Winning Appeal by N.M Silber Review

2 stars out of 5
I'm so disappointed. I love this series, and was expecting so much more than what I got.

Synopsis:
"Once upon a time, a good girl who wanted to be naughty, met a naughty boy who wanted to be good...
Beth Pierce, is the Director of Fundraising for her older brother's new legal non-profit. She spends her weekends fighting off lecherous men at charity galas and her weekdays trying to hide her attraction for a certain sexy young attorney in her office.
Mark Patterson, is the object of Beth's desire. He spends his weekends having casual encounters with women and his weekdays trying not to think about how gorgeous, smart, and sexy Beth is. Because not only is Beth his colleague, she's the younger sister of one of his closest friends.

When Mark is assigned to escort Beth to those weekend galas, they both quickly realize that things could get very interesting. Will Beth be as naughty as she would like to be? Can Mark be as good as he wants to be? Even if they give in to their desire for each other, how can they risk romance when so much is at stake?"


I have been looking forward to this book for what feels like forever, but after reading it I feel like it was such a let down. Even though it wasn't unreadable there was still more that I disliked than I liked.
**It is upsetting because this book was supposed to be released in September, but the author pushed it back to rework and fit in Mark's point of view. I loved that Nadine did this and felt grateful that an author really listened to her readers, and also wanted to put out quality to work. But this was not at all what I was expecting. Given the delay I would have expected much more than what I got.**

What I had problems with:
-The fact that this was a novella, and was never labeled as one. I feel sort of tricked, because everywhere that I looked at regarding this book never categorized it as a novella. I went into reading this thinking that I was getting a full novel and a full story, but sadly this was not the case. I didn't find this out until finishing the book and then seeing the end page say "Winning Appeal: Lawyers in Love novella". I mean Adam and Lily's wedding was a novella(that I loved!), and that felt like much more of a story than this did.

-How rushed the story felt. I don't know if this was because it was a novella or what, but this story felt so rushed and fast paced that I couldn't full enjoy what was happening. One minute she was distracted and injuring him, and the next they were dating/making plans to have sex, and then dealing with a stolen painting. It all felt so clumped together and really took away from what could have been an awesome book.

-The lack of "lawyering". In most if not all of the other books in the series there was some court room time, and I really enjoyed those aspects but in this one there was none. One scene had Adam and Mark outside of a courtroom but other than that nothing. I get that Beth isn't a lawyer but the series is based on lawyers so it felt a little odd not having any of that in the book.

-Braden. I have no idea what happened because I usually love him, but in this book he made me so annoyed. He overstepped his bounds as a brother multiple times and it made me slightly uncomfortable. Beth is a grown ass woman she doesn't need her brother setting parameters on her sex life with her boyfriend. I loved that Beth told Mark how she felt about that and stood her ground that she was capable of making decisions in her life regarding him. The whole asking for Braden's blessing was also something that rubbed me the wrong way. Braden constantly made Mark feel guilty for kissing Beth...his girlfriend. They weren't doing anything wrong but Braden made Mark feel that they were and it really annoyed me.

-The mystery. It felt so blah, I really did not care about what was happening and who it was happening to. It honestly felt like a filler and not really like a thought out plot point.

What I liked:
-The mint scene. I was laughing so hard especially with the limo driver Louis tackling Mark for safety. I can't get over how hilarious and ridiculous that whole scene was!

-Mark and Beth. I thought they were very cute together and they seemed like a good fit. I like how much they both liked each other, and once they were able to relax around each other it was easy to tell how great they were going to be together. I think this is why I am so disappointed, I liked them so much and felt like their book did them no justice.

Final thoughts

Don't let my let my opinions keep you from reading this book and/or series. I hope you get more enjoyment out of it than I did.
**I am so excited for Abby and Jacob's book! I am truly hopeful that it will be better than this one was.**

Perfect Imperfections by Cardeno C. Review

4.5 stars out of 5

I am obsessed with this book and can't stop smiling!

Synopsis:

"Hollywood royalty Jeremy Jameson has lived a sheltered life with music as his sole focus and only friend. Before embarking on yet another international concert tour, he wanders into a bar in what he considers the middle of nowhere and meets a man who wins him over with his friendly smile and easy-going nature. Accountant slash bartender slash adventure-seeker Reg Moore has fun talking and drinking with The Jeremy Jameson and can’t say no when the supposedly straight rock star makes him a once in a lifetime offer: keep him company on his tour by playing the part of his boyfriend. 

Listening to music, traveling the world, and jumping off cliffs is fun. Falling in love is even better. But to stay with Jeremy after the stage lights dim, Reg will need to help him realize there’s nothing pretend about their relationship."

Wow.. I was not expecting how much I was going to fall in love with this book, the story, and Jeremy & Reg♥

This absolutely met and surpassed my expectations, and I was sad when it was over. This is definitely going to be one of my go-to comfort rereads :)
**Prepare for a long winded review filled with major gushing**

What I loved:

-Everything! The fact that there was no unnecessary angst, drama, miscommunication, etc. Reg and Jeremy were friends and just perfect for each other. There was that nice slow burn GFY attraction(on Jeremy's side of the relationship, because Reg has been out since he was a teen), and the sexual tension was perfect and just the right amount.

-Their communication. I loved that they actually talked to each other. This was not one of those insta-fuck turn insta-love books; this book was friendship, attraction, and realization (by my little sweet cranky Jeremy) of said attraction. I love that there was no "I can't be gay" freak out that leads to one character hurting the other with a cold shoulder brush off. There was just an acceptance and reciprocation of love, and a recognition that his friend is the only one that truly gets him and actually wants to understand him.

-Believable friendship and love! This is sometimes a hard thing to write, but the author did it beautifully! I truly believed and felt that these men were very close friends, I could just feel the love that they had for each other, and I loved watching that close bond morph into a romantic love. I loved that Jeremy could be a grumpy little shit and Reg was the only one who could deal with it. They were just so well paired and complementary to one another.

-The smooth sailing the couple had. There was no fight, no break up, no heartache, nothing and I loved that so much! I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop, but no I was worried for no reason and that made me beyond happy; I can't stand when the inevitable break up/separation happens and I found it so refreshing that the author didn't go that route.

-Their age gap. It was not that large of a gap about 5 years or so, but I loved that Reg(the younger man) was the one who was more dominant and in control of the situations with Jeremy's managers and all the PR people. I loved that Reg took care of Jeremy and was able to make him happy and more relaxed. It is usually the older man taking care of the younger and it was nice to see the opposite, again I found this refreshing. The author does these subtle strays from the romance norms and I really appreciate them.

-The men themselves. They were both just so likable that I wanted them to both have a HEA and it made it 20x better that it was to each other. Reg just was so sweet and caring and I just love him! He totally got Jeremy and just genuinely wanted to take care of his friend and make sure that he was happy and having a good time. Oh Jeremy my love, he was so cranky and innocent, and just so lovable! All he really needed was someone who loved him and a few snuggles and cuddles(me too man). Can I just say that I love when characters are self aware. I loved that Jeremy knew what his flaws were and he wasn't oblivious to being a pain in the ass at times, because there is nothing worse than a character(and person) who does not know what a little shit they can be. He was aware and addressed his concerns with Reg about never wanting to take him for granted. The communication in this book was just on point and made the characters feel so real. Sidenote: I really adored how territorial Jeremy was of Reg.

-I also was a fan that terms like "needy" and "grouchy" were not necessarily seen as negative. Because when I'm not in a good mood I can be grouchy & grumpy, and I am totally needy for cuddles and hugs when I am in a relationship. I mean who doesn't enjoy being wrapped up in your partner's arms or tangled with them on a couch or in bed.


What made me not give a 5 star:
-What led Reg to going on tour with Jeremy. I mean they were strangers, granted they did talk a lot that night, but still that was the first night that they had met. To just invite a stranger to pretend to be your boyfriend in order to not be lonely on tour was a bit unrealistic for me to fully believe.

-The whole situation with Frederic? Francis? I can't remember that dude's name but that was kind of unbelievable that he wasn't fired right after it was found out he was the one pulling all of the shenanigans.

-The unknown time lapses. It was kind of disorienting because time would go by and you wouldn't know until one of the characters thought about how many months on tour it had been. I mean it's really not that big of a deal and it didn't ruin my experience reading, but I could have done with out it.

Final thoughts

Recommend like crazy!! Go out and read this book. It is so good, and fun, and just smile inducing!

Overflow by Brynne Asher Review

1.5 - 2 stars out of 5
I am so sad that this didn't turn out how I wanted it to. I really was looking forward to this book.

Synopsis:
"Gabrielle Carpino has forced herself to move through the motions of life over the past few years since tragedy touched her family. Closing herself off from living her life and refusing to look in the future has become her norm...that is until one day at a clients home where she's thrown into a tailspin of craziness! 

Gabby's awakening begins as she is cuffed and patted down by Special Agent Jude Ortiz, with his dark chocolate eyes and a commanding bossy way that Gabby just can't resist. When Jude's protective instincts kick in, he finds himself wrestling feelings he hasn't allowed in years and he moves in to watch over Gabrielle. Between battling criminals, flooded basements, fantasy football drafts and Gabby's crazy family, Jude finds himself unable to resist her beauty and quirkiness. 

What begins to look like a chance at happiness for Gabby and sexy Jude Ortiz, it could all be ripped away when past demons are forced into the light. Jude fights off the demons around them creating a safe place for Gabby to allow herself to overflow and live again."



I am just so disappointed. I read so many great reviews, but what I read was the complete opposite. I was so prepared for a fun book with love and action, but instead I got a book that was so choppy I didn't understand what was going on. I in no way felt the connection between the characters until I got to the end, that was when I felt Jude's feelings towards Gabby and how much he cared for her. 

What I liked:
-The epilogue. I really loved getting a look at their life together in the mountain "cabin" with all of their kids. It was a really sweet ending, I really loved seeing the bond and love that they all had for each other. If only the rest of the book was as cute and sweet as this was.

-How Jude called Gabby "sugar". That is one of my favorite terms of endearment that I feel isn't really used that much, and I thought it was really a cute name to have other than the generic "baby". 

-How close Gabby's family was with each other. I come from a very close and loving family so whenever I read about one it really makes me smile and understand exactly how the character feels. Yes her family was a little overbearing, but nothing that felt unbelievable or unrealistic.

What I had problems with:
-How so many of the plot points felt so random and out of nowhere. I don't know if it's because they weren't introduced sooner or if they just weren't fully fleshed out. For example *SPOILER*her parent's accident wasn't really an accident.*END OF SPOILER* There was no lead up to this and it randomly was tossed out in conversation. It was just so weird, and it just didn't fit the story. And then there was all the drama that went with that revelation: the kidnapping, the shoot out, and the reasoning why it was done.

-The prologue. About half way through reading the book I suddenly realized that I had no idea what the prologue had to do with what I was reading. It was just so unexplained until the tail end of the book, and even then it still felt out of place.

-Gabby and Jude's relationship. There was no lead up or slow burn, or anything. One minute they meet, the next he stays over to protect her, and the next they are hard core grinding and making out. It was all so out of nowhere, yes they had sexual tension but it felt so forced and rushed. It wasn't really until the end that I could feel and see how much Jude cared about her.

-Gabby. For the longest time I really just didn't like how she handled things and wouldn't take things seriously. She would constantly "stall" important conversations by asking or saying stupid things, instead of asking or answering Jude what he wanted to know. She also would constantly second guess him to the point where he was so frustrated that he would sit her down and be like: I really like you and I want to be here. What more can I say for you to believe me and stop questioning us?? And I was in the same boat as Jude it got really annoying and old fast.

-Jude and his big secret. Dude what the fuck? Share important things like this with your partner because no matter what secrets come out and you will have no control how the information gets out. If he just told Gabby I'm sure she would have been understanding, but with the way it came out it seemed like Jude was lying and thought of her only as a piece of ass and not someone he wanted a future with. That whole situation was fucked up, and I felt horrible for Gabby and how she was treated and talked to by Connor.

Final thoughts

Don't let my feelings change yours or your desire to read the book. A lot of other people loved this book, I unfortunately wasn't one of them.
**I'm not sure if I will read the next one in the series, it's about Gabby's cousin Tony. He really intrigued me so we will see.**

Laurel Heights by Lisa Worrall Review

3 stars out of 5
I enjoyed it *with a caveat*


Synopsis:
"Detectives Scott Turner and Will Harrison are sent undercover after an apparent murder/suicide in Laurel Heights, an exclusive gay housing community. Will the two closeted officers be able to hide their attraction while each believing the other is straight? And is there a killer amongst them waiting to claim his next victim?"


I almost gave it 4 stars but I felt like it took a long time for Scott and Will to pull their heads out of their asses and own up to being attracted to each other. And then the whole revelation that they've been in love was just too much for me to believe. Plus there were a few little things that picked at me.


*Now for the caveat: I did not read the epilogue. I saw the first sentence of it and decided that it was not for me. Funnily enough, this was the main complaint that I saw other reviewers had with the book.

What I liked:
-The murder mystery and setting. That whole concept of a suspicious murder of people who were so in love I thought that it was such a good idea. I really enjoyed that it took place in a gated community; I think that the setting really upped the "who can it be" question, and it made me really suspicious of everyone. Plus, gated communities have that stereotype of being mysterious and very gossipy and I really enjoyed that that was really present in this book.

-The undercover assignment. This was something that I really loved because it made both men rely on each other, and it caused them to live and hang out with a potential killer. It added to the creepy unsafe feeling that I had while reading. I also enjoyed the fact that these two closeted men had to "pretend" to be gay.


What I was not a fan of:
-It really made me uncomfortable that both of Scott and Will's partners shared their secret with the other. Obviously those men did not tell people for a reason. And to just dismiss the trust that they had and go tell someone else really made me upset. And when both of the ladies were sort of confronted they acted as if it wasn't a big deal that they had broken the trust. I don't know but it just left a bad taste in my mouth after reading that, and having no apology or at least even a little acknowledgement that they were sorry was just not okay to me.

-Who the killer was. It felt really random and I had to look back and try to remind myself who the person even was. The killer was so un-rememberable that the "big reveal" fell flat for me, and had me scratching my head to remind myself who the guy even was. The killer felt like such a caricature that he just didn't feel believable. Yes it was disturbing to read the things that he did and the torture he was doing to another member of the community but it just felt so forced.

-As I stated before, the length of time it took to reveal that they were both gay and attracted to each other. 

-The fact that they were already in love with each other felt so fake to me.

-The little "parties" that the community would have. That all just felt odd and sort of out of left field, and the fact that the cops semi participated was also odd. I don't mind the swingers aspect or the added sexual partners, but it all felt very forced and just did not fit with the story in my opinion.

Final thoughts

If you can get passed the little things here and there you will definitely enjoy this book. The mystery part kept me on my toes the whole time.

Coming soon...

2014 releases that I am so excited for:
**click on titles for links to its Goodreads page**
November-

Winning Appeal by N.M Silber (part of the Lawyers in Love series)
November 24th 2014
"Beth Pierce, is the Director of Fundraising for her older brother's new legal non-profit. She spends her weekends fighting off lecherous men at charity galas and her weekdays trying to hide her attraction for a certain sexy young attorney in her office.
Mark Patterson, is the object of Beth's desire. He spends his weekends having casual encounters with women and his weekdays trying not to think about how gorgeous, smart, and sexy Beth is. Because not only is Beth his colleague, she's the younger sister of one of his closest friends.
When Mark is assigned to escort Beth to those weekend galas, they both quickly realize that things could get very interesting. Will Beth be as naughty as she would like to be? Can Mark be as good as he wants to be? Even if they give in to their desire for each other, how can they risk romance when so much is at stake?"

Light My Fire by G.A Aiken (part of the Dragon Kin series)
November 25th 2014
"The trouble with humans is that they're far too sensitive. Forget you put a woman in the local jail for a few months--and she takes it so personally! And yet she is the one trying to assassinate the queen. And now I'm trapped with Elina Shestakova of the Black Bear Riders of the Midnight…gods! That endless name!
But what am I to do? I am Celyn the Charming with direct orders from my queen to protect this unforgiving female.
Even more shocking, this unforgiving female is completely unimpressed by me. How is that even possible? But I know what I want and, for the moment, I want her. And I'm sure that she, like all females, will learn to adore me. How could she not when I am just so damn charming?"
**This series is very hit and miss, for me, but with the ending of the last one I can't wait to get my hands on this one.**

December-

Amour Amour by Krista and Becca Ritchie (standalone)
December 12th 2014 
"The best aerial technique won’t land 21-year-old Thora James her dream role in Amour—a sexy new acrobatic show on the Vegas strip. Thora knows she’s out of her element the second she meets Amour’s leading performer. Confident, charming and devilishly captivating, 26-year-old Nikolai Kotova lives up to his nickname as the “God of Russia.”
When Thora unknowingly walks into the crosshairs of Nikolai’s after-show, her audition process begins way too soon. Unprofessional. That’s what Nik calls their “non-existent” relationship. It’s not like Thora can avoid him. For one, they may be partners in the future--acrobaticpartners, that is. But getting closer to Nik means diving deeper into sin city and into his dizzying world. 
Thora wants to perform with him, but when someone like Nikolai attracts the spotlight wherever he goes—Thora fears that she’s destined to be just background to his spellbinding show."
**The authors have described this as Cirque du Soleil meet Center Stage**


The Game Plan by R.L Mathewson (part of the Neighbor from Hell series)
December 27th 2014
No blurb posted yet.









Wild and Free By Kristen Ashley (last installment of the Three series)
December 29th 2014
"Abel Jin and Delilah Johnson have lived their lives with a hole in their soul, yearning for something they don’t understand. 
Until one night Delilah is in mortal danger and a man who’s otherworldly strong and supernaturally fast saves her. Delilah is then cast into a world where fiction comes to life in the form of Abel, her destined mate, a vampire/werewolf hybrid who claims her at first breath as his. 
But Abel knows the danger isn’t done. He’s dreamed for centuries that his mate will perish and he will stop at nothing to keep her safe. 

For Delilah, she’s not only coping with fantasy come to life, but a mingling of very different families. Not to mention, she has on her hands a man who doesn’t understand his true nature and has lived his long life thinking he’s a monster. 
Abel and Delilah together fills the hole that has been clawing at them for decades. But finally finding each other, it also tips their destinies as the last of The Three. They must unite with the other destined lovers, who with Abel and Delilah, are fated to save the world. Or die trying."



The Two Gentlemen of Altona by Lisa Henry and J.A Rock (first book of the Playing the Fool series)
December 29th 2014
"Mischief, thou art afoot.
Special Agent Ryan “Mac” McGuinness is having a rough week. Not only is he on a new diet, but he’s also been tasked with keeping Henry Page—the world’s most irritating witness—alive. Which is tough when Mac’s a breath away from killing the Shakespeare-quoting, ethically-challenged, egg-obsessed Henry himself. Unless killing isn’t really what Mac wants to do to him.

Con man Henry Page prefers to keep his distance from the law . . . though he wouldn’t mind getting a little closer to uptight, handsome Agent McGuinness. As the sole witness to a mob hit, Henry’s a valuable asset to the FBI. But he’s got his own agenda, and it doesn’t involve testifying.
When evidence surfaces of a mole in the FBI office, Mac and Henry are forced to go into hiding. Holed up in a fishing cabin, they’re surprised to discover that their feelings run more than skin deep. But as the mob closes in, Henry has to make his escape. And Mac has to decide how far he’s willing to go to keep Henry by his side."

Rack & Ruin by Charlie Cochet Review

4.5 stars out of 5

I was so in love with this series already, but this book cemented my eternal love.

Synopsis:
"New York City’s streets are more dangerous than ever with the leaderless Order of Adrasteia and the Ikelos Coalition, a newly immerged Therian group, at war. Innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire and although the THIRDS round up more and more members of the Order in the hopes of keeping the volatile group from reorganizing, the members of the Coalition continue to escape and wreak havoc in the name of vigilante justice. 

Worse yet, someone inside the THIRDS has been feeding the Coalition information. It’s up to Destructive Delta to draw out the mole and put an end to the war before anyone else gets hurt. But to get the job done, the team will have to work through the aftereffects of the Therian Youth Center bombing. A skirmish with Coalition members leads Agent Dexter J. Daley to a shocking discovery and suddenly it becomes clear that the random violence isn’t so random. There’s more going on than Dex and Sloane originally believed, and their fiery partnership is put to the test. As the case takes an explosive turn, Dex and Sloane are in danger of losing more than their relationship"



This book had pretty much everything that I adore: cute boyfriends, amazing friendships, bonding moments, surprising twists in relationships, some angst, an ending that will leave you anxiously waiting for the next book, and of course Dex♥

I am so in awe of this world that Charlie created, it is so complex that it feels real. The characters in every book, but especially in this one, have such real reactions and emotions that your heart totally goes out to them. There is some trouble in paradise for a couple of our beloved couples: Cobbs and Cash. There are a couple new relationships starting to form and I cannot wait to see where it goes with Lou/Bradley and Zach/Austen.

What I really loved:
-Sloane and Dex as a couple. I feel like this is the first book where we see them able to be boyfriends, without any real questioning or guilt (Sloane I'm looking at you). It was really refreshing for them, because I feel like we never get the chance to see them just relax & be comfortable in their relationship, now that they are "officially" boyfriends you can sense that ease. I have to say that Sloane usually frustrates me (in the best way, love you boo) but in this book I felt no frustration (well except for one teensy part). He and Dex were just so easy together that it made me so happy and comfortable for them.

-Dex and Ash. I thought that they were really great in this one together, their dynamic changed towards the end and I felt so thrilled about that. I can't wait to read the next one and see how that effects Dex and Cael's relationship.

- SSA Austen. He was such an adorable and flirty little thing. I loved how he was in the opener of the book and just stole the scene, making Hobbs blush and referring to Sloane as Agent Broody that was hilarious! I am so excited to see more of him in future books and how his relationship with Zach progresses. It will be fun to watch a big bear and flirty but skittish cheetah end up together.

-Dex making Sloane purr while human was the most adorable thing ever, and it needs to happen again!

-Tony chopping off someone's luscious locks.

-Believe it or not I liked the ending. Even though it has me anxiously counting down the days until the next one, I felt like it was necessary. It further cemented this new closer bond between Dex and Ash and it really gives us a reason to hate the antagonist of the next book, it shows that this man does not give a shit and will do anything to take down those who cross him. And I don't know about you guys but I enjoy a crazy villain that tries to kill people most would try and stay far away from.

Now what I wasn't too excited about:
-Cael and Sloane at one point (readers you will know which point I'm talking about). I understand that it was a disagreement and they both felt bad after it happened but poor Dex is always there for everyone and I think that they all need to be reminded not to take him for granted. I just wanted Dex to snap and show people that he is not an emotional punching bag or the comic relief.

-There wasn't a lot of Tony and I get that he isn't a part of the core focus but I kind of missed scenes with him and wanted some more.

-The scenes with Dr. I-can't-remember-his-name. It made me very uncomfortable, I do not like him as a character because I feel that he is constantly chalking up Sloane's pain from childhood as "necessary" and "not as bad as it could have been". He never took any accountability for any of the pain and suffering that the first gen therians went through and sounded very unapologetic. These poor kids were basically in a prison that tortured and tested on them, it just all feels really skeevy and I definitely feel that Sloane (and Ash) are justified in their pain and anger.  I don't know how to explain it but I just am not a fan and hope he isn't a big part of future books.

Final thoughts

If I had to say one thing about this series it's that it sucks you in from the very first page, and you don't want to leave it. If you have not read the series before I definitely recommend that you do, you will not regret it!

Book website: http://thirdshq.com/
The author has a Pinterest that has everything about the series: http://www.pinterest.com/charliecochet/