ARC Review: Devil's Kiss by Ella Frank

I couldn't wait to get Derek and Jordan's story after reading Finley by Ella Frank. These two had so much between them in that book that I knew there was so much more that needed to be told when it came to their story. I have to say that while there were times that I really loved Derek and Jordan in this book, there was also a lot that didn't work for me here. I wanted so badly to love their book, but unfortunately I had mixed feelings here and this one wasn't everything that I had been hoping for. 

Derek Pearson and Jordan Devaney are about as opposite as you can get. Though the attraction between them was instant, things between them have been complicated since the day they met. Starting off as student and teacher kept them from seeing where that attraction could go, but as time went on Derek and Jordan struggled with more than just how things were in the beginning. Years go by and Jordan and Derek find themselves in different places until it finally appears that they have a shot at exploring the connection between them. But what happens when one person finds himself wanting more than the other might be capable of giving?

I loved the heat between these two. The chemistry and attraction was there right from the start, and you could tell that when it came to the physical aspect of their relationship there would be no problems. But there was a lot of push and pull here and it got to the point that it was just too much for me. These two not only went back and forth constantly, but it truly felt like they were fighting for 95% of this book. I expected some of that seeing how they were in the previous book, but it was more than just tension here and Jordan made me really angry on more than one occasion. I was hoping that by the end of the story he would beg for Derek's forgiveness and I would feel like he had redeemed himself somewhere along the way. Unfortunately though that didn't happen, and I felt like what little he did do was too late and that at that point he didn't deserve Derek. 

I also felt like while it was great to see the history between these two, that the huge jumps in time gave this book a choppy feel. I understand that the author was trying to move the story along and just give the highlights, but it just felt like at times there was too much time in between events and it sort of drew me out of the story. While I could clearly see the chemistry and attraction between Derek and Jordan, I had trouble seeing the relationship between them as anything more than physical. There just wasn't as much emotional connection or depth as I needed to truly believe that these two had more than just lust between them. Overall, I did like Derek and Jordan when they were together. They were hot together and I thought that they had some really cute moments together. I also loved that Jordan was supportive of Derek and all that he had gone through with his family, but I just wish I had seen more of them working on being together rather than the constant fighting and push/pull that was going on. I think that this one had a ton of potential and just sort of got a bit lost along the way. I do hope that Ella Frank writes a story for Derek's roommate Dylan. I liked what we got to see of him here and would love to get to know him better. If you are a fan of Ella's and enjoyed Finley, I think that this one is worth the read. If this one sounds like something you might like though and you haven't read Finley yet, Devil's Kiss is a standalone and can be read with no problems.

**ARC Provided by Between the Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon |

ARC Review: Finley by Ella Frank

Finley is the first book in Ella Frank's new Sunset Cove series which is a spin-off of her Temptation series. Don't worry if you haven't read the Temptation series, Finley can be read as a complete standalone story and readers will be happy to know that there is no cliffhanger. I really liked this book and the characters and I think M/M fans will enjoy this story a lot. 

Seven years ago Daniel Finley left Florida for Chicago to attend law school after being sent away by the man he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. But when he receives a note telling him it is time to come home, Daniel knows that he needs to return to Florida to see what made Brantley Hayes contact him after all this time. Daniel is no longer the same guy he was seven years ago though, and he will do whatever it takes to put the past behind him and move forward for good. But Brantley isn't willing to give up without a fight and is determined to show Daniel just how much he cares about and has never forgotten him. 

I really liked both Finn and Brantley. These two had such a great connection and a ton of chemistry. It was obvious right from the start that what they shared ran so deep for both of them. This wasn't some fling between them, and my heart broke for all the pain and hurt they each felt. I understood why Brantley had sent Finn away, and yet I hated him a bit for it just like Finn did. It was so hard to see how much that hurt him and I was glad that he was able to ultimately see why Brantley had done it as well even if he didn't like it. The connection these two shared had never gone away, and it was great to see them reconnect and get to know who they were after seven years apart. 

I did have a few things that kept this one from being five stars for me though. I thought that at times there was a lot of stuff going on while not much was actually happening. The story seemed to suffer here from not much plot, a ton of inner dialogue, and quite a bit of back and forth/push and pull. I also felt like at times the switch between past and present really removed me from the story. The transitions weren't as smooth as I would have liked and I sometimes wished that things would have just been explained or gone over in the present without an entire flashback to the past. We would be right in the middle of something and it would just suddenly switch to the past, which really messed up the flow and pacing of the story for me. I also found it confusing at times with the POV switching mid-chapter which of them was speaking. With a male/male story it can be tough to keep track of when the speaker is only referred to as "he" and I found that it happened quite a bit here and I would have to try and figure out who it was as it wasn't clear. I do think that these two were great and I liked them a lot. I just wish a few of these things had been handled a little different as I think that Finn and Brantley's story could have been a five star book had some of these things been done differently. I am excited to see what happens next in this series as Ella Frank did a great job of setting up such an interesting story for two of the secondary characters here. There was a ton of tension and a lot that has obviously happened, and I can't wait to find out more!

**ARC Provided by Between the Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | 

ARC Review: Calling Me: The Complete Series by Louise Bay

I have been waiting for Luke and Ashleigh's story since I first read Louise Bay's Lightning series. I really loved Haven and Jake's story, but I knew there was so much gonig on between Luke and Ashleigh and I couldn't wait to get more of these two. Fans of the Lightning series will recognize Luke and Ashleigh as she is Haven's best friend and Luke is Haven's brother. Not only did I really enjoy the Calling Me series because it just so happens to be one of my favorite tropes, but it was also just a really great story. Louise Bay has never disappointed me yet, and this series was yet another example of why I rush to get whatever books her name is attached to. If you are a fan of contemporary romance, Louise Bay is definitely an author that you should be reading. 

Ashleigh Franklin has been in love with her best friend's brother for as long as she can remember. But after years of him never seeing her as more than another sister, she is finally trying to move on. But just when she thinks she finally has a chance at doing just that, Luke breaks up with his longtime girlfriend and realizes that the one he wants has been right in front of his face all along. But Ash isn't convinced that he has suddenly changed and that he wants a future with her. Can Luke prove to Ash that they belong together and are more than just friends, or will they destroy everything in the process including the friendship they share as well as that between Ashleigh and Haven? 

I will admit that I was very frustrated with Ash at times throughout this story, and she really got on my nerves. As much as she irritated me though, I also understood a bit of where she was coming from. While I wanted her to just take that chance and throw caution to the wind, I knew that she was just trying to protect herself and ease the risk of getting hurt. I thought that Luke had moments where he really shined here, and I ended up loving him far more that I thought possible. I loved Jake so much in the lightning series and he was my favorite of Louise Bay's heroes until I read the Calling Me series, and I really think that Luke might have topped him here. I still love them both, but there was just something about Luke here. He was sexy and impossible not to fall for. The best thing about this series to me though was the connection and friendship between Luke and Ashleigh. They were close from having been around each other for so many years, and yet seeing them get to know one another in an entirely new way just showed how much closer they could grow. The chemistry had always been there as well, but to see it finally explode here was beyond steamy and I couldn't get enough. 

Overall, this was another really great series from Louise Bay. I am so glad that I waited to read all of these stories at once as I am not sure that I would have been able to handle the wait in between with the cliffhangers. Luckily if you haven't read this series yet, they are all available now and you won't have to wait either. The Calling Me series includes Calling Me Back, Calling Me Away, and Calling Me Home. These do need to be read in order as they are not standalone stories, and I recommend having some time available before starting as once you start you are not going to want to stop. I definitely recommend this series and I cannot wait to read more from Louise Bay in the future.

**ARC Provided by Love Between The Sheets**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes | 

Feature and Giveaway: Still Into You by Ryleigh Andrews

What happens when you continually run from your demons?

When Mia watched Ethan walk out of her life, she did what she did best—she ran—ran from the only person who ever made her feel safe; home.

They work even harder to try and find you.

He was her everything and she let him slip away.

And when they do … they’ll come at you full force, guns blazing.

Hitting rock bottom forced Mia to stop. Now she needed to dig herself out. Figuring out how to do that required help, maybe a plan. She had to face those demons. Not an easy task when she spent her entire life running from them.

Would Ethan still be there for Mia after all was said and done? Or would she find that he had moved on? Or would he still be into her?

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Feature and Giveaway: Chasing Jenna by MIcki Fredricks

Twenty year old Jenna Clausen has one chance to change her life… and she's going to take it.

Leaving the darkness of her life two hundred miles behind her, Jenna arrives at the one place that could save her…college. Pushing her fears aside while gathering all of her courage, she steps out into her new life, and right into the sights of Cale Davis.

Cale is part of the most elite house on campus simply called, The Brotherhood. It’s an exclusive house with one rule for membership, either you are born into The Brotherhood or you’re not. Cale makes it a priority to get what he wants…and he wants Jenna. He sets a plan into motion to make Jenna his.

There is however, one flaw to Cale’s plan, Ryan Kitson. Also a fellow Brother in the House, he is a Cale-approved study partner for Jenna. But when her feelings for Ryan start to grow, Jenna has another decision to make….one she couldn't possibly have understood the dangers of.

She suddenly finds herself engulfed by a lifestyle so dark and twisted she can’t find a way out. On the run and unsure who to trust, she spirals deeper and deeper into her nightmare. Jenna struggles to put all the pieces together until it finally becomes clear… The decision she made to save her life, might actually be the one that ends it.

**This book is a Romantic Suspense for mature audiences, 18+ due to dark topics with references to both sexual and violent situations.*

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Feature and Giveaway: Tempting Tatum by Kaylee Ryan

What do you do when your whole life crashes and burns? How do you get through the flames?

Tatum Thompson is living the dream. Her life is perfect; with a loving boyfriend, loving parents and a soon to be college graduate how can life get better? Life is good until it isn't. When tragedy strikes Tatum runs to Josh only to find him in a compromising position with someone else. Turning away from the only life she knew, Tatum is forced to alter her life plan.

Blaise Richards is a tattoo artist who moonlights as a volunteer fire fighter. Lies and deception leave his broken heart closed until the beautiful green eyed girl casts her spell over him. She’s making him feel things he’s never felt. Making him want things he thought he would never want.

Tatum wants Mr. just for tonight.

Blaise wants Tatum to be his forever.

Can Mr. Just for tonight convince Tatum that she’s the one? How long can Tatum resist Blaise’s determination to make her his?

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Review: Breaking My Heart by Aleya Michelle

Breaking My Heart is the debut novel from Aleya Michelle, and is also the first book in her My Heart Trilogy. When I was given the opportunity to review this book, I thought that it was a standalone. I had no idea that this was actually book #1, and I was not expecting the book to have a huge cliffhanger. I can honestly tell you though that by the time that I had reached the end I was more than ready for this one to be done. I can honestly say that if I had known that we wouldn't be given an ending in this book, I would have DNF'd with this one. Unfortunately this wasn't at all what I had been expecting, and I was disappointed with this story.

Roxy is a 24 year old graphic designer. She is used to partying with her best friend Jemma and uses drugs to help escape her past. She has been hurt and betrayed before, and always expects the worst when it comes to men. When she first meets Kade she thinks that he is just like all the others, but decides to give him a shot. After making a few mistakes though, Roxy begins to realize that Kade is different from other guys out there. He is 23, he treats her well, and he is determined to be successful. Not only does he have a regular job, but he is also working on becoming a pro-surfer and spends a lot of his time training. But with so much demand on his time and with differences of opinion, Kade and Roxy's new relationship begins to hit some rough patches. Can they figure out a way to make a relationship work, and can Roxy get over her past and truly let Kade in?

I really liked Kade at the beginning of this story, and I honestly couldn't figure out what he saw in Roxy. The way that she treated him at the beginning was horrible, and frankly she acted like a total psycho. I didn't understand why he kept giving her chance after chance when he didn't even know her. But as the story progressed, I started to really dislike Kade. He had a total personality shift and I have no idea what happened to him. He started acting completely different and turned into a real jerk. He wasn't honest with Roxy and he started lashing out at her, and it just didn't make sense. Roxy was hard to like at first. She was used to sleeping around and not letting anyone close, and she used her past as an excuse to lose herself in drugs. She also treated Kade horribly at first and judged him pretty harshly without even really knowing him. She made a lot of assumptions and should have just talked to him before jumping to conclusions. But once she opened up to Kade and really gave him a chance, she started to really grow and change for the better. She realized that drugs were not good for her and that she needed to make a change. She cleaned up her life and started to see what a future could be like with a man that she loved. I will admit that Kade and Roxy did have chemistry, and at times they really did seem to work well as a couple together. But I also thought that a good portion of the time, they were both on completely different pages and seemed to not really take the other into consideration.

Besides the fact that the characters drove me nuts at times and the fact that they were extremely inconsistent, I also was really upset that it wasn't made known that this book was part of a series. I didn't have a clue until after I had already started reading this one and looked closely at the cover to see that it said book one. I also felt like this story had times that it was really confusing and would seem to jump around a bit, and I would be scrambling trying to figure out where we were and how we got there. The dialogue had a tendency to be repetitive, and frankly it was pretty ridiculous at times. I felt like this one was just really cheesy and there were so many times that I rolled my eyes over something that Kade or Roxy said. Especially some of the things that Kade said, because honestly I have never met a guy who would say some of the things he said. It just didn't ring true to his character, and was just too unrealistic. I also found it confusing that for the most part this was told from Roxy's POV, but that it would randomly switch over to Kade's POV for a chapter here and there. It was just really disorienting the way that it was done, and honestly when we got Kade's POV it usually just irritated me and made me dislike his character more. He seemed to turn into this complete douche when we got a look inside his thoughts. Overall, this book just wasn't for me. It wasn't what I was expecting, and honestly the only reason I finished was to see what happened. If I had known that it didn't end at the ending, I would have put this one down and quit. I think that this story could potentially be a good one, but I think that it needs quite a bit of work first. This one is written by an Australian author, and the terms of this book are definitely true to what they would say. It wasn't hard to figure out what the author was talking about, but I think that for the most part there are several words in this story that most people will not be familiar with. If you are looking for a trilogy that is about young and immature characters fumbling their way through first love while growing up and developing a relationship for the first time, you might give this one a shot.

**Review Copy Provided by Between the Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository |

ARC Review: Pistol by Max Henry

I will admit that I was drawn in from the blurb and cover on this one. Everything about the cover just really spoke to me and I absolutely loved it. But after reading the blurb, I thought that this story was going to be one I really enjoyed. Sadly, this book was so much different than the blurb led me to believe and I really think that the blurb was misleading. There will be a lot of people that I think really like this book, but unfortunately this wasn't what I was personally expecting.

Stephanie Drake has been living her life just going through the motions. Her boyfriend broke up with her and she never takes any risks or ventures out of the known and comfortable life that she has. All that changes when she meets Pete "Pistol" O'Malley. He's sexy and mysterious with an Irish accent. He comes off arrogant and isn't afraid to be blunt with anyone. She feels herself drawn to him and thinks maybe its time that she shook up her life a bit. However all of her friends warn her away from him, and the more time she is around him the more wary of him she becomes. She can't stay away from him, and he can't stay away from her though. The more that they fight what is between them, the more that they want each other. Are Pete and Stephanie right for each other, or will the risk of anything between them be too great for them to take a chance on?

Pete and Stephanie's relationship was really confusing to me. I thought that they were pretty toxic together and I couldn't ever really seem to get a grasp on what was happening. They were so hot and cold, and I really didn't understand Pete's actions at all. He had a past and he also was involved with a lot of things that were dangerous. I just didn't really get why he felt the need to play with Stephanie so much. I mean I understand that he knew she was into that in the bedroom and that is fine. But outside the bedroom, he was so cold and calculated and a lot of the time he was a flat out jerk to her. I just didn't get the draw for her besides the physical. I thought that these two really just didn't fit, and I was never able to connect with them as characters. They worked on a physical level, but to me anything more than that just wasn't believable.

I also felt like the story was slow and tended to drag in several parts. I honestly felt like I had no clue what was going on or what this story was about for the majority of this book. Maybe it was me, but I guess I just didn't get it. I don't think I ever truly understood what this one was about, and then at the end there is a cliffhanger. I felt like it was abrupt and just sort of stopped. I did like that the author gave us both POVs though, and it was good to see what they were each thinking or feeling. I thought that Henry did a great job of meshing them together and they blended well. Each POV was clear and easily distinguished, which isn't always the case with a dual POV book. I think that there are a lot of people who will really be able to get into this book, and enjoy it. But this book just wasn't for me.

**ARC Provided by Love Between The Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Just Listen by Clare James

Just Listen is part 2 in the Public Lives series by Clare James and is the conclusion to Casey and Finn's story. This one should only be read after you read Talk to Me and continues where that book left off. I was ready for this one right after I finished Talk to Me because I had to know what happened after the cliffhanger. I needed to find out where Casey and Finn were headed, so I started this one as soon as I got my hands on it. There is an ending to their story and I was glad to see what happened to them, but I did feel like this one didn't deliver what I had been expecting or hoping for.

At the beginning of this book we are wondering what happened to Finn. As he is sent into a hospital, Casey is left unaware of what is going on and tries to get answers from Finn's friend Nate who seems to have dealt with this before. When Finn's ex arrives, things take a turn for the worse and Casey heads home. She decides to put some distance between them regardless of her feelings. But Finn is determined to get her to talk to him after he comes to. But between Finn's ex, his condition, and Casey's career there are still many obstacles in their way. Can they lay everything out and be completely honest with each other? Do they stand a shot once all their secrets are revealed?

I liked Finn and Casey in the first book, but I felt like they both made some really obvious and large mistakes. They continued to make assumptions and judge each other unfairly in this book, and I felt like their communication was even worse this time around. I understand why Finn didn't initially tell Casey about his condition, especially after some of the things that she said. But I did feel like it went a bit too far before she was clued in. I also felt the same about her coming clean about her story and what was going on with her job. It just got too old and went on for far too long. Casey was harder for me to like in this story, and I felt like she needed to get over herself at a few points. She seemed to be upset about how things had gone with Finn, but she didn't really seem to be doing much about it. I kept waiting for her to make the big gesture or go after him and she just never really did. I will say that their chemistry and attraction was stronger than ever though. This one was way hotter and had a ton more steam.

I think beyond the fact that they judged each other so harshly and had such horrible communication, the thing that really wrecked this one for me was that the ending was so rushed and abrupt. By the time they started to figure things out the book was just over. It took too long to get there, and the whole book was conflict without any real resolution until the end. By the time we got to an HEA, I honestly just didn't really care anymore. I wanted to see them get over everything and really learn and grow from it. I was waiting to see them actually be a couple and have some good moments between them beyond just the physical, and I felt like we never got that with them. It made it hard to really buy into a serious relationship between them where they are saying I love you and actually believe in their HEA. I really liked the first book, and I think this story had so much promise. I really thought that this one was going to be great, but unfortunately I think this just fell short. I think that the short length hurt this one and I might have felt differently if the ending would have not been as rushed and abrupt. I did like that all the questions were answered and everything was explained. I also liked that we still got to see both Casey and Finn's POVs and the fact that we got the past as well as the present. But for me this book could have been so much more and it's a shame that it ended the way it did.

**ARC Provided by Between the Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Talk to Me by Clare James

Talk to Me is the first installment in the Public Lives series by Clare James. I went into this one knowing that it was going to have a cliffhanger, but I was willing to deal with it because the blurb sounded so good. I love sexy hockey players, and that alone would have drawn me to this book. I was definitely left hanging with the ending, but this story was really good and I am so glad that I gave this one a shot. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next installment, Just Listen to see what happens for Finn and Casey next.

Finn Daley retired from hockey leaving coaches, teammates and fans alike wondering why. He didn't explain anything to anyone, and he has only kept in touch with one person from the team. His friend Nate knows everything, but no one else has figured out his reasons. Casey Scott is looking for a job in journalism since her summer internship ended. She reluctantly applies to be a sports girl that has to wear skimpy outfits in order to get her foot in the door. She is assigned hockey and must cover the local team and events. She knows that one good story could make the difference in her future and sets her sights on getting the story that no one else has been able to so far, why Finn Daley retired. But after meeting Finn, they hit things off and things between them start to get serious. How far will Casey go to get the career making story, and what will happen with her relationship with Finn?

I really liked Finn. He is sexy and athletic, and a bit mysterious. At first there are so many questions surrounding his retirement and what he is up to, but as we start to get to know his character better we get to see a whole other side to him. He has tried to turn his life around and make better choices. He is more health conscious, and after being with many women in the past Casey is the first in a long time that he has made any effort to have anything with. I liked that he was committed to making his life better and taking care of the things that he needed to. He was great with Casey, and I liked seeing him take things slow with her. Casey was easy to like in some aspects and harder in others. She was dedicated to her career and to being successful, but that also meant that she was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen even if that meant withholding the truth and misleading Finn. She was not a girly girl at all, and she preferred to be comfortable rather than show off her body. It was great that she wanted to be seen for who she was rather than just her looks, and I liked how normal she was. But I did struggle with some of the things that happened with her and Finn. I thought that they had great chemistry and were starting to build a relationship with each other, but they were both keeping secrets and not being completely honest with one another.

Overall, I think that this was a very strong first installment and it definitely grabbed my attention. I am invested in Finn and Casey's story, and I really liked the way that Clare James is telling this story. I loved getting both POVs, and seeing what was happening in both the past and the present. I will admit it was frustrating at times for it to switch back and forth because things would just start to get good when it would make the change. But it kept me interested and flipping the pages, and I didn't want to put this one down. We have just scratched the surface with these two, and there is so much more to their story that I can't wait to see. I am anxiously awaiting the next book and would highly recommend this one to NA fans as well as sports romance fans. I really enjoyed the author's writing style, and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

**ARC Provided by Between the Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

ARC Review: Holding Aces by Nikki Groom

Holding Aces by Nikki Groom is not only the first book in The Kingdom series, but it is also her debut novel. I think that this book was a great first novel, and I am excited to see more from her in the future. I did have a few things that could have been a little better, but overall I think this one was a really solid debut. Beware that this is the first book in the series, and there is a cliffhanger. However, the next book is said to be the conclusion to the series so there isn't too much of a wait for things to be resolved. The next book is scheduled to be released sometime this fall.

Ari has had a pretty tough life, and has had horrible luck with men. She left her abusive fiance and started over far away from her home. She hasn't seen or spoken to her mom or best friend Lottie since she left. She met Aaron, and he treated her well, so even though she didn't love him she married him and planned to live a comfortable life with him. But when they get in a fight and he hits her, she knows that she needs to get out immediately. She decides to get back in touch with her mom and best friend, while she can't come home because of her ex-fiance her friend Lottie sets her up with a room in Vegas at her boyfriend's brother's hotel. She ends up meeting Denham King, the sexy owner of the hotel and casino. Things between them are instantly more than either of them have ever felt before, but with Ari's past still out there they have a long way ahead of them before they can see if they have a future together.

I liked Denham. I wasn't really a fan of his name, and for some reason it didn't really seem to fit him for me. That is probably just a personal preference though. He was sexy and sweet, and even though he had alpha tendencies he was really tender with Ari. He was thoughtful and patient, and was always looking out for her. I thought that he was really great for Ari, and he really seemed to want to help her out. He didn't have a problem being open and honest about his feelings, and that was really nice to see. Ari took awhile for me to warm up to. I felt bad for everything that she had been through, and she had been in some really horrible situations. I do feel like she didn't always handle things the best though, and that might have been why it was harder for me to connect with her. I'm not saying she deserved what she had been given by any means, but I do think that some things she could have done differently. She was a survivor though, and I liked that she was a feisty one with Denham. She wasn't afraid to say what was on her mind or turn him down. I also liked that she wasn't out to get whatever she could, and was always telling him when he was doing things that were over the top. I thought that Denham and Ari had a lot of chemistry and they were really smoking hot together!

Overall, this was a really good start to the series. I enjoyed the story and thought that the pacing was well done. I was interested to see where things would go, and this one was easy to get into. I thought that this one was a relatively quick read, because I was into the story. I was glad that this story didn't focus as much on Ari's past and that we really got to see her present and the start of her future. It was nice to know that she had a past and how it affected her, but to not have that drag down the story. I did feel like Denham's feelings developed rather quickly for Ari though, and were a bit more insta-love than I typically like. I understood the attraction, but they haven't really been together long or know each other well, and he is throwing around words like forever and always. I hope that the next book really shows more of the development of a relationship between the two of them, and that we get to see more of an emotional connection form. This one was more about the physical to me, and made their instant feelings seem less real and believable. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next after that cliffhanger, and hope that we won't have to wait too long to get the conclusion to the story. I would recommend giving this one a shot if you like your heroes wealthy and alpha and your heroines a bit broken but strong. This one is worth giving a shot, and I will be interested to read more from Nikki Groom in the future.

**ARC Provided by Love Between the Sheets**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Review: One Ride by Chelsea Camaron

One Ride is the first book in the Hellions series by Chelsea Camaron. This one was a good story, and I enjoyed the motorcycle club aspects of this book. I think if you are looking for a typical MC type of book though, this one might not be for you. You do get some of the violence and action, with some hot and badass heroes. But this one didn't have as dark and gritty of a feel as most MC books that I have read before. I actually really liked that this one was different and didn't feel the same as a typical MC read. It was nice to see a different side to these types of characters.

Delilah "Doll" Reklinger has grown up in the MC world and knows what it takes to be a part of that life. Her father is the President of the club, and she has always been looked out for by him and his brothers. She knows that he doesn't want her with any of the members, and even though she knows that someday she wants to end up with a biker she has never met one that is worth the fight before. When she meets Tripp, for the first time that changes. When Doll is threatened her father Roundman sends her with Tripp, Tripp's cousin Rex, and Doll's best friend Sass on a road trip to get her out of the area. Tripp vows to do anything necessary to keep her safe for Roundman. But the attraction between the two of them continues to grow the closer they become while on their trip. With one ride to figure things out between them, can they figure out a way to make a relationship work? Or will their future be cut short due to all the obstacles that stand in their way?

I liked Tripp (real name Talon) a lot. He was sexy and alpha, and would do anything for Doll. He did some things that I didn't like, but he was struggling with his feelings for Doll and everything that went with that. He thought that he wasn't good enough for her and that she deserved a better life than the one that he could offer her. I kept wanting to slap some sense into him, but I'm glad that he started to figure things out with the help of Doll and his friends and family. Doll was feisty and strong, she was used to the lifestyle and understood what went along with that. But she wasn't afraid to open her mouth and speak her mind and I really enjoyed that. There were a few times that she didn't listen or pay attention though, and it drove me nuts! Even though there were those few times that she annoyed me, she was actually a pretty great character. I liked that her and Tripp brought out different sides to each other, and their connection was undeniable. They had a ton of chemistry and were super hot together. Beyond that though they were sweet and thoughtful with each other, and that was surprising to me. He might have said he didn't date and wasn't that type of guy, but then he would give her maps that he knew meant a lot to her when they couldn't stop and get them because of the danger that they were in. He was always thinking of her and that just made me love his character even more.

Overall, I thought that this book was really good. I did feel as though a lot of this book was mostly Tripp and Doll's inner thoughts, and while I enjoyed the dual POV I was hoping for more interaction between the two of them. I would have liked to have seen more of the dialogue rather that just their thoughts about everything that was going on. I liked the secondary characters as well as Tripp and Doll though, and I can't wait to see what happens with Sass, Tank, Rex and Caroline. This was a great start to the series, and I think a lot of readers will really enjoy getting to know these interesting characters and their MC world. This MC book was different and unique and I think that if you like MC books, you should definitely give this one a shot. I can't wait to read more in this series and from Chelsea Camaron in the future.

**Copy Provided by Love Between the Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |

Review: That Man 1 by Nelle L'Amour

That Man 1 is the first book in the That Man trilogy by Nelle L'Amour. This is the first book that I have read by her and while there were things that I did enjoy there were also some things that left me with mixed feelings. Jennifer is newly engaged and goes out one night with her friends to celebrate. They dare to kiss a stranger while blindfolded, and it results in the hottest kiss she has ever experienced. When she removes the blindfold the man is gone. When she shows up for an interview the next day, she has no idea that the man that is about to become her new boss is the same stranger that she kissed. Blake is used to dating tall model like blonds, but he can't help but keep thinking about the short brunette that kissed him. When she shows up as his new employee, he immediately decides to pursue her. But Jennifer is engaged, and he will have to get her to see that she deserves more than what her lame dentist fiance offers her.

I liked Blake. He was cocky and blunt, but he was also sweet at times. He was super sexy and knew that he could get any girl that he wanted. He was a bit confusing at times though because he was such a playboy but yet without hardly knowing Jennifer at all, he was suddenly thinking about babies and a future with her. It was a bit unbelievable considering that they had barely spoken or spent time together, and had shared a single kiss that she didn't even know about. Jennifer was a bit hard for me to warm up to. She was smart and had great ideas and was a hard worker. She was devoted to her fiance and went out of her way to make him comfortable and appease him. But then she kisses a stranger and fantasizes about her boss, all while still committing herself to a man she clearly doesn't love or really want a future with. She had zero chemistry with her fiance and the way he treated her was horrible. I just didn't get it. She had chemistry with Blake and there was definitely something between them, but I kept waiting for her to find out that it was him that she had kissed and it never happened.

I also thought that for all his playboy reputation and the attraction between Blake and Jennifer, there wasn't a lot of physical interaction. Besides a few brief masturbation scenes and some porn scenes, I kept waiting for the steam. I am interested to see where L'Amour takes these characters and what happens next. I hope that we get more development with the characters and their relationship in the next installment, and hopefully Jennifer wakes up soon about her fiance. We are left with a cliffhanger at the end since this is a serial, so be warned that this one will leave you hanging. I look forward to reading more in this serial and from Nelle L'Amour in the future.

**Copy Provided by Love Between the Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |