Contemporary Romance

Book Review – Heaven & Hell by Kristen Ashley

June 2, 2012 by Aestas · 6 Comments

“He took something precious from you, your ability to trust… now’s your time to fight and get it back…Just live in the now, Kia, keep livin’ in the now… Fight back and learn to be fearless.“

Oh, I LOVED this book! Seriously swoooooon-worthy hero, vulnerable yet tough-as-nails heroine, and a character-centric story about tortured characters finding love, hope, friendship and healing. A really heart-warming read!

This book had me grinning like an idot from chapter one but always with the undercurrent of a deeper, darker story behind every character. It made me squee, it made me laugh out loud, it made me choked up and teary and it made me swoony 🙂

Kia spends seven years trapped in a love-less abusive marriage to a man who gave her empty promises. When he is suddenly killed, she is liberated and free to live her life again, but she is still shadowed by the pain and fear he instilled in her. Determined to not let this stand in her way, she goes on vacation to Paris where she sees, in her hotel dining room, her celebrity crush/ex-football-star/ex-badass commando, and all-round kind and awesome guy, Sam Cooper. The maitre d’ seats them together and they have an instant and grin-inducing connection that neither of them can deny. From that point on their are inseparable and their beautiful romance begins.

While this book is more focused on character development than some of KA’s other books I’ve read, it still has it’s share of some actions scenes – there are hit men, badass body guards, and even a cameo from Rock Chick’s Lee Nightingale!

I LOVED Sam. He was just what I love in a book hero. He didn’t play games, accepted no bullshit, and was crazy as all hell for Kia. He was deeply perceptive and read Kia very well. He understood that she was damaged by her ex-husband, understood her fears and concerns and did everything in his power to help her deal with it, never giving up on digging to find the truth behind her emotions, not allowing her to hide true feelings about anything from him (both in happy times and in fights) and helping her heal and learn to trust again.

“I know you’re freaked, I know you’re scared and I know you can come up with a million reasons that you’re not ready, all of which will be excuses. But now that I know exactly what’s behind those shields you got up… you gotta know that knowin’ that makes me no less into you… In fact, it makes me more into you… And you’ll learn, because I’ll prove it to you, I’ll never hurt you.”

He wasn’t perfect though, he made mistakes along the way, but he reads her, sees that he’s hurt her, apologizes and reassures her that it’ll never happen again.

“In a healthy relationship, you’re allowed to get pissed and in my face. Fuck, I need you to do that so I know what buttons not to push, where I can’t go and avoid those places. And I’ll do the same for you. Its part of learning how to take care of each other. Its fightin but its a form of communication and it’s also a form of trust. We have words, we come to terms, we learn about each other and we move on stronger.”

For those of you who have read the Dream Man series, he really felt like a cross between Hawk and Brock.

Honestly, it was so refreshing to see a totally functional couple from the first time they meet. Any obstacle that came in their way, they found a way around.

“You got one life, never use it just to breathe.”

And I LOVED Kia. I think she is my favorite KA heroine so far. She was smart, funny, and sassy. She was damaged and vulnerable on the inside, but still fighting and not afraid to speak her mind with open honesty. Both Sam and Kia were talkers so it make for some wonderfully awesome dialogue. There were times when I was bookmarking at least 2 quotes per page!

“There are very few, very fuckin’ few people, Kia, who get what’s precious in this world. They work their asses off for pure shit and think they’d fight and die to keep it. You don’t fight and die for shit. You fight and die for things that matter. You are the first woman I’ve met outside a life that leads you to understand that shit who gets that. And straight up, baby, you gotta know, I like that a fuckuva lot.”

Sam helps Kia learn to live and feel safe in the moment. First he tells her, then he shows her. He helps her pull all her inner strength to the surface and work though and dispel the fear and vulnerability left in her from her abusive ex.

“I am not him, Kia. Your dead husband… was an asshole. And now he’s gone. You’re in bed with me… I’m here because I wanna be here… and when we’re done talkin’ about that asshole and he’s gone again, I’m gonna get you wet and hot for me and I’m gonna be in you because I wanna be in you…There are not many men who would not kill [to be here] and that man is now me and and he’s gonna be me for a good long time.”

We meet a lot of side characters in this book that are almost as much of an integral part of the story as the main couple. Their stories moved me to tears more than once and added beautifully to the heart of the story.

“Anywhere is heaven as long as it’s with you.”

Rating: 5 stars!! Standalone.

READING ORDERS FOR ALL KRISTEN ASHLEY SERIES.

Book Review – The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed

May 31, 2012 by Aestas · Leave a Comment

4 stars

The story of a high-class male prostitute who falls in love with the reporter hired to write an article on him.

Adrian is every woman’s fantasy come true – he’s gorgeous, well-mannered, fabulously talented in bed, and for price of one thousand dollars per hour, he can fulfill their every secret desire, wish and pleasure. He works at Avalon, a high class club catering to women’s pleasure. Billie is a reporter hired to write an article about Avalon and the life of its companions. As Avalon’s most desired escort, Adrian is selected to be interviewed. From the first moment they meet, they feel drawn to each other. But despite their feelings, the nature of what Adrian does inevitably is a huge barrier between them. And throughout the story we see their journey as they follow their hearts to find what they want most from life and each other.

During the interview, Adrian tries a little to get Billie to give in to their clear mutual attraction. But he holds back knowing she isn’t quite ready.

“Ask me what happen next, Billie…”
“What happens next?”
“Nothing.” His whisper brushed her forehead, his embrace gentle, non-threatening. “You’re too frightened. But I know what you want, how much you want it. I can take one look at you and know what you need.”

And that really is the core of the fantasy – a man who not only can do whatever a woman wants, but much more importantly who knows and can anticipate what she wants.

I liked that both Adrian and Billie were pretty smart about everything. Neither of them really made any stupid decisions that made me want to throttle them.

I liked how throughout the book, we discover who Adrian really is. On the outside, he’s this god-like fantasy man, but its not the real him. Throughout the story, Billie peels away the layers of his facade until she finds his true self.

“The fantasy was human after all…a prostitute. A gigolo. A beloved brother and son and uncle… with too many secrets and too much sexual prowess. A man she was falling in love with.”

But at his core, Adrian feels utterly unworthy of Billie.

“She wasn’t the kind of woman who could give away sex without giving away her heart, and he liked that in her, that vulnerability….Maybe, at the very bottom of it, he knew a whore – even a high-priced one – didn’t deserve a woman like Billie. She was reality, gritty and truthful and tangible. He… he was a phantom born out of… imagination.”

“I’m nothing. I have nothing of value to give you. No heart, not an ounce of love in me. It’s all been fucked away.”

I loved that Billie never judged him for his choice of work. She accepted him for who he was, flaws and all and just fell in love with him allowing him the freedom to come to his own choices about what he wanted most.

“I love you, Billie. Give me the chance to make you happy. To show you who I really am – the man who can’t live without you. The man who deserves your heart.”

Overall the story was good, I’m glad I read it, I never felt bored, but it didn’t elicit any strong emotion from me. I didn’t laugh or cry. But I did really like it 🙂

If you liked Finding Home and Fallen From Grace, you will probably like this book too.

Book Review – Pulled by A.L. Jackson

May 29, 2012 by Aestas · 1 Comment

4.5 stars

“Erin called us soul mates, but I…I’ve always known it was more than that. It’s like we share the same soul, and when we’re apart, each half is looking for the other.”

What an emotionally intense rollercoaster of a book!

I read the whole book with my heart in my throat, either holding my breath, choked up, or in tears. My heart was literally pounding for most of the story. I read the whole book in one sitting – couldn’t put it down!

Melanie and Daniel met when they were 15-16 years old and fell in almost instant true, undeniable, unstoppable love. They know unquestioningly that they are each other’s forever. Even when tragedy strikes and their lives are forces apart, neither of them can forgot the other. Memories and thoughts of each other consume them, not allowing them to move on or truly live without the other. Melanie ends up trapped in a loveless marriage to a controlling, abusive bastard named Nicholas and Daniel ends up throwing his whole self into his career, but feeling empty the whole time inside.

“My body trembled as all the regrets of my life washed through me, my heart feeling as if it were on the verge of failing. My soul cried out to her. It had never stopped its search for her in nine years, and I could still feel her calling out for me.”

But when fate brings them together at a chance dinner party 9 years later, the moment they see each other, they both realize that neither of them ever lost the love they had for each other and they will do anything and everything within their power to fix the wrongs that happened and be together again.

“ Seeing her was like seeing a reflection of myself, a mirror of my pain, my loss, my regret. A mirror of what stirred within me now – this love that had refused to die. She had found me. I had always felt her heart calling to mine just as mine called to hers, this power bringing us together once again.”

Their big reunion was heart clenchingly beautiful!

“He stood above me, his body visibly trembling. “This is forever.” “

I loved the deep connection that they had. The pull they both felt for each other. The intensity of their love for each other was both gut-wrenching and absolutely beautiful!

The writing is beautiful, I really love this author’s style. She sucks you right into the story and into the characters minds and makes you feel everything that the characters are feeling. While I LOVED her other book, Take This Regret, I still did really really liked this one and am eagerly looking forward to whatever book she may decide to write next.

“I can’t live without you. I haven’t lived a day without you.“

Their story is told in the present day with flashbacks to their past piecing together their story.

I had issues with this story though. I didn’t like that the main reason that Melanie and Daniel were kept apart for 9 years was because of miss-communications and misunderstandings. It is kind of excused by the fact that that they were young, which they were (16-17 when the initial drama went down), but still, at that age I would have talked that issue or any other issue through with my guy. I didn’t like that they let assumptions and someone else’s words come between them without directly talk with each other about the issues.

Also, on another note, I’m not a fan of super evil bad guys who keep trying to break the main couple up, steal them away, or hurt them physically – something which both Nicholas and Vanessa did successfully. I can handle a certain amount of that in a story, but I felt it was a little too much here..

Most of the drama in this story resulted from the unfortunate results of pretty stupid actions caused by gut-wrenching grief, hurt and fear. I felt like even given all the horrible circumstances life threw at them, they should have handled the issues more responsibly.

This being said, the story was still wonderful, emotional and heart wrenching and I’m so glad I read it!!

There is a HEA ending though , but its not quite the perfect fairy tale that most romance novels have. Its bittersweet, but still beautiful. And they do end up together and happy. This I’m saying because its a very important detail to me 😛

Book Review – Motorcycle Man (Dream Man #4) by Kristen Ashley

May 27, 2012 by Aestas · 19 Comments

“Life’s a roller coaster. Best damn ride in the park. You don’t close your eyes, hold on and wait for it to be over, babe. You keep your eyes open, lift your hands straight in the air and enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts.“

Buy MOTORCYCLE MAN (Kindle)

A wonderful book with an amazing conclusion to a seriously badass series!

The last line of this book brought tears to my eyes. Boy does Ms. Ashley know how to write an epilogue!!

I absolutely adored how she brought ALL the characters that we have seen since the beginning of the series together. Throughout the whole series, they all help each other out here and there but in the finale of this book ALL the Alpha badasses joined forces and it was pretty freaking epic!!

“We’ve hit the hot guy motherlode.” **SHIVERS**

Kane “Tack” Allen is the badass biker in charge of Chaos – a motorcycle gang and car shop where Tyra meets him after applying and getting a job running their office.

I loved Tyra! She was smart, sassy, sweet yet vulnerable, can-do, didn’t back down, and gave as good as she got. She was a fun heroine to read and definitely was the perfect match for her big badass biker.

I’ve always liked Tack since we were first introduced to him in book 1, Mystery Man, but the thing that made me fall in love with him was seeing the way he was around his kids and his family in his home life. Just absolutely melted my heart and left me grinning from ear to ear!

“I’m noticing a theme to Life with Kane Allen,” I remarked.
“Yeah, that theme is I got your back. I take care of you. You sleep easy. You eat good. And you feel safe. You tellin’ me you got a problem with that?”

This book is also full of brilliant side characters. We see reoccurring ones like Elvira (who may be one of my fav female characters ever!) and also meet new ones like Tyra’s Aunt Bette and Uncle Marsh who were absolutely perfect, Tack’s kids Rush and Tabby whose stories I would love to read one day, Tack’s psycho ex-wife who was so crazy she actually had me laughing hysterically at times… not to mention the Russian mob and loads of badass bikers.

I have to admit I had a few issues with this book. I didn’t like the appelations the bikers use for their significant others “old man” and “old lady” just really didn’t work for me and I inwardly cringed every time I read it. Also, I felt like there were points where Tack a bit too much of a jerk and his world not respectful enough of women for my taste. But that being said, he was hawt and he grew on me a lot, especially once they had the big ‘talk’ and we got to see his side of the story and what it was that had happened in his past to shape him into the man we all know as Tack. His behavior often had me saying “oh he did NOT just do/say that?!” but in the end, I felt he both grew as a person and redeemed himself. Together, he and Tyra found a beautiful compromise of their worlds.

“I will be there in ten . And what I mean is, when I get there in ten, your ass better be there.”
Oh boy.
“Are you coming on your bike?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m in a tight, short, little acquamarine dress with high heels. I can’t get on a bike.”
“You’re in a tight, short dress and high heels?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there in five.”

And his serious protectiveness of Tyra along with his no-bullshit attitude and unwillingness to let anything come between them stole my heart.

“You belong to Chaos. No one touches what belongs to Chaos. No one . They don’t touch it. They don’t hood it. They don’t bind it. They don’t even breathe in its space unless they have Chaos permission…

“I’m Chaos?”
“Was my dick just in you?”
I fought an annoyed growl and said, “Uh… yeah.”
“Then you’re Chaos.”

See what I mean? Crude, but protective and really kinda sweet lol.

Seriously though, at the end, seeing Cabe “Hawk” Delgado, Brock Lucas, Mitch Lawson, and Kane “Tack” Allen working together gave me mega shivers!!! Kristen Ashley knows how to write EPIC BADASS at its finest! I actually SQUEED out loud when Hawk came on the page. I adore him! He is definitely my favorite of all the men even though I love them all 🙂

“… because Hawk, Brock and Mitch stormed that house at Tack’s side. This meant, to Tack, they were different kinds of brothers. Not of blood. Not of the cut. But that bond was unshakable all the same.”

“Bottom line, no one fucks with my woman.”

As with all the previous books from this series, the writing is smooth, fast paces, doesn’t drag, and keeps you flipping the pages. I read the book almost in one sitting despite it being a decent length.

I absolutely can’t wait to read the spin-off biker series, Chaos, that will come next featuring Shy (serious swoon material!!) and Tack’s daughter Tabby.

Rating: 4.5+ stars

READING ORDER FOR ALL KRISTEN ASHLEY SERIES

** Dream Man Series Reading Order **

Each book is a standalone about a different couple but
it is recommended to read the series in order.

Book #1 — MYSTERY MAN
Buy on Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

Book #2 — WILD MAN
Buy on Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

Book #3 — LAW MAN
Buy on Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

Book #4 — MOTORCYCLE MAN
Buy on Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

Book Review – Sheltered by Charlotte Stein

May 26, 2012 by Aestas · Leave a Comment

Buy SHELTERED (Kindle)

4 stars

Big, tall, tattooed badboy, Van, meets Evie, a 19 year old virgin from an abusive, strict, religious home and the sparks fly in this pretty freaking hot, very sweet and tender read about breaking free and following your heart.

The beginning was a little slow, with a too much inner monologue from the heroine, Eve, but about 25% of the way in, I started to really like it once she and her hot, tattooed, sweet and adorable badboy started to get serious.

I loved how tender and patient Van was with Eve, never pushing her into anything she wasn’t absolutely ready for, and how he just quietly showed her that a world beyond the one she grew up in, where she could make her own decisions and be her own person was possible if she wanted it.

“…you’re just waiting for things to turn bad, honey. You’re just waiting – and that’s okay. I got time to prove that’s not going to happen.”

The book leaves you with warm, happy and satisfied feeling. Its quite short, about 150 pages and very quick paced.

It didn’t make me grin or cry, but it did make me smile and kept me turning the pages. I’d say its a good read for in between very emotional books or if you are just looking for a light evening read.

Book Review – Law Man (Dream Man #3) by Kristen Ashley

May 25, 2012 by Aestas · 6 Comments

“Mara, I’m keepin’ you safe. I’m keepin’ those kids safe and you don’t have a choice in that, sweetheart. Thats just the way it’s gonna be… I was made to protect you and you were made in the way that it would always be worth it.”

Buy LAW MAN (Kindle)

Oh *swoon*, Mitch has stolen my heart!! Seriously hot, family oriented, loving, swoony, drool-worthy badass Alpha cop 🙂

Mara and Mitch live in the same apartment complex. They have each been crushing on each other secretly for the past 4 years but for various reasons have never acted on them. When, one day, Mara suddenly gets a desperate call from her dead beat cousin’s two little children, Billie (girl) and Billy (boy), saying that they ran away from their home, she runs off to rescue them and Mitch comes with her. Mara suddenly ends up with custody of them and Mitch is willing to do everything in his power to help her and the kids. Serious drama ensues involving the Russian mob, druggie trailer trash, custody battles, family issues, as well as a swoon-worthy romance, a whole lot of healing, and the heart-warming building of a beautiful, if unconventional, family unit held together by whole lotta love and earned trust.

“I’ll go gentle, baby,” he whispered against my lips. “I promise. You’ll always be safe with me.
Oh. My.
“Mitch,” I breathed.
His soulful eyes held mine captive as he repeated firmly, “Always.”

I’ll be honest, the first 70% of the book was a 4 star read for me because of Mara. Although I loved her, and she was very sweet and caring, she got on my nerves a little with her insistence on always finding reasons why things shouldn’t work out with Mitch and for her serious self-esteem issues. But Mitch made up for it with his unwavering awesomeness. And once Mara came around, things took a drastic turn up and I would easily give the last 30% of the book 5-6 stars (meaning I LOVED and ADORED it)!

I absolutely ADORED seeing how whole heartedly Mitch adopted the kids into his life. His commitment and love for them and Mara gave me chills and shivers and the conviction with which he went about convincing Mara that he wanted this was beautiful and totally adorable!!

“That’s another thing that doesn’t turn me off, sweetheart, knowin’ that you come with those kids and you need to know that. You also need to know I want kids of my own, two of them. But I don’t care, if this works out between me and you, that the kids we have will have an older brother and sister that don’t have my blood, just my heart.”

And I loved the effort he went to to help heal the kids of the scars of their previous home and to comfort them with the concrete knowledge that with him and Mara, they were loved, cared for and wanted.

“The man who gets Mara gets you and Billie. I’m that man. What you gotta get is, while fallin’ in love with Mara, I fell in love with you and your sister. Straight up, Bud, no lie. The feelings I feel for Mara are hers, the feelings I feel for Billie are hers and the feelings I feel for you are yours. You all have my love, not collectively, individually. Do you understand me?”

And as with the previous books of the series, we get to see all the characters we have come to adore from this world working together and honestly, it was Totally. Badass. Swoon. Overload that left me clutching at my heart!!!! Hawk and Gwen had a seriously hot and swoony cameo, and we get to see Brock and Tess as well. And when the big drama goes down at the end, Tack and his badass biker boys step in and boy did his scenes make me just dying to read his book!!!!

And WOW!! That epilogue!!!!!! I had the hugest grin on my face for the whole of it and then at the very last line of the book, the happy tears just started rolling!