RUCKUS by L.J. Shen

REVIEWED BY Isa Jones

Ruckus by L.J. Shen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW, Ruckus was the first book I have read from this Author and I was delighted to have been given the chance to read and review this book.
I love angst, romance and bad boys and this story offered me all those elements which I was looking in this book.
L.J. had me hooked from the very first page. The storyline completely blew my mind with so many scenarios and unexpected results. The chemistry was OFF the charts between the leads and I was at times giddy with excitement by their interactions and it almost gave me a fluttery feeling. My expectations were not only met, I was rewarded with a completely good feel factor and the delight to have found a new Author.
Rosie and Dean together will leave you breathless. Their story is one where the universe has been aligned to put them into orbit and spin you out of this world. I would love to start the series so I can go back in time and see where it all began and how far these two have been fighting some of the emotions which seem to resurface in this book.
Dean will definitely be one of my TOP alpha's for 2017 as the typical boy you love to hate and hate to not have the chance to love.
A must read for lovers of the genre and a complete page turner that will leave your heart beating fast and your head wanting more.

5 GLORIOUS STARS! Jo&Isalovebooks Blog

View all my reviews

Redemption by Sloane Kennedy

REVIEWED BY Isa Jones

Redemption by Sloane Kennedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Redemption was a book full of emotion and the perfect story line from Bestselling Author Sloane Kennedy.
Fans of the series have been reading and one clicking the anticipated 8th book in The Protectors Series.
I for one, was desperate to read the story of Phoenix and Levi as we had previously read of the terrifying ordeal involving Seth's brutal attack in Salvation in which Levi played a mayor roll.
Being a protector is for life and Ronan won't stop at nothing until he can be sure that Seth is completely out of danger, so when Levi is spotted in the scene of the crimes, Ronan immediately goes into panic mode sending Phoenix to investigate and shadow Levi until they can be sure he is no danger to Seth.
Phoenix finds Levi in the most of unexpected situations and he is very quick to assess that things may bot be all as they seem on that front. The more he is in Levi's company the more he begins to get the feeling he is not dangerous, the danger lies in getting too close to the "mark", too personal.

Levi has spent his life "surviving" and fighting evil, at home, at prison, out side of it, he is basically living in Hell, he has done so many things in order to survive and atone all the bad he thinks he has done. When he meets the tall, dark and dangerous, Phoenix, he can't believe he can ever be deserving of some semblance of good in his life, and as the two spend more time together truths begin to be revealed and secrets rise to the surface.

After I finished this book and put the box of tissues aside, I started rethinking of the story.
I can't help but feel so much admiration for Sloane's incredible attention to detail and her incredible story telling. This story had so many interconnected events, so many issues to resolve, the issues from each of the leads pasts, plus her masterful way to write all the steamy scenes, making each encounter original and passionate. Another great read, another unforgettable story.

My rating 5 STARS if I could I would give a MILLION.

View all my reviews

When It's Real by Erin Watt

REVIEWED BY Melinda Lazar 

When It's Real by Erin Watt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When It's Real by Erin Watt

This is my first book by this duo and is one I quite enjoyed. It's the story of bad boy pop star, Oakley and the proverbial girl next door, Vaughn. Oakley's management team have decided that he needs an image overhaul and believe the best way to do this is to recruit the sister of one their staff to this new role of pretend girlfriend. They're hopeful that Vaughn, with her innocence and wholesome looks will present a softer and somewhat tamed side to Oak. This is actually a mutually advantageous pairing: Oak gets a cleaner image presented to the world and, with the money she'll be getting paid, Vaughn can contribute greatly to her family situation.

I really liked the characters even when they weren't at their most likable, for example Oak at his douchiest was still a likable guy! And while many would have kowtowed to Oak and his fame, Vaughn certainly held her own and gave as good as she got. A pushover she was not.

Overall, I thought this was a great read and it's certainly encouraged me to bump up the duo's previous books on my TBR. I found the writing style engaging and it had me eager to keep returning back to the story.

*arc received from Netgalley in exchange for honest review.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.

View all my reviews

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2S89D8SB3S9YX/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Until You by Denise Grover Swank

REVIEWED BY Melinda Lazar 

Until You by Denise Grover Swank
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Until You by Denise Grover-Swank

This is the second book in Grover-Swanks Bachelor Brotherhood series and can absolutely be read as a standalone. It's the story of Tyler and Lauren: a lawyer and a super-secretive workaholic. Tyler and Lauren meet when they're thrown together for their best friend and cousins (respectively) wedding and the sparks between them are alight from the word go. While they try hold off on acting on their mutual attraction, they decide that since neither is attached or looking for anything permanent, why not spend the next month or so enjoying each other until Lauren moves to her next work obligation.

Where I enjoyed the previous book in The Bachelor Brotherhood, Until You was just an ok read for me. There were a few moments that induced laughter, but for the most part, I found it difficult to connect with the characters, and couldn't really believe the romantic connection between them. I'm finding it difficult to rate this book because while I think the actual plot was great, there was something lacking and the characters and their relationship just needed a lot more work. I understand that there was a sexual connection but it was the romance and love aspect I couldn't completely believe. Im looking forward to the next book in this series and hope it'll be a great one.

*arc received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.

View all my reviews

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1F3M8TSG73WJG/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

FURY by Cat Porter

REVIEWED BY Becky Cox

Fury by Cat Porter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fury isn't a pretty love story. It isn't a hearts and flowers love story. It is a rip your heart and gut out and wait....but the good stuff will come love story.

Finger and Serena's story is hard. They both are so strong and resilient in the face of the horrible things they have lived through. I know I would have given up under the weight of it all. That inner strength they both possess is such a beautiful thing.

Cat Porter has woven such a web and just like the spider she baits us and drags us into the layers of deception, scheming, smoke screens and lies.

I had more than one WTF moment. A few times I had to put Fury down for a minute and gather myself before moving forward. I have been reading Cat Porter since her first release and she was so very skilled as a new author but you can see her grow and with Fury she took it over the top.

I don't know how she will top Finger and Serena's story but I know she will and I can't wait to read what is next in Cat Porter's imagination.

I was gifted a copy for an honest review.

Reviewed by Becky for JoandIsaLoveBooks

View all my reviews

Amazon US

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1K8EV24IT5704/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Amazon UK

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R30UGZ0YL7IY8D/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Fearless by Stephanie St. Klaire

REVIEWED BY Tina Shobe 

Fearless by Stephanie St. Klaire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fearless is book 4 in the A McKenzie Ridge Novel Series. A series that I think just gets better with each book.

This book is mainly centered around Everly and Mason, and Carigan and BJ. Though, the other characters from previous books are all actively involved in this book, too. I love that we get to revisit with them and see how their lives are going. McKenzie Ridge has that great heartwarming small town vibe to it

I really like Stephanie's way of writing that has you feeling like you're 'living' in the book. Like you're a next door neighbor right there with everything unfolding around you.

I also was very happy about Granny Lou. I could hardly stand the suspense of not knowing how she was until this book was released.

This book has everything that I love in a book-suspense, intrigue, romance, humor and sizzling sex.


View all my reviews

Amazon;  https://www.amazon.com/review/R3V26XRETUJV6T/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B071V7634G

Sex Ed by Z.B. Heller

REVIEWED BY Jess 

Sex Ed by Z.B. Heller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

SEX ED by ZB Heller was knock your socks off stellar. Extremely funny, with solid characters, no taboos and total acceptance, this story of self-love and personal growth nicely rounded out this first book for me by this author.

Jaxson was a delight. Naive in some ways and well beyond his years in others, he was by far my favourite character in this book. Growing up a nerd and being a 23 year old virgin with a gift in drawing comic strips immediately labels you in a negative context-but somehow through the awesome family Jaxon has, along with his twin sister Sophie, he's managed to just deal with, like, and accept who he is. He may not be the most extroverted person on the planet and may still have some insecurities but he deals with it through humour and oodles of it! The predicaments Jaxon has been through in his short life are tales that can be told to his grandchildren one day and they're unbelievably hilarious.

Having a boy crush on a gay-fictional character can be hard! Enter Tyler. Sexy ER nurse who's in the right place at the right time when Jaxon comes into the emergency room with an apparatus attached to his...you know what, monster man-hood! Only Tyler can hold it together and calm poor Jaxon when his sister and best friend are constantly bickering with each other and making the situation worse. Despite Jaxon's embarrassment he automatically feels comfortable with the gorgeous nurse with the emerald green eyes.

It's a small world in the town of Chicago where these gaggle of nerds live. Of course Jaxson's best friends dad knows the hot nurse from the ER and of course he ends up at family dinner! The best part of the story was when Jaxon's mother does everything in her arsenal to hook these two up, even going to far as making butt jokes and teaching them about lube and how to take in the...ahem...for the first time. Laugh out loud FUNNY.

Complete riot. The openness, total acceptance and non-issue of having a gay son is so prevalent through out the book. Not once did I feel sorry or sad for Jaxon and Tyler. Their sexual orientation was never a debate or a problem for anyone. Just like it shouldn't be. Helen did a fantastic job of writing a love story. Period. The catch and chase was cute, the falling in love was spot on and the writing was perfect and adorable and hilarious and I want more. So much more.

I have a feeling Jeff and the hot cop towards the end may have a role in Heller's next book-at least I hope so! As a huge fan of m/m tropes, this book was a pleasant surprise for me and an absolute pleasure to read.

Received and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Jess for joandisalovebooks blog

View all my reviews

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R16PZN119GUT9F/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B071Z3RCR2