Indecent Proposal

Indecent Proposal is number 4 in the Boys of Bishop series. But I had absolutely no clue of this before I read the book. I received this ARC in exchange for a honest review. I have to say I really enjoyed this book. O’Keefe does a great job of showing how these damaged and struggling individuals find themselves in each other.

Ryan is a model whose life has not turned out according to plan. After a less then stellar modeling career and a failed marriage, she finds herself in New York tending bar. It is here she meets Harry. A little bit of flirty chat later, Ryan ends up spending the night in Harry’s hotel room. While Ryan, may not know Harry’s last name there is also one other key piece of information she doesn’t know about her fabulous one night stand; that he is actually Harrison Montgomery a political hopeful running for office.

In the style of the Kennedy’s the Montgomery family only knows one thing..politics. Harrison Montgomery was groomed for office since the day he was born. It is all he knows. So needless to say his life has been lacking an element of warmth and honest. That is what he finds in Ryan.

I really liked how this story was written. You get a semi-HEA because life isn’t perfect. The perfection lies in what you make of it. That is what you get. Two people finding themselves and how to make their lives better while opening themselves to the possibility of happiness with another person. I highly recommend this book and I will be looking into O’Keefe’s other works

In Your Corner by Sarah Castille

With the second installment in the Redemption series, Sarah Castille doesn't disappoint. While I highly recommend you read the first book in this series before beginning this one, it is not absolutely necessary. You should be able to follow the story and put together the pieces without reading the first book in the series. While it does bring back characters and settings seen in the first book, it is a stand-alone with a definite conclusion. NO CLIFFHANGERS!

This installment focuses on the relationship between Jake and Amanda. (view spoiler) Jake is a MMA fighter that is torn between family obligations and his true desires. Amanda is a strong-willed lawyer that has a very hard time with true intimacy.


This book also highlights the societal double standard when it comes to a sexually active woman. Amanda has been around the block and makes no qualms about her experience. HALLE-FREAKIN-LUJAH! Too many times in the romance/erotica genre we are force fed the virginal heroine that needs to be saved and educated by the strong, well-experienced alpha male. This is not the case. Amanda has needs and doesn't feel ashamed by those needs. She knows what she likes and isn't afraid to ask for it.


The storyline progresses well. Although Jake and Amanda's one step forward two steps back relationship, does cause the story to feel a bit bogged down at times. That being said, I feel the progression and regression of these two is needed to allow for character growth. Amanda has to learn to deal with her fears of intimacy and Jake has to learn how to be patient with her; and this takes time. There are no immediate fixes for these two. Each one has to work through their own issues.

I really enjoyed Sarah Castille's latest and would highly recommend it. You get a definite conclusion and the HEA you hunger for. Happy reading!!

Reflection by Elene Sallinger

Sallinger's latest installment doesn't disappoint.  True to her style, Sallinger delivers a dark and delicious tale of two souls who seek each other out in order to find healing.
Bridget is a woman with a tormented past.  Having gone through a traumatic event, she finds it hard to connect with the opposite sex.  However, when she meets Conner she finds a man that is willing to move slowly and give her what she needs.
Conner also suffers from his past.  He is instantly taken by Bridget and wants to get to know her.  Only, he's finding it difficulty to get past Bridget's walls. 

I love the way Sallinger delivers a realistic erotica novel.  There is no love at first sight, no lets move off and have babies either.  It is two people that have to overcome the haunting of their past in order to move forward.  This is the second book I have read by Sallinger and I find myself enjoying it just as much as the first.  I definitely recommend.

MMA + Angst = In Your Corner by Sarah Castille

 

With the second installment in the Redemption series, Sarah Castille doesn't disappoint.  While I highly recommend you read the first book in this series before beginning this one, it is not absolutely necessary.  You should be able to follow the story and put together the pieces without reading the first book in the series.  While it does bring back characters and settings seen in the first book, it is a stand-alone with a definite conclusion.  NO CLIFFHANGERS!  

This installment focuses on the relationship between Jake and Amanda. Seen breaking up in the first book, Against the Ropes, this is the story of their reunion two years later.   Jake is a MMA fighter that is torn between family obligations and his true desires.  Amanda is a strong-willed lawyer that has a very hard time with true intimacy. 

This book also highlights the societal double standard when it comes to a sexually active woman.  Amanda has been around the block and makes no qualms about her experience.  HALLE-FREAKIN-LUJAH!  Too many times in the romance/erotica genre we are force fed the virginal heroine that needs to be saved and educated by the strong, well-experienced alpha male.  This is not the case.  Amanda has needs and doesn't feel ashamed by those needs. She knows what she likes and isn't afraid to ask for it. 

The storyline progresses well.  Although Jake and Amanda's one step forward two steps back relationship, does cause the story to feel a bit bogged down at times.  That being said, I feel the progression and regression of these two is needed to allow for character growth.  Amanda has to learn to deal with her fears of intimacy and Jake has to learn how to be patient with her; and this takes time.  There are no immediate fixes for these two.  Each one has to work through their own issues.

I really enjoyed Sarah Castille's latest and would highly recommend it.  You get a definite conclusion and the HEA you hunger for.  Happy reading!!

Unique and Interesting

This is not your typical romance novel. There are no white knights in shining armor. No one running in to save the damsel in distress. This is a story of two damaged people finding comfort in one another.

Emma is heartbroken. Her marriage has fallen apart and she has returned home. Her days are filled with teaching at a Catholic school and her nights lonely. Eric is a man with an addition. He craves the physical release of being with a woman. Through their own darkness they find a light in each other.

This is not a flowers and romance book. It is dark and very real. With a deeply religious vein running through the novel, each individual looks for their own salvation. How they find it is not typical.

I was very surprised and pleased when I read this book. I enjoyed the writing style. The author allowed the reader to see the inner struggles of each character. The character development, plot, and writing style were very well written and kept me interested. What I enjoyed the most was the uniqueness of the story. It was not formulaic.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a different type of romance novel. I give this book four stars.

Turned

Turned is the first installment in the Belladonna series. But have no fear the story comes to a definite conclusion.

In a world where the government sanctions turning humans into vampires, Ty Duncan and others are a part of a secret agency that is fighting that very agenda. A group known as Rouges are going against their own kind and turning innocent humans into vampires against their will. The Belladonna agency was formed to fight and take down these vampires. To meet their goal, HBIC Carly, decides they need to diversify their membership.

This leads Ty to Ana. Ana has a shady past that will come in handy and further the agency's agenda. Trying hard to rebuild her life and stay away from trouble, Ana is hesitant to help Ty and join the Belladonna agency. But Ty (insert mafioso voice here) makes her an offer she can't refuse, a chance to see her sister again.

The writing was done well. It transitioned well into each character's own thoughts and actions without becoming repetitive. You get a chance to see what makes the characters tick. Ty is often conflicted by the wants and needs of his new vampiric nature and his humanity. You know, your typical brooding vampire. While Ana is fighting to overcome her past and the actions she had to take to ensure the survival of herself and her baby sister.

The story line is an oldie but goodie. Boy meets girl. Feels an instant attraction. Girl meets boy. Feels an instant attraction. Add in a dash of angst and misunderstood actions and intentions and you have a paranormal romance story. While the storyline wasn't terribly unique, the writing style and character development compensate well.

There are several questions that were left unanswered for me. But I am assuming all the loose ends will be tied up in the books to come. Overall, I give the book 3 1/2 stars.

War of Wings

I was drawn by the book's concept.  I love an interesting good vs. evil story.  This wasn't exactly what I got, but I'm not disappointed.  This book's premise is the events leading to Lucifer's uprising and his subsequent ejection from heaven.

The book's story is told through the angel Gabriel and Lucifer's points of view.  This gives the reader a definite contrast and allows the story to flow more smoothly.  I enjoyed reading Lucifer's inner thoughts and the events as seen through his eyes. 

Many of the supporting characters aren't given much depth.  The primary focus being on Lucifer and Gabriel.  In the beginning Gabriel is the archetypical troublesome little brother; always fighting with his older brother and rebelling against his wishes.  Because others have not placed much responsibility on him, he really doesn't take any.  He enjoys more leisurely activities and doesn't take much responsibility for his purpose in God's plan.  Tired of the perfect existence he has been given, Gabriel constantly seeks out imperfection.

Lucifer is the highest of all God' angels.  He is the most beautiful, the most powerful, and the most exalted.  He feels his natural place is at God's side and cannot wait for the day he receives his just reward.  However, God's plan for a Son soon throws a wrench into his plans.  Lucifer quickly becomes angry at God and launches a rebellion. 

This is when we see the book's characters begin to transform and grow.  Gabriel has the most character growth throughout the book.  Changing from a disgruntled worker bee to an inspiring leader. 

The book has an interesting look at God's angels and the origination of all things born of Satan.  The thing I liked the most was that each angel was flawed in some way.  They were not the emotionless automatons we typically see.  They felt, they loved, they grieved, and they loved (this ability to love is an important catalyst in the book). 

I found this book to be an easy read.  The story flowed nicely and was pushed along by each characters' development.  Overall I enjoyed the book and give it three stars.