The Summer He Came Home By Juliana Stone

Sometimes the best place to find love is right back where you started…

Falling asleep in a different bed every night has made it easy for Cain Black to forget his past. It’s been ten years since he packed his guitar and left Crystal Lake to chase his dreams. Now tragedy has forced him home again. And though Cain relishes the freedom of the road, one stolen moment with Maggie O’Rourke makes him wonder if he’s missing out on something bigger than fame.

For Maggie—single mother and newly settled in Crystal Lake—love is a luxury she just can’t afford. Sure, she appreciates the tall, dark and handsome looks of prodigal son Cain Black. But how long can she expect the notorious hellion to stay?

The last thing either of them wants is something complicated. But sometimes love has its own plans.

Holly's review:

I adored this book, and it left me hungry for more of the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for a story set in Michigan, which is and has always been my home. This story takes place in Crystal Lake, which is in Northwestern Michigan and absolutely beautiful!

Cain Black is a yummy tattooed rock star, I know, I could stop there and you would read this book, but I will give you a little more just in case :) - Anyway, Cain Black is an international rock star and has come home for his friends funeral - this friend was one of the four so called Bad Boys of Crystal Lake - he comes home after apparently a long time away and he immediately meets Maggie, well, her son Michael first and then Maggie, but he is immediately intrigued. Not only because she is a beautiful fiery red head but because she is a new face in a town where everyone knows everyone.

Cain begins to question whether he even wants to leave Michigan to return to his home in LA, especially the more he gets to know Maggie. He knows she has run from something in her past but she holds her cards very close and doesn't share much. But, once Michael lets a little something slip Cain knows that Maggie could very well be in danger and he will do anything to keep her safe.

This books was a little predictable, but wonderful nonetheless! As wonderful as Cain, Maggie and Michael were the author was able to tease you with just enough about the other characters, who I can only assume will have their own books soon, to leave me begging for more about them! This story has a little bit of everything- love, sex, suspense and humor - honestly I laughed right out loud during the scene where Cain is attempting to buy condoms and runs into the pastors wife and she starts asking him about jock itch and what to buy for it because her husband has it something awful!! hahaha - I am smiling just thinking about it :)

 

Soul Awakened (#2) By Jean Murray

LOVE FOR BLOOD OR HONOR

Kendra, an Egyptologist and demi-god in waiting, is the key to unlocking Bakari, the Egyptian God of Death, from his cursed slumber. Desperate to free him, she inadvertently binds herself to the god with a spell that only death will undo. To save Bakari from himself, she may have to sacrifice her innocence, and possibly her soul, before he becomes his family’s worst enemy.

HAUNTED BY SINS OF THE PAST

Bakari awakens to a world at war and a beautiful woman who has tethered his soul to hers. In the wake of his self-destruction Kendra is his only hope of salvation, but another has vowed to keep Bakari from the one thing he craves most-- his Parvana. His butterfly.

Elena's Review:

"The Carrigan sisters were the first step to their freedom.Light and darkness.Life and death brought together, the best of both worlds."

Jean Murray, has written another wonderful addition to her "Key to the Cursed series"This is the story of,Bakari and Kendra.These two characters are written brilliantly!  I immediately fell in love with these two, Kendra is just too cute with her light, sweet, fun personality, and her quiet, yet determined attitude to make things right.Loved her relations with Bakari.I  knew right away her decision was made and there was no other man she could fall "in" love with. Jean did such a fantastic job with Kendra. I really loved reading about her.   And Bakari was as expected, with his brooding, selfless, alpha male self, and his  inner conflict in regards to Kendra, it was impressive, but seriosly, who was he fooling? Certainly not me.Lolz! I enjoyed the exchanges between them early in the story which made me really root for these two.Bakari's brother Bomani can't touch what they have :P. Jeans' writing is just beautiful, almost atmospheric. 

I fell for Bomani and his character and feel sad for him.  He’s such a good guy and hardly wait for his book with  with a heroine just as kind as him :) 

There's much more to the story, if you read the first novel in the series and enjoyed it, then without a doubt you will love this novel :)

Note to author: You're a tease!!! Lol! You had me when Kendra had to choose between males, and now I'm afraid that Kit won't end up with Kamen.You're just wicked! Hopefully my assumptions about where this series is going will be in my favor.....hahaha!

 

 

 

 

Funny,Funny,Har Har

A Newly Weds Understanding......

The newly-weds are in their honeymoon suite and the groom decides to let the bride know where she stands right from the start of the marriage. He proceeds to take off his pants and throw them at her. He says, "Put those on." The bride replies, "I can't wear your pants." "And don't forget that" he replies, "I will always wear the pants in this family!" 

 

The bride takes off her panties and throws them at him with the same request, "Try those on!" He replies, "I can't get into your panties!" "And you never will if you don't change your attitude."

source http://www.jokes4us.com/peoplejokes/familypantsjoke.html

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other. Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

 Holly's Review:



I really enjoyed this book! I can tell you unequivocally these two people do two things really, really well - Fight & Fuck!
Holy Crap, this was one steamy read. It was a bit predictable but really, who cares?!

You have Bennett Ryan aka The Beautiful Bastard, and OMG is he ever an effing bastard(mostly just through a little over the first half of the book though) - and you have Chloe Mills, the very intelligent, hard working intern. Now, I have to give Chloe credit for putting up with Bennetts assholishness for as long as she did, but who knew for them it was kind of a crazy form of foreplay!

They start out as sort of really intense fuck buddies which rapidly turns into more, which neither of them are sure is a good idea. He is her boss after all and Chloe needs to make her way in this corporate world and finish her MBA without everyone seeing her as the intern that slept her way to the top! But they can't deny the amazing intensity of their feelings for each other.

This story does get a bit emotional on the characters way to finding their HEA but I think that combined with the steamy sex scenes made this a fun, sexy, very enjoyable read! I see there is a book 2 coming and I will be happy to where Bennett & Chloe's journey is taking them!(hopefully with some more panty ripping, steamy sex)

***This book was provided to me by Netgalley

 

 

Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway

Dublin native Freda Wilson considers herself to be an acquired taste. She has a habit of making offensive jokes and speaking her mind too often. She doesn't have the best track record with first impressions, which is why she gets a surprise when her new neighbour Nicholas takes a shine to her.

Nicholas is darkly handsome, funny and magnetic, and Freda feels like her black and white existence is plunged into a rainbow of colour when she's around him. When he walks into a room he lights it up, with his quick wit and charisma. He is a travelling cabaret performer, but Freda doesn't know exactly what that entails until the curtains pull back on his opening night. 

She is gob-smacked and entirely intrigued to see him take to the stage in drag. Later on, Nicholas asks her if she would like to become his show assistant. Excited by the idea, she jumps at the chance. Soon she finds herself immersed in a world of wigs, make-up and high heels, surrounded by pretty men and the temptation of falling for her incredibly beautiful employer.

In this story of passion and sexual discovery, Nicholas and Freda will contend with jealousy, emotional highs and lows, and the kind of love that only comes around once in a lifetime. 

Rhonda's Review:

5 Magnificently Unconventional, Brilliant stars!!! 

Come forth with an open mind, for an unconventional tale of love...

Girl meets boy who likes to dress as a girl.......

Meet Nicholas aka Vivica Blue:

What a fascinating character! There were so many reasons to love Nicholas. I mean from the prologue you instantly love him because you know what makes him tick, so to speak. He's so much fun in either persona, but as Nicholas he's all sexy, charming, man and as Vivica, he is one hell of an entertainer, and still sexy as hell!!! I absolutely loved that he is brave enough to continue with his lifestyle when the odds weren't at all in his favor. I loved his sense of humor, and I loved that he is incredibly patient with Freda and her pacing and insecurities. I loved that he sees her as perfect. Nicholas is flawed, and beautiful.

“I think you might have a few kinks in your armour there, Viv.”
His grin borders on devilish. Yes, devilish. “Lots of kinks, lots of quirks, my sexuality is multi-faceted.” 

Meet Freda aka Fred:

Freda is a fabulously fun woman! Snarky, quick witted, funny and at times abrasive. Fred really has a “take no shit” attitude, and I absolutely loved that about her. Fred also has self-esteem issues, but really knows herself well. She knows what she wants even if she’s not certain how to obtain it. She understands herself, and why she has the insecurities she does even if she can’t change them. I totally get her, and unless you have walked in those shoes you’ll never understand. I love that Fred is unequivocally accepting of Nicholas and loved him even more for what and who he is. I will say I love Freda just as much as Nicholas and it’s been a long time since I loved a H/h equally. 

“I’m getting all hot and bothered over a man who’s more comfortable in make up and heels than I am.” 

What a fabulous book to start the year with!! When I read the blurb for this story I was completely intrigued. When I started reading it I couldn’t put it down!! There is an amazing cast of secondary characters in this story that brought plenty of laughs right along with Viv and Fred. It’s been a while since I smiled and laughed this much while reading a book. There is also heartbreak and sadness to this story, and I loved every page! 

“Hey,” he whispers seriously. I glance back up at him. “You'll always be my friend, won't you Fred? Don't let me fuck this up. I need you in my life now. I need the golden eyed girl who can make me smile.” 

Painted Faces is brilliant! If you’re in the mood for a unique contemporary love story, I highly recommend this one. This one most certainly landed on my favorites shelf.