Three Weeks With A Bull Rider by Cat Johnson

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Series-Oklahoma Nights #3
Genre-Contemporary Western
Reviewed by Kay
320 pages

I love cowboy romances whether they're contemporary or historical. I love the rodeo cowboy storyline and find it very interesting since I don't know the first thing about it. The risks they take with their bodies, their relationships and their families. That being said, I was super excited to read this book.

Jace Mills is a veteran rodeo cowboy on a somewhat of a winning streak. He's fairly successful because of his winnings and his normal job of landscaping. He has been in an on-again off-again relationship with his ex-girlfriend for eight years. She was a former rodeo queen who we find out is bipolar. To say their relationship was tumultuous is an understatement. He wants his best friend, Tuck to go on the circuit with him but Tuck declines because of his newlywed status. So after yet another fight with his ex, Jacqueline, he decides to go alone and ends their relationship, again. He runs into Tuck's little sister, Tara after her recently purchased POS car dies.

Tara is in the last semester of college for sports medicine but has to do an internship with the rodeo. She's nursing a broken heart after her long time crush gets married to someone else. She sees her car breaking down as yet another setback in her life. When Jace offers to travel with her to save on expenses, she reluctantly accepts. They've always had a hate/hate relationship but you gotta do what you gotta do.

As times goes on she gets to see Jace in a different light and gets the medical experience she needs. She then comes up with the idea that she and Jace can have a traveling partners with benefits relationship. After it's over, they can go their seperate ways. She can get the sexual experience she feels she needs so she doesn't lose another man and he gets strings free sex. Jace is at first horrifed. There are lines that just aren't crossed and your best friend's sisters are definately that line. His body's reaction to Tara makes the decision for him ultimately. Seducing and being seduced by your best friend's virginal sister takes it's toll on his conscience. Can these two very unlikely people find happiness for three weeks while trying to move on from their heartbreaks?

Cat Johnson does a great job of writing these two characters. You feel Jace's pain over the failure of his relationship with Jacqueline, the first woman he ever loved. His sense of guilt over the decision to become Tara's lover is felt through the pages. Jace is a good guy. Tara tries to prove she's grown up despite the loss of her childhood crush. This story takes two people, broken in their own way, who find in each other what they need to heal. The author did an excellent job with the balancing of story, humor, sex and love.

My favorite line from the book:

Jace's sex life had been in such a slump, he wouldn't be able to identify a pussy in a line up.

Withstanding Me by Crystal Spears

       

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

I had to read some other reviews to see if people felt the same way I did about this book. I found out several people did feel the same way I did. There's plenty of chaos here, violence, steamy sex scenes and filthy mouths.

ZZ aka Zig Zag aka Mason is another member of the Breakneck MC. He lives that lifestyle to the fullest. He takes care of his family despite his daughter's attempts to constantly test his patience and sanity. He balances this well enough but his focus is distracted because of Storm. Storm is a former sex slave that the MC rescued. She works for the Prez's wife and is enrolled in school for a business degree.

ZZ wants to take her to bed so bad but she rejects him at every turn. You see, she wants more. More than he is willing to offer her right now. She tells him he's gonna fall in love one day and it's gonna be with her. He insists that he has no desire to be a one woman man. She tries to date and he blows a gasket. He even runs her date off. You have all the elements of a Crystal Spears' book but it felt kind of scaled down. It wasn't as emotionally engaging as Seize me. It was emotional but not as much. It wrapped up some ends and opened more story arcs for this continuing series. I'm very invested in what goes on from here on out but I want the same intensity as Seize Me.

I hope that in the next book there is some of that but am scared because of Shadow being a sadist. That is one of my very least favorite story lines but I'm gonna trust her not to disappoint. Spears writes really badass heroines so Tatiana is going to be fun to read about and I await a release date.

Tempting Trouble by Savannah Stuart

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
94 pages

This book had two short stories in it. The first one is the longer of the two.

First story: Tempting the Witness

Madison Dubois is a witness to an attempted murder and after going to the police, she goes to the house of her brother's best friend, Rafe Jackson. Rafe is a police officer and the object of her desires.

Finding madison hiding at his house is unnerving for him but he's really just grateful she's safe. He arranges for her to stay with him until the case was solved.

This was a cute and hot little story. It had all the elements: attraction, suspense, hot sex and love.


Second story: Better Late Than Never

Randall Phillips is an architect in his father's firm and he's been waiting anfd wanting for Lindsay Taylor. Lindsay is a secretary at the same firm. She was recently injured and finally back at work.

Whe she got hurt, he took her to the hospital and waited for someone to come for her. During that wait, they share a hot kiss, a kiss Randall can't forget. Neither can Lidsay but she knows it was a mistake because they work together. Randall gives her a ride home on her first day back because he wants more. More kisses surely but more everything also.

This story was super short but okay. The sex was hot but due to the story length it was hard to get invested in the characters. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I really liked the author's voice. I would definately read more by her. This book was classified as erotica but it was more erotic romance to me.

Unattainable by Madeline Sheehan

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Undeniable #3
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
306 pages

This time we get Cage and Tegen's story.

Cage is the heir to the MC throne for the Hell's Horsemen. He's so much like his dad it's not even funny. His drinking and whoring definitely rival his father's. He has always taken care of Tegen. He was her first true friend in the club. These two grew up together and Tegen fell in love with him at age eight and never fallen out of it. Cage is a hot guy, very very hot. Women love him and he takes full advantage of that they have to offer. Over and over again. He has issues with his father because of his childhood and they slowly fester.

Tegen being raised in the club was a horrible thing truly. Her mother was a club whore but only to one biker in particular. She watched her mother love someone who in my opinion never truly loved her. This has taken a toll on both mother and daughter. After high school, Tegen moves to San Francisco to start her career and get over Cage. His selfish and callous ways have hurt her far too much. She isn't happy, she merely exists.

When Tegen is sucked back into club life you really feel for her because you know what it will once again cost her. She may have changed her looks but she can't change who or what she is. Cage is there as usual but now he sees her in a different light. As a woman he wants. Can she handle it? This story was heartbreaking at times, just like the other stories in this wonderful series. You also get a story about Dirty and Ellie. Dirty is of course another biker within the club and Ellie is Danny's friend from high school. Dirty's story is horrific and their love story is a hot mess. But the way the author writes, just makes it precious. My big compliment on this book is that there is no cheating. Tegen is sleeping with a gut in the beginning but they weren't committed. So, yay for me.

I can't say enough about this series or it's characters or this author's writing. I'm all in and only hope I can stand it until the next book comes out!

Broken Hart by Ella Fox

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Series-The Hart Family #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
209 pages

This book was very fun to read because the hero had a filthy mouth. I love a man with a filthy mouth.

Dante Hart is the oldest Hart sibling. He has a brother named Damien, twin sisters named Delilah and Dominique and his best friend, Spencer, who was basically raised with them. They are a very tight nit group. When Sabrina becomes his personal assisitant, the two become very good friends and start spending time with the rest of his family. Even Sabrina's sister, Brooke is included.

Sabrina has crushed on Dante for a long time but knew she wasn't his type, so she kept her feelings to herself. One night everything changes and they share a night of hot sex. Both are blown away by it. Sabrina knows to guard her heart because Dante is not a man to commit. They agree to have a sexual relationship only.

Feelings get too intense and Sabrina wants more. Dante says he can't give any more. She agrees to be a friend only then, all the while she knows she will have to quit her job because she can't watch him be with other people. We find out what happened in Dante's past to make him think he is uncapable of committment.

I don't know if I bought his reason but I was okay with it. This was a solid start to a series that I'll probably read more of. I liked all of the characters and am interested to read their stories. My only complaint was there were copious amounts of sex that kind of over shadowed the story. Oh, and butt plugs. Shudder. I'll leave you with some of my favorite lines from the book.

I'd never been with someone who talked or fucked like he did, and I didn't just like it, I loved it.

I fucking love everything you do to me Sabrina. Every. Goddamn. Thing.

The man could fuck, and I loved it.

Fighting Love by Abby Niles

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Love to the Extreme #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
352 pages

To say Tommy Sparks is down on his luck would be an understatement. He's lost his MMA title, his self respect and his house. When he was at the top of his sport, he had it all. Money, women popularity and his best friend, Julie. Due to some of his issues, he lost it all. All of it except Julie. Now he has to move in with her until the insurance pays for the losses due to his house catching on fire.

Julie has loved Tommy since she was ten years old. He was her savior then and her very best friend since. They used to sneak into each other's room at night, when their home lives became too much. She has watched an endless parade of friends and women come through Tommy's life. And still, she loves him. She so desperately wants Tommy to see her as a woman and not his "sister". When she offers him a place to stay she knows she has to be careful with her heart and feelings.

This was a great story and more emotional than I thought it would be. I felt bad for Tommy because he never thought that with his past, he'd be good enough for Julie. I really liked both characters up until the end. I thought Julie became kind of a shrew. I know she always felt second place to Tommy's fame but seriously, Julie! Calm your ass down! I will not hesitate to read the first book in this series or any others that follow. I just hope that the heroines aren't shrews.

No Strings Attached by Suzan Butler

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level- No Kink
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
250 pages

This was a great story of a pretty much lifelong friendship that slowly grew into something so much more.

Ethan is a wealthy soldier. His family has money and he is a trust fund baby. Complete with a marriage and children clause. He has been friends with Ashlynn since they were kids. They became best friends, then friends with benefits and when he had to marry, she was the logical choice. He had to marry and she needed stability for her and her son.

There was also suspense which dealt with her abusive ex-boyfriend and he kind of lifestyle he led. You were kind of on the edge of your seat waiting for him to show and cause chaos. He was a very bad guy. I was irritated with some of Ash's choice regarding her safety but watching the two of them fall for each other and their acceptance of that was wonderful to read. I will definitely read more of this author.

Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery

Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Ember
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Fool's Gold #12.5
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
336 pages

"That's the thing about love. We often get more than we deserve and isn't that incredibly wonderful?"
Yet another installment of Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold series and I fall more in love with the series every book. This one is about Noelle who runs the Christmas Attic store in town. That's right a store specializing in Christmas 365 days a year. I can't help it, it warms my heart.  Noelle was very sick in the recent past but has overcome it. She lost her mother and grandmother to a auto accident and her fiancé to her illness. She made her way to Fool's Gold and never looked back. She loves the town, townspeople, friends, her store and her home. But she wants her own HEA and watching her friends marry one by one is bittersweet
.
Gabriel Boylan is the brother of Gideon, who settled in the town a couple of years ago. Gabriel is a trauma specialist with the Army. He has worked overseas and had seen enough horror to last a lifetime. After losing his fiancé to a combat related his issue, he decides that he won't ever fall in love again because it hurts too bad to lose someone you love. He comes to his brother's house for the Christmas holiday and meets Noelle.

I so much enjoyed this book because of it's sweetness. I'll admit the ending was a little far fetched for most towns but not Fool's Gold. I can't wait for her next installment. My continued complaint regarding her separate books with this series is that the heat content is totally unacceptable.

The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Bad Boys of Crystal Lake #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
352 pages


This is the second book in this series and I didn't read the first one yet. I probably should've read them in order but honestly you don't have to.

Jake is a former Army Ranger and served in Iraq with his fraternal twin brother, Jesse. Jesse married Raine who grew up with the boys in their hometown. These three got into all kinds of trouble together in their youth. Raine's upbringing was non-traditional, so she enjoyed spending time with the boys and their parents.

When the story begins, you realize that Jesse was killed in action and Jake took a sabbatical from life. He returns home and sees Raine, his brother's widow and the only woman he has ever loved. This story is the telling of their journey to one another.

I've wanted to read the first book in this series since I read about several months ago but at almost seven dollars a book, by an author I wasn't sure about, that's just too pricey. Well, after reading this one, as far as this series is concerned, Juliana Stone is an auto-buy for me now. I loved everything about this book. The characters were so real and the emotion so heartfelt. This was so very much more than a contemporary romance.

This is a story about love and it's healing powers. It's about family and facing a loss in the family. It's about survivor's guilt and the guilt associated with loving someone else after you lose your spouse. It was a story about redemption when it was never needed and the bonds formed through friendship. It was about the acceptance of one's self, even with your faults. This was perfect for me. I just absolutely loved it!

M/M Monday - Waiting for Ty Samantha Ann King

Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/m

Series: Lovers and Friends #2
Reviewed by Anne

117 pages 

So, Ty and Landon have been best friends for a long time now.  Each wonders about making that a sexual relationship, but neither knows if the other is attracted to him.  To top it off, neither of them has ever been with a man before.  So they are each secretly lusting after the other.

 

Finally, having downed enough beers, a celebratory sports hug turns into much more.  And now they have to navigate the aftermath of that night.    Was this a one time thing?  Or something more?

 

Well, it's a romance, so of course it's something more!  This was a quick read and it was pretty good.  It was a solid story and the pacing of it was good.  I'll admit that I had a hard time keeping the guys straight sometimes.  Overall it had a good feel to it though.  it's the second in the series, but I had no problem keeping up with everyone.  The first book in the series is Sharing Hailey, and it sounded pretty good!  And I LOVE that Landon appreciates that Hailey has broken ground for him (they're siblings, if I remember right) when he thinks "He knew for a fact that introducing Hailey's menage to the family had been more complicated than introducing his relationship with Ty."

 

It was good read and I'd read this author again.

 

This was the first m/m book I read where both guys were m/m virgins.  Are there other books out there you would recommend like this?