Love, Lust and Books

Vengeful in Love by Nadia Lee Series: Hearts on the Line, Book 1 Format: Format: Kindle Edition, 262 pages Release Release Date: January 11, 2014 Source: Source: Amazon Freebie

Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Goodreads

What I Thought:

I got this book as an Amazon freebie a few days ago (just look at that cover!), and I loved the synopsis. I'll admit I'm not really into the whole billionaire CEO love interest. I know, I know, "WHAT ABOUT GIDEON CROSS!?".. Yes, well, he's my exception. I never really found this type of male hero to be alluring because in my eyes, most billionaires pretend to be ALL alpha-male and dominating, when in reality they're nothing but a bunch of controlling, abusive and demanding bastards that need a good jab, punch, kick from the heroine NOT complete surrender *facepalm* But, much to my curiosity, I ended up reading the book and geez.. it was really good! 

I really loved the dynamic of this story. Alex Damon is out for revenge on the woman who ruined his family long ago, Emily Rodale. He is intent on taking everything from her as she once did them, and when he finds out Emily's goddaughter is working for him, he begins his plan by seducing Natalie. But Natalie Hall is nothing like he believes her to be. She is kind and loyal to those she loves and her job as well which causes Alex to falter in his plan, thinking maybe she's not like Rodale and her family after all. What begins as a game of seduction quickly spirals into a test of loyalty against corporate espionage and deceit filled with hot, unabashed passion.

Whereas in previous books the female leads have been nothing but disappointing, Natalie Hall surprised me and won me over with her resilience and her unrelenting lust. She made it no secret, though she tried so hard, that she wanted Alex Damon. Still, she was discreet and professional where it counted. She knows she doesn't just want a fling with Damon or any man for that matter, but she also acknowledges that she wants him, every naughty way possible. Another thing about Natalie I just adored was that she's Asian, not your typical heroine but I loved the change. She was found and adopted into an American family who live for their political campaigns. I really felt for her because her adoptive sibling and mother seemed to make it their life's mission to make Natalie's life miserable. Kudos to her for always staying strong, AND loyal to a family that never deserved it.

Alex Damon. Self made billionaire and all around alpha man. What isn't there to love? Of course I don't agree with his initial game plan to use Natalie, but being in his head and just seeing the way he treated Natalie definitely makes up for his lie. He wasn't an asshole with her, he was sweet and throughout the story he begins to question his intentions with her and doubting that she's even a spy at all. The best part? There was no instalove! *happy dances* There love develops slowly and it was so refreshing to read about.

Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning

Released: August 6, 2013

Talking Dirty with the Boss by Jackie Ashenden

Series: Talking Dirty, Book 3

Format: eARC, 150 pages

Release Date: December 9, 2013

Source: Received from publisher for review.

Links:  Amazon | B&N | Kobo |Goodreads

What I Thought: 

This book is part of a series that I apparently overlooked because I didn’t do my homework before I snagged it up thanks to its sexy, but deceiving cover! It’s book three in the Talking Dirty series who’s character’s lives all intertwine with one another, so you get to meet each hero/heroine in a prior book.

TDwtB is about Marissa Clair, a would be artist and Luke McNamara, financial consultant and boss to Clair. While the blurb reads as though this will be a sexy and titillating read full of sass and witty dialogue, the only thing I got out of this, is that some people can be real pricks and deserve a good ol’ smacking. Marissa had no respect for Luke’s time, rules, space. I can go on and on. It aggravated me to hear her say he was an uptight asshole, yet she’s thinking about kissing him. What? No. When I meet an “uptight asshole”, the first thing I want is to put distance between us, not attack his mouth. As for Luke, I didn’t really find him to be uptight. Once you are in his head you understand why he does or acts the way he does. Still, I didn’t really warm up to him either. Just like Marissa, he kept going on about how she aggravated him, yet he wanted to know the damn color of her panties. And just the fact that he kept mentioning his OCD, as though I didn’t already know he had it annoyed the fuck out of me. He used it as a crutch, an excuse for some of his actions that didn’t even border on obsessive-compulsive just childishly irritating.

Once Luke and Clair have a scratch-your-itch encounter, the pregnancy that follows drives this story. Me? Just drove me crazy. Luke felt that because of his OCD it would be best for them to live together, and their plans to keep distance just goes to hell because regardless of who is irritated by whom, they still want each other naked and sweaty. Like I stated above, this story should have been full of sass and wit, but I am terribly disappointed in the outcome, but mostly the overall story. I never completely felt the connection between these two characters and I just kept hoping for a clue as to why Marissa was exactly what Luke needed when he couldn’t even stand her to begin with and vice-versa. It’s a short story, at only 150 pages, and understandably the author can’t exactly prolong their “love story”, but it would still have been nice to know that they had a reason for wanting each other and therefore falling in love, as opposed to the insta-love that dripped all over my Kindle. Ugh.

Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Released: September 3, 2013

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Series: Fire & Flood, Book 1

Format: Paperback ARC

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Source: Received from Scholastic for an honest review.

Links:  Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Goodreads

What I Thought: Tella and I started off on the wrong foot, and we sort of stayed there for the remainder of the book. I kept wanting to slap her upside the head, not only for being so vain but also for taking off without a word to her parents just because she received a little white device that told her she was a contestant in the Brimstone Bleed; a race through jungle, desert, ocean and mountain that promises the winner a cure to save a dying loved one's life. Now I understand her reason. I love my brother's too and would do anything, but I would have thought it through some more than she did. And let's not even get started on the fact that she seemed to be the first to show up to pick her Pandora, yet she gets trampled on because she wanted the BEST... she got the worst. (In my opinion)

F&F is a young adult dystopia with paranormal elements that will allure many lovers of the genres, as well as Hunger Games fanatics. What was interesting about VScott's latest is the Pandoras, hybrid animals that are key players in helping each contestant throughout each terrain. I want to learn more about them, and I honestly do hope Tella's Pandora gets interesting, otherwise, what's the point? It was my least favorite of the animals, and honestly very annoying. 

VScott's latest book still managed to keep me interested despite the character flaws. I am eager to learn more about the one's who are running the Brimstone Bleed and their ultimate purpose. As well as find out what's in store for many of the characters because despite my disinterest with the protagonist I loved some them. 

Read my full review and enter to win an ARC copy