I absolutely LOVE Tasha's previous books, so when she said she was writing a Superhero themed series, I said BRING IT ON! OMFG I couldn't put it down! It's sooo different then her "Tarker's Hollow" series Curse & Fate, but you can tell it's writen by the same person. I started the book & was instantly drawn into the story, it wasn't as short as what I've previously read from Tasha, which surprised me, but it was a great surprise. If she'd cut this baby down I'm not sure if I could handle to wait!

At first I didn't really like West as a character, he's rich & treats everyone like they are objects, without feelings. On the other hand I did like Cordelia, she was kind, caring & put her family above her own wants & needs, she was selfless. Cordelia works for West, he makes her run after him all day long, even has her on call during the night, but not to far into the book West realises that Cordelia is smart & has ideas that would benefit his company....

'Reconstructed' is part of Tasha's NEW trilogy "A Billionaire Superhero Romance" & what a BANG the first book makes. I can't wait to read what comes next for the trilogy.

Tina Chen just wants a degree and a job, so her parents never have to worry about making rent again. She has no time for Blake Reynolds, the sexy billionaire who stands to inherit Cyclone Systems. But when he makes an offhand comment about what it means to be poor, she loses her cool and tells him he couldn’t last a month living her life.

To her shock, Blake offers her a trade: She’ll get his income, his house, his car. In exchange, he’ll work her hours and send money home to her family. No expectations; no future obligations.

But before long, they’re trading not just lives, but secrets, kisses, and heated nights together. No expectations might break Tina’s heart...but Blake’s secrets could ruin her life.

Review

Trade Me is a excellent romance. I am not a huge fan of the New Adult but I love Milan so I was happy to try this one.

It is a smart book with careful contemplations of class, gender, and race and yet remains deeply entrenched in what is best in the Romance genre--what it means to be human, the search for connection, and the ability to risk and love. 

It has everything a reader could want. Well developed characters, humor, realism with an insight into the fantasy world of the very wealthy, intimate sexy times, and a love that is not easy but is grand. 

What makes Trade Me a great book is all the small touches. The history of Tina's parents, Blake's struggle for control over overwhelming situations, Tina's roommate (who I am thrilled to see should be getting her own love story, and a wonder of other unexpected gifts.

The writing is fierce. Can't wait for the rest of the series. 

I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it! 

Because We Belong is the third book in Beth Kery’s erotic romance series which features dominant, sexy heroes and the heroines who find a chink in their armours. I reviewed the first two books in this series, which I enjoyed, and in this installment, the story focuses back to Ian and Francesca who were the main couple in the first book. Although, in this followup, it’s not all smooth sailing when hidden secrets come out which destroys their newfound happiness.

The revelations at the end of the second book, which was Lucien and Elise’s story, were explosive and has torn Francesca and Ian apart because of the fallout. It is spoilery so I will be hiding this in a spoiler tag just in case you haven’t read the 2nd book yet. But this becomes the main focal point of the plot.

[spoiler]In the revelations, Lucien explains to Ian about his real ties to him as well as his origins. Ian finds out he was conceived via rape which caused his mother disintegration with her mental illness, and that his father was also responsible in fathering numerous children.

[/spoiler]

This leaves a huge impact on Ian which causes him to leave Francesca. The story then picks up six months later with him on the quest to find out more about his past. Francesca is picking up the pieces of her life although she is still heart-broken over the fact that Ian left her. But she is invited by his aunt and uncle to stay with them in their English estate to commission a painting there, and this is where twists and turns develop in the story.

I found this installment to be much more suspenseful and there was an almost gothic overtone with the mystery that ties in with Ian and his quest to find out more about his past. But Ian is reunited with Francesca when he finds out her life is in danger from the person who is using Francesca to draw Ian out of hiding. I really liked the mystery and suspense aspect of the plot which was more plot-heavy compared to the previous installments in this series. I also felt that it helped to delve more into the characters of Ian and Francesca which really developed them further. I found that Ian’s character became more multi-dimensional to me, and I liked that he was more vulnerable and learned to become more open about his past and feelings. I felt that this helped to uncover some facets which made him more interesting and I think the plot really helped to establish that.

It is hard to try to make this review spoiler free because of what happens with the plot and the characters, especially in the end because it really pushed the ongoing arc which was set up since the first book about Ian’s past and his family connections. And I really am intrigued about the set up for the next book which focuses on a new character who is a bit of a hermit and an eccentric and who will also be the hero. But I think the twists and turns should be spoiler free because it definitely produces a surprising turn of events in the end which I didn’t expect and it was a refreshing change from the usual tortured billionaire pasts of other similar books with this trope.

I also felt the romance between Francesca and Ian progressed further. and Kery’s love scenes were hot and well written which also helped to push the romance because there was an added vulnerability into their relationship. Both characters face their issues and Francesca definitely stands up to Ian. But at the same time empathises with his issues, and Ian learns to open up more about their relationship. I was left very satisfied with the way their story ended.

Overall, I found Because We Belong a good installment which was full of intrigue and a hot romance which becomes much more defined and cemented during the course of the series. I am also definitely looking forward to the next book, which promises to have a fun hero who definitely piqued my interest. But all in all this was a very solid romance, with in-depth characters and a plot that is memorable.

I give Because We Belong a B

I was intrigued to find out that Susan Johnson was writing  as C.C. Gibbs as a different penname, for a brand new erotic trilogy which is similar to EL James' FSOG and Sylvia Day's Crossfire series. She was one of my favourite historical romance writers who had the steam factor as well in-depth historical details (I mean you can't go wrong with historical footnotes which was just amazeballs for the history buff in me).

Although her recent releases in the past few years were pretty mehish and didn't have that old magic. I  also missed her historical notes which were always a highlight because it reminded me of old skool romances but with more steamy romance which was a fantastic combination and made the genre come alive. 

The Knight Trilogy, which follows the trope of the dominant alpha controlling billionaire and the young ingenue heroine formula which I find pretty cracklicious but this was a bit of a hit and miss. Dominic Knight is a successful billionaire, who is intrigued with his new forensic accountant who is helping to track Twenty Million Dollars which has been embezzled by one of his companies that has links with the mafia. Sparks fly between them although its not all smooth sailing with lots of tooing and froing but their instant attraction is dynamite and is something they they cant control or tame.

Ironically it was when the narrative focused on Dominic and when he became an alphahole with the emphasis on the hole which didn't work for me. Although there was classic Johnson, with the banter, the love scenes and characterisation which I really enjoyed because I felt this was missing in her recent books and it was good to see some of that old magic. 

Nonetheless there were issues, such as the headhopping which would switch POVs with no breaks in chapters, and sometimes I felt the forced angst and the conflict which didn't feel realistic and almost schizophrenic in pace. If this was expanded upon with real time and focus on those scenes, it would feel much more coherent. 

But I was drawn into the story and towards the end it definitely felt more cohesive and unlike other books with a similar premise, I was not left bored or feeling meh or pissed off with the characters. And I am definitely engaged and hooked to read the next book in the series as well as awaiting for the final book in the trilogy! 

Note: Susan Johnson has also reissued her classic historical romances under CC Gibbs in the UK but be aware they are titled under different titles, so read the blurbs closely if you have her Braddock/Russian series.