blackmailer had escalated things when Eric's helmet was tampered with and he wound up in the hospital. Though Jordan and Eric didn't want to go public and fought their feelings for one another, Jordan knew he would do whatever it took to get to the bottom of who was behind the blackmail. But will they be able to catch the person responsible and find a way to have successful careers if the truth about them is revealed? 

I was really torn about how to feel after the ending of the last installment. I really enjoyed the heat and chemistry between these two and was glad to see them finally exploring that. But I was also very frustrated with Jordan's actions. I really loved how he made up for that here though, and it was good to see these two finally working towards a future together. They seemed to really be on the same page and I was glad that they were able to see what was really important here. Their chemistry was never in question, but I will admit that their connection was a bit of a harder sell for me. While it was clear that these two were developing something, I felt like it was a bit too insta-love for me to really believe in the intensity of their feelings at that stage. Not that I didn't believe it would get there, I just didn't think that it was possible for these two to really be in love with how hot and cold they had both been running. There was so much running and push and pull, that we didn't really get to see them actually together for any length of time before they were full steam ahead. 

Overall, this was a good sexy series and I enjoyed Jordan and Eric's story. I do think that things felt a bit rushed here, and I would have liked to have seen more of Jordan and Eric together. I think had we experienced this as one novel rather than three short installments, it might have seemed a bit more cohesive and possibly more realistic. But I really just wanted to see more development and emotional connection between Jordan and Eric and I don't feel like we ever fully got that. If you like short and sexy M/M stories and hot football players, I recommend giving this series a shot. Jordan and Eric were very steamy together and I liked their characters a lot.

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