The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan - Review

I have quickly become a HUGE fan of Kristen Callihan's! The Friend Zone is the 2nd book in the Game On series and it doesn't disappoint. We first meet Gray Grayson aka Cupcake in the first book, The Hook Up and all you can think about is him being this major manwhore who just loves women but never settles down. Well that all changes when he meets, or shall I say, receives a text from Ivy Mackenzie aka Special Sauce.

The banter between these two was awesome. The texting was probably my favorite part of these two. You honestly felt like you were invading a private conversation, that's how "real life" the texts were. I know some people criticized about how you can become so connected to someone through a text before you've even met them, apparently those folks have never experienced it. I have and let me tell you, it's an amazing thing. You truly learn who that person is by just letters on a screen. You learn their personality before your eyes can make a judgement. And the fact that Gray and Ivy both were friends before realizing their attraction to each other was a beautiful thing. You really felt their connection and their friendship, which made their relationship that much stronger.

The pink Fiat just cracked me up and I can only imagine what Gray looked like climbing in and out of that thing! It cracks me just thinking about it! This story has it all, witty banter, drama, intensity and of course super duper sexiness!

Bite the Dust by Cynthia Eden - Review

I've been a fan of Cynthia Eden for awhile but I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I know its paranormal and I don't have an issue with that at all, it's just the whole story was missing something but I can't quite put my finger on what it was. Maybe character development? Hell I don't know!

Jane is a detective with the New Orleans PD and she's investigating the death of a girl outside the infamous club Hell's Gate. This is where she first meets Aidan, the owner of the club and she instantly knows there's something not right about him. Well turns out he's a werewolf and apparently Jane is some supernatural "could be" vampire, but obviously that won't happen unless she dies.

I liked the action and intensity of the story but Jane's character somewhat irked me. She's badass to a point but not how I expected her to be. She was kind of careless and, I hate to say it but stupid at times. And not to mention she has this insane back story, yet we never really get it.

Aidan on the other hand, I liked! He was hot and sexy and not to mention the alpha of his pack, which is a huge deal and very rare. I wish I could see the connection between him and Jane but I just wasn't very believable to me and I mostly blame that on Jane's character and how she was written. I'll continue to read Cynthia Eden's books but this one just missed the mark.

The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan - Review

I am now an addict of Kristen Callihan's books! I one clicked this bad boy after another author kept going on and on about it. So I dove in and I loved every.single.second.I'm not usually into football type stories but this one just grabbed me and sucked me in for the entire ride.

Anna Jones is a college student who has issues with relationships, love and kissing on the lips! She likes her men as hook ups and nothing more. No attachments, no relationship drama and no worries of getting your heartbroken. Her whole world is turned upside down when she meets star Quarterback, Drew Baylor, who just so happens to be sitting right next to her in Lit class. I have to give it to Drew, the boy was persistent! Even after Anna told him she did not "date" he was totally okay with having her as a "booty call", which is what they refer to each other as.

I loved every word, every sentence, every paragraph of this book! Right when I thought I had everything figured out with Anna and Drew, a big old fat wrench is thrown into the mix just to stir shit up! The two of them are hot as hell together and God have mercy can Kristen Callihan write a sex scene! Call the fire department cause I'm on fire!!!!!!!!!

I laughed so many times in this book I honestly felt like when I was reading Anna's POV, I was in my head! Her thoughts and reactions to situations were exactly how I'd react. I think my favorite was:

         "Never mind the fact that we have virtually no examples of a utopian society thriving in a real
          world situation," I say. One of the girls who has been mooning over Baylor since the beginning
          of the semester raises her hand, as if she needs permission to speak, "What about Atlantis?"

          Oh, Jesus Christ in a peach tree.

I laughed so hard at that one simple sentence I had tears in my eyes! This is only one of many of Anna's quirky thoughts. I loved everything about Anna. Some reviews said she was naive and let her "daddy issues" get in the way but honestly, I felt like Anna reacted to things as most girls who have issues with relationships would.

 I loved her will to fight as well as her weakness to struggle with her emotions. By the end she fought for what she wanted and that was Drew, even when he tried his damndest to push her away after his injury, she stayed. The scene where they have their epic fight, after his injury, and they start throwing each others clothes outside, was so intense yet it kind of brought everything together. It's hard to explain so just red the damn book!

Fix You: Books 1-3 by Christine Bell - Review

I read all three of these books in one day. This isn't a long drawn out series, it's short, sweet and has its hot moments. I wish there was a little more with the ex-boyfriend, but I like confrontation in my books so to each their own!

Olivia is your average college student who wants to conquer the world yet has so many issues with her family and with her oh so lovely boyfriend that she struggles to get through each day with a smile on her face. Then she meets Bash, who helps her out when her shitty boyfriend somewhat assaults her in a bathroom of the club he works at. I wanted so much more in that particular scene but whatever moving on. This is where Bash and Olivia kind of find themselves tangled in a very complicated web. Olivia's boyfriend gets Bash fired from his job at the club and of course Olivia feels bad so she seeks Bash out and asks for self defense classes.

Again, the three books in this series are short and an easy read, I just wanted a little more from the story. Don't get me wrong the book was great and the scenes with Olivia and Bash were freakin hot as hell, I'm just a glutton for intensity, fights and angst in the books i read LOL I know I know, again to each their own!

The Gamble by Kristen Ashley - Review

I absolutely love Kristen Ashley as an author but I have to be honest, I struggled to get through this book. It was so wordy and drawn out that I found myself skipping through half the pages. I felt like there should have been some serious cutting of just junk dialogue that was irrelevant.

Nina is an American, but has a British accent from living over in England, and she's on a "time out" from her life and from her dull as hell fiance. Nina got on my nerves so bad. I didn't hate her character I just really disliked her. I couldn't connect with her on any level and I think that's because she was just flat. Oh and I won't even count how many times she said "Um" in the book...I mean for the love of God there were times I wanted to throat punch her and scream "JUST SPIT IT OUT ALREADY JESUS!"

And then there's Max. Where do I start with him...he's suppose to be this sexy Colorado, alpha male but honestly I felt like I got trying-way-too-hard-to-be-that-sexy-woodsy-guy. Again, here's a character who's dialogue just didn't do it for me. With Nina saying "Um" a lot, Max said "Yeah" a lot. And WTF was up with all the damn interruptions?!?!?!?! For the love of all that's holy let the two f-ing kiss already! That got old REALLY quick. It's like I'd get all into the scene and then....SOMEONE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR OR SOMEONE CALLS....Ugghhhhhhh just throw a wet blanket on me why don't ya!

I know this book has a lot of 5 star reviews but I just couldn't connect with this story or the characters. On to the next!

Fighting for Forver by JB Salsbury - Review

The Fighting series by JB Salsbury never disappoints! She can write a story like a spider can weave a web. Her stories are constructed in a thoughtful, clever, sexy way that can only be described as epic! Every book in this series is amazing and you won’t be disappointed when you pick up the first book but I will warn you…you will become an addict!!

Fighting Forever was an amazing story of betrayal, sacrifice and love, with a whole lot of sexiness mixed in. This installment of the Fighting series is about Trix and Mason. Trix is a dancer at Zeus and we all know Mason as “Baywatch” from the other books in the series.  Trix is one of those characters that you just can’t forget. She’s dancing in a strip club not because she wants to, but because she’s on a mission to avenge her sister’s death. Trix never expects to meet someone who will make her question everything she is doing and possibly make her seek peace instead of revenge.

 

Mason aka Baywatch, never thought he’d need someone as much as he needs Trix. It takes one look at her and he sees right through her stripper façade, instead he sees a woman trying to fight her own demons and conquer the world at the same time. When Trix’s need for revenge and Mason’s family issues collide, they realize just how much they both need each other. 

I love how JB Salsbury gives you all the feels in her books but she also gives you suspense, drama and serious intensity, and boy does she know how to write an ending! The epilogue of Trix and Mason’s story had my heart melting into a pile of mush! 

I’m telling you, if you haven’t read one of JB’s books you need to! Stat with Fighting the Fight and I promise you will get sucked into a black hole of gorgeous, possessive but oh so lovable MMA fighters and their incredible women!

Trust In Me (Dark Nights #1) by Skye Warren

 

WARNING: This book contains explicit scenes of graphic violence and sex. It depicts abuse, captivity, sex slavery and human trafficking. This book is not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these types of situations or anyone under the age of eighteen. Personally I think you should be 21 but whatever!

This is the second book I've read by this author and I am still trying to process what I read. Skye Warren is not afraid to drag you to the depths of hell and make you immerse yourself in every emotion humanly possible. From the first page to the last , you are thrown into the deep end and left there to keep yourself afloat.

 
Mia is a sex slave to Carlos, a crime boss, who is by far one of the shittiest characters I've ever read. He has absolutely no respect for human life. He takes Mia in after finding her on the street trying to make money by prostitution. Mia has had a rough life. She was physically and sexually abused by her father, which eventually lead her to run away. She had no one, not even the sexy, blue eyed 18 year old neighbor who she was madly in love with. It was very hard to read how Mia was treated by Carlos and the things he did to her made my stomach turn. There was a part where he even pissed on her face and made her sleep in a dog cage. It was utterly disgusting. Reading Mia's journey from her POV was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. You could feel how absolutely lost she was but yet had this strength about her that just blew your mind. You wanted so badly for her to just get out of that situation but you learn that she has a reason to stay, not because she has nowhere to go but because she's on a mission to save the woman who will soon be sold into the world of himan trafficking.

This is where we meet Tyler Martinez. He's the head of security for this particular shipment and has gotten in good with Carlos. But Tyler is not exactly who he says he is...he's actually an undercover FBI agent and Mia's sexy, blue eyed neighbor she once knew. Tyler instantly recognizes Mia and thus begins his mission to save her from this nightmare of a life.

I'm telling you, this book put me through the ringer. It took me a few days to process what I had read. I was so incredibly disgusted at certain points I wasn't sure I could continue reading. Skye Warren can tell a story that will just grip you by your very bones and wreck your emotions.

Mia is one of those characters that will stick with you long after you've read her story. I understand this book is a work of fiction but with the content it's hard not to get dragged down by it because in reality, these types of situations are happening every day. If you want to take a walk on the dark side then pick this book up. You may end up twisted from the inside out but you won't be disappointed that's for sure.