3.75 stars

ARC received from St Martin's Press via Netgalley for an honest review.

I have adored the previous books I have read by Ms Vining, and while I liked Perfect Betrayal, I didn't love it like I have her other books.

I am not saying that this is not a good book. I liked the story, and I liked the male MC Levi, but there was just something about the female MC Taylor that I just couldn't connect with. It's hard to put my finger on what it was though. I have been thinking about it for a couple of days, but still... nope. There was just nothing outstanding about her to me (but this could just be me!)

The story is not a new one - poor little rich girl meets guy from wrong side of the tracks, fall in love against the wishes of family and friends etc etc. Though the con-job storyline did add to the story, and we met some great and not so great secondary character.

Taylor's friend Reece - every time she was on the page, I could hear Cher from Clueless in my head say "Ugh! As If!". I just did not like her - at all! She was just the whorish girl who for most of the story I felt added nothing.

There was a reveal at the end of the story that had me thinking - oh wow, that was unexpected (which is good, I hate it when I can pick the reason/the villain way in advance).

I felt that we needed to know more about Taylor's parents - why they were why they were and did what they did - or were they really just as horrible as they were for no reason?

I loved Levi's love of the written word, the way he quoted poetry and literature. This added an extra dimension to him.

So while Perfect Betrayal did not really do it for me, I will definitely be picking up any of her future works.

ARC received for an honest review

Rachel van Dyken has done it again with Capture.

That is exactly what it does. Right from the first word to the last, it captures your heart, mind and soul.

Note that I have not read the Seaside series yet - so many books, so little time - but that did not detract from Capture. In fact, Capture inspired me to go back and read them sooner!

Dani's life has turned to crap in the past year, and I just wanted to hug the heck out of her. I can't imagine going through what she has at my age, let alone as a teen.

Lincoln Greene, huge Hollywood star, but no ego in sight really. Always saying the wrong thing. But with a heart as big as Texas, you can't help but fall for him.

I love how they are together. Linc brings out the best and the worst in Dani, when she is "forced" to become his PA by her sister and her Hollywood Hubby Jaymeson.

But he also brings out her best, draws her out of the shell she has been in for the past year, brings out her sassy and snarky mouth.

I think I spent most of Capture with a smile on my face or with a giggle escaping - well, not in the sad bits, which there are a couple.

What a "family" Dani has around her. Family is not just blood, and the way hers surrounds her, helps her, guides her - and also at times smothering her with good intentions - man those boys truly are swoonworthy. And what seventeen year old girl wouldn't want rock stars as her best friends and movie stars in her family?

From the first word to the last, I did not want to escape the wonderful world of Seaside, and I can't help to fall back into that world - hopefully not too far into the future.

Now, I find myself with a hankering for marshmallows....

ARC received from author for an honest review

Obsidian Mask continues on where Obsidian Liquor ended, so you will need to have read it first.

Wow, there is a lot going on in this installment of the Lion Security series!

Beth's life has never been dull, but things have certainly ramped up since she became involved with Daniil, head of the Russian mafia! HMS Relationship is going full steam ahead!

Obsidian Mask has a bit of everything. Love. Laughter. Violence. Happy tears. Sad tears. Whilst it is mainly based around Beth and Daniil, other family and relationships are also brought to the foreground.

It is also a lot more emotional than book 1, Obsidian Liquor - I may have shed a couple of tears. There were some wonderful, D & M conversations had in this book.

Just as things were getting real interesting - we were cliffhangered (though having read Ms Dawn's other works, this did not come as too much of a surprise to me).

I am really looking forward to seeing where Ms Dawn takes Beth and Daniil's story in book 3, Obsidian Music.

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

I have been seemingly waiting forever for Blake Morgan III's story - or maybe I have just been impatient since reading his novella in The Undergrad series (XO, Blake).

I think it would be best to at least read XO, Blake before reading Unsaid - you could go without reading the first 2 Manhattanites books (Undressed and Unscrupulous) if you read this one.

Oh Blake, how I have loved you from the first time I read about you. I think you have been my favourite Manhattanite from the very beginning.

If you have read XO Blake, you will have already met Diego and Miguel. After being betrayed by the man he loved, Blake is in a slump, and this is just not on for his friends - Lex, Taddy and Vive.

Enter Miguel to save the day - but can he do it without his heart breaking?

In typical Avery Aster over-the-top fashion, things are never going to go smoothly for our Manhattanites. Along with their normal fun and shenanigans, there were some deeper, darker issues that our lovelies had to fight. And beyond all the sexy times - and there were some hot hot HOT sexy times - there is a beautiful love story. I couldn't help but lose my heart to Blake and Miguel as they took me on an emotional rollercoaster.

We got lots more of the Manhattanite ladies too, with a fair bit of time spent with one Miss Viveca Farnsworth - but not as we have known her before.

The imagery Ms Aster puts into her writing draws me right in. I could picture myself in the hustle and bustle of New York City, the sights, the smells. I also feel that these characters have become a part of my family.

I am looking forward to the next in this series, Unconventional - which from the blurb really seems to sum up what the story will be.

ARC received for an honest review

Woohoo, it seems like I have been waiting an eternity for this next Ultimate book - well, yeah, that is an exaggeration, but woohoo, it is finally here!

I adore these fighter boys - though this time there seemed to be more fighting outside the cage and the gym than in it!

Stack and Vanity have been circling each other since she first moved to town, and if you have read the other books in the series, you will remember how she propositioned him at the end of book 2.

Man, the universe sure did seem to be out to stop them every fulfulling said deal! It was as if fate didn't want them together - ever! Maybe they are just too much sexy for the universe to handle?

I loved that through it all, they fought for what they wanted - each other. Stack is the whole package - ripped, sexy, and a heart of gold.

Vanity is so strong. She fights not just for herself, but also everyone she cares for. The way she took care of Stack's family, looks out for her best friend.

And don't get me started on those Ultimate men! I want them in my life! Right this minute!

I cannot WAIT for Armie and Marissa's story - that is going to be one hell of a show!

So hurry up Ms Foster (I mean that in the nicest possible way!) - I need more!

ARC received for an honest review

Another hockey-hottie? Sign me up!

I have adored each and every one of the books in the Cold Fury series to date, and I always know that I am not going to be disappointed in any Sawyer Bennett novel.

We met Ryker Evans in the previous book, Zack. Not much was known about him other than he is a single dad with sole custody of his 2 beautiful girls, because their mother didn't want the responsibility whilst running around with her boy toy.

That alone got me.

I loved getting more of his back story, but most of I, I loved how he is with his new boss-lady, Gray Brannon.

Who could not love Gray. She is smart, sexy, business savvy - and making history in the world of hockey. And she can feel that pull to Ryker, no matter how much she tries to fight it. She just wants someone to love her.

There is an undeniable attraction between our lovelies, and I just wanted them to tell the world "eff it" and go for it!

So, can Ryker and Gray overcome all the hurdles to their HEA, or will it all be too much?

I loved that we got more of the other Cold Fury boys - I especially loved Zack and Kate!

Ryker has some funny moments, sad moments, some laugh out loud moments. Most of all, I just didn't want to put it down and did not want it to end.

I am looking forward to book 5, Hawke, though I don't know anything about it yet!

ARC received for an honest review

Anyone who knows me knows how I love my rock stars. But this series is a little different, not just focusing on the hot sexy rockers, but also on those around them.

This is the first of 6 installments, one released weekly.

Chase and Jess' story is hot hot hot. I mean Chase is a dirty, dirty boy - and I loved it!

They have both had a crappy week and are off to see their favourite band. When their worlds collide, there is some serious sparkage. And what they do with that sparkage...



Let's just say that I will never look at those dark nooks and crannies around an entertainment centre the same ever again...EVER!

Ms Golland draws you into the concert scene, the music, the atmosphere, the pure, lust driven feelings between our MCs. For such a little story, it sure does pack a lot of punch! But it left me wanting - wanting, no needing to know what happens after this one night.

Chase is a quick, sexy read, and a great start to this serial series.

Bring on next week's installment - Josh, by Eden Summers.

ARC received for an honest review

You will need to have read the first book (Free Me) as Find Me continues right on where it ended.   This is the fabulous conclusion to JC and Gwen's story.

The cliffy at the end of Free Me ripped my heart out.  Now, in the aftermath of that cliffhanger, we are a year down the track and we are with Gwen as she struggles every single day to move on from JC.  It has been a year since she has seen or heard from him, and even though he still owns her, heart and soul, she knows she has to move on, if for nothing else but her own sanity.

Just when you think she is about to do that, JC arrives back in her life, throwing her again into turmoil.

Oh man, I didn't know how my heart was going to take it!  This was such an emotional roller coaster of a read.  Ms Paige took me from the highest of the highs to the lowest of the lows, all within the pages of one amazing book.

Whilst Free Me was more sexy, Find Me is a deeper, darker story.  JC and Gwen's story smoulders a while before igniting with the passion we knew from before.

JC just makes a girl swoon.  Not matter where he was or what he was doing, he never stopped loving her, never really had her out of his sights or his thoughts.  And once he gets that dirty talk going again. GAH!

There were a couple of curve balls also thrown in to shake things up a little.

I loved that we got more of Hudson and Laynie - I mean really, who doesn't love Hudson?

I absolutely adored Find Me, did not want to put it down at all (damn this having to sleep and go to work business!!)

It was a perfect conclusion to JC and Gwen's story - even though I didn't want it to end!

ARC received for an honest review

Nicole Edwards writes great m/m romances, so the chance to read an advance copy of Never Say Never is a given.

When I finished reading the first book in the series, I said that I RT and Z's story - which began to get set up at the end of that book - was one I was really looking forward to. And I was not disappointed.

Ms Edwards is just magic when it comes to writing m/m romance. She just gets it right every time.

There were so many times I wanted to slap some sense into RT - gah, every else around him, his family, his friends, could all see it but him. I gripped my kindle so hard and just had to scream at it to "wake up and smell the hot guy who wants you!"

Z was just ... sigh ... Z. He was sweet, hot, sexy, and most of all consistent in what he wanted - RT. My heart hurt for him as RT played the push/pull game with him. It was like 2 steps forward, one step back! I couldn't fault Z for feeling a bit distrustful when it came to RT's words and actions.

We got lots more of the Trexler and Kogan family - couldn't be a story without them all sticking their noses in (in the nicest possible way of course!) As much as their meddling would be annoying and frustrating, you know they love it.

So, can RT get over his hang ups from the past, and take that leap with Z for a future together? Or will it be too much for Z to take?

Nope, for that you are going to have to read for yourself.

I loved that we also got more of the Adorite family (from the Southern Boy Mafia Series). These series and characters intertwine so it would not be right without a bit of them.

The minute I started reading, I did not want to put Never Say Never down. It had its fair share of mystery and suspense, along with a truck load of sexual tension - which of course leads to some super sexy times! I felt myself pulled into the whirlwind that is the Sniper 1 Security family, and didn't want to leave.

Can't wait to see what we get next from the Trexler/Kogan/Adorite families!

I have not read any Christina Lee previously, so I did not know what to expect when I started reading The Darkest Flame. But I am a huuuuge fan of m/m romance, so I had to give it a read.

I believe that this series is a spin off from another Christina Lee series, but that being said, this did not take away from my understanding or enjoyment of this book.

Firstly, the attraction between Vaughan and Smoke is palpable. The pheromones were flying from the first time the pair were in a scene together.

Though there are aspects of the MC scene throughout the story, The Darkest Flame is more the love story between these two guys, hiding their feelings because of the scene around them. And what they will do to be together. I felt that they were well developed and their story flowed well.

There were a couple of things that felt that did not need to be included. I felt that the storyline with Vaughan's father did not need to go as deep as it did?

And at times, I had to wonder that our guys could not figure out what the club President Mal was up to. It felt so obvious - but these things might just be me.

I did get a little confused at times with the dual POV. I would be reading and would have to think "hang on, who is talking here?" and back track. I just didn't feel that the guys had two distinct enough voices that I knew who was reading with out checking.

Overall, The Darkest Flame was an enjoyable read. There are some seriously hot sexy times, some sadder times and some LOL times. It has made me curious to go back and read There You Stand, and wonder what Ms Lee will give us next.