Naked by Megan Hart

Naked
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Alex Kennedy #2
Reviewed by Kay

Alex Kennedy is a successful business man who falls in love with Olivia Mackey. Olivia is a photographer. Alex is wealthy and Olivia is average I would say as regards to her career. Both characters are described as beautiful people on the outside but deeply scarred on the inside.

I gave this an average rating because it was hard for me to put down how I felt about it. Alex is what I would describe as a bisexual. He has at least two encounters with different men in the beginning of this book. He meets Olivia at a holiday party of one of his ex-lover’s homes. Olivia finds him attractive but sees one of his liaisons in action. See, Olivia’s ex-fiancee is gay. The wedding was cancelled and Olivia was made out to be the bad guy. She was totally fooled by him and it broke her heart. She has managed to stay friends with him for years. Alex is kind of a force of nature and for part of the book a total jerk.

I liked some parts of the book a lot. It was just different from the other romance novels I read. Megan Hart reminds me of a mix of Jaci Burton and Jodi Picoult. Both of these women are fantastic authors but I prefer to read romance without a lot of sorrow and suffering. Alex had a previous relationship with a married couple which I didn’t care for. Olivia tries to decide what religion she wants to embrace, what her status is in her child’s life is and the concerns that come from being in an inter-racial romance. All in all this is a good book but just not my cup of tea.

Unleashed by Cherrie Lynn

Unleashed (Ross Siblings, #1)
Grade-C+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Ross Siblings #1
Reviewed by Kay

Evan Ross is a prosecuting attorney who works very hard to represent his clients. He’s a genuinely good guy. Not to mention he’s very handsome and comes from money. He has had two best friend’s in his life, Todd and Kelsey. He introduced them back when he was in college with Kelsey. Todd was his best friend from his youth. This introduction led to Todd and Kelsey getting married. Evan moved on and got engaged to Courtney. The two couples maintained a friendship and did things together.

Eight years later and six months before Evan’s wedding he gets a phone call from a hysterical Kelsey saying she just walked in on Todd and Courtney having sex. From then on life was a whirlwind. Todd and Kelsey’s divorce and his break-up with Courtney. Due to the hurt feelings of them both, Evan and Kelsey didn’t speak for a while.

These two friends get reconnected and begin their friendship again. Evan has a two week trip to Hawaii he has to use or lose it. It was supposed to be his honeymoon gift from his parents. He asks Kelsey if she wants to go with him. She’s a little weary of it but decides to go.

This story was sweet and touching. Two people who have healed or are trying to heal over the pain of the past. It was nice to see their friendship grow into love. You get to see the past from both points of view. It’s a moving read about acceptance and forgiveness, not only of others but of one’s self.

Comfort Reads

Wild Card
Grade-A+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series-Elite Ops #1
Reviewed by Kay

Noah Blake is a trained killer. Nothing else exists for him now. He’s part of a team of elite operatives from different fields and different countries. Sabella Malone is a widow and she’s in big trouble by homeland terrorists. She doesn’t know that though, she’s just trying to move on with her life. She desperately still loves and misses her husband. He is the love of her life.

This story wraps up the Tempting SEALs series and spawns the Elite Ops series. Noah goes into protect Bella and gather information regarding the terrorist cell. Their attraction is blistering and so heartfelt. They both deal with their issues regarding the past.

Characters from the Tempting SEAL series return and help the Elite Op characters. The best of both worlds in my opinion. This is the absolute best novel by Lora Leigh. She hit her stride with this story. I felt every emotion while reading this book. This a tremendous story of second chances for a couple that deserves and needs it. It is also about forgiveness, acceptance, self-redemption and most importantly love. When I finished this novel, my heart was full.