Review of Baller Made (Bad Boy Ballers #3) by Rie Warren

“You own me…”

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Book Length (Est.): 294 Pages

Book Description/Synopsis:  

Bad Boy Ballers series finale! Includes an epic novella length epilogue for Rafe and Peyton, Brooklyn and Delaney, and Calder and Reggie!

The dark horse of the NFL. A superstar showgirl on the Vegas strip. Their desire is taboo in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.

Calder Malone. Black sheep. Bad boy. Kicked off the Reno Ravens and almost suspended from the NFL. The sexy center remains a fan favorite now that he’s playing for Carolina Crush. And what Calder wants more than anything is to prove his worth to the team that’s his last chance, the family he disgraced, and the one woman he fell in love with years ago.

Unfortunately the comeback kid isn’t a boy anymore, and the babe he wants was never his for the taking—for reasons that make him question his sanity.

Reggie isn’t just a Vegas showgirl, a pretty face. She’s an Air Force widow, a strong woman who’s piecing her life back together . . . And maybe the man she always thought was out of her league and completely off-limits just became fair game.

Off the field and offstage, what happens when Calder and Reggie don’t stay in Vegas?

Jennifer’s Review: 

*I received an ARC of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Calder had his life spiral out of control, but has been doing everything to get it under control and get his career back on track. He does everything he can to prove to his new team, the Carolina Crush, that he’s worth the risk they took on him. His career is going good. His personal life…not so much.

Reggie was Calder’s childhood best friend. He wanted more, but was too shy to ever go there. Unfortunately his brother had no problem making the first move on her. He got to stand by and watch the love of his life marry his brother. And then he got to watch as his brother’s continued deployments wore on her. In the end, when his brother was killed in action he couldn’t stand by and watch her pain. His thoughts were always for more and with him gone they felt more wrong than normal so he distanced himself from everyone, throwing himself into his career.

Reggie is a Vegas showgirl, and damn good at her job. She’s worked very hard to get where she is and when the Carolina Crush show up to celebrate a victory she’s excited to see Calder. What he doesn’t know is that she’s seen the glimpses he’s given her over the years and she knows he’s interested, but at the same time she knows he probably would never do anything out of respect for his brother. She’ll set her mind and nothing will stop her from proving to him and herself that they are meant to be together. And she’ll give up everything to do so.

“What am I to you then?”

“Mine.”

Calder is sweet, but kind of lost. Reggie is strong-willed, but hesitant. And they’re completely perfect for each other.

Baller Made is a second chance romance of sorts. Life may have taken Calder and Reggie on two different paths, but in the end it’ll lead them right to where they were meant to be.

I absolutely loved how Reggie kept teasing Calder with sexual innuendos. Once she started down the path she didn’t waiver that’s for sure.

“Hey, I’ve got more skills than you know about.” He took the seat across from me with a bold wink.

“Oh yeah? Maybe I’ll need more demonstrations in the future.” Tucking into the simple but tasty fare after a good dousing of hot sauce, I realized how hungry I was.

“Are you flirting with me, Reggie?”

“Would you mind if I was?”

He slowly shook his head. “It’s just…you never…”

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

 

 

Advertisements

Indie Author vs Book Reviewer: an inside peek

As both an indie author and book reviewer/blogger I have a little insight into the world of book reviews. I only began reviewing books after I realized how bogged down reviewers were. After becoming one I can now see how it’s easy to wait a few months before someone has time to squeeze in reading one of my books.

Indie authors pour their passions into pages they hope someone will want to read. We want to share our stories with the world. We spend countless hours writing, researching, and sometimes staring at blank screens. We think typing ‘The End’ on that last page is it, the final step, when in reality it’s just the beginning. Then comes the editing, the formatting, the decision on where to sell it, and then begins the endless quest for reviewers. I don’t know why we think there’s a simple way to do that last step. There honestly isn’t. Every reviewer has their own separate guidelines, each email has to be personalized, and it is a very daunting task.

What indie authors don’t realize? Book reviewers don’t get paid for their services. We take time out of our days, away from our jobs and away from our families to help. Yes, there are many reasons in which reviewers do this. Some enjoy the free books. I mean who wouldn’t; books can get expensive if you enjoy reading. Some like to help. Reviews are a vital point in a books success and some enjoy doing their part. The reasons can be endless.

I do occasionally ramble, but my point is this…

Indie authors, you’ve spent the time turning your book into its final product, now take the extra time to follow each and every reviewer’s guidelines in requesting a review. I never realized the importance of this until I became a reviewer, but we have guidelines because it makes it easier on us. I get 5-20 requests a day for reviews and if the guidelines haven’t been followed then the email will automatically be deleted. In essence you wasted your time by not doing it correctly and it saddens me at how often that occurs.

Jennifer 

 

Review of The Bonding (Tribe Warrior #1) by Imogen Keeper

“The bond makes it too confusing. I don’t know what’s real.”

 

Genre: Science Fiction, Erotic Romance

Book Length (Est.): 254 pages

Book Description/Synopsis:

He must choose – her life – or his freedom.

Tam is brutal. Hard. Uncompromising. Resigned to a lifetime alone. Until he finds a woman frozen in space, suffering from a deadly disease. There’s only one way to save her – to Bond her to him for life with his mind, his body, and his serum.

She must choose – her people – or his love.

When her planet is invaded by alien slavers, Nissa launches into space in a cryo-pod in a desperate search for help. Tam may be her savior, but their future is not meant to be.

In a universe at war, Nissa and Tam battle their dangerous addiction and their own stubborn hearts. Their strange part-chemical, part-mystical Bonding brought them together – and just might be what tears them apart.

READER ADVISORY: Graphic sexual content and language. No fade to black here! Including one attempted attack on the heroine.

Jennifer’s Review:

*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Nissa was set to be queen, but aliens took over her planet killing and enslaving most of her people leaving them no choice but to evacuate in hopes of finding help. She’d expected to be found much sooner than the almost 500 years it took. Her planet was not anything like it was when she’d left and neither were her people, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to help them.

Tam was a warrior from a place where illness took almost all of their females so when he finds one floating in a pod in space he’s mesmerized. When he’s forced to bond with her in order to save her life he’s torn between not being able to give her a choice and being overly enthusiastic at the possibility that he’ll have a mate.

It’s been a long time since I had to force myself to finish a book, but I kept waiting for something to make me change my mind about the story. First, the bonding is a completely odd thing based on Tam’s semen. It basically addicts Nissa to it and therefore they have to “bond” every few hours, which gets very old very fast. Second, the drinks are coffee and vodka spelled backwards (eeffoc and akdov) and truthfully I may not have even noticed if it wasn’t for the fact that every time either is used it’s written in italic. And lastly, there was finally a little bit of suspense toward the end, but when it switches to Tam’s POV it gave it all away and ending any hope of a big ta-da kind of finish.

 *Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

Review of Resilient (True Brothers MC#3) by Gillian Archer

“The love of the right woman makes life worth living. Nothing else matters. Nothing.”

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Length (Est.): 233 pages

Book Description/Synopsis:  

 

Every loner needs a family—and a heart to call home. The bad-boy bikers of the True Brothers MC make good as a strong, silent type shows the right woman that he can speak the language of love.

With her lowlife father in prison for manslaughter, Nicole Walker keeps her distance from the biker scene—until she meets the stud running security at her best friend’s wedding. “Tank” is big, mean, and trouble from every direction. Yet Nicole can’t take her eyes off his chiseled body, or deny the pure electricity she feels when he returns her gaze. Guys like Tank are supposed to be a one-way ride to heartbreak. So why, after a scorching night in his bed, does Nicole only want more?

From his tour in the Marines to his sister’s disastrous marriage, Tank has seen the worst that life has to offer. Ever since his father’s death, Tank’s been fiercely protective of his family—and the True Brothers have always had his back. But nothing could prepare him for a woman like Nicole, who’s determined to break down the walls around his heart. When violence strikes, placing Nicole in harm’s way, Tank digs deep to find the courage to keep her safe—and the strength to love without limits.

Mindy’s Review: 

*I received this book free from Via Netgalley from Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept in exchange for an honest review.

Resilient is the third book in the True Brothers  MC series. I really enjoyed Nicole and Tank’s story.

Nicole hates bikers. With her best friend marring one she has to keep her mouth shut sometimes. Her dad was part of a MC while she was growing up and things did not end well for her family. While at the wedding she cannot keep her eyes off of a stunning man that just screams danger. She knows that he is part of the True Brothers MC but her body is screaming to touch him.

Tank is a former Marine that joined the True Brothers MC to keep brotherhood in his life. He would do anything for his club. What he was not prepared for was his feeling for Nicole. She walks right into his world and knocks down all of his walls.

The chemistry between Tank and Nicole is scorching. I love how he can be a strong man when he needs to be and also be gentle when it comes to Nicole.

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

 

 

Review of Undone (The Monroe Family #6) by Nicole Dykes

“And I was afraid we were going to be boring and normal”

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Length (Est.):

Book Description/Synopsis:  

Sex with a good friend, no strings attached, no commitments. Sounds great, right?
Wrong. So wrong.
We thought we had beat the system. That we could be the friends that go into it eyes wide open with no delusions, but everyone else was right. That can’t work. Someone always falls.
And now we have to deal with the consequences.

*Undone is part 2 of Alex and Shriller’s story. It is highly recommended that you read Unraveled first.

***Mature content. Not recommended for anyone under 18

 

Mindy’s Review: 

*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Alex and Shriller are finally back to continue their story. YAY!!

If you read Unraveled you know that Alex and Shriller thought they could beat the odds. Sex with a friend with no strings attached. This story picks up right where Unraveled left off (Yes, we all remember the cliffhanger).

Shriller has been gone for five months trying to get back into his racing career. He has not talked to any of his family back home because everything reminds him of Alex. Jax shows up at his house and gives him the third degree for forgetting his family and demands he comes home for the holidays.

Alex is trying to move on and has started dating Chris. They have a great relationship. He really is a nice guy and you kind of feel for him in this story. But Alex knows that her heart and body are made for Shriller. Once he finally comes back into town she has a hard time forgiving him for leaving and becomes crazy mad every time he is around.

I really love this story. You can feel the hurt, sadness, love and family vibe as you are reading the pages. There were times I had to scream and cry. I think Nicole did an awesome job on this and giving the readers some closure. Alex and Shriller are meant to be together.

 

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

Review of Correlation of Fate (The Outlier Prophecies #6) by Tina Gower

“I’m yours. I’ll say it over and over until you believe it.”

 

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Suspense

Book Length (Est.): 305 Pages

Book Description/Synopsis:

The accidental death case of a woman hanging upside-down is the last thing Kate Hale wants on her plate. Too close to the tampered cases she’s had to deal with from the fall out of the anti-fate groups of New Karma and Wyrd. Too risky with her ex, Kyle Dillingham, at her heels. And is her partner Ian Becker ready for the challenge? Or is it Kate that’s unable to accept her own unpredictable future?

But when the case reveals more questions that connect it to her real target, finding out what happened to the elusive Michelle Kitman, Kate can’t resist cracking it open and coming clean to her pack. Even if it means she’s playing right into her enemy’s plan and fulfilling the Outlier Prophecy.

Jennifer’s Review:

 *I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*

With a pack baby on the way things are getting more domesticated around the house. It also means there’s more trouble brewing on the horizon. Lucky for Kate Hale and Ian Becker that they’ve developed more connections along the way than they realize and it’s through those  connections that everything will come to an end.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Kate and Ian’s story and although there are more stories to come this pretty much brought everything mystery to conclusion. The only issue I have is that the suspense didn’t build as well as I’d have hoped, but the bad guy finally gets caught and the house is officially a pack house with everyone settling into their rightful roles.

There will be a full length standalone Kate and Becker mystery in the future along with Ali Hale’s story. So if you don’t want the series to end there will be more coming don’t worry.

 *Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.

Review of Unraveled (The Monroe Family #5) by Nicole Dykes

”Nah, you think I’m sexy. You totally want to do me.”

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book Length (Est.): 328 pages

Book Description/Synopsis:  

Shriller

I have everything I could possibly want. My career is at an all-time high, I have a hot, low maintenance girlfriend, and a group of friends that have become my family. Then it all comes crashing down and I’m forced to rely on that group to get me through. In particular, my friend Alex who I’ve known for half my life. Hopefully I can get out of this with our friendship and my balls still intact.

Alex

I finally have it all together. I’m engaged to an actual adult, instead of waiting around for my usual immature type of guy to commit. I own my own salon and live close to my best friend and her growing family. Then I get a phone call stating that my longtime friend had an accident and everything starts to unravel. Now it’s up to me to get him through this mess while keeping everything I’ve worked so hard to get.

*Unraveled is a New Adult Romance novel that contains mature content and is not suitable for anyone under 18.

 

Mindy’s Review: 

*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Shriller lives on the edge. When a crash puts his career on hold he unwillingly goes back home to recover. He grew up with a bunch of friends that have now become family. Now that he is back in Kansas City going through surgery and recovery he is staying with his friend Alex. He has known Alex since they were both kids.

Alex is a strong woman that does not put up with anything. At least that is what all her friends think. She is engaged to a man that is trying to make partner at his firm. Alex is blind to the fact that her finance is trying to change everything about her. That is until Shriller tells her and gets very upset about it. When Alex finally opens her eyes, she realizes what is going on and breaks off the relationship. And who is home to catch her when she falls? Yep, the sexy Shriller! 

Things get heated quick with Shriller and Alex. They have known each other for so long that they are scared to damage their friendship. They promise each other that all will be fine and they can stop at any time. Well, we all know how this goes. The sex is incredible and then the jealousy sets in and then one realizes they have strong feelings for the other. This is exactly what happens. But with a twist. Shriller has never wanted to settle down and he realizes that he is in love with Alex. The one thing he promised Alex was they could go back to normal and he might just have to break this promise.

I decided I was going to read this at work. (I know, shame on me) Once I started I had a really, really hard time putting this down. I was so into this story I failed to realize I was nearing the end. And when it ended I literally screamed at my kindle. I need more!! Yes, this book is that good!!

I am so ready to see where Shriller and Alex go from here.

 

*Clicking on the book cover above will take you to the Amazon purchase page.