Grey by EL James (spoiler at the end)

See the world of Fifty Shades of Grey anew through the eyes of Christian Grey.

In Christian's own words, and through his thoughts, reflections, and dreams, E L James offers a fresh perspective on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the world.

Christian Grey exercises control in all things; his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty—until the day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of shapely limbs and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, but instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot comprehend and cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before, shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him—past the business prodigy and the penthouse lifestyle to Christian’s cold, wounded heart.  

Will being with Ana dispel the horrors of his childhood that haunt Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, and the self-loathing that fills his soul drive this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?-Grey summary on Goodreads.
________________________________________________________________________

Obviously I loved the 50 Shades series, so it would literally be impossible for me hate this book but...


Holy crap it was rushed. Instead of the book reading like Christian was living his life and we were going through the experiences with him, it felt like I was looking back an old journal of his. In 50 Shades of Grey, Ana had a life around her, she had things going on besides Christian, it just made the story more real, ergo made their romance seem more real. As mundane as it seems, I would have liked to read more about his regular life, and more about his relationships with family members etc. (Although there was a little more play with Taylor and some of his other staff) The extra story line would have made the book longer, and built the tension while waiting for his next Ana encounter.

This book cast Christian in a different light for me. I still really enjoyed his character, but if I ever had a question about how dark he was before, I know now. There were small bits of memory from his childhood and ex subs, that helped unwrap the mystery that is Christian Grey, and that was exciting, and a tad disturbing.

Even though I felt like this book was thrown together, I would be lying if I said I didn't want her to write his POV for the other two books.

SPOILER:
I am really happy that the book didn't end when Ana left! It's honestly what saved the book for me. I loved watching what Christian did in-between her walking out and when he saw her again.


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Fighting for Forever by JB Salsbury

Slut. Hooker. Whore. 

The taunts never bothered me. They only see what I allow them to see, and a Las Vegas stripper is the perfect cover. 
My life had direction. I had a mission—until the man I needed vanished and is presumed dead. 
It’s time to move on—give up the dream for revenge—and no one shows me that more than the mop-headed fighter with eyes the color of the ocean. 
If anyone can teach me just how sweet life can be, it’s him. But first, I’d have to let go. 

Mase. Baywatch. Mayhem. 
I’m known by many names, but there’s only one that stirs panic and worry in my gut every time I’m called it. 
Brother. 
I’ve bailed him out of trouble for years, so when he turns up in Vegas and asks for me, I’m prepared for the worst. And the worst is exactly what I get in the form of a lilac-eyed beauty named Trix. 
She’s everything I hate about Vegas: a stripper, loose with her body and her morals. But there’s something about her, a complexity that she buries deep, and I’m determined to uncover it. 
The deeper I go, the less I understand. When I finally learn the truth, we engage in a battle where life and death hang in the balance. 
Fighting could kill us both, but if we win, forever is the prize. -Fighting for Forever summary on Goodreads

OH MY SWEET GOD, I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was just so.. ohhhhh... yep, I need help, someone catch my ass, before I hit the ground, please.

This booked was packed with lots of sweetness and plenty of action. Good Ol JB knows how to pack some serious drama into her romance novels, turning them into something so much more. Fighting for Forever, had some intense, chest gripping moments that sent my heart pounding, chapters filled with plenty of action that kept the book at such a fast pace I couldn't put it down, and moments filled with such an over whelming sense of sweetness, that I just wanted to curl up in the corner and read certain parts over and over. The characters obviously had fantastic chemistry (as always) but Mason and Trix were so wonderfully complex, so multifaceted, and their story raised the bar so damn high, I have no clue how it could get much better.


Mason, you sexy son of a.. NO! bad Erica, I should be more respectful of my book husband, I should not objectify him.... OH look! Him running around OUR house, buck naked.... I am a lucky lucky woman.

(Kelly Slater one of the inspirations for Mason. I like to picture his body with young Paul Walkers face. Oh man, I love google so hard right now)

Sorry I got side tracked there (look at that booty), Mason was amazingly perfect. I loved him in previous books, and obviously I was pretty damn excited that he was getting his own, but after finally reading his story, now I know he was/is just too impossible to resist. He was beyond caring when it came to the ones he loved, even when they didn't deserve it, and they had wronged him over and over again, he still proved that HE would always have their backs. There was also something about him that screamed stable and Forever love, it made him so rock solid, so real, and beyond sexy as hell. I also enjoyed his attempt at being an asshole, as futile as it was. He totally had some grade A, douche moments when he was hurt and wanted to lash out, but he couldn't keep that persona up even when he wanted to. 

Trix! Holy crap was I surprised how at much I loved her! She is with out a doubt my new favorite. I honestly wasn't too sure how much I was going to identify with her based on the little synopsis the book gave, and even though she had been nothing but a good friend in Forget, I was seriously wondering how she was going to be a character I could root for, how well could Trix really blend into the group of past FG's? Well, JB did it again, I should honestly know by now that her characters are never what they seem, and Trix is the ultimate example of that. From the second I read the prologue I was on her side, cheering her on, and never not once did she fail to impress. There were several times I kept waiting for her to make some stupid decision that would have me screaming at the book, but it never came. HANDS DOWN Trix is the baddest ass Fighting girl of the series.

(You go girl)

This book was written so damn well, I received the ARC version, but beyond some grammatical errors that will probably be fixed before it goes live, absolutely nothing else should be changed!

Meeting new characters also really pushed this book over the top for me, and I'm hoping that these sexy newbies get their own books soon. (i.e. WADE cough cough)

I honestly couldn't give this book anything other than 5 keos. It had everything I wanted and so much more. When I read the first book Fighting for Flight, (Jonah and Ravens story) I fell so completely and totally in love with the book, it became and instant and forever favorite. I really really liked/ loved the other books in the series, don't get me wrong, but as I was reading Forever, I felt that same sense of perfection that I got while reading Flight. This book was just so amazingly well done and I loved BOTH the characters so damn much. I would recommend reading this whole damn series to anyone (and I have, a lot) just so eventually they would get to Forever with Mason and Trix.

PS. JB SALSBURY, IF YOU ARE READING THIS, THERE BETTER BE A DAMN REX AND GIA NOVELLA COMING SOON! OR I WILL HAVE SOME VERY....NOT SO NICE WORDS FOR YOU, AT YOUR NEXT SIGNING!

(seriously I know people.. who will also be mad if you don't do it!)

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Love Crushed by Toshia Slade

.5

Career driven, Focused and Sensible.

Josh Murphy’s life is mapped out. Twenty-five and co-owner of a construction company, he’s ready to obtain his next goal. A wife by his side and babies to fill his house. He’s always had his eyes set on the wild and fiery Tiffany, but knew she wasn’t ready for the life he wanted. Until one drunk party snaps his restraint. It’s time to make his move and finally claim his girl.

Unbound, Wild, and Free.

Tiffany Johnson wants to fly through life. She can’t decide on a college major, so Josh, Mr. Has Life Planned Perfectly, isn’t an option. Even if she wants him. But she’s not ready for that kind of commitment or to be tied down. All she’s willing to give is a little fun and adventure.

Secrets, Lies and Deceit.

Everyone deserves to have a happily ever after, or so Tiffany thought. She was ready to give in, take the leap into forever with Josh. Until one soul crushing phone call ruined it all. 

What happens when everything you thought about love and life is crushed? Will Josh be able to fight and bring Tiffany back to the girl he fell in love with? Can he save the one girl he can’t live without, or has Tiffany been broken beyond repair, claiming his feisty Kitten forever? - Love Crushed summary on Goodreads

GAHH I was so happy that Josh and Tiff's book finally came out! As soon as I read about them in Ten Year Crush, I couldn't wait to read their story!

It was soooo worth the wait. The main characters had amazing chemistry, and their story was laid out really well. It was filled with angst, waiting for the characters to finally get together, and plenty of  sweetness, with all that they shared. I also loved seeing Cam and Gabby from Ten Year crush! It's always great when you can get a peak at the beloved characters from books past.

Now getting to the most important thing... Josh was oohh sooo yummy. Probably one of the more  romantic male characters I've read lately. He was totally swoon worthy, sweet and caring, mature and I loved that he knew what he wanted and didn't get side tracked by something easy. Combine all of that, with the sexy southern accent I heard in my head when I read his words and... YUM!

(Dan Osborne, the inspiration for Josh)

Tiffany, good lord did she drive me up a wall. I just wanted to scream at her and force the two of them to kiss and make up.... but on the other side of that coin, her issue wasn't that unbelievable or hard to understand. I really identified with what she had going on, and how she felt. So in the end I really liked her, but I wanted to shake her just a little.

This was such a steamy read. Right off the bat too, there was no holding back this couple and all the chemistry they had going on. I loved their romance, and as spicy as it was, it didn't come off cheesy or erotica-ish. Just a good ol' dose of sexy with some sweet to keep it classy.

The only reason I couldn't give it a perfect five, is because some parts of the story were a little confusing. I really can't give an example with out spoiling some amazing scenes and it only occurred a few times. It was sort of like everything was moving at a normal pace, and then BAM! Something huge would happen out of no where without any build up, and it had me flipping back pages cause I thought I missed something important. It threw me out of the story just a little bit, but it wasn't hard to get back in.

In the end, I loved this book. I highly recommend it. I would also suggest, that even though this is a stand alone book, read Ten Year Crush as well. It was Cam and Gabby's story, but you get a little taste of Josh and Tiffany before they took the leap, plus it also was fantastic!!

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The Other Man by RK Lilley

.5

“How rough can you take it?

LOURDES
He was brazen as hell from the moment I laid eyes on him. He was aggressive, and dominant, with Mack truck arms, and a bar brawler voice.
He was too good looking for his own good, with a hard jaw, and harder eyes.
I’d always led a fairly peaceful life, but even I could tell at a glance that this man was dangerous. For so many reasons.
Not the least of which being that rough, dirty, sheet-clawing sex fairly radiated off him.
I’d thought I’d known how to handle every kind of man, but this one left me baffled.
To say he wasn’t my type was putting it lightly.
But you couldn’t tell that to my libido.
Not even when I found out the truth.
My lover had lied to me from the very start.
Nothing about our meeting was a coincidence. - The Other Man summary on Goodreads


Steamy, super steamy. It started off hot and heavy and stayed that way through out the book. It was pretty intense, something that I've heard a lot about this author, and now I know.

The book also moved really fast, the characters met, slept together, never really got to know each other, but fell head over heels. As the story progressed we got a glimpse at Heaths life but he maintained an air of mystery that never really got solved. As much as I loved it, I wish there would have been some more time to get to know him and read about what connected him and Lourdes together besides wanting to bone. I would have liked it to slow down a bit.

It had a great twist, again it's kind of thrown at you, but it was still a really good plot.

Lourdes was interesting, I had a hard time relating to her but I liked her. I loved how kind she was, I also really liked how she was so strong through everything she faced (especially at the end).

Heath, yum! He was very dangerous sexy. Like I said earlier a total mystery, and a little scary. The ultimate bad boy who will do anything to protect the woman he loves. The second I read his description, I pictured Kellan Lutz. And look I found the perfect gif of him!!

This wasn't a traditional read that's for sure, and it definitely wasn't a swoon your pants off romance, but it was very sexy and it will definitely stick with you.

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Too Far series by Abbi Glines

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter. 

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother. 

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far. -Fallen Too Far summary on Goodreads.


I surprisingly loved the set up for these books. It was a little Jerry Springer/ Maury -ish. (This is your daddy, just kidding it's someone else, nope just kidding THIS is your father.) I thought that it would be cheesy, to the point that I couldn't handle it, but it was actually really well thought out. The mega secret that Rush was hiding was also pretty crazy. I had no clue that was going to happen! That is so major for me! I can usually see the climax coming a mile away... 

but I was genuinely surprised! 

Rush and Blaire had excellent chemistry. I will admit, at first I didn't understand the crazy draw Rush had to her, (besides obviously thinking she was attractive) but once it was all explained, it made the story even better. I think they were a really good match for each other. It was interesting to read, and hot as hell. Definitely steamy, and intense, I was rooting for them the whole way through the series.

I liked it, I liked it a lot.

I don't really have a guy picked out for Rush. Although I thought maybe the lead singer from Black Veil Brides would work, he doesn't fit it just right. Rush was perfectly complex. He came off as this rich asshole, but honestly had a heart of gold. He never treated anyone like crap unless they deserved it, and that was pretty damn charming. Even in his man slut days,  his cards were always on the table, he never lied or took advantage. I kind of wanted to slap him several times through the series, falling for his sisters crap or not telling Blaire his big secret earlier, but by the end of the series I couldn't imagine him being any different.

Ashley Benson is my perfect Blaire. I loved how sweet and strong she was. She always kept her head up and moved forward, which I think made her a great lead female character. She was forgiving and she tried her hardest to understand things from another persons point of view, but she didn't let them walk all over her. There was only one time in all four books that she had me yelling at my e-reader saying "What the hell are you doing?" but with all the crap she had to put up with, I got over it pretty quickly.

The only reason that I couldn't give these books 5 Keos, is the constant jump of time. When the books first started, she lost her dad five years ago. Then it was three. Then in one of them it was four. GOOD LORDIE! from what I understand. Five years ago she lost her sister, and two weeks later her dad left. Two years after he dad left, her mother became sick, and she finally died from her illness a month before Blaire came to Rosemary?! Does anyone have thoughts on this? 

I love Rush and Blaire's books, and I was so happy to see that there will be books for their friends in the Rosemary Beach series. I'll start those next week and probably have a review up soon!



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Lunarmorte series by Samantha Young

. 5

It’s bad enough feeling different among the human crowd, but feeling different among wolves? 

No one said returning to her pack would be easy, especially after ten years without them, but seventeen year old Caia Ribeiro is unprepared for the realities of the transition. Raised in a world where kids aren’t scared by bedtime tales of the bogeyman but by the real life threat of enemy supernaturals who might come creeping into their community to kill them in their sleep, Caia is used to the darkness; she’s used to the mystery and the intrigue of the ancient underworld war she’s bound to by chance of birth. What she’s having trouble with are pack members treating her with wary suspicion, the Elders tucking secrets behind their backs out of her sightline, and her young Alpha, Lucien, distracting her, with a dangerous attraction, from her decision to uncover the truth.

But as the saying goes ‘the truth will out’ and when it does, Caia will only have so long to prepare herself before the war comes pounding on their door threatening to destroy the safe, secret lives of the wolves… and the girl they protect.- Moon Spell summary on Goodreads


I FREAKIN FINISHED IT! AHHHH!!!
Yay me! Seriously though, I have been meaning to finish this series for the last six months! Things just kept happening and it kind of got forgotten about, but now it's done!

Alright to the nitty gritty.

This series was certainly interesting. Instead of the traditional bite from a wolf that changes you, it's gentetic. They, along with vampires and witches (called magiks) get their powers from the Greek gods. Again it was kind of interesting to read about a totally different take on the supernatural world that has been done over and over. I would have liked for the story to be more in depth, to learn have learned more about the pack. Sometimes I felt like the lunarmorte world wasn't as fully developed as it could have been, but it was still pretty good.

I wasn't really sure how I felt about Caia at first. She was kind of annoying, but she got soooo much better as the series developed. By the time it was over I really liked her.


Lucien, I never really fell for him. He was a jackass, pretty stubborn, sometimes sexy and alpha all the way. That being said, that was really it. There wasn't a whole lot of dimension to his character, so it was hard for me to get too attached. PLUS HE NEVER LEARNED HIS LESSON.  In each book there came a point when he needed to trust Caia, or he needed to be honest with her. He choose to do the opposite of that at every turn! How many times do you have to go through this, how many times do you have to hurt your mates feelings before you get it!!!

SERIOUSLY?!?

I also didn't think Lucien and Caia had great chemistry. It went from not trusting each other, to lust, to hate, then epic love. I think that by the end of the books, I was finally starting to like them together, but then it ENDED so kind of a let down.


Again I really liked this series by the time it was over. It had a very exciting and lovely ending. Do I think that I will re-read it in the future? No. Is it one my favorites? No. But it was good and I'm happy that I followed through and finished it.

YAY I'M DONE!! BYE!! 

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Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. 

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office. 

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other. -The Beautiful Bastard summary on Goodreads.

Sexy! Holy whoa this was a sexy read! That is the first and probably most important thing to say about this book.


I really liked the character. They were strong and funny to watch, as they go back and forth in their verbal showdowns.
Bennett was a strong alpha male, that I sometimes wanted to smack him across the face. I still liked him though and he made for a very interesting male lead.

Chloe, she was sassy and badass. I loved how capable and empowering she was.

The only reason I couldn't give this book 5 keos, is because it was lacking some serious relationship building between the two. It went frome hate to love so fast (with lots of steamy naughty bits in-between) but I would have liked to see them actually bond over something other than sex. It was still an amazing book and I will finish the series.

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