ARC Review: Beautiful Sinner by Sophie Jordan

When I spotted “Beautiful Sinner” on my Kindle I immediately jumped into reading the book. I really enjoyed the previous book in the series, Devil’s Rock, “Beautiful Lawman.” It was my first book by Sophie Jordan and I could not put it down. Although these are only books four and five, I did not feel lost in the storyline and could immediately pick up any events that shaped the characters in the previous books. When I read about Cruz I was immediately interested. Although the previous story was about Piper, his sister, I was intrigued by “badboy” Cruz and his time in prison! I couldn’t wait to read about him.

Cruz was sent to prison for murdering a woman who happens to be the cousin of the heroine, Gabriella. Gabby, or “Flappy Gabby” as she was called in high school always had a crush on Cruz. They didn’t interact in high school even though they had classes together. Gabby was terrorized by a bully and was often on the receiving end of the mean girls in high school and their taunts. Gabby leaves behind her home town and starts a new life as a reporter. When her grandma becomes ill she returns home to take care of her. But Gabby holds many of the same scars from her high school years and is determined not to set up roots. While attending a high school graduation for her niece she bumps into Cruz. Cruz is freed from prison and exonerated for the crime he never committed. But much like Gabby he still carries the wounds from his past with him. Although innocent many of the towns people still see him as guilty and an outsider.

I was really torn with this story. There were parts I enjoyed and parts that I felt impatient with. I was so eager for Gabby and Cruz story that my expectations fell a little short. I liked both the hero and heroine but felt that their chemistry lacked. Gabby has since learned to embrace her curves but carries many of her insecurities with her. She lets the people in her life bully her. Everyone from her boss at the coffee show where she works temporarily, to her sister, to her boss back at the Texas newspaper where she worked. I liked Cruz also but I felt there was a connection missing with him. He made a good life for himself after prison but he was very closed off. Once he realizes that him and Gabby share a connection from high school he is determined to give into his feelings for her until he gets scared and backs off. I was really looking forward to the story between these two but many times their troubles seemed overly dramatic the people overly immature and the chemistry a bit flat. I’m sure fans of Sophie Jordan will enjoy reading this installment in the series and if there are more books left, I will read them. But for now, Gabby and Cruz were just ok for me.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Beautiful Lawman by Sophie Jordan

I’ve read a few of Sophie Jordan’s historical romances and really enjoyed them. I’ve had “Beautiful Lawman” on my Kindle app for a while to read but hadn’t gotten around to it. I saw a little blurb about this book and I was intrigued by the enemies to lovers’ storyline. Although this is the fourth book in the “Devil’s Rock” series it is easily a standalone. I especially liked that in this story the heroine, Piper Walsh was the outcast. The hero, Hale Walters is not only the “good” guy but the sheriff of a very small town. A town where Hale and Piper both grew up and where they both experienced very different childhoods.

Piper’s last name “Walsh” has been like a noose around her neck. People judge her because of her family’s short comings. Even though she has not ever had any problems with the law, her family members have. Piper is the guardian of her little sister and she is determined to give her a good childhood and the chance to go to college. She wants for her little sister what she could never have for herself. Piper is working at a strip club as a waitress when she gets an alarming phone call-her younger sister has been arrested. With her older brother in jail for murder, this is a nightmare come true for Piper. When she runs to find her sister she loses her job as her scumbag boss gives her an ultimatum “leave and you lose your job.” Although Piper is the bread winner for her family, her choice is clear-get her sister out of jail. When She goes to pick up her sister she runs into the good Sheriff-Hale. Hale is immediately interested in Piper and her problems with her little sister and is ready to offer up some advice. Piper is not having any of it. Her and Hale have run into each other before and it was clear to Piper that Hale was passing judgement on her like everyone else. Hale has very clear rules about not getting into long-term relationships and also about not getting involved with anyone that he works with. When Piper is in trouble Hale steps in to help her and ends up breaking all of his own rules.

Ok, so first I LOVED the chemistry between these two! For me, once I am invested in a couple I want to know what happens and yes, there were some elements of the story that were a little off but for me where not a big deal. So Hale has been carrying around a big secret her entire life. When her past comes back to hunt her she is forced to come clean even if it means losing everything she has now, which includes her freedom. I thought that this element of the story was really squeezed in there and for most of the story it was Hale and Piper bickering and fending off their attraction for one another. However, I do think that the little element will be very interesting in the upcoming book which is about Pipe’s in jail brother- Cruz. The characters from the previous book also make an appearance and it was fun to see how their stories were all connected. So despite the plot holes or plot squeezes, I gave this four star because I loved the chemistry between Piper and Hale and once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down. Bring on Cruz!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Glamour: Contemporary Fairytale Retellings Anthology

I have a love/hate relationship with anthologies, but when I saw the list of authors attached to Glamour: Contemporary Fairytale Retellings, I knew I had to read it. I am so glad that I took a chance on this one as it was one of the best anthologies I have ever read. Each story was one I enjoyed, without a single disappointment in the bunch. 

Glamour includes novellas based on classic fairytales, including the following stories: 

Knot by Lili St. Germain (Rapunzel) 

Red Hot Pursuite by A.L. Jackson (Little Red Riding Hood) 

Ripples by Aleatha Romig (Prince and the Pauper) 

In A Stranger's Bed by Sophie Jordan (Goldilocks) 

Bedtime Story by Skye Warren (Sleeping Beauty) 

Royal Mattress by Nicola Rendell (Princess and the Pea) 

Music Box Girl by Sierra Simone (Twelve Dancing Princesses) 

Broken Harp by Nora Flite (Jack and the Beanstalk) 

Each one of this was quick and sexy, and just what I was looking for. These are the perfect quick bits steam for those that don't have time to sit down and read a full novel. I loved that they were modern retellings, taking what we have grown up loving about classic fairytales and putting their own modern twists on them. While I enjoyed all of these and would recommend this to readers, my absolute favorite here was Music Box Girl by Sierra Simone. I loved each story, and I think fans of Erotica as well as fans of fairytales will definitely want to check this one out.

**ARC Provided by Enticing Journey Book Promotions**

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ARC Review: Fury on Fire by Sophie Jordan

Fury on Fire is the third book in Sophie Jordan's Devil's Rock series. I have really enjoyed this series from the start, with its raw and gritty characters and romance. I have to say though that this was my least favorite book in the series, and it felt nothing like the previous books that I had read and loved so much. I'm not really sure what happened here, but I just had a lot of problems here and was barely able to finish it. 

North Callaghan is finally free after spending years in prison. He throws himself into work and the beds of willing women. So when his new neighbor catches his interest, he figures that she is the perfect choice for his next hookup. But Faith Walters is anything but another notch in a bedpost and he is the last man that she should be interested in. But Faith and North find themselves unable to deny the attraction between them. 

I have to say that my biggest issue here with Fury on Fire was the fact that this entire book felt as though the pacing was off. Things were so slow to progress at the beginning, with Faith and North not even really meeting until about 40-50% of the way through. Once they did though, things seemed to move at warp speed, with their relationship progressing from hatred to love almost immediately. I honestly felt like I couldn't keep up, and I had no idea how they got from point A to point B. I saw the attraction, but I really never felt like we got anything more than that. I didn't see their connection or how it formed, and I just didn't really understand how these two could possibly have anything together beyond lust. 

While I did enjoy seeing characters from the previous books, this one was just a miss for me. I wanted to love it as North had intrigued me from previously in the series. But I was really disappointed with his story and the fact that I just couldn't believe in the romance and relationship between him and Faith. I think that there are some that will enjoy this book, but to me it wasn't what I had been hoping for or expecting. I am still a fan of Sophie Jordan's though, and I know I will read more from her in the future. If you are a fan of this series or think it might be one you would like, I recommend you give it a shot as maybe this is just me personally not connecting here.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Hell Breaks Loose by Sophie Jordan

Hell Breaks Loose is the second book in the Devil's Rock series by Sophie Jordan. While this book can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading these in order. Not only is the first book in the series fantastic, but this story picks up right after the events of that book and continues some of that story though this one centers around different characters. I think that readers will enjoy this book either way, but I think that for the best experience these should be read in order. 

First Daughter Grace Reeves has always been the good girl and done what she's told. Just as she takes a chance and escapes her security detail, she finds her life turned upside down as she is kidnapped by a group of criminals. Reid Allister has plotted his escape from prison for years, and now that he is out he wants revenge. When he stumbles upon Grace shackled to a bedpost, he can't help but want her though he knows that she is way out of his league. They come from different worlds, but Reid vows to keep Grace safe.

These two were great! I thought that there was such an interesting dynamic between them, with both of them being affected by their circumstances and Stockholm Syndrome. There was a ton of sexual tension, and you could feel the chemistry between them despite everything going on. What I find so interesting about this series is how Sophie Jordan plays with the line between good and bad. While Reid is a criminal and has just escaped prison, he is a combination of both good and bad. He had so much cause for him to have gone down a completely different path, and yet he chose to go a different way. I really liked both Reid and Grace, and I couldn't get enough of them. 

While I really liked the first book in the series and was a bit worried going into this one, I ended up liking it just as much if not more than the first! This series is so different from anything else out there, and it is one that I am really loving. I can't recommend it enough if you are looking for something unique, and I think that this series is one that a lot of readers will enjoy just as much as I have. I can hardly wait for the next in the series from Sophie Jordan, and if you haven't started this series yet you are seriously missing out!

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: All Chained Up by Sophie Jordan

I am a fan of Sophie Jordan's, and I'll admit that while I was excited about this book I was a little nervous as well. It is different from anything she has done before, and it is set in prison. I shouldn't have worried at all though, as I absolutely loved it! I couldn't put this book down, and I am so glad that I stepped a bit outside my comfort zone with this story. 

When Briar Davis volunteers to help as a nurse at a prison, she never intends for it to be a long term situation and she definitely doesn't plan to feel anything for any of the prisoners there. But when she meets Knox Callaghan, she knows there is something different about him right away. Though they both know that she should be off-limits to him, they can't help but feel the attraction and connection between them. Knox feels protective of Briar and yet he knows that he needs to stay away from her since she is sweet and innocent. But when Knox is paroled, he finds it harder to stay away from her than he expected. 

I really liked both Knox and Briar. These two were super hot together and I couldn't get enough! Knox was very protective of her, and I did think at times it got to be a bit much. But honestly it wasn't that hard to believe with who he was and everything that he had been through. Briar was sweet and I loved that she knew who Knox was and still felt the way she did. She didn't judge him or treat him any differently and I really liked that about her. She was able to see the man he was underneath, rather than just his facade and what the rest of the world saw. 

Overall, this was a great story and I really enjoyed not only Briar and Knox, but also the rest of the characters as well. I am really loving where Sophie Jordan was leading us here, and I can't wait for the next book to see more of Reid. This was a great start to the series, and I think a lot of readers will really enjoy this book. It was raw and gritty, and it was really refreshing to read something that was different than everything else out there. If you are familiar with Sophie Jordan's work, you know that she is a great writer. That was definitely the case here as well, and I am really loving each new book I read from her. If you are looking for something a bit different, I highly recommend giving this one a shot! Sophie Jordan has never let me down, and I loved All Chained Up from start to finish.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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A Naughty New Year...Brazen Style with Tessa Bailey and Giveaway

Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn't writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

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Feature and Giveaway: All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue by Sophie Jordan

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sophie Jordan continues her new series, The Debutante Files, featuring debutantes on the hunt for Mr. Right.

First friends, then enemies...

Lady Aurelia hasn’t always hated Max, Viscount Camden, her brother’s best friend. In fact, as a besotted girl, she thrived under his kind attention—sure that he was the most noble and handsome man in the land. Until her young heart discovered what manner of rogue he really was. Now, though she enjoys nothing more than getting on his last nerve, she can’t deny Max drives her to distraction—even if she tries to pretend otherwise.

Now something more...

Max cannot recall a time when Aurelia did not vex him. If she was not his friend’s sister, he would stay far away from the infuriating vixen. Unfortunately, they are always thrown together. At parties and family gatherings…she is always there. Mocking him, tossing punch in his face, driving him mad ... until one night, she goes too far and he retaliates in the only way he can: with a kiss that changes everything.

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ARC Review: All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue by Sophie Jordan

I’ve been waiting for “All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue” by Sophie Jordan since I read “A Good Debutante’s Guide to Ruin” which is the first in the “Debutante” series. I really enjoyed that book and I was instantly hooked on Lady Aurelia and on Max, Viscount Camden. I could not wait for their story. Sometimes anticipating a story is not the greatest because it can lead to disappointment but I’m glad to say that “All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue” was fantastic. I was completely engrossed in the story and loved reading Lady Aurelie and Max’s story.

Although this is part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone. I read the previous book in the story so I knew about the every present feud between Max and Aurelie, however anyone that has not read the previous book won’t have any issues (although I really enjoyed that story too).

Jordan starts off when Lady Aurelie was fifteen and she falls in love with Max. She also explains clearly how their friendship broke apart. Since that fateful day when Lady Aurelie’s heart was broken her and Max became enemies and spent their time together arguing. This causes some friction in their lives because Max is Lady Aurelie brother’s best friend and is considered part of their family. When Max and Lady Aurelie meet up at a dinner party they continue to bicker but things quickly change for Lady Aurelie when her brother, Will, and his wife (Violet) announce that they will be having a baby. Although Aurelie never worried about marrying before she realizes that she will either have to marry or move to Scotland with her aunt and mom, neither option is appealing to her. She realizes she can no longer continue to live with her brother and his wife.

Max immediately notices the change in Lady Aurelie’s attitude and he is not happy that she is looking for a husband, but he doesn’t want to fill the position. Max knows Aurelie and he knows her very well. He knows what she really likes and her deepest secrets. Max is determined to keep Aurelie in line but he is not able to keep himself in line. When she visits a notorious pleasure club he goes running after her to protect her. Max was an interesting character. He was through and through a rogue.

Once I started this book I could not put it down and was completely engrossed. I loved the tension between Max and Aurelie. Their verbal barbs were fantastic. My heart really went out to Aurelie. She was really stuck because she wanted to be free and do as she pleased but she really couldn’t because she was a women. Even when it seems that things are going badly for her she never backs down. Finally, I loved the angst between these two characters so much. I had tears in my eyes because they seemed determined to make each other miserable even though they really loved each other. I thought the dialogue was funny and witty. Not to mention that I cannot wait to see what Jordan does with Struan Mackenzie. He was a great challenger to Max for Aurelie’s hand. Book’s like this are why I love to read and why I love historical romance. I could not recommend it more!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Wild by Sophie Jordan

I have been waiting for this book a very long time. When I finished the first 2 books of this series and I remember screaming at my friend "Where is Georgia?" I could not wait to find out what happened to her and the book did not disappoint.

At first, I was unsure of how things would play out being Logan was still in high school when this all started. I was worried that he would come off as immature and inexperienced. Instead, Sophie Jordan made Logan deliciously sexy. His age was made irrelevant with his sexiness and experience. He knew exactly what he was doing when it came to women and definitely had a thing or two to teach Georgia.

Georgia on the other hand, seemed act like a child. I was so concerned about her when reading Tease, and had high hopes for her but I found she acted very immature. I didn't like the way she was so easily manipulated by her mother and even Connor. She was slightly annoying with the way she kept playing with Logan's emotions but he was just so irresistible, she had no choice but to fall into his arms whenever Logan came around, and really who could blame her? Their chemistry was so intense and they left me wanting more every time they were together.

I must say I really enjoyed this series. Foreplay and Tease were fantastic but I must say Wild was by far my favorite. I did not think it could get any hotter than Reece and Shaw but Sophie Jordan really surpassed any standards I had set. She blew me away when she described Logan. I only wish this book would have kept going just so I could have more time enjoying him. He is incredibly hot and I was certainly left wanting a lot more of him.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Feature and Giveaway: Wild by Sophie Jordan

A good girl goes fabulously bad in the final book in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s sexy New Adult romance series, in which three Ivy League suite-mates seek higher knowledge of just how far they can go.

Months after her boyfriend dumped her, Georgia can still hear the insults he hurled at her. Boring. Predictable. Tame. Tired of feeling bad, she’s ready to change her image, and go a little wild. What better way to prove her ex wrong than a hot night of sexual adventure at the secret campus kink club?

In the shadowy den of the kink club, she unexpectedly runs into Logan Mulvaney, her friend’s little brother. A player extraordinaire too hot for his own good, he may be younger, but the guy is light years ahead when it comes to sexual experience. Now he’s telling her to go home—“good girls” don’t belong here!

Georgia is tired of having others define her. She’s going to teach Logan a lesson he won’t forget—one white hot, mind-wrecking kiss . . . that leads to another . . . and another . . . and. . . . Realizing she’s way in over her head, Georgia runs.

Only Logan won’t let her go. Everywhere she goes he’s there, making her want every inch of him. Making her forget who she is. Who he is. And just how wrong they are for each other.

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ARC Review: A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin by Sophie Jordan

I’m discovering a lot of new authors and so far they have been a hit! I have a list of Sophie Jordan books that I want to read but haven’t gotten around to it -yet. I’m so glad that “A Good Debutante’s Guide to Ruin” was my first introduction to this author! I really enjoyed this book, the main characters AND the secondary characters!

Ok, so this book was such a great read! I stayed up all night reading it! The heroine, Rosalie Hughes. I really liked her. Rosalie has basically been abandoned. Her mother has left her at a finishing school and she has no one. The headmistress takes her to her stepbrother’s because she has no room for Rosalie. Declan, the Duke of Banbury has had it with their family troubles and has no desire to take-in Rosalie. When he comes to realize Melisande, Rosalie’s mother, is nowhere to be found and he decides to help Rosalie, he calls on his Aunt Peregrine and his cousin Aurelia for their assistance. Declan decides, with his aunt, that Rosalie has to have a season in order to help her find a husband. Rosalie is grateful for the help but she has always had feelings for Declan. She tries to reconnect with him reminding him about their childhood and when he fondly called her “Carrots” because of her red/ orange hair. Declan really just wants her married and out of his life.

There are many aspects of the story that I loved. I thought that Aunt Peregrine were great secondary characters. Usually I tolerate secondary characters but I really enjoy them and I can’t wait for Aurelia’s story. She was so fun and rebellious I can’t wait to see what the author does with her. Also, Melisande is such a horrible woman. She is the epitome of vile. There are so many reasons to hate her…The relationship between Rosalie and Declan was also layered. They had a good relationship as kids but the family dynamics were very screwed up. It should be noted that Declan and Rosalie are not blood relations.

I had a hard time figuring out why Declan let his hatred for his stepmother affect his relationship with Rosalie. I thought it was misdirected. Rosalie has a romantic clandestine kiss with Declan and she is disguised so he doesn’t know that he is kissing her, I’m not a fan of these scenarios because to me they don’t seem convincing. Just when it seems that Declan and Rosalie are going to have their lifetime of happiness the author throws two big surprises our way. I’m trying not to give too much away because this was such a great book but at the same time there is so much to discuss about it!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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