ARC Review: Dirty Filthy Fix by Laurelin Paige

Laurelin Paige's novella Dirty Filthy Fix brings together two of her series, and it was great! If you are familiar with her Fixed Trilogy series and/or her Dirty Filthy Rich Men series, you are definitely going to want to read this one. If you haven't read them though, don't worry this story can be read as a complete standalone. 

By day Trish is secretary to one of New York's most powerful men, Hudson Pierce. She is no stranger to men wanting her and yet she lives a life that no one has a clue about. At work she is prim and proper, with a set of rules she abides by. But by night she owns her sexuality and is capable of bringing even the most powerful man to his knees. When she and Nathan Sinclair, a business partner of her boss, continue to find themselves drawn to one another though, Trish finds it harder to stick to her rules. 

These two were smoking hot together and I couldn't get enough of them. There was so much chemistry here, but besides just being super steamy and sexy there was a great connection as well. Laurelin Paige did a wonderful job of writing this short novella in a way that things felt real and genuine without feeling rushed or hard to believe. I often struggle with novellas, but that wasn't the case here. Nate and Trish were both well written characters that I felt invested in, and my only complaint here is that I wanted more.

I loved that these characters went after what they wanted and weren't afraid to be who they are. They owned their desires and that just made them that much sexier. I think that a lot of readers are going to enjoy this one just as much as I did, especially if you are familiar with either of these series from Laurelin Paige. I have loved everything I have read from her, and I can't wait for more. Dirty Filthy Fix is a great sexy read that I highly recommend.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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My Favorite Things Event with Laurelin Paige

Laurelin Paige  is the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She's a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there's kissing. When she isn't reading or writing sexy stories, she's probably singing, watching Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She's also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn't do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. 

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ARC Review: Falling Under You by Laurelin Page

I have read and loved every book in this series so there was no way I was going to miss this one. Whether you have been following the series or not, you can pick up this book and read it as a standalone. Although, if you have not read the other books in the series by Page you are really missing out. Every one of these books has been on my list of all-time favorites.

If you have followed the series then you had gotten glimpses of Norma and Boyd in the past. Because I did read the other books in the series I was familiar with some of the background information on Norma and Boyd. Norma is an extreme type A personality who has had to be in charge of everything from the home front to the boardroom. When we meet Boyd he is her personal assistant and her subordinate. I have to admit, I had concerns about how I was going to feel about a relationship between these two characters. I am not a fan of the role reversal books, I love my alpha males and didn't really want to see a female in the alpha role. Yeah yeah I am totally unenlightened. However, if you are also committed to seeing your characters in certain specific roles, you don't have to worry about this book because you get everything you want.

Norma comes across as a strong intelligent independent woman but Boyd doesn't lose anything in the process. Boyd is an alpha in his own right and he is the one that everybody wants to be with. He has a unique sense of what Norman needs and is always there to give it to her. Whether Norma needs control or to be controlled Boyd is always tapped into her feelings.

It was thrilling to watch the development of the relationship between these two. I love Boyd from the beginning of this book right up until the end. I love the way that he observed Norma and could see her struggle and I love how patient he was about her emerging as someone who was strong enough to not be strong sometimes. Norma struggles with the concept of submission and her journey to just let go is really interesting to watch.

Of course, if you have read any books by this author you know that the erotic content is off the scales and this one will not disappoint you. Even though this is a short story, it was the perfect length for Norma and Boyd. I love the plot, the character development and the romance. I really didn't know how I was going to feel about Norma and Boyd based on past books but I have to tell you I love them together and I love the story of Norma. I highly recommend you read this book and all of the others in the series.

**ARC provided by Inkslinger PR**

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Feature: Falling Under You by Laurelin Paige

Norma Anders has always prided herself on her intelligence and determination. She climbed out of poverty, put herself through school and is now a chief financial advisor at Pierce Industries. She’s certainly a woman who won’t be topped. Not in business anyway.

But she’s pretty sure she’d like to be topped in the bedroom.

Unfortunately most men see independence and ambition in a woman and they run. Even her dominant boss, Hudson Pierce has turned down her advances, leaving her to fear that she will never find the lover she’s longing for.

Then the most unlikely candidate steps up. Boyd, her much-too-young and oh-so-hot assistant surprises her one night with bold suggestions and an authoritative demeanor he’s never shown her in the office.

It’s a bad idea…such a deliciously bad idea…but when Boyd takes the reins and leads her to sensual bliss she’s never known, the headstrong Norma can’t help but fall under his command.

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ARC Review: Find Me by Laurelin Paige

It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to say in this review. Just FYI, I read Free Me, the first part to this series, and gave it 5 stars. They were 5 well deserved stars at that. I like Find Me but I didn't love it and there is one reason for that: Gwen and JC are very different in this book than they were in Book 1. So if you really love the character depiction in Book 1, there are some things in this book that can be difficult to...appreciate.

In Book 1, JC is painted as a very alpha male with a strong personality and an aversion to commitment (for good reasons which are explained). Gwen comes across as being emotionally stunted but on a journey to find herself and open up and let light and love in, or whatever. In Book 2, however, JC is much...softer. I'm not suggesting that as a criticism, it's just a fact. JC has discovered that he is in love with Gwen so the tension created by his resistance to a relationship evaporates from the story. Gwen is...I'm not really sure what Gwen was in this book. She says that she is trying to remain open and not go into the emotional shell she lived in before JC. Her method of staying "open" is capable of leaving you with a very bad taste in your mouth and a lot of confusion.

In Book 1 Gwen seems so solid but in Book 2, not so much. She makes a decision that is really questionable and follows it up by questioning if she should continue down the same questionable path while we are at home screaming at our Kindles and pulling our hair. The other thing that might surprise you about Gwen in this book is that she just seems much more erratic. To be honest, Gwen felt more like Alayna in this book (who I love for different reasons) than she felt like the Gwen we knew. The problem with the change in JC, I now realize, is that the tension created by his resistance to the idea of a relationship with Gwen evaporates from the story in Book 2. And the tension was really really good so if you are comparing the two books you can feel like there is something missing.

I don't want to spoil anything about this book but the main conflict in the book was really unexpected. I had no idea I was going to be reading about that kind of conflict when I picked up the book. And ok, a very slight spoiler...it involved a love triangle. I just didn't see that coming. I don't love triangles but Paige is so good with words, I didn't have too much trouble with it. I just didn't see it coming.

What I still loved about this book was the writing and the language use. I loved the supporting cast of characters. For those of you who miss Hudson and Alayna, you get to see them in this book and Ben and Norma show up too.

Ok I'm rambling let me sum it up: This is a decent follow up to Book 1 but if you really love the way the characters come across in Book 1, this book might lose some fizzle in your eyes. The thing I walked away thinking is that I'm excited to read the next book about Chandler and glad Gwen and JC got their HEA.

**ARC provided by TRSoR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Free Me by Laurelin Paige

You read 100 books just so you can get to one like this.

Let me start by saying that I was biased by my own potential bias. I was afraid going into this book that I was going to give Laurelin more credit than she deserved because I am a “Fixed” series fan (have you read the “Fixed” series? If not, please step away from this review, do so and then come back). It’s happened before, sometimes we love an author so much that everything they write gets filtered through that positive feeling and we lose objectivity. I tell you that so you know that the fact that I love this book should be given real credence because it started at a disadvantage in my mind because I was trying so hard not to be biased. If you can make sense out of any of what I just said, bless your heart. Moving on.

“Free Me” is Gwen and J.C.’s story. Gwen and JC are both emotionally unavailable people but they have very different coping mechanisms. Gwen has shut off the sex valve, JC can’t locate the shut off button. That’s the condition they are in when they meet and bam you have a story. The book is told entirely from Gwen’s POV. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you know I prefer books written in dual POV. However, it was not an issue for me in this book. This book was written so well that even utilizing just one POV, I got everything I needed from the story.

Some books you feel like an observer but this book, you feel like a participant, the story draws you in and makes you forget that you’re a third party. I don’t want to give anything away about the book but I will tell you that you can feel the connection between Gwen and JC and you can also feel both of their angst and hesitation. Every insecurity, hope and disappointment is described in HD detail. We don’t get a lot of the back story on JC but somehow it still works. I didn’t walk away from this book feeling like I didn’t know anything about him, I understood his story well enough.

Gwen is kind of an ice queen in the “Fixed” series but it really works in “Free Me.” At the same time, the journey to her slowly opening up doesn’t feel contrived or rushed for the sake of the story line. I’m surprised but I honestly walked away from this book empathizing with and liking Gwen.

I was trying to figure out what elevates this book above other books in the genre and I got it: It’s the language of this book that moves it beyond the realm of a good book to a truly great book that you will remember. At one point, feelings in this book are described as colors with such eloquence that I could SEE what the author was describing. I could see the emotions. Now that’s some stellar writing!

My one relatively minor criticism of this book is about the sex scenes. The scenes were good but they had a clinical tint that was a total buzz kill. During the early sex scenes, J.C. was asking Gwen questions like he was studying her. Awk-ward. Eventually that stopped but it was distracting at best and icky (that’s a word) at worst. This criticism is minor and doesn’t detract from my five star rating. This book is a MUST READ and I am really looking forward to Part 2.

**ARC provided by InkSlinger PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Hudson by Laurelin Paige

"I can easily divide my life into two parts—before her and after."

Hudson Pierce has led a life few others could even imagine. With money and power at his fingertips, he's wanted for almost nothing. He's never experienced love, however, and he's seen few examples of it in his dysfunctional family. The ridiculous notion of romance has always intrigued him. He's studied it, controlled it, manipulated it, and has yet to understand it.

Until he meets Alayna Withers.

Now, the games he's played in his quest for comprehension can finally come to an end. Or are they just beginning?

Told from his point of view, Hudson fills the holes in his love story with Alayna Withers. His past and relationship with his long-time friend Celia is further revealed and light is shed on his actions during his courtship with Alayna.

MUST BE READ AFTER THE FIXED TRILOGY.

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ARC Review: Star Struck by Laurelin Paige

Star Struck is the second book in Laurelin Paige's Lights, Camera series and centers around Heather Wainwright the actress. She is first introduced in Take Two, but these are standalone and you do not need to read that one first. Although it was a really good book and I would definitely recommend reading it as well. I really enjoyed Heather and Seth's story, and I thought that it was really well written.

Heather Wainwright is a Hollywood actress that has earned the reputation of being a diva. She hardly ever has any time off and is always filling her her time with one commitment after another. When her favorite charity needs help, her assistant volunteers her to not only star in their well known 24 hour plays, but to also chair them as well. She meets Seth while attending the first event for the charity, and although attracted to one another they instantly get off on the wrong foot. Heather thinks that he is a carpenter there to help build sets and that he is beneath her, while Seth can't believe she is such a snob and would judge him so quickly without even knowing him. As they are forced to work together though, their attraction to one another becomes more than they can fight. Soon they are seeing each other and things between them are starting to get serious. But Heather has no idea that Seth is actually much more than a carpenter and is actually a very successful production designer that has volunteered his time and materials to the charity. When she decides that she doesn't care about his job and wants to move forward with a relationship, Seth knows he needs to come clean. But will Heather be able to forgive his deception after everything that she has trusted him with?

I really liked Seth. He was a really good guy and I loved how he gave back and genuinely cared about the cause he was a part of. I liked that he wanted Heather to like him for who he was and not his job, but I do think that he should have come clean before the truth came out. He had so many chances and allowed himself to become distracted and put off telling her. I did think that he was sexy and sweet with her, and I liked that he also wouldn't allow her to get away with her normal behavior. He pushed her to be the best person that she could be and to get over the things from her past. Heather was really hard for me to warm up to, and I will admit that I honestly didn't like her for at least the first half of the book. She was a complete snobby bitch, and she seemed to think that she was better than everyone else. When her past is revealed, I really didn't like her because she had no reason to feel that she was superior. But with Seth's help and her assistant Lexie's help also, I feel like she really started to realize just what kind of person she had turned into. She really had a huge transformation, and it honestly seemed to be genuine. I really believed that she was changing, and I had no problem starting to like her. Seth had believed in her right from the start and had seen something that no one else did when it came to her, and I was glad that he was correct about her. I thought that they had a lot of chemistry and were really hot together.

Laurelin Paige definitely knows how to bring the heat, and I loved how these two characters couldn't keep their hands off each other. The scenes were written well, and I loved seeing them fall for one another. But for me this one took a little while for me to really get into because I just didn't like the heroine for the longest time. I wish that Heather hadn't been such a bitch for so long, because after awhile it really made me wonder why Seth kept trying. I am glad things worked out the way that they did and I think that they had a great connection. But it just took so long for me to come around, that I spent half the book hating her. I did think that the story was good though, and I really love Laurelin Paige's writing style. I can't wait to read more from her in the future. I would definitely recommend this story though, especially if you are a fan of Paige's and have read Take Two. We get to see Micah from Take Two briefly in this book, and it was so nice to see that he and Maddie were still living their HEA.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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Review: Fixed on You by Laurelin Paige

I really loved this book! Fixed on You by Laurelin Paige is so good, I can't believe I waited so long to read this one. I literally could not put this one down, and I loved every single second of this story. Alayna and Hudson are fantastic characters, and what makes them so great is how real they are. Trust me this book is definitely a must read, and I cannot wait to get more of these two. The writing is engaging and I love Laurelin Paige's ability to draw you in from the very start. Her books are well paced and they keep you interested throughout.

Alayna has just finished school with her MBA is determined to move her way up through the ranks at the nightclub she works at. She is on the fast track to management and her business ideas have all been well received. But the sale of the nightclub could change everything for her. She is willing to work hard to convince the new owner that she has what it takes to bring the nightclub more success in the future. With a past full of stalking and restraining orders, she is determined to through herself into work and avoid any guys that she can't be casual with. All that changes when a sexy stranger comes into the bar one night. Alayna is instantly drawn to him and the attraction between them is intense. When Alayna meets Hudson Pierce the new owner of the club, he is none other than the sexy stranger she had previously met. Hudson also feels the chemistry between them and he needs some help of his own. Hudson proposes that she work for him in addition to the nightclub as his fake girlfriend. He needs help getting out of a relationship and engagement that his family is pushing and in exchange he will pay off all of her student loans. Hudson also lets her know that he wants her in his bed, but that it will be separate from their business relationship. Alayna knows that she should run away from Hudson, but she can't seem to stay away. With both of them having issues things get complicated quick. When both of them start having real feelings for each other, they find themselves out of their depth. But they also begin to wonder if maybe their less than perfect pasts make them the perfect ones to understand one another.

I really loved Hudson. He is so complex and there are so many different sides to his character. He isn't just your typical dominating alpha billionaire. He has issues and has done things in the past that he isn't proud of, but he never tried to hide them or avoid talking about them. I thought it was great that while he didn't come right out and admit it to Alayna, when she asked he told her the truth and didn't try to lie or hide it. He was open and honest about who and what he was, and he was always able to tell her what he expected and could or couldn't handle. I loved that he had his dominating and possessive side, but he also had a fun and playful sweet side as well. It was clear that he was starting to see her differently that he had originally intended and it was great to see him start to develop real feelings for her. Alayna was smart and I really liked that she was so easy to relate to. She was upfront about who she was and about everything in her past. She struggled with obsessive love and relationship issues and had problems with trust. I really liked how understanding Hudson was and that he didn't freak out, but instead encouraged her to come to him when she was feeling things or thinking about acting on some of her impulses. She was extremely confident sometimes and yet at other times she was vulnerable and a bit insecure. I just found her character to be one that seemed to be so normal, despite her issues. I loved that she couldn't help but be an open book with her feelings when it came to Hudson, and I loved watching as she tried to fight her feelings for him. She really tried to protect herself and avoid having something with him, but it was great to see her give in and go after what she wanted. Hudson and Alayna had a ton of chemistry and they were really steamy together. But they also had a great connection forming between them too, and I loved when they played their get to know you game. It was really cute, and really strengthened the relationship they started to form.

Overall, this was a great first installment to this series. I really loved the entire book, and I loved the characters. This one was a quick read for me because I read it in one sitting. I just couldn't stop reading, and I had to know what would happen next for Alayna and Hudson. I am really looking forward to reading more about these two and seeing what Paige has in store for them next. I know these two still have a lot to deal with from their pasts as well as their future, but I can't wait to see the rest of their journey. I highly recommend this one. It is well written, captivating, and filled with deep and interesting characters. Every book I read by Laurelin Paige makes me more of a fan, and this one was no exception. If you haven't read anything by her yet, I would definitely suggest checking her work out. I look forward to reading more from her in the future, especially the rest of this series.

**Copy provided by InkSlinger PR**

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ARC Review: Take Two by Laurelin Paige

I really loved this book! It was good from start to finish, and had me so interested that I didn't want to put it down for anything! I have heard a lot of really positive things about Laurelin Paige's work before, but this is the first book that I have read of hers. I can tell you that it absolutely will not be the last. The writing was fantastic, the characters interesting and likable, and the story was amazing. This is one of those books that I had a fun time reading and was sad when it was over.

On Maddie's graduation night from film school, her best friend convinces her to go to a party. She ends up meeting a hot guy that she is instantly attracted to. They end up making out on their way to more only to be interrupted by her friend. Maddie gives Micah her number, but doesn't hear from him again. Seven years later she is starting work on a new movie as a camera assistant, and Micah ends up being the main star. At first Maddie thinks that Micah doesn't remember her at all, even though she has never been able to forget their encounter several years ago. Micah quickly lets her know that not only does he remember her, but that he wants to finish what they started. Maddie is determined not to be another notch on his bedpost though and turns him down time and time again. Micah is determined to have her though, even if it is just for the time that they are on set. Micah doesn't do relationships or commitment and isn't willing to offer more. Maddie eventually comes around wanting to have a chance to convince him that he should give them a shot. They agree to take things day by day and see where things take them. But as the time left on set begins to run out, their feelings continue to grow. Can they overcome all the obstacles that are standing in their way and take the risk for the chance at a future?

I loved Micah. He was smart and sexy, but also charming and sweet. I loved that not only was he an actor, but that he really loved what he did. He loved the entire industry and it wasn't just about being rich and famous for him. He was flirty and fun, and I liked how he interacted with Maddie. He made some really dumb moves, but he never intentionally set out to hurt her. Micah tried his hardest not to fall for her and was convinced that all Hollywood relationships only end terribly. I really enjoyed seeing him fall hard though despite his best efforts. Maddie was determined and smart, and could be really fun and feisty. I loved how she didn't put up with any of Micah's crap and forced him to treat her how she deserved. I really liked their banter and thought that they were great in and out of the bedroom. These two had so much chemistry together, and they definitely brought the steam. These two were just so much fun to read about, and I thought it was clear just how well they fit together

Overall, Take Two by Laurelin Paige was one of the best books I have read in awhile. It was fun and sexy, steamy and sweet. It had everything that I look for in a great romance, and I loved every word of it. I really enjoyed reading about the sexy movie star that had to work for it and the heroine that changed him. The storyline might have been fairly common, but Paige really made it refreshing and managed to put her own unique spin on it. Another great thing about this book is that there is no cliffhanger, and it was an extremely satisfying stand alone read. I cannot recall a single thing that I would complain about, and that is really rare. This book is one that I would recommend to anyone who reads romance and is looking for a fun, quick and sexy read. It is one that I would say is an absolute must read, and only makes me want to read more from Paige in the future.

**ARC provided by Inkslinger PR**

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Guest Post with Author Laurelin Paige and Giveaway

Meet Laurelin Paige, author of Found In You.

Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by Bob Diforio of D4EO Literary Agency.

Places to find Laurelin:

| Site | Facebook | Twitter | 

Guest Post with Author Laurelin Paige and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome author Laurelin Paige to RFTC. Laurelin is getting ready for the release of her debut novel, Fixed on You and has stopped by to chat. Please give Laurelin a warm welcome.

Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by Bob Diforio of D4EO Literary Agency. Her debut Adult Contemporary Romance is out June 24th, 2013.

Places to find Laurelin:

| Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |