Audiobook Review: Frayed by Kim Karr, Narrated by Veronica Meunch and Christian Fox

I will admit that going into Frayed by Kim Karr I was really skeptical of the story. I knew it would be a tough sell because of all the history between Ben and Bell and the rest of the characters. I am a huge fan of this series, but I have been anxious about this book as well as dreading the day it came out. While I will say that this book surprised me in a lot of ways, I will also say that it was my least favorite of the series besides Ben's novella Blurred.

After Ben had to disappear for getting involved in a dangerous story, he came back only to discover that his fiance Dahlia had moved on and was no longer in love with him. Ben then lost his beloved mother and hit rock bottom. He took off for Australia to get his life back on track and now he has returned home where he belongs. He is focused on his work and moving forward with his life, having finally accepted the changes that have occurred. But after a chance run-in with his past, Ben finds himself feeling something he hasn't ever felt before. Ben has always been drawn to Bell and there has never been any denying that they have a ton of sexual chemistry between them. But as Ben and Bell get to know one another better, they find a connection unlike any they have felt before. But Bell has a secret from her past that could destroy everything between them.

I have never been Ben's biggest fan. He was cocky and self-centered, and he seemed to feel as though he deserved everything regardless of his actions. I really hated what he did to Dahlia, and that was why I was so worried going into this book. I felt like him having a relationship with Bell was justifying what the two of them had done in the past, and I really don't feel as if their actions were justified at all. They made some huge mistakes and errors in judgement, and I feel like this book really sort of said that it was okay because everything worked out in the end. I felt like their relationship was tainted from the start, and as well as these two fit together I just couldn't get past how things started between them. Ben made a lot of progress as an individual though, and I really enjoyed seeing his growth. Bell was sweet and strong, and so much more than people gave her credit for. But I also felt like she played the victim a bit, and a lot of what had happened was because of how relentlessly she had pursued Ben all those years ago even knowing that he had a girlfriend. It was hard for me to ever connect with her or feel sorry for her after that, because to me that is the worst type of girl. It is one thing when you don't know they are taken, but to know and force the issue just makes you a selfish bitch in my book. She only thought of what she wanted and took it regardless of how it affected anyone but herself.

All that being said, it was obvious that Ben and Bell had a connection and a lot of chemistry. I felt like these two made a great couple and that they would have been a perfect match had it not been for their past and history. I wish that their circumstances would have been different, because I really would have loved them together if it had not been such a horrible start. I just couldn't get behind these two no matter how well the fit together and how great a job Kim Karr wrote the story. I thought that Veronica Meunch and Christian Fox did a fantastic job narrating these characters as they have done with the entire series so far. They are the perfect choice for this series, and they really bring the characters to life. They are always easy to understand and manage to convey every feeling and emotion of the story. They also do a great job of differentiating between characters, making it easy to always tell who is speaking. But despite their amazing performance and Kim Karr's great writing, this really was just a matter of the story for me. I wanted to have my mind changed, but I just wasn't able to move past what had happened. I really do love this series though, and I am looking forward to the next installment in this series.

**Audiobook Provided by Tantor Audio**

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ARC Review: Stripping Her Defenses by Jessie Lane

I was really looking forward to reading Stripping Her Defenses after reading the blurb. I love a good second chance lovers story, and the fact that it had bikers in it was even better. That being said, I feel like this book was a bit different than the blurb implied. It was still a good story, it just wasn't exactly what I had thought it was going to be. Stripper Her Defenses is the second book in Jessie Lane's Ex Ops series, but these can each be read as standalones.

After losing her unborn son and struggling to cope by herself, Kara Sullivan left her husband to find herself and start over. She loved her husband, but with him never home and her always alone she knew that she couldn't stay anymore despite her feelings for him. So eight years later, the last person she expects to see walk into the strip club where she is dancing is Riley Sullivan. Riley has been unable to forget the only woman he ever loved, but he has stopped trying to contact her after being told that doing so was damaging to her health and mental state. But now that he has found her, he will do anything to show her that they belong together. Not only must Riley convince Kara to give them another chance, but he must also keep her away from the danger of his current mission. Can Riley and Kara find their way back to one another? Or will the pain from their past and the danger in their present keep them from giving things between them another shot?

I liked Riley and Kara. They were good characters that had been through a lot. They had married young and had both made mistakes. Instead of talking to one another and supporting each other, they had done what they thought was best at the time. Their relationship was proof that communication can change everything when it comes to making a marriage work. I didn't really understand them though. I couldn't figure out why Riley thought that Kara wouldn't be hurt and upset by him always being gone and choosing to take mission after mission, knowing that he was never around. And I really didn't understand why Kara never said anything to him about it upsetting her and that she feared he didn't want to be around her anymore. I really just found it completely immature on both of their parts, and it seemed like behavior that you would expect from much younger people rather than they were. I thought that they had a lot of history and a lot of chemistry, but their relationship needed a lot of work.

While I thought that this story was a good quick and easy read, I also felt like it had a few issues. Besides the communication between the characters, I honestly felt like this one was wrapped up far too quickly. I enjoyed the length of the book, but it just seemed as though Riley and Kara solved all their problems far too easily. They basically had a few words and jumped back into bed with one another, and all of a sudden all their problems seemed to go away. I just didn't care for it, and I thought it just seemed to easy. I wanted them to really work at it and see that they had made the effort and steps to make it work this time around. I thought that it was a good story, and I did believe that Kara and Riley belonged together. I just thought that the time frame was a bit too soon, and it all felt a bit rushed to me. I do like the characters in this series though, and I am interested to see more of them as this series progresses. I will read more from Jessie Lane in the future.

**ARC Provided by Between the Sheets Promotions**

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Guest Post with Author Mia Marlowe and Giveaway

Meet Mia Marlowe, author of A Rake by Any Other Name.

Mia Marlowe is a rising star whose Touch of a Rogue was named one of Publishers Weekly‘s Top Ten Best Romances for Spring 2012. Mia learned about storytelling while singing professional opera. She knows what it’s like to sing a high “C” in a corset, so she empathizes with the trials of her historical heroines. Mia resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

Find Mia at:

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ARC Review: What a Lady Demands by Ashlyn Macnamara

What a Lady Demands is the second book in the Eton Boys trilogy. Old friends Sandford, Lindenhurst and Battencliff have had a severe rift in their friendships. This story centers on Lindenhurst and Sandford’s younger sister, Cecilia.

In What a Lady Demands we find two considerably damaged characters. The way they have dealt with their disastrous pasts are on two completely different ends of the spectrum. Ashyln Macnamara has presented quite a few uncommon twists that I haven’t seen in a Historical Romance.

At first Cecilia Sandford seems like a spoiled ‘on the shelf’ debutante when she applies to Viscount Lindenhurst for the governess positon for his son, Jeremy. We gradually learn that she has had a dreadful past. One in which I’d never have thought she’d have survived as well as did. She is a very resilient, independent, courageous woman. She has tried to overcome her past and not dwell on the bad.

Richard Blakewell, Viscount Lindenhurst, is an angry, revengeful, uncompassionate, and strict military man. He requires his servants to have very high morals. I can honestly say I couldn’t stand him and he was very hard to warm up to. Even after we learn how and why his wife betrayed him, I did not see him as a victim. I felt more sorrowful for poor Battencliff than I did for Lind.

Jeremy, is a tragically sad little boy. He’s lost his mother and then lost multiple governesses’ because his father has sent them packing due to a lack of progress on teaching him to read and write. (he’s only FIVE!) Cecilia becomes his best advocate and stands toe to toe with Richard several times to Jeremy’s benefit.

The fireworks between Lind and Cecilia start almost from the first. They both try to resist as they’ve both been burned in past relationships. Sensual and steamy, when they connect their passion leaps off the page. When Lin finally gives in to the attraction for Cecelia, we see an emotional thawing alter his character. “You haven’t had a champion for years. Your father died when you were still in the schoolroom and your brother was gone. Who is going to protect you from … if I do not?” My heart melted for Lind right then!

I loved how Cecilia stood up to Richard and didn’t back down on anything she felt so strongly about. The title, What a Lady Demands, certainly fits this novel. When Lind suggests marriage she replies with “When I’m not even suitable to act as your governess, because I’m so scandalous and impure, but you’re still willing to marry me?” I cheered her on! It really shows how much he really cares for her despite his attempt otherwise.

Ashlyn Macnamara has given us a message through this story of revenge, redemption and recovery. Love only flourishes when you can compromise. Revenge is never the answer. It will only come back on you. I truly enjoyed this novel.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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Review: Reaper's Legacy by Joanna Wylde

As I continue my Reaper’s binge, I jumped into Reaper’s Legacy, the second book in the series. Just like the Reaper’s Stand, this book focuses on The Motorcycle Club, The Reapers. The main characters of this book are Sophie and Regar.

When the story begins Sophie is losing her virginity to Zach Barrett, her boyfriend and Regar’s step-brother. Regar walks in on them and Sophie is mortified. Zach turns out to be a deadbeat. Regar however fills in for Zach. When Sophie finds out she is pregnant it’s Regar who steps in and helps her with Noah, her son. Although Regar has very strong feelings for Sophie he realizes the complexity of the situation.

The story fast forwards eight years ahead and Sophie is living on her own with Noah outside of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. When her son finds himself in trouble he calls Uncle Regar that has always been there for him. Regar jumps on his bike with his friend Horse and they run to rescue Noah. When Regar sees how Sophie and Noah are living he tells Sophie that they are going to live with him.

So Sophie, I wasn’t really crazy about her. I wanted to like her more than I actually did. She really seemed so clueless all time. It was like she could not make a decision for herself to save her or her sons life. Regar was also not a fantastic hero. He was pretty awful, except for his never-ending devotion to Sophie and Noah. Although Regar doesn’t know how to handle his feelings for Sophie he is always ready to be there for Noah.

When Sophie and Regar finally give into their feelings for one another Sophie tells Regar that she wants complete devotion, in other words he can’t be with other women, he tells her… He won’t bring any women home!!!!??? I know!!!??? This is why I’m addicted to these books, THEY ARE CRAZY! So Sophie isn’t having it and I actually applauded her for once doing something that was not dimwitted.

Sophie and Regar are both so infuriating. They are both so complex and both made me want to scream with frustration, but I could not put this book down! Just like in The Reaper’s Stand, which I heard on audio, there is a lot of drama, and violence and vulgar language. Nonetheless, I’m continuing my Reaper’s Binge and my next book is “The Devil’s Game, which is Em and Liam “Hunters” story.

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