Sometimes it’s good to be bad…

When it comes to sex, good girl Skyler Thompson always plays it safe, choosing stable and sedate over wild and thrilling. She doesn't do one-night-stands, but one look at sinfully sexy Gage Holt and she’s willing to reconsider. He makes her want to be bad for once in her life, and she’s prepared to take what she wants.

Danger follows former MMA fighter Gage Holt like a shadow. Despite his successes as part owner of Sin, an exclusive nightclub in Boston, Gage can’t risk getting involved with a woman, especially one as sweet as Skyler. Still, he can’t resist a taste—and it’s so damn good he has to see her again.

As addicted as he is to her, Gage knows there’s no future for him and Skyler—not with his past lurking in the dark corners of an MMA cage. But Skylar’s tougher than she looks, and she’s ready to fight for her man.

Oh, my…this was a hot read! When Skylar decides that she’s tired of being the rule-following, good-girl she’s always been, she sets her sights on the ultimate bad boy – Gage Holt…former MMA fighter, head of security at the nightclub he is part owner of, and carrying around enough emotional baggage to keep his heart locked up tight for good.

I just loved Skylar – her candor with Gage was great, and I loved how she was the one who was always keeping things real, but she also wasn't afraid to push Gage for more when she realized that things were becoming more than just a casual fling. And when events from Gage’s past and family problems threaten to tear them apart, she still does whatever she can for him, even as he pushes her away.

Gage…whew, that boy could dirty-talk! He’s sexy, alpha, and not quite the guy you want to bring home to mom, but underneath it all, he’s just a man who doesn't know how to trust or rely on anyone for anything. And he knows he’s no good for Skylar, but he just can’t keep away from her...and when he finally gives in to a relationship with her he can just be the sweetest, dirtiest-talking man around! Of course that doesn't mean he’ll let her into his heart or learn to trust…

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to check out some other stories by Elle Kennedy - if her other heroes are half as hot as Gage was they should be great reads! And it looks like this is the start of a new series, which should make for some more great reads based upon the characters that were introduced in this book. Definitely one for the hot summer reads list!

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

The Perfect Boyfriend picks up right where we left Reagan and Ian in The Boyfriend List.

As their friendship blossoms quickly into a steamy romance, Reagan and Ian have to learn to navigate their shifting relationship...and everything that entails. But their newfound bliss doesn't come without a few unexpected challenges. 

In the midst of realizing just how sweet the romance can be between them, and all the benefits of their new dynamic, Reagan is informed that her ideal situation has changed. Not only will she need to begin taking on more classes to speed up her graduation date, but she’ll also have to start looking for a job to supplement her fading income. Meanwhile, Ian has chosen to pull out of school once his father is diagnosed with a terminal illness in order to help manage the family business and spend time with him while he still can. But he wrestles with the guilt of leaving Reagan behind, and the pressure of his new responsibilities.

As the two meet their new challenges head-on, they’ll be forced to discover whether or not they’re as compatible as lovers as they were as friends. With their focus pulled in so many directions, will they have what it takes to keep a long distance relationship alive? Can Ian prove that he’s still be the perfect boyfriend, or will they fold to statistics under the growing tensions of their lives? Throw in some manipulative exes, a new boss with an inflated ego, and a co-worker from hell and the two have a recipe for either a fairy tale ending, or a complete disaster.

The Perfect Boyfriend is a New Adult Romance about trust, love, and discovering the true depths of personal strength.

What a wonderful, sweet romance. I really enjoyed this read – but I have not read the first book in the series and think if I had it would have made it even better (my bad – it says this story picks up right where the last one left off, so I should have listened!) 

I really enjoyed Reagan and Ian’s story. Although she has found the perfect boyfriend, life certainly throws Reagan and Ian some curveballs, which makes their relationship anything but perfect. I loved the fact that Ian was just what he seemed – a great guy who truly cared deeply for Reagan…and the things he would say to her…*sigh*…

“This isn't just another first date. This is the beginning of forever for you and me. And if you decide that’s not what you want down the road, that’s fine. But Reagan, my intentions aren't just to find another short-term girlfriend. I want you, all of you, for as long as you’re willing to give me.”

Reagan tended to create her own drama. Her insecurities and self-doubt often crept in and had her doubting her relationship with Ian or their ability to handle a long distance relationship. Thank goodness for her friend Petra, who was my favorite character in the book. She was like a breath of fresh air and is the friend that you wish you had or the type of person you wish you could be (well, maybe not all the time!) She had a way of grounding Reagan and I just loved her, always giving great advice, helping Reagan see the truth in things, and even helping plot revenge when necessary.

And as Petra began devising her scheme, her face lit up with mischievous energy. The kind of energy Reagan had seen a hundred times before. That kind that had gotten her in trouble and saved her ass on countless occasions. It made her feel both a thousand times better, and immeasurably nervous at the exact same time.

All in all this was a quick, fun read that left me with a smile on my face at the end. Sometimes you just need a sweet romance, and this is definitely in that category!

I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

Sophie Perez has never believed the stuff she reads online about possible life in space. Aliens are for the movies, for the weirdoes, and they most definitely are not real.

One night on the way home from a late shift at work, her car breaks down. Stranded on the side of a country road, with a dead cell phone, doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

Until strange neon lights appear in the sky. She thinks it is her imagination.

When an inexplicable circular ship appears overhead, she can’t deny what’s clearly right in front of her. Especially when moments later, she’s taken onto the ship, a human hostage among those who are most definitely not human.

About to become a human guinea pig, possibly worse, the last thing she ever expects is to like the things these otherworldly beings subject her to. In fact, it is unlike anything she’s ever experienced.

Will Sophie find her way back to her planet, or will she beg to stay where her pleasure is literally out of this world?

Part One
 

Part Two:

 

Part Three:

 

What an out of this world read from Cambria Hebert. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to be in for when I started the book, but after getting through the first part of the book, it was such a sweet & steamy love story that had me loving both Sophie and Tarek and rooting for them to find a happy ever after that would be able to span the universe.

When Sophie is abducted by aliens, life as she know it changes forever. Not only has she been used as a test subject, but her abductor isn't done with her….

The last words he said while I was up there…in his ship echoed through the deepest recesses of my mind. I’m not done with you yet.

When he returns for her and performs additional experiments, she is once again returned to earth, but there are now ties that bind her abductor to Sophie, so much so that he can’t stay away from her.

Tarek comes from a planet where emotions are almost non-existent. He has been sent out on a mission by his people, but when he encounters Sophie and creates a bond to her, she teaches him how to feel and to ultimately how to love, testing his loyalties to his planet and his people.

Although the first part of the book is a bit intense and dark, it sets up the love story that unfolds in parts 2 and 3. I loved watching Tarek experience emotions for the first time, and I loved his honesty with Sophie when it came to how he felt about things. And Sophie was such a great character. She was strong and independent, but cared deeply for those who were important to her. And when she finally realizes that Tarek has stolen a piece of her heart, she is so willing to give it all to him.

He was oxygen to my lungs, blood to my veins, and the sun to my sky. As the kiss stretched into minutes and my body melded even farther against him, I wondered how the hell I had ever lived without him.

I wasn't quite sure how this story was going to end, but I was pleasantly surprised with how things turned out and loved the fact that I really didn't see the ending coming, but loved how it wrapped up so neatly and didn't make me shake my head in disbelief. If you like science fiction and/or aliens, this was a great read that mixes those up with some erotic romance and a sweet love story.

I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

After the ending in Hiding Away, I couldn't wait to get to the next book in this series and JM Witt did not disappoint! This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites – and I just loved everything about this book and James & Cassidy's story. I love when two people who are broken find each other and make those broken pieces fit together. I love when there are surprise twists and turns to a story that keep me off-balance, causing me to re-think what I thought I knew, or showing me how I have totally misjudged a situation. And as much as it hurts, I love when a book can feel so real that my heart breaks with that of a characters. Letting Go of You did all those things, and had me riding the waves of emotions with James and Cassidy, as well as many of the other characters in the book.

There is a lot that is going on in this book, and there are so many interwoven storylines. In addition to James & Cassidy’s story, we get to know more about the people in their lives who impact them and their relationship. We learn more about Paul and his relationship and past with both Cassidy and James. We learn more about Melissa and I almost start to like her…almost! We find out what happens to Cal and see how Jane’s past affects and effects everyone’s lives. We see James go into uber-protective mode when Cassidy is still being threatened. And all the while I found myself falling even more in love with both James and Cassidy as they tried to deal with things the best they knew how.

From James trying to keep parts of himself from Cassidy to protect her…

“Cassidy, please don’t over analyze this. Us. We’ve got a good thing going. I love you. I don’t know what else you want me to say.”

….to Cassidy not being able to resist James, even though she knows she needs him to open up to her...

He pulled back and kissed me. His lips were like my kryptonite. The minute they touched my body I was a goner. I’d do anything, say anything, and be anything he wanted me to be.

…I found myself riding the waves of emotions with the characters – from heartbreak to love, from anger to joy, from confusion to clarity, I felt every one of them.

“I’m sorry about everything. I’m a work in progress. But always know that I love you and I won’t give up on us. Ever.”

And once again JM Witt leaves us on the edge, hanging on for the next book to find out what happens with James and Cassidy and many of the other characters. So, damn you Witt…you've done it again! You've given me a great story with wonderful characters and left feeling satisfied, for now, but hungry for more!

I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.