ARC Review: The Thing About Love by Kim Karr

I am a huge Kim Karr fan, so at this point I just automatically add her books to my TBR without even reading the blurbs. But when I saw the cover for The Thing About Love, I couldn't wait to read the story. This book was cute and fun, and I enjoyed the light-hearted read.

Jake and Juliette got off on the wrong foot, but with a wedding to plan they are stuck with one another. The more time they spend together though, the more they really get to know one another and things between them start to change. But while things are growing between them, Juliette knows that it is a mistake to fall for Jake since he is unavailable. 

I liked these two. Jake and Juliette were fun and I felt the attraction between them right away. While things didn't go well at first, it was clear that there was something between them. I enjoyed seeing them get to know one another and felt like they would be good for one another. I will say that at times it felt like something was missing a bit though, and I think part of that is because there wasn't much angst or conflict here. While there was a small amount, it just felt like things were on the easy side and that kept me from really loving their story. 

I still liked these two and would recommend the book, especially if you are looking for something light and sweet. While this wasn't my favorite Kim Karr book, I have enjoyed everything I have read from her and The Thing About Love was no exception.

**ARC Provided by L. Woods PR**

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ARC Review: Hot Stuff by Kim Karr

If you have read Sexy Jerk by Kim Karr, you will recognize the hero of Hot Stuff as Nick's younger brother Lucas. Hot Stuff is a standalone story though, and you do not need to have read Sexy Jerk in order to enjoy Hot Stuff. I would recommend reading them both though as they are great books and ones I really enjoyed. 

Lucas has worked hard to go pro, and having been recently drafted as a quarterback in the NFL, his career didn't start the way he thought it would. He expected to wind up on one team but a twist of fate had him being drafted by his home town team the Chicago Bears. Lucas has a lot to prove though, and if he wants to make it as their starting quarterback he will have to show them that he is more than the cocky college star that got him noticed. But when he meets his new head coach's daughter Gillian, they both know that the attraction and connection they feel is one that ruin their futures. Can they find a way to have it all, or will the them crossing the line be what destroys everything they've both worked for? 

I really liked these two. Their chemistry and connection was so real and genuine right from the start. I thought that Lucas and Gillian were great for each other, and I loved their interactions. These two were really cute together and I had a lot of fun reading their story. Lucas was more than just the cocky guy he came off as and I thought that Gillian balanced him out a lot. They were very supportive of each other and it was so great to see two characters that cared about one another and weren't afraid to do what it took to put the other first, even if that sometimes meant making choices that I wasn't always happy with.

Overall, this one was cute and fun and just a really great read. I read it in one sitting as I just didn't want to put it down. It was light and quick, and the characters were ones I had no problems relating to or finding things to like about them. If you are looking for a really good romance read, this is one that I recommend. Kim Karr has never disappointed me, and Lucas and Gillian's story was no exception. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

**ARC Provided by Give Me Books Promotions**

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ARC Review: Big Shot by Kim Karr

I could not wait for Big Shot by Kim Karr after getting to know Jace a little bit in Sexy Jerk. I knew that his story wouldn't be easy and that there was a lot in his past with Hannah just from the little glimpses we were given. Having lost his wife though and being a single dad, I knew that this was going to be an emotional story and it was. Kim Karr definitely delivered like only she can though, and I loved this book! 

Jace had no idea what his future looked like until he met Hannah Michaels. But as his best friend's girlfriend she was off limits, or so he thought. But then everything changed and suddenly Jace found himself alone and Hannah gone. He was able to move on and thought that things were fine, with a career he loved and a wife and daughter that made him happy until he once again found himself alone and heartbroken trying to pick up the pieces. So when Hannah comes crashing back into his life 10 years later and things get off to a rough start, both Hannah and Jace begin to wonder how they will ever survive in such close proximity to each other once again. But there is a fine line between love and hate, and both of them must face the fact that their feelings for one another have never died and they definitely didn't stay buried in the past. 

I loved these two. At first I was worried about liking Hannah. I felt so much for Jace and Hannah came off a bit hard to relate to or like at first. But that quickly changed and soon I found myself rooting for these two and wanting nothing more than for them to be together. They had both been through so much and it was clear that their connection was special. It had been there years before and more than they could fight, but after everything that had happened nothing had changed when it came to how they felt. I knew that they were great for one another, and the chemistry was so strong. 

Overall, this was a great story and I couldn't put it down. It was sexy and emotional, with a depth that I have come to know and love from Kim Karr. She is a fantastic writer and I have never been disappointed by her. I really love this world she has created, and I already can't wait to get the next book in the series. Kim Karr is one of my favorite authors, and I definitely recommend anything by her. Sexy Jerk and Big Shot are right at the top of my favorites from her though, and I think readers are going to love Jace and Hannah as much as I did.'

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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ARC Review: Sexy Jerk by Kim Karr

Another fantastic book from Kim Karr! I absolutely love her books, and Sexy Jerk was no exception. If you are a fan of hers, Sexy Jerk is one you definitely won't want to miss out on. If you are new to her, Sexy Jerk is a standalone story and a great book to start with. I definitely recommend giving Sexy Jerk and all her other books a shot as she never disappoints. 

When her best friend finally decides to go on her honeymoon, Tess couldn't be more excited to babysit her godson and continue moving forward with her life after her breakup. But her best friend's husband isn't entirely convinced that she can handle Max on her own, so he arranges for his single friend Nick to help her out. But Nick and Tess haven't had the best interactions over the times that they have met previously. The more time they spend together though, the more Tess begins to realize that Nick isn't just a jerk and that there is more to him. But while she suddenly wants the sexy jerk, does he want her back? 

I really loved these two! Kim Karr knows how to write characters with depth that you can feel invested in and relate to, and that was absolutely true here. I loved Tess and Nick's interactions and the chemistry between them. They were sexy and sweet and watching them get to know each other was what made it impossible to put this book down. There was so much that they didn't know about one another, and they both had to realize that things with each other were different than what they had been through before. 

Overall, I really can't say enough good things about this book! I love Kim Karr's writing style, and she always manages to suck me in from the first page to the last. While this enemies-to-lovers has some material that might be a bit heavier, the book was light-hearted and easy to get lost in. Kim knows how to write hot stories that are filled with depth and emotion, and Sexy Jerk had everything I look for in a great story. I can't wait to read more from Kim Karr in the future.

**ARC Provided by The Next Step PR**

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ARC Review: Hollywood Prince by Kim Karr

I am a huge fan of Kim Karr's and I could not wait for Hollywood Prince! It was everything I have come to know and love from her, but also so much more. This book also happened to be one of my favorite tropes as well, brother's best friend, making it exactly what I was looking for! Hollywood Prince was such a great story from start to finish, and I could not put it down. 

When Amelia's life falls apart even more than it already had, she heads to California to talk to her brother and stay with him for awhile. But when she arrives and he is nowhere to be found, she finds herself relying on his former roommate and best friend Brooklyn to give her a place to stay until he comes back from Mexico. But while Amelia has just met a nice guy that could be Mr. Right, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Brooklyn who she knows is anything but. Being Hollywood royalty, Brooklyn has never had a problem getting girls and is known for being a player, but could Amelia be the one that makes him rethink everything?

I really loved these two. I loved their history and the way that things felt so natural and genuine with them. Each of them had things they struggled with and reasons for them to not be together, and yet they also knew what they had between them and were willing to see where it took them. Brooklyn and Amelia were so sexy together, with a ton of steam! I loved their chemistry just as much as the strong connection they shared. I just couldn't get enough of them, and never wanted it to end. 

I will say that Brooklyn frustrated me a bit here, but I understood his reasoning even if I didn't like his actions. Luckily he woke up and I loved how things turned out. He really turned things around and made a few really amazing gestures here that had me swooning! While River has always been my number one from Kim Karr, I have to admit that Brooklyn is right up there with him. I just loved him and this will definitely be a book I reread in the future. I highly recommend this one, especially if you love sexy and sweet stories with depth and emotion as well as steamy scenes.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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ARC Review: Turn it Up by Kim Karr

Turn it Up is the second installment in the Detroit Love Duet by Kim Karr. This book is not a standalone and should only be read if you have already read Set the Pace. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one after that cliffhanger, and I pretty much devoured this book! I really love Kim Karr's writing style, and she is one of those authors that I just really enjoy reading each book she writes. While I definitely have my favorites of hers, I have really liked everything that I have read from her. 

Turn it Up picks up right where Set the Pace left off. Jasper Storm and Charlotte Lane were brought back together after life got in the way of their friendship. Now that they have moved past everything that tore them apart, they are growing closer than they ever were before. But Jasper has been arrested for two murders and their past is once again threatening to tear them apart. But can they move forward together or will life and their past once again prevent them from having a future together? 

I really love these characters. Jasper and Charlotte are so easy to like and relate to. They have each been through so much, and yet their connection truly went away. I felt like they were meant to be together in the first book, and that was really solidified in this book. We really got to see more character development here in this book, and I enjoyed that a lot, especially when it came to Charlotte. The love between these characters and the growing relationships between Charlotte and Jasper's friends were so interesting. I really love the secondary characters here almost as much as I do Charlotte and Jasper, and I especially loved Jake. I just couldn't get enough of all of them and had such a good time seeing how everything would play out!

I will say that the beginning of this book started off a bit slow for me, but like with any Kim Karr book I knew the action would come. This book really started to take off after about half way through and I couldn't put it down. Though I really love Kim Karr's books and River and Dahlia will always be my favorites, I have to say that Charlotte and Jasper are right up there as well. I highly recommend this duet, and I think fans of Kim Karr's will love these books as much as I did. If you haven't read the first book yet, make sure you start there. But if you already read Set the Pace, Turn it Up is a must read! I am already anxious to find out what Kim Karr will write next, and I know whatever it is I will be reading it!

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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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: Crush by Kim Karr

Crush is the continuation of Logan and Elle's story from Blow by Kim Karr. With Crush being the second book in the Tainted Love Duet, these have to be read in order. So if you haven't read Blow yet, you might want to stop reading and start with Blow first. I really enjoyed Blow, and I couldn't wait to get more of these characters. Kim Karr is a great writer and I knew that while Logan and Elle's story was far from over, that she would do it justice here in Crush. 

Crush picks up right where Blow left off with Logan and Elle in the middle of danger and looking for answers. Though unusual circumstances brought Logan and Elle together, their connection continues to strengthen. But when the past and present collide, Elle and Logan are forced into a situation where it looks like no one will win. While Logan tries to take down the enemy and figure out who is behind everything, he knows that he needs to keep Elle safe...even if that means walking away from her. But Elle can't put her life on hold and refuses to just sit by while Logan figures out when it is safe for them to finally be with one another. As they dig deeper, more obstacles threaten everything that they have found in each other. Can Logan and Elle figure out a way to not only take down the enemy, but to also finally escape all that threatens their relationship?

I was frustrated at times with Logan and Elle here, but the one thing that was clear was how much these two cared about each other. Their relationship came about very quickly, but it never felt like it was unbelievable to me. These two had been through so much together in such a short amount of time that it was no wonder how strong their connection grew in that amount of time. Part of my frustration here was because Logan would do anything to protect Elle, and he believed that they shouldn't be together because of her safety being at risk. I really hate when heroes do that since it really doesn't make sense to me, and we all know that they are better at protecting their women than anyone else. But I was really glad to see that Elle didn't let him just walk all over her, and she refused to let him get away that. She believed that they were better together, and she had no problems telling Logan what was on her mind. The chemistry and connection between these two just continued to intensify as their story continued, and I really felt like Logan and Elle were meant to be together. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this duet and I liked seeing something a bit different from Kim Karr with these books. While they still had every bit of emotional connection and steamy romance, there was also suspense and intrigue that kept me turning the pages. I couldn't wait to figure out exactly what was going on and finally learn who was behind everything and Kim Karr didn't disappoint. I will definitely be going back and reading these again to pick up all the little details from the very beginning and I am really glad that I read these. I highly recommend this duet if you are looking for something sexy and dangerous, with a great balance of suspense and romance. Kim Karr is one of go-to authors, and I am already looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Blow by Kim Karr

Blow is the first installment in the Tainted Love Duet from Kim Karr, and this book was unlike anything we have previously seen from Karr. It does end with a cliffhanger, but luckily the second installment, Crush, is schedule for a November 2015 release so there isn't a ton of waiting. This book had a ton going on, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I am definitely anxious for the next installment, and ready to find out what happens after where Blow left off. 

After her sister disappears, Elle heads to Boston to help her brother-in-law out with his young daughter. Though they tell everyone that her sister Lizzy is at rehab, the truth is that she was involved in something much more dangerous and they haven't put together all the pieces. When Elle meets Logan, the attraction between them is instant. But Logan is somehow involved in everything that is surrounding her sister and both of them don't know if they can trust each other, even if they want to. With time running out and two sides fighting with deadly consequences, can Elle and Logan figure out what is really going on and have something together? 

Logan and Elle were each a mystery for much of this book, with bits and pieces being revealed slowly. They both had painful pasts that had a huge effect on the people they were now. But in each other they found an undeniable connection that they had never felt with anyone else. With so much going on here, they were constantly wanting to trust one another yet forced to be wary of everyone including each other. But the one thing that was clear is that they were developing feelings for one another. Elle felt safe with Logan, and Logan wanted to protect her at all costs. I really enjoyed seeing their connection grow as they got to know one another better and I really liked them together. The chemistry between them was so strong, and these two were super hot together. 

When it comes to the story, this book took place over the course of seven days. It was pretty quick for these two to have met and fallen for one another, yet it all felt very real and believable to me. The circumstances surrounding their situation really intensified their connection and I found myself falling right along with them. There are so many different players involved here and things are far from over. Just when it looked like things might finally be close to ending, Kim Karr threw us for a loop! I was captivated right away and I felt instantly invested in what would happen to these characters. I have my suspicions on what I think is going on and who is involved, but the one thing that is clear is that anyone and everyone could be involved and we won't know exactly what is going on until we get to read Crush. The one thing that I will say is that although there is a lot going on here and in a relatively short amount of time, this book seemed to be pretty slow paced to me. This was especially true for me in the first half of the book, with things starting to pick up a little bit towards the second half. While I was curious to see what would happen and wanted to know more, I found myself wanting to put it down a few times and walk away for awhile which kind of surprised me. I really like Logan and Elle though, and I am looking forward to the next installment in their story. I definitely recommend this and other books by Kim Karr though as she is a great writer and I have enjoyed everything I have read by her.

**ARC Provided by TRSOR Promotions**

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ARC Review: Toxic by Kim Karr

I have been a huge fan of Kim Karr's since I first read Connected. I have had my ups and downs with a few of her stories, but overall she is one of my go-to authors. So I couldn't wait to read Toxic when I first heard about it. That being said, I had a lot of issues with this book and unfortunately this was my least favorite of hers to date. I wanted to love this book so much, but it was absolutely exhausting to read. 

Phoebe St. Claire has been trying to save her family's legacy by getting their company back on track after her father went to prison. She is engaged to her boyfriend, yet she can't set a date for the wedding and she can't even picture a future together. She can however still remember Him and the summer they spent together. But when Jeremy McQueen reenters her life, she realizes that he isn't the same guy she once knew, and everything is different. Though the connection between Jeremy and Phoebe is still undeniable, things are more complicated than ever. When Phoebe and Jeremy start spending more time together and end up working side by side, things appear to be finally turning around for them. But soon Phoebe and Jeremy both realize that things aren't as they seem and both will be faced with whether they can trust one another, or if it is best to walk away from each other once and for all. 

My biggest issue with this book was the characters. As much as I wanted to love both Jeremy and Phoebe (and at times I really did!), they drove me absolutely nuts. I have never seen two characters who were so hot and cold that absolutely couldn't talk to one another! They would say that they needed to talk and leave the past behind them, moving forward with honesty and trust. Yet when it came down to it, they both kept things from one another and didn't say what they should. You would have thought after their past that they would have understood the importance of complete honesty and being open with one another, but apparently that wasn't something these two could figure out. They would both shut down and shut the other out, and it got to be more than I could take. At the end of this book I felt like I had run a marathon just trying to get through the story, and I found myself more frustrated with them than ever. I really thought that these two had a ton of chemistry and when they were together they were good together. But I really think that these two let too many others influence their relationship and I think that they needed to either learn to believe in each other or just move on.

I also felt like this story had a lot going on, and unfortunately at times it felt like too much. It had a Gossip Girl feel to it with the rich and privileged group of friends, and it was at times too much about them and not enough about Jeremy and Phoebe. I found myself wanting to skim the parts that didn't really pertain to anything that was going on with Phoebe and Jeremy, and that was far more often than I would have liked. For me, this book just missed the mark and wasn't what I had been hoping for. I don't really know what happened here, but it wasn't like anything I have read from Kim Karr before. As much as I wanted to love this book, I was forcing myself to get through it to see what happened rather than actually enjoying the story. There was just too much push and pull between the characters, and their relationship lived up to the book's title a little too much for my taste.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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