Surviving Raine (Surviving Raine #1) by Shay Savage

As the captain of a schooner catering to the elite on the Caribbean Seas, Sebastian Stark does his best to avoid any human encounters. Interacting with people isn’t his thing, and he prefers the company of a bottle of vodka, a shot glass, and maybe a whore. There’s no doubt he’s hiding from a checkered past, but he does well keeping everything to himself…

…until the night his schooner capsizes, and he’s stuck on a life raft with one of the passengers.

Raine’s young, she’s cute, and Bastian would probably be into her if he wasn’t suffering from alcohol withdrawal. As the days pass, DTs, starvation, and dehydration become the norm. Even the most closed person starts to open up when he thinks he’s going to die, but when she realizes their traumatic pasts are connected, it’s no longer the elements that have Bastian concerned.

He has no idea how he’s going to Survive Raine.

Holly's Review

I really loved this book!

I don't think I can put it much simpler than that! Every freakin' thing about it! I am even ok with the fact that there is more to come because it wasn't necessarily a cliffy, a little, but not really, ya know? I really want to spend more time with Bastian and Raine but I feel pretty good about where we left off, if that makes sense :)

Ok, here is the thing, Bastian is a mean fucker, seriously, a total meanie! A lot!! But he can be totally awesome too, holy shit I can see why Raine falls in love with him anyway!

Hang on, getting ahead of myself here...

Bastian Stark is the captain of The Oblation, a charter ship that takes out what Bastian refers to as rich, society types on vacation cruises. He has no use for them, well actually people in general! He is an alcoholic with a kind of horrific past, a uniquely horrific past and really an all around dick! So when The Oblation goes down and he is stranded in a life raft with a girl he thinks is some rich bitch on vacation, you can imagine he is not happy. I loved Raine, she was tough, smart and never took any shit from Bastian. She gets him and is exactly what she needs, even if he doesn't know it!

They don't know each other, he hates people, is an alcoholic about to go through serious withdrawal and all they have is each other. Sound awesome yet?? :) Honestly, when I read the synopsis for this book it sounded ok but this book was anything but ok! They story sucks you in from the very beginning. The first half is spent in a life raft and the second half on an island but there is always so much going on you just devour the story. 

I cannot say enough about the amazing journey these to take of self discovery, acceptance and love. There is never a dull moment and I promise you won't be able to put this book down.

"Every time I look at you it's like my chest gets crushed, and I just want to stare at you and hold on to you and tell you everything is going to be all right. I don't know what it is Raine. I don't understand what you're doing to me."

"I love you too, Bastian." 

Did I mention that I loved this book?? I hope y'all do too!!

Strings (Hard Rock Harlots #1) by Kendall Grey

WARNING: STRINGS is not suitable for slut shamers, uptight stone throwers, Holier-Than-Thou prudes, humorless virgins, persons with chronic neck or back pain, pearl-clutching bitties, those who disparage crude humor or vulgarity in their many forms, closed-minded people with sticks up their asses, or anyone under the age of 18. The vile, base language and shocking, unholy sexual acts contained herein are not condoned by anyone with a lick of sense and should certainly not be reproduced without proper training and protection. The potty-mouthed and perpetually horny "heroine" (the term is used loosely) of this book does not resemble a normal, well-adjusted, or remotely believable person in any way, shape, or form. The author acknowledges that the characters in this book are shallow and two-dimensional; the plot is both ridiculous and insipid. She makes no apologies for any of it.

* Readers are strongly advised to wear latex gloves whilst reading to minimize contamination risks.

Free-spirited musician Letty Dillinger adheres to a strict, “no strings attached” policy when it comes to men. After a wild night of unabashed sex in a fancy hotel room, she never expects to see the adventurous stud she dubs “Shades” again. When her all-girl rock trio books a tour at the last minute as the opening act for their archenemies, Letty’s shocked to discover she knows the competition’s new lead singer. Intimately. Shades is no longer a one-night stand. Now he’s the guy she has to one-up on stage every night for the sake of her career.

Sharing close quarters on a bus with her sexy nemesis and his bad-boy buddies puts Letty’s Golden Rule to the test. On this tour, guitar strings aren’t the only things being played. And when heartstrings are pulled too hard, they’re bound to snap sooner or later.

Grace's Review

4.5 Hot Rockin' Stars

I'm a huge, huge fan of Kendall Grey's writing. Did you know her Just Breathe trilogy has a HOT rock star? I already knew she can write awesome rockers. When I heard she was writing a new series with rocker chicks and dudes, I literally bounced off the wall with much anticipation! 

“Strap-on? Check. Dildo? Check. Lube? Check.” 

Did that get your attention? Sure, Strings is erotica...raunchy and lewd erotica. The warning in the summary should be taken seriously. If explicitly erotic rock star stories is your thing, then you are in for a treat!

Meet 25 year-old Letty Dillinger. She's a force to be reckoned with. Letty represents all the poor unknowns trying to make it big in a cutthroat business. She believes wholeheartedly in her music and her band. I love her inner dialogue. The raw, roller-coaster of emotions she goes through really hits you in the guts. What I love most about her is that she's vulnerable, determined, and anyone can relate to her.

“Much as I don't want to admit it, he's my sexual soul mate. No inhibitions. No fear. No boundaries.”

“Are your strings ready to be plucked?”
“By you? All day, every day. Pour some Letty on me.” 

Should I mention that Letty also has a raging libido? Oh, yes, she does! When “Shades” enters the picture, she really has no problem asking for what she wants. Shades is such a willing participant, too. Shades, good God! Hello...rocker with tats and piercings alert! I'm trying to think of what they didn't do. Well, just know they're both willing and open. All the kink, and it gets pretty kinky, in their sexual activities is icing on the cake! The heat generated by these two is why this story comes with a warning. You have been warned! 

“I want to be tied up in his strings forever and a day.” 

Deep down Strings is a humorous and passionate story of a group of rockers trying to catch a big break. It's about two like-minded, strong individuals connecting on a deep level and making beautiful music together. It's a wild ride, and it's only just getting started. I'm so looking forward to book #2, Beats!

“Long live The Rock!”

Wanderlust by Skye Warren Review & Giveaway!

Can love come from pain?

Evie always dreamed of seeing the world, but her first night at a motel turns into a nightmare. Hunter is a rugged trucker willing to do anything to keep her—including kidnapping. As they cross the country in his rig, Evie plots her escape, but she may find what she's been looking for right beside her.

Wanderlust is a dark erotic novel which explores dubious consent, captivity, and power play. Please do not read this if you're uncomfortable with the subject matter or under 18 years of age.

Holly's Review

This is one of those stories that make you, as a human being, question what you sometimes know to be right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable, crazy or normal. 

I know every time I pick up a Skye Warren book it is going to nudge me out of my comfort zone and that is what I love so much about her books. I love the way there hero is not necessarily a hero and the bad guy is not necessarily all bad guy, well he is but you learn to love around that. I know that sounds crazy but that is exactly how you feel when you finish! I fell in love with Hunter, not sure if I was supposed to, but I did. 

Like Alice, I had stepped through the looking glass into a whole new world, foreign and sinister 

This is how I felt as I read the story of Hunter and Evie. What starts out as a dark tale of a young girl traveling alone, kidnapped and brutalized (sort of) by a trucker ends up being a story of self-discovery and eventually love, albeit with some rough reading in between. But that’s what makes it a great story. 

My mother had lived in fear, and she was safe – but she was still afraid. I was the opposite of safe here, but I didn’t have to be afraid. Maybe that was the ultimate freedom.~ Evie 

Evie is one of those girls that was sheltered but also experienced some awful things at the hands of her mother’s boyfriends. She thought she was prepared for what she would find in the outside world, I mean, what could possibly happen to her traveling alone to Niagara Falls!? She was a bit naïve, bit life and her mother had made her that way. Yes, when Hunter kidnapped her I was scared for her but as the story progressed I realized Hunter for the enigma that he is and holy crap I kinda fell in love with him. 

There were some men you didn’t say no to 

Hunter was my favorite thing in this story, I know, you would expect me to care more for the poor girl he helped himself to but nope! That is why I love these stories. Hunter is the ultimate victim of his circumstance. Now, don’t think I condone kidnapping and rape and get all crazy on me I just see, like Evie did how Hunter became the kind of monster he believed he was. 

This wasn’t about right or wrong, love or hate 

Without giving anything important away, because you REALLY need to experience this story to come away with your own feelings and opinions, I will leave you with my favorite line of the story, one I believe sums up Hunter and Evie!!

He was the god of thunder, retreating from the world who had rejected him. I was the maiden he’d caught going over the edge, who he had secreted away in his lair beneath the falls 

I have to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Skye Warren for providing me this ARC to enjoy and review! YOU ROCK WOMAN! KEEP THE GRITTY STORIES COMING! I LOVE THEM!

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