Shattered Ink by Laura Wright

Shattered Ink (Wicked Ink Chronicles, #2)
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Wicked Ink #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
64 pages

This is a continuation of Addison and Rush’s love story. Rush is still in Las Vegas working at his tattoo shop and Addison is back in Cali trying to get through finals, so she can graduate. Addison is worried about what happens next for them. She’s not content to see each other for a day here and there or even on the weekends. She wants to be with him as much as possible. To see him, touch him, make love with him and wake up next to him.

Rush wants Addison to move to Las Vegas and in with him. He plans to ask her when she comes for the weekend. He hopes she feels the same way he does but he’s cautiously optimistic. He forgot that his ex is coming to town this same weekend and will be working in his shop. He tries to keep the two away from each other because he confided in his ex about what happened between he and Addison in the past.

I love this series. I just wish the books were longer. It’s a series a very short novellas. I adore the characters and I admit I’m a little in love with Rush. He’s a very sexy character. He’s got a filthy mind and a filthy mouth. Both are things I absolutely adore. This kind of wraps up their story and the next book is about Vince and Lisa! I look forward to it and all the wonderfully filthy sex scenes and dialogue that I’m sure will come with it!

                      


Knock Out by Michele Mannon

Knock Out
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.

As Natural As Breathing by Thianna D.

As Natural As Breathing
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Series-All They Ever Needed #1
Genre-Contemporary, m/m, BDSM, domestic discipline
Reviewed by Kate
215 pages

Christian returns from the Middle East with more than just scars and a bum leg. He’s dealing with depression and questioning his sexuality. Logan is definitely out of the closet and home from college on Christmas break. Both his parents and his good friend Kelli ask him to look out for Christian and see if Logan can’t help him figure some things out.
 
I really liked both Logan and Christian’s characters. They were deep and complex and together they we so good. Despite being in college, Logan really knows who he is. While a few years older, Christian is struggling with his “damaged” self. When they get together, the relationship is sweet and tender and spicy and hot.
 
As much as I liked Christian and Logan, I was bothered by the secondary characters. Logan’s parents are so easy going and accepting. And open…about everything. No kid needs to know that much about their parents’ sex life if you ask me. I couldn’t help but imagine Logan’s parents as Ward and June Cleaver. Christian was so sure that his parents would hate him if he announced that he was gay that when he finally came out (in a very big way) their reaction was a bit of a disappointment. Sad to say, but I was almost relieved when one of the characters actually had a problem with Christian being gay.
 
A few things I want to mention:
1. This is the first book in a same-couple trilogy. So while it has a happy-for-now ending, we know there are more trials ahead for Christian and Logan,
 2. The blurb mentions domestic discipline. While it is discussed in this book, there is no actual practice shown on the pages (although it does appear that it will be a bigger part of the plot in the 2nd book), and
 3. The BDSM doesn’t go beyond spanking with bare hand and implements.
 
I found this read enthralling and heartfelt. I can’t wait to see what happens to Logan and Christian next.
I’ve never been a huge fan of same-couple series, but it’s reads like this one that just might make me change my mind. Do you have any same-couple series that you would recommend?