contemporary

Ivan by Roxie Rivera

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Ivan (Her Russian Protector, #1)
Grade-C+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Her Russian Protector #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
99 pages

Erin has been solving her druggie sister’s problems for a while. Now her sister’s missing and Ivan may be the only one who can help her. But Ivan’s rumored to be a part of the Russian mob. Will Erin end up making a deal with the devil?
 
I struggled with this read a lot. I understand that Erin loved her sister more than anything else in the world. I’m just not sure that I can believe she would jump into a sexual relationship so quickly with such a shady character, especially since it wasn’t part of a deal to find her sister. Ivan was one of those heroes who is rumored to have been involved in anything and everything secretive and dirty. And I know that it is a personal preference of mine, but I have trouble falling for a hero who is/was a mob boss and drug dealer.
 
Personal preferences aside, I liked the writing. It was sharp and the plot moved quickly. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more by Roxie Rivera, but probably not more of this series.
How about you? Is there such a thing a too bad of a bad boy?

Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Hard Ink #1
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
368 pages

Nick Rixey is a former Special Forces soldier who was less than honorably discharged after a mission went terribly wrong. Half of his group was dead and the rest were left with basically nothing. He and his team know their commanding officer was responsible. He is trying to find his way in civilian life as a process server and a tattoo artist. He works with his brother, Jeremy at his tattoo parlor. One day a beautiful blond walks in asking for his help and his life will never be the same.

Becca Merritt is a nurse. She had a fight with her brother and now he’s missing. He left her instructions to find Nick Rixey to help her uncover the dangerous secrets he thinks he’s stumbled onto. Becca is unprepared for Nick. Her reaction to him is powerful and combustible but she desperately needs his help to find her brother.

This is a solid start to what I think will be a good series. I liked the characters and the suspense was good. As far as the suspense story, it’s a cliffhanger. The love story though has an HEA. The chemistry was hot and you couldn’t wait for the sex to start. The love scenes were good and steamy. I just wish they would’ve been a little hotter. Anyone who likes military romantic suspense will enjoy this new series.

                       


 

Welcome to Paradise by Rosalind James

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
Welcome to Paradise (The Kincaids, #1)
Grade-C+
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Kincaids #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
340 pages
 
The History Channel is getting ready to film its reality show America Alive: 1885. Mira and her douche of a boyfriend Scott are going to be contestants as well as Gabe, a sterling example of a hero, and his twin brother Alec. There are 16 contestants total, but the book follows the pairs of Mira and Scott and Gabe and Alec.
 
I’m a huge sucker for the reality show premise. Give me a book that takes place in or around a reality tv show and I’ll move it to the top of my TBR pile. There’s just something about them that I can’t turn down.
 
As a reader, you hate Scott right from the get-go. He’s an absolute asshat. He’s condescending and rude and arrogant and…well, you get the picture. And for me, I found myself wondering why in the world Mira was with him for any length of time.
 
Gabe, of course, is perfection personified. Although I did get a chuckle over the fact that his twin brother is described as being the hotter of the two. As a reader, you will cheer at the way Gabe treats Mira.
 
All that being said, after finishing the book I just couldn’t get excited over it. There was really nothing (apart from the reality show aspect) that stood out as being great. And I felt the conclusion was a bit soap opera-ish and over the top.
 
If you enjoy the reality show premise, then it’s probably worth checking out. Otherwise, I’d steer clear.
It’s obvious I’m a sucker for the reality-show setting. Is there a setting that you just can’t pass up?