Novel Review: Fighting Dirty (Ultimate, #4) by Lori Foster

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Books

Release Date: February 2016

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Goodreads Synopsis:

He's the hottest MMA fighter in the game, but one woman is ready to try out a few steamy moves of her own in an unforgettable new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster...

With the life he's led and the muscles he's gained, Armie Jacobson isn't afraid of anything. Except maybe Merissa Colter's effect on him. It's not just that she's his best friend's little sister. Fact is, she deserves better. Women pursue him for one night of pleasure, and that's all he wants to offer. Until rescuing Merissa from a robbery leads to the most erotic encounter of his life.

Good girl meets bad boy. It's a story that rarely ends well. But Merissa is taking matters into her own hands. No matter how he views himself, the Armie she knows is brave, honorable and completely loyal. And as past demons and present-day danger collide, they're both about to learn what's truly worth fighting for…

The Cover:

Hot. That's what this cover is. And it's very well done. The dark intensity, and the bright green in contrast. I'm a fan.

Review:

It’s been a while since I’ve read any of Foster, since the last couple weren’t very good. I needed a break. But now it seems that she’s gotten back to her high point, and I really enjoyed this one. I missed these books.

I didn’t expect this to be so connected to her earlier SBC series, but I loved getting to see those characters again. That was fun.

Armie has always been best friends with Merissa’s older brother, and she’s had a crush on him for years now. But he’s always thought of her as off limits, and he’s never thought of himself as good enough. Merissa decides that she’s going to go for it, and she doesn’t let him back out easily.

I enjoyed their chemistry, and it was fun seeing them forming a solid relationship. She is relentless, and he wants her, and it’s obvious. She doesn’t let him back off, because she wants him and she knows he’s just denying it to protect her. I liked how understanding but strong she stayed about the whole subject, accepting him and pushing only when it was needed. The smut was good, too. And it was fun seeing that even her brother was happy about it, and how their friends were ready to protect if needed.

The serious plot point was actually quite interesting, and I liked how it turned out and was revealed.

I’m looking forward to reading both Denver’s story and Leese’s story next. I’m excited for more.

Novel Review: Kissing Under the Mistletoe (The Sullivans, #10) by Bella Andre

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: HarlequinMira

Release Date: 2013

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

For Mary Sullivan Christmas is, and always has been, about family. And this year is no different. As she awaits the arrival of her eight children and their partners at the cottage in Lake Tahoe, she hangs the ornaments that they made for her over the years. Each decoration brings with it a tide of memories, all of which she holds dear to her heart. But when she comes across the oldest ornament, the one her beloved husband, Jack, gave her on their very first Christmas together, Mary is immediately swept back to the first days of their whirlwind romance, to the love that would be the foundation on which they built the family she is so proud to call her own.

Join the Sullivans this Christmas for a story that explores the wonder of the holidays, the meaning of family and a love that transcends time.

The Cover:

I think this cover is pretty. It's in the same realm as the rest in this series, pretty to look at and gives a good idea of what you're getting. Not overly eye-catching, though.

Review:

This is the story of the Sullivan sibling’s parents, how they met and fell in love and started a family together.

It’s clear where the siblings come from, as they are very much like their parents, in the best way. Mary and Jack have a fast connection, and Jack is insistent on not giving her up. It leads to a very solid base to their relationship, which only grows as the book goes on. I liked that even when they fought they didn’t overreact, and listened to each other and talked things out. It was more of a sweet romance than anything, slow but steady, too much for either of them to deny.

I will admit that I’d wanted more of their relationship later on. I thought we’d get to see more of them together as the kids grew up, and even when Jack died. Sadly, it ends when Mary first gets pregnant. Still, it was a sweet story.

It was a solid Sullivan story, and I want to read the rest of the series badly.

Novel Review: Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road, #1) by Katie McGarry

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Wishlist Thursday. Teaser Tuesday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

The Cover:

I'm not a huge fan of the font for the title, but it's not too bad. I like that the image is more subtle, small and not an in-your-face couple, but also very fitting. The motorcycle is very present in the book, so I'm good with that. And I think the colors and the background fits. Overall, pretty good.

Quotes:

•  "'You mean she’s locked up in a safe padded world and she does everything everyone tells her.’
  ‘Yes.’ Eli nods. ‘And she’s happy.’
  My would-be grandmother studies me and for some reason, she appears to pity me. ‘And that is sad.’” (Hardback, pg. 58)
• "Isn’t it always the things that you can’t see that hurt you?’” (Hardback, pg. 293)
• "It doesn’t bother me to be more naïve. My body is a gift, not something to be carelessly given away.” (Pg. 358)
• "'You’re still doomed to repeat the same mistakes your mother and your father made. You do it now. You ignore the truth, the world around you, in order to keep your illusions of safety. That’s not living, Emily. The only way for you to break free is to understand the past so you don’t continue to follow in their footsteps.’” (Pg. 417)
• "'There’s no such thing as the truth. There’s what people wish would have happened.’” (Pg. 425)

Review:

This was another solid read from McGarry.

Emily lives a happy, oblivious life with her mother and father. When her grandmother, who she’s never met, dies, her mother forces them to go and visit her biological father. She doesn’t want to go, she doesn’t care for her bio-dad or his family, under the idea that they abandoned them. But there’s a lot of secrets being kept from her, and she starts getting curious.

It frustrated me so much how everyone was keeping Emily in the dark. It mostly started with Emily’s mother, who made her father agree not to tell anyone, and it just went from there. I understand that her mother thought she was doing right, but she was just running from everything, and I hated that. It forced everyone else, trying to be loyal, not to tell Emily anything. And of course that made Emily want to know, and I don’t blame her for what she did after that.

The description of this series had me feeling déjà vu with Simone Elkeles’ Perfect Chemistry series, with the gang stuff, and that had me worried. I was never a big fan of that plot line. So I was relieved to see that the biker club Emily’s father, and Oz, is a part of, are perfectly legal. They don’t play in those games. Not to say that there isn’t a club in the area who does, though…

I enjoyed learning about Emily and Oz. I felt their connection, and I liked how they got to know each other, hesitant and disliking at first but slowly getting closer. I didn’t connect as much with them as I have in previous books, but it was still a nice romance between them.

There were a lot of other characters that were great, as well. Oz has several friends in the club that I liked a lot, and look forward to reading their own books, especially the next one. Emily’s grandmother was a great character, and her bio-dad was a sweet guy; I enjoyed seeing her develop relationships with the family she’d been forced away from.

Overall, a very great book. McGarry’s an auto-buy for me, and I look forward to her next one.