Get Bent (Hard Rock Roots-Book 2) by CM Stunich

Get Bent picks up pretty much as soon as Real Ugly finishes off. The tour continues for the guys, but hell, how do they go on without Naomi…  and Hayden (Amatory Riot’s lead singer who is MIA)?

“Naomi Knox is missing.

I don't even fucking know whether she's dead or alive.

What I do know is that she's the air I need to breathe.

She's my redemption, an all consuming fire that burns in my blood.

And I'll do anything to find her. Anything. Even if it means the end for me.

& & &

Turner Campbell is searching.

But he has no fucking clue what it is he's searching for.

There's darkness all around and enough secrets to choke.

There are angels, and there are devils. It's impossible to tell them apart.

Light needs to be shone on the truth, but there's no one left to hold the torch. The line between life and death is blurred, and the players are all thoroughly entrenched in the game. The question is: am I still one of them?”

Review

Get Bent tells the story of Turner Campbell understanding his love for Naomi Knox, and his need to have her in his life.  He tries to uncover the mystery of what happened to her, and in order to do this, he needs a clear head.  So the drug fucked man whoring rock star starts sobering up, and tries to make himself worthy of Naomi’s love.

Get Bent follows the trials and tribulations of solving the mysteries surrounding Naomi, all the while keeping her spirit alive, and the tour rocking!  Turner despises secrets, but unfortunately he becomes embroiled in many in this story.  He will do anything to prove himself.  Naomi eventually returns but her return is shrouded in secrecy, of the life and death kind.

If you loved Real Ugly, Get Bent is a must read.  It takes on you a journey of self discovery, love, and the crazy shit that people do – it also reminds us that our actions have consequences and will usually end up biting us in the arse when we least expect it, no matter how long its been!

I can’t go into details in this review, because spoilers would be bad bad bad…  but lets just say, this has a nice interim ending, its not the same cliff hanger experience as Real Ugly, but hell there are still so many questions hanging out there to be answered…..

Book 3 is coming, that’s what CM Stunich tells us – well, all I can say is it better fucking hurry up – because I seriously need to know what, why and how…….to so many things!

Oh and I really want to see Naomi and Turner with their true HEA.  As unlikeable as these characters are, they are just as loveable in their own flawed and perfect for each other way!

Thank you for a story without an ounce of predictability
in an over told genre…
I LOVED THEM!!!

Links

Get Bent 

Amazon.com ~ Goodreads ~ Nook

CM Stunich

Facebook ~ Website ~ Goodreads

Real Ugly (Hard Rock Roots-Book 1) by CM Stunich

Ummm….  Ok….  Ummmm   HOLY FUCK!  That’s about the extent of my review!   

Day’s after finishing, and I am still picking my jaw up off the floor!

No no – really, I’ll give a little bit more than that!

Ok so in Real Ugly, we go on tour with Indecency and their numerous support acts.  Their headline support act is Amatory Riot.  Lead Singer for Indecency is Turner Campbell, Lead guitarist in Amatory Riot is Naomi Knox.  Real Ugly is essentially their story.

Let me start by saying this book is RAW.  It is full of sex, drugs, profanity and hell, anything else that a rock star might indulge in. Do not read this if you want hearts and flowers – you have been warned!

Turner is so drug fucked pretty much every day that he has no idea of names and faces…yet Naomi triggers something in him!  BUT...  He hates her with a passion, and this is because he spends his life demanding respect, and she doesn’t give it to him in any way shape or form!

Naomi likes to dabble in all things that accompany the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, she is hard, passionate, and rough… and she absolutely hates Turner Campbell!

Considering how much they hate each other – when they are near each other the chemistry is intense, combustible and holy cow!

“Turner Campbell is an asshole.I fucking hate him.But I can't get enough either.He sings like an angel and fucks like a devil.If I could, I'd run away and never look back because to tell you the truth, I think this man might be the death of me. 

***

Naomi Knox is a bitch.I can't fucking stand her.But I can't stop thinking about her either.She looks like an angel and plays like a devil.If I could, I'd fuck her good and forget all about her, but to tell you the truth, I think this woman might be my last saving grace.”

Ok, so that little snippet gives you a taste of how brutal this book is!  

Naomi and Turner have history, only Turner doesn’t know about it nor does he remember their encounters.  This is what drives Naomi’s hatred for him.  Not that he doesn’t remember, but his actions at the time.

Anyway – this book is a love/hate story which explodes with a plot twist, the kind that in my perfect world Shemar Moore from Criminal Minds would investigate (just saying!)  Really though the twist is well..... pretty twisted!  And it keeps those pages turning without any worry.

Just be careful, if you take up the challenge and read Real Ugly, you will see that it is exactly that, real ugly, and it comes with a cliff hanger that has you going – what the fuck!  Don’t leave it here – NOOOOOOOOO!   It's also in print – CM Stunich does not apologise for the ending – just chalks it up to a ‘real ugly’ life experience!

I easily give Real Ugly 4 1/2 Hearts...

Links

Real Ugly

Amazon.com ~ Goodreads ~ Nook

CM Stunich

Facebook ~ Website ~ Goodreads

Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan

Book Blurb

“If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…”

I’m only twenty-one and already damaged goods. A slut. A failure. A disappointment to my picture-perfect family as long as I can remember. I called off my wedding to William Bailey, the only man who thought I was worth fixing. A year later, he’s marrying my sister. Unless I ask him not to…

“If you shatter, I’ll find you…”

But now there’s Asher Logan, a broken man who sees the fractures in my façade and doesn’t want to fix me at all. Asher wants me to stop hiding, to stop pretending. Asher wants to break down my walls. But that means letting him see my ugly secrets and forgiving him for his. 

With my past weighing down on me, do I want the man who holds me together or the man who gives me permission to break?

Review

So this book had me hooked from the start.  It was one of those stories that I connected with and needed to see where it went. So I started it in the afternoon and at 3am when my eyelids were winning the battle to close, I thought I would have to finish it the next morning.  As luck would have it, I was ever determined, and I won.  Unbreak me was read in less than a day!

So given I was that hooked, what was it that hooked me?  More like what didn’t hook me!

Well hell, who couldn’t love Asher!  He is the gorgeous rockstar with baggage (so much baggage!) and a heart of gold, also with great perception and understanding.  

We have Maggie, the black sheep of the family who only knows how to function by being free with her body, but keeping her mind and heart protected.  She is clearly a troubled soul who acts as she believes is expected of her.  Her life experiences form who she becomes, but the unexpected events that unfold leaving her making decisions that affect every aspect of her, and others lives.

We have William, Maggie’s first real love, that knows much of her story, and cares enough to fix her…  but with Maggie continuing to break, she leaves William behind (like literally, two days before she is due to marry him!).  William finds comfort in Maggie’s sister – but never gets over his love for Maggie.

With these dynamics, it is easy to see why ever page pretty much turned itself.  Maggie is so very broken, and Asher was the perfect man to come into her life and try to help her heal.  Asher is that little bit older, had already lived a life full of drama which helped him read between the lines with Maggie. These two were steamy together!

I loved that not one of the main characters in this book was perfect.  They all had flaws, which made them so much more relatable.  The situations that the story presented really unpacked how early life experiences can have such a profound effect on who we are to become, and how we form our relationships with our family, friends and new acquaintances.   I truly believe that it was this message that connected so deeply with me.  I mean it get it.  I get Maggie, and I so wanted her to get herself. For her to see that she was someone who was lovable.  But in order for that to happen her story of self destruction needed to unfold.

The old mantra of “if you hear something often enough, you start to believe it yourself” is definitely an apt fit for poor Maggie, it was such a joy to see her story go full circle, with the aid of Asher.   

My only criticism of this story was the epilogue.  The end was so picture perfect that it left me flat. There was emotional drama on top of drama throughout this whole story, but as we got to the HEA – it was TOO perfect!  I mean I get that these characters deserve their HEA, my goodness, Maggie so deserves her time, but my heart had been in knots for the whole book, and then it was like…that’s it? Really? *sigh*!  

Don’t get me wrong – this is a recommended read.  I loved it, I felt it, I thought the author’s tone and style was great, I loved the multiple POV's that it was told from, I loved the intrinsic character links which all led Maggie to her realisation.  I hated characters with a passion for their manipulation and abuse of power…. There was SO much to love about this story!

Had the epilogue been just as intense, I easily would
have rated this one higher!
Lexi Ryan, I love your style, and I am easily a new fan!

Links

Unbreak Me

Goodreads ~ Amazon (US) ~ Amazon (UK) ~ Nook

Lexi Ryan

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Website ~ Amazon

Stripped by Jasinda Wilder

Grab it at Amazon

Synopsis:

So how did I get myself into this situation, you ask? Simple: desperation. When you're faced with being homeless and hungry or taking off your clothes for money, the choice is easier than you'd imagine. That doesn't make it easy, though. Oh no. I hate it, in fact. There's nothing I'd like more than to quit and never go into another bar again, never hear the techno beat pulsing in my ears again, never feel the lecherous gazes of horny men again. 

Then, one day, I meet a man. He's in my club, front and center. He watches me do my routine, and his gaze is full of hunger. Not the kind of desire I'm used to though. It's something different. Something hotter, deeper, and more possessive. I know who he is; of course I do. Everyone knows who Dawson Kellor is. He's People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive. He's the hottest actor in Hollywood. He's the man hand-picked for the role of Rhett Butler in the long-awaited remake of Gone With the Wind.  

He's the kind of man who can have any woman in the entire world with a mere crook of his finger. So what's he doing looking at me like he has to have me? And how do I resist him when he looks at me with those intoxicating, changeable, quicksilver eyes? 

I'm a virgin, and he's an American icon of male sexuality. I'm a stripper, and he's a man used to getting anything and everything he wants. And he wants me. I know I should say no, I know he's the worst kind of player…but what my mind knows, my body and my heart may not. 

And then things get complicated.

Review 

Having reviewed Falling Into You, I am a definite fan of Jasinda Wilder’s work.  I have a number of her books on my TBR and cannot wait to get to them!

Having the opportunity to review Stripped as an ARC, had me almost salivating!  What a story idea, Grey, daughter of a Baptist Church Pastor with inflexible views of anything outside of the faith, heading off to become a virginal stripper!  Oh the places this story could go!

A bit of background.  Grey’s identity in her home town of Macon is that of the off limits pastors daughter.  She loves to dance, but her father views this as sinful.  Her mum, who is her best friend, helps her find herself, by supporting Grey to explore her love of dance and the arts.  Grey also becomes a fan of film making and has a natural talent in dance and expression through film.

The story unfolds as events take a turn for the worse in Grey’s life, and she leaves home to head for college, against the wishes of her father.  As a result of her desire to follow this path, he basically disowns her and she has to make it on her own.  Luckily Mum helped her with her applications and she got a scholarship for tuition, room and board.  

Then the money runs out….   

What else is a girl with no employment skills and no money to do – well she can dance….  

So the only job she can get is at a seedy ‘gentlemens’ club as a stripper!  Grey feels great shame at this employment, but has no alternative.  

Lucky she meets Dawson at the club…..

Grey also manages to get an internship at a film production company, and gets assigned to be an assistant to a huge movie star….  Yep …. Dawson….

The relationship build between Grey and Dawson is essentially a game of catch and kiss.  He catches her, kisses her, she runs away for him to catch her again!  It’s a cycle.  The premise of this, is that Grey’s feelings for Dawson scare her because a) she is a virgin and he is a sex god movie star and b) they are sinful.   

Dawson has a playboy/bad boy image and reputation, but he seems determined to give that all up for Grey.  I’ll stop there with the recount, because it’s no fun when there are spoilers!! 

I really struggled to write this review because I wanted to love this story so, so much and I just didn’t! I found no emotional connection with the characters at all.  Nothing!  Grey was gray …  and almost one dimensional.  For a character that has SO MUCH potential to connect with the reader, so many layers within her character waiting to be explored..  she just seemed superficial.  Her innocence and naivety was not believable, her sexuality was a contradiction which confused me. I mean I think I understand that it was intended to be a contradiction, because she was viewed as an innocent but highly sensual being, but it didn’t work.  And, I’m sorry but her sexual journey… wow – really? Sensual or not, I am not sure I buy the pace at which she excelled at and explored this activity! 

Dawson was the same for me…  sure he was movie star sexy, and loaded… but his character, which had so much potential also fell flat.  He was a troubled star, and we caught a glimpse of his life before fame, and his rationale behind his actions…. But it felt like it was words on a page, not an emotional story to be told.  His dominant behaviours conflicted with the thought that he needed Grey to be dominate and assertive, it seemed like confused character traits.

The biggest disappointment in this story for me was the nature of the jumping storyline and narrative. There are massive time gaps with no lead in to this.  I could give many examples but these would mean spoilers, the best way I could explain it would be: end of chapter is present day, start of next chapter story continues but you find out it is 1 year later.  I found that these time jumps also occurred with significant storylines, that had they been further explored would have given the characters more depth. Instead I was left going “what?” “So what happened with this?  When was that meant to happen?”  

It seemed like this was intentional to ensure nothing detracted from Grey and Dawson’s story – only these elements were all a part of their story, and what made them, them.

The only thing I could put my disappointment down to, was maybe this story was written in a hurry. It was like, start at the start age 15 for Grey, and BOOM – happy ever after before you know it!

It sucks that I have to do this to one of Jasinda’s books, because I think she is super awesome and creative, but.. it's a 2 1/2 heart read for me.

Stripped Bare by Susan Mac Nicol

Alright…  this was my very first gay romance.  Same sex coupling is not my personal preference, but when I was asked to review this book – I thought what the hell!

So I gave Stripped Bare a go.  

This is the story of Matthew and Shane, and here is the blurb…

After two years, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He's steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to care about him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far gone he already is. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who’s broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.

This story goes full circle and is filled with drama, mystery, violence, and sex!  Lots of sex!  The author has the ability to draw you in very quickly.  I was hooked by the time I was 10% in, and by that stage, this book could have been about a heterosexual or a homosexual romance – it made no difference whatsoever. 

Stripped Bare was a story full of fun, compassion, and challenging stereotypes.  It covers the very serious issue of homophobia and hate, as well as embracing the far nicer side of human nature - that of acceptance.  In order to reach the HEA there was a journey that needed to be taken, that wasn’t always comfortable.

I enjoyed the banter between the primary and secondary characters, however at times it seemed a little contrived.  Unfortunately the ending was somewhat predictable, but that said – it was not disappointing. The emotions that were canvassed throughout the later chapters were very real, and left you cheering for Matthew and Shane.

The sex scenes in this story are descriptive and detailed, but with a sensuality that does not make sex between two men confronting (if its not your usual cup of tea!)

I enjoyed Susan Mac Nicol’s style of writing, this was an easy read with complex elements that didn’t overwhelm you!

I am glad I popped my virgin gay romance cherry on stripped bare!

Links

Susan Mac Nicol

Amazon ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

Stripped Bare

Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Nook

Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters

I stumbled across this author on Facebook, and the opportunity to review this debut story as an ARC came my way.  In the name of full disclosure – Pepper is a fellow Aussie – one who I do not know, but am glad Facebook has given me the chance to connect with her and led me to Tears of Tess.

I truly wish her the best with all of her success!

Tears of Tess:

A New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and nonconsensual sex. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough.

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.  Then it all changed.

I was sold.”

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility. 

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror. 

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

I must confess that as I started reading this book, my mind kept drawing comparisons to CJ Roberts 'Captive in the Dark'.  I wondered how this would in fact compare.  I was pleased to find out that while the subject matter was similar (ie: human trafficking) these books are very very different.  

I loved Pepper’s style of writing, her character development and relationship intricacies were well spun in a story that I found gripping – I was championing Tess all the way, no matter which direction her mind, heart or body took her.   Her spunk and spirit throughout this story and her brutal honesty with herself, made her a very strong female character that through tragedy grew into an amazing young woman, confident in her decisions.

Oh and by the by – the sex – HOT HOT HOT!!!  If you like that side of things…  I guess it worked for me (whoops!  Did i say that out loud!!)

Thank You Pepper Winters, for introducing me to Tess, a strong woman, who takes what she needs, even in the face of great adversity.  

Thank you for a story that I had to find out the end too, so pulled a marathon session to finish it before my eyes shut for the night!  

Thank you for making someone so broken, but who was capable of compassion and love in a way that fits their imperfect mould perfectly.  

And thank you for enticing me with the thought of Karma and the future – I for one cannot wait for that bitch to come knocking on some doors!

Tears of Tess is a 4.5 star read!

Book Trailer

Links

Tears of Tess 

(Due out 6 September 2013, with a chance of an early release!)

 Goodreads

Pepper Winters

 Goodreads ~ Facebook

The Voyeur by Kay Jaybee

I am not to sure how to review The Voyeur, but here goes...  

Here’s the blurb to get your head in the right space…


A contemporary erotic novel with mixed themes including m/f, f/f, BDSM, menage, sex in public and voyeurism.

Wealthy businessman and committed voyeur, Mark Parker, has a list of 13 fantasies he is intent on turning into reality. Travelling between his London flat, his plush Oxfordshire mansion, and Discreet, his favourite BDSM club; Mark is helped to realise his imaginatively dark erotic desires by two loyal members of his staff –his personal assistant, Anya Grant, and his housekeeper, Clara Hooper.

Upon the backs of his willing slaves, Mark has written out his fantasy list in thick red pen. Only Fantasy 12 awaits the tick of completion against their flesh before Mark’s ultimate fantasy – Fantasy 13 – can take place.

But have the girls performed well enough to succeed in the final challenge? And what hold does Bridge’s gentleman’s club, Anya’s previous employer and a place she was delighted to escape from, have over Mark?

In order to find out, the girls are going to have to face some of the fantasies they thought they had left behind them all over again.

So the blurb pretty much covers the story to a tee.  There is not much more that can be added to fill the background, except to say that much of the story revolves around Anya and Clara, and their relationship with each other, as well as Mark.

This tale is definitely an erotic one.  For me, the writing is ok – not literary brilliance, but certainly contained the ability to tell a story.  On the most part, the story takes you on the journey with Mark and his voyeuristic need.  I was torn between deciding if I was reading an erotic story with depth that allows you to attach yourself to the characters, or an erotic story that contained highly sexual scenes.  

I think the author touched on both sides, without making a clear delineation for one or the other, and this made the story a touch disappointing.

I will confess, my preference is not for same sex coupling in stories, but when done well, it makes no difference.  I am not sure I felt the extent of the emotional connection between Anya and Clara, and therefore this part of the story didn't really work for me.  

I also like to observe human behaviour, so The Voyeur definitely gave me the opportunity to do some of that.  Some of the fantasies as they played out, certainly were confronting and it was a challenge for me to read the story as it was and not sit in judgement of a fetish or sexual preference, because it wasn't my preference. However the writing of these scenes achieved it means, and many of them were.....phoarrrr!    

There were elements of the writing though that left me a little… hmm… eh!  There were references that just left me cold, and I thought they were an odd choice by the author.  Not enough to ruin the story, but enough to distract me from it!

The Voyeur certainly peaks with Fantasy 13, and it is a ride that you can’t help but go along with.  I didn’t not like the Voyeur, but it is probably not one that I would recommend to my friends if they wanted to get their heart pumping!  Definitely an acquired taste!

It gets 2 1/2 hearts from me!

Links

The Voyeur on 

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Kay Jaybee on

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Facebook