BOOK REVIEW - MY NEXT BOOK BOYFRIEND BY VICKI GREEN

My Next Book Boyfriend by Vicki Green
4 of 5 stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Looking for a fun, feel good book with a swoon worthy man and a quirky, book loving woman?? Then My Next Book Boyfriend is worth a read!!!

Rylie, a shy coffee shop owner and romance book addict, had a great life. She had hundreds of boyfriends from the pages of the books she reads. But a real life tall dark and handsome was missing. Enter Dream Boat Jax and her life turns into the stories from her daily reads. But just as her books had hot steamy romance they also had drama, secrets and misunderstandings. Did Rylie and Jax ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after? Better get the book and find out!

I loved so many things about this book. Rylie was a book lover like me. She fan girled over authors at a book signing (maybe even my very favorite author, too). She was independent, not perfect and lived a pretty normal life. Jax was the handsome, hot guy who fell for Rylie. Yes, that sounds like the perfect romance story. Yes, I was able to predict some of the surprises. But you know what? That was great!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and wanted to know more about the characters when the book ended. That made it a great read for me!

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

➹⁀ღ BOOK REVIEW ➹⁀ღ

Darkest Before Dawn by Stevie J. Cole
4 STARS

Why didn't I read Stevie J. Cole's books until now!?!?! Wow! Darkest Before Dawn was the gritty, dark romance that I like. The story kept my attention, was fast paced and full of twists and turns I didn't expect. I couldn't put it down! Ava and Max were complex characters and their story makes one reconsider the concept of love. It was full of difficult subjects which could be triggers for some readers. Overall, it was a great read. I will buy more of the Stevie's books now!

☆.•°*°•.☆ BOOK REVIEW ☆.•°*°•.☆

The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Releases September 6th

4 of 5 STARS!!!

Finally! Another JEM book to sink into!!!

First thing. Jake was not Jessie or Miller so don't go into the book looking for them. Jake had their alpha male qualities and a troubled secret past, but add in a military background and the take-charge attitude soared off the charts. There was a lot of Jake since the book has dual POV's which was a departure from Jodi's other books. As a diehard JEM fan, I loved having more of the male perspective when normally it was in an epilogue.

"He is just about the most perfect man I’ve ever seen, and that’s an achievement, given I’ve had shoots with more beautiful men than I care to remember. But he’s a man. A proper man—big, strong, mature. The crisp stark white collar of his shirt and perfectly knotted grey tie can’t conceal the primal energy practically thrumming from him." - Camille

Secondly, Camille was a different type of female heroine. She was rich, pampered socialite, but strong, determined and very headstrong. She wanted to prove her own worth to a world that saw her as the spoiled party girl. As one can imagine, she was not thrilled to get Jake as a 24/7 bodyguard when her father received threats against her well-being. Her relationship with their father was already a battle ground and having a dark, handsome man with a no-nonsense attitude hovering in all aspects of her life did not help. Her father was a cut throat, ruthless business man with enemies everywhere so Camille needed Jake's protection whether she thought she did or not.

"No one has any idea about the constant battle to keep my mind focused on my future and not my past, the overbearing father who tries to control my life, or the challenge I face almost daily in London’s social scene that’s driven by cocaine and champagne." - Camille

Now for a hotness factor. Holy mother of God when Jake and Camille finally hooked up, I needed a fan or a cold shower! It was H-O-T!!! Smoking!!! Steaming!!! Lord have mercy!!! You get the picture.

“You’re mine, Camille Logan!” He releases his hands and slams them into the wall either side of my head. Bang! “Can you accept that?” - Jake

“Oh, f*cking hell,” he whispers. Dropping his head, he begins to breathe through his single stroke, his body trembling in my arms. “I knew it,” he says hoarsely. “I knew I’d fit you so f*cking right.” - Jake

See what I mean!!!!! H-O-T!!!!

The story was fast paced. It threw me a bit because at 5% in there was a lot of background that normally I would have expected Jodi to feed slowly to the reader. I had to remind myself this was a stand-alone book, not a trilogy so the story had to move along at a good clip. That doesn't mean everything was laid out at the beginning. Jodi had several secrets up her sleeve toward the end that were really good. One I never saw coming! No spoilers here so get the book!

However, I struggled through parts of the book. Not because it was a bad story or poorly written. Not at all! Jodi's work is always fantastic! It just "sounded" different than her previous books. There were several moments where I thought an editor got ahold of it and set the tone because it just didn't sound like her writing. I expected more flowing, romantic dialogue. Toward the end of the book I saw some of that, but by then I was already used to the tone of the book.

Overall I enjoyed reading The Protector. Jodi always weaves a good romance with some mystery, drama and a feel good ending. The book did not disappoint in any of these areas. I highly recommend snapping up this book when it is available in September!

(This ARC was kindly provided by Net Gallery in return for an honest review.)

➹⁀ღ ➹⁀ღ BOOK REVIEW ➹⁀ღ ➹⁀ღ

Pennie$ by Pepper Winters​

5 of 5 STARS!!!!

She warned us. The book came with a very clear warning. Enter the darkness of Pennie$ only if you dare. I dared and holy sh*t!

"A beaten slave and a richly dressed thief. Money is what guided their separate fates. Money is what brought them together. And money is what ultimately destroys them."

Pennie$ was inky black, delving back into the evil world of human trafficking as experienced by young Pimlico. The abuse hinted at in The Monsters in the Dark series was laid out in a full emotional way in Pennie$. Pim was debased, dehumanized, raped, demoralized and treated no better than a disposable toy for a sick master. The actions of her owner made me want to step into the story, rescue her and serve up a cold plate of justice on a scrum-bag of a man. And through it all she was surprising strong until she reached a point where she couldn't take any more. Where death (a second time) was the only way to be free.

"This wasn’t a simple cleansing or preparation. This was a baptism into Hell." - Pimlico

Then enter Pepper's newest lead male character, Elder Prest. I heard he was Q and Jethro wrapped up together and I would love him more than them. I don't know if any character will ever take the place of Q for me, but I was highly intrigued by Elder. He was a thief, full of darkness, but bound by strict training from his previous life. He had boundaries, rules to keep himself under control and the darkness at bay. He was drawn to Pim and fought the pull toward her, knowing he was just as evil as her master. But would he save her or just throw her into more of a nightmare? You need to read the book to find out!

"My first thought was...run. His eyes matched those of the men surrounding him. The eyes of a killer, pain-deliverer, and user. But my second thought was...run to him. He didn’t know me. Master A didn’t rule him. He could finally be the one to set me free. Or kill me." - Pimlico

“I’m not the hero in this story, Pimlico. I’m another villain. You’d do best to remember that.” - Elder

Not all was revealed in Pennie$ since it was the first of a new series. In typical Pepper fashion, clues and hints were casually dropped and tiny bits of information were glossed over. Veteran readers of her books will catch them, hi-light and wait for more details in the rest of the series. I know I hi-lighted more than usual! Those bread crumbs will keep me guessing and looking for answers in the future books.

I expected a cliffhanger at the end. It kind of was one, but not like the cliffy endings in the Indebted series. I didn't throw my iPad and curse Pepper's name in vain. But she hooked me into the story so much that I couldn't put it down and will devour the next book, Dollar$, the minute I get it. I need to know what happens next!!!!

“I’m sorry for what I’m about to do. I’m sorry for what I am. You’re worth pennies, but I’ll make you worth fucking millions. However, what I expect in return will be unpayable.” - Elder

Was it darker than her previous books? No, not in my opinion. It was on the same level. However, she left a lot to the imagination. Yes, there were several graphic, ugly scenes, but she also made the reader imagine the abuse through Pim's writings where she simply couldn't voice the atrocities done to her. (Maybe my own mind is just as dark as Pepper's so I wasn't shocked by the story!)

Bravo Pepper on another instant hit!!! You made me feel Pimlico's horrors. You have my undivided attention with Elder Prest. I NEED Dollar$ NOW!!!

(An ARC was kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.)

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Suddenly More by J.A. Low
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Suddenly More, the follow-up novella to Suddenly Dirty, was fun, quick read that left me want more from the JA Low and her characters. Who would't want more of Evan and Sienna and their HEA!!! I had to know more after the first book so this was perfect. And it wet my appetite for her next books so write, JA, write! (I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

✭༻☆༺✭ BOOK REVIEW ✭༻☆༺✭

Into the Nothing by B.T. Urruela
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed reading BT Urruela's first solo book. It had everything needed to keep my attention; mystery, plot twists, romance, suspense, love and emotion. Granted, some parts were predictable, but he still wove a great story. It was not the typical romance book which was refreshing. The ending felt rushed and was a bit of a cliff hanger, but it did not change my impression of the book. Having said all that, the ending could be to set up the next books in the Broken Outlaw series. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to BT's next books. (I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

✭༻☆༺✭ BOOK REVIEW ✭༻☆༺✭

Reclaimed by Vicki Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book from Vicki Green and I am so glad I was able to get an ARC! The story sucked me from page two! Smoking holy hotness on Dax! (*fans self*) He might appear to be a bad boy, but he has a heart of gold. And Saige was not push over even after all the heart ache she went through. Together they were a perfect book couple for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Vicki's work. (This ARC was kindly provided in return for an honest review.)