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.

Consumed by Skyla Madi

 Consumed by Skyla Madi

My rating: 4 0f 5 stars

ARC Provided by author in return for an honest review.

What do you get when you take a good girl who has suffered from a broken heart and a sexy, muscled bound womanizer that’s a tattooed MMA fighter? A 4 star hot romance.

Olivia James is unlucky in love.  She’s involved in a six-year relationship with Blade - a cheating, good for nothing loser bastard.  Olivia becomes fed up, decides to dump his cheating ass and declares she is done with love, men and relationships.

Cue in Seth Marc.

He’s a fighter, a man whore with sexy tats, lickable muscles and a self-proclaimed “stubborn, selfish, spoiled and a little too proud” type of guy.  Uhm…bells and whistles should be going off with this dude, Olivia. But, as luck would have it, Seth trains at her dad’s gym.  There is no escape from this bad boy and no chance of her fighting off a strong sexual attraction to him.

Seth can’t seem to tear himself away from Olivia (aka O). He is an enigma – on one hand, confessing he is a commitment phobe, a lothario, who is satisfied with an endless string of one night stands – offering women nothing more than a “wham, bam, thank you ma’am” encounter.  On the other, he’s magnetically drawn to O…. needing to touch her, kiss her, spend any available moment in her presence.  But just as things heat up, and O is determined to give into a one-night stand, Seth pushes her away. WHY?? Because Olivia is a good girl pretending to be bad and Seth refuses to corrupt her.

“Look, you can’t keep holding a grudge against me because I didn’t sleep with you and before your girl brain over-thinks what I’m saying—you’re not ugly, you’re not fat and it’s not because you threw yourself at me….If I let you have me I’m almost certain you wouldn’t be able to handle me….I act like I don’t give a fuck—and most of the time I don’t, but there’s a small portion of me that cares too much and for some reason...you fall into that portion. Don’t ask me why because I have no idea and it has been driving me fucking insane….I can’t have good...because I don’t deserve good.”

Seth, a Casanova with morals, it’s just what O does not need. He cares for Olivia; she brings light into his life, even though he believes he is not worthy of her affections.  Oh Seth, you hunk of  man, you wormed your way into my heart and now hold the top spot of favorite storybook fighter. 

Olivia and Seth manage to work through all their relationship fears, tear down their walls, and fall in love.  Their love carries them through the most difficult of times and grows stronger.  Their love for each other is all consuming.  Seth has truly reformed his ways and is absolutely committed his heart to O…

She affects me and I love it. I love her. When someone affects you so much that you can’t sleep at night without them, you can’t think straight whenever they’re in the room and you’d risk it all for them, you go for it. You take no risks.

I enjoyed reading CONSUMED.  The main characters were lovable and Seth is a swoon worthy bad boy turned one woman lovin’ Romeo. It was so easy to fall in love with him. I would have liked to learn more about his dark past and an explanation as to why he was adamant about not drinking.   Perhaps that will be explored further in the sequel.  Until then, I will be patiently waiting to see what happens next in COMSUMED #2.