contemporary

The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

The Christmas He Loved Her (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake, #2)
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!

Because You Are Mine by Beth Kery

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
Because You Are Mine: The Complete Novel (Because You Are Mine, #1-8)
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: High Kink
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM
Series: Because You Are Mine #1-8
Published: March 2013
Reviewed by Kate
400 pages 
 
Ian, über-richy rich Dom, is an ass.  He’s all about control.  Controlling his business, controlling his employees, controlling every aspect of his life.  He has no time or interest in love.  Francesca, sweet, innocent Francesca is a painter.  She’s won a contest to paint a painting for Ian’s newest building.  And, being this is a romance, sparks of attraction fly when they first meet.  But despite being in control of his life, Ian can’t control the way his thoughts keep returning to Francesca.  So what’s a poor controlling Dom to do?  Ian will control everything about their sexual interactions, including when their interludes will end.  He acknowledges that they will both probably get hurt, but he just can’t turn away.  In exchange, Francesca will get pleasure and experience.  But just when Ian has reached the pinnacle of asshood, you discover why he is the way he is, and you, along with Francesca, fall in love with him.
 
I don’t think I’ve ever been so enthralled by such an ass of a hero before, but I really just couldn’t stop reading.  Francesca manages to walk that fine line between submission and doormat.  The author does a good job of showing us the torment Ian faces in his relationship with Francesca.  How he’s trying to protect his heart and trying to not be a complete ass.
 
This was originally written and released in 8 separate parts.  I’m glad that I read the complete novel, because I can’t imagine having to wait for the next installment to be released.  I’m not of huge fan of serialization as I tend to get sucked in and end up spending too much time and money on the whole series.
 
Do you have any serializations to recommend?  Are you a fan of the format or not?

Protecting What’s His by Tessa Bailey

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Protecting What's His (Line of Duty, #1)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink-Level-No Kink
Series-Line of Duty #1
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
273 pages

Quote of the book for me- “Let me clear. I want you underneath me in my bed. I want to be buried inside you so deep I have to remind you of your own name. And I want those motherfuckers leering at you from the other side of the bar to smell me on you for a week afterward.”

Derek is a lieutenant in the Chicago P.D. who is a bit of a control freak. Ginger comes from a very troubled background. They end up being neighbors after Ginger and her sister flee Nashville looking for a better life. Their initial interaction with each other isn’t very good because Derek is being a douche. From that point on, this becomes a hotter than fire love story. I loved both people even with their faults and learning about their pasts was both intriguing and heart breaking.

This was my first Tessa Bailey book but not my last. I love a streetwise heroine and a dirty talking hero. Throw in a little suspense with the hot sex and I’ve found myself a new author! If you haven’t read her yet, you should get started.