ARC Review: Owning the Beast by Alexa Riley

Let me start off by saying that this is the second book from Alexa Riley, and I have loved both of them for what they are. When Alexa Riley tells you that her books are meant to be filthy smut and that Owning the Beast contains insta-love and tons of sex, she absolutely means it. While I love a good emotional and in depth story, I also sometimes just love a quick and sexy read that is not meant to be anything more than a hot way to spend a little bit of my time. Alexa Riley always delivers on giving me something sexy and filled with dirty talk when I am in the mood for it. If you are looking for more from a story, then you might not want to read this. But for me, this is exactly what I am in the mood for sometimes and I love that I can get my sexy fix in a short amount of time with Riley's books.

After losing the only parent she had left, Annabella Blanca finds herself being sold as a mail order bride to a husband that she has never met. She wants a family and love, and hopes to find it with the man that has paid for her even though their start isn't what she had always envisioned. When she first meets Griffin Stone, she realizes that he has locked himself away from the world and that he isn't who she was hoping for. Griffin is not only scarred on the outside, but also has let himself harden on the inside. But when Griffin finds out that there has been a mix up and he starts to get to know Annabella, he quickly realizes that she is his and he will do anything to keep her. Griffin's darkness starts to fade with Annabella's help, but can the beast keep the beauty?

I really liked Griffin and Annabella. Both had no idea what they were getting into with each other, and quickly found out that the other wasn't what they had been expecting. Griffin was rough around the edges and started off as a jerk, but he didn't stay that way for long. He was able to open up to Annabella quickly and they started to both see that they could have more together. I loved that Griffin was all alpha and possessive of Annabella, and that he wanted to protect her. Annabella was sweet and kind, but she wasn't shy when it came to telling Griffin like it was. She challenged him, and wasn't afraid of him even when he was a bit gruff with her. I loved the chemistry between these two. It was intense and it was smoking hot. These two were so hot together, and I liked that Annabella was able to be so comfortable with herself despite her lack of experience.

Overall, this book was exactly what I was looking for when I started it. It was sexy and hot, and was a very quick read. I really enjoyed the dirty talking, and I liked how compatible these characters were. Yes there was insta-love and things were unrealistic. But that didn't bother me with this story because I wasn't looking for more with this one. The story itself was a quick and different retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and I liked that it was similar yet also new and had an adult twist on things. Griffin and Annabella's story is perfect for those looking for a steamy version of a classic. I will definitely be reading more from Alexa Riley in the future, and I am already excited about getting my hands on her next story. I highly recommend her books if you are looking for a quick fix when you are in the mood for some straight up smut.

**ARC Provided by We Love Kink Promotions**

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Review: Strong Enough by Cardeno C.

Strong Enough is Cardeno C.'s second installment in the Family series, but each of these books can be read as standalone novels. This book really intrigued me because of the large age difference, and I was really interested in how that would play out. While I did like the characters, I thought that this one had some other things that just didn't work for me. While I have been enjoying this series and like to see how each of these books and the characters interconnect, I have also found that there are just some things that in my opinion keep these from being five star reads.

Emilio is a twenty-two year old construction worker that works with and is really close to his family. When he sees the hot professor walking by his construction site at the university, he admires him from afar. After two weeks of watching, he finally decides to introduce himself and ask him out. Spencer can't believe that the handsome young man could be interested in a thirty-eight year old professor, but decides to be spontaneous for once. Spencer takes Emilio to his home and they begin to get to know each other. Soon they are making a deal that Emilio and his family will help to fix up Spencer's house, and in exchange Emilio will stay with Spencer and see where things take them. But Spencer has things from his past that still haunt him, and even though he wants to trust Emilio they weigh heavily on him. Can he learn to let go and trust that the connection between him and Emilio is worth being vulnerable for?

I liked Emilio. He was young and determined, but yet he was mature beyond his years. He went after what he wanted and was able to admit that while most would question his actions that it didn't bother him. He was exactly who he said he was, and I liked that what you saw was what you got with him. I loved how reassuring he was with Spencer and how he showed Spencer that he was worth more than how he had been treated by his family and his ex. Spencer was timid and insecure, but he knew that things with Emilio were different. He started to let go and embrace life with Emilio's help, and it was nice to see him start to think differently about himself. I was glad that Spencer was able to be open with Emilio and tell him his fears and why he was the way he was. I think it really helped him to move forward and allowed Emilio to be patient and understanding. I thought that Emilio and Spencer were really sweet together, and they had their steamy moments too. But their relationship was way too fast for me. It was literally like going from nothing to all in in a matter of days, and I just didn't buy it at all.

I have noticed that the insta-love/insta-connection seems to be a trend with the Cardeno C. books I have read. While that doesn't work for me as far as buying a long term and lasting commitment goes, if you are able to get past that Cardeno's books are really good and easy to read. They are entertaining, and I love how her characters are different and unique. I thought that Strong Enough was sweet and the guys were really cute together. But I just think that it would have worked better for me personally had they not just jumped straight into the deep end. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the build up, and I think that we miss out on some of the best parts of a relationship by skipping all that. I would say that if you are looking for a sweet male/male read though, you should definitely look into this series. The books have a great balance of cute and hot, and the books are enjoyable. I will look for more from Cardeno C. in the future.

**Review Copy Provided by We Love Kink Book Promotions**

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Review: Something in the Way He Needs by Cardeno C.

Something in the Way He Needs is the first book in Cardeno C.'s Family series, but is a standalone story. I had actually read the third book in the series (More Than Everything) before reading this book, and it was nice to see one of the characters from that story briefly again. I had really liked More Than Everything, so I figured that this one would be really great as well. I will say that I had some issues with this story, and I ended up being disappointed with this one a bit.

Asher Penaz is a police captain that is used to control. He doesn't do relationships and prefers to go to a BDSM club when he wants to have his needs fulfilled. When he heads to Vegas for his best friend Ollie's latest bachelor party, he meets Ollie's brother Daniel. He is instantly drawn to Daniel in a way that he never has been with anyone else, and soon finds himself wanting more than ever before. Daniel is the opposite of Asher though and is free-spirited. He prefers to travel with what little he needs and has had many jobs all over, never staying in one place for long. Asher quickly convinces Daniel to come home with him after the bachelor weekend is over and have a relationship with him. But with Daniel and Asher being so different and Asher not having told Daniel about his darker desires and need for control, can they have any kind of future together?

I really wanted to like both Daniel and Asher, but I honestly found them both hard to connect with. Asher was a control freak that was jealous and possessive, and jumped to conclusions really easily. He had a tendency to be a jerk without even talking to Daniel about what was going on or asking him to explain things. He really rubbed me the wrong way several times, and while he had his sweet moments I really just didn't understand why Daniel continued to put up with him. I wish that he would have been more kind and loving throughout the story, rather than just here and there. Daniel was easily distracted and seemed really aloof and scatter-brained. It drove me nuts. He would get so distracted that he wouldn't eat anything all day other than about 10 bites of food without Asher hand feeding him, and I just found that kind of ridiculous. I also didn't like that he was all over the place as far as what he did with his time. He didn't have a job, but had been very successful with a few different things and then just gave them up when he got tired of it. He didn't really let on that he had any success, and only had clothing too large and threadbare when supposedly he had more than enough money. He was also said to live off the grid, but if he had so much money and didn't have it on him how was that possible? It just didn't work, and I found his character to be just odd. I didn't dislike him, but I just didn't really like him either. I felt like he gave in far too easily to Asher, and their connection happened way to fast for me to find believable. Who moves with someone after only having met and known them for a weekend?

Overall, this story just didn't work for me. I had issues with the characters themselves, but mostly it was their actions that I had problems with. Towards the end of the story, Asher did something that to me was completely unforgivable. Not only was the act itself horrible, but the fact that Daniel so easily forgave him and let everything go to me was just awful. I would never have been able to get over something like that, and especially not that quick or easily. I also really hated the fact that we never found out what made Daniel decide to come back to Asher and the story was left with a lot of questions unanswered. I was waiting to see if Ollie ended up getting married or what would happen next for Asher and Daniel, and I wish that Cardeno C. would have given us more to tie up the loose ends. I really liked More Than Everything, so I will definitely see what else Cardeno C. writes in the future and hope that I am able to enjoy those more than I did this one.

**Review Copy Provided by We Love Kink Book Promotions**

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Feature: Something in the Way he Needs

Police captain Asher Penaz’s staunch professionalism bleeds into his home life, down to his neatly pressed attire and spartan apartment. He enjoys being the man in charge, and leather bars satisfy his need for dominance—so his sudden and powerful attraction to the lighthearted, free-spirited Daniel Tover throws him for a loop. In his entire life, Daniel has never gotten what he needs, so he moves to the next place, the next job, the next attempt to find something worth staying for, always landing at the top of his game, but never feeling like he belongs.

The chemistry between Asher and Daniel sizzles, so Asher invites Daniel home. As both men struggle to learn themselves while getting to know each other, the lines of desire and control blur. With all that fire comes the risk of getting burned. But if Daniel and Asher can walk through the flames together, they might find what they desperately need.

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Review: More Than Everything by Cardeno C.

More Than Everything is the third book in Cardeno C.'s Family series, but this one can be read as a standalone. I had never read anything by Cardeno C., but I really enjoyed the book and I liked the writing style a lot. I thought that this book was everything that you could ask for, and really brought out all the feels. This one had me laughing at times, but was also heartbreaking as well as sweet. I definitely can't wait to read more from Cardeno C. in the future, and look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Charlie "Chase" Rhodes fell in love with the boy next door when he was a teenager. From the day Scott Boone moved in, Charlie and Scott were almost inseparable. They were great friends, and quickly developed romantic feelings for one another. But everything changed when Scott moved away and they slowly grew apart. The long distance was too much for them at such a young age, and though they loved each other it wasn't enough. Years later, Charlie's dancing career is going well and he is now going by the stage name of Chase Rhodes. He meets Adan Navarro and they are instantly drawn to one another despite being complete opposites. Adan and Chase's relationship is based on sex, and they never go out together. Despite their growing feelings, things take a turn for the worse when after eight months Chase realizes that Adan is embarrassed by their relationship. After several years, Charlie's sister passes away and he is left to take care of her two children. Things get even more complicated when Scott and Adan show up on his doorstep together and Charlie finds out that they have been with each other for five years. Scott and Adan have both changed in the years that they have been apart from Charlie, but they both regret losing him and will do anything to fix it. Can they convince him to trust them again though and to have a relationship with both of them?

I loved these guys. Charlie was so comfortable with himself and I loved that he wouldn't change for anyone. He wasn't afraid to be different and definitely wouldn't alter himself despite how other's viewed him. I felt so badly for him at times in this story because he really had some horrible things happen to him. He was so sweet and loving and was constantly getting hurt. Adan was hard to like when we first met him. I liked how he was with Chase in private and thought that they were great together. I loved his innuendos and the fact that he wasn't afraid to dirty talk and ask for what he wanted. But I hated the fact that despite being out he was constantly judging Chase for his clothes and actions and it hurt my heart that he was embarrassed by him even though he was developing feelings for him. I really liked him later in the story though after he realized how wrong he had been and had changed so much. I loved Scott. He was sweet and kind, and he didn't care how others view him or Charlie. He was always there for him through school when others were picking on Charlie and I liked the ease of their relationship. I understand why he did the things he did, and I really think that the reason for things not working out the first time were just age and distance. I wish both Adan and Scott would have tried to find Charlie, but I understand that neither knew the man they both still loved was one and the same. I thought that they all had great chemistry together and were super hot!

Overall, I liked this story a lot. I thought that it was well written and was easy to get into. I liked the guys and I thought that this story was really about love and hope, and showed how people grow and change. There were times that my heart absolutely broke for them, but I think that everything worked out how it was supposed to and I loved seeing how far they had all come. I really believed that the relationship between the three of them was about love and that all of them fit well together with no jealousy between them. Often times with a menage it can end up feeling as though someone is left out sometimes or that it is not quite even with the feelings, but I didn't feel that way at all with this story. I think it really helped that both of them had loved and lost Charlie before, and they weren't about to let that happen again. They went out of their way to show him that he was their missing piece, and it just worked for me. I would definitely recommend this one if you are a M/M fan and like menage stories. I look forward to reading more from Cardeno C.

**Review Copy provided by We Love Kink Promotions**

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