Torn by Kim Karr

ARC provided by Kim Karr in exchange for an honest review.

5 HUGE STARS FOR "TORN"

Torn is the perfect sequel…..Really.

The review below contains spoilers for "Connected".

The minute I read the last sentence of “Connected”, I could not wait for “Torn”. I was obsessed.  The last chapter blew my mind, ripped the entire book apart, turn the story upside down and left me craving more… More River, more Ben, more Dahlia and the incessant need to answer the burning question: How does the existence of Ben factor into their lives??  Needless to say, “Torn” has given me the worse case of book hangover I’ve suffered, EVER.  This is not your typical love triangle.  It is a love story about two men who are deeply in love with and fight for the same woman. 

At the end of “Connected”, Dahlia’s phone is ringing…answering a call that will change her world forever.  Dahlia, a woman who has seen enough heart ache to fill several lifetimes, has finally moved beyond the loss of Ben.  She had witnessed his murder, which tore her life apart.  She mourned his death for over two years and is managing to piece a new life together with River.  Continuing her life without her best friend turned fiancée was not easy.  Ben was her rock and has carried her through the emotional trauma of losing both her parents.  The twist in Connected…it turns out Ben is alive, hiding from some really bad people who posed a threat to both himself and Dahlia.  Ben, an investigative reporter, took on a dangerous assignment, which put them both at risk.  Making a selfish decision to put his career before his relationship with Dahlia, he faked his own death and starts his life anew.  When there is no longer the threat of danger, Ben returns to his former life, ready to reclaim Dahl’s heart while disrupting her plans to marry her current fiancée River.  WOW!

River, a hot and damn sexy singer in a rock band, met Dahlia during her college days. The two become reunited and their relationship turns into a full-blown romance. River becomes an important part of Dahlia’s life by helping her move on from darkness to a bright future.   He is her soul mate and protector.  I could feel his undying love for Dahlia throughout the story.  With Ben’s return, River begins to doubt his relationship with Dahlia and fears she will be lost to him forever.  This doubt tears River’s heart. I ached for River and his devotion to Dahlia swelled my heart.  He longs for assurances, longs to believe he is her true love and not a consolation prize. 

“ I love you, Dahlia, I love everything about you.  You’re perfect, really…. And I will love you more, forever.” SWOON!!

He is a white knight, a dream lover and one hell of a sexy beast.  When these two get together, they have some of the most sensual, panty melting, sexual encounters. From a good old fashion backyard banging, to a birthday striptease, their passion is never ending. 

With the return of Ben comes the discovery of his past secrets, his betrayals and how they involve the people in her life.  These secrets have the potential to crush Dahlia.  But, Dahlia is by no means a damsel in distress.  Despite being plagued by so much sadness, she is a strong and determined woman.  She has made her decision as to whom she loves and will continue to spend her life with.   She is not a weak willed, fickle girl who bounces between the hearts of two men.  The man she has chosen to love feeds that strength and helps her to persevere. Dahlia is rock solid.  Her strength is what I loved most and she is one of my most favorite female lead characters.

 

Ben has torn my heart apart.  With the masterful writings of Kim Karr, I abhorred, pitied and adored his character.  I wanted to both strangle and coddle him (at certain times).  I am perplexed as to how I could feel compassion for him. But I did, despite the fact that he is an arrogant, cocky, selfish, lying son-of-a-bitch.  His betrayals are many to both Dahl and his family.  He thinks himself noble, believing his decisions were made with Dahl’s safety in mind... I call BULLSHIT.  Ben had choices and Dahlia was not a priority. And I love…LOVED how she rips into him… calling him out on what he has done.

“Do you have any idea what I’ve been though?  What you put me though?  You died in front of me… you didn’t disappear, Ben – you fucking died in front of my eyes. I saw him – the asshole who shot you. I saw the coroner take your body away.  I went to your God damn funeral… I cried for you, mourned you, missed you. At times I just wanted to die without you…” Love a chick with CAJONES!

But there are times when you see that Ben truly loves Dahl.  A tiny piece of my heart bleeds for him, for he too has suffered losses in this story, mostly by his own self-destructive hands.  I pity Ben for what he did and what he endured.  But make no mistake, he adores Dahl and is persistent in his fight for her love.

“Through everything, after all this time, you need to know…I have never stopped loving you, not for one second…” Ah Ben, you are a conundrum. I both love and hate you.

Both men love Dahlia. Both are loved by Dahlia.  Ben and River, regardless of their faults, believe they have the right to own her heart and will fight for her future.  Following Dahlia’s journey there’s the discovery of which man, either her past or her present love, she surrenders her heart too.  From the pain in Dahlia’s heart comes the beauty in her soul. Torn is truly an exquisite love story.

Price of a Kiss by Linda Kage

Price of a Kiss by Linda Kage

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mason is a gigolo; Reese is a girl on the run from an obsessed ex-boyfriend.  Together, these two college students are the perfect storybook couple. 

Mason, a well-paid man-whore, is forced into his “profession” by his bitch of a landlord, Mrs. Garrison.  The price he pays in order to keep his mom and special needs sister from losing their home and keep bread on the table is to succumb to Garrison’s seduction tactics.  This leads him to work at the local highfalutin country club and establish quite a number of wealthy "cougars" as his clientele.

As you delve into Mason’s life, you find that he is as adorable as he is honorable.  I instantly fell in love with his character as well as his sister, Sarah.  He is young, sexy, and muscular as well as tender, loving, gentle and sweet.  His attraction to the new girl in town and fellow classmate, Reese, is instantaneous.  However, Mason battles his own feelings and urges towards Reese because he could not bare the thought of hurting her – he, in good conscious, could not bare the consequences of how his profession would taint her reputation.  Instead, he settles on friendship, just to have her play a part in his life.  You’re such a sweetheart Mason, sacrificing your own happiness for the girl of your dreams.   

Reese too has feelings for Mason, but battles her own desires as well. Her job as Sarah’s babysitter allows Reese to further develop a friendship with him. As their relationship evolves, she becomes smitten and cares deeply for Mason.  However, she cannot bare the thought of sharing him with other women.  Her yearnings causes great conflict and heartache.

As he sets forth to conquer Reese heart, Mason becomes determined to “retire” from his gigolo ways.  He has never experienced true affection from a woman; sex was just a job with no emotions or passion.  He has tried to keep his distance, to separate himself from Reese, but fails miserably.  He craves a physical relationship that stems from the heart and the object of his desire is Reese. Mason quickly falls under the spell of her charms….

“You’re quirky…and yet conventional. Innocent but worldly. Reserved yet outgoing. Candid yet guarded. Trendy but also practical. And childlike while still managing to be mature. It’s like…you’re the perfect contradiction.”

Mason loves Reese’s beautiful smile, her sense of humor, even her crinkly nose. He is a true romantic.

“…When I looked over and saw you, I knew. You were something different. Something incredible. I knew from that first glance that nothing was ever going to be the same again. You were…a complete game changer…. I wanted to know everything about you.”

Determined to have a life together, both Reese and Mason overcome several obstacles that stand in their way.  From crazy, homicidal ex’s to obsessed horny old broads, they tear down these barriers one by one.  Nothing will ever stand in their way again.

“Price of a Kiss” is a cute love story that leaves you feeling good and believing in the old saying…true love does conquer all….

One to Hold Tia Louise

One to Hold by Tia Louise

My rating 4 of 5 stars

Arc provided by author in exchange for an honest review.

"One to Hold"  is an erotic, quick read filled with hot scenes, characters with troubled pasts, and angst.  We are first introduced to Melissa, a woman we quickly learn is running away from a life filled with misery.  She is a broken woman, with little self-esteem and bares many painful secrets. 

Her refuge is found during a one week spa vacation in AZ.  It is where she meets Derek, a former marine and cop, that is now a private investigator. He is tall, muscular, mysterious and sexy..... Perfect combination for a PI ;) 

Fate has them meeting in a hotel bar, and not long after.... sparks fly, fireworks ignite and these two get busy, everywhere - public places seem to be their specialty. 

Takes a few nights for them to actual consider a bed as an option...As the week draws to a close, these two definitely find themselves falling and falling hard.  All Mel has left are the happy memories Derek gifted her, a note and a floating heart necklace.

"What I would give you. If you hadn't already stolen it."

But, back in the real world.... Melissa must come face-to-face with her problems and trying to find a way to solve them in order to set a path to happiness.  Derek is a constant thought, and Melissa cannot shake the feelings he stirred in her.  But trouble seems to find Melissa, leaving behind heartache to find betrayal.  The road ahead for Derek and Melissa is a bumpy one.  Derek, too, has his secrets, which Melissa soon discovers and shakes her world once again.

The story is a quick read and I would have liked to have seen more time dedicated to their love story; more time for them to fall in love.  There is no cliffhanger and a wonderful HEA..... but perhaps their story can continue.

Tattered Love by Lola Stark

 Tattered Love by Lola Stark

My rating: 4.5 0f 5 stars

ARC Provided by author in return for an honest review.

Every once in a while a book comes along and surprises you by making you laugh, sad, scream, and have heartfelt feelings for the characters.  Added bonus – lots and lots of sizzling hot sex.  “Tattered Love” is that story.

Scarlett (Scar) is a tattoo artist with a bad girl persona.   She is a no-nonsense, foul mouthed, tough kind of girl. Because she has been screwed over so many times in her life, Scar has erected walls around her heart.  But beneath her rough and tough exterior lies a tender girl who just wants to be loved.  Scar longs to find someone who will guard and be true to her heart.

Mace, Scar’s co-worker/good friend’s brother, comes back home from serving a tour of duty overseas in the Special Ops forces.  Upon entering her tattoo shop, he is immediately drawn and attracted to Scar. It isn’t long after that these two get busy EVERYWHERE…the bed, the couch, the shower and my personal favorite – the hood of Scarlett’s ’67 Cobra GT500 –HAWT!  Mace certainly knows how to force his way into a girl’s heart. Scar, he almost took your eye out with his giant schlong - hysterical. How can you not love a man who says, “You have a dirty mouth, need me to fill it again?” HA!

Mace and Scarlett had their fair share of heartache in the past…. so much sadness.  Mace, you had me in tears over Belle and all the loses you suffered. Reading about his tragedies broke my heart.  He carries such a heavy weight on his shoulders, so much guilt for events that were totally out of his control.  The light in his world is Scar.  She manages to lead him out of the darkness and helps release the burdens of his pain. 

Being with Scar had healed me. She took what I was and made it better. What we had in this moment, it was more. This was my love, her love—torn, damaged, broken, ripped apart and put back together. This was our tattered love.

Their relationship becomes rocky with the appearance of Janelle, Mace’s ex.  Janelle is a first class mega psycho bitch.  The drama she causes Scar made me want to scream and wish for a slap down ass whooping.  Mace’s protective instincts kick into high gear, sacrificing his own life to save Scarlett. 

My only critique is that I felt the story could have been a bit longer; getting more involved in Scar’s past. I wanted to know what was written in the letters Scarlett received, what eventually happened to psycho bitch Janelle and learn more about Scar’s strained relationship with her mom.

Regardless, I enjoyed this quick read and following Mace and Scarlett’s passionate journey to their happily ever after.  Mace was an extremely drool worthy romantic hero. (cheesy love letters…how sweet). Looking forward to the next installment of this series.