ARC: Wicked Heat – Ella Frank Book Review (Chicago Heat #1)

“He’s grumpy, rude, and honestly, not that likeable at all. So why can’t I stop thinking about him?”

Wicked Heat, an all-new high heat and slow burn mm romance, and the first book in the Chicago Heat Series from USA Today bestselling author Ella Frank, is live now!

Synopsis

Ryan

Kind, caring, and protective. Those are the three qualities I’m looking for when it comes to my dream man. In a city as big as Chicago, you wouldn’t think he would be that hard to find, right?

Wrong.

Sure, my boss found a super-sexy detective and my best friend fell madly in love with the most eligible bachelor around. But the only person I’ve met recently is a broody bad boy who saved me at a sketchy pub.

He’s grumpy, rude, and honestly, not that likeable at all. Hardly my “dream” guy.

So why can’t I stop thinking about him?

Jameson

I don’t do friendships. I don’t do relationships either. The very last thing I’m looking for in life is to fall in love and live happily ever after.

So saving some rich guy from losing his wallet is the last thing I want to do on a Friday night. Especially when he looks like someone who just stepped off the cover of GQ.

Fate seems to have other ideas, though, and every time I turn around, he’s there.

A wicked heat simmers between us, threatening to ignite, and though I’ve been trained to put out the flames, I can’t help but think: What’s the worst that could happen if I let this desire burn out of control?

Wicked Heat is book 1 of 2 in Ryan Carrigan & Jameson Clarke’s story.

Add Wicked Heat to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3m5yUsb

Review:

I’ve run out of different ways to express my love for Ella Frank’s books!

I’m not kidding, I feel like all my reviews for this author’s work are similar in the sense that I just repeat how much I love and adored them and that’s why I always struggle to review them but man, what else is there to say. In my eyes, she can do no wrong and she is without a doubt, my favourite author. Wicked Heat is just a testament to her incredible talent and unwavering ability to absolutely capture my attention with her phenomenal stories even 31 books later, I’m still as in love with her writing as I was way back when I picked up my first Ella Frank book.

Wicked Heat was everything I could have wanted and more.

I have been waiting for mister Ryan Carrigan to get his love story since he was first introduced a while back in Xander and Sean’s series, The Intentions duet because he just seemed sweet and fun. When Ella announced who his love interest was going to be, I was blown away with excitement because that little glimpse of Jameson at the end of Killian and Bash’s series, The Dare to Try Series, left me wanting to know more about the mysterious and grumpy dude.

Suffice to say, these guys were quite the match. Ryan and Jameson are, evidently very different from one another which plays into the opposites attract trope but it was really well done. It isn’t cliche or anything of the sort, rather because there was a natural progression from resistance to friends to lovers, it felt like them getting together was a genuine and inevitable thing. Their connection and chemistry were clear from the start and you could just tell that there was something just attracting them to one another.

Ryan was funny, outgoing and kind. He was constantly aware and considerate of Jameson’s feelings and was just an all-around amazing man. Jameson was more of a closed-off, quiet and surly guy. He definitely had walls put up because of what seems like a tough past which I’m interested in learning more of cause I feel like we only just scratched the surface with that.

The romance between these guys was both very sweet as they became friends and got to know one another and then became smoking hot once they put an end to the angst tension and gave in to their attraction. Honestly, Ryan and Jameson just clicked and it’s not for nothing that Jameson opened up in a way that was completely unlike him when he was with Ryan and that Ryan felt wholeheartedly protected, safe and comfortable with a man as closed off as Jameson was for a chunk of their time together. They were just sexy as hell and right for each other and I can’t wait to see what happens next because the ending left so many things up in the air.

As far as development goes, which if you’ve read my reviews before you know is very important to me, this book hit all the marks. Ella Frank’s books are not particularly long and read pretty quickly which you might think risks skimping out on development or proper pacing but that is not the case with this author. Her stories are just so well written that she managed to pace the plot appropriately so that it develops throughout the book and doesn’t feel too slow or fast. She also made sure to have Ryan and Jameson evolve throughout the book and grow because of their relationship, which itself also changed over time. All that to say, this book feels like it passes in a blink of an eye but yet feels like so I’ve been touched by so many emotions and have seen such a wonderful storyline play out in front of my eyes. I just can’t wait for more!

Fun, thrilling and sexy, Wicked Heat was the most amazing start to Ryan and Jameson’s love story!

Overall, I adored every second of this book and I’m really excited to see where Ella takes things in Wicked Flame. Those last couple of chapters had me tense with anticipation and were just heart-wrenching. I’m giving Wicked Heat 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of m/m romance. And as always, it was lovely to see some familiar faces!

Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon or FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EVdTIf
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/chicagoheatone

About Ella Frank

Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!”

A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction.

Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.

Connect with Ella

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2sYAgNc
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2tM6vPy
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2TbuBOf
Stay up to date with Ella by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2FFDzeI
Website: https://www.ellafrank.com

Read my reviews for the other books mentioned in this review!

Intentions Duet

Bad Intentions

Good Intentions

Dare to Try series

Dare You

Dare Me

Truth or Dare

Find me on social media

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ARC: Doll Parts – Cara Dee Book Review (The Game #4) + Excerpt

Synopsis:

Get ready for a funhouse experience that doesn’t belong in an amusement park. But clowns and balloons don’t turn this scorching hot BDSM romance into a wild ride. That’s all Noa, Cam, Lucian, and KC.

I have the best boyfriend in the whole world, but there’s one thing I won’t tell him. It’s that I don’t believe in absolute happiness anymore. Not with the cards we’ve been dealt. I mean, come on! Why do we fall for people who don’t want us back? While he’s been pining after Lucian, one of the Masters in his kink community, I’m the lovesick monster-puppy Little who can’t forget my former stepdad KC. Or the kinky porn I once found on his computer…but that’s beside the point!

It’s complicated, to be honest. I try not to think about it. I have Cameron, and I love him so damn much. Why can’t we try to make it on our own? Why does he want us to find a Top that’s just ours? It won’t work. Our stupid hearts refuse to move on.

What’s even stupider is that Cameron insists we seek out a Dom for our relationship in the very kink community where we can find both KC and Lucian.

Ohhh crap. I think he’s got a plan.

The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, two things are certain. This is not a perfect world, and life never turns out the way you planned.

The Game Series | Book 4 | Standalone | D/s | Daddy/lb | Fear play | Objectification

Available in Kindle Unlimited: https://readerlinks.com/l/2311033

Catch up with the series here: https://readerlinks.com/l/1581265/55

Review:

I’ve enjoyed all of the books in this series so far so I was excited to hear about the release of Doll Parts!

I’m fairly familiar with Cara Dee’s books and I know they tend to be unique, sexy and also very cute. While I have really enjoyed the other stories in this series, I have to say that Doll Parts wasn’t as big of a hit for me as the others were. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable and I’m certainly interested in reading more in this series!

Doll Parts was hot as hell but I wanted more from the romance!

First of all, I liked the storyline. It seemed like it would make for an exciting story with that bit of a taboo element tossed in and some second chance romance and it definitely was exciting but it fell short in the development. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any connection with the characters or feel a genuine connection between them.

Out of the four characters, Noa was only slightly more developed than all the others in my opinion but that left me wanting to know more about Cam, Lucian and KC. When you’re writing a book where the relationship has several people, you want to really take the time to flesh each and every one of them out so that the reader can get a sense of who they are and build a connection with them but that part seemed to be glossed over because I felt like I missed out on a lot. It was kind of taken for granted that the history between KC & Noa and Lucian & Cam would speak for themselves and tell us everything we needed to know about the guys and their relationship but that didn’t work for me. As a result, I never was able to full connect with them.

I also felt like the romance was a little hard to buy into. I could understand the attraction between them and affection/friendship but love felt like a bit of a stretch. Things moved really quickly and I just never felt like they took the time to fall for one another, rather it seemed like everyone already loved each other in an insta-love kind of way and nothing actually evolved besides them officially getting together. I don’t know how else to explain it, not enough happened. It all just kind of blended together for me.

My other thing is with the relationship between the four of them. I never quite felt like it was an MMMM romance, it felt more like a bunch of couples. I don’t think enough time was spent developing the relationship between KC & Cam, KC & Lucian and Lucian & Noa. As a whole, I was just a little disappointed with the characters and their romance.

I did however like the lightheartedness of the story and the steam which was really well done of course. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, it just wasn’t as interesting as I was expecting it to be. Honestly, at this point I’m noticing that the books in this series are kind of blending into one another so that might be my problem. They all just seem too similar and follow a similar pattern.

Steamy and sweet Doll Parts is a fun and quick read but it just didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Overall, I had a nice time reading this book and it was fun to read the cute and sassy banter but I was little disappointed that I didn’t love it. In the end, it ended up being an OK read but not much more than that. It needed a lot more character and relationship development for me to have fallen head over heals with the story but I do think it’ll be a hit for many readers. I am giving Doll Parts 3.75 stars would recommend it to fans of MMMM romance with BDSM elements.

Excerpt

I couldn’t go up there, could I?
I squinted for the sun and peered up at the pale-green–painted trendy restaurant, all three stories of it, including the rooftop terrace. It was one of those restaurants that used to be an apartment building, so you had a bunch of smaller dining areas inside.
I chewed on the inside of my cheek and wondered how the hell I hadn’t connected the dots sooner.
Fuck, it was hot. I ran a hand through my hair and looked around me. The restaurant was right on the corner of a busy intersection, and the sleepy locals on their way to brunch were sharing the sidewalk with tourists.
Maybe I should text him and call it off…
“Excuse me, are you going to the munch?”
I cocked my head to the guy to my left. He was about my age, I estimated. “What if I didn’t know what a munch was?”
He grinned, and it was hot. Hot and cute. “I would’ve said never mind and hightailed it out of here,” he replied. “But I’ve been around long enough to spot someone too nervous to join an event.”
Oh. I wasn’t nervous to join an event. My very first munch, I’d been the first to arrive.
I scratched my head. “I’m stalling because I’m pretty sure I’m barging into someone else’s territory,” I admitted. “My mom’s ex-husband is kinky too.”
The guy made a yikes-face, and I felt the need to elaborate.
“I check his Instagram sometimes, and if he posts four pictures every month, one is from this place,” I explained. “Usually with a caption like ‘Luke is teaching me to post foodporn, whatever that is’ and ‘Macklin’s eggs Benedict are a bit of a religious experience.’”
I could tell I’d mentioned names the guy recognized. I was right. This was the munch of KC’s kink community. Motherfucker. I’d seen eight pictures from this place on KC’s dusty Instagram—or parts of the place. Mostly from the rooftop terrace. Maybe that was where they hosted the munch.
“You know them, don’t you?” I pressed.
The guy smiled uncertainly and shrugged slightly. “We take integrity seriously, but…”
Yeah.
“Who’s your mother’s ex-husband?”
“KC Hayles.”
He nodded once. He’d heard that name too. Then he eyed someone else, or two someones, coming up the sidewalk. They were twins. Hot-as-shit set of twins in their forties.
One of them smirked upon seeing the guy I’d been talking to. “You hidin’, Cameron?”
I observed the guy’s reaction. Cameron. A crooked grin full of mischief lit up his face. He was really fucking cute, and I didn’t usually feel attraction toward men my age. He was a bit taller than me but not much. Blue eyes.
“Does that sound like something I would do, Sir?” Cameron countered.
Definitely a submissive.
One of the twins chuckled and ruffled Cameron’s shaggy, dirty-blond hair. “See you upstairs, boy.” He spared me the quickest of glances, lifted his brow a little, maybe in curiosity, before he and his brother took the steps up to the restaurant.
Cameron turned back to me. “It’s possible you’ve stumbled upon your stepdad’s community.”
I figured. “I’ll just reschedule with the guy I was gonna meet. Thanks for letting me know.”
It wasn’t too important I met him today anyway. It was only a bite to eat to see if I was compatible to play with him and his boyfriend.
Cameron cleared his throat. “Hey, wait. If you know KC… Does that mean you know Lucian too?”
That would be a stretch. “I’ve met him a few times, sure. I wouldn’t say I know him, though.” I’d had my suspicions about Lucian—that he was kinky too. It wasn’t a surprise whatsoever to have it confirmed. He was big-time Master material. “Why? Are you together or something?”
Cameron snorted. “I wish. No, he’s with some dude who’s manipulating him like fucking whoa, and Lucian won’t see it.”
I frowned. That didn’t compute with my impression of Lucian.
“Anyway,” Cameron went on. “Here’s a crazy idea. You wanna get out of here and grab a burger or something? Your plan fell through, and I can think of better things to do than watch Lucian and his little troll.”
I stood straighter instantly. This guy wanted to hang out? Fuck yes! I could use a new friend.
“Absolutely,” I said, sticking out my hand. “I’m Noa.”
Cameron smiled, visibly relieved. “Cameron.”

About Cara

I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex.
There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.
Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve.
I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.
Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.
I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Find Cara on social media here: https://www.caradeewrites.com/cdwlandingpage

Here are my reviews of the previous books in this series!

Top Priority

Their Boy

Breathless

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ARC: These Thorn Kisses – Saffron A. Kent Book Review (St. Mary’s Rebels #3)

Blurb

Eighteen-year-old, Bronwyn Littleton is in love with a stranger she met on a summer night a year ago.

A stranger who was tall and broad in a way that made her feel safe. He had dark blue eyes that she can’t stop drawing in her sketch book. And he had a deep, soothing voice that she can’t stop hearing in her dreams.

That’s all she knows about him though.

Until she runs into him again. At St. Mary’s School for Troubled Teenagers – an all girls reform school – where she’s trapped because of a little crime she committed in the name of her art.

Now she knows that her dream man has a name: Conrad Thorne.

She knows that his eyes are way bluer and way more beautiful than she thought. And that his face is an artist’s wonderland.

But she also knows that Conrad is her best friend’s older brother. Which means he’s completely off-limits. Not to mention, he’s the new soccer coach, which makes him off-limits times two.

What makes him off-limits times three however, and this whole scenario an epic tragedy, is that, Conrad, Wyn’s dream man, has a dream girl of his own.

And he’s as much in love with his dream girl as Wyn is in love with him…

NOTE: This is a STANDALONE set in the world of St. Mary’s.

Review

I’ve been loving this series and couldn’t wait for Wyn and Conrad’s story!

I think this was one of the books in this series that I was most anticipating and I was happy with the way it turned out. Saffron A. Kent writes angst, tension and forbidden romance so well. From start to finish, it was a fun, and cute ride with lots of steam and super sweet moments.

Wyn and Conrad were great characters!

I really liked these two. They were quite different but complemented each other well. I loved how Wyn cracked Conrad’s shell and I loved his dirty talk. Their banter was really nice and I had a great time reading their story. It was a whole lotta cute!

Full of angst and forbidden hotness, These Thorn Kisses was a great read!

Overall, I had wonderful time reading this book and thought the story was lovely. I especially loved the forbidden aspect since that’s my favorite trope! I am giving These Thorn Kisses 4.5 stars and would recommend it to fans of forbidden romance!

Find me on social media

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ARC: Secrets & Lies – Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine Book Review

Blurb

I wasn’t supposed to want him. The bronzed god lying by my pool in tight shorts that left little to the imagination. But I was only human, and with the temptation constantly within reach, it was only a matter of time before I could no longer resist. 

It was wrong. I knew that. 

He was my son’s age.

Hell, he was my son’s friend.
 
But even worse…I was his teacher.

Secrets & Lies is a standalone teacher-student MM romance from USA Today bestselling authors Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank.



Get your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ZDTzLq
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SecandLies
Add Secrets & Lies to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3btSyZi

Review

Gah, Secrets & Lies was yummy!!

I am no stranger to these lovely ladies’ writing and I just know that anytime I pick up one of their stories, I’m going to be blown away. Secrets & Lies was no different, it was addictive, sexy, fun and oh so satisfying. I really didn’t want it to end, I was so hooked.

This was one for the books, I loved everything about it!

I’ve read nearly every book these authors have published, individually and together and I can honestly say, Secrets & Lies is one of my new favorites. The characters were so easy to love. Their romance was steamy and forbidden which is my absolute favorite and I just ate it up. I flew through it and could not put it down! I’m definitely feeling like this is a book I’ll reread over and over again because I just had so much fun with the story.

Steamy, forbidden and entertaining, Secrets & Lies was one of my top reads of the year!

Overall, I had such a great time reading this book and I wish it would have been longer. It was just so good, I wanted more more more. I am giving Secrets & Lies 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of m/m romance with a forbidden twist!

Find me on social media:

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ARC: Truth or Dare – Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine (Dare to Try #3)

Truth or Dare, the must read last book in the Dare to Try Trilogy from USA Today bestselling authors Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine is available now!
Truth or Dare is the final book in the Dare to Try trilogy and should only be read after Dare You and Dare Me.

Blurb

Lieutenant Kieran Bailey never saw his life anywhere but the bustling streets of
Chicago—but then again, he never saw his life with a boyfriend, either. That all changed when he fell in love with bombshell CEO Sebastian “Bash” Vogel.

But it’s one thing to fall in love. It’s another to try to build a life together when you live hundreds of miles apart.

How do you choose between everything you’ve ever known and everything you’ve ever dreamed of?

This series must be read in the following order:

Dare You (book one)
Dare Me (book two)
Truth or Dare (book three)

Review

Ah, Truth or Dare was absolutely fabulous!

I love these characters so much and Brooke and Ella just made me love them even more with this last installment in their series. Bash and Kieran are a new favourite couple of mine and I’m sad that their books are all wrapped up now. But damn, what a ride it’s been!

Everything leading up to this moment made it so special!

I’ve been rooting for Bash to find the love of his life for what feels like ages and the fact that he found that with Kieran is amazing. Both of these guys are truly wonderful men and their romance has been a beautiful thing to witness. From friends to lovers, these guys have grown a lot throughout these three books and I was over the moon happy to see them get their happily ever after. These guys had such a profound connection, and chemistry beyond compare and it was clear as day what with how sexy they were. I wish I could read them endlessly…

Sexy, sweet and entirely too addictive, I loved every second of Truth or Dare!

Overall, Brooke and Ella did a lovely job at concluding their story in a great way and while I loved every last thing about Truth or Dare, as always, it’s bittersweet. Nevertheless, I can’t recommend this series enough because it’s just so addictive and sexy. I am giving Truth or Dare 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of m/m romance.

Grab your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mwVURY
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TruthDareEB
Add Truth or Dare to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3jkNCKT

Start the Dare to Try Trilogy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3znXIzN
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DareYouEB

 

About Ella Frank

Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!” A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.

​Connect with Ella

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2sYAgNc
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2tM6vPy
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2TbuBOf

Stay up to date with Ella by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2FFDzeI

Website: https://www.ellafrank.com

 

About Brooke Blaine

Brooke Blaine is a USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance that ranges from comedy to suspense to erotic. The latter has scarred her conservative Southern family for life, bless their hearts. If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find – just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for years. Or you can reach her at http://www.BrookeBlaine.com.

Connect with Brooke

Website: http://www.brookeblaine.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrookeBlaine.Writer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrookeBlaine1
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brookeblaine1/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1i2g15S

Brooke & Ella’s Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheBrellas
The M/M Daily Grind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941204085967883

If you’d like to be the FIRST to know about a new release, sale, giveaway, or upcoming signings & events, make sure to join Brooke’s mailing list: http://www.BrookeBlaine.com

 

Find me on social media:

FACEBOOK  –  INSTAGRAM  –  GOODREADS  –  TWITTER

 

 

Ah, Truth or Dare was absolutely fabulous!

I love these characters so much and Brooke and Ella just made me love them even more with this last installment in their series. Bash and Kieran are a new favourite couple of mine and I’m sad that their books are all wrapped up now. But damn, what a ride it’s been!

Everything leading up to this moment made it so special!

I’ve been rooting for Bash to find the love of his life for what feels like ages and the fact that he found that with Kieran is amazing. Both of these guys are truly wonderful men and their romance has been a beautiful thing to witness. From friends to lovers, these guys have grown a lot throughout these three books and I was over the moon happy to see them get their happily ever after. These guys had such a profound connection, and chemistry beyond compare and it was clear as day what with how sexy they were. I wish I could read them endlessly…

Sexy, sweet and entirely too addictive, I loved every second of Truth or Dare!

Overall, Brooke and Ella did a lovely job at concluding their story in a great way and while I loved every last thing about Truth or Dare, as always, it’s bittersweet. Nevertheless, I can’t recommend this series enough because it’s just so addictive and sexy. I am giving Truth or Dare 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of m/m romance.

ARC: Saint – Sierra Simone Book Review (Priest #3)

SAINT by Sierra Simone
Release Date: September 7th

Genre/Tropes: M/M/Second-chance romance/Brothers Best Friend/Forbidden Romance

Blurb

I can’t have Elijah Iverson.

I can’t have him because he’s my older brother’s best friend. I can’t have him because I broke his heart five years ago; because he’s now engaged to someone else—someone kind and dependable who deserves his whiskey eyes, his soft mouth, his fierce intellect.

I can’t have Elijah because I’ve chosen God instead.

The Bell brothers, though . . . well, we don’t exactly have the greatest track record with vows. But I’m determined to do this monk thing right—to pledge myself to a cloistered life and spend the rest of my years in chastity and prayer. But now Elijah’s here. He’s here and he’s coming with me on my European monastery road trip, and between the whispered confessions and the stolen kisses and the moments bent over an ancient altar, my vows are feeling flimsier by the day.

And vows or not, I know in my heart that it would take more than a good and holy monk to resist Elijah Iverson right now. It would take a saint.

And we all know that I’m no saint.

**This is the third full-length standalone in the Priest Collection, featuring Father Bell’s brother, Aiden Bell. You do not have to read Priest or Sinner to read Saint.)This is Aiden Bell’s story**

Add to Goodreads
http://bit.ly/Saint_GR

Review

As always, I’m left shell-shocked by Sierra Simone’s unmatched talent and prose.

I don’t quite know where to begin other than that this book was phenomenal. Every time I read a Sierra Simone book, I come away fundamentally changed, like I can’t go back to who I was before reading the book and that I’ll be forever changed going forward. I’m not sure how to really describe that feeling but I will say that it’s a feeling I’ve only felt for one author’s work and that is Sierra Simone. I guess it’s something akin to awe and inspiration so I’ll say this, you must read this book, it is everything and more!

Saint took me by surprise in so many ways and I loved it for that.

I went into this book with tons of excitement. It had been a while since I last read a Sierra Simone book and I was eager to dive in and experience the rush of emotions that was sure to come. What I got was beyond the scope of what I could have expected and it shook me, crushed me and put me back together again.

There is a really tragic and heartbreaking quality and tone to this book. It is ever-present and incredibly powerful. It hangs over moments of happiness, sexy times and anything in between. It was like a cloud just hovering over everything and maybe that’s symbolic but it certainly evoked something in me.

The writing in Saint was incredible. It was truly flawless, seamless perfection with addictive prose and a beautiful, gut-wrenching plot. It’s the kind of writing that builds a story that sucks you in and one that you don’t want to escape. The range of emotions it made me feel was crazy. I was completely and wholeheartedly invested in the story.

The characters as well were phenomenal. I don’t think I’ve ever related to so much with a male character before but man did I ever with Aiden. I could identify with so much of his experience and journey and I loved him instantly. He carved a place into my heart and his special story won’t ever leave me.

Aiden was the epitome of grace, kindness patience and self-awareness. Those things came with time but it’s clear that he embodies those tried wholly. Aiden is the kind of character who inspires with his struggles and triumphs and despite the horrible sadness and heartbreak of his experiences, it was wonderful and uplifting to see the light within him, the fun and charming, happy personality that shone through every so often. He really was an amazing character.

Elijah too was amazing in his own right. His patience, unwavering support and unconditional love were wonderful to see. He was a man with so much dedication, selflessness and heart. Seeing how gentle he was with Aiden and how he cared for him was beautiful. Honestly, their entire relationship was beautiful even when it was heart-rending.

Aiden and Elijah had an immovable connection. It was clear that they were soulmates because, despite hard times, they kept gravitating right back to each other. There was no keeping that chemistry apart, it was just undeniable. Aiden and Elijah had such intense passion and of course a perfectly steamy romance. Sierra Simone did an excellent job weaving the romance into the wider story arc and it was developed extremely well, as were the characters individually. As a whole, the romance was amazing and incredibly satisfying.

I don’t want to ramble on too much about how phenomenal this book was because I could go on for days and probably not even succeed at expressing just how great it truly is so I’ll leave it at that. My only critic is very much a personal thing so take it with a grain of salt. I respect the author’s decision to have Aiden be the main character and the subject of the book because well, it absolutely makes sense given the storyline but in doing that, I feel like I didn’t really get to know Elijah. I got to know Aiden extensively because the book was largely written in his POV but save for a few chapters to glean Elijah’s thoughts, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to really get to know him as deeply as I might have liked to. In the end, that didn’t really bother me too much because I got to know him through Aiden’s eyes to some extent and the book was just so well done that a minor thing like this didn’t really hold any clout.

With impeccable prose and featuring a beautiful, yet heartbreaking love story, Saint is an emotional journey of tragedy, passion, love and so much more.

Overall, everything about this book was amazing and I loved it like everything! Saint just reinforced why I love this author so much and why she is unmatched in my mind and my heart. I am giving Saint 5 incredible stars and would recommend it to everyone but especially fans of m/m romance with forbidden and second-chances romance tropes.

About the Author

Sierra Simone is a USA Today Bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk.) She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

Connect w/Sierra Simone

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ARC: Dare Me – Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank Book Review (Dare to Try #2)

Dare Me, the scorching hot second book in the Dare to Try Trilogy from
USA Today bestselling authors Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine is now live!

Blurb

Dare Me is part two of the Dare to Try trilogy and should only be read after Dare You.

The moment Bash “Miss Razzle Dazzle” Vogel sashayed into Lieutenant Kieran Bailey’s life, both their worlds were turned upside down.

What started as an easy friendship quickly morphed into sizzling chemistry that neither one could deny.

But what Kieran knows better than anyone is that when a fire burns this hot and heavy, someone’s bound to get burned.

Do they dare to risk being together? Or will the flame of this hot match consume them both?

Review

I love this couple so much, it’s crazy… Book number 28 by this duo combined is officially in the bag!

I fell in love with Bash and Kieran’s fiery chemistry in book 1 and this time around, things went to a whole other level. Brooke and Ella did a wonderful job of continuing Bash and Kieran’s incredible romance and I loved every second of Dare Me.

My only qualm was that the book was so short…

I wish this book would have been longer cause I was just so invested in it. When I realized it was nearly over, I had to physically force myself not to procrastinate and just finish it because I really didn’t want it to stop where it did. Dare Me picks up where Dare You ends and has Bash and Kieran navigating the challenges of their new romance. Communication and commitment are two important things in their relationship and we see them take centre stage in the development of their romance. I really loved seeing them take a step forward in their relationship and admit to the fact that there was something special in their connection to one another.

Of course, in true Brooke and Ella fashion, things were very steamy which I loved. There was a nice blend of sexy and sweet and honestly, these guys have just stolen my heart with their cute and flirty banter. Oh man, the mouth on Bash… he is unfiltered and unapologetic and we love him for it. As for Kieran, he can give as good as he gets which makes him the perfect man to face off with Bash and handle his particular kind of charm.

Quick, sexy and full of sweet banter, Dare Me was a lovely continuation to this addictive series.

Overall, I had a really fun time reading Dare Me and getting to see some familiar South Haven faces. Dare Me has only made me that much more excited to read Truth or Dare to see how this phenomenal author duo conclude Bash and Kieran’s wonderful love story. I am giving Dare Me 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of M/M romance.

Dare Me is book two of the Dare to Try trilogy, which must be read in order.
Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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Start the Dare to Try Trilogy today!
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About Ella Frank

Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!” A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.

​Connect with Ella

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2sYAgNc
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2tM6vPy
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Website: https://www.ellafrank.com

 

About Brooke Blaine

Brooke Blaine is a USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance that ranges from comedy to suspense to erotic. The latter has scarred her conservative Southern family for life, bless their hearts. If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find – just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for years. Or you can reach her at http://www.BrookeBlaine.com.

Connect with Brooke

Website: http://www.brookeblaine.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrookeBlaine.Writer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrookeBlaine1
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brookeblaine1/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1i2g15S

Brooke & Ella’s Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheBrellas
The M/M Daily Grind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941204085967883

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ARC: Dare You – Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank Book Review (Dare to Try #1)

Blurb

Dare You, the first book in the all new sexy and playful Dare to Try Trilogy
from USA Today bestselling authors Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine is available now!

From Ella Frank’s Prime Time series and Brooke Blaine’s South Haven series comes an explosive spin-off of both worlds.

Sebastian “Bash” Vogel, the magnetic, cross-dressing CEO of AnaVoge, has long been a lone island when it comes to his personal life. Self-assured and playful, he’s never left wanting for suitors—but Bash isn’t looking for something permanent. He’s more than fulfilled with his company and his closest friends, and no one is going to shake up the status quo.

That is, until he’s thrown over the shoulder of one of Chicago’s finest and hauled out of a burning building.

Kieran Bailey, a sexy, hardworking lieutenant at Station 73, has been reaping the rewards of being crowned the city’s hottest fireman, which his crew never lets him forget. So many ladies, so little time. So when he rescues the latest damsel in distress, no one is more shocked than him to realize he’s played prince charming to another … prince.

But Bash isn’t like anyone Kieran has ever met, and soon his world is turned upside down as he becomes more intrigued by the enigmatic man that he can’t stay away from.

They’re from two different worlds. This could never work. But what if … they dared to try?

Dare You is book one of the Dare to Try trilogy, which must be read in order. Prior
reading is not required, but is always a fantastic idea for maximum enjoyment.

 

Review

Oh, how I would have given anything for this book not to end when it did!

I am a huge fan of Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine and would go as far as to say they are my favorite authors of all time. I say this because I have read more of their books than any other author ever and I have loved every single one. Dare You marks the 27th book I’ve read from this duo combined and it was nothing short of spectacular. I was hooked from the very first page and was hanging off every word until that very last page. I honestly could have read Bash and Kieran’s story for ages without tiring, it was just that addictive.

I flew through Dare You faster than I have any other book by Ella and Brooke…

Which is saying a lot based on how many I’ve read and how much I adore their writing. There was just something about Bash and Kieran that was utterly irresistible. I, like many other South Haven fans, have been waiting with excitement for Bash’s love story. Now that it’s finally come, I can confirm, it was most definitely worth the wait by a long shot.

Ella and Brooke did a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life and exploring their budding relationship. The pacing was perfect for their dynamic and the angst and tension was wonderful and sexy to boot. On the writing front, I wouldn’t have changed anything because it was a perfect introduction to this new trilogy and did have a good level of development for the first book in the series.

As for the characters, they were amazing, of course.

Sebastian Vogel is a fabulous and illustrious man with confidence in spades. He isn’t afraid to flirt with anyone and everyone and he’s quick to speak his mind. In short, Bash is impossible not to love. He’s charismatic, kind, sassy and just a whole lot of fun. His energy is contagious and he just puts a smile on my face with his unfiltered banter.

Kieran Bailey has a heart of gold, dedicating his life to saving others and also firmly standing up for what he believes in. Kieran was an amazing man, he didn’t shy away from Bash’s advances, instead he welcomed them and bantered right back. He was easy to love what with his unwavering supportive and caring personality.

I knew Bash from A Little Bit Like Love, the first book in the South Haven series by Brooke Blaine but I haven’t read A Little Bit Like Desire yet and that was fine, so don’t worry about having to read anything before this series. I knew Kieran from the previous Bailey brother’s books, the last two books in Ella Frank’s Confession series (Henri and Bailey) and her Prime Time series (Inside Affair, Breaking News and Headlines).

Despite having met these characters before, it was only briefly. I didn’t feel like I truly knew very much about Bash and in Dare You we just begin to scratch the surface of who he is. I was happy to finally get to know him but I’m even more excited to continue this series to discover more about who this glamorous man really is. As for Kieran, he was kind of a mystery. Kieran was very much a sidelined character in the other Bailey Brother’s books so I didn’t have any real indication as to who he was beyond being Bailey and Sean’s firefighter brother. In Dare You, I finally got to know Kieran and discover what kind of a man he is, what his personality is like and I honestly fell in love with what we got.

These two guys had so much chemistry and it was clear early on that there was a connection developing between them. Bash and Kieran matched each other’s witt and had a very playful relationship. What started out as a platonic relationship turned into a fiery hot romance and it was epic. There was a whole lot of denying their feelings or fighting them but once they gave in, it was one steamy ride.

Like I said, this book only scratched the surface and I really can’t wait to see where things go. With the way things ended, I’m looking forward to seeing how they approach this next step in their relationship because I have no doubt it’ll amazing!

Sexy, angsty and full of flirtatious banter, Dare You was a fantastic start to what will surely be another incredible series by this super talented author duo!

Overall, I loved everything about this book and hated to have had to finish it. I’ll be waiting patiently for the next one because it’ll surely be worth the short wait. I am giving Dare You 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of m/m romance!

P.S. I love getting to visit other characters from previous books so seeing lots of couples show up in this book was a lovely little treat that had me smiling from ear to ear.

 

Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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Reserve the second book in the trilogy!

Dare Me

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Reserve the third book in the trilogy!

Truth or Dare

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Add Truth or Dare to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3kSS2Ke

 

About Ella Frank

Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!” A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary and erotic fiction. Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Philips.

​Connect with Ella

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2sYAgNc
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2tM6vPy
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2TbuBOf

Stay up to date with Ella by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2FFDzeI

Website: https://www.ellafrank.com

 

About Brooke Blaine

Brooke Blaine is a USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance that ranges from comedy to suspense to erotic. The latter has scarred her conservative Southern family for life, bless their hearts. If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find – just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for years. Or you can reach her at http://www.BrookeBlaine.com.

Connect with Brooke

Website: http://www.brookeblaine.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrookeBlaine.Writer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrookeBlaine1
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brookeblaine1/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1i2g15S

Brooke & Ella’s Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheBrellas
The M/M Daily Grind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/941204085967883

If you’d like to be the FIRST to know about a new release, sale, giveaway, or upcoming signings & events, make sure to join Brooke’s mailing list: http://www.BrookeBlaine.com

 

Find me on social media:

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ARC – Lessons in Sin – Pam Godwin Book Review

Lessons in Sin by Pam Godwin is now live! 

Blurb

There’s no absolution for the things I’ve done.
But I found a way to control my impulses.
I became a priest.

As Father Magnus Falke, I suppress my cravings. As the headteacher of a Catholic boarding school, I’m never tempted by a student.

Until Tinsley Constantine.

The bratty princess challenges my rules and awakens my dark nature. With each punishment I lash upon her, I want more. In my classroom, private rectory, and bent over my altar, I want all of her.

One touch risks everything I stand for. My faith. My redemption. And even my life.

As if that could stop me. I need her pain, and her heart, and she needs my lessons in sin.

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/33yV6Bf

Review

This book was completely addictive and frankly one of the best written forbidden romances that I’ve ever read!

Pam Godwin is one of my favourite authors of all time and I’ll blindly and happily read anything and everything she writes. I’ve read several of her novels and know just how addictive and beautifully written they are so when I picked this one up, I knew I was in for something epic that would consume every second of my life. Lessons in Sin did exactly that, from the very first chapter, I was sucked right into this breathtaking story and I didn’t want to put it down. I procrastinated so hard toward the end because I just didn’t want to finish it because wow, this book was something special!

First, I’d like to point out that this book is part of the Midnight Dynasty series which is a multi-author series. I didn’t know about this series before reading Lessons in Sin and so didn’t read any of those books before this one. That in no way affected my reading as all the books standalone but Tinsely’s brothers, I believe, feature in their own books throughout the series. Alright, carry on…

As a fan of forbidden romance, Lessons in Sin ticked all my boxes.

I am a forbidden romance super fan but honestly, Pam Godwin excels at these student/teacher age-gap romances. She has a way with words that is just beyond anything I’ve read before and I’m just utterly captivated by her stories. She creates such heart-wrenching stories with wonderfully developed, complex characters and a romance that just takes your breath away. Pam Godwin’s writing is simply put, poignant, addictive and in a league of its own. Her talent knows no bounds!

Now, the writing and execution of this book were great. I have nothing but positive comments on this front. The pacing was perfect for the story and the plot developed nicely. I guess you could say there was some angst and build up at the beginning of the story which I think worked extremely well for the way things would progress and there really wasn’t a single aspect of the story that felt rushed or dull so as a whole this was a perfectly executed story.

As for the content, it was spot on. I was wholeheartedly invested in Tinsley and Magnus’s relationship. It was full of tension, insane chemistry, unspeakably steamy sexy times and an undeniable romantic connection. Tinsely was a great heroine. She was strong, outgoing, bold and wasn’t afraid of letting herself be vulnerable. She stood up for herself and humbly accepted the care that was offered to her without being bratty or too standoffish. She was mature for her age yet young at heart and definitely the kind of heroine that I gravitate towards. Magnus, oh Magnus, how I loved him. The man was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome, but there was so much more to him than meets the eye. Magnus was intelligent, caring unwavering, protective and possessive. The man knew exactly what he liked and what he wanted and though he had waves of patience, nerves of steel and restraint like no other, I especially loved that once he gave in to his feelings for Tinsely, that he didn’t try to deny it or chalk it up to her teenage fantasies or something equally as petty. He was all in and that devotion was heady and made for an exciting romance.

Speaking of the romance, holy smokes it was hot hot hot. The steam was on a whole other level and that in combination with their undeniable chemistry made things even sexier. Tinsely and Magnus had an immediate connection. It wasn’t necessarily romantic or even sexual, it was just something that was there, a sort of tension that showed that these two people had a spark that was just waiting to be ignited into a flame and boy did it ever burn. Tinsely and Magnus just fit together so well and were truly soulmates, both filling a void in each other’s lives and being exactly what the other needed. They understood each other and supported one another and honestly, what they had was off the charts special, they were so in sync and just beautiful. They had many things that forced them to hide their romance like the obvious “forbidenness” of it all, but there was more at stake than just that. I enjoyed the sneaking around because it made it all the more intense and gripping. There was also a gritty element to their romance and the story also had a bit of a suspenseful or darker undertone. That isn’t to say the story is dark because it isn’t, but the vibes are kind of suspenseful and a bit gloomy. There also some fun moments and other things, it’ll definitely have you feeling an array of emotions.

Sexy, addictive and impeccably written, Lessons in Sin is a beautiful, intense forbidden romance with amazing, complex characters.

Overall, Lessons in Sin was a phenomenal read and I really didn’t want to have to say goodbye to these characters. Everything about this book called to the romance reader inside me and it was exactly the type of story I love to lose myself in. I am giving Lessons in Sin 5 incredible stars and would recommend it to fans of forbidden romance with a student/teacher trope.

“Nothing is going to prevent me from being with you in the way I’ve only ever been in my dreams.”

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!

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Apple Books: https://apple.co/3vPjVFg

Nook: https://bit.ly/2UyH2qg

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3f8ANAa

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3f83JYU

Meet Pam

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Pam Godwin, lives in the Midwest with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band.
Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes. 

Connect with Pam

Website: https://pamgodwin.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6474204.Pam_Godwin

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pam-Godwin/e/B00A3AF2LY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamgodwinbooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadBetweenTheWinesStreetTeam

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pam-godwin

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pamgodwinauthor

 

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ARC: A Gorgeous Villain – Saffron A. Kent Book Review (St. Mary’s Rebels #2)

BLURB

Two years ago, Reed Jackson betrayed Calliope Thorne and broke her heart. So she stole his most prized possession – a white mustang – and drove it into the lake for revenge.

Now, Callie is stuck at a reform school while Reed is off at college, living his life without repercussions.

Until he comes back.

With him comes back all the feelings that Callie has been trying to bury: anger and heartbreak.

But most of all, desire. At the sight of his beautiful but lying lips and his gunmetal gray eyes that still taunt and smolder when he looks at her.

Whatever though. It’s not as if Callie is ever going to fall for her ex-boyfriend again. Or let him corner her in a bar one night and touch her, kiss her…

Neither is she going to kiss him back. Or worse, sleep with him.

Because that would make her naïve and foolish.

Oh, and also pregnant.

And there’s no way Callie is ever going to get pregnant at eighteen and with Reed’s baby, no less. The guy she hates.

The guy who taught her all about heartbreak. Who might look like a gorgeous hero but really is the villain of her story.

REVIEW

A Gorgeous Villain was one heck of a chunky book!

If you’re into long books, I’m talking 700+ pages, then this book might be for you. However, if the thought of this makes you cringe then maybe stay away…

I am no stranger to Saffron A. Kent, in fact, The Unrequited and Medicine Man are two of my all time favorite books. I was really hoping to adore this book as much as those ones because the premise was so exciting but, like many others, something didn’t quite work and it fell short in many areas. That isn’t to say it wasn’t a fun read, it was just a little stilted and I wasn’t as consumed by it as I would have liked to have been.

The story started off strong but dropped off after awhile…

In my opinion, the first half of the book was really well done. I enjoyed seeing Callie stand up to Reed and making him work for her. It was refreshing to see her stand her ground and not immediately fall to her knees for Reed especially after how he treated her at the end of the prequel novella. As for Reed, he didn’t surprise me at all. He was pretty much the exact same as he was in the prequel. Their romance was nice in the beginning because of the angst and tension between them. I liked the push and pull, the forbidden aspect of their relationship and the fact that they had to navigate the hate her brother’s held for Reed. However, come the second half of the book with the surprise pregnancy, things started to stagnate. At this point, this is where my issues with the book started to shine through and frankly, I wasn’t able to ignore them or make excuses for them either.

In my review of the prequel, I mentioned an issue with repetition and description that was often unnecessary or filler. I attributed this to the fact that it was a prequel setting up for a full length novel and hoped that this wouldn’t persist throughout AGV but alas, it was very much a pervasive issue. The repetition in words, sentences and general statements/ideas quickly became too much. Then there was the overuse of adjectives to describe Reed as well as her brothers and their overprotectiveness. It got to a point where I was like, I understand that his eyes are like so and so and her brothers are like so and so… It was like I was being reminded at every corner and I didn’t need those reminders at all. This got to a point where the content of the story was just dry and didn’t evolve or develop and as such the characters and their romance didn’t either, at least not to a satisfactory extent.

Ultimately, from a substance point of view, AGV fell short particularly in comparison to the author’s other novels. However, if I look at this book in isolation and ignore the issues with the content and writing, then it was pretty fun especially if you like very dramatic stories. If you’re a fan of high school/college romances, which I tend not to be, then this might be right up your alley. I just feel like I may have had higher expectations based on precedent.

Filled with drama and angst, A Gorgeous Villain was a pretty good continuation of this series with both highs and lows.

Overall, I had an ok time reading this book. I had high hopes for what it would be but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I really enjoyed the first half but the second was a little dull. The plot itself was good but the execution is where I had my issues. The writing was just much too repetitive, heavy on the description and long-winded. It did make me excited for the rest of this series and the rest of the side character’s stories though so that counts for something. Overall, because of the back and forth, I am giving A Gorgeous Villain 4 stars. I wavered between a 3.75 and a 4 but I settled on 4 because I never felt like DNFing or giving up on it. There was always something that kept me coming back and so I feel like for that, I’ve got to bump it up that little bit. I would recommend AGV to fans of forbidden, second-chance romance and any fan of Saffron A. Kent.