He's a Brute - Chloe Liese

He's a Brute by Chloe Liese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Or, in this case, you shouldn't expect a certain kind of book based on the cover. But, I have to admit, that with this one, I did. I was wrong but pleasantly wrong. What I expected was a light-hearted, almost rom-com style of read, before I got into this. Now I have to admit that on the whole, I prefer something a little meatier to that, although I don't mind them from time to time. As it was, I got something a with a whole lot more going for it than I expected with He's a Brute.
This is a trilogy, so much of this book sets up what I assume will be the ongoing story for the next two books. Even so, I don't want to give too much away, there were a couple of things that were revealed, fairly early on, that I didn't really see coming, so I'll keep quiet on those.
Although Nairne is quite dominating and feisty herself, her relationship with Zed, on a sexual level at least is with him being the dominant partner. I'm not always into these dynamics, but I actually enjoyed this one. It didn't seem overdone or something that was introduced just because every flipping erotic romance seems to have the same kind of kink in it at the moment.
Nairne is supposed to be Scottish, I say supposed to be as there were a couple of glaring errors that stood out to me and threw me out of the story momentarily. Firstly that she is forever drinking Scotch whiskEy. This isn't a spelling difference, it's always whisky when from Scotland. Also, at one point Zed puts something in the bonnet of his car. This part is told from Narine's point of view and while I'm sure that she would use the UK terms rather than trunk and hood, the bonnet of the car is the front, while the bit at the back that you store things in is called the boot. Of course, these things don't really matter and there are probably 101 things that were right it's the little things that stand out. It didn't ruin the story at all though, just irritated me for a minute or two.
As I mentioned before, this book is number one in a trilogy. I'm not sure where it's going to go next, but I do have book two ready to go and find out. I'll be getting straight into that one. Either way, I'd recommend you get stuck into book one right away and follow Zed and Nairne's story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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After Gardens - Katherine Coldiron

About the Book

Title: After Gardens Author: Katharine Coldiron Genre: Women’s Fiction Maya, a weekend at a hot springs with her boisterous friend Rhondey is just what she needs to move forward after her divorce. For Rhondey, it's an opportunity to help Maya cut loose a little, shed some of her inhibitions. Maya doesn't see the need to shed anything, and she's not looking for a teacher. But the more Maya clings to her privacy, the more difficult it is for her to recognize her true teachers...and the right moment to step free.  

Author Bio

Katharine Coldiron’s work has appeared in Ms., the Times Literary Supplement, the Rumpus, the Manifest-Station, horoscope.com, and many other places. Find Katharine at kcoldiron.com or on Twitter @ferrifrigida.  

Links

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My Review

This is really a short story, rather than a novella. It could quite easily be read in one sitting very easily. After Gardens tells the story of a visit to a spa, yoga and meditation retreat by two friends, Rhondey and Maya. I have to admit that I kept reading Rhondey as Rodney and when a character got introduced with that name too, it was rather confusing. Especially as there were only really half a dozen names mentioned in the course of the story, so having two so similar was a little odd.

Overall the story is easy to read and for its length fairly enjoyable. I did find both of the lead characters a little annoying. They seemed to have all kinds of hang-ups and really needed to get a grip. 

Through the Night - Tamsen Schultz

Through The Night by Tamsen Schultz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm always a little wary of starting a series midway through and this is book seven on the Windsor Series. Fortunately, with this book, it really didn't matter. There are characters that I assume have appeared in previous books, but as someone coming to this fresh, I wasn't lost or confused as to who was who or what was going on. I'm not sure if there is a running story through these books, the epilogue suggested that perhaps there were events that might be dealt with in a later book, but I don't know. In any case, most of the characters are involved in some way in FBI investigations and it seems to be this that holds the series together as a whole.
In many ways, this is a bit of an unusual story. On the one hand, it is a thriller/investigation type of book. As I previously mentioned, most of the characters are involved in the FBI in some ways. Our lead female is a computer genius who consults for them. There is, however, also a strong romantic part to the storyline. With our female lead, Naomi, meeting the male lead, Jay at a bar towards the beginning of the book. As the storyline plays out, their relationship develops too. That's not to say that it's full of sex scenes or the like that romance books tend to have, but it is a key element to the storyline. Overall, the investigation does take the lead role, so I would suggest that this is a thriller with a romantic element, rather than romantic suspense.
I don't want to give anything away about what happens, particularly with the mystery element to the storyline. I will say that I liked both of their lead characters and their relationship. I also enjoyed the investigation and thriller side of the story. It was quite a fast-paced read, which is always something that I enjoy. This was a good read.
I'd be quite keen to go back and read more in this series. I don't think that it will matter too much what order I read them in, but I am planning on reading a few more of the Windsor Series once I get chance. If you are looking for an exciting read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with a little bit of romance thrown in, then I honestly don't think that you will go far wrong here.

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Flash Point - Shelli Stevens

Flash Point by Shelli Stevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I haven't read the other books in this series, but fortunately, that didn't matter. This is quite a sweet little romance and I really enjoyed reading it. It is quite a quick read and was exactly what I was in the mood for.
The main characters, Todd and Kate are the kind of couple, or rather couple to be, that you often meet in this kind of romance books. Todd is a player, jumping from bed to bed while Kate, who has had a crush on him for years, has no sexual experience whatsoever. Although I enjoyed this story and the characters in it, I am beginning to struggle a bit with all of these virgins that need a man with heaps of experience to awaken them to the world of sex. It's not that that I mind so much, although I'd rather a few less innocent women in romance novels personally, it's the way people treat them. Lots of I'd have done things differently if I'd known. It might just be me, but I just find it quite patronising and annoying. I'd also like to see more couples with a similar level of experience, I know that this is probably down to society and the way that we view men and women, but do we always need the super experienced man and the pure as the driven snow woman?
This was an enjoyable read and I did like both of the main characters and was hoping that they would get their HEA. It was just the kind quick read that I was in the mood for right now.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Death at Burwell Farm - Betty Rowlands

Death at Burwell Farm by Betty Rowlands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think that I may have mentioned on one of the previous Sukey Reynolds books, that they are a little different from Betty Rowlands' other series. Unlike her other female lead, Mel Craig, Sukey doesn't really set out to investigate the mysteries that she finds herself in the middle of. Unlike Mel, Sukey actually has a reason to get close to crimes, in her role of SOCO, which is possibly why the approach is slightly different here. Either way, it doesn't really matter as the story itself is very enjoyable.
Having said all of that, this time, Sukey is asked by more than one person to look into a potentially dodgy alternative therapy, meditation retreat type place. Although she does set out to find out what is going on there, once the murder takes place, events unfold around her, rather than her actively trying to get to the bottom of them.
This really is a very enjoyable series. There is the chance to try and work out who-done-it, but just reading the story is entertaining in itself. This is only book number four in the series and I'm looking forward to reading more about Sukey, her son Gus and boyfriend Jim Castle.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Irish Lottery - Sienna Blake

Keep reading for your chance to WIN!

 

Four hot Irish brothers

ready to play out your ultimate fantasy…

Noah

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Our ma is sick and this lottery is the only way to raise that much money quickly.

But when my best friend in the whole world, the girl I’ve secretly loved for years, turns up as the winner I cannot believe it.

When I read the secret fantasy she’s submitted I almost choke.

She just wants us to give her what she’s never had…

…an O.

This could be the very thing I need to convince her that we should be more than friends. I could give her what she wants—the sexiest night of her life…and more.

I just hope she’s happy when she finds out who’s behind the mask. 

The Irish Lottery is a full-length standalone friends-to-lovers contemporary romance.

Grab The Irish Lottery at this special Release price!

 

→ CLICK HERE TO GRAB YOUR COPY!

About the author

 Sienna Blake is a dirty girl, a wordspinner of smexy love stories and an Amazon Top 20 & USA Today Bestselling Author. 

She lives in Dublin, Ireland, where she enjoys reading, keeping fit and adding to her personal harem of Irish hotties ;)

Get her bestselling Bound duet as a 'Thank you' gift when you join her sexy subscribers: bit.ly/FreeBoundDuet

My Review

I've always had a bit of a thing for friends to lovers stories and that is what we get in Irish Lottery. While this is one of the Irish Kiss series, it also contains a reverse harem scene, which tend to appear in her quick and dirty reads. This is only one scene in this story and the whole book is one that leads to a happily ever after between the main couple. As with previous books, from both this series and Sienna Blakes other series, once I started, I didn't want to put it down and devoured it pretty quickly.
Both of the main characters, Noah and Aubrey are very likeable and while the idea behind the lottery that gives the book its title seemed a little far fetched, it didn't really matter as it just made for a fun read. I also liked Noah's three brothers and wonder (hope) that they are perhaps going to get their own stories soon.
This story also looks at the double standards that sometimes seem to exist between the way that men and women are treated when it comes to sexual desire and promiscuity.
Overall this is a bit of a feel good, makes you all warm inside romance, which sometimes, particularly when it's wet, cold and miserable outside, is just what you want.

The Rogue King - Abigail Owen

The Rogue King by Abigail Owen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Abigail Owen's books and I particularly enjoy her Dragon Shifter romances. This one is slightly unusual as it is the start of the series, but it is linked to her other series Fire's Edge. These two series are linked although this one is set among the main clans that make up the dragon world, while the other series concentrates on a group of enforcers who live in the US.
In the other books, it has been explained that those who live outside of the rule and protection of their clans, usually because they have lost parents, are shunned and tend not to live long. Brand is one such rogue and despite the fact that the life of a rogue is a dangerous one, he has become something to be feared. He is sent by his friend and King of the blue dragons, to help to rescue and deliver to him a phoenix. It soon becomes clear that Brand and Kasia are destined to be much more to one another.
Brand is your usual silent and brooding type, who tries to keep people at a distance, while Kasia is a stubborn and determined woman, who tries to break through his defences and isn't at all convinced by his constant attempts to protect her. This is the type of paring that often comes up in books such as this, but it was done well and the characters were very likeable, I really enjoyed their pairing and story.
There is clearly much to come in both this series and the companion Fire's Edge series. I for one, can't wait to read more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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