Book Tour Review ~ Tempting The Boss (Billionaires in the City, #3) by Mallory Crowe

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: March 26th 2015

Description:
As the CEO of a multi-billion dollar retail chain, Victoria Green isn’t used to asking for help, especially not from too attractive for their own good repairmen like Dean Carey. After Victoria is attacked at her own party and Dean fights off the culprit, she’s forced to tell him her secret: Victoria’s father is on his deathbed, and her brother, who nearly ran the company into the ground, might be willing to do anything to make sure controlling interest goes to him. 

Dean wants nothing to do with the ice princess CEO, even if he can’t keep his eyes off certain… assets of hers. He’s got enough on his plate between trying to get enough work to pay the bills and raising his little sister who’s growing up much too fast for his liking. Despite his misgivings, when Victoria offers him a blank check if he will keep his mouth shut about what he saw and shadow her until she can hire a more qualified bodyguard, he can’t bring himself to turn down that kind of cash. 

Over the next few days, Dean learns Victoria isn’t as cold as he first thought and Victoria realizes that Dean is so much more than a handyman. But someone wants her dead and if they don’t figure out who and stop them, they might never get their happily ever after.

My Opinion

In the third instalment of this standalone series the author has changed it up so the billionaire/CEO is a female. When I first saw this it did make me slightly hesitant as it normally means the woman is an ice-cold, heartless, and ruthless dictator. However, from getting an insight into Victoria's life in Teasing the Boss, I was intrigued to find out her story. I also think it's my favourite in the series so far. 

Tempting the Boss, like the previous two books, was a quick, easy read. I liked the relationship in this book most and thought there was a good amount of chemistry and tension between Victoria and Dean. Whilst Dean isn't the domineering CEO, he the sweet, loyal guy-next-door type who you can't help fall in love with. His situation with Katy and how he took on his parents' responsibility was admirable and it only made you love him even more. He was a good guy through and through, but he wasn't meek or timid to say what he really thought around Victoria. I thought they were a good pair. 

Similarly, I though the author did a good job of making Victoria likeable. She had feelings unlike so many female characters I've read about in similar positions. I will admit that she made some stupid choices that at times didn't seem all that believable. I would have thought with someone trying to kill her she'd take less risks. For me a few here and there is fine, but she did have a disregard for her safety and I did roll my eyes a few times as it seemed all to easy to get her in trouble. 

Saying that, I did like all the drama. The killer was slightly obvious, but it was still an enjoyable story. Also, there were a few loose ends where not all relationships were tied up.


Overall this has been my favourite in the series so far. Now on to book four.

3.5

Review ~ The Stars Never Rise (Untitled Series, #1) by Rachel Vincent

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: June 18th 2015

Publisher: Mira Ink (Harlequin UK)

Description:
Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

My Opinion

When I received a copy of this book I shouted out loud in happiness. Those of you who follow my reviews will know I'm a big fan of this author and have read every book she's ever released. For that reason I've been dying to read The Stars Never Rise, and it's been so hard putting off reading it until the release was nearer.

Anyway, the concept of this book sounded intriguing. Although I've come across plenty of books with demons, the idea of exorcists was mostly new--in the sense of what Vincent has written.

Whilst The Stars Never Rise was an enjoyable, quick read that includes everything I've come to love from this author, it isn't my favourite of her releases. That's not to say I didn't like it, I think I was just expecting something different.

Th story is set in New Temperance after a war with demons. The Church is in control, there are many things that are considered sins, and there are rules about how people should live. The book centres around Nina and her story as things start to unravel, but that's where my main issue lay in this book: the religious undertone. It wasn't what I was expecting and it's a purely personal taste. I knew there would be some, just not as much.

Similarly, a lot of the action takes a while to build. This book does feel like it's setting up the bigger picture and explaining things more than having a riveting plot. The next book does sound more promising going off the end.

I know all of that sounds like I don't like this book, but that's not the case. I just don't think it compares to Vincent's previous work. The characters were strong, the idea of Finn is interesting and intriguing, and I can't wait to see what happens next. There is a hint of a relationship beginning, but that doesn't play out the way I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise as it was different from what's out there.


Overall, this was a good read. I'll more than likely read the sequel as I love this author, but it didn't blow me away as much as her other books. I'm certain the reasons for that are personal tastes so I'd definitely recommend it.

3.5

Cover Reveal + Giveaway ~ Loving Red by Alisha Costanzo

Blurb

For Sergeant Severins Bouvier, silence means tactical planning and a large death toll, and he can’t shake how danger threatens him on the beaches of Miami, especially after seeing one of his associates in a local sandwich shop. Worse, the enemy seems fascinated with the woman he can’t stop thinking about—a woman determined not to trust him.

Everything about Sev crashes through Kaia’s carefully placed boundaries, traps, and avoidances. Regardless of her lack of interest in the majority of men, the ones that did catch her off guard left a lot of collateral damage. Who better than a soldier to understand that?

The problem is that she trusts him. Just not with her heart.

Kickstarter

EXERPT

“Something feels different about this place,” she said, voice soft but spreading across the grounds like an earthquake.

“It’s protected. That’s what you feel.”

A short, frail-looking male swung open his front door and appeared on the square wooden porch. His skin marbled like the bark of an old oak with tints of green. Long and wide eyes assessed Severins and Kaia before his gaze slashed to Kaia’s vampire friend, Kalib. The performance was rather dramatic.

“You said one—a single, human female. Human. That is not human.” The dryad’s twig-finger pointed to Severins with further flair.

“We were lacking in our information. The wolf is no harm to you.”

“No harm. No harm!” His hair sprouted green and miniature ivy fell around his ears. “At best, he’ll piss on my plants. At worst.” The small man’s voice squabbled high and fluttered through the leaves above. “At worst!”

Kalib rolled his eyes, and Severins shook his head. Kaia, however, seem entranced with the dryad’s tirade.

“Eilon. Fucking wood nymphs. Eilon.”

“Oh no, sir. You can stay in your pretty little metal box for that.” Eilon slammed his door again in a giant huff.

Kaia jerked and came back to the small clearing. Her eyes took on a darker green in these woods. “He did not like either of you very much.”

“Tree-folk aren’t group friendly unless there’s a ceremony or an orgy, although they’re practically the same thing to them.” Kalib pulled two long swords from behind his seat—long enough they shouldn’t have fit back there. He strapped them into holsters hidden beneath his loose cotton shirt. “I’ll take first watch.”

“Dryad’s don’t like wolves too much—territorial and all that. Piss in the wrong part of the woods once, and it’s like you killed their elder.”

“Did you tinkle on one of his plants?”

Severins snorted in delight at hearing the word tinkle come out of her mouth. “No, I’m house-trained, beautiful.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alisha Costanzo is from a Syracuse suburb. She earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Central Oklahoma, where she currently teaches English. She’s the author of BLOOD PHOENIX: REBIRTH and BLOOD PHOENIX: CLAIMED, and co-editor of DISTORTED. In the meantime, she will continue to corrupt young minds, rant about the government, and daydream about her all around nasty creatures.
Author (Contact Links)

Website: http://alishacostanzo.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brokenworldauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlishaCostanzo
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4618491.Alisha_Costanzo
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alisha-Costanzo/e/B00H2R9W9E

Giveaway

2 ARC e-copies 

4 solid perfume sets

5 signed bookmarks

1 Miss Red Plush

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This giveaway is run by the author and only hosted here as part of the tour. Lost to Books is not responsible for the running, choosing of the winner, or prize distribution. 

Review ~ A Kiss In the Dark by Lisa Fox

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: June 18th 2015

Publisher: HarperImpulse

Description:
Grace’s attraction to her new web designer, amateur boxer and all-around playboy, Ryan Granger, is off the charts. But the bad boy of programming is not someone she needs to get entangled with. She’s got too many responsibilities and no time for games. She has deadlines to meet and a sick father to care for. Ryan is tempting, but being with him is completely unrealistic. Still, a girl can fantasize, right?

Ryan wants Grace badly, but while he’s building her website, they have to keep things strictly professional. Thankfully, walking her home during a city-wide blackout is on his own time and whatever happens in the dark doesn’t count. He’s falling hard for Grace and he is a man used to winning. The only problem is, he’s got to convince her that he’s worthy of her trust.

My Opinion

I'm really not sure what to make of A Kiss in the Dark. I wanted to like it as I've read all of this author's previous HarperImpulse books and enjoyed them, but there's something about this read that just didn't connect with. It's by no means a bad book, I think it's just one of those reads that wasn't for me.

My main problem was I never connected with the characters. There was little development and it was a very in-the-moment book. Sure, there are a few background details, but I didn't really see any growth. I wasn't vouching for the characters to get together, and I didn't feel the chemistry. It was all a bit unrealistic in my opinion. For the concepts drawn up in this book, I don't think the short length did the story justice. Had it been longer and spread out over a wider time scale then it would have probably connected with me more. However, the length meant everything is so instant. There wasn't time for me to fall in love with the characters or buy into their relationship so that when they did have sex or declared their love it felt natural.

I wanted to like their story, but no matter how hard I tried I still found myself skimming.

I'm not going to go into details about the characters because I don't really have much to say. They were a bit bland for me, but once again this is down to the lack of development.

Overall, this was an okay read. One Kiss is still the best book this author's released in my opinion and I'd recommend that over A Kiss in the Dark, but you may want to give this a go. It wasn't bad, just wasn't for me.

2.5

Review ~ Controlling Her Pleasure (Under His Command #1) by Lili Valente

ebook downloadedz for free via Amazon.

Release Date: February 16th 2015

Pages: 152

Description:
Blake Roberts has everything he’s ever wanted—fame, money, and ownership of the hottest chain of tattoo parlors in the country. But he’s haunted by his first love, the matching tattoo they share a constant reminder of who he was before he learned how to control his emotions, his desire, and a woman’s pleasure. 

He needs to purge her from his heart, and he’ll do whatever it takes to be free.

Erin Perry’s been burned by love and she’s not ready to put her body under a man’s control, let alone her heart. But then Blake shows up, the only man she ever truly loved. Blake is ruthlessly handsome, and seething commanding energy that has her aching to submit.

To be pleasured, tamed, owned, and put under His control.

Warning: This book features a big, tattooed, Dominant alpha male—give him your trust and he’ll command your pleasure. All. Night. Long.Cliffhanger Alert: This steamy read ends in a cliffhanger. If you don't like being teased, steer clear. The entire Under His Command series, Erin and Blake's complete love story, will publish in February and March of 2015.

Mini Review