Love In Straight Sets by Rebecca Crowley

          

           

Grade-A-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
159 pages

Regan is the resident diva of the tennis world.  She's gone through coaches faster than Augustus Gloop ate his way through the Wonka factory.  She's planning on retiring soon, but wants one last win.  A big one.  At the Baron's Open.  Enter Ben, a one-hit wonder who won the Baron's Open years ago and then disappeared from the tennis courts.  He's agreed to coach Regan and she's agreed not to fire him.  Both Regan and Ben are drawn to each other, but his job hinges on his ability to keep his hands off Regan, and his sister's safety depends on him keeping his job.

The world of sports romance is dominated by MMA, football, baseball, and hockey men.  And while I enjoy a good sports romance every once in a while, I'm kind of tired of the same-old, same-old.  How many big, buff guys running around the football field or sparring in the ring can you really read about?  The fact that this one is about a tennis playing female was such a refreshing change of pace.

These are characters that I quickly fell in love with.  Regan wasn't just an outright bitch.  You get to see what's under the surface that makes her a character you root for. I loved that Ben saw right through Regan's diva act.  He didn't put up with her crap at all and saw through to the vulnerability underneath.  They both have their moments of stupidity that made me just want to yell at them, especially Ben.  But if those moments hadn't been there I would probably be complaining that they were too perfect.

My only complaint...I would have appreciated more sex in this one.  There's no sex until 84% into the story and then we only get one scene.  Honestly though, the story was so engaging that I didn't realize that I was already that far into the story.

I absolutely loved this one.  It's the first book that I've read by Rebecca Crowley, but I've already added some of her back list to my TBR pile.  This one is definitely worth reading.

Mine by Katy Evans

 

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Real #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
336 pages

Mine. The title really does say it all. All the feelings that these two characters have for each other. You get the beautiful continuation of Brooke and Remy's love story that's never an easy road. It starts a little while after the first book, Real, ended, when Brooke comes back to Remy.

Remy is training for his rematch with the man who hurt the people he cares about. I love Remy exactly the way he his: dedicated, loving, so very alpha (complete with growling), sexy and flawed. I love Brooke for her capacity of love and her own imperfections.

"We're the object of each other's hurt and each other's solace."- Brooke

Finding a way to forgive each other and themselves for not being what they felt the other needed them to be was a big issue here. You know they love one another, that's evident throughout the whole story.

"You are going to love me until I die. I'm going to make you love me even if it hurts, and when it hurts, I'm going to make it better, Brooke."- Remy

"I want to live in you."-Remy

Remy is such a passionate creature. He feels everything as if it's magnified and given his condition, maybe it is.

"I've been through hell, and I'm back in heaven and suddenly I know that's the way my life will be. After the dark, I will always, always find my light- which is him."- Brooke

When I reviewed the first book in the series, I said it wasn't a conventional romance. I think that when a person is in love with someone who is bipolar there's no way their love can be conventional. The man in this book copes with his illness as best he can and the woman in this story, his woman, loves him because of his illness not just in spite of it. Katy Evans, what a wonderful love story you gave us!

Playing To Win by Shelley Munro

        

Grade-D
Hotness Level-Blaze?
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
228 pages

This was not at all what I expected from Shelley Munro.

A rugby player finds out he has a son he didn't know about and sets out to confront the boy's mother. When he meets her, he finds out that the mom isn't his biological mother but his aunt. His son' s mother died years earlier and his aunt adopted him. Lane, the hero and Kate, the heroine try to figure out sure paternity and who leaked the story to the tabloids. They are also try to figure out the dynamic of this new family and who is stalking Kate and why.

I really did not care for this book. I found it tedious and boring. Do not even get me started on the love scenes. They were pretty much sleep inducing. It wouldn't recommend this to someone who likes graphic love scenes but maybe to those who like a simple romance.

Obsession by Jennifer Lyon

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Plus One Chronicles #3
Genre-Contemporary/Romantic Suspense
171 pages

This is the conclusion to the Plus-One Chronicles.

At the end of the last book, Sloane had just confessed his secret to Kat, knowing he would likely lose her. But she had made him promise earlier to never lie to her, so he kept this promise. Kat being Kat, chose to love him anyway but hoped he'd change his mind on the revenge he had planned for Lee Foster.

We got to find out if David was involved and if so, how. That closure went well, I thought. Kellen and Diego moved into their own house but were still around for Kat. Kat made a decision regarding the futures of her and Sugar Dancer. Kat and Sloane's relationship with Drake was beautiful and by the end of the book I was sobbing.

I really liked this series. Good characters and plot. Plus hot sex, what more could you want? Everything tied up nicely. Slaone realized he wasn't his mother's son, he got his closure for Sara, accepted Drake as the father of his heart and that Kat was his only one not a plus-one. I will definately read more by Jennifer Lyon.

Possession by Jennifer Lyon

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Plus-One Chronicles
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
148 pages

This is a continuation of Sloane Michaels and Kat Thayne's story. She's a baker and he's a self made wealthy man. He's also a former MMA champion. He agrees to help Kat train in self defense because of her past. A past she can't fully remember.

In this book, she and Sloane continue to explore their plus-one relationship. They are both falling for each other and realizing that that they're more than their plus-one. Sloan tries to do things for her monetarily and she's having none of that. As her memories start to clear she realizes that her mugging wasn't truly a mugging but not enough to clearly say what happened. This book ends with her finding out about a secret Sloan is keeping. A secret that could destroy their relationship.

Honestly, this book was a little disappointing to me. Not a lot went on and it was at times, boring. I'll finish the series because I want to know how it all shakes out.

Wicked Games by Jill Myles

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Games #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
231 pages

Being a fan of Survivor, I didn't know if I'd like this book. The premise is the same as Survivor, so are the challenges and the weather conditions. Even the location in this book was on Survivor. That being said, I did enjoy the book.

Dean is an Olympic medal swimmer who wants to win this game show. Not for the money but for the title. Abby is a writer/reporter who was forced by her boss to step in after another contestant bowed out. She was in fear for her job and was offered a book deal if she played the game. She reluctantly agreed to do it. She and Dean end up paired together and one thing leads to another.

I really enjoyed both main characters. They were funny and likeable. The story was fast paced and I totally bought into their love story. Dean's journal entries were heartwarming. His love for Abby was so obvious but because of her self esteem issues, it was hard for her to truly believe. I enjoy Jill Myles when she wries as Jessica Clare. She does a great job with this novella length story. There's humor, emotion and hot sex. If you are a Survivor fan you'll really enjoy this one.

Knock Out by Michele Mannon

Grade-C+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Worth The Fight #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
167 pages

This book is actually more of a three and a half star book for me.

Keane O'Shea is a MMA fighter who is also ex-military. A Marine to be précise. He a big bear of a man in size and temperament. He fights not for the joy but for the release of energy and stress. He also has sex for the release but also because he likes sex. What man doesn't? His sex life is uncomplicated because there's no strings attached. The rest of his life is very complicated though. He has PTSD that he refuses to get treatment for. He's guilt ridden over the death of his best friend and he's surly at best most of the time.

Logan Rettino is a former ballerina still trying to pay off her medical bills. Her fiancé and dance partner dropped her during a performance and she broke her ankle. This injury ruined her career and her fiancé stole money from their accounts that she alone earned. She's been insulted by him through the media relentlessly. She's taken a job as a an Octagon Girl, she carries the cards that announce the upcoming rounds. Because of the humiliation of her injury being made public, people recognize her. She has success at being a Octagon Girl and only needs a few more paychecks to help her open her own dance school. Her boss is a wretch of a man. A surprise kiss starts a media frenzy between her and O'Shea. She's given an ultimatum by her boss that involves O'Shea or she's loses her job.

This was a good, solid read. It did seem a little long at times but was good overall. I enjoyed Logan as a character and she had a good heart. Keane O'Shea is a different animal altogether. This man is in real emotional pain which makes me less than pleasant. The love story was slow building but ended well. The sex was great when it finally happened but you did have to wait for it. I haven't researched to find out if this is a series yet but I would probably read more from this author.

Free Agent by Roz Lee

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Genre-Contemporary/BDSM
Series-Mustangs Baseball #0.5
Reviewed by Kay
65 pages

Todd is a Major League Baseball player with the Dallas Mustangs. He thinks he needs more money and a better deal for his future. He likes his teammates and the city but feels it's ran its course. He is also a Dom, something most people don't know. He's also become bored with the usual subs he's been around. He hardly goes out much less to his Dungeon of choice. One of his friends talks him into going to the Dungeon one night and he sees Brooke.

Brooke is a successful bakery business owner in Dallas. She also knows she's a sub. She wants a relationship with the right Dom. She sees Todd from across the room and brings herself off in front of him. Then she abruptly leaves the club. This starts a cat and mouse game that changes both of them.

This is a short story of two people who find exactly what there looking for in each other. I liked it but didn't love it. A little too heavy on the BDSM stuff for me but it was a freebie so I took a chance. I would read more by this author and this series.

Blue Lines by Toni Aleo

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Assassins #4
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay

Piper Allen loves Erik Titov. She has wanted him for a long time. She knows the kind of man he is. He's a womanizer through and through. She can't seem to get over him, maybe because she sees him constantly. Being that he is her brother-in-law's brother, it adds to the trickiness of her feelings. Then one night, they go home together from a bar and have wild hot sex. She never hears from him again. Then she realizes she's late and takes a test where it comes up blue lines or positive. She tried to get a hold of him but he never called her back. So at six months pregnant she goes to his home and drops the news on him.

I really liked so much about this book. I loved the depth of Piper's love for Erik. I loved seeing the characters from the other books. I loved Erik's parents. I loved the fluidity of the writing. My big problem was Erik. He was a complete douche bag. On every level. So very selfish and cruel. Through almost 90% of the book I felt he was beyond redemption. Really. I truly wanted Piper to move on from him. I know his backstory and as horrific as it was, I just couldn't handle his cruelty. It kept this book from being a five star read for me. I don't think I have ever read almost a whole book hating the main character. When I was done reading, I only barely liked him.

Toni Aleo is my favorite new author of the past year. I love her books and can't wait to read them. She wrote an almost completely beyond redemption lead male character and made you at least like him. She is a true writing talent and an auto-read for me. Her books are always a bit of an emotional roller coaster, which I love. The acknowledgement section at the end of the book broke my heart. I'm so very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Aleo as I am also a motherless daughter.

Throwing Heat by Jennifer Seasons

                     

Grade-C

Hotness Level-Blaze

Kink Level-No Kink

Series-Diamonds and Dugouts #3

Genre-Contemporary

Reviewed by Kay

100 pages

 

 

This is the third installment in Jennifer Seasons' Diamond and Dugouts series.

Leslie Cutter has always had horrible taste in men. One knocked her up in her teen years, one ruined her name by embezzlement and the latest is a player on and off the field. He's also her brother's best friend and the starting pitcher for the Denver Rush. The book starts off years ago in Miami after her ex leaves the country after the embezzlement fiasco. After a drunken night, she and Peter Kowalskin have a sexual encounter, not full blown but an encounter nonetheless.
Peter can't go through with it and leaves, causing an already insecure woman to doubt herself even more.

Peter is battling his own demons. He is retiring at the end of the season due to a degenerative eye disease and he wants a World Series win to go with it. He regrets not sleeping with Leslie years ago in Miami and wants another chance with her. He offers his place to stay after the building he owns that she lives in has a flood. He makes a wager with her. He will play guitar at the nightclub she manages and help her buy it if she can NOT sleep with him until after Halloween. Leslie jumps at the chance because this is her opportunity at self redemption. She can't lose, right?

I thought this was a cute read. A lot of sexual chemistry and sexy scenes. Only one full blown one though, which was disappointing. There were very good secondary characters and I hope they all have a book. My only complaint was that I wished it was as hot as Jaci Burton's sports series.

                      

One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Play-by-Play #6
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
309 pages

Gray Prescott races cars for a living and had made himself a very wealthy man. He has a group of best friends, loves his mother and sister, but he really hates his politician father. The two have been estranged for over a decade. When his father makes a bid for the White House, Gray finds himself back in his father's life.

Evelyn Hill is an aide for Gray's father and she is assigned to help him get votes from Gray's fan base. She wants a future in politics and this job will help with that. She just has to find a way to get this father and son back on speaking terms.

I love this series and I have been anticipating reading Gray's story since we met him in Garrett's book. I liked both of the characters but all the scenes having to do with Evelyn's political stuff just wore me slick. I was bored with it and that upsets me because I'm a HUGE Jaci Burton fan. I did enjoy the reconciliation between father and son. It was heart warming. And speaking of warm, the love scenes in this book were frequent and blistering which I do love so much. I will continue to read these books but I hope the next one is engrossing.