same couple series

In Flight by R.K. Lilley

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

In Flight (Up In The Air, #1)
Grade-A-
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-High
Series-Up In The Air #1
Reviewed by Kay

Out of five stars, I would say this is a 4.5 star book. It missed a five star or A+ because of my discomfort with some of the sex scenes. James Cavendish is a billionaire who has a taste for kink. Hardcore BDSM to be exact. He doesn’t date or do relationships. At least, he didn’t until he met Bianca Karlsson. Bianca works as a flight attendant and waits on him in first class. She captures his attention and he propositions her. Bianca is a former victim of violence from her youth but strangely enough, she is drawn to James as a submissive.

This novel is about their relationship evolving in ways they both never saw coming. I liked but disliked both characters for different reasons. I liked James’ possessiveness and tenderness but disliked the fact he likes to hurt women during sex. I liked Bianca’s friendship with Stephan but not her free acceptance of James’ dominance. This story had good flow and I enjoyed the author’s voice.
I am excited to read the next book in the series.

Hope Breaks by Alice Bello

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Hope Breaks
Grade: C
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: 1st book in a same couple trilogy
Reviewed by Kate

Hope is a professional photographer whose specialty is romance book covers. She needs an exciting and new cover or her job is toast. Unfortunately, the only model agency in town is fresh out of models. A trip to the local Wal-Mart produces two potential models (see Wal-Mart really does carry everything, cover models-aisle 23) as well as a broken down car. Luckily Jake, a mechanic in the Tire and Lube Express department is there to save the day. Jake and Hope go on a whirlwind dating adventure. Then Hope makes a mistake that makes Jake walk away.

I liked that Jake and Hope are such normal people, not über-rich. Jake, of the thick and luscious lips, is your everyday grease monkey (but sexy, of course). Hope has worked her way into a rut lately, just the same old, same old. Her main excitement comes from her dreams of Brad Pitt. Jake and Hope together are cute and sweet and they have that urgent excitement of a new relationship. I felt like I could know them in my daily life.

While I found the dialogue well written, at times the rest of the writing wasn’t as smooth. There were also a few things that pulled me out of the story. At different points in the story, Hope is referred to as being both twenty six and thirty-seven. Hope has some relationship issues that are strongly hinted at, but never disclosed. On the other hand, Jake’s history seems to be a blank slate. No issues or problems to speak of. The love scene, while very descriptive, went on way too long for me.

Hope Breaks, the first in a trilogy by new author Alice Bello, does not include an HEA. I would assume that will come in the last book. The characters and dialogue were the strong points of the story. In this debut novella, Ms. Bello shows promise. I look forward to finding out what happens to Jake and Hope next.

Eyes Wide Open by Raine Miller

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Eyes Wide Open (The Blackstone Affair, #3)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild
Series-The Blackstone Affair #3
Reviewed by Kay

This novel continues the saga of Ethan Blackstone, a security mogul and Brynne Bennett, a model and art student. They have a very passionate love affair going on. This installment picks up right where the last one left off. There’s still her stalker that’s on the loose and creeping closer and closer. After a near attack, they flee the city and try to figure out the best course of action to deal with him. When they are gone they gain knowledge of something else that could change their relationship.

I really don’t want to say too much since this novel is very much anticipated by many people. I will say that there’s a lot of gratuitous sex. The story itself seems to be the filler which I don’t really care for. The sex is descriptive and hot, but too much, even for me. I had kind of hoped she’d stop with this book but I saw on another review site that there’s a part four at least.

I didn’t hate but I sure didn’t love it either. It is worth reading if you’re fully vested in the series though.