Chasing Mrs. Right by Katee Robert

4.5 Heart warming, lust invoking stars

Ian is ex-military home from Afghanistan and want nothing more than to settle back home with a normal life. Suffering from PTSD, he wants things quiet and simple. A one-off with his little sister’s best friend is not what he would call simple. However, not only can Roxanne give him one of the hottest nights of his life, her touch calms his racing and broken thoughts like no other.

Roxanne is also another broken soul. Relationships? Love? Blech! If her mother and experience had taught her anything, it’s that love is just another four letter word. And everyone eventually leaves.

Now for the good part, the book’s hottest moments are of Ian chasing Roxanne down (hence the title) and she lets him catch her.

“Ideally, how’s tonight end for you?” When he stared, she snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Answer. Now.” She wanted the truth. She got exactly what she was looking for.

He met her gaze.  “With you bent over the nearest available surface and me fucking you until we both forget our names.”

 

The story is a great mix of heat and emotional healing. Yes, there was a conflict (not a misunderstanding. Thank Jeebus!) that the couple had to work through. Yes, there was an HEA (come on…look at the publisher). How the author handled it was refreshing. Both parties fully realized that they contributed to said conflict and apologized in a really cute way

Writing: Fabulous

Characters: Amazing. Love that Ian.

Recommend:

 

Player's Ultimatum by Koko Brown

3.5 to 4 stars

You need to take this story with a grain of salt or you will really not enjoy it. Suspend disbelief for a few hours.

Yvonne Floyd agreed to become her best friend Robbie’s beard until he gets his contract signed and delivered. You see Robbie is drafted as Italy’s new soccer star. In a society that is traditional (especially when it comes to their soccer players), questions regarding sexuality is dangerous and career ending. Since Yvonne is up to her eyeballs in student loans, she agreed to be Robbie’s fake fiancé for pay and for the sake of friendship.

Until she catches the eye of Paolo Saito, he is the team’s captain and Robbie’s nemesis. Paolo has it out for Robbie. Robbie took the spot slotted for Paolo’s best friend and consequently committed suicide because of it. So, yeah. Even though it’s not Robbie’s fault, Paolo still had an axe to grind.

Okay this is the part where the grain of salt comes along…

Yvonne insta-lusts Paolo (nothing wrong with that) and Paolo insta-lusts back (nothing with that too) and because Yvonne bangs the shit out of Paolo (not knowing it was him because they were at a masquerade) he is now blackmailing her into a panty burning affair behind Robbie’s back.

Fine. I’ll bite.

Because the story was decent and I love (LOVE) Paolo, I will take the odd premise. I have to keep suspending disbelief because I can’t understand Yvonne’s reasoning for continuing the affair (besides the hot, hot monkey sex). She knew that Paolo hated Robbie who is her best friend and trying to keep him away from scandal. How can she not deduct that he’s using her to take Robbie down?

There were some eye-roller moments in the book. Some scenarios that were just a little scripted. Some were just plain weird. I think with better editing the book would have been awesome. Odd scenarios like: She asks him to cut his hand off because he offended her with his advances and he is actually thinking about doing it. Not pretending…actually contemplating it. With a knife and everything.

Cuckoo.

But in the interest of telling a story…erase…erase…

This would have been a solid 3 stars for me if it wasn’t for PAOLO!!!!

Hot Japanese/Brazilian soccer player? Arrogant…doesn’t take no for an answer…possessive.

What was wrong with him? Paolo remembered walking in on a girlfriend once having sex with another man and he didn’t even blink an eye. Robbie pulled his fiancé into his side and he wanted to tear the other man’s head off and use it as a practice ball.

Yum. Yum.

Heat level: Nuclear

Characters:

a) Him – me likey

b) Her: on the fence. She kind of annoyed me but I really can’t explain why.

I think it’s because she just lets everything happen to her. She just kind of reacts and goes along to what is happening around her.

Recommend: Yes. Just because Paolo is so yumerrific.

Falling for Hadie by Komal Kant

*me reading up to 79% of the book*

 

 

 

*me at 80%*

 

 

 

 

*me after the book*

 

Hadie has been hurt by her jock ex-boyfriend whom she’s had feelings for since they were kids. Now she is on a “no boy fly zone” mode. Unfortunately for Lincoln who just moved into their small town and new boy at school, he reminds her of her ex (a too good looking jock type). Sooooo insta-hate on Hadie’s side.

Lincoln is used to girls falling all over themselves over him. So when Hadie gives him the cold shoulder, he is more than intrigued. Besides, figuring out what her deal was is way better than dealing with what he ran away from back in New York City. And much more fun. Although he promised himself not to get close to anyone in his new home, he can’t help but be drawn to Hadie.

Hadie, try as she might, finds that Lincoln is not what she thought he was.

Etc. etc. etc.

The premise is not unique. But the writing was good so you can forgive the cliché. I must admit that Hadie was starting to get on my nerves when she started with the “all men are dogs” routine. Thank goodness the author cut it short (but not short enough IMO). But even then you can forgive Hadie for being a little bitter about dealing with boys in general…up to a point.

I’m not going to give away the bacon that gives the book its heft but I have to say that it came as a surprise. Even though I have read at least two books with the same exact twist, Ms. Kant still got me. Darn her! Let me just say that she handled it with grace and I hated appreciated the direction she took.

I have a few complaints though. It was her villan(s).

There were too many of them. It seemed…no it was…the whole entire school was against our heroes. Even with the popular kids being the shameless monsters they were portrayed to be I cannot imagine anyone acting that way especially since (read the book).

And Lincoln’s mom and sister…..

 

I couldn’t exactly understand what the fuck their problem was. So (in my mind) I have written that his mom spontaneously combusted and his sister got gonorrhea.

Writing: I was going to give it 3 stars but the last quarter pushed it to 4.

Characters: Some were exaggerated like a cartoon characters and the author went a hair too far with her villains.

Recommend: Yes

 

Protecting What’s His by Tessa Bailey

4.5 Holy Burning Britches Batman stars.

Arrogant, take charge male? Check. 

Filthy smack talking mouth. Check. 

Sexy, jealous possessiveness. Check. 

And finally, neck-hair raising caveman tactics all in the name of protecting your woman. Check.

Looks like all the necessary items to make a good time happen in the form of one Lt. Derek Tyler of the Chicago PD.

Ginger Peet is running from her past (literally) with a bag full of cash she “borrowed” from her crack-whore mother (not an insult, but an actual fact). She took her teenage sister Willa with her to Chicago for a fresh start and to make sure that Willa doesn’t end up like their mother, a train wreck. The last thing she needed was to move into an apartment next door to a cop. But hey! What’s a little larceny and kidnapping between friends? Especially ones that can talk the panties off of her (also not a euphemism but a fact).

  

Yes. Derek. Yes we do….

Is this Shakespeare in disguise? Nope. Will you wish you never have to leave the book world after reading this story? Absolutely not. This book is a rip roaring good time, complete with hilarious and sassy dialogue between the sisters and vagina fanning dirty talk from Derek.

Aaand that’s all there really is to it with this book.

Writing: Highly entertaining.

Characters: Low-dimensional but in a really good way (easy to read). Sometimes you just want a dash of angst and not drowning in your own pool of tears and snot.

Recommend: Yes. In one sitting. On a slow day.

Alone.