BOOK REVIEW: Complicated (Secrets and Lies Book 2) by M. M. Koenig

(Note: Make sure you've read Conflicted before reading this one)

SYNOPSIS

Mia Ryan has learned the hard way that her choices can have horrible consequences. Taking an offer that was supposed to get her life back on track was nothing but a ploy. To keep the ones she holds dear safe, she's forced to finish what she started, without any hope of finding out why she was targeted in the first place. Though Mia has Ethan by her side, she can't seem to believe in him, especially since most of his life remains a mystery.

Ethan Fitzgerald has done everything in his power to prove to Mia that she can trust him, but it never seems to be enough to convince her to drop the last wall around her heart. With deep and dark secrets lurking around every corner, he has his own plan to keep Mia from any danger, but it may just shatter their love forever.

There are so many questions – with even more shocking answers – and when Mia uncovers the truth, nothing will ever be the same...

MY REVIEW

 
*An ecopy of the book was graciously given by the author in exchange for an honest review*

M. M. Koenig managed to sustain my interest in the first book and I just have to say that this second book just floored me. I was breathless with the turn of events, and constantly flipping pages to keep up with the suspense. The revelations in this book were totally unexpected yet utterly interesting. There were more characters and a whole lot of action but Miss Koenig still managed to ground the suspense with the right amount of steamy love and romance.

“I needed something to quiet the voices in my head that continued to dwell on where things stood with Ethan.”

Mia unveiled a lot of mysteries in this book. I love the spunk of this woman. She was intelligent but she was affectionate and selfless as well. Miss Koenig definitely blew me away with this character. In this book, Mia struggles with trusting Ethan as he left her hours after she told him she loved him. This shook her world, reminded by how painful it was to be loved and be left. Nevertheless, Mia half-heartedly fulfilled Ethan’s plead to trust him that he will come back and that he needed space. She expanded her understanding with a love for him that delved into a deeper part of her that no one has ever touched. Mia unleashed an inner strength and determination in this book that drove her into trouble. Faced with the most important mysteries in her life, Mia started having flashbacks of her past that forced her to resolve them, diving into trouble without knowing what she’s going to find.

“I won’t give up on us. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure from this day forward that you know how much I need you in my life.”

A softer side of Ethan was shown in this book and I totally loved it. I loved journeying into his life as he painfully yet wholeheartedly exposed his past to Mia. I felt a surge of tenderness when he took her into parts of his life with the intention of keeping her there. But Ethan was still struggling with his own secrets, keeping them from Mia in sheer belief that it will keep her safe. And the more he tried to keep her safe, the more she put herself in danger.

“All I’ve wanted to do since I discovered the truth is protect you. I can’t lose you.”

The plot of this book thickens with the jampacked revelations of the characters’ pasts. I loved the thrill of not knowing what will happen next and what fact I will find out after being blown away by a previous one. M. M. Koenig still maintained the steam with the complicated romance between Ethan and Mia. Trust was rebuilt, passion was rekindled, and their love for each other went into greater extents. In this book, most of the lies were settled. And this leaves me clamouring and aching for the third book! I can’t wait to see how this story will end!

“And just so you know...I love you.”

BOOK REVIEW: Conflcted (Secrets and Lies Book 1) by M. M. Koenig

 

SYNOPSIS:

Mia Ryan was on the path to make all her dreams come true. Her life was everything she wanted it to be; until one fateful night changed everything – leaving her broken and without direction. Nearly a year later, she still has little faith in anyone or anything. Desperate to reclaim her life’s ambition, she takes an unexpected offer that promises to solve all her problems. But as Mia moves forward, she’s faced with obstacles she couldn’t have foreseen. The biggest of them lies within the mystery of Ethan Fitzgerald; a man who affects her like no other, but who she should avoid pursuing, at all costs.

On a mission himself, Ethan Fitzgerald didn’t care who he pissed off on his road to fulfill his mother’s dying wish. He relied on himself, and was closed off to the world around him – until Mia Ryan walked through his door. Normally one to avoid messy emotions, Ethan’s world is turned upside down by Mia, and he can’t seem to get enough of her.

There are lines you can cross that will change the course of your life forever …

MY REVIEW:

4 stars

*An ecopy of the book was graciously given by the author in exchange for an honest review*


I’m not the one to root for a romantic suspense but it’s hard not to like this book! M. M. Koenig knows how to set each page with fire and intrigue that will place every reader in a nonstop read-a-thon. The plot was unpredictable and deliciously tarnished with a mixture of emotions and suspense that will satisfy a reader’s taste for a heart-stopping romance. Her writing prose was a thick breath of sophisticated genius that will take you inside the book and make you feel each part of it.

I loved the dynamics of the characters in the story. The secondary ones (I totally loved Bri and Trey, even Jackson and Shane!) were a thrill and a source of entertainment throughout the book. M. M. Koenig sure knows how to keep readers intrigued with each character she builds.

“I'd be lying if I said I was fine, but the truth is that I'll live."

Mia Ryan was an interesting mix of sophistication, intelligence, angst, and mystery. I loved exploring her mind and drowning in her words. M. M. Koenig did a flawless and thorough job in writing her mind. Mia was a woman driven by the need to put her life back on track after having it crashed by her ex boyfriend. Expelled from school and left broken by the love of her life, Mia sought strength to move forward. So when she was called by an opportunity that could haul her up to a position on one of the most influential magazines, Mia grabbed the opportunity. Only, she didn’t know that that opportunity included a drop-dead handsome and smart businessman...

“Your mouth pushes my buttons more than anything.”

Ethan Fitzgerald’s initial impact was mindblowing. I didn’t see that one coming. I guess this is what I get for not reading the teaser but my, I didn’t regret it because I loved the thrill of his appearance. Ethan was a puzzle that I totally loved exploring in this book. He exudes an aura of dominance and authority yet manages to send tingles on my heart when he surprises me with his sweet nothings and time to time softness. I would admit getting really pissed off with his bossiness at times I’ll reserve my emotions until I’ve finished the whole story.

"I've never seen myself or my life more clearly than I have when I'm with you, so maybe the secret to my life has always been you.”

Together, they were a couple sparked by instant attraction but distanced by their own secrets and lies that are meant to keep each other safe, but always threatens to keep them apart. The tug and pull between Mia and Ethan has kept me craving for more of them!

COVER REVEAL & EXCERPT: Forbidden Nights by Lauren Blakely

It's here! The cover for Lauren Blakely's next title in her Seductive Nights Series, FORBIDDEN NIGHTS, is here and it's a beauty! We are thrilled to get to share it with you today. But first, we want to share just a little bit about Lauren Blakely and a taste of FORBIDDEN NIGHTS with you. Lauren Blakely is well known for writing sexy, heartfelt and humorous contemporary romance as well as deeply emotional new adult stories -- one commonality in all her books is the scorching hot sexy times. And this book is absolutely no different! Nate Harper and Casey Sullivan have some thrilling moments together.

And… we have a surprise for you!

FORBIDDEN NIGHTS will release on February 17^th!

That’s a full month earlier than originally planned! So you will get to experience Nate and Casey and all of their sexy and heartfelt moments together even sooner! Still dying to get your hands on this smoking couple? Here's a little taste for you from Lauren Blakely:

“Just relax and let me lead,” he said, whispering in her ear, a waft of her citrus scent drifting by his nostrils. She shivered briefly against him, and that nearly did him in. He stayed strong, swaying gently, guiding her in slow, sensuous moves. “I’ll show you how to let go, but you have to trust me. And that’s where it starts. I can show you how good it will feel when you give up control.”

She breathed in sharply, like she was acclimating to new air on a distant planet. “Why do men like a woman to give up a control? What is it about the lack of control that men like so much?”

“It’s not that they like a lack of control. They want a woman who wants to give herself to him. He wants a woman to melt into his arms, to get aroused from a kiss on the back of her neck,” he said, and traced a fingertip gently under her hair, watching her reaction as she drew in a breath. “It’s the hand on her arm,” he said, now trailing his fingers down her bare skin to her elbow as he leaned in to whisper. “Or warm breath near her ear.” She gasped, and he kept going. “He wants a woman who’s so turned on, she’ll nearly beg for it. He wants her abandon. He wants to be the only one to make her feel that way.”

She parted her lips to speak, but he shushed her with his fingertip against her lips. God, he was so tempted to let her suck on his finger right now, to watch her simulate a blow job, to let her show him what she could do. But that would come later. He needed to kiss her first.

That is, after he teased her...

Are you as excited as we are about this book?!

And now, here's the fabulous cover for FORBIDDEN NIGHTS!

 

 Cover created by Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations

ABOUT FORBIDDEN NIGHTS: A smoldering and sensual standalone romance novel in the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Seductive Nights Series by Lauren Blakely... Sinfully sexy hotel CEO Nate Harper knows exactly how to please a woman. He’s equally skilled in keeping his heart safe from the kind of hurt his ex inflicted on him years ago. But one thing he’s not so good at what-so-ever is getting his mind and all his dirty thoughts off the gorgeous, outgoing, and absolutely captivating Casey Sullivan, the new head of the Joy Delivered company. They’ve been friends for years now, and Casey trusts Nate completely. So it makes perfect sense to her to ask him for hands-on guidance when she finds herself in need of some of his romantic expertise. The trouble is, his heart may be signing up for more than it bargained for when he agrees to help her learn to abandon her need for control in the bedroom. Because as she experiences what it means to let go, he’ll start to experience what it means to feel again… But what happens when all those forbidden nights turn into a deeper connection that’s much more than either bargained for? *FORBIDDEN NIGHTS is a standalone full-length novel in the bestselling SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS series following the love affair of Nate and Casey. You can read it on its own, but you would likely enjoy the other books too.*

 

Read all about FORBIDDEN NIGHTS and the Seductive Nights Series HERE!

Pre-Order Your Copy Of FORBIDDEN NIGHTS coming February 17^thNow!

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About Lauren Blakely: 

 Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Caught Up in Love, Seductive Nights, and Fighting Fire. She recently released Nights With Him, a standalone novel in her New York Times Bestselling Seductive Nights series that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her next book in that series is Forbidden Nights, releasing in early 2015. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign).

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BOOK REVIEW: Loving Mr. Daniels by Brittainy C. Cherry

To Whom it May Concern,

It was easy to call us forbidden and harder to call us soulmates. Yet I believed we were both. Forbidden soulmates.

When I arrived to Edgewood, Wisconsin I didn’t plan to find him. I didn't plan to stumble into Joe's bar and have Daniel's music stir up my emotions. I had no clue that his voice would make my hurts forget their own sorrow. I had no idea that my happiness would remember its own bliss.

When I started senior year at my new school, I wasn’t prepared to call him Mr. Daniels, but sometimes life happens at the wrong time for all the right reasons.

Our love story wasn’t only about the physical connection.

It was about family. It was about loss. It was about being alive. It was silly. It was painful. It was mourning. It was laughter.

It was ours.

And for those reasons alone, I would never apologize for loving Mr. Daniels.

-Ashlyn Jennings

It's already typical for me not to expect anything when I try out an author’s book for the first time.  Even if Loving Mr. Daniels was recommended by someone whose taste in books I really trust, I still tried hard not to expect too much. But hell, this book just totally floored me. I am utterly in love with this story.

Ms. Brittainy Cherry’s writing prose is so refreshing, like a newly found breath of fresh air. I loved the way she told the tale, sweetly but very intelligently. She waved a huge amount of feelings towards me and had me stuck and noting her beautiful twists of words. I found myself quoting a lot of words...okay, fine. I quoted half of the word count of the book. When I really thought I've read all kinds of words in a book, Miss Brittainy showed me she held more.

Her characters are profoundly addicting and unique. They were perfectly broken people but to me they were a beautiful work of art. I loved that they were patterned from real people and were never romanticized. They pained hard, they cried hard, and faced the crap of life like real people. Ryan was my favourite secondary character. He made me cry so hard. His wit, his love, his humor, and the sunshine he brought despite the storm in him made me love the crap out of hm. 

            Beautiful.

            Breathtaking.

            Brilliant.

            Blue eyes.

Daniel Daniels has placed himself up to my top ten favourite heroes. He exudes an aura of an attractive kind of mystery, wit, and softness. When he spoke, you’d want to listen to every word and drown yourself in the ocean of his mind. In all honesty, I really thought I was sure I already knew what character he would turn out to be when I first encountered him. He was smart, into music, and handsome in the most subtly rugged, romeo-ish way. But my, Danny shocked my core when he showed me Mr. Daniels. And I loved him more.

I was one hundred percent Ashlyn Jennings.

And I was one hundred percent his.

           

            Ashlyn Jennings was a really interesting character. I loved exploring her. I loved and admired her strength and her weaknesses, her tears and her laughs, her love and her hate, her loyalty and her courage, her intelligence and her mistakes...everything. She was a really relatable character. Journeying with her in this story was affective and really influential. She touched my soul.

            Ashlyn: Do you know what I like about you so far?

            Daniel: What’s that?

            Ashlyn: Everything.

Ashlyn and Daniel had to be one of my favourite book couples. They weren’t an exact replica of a reader’s fantasy couple of perfection, power, fame, and sophistication. They were the exact opposite—imperfect, troubled, broken, hurt, real—but they rendered me with the kind of love that I never had in other books. I loved that they were imperfect but made everything feel perfect. Their love wasn’t based in mere attraction. It went into an insurmountable depth of real love and acceptance. They don’t just love, they repaired. They don’t just make each other happy, they give each other a form of contentment and an endless dance of true love.

This story has touched my heart and soul. It took my heart into a sing-song harmony of feelings; subtle, then a little sad, rising up into a higher note of tears, a refrain of interesting character engagement, to shouting choruses of unexpected events, and ending with a phenomenal, heart-melting bang.

If you think Shakespeare wasn’t sexy, this story will change your mind.

Promise, promise.

Kennedy Ryan's HUMP DAY + GIVEAWAY!

Happy Hump Day! Every Wednesday in January, Kennedy Ryan will offer some giftiness to celebrate her upcoming release, BE MINE FOREVER, on February 3! Today's gift? Starbucks! Use the rafflcopter below to enter!

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Coming this February 3!

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BOOK REVIEW: One to Leave (One to Hold #4) by Tia Louise

Some demons can't be shaken off.
Some wounds won't heal.

Until a pair of hazel eyes knocks you on your ass, and you realize it's time to stop running.

WARNING: Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and elements of erotic romance, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. (M/F) #SexyCowboys

Tia Louise has successfully pinned me on this series since book 1. And I was sure I was totally hooked and addicted when I finished One to Love, the last book before One to Leave. Although this book can be read as a stand-alone novel, I’d strongly suggest you start with One to Hold because man, you’ll be missing a lot if you don’t start with Derek.

Stuart had been a constant mysterious character since One to Hold. When he gifted us with his holy-hotness appearance in One to Love, I was definitely sure I’d save as many horses as I can to ride this cowboy. Haha! The instant connection he had with Mariska in One to Love had me clamouring for their story. And everything I wanted was there. Except maybe that I wanted MORE.

Stuart Knight was ruined by a traumatic experience that led him back to Montana. The after-effects of that event significantly damaged him, making him live a life of living hell. He was out of the job but he was back into that painful memory every night, causing him to resort to opium. He was lost and he thought he will never find his way back. He was damaged and he assumed he will never be repaired. He was in severe pain and he thought opium was his only solace. Well, not until Mariska Heron entered his life.

Mariska was an interesting character. She was a fun, free-spirited woman with a gift. When she met Stuart, she felt an instantly strong connection towards the man. A connection, on which she thought, was pure attraction. But one day, that connection went deeper—-she started having his dreams. Mariska thought that there was a reason behind it and she wanted to heal him, bring him solace, and help him forget the past. And she would do anything to reach and help him...even hitching with people she barely knew.

I loved the spark between Stuart and Mariska. There was an unspoken passion between the two of them that kept me hooked throughout the book. There’s nothing better than a wounded hero being healed by true love and affection. The tug and push heightened my anticipation until the very first kiss. And my, I felt a loud explosion when I finally read the very first scene that they touched each other! That was hot. Like totally hot hot hot.

What I really loved about this was that Tia Louise still managed to spice it up with humor and wit even if the story was placed in a more serious tone than the others. The exchange of words were entertaining, the prose was gripping, and the characters were hard-to forget. You’ll just want more of them!

This is yet again another Tia Louise spell that will keep readers rooting for more of her works!

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: When I Fall (Alabama Summer #3) by J. Daniels

Title: When I Fall

Series: Alabama Summer #3

Author: J Daniels

Cover Design: Cover It Designs

 Release Date: March 2015

From NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author, J. Daniels

Book three in the Alabama Summer series.

***Author’s note*** When I Fall can be read as a standalone novel.

For the past nine years, I’ve kept my heart as far away from my dick as possible.

Those two can’t be anywhere near each other. They don’t play nice, and one of them undoubtedly winds up getting hurt.

Not my dick. My dick is good.

The women I take home know exactly what they’re getting from me—sex. Nothing more. At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen. The sweet brunette from Kentucky I set my sights on tonight shouldn’t have been any different. I had her right where I wanted her. Where I needed her. But when my past comes walking into McGill’s pub, the woman in my arms decides to take things to a whole new level, putting me into a situation I never saw coming.

My heart is about to get fucked. My dick can sit this one out.

*** Warning: This book is recommended for readers over the age of 18 due to strong language and explicit sexual content.

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#1 Where I Belong

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#2 All I Want

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J. Daniels was born and raised in Maryland.

After putting her kids to bed, she escapes into her cheeky world where some of her characters kiss, and some of them do a lot more than kiss.

She is an avid reader and enjoys everything from unconventional romance to fantasy novels.

 

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