4 Not What I Expected Stars
597773
Its a dreary, yucky, rainy weekend perfect for a dark read so Willing Captive sounded like a good fit.  I really liked it, but it was not dark. I should have known it wouldnt be since Im a fan of BAs friend zoned series and there is nothing dark about it. Willing Captive had sad moments, but mostly it was funny.  It definitely brightened my dark little day.

Lily is kidnapped, or is she?  Cut off from her family, she has no idea. Doesnt know who to trust so she acts accordinglysort of.  I like Lily, but at times she seemed just so very young and immature.  She was sheltered and over-protected growing up, so I understood why she was so immature but it still got on my last nerve at times.  She grows as the book progresses which is good since she definitely needed to.  I mean, she called Noxs dick a pee-pee, more than once.  It made me cringe every time, in fact I cringed as I typed it.  Pee-Pee aside, Lily is funny and her inner thoughts had me burst out in a laugh more than once.

I did not like Nox at first.  Keeping her cut off from her family for so long made absolutely no sense to me.  Why let her believe she was kidnapped for any time at all? It just didn't compute. Once that little mix up got straightened out, I liked Nox and the book a lot more.  He was definitely a broody alpha but I like them like that.  It would have been nice to know more about his job and what it really was.  Some revalations clued me in that it wasn't just security, and more of an explanation as to why all the secrecy and false names would have been appreciated.

The main focus of the story is the relationship between Nox and Lily.  Its a slow burn, no insta-love here. Its all about thoughts, touches, and confused feelings (especially for super sheltered Lily) at first. There are lots of obstacles in the way, and no one knows what will happen after Lily is deemed safe. There is a mystery here  why is there a threat against Lily?  Its not Noxs job to solve it, his main focus is to keep Lily safe.  I think having the mystery solved off camera was a mistake.  I would have loved to have been along for the ride as it was solved.

I adored Rock and Boo and hope one day to see a book about them.  I liked the fact two completely tough people had a working relationship in a high pressure field, yet still figured out how to make things work for them.  The fact that Rock was hilarious was icing on the cake.

Although not perfect, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. I wish it was part of a series, or at least that well see more of some of the characters.

Spices Rating: 4 Stars
1296785
After reading the synopsis for this book I expected it to be a certain way, I basically planned out the potential story in my head. However, when I read this book, it was nothing like I pictured it to be and that is not a bad thing. It's actually quite enjoyable knowing that it was completely different to what I was expecting.

'Ever had one of those moment in your life where you think - This. Is. Not. My. Finest. Moment. Ever since meeting Grayson Cole, that very phrase has gone through my head far too many times. It started with the very first time I met him.'

I loved that line because we all have those moments - me especially - and I love books that you can relate to, I find that they're more enjoyable.

I loved the fact that Emma and Grayson met on a night out, had their fun and then eventually met again as boss and employee. Their whole relationship together had me hooked. Although I did feel bad for Grayson, since his father is not up there in the top parents category.

Emma was cute. I liked her and I felt that I could relate to her. It seemed very difficult to have Grayson as a boss, but then that was obvious any way, but she managed to stand her own ground with him. Which I like since there are some female characters that are complete pushovers.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Grayson is a bit of jerk, but he's a loveable jerk I think. The story was amazing and I loved that I was surprised by the story.
2577026
Mmmm, I feel very torn with this review and I will tell you why. Having never read any of the Thorne series of books by Mark Billingham, I decided to make a marathon catch up session and start with his debut novel Sleepyhead (released in 2001). The synopsis sounded pretty amazing and I started the book with anticipation. The reason I say I am torn is because I have really conflicting emotions. The story, writing and plot was flipping amazing and it took me no time to devour the book. On the other hand I am still undecided about how I feel about Tom Thorne.

As this is a debut, I know it takes time but for some reason I just didn't get to grips with him that much. He is a D.I who takes his job seriously and in this current book it seems we are getting to know Thorne and the demons that he is battling (due to an earlier case). When Alison Willetts is found alive, following three murders, Tom finally feels like this is the break they needed. Sadly, and one of the most interesting elements of this book, is that although Alison lived, she has been left with locked-in syndrome. Alison knows exactly what is going on and is fully functional, she just cant communicate. This in itself made a refreshing change to read about as its something that is scary and also something Ive not read about before.

The other thing I loved about this was that I spent literally the whole book questioning everything. Were my suspicions right? Was Throne wrong? Was he losing his marbles? Who else is shady? Yep, pretty much the standard thought process for many I would imagine. That alone is always a bonus as it feels like you are as in the dark as the D.I. I wouldnt say this book was particularly gruesome, but there is an element of fear about it. You know that shiver down your back type of fear you get? Yep, that one! Overall for the first in the series and his debut, it was a corker. The fact that I am 13 years behind everybody else means I have some serious catching up to do, and I have to say Im rather looking forward to it!
3563699
This book was so unexpected and in a good way. I think this is the first time I have read anything like this by Rachel Van Dyken and I really enjoyed it. She tackled the paranormal genre in what I thought was a different way. There were so many elements at play and things that I did not figure out. I also think we need to talk about the fact that this book felt a lot sexier than other books I have read by this author and I LOVED every bit of it!

I think it is best to go into this book based on the blurb alone. I cannot wait to read more from the series and to see more of the sexier stuff too!

***ARC provided from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!***
3921044
A copy was provided by the Netgalley for an honest review, but it turned out I had already bought this book.

I don't usually read love triangles.  I was expecting more of a mnage than a love triangle when I started reading What Happens in Vegas, I ended up being ok with this surprise.  While there were some pretty hot sections, panty melting hot, it was more of a story about the turmoil of decision making between Ginny, Dane and Graham.  I enjoyed reading this love triangle.
3781052
There was this book that keep getting recommended to me and there was this guy, who I was told would ruin me. The book just happened to be Dark Light and the guy just happened to be Dorian. I had to find out what all the hype was about, so I read Dark Light.

I liked it. And Dorian definitely ruined me.

When I first started Dark Light, I wasn't necessarily feeling the story. It seemed slow and not much was happening. About half-way through, the pace picked up and I was finally REALLY getting into the story. To begin with I was a little iffy when it came to Dorian. He was hot, yes. And sexy. I loved him, I just didn't trust him. But I guess I was just questioning who and what he was before Gabi was willing to. I liked Gabi, although, I often wanted to shake some sense into her, but I still liked her. Now, Dorian and Gabi together was just HOT. This book is very sexy and steamy and I loved it! Also, I liked that this was a different type of paranormal read. The Dark vs. Light is an interesting story line.

Overall, I was very pleased with the story and I'm glad so many people were recommending it! Now I have to go jump right into The Dark Prince after the ending of Dark Light.
540149
I was intrigued to see where a paranormal m/m story would take me since I had never read one before.  I was mildly surprised and mildly disappointed.  But, I did like the story and am looking forward to continuing with the series.

I enjoy m/m romances.  I love watching them accept the inevitable and work through the problems that they may face with society (even though there shouldnt be any).  Well, it was totally different with this book.  They live in a society devoid of humans and accept what fate has given them.  Even though they were captives in their own right, they were free from the binds that society places on us.  None of them were gay, per se, or even bi-sexual  they just were.

So, what surprised me? First, that I ended up really enjoying this story after a rocky start.  Once I got past what disappointed me (later), I enjoyed reading about Dare and Reese and understanding where they came from and made them who they were.  I enjoyed seeing the fun side come out in Dare and the fierce, protective side as well.  Reese was protective and caring right from the start so I enjoyed watching him finally accept his home and his place in life.  Secondly, the family dynamics.  Dare and Bay were hysterical when they got together.  Brothers, through and through.  Reese was overly protective of Jude and could not fathom his life without Selena in it.  It broke him to have left her behind when he and Jude escaped.

Now, what disappointed me.  Well, the sex.  It took a while to get to the meat of this story.  In the beginning, I felt like all Dare and Reese were doing was having sex.  Yes, sex is great but I was starting to feel like that was going to be the whole story between the two of them.  Then there was Reese, himself.  I appreciated his protection of Jude and Selena but, he whined  a lot. It took a while for me to finally accept that he felt that he couldn't trust Dare and his only outlet was whining to himself.  Accepting that made the story flow a little better for me.

Now that I voiced my opinion, I have to say that, once the true story started coming together and moving, I was totally invested.  The mix of werewolves and Were was interesting.  This story is an honest fantasy.  The difference between the species were expertly noted by Megan Erickson; she made sure we knew the difference between shifters and Weres.  I liked the conflict that was brought out and enjoyed how it all came to a head.  It was wonderful watching Reese finally accept his place in the pack and defend the one person that would have given his life for him.  The minor characters were just as interesting as Dare and Reese.  You knew that Jude and Gav would become an item.  And, Mav just added another level to Dare.  You will have to read the book to meet all these wonderful characters.

Megan Erickson really did a great job of keeping me interested once we got into the story.  Once the true fun starts, it didn't stop.  She was fluent and showed us all their true emotions.  She brought us into a world of beings that found a way to enjoy life even when they could have been repressed. I am looking forward to seeing just where she is bringing Bay as he travels to Astria.  I am interested in finding out what he finds and just how it will affect Reese, Jude and Selena.

Review copy provided by the author for a voluntary review.
771538
This book has me torn in two.  There were parts that I enjoyed immensely and others that had me letting out a heavy breath wishing that things had gone a little differently

First off, I liked Bryce and Kenzie.  Bryces blunt honesty about his feelings for Kenzie was refreshing.  He never stumbled once when telling her how much she meant to him and what he saw as their future together.  There were times when I felt that he pushed too hard considering what Kenzie had been through, but when he realized that hed gone just a bit too far he did step back to give her breathing room.  After what Kenzie had gone through with her now deceased husband would have shattered any woman and while she was still quite vulnerable and working through all that had happened, she had a strength of will that didn't allow her to simply sit back and allow it all to overwhelm her.  She picked herself, and the pieces of her life, up and worked to move forward.

Since Bryce and Kenzies story is a second chance one they already  have a lot of history together and the love between them is already there, but there is also quite a bit of hurt feelings that need to get dealt with and few big secrets that finally surface.  As far as the secrets coming to light, I thought they were very well done.  The scene with the roses in particular (Sorry, no spoilers though I wish I could go into it more) had me tearing up.  And the way that Bryce learns about what the reality of Kenzies marriage to Duncan was really like was done well.  And while there were times when I thought Kenzie should have stood firmer against Bryce, I felt that she still held her ground when it really mattered and was honest about her fears when it came to them having a future together.

My biggest issue comes with the dark forces that are coming for Kenzie.  As far as the story as to why Kenzie is the target, I thought that part was well crafted and is one of my favorite parts of the story.  The story was believable and I loved that it was Effie (Paisleys grandmother) who got to tell it as well as have Fiona (Bryces mother) add on to it.  And while there is a sense of urgency and concern over what is heading their way, it also felt a little...muted.  Everyone is concerned for Kenzies safety and Kenzie is concerned over theirs, but attention to certain detauks that I would deem important didn't happen and thats where things went a bit sideways for me.  It does move the story along and to its conclusion, but it was too convenient for me.

Overall: Outside of my Its not you, its me issue, this was an enjoyable read.  There are a lot of humorous moments and tear jerking ones throughout the story and I absolutely ADORE Effie and Colleen and Im looking forward to reading Ronans book when it comes out.  I will say that while you could probably read this as a standalone, I would highly suggest you read A Highlanders Obsession first.

~ I received an ARC copy from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~
1679208
I didn't know what to expect from this book after I read the blurb. It didn't give away too much and yet I was very intrigued. I've read the Kane series by Stylo Fantome and really enjoyed that. She's no stranger to writing sexy stories with strong and intense males. Neighbors was just that and much more. A very unexpected surprise.

I have to admit I was a little put off by Katya and her insecurities because she used it as an excuse whenever she had the chance. I decided to say "screw it" and go along with the story and just enjoy it. Right move on my part because enjoy it I sure as hell did. Katya's friend Tori was a fresh breath of air and as much as she tried to push Katya out of her comfort zone, she was first and foremost a wonderful and loyal girlfriend.

Liam and Wulfric were two opposites but very attractive men who definitely had their eyes on Katya. Her chemistry with both men were sizzling hot and I enjoyed the different relationship she had with both of them. Liam and Wulfric brought out a new and exciting Katya. Liam was easygoing and always asked for permission whereas Wulfric took charge of what he wanted and needed from Katya. I enjoyed how she reacted to them and how both relationship evolved and grew. She became more secure in herself and her sexuality. It was an intense and fun journey. Towards the end she finally found her voice and took control.

I wasn't surprised by the ending but it didn't ruin my experience. For me it was Katya's journey and her sexual revolution that intrigued me. I'm definitely going to read the sequel because these three people have definitely caught me in their web.

4 BadAssDirtyAngelCakeStars
3398985
I think I have a new book boyfriend.

It wasn't what I was expecting. It was more. I loved it.
1231200
I think I was the most shocked about who this book was about. After reading one and two I did not think that it would be about Dean. And I reread book one and two and Allie was in a relationship with some guy named Sean but their love was not discussed that much.

Since I am over my shock let me review this bitch.  The book was good, like really good. I knew at the beginning I was going to love the hell out of this book. One (1): I love the series, Two (2): the writing is fierce and Three (3): the author had me fall in love with a character that was supporting in two books and that I really did not give a second glance at. I mean he was discussed but, I just didn't commit him to my his getting a book thought process.

So he gets a book. And the story was smooth. The development made sense and was sound. I was lost in this book for many hours and loved how she lead me the best ending.

So you know that I love how each of my past favorite characters of book one (1) and two (2) are present in this book and all man did I realize home much I miss them. It has been some time since the last I read about their convoluted love lives and had to go back for another read. Of course they were great AGAIN and it also allowed me to understand book three (3) because of previous information shared. Now, That Is All I Am Going To Say About That.

Dean is the typical jock and someone who knows his hockey. The boy has mad skills. He is what I call a hit and run. He hits that vag and then he is out. He dominates where he is at and knows when to be playful and serious. He has a side to him that no one knows about, and I like this side. He is well rounded and perfect for 88

Allie is lost and found at the same time. She is lost because she doesnt know what to do with her life/career. She is found because she made a profound decision that is a defining part of the book. What I like is that she does not let this decision define her. She is comfort about with herself, whether she is defined for all to see or carefree. She is described by Dean as a natural beauty/girl next door who can change to the scarlet bombshell. I love how he describes her. Too sweet.
Either way, I totally understand why Wellsy and Allie are good friends.

I love how Elle writes about friendships and men taking care of women. It is all good and makes me the reader happy about what I am reading.
2539740
4 Stars

I have to admit I really enjoyed this story! To be honest I didn't expect it to be as good as
It was.

I loved Elias although there were a few times I didn't really care for some of the things he said/did but there was just something that I felt connected with.

I also loved River which is pretty unusual for me to like heroines as much as I did her! She was so down to earth and I felt so sad for her and I wish
3010532
not what I expected, but still a good read.
4629148
What I Loved: This is going to sound odd but this book was nothing like I expected. The story is interestingly twisty and while I could understand what was going on, I never could get ahead of the story. I really enjoyed that aspect of not knowing was coming. Mac is a strong female lead but not overbearingly so. She makes mistakes, she is scared, and she seems very much like a 22 yr old thrown into a situation that she had very little control over. At first when she was described as a 22 yr old barbie looking type of gal, I was set to hate her. By midway through the book, I was rooting for her.

What I Liked: Mac and Jericho's very complicated sarcastic relationship. Jericho is still a character that I am warming up too as I can't quite figure out exactly how he fits in with everything. I don't know if I trust him or not. That being said he was great to read. Vlane wasn't in the story enough but his effect on Mac was astonishing *blush*.

Complaints: None that I won't address in the Audio Review

Audio specific review: The narrator took some getting used too. She made Mac sound older and Jericho sound very grouchy. As I got used to her reading though, I noticed that the pacing was fantastic and the nuances were dead on. So stick with it past the first couple of chapters, you will get used to the voice and tone she uses.

Why I gave it a 4: I would listen/read this book again. This is a great launch to the series and can't wait to read the next one.

Who I would recommend it too: This is an Urban Fantasy novel through and through. There isn't an HEA but you kind of get the idea that someone that has been introduced might be her HEA. I think PNR readers will like it too because of the paranormal aspect.

[...]
4257314
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5  This was not what I expected after reading the blurb and other reviews.

Warning: SPOILERS!!!

Only having Michas POV was brilliant.  I usually prefer to have both MCs POV, but the story was completely told in Michas voice.  It took a bit for me to realize his emotions and reactions were muted.  They all seemed rational but very detached.  I was surprised we got the gist of his familys dysfunction in the first 20 pages.  I had expected half the book to have been fleshing out the history as mentioned in the blurb.  Micha relayed the anger and frustration at his fathers death and the lake house as irritation more than as the festering wound from 15 years ago it really was.  He talked about his past, his job and the inconvenience of moving away for the summer with indifference.  So, when Micha continued to get flustered by his new neighbor I could feel it.  It was subtle, but it hinted to the well of emotion Micha had locked up, covered in concrete and then buried.  And as he had to confront his past demons his subdued reactions felt loud and meaningful.

I loved Cat, especially his hobby.  He has his own issues and they were addressed and present throughout the entire book.  A lot of authors are lazy and introduce a medical issue to either add depth to a character or to build up the relationship between the MCs, but they often don't continue the issues to the end in much detail.

Are you safe? was asked throughout the story.  Its a much more complicated question than it seems.  At first I assumed it was safe sex or not walking down a dark alley in a bad neighborhood at 3 in the morning, but it really meant emotionally and mentally.  We hurt/punish ourselves everyday by drowning our feelings in alcohol or having anonymous sex or even by not letting ourselves cry.  Its not something we think about or even acknowledge.  Micha is running from his feelings by not acknowledging them and Cat makes him feel unsteady and emotional without being threatening.

That was the good and heres what I did not like.  I did not think Rachel or the church scandal were necessary to the story.  As well as Micha being an author.  His hobby was only integral to the church confrontation IMO.  It was like we got dragged into it and it didn't really get resolved.  It seemed like the author was planting a side story for the brother because now hes involved in the church uproar and still has a stilted relationship with Micha, but wants his life to be differentyada yada.

While I appreciate all the non-traditional characters and sexual orientations it seemed that there was one of everything; gay, lesbian, F2M, M2F, gender-bending fashion statements and love without caring about gender.  Yes, the last one is the ultimate message, but did we really need an example of everything?  It just made the side characters feel clunky and like they were being used to make a point instead of to support the MCs.

Overall, I did enjoy this book.  I liked Micha and Cat and their relationship was beautiful and intimate in a way we don't see very often.
2461976
it was good, not what I expected, much more emotional characters.
2970609
This book surprised the heck out of me, and I mean that in the best way possible. I really was not expecting these authors to deliver a Hero like Bryan, but they did and I loved it. He wasn't your badboy Hero that partied and slept around until he met the heroine. He was a changed man who was trying to heal from his past demons and actually led a pretty boring life. I found him charming in a weird way and it was adorable how he was fumbling and a little awkward with Eilish.

After the first chapter, which is Eilish and Bryan's one night together, this story is told fully in the present time. I was very happy there weren't any time jumps in this book because they would not have flowed with the story at all. So I loved that L.H and Penny kept this story one of moving forward from your past, instead of going back to it. Getting to see Bryan and Eilish grown up and a lot more mature than that first chapter really spoke to how much they had both changed, and they become great characters. Both were very well developed and we got to see them putting their fears behind them which was great.

I honestly don't want to say too much about this story, not because there were any big shockers, but just because I think the emotions that you will feel while reading this story are ones that you should experience with no prior knowledge of them. You may think this is just a simple contemporary but it is far from that and I think most people will share the connection with these characters that I did.

I will say though, don't let the pregnancy thing scare you. I'm not a fan of hidden babies but these authors handled that situations so well I was more than okay with it. I've actually never read a book with that plot where I didn't have issues with that before, so these authors did what I thought was the impossible. Bottom line, please read this book! It can be read as a standalone if you haven't tried this series before, though I highly recommend the other books too.