ARC Book #Review: Switch It Up by Sara Brookes

Book Title: Switch It Up Noble House Kink 2)
Author:  Sara Brookes|Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Harlequin - Carina Press
Genre: Erotica Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 2
Format: Ebook

Cost: $3.99

Pages: 368

How I got it: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |
Publication Date: Feb 19 2018
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Synopsis:

Welcome to Noble House, Where Your Passion is Our Pleasure, and Someone is Always Watching…

Hacker Madeline Zane gets off crossing lines. So when she discovers security flaws in the Noble House website, she thinks nothing of showing up at the door of the hybrid fetish club and demanding an audience with the owner. Especially after watching an intense online scene of the notorious Dom bringing a submissive to her knees.

Kochran Duke is weary of always being in control, but meeting Maddy rekindles his pleasure in what had become strictly business. And instead of making him jealous, seeing her submit to his old friend Ezra has him aching for something he didn’t even know he was searching for.

The kind of heartbreak Ezra’s lived through changes a man. Maddy makes him crave a life he thought he’d put behind him for good. Watching her with Kochran only fuels his desires, rousing the caged beast within.

Fortunately at Noble House, virtually any fantasy can become reality.

This was very erotic and romantic, however, it jumped scenes too often giving a disjointed feel at times while reading I would have to skip back a few pages to make sure I didn't miss something. I did find that the overall story was great but there were many things that distracted from the story for me.

I really enjoyed the characters some were well written but more in the vein of telling me instead of showing me why they were great.  Also very little background on Maddie and Ezra and their family.
I really identified with Maddie as she as a nerd who was curious and adventurous enough to go after what she wanted even if it was totally different than she knew.  I loved her description of her computer set-up and her space as that sounds a lot like mine; which made me love her even more. My favorite part of the book was when Maddie found Kochran in the expensive paper supply store and he bought the expensive paper and pen for her.  I really loved that she enjoyed supplies as well, it just made me love her even more.

I did go into this one blind so I wasn't aware of where this story was going & was pleasantly surprised when it went there.  I love it, I enjoyed the story buildup, even if it seemed to move pretty fast.  Time wasn't really discussed so it's encapsulated.  This makes sure that the book would be able to age well but at the same time doesn't ground it in reality.

I did have a few issues with the book because there were moments that were unfinished discussions and scenes that were happening and then we found ourselves in another scene.  I did notice that even though the sex scenes and the scenes between the lovers were off the charts well written, the scenery was lax, and the secondary charters weren't as well written as they could have been.    I would love to see more of the sister's girlfriend and her family.  I would love to learn more about the secondary characters beyond their interactions with the characters in a small scene.  I'm guessing she's leaving space for us to formulate our own idea of how the scenery would look but I like when I'm reading for there to be a good amount of description enough for me to build the scene then I can add in my own ideas.

The story centered more on the lovers learning more about each other and about themselves as they developed beyond friends, boss employee into lovers.  We got the story from all three perspectives, and as the story progressed more from the men than Maddie.  A Warning for those who might need it, there is hot man on man love in this so if that doesn't rock your boat maybe skip this one.

 I found this story to be great, especially for the erotica scenes. Sometimes, however, the author's jumping from scene to scene left much of the story or discussion out and I was left feeling confused or disconnected from the story.  There are questions that aren't answered especially about Kochran's family and his relationship there.  While I know the story is about them as lovers they don't seem to have any attachments outside of this circle, it's almost like they live in a bubble.

I really enjoyed when Kochran challenges his worldview, when he embraced parts of himself he thought he had to hide so that he could be what people wanted from him. I'm glad Maddie decided to challenge them head on when she was introduced to their world. I loved reading Ezra's awakening after his life changed so dramatically.  And their scenes both in the dungeon and in the bedroom were very steamy.

A good hot menage featuring Bisexual Dominant men and their submissive, power exchange, and a lot of hot menage love.

 ★★★1/2☆

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Shayla Black- Anything by her
• Opal Carew - Anything by her

Happy Reading my loves, 

Erotica Book #Review: End Of The Innocence: Innocence 3 by Alessandra Torre' . @ReadAlessandra

Book Title: End of The Innocence (Innocence 3)
Author:  Alessandra Torre' |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher:  Alessandra Torre'
Genre: Erotic Romance, New Adult
Series/Standalone: Book 3
Format: ebook

Cost: $4.99

Pages: 449

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: 03/23/2014
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Synopsis:

He thought I owned him. He thought he loved me, that I was enough. But this animal, this sex god who could drive me crazy and steal my heart in the same breath, he would never fully be mine. It was impossible. No one ever owned a God...
One year. I have one year to find out more about this man I am marrying. More about his family. More about our sex, and all of the dirty, delicious places it will take me.

I thought I'd spend this year making a decision. I never thought the decision would be taken from me, snatched right from my naive little hands.

The final book in the Innocence Trilogy

It's the final book *sob * I don't want brad and Julia to go.  However I did love the way it ended. I fell into this book and didn't come up until I finished it.  Alessandra writes in such a way that you find yourself absorbed trying to find out what happens next.  After the events in the first two books we know Julia's life is endangered and she and Brad have escalated their relationship as a way to protect her there are many who view the younger woman and her older partner as deluded and plans are hatched to tear them apart.

I liked how it ended, not all pulled together because real life doesn't get tied up with a cute little bow.  There are always unanswered questions.  I still don't understand what her best friend's motivation in being a bitch and against their relationship stemmed from.

I loved that this the final story was told in the progression of the year that Julia asked for.  With a countdown to her graduation and to her wedding, as it progressed and somethings happened but others didn't I started to get anxious about how the story was progressing.  Like when was the other shoe going to drop?? Would Brad fall back on old habits?? Would Julia break the rules??  Would their enemies get them before they could secure her safety??

As the story and the countdown progressed I loved how they challenged each other not just in the bedroom but also in their daily lives.  Julia really seemed to know what she wanted for herself and wasn't afraid to ask for it.  I did love that we got to see her thought process on going to Law School when she realized the field was now even more open than before.  I'm not sure I would have made the choices she did but hey at least she owned it.  She tried to take control where she could and it worked for her.  I loved how frank she was about her fears about doing law school, being a wife and being enough for Brad who frankly was a slut.

I was hooked until I finished and I loved it all. I laughed and I was anxious for her, I knew what her injuries could mean and I was nervous for her when she awoke in that moment.  I was anxious to see Alexis's role was she going to take the loss sitting down?? I'm kind of surprised she did only what she tried, although Brad's response had to have been a blow to the ego.

I loved it all,  I highly recommend, because in the end Julia surprised me with her wit, her sense of humor & with her strength.  I loved that even in the dark moments she could have a little fun.  I'm not sure if I would have let go after three minutes, but we all have our conscience to live with and hers couldn't bear the four minute mark, and I'm glad she knew that.

 ★★★★★

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Slow Burn Series by Maya Banks 
• Finding Anna Series by Sherri Hayes

Happy Reading my loves, 

ARC Book #Review: Masked Innocence: Innocence 2 by Alessandra Torre' .@ReadAlessandra

Book Title: Masked Innocence ( Innocence 2)
Author:  Alessandra Torre |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: New Adult, Erotic Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 2
Format: ebook

Cost: $4.99

Pages: 300

How I got it: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: Feb 25, 2014
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Synopsis:

The man was sinful. It wasn't just the looks that made him dangerous, it was the cocky confidence that dominated every move, every touch. And the frustrating yet ecstatic fact about the whole package was that he could back it all up…

Julia Campbell never knows what to expect with win-at-all-costs Brad De Luca. And she's starting to like it that way. She gave up safe, conventional relationships when she let the elite divorce attorney seduce her into his world. Now that he's determined to strip her naked of every inhibition, she's in danger of falling too deep and too fast.

But their affair begins to feel even more dangerous when a murder leaves a trail of suspicion that points straight to the mob…and Brad. Trusting a man with a bad reputation and a past full of secrets seems like a mistake. But when she's forced to make a choice, the consequences will take her further than she could ever have imagined.

I was hooked to this story, I was so glad after I finished book one that I could dive right into this one.  My gosh Alessandra can write the hell out of a story.  In this one we dive a little deeper into Brad's world, as Julia gets a chance to continue her internship with a few new perks she now has to juggle keeping this relationship under wraps if she wants the office to take her seriously. 

I loved her conversations with her friends, her spunk as a young woman finding her way in the corporate world and as a woman embracing the new aspects to her sexuality that Brad is helping her find.   She's new to this world and she's finding that as her guide he's fantastic.  The chemistry between them is off the charts and I loved reading their scenes.  They explore and as they do they find that there are things they once took for granted that they no longer do, they find new boundaries and even though they are further than before they lay down their rules.  I loved that Julia knew this was different but felt strong enough not to be too intimidated, and she knew the people around her even thought they were her best friends wouldn't understand her kink.  I loved the understanding that as much as you love your friends eventually in your relationships somethings become sacred to you and your partner and you keep those from your friends.  Not because it's bad but because this is for y'all, these moments are ones you can't explain unless the person is there with you. 

I really enjoyed the expanding into Brad's family history and why he's the way he is.  It was good to learn about the first woman who broke his heart and why he became such a celebrated bachelor.  The intrigue of his family history adding into the mystery of who killed her boss was awesome.  Danger came close and I just knew that her keeping secrets from Brad and him keeping major secrets was going to hurt them both.  I loved Martha and her place in their lives. it was great to see parts of his family and his close friends as well.  I really enjoyed the developments and how the story progressed.

I really enjoyed their exploration of each other and their boundaries.  Brad and Julia together was amazing, but when they really got kinky??? My gawd I was hooked.  I highly recommend my loves. 

 ★★★★1/2☆

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Wicked Lovers Series by Shayla Black
• Bound Hearts Series by Lora Leigh
• Slow Burn by Maya Banks
• Finding Anna by Sherri Hayes

Happy Reading my loves, 

ARC Book #Review: Blindfolded Innocence by Alessandra Torre .@Readalessandra

Book Title: Blindfolded Innocence (Innocence 1)
Author:  Alessandra Torre |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: New Adult Romance, Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 1
Format: Ebook, Trade Paperback

Cost: $11.95

Pages: 384

How I got it: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: Jan 2014
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Synopsis:

"I'm not sure what you have been told about me, but I'm not nearly as bad as they make me out to be." His deliciously deep voice carried a little bit of ego.

I'm sure you are exactly as bad as they make you out to be….

Brad De Luca is used to getting whatever and whomever he wants. The premier divorce attorney in town, he's a playboy who's bedded half the city—including his own clients. And when the newest intern at his firm poses a challenge, his seductive prowess goes into overdrive.

Pre-law student Julia Campbell is fresh off a failed engagement and happy with her new independence. Even if she weren't warned away from Brad at every turn, she'd know he was bad news. The last thing she needs is a man who could destroy her job prospects, not to mention her innocence. But before she knows it, the incorrigible charmer has her under his spell. His deviant tastes plunge her deep into a forbidden world of sexual exploration…but her heart may not survive the fall.

I grabbed this book to read because Alessandra's name was mentioned several times by different booktubers as an author they loved.  Since I knew I had the books I grabbed my kindle an re-downloaded it, figuring I would give it a chance. I am thrilled I did, this was a fantastic read, which ended on a cliffhanger, making me very happy that I had the second and third books on my kindle as well.

I really loved Julia as a character because she totally was relateable, she's in college working her way into an internship and she had her head on straight, and her standard high. Given the opportunity to intern at a coveted spot at CDB she embraces the job because she has law school on the brain and this is her in.  She's my kind of woman who embraces her sexuality for what it is in the moment and enjoys herself while getting off on being in charge.  I loved that she knew hat she wanted but also couldn't really stop herself from exploring where she knew she shouldn't.

I enjoyed the story and the points of view, it's told mostly from Julia's perspective unless it's necessary for us to see the sides she isn't and then we get mostly Brad's but sometimes other characters POV as well.  Generally it's done in a way that enhances the story.  I really enjoyed the way in which the story unfolded especially as they danced around each other in those moments to trying to decide if this person who you have all this sexual chemistry with is someone you want to explore it with.  I really enjoyed how they tried being friends first, then they tried with friends with benefits and then they tried being separate.  Their chemistry was amazing to read and definitely made me glad I was reading this at home, because holy smokes did their scenes get hot.

I enjoyed the way they exposed themselves how honest they both were in their desires, their needs and their expectations, as well as their weaknesses.  There are several scenes throughout that I loved, my personal favorite however would have to be the elevator scene which lead to their most honest conversation, even if it did make me and Julia want to cry because why??!!! Those shoes did nothing to you Mr De Luca!!

This book was at times humorous, & fun, very erotic especially because it explored the bounds of what a relationship should look like.  It also explored sexuality and the growth of a relationship that wasn't supposed to happen (the forbidden element definitely helped making this even more erotic)  I loved that they talked, were funny together & had amazing sexy times I loved that even though Julia was new to this world she was  confident enough to call him on his bullshyt when she needed to.

There are a few moments that did make me roll my eyes especially when Brad would talk sometimes but generally during those moments Julia would check him as well.  I really loved their trip to Vegas because it really began to open up the doors for more for them. I was a little perturbed about the trip to the club that they took but Julia had it all handled so, yeah.  I really loved how everything ended especially the end which made me glad I had the second one on my kindle.

 ★★★★1/2☆

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Finding Anna Series by Sherri Hayes

Happy Reading my loves, 

Book #Review: Double Dose by Katie Allen

Book Title: Double Dose ( Human Design 4)
Author:  Katie Allen |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Carina Press
Genre: Erotica Romance, Sci-Fi Romance
Series/Standalone: Series Book 4
Format: ebook

Cost: $2.99

Pages: 199

How I got it: ARC from NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |
Publication Date: Oct 2017
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Synopsis:

Previously published under a different title A double dose of happily-ever-after… Speech therapist Daphne's neat, orderly life takes a turn for the dramatic when she's kidnapped and spirited away to a hideout deep in the Colorado mountains. Her captors? Gorgeous men—all escaped from a secret laboratory designed to build perfect supersoldiers.

Trauma associated with his engineering left Benjy mute, and Ari thinks Daphne's just the girl to help him recover. Held against her will, Daphne will be damned before she helps any of them—regardless of how electrifying she finds their touches.

But as Daphne's hunger for Benjy and Ari grows, so does her empathy for the other soldiers hiding out at the lodge. With danger from her own past threatening to resurface and an overeager FBI agent sniffing around, she needs to free herself, her men and the others.

I went into this one totally based on the cover. I'm so glad I did. This is a part of series and yet it isn't written that way, I didn't feel as if I was lost reading the story because each of the characters from the previous novel gave a brief synopsis of their stories without really spoiling anything. So I'm adding those onto the TBR Pile because why not??!!  When I went to write this I discovered that Katie is the author of one of my favorite books ONe Two Punch,  which is another amazing menage erotica, I knew I liked this one for a reason.

This was fun, funny, and a wild adventure.  Hiding deep in the mountains Ari knows that his best friend needs help and decides to go out and get that help however he can.  That help comes in the form of Daphne, Speech therapist, who is an expert in the field . She needs time away from the stresses of her own practice and a failed relationship that makes her doubt all she thought she knew about love and relationships

Let's be clear from the beginning this could have gone very wrong, however the way the author wrote it, giving screen time to the obvious issues with them having kidnapped her for her help makes the story a bit more believable and less Stockholm syndrome. From the very beginning Daphne tries to make the men see reason and when that doesn't work she tries to run. Daphne is cognizant of who she is, she voices her concerns without fear due to the presence of others who let her know they have her back when it comes to Ari.  Daphne is relateable, fun, sarcastic and just down to earth & very well accomplished.  The men who are working with what they know are pretty good guys who are trying to make the best of a bad situation made worse by Ari's decision to kidnap Daphne.

I enjoyed the story that unfolded, it's the culmination to the series so the mystery is sped up here and the unfolding pieces all start coming together and everything not just their case but Daphne's case as well begin to converge and spiral out of control.

We get an action packed adventure along with a steamy erotica featuring a menage that becomes polyandrous.  I loved the way the separate relationships developed between each of the men and Daphne especially her non verbal communication with Benjy.  The relationship the men had as friends was wonderful to read as well.

All in  all a quick action packed adventure that had strong female lead who has an extremely erotic encounter with these men.

 ★★★★1/2☆

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Wolf by Kaitlin O'Connor
• One Two Punch by Katie Allen 

Happy Reading my loves, 

Book #Review: Taming Lily (Fowler Sisters 3) by Monica Murphy

Book Title: Taming Lily (Fowler Sisters 3)
Author:  Monica Murphy |Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Erotic Romance
Series/Standalone: Series Finale
Format: Ebook Trade paperback

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 240

How I got it: NetGalley

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BAM
Publication Date: July 2015
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Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Emma Chase, and Maya Banks, the anticipated finale in New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy’s sexy contemporary romance series about three fiery and determined sisters with their own ideas about life and love. I’m in trouble. Again. And instead of facing my problems head on, I’ve run away. Far away this time, and no one can catch me—not my two younger sisters, Violet and Rose, not my father, my grandmother, or that witch Pilar who wants to take control of my family’s cosmetics company. Now I’m in Hawaii, enjoying the sun and the sand and water, where nobody knows the hot mess known as Lily Fowler. And I’m loving every minute of it. But someone is watching me. Following me. He’s gorgeous. And soon we’re talking, and against all my instincts, I reveal bits and pieces of myself to Max. It feels good, though I know he can’t be the man for me. These sudden feelings we share are way too complicated, too fraught, too intense. Then everything explodes and I’m forced to return home. My intentions have always been true, but now everyone’s mad at me. I don’t know who to turn to anymore . . . except to Max. He’s who I want to trust. But I’m not so sure I should. Maybe it’s worth the risk—and what-ifs be damned. . . .

The third and final book in the series, gives us the hot mess older sister Lily.  She's a media darling and also a mix between the socialites they love to hate.  Having done something she doesn't think anyone will believe her about, she runs off to Hawaii with the idea of hiding out until she figures out how to handle the mess she's made.

In walks Max, he's been hired to retrieve a laptop that his client claims is stolen, however we all suspect she's lying, but Max is more than happy to take this case on because he's become somewhat obsessed with the mark.  I loved how they were together from the get go.  Se noticed him and he obviously noticed her and from there we get one hell of a steamy vacation romance.

They have great heat and  chemistry and they both go into the affair knowing it's only going to be for the time they are here and yet as if develops they wonder if they had met somewhere else would they be able to work it out.  Lily especially wants to use this as a distraction from her problems back home and she's all for having a brief fling that will help her clear her head and give her great orgasms at the same time.

I really loved how as they hung out and had sex the layers kept coming off, that they became more intimate, stepped back from the games and began to really see themselves as well as each other.

Very sexy, very steamy between the two of them.  As Lily pushed the boundaries of what she normally accepts and Max learnt how far he could go while keeping his secret.  As the story progressed and e went back to reality and their worlds collide and Max's secret comes out I loved that Lily was strong enough to fight back and yet wanted to let him in. I loved lily as a character because even though she was a hot mess at times, she clearly loved her family, she just wasn't sure how to share that without being hurt.

The family dynamic and the relationship the girls have is good to see. I loved that Rose called b.s whenever she felt like she needed to and that Violet was still so strong and clearly in command.   They were awesome to see them all together working to save their legacy and yet accepting of Lily and her mess while pushing for her to embrace her truest self.

Awesome read, it went by very quickly.

 ★★★★☆

Happy Reading my loves,