This Man Confessed - By Jodi Ellen Malpas *Review*

This Man Series - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads| Amazon | Kobo | Nook |

The Manor, the very place where their passionate love affair began, fills with guests on what should be the happiest day of Ava and Jesse's lives. She has accepted that she'll never tame the fierceness in Jesse-and she doesn't want to. Their love is profound, their connection powerful, but just when she thinks that she's finally gotten beneath his guarded exterior, more questions arise, leading Ava to believe that Jesse Ward may not be the man she thinks he is. He knows too well how to take her to a place beyond ecstasy . . . but will he also drive her to the brink of despair? It's time for this man to confess.

I haven't had to suffer through such dramatics since high school. Ava is still a pushover and can't be decisive. Jesse is still overbearing and tyrannical. It's not sexy, it's exasperating to read. I skim read pages 200 to 350 (out of 436) which thankfully kept me from being annoyed beyond belief. I just couldn't handle the exaggerated behaviors of both characters. Jesse treats Ava like a child and she acts like one! She SULKS and he counts to three if he doesn't get what he wants. They call make-up sex "making friends" and label their sexual encounters all kinds of ridiculous names. In all honesty I read this simply to find out where their story finishes and whether they grew out of their childish ways...

***SPOILERS***

The pregnancy was forced and Ava didn't want kids! But suddenly she's okay with staying at home and looking after the kids. Like all good women should, right Jesse? If it weren't for the fact Jesse makes a great Dad (no surprise there...) this book would be a one not one and a half stars.

***SPOILERS END***

The epilogue saved the book from being solely an exercise in managing my annoyance. While Malpas writes well, her characters give me heart burn.

King Tomb - By Scarlett Dawn *Cover Reveal*

From Scarlett Dawn comes the stunning, sexy, sensual, surprising, spell-binding conclusion to the bestselling first Forever Evermore trilogy. 

RELEASE DATE: October 1st 2014

 | Goodreads | 

Queen Shifter, Lily Ruckler, has found solace in brutal warfare. Her bloodied fists and bared fangs fill the holes left in her memory, the blank spaces that leave her soul aching and empty. Her only pleasure is in blood; her only salvation is the relationship she has with her infant child, the baby of unknown origins who brings her solace and stability.

When Elder Harcourt summons Lily and her protector Antonio back to the United States, Lily thinks nothing unusual about the change of location. But a standard reconnaissance mission leaves her trapped inside King Zeller’s private quarters, and at his mercy. Surprise attraction rapidly turns to a battle of wills and an intense power struggle that leaves no clear victor but plenty of resentment.

They are not allowed to nurse their wounds. In order to win the war against the Commoners, the King Vampire and Queen Shifter must work together. It should be easy. The war is turning, the battle is deadly, and both Lily and Ezra love the cold cleanliness of combat. But their chance meeting has led to more than an unlikely alliance. Secrets have a way of surfacing, especially on a torn-up battlefield, and Lily and Ezra are about to re-learn all they cannot remember. If they can’t control their emotions and responses, it will be to their own ruin and the destruction of everything around them.

Scarlett Dawn is the author of the Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series, which include King Hall and King Cave.

She lives in the Midwest, where she loves to 'people watch' and daydream. She adores her music loud and her fries covered in cheese.

Scarlet Dawn's website: http://www.scarlettdawn.net

Belle Fury - By Lola Dodge *Review*

Manhattan Ten Series - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads
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This is one diva with killer moves…

Belle Fabian has worked her toes to the bone to become an internationally renowned ballerina. When the curtains rise on her career-making performance of Giselle, she brings down the house—literally.

Mid-dance, she manifests a superpower that nearly destroys the Metropolitan Opera House, wiping out a line of chorus girls and sending the audience dashing for the exits. As she flees the theater, she assumes the worst. Her hard-won career is over.

The Manhattan Ten’s leader is playing hooky with his new lady, so it falls to Red Ruin to round up the super-powered danseur. It’s just one small, bird-boned woman hiding in a convenience store. How hard could it be?

Their first encounter generates sparks that border nuclear and their chemistry sends Belle’s powers into overdrive, but their perfect storm of passion is marred by her suspicion that Ruin is holding back. That secret that could turn the sweet burn of Ruin’s lightning into a permanent scar on her heart.

Lola Dodge does it again! I can't get enough of these superhero romances and I truly wonder WHY ARE THERE NOT MORE?! But please excuse the yelling of my inner superhero geek. Ahem. Belle is an amazing leading lady. I greatly admired her focus and dedication to her craft and was shattered when she learned her powers would greatly hinder her dancing career. Yet despite the massive setback, Belle threw herself into mastering her new kinetic power. I was practically pumping my fist yelling "Get it girl!" Her struggle with her power and future was beautifully written and gave my heart strings a good yank.

Red Ruin/Ryan was a bundle of fun as the charismatic clown but his hidden character trait as insecure leader was gold. He was so humble about his leadership skills and I love that Dodge gave him that extra side. His relationship with Belle is all sparks and explosions, literally, which makes for some amusing sexy scenes. It is still a novella which is bad because it's such a short time to spend with such wonderful characters. The Manhattan Ten series is on fire and I can't wait to see where Dodge wants to take us next! (Please full length novels, please, please, please.)

A HUGE thank you to the wonderful Lola Dodge for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Lola Dodge was forged in the suburbs, tested in the retail wastelands and reborn as a romance writer after several strong cocktails. Armed with her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, she travels the world in search of story fodder and men with accents.

Website: http://www.loladodge.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lola_Dodge

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LolaDodge?ref=hl

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5826088.Lola_Dodge

The Countess Conspiracy - By Courtney Milan *Review*

Brothers Sinister - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads
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Sebastian Malheur is the most dangerous sort of rake: an educated one. When he’s not scandalizing ladies in the bedchamber, he’s outraging proper society with his scientific theories. He’s desired, reviled, acclaimed, and despised—and he laughs through it all.

Violet Waterfield, the widowed Countess of Cambury, on the other hand, is entirely respectable, and she’d like to stay that way. But Violet has a secret that is beyond ruinous, one that ties her irrevocably to England’s most infamous scoundrel: Sebastian’s theories aren’t his. They’re hers.

So when Sebastian threatens to dissolve their years-long conspiracy, she’ll do anything to save their partnership...even if it means opening her vulnerable heart to the rake who could destroy it for good.

5 fabulous stars out of 5

Great historical romance. "The Countess Conspiracy" is not your typical wham bam thank you oppressed ma'am historical romance. Milan gives you headstrong, independent women who are giving "proper" society the middle finger. Violet is a wonderful leading lady who is an intelligent, dedicated scientist but in the set time period cannot claim her research without scandal. She pushes against the confines of societies expectations but believes herself unworthy of love. Sebastian is cast as the heartless rogue when in actual fact he is the sweetest, sappiest romantic. The pair make an unlikely duo and a very amusing story. I, personally, am glad not to have the typical simpering virginal bride or the raunchy deviant widow. I definitely recommend you add Courtney Milan to your list of authors if you love historical type romances!

Thank you to NetGalley and Courtney Milan for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Courtney Milan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, a marginally-trained dog, and an attack cat.

Before she started writing books, Courtney experimented with numerous occupations. She has trained dogs, written legal briefs, sold newspaper subscriptions, and written computer programs. Having given up on actually being able to do any actual things, she's taken to heart the axiom that "those who can't, teach." When she isn't reading, writing, or sleeping, she can be found in the vicinity of a classroom.

Courtney loves hearing from readers. You can visit her on the web and find out more about her and her newest releases at http://www.courtneymilan.com.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/courtneymilanauthor

Twitter - https://twitter.com/courtneymilan

Troubles and Treats - By Tara Sivec

Chocolate Lovers Series - Book 3

Drew and Jenny have spent years being the envy of their friends with their out of control sex lives - well, not really. Mostly it makes their friends want to throw up in their mouths a little.

With two little kids and two busy lives, for the first time, Drew and Jenny aren't on the same page in the bedroom. Drew will stop at nothing to get his previously amorous wife back in the sack, and Jenny will do anything for a full night of sleep.

Carter and Claire, and Jim and Liz are their usual (un)helpful selves and are full of advice for the discontented duo, wanting nothing more than to help restore order to the usually happy couple's lives.

In the third and final installment of the Chocolate Lovers Series, will Drew and Jenny find the spark that's been missing in their marriage, or will the trouble they're having cause a stickier situation than the time Jenny poured honey all over Drew and he fused himself to a tree?

Drew and Jenny - the racier and crazier couple from the Chocolate Lovers series now have children. After their last child Drew witnessed Jenny in labor and has been having nightmares about vaginas. He was never very mature so I wasn't surprised at this little revelation. Sadly for Jenny, Drew's irrational fear of vaginas has left her self conscious and uninterested in sex. Once Drew comes round from his stupid fear it's too late and Jenny has disconnected from their relationship to focus solely on the children. He takes it upon himself to reawaken their sex life despite being the murderer of it in the first place but Jenny barely registers his attempts. Drew's journey makes for another amusing read by Sivec.

While Jenny and Drew were definitely the funnier of the three couples introduced in "Seduction and Snacks" this final book isn't as funny as the first. Thankfully it's much more entertaining than second which really was the worst. Despite all of the couples have a level of immaturity to their relationships but Drew was by far the worst. Yet in "Troubles and Treats" we see him grow up a little. His selfish and egotistical attitude gets thrown for a loop and his has to learn that surprisingly the world is not all about Drew. So while it seems this book is solely focus on Drew getting sex back in his life it becomes much more. "Troubles and Treats" is about rediscovering the spark of a relationship when that relationship has changed far beyond where it began. There are still laughs to be had at weird antics and witty quips but it was time these characters came to their happy ending and Sivec rounds the Chocolate Lovers series out with a satisfying click.

4/5

xxx Literary George

Buy: Amazon, B&N

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Broken Blade - By J.C. Daniels

Colbana Files - Book 3

Kit Colbana: assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. She always expected her past to catch up with her but never like this. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she’s retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man’s land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn’t taking the hint.

Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic...one that she wants nothing to do with. Her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea to just leave the relic lying about, but finding it might be just as bad.

Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world’s original monsters.

If she survives the job, she won’t be the same...and neither will those closest to her.

I believe I missed out on something amazing by accidentally starting this series on book three. I meet Kit at a low point in her story - struggling to deal with being alive after horrific trauma. Yet with all the cowering and fear, I felt Kit's strength and that's when I knew I had found another great series. Daniels writes Kit's pain and strength with great poise, allowing Kit to be doubtful and meek but keeping her spine of steel. Her struggle comes through as a real battle without wallowing in self pity. Despite having no idea of what happened in the previous book I felt the pain and anguish clearly. Kit reminds me a little of Kate Daniels but there is a vulnerability in her character Kate doesn't have. While Kate is more likely to beat something or someone up when she is scared, Kit runs and hides - attempting to deal with her pain internally. Does this make her less kick ass than Kate? NO WAY! I love that Kit Colbana is a vulnerable warrior. The battle of this book isn't fought with swords, it's a battle of forgiveness and trying to regain a sense of self.

I am definitely reading the previous two books in the series and I can't wait for the next book even though this one has only been released today!

5/5
xxx Literary George
Buy: Amazon, Kobo, B&N
Thank you to NetGalley, J.C. Daniels and Shiloh Walker Inc for the copy.
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