Troubleshooters: Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann Review

4 stars
I'm not going to lie I legit skimmed the m/f couple and focused all my attention on the breath taking love story of Jules and Robin. 

Synopsis:
"Florida private investigator and ex-cop Ric Alvarado's life is spiraling out of control. His beautiful new girl Friday, Annie Dugan, is far more interested in fieldwork than filing, and despite Ric's best efforts to ignore the attraction, sparks are flying between them. Then one of Ric's clients turns femme fatale and tries to gun down an innocent man. Thanks to quick thinking and even quicker reflexes, Ric comes to the rescue, only to learn he's done a very good deed for some very bad people. Suddenly Ric finds himself deep undercover with Annie, working for notorious crime boss Gordon Burns. One mistake from Ric's painfully inexperienced partner and they're both dead. 

FBI agent Jules Cassidy's life isn't in much better shape. For years the FBI has been trying to prove Gordon Burns's ties to terrorist activity. Now, thanks to Ric and Annie, Jules has found a way into the lion's den. But in the course of his investigation he comes face-to-face with Robin Chadwick, the charismatic but self-destructive and closeted movie star for whom Jules feels a powerful attraction. Robin's in town promoting his latest film and Gordon Burns is a star-struck movie buff. With Robin and Jules's help, Ric and Annie are soon entrenched in Burns' organization, surrounded by killers who may already have executed an FBI infiltrator. Before long the couple realizes that many more lives besides their own will be at stake if they make a false move. As the heat between them reaches dangerous levels, so do the risks they're willing to take-in the line of duty, for the sake of loyalty, and in the name of something that runs even deeper."

Dude. This put my heart through a fucking meat grinder, but the end was definitely worth it. This book is definitely a journey of self discovery, self awareness, and love. These two guys really took their damn time getting their (Robin's) shit together. But can I just say again how worth it it was. I'm not kidding for the last few pages I had a perma grin/swoony face. 

I loved how clear it was to the readers how much Jules and Robin loved each other. I really like that just because they loved each so much didn't mean that life and real life problems were ignored and the HEA was a clear shot. Far from it. I think what was my favorite part, was the absolute realness of real life problems complicating real loving feelings. It showed that love is not just some easy fix that makes it all better. This couple was honest and portrayed honest circumstances. Life is fucking hard and complicated and really shitty at times; this book didn't shy away from all the lovely things life rains down on you but at the same time it also didn't ignore happy endings.

The one thing, well main thing, that I had a problem with was all of the odd(sort of random) homophobic stereotypes that kept getting brought up by Ric and Marrtell? Marelle? I don't know that guy's name at all. I know that the "epiphanies" that the stereotypes were fake were used to show how dumb it is to judge people based on what sex organ gets them going. But honestly it felt like too much and it all really annoyed me. Like it was just stupid shit like, "wow dick to a gay man must be like vag for a straight man. How odd." And this kind of shit popped up so many times.

Final thoughts:
Read this book. Jules and Robin are so worth it and I guess if you want to read the parts with the annoying twosome(Ric & Annie...okay they're not that bad) have at it.

Troubleshooters: All Through the Night and Beginnings and Ends by Suzanne Brockmann Review

**Since Beginnings and Ends is a very short book I'm going to lump it in with All Through the Night.

All Through the Night
4.5 stars
What a beautiful ending to such an amazing couple. Jules and Robin are probably my all time favorite couple; not only in this series, but books in general. 

Synopsis:
"It's Christmastime in Boston, and this year the silver bells will be wedding bells as FBI agent Jules Cassidy ties the knot with the man of his dreams, Hollywood heartthrob Robin Chadwick
The pair plan a quiet, intimate ceremony, to be witnessed by family and close friends from the FBI, SEAL Team Sixteen, and Troubleshooters, Incorporated, including Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke. But the holiday season brings more to the happy couple than they expect.

A waterfall coming through their kitchen ceiling, a bat colony in the attic, old family tensions . . . even an international incident can't dampen their spirits. But add to that a parade of unexpected guests, including a reporter looking for a scoop, an ex-lover hell-bent on causing trouble, and a dangerous stalker, and suddenly the wedding is poised to unravel in chaos.
But nothing will stop Jules and Robin from getting their happy ending, because along with a guest list featuring the most elite counterterrorism force in the world, they have their own secret weapon—true love."

First things first this was so much longer than I had originally thought it was going to be and I was so excited when I realized that page after page after page it was nowhere near over. For some reason when I saw Christmas in the synopsis I thought it was going to be like a Christmas novella but no this is a full on book :) 


My love of Jules and Robin knows no bounds. They are complex and have so many sides and layers to them that there is no way to pin them down as one thing.

I think my favorite thing about them is just how real and honest they are. These are not cookie cutter perfect characters; they are raw, and flawed, and so fucking captivating. Whenever the are in a book or even a scene, either together or separate, it is hard to pay attention to the other characters and couples.

The journey here was not easy whatsoever but it was all so worth it, because this type of love is worth all the bullshit that life tries to throw on you. 
i'm not telling you anymore because no way will I ruin this amazing journey for you all.

Jeez this is killing me not giving 5 stars but there was this side plot that really ruined a perfect rating from me. But that side m/f relationship ruined it for me. I loved Dolphina but Will was such an undeserving, lying, little fuck face.  And I felt his lying ass didn't deserve happiness. I don't care how many times he said sorry or felt bad; that trust was broken and will likely never be the same for him and Dolph.

 I mean he **SPOILER**stole, lied, used, and set up Doplphina and Jules and Robin. And then at the end he gets the 2 things he wanted**END OF SPOILER**. What the fuck is that shit about?!
He deserved to live a sad and pathetic life pining after the woman he fucked over.

Final thoughts:
I definitely recommend this couple to everyone. There relationship story arc spans about 3 books plus a short story: Hot Target, Force of Nature, and this one, and then the short story Beginnings and Ends. I could have done without the other couple plot line in this one but oh well you can't have everything.



Beginnings and Ends
1.5 stars
This low rating has nothing to do with the little that we got to see of Robin and Jules, but it has everything to do with the lack of story that I paid for. 

Synopsis:
"After years of playing the tormented actor Joe Laughlin on the hit television show Shadowland, Hollywood star Robin Chadwick Cassidy is ready for a change. Joe’s character embodies the real demons of Robin’s past—his struggle with his sexuality, his battle with alcoholism—and portraying the part has taken a heavy toll on his personal life. Robin’s husband, FBI agent Jules Cassidy, has noticed the strain and will do whatever he can to make Robin happy. And what Robin has in mind will forever transform his career, his marriage, and his family."

If this was a free short story whatever I don't think I would have minded, but this was 2 dollars for a whole lot of nothing. We got more scenes about Joe Laughlin than we did of the actual "real" characters. To me that's kind of bullshit. I wanted to read about Jules and Robin and I got maybe 2 small scenes of them and the rest was some character that Robin plays and worse it was in the fake character's pov and universe. 


With all of my complaining I do have to say that the little we got to see of the couple was really great. I love that they are going **SPOILER**to be parents!!! I am so excited to see more of that**END OF SPOILER**. I also really enjoyed that there was a partial sex scene for them. I feel like they only get really intense makeout scenes or the after math of sex, but no we got an honest to god **SPOILER**blow job scene.**END OF SPOILER** For anyone who is not for sex scenes don't worry nothing is greatly described or in detail.


Oh and a little warning it ends at 71% the extra almost 30% are previews for previous books. Needless to say I was pretty annoyed.

Until July Cover Reveal!!!!!

I am so excited to be a part of promoting this book!

Until July is the first book in a spin-off series of the Until series. July is the daughter of Asher and November, who are the couple from  Until November.
**There are links at the bottom of this post telling you where you can purchase the Until series

Without further ado...


RELEASE DATE:
April 13th

Blurb

Wes Silver wasn’t looking for love, but when July Mayson literally knocks him on his ass during their first encounter, his world is turned upside down by the quirky blonde, and every moment with her makes him more determined to protect her.

July Mayson doesn’t understand the pull she feels toward the bad boy biker Wes Silver, but she knows being with him is like nothing she’s ever felt before. Now all she has to do is tell her overprotective father, Asher Mayson, that she’s found her boom.

Excerpt:

“What the fuck is wrong with you.” The guy that was at the head of the group asks stepping in front of my bike.

I shake my head as words are lodged in my throat.

He pulls me off my bike and the men who are with him begin yelling obscenities as well.

“Sorry.” I croak out and I don’t even know if he hears me his hand goes to the collar of my leather jacket and he shakes me hard and my hand accidently presses down on the button for the Taser to ignite it. The loud crack fills the air and his eyes go wide then he falls to the ground and I fall on my ass and crab walk backwards then look up when I hit something only to meet the eyes of another man who looks pissed.

“Get up.” He growls picking me up my feet flail under me as I’m lifted off the ground with my hands restrained behind my back.

“Hold him still.” The guy who I had Tazered growls in front of me as I try to get away from the anger I feel coming off him.  His hands go to my head and he rips my helmet off causing my hair to float down around me.

Complete silence descends I swear no one even takes a breath.

“Um.” I bite my lip.


**Like I was saying in the beginning of the post the the links to the series that inspired this spin-off are located below and so is some information and places where you can find the author Aurora Rose Reynolds.

Until November (Book One) Until Series

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1i3ebMV

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1k2XK31

Smashword: http://bit.ly/1hvNQZj

Until Trevor (Book Two) Until Series

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1l8YYfN

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1iWBUQK

Smashword: http://bit.ly/PBepBh

Until Lilly (Book Three) Until Series

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1mMEJro

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1pzOdYk

Smashword: http://bit.ly/1ik18ci

Until Nico (Book Four) Until Series

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1m0JaZO

Amazon UK: http://amzn.uk.to/1m0JaZO

B & N: http://bit.ly/1kZqgpl

About the Author:

Aurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who's husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She's married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it's beauty.

Website: http://aurorarosereynolds.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aurora-Rose-Reynolds

Twitter: https://twitter.com/auroraroseR

Goodreads:  http://bit.ly/1pzLVIO

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/creynoldsauthor/

Ruthless People by J.J. McAvoy Review

4.5 stars out of 5
Ahhhh! This was so fucking good and such a dark read. The whole time I would cheer on this couple killing and torturing innocent people....

Synopsis: 
"To the outside world, they look like American Royalty, giving to charities, feeding the homeless, rebuilding the city. But behind closed doors is a constant battle for dominance between two Bosses, cultures, and hearts.

Ruthless People is a romantic crime fiction set in modern day Chicago, following the life and marriage of Melody Nicci Giovanni and Liam Callahan—rivals by blood and leaders through fear. Their marriage was arranged by their fathers in hopes to end years of bloodshed between the Irish and the Italians.

Liam, next in line to lead the Irish, believes he’s getting a simple-minded wife, one he can control, one who bends to his every need . . . the complete opposite of Melody. Bred to be a Boss, a world-class marksman, master of disguise, with no mercy and no fear. Twenty-four years later, she has achieved more than any man could even dream of, killing anyone who steps in her way. She knows exactly what type of man Liam is, and she would rather die than give up the power she has spent her whole life building. But with no other family left, she must not only learn to work with Liam, but the whole Callahan clan.

The Mafia of the past is evolving, and with rival bosses gunning for them, Melody and Liam will have to figure out how to work as one to take down those who stand in their way, all while keeping up appearances.
Power, Family, and Respect are everything."

I can confidently state that this book was unlike any other book I have ever read.

I read this months ago and I still am not sure I can fully express how I felt about it. 

Like wow, just picture The Sopranos mixed with Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It was dark, twisted, and really fucked up but I loved every second of it. I mean that first sex scene...Fucked up but also really hot.

I ended up finding myself rooting for the "bad" guys and by the end of the book the lines were completely blurred to me as to who was good and who was bad. I genuinely enjoyed the carnage that this couple created. There were obviously some things that I didn't like but they was far and few between.
I was so torn with my rating; I really wanted to give this a 5 star but there were just a couple things that just made me not able.

What I didn't like:
-Mel's catatonic like state. I won't go into what made her go into this state because that is spoiler territory. I just felt that it lasted waaay too fucking long. Like I understood why but damn it got sort of annoying and felt like it went on forever.

-Mel's attitude of being "The Boss". Don't get me wrong I absolutely loved that she was ruthless and vicious, but the constant "I'm The Boss" got to be a very bit grating. I loved how she would never back down and demanded to be treated as an equal,but there were occasions where that shifted to "I'm The Boss I can do whatever I want"; it got to be childish sounding rather than sounding like she was demanding respect.

-A small thing that annoyed me but didn't make me dislike the novel as a whole was the other wives in the family. They were annoying as fuck but didn't the story for me.

I'm really trying to think of more things and none are coming to me. I haven't read it in awhile so I'm sort of blanking on what I wasn't a fan of. So moving along to..

What I enjoyed:
-The likability of the couple. Both Mel and Liam were just so easy to read and enjoy. They were both a couple that I loved watching their growth not only as a couple but also as individuals. Separate they are insane, ruthless, and just all around vicious, but together they are frightening and unstoppable.

-The darkness. I am really intrigued about morbid people and couples; and I especially love reading about it in books. This book was just really awesome. Like I can't formulate my words into anything better than "awesome", but seriously this book was just awesome. The violence is violent and Mel and Liam are extremely vicious; there is no putting a label of "redeemable bad guy", no these two and their associates are apologetically criminal and murderous. And I am in love with that.

-Liam and Mel having each other's back. They are very in the mentality of them against the world, and I really dig it man. Having a person you can trust to support you and have your back in a world of murder and mayhem is extremely hard and I think it's amazing that they found it in each other (especially in the "arranged-type" marriage situation).

-Mel. I loved that she was just a straight up bad ass. Like she did her and gave no fucks about what anyone else thought. I absolutely loved that she handled her own shit and didn't have other people do her dirty work for her.

-The opener introducing Mel to Liam. Dude that shit was amazing!

-That spoiler at the end damnnn. I mean I guess I should have expected it to be possible but wow it totally caught me off guard.

Final thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book and I really can't wait to read the rest of the series :)
Remaining books of the series:
The Untouchables (book 2)
American Savages (book 3)

Sweet Seduction Sacrifice by Nicola Claire Review

DNF/1 star out of 5
I usually, as a rule, never rate a book unless I have finished the whole thing, but this bullshit is on a whole other level.

Synopsis:
"With a loser ex-boyfriend threatening her dream business, Sweet Seduction, Genevieve Cain is forced to go to a lawyer to finalise things once and for all. Gen knows she's only good for one dream in her lifetime, so when she meets senior partner, Dominic Anscombe, in the foyer of the law firm's building, she dismisses any delusional ideas her mind creates involving his very fine body. But Dominic is intrigued by Gen's run-away mouth and if there's one thing to say about Dominic Anscombe, he knows what he wants and when he finds it, he sets out to take it, claim it and possess it - completely.

Kidnappings, shootings, dream-shattering moments, hot investigators and just as hot lawyers, everything comes to a head when Genevieve sacrifices something so precious for something even more so. And it wasn't the sacrifice she thought she'd make. The sweetest of sacrifices, the most worthy offering. But can she believe Dominic has fallen as hard for her as she has for him in such a short time? And can she allow herself a second dream in her life, by letting him in?

Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time."

This book is normalizing non consensual behavior and that is unforgivable and inexcusable. 


When a woman or man is reading this, or any book, and sees that someone(who we are supposed to find hot and wonderful) is ignoring his love interest's comfort we are internalizing that his behavior is okay. 
And if we are in the same situation we will think that it is "okay" to behave like him or justify those who behave like him. I am horrified that so many reviews are glorifying this behavior and book. 

The "hero" is supposed to be seen as alpha and territorial but in reality it is creepy and inappropriate. The fact that she is saying "no", multiple times mind you, and he does not give a fuck is WRONG. 

She is not giving consent to be touched, grabbed, or held and because he is good looking she and the reader are supposed to be fine with it and even find it sexy. I do not find ignoring people's "No" sexy; I find it dangerous and disgusting.

"We're two consenting adults"

How did he get this when all she had been telling him was "no" and "you need to let me go"???? (I think that quote was on page 50 in my kindle.)

A person has a human right to consent; they are allowed to give and/or take away that consent at WHATEVER stage of intimacy.
I do not recommend this book to anyone.