StacyHgg

Into You by Danielle Sibarium
Series: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Release Date: December 17th 2013
Length: 258 pages
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Review Date: January 10th 2014
Steam Rating: Hot ~ 3.5
Overall Rating: 3.5-4 STARS

Review:
I am not a light & fluffy romance girl. I like my romances to be full of grit, raw, dangerous, sexy, and unpredictable. But above all heavy with soul-searing emotion. I feel the need to point that out because there are many people who like a classic love story. And this book is for them. It’s not that I didnt like it because I did, but it is just not my usual read.

Overall, Into You is full of emotion, with a good storyline, and likable characters. I was never bored with them, but I was at times frustrated with their thoughts and actions.

Elizabeth and Carter have both been BURNED in the past. We don’t know exactly what happened to each of them initially but you know it has left them both VERY scared of letting someone into their heart. They literally bump into one another and start a light sort of dating. It’s cute and heartwarming. But when things start to get serious, so do their issues.

When we find out exactly what happened to Carter I was shocked and appalled. It was heart-wrenching. However, when Elizabeth finally discloses her past I am less then thrilled with how much it affected her. Not that it wasn’t sad, but it happens to all young girls in love at one time or another–a broken heart, a betrayal. We get over it and move on… :-(

So they are at a crossroads… Do they learn to move on from their past? Or do they let it ruin what they have? Well for awhile it was the latter. They were both EXTREMELY insecure, especially Carter. He was constantly thinking Elizabeth was cheating on him. Ugh… :-( But she did withhold information from him for NO reason (in my opinion) that could have made him skeptical of her. However, JUST ASK HER!!!! Talk it out, or break it off!!! I know, I know, where is the fun in that?

But Carter was also VERY swoon-worthy :-D I LOVED his job and how he handled it! He was so endearing, and would be the PERFECT husband! He wanted her to have his babies and stay home with the kids. o.O And I know a lot of you may think he is sexist, but for some reason it didn’t come off that way…

Overall, I liked but not loved Into You but like I said earlier it was not my usual style of read. However, I think it is a totally lovable novel for the “classic” Contemporary Romance fans :-) If this sounds like you I highly recommend it!
~StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog

Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia
Series: Poughkeepsie #2
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Age Group: Adult
Release Date: December 28th 2013
Length: 395 pages
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Review Date: December 31st 2013
Steam Rating: Hot
Overall Rating: 4 STARS

YOU MUST READ POUGHKEEPSIE BEFORE READING THIS BOOK OR THIS REVIEW. IT WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FROM BOOK ONE!!!

I would like to start out by saying that I LOVED Poughkeepsie. Like obsessed fangirl loved. It was one of my favorite reads of ALL-TIME! So I may have went in to this one with ridiculously high expectations. It is not that I did not like Return to Poughkeepsie, because I did. At times I even loved it. But I LOVED every single second of Poughkeepsie, whereas this one had its slow parts.

I did not re-read Poughkeepsie prior to reading this and I should have. I thought I would remember it, but there is so much action and detail that I found myself at a loss quite a few times during the first half of the book. There is very little recap, which I usually like if I’m reading the books one after another, but it would have helped if there was a tad more for the people like me who did not re-read.

RTP starts out not too long after Poughkeepsie ends. Beckett wants to get his life together to be worthy of EVE. They are miserable without each other. You can feel their love so strongly throughout the pages. I LOVED THEM in Poughkeepsie, and honestly I thought the entire book was going to be dedicated to them. It focused more on them than any other characters, but there were so many characters in so many POVs that it watered down their story. But what we got of them was EXPLOSIVE. That is the best way to describe their relationship, passionate, intense, unique, dark, all-consuming, and definitely sexy. Their chemistry EXPLODED off the pages. But there are obstacles that they place in their path to each other, and I was unsure if they would ever find their way to each other permanently. Do they? You will have to read to find out, and you may be surprised at the twists and turns Debra takes us on during this journey ;-)

It was so nice to see Blake and Olivia again. I fell in love with them all over again. Seriously this author has talent—she can make me fall in love with a mentally disturbed homeless man, and two gangster style murderers like no one’s business! If that’s not talent I don’t know what is!!! We also got another look at Kyle and Cole. I have to say I wasn’t the biggest fan of Kyle in this one. I thought she was a bit selfish and self-absorbed and I don’t think she added anything to the story. It was sad what her and Cole were going through (sorry can’t tell) but she handled it horribly. Cole, on the other hand was a saint, and I fell for him a little more.

So what was it about? Well for the first half of the book, which was quite slow, it was all buildup. It was full of plotting and scheming, new characters were introduced and developed, along with new plots. I was VERY unsure of where it was headed. It was NEVER predictable, and neither were the characters.

The last 25% of the book was freakin AMAZING, 5 STAR worthy – I was on the edge-of-my-seat and could not wait to see what happens next. This was where all the buildup pays off --big time! This world Debra Anastasia has created is unbelievably creative, unique, and intriguing. This novel I would classify as a romantic suspense. Even though there was some very steamy scenes, that was not the focus. I really would have liked more smexiness between Beckett and Eve, there was some, and like I said before it was explosive, but I wanted more. However, I do understand this would have been slightly impossible considering they are not “together” for a lot of the novel. I hope you don’t consider that spoiler material, but I feel you should be prepared for that. In other words, go in expecting a suspenseful thriller with a side of romance and you will be pleasantly surprised.

There were also some HILARIOUS LOL moments which included a chick named Trish. I mean seriously FUNYY AS SHIT—this chick was INSANE!!!! And a dog named Gandhi will steal your heart, and make you laugh your ass off :-D Seriously, these two characters added so much lightheartedness to a very serious and suspenseful storyline.

Overall, I highly recommend you read RTP if you have previously read Poughkeepsie. It will give you a little more time with all your favorite characters, and show you how they are doing. It appears there will be a third book The Poughkeepsie Brotherhood and there is a “sneak peek” into it that will have you salivating for the next one. O.O I can’t wait to see where this amazingly talented author takes us next!

~StacyHgg~
Books Unhinged Book Blog

Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst
Series: Searching For #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Release Date: November 26th 2013
Length: 385 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: via publisher → Gallery Books
Review Date: December 27th 2013
Steam Rating: Hot
Overall Rating: 3.5 STARS

Review:
If you have read any of Jennifer Probst’s books before then you know she is a fantastic writer. In her marriage to a billionaire series, which I adored, she blended romance and steam with a unique touch of supernatural. She does the same thing in this new series Searching For.

If supernatural is not your thing, no fear it’s not steeped in it. There is no mystical creatures like vampires or warewolves. It’s just regular people that have an extra sense which always revolves around love. It adds to the uniqueness of her generally light-hearted romance novels. It’s actually more like a little “magic.”

Kate has “a touch” which basically shocks her if she touches two people meant to be together. She uses this gift to help her in her matchmaking business that she and two friends started after college. This is a gift that has been handed down from generation to generation in her family. At this point in her life she has accepted it, even embraced it, but it was not always this way. She had trouble relating to other people because of this and her stuttering for most of her life.

Kinnections her matchmaking agency is doing very well, she has terrific friends, and an amazing dog but her life is still missing something. Love. She has been on too many dates to count but none of them have shown any potential. In the beginning she is so desperate to find someone that she considers a man who lied to her about his entry level job, lives with his mother (and is a sloppy eater too), things she found out while on a disastrous date with him.

Slade is a jaded divorce attorney who doesn’t believe in love, and is definitely not looking for it. He has been burned in the past and has no intention in settling down again. His sister Jane has also been through a lot of disappointment with love, and he has seen her hurt very bad from this. So when she decides to go to Kinnections and give love another try, he is frightened for her. Believing that the matchmaking company is a scam to take her money. Because of this he decides to go there and give them a piece of his mind. Somehow before he leaves, he is a client too. He has decided to prove they are a scam firsthand so that his sister won’t get hurt.

He meets Kate when he first walks into Kinnections and “sparks fly.” Their attraction to each other is immediate and primal but they ignore it, and ignore it, and ignore it… *eye roll* This is where the story lost me a little. Kate is determined not to date Slade for a variety of reasons, but none really held to much merit in MY mind. I mean I understood at first, but after awhile I was frustrated and it got old. I mean she was so desperate for someone to share her life with she was willing to stoop pretty darn low in the very beginning of the book, so why won’t she even budge a little to see where this unbelievable attraction goes with Slade?? :-|

But even though they both frustrated the heck out of me, I did like both of the characters. I wanted them to have their HEA from early on. As for the follow up books in the series, I’m not sure who is next but I’m sure both of her college besties and co-owners of Kinnections will get a book.

I really like the touch of “magic” in these books. And I can’t wait to see where it leads next! If you’ve read her marriage to a billionaire series you will recognize a little something from them ;-)

Overall, I liked but not loved Searching for Someday. I think it was mainly because I am not a huge fan of lighthearted romance. I veer toward the heavy, emotionally intense romances that leave you with a book hangover. This one left me with a smile on my face, and a light heart. If that is what you are looking for, this would be a great choice!

~StacyHgg~
Books Unhinged Book Blog

The Dark Light of Day by T.M. Frazier
Series: Standalone
Genre: Dark Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date:
Length: 267 pages
Format: eARC
Source: via Author for honest review
Review Date: December 23rd 2013
Steam Rating: Hot
Overall Rating: 4.5 STARS

Review:
WOW! What a ride this was!!! I don't know what I was expecting but IT WASN'T WHAT I GOT!!!! I LOVE when an author can make me love morally corrupt people, they are my absolute favorite characters! And let me tell you, you don't get much more taboo than the hero being a contract killer.

What was wrong with me that I was so willing to accept someone in my life who admitted to killing people on a regualar basis?

IDK Abby but there is obviously the same thing wrong with me, because I fell head over heels for him too 8-O

But what I really liked was that there was no apologies for the way they were. He was who he was and he embraced it. There wasn't a bunch of crazy guilt over it, because if he felt guilty he wouldn't be doing it in the first place. I swear I'm not a psychopath, I just like when stories are more REAL. And if you are a contract killer, obviously taking a life does not effect you like it would the average person. Just saying :-?

Maybe what set Jake and I apart from other people was our acceptance of our feelings and emotions--the dark as well as the light.

So besides that, what is it about? It is the story of Abby (aka Bee) and Jake. They are two very broken souls, and they recognize this in each other. It is a sort of insta-attraction but not insta-sex. Abby loses the little bit of comfort and stability she has, and Jake basically rescues her. Hence the romance begins.

And let me tell you, the first fifty percent of the book was not all that dark, and I had read a few reviews so I was like :-| where is the grit? This is barely dark?? Well I couldn't have been more wrong...

Because as soon as I thought that BAM!!!!!!! And then BAM!!!!!!! Sucker punched AGAIN and AGAIN!!!!! I literally could not pick my jaw up from the floor a couple times 8-O

But hey, I love to be shaken... Why else would I read dark books. If you want to be brought out of your comfort zone look no further → you have found your next read! No shit, this will rock your foundation a bit ;-)

I can't really go into the storyline to much for fear it will spoil it for you but just know going in that it IS a dark book, but it is also very much a romance too. This is not always the case with dark books but Jake is actually very sweet to Abby.

As for the sex, there was not too much of it, but the Jake and Abby's defiantly had chemistry, and the few intimate scenes between them were powerful, and HOT too ;-) Would I have liked more? Yes, but it was enough for me to be mostly satisfied.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel to fans of the dark and twisted. It has a fabulous prologue and epilogue. So go and download a sample, and you will be hooked!

The blurb states the ending is bittersweet. I beg to differ. I am a fan of bittersweet -- I don't even need a HEA at the end of my novels so I would have welcomed it. But no. If you are the kind of person who does, HAVE NO FEAR this has a definite HEA ending!

...we all have darkness within us. Some of us more than others.

~StacyHgg~
Books Unhinged Book Blog

VIP by M. Robinson
Series: Standalone
Genre: Erotica
Age Group: Adult
Release Date: December 13th 2013
Length: 594 pages
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Review Date:December 20th 2013
Steam Rating: Scorcher
Overall Rating: 4.5 STARS

This isn’t a love story, but a story about love

There are so many things I want to say about this novel. Seriously, it touched me very deeply, and I really enjoyed reading it. But first I NEED to let you know what this novel contains →cheating. If this offends you or you can not handle reading about it you minus well stop reading here. Because VIP is NOT your average storyline with a perfect characters. In fact it is VERY far from it. Not only does a seemingly “happily” married man cheat, he does so with a prostitute while falling in love with her. 8-O

I don’t mean to spoil it for you but I feel the need to warn you because many who read this may be taken aback. I literally told the Author she had Balls of Steel for publishing this book, but I’m so glad she did!! It was a breath of fresh air reading about characters who made REAL LIFE mistakes, it felt REAL and I could picture it happening in REAL life. And that’s because it DOES happen in real life. I know I read to get away from reality sometimes, but it’s also nice to read something different, and more REAL…

The story is told in two POV’s. Ysabelle’s “Ysa” and Sebastian’s “Sebby” are from two entirely different worlds, and we get to see that first hand because we watch them both grow up. And this is entirely necessary because this shapes who they both will become and leads us to understand why they make some of the poor choices they do. I am not condoning these choices, I am just stating that I can see how they would make them. Sebastian literally has it all, and has lived a very privileged life with loving parents. Ysa was raised by a single mom who was more concerned about her next high than she was her daughter.

Considering this book is approximately 600 pages we get to read quite a bit about their childhood. And I really liked it. I was so immersed in their lives that the pages flew by. And it was fascinating being in a young boy turned man’s head, watching him grow.

I really can’t go more into the storyline anymore for fear it will spoil it for you but I will let you know, the sex is HOT, the chemistry between Ysa and Sebastian is amazing, and the emotions are palpable. I went through every emotion I could think of while reading this, joy, sadness, grief, horror, anger, and love. Even with all the devastation that we are put through, I still say the overwhelming theme was beautiful because it was about true love and soul mates.

“You were made for me, baby. Do you know that? You were put on this earth for me.”

Overall, I highly recommend you give this one a try if you can deal with the sensitive subject matter. I would definitely read anything M. Robinson writes in the future :-)
~StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog

Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters
Series: Monsters in the Dark #2
Genre: Dark Erotica w/Suspense
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: December 14th 2013
Length: 350 pages
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Steam Rating: Nuclear
Overall Rating: 4.5 STARS

Review:
Tears of Tess MUST be read before reading Quintessentially Q. Do Not Read this review if you have not read the first book, it WILL contain spoilers for book one!!!

I love dark books. They are a guilty pleasure that takes me out of my comfort zone. Pepper reminded me why I love them so much with Tears of Tess so I could not wait to get my hands on Quintessentially Q.

When I first met Q I was VERY unsure of him. I really didn't think I could like a real, true sadist. And that is what Q is. But he is so much more than that, and in QQ we get a much deeper look into his psyche and his motivations. He is a deeply complex man, with a dark intensity that somehow comes off as amazingly sexy. I loved him in all his brutality and f*cked-upness. By the end of QQ he will have you wanting a piece of his darkness too ;-)

I shouldn't want to beat the ever-living daylights out of her, but I did. Oh, shit how I did.

But as we find out in QQ he is so much more, and dare I say even sweet at times. But don't let that last sentence fool you, most of the time he is a beast full of RAW ANAMALISTIC NEED and is running of of PRIMAL INSTINCTS --- things happen that make Q little more than a blood thirsty animal... o.O

Tess and Q have so much more to go through on their journey to a HEA. I loved them together, the just GOT each other. Their chemistry burns the pages with its intense, dark passion. Their sex pushed so many boundaries, the were just so desperate for each other and the RAWness of their need for this "alternative" kind of mind-fuck sex was insane but oh so addicting ;-)

There were so many plot twists I didn't see coming, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. There were some truly HORRIFYING moments. QQ was much darker than Tears of Tess so you have been warned!

Overall, I LOVED QQ and would read ANYTHING Pepper Winters writes in the future! If you read Tears of Tess YOU WILL NOT be disappointed with its follow-up!

~StacyHgg~
Books Unhinged Book Blog

4.5 STARS! DARK, Thrilling, DARK, Sexy, DARK, and extremely Unique! I was on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time!!! If you can handle dark erotica you will LOVE Tears of Tess!!!
~StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog

I just finished Tangled, and absolutely LOVED it so I figured I’d jump right into this one. It’s a short story (about 40 pages) of a wedding which includes all the fun characters from Tangled. There is no character development, but there is plenty of humor.

Drew remains very Drew-like and it’s funny how he handles just about everything in his new relationship with Kate. It’s obvious he’s head over heels in love with her. But he seems to be a magnet for “the doghouse.” I can’t wait to see how he evolves with Kate and their relationship. I’m sure there will be quite a few more road-bumps ahead.

I don’t know how to rate such a short story, it’s more like an epilogue to Tangled or a prologue to Twisted. But it was cute and fum :-)

Off to read Twisted now!!!!

4 STARS ;-)

StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog

Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole
Series: Beautiful #1 ~ Cliffhanger
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: December 17th 2013
Print Length: 208 pages
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Review Date: December 10th 2013
Steam Rating: Hot
Overall Rating: 3 STARS

Review:
The blurb for this book is right; it’s not your average romance. And the heroine is FAR from innocent. In fact I didn’t like her for most of the book. She was immature, self-absorbed, closed-off, and just plain bitchy. Her mother really messed up her morals and values, and it shows.

Don’t get me wrong, I felt bad for the hand she was dealt, but I didn’t have to like that she used people. She only became “close” to people who could benefit her in some way. It was sad. And she was an alcoholic/addict who denied she has a problem for most of the novel. I was glad that the author had Emerald going to “AA” meetings, but her portrayal of an AA meeting is VERY off (I work with recovering alcoholics so I know). I would have liked if the author did her homework regarding this.

However, I did like the witty banter and one-liners that Emerald frequently used as a defense mechanism. Her chemistry with Carter was HOT! I really liked the steamy scenes, and I loved how Carter handled Emerald. He was all gentleman but took no shit from her either.

Emerald—I’m not trying to be your Prince Charming or your knight in shining armor. You’re too fucked up for me to even think about saving you.

Carter is VERY closed-off, and we find out almost nothing about him for most of the novel. It was like he had all these deep, dark secrets that we weren’t privy to. But near the end when we finally found out what I suppose was supposed to be a “shocker,” it was just anti-climactic for me.

But the worst part was that it ended on a major cliffhanger. I didn’t even know it was part of a series. It is my personal preference that I do not read cliffhangers if I can help it, however I do not rate books any lower if they have one. The next book is stated to be coming out “soon” as stated in the eARC. Will I be reading it? I don’t think so :-(
~StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog

His Wounded Light by Christine Brae
Series: TLITW #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Release Date: December 10th 2013
Print Length: 289 pages
Steam Rating: Hot
Overall Rating: 5 STARS

Review:
You must read A Light in the Wound before this novel. Do not read on if you haven’t, it will contain spoilers which will RUIN the first novel for you!

My emotions are running so high from this novel. I am a mess. Yes I would call it a book hangover, but it is so much more. I feel like Christine Brae taught me something in this novel. She showed me so much about love through these characters; how sometimes it is an illusion, and sometimes it is real. But true love perseveres through no matter how much life throws against it. It has its great highs and devastating lows –but is always worth it in the end.

After The Light in the Wound (which I absolutely LOVED), I had so many questions. I was so confused as to my feeling about who I wanted Isa to choose. I mean I loved Alex and my head knew that she needed to choose him, but my heart still loved Jesse. So I was curious to see how this would all play out in His Wounded Light. Isa (and I) needed closure with Jesse. I know Jesse needed closure. And I also knew Alex needed to feel secure in Isa’s love, and that her whole heart belonged to him. I thought this would be an impossible feat for the author. But she met and exceeded all my expectations.

Seriously, Christine Brae’s writing is absolutely phenomenal. She has the ability to make you FEEL these characters, their joy, their love, their confusion, and of course their utter devastation at times. I was in this story, not a bystander reading it. These were my emotions all over the place, not the characters, and I LOVE when an author can bring me so completely into the story.

The prologue, like The Light in the Wound’s, completely shocked the sh*t out of me, and took me out of my comfort zone immediately. It made me aware that there was a ton of storyline ahead, and some of it was going to devastate me. I was hooked…

Then we get a look into the present life and love of Isa and Alex’s marriage. It was such a beautiful, loving, amazing marriage. It was a bit slow early on when we are going through the motions of their everyday life, but stick with it because it is all a necessary part of the storyline. We need to KNOW Alex and Isa’s marriage intimately to understand the rest of the story.

And when tragedy strikes Isa and Alex I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe how quickly their life could unravel so completely, how much they would be tested, and if they would make it through it at all. I really can’t get more into the storyline than that, because it would spoil it for you. But know that it will not be easy for any of them: Isa, Alex, or Jesse.

The novel is told from three POV's so we know what each character is going through intimately. We also get three absolutely stunning epilogues... Seriously, I couldn't ask for more in a novel.

In the end what I felt was closure. It was so bittersweet that Christine owes me a full box of tissues. It was not easy to let go of the past to embrace the future. It was not easy to accept certain realities of life and love. But it was made so much easier by the beauty in which it was all portrayed. In the end of His Wounded Light there are no doubts left, and the hearts of Isa, Alex, and Jesse are all filled with strong, enduring love, and closure.

If you have read The Light in the Wound YOU MUST READ His Wounded Light. It is the end of their story. And that fact alone is bittersweet. I already miss them. But even though their story caused me sleepless nights, and red puffy eyes, it was worth every second! I can’t wait to see what Christine Brae comes up with next! Her novels will now have a front of the line pass on my TBR!

“I can help you find our lock,” he repeats. “I know where it is.”

~StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Review Date: December 6th 2013

Nocturnes by Kendall Grey
Series: Hard Rock Harlots #3
Genre: Erotica
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: November 30th 2013
Print Length: 243 pages
Steam Rating: Nuclear
Overall Rating: 4.5 STARS

Review:
Wow... I don't even know where to begin o.O I mean Kendall Grey likes to take me out of my comfort level but I was so shocked at the first "sex scene" that I thought she may have pushed me too far. But she did'nt. In fact Nocturnes ROCKED MY WORLD! Kendall knows what she's doing, and she knows her characters and just what they need.

Move over rockers and Harlots. Eve Belikov is in the house.

After Beats I wasn't sure I wound be able to like Rax. He was a selfish, horrible person inside and out -- without apology. And although we are shown that he is (slightly) redeemable, we are also proved right about how we felt about him in the first place. He was everything we thought he was. But loosing Tooms has sent him spiraling out of control (even more than usual), you see his rock bottom coming, and so does he but he is powerless to stop it.

Rax meets Eve in New Orleans while spiraling out of control. And it's not "boy meets nice girl and falls in love" NOT AT ALL. Eve is one seriously messed up chick.

Knowing that this woman is a walking biohazard is a huge downer. And coming from me, that's saying a lot.

But she is somehow perfect for Rax. In all their messedupness they come together with beauty and love. And it's not the sappy kind, Kendall doesn't do sappy, it's the raw, in your face, powerful kind. The Hard Rock Harlots series may be Erotica, and it has its share of laughs too, but it also have very powerful character development and story-lines. It is hard to find this in smut, but Kendall does it to perfection!

I also loved the way Kendall dealt with Rax's alcoholism. She didn't sugar coat it -- it was REAL... The story was told from dual POV's so I got to FEEL his misery and choke on his desperation.

But the million dollar question → Does Rax get redemption in Nocturnes? Do I love him like is do Shades and Toombs? The answer is HELL YES!!! Rax is not for everyone, and he is far from perfect, but he stole my heart :-)

As for Eve, she was frustrating at times but I did like her. I understand that she had to be messed up for her to be a good match for Rax but I did not understand some of her decisions. I was shaking my head in bewilderment throughout many of her mental ruminations just not "getting" her. I think that is the only reason I could not give this one 5 stars like I did the other two. But I did like her, and like I said she was PERFECT for Rax!

Her halo might be a little crooked, and she might be sporting tiny horns, but she really is an angel.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this series to those who are NOT faint of heart, it is amazing! I LOVED all three novels and cannot wait to see what Kendall comes up with next!!!

~StacyHgg~
Books Unhinged Book Blog
Format: Kindle
Source: Purchased
Review Date: December 5th

REMY by Katy Evans
Series: REAL #3
Genre: SMEXY Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: November 26th 2013
Print Length: 273 pages
Format: Audible Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Review Date: November 28th 2013
Steam Rating: Nuclear
Overall Rating: 4.5 STARS

Review:
I have been waiting to get into REMY’s head since I met and fell madly in love with him in REAL. Seriously MADLY IN LOVE. If you have not read REAL what the heck are you waiting for!!!!

REMY gives us his POV from the second he met Brooke in REAL and goes further into the future than MINE. So it encompasses a lot of storyline in a shorter length novel. I would say it highlights many of the most exciting parts of the first two books. Was it a re-telling of the story? Yes. Did it bother me? NO, I loved hearing it from REMY’s POV.

She’s like a gazelle, and I’m going to be the lion that catches her.

REMY brings the term ALPHA to a new level. You haven’t met the TOP ALPHA until you’ve met Remington Tate. He is driven by pure animal instinct, primal, seductive, protective, possessive. And yes if you know Remy and Brooke you know their love is obsessive, bordering on madness—but I LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT!!!!!

One of the things I could not wait for with this novel was hearing his perspective during his hi’s and low’s when he’s “black.” And we got a glimpse into this. I thought Katy did a wonderful job showing us the different sides of Remington Tate. He is not only my ALL-TIME FAV BBF EVER—he is smart, complex, gentle yet strong, loving yet fierce—just so unbelievably beautiful inside and out.

And of course we are treated to crazy hot and explicit sex that will smolder you Kindle. Seriously, REMY is such a sex god and this series is so erotic, I don’t know how it’s not erotica. He can go for fucking hours, again and again and again and again… Yeah *sigh*

And we get an inside look at how Brooke calms REMY. Her touch, her scent, her taste, even just looking at her. This couple has never communicated well through words—it’s through all the other senses and their music—but not words. Words elude REMY most of the time when dealing with Brooke. But when we are in his head we KNOW what he can’t say.

Her touch does crazy shit to me.
I’m sick for it.
I’m sick…
Fuck me. She’s so beautiful, and I’m so broken.

I need her like my next breath.
And if I had to choose, I would choose her over oxygen.

The million dollar question—did it live up to my expectations? Honestly yes, but I really didn’t know what I wanted from this novel except a look into REMY’s love for Brooke and his Bipolar Disorder—and I got both. If you are looking for a standalone novel with a completely different story or even much back-story into REMY’s past you won’t get it in REMY. But you will get his side of their love story, an amazing love story, one of the most all-consuming enthralling love stories I have ever read.

I was given a e-copy of REMY for review, but being the hard core Katy Evans fan I am I pre-ordered the paperback anyway—and the Audible version was only a few dollars more so I ordered that too. This review is from the Audible Audiobook. The narrator was good; he had a deep throaty voice so I could picture it being REMY’s. I highly recommend the Audible version if you want to get some chores done while reading. ;-)

Overall, I loved REMY and highly recommend reading it after REAL and MINE.

Note to Author: Katy you continue to blow my mind with this couple and I cannot wait to see what you come up with next!
~StacyHgg~
Books Unhinged Book Blog

Storm by Nina Levine
Series: Storm MC #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Release Date: November 19th 2013
Print Length: 166 pages
Steam Rating: Scorcher
Overall Rating: 3.5 - 4 STARS

Review:
Let me start out by saying I love MC books. I love to read the dark, gritty, and raw → and MC almost always gives me that.
Storm was a wild ride full of guilt, anger, hurt, love, passion, and chemistry. It was a unique take on second chance love, darker and more painful with the main characters making tons of mistakes throughout the story.

However, I was totally angry and frustrated much of the time, with only little reprieves when I thought the main characters (especially the heroine) were finally getting "it." And I think that is why I couldn't give this one a higher rating. I don't deal well with frustration, I can't stand when I want to reach through the pages and throttle the characters. I mean there is usually a little bit in novels, which makes for angst, but I think Storm may have pushed my patience a little too far.

Madison is our heroine and the daughter of the Storm MC's club president. She moved away from her hometown and left the MC life behind two years prior. We get a glimpse into why during the prologue (which rocked). She has moved on with her life physically, but not emotionally. She carries tremendous (unfounded) guilt, anger, and resentments. I really did not like her for about half the book. She made terrible decisions in the past that caused horrendous consequences. And I'm not speaking of her alcoholism. That she actually dealt with amazingly, and I give the author so much credit for getting addiction right. She did her homework and it shows.

Her past has come back to haunt her and she really "needs" to come back home. She fights this tooth and nail (ugh...) and agrees to let her brother (also a member of the MC) send someone to protect her while she makes up her mind (ugh...). This someone is no one other than her boyfriend that broke her heart two years prior, J.

J *sigh* I don't even know what to say about him. He is so full of alpha make hotness! Seriously, he is like sex on a "stick" ;) with a rockin' body covered in tats. And he has that "don't worry about club business" attitude - which Madeline HATES. Seriously, she grew up in the club but for some reason cannot accept that her boyfriend can't tell her everything? (Again ugh...). But she does eventually grow up :)

J and Madeline have SMOKIN hot chemistry, and sex that will melt your e-reader. I loved that they fought like crazy but made up even crazier. They are so meant to be together and I couldn't help but want them to have their HEA. Do they? Not telling ;)

There is a ton of sex, violence, and dirty language so it was right up my alley. But it also had its sweet moments too. Storm MC is based in Australia so there was a little bit of that fun lingo in there like knickers and ",yeah?" I was wondering if Aussie MCs ride Harley's or if they have their own "home" brand(s) of bike??

Overall, I liked but not loved it. If you like MC reads this may be for you. There was some loose ends that were not tied up, this is a series, so I will be reading the next book. It's about Madeline's brother.
~StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Review Date: November 25th 2013

Fighting To Forgive by J.B. Salsbury
Series: Fighting #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: November 19th 2013
Print Length: 442 pages
Steam Rating: Scorcher
Overall Rating: 4.5 STARS

Review:
I absolutely adored Fighting For Flight so I could not wait to get my hands on Blake's story. He was charming, funny, and heroic in the last book. I knew I would love his story, and I did. It was definitely not what I expected → but it was excellent!

For starters, I thought this was going to be a LOL funny book and it wasn't for the most part. It dealt with very serious subject matter, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. It was dealt with respectfully and tactful, and I could tell the author did her homework. It was never offensive in any way, and I cannot see it being taking so by anyone who has personally dealt with these issues.

And Blake, oh boy... He seems so strong, physically and mentally. I mean he was heroic in the last novel. But inside he is emotionally broken. His childhood and adolescence was brutal and he is scared to let anyone in so he remains closed off for the most part. That is until he meets Layla. No matter how hard he tries he cannot fight his attraction to her, even though she represents everything he usually stays away from.

She's been hurt by someone--my guess is badly. And the last thing I need is to be picking up the pieces of some other guys mess.

But he did. I loved how he handled her. He was so strong and yet so gentle. He wanted to be everything for her, give her all that she has been missing. And I knew he'd fallen for her when he realized:

I'd pick her company over any of my bros. ;-)

Yep he fell hard. But things were not easy for them. They both had to battle their pasts as it came back to haunt them.

I love dual POVs. And like the first book, this one was written flawlessly and flowed easily from each character's POV. I was hooked from the devastating prologue through the fabulous epilogue.

If I had to critique it (which is very hard because I absolutely loved it), I would say that the way everything was wrapped up left me with a few questions. I think some of them may/could be answered in the next novel Fighting To Forget → Rax's story. I CANNOT WAIT for his story. I know it's going to be crazy, And I love me some crazy ass men with issues, you know so I can save them and shit ;-)

Blake and Layla's story touched me deeply and I highly recommend it to all fans of New Adult Romance with lots of alpha male hotness and angst. It can be read as a standalone, but there is no reason to skip the first one--it was phenomenal! And we do get to see some great scenes with Jonah and Raven. One even had me tearing up ;-)

~StacyHgg~
Books Unhinged Book Blog
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via Author for honest review
Review Date: November 19th 2013

Try by Ella Frank
Series: Temptation #1
Genre: Erotica ~ M/M Romance
Age Group: Adult
Release Date: November 12th 2013
Print Length: 353 pages
Steam Rating: Nuclear
Overall Rating: 4.5 STARS

Review:
WOW! What an intro into M/M romance! I mean I had read one other—J.R. Ward’s latest, but if you know that series you know that that’s not M/M focused so this felt like my first. And I can now say that I have been thoroughly introduced to a M/M relationship. I was thrown out of my comfort zone early on, and Ella made sure to never let me get back there!

So we are introduced to Logan early on as a big-time man-whore! He can charm the pants off anyone—girl or guy. He was sexy as hell, charismatic, and open to anything that felt good.

But then Logan meets Tate. Tate is a “straight” guy going through a divorce who has never even considered being with another man. Logan is instantly attracted to him and pursues him relentlessly. And Tate does not fall for the bait at first, but finds himself becoming increasingly more attracted to Logan as time goes on.

The expression on Logan’s face was predatory as if he were hunting, and Tate knew that he was the prey.

Of course they do eventually find themselves in an intimate relationship, but it is complicated. Tate feels insecure about so many things, and Logan has a fear of commitment. And Tate does not want to give himself fully over to Tate without any promises—promises in which Logan is finding hard to make.

This is the first book in the series, and the ending definitely left me wanting more. It was a mild cliffhanger—not too bad but I may have told Ella she did me dirty ;)
There is so much left unresolved and I NEED to know how it all works out for this amazing couple.

Now I must tell you a little about the sex. IT WAS SO SMOKIN HOT MY IPAD WAS SMOLDERING!!!!! I kid you not, this was some heavy duty explicit M/M sex. I now know exactly how two males get it on—I mean I knew but I didn’t “know” ;) Try did not have an extremely deep storyline, it was basically about what the title says—Tate “Trying” something he never would have previously considered—which is having sexual relations with a man. It definitely turned into something more between these two, and I think that we will see more relationship drama in the next two books, but this one had a lot of focus on Logan and Tate’s physical relationship. Which really was okay with me, I mean two hotties getting it on—hell yeah!!!

Overall, I highly recommend this to all Ella’s fans and to anyone who would like to “Try” M/M romance for the first time. It was wickedly exotic, and it had me falling so hard for these men—and I think you will too ;)
~StacyHgg~
Books Unhinged Book Blog
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Review Date: November 20th 2013

Mine by Katy Evans
Series: REAL #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: November 5th 2013
Print Length: 320 pages
Steam Rating: Nuclear
Overall Rating: 5 STARS

Review:
If you have not read REAL beware of spoilers below. And what are you waiting for, read it NOW!!!!

Wow! Katy Evans has done it again! In REAL we are given a taste of what Brooke and Remy are like as a couple—their love is obsessive, all-consuming, raw, and powerful. But it is also genuine, tender, and selfless. In MINE we get to better KNOW them as a couple, how they handle situations, good and bad. It shows us just how perfect they are for each other.

MINE begins at the start of the Underground fighting season. Brooke is again his personal physical therapist, but now they are a couple. They are happy to be together but REMY is still hurting from the way Brooke left him in REAL, he is insecure and it shows. Brooke also has trust issues with REMY because women are always throwing themselves at him. The beginning starts out with them navigating their way through this. So it was a little slow but once I reached the halfway mark it had picked up in a BIG way!

Scorpion is again the conniving monster that he was in REAL but luckily there are not too many scenes with him in it. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t trying his hardest to break REMY in any way he can to secure his title. He baits him constantly, and at times I didn’t know if REMY would be able to keep his calm enough to make it to the title fight. Does he? You’ll have to read and find out ;)

Everything that made REMY unique in REAL was intensified in MINE. All his alpha tendencies: his possessiveness, protectiveness, raw sexuality, his lion ways of licking and petting, his dominant nature—it was all extreme—and I LOVED IT! Even when he was moody he would always say the most perfect things to Brooke. Things that would keep her in check, but keep her loving him and letting her know how much he loved her too.

“Stop playing hard-to-get Brooke. I already got you.”

“You,” he says, his voice terse and commanding as he drags his wet thumb across my lips, “are going to love me until I die. I’m going to make you love me even if it hurts, and when it hurts, I’m going to make it better, Brooke.”

His hi’s and low’s from his Bipolar Disorder where also intensified and we get to see just how bad he struggles with that too. While I understand REMY’s decision to be off medication I don’t necessarily agree with it. He blacks out when he goes “black” and he is extremely reckless and physically strong—I believe he could easily hurt himself and/or others. Yes he has money to have two people watching him at all times ready to shoot tranquilizers in his neck but is that any way to live? (And if you don’t have the money to have around the clock bodyguards than obviously this can’t be an option for those people.)
So while I think so highly of REMY, I also think he could have a lot less unpredictability and stress in his life if he were medicated properly and by a well-trained physician.

“You don’t have to understand me—just love the hell out of me. Can you do that? Can you?”
Oh yes REMY I can;)

But he is so very emotionally strong. What singles REMY out from all the other tortured heroes is that he is not broken. Life has been so unkind to him, so hard on him, he has endured so much, and yet he is not broken. He is literally strong in every way. He has thrived instead.

Remy has thrived without love, even paternal love. He has thrived even when he fights a mood disorder everyday of his life. He has thrived and gotten up every time he has fallen.

Nobody ever taught him how to love. He does it instinctively.

And this, above everything else makes me love him so much my heart is bursting with it. If he can deal with all that than he can deal with anything life throws his way. Inspiring doesn’t even begin to cover how I feel about the strength of his character.

He is Remington Tate. He’s a man who falls and gets up again and again. He pushes, plows, plunders, goes on. He’s. Got. This. I remember who he is. Where his drive comes from, some unnamable source that nobody in this world possesses. He is unconquerable and unbeatable…

And I can’t do this book a proper review if I don’t talk about the sex. I mean IT WAS HOT! I didn’t expect anything less, I would classify it as borderline erotica—but the NA feel is so strong too. I wanted to eat REMY up while I was literally squirming in my seat—he is my #1 book boyfriend and I don’t see anyone knocking him off that pedestal anytime soon.

“Who do you belong to,” he rasps urgently.
“You,” I pant.

Overall, I loved MINE and highly recommend it to all the REAL fans out there. While it didn’t blow my mind like the first one it was still a five star read and a great second book in the series. When I think of just how amazing these characters really are I cannot give this book any less.
Way to go Katy! You ROCKED MY WORLD once again!!!!!

“You’re going to be the end of me Remington Tate, but that’s the way I want to go.”

~StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog
Blog Tour stop November 11th 2013
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via NetGalley
Review Date: November 7th 2013