Review: Hard Ride - part 1, 2, & 3 by Opal Carew

My rating: ★★★+0.75
Genre: Adult, romance; erotica
Series: 3-part novel
Shelves on Goodreads: boyfriends, ebooks, finished-in-one-day, inteeeeense-erotica-novels, male-protagonist, netgalley-titles, read, stayed-up-all-night

Blurb from Goodreads:
Liv never expected to find herself trapped in an alley facing a band of rough bikers. And she certainly never expected to see him again...

When Shock encounters an old flame in a dark alley, it sends him spiraling. She's still as beautiful as ever, but she seems to have fallen on hard times since college, and he's concerned about the risks she seems to take. In order to keep her safe and finally have her for himself, he makes a sensual deal: his help for her complete submission. But will Liv be able to let go of the past and fall for the hard rider?

 

My review: 

I don't really have that much to say about this. It was good. I liked the story line, some of the characters and some of the events. It didn't really give me that much to reflect and at some times I found myself with an uneasy feeling.
I didn't like the main character that much and that bothered me. When reading a book I can't be annoyed with the main character. It brings down the whole story. Even if the story is great I give it a lower review if I don't like the main character. 

I found the whole concept was a bit cheesy(??) and was very annoyed with it at times. Now, I said I liked the story line, yes, but as ever before, I am cheesy so I don't have a problem with cheesiness or cliches. But some this just didn't work for me. 

See, I didn't have that much to reflect on. I personally thought they could've been much longer, but that's just me. 

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @sofiaaa.0k

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

Review: Ready to Reach by Inglath Cooper

My rating: ★★★★
Genre: NA, romance, music
Series: Nashville #1
Shelves on Goodreads: boyfriends, ebooks, finished-in-one-day, male-protagonist, netgalley-titles, read, reviewed-on-blog, stayed-up-all-night

Blurb from Goodreads:
Nineteen-year old CeCe Mackenzie leaves Virginia for Nashville with not much more to her name than a guitar, a Walker Hound named Hank Junior and an old car she'd inherited from her grandma called Gertrude. But Gertrude ends up on the side of I-40 in flames, and Nashville has never seemed farther away. Help arrives in the form of two Georgia football players headed for the Nashville dream as well. When Holden Ashford and Thomas Franklin stop to offer CeCe and Hank Junior a ride, fate may just give a nod to serendipity and meant to be.

My review:

"We take this life one moment, one day at a time."

This won't be the longest review since there wasn't much to reflect on. And this will be a pathetic review, I know. 

I really liked this. It is a four-part novella series which is exciting. In this book/novella, whatever you want to call it, we're introduced to the main characters - tree very likable characters. The whole thing about how they met was incredibly funny. It wasn't funny that her car exploded, okay, but the rest of it was hilarious. 

"My mama and I never had much, but if I said I wanted to fly to the moon, she'd start helping me make the wings."

The music element in this book/novella was fantastic. I love music. Like literally LOVE. L-O-V-E. I've always appreciated books about musicians and this was no different. I admire their want and their dreams. I admire how they know that the good always comes to the ones who wait. I felt so poetic during this I don't know. 

Oh my God, I want to write so much more but I don't know if I can. I'm gonna write about some other things happening around this instead. 

So, right now, Smith Publicity (the publishers) are hosting a blog tour. Exciting, exciting, I know. I got an email about this asking me if I wanted to take part in this. Yes, yes, yes I am way beyond excited. This now means that I am currently preparing for hosting a giveaway. I am planning to have the giveaway on my Instagram page (@forbidden.books). It's extremely simple, really. The end date will sometime after April 19th. More information about this will come later. 

I know this was more of an informational blogpost than an actual review. Sorry, about that. 

"Someone once said that every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. The trick then has to be letting go of the safe, the known and reaching out for what we can't yet see."

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

Unblocked - Episode One by Marni Mann

My rating: ★★★+0.5

Genre: Adult, romance; erotica
Series: Timber Towers #1
Shelves on Goodreads: boyfriends, ebooks, finished-in-one-day, hella-anticipated-2015, inteeeeense-erotica-novels, male-protagonist, netgalley-titles, read

Blurb from Goodreads:
Derek Block seeks revenge. Frankie Jordan seeks professional dominance. He wants her, she wants him. Lines that can't cross begin to blur. Things start heating up as real estate gets real…

My review:

I don't really have that much to say about this so excuse me if this review is too short. 

This is the first part of a five-parts book so this was mainly introduction to the characters and story etc etc. But it was a good beginning. Meaning that had this been a the beginning of a full book I would've been eager to continue. Of course I am eager to continue, but I'm a tad annoyed about it being split up. 

When we first were introduced to Frankie Jordan I was impressed. She's a really awesome character; she's independent and trusts that what she does is good which screams self-confidence (this is a good thing). 

Although this is a small part of the full book it was incredibly well written. The writing was incredibly descriptive and "painting". We got a good look at how the characters are and what they look like - we all have different prospects of this but you know what I mean. 

Negative thing, Frankie's ex was an asshole. I got a bit of an abuser feeling from him so he's not on my thumbs-up list right now. 

Another negative thing. The cover. I don't know how many times I've complained about the incredibly ridiculous erotica cover. But oh well, I like the books and that's what matters. 

The reason I'm only giving three and a half stars to this is because it was just the beginning. If Marni Mann continues like this I'll probably give the second part four stars. And then when all the parts are written and published she book will hopefully be around 500 pages and will probably be butterflying fantabulous (that is a real word, yes).

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 
Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

Review: Since Drew by J. Nathan

My rating:  ★★★★
Genre: NA, romance
Series: Stand-alone

Blurb from Goodreads: 
All Andi Parker has ever wanted, all she’s ever dreamed of, is a spot on the Olympic track team. But when an accident leaves her hospitalized with serious injuries and shattered dreams, she’s not only uncertain what her future holds but also completely alone.

Drew Slater is a wanted man. Professional football teams want him for his arm. Women want him for his good looks and magnetic personality. But the well-crafted disguise he wears, the one that helps him score on and off the field, hides secrets. Conceals lies. Threatens the happiness of everyone around him.

One chance encounter brings Andi and Drew together, changing their worlds in ways they never thought possible. Unfortunately, what they thought they knew about themselves—and about each other—might just be the biggest lie of all.

My review:

I want to deserve you. I want to be everything you need and everything you don't have... I want to be someone you want to love for the rest of your life. 

*ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Sorry for a non committed review but I really don't remember my thoughts about this. 

This wasn't exactly what I'd imagined. Especially not Drew. 

So let's just rave about this 'cause frankly, it was a really good book. I'm not planning some smooth review here 'cause I really have no idea how to. 

I wasn't a bit frustrated when Andi realized she'd imagined the whole first enocounter with Drew - I was a lot more than just frustrated. It was exactly like that movie ehum ehum, oh God what's it called - it's with Reese Witherspoon and the Hulk-guy. Gaaaaah, it was exactly like that movie. But I can't remember what it's called. Frustration on point. 

I was surprised Drew changed so quickly. I mean, from being all around asshole who got whatever he wanted he changed pretty quickly into the perfect boyfriend. It usually takes a lot more than that but still, I was happy when it happened so I can't really complain. 

The character's weren't that developed but fortunately, I could deal with it. I had some kinda big problems with Drew in the beginning and in the end with the accident etc etc but I just no. I don't know what I wanted to say with that so bye. 

One thing. That cover? Really?

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

The Days Between by Tori V. Lync

My rating: ★
Genre: Adult, romance
Series: Stand-alone

Blurb from Goodreads:
What if the one who got away, didn’t?

Star-crossed love happened to other people or in the movies. At least that's what I thought.
Until he walked back into my life.
He'd come back at all the wrong times, each one making me wonder about my decisions. Then--like always--our lives spiraled apart until we crashed back together at another intersection years later.
Bad timing.
Again and again. Neither of us free to explore the passion that simmered between us.
Until this time. This time, I wasn't letting him go, consequences be damned.
My review:

It wasn't perfect, but love never was.

First let me say that everybody is entitled to their own opinion. This is mine. 

Let me be completely frank here. This sucked. I just gaaaaah. It's 80 pages of bullcrap. This is not gonna be the longest review 'cause I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to stir in the feelings this brought up-again.

While I was reading this I didn't give a shit about true loves etc etc etc etc. Scream all you want at me but it was cheating. I read that chapter saying: "A year later" and the first sentence said something about leaning against her husband and watching her girls out of the field. I thought, oh well so he dumped his girlfriend, they got married and had children who are old enough to walk. But the chapter said "A year later". How in the butterflying hell did she manage to have three or two, I don't remember, children who are old enough to walk around in a year?! That was when I realized, oh well they're having an affair. And don't go throw that "it was true love" bullshit in my face 'cause quite frankly I don't care. They were cheating on their partners and there's not one butterflying explanation you can try and give me because I'm not changing my mind. I think the whole book was wrong I would've gladly put it down, but I didn't because I thought that maybe, maybe one of them still had a bit of sanity left. 

And let's not forget my absolute hatred toward underdeveloped characters. None of these characters had a butterflying background story except for maybe "he was my true love blah blah blah blah blah". So no, I did not like this book. At all. I can usually tolerate a kiss or one night together but an affair that's stretched over several years? No. I'm not tolerating it. So one star. If I could give a negtive number I would, but I gave that one star to his wife. His wife who did nothing wrong and who was a victim to their butterflying affair. End of story. 

Life isn't about finding happily ever after. 

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

Insatiable by Cari Quinn

My rating: ★★★★
Genre: Adult, romance; erotica
Series: Stand-alone

Blurb from Goodreads:
Having all of her is the only thing that will satisfy him...

Shawn Griffin and Rachel Cooper have been best friends practically since birth, thanks to their families' close relationship. But for the past few years, Shawn has been fantasizing about getting his best pal in his bed. When she announces she's taking a trip to reconnect with an old lover, Shawn knows the time has come to put up or shut up. If she wants to go to New York City, fine. But he's coming with her.

Rachel doesn't know what to think of Shawn's sudden interest. Determined to live life on her own terms, she refuses to fall right in line with her wealthy family's wish that they get married and have perfect little babies. She just didn't count on how determined her seemingly laid back - and extremely sexy - best friend would become after setting his sights on what he wants. Her, over and over again.

But when tragedy strikes, Rachel begins to wonder if she'll lose not only her lover but her best friend too.

My review:

I feel very negative writing this even though I liked it - I'm blaming my current headache which apparently has decided to kill me.

I liked this. All the character were sweet and easy to love and never annoyed me. Well at sometimes, yes, but not so often. 

I feel like it's easier so talk about the negative things about something instead of the positive so without knowing where this review is headed let me just state my thoughts.

I loved the whole thing. Shawn was incredibly cute and it was clear how much he actually loved and adored her. But, I couldn't help but feel a bit of - I don't know how to describe it really. I feel like Shawn waited to start showing his true feelings to Rachel until this novel started. If I get the whole picture correctly, Shawn has loved Rachel as more than a friend for an impeccably long time but why does he wait this long until acting? I couldn't help but feel a tad of unrealistic feelings getting in the way. Sorry. 

Right now I'm too tired and my head hurts too much so I won't be able to form coherent sentences - bye. 

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

Guarded Passion by Bonnie Dee

My rating: ★★
Genre: NA, romance
Series: Wyatt Brothers #3

Blurb from Goodreads:
A struggling single mother.
Rianna Cutter strips to survive. It’s the best paying gig for a young woman with little education and puts a roof over her child’s head and food on the table. Working toward a better life for her son, she has no time or energy for love.

A tough criminal businessman.
Jonah Wyatt is ready to make a big change, moving away from his successful pot growing business into a legitimate enterprise. He’s all business all the time and has no interest in finding love he doubts even exists.

Could love be more unexpected?
Their first interaction has all the romance of a business transaction, but from that rough beginning, Rianna and Jonah tentatively reach out to one another. As their barriers dissolve, the awakening of new love is threatened by family drama.

This is book three in a series but may easily be read as a stand alone. 

My review:

Okay then.

This wasn't good. By the reading the synopsis I really thought it was gonna be an amazing book, but unfortunately, it wasn't. The whole prospect of watching a woman stripping to survive and a drug-lord falling in love had me on edge - a good edge. Then, when I finished the book I was so disappointed. It wasn't at all entertaining and it didn't impact on me in any specific way. 

The whole book was incredibly slow-paced and at times I saw myself putting it down - and I wouldn't have picked it up again. I didn't feel a pull to any of the characters and were mostly annoyed with them. 

I really don't wanna dig up any more negative feelings so I'm ending this review right here.

One comical thing though - even if it isn't about the actual book - I read this and then realized that is the third installment in a series hahah

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

Beneath the Surface by M. A. Stacie

My rating: ★★★+0.5
Genre: Adult, romance; erotica
Series: Reluctance #1

Blurb from Goodreads: 
Kyran Reese is a man in control. Driven when it comes to work, focused when it comes to play. From his office to the chalk circle of the bare-knuckle boxing ring, his only thought is to win. That thirst heightens when Dale Porter enters his life. His brother’s assistant should be off limits, but her witty comments and sarcastic comebacks have him desperate to get her between the sheets.

When Dale agrees to Kyran’s relationship stipulation of no labels she’s sucked into a whirlwind of lust, money, and underground boxing. Dale fights her growing affection, trying to hide it when the world around them spirals out of control. All too soon she realizes she can’t hide her true feelings any longer.

Has Kyran finally met his match? Could playing to win mean playing for keeps?

My review:

I liked this. It was easy to read and none of the main characters annoyed me. But as always I'm gonna complain about a few things. 

Where are the developed characters? I couldn't find any of those - doesn't matter how hard I tried - I couldn't find a single one. If you've read my earlier reviews you know exactly how far my resentment for underdeveloped characters goes. It's not a pretty path, I can assure you. And I found mostly all of these characters extremely underdeveloped. Which was a disappointment, of course. 

While reading this book all I could feel was

It didn't have an impact on me and it didn't leave me with any second thoughts whatsoever. To be honest, I am struggling so much right now to remember my thoughts and believe me when I say that it's not easy. I couldn't relate to any of the character which really is a big "turn on" for me while reading a book. If I can relate to the characters the book more likely to end up with a good rate and review. 

I don't know how to describe in words what I want to say right now but I'll try my best and I apologize in advance if I lose you along the way. 
Does it sound rude if I said that I don't need this book in my life? Not that I didn't enjoy it, because really, I did! But I feel like I wouldn't have been miserable without it in my life. It didn't impact me and I could've lived without it. 

And just No to that cover. No. 

So three and a half stars it is. 

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

Propositions by Tania Joyce

My rating: ★★★★
Genre: Adult, romance; erotica
Series: stand-alone

Blurb from Goodreads:
No strings attached ... or so she thought.

Following years of sacrifice and struggle, Jessica Mason now co-owns a successful marketing agency in Sydney. All Jessica wants to do is focus on growing her business and maintain the lifestyle she's worked so hard to achieve. But everything changes when her agency wins a major contract for the opening of the new Somers Hotel and she has to take on the account.

Nate Somers is a workaholic trying to please his retiring father. When he meets captivating, go-getting Jessica, the prospect of a short-term love affair sounds like a proposition he'd be crazy to decline.

But when Jessica spends a weekend away at her favorite vineyard retreat, she runs into Troy Smith, the ex-boyfriend who left her broken and vulnerable years ago. Things don't go to plan when the well-kept secrets from her past are revealed and Troy starts weaving his way back into her life.

With her business at stake and hearts at risk, Jessica's future is destined to change. Who will end up making Jessica a proposition she simply cannot refuse?

My review:

Some things could be a blessing in disguise. 

You know, I keep doing this to myself. I read erotica novel after erotica novel after erotica novel. It's the only thing I've been reading this last month. I don't have an excuse 'cause I honestly don't think that I need one. And while reading these erotica novels there's cliche after cliche after cliche. But I like it. I like cliches. As much as I love books without cliches that still have happy endings, I like cliches. 

What can I say about this that I haven't already said about every other erotica novel I've reviewed this month? There's a lot of things I could say but I'd still be repeating myself. So I'll start out of nowhere with no clue whatsoever where this is headed.

I never liked Troy. I never like the ex-boyfriends erupting from the main character's past at a completely random moment. He felt too clingy too actually be likable and I never grew fond of him. 

Nate - on the other hand - I loved. I loved him sooooo much. And I had a constant irritation toward (Rachel was her name, right?) throughout the entire book. I believe Nate would've been an amazing father hadn't Rachel (???) been such a gold-digger. I mean, in the end when Jessica was pregnant he did realize his mistake and he did come back to her.

Jessica was a strong character. Not only having a grown-up son but also working the job she did and carrying her past. They were all pure signs of an independent and strong woman and I, of course loved it. 

Believe me when I say this. I want to write so much more about this book. So, so, so much more. But I just can't. It was incredibly enjoyable and frustrating at some points. HAHAHHAHA, no-strings, really? It never works, you know. Just sayin'.

If in doubt - add more glitter!

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia

Savin' Me by Alannah Lynne

My rating: ★★★★
Genre: Adult, romance; erotica
Series: Heat Wave #1

Blurb from Goodreads:
Lies. Deceit. Backstabbing friends… Welcome to the jungle known as advertising…

Kat Owens can tell you all about the snake-infested world of big-time advertising. Thanks to an ex-best friend co-worker and a gone-wrong love affair with a client, she’s forced to leave her large Charlotte agency for a small-town coastal one. It’s do-or-die time to prove she can be a success to the aging grandfather she adores. Which means she can’t afford to be distracted by a client who’s a walking, talking definition of sex… Even if he is the man who stole her heart thirteen months before in a one-night stand she can’t forget.

Erik Monteague is a handsome, charismatic, highly respected businessman who has it all. Or so it seems. Only his closest friends know the truth about the guilt and emotional scars he carries, or why, following his fiancée’s death, he invoked the twenty-four/two rule. He never spends more than twenty-four hours with a woman, he rarely dates them twice, and he never thinks about them afterward.

But Kat Owens is different. She cheated him out of twelve hours, and now he can’t forget her. At least that’s what he tells himself, because admitting the truth is too dangerous. When she suddenly appears in his hometown, he sets out to finish what they started thirteen months earlier. But while his perfectly executed seduction gets Kat back in his bed, the emotional fallout is more than he counted on. Will he face his tragic past once and for all… or spend the rest of his life running?

My review:

And bein’ a good person is more important than any job you’ll ever do. Don’t ya forget it.

I hate to admit it but I judge this book so much by its cover. From the look of it, it's all just bleh. I'm not a fan of these cheesy erotica novel covers and will never be. 

But never mind the cover oh my god! Alannah Lynne deserves an award for this. A really really big award. And excuse me in advance for this not being the most committed review. I say it once again; school's a bitch. 

You know how I complain about characters being underdeveloped and that it's a big turn off for me when reading a book. If I ever hear anyone - doesn't matter who - saying that any of these characters are underdeveloped, I will haunt them. To the ends of the earth. Forever. And ever. And ever. 
The characters were everything but underdeveloped. You understood all their actions thanks to the flashbacks etc and God am I grateful for that. I absolutely hate stories where the characters are unknown and underdeveloped. I think that is because when you're reading a book you want to be involved in it. If the characters are well developed and described throughout the story you get a bigger sense of affiliation than you do if the characters are underdeveloped. If the characters are underdeveloped, you feel more like a bystander than an actual character yourself which many people seek while reading a book. Big points for the characters.

The love story itself was incredible. I usually don't like books where they meet and then the next sentence blowing up in your face is *two years laters*. If they are each other's true loves then just make this easy on all of us - love each other! Don't go get married and have kids 'cause it'll ruin you. So yes, I was hesitant to the *13 months later*. But God was I wrong. I loved the *13 months later* in this book. It showed just how much they had affected each other and it was just sooooo sweet. 

I think the reason behind Erik's incapability to admit his love was important. I read a few reviews on Goodreads with inclinations that Erik couldn't admit that he loved Kat because he was selfish. SELFISH?! If I got a say I'd stand up straight and scream out all the pent up frustration I've built up to these people. You think Erik's incapability was selfish? In what way, may I ask? I think he was anything but selfish because he didn't want to hurt Kat. I know exactly what you're about to say so just shut up. If he hadn't been so SELFISH he'd realize that he not admitting his feeling hurt Kat. One thing, negative-person-who-is-banned-from-my-life, do you think he didn't want to admit his feelings for her? Of course he wanted to but he was scared and he thought that he loving her would cause her much more pain than him letting her go. Just sayin'. 

The ending was cheesy, yes. But who am I to complain? We all say that everything shouldn't have a happy ending but we get goddamned irritated if it doesn't have a happy ending so swerve. 

Four big, affectionate and full-of-love stars. Alannah Lynne, you deserve big, fast awards. 

He recognized this particular act for what it was: a woman’s need to mark her man. The scary part was, he didn’t care. Hell, at this moment, if she wanted to tattoo her name on his ass, he’d go buy the fucking ink.

Contact me:

Twitter: @sofiiarytters_ & @PALEQUEENS

Instagram: @forbidden.books & @daysof.feminism

Goodreads: @forbiddenbooks

Mail: forbiddenbookss@gmail.com

NetGalley: Sofia Rytters (reviewer) 

Wattpad: @dustbricks

Thank you so much for reading, I'll talk to you next time. BYEEE

sofia