Happy Weekend! I read two ARCs, one read and listen book from my TBR, and then I fell down a rabbit hole with Sara Cate this week. I read an ARC by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde, and a Read & Listen through KU this week by Carly Phillips. Then I read a Regency historical ARC by Mariah Stone. I have been reading a lot of ARCs that are contemporary or rom-com in nature lately. I love them, but sometimes I need to break it up a bit. Mariah Stone's historical was a good start, but I still needed a palette cleanser.
I met Sara Cate in Dallas earlier this year at Holidays with the Belles. At that point I had only read one book of hers: a standalone that I really enjoyed. I realized I had more books of hers on my kindle and I decided to enjoy book one of the Salacious Players Club for a palette cleanser. I never expected to get sucked in to reading the whole series right now. I think about the series even as I try to read other books, sleep, and run errands. I have decided that the only way to be fair to the other books on my list is to consume the series before I move on. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. I am loving the sexy, taboo, forbidden world she has created. I adore the complexity of the characters and their relationships with each other. I expected an erotic sex club series. I didn't expect the beautifully written flawed characters and situations that have drawn me in so completely. I am sure I will have reviews on more books of the series in the coming week since I can't put down this bingeable series.
I hope my reviews help you find some new reads to add to your TBR. I wish everyone a week full of engaging reads and fun characters. I need to get back to reading now.
All Duke and Bothered (Dukes and Secrets #1) by Mariah Stone
ARC: Release Date- Wide=07/20/2023 & KU= 07/25/2023
#MarriageOfConvenience #Historical #GrumpyHero #ARC
3.5 STARS
Book one in a new series is written in third person from a
dual POV and ends with a HEA. It can be
read as a standalone, though there is a mystery introduced near the end of this
book which leads me to believe that the series will be best read in order.
I actually loved Preston.
He is a little broken and a whole lot angry. He wants revenge for his brother’s death and
uses his leverage to win Penelope when her father auctions her hand to pay his substantial
debt. I appreciated the way he respects
Penelope’s dreams from the beginning and encourages her pursuit of them. I liked Penelope at the beginning of the
book, and even felt a little bad for her.
She is caught in the middle of the drama between her new husband and her
father. Her father is a despicable
man. I was with Preston in pursuing his
ruin. Penelope’s defense of him after
everything he does is deplorable. I
never understood how she could choose him over her husband. He is a toxic man, and the modern stance
would be to cut him off completely, not provide for him and offer
forgiveness. Her actions ruined her
character for me and soured the end of the book for me. I understand that Preston giving in to her and
offering Lord Beckett forgiveness makes him the better man. I just really do not think the man deserved
that much grace. I guess I am more of a
grudge holder than I should be.
I liked the author’s writing style. Having read a couple of her earlier books, I
can see growth and maturity in her writing.
The book itself deals with themes of revenge, forgiveness, and love with
a surprising plot twist. I am looking
forward to seeing how the series evolves.
Just A Little Secret (Dare Crossover Novel #2)
by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde
ARC: Release Date- 07/25/2023
#Fling #ARC
4.5 STARS
Drew and Georgia find their HEA in this second Dare
crossover novel. It is written in third
person from a dual perspective and can be read as a standalone.
Georgia Brooks (I love that she shares a name with one of my
favorite Max Monroe characters) is the oldest daughter of a high-powered lawyer
and a controlling socialite mother. She
has tried to always be the perfect accommodating daughter by following the
rules and mostly meeting their expectations.
Drew is a successful lawyer at a firm that is in direct
competition with her father’s. He is
close to his family, and I adore that readers see that in this book. When he meets Georgia, there is an instant
attraction. He also unexpectedly finds
that he likes her as a person in addition to the sizzling chemistry between
them. When her sister wins him at a
bachelor auction and gives him to Georgia for the weekend, they are both ready
to explore that chemistry and take a walk on the wild side.
I love the way the two of them connect emotionally from the
start. I adore how open Georgia is to
exploring things she has never done, and how Drew embraces pushing her out of her
comfort zone. This is not just in the
bedroom, but in other aspects of her life.
I love how his support helps Georgia find her strength when she needs to
stand up for herself. There are steamy
moments, but the thing I love the most is how they communicate with each other
and others in an adult way. Their dark
moment is low-angst and short. This was
a fast and easy read that left me feeling warm and fuzzy.
Praise (Salacious Players Club #1) by Sara Cate#AgeGap #Forbidden #BDSM #Erotica
5 STARS
Book one in this series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Charlie is 21 and when she meets her ex-boyfriend's father in an awkward moment she is surprised by the feelings he moves in her. Emerson is 40 and trying to win back his son. Though their meet-cute would seem to set his relationship with Charlie off on the wrong foot, it actually streamlines the way to more.
Charlie is strong and independent but discovers she has a praise kink. I don't think I have ever seen this kink portrayed this well in a book, and I am here for it. Emerson is so gentle and loving with her. I could feel her glow when he shows her appreciation and praise. The way they meet each other's needs in this area was beautiful to read. Long before they become physical, they were emotionally connected on a much deeper level. They each tried to avoid crossing lines. The push-pull between them was a visceral thing.
Steamy, emotional, complicated: their relationship is beautifully written. The characters felt so real; like they were alive on the page. Though their dom/sub relationship is a big part of their story, it is not the only part. They frequently relate as equals, despite that element of their relationship or their age difference. The characters are well-developed and flawed. Their story has layers of guilt, anger, love, and all the feelings a reader could want in this forbidden romance. I hesitated to label it erotica. It is super steamy, but the love story is such a big part of the read that sometimes is not as forward in other erotica books.
This is one of the best books I have read recently because it inspired a lot of feelings for me. It was an unputdownable read. This book has been on my TBR and my kindle for over a year. I pulled it up as a palette cleanser after reading several similar types of romances in a row. Now, I really want to binge the whole series. I can't say enough about how much I liked this book. Truly.
Eyes On Me (Salacious Players Club #2) by Sara Cate
#Stepsiblings #Taboo #Erotica #HealingLove #BDSM #AgeGap #Virgin #CurvyGirl
5 STARS
Book two in the Salacious Players Club series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Garrett intrigued me in book one and I loved that I got to know him in this book. He is much more than the happy-go-lucky guy I initially thought he was. He is 36 and struggling every day to keep his head above water and fight the darkness he has faced his whole life. His self-talk is brutal, yet I could relate more than I like to admit. The first person perspective of his mental health struggle was real to life and handled carefully. I really appreciated that. His character is extremely vulnerable at times. Sometimes with Mia; which is beautifully portrayed. Sometimes with his friends, especially Emerson. I loved seeing their friendship in a more developed perspective. I adore how Emerson is always there for Garrett, pushing when necessary and supporting him always. Garrett's character grows a lot through the course of the book; always one of my favorite things.
Mia, 23, is Garrett's younger step-sister. Their parents married when Garrett was 21 and Mia was 8. Garrett has watched her grow up. When he finds her in a cam-girl app, he sees her in a whole new light. I love Mia's body-positivity. I love her pride in her work despite the stigma attached to being a sex worker. She has crushed on Garrett since she was a teenager, but she only really gets to know him as a complete person over the course of their story. I love how Mia is unafraid to go after what she needs both physically and emotionally. There are times her vulnerability is more prevalent, yet throughout everything she is still strong.
There is a whole lotta heat packed into this taboo romance. But there is also a whole lot of emotional and romantic moments as Garrett and Mia really let down the walls and get to know each other as adults. I appreciated that the step-sibling relationship is developed along with their physical and romantic relationship. Through some flashbacks, readers are given insights into how their relationship gets to the place it is at the beginning of the book. The taboo element, feelings of guilt, shame, and the impact on parental relationships are all addressed by both characters.
I loved the way the title not only expresses the way the characters explore exhibitionism/voyeurism, but also how they learn to really see each other beyond the surface.
This is without question the best step-brother romance I have ever read. I am looking forward to seeing their relationship develop even more in future books of the series. This is completely bingeable series and I have already grabbed the next book.
Author's Trigger Warning: This book deals with topics of depression, anxiety, and attempted suicide.
Dare To Resist (Dare Nation #1) by Carly Phillips
#Workplace #FamilySeries #SingleDad #Sports #Audiobook
Narrated by Erin Mallon and Joe Arden
5 STARS
#SingleDad #FamilySeries #Workplace #Sports #Audiobook
Book one in this series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV.
Quinn is the perfect executive assistant for Austin. When Austin finds a baby on his doorstep, she is the one he calls for help. I loved that they share a mutual attraction which they have denied. I adore that they respect each other and know each other well. With the baby, there are funny moments as Austin learns what it means to be a dad. There are heart-warming moments as he comes to terms with the rapid feelings he has for the baby girl. I appreciated Austin and his strong character with the baby and with Quinn. Quinn has been determined to never have children of her own. When Austin suddenly becomes a dad, she has to come to terms with what she really wants in her future if Austin is going to be in it as more than her boss.
I loved the steamy moments and the emotional connection between them. The extended family is fun and well crafted. I started this on audiobook and finished it as an e-read. (About 50% each.) The narrators nailed their performance and kept me engaged in the story while I cleaned the house. Then I was able to put my feet up and finish reading it while I rested. I have been meaning to go back and read the Dare books I have been collecting and this is the beginning of that effort. I realize I am still out of order, but it doesn't really seem to affect any of the stories for me. This was a relatively quick, low angst read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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