Read on for a review of soon-to-be-released Cream of the Crop and Reading Frenzy Book Blog’s interview with author Alice Clayton. Be sure to enter the giveaway for a signed copy of Nuts (Hudson Valley book #1)!
I think Bright Side is a flawless book, so even though I was curious about what happens next with Gus, I was hesitant to read this continuation of the story. I mean, how does an author successfully follow up an emotional five-star read? I have no idea, but Kim Holden makes it look easy with Gus.
Last Kiss is the conclusion to Laurelin Paige’s First and Last duet, and I must say I enjoyed it more than the previous book. The story picks up immediately following the jaw-dropping events at the end of First Touch. This book is like angst on steroids. It’s heady, erotic, completely enthralling, and I was hooked from the first chapter.
I’m a big admirer of Mia Sheridan’s work. Her stories tend to be unique, absorbing, and thought provoking. The beginning of Ramsay is strong, and I was quickly sucked into the story by all the backstabbing and scheming. I loved the pull between Lydia De Havilland and Brogan Ramsay, and the prospect of a relationship do-over appealed to me. I also enjoyed their role reversal and Lydia eating humble pie. Unfortunately, my interest began to wane as the focus moves from revenge to making restitution to the pair grappling with trust issues.
Where is that sixth star when you need it? I knew full well going in that Bright Side would be a tear-jerker and might break my heart, but you know what? I don’t regret a single page. Above all, this is a stirring, feel-good story, and I was surprised by how much I laughed and smiled throughout.
Sarina Bowen kicks off her True North series with a delightful second chance romance that’s full of heart.
Idol definitely satisfied by rock star romance craving. The typical formula for this trope goes something like this. A rock god lives a life filled with tons of groupie sex. He meets the one woman who won’t jump into bed with him which makes him want her even more. Once they hook up, he’s reformed and becomes a one-woman man. Regardless of its predictability, it’s a setup that works for me. Idol enhances that theme and it’s a nice variation.
It’s official. I’m in love with the Winston brothers. Like so crazy, madly, deeply in love I’d be willing to go full-on Sister Wives for them. I’m not exactly sure how I went from reading a sweet Rom-Com to considering polygamy, but I blame Penny Reid. Damn her and her ridiculously talented mind, the magnetic and quirky characters she creates, and her clever humor. These attributes are on full display in Grin and Beard It, and it’s all kinds of awesome.
This is book porn, plain and simple. I like my smut in small amounts, and I practically overdosed while reading Backstage Pass. There’s a ton of sex—like scene after scene after scene of E-R-O-T-I-C sex—but virtually no plot.
Audiobook review. I’m not a huge fan of audiobooks. Narrators’ voices can grate on my nerves, my mind wanders so I have to constantly rewind, and the pacing frustrates me. I can read a book in half the time it takes to listen to one, and if I increase the speed the voices sound even more annoying. Color me surprised then that I enjoyed the Beneath This Mask audiobook so much. The story held my interest and the voice actors are phenomenal.
I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Dirty Girl Duet. Dirty Love picks up right where the jaw-dropping cliffhanger left off, and it gains steam from there. Speaking of steam, Dirty Love is aptly named. You need to have a fan, cold shower, change of panties, or something on hand because Cav speaks dirty talk fluently, and this little gem is one dirty, dirty, dirty, panty-melting read. I mentioned it’s dirty, right?
When You’re Ready is a sweet second chance romance. Clare is a widowed mother of a preschooler, Maddie. She’s doing a fantastic job raising her daughter alone, but is neglecting her needs as a woman. Logan is a successful ER doctor, but he’s rather self-loathing and is essentially sleepwalking through life instead of opening himself up to any meaningful relationships. Life changes for both of them when Clare brings Maddie into the ER one night.