bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)

Hayden and Brent's best friends are getting married, creating the perfect situation for these two polar opposites to attract. Brent, a ginormous and outgoing explosives expert, and Hayden, a frosty rich girl with a hidden desire for control, finally come together after a night of escalating dares, both stunned by their chemistry.

But, their opposites may prove to be too much to overcome, as both question their feelings and Hayden struggles to choose between her happiness and a loveless arranged marriage that is needed to save her beloved father's company.

Tessa Bailey is the queen of dirty talking heroes, and this audio book is so freaky steamy. I loved it. Sometimes the story veered towards the ridiculous and the ending happened a bit too neatly, but with this level of heat, who really cares. I adored how Hayden and Brent took turns being "in control" in the bedroom, well, wherever they ended up (who knew hallway bench sexy times could be so fun)!

I'm ready for anything Bailey writes!

Alas, I'm leaving this one behind. I tried both the audio and print version and I kept setting it aside for other books, so onward and upward.

Beautiful setting and mythology, but the multiple first person POVs and the frantic pacing didn't work for me.

Evan Miller thinks his neighbor must be a curmudgeon, an old grumpy man. They bump around at odd hours of the night, never seem to leave their apartment, and never has company.

What Evan isn't expecting is the definitely grumpy, but wildly sexy Ruth Kabbah. He also isn't expecting to hear that Ruth is the town pariah for some sort of long ago incident involving Evan's boss, the local rich boy and a total asshole.

For Ruth, growing up as a black woman with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a teeny, tiny English town, has not been easy, especially since "the incident." Embracing her outcast status, Ruth keeps to herself, drawing her web-comic, wearing her beloved pajamas, and trying, for her beloved sister, to be happy.

Ruth doesn't understand and is leery of Evan's kindness and her absolute attraction to the massive, bear size hunk. Doesn't he understand he's supposed to hate her?

As Evan and Ruth size each other up, Ruth will come to find out she is worth all of Evan's efforts.

I heard about this author from Twitter, and recently bought a cheap-o subscription to Kindle Unlimited (all of Hibbert's titles are available on KU) and I'm sold! At first I wasn't aware of the UK setting, but once that was sorted in my brain I loved all the British-isms. Ruth is a great character, a woman who is very angry for very okay reasons, and the hero isn't scared of this and isn't trying to change her. That said, Evan was almost *too* perfect, but hell whatever. All men should aspire to be Evan.

Ironically, I picked this title because it was the first title I saw, and I didn't realize until I started that Ruth has Autism Spectrum Disorder. I recently read (and also loved) Helen Hoang's [b:The Kiss Quotient|36199084|The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient, #1)|Helen Hoang|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1512080903s/36199084.jpg|57828311], which also features a female character with ASD. The authors of both books also have ASD, so the handling of the story and characters felt authentic and real, not badly stereo-typed.

Aspire actress Roxy Cumberland didn't want to dress up like a pink bunny and deliver a saucy singing telegram to a player, but here she is, and hello, player is h-o-t.

Playboy lawyer Louis Cumberland the Second is immediately entranced by the hilarious and sexy Roxy. Convincing a woman who just sang an ode to his penis to go on a date with him is his biggest accomplishment to date.

But, agreeing to a date is only the first step in a long road full of complications, including their very real income difference, his womanizing past, and her desperate need for a job, one that doesn't involve wearing a furry costume, stripping, or Louis securing an audition for Roxy behind her back.

Super cute and steamy, and I especially adored Roxy and her two new roommates. I didn't as much enjoy the rape-y director, and Louis isn't my fav of Bailey's heroes.

Desperate to avoid being seen as her brother's "nuisance" of a little sister, Lucy pretends to be her roommate when her brother's best friend, the sexy as hell NYPD sniper Matt shows up to give her a ride home to NYC.

Just a harmless lie right? But, when Matt and Lucy share a naughty tryst after the car breaks down, Lucy is stuck in a Catch-22. Matt gave her the best orgasm of her life after a bit of domination and spanking, but if she fesses up, she loses him. If she doesn't, she can never be with him again.

Cover blown at her brother's surprise engagement party, Matt is furious that Lucy lied, and that he now has to live with the fact he put his hands on his best friend's sister. And he still desperately wants to.

Their attraction can't be denied, as Matt helps Lucy explore NYC, the dark, brooding sniper may finally be able to step into the light.

Ugh, so good. I especially loved this one. Matt is a broody, silent type who just eat up in romance novels. And the level of 'kink' was just enough for me, and felt realistic.

When Ginger finds a bag of cash left behind by her drug addict, terrible mother, she doesn't hesitate. Grabbing the money, her teenage sister Willa, and their statue of Dolly Parton, Ginger leaves Tennessee behind hoping Chicago will lead to a better life for her and her sister.

But, while moving in Ginger is flummoxed by the immediate attraction she has to Lt. Derek Tyler, Chicago PD and her neighbor. Their immediate chemistry is apparent, but Ginger has no desire to be involved with the law, even in bed.

When their apartment ceiling collapses one night, Ginger and Willa take up Derek's offer to move in to his apartment. His payment? Ginger must accompany him as his date to a police charity ball.

For Derek, he's afraid his dark desires and control issues will scare Ginger away. He wants her everything and is set to convince Ginger she's the one for him.

When Ginger's past theft comes back to haunt her, can Derek really protect her?

Super hot. Wow. Light spanking, dirty talk, and a virgin heroine. Loving Tessa Bailey's work right now.

Well, I finally found a Bailey I didn't much care for. I still love the Clarkson family after meeting them in Too Hot to Handle, but unfortunately Grace and Aaron's love story didn't really work for me.

Grace read too young to me, a manic pixie dream girl, while Aaron felt a little too old for her. I felt really bad for Grace, as she's been emotionally abused by her family for YEARS, and I didn't think she could really have a healthy relationship so quickly after being put through all of the psychological manipulation. I thought she'd struggle a lot more with falling in love with Aaron, especially due to his profession (just like her father's).

I found Aaron's character a bit more believable, but found his big secret that caused him to lose his last position to be not as scandalous as implied (he slept with a married politician's wife. She used him for revenge and sold him out).

Also, the dog Aaron found at the end of Book 1 was such a missed opportunity. He's barely mentioned, and why even have a dog? Seemed a bit pointless besides being the impetuous for Grace and Aaron's meeting in the woods (which could have happened a myriad of other ways).

I am still VERY intrigued to see what happens with Peggy and the mysterious man who broke her heart (not one of her four ex-fiancees) AND what the heck is up between Belmont and Sage.

Worth a read, but not my favorite by far.

Peggy Clarkson, of the Clarkson clan, makes the remaining members of her family's road trip to NYC detour in Cincinnati. With a string of four engagement rings around her neck, Peggy is determined to make Elliot "The Kingmaker" Brookes, coach of her Alma Mater's football team, regret breaking her heart.

Coach Brooke's is still repenting for his sins. The sins he made with Peggy, the college cheerleader who tempted him to sway his focus away from his team, from football. The first woman who made him feel, unlike his dead wife. Unlike his young daughter. He's been dead inside for three years. Especially since he received her wedding invitation, forwarded to his new address too late.

When Peggy blazes in to town for Alumni week, Elliot is suddenly FEELING again. And when he finds out Peggy isn't actually married, Elliot needs to figure out if she's actually a sin or the woman he should worship, forever, once and for all.

This one started off a bit slow for me, as it dips back and forth between the present and the past. i also am not a super fan of older-hero, younger heroine romances, but Bailey made this one work. I'm just really glad this was college (phew), as the whole cheerleader/football coach thing would have been kind of gross otherwise.

That said, this was delightfully naughty, and as a lapsed Catholic myself, I really felt sassy listening to Coach say the Lord's prayer while having sex. Still, not Priest by Sierra Simone levels of dirty, but yowza.

Elliot reformed a bit too quick at the end, but his full book grovel was a super fun ride. I love a good grovel.

Belmont and Sage are still worrying me, but I can't wait to read their story!

Wow, I've been super worried for Sage Alexander and Belmont Clarkson for all of the previous three "Romancing the Clarksons" books. I've been watching these two dance around their FEELINGS for each other and I am so happy I finally got to read their hard-earned HEA.

Bailey saved the best for last. We learn why Belmont is really still so traumatized from his days spent stuck in an abandoned well (

Spoiler

his step-father is the one who pushed him into the well and he didn't want his other siblings to ever know. He didn't want to ruin their relationship, little as it was, with their father since Belmont has no father. My poor sweet honey bun.

).

We learn why Sage needs to take a detour back to her Kentucky home, as despite her terrible childhood, she feels an unholy amount of guilt towards her neglectful, alcoholic parents, and needs to save them one last time, even if it means she can't be with Belmont.

We also learn that (SPOILLLLLLEEEERRR), Belmont and Sage are both virgins. I kind of figured from context clues, but it was so lovingly done. I love a virgin hero.

Plus, we get to see the entire Clarkson clan reconvene and finally fulfill their mother's dying wish. The polar bear into Coney Island harbor, and we finally find out why this was Miriam's request.

Sad to see this road trip end, but what a fun ride.

A delightfully naughty romance featuring a virgin witch, a "cock-blocking" demon, and a long-term couple, a vampire and a werewolf, who are more than happy to add a third to their already hot as all get out relationship. Especially if it means their sexual prowess can help banish the witch's demon forever.

Free copy of the book received for an fair, unbiased review. Thank you Netgalley!