Showing posts with label suspense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suspense. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Review: First Touch by Laurelin Paige

Title: First Touch
Author: Laurelin Paige
Published: December 29th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
When Emily Wayborn goes home to visit her mom while on hiatus from her hit TV show, she receives a voicemail from her former best friend, Amber. Though the two were once notorious party girls, they haven't spoken in years. Although the message might sound benign to anyone else, Amber uses a safe word that Emily recognizes, a word they always used to get out of sticky situations during their wild days. And what's more chilling than the voicemail: it turns out that Amber has gone missing.

Determined to track down her friend, Emily follows a chain of clues that lead her to the enigmatic billionaire Reeve Sallis, a hotelier known for his shady dealings and play boy reputation. Now, in order to find Amber, Emily must seduce Reeve to learn his secrets and discover the whereabouts of her friend. But as she finds herself more entangled with him, she finds she's drawn to Reeve for more than just his connection to Amber, despite her growing fear that he may be the enemy. When she's forced to choose where her loyalty lies, how will she decide between saving Amber and saving her heart?

My Thoughts:

I picked this one up because I'd heard a lot about Laurelin Paige and wanted to see what all the hype was about. And when I started it I was definitely intrigued and wanting more. Emily's on a mission to figure out what has happened to her friend Amber. The two of them have a sordid past, one that Emily escaped before it ruined her. What she learns along the way leads her to Reeve. She has to find a way into his life, and she does...by seducing him. As time goes on, she finds herself wanting him in a way she doesn't want to. She needs to find her friend and falling for someone who may be responsible or know what has happened to Amber. What is she going to do?

First Touch is a very dark and sexy romance. Personally, it was a little too dark for my taste, but I know a lot of people who like it that way, so they're going to love it. The dynamic between Emily and Reeve was well done--the tension and emotion was palpable. It just leaps off the page and takes you by surprise. The steam was a bit too much, but it was still well written. If you like your books full of heat and thoroughly intense, this book might be perfect for you.

My Rating:

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Review: Darker the Release by Claire Kent

Title: Darker the Release
Author: Claire Kent
Published: October 6th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
USA Today bestselling author Claire Kent continues her emotionally charged story of longing, betrayal, and insatiable desire as two lovers find themselves in a deadly standoff of seduction.

Kelly Watson got involved with mogul Caleb Marshall for all the wrong reasons: namely, to prove that he murdered her father twenty years ago. But Caleb is hotter than hell, the sex is mind-blowing, and Kelly’s afraid that she’s falling for him despite her chilling suspicions. Now, the more time she spends in his arms, the more she risks betraying her identity and losing her heart. The only way out is to discover the truth before Caleb figures out who she really is.

Caleb’s feelings for Kelly are taking him into uncharted territory, replacing his weakness for call girls and one-night stands with a hunger for something real. Still, the ruthless businessman in him can’t resist looking into Kelly’s background. When his investigation suggests that he’s not the only one with something to hide, Caleb is forced to decide if he can trust someone who’s been telling him lies. For the first time, Caleb understands how intimacy can be so tempting—and, in the wrong hands, so dangerous.

My Thoughts:

After the intriguing start to the Revenge Saga series by Claire Kent, one of my favorite authors, I was quite curious to see what would happen next for Kelly and Caleb and if they would get to the bottom of what really happened. At the start of the book, they're still where they left off--both of them wondering what's going on with the other and Kelly is continuing the charade of really caring for Caleb. Everyone is diving into the discovery of the truth--the REAL truth--of what happened to her father. Kelly is getting closer to an answer, but unfortunately Caleb is looking into who she really is. When the lies come to the surface along with the facts, there's nowhere for either of them to hide anymore. What will happen when they come out the other side?

Darker the Release was a mixture of emotion and intrigue. The first book definitely had the kick start that the series needed, but the second one was more focused on their hanging by a thread love story and sex life. I was hoping for more of a one-two punch to complete the series, and while it wasn't as exciting, it was still relatively satisfying. We got the answers we needed and the story wrapped up in a decent fashion.

My Rating:

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Tasty Virtual Book Tour and Review: Sweet the Sin: Revenge Saga # 1 by Claire Kent


Welcome to the Sweet the Sin book tour!

~*~

Title: Sweet the Sin
Author: Claire Kent
Published: July 7th 2015
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
In the first novel in USA Today bestselling author Claire Kent’s deeply sensual story of love, lust, and deception, a woman searching for the truth discovers that she’s sleeping with the enemy.

Portrait artist Kelly Watson keeps her relationships simple and steamy, with no strings attached. She’s had a hard time trusting other people since she was a child, when her father was murdered for trying to blow the whistle on corporate corruption. Nearly twenty years later, Kelly finds herself in the arms of a seductive stranger—the very same man who may have ordered her father’s death. And even as she plays him, using hot sex as a means to revenge, Kelly is tormented by one question: Is she committing the ultimate betrayal?

Caleb Marshall has spent decades forging a high-powered career, rejecting intimacy for the convenience of fast women and cheap thrills. But Kelly intrigues him, pushing commitment buttons he didn’t know he had. Still, something is wrong. Despite their physical and emotional chemistry, Caleb feels the fear inside of her. Now the only way to keep her safe is coming clean, before secrets and lies destroy their connection—no matter how deep, intense, and addictive it may be.

My Thoughts:

There are some authors on my "must get my hands on" list--Claire Kent is one of them. I'm usually consistently making grabby hands when I hear about something new. When I heard about this romantic suspense, I was very interested.

The storyline is intriguing--Kelly trying to get to the bottom of her father's murder by seducing the enemy, Caleb. I found myself flipping the pages, almost too quickly, because I wanted to see how she planned on doing this. All the while, my emotions are tied up in what all of this could mean for each of them. There is so much at stake, what with Kelly being intimate with the man who might be the one who killed her father... and then there's Caleb, oblivious to what Kelly is doing, wondering where her mind is.

Sweet the Sin is a book full of seductive intrigue, taking you beyond what you expected it to be. I can't imagine being in Kelly's position, or being that willing to put myself into it. When you reach the end, you're on pins and needles enough as it is and now you want the next book so that all the puzzle pieces can fit together. It kind of drives you a bit crazy, the idea of waiting. Can't wait for Darker the Release, book two in the Revenge Saga!

My Rating:



~*~ 





Author Info
Claire Kent has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. She has a PhD in British literature and, when she’s not writing, teaches English at the university level. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Noelle Adams. 
Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads


Excerpt

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so deeply attracted to a man. He wasn’t even her type. He was too old for her—with a dusting of silver in his hair—and she normally preferred blue-collar types. Military men. Cops. Firefighters. Construction workers. Men with calloused hands. 
Not like this guy at all. 
“I know who you really are,” he said, easing even closer to her so that her breasts brushed lightly against his chest for a moment. “You believe in love, don’t you?” 
It was so far from the truth, Kelly almost laughed. She hadn’t believed in love since her father was murdered. “You are so wrong about me, it’s not even funny. I bet I believe in love even less than you do.” 
“What do you believe in, then?” He was touching her hair again, skimming the tips of his fingers down the length of one loose strand. 
She could hardly believe he was a stranger. It felt like she knew him—all the way down to the core. “I believe in being self-sufficient, just like you do.” She leaned toward him just enough to graze her nipples against his shirt before she pulled back. 
“Do you?” There was a slight flush to his cheeks now, and it looked like he was breathing more quickly. He was definitely turned on. Just as turned on as she was. “What else do you believe in?” 
“I believe in seeing the world as it really is and not dreaming of romantic fairy tales, just like you do.” She knew this about him, as well as she knew it about herself. 
She saw the affirmation in his eyes, mingling with the blaze of desire. “And what else?” 
“And I believe in sex.” They were in a public park, but she didn’t care. Responding to the challenge he posed, she slid one hand down his chest, then his belly, until she reached his groin, which she gave a brief caress. 
She hadn’t been wrong. He was aroused. Hard in his jeans. 
His breath hitched at her touch, and she could see he was holding himself back. “What do you believe about sex?” 
“I believe people can come together for mutual gratification without all the baggage the world has built up around it.” 
“Ah,” he murmured thickly, settling one hand on the small of her back. “Free love, then? To go with the puppies and flowers?” 
“Not love. Sex. There’s no overlap unless you make it so.” 
“I don’t make it so.” He pushed her hips toward his body until she could feel his arousal against her middle. 
She was fighting to catch her breath, her pussy pulsing with desire, and her mind struggling to keep up with his quick wit. “Somehow, I knew that about you.” 
“I’ve met a lot of women who make such claims, but then they’re crying when I don’t call them the next morning.” 
“I’ve met a lot of men who do the same thing.” 
He shook his head, pushing his erection against her very slightly. To the people in the park, they must look like they were just hugging, but a hug was very far from what was going on between them. 
To Kelly, it felt more like battle. And she liked it. A lot. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this turned on, this invested in a conversation. 
“So, you don’t cry?” he asked, his brown eyes smoldering with lust, excitement, and intelligence. 
“I haven’t cried since I was ten years old.” 
That was true too. She hadn’t cried since the months after her father died. Her whole world had changed that year. 
“I still have no proof this is nothing but pretense on your side.” 
“Because I’m a woman? Because I have a sweet face? You’re old enough to know that appearances deceive. You can fuck me now, and I’d never give you a second thought. You’d never hear from me again.” 
“If I fuck you,” he murmured, “I promise you’ll think of me again.” 
“There’s no way you’re that good.” 
“You shouldn’t say such things. You’ll only be proven wrong.” 
“Your arrogance is astounding, but I still haven’t seen you follow through.” 
“You want me to follow through?” It was a genuine question. She could see that he was waiting for an answer as he watched her, even through the growing desire. 
“Oh, yeah.” 
She’d had sex with strangers before. All she’d ever had was sex with strangers. She didn’t normally have sex on a Saturday morning in the park, but there was no good reason not to. 
She wanted this man—like he was a challenge that must be met, a battle that must be won. 
“We’ll see,” the man said, sounding faintly skeptical, as if he still didn’t believe she took sex as casually as he did. 
“See how, exactly?” She raised her eyebrows in a question, a call to action. 
The man met the call, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the wooded area nearby. He snapped his fingers, and the dog stopped chewing his Frisbee and jumped to his feet to follow. 
Kelly’s breath caught in her throat as they neared the trees. “The car might be more comfortable.” 
“I’m not going for comfort here.” His grip was firm and strong and authoritative as he pulled her after him. 
She felt a wave of panic as they entered the trees, not at one of the trails, but in the thickly grown area closest to where they’d been standing. 
The woods were dark, unknown, everything hidden—masking horrors she just couldn’t face. 
When they’d gone a few feet in, she couldn’t make herself go any farther. She physically couldn’t do it, yanking her hand out of the man’s. 
He turned around with a resigned expression. “That’s what I thought.” 
He thought she’d given up. He thought he’d won. 
But he wasn’t going to win this, her phobia about the woods be damned. She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him against a large tree. “What did you think? That we would go deep in the woods where you could safely hide, where no one could ever see what we were doing? This is far enough.” 
There was more risk of being discovered, this close to the edge of the woods. They would be out of sight, but not very far. 
Kelly didn’t care. The fear of being caught was far milder than her fear of going deeper into the woods. Even now, a chill had broken out on her skin, almost distracting her from her arousal. 
Almost.




Rafflecopter Giveaway  

One Loveswept Mug
 
One Flirt Mug 

Ebook copies of:
  • CLAIMED by Stacey Kennedy
  • MY OBSESSION by Cassie Ryan
  • DEEP AUTUMN HEAT by Elisabeth Barrett
  • TAKE THE FALL by Marquita Valentine
  • YOUR TO KEEP by Serena Bell 
  • SWEET THE SIN by Claire Kent

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Review: SEAL's Desire by Elle James

Title: SEAL's Desire
Author: Elle James
Published: March 10th 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
Navy SEAL teams with a sexy NICS agent undercover as a stripper to find a missing naval officer.

Navy SEAL Remy LaDue wants Mitchell Sanders, but hasn't made a move since he slept with her the night of his buddy, her former boyfriend's funeral. A year later, his plan to be her Valentine date runs amuck when he finds her undercover as a stripper at a local club.

NCIS agent Mitchell Sanders never wanted to settle, dedicated to her job and justice is finally ready to commit to the SEAL she accidentally fell in love with. When her friend, a female navy officer, goes missing she puts her love life on hold and goes undercover to find her friend, only to discover her SEAL is back in town and threatening to blow her cover.

Remy and Mitchell join forces to find her friend and uncover a human trafficking organization in the darkest heart of Virginia Beach while their attraction for each other burns hotter than the sun.

My Thoughts:

I snagged this one because I was in the mood to read a suspenseful romance. I discovered that this was definitely a good choice. Talk about a wild and enjoyable ride!

Remy and Mitchell have a past, one that's complicated due to the fact that she used to date his best friend, Derek. Everything changed when Derek dies, but the guilt over the two of them being together drives them apart. But when Mitchell needs to save her friend, Kelli, she bands together with Remy and company to get the job done. In the meantime, Remy and Mitchell can't help but fall together again, despite the complications from before.

SEAL's Desire is a novella that packs a punch. Full of suspense and romance as promised, you're hanging on for quite the ride. I'm very interested in seeing more from this series by Elle James.

My Rating:


Thursday, January 22, 2015

Review: Swept Away Volume One by J. Haymore

Title: Swept Away Volume One
Author: J. Haymore
Published:  October 20th 2014
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy: Amazon
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
He is everywhere. He surrounds me, wends his way under my skin. I can’t escape his strength, his intensity, his presence.

I’m trapped.

There’s nowhere to run.

Nowhere to hide.

But even if I could escape... would I be strong enough to leave?


I needed something — something big — to get myself out of the rut I’d fallen into after the car accident that killed my sister. This sailing trip was meant only to mark a new chapter in my life. Until Ethan Williams stepped on board.

Ethan radiated confidence. His darkly handsome good looks and ocean-blue eyes mesmerized me. But it was the way he looked at me that drew me in. He wasn’t looking at my past or at my scars, but the real me behind all that baggage I was trying so hard to leave behind.

But Ethan had secrets—dark, dangerous secrets. I was trapped in the middle of the ocean in a tangle of lies, sex, and violence. The problem was, I was happy to be trapped forever...if it meant I could have him.

My Thoughts:

When I first heard about this one, I was really looking forward to it. I loved the idea of a mystery and romance. Plus it's by Jennifer Haymore--the author behind some of my favorite historical romances. So, I was hoping it would be just as good. While I wasn't as hooked as I expected to be, I did find the mystery intriguing.

The instantaneous connection that Tara has with Ethan is powerful, and they're drawn in to each other. What is it about him? The mystery, of course. While Ethan and Tara are finding themselves captivated in each other, there's a strange vibe in the air around them. How do you know who you can trust?

Swept Away Volume One had enough intrigue to make you want to see what happens next. J. Haymore knows how to keep the mystery alive. I liked how Tara wasn't the usual kind of heroine--she had a past and a lot more to her than you would expect. While I'm curious about exactly what is going on, I don't know if I'll be picking up the rest of the series anytime soon.

My Rating:

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Review: The Evolution Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Evolution Of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Published: October 23rd 2012
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

My Thoughts:

Holy schnikees Batman.

While there’s something intensely incredible about the first book in a series, there can be a lot to say about the second book in a series. This book was one of them. What a thrill ride. There were a few things that were revealed in the first book, but a few things were still unknown. In Evolution, those unknowns were explored.

A lot of it was honestly a bunch of insane things happening. And of course, you don’t know if it is in Mara’s head or if it is really happening. Which is why this series is so awesome because it messes with YOUR head. Nearly every time I finished a chapter, I had either gotten more confused, figured something out, or was reeling in shock of what just happened. The biggest thing about Evolution was the incident that happened at the very end of Unbecoming. It’s a major spoiler, so I will not mention it in detail. I will say, however, that this thing is the basis of the mess that Mara is in now and continues to be in, and it will keep you hanging on.

I would be remiss to not mention the beauty that which is Noah Shaw. It had been nearly a year since I read the first book and fell in love with him. The second book made me fall in love with him all over again. FALL IN LOVE is almost an understatement. He was so beautiful and swoon worthy, as usual. There were those two parts that were absolutely the best… the notebook and the event that followed reading it.

The Evolution Of Mara Dyer was a great, no, a marvelous continuation of this psychological thriller. Mara and Noah’s relationship is just plain epic. The first book was on a scale of 1 to 10 for sexual tension a 9. The second book is an 11. Seriously. That sexual tension… and the kissing… oh man. I just loved it. And the end? Well played, Michelle Hodkin. Well played. One of the best series I have read and as much as I want to find out what happens, I want to savor it forever.

PS: I don’t buy the one part for a SECOND. Trust me, I KNOW it isn’t true. (You guys who read the book know what I’m talking about. And you don’t believe it either.)

My Rating: