Review: Intensity by C.C. Koen

Intensity by C.C. Koen is the first part of Lincoln and Serena's story. Their story will continue in a second book set to release in the fall 2015. While their story is not over yet, the reader is not left with a huge cliffhanger at the end of Intensity. I liked that we are left wanting more, but that it wasn't the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. I really enjoyed the first part of Linc and Serena's story though, and I am looking forward to more. I did have a few issues throughout this book, and I am hoping that some of them will be resolved with the second book Serenity.

After losing her grandmother, Serena Thomas is struggling to make ends meet. Even with three jobs, she still is barely scraping by. When she meets the beautiful and sweet Mylaynee, the promise of a job making thousands of dollars right away comes off as too good to be true especially considering the fact that it would be as an escort. Serena is a virgin and doesn't plan to have sex for money, but Mylaynee ensures her that some guys just want dates rather than sex. When Serena decides to see about the job, she meets with the sexy owner Linc. They immediately hit it off and he makes her an exclusive for his use only. The more time together, the closer they get. But Linc still holds secrets that he isn't telling Serena, and she begins to wonder where that leaves them. The deeper that Serena gets, the more she finds out. Will she stay and fight for a future with Linc, or will the secrets and other women vying for Linc's attention drive her away before they ever have a chance?

I liked Linc. He was sweet and playful with Serena and I loved that he took care of her. He was sexy and alpha as well, but he was never a jerk about it with her. He was always looking out for her, and I really enjoyed seeing him ease her into his world. I felt bad for him as his past was revealed, but I did admire him for wanting to make things better for those in his world. His motivation for running his business was very personal for him, and I liked that he opened up to Serena and shared that with her. Serena was a bit feisty at times and I loved that she wanted to handle things herself. But then at other times I lost some respect for her because of how she acted or didn't act. I wanted her to confront things with Linc the way she was able to Tanya and B.B. It irritated me that she wasn't able to let him know how she was feeling and try to get answers from him when she deserved the truth. I thought that their connection and chemistry was real though, even if it was pretty instant. They were great together, and I enjoyed seeing them begin their relationship.

My biggest complaint of this book was how Serena dealt with everything about B.B. She started to believe everything that B.B. was telling her, and I wanted her to go to Linc for answers. It was clear that B.B. had ulterior motives, which is why it frustrated me so much. Then not only does she start to believe her, but she decided not to go to Linc because she was afraid it would ruin things between them. It just didn't make sense to me, and made her come off as a bit desperate. There was also one specific event that happened that Serena never asked Linc about. Even after the truth about where Linc was and what he was doing, Serena never talked to him about the one she witnessed with her own eyes and that bothered me. I wanted answers, and I hope that we will get some in the next book. Despite those criticisms though, I really enjoyed the book. I loved Serena's friendship with Mylaynee and the girls and I thought that they were all such a great support system for her. I look forward to seeing more about them in the next book, and I am excited that C.C. Koen has said Mylaynee will be getting her own book. I have to admit that I am curious about how she ended up where she did, and if she will wind up with Jax. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series, and I am excited to see where C.C. Koen takes Linc and Serena next.

**Review Copy Provided by Xpresso Book Tours**

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Feature and Giveaway: Back to Before by Tracy Solheim

Chances Inlet, North Carolina, has an infamous power for second chances. But its charms are lost on the town’s favorite son—until she comes along…

When his father’s sudden death puts his family’s construction business in serious debt, architect Gavin McAlister is forced to put his dream career in New York on hold. Making matters worse, his fiancée calls it quits. Desperate to return to his big-city life, he discovers an opportunity to save his family, one that has him reluctantly starring in a home restoration TV show.

Former soap star Ginger Walsh hopes this job as a TV makeup artist will lead to better things. So far it’s only brought her to a hamlet full of people who don’t like her—except Gavin. After a wild night out leads to Ginger waking up in Gavin’s loft—and the rest of town talking—the two of them soon wonder if getting back to before is what they want. Because being in each other’s arms certainly feels like what they need…

Will Drew and Jenna be able to put their pasts behind them and learn to trust their hearts long enough to enjoy their Holiday at Magnolia Bay?

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ARC Review: The Importance of Being Alice by Katie MacAlister

I have been a fan of Katie MacAlister’s books for years but I’m finding her new books for me are hit or miss. This is the first book in a new series Ainslie Brothers (or according to Amazon and Barnes & Noble A Matchmaker in Wonderland Romance) and as a first book it’s just ok. I loved, LOVED, the characters. Alice is open and eccentric a typical MacAlister heroine, Elliot is at first aloof and cold but quickly warms up due to Alice; and because of a joke at the beginning of the book I kept thinking of how E.T. said Elliot in the movie. The overall plot of the book kind of fell flat for me, it really is just about two opposites finding themselves in an awkward situation and falling in love.

Elliot is a Baron, impoverished almost, due to his parent’s frivolous ways the castle has gone to ruin. To make ends meet he became an author of spy novels. An old school acquaintance, Patrick, offers Elliot his spot on a river cruise so Elliot can write in peace and quiet. Elliot has a very large and rambunctious family. Patrick has just ended a relationship and has no need for the pre-wedding trip. Alice is stuck in limbo, she was in a relationship with her boss and when he dumped her she lost her job and her home, but as one last hurrah before moving on she decides to take the pre-wedding trip she half paid for only to find her cabin already occupied. Alice and Elliot agree to share the cabin and just stay out of each other’s way but their attraction to one another has Elliot in knot of sexual frustration and Alice realizes she wasn’t so in love with Patrick that the end of the relationship hurt it was more like it hurt her pride more. After they become intimate things progress quickly for them to the point they get “married”. Now the conflict, along with Alice’s insecurities, is that Alice believes Elliot is really a spy, and being an author is just a convenient cover. I wish that aspect could have been played with more especially with how the book ends. **No Spoilers don’t worry**

Overall yes I would recommend this it is funny as hell and I am curious about the ones to follow, but I wouldn’t expect it to be as good as some of her older contemporary titles like The Corset Diaries or A Hard Days Knight; I always liked her Dark Ones series more.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Audiobook Review: Ripped by Katy Evans, Narrated by Sebastian York and Elizabeth Louise

I have to say that this series has been pretty hit or miss for me. While I loved Real and Rogue, I thought that Remy and Mine were just okay. So when I first heard about Ripped, I didn't know what to think. I really didn't care for what little I had seen of Pandora so far in this series, and I honestly didn't expect to really change my mind about her. But I love a good second chance romance and I am a sucker for sexy rockstars so I wanted to see what this one was all about. All that being said, I ended up loving Ripped! While I loved the story itself, what really brought it to life was the audiobook. Katy Evans has written a great story for Pandora and Mackenna, but narrators Sebastian York and Elizabeth Louise were able to give the reader/listener a unique experience by perfectly capturing the raw emotions between these two characters.

Pandora is the goth tough chick friend of Brooke and Melanie. She got her heart broken years before, and ever since she has focused on her niece and her friends. But when she hears that her ex-boyfriend's band will be performing in her hometown, she decides that it is time for her to punish him for the hurt he caused her. Things don't turn out as planned though, and she is forced to agree to his conditions if she is going to escape him pressing charges against her. As the two set out on the rest of his tour, they must both learn to deal with close contact after many years apart. Soon they are rediscovering each other and the passion they once shared. But they both have secrets that destroyed them once before, and when the truth finally comes out it could destroy them again.

I really loved Mackenna and Pandora. I really wasn't crazy about Pandora before as I said already, but I knew that beneath her tough exterior there had to be more to her story. She was tough as a way to cope with everything that she had been through and the more that was revealed, the more I understood and connected with her. I thought that Elizabeth Louise really showed each side to her character through her voice, and she really made Pandora seem real. The emotions that Pandora was experiencing came through perfectly and I thought that Elizabeth Louise really did the character justice. Kenna was a cocky rockstar that was used to getting his way in everything, and it was clear that a lot had changed for him over the years. But as we got to see underneath the facade he projected, it was also clear that he had been through a lot as well. He had never forgotten about Pandora, and he still loved her despite everything that had happened. He had made some bad choices and he also had a bit of an issue with over-sharing at times, but I did think that deep down he was doing what he thought he needed to do or was best. I might not have always liked what came out of his mouth, but I did appreciate his honesty. Sebastian York has one of the sexiest voices that I have ever heard from a male narrator, and I thought that his voice was perfect for Kenna. It was filled with the sex appeal that a rockstar should have, and he really added so much depth to the character.

Overall, I went into this story skeptical and ended with it possibly being my favorite of the series. There are several things that I think will drive some readers nuts, and I do think that this book will be one that some cannot connect with. But for me, I thought that Mackenna and Pandora were perfect for one another and it showed through all their interactions, even when they were trying to get back at one another or were being jerks. Pandora and Mackenna really clicked for me because of their fantastic chemistry, their complicated history, and how sweet and sexy they could be with one another. I will say that the end of this story doesn't have a huge cliffhanger, but it does end with things a bit unresolved. I am so anxious to get more, and I really hope that Katy Evans will let us know how things proceed from here for these two and what all was revealed at the end of this book. I loved getting to see familiar faces, but Mackenna and Pandora really grew on me over the course of this book and I will not forget them anytime soon. If you are a fan of this series, I highly recommend this book and if you haven't read any in this series yet I think that Katy Evans is worth the read. I also look forward to more from Elizabeth Louise and Sebastian York in the future. While I have loved everything I have listened to by Sebastian York so far and actively seek out stories that he narrates, Elizabeth Louise really surprised me and I will definitely be on the lookout for more from her as well.

**Audiobook Provided by Simon & Schuster Audio**

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Guest Post with Author Josie Litton and Giveaway

Meet Josie Litton, author of Anew.

Josie Litton is the author of several NY Times and USA Today bestselling romances.

After taking time off to raise a family and get a master’s degree, she is delighted to be writing again. Inspired by the story of “Sleeping Beauty”, her new erotic romance, ANEW: Book One: Awakened will be published on January 12, 2015.

Married and living in Connecticut, she is the parent of two grown children. Becoming an empty nester has left her plenty of time to write, think about writing, plan what to write next, and read. When she isn’t doing that, she’s cooking, gardening, and traveling.

Find Josie at:

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