Review: The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

Title: The Kingmaker
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Publication Date: October 28, 2019
Series: All The King’s Men Duet, Book 1
Genre: Multicultural, Contemporary Romance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧. 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙡.

𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗔® 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗥𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝗲𝘁.

Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.

My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I’m determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and would do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐.

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WOW! This book was beyond epic! Ms. Ryan did an amazing job making these characters seem so very real. The amount of research that must have gone into writing this book is astonishing and I applaud the author for this.

This incredible story was chalked full of love, angst and hot as hell sexy times. Lennix and Maxim were a classic case of meeting the right person, dare I say THE ONE, at the wrong time. The wait was worth it to see these two finally get where they needed to be, but that cliffhanger!!!! I need the next book!

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Review: All About The D by Lex Martin and Leslie McAdam

Title: All About the D
Author: Lex Martin
Published: May 2, 2017
Series: Book 1
Genre: Romantic Comedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Temptation has never come in a hotter package.

You know how people say you can never believe what you read on the interwebs? That a hot guy online is probably a creeper with a beer gut and a shoe fetish, not the sexy beast he pretends to be?

So I had no clue that the anonymous blogger who contacted my law firm about his naughty website would be droolworthy in real life. Not that I’m interested in him in that way.

Attorneys can’t go around sleeping with their clients. Not even if he is the most beautiful man I’ve ever met and so ridiculously smart he makes my nerdy-girl heart sigh.

Besides, he has too much on the line to risk taking a chance on the insane chemistry building between us. We both do.

I’ve always followed the rules. Too bad he makes me want to break each and every one of them.

All About the D is a romantic comedy and a full-length standalone. Due to adult situations and sexual content, it’s recommended for readers over the age of 18.

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All About the D is a hilarious book about finding love in the strangest of ways and why you shouldn’t make a bet with your scandalous best friend. Definitely a 5 Star read!

Speaking of said best friend, I was not a fan of Drew. In fact, I kinda wish Josh would have either staged an intervention or kicked him to the curb. And because I totally read these out of order, I know he does redeem himself in his book (Surprise, Baby!) and made me completely fall in love with him. But enough about Drew, this is Evie and Josh’s story and I was completely enamored with them!

There were parts that were laugh out loud funny, sexy times that made me need a cold shower and I couldn’t get enough of the banter between the two of them! Then there were parts that broke my heart. This story had it all. A whole roller-coaster of emotion. I loved every minute of getting to know these amazing characters and I can’t wait to see what these ladies have in store for us in the future.

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Check Out My Dirty Find!

Have you discovered a new to you author lately? I recently came across this book and with my total love of rock star romances, I 1-clicked it and I was not disappointed! Dirty Like Me is book 1 in this series and I can’t put it down!

SYNOPSIS:

A gorgeous rock star. An indecent proposal. How can a girl resist?
Struggling barista Katie Bloom doesn’t even know who Jesse Mayes is until she inadvertently wins the coveted role of sex kitten in his hot new music video. But by the time she’s in bed with him, she knows his reputation.
Love maker. Heartbreaker.
Making out with a stranger in front of a camera crew isn’t how Katie imagined herself getting over a broken heart, but when Jesse touches her, sparks fly. The sex is fake but the chemistry is real, and soon the steamy video is blazing up the charts.
Then, Jesse makes Katie an irresistible offer: act as his girlfriend for six weeks while he promotes his new album. The only catch? Their sizzling make-out sessions will be for the cameras only.
Which is fine with Katie, since she’s not about to trust her heart to rock’s most legendary lover. Her body? Maybe….

Dirty Like Me is the first full-length novel in the Dirty series – a rockstar romance series about the members of the rock band Dirty and the women and men who love them.

 

REVIEW: To The Rude Guy in Apartment 5

Title: To The Rude Guy In Apartment Five
Author: J.S. Cooper
Publication Date: March 30, 2020
Series: The Inappropriate Bachelors, Book 1
Genre: Romantic Comedy 
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

To The Rude Guy in Apartment Five,

I’m glad you’re happy to have moved into a new apartment, but no:

I do not want to have a beer with you.
I do not want to have a nude sleepover.
I do not want to make you breakfast, lunch or dinner, no matter how many lap dances you promise to give me.
I do not need you to serenade me through the walls at 1am.
And no, I have no interest in letting you take me on a date.

Sincerely,

Magnolia Allen

P.S. And no, I do not want to know how many accents you can growl in during
intimate moments. How is that even a thing?

P. P. S. Also, you will never find me standing naked in your living room ever
again, so please stop leaving lingerie packages on my welcome mat.

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I was intrigued by the blurb, but the story couldn’t keep my attention. I hate giving low ratings. This book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I first downloaded a sample of this since this is a new to me author and I looooooved the banter between the H and h. There was obviously more going on with these two than meets the eye and I was engrossed. I loved Jagger’s playfulness and equally loved Magnolia’s quirkiness.

After purchasing the book, it took on a slightly different vibe. The hilarity of Jagger faded into a “grow the eff up” attitude and Magnolia was just annoying. The storyline quickly deteriorated for me finding out that both the MC’s were in relationships with the others sibling right before ***t hit the fan. I also did not find Magnolia’s new job believable, but maybe it’s possible for someone to get a job through an agency that lies to their applicants to place people in a career they know nothing about unbeknownst to the owner of said company they were hired to work for. 

While I do not discourage others from reading this book, I probably won’t be reading this author in the future.

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REVIEW: Beast by Mary Catherine Gebhard

Title: Beast: A Hate Story, The Beginning
Author: Mary Catherine Gebhard
PublicationDate: March 14, 2017 
Genre: Dark Romance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

Once upon a time, I thought love was a fairytale.

I thought selling myself to a mafia boss was noble. So what if they called him the Beast? I grew up in rags, and he would lift me to riches. All I had to do was give him my soul.

He was punishing. Insatiable. Captivating. Nothing like I expected him to be. Each day my reality blurred, leaving me wondering if I was slave or princess.

The longer I stayed, the more I lost myself to him. Even after every cruelty the Beast visited upon me, I longed for his touch. Even after every savage word he spoke, I begged for his lips. I thought the worst thing he could take was my body. I was too naïve to guard my heart.

Once upon a time, I thought love was a fairytale.

Now I know better than to speak of happily ever afters.

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It took me a bit to get into this one. There was a lot of narrative to wade through and some parts I found rereading to understand what was happening. I did like the premise of the book. Mafia monster and a young woman willing to sacrifice her freedom for the debt of her father. Yes please!

Here’s where it went a little sideways for me. While I did like Frankie, she’s a bada**, I found Anteros (Beast) to be a little over the top cruel. Don’t fret, Frankie being Frankie didn’t take it lying down. I love her strength and she just keeps getting stronger throughout the book. The push and pull of these two was a real living, breathing thing. This book was a good read and you better bet you’re a** I’m one-clicking book two, but it tended to drag in a few places.

my final say – I am excited to move on to book two and while I know that this couple will not have the traditional happily-ever-after, I know this author will give them the perfect HEA for them.

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Review: Praying for Rain by B.B. Easton

Title: Praying for Rain
Author: B.B. Easton
Publication Date: April 11, 2019
Genre: Dystopian Romantic Suspense 
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

“None of this matters, and we’re all going to die.”

With only three days left until the predicted apocalypse, the small town of Franklin Springs, Georgia, has become a wasteland of abandoned cars, abandoned homes, abandoned businesses, and abandoned people. People like Rainbow Williams.

Rain isn’t afraid of dying. In fact, she’s looking forward to it. If she can just outrun her pain until April 23, she’ll never have to feel it at all.

“Supplies. Shelter. Self-defense.”

Wes Parker has survived every horrible thing this life has thrown at him with nothing more than his resourcefulness and disarming good looks. Why should the end of the world be any different? All he needs are some basic supplies, shelter, and a sucker willing to help him out, which is exactly what he finds when he returns to his hometown of Franklin Springs.

As society crumbles, dangers mount, and secrets refuse to stay buried, two lost souls are thrust together in a twist of fate—one who will do anything to survive and one who can’t wait to die.

Perhaps, together, they can learn how to live.

Before their time runs out.

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3.5 Star Review

Let me start off by saying I love this author and devoured her previous books, but this one was not my favorite. I LOVE insta-love reads, they are totally my jam so I’m not sure what happened here. I just can’t put my finger on what it was about this one that didn’t work for me.

I was completely intrigued by the apocalyptic storyline and the four horseman aspect was a trip to wrap my head around. This book took place over a three day span, so in my opinion the insta-love totally worked. What I struggled with I think in part, was the level of immaturity of Rain, although I was starting to warm a little to her towards the end.

Which brings us to the ending. I was not completely sold on the characters in the beginning, but they grew on me as the book progressed. And while this book wasn’t completely my jam, the big OMG moment at the end was enough for me to 1-click the next book.

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Review: Fake Wife by Stacey Lynn

Title: Fake Wife
Author: Stacey Lynn
Publication Date: January 9, 2018
Genre: Romantic Comedy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

This marriage is strictly business… until the temptation gets way too real.

Corbin: I loved my grandma, but I don’t need her money. All I care about is keeping the house — the only place that’s ever felt like home. That, and screwing over my dad, who wants to turn the property into a mall. There’s only one catch: To receive my inheritance, I have to get married within six months. Me, the guy who’s never dated a girl for more than six minutes. Now I need to find a woman I can trust. So when I’m rear-ended by a Prius, I figure it’s a sign that I’m supposed to meet gorgeous, down-to-earth Teagan Monroe.

Teagan: First I lose my job. Then I come home and find out — in the most graphic way possible… yeah, that way — that my boyfriend is a cheating jerk. And then I speed off and nearly kill Portland’s sexiest bachelor. Corbin Lane should be pissed. Instead, he offers me more money than I’ve ever seen in my life to marry him and live together in a mansion for two years. No sex. No feelings. Just cash — enough to make all my dreams come true. Then we go and break all our rules… and I realize I’m falling in love with my fake fiancé.

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I am not familiar with this author and loved the blurb so I took a chance hoping to find a new to me author to love. I liked the writing style and low drama, but the characters were not entirely likeable. I really liked Corbin. He is a pretty down to earth guy with a few issues, nothing too bad. But… I was not a fan of Teagan. I found her to be immature and not too smart for a 27 year old.

There were a couple of aspects (one being her obsession with equine therapy) that also didn’t make sense as is. Maybe if they were elaborated on it would have fit better.

Overall, this book had great potential, but fell a little flat in the end for me. However, I will not hesitate to pick up another book by this author. Maybe the next book will be just what I’m looking for.

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The Hunter is LIVE!

LOOK WHAT’S LIVE EARLY!!!!! You guys are not ready for Mr. Hunter Fitzpatrick.

Get your copy today for the special release week price or read free in kindle unlimited.

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3fyOs2J
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Wu6FFX
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2SEiIPX
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/35zQyuu
Audible: COMING SOON
Paperback: https://amzn.to/2WO3jOq

Add The Hunter to your TBR – https://tinyurl.com/wrfay9x

About the book:
Boston’s debauched elite is going up in flames, and it’s the Fitzpatrick family that set it on fire.

Hunter
I didn’t mean to star in a sex tape, okay?
It was just one of those unexplainable things. Like Stonehenge, Police Academy 2, and morning glory clouds.
It just happened.

Now my ball-busting father is sentencing me to six months of celibacy, sobriety, and morbid boredom under the roof of Boston’s nerdiest girl alive, Sailor Brennan.

The virginal archer is supposed to babysit my ass while I learn to take my place in Royal Pipelines, my family’s oil company.
Little does she know, that’s not the only pipe I’ll be laying…

Sailor
I didn’t want this gig, okay?
But the deal was too sweet to walk away from.
I needed the public endorsement; Hunter needed a nanny.
Besides, what’s six months in the grand scheme of things?
It’s not like I’m in danger of falling in love with the appallingly gorgeous, charismatic gazillionaire who happens to be one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors.
No. I will remain immune to Hunter Fitzpatrick’s charm.

Even at the cost of losing everything I have.
Even at the cost of burning down his kingdom.

#ljshen #thehunter #liveearly