{Review} Silent No More by N. E. Henderson

Title: Silent No More
Author: N. E. Henderson
Release Date: December 2, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Shannon Taylor thinks she has the picture perfect life.

Engaged to marry her college boyfriend and a best friend who’s more like a sister, life is almost perfect. That is until her world is tilted by two of most important people in her life.

A chance encounter leads Shannon down a path that will force her to confront a past she has meticulously ignored for ten years.

Nicholas Lockhart, renowned bachelor, has a reputation for his cold eyes and icy heart. Meeting a woman who can turn is world upside is not in the cards; that is until Shannon.

When Shannon's world crashes, she wonders if it's possible to crack Nick's icy heart. A web of lies and twisted truths soon leaves both bare and vulnerable.

Silence no longer offers her protection or safety.

Will remaining silent cost Shannon the real love she's finally found? Or will she stay silent no more?

Review

My rating is completely biased to my feelings. And maybe because my questions were left unanswered.... This will be more of a rant than a review. (Warning: contains spoilers)

First and foremost, I want to address that my number one pet peeve in books is infidelity. For some people, they don't like love triangles, but for me it's cheating. It makes my skin crawl to no end, but the cheating in this one happens at the beginning, so I didn't have a chance to grow any feelings for the characters or their relationship yet, so I overlooked the heroine and her fiancé drama without wanting to DNF.

However, the whole Theresa office screwing thing did make me cringe and sick to my stomach because if it was who Shannon thought the guy was, then of course I'd be hurt over that one. But I continued on because we are getting to the meat of all the secrets and stuff at this point and I wanted to know who the guy was.

The writing, in parts, was both good and kind of bad. Hey, it does come with the territory. Nothing is perfect, just like life isn't. There were some really mundane scenes that were way too detailed like documenting every step Shannon takes from the bedroom to the bathroom to the shower back to the bedroom, ect. It was just unnecessary and made the narration sound monotonous. And there were parts I wanted more details in, and it was just cut and dry and onto the next scene. And then the unnecessary uses/placement of exclamation points. Sometimes there are exclamation points in the dialog that makes it seem like the characters were shouting when they actually weren't. Or they would just be misplaced. So that threw me off.

I don't really know what to make of the side characters i.e. Shannon's bffs. Allison's out for doing the unforgivable...repeatedly. She's just pathetic and a half-ass. Katelyn and Stacy always have Shannon's back and are there for her, but sometimes the way Shannon thinks when it comes to them, it seems like she was making them sound...not very nice? Friendly? Something like that. Nikki, I liked. Especially after the way Nick talks to her or treats her, she gives as good as she gets. And she's there for Shannon, even though she probably doesn't need to be involved in the whole mess concerning Shannon's past.

What is worth the stars is the shock value and twists that has to do with their connected pasts. I was shocked by how connected their past was, and we only get the beginning of it all. I assume will be revealed in the next book.

This book left me with a few questions unanswered.... The following questions does contain SPOILERS BELOW, SO IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK YET, DONT READ ANY FURTHER.

Where was Luke and Allison during all of this? Allison made an appearance once, but she didn't seem like the type to fight for their friendship, so I didn't count on/nor wanted another appearance from her. And Luke. He did try to fight (miserably, might I add) for Shannon in a way. But then after the ER visit, he was nowhere to be seen or heard from again. He basically fell off the face of the earth. And usually when someone goes radio silence, it's never a good thing. It means they are planning something and waiting things out until it's time to strike.

Was it really Nick and Theresa screwing when Shannon walked in the office? That wasn't addressed, so I'm still left wondering if it was Nick she was screwing or not.... Anyone who knows, mind pm-ing me, because I want to clarify. I have theories that maybe it wasn't Nick she was screwing but a co-worker, or Nick's father (he is sadistic after all, and he did have a mistress), or Jeffrey, or Luke...? (I don't know, he seems man-whorish enough to do that).

And who was calling Shannon non-stop as she was leaving the office after witnessing you-know-what?

So, I'm left with some questions (yeah, they may not be essential to the story but I am curious about every action). But again, kudos and golden stars for the shock value. You got me there a few times.

Lust Factor

{Review} Filthy Beautiful Lust by Kendall Ryan

Title: Filthy Beautiful Lust
Author: Kendall Ryan
Release Date: November 10, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

From New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Kendall Ryan, comes the third book in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series.

Pace Drake loves sex. He knows where to get it, what to say, what to do, and he makes no apologies for satisfying his needs. But when he meets single mom, Kylie Sloan, he's enthralled by her, and begins to question his standard operating procedure. After all, there's no chase, no mystery when banging a woman in a nightclub bathroom. Kylie's depth and determination make the sloppy, drunken hookups that fill his weekends seem empty and shallow. She's the opposite of the desperate, clingy women he's used to. She doesn’t want or need anyone to take care of her and that only makes him want to care for her more.

Kylie's trust in men has vanished. The last guy she was with played ding-dong-ditch-it with her uterus and left her with a baby to raise. Now her infant son is the only man she has time for, even if she misses sex and intimacy more than she'd ever admit. Opening her heart up to a younger man who's best known for no-strings-attached sex and his casual lifestyle is probably the worst idea she's ever had. But Pace wants to prove to her there are still a few good guys left, and watching the sweet way he interacts with her baby makes her want to try…but she can really trust that his days of hitting it and quitting it are in his past?

Filthy Beautiful Lust is the third book in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series, however it can be read as a standalone novel (no cliffhanger). To understand the full growth and development of the characters, it is recommended that you begin with book 1, Filthy Beautiful Lies.

Review

Pace was my favorite in the first two, and I am so glad that he got to share his story. And with Kylie of all people no less! Pleasant surprise there. I absolutely adore Pace-Max bonding — it's way too sweet and adorable!

Seeing Pace grow and transform into the man he's supposed to be was astonishing. What a development. Two-thumbs up, Papa. ;)

I have to say the distant vibe from Collins and the lack of his supermodel girlfriend in this one had me curious. Thankfully we get his story next. After reading the book description to Beautiful Filthy Forever, though, it was not what I was expecting to find when it comes to Collins to tell his story. I'm super intrigued who this person from his past is and the promise they made to each other.

Lust Factor

4 flames

{ARC Review} Promise Me This by Christina Lee

Title: Promise Me This
Author: Christina Lee
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

A new love will test the boundaries of passion between a privileged boy next door and the tattooed, blue-haired girl who helps him embrace his wild side...

Nate has developed quite a playboy reputation around campus. It's not that he doesn't respect or trust women; he doesn't trust himself. The men in Nate’s family are prone to abusive behavior—a dirty secret that Nate’s been running from his entire life—so Nate doesn't do relationships. But he can’t help himself around one girl…

Jessie is strong, independent, and works at a tattoo parlor. Nate can’t resist getting close to her, even if it’s strictly a friendship. But it doesn't take long for Nate to admit that what he wants with Jessie is more than just friendly.

With Jessie, he can be himself and explore what he’s always felt was a terrifying darkness inside him. Even when Nate begins to crave her in a way that both shocks and horrifies him, Jessie still wants to know every part of him. Testing their boundaries together will take a trust that could render them inseparable… or tear them apart.

Review

The book I’ve been waiting for is finally here! It’s time to get to know the man behind his partying and flirty ways. This is the very first full-length New Adult I created a story diary for on the blog and I couldn’t think of a better choice to pop my NA story diary cherry than with Nate– I mean Promise Me This! We briefly met Nate in the first book All of You as Bennett’s best friend, the life of the party and major flirt with the nice dress shirts; and Jessie, Bennett’s co-worker at the tattoo shop in Whisper to Me. In Promise Me This, we dig deeper to who Nate really is, how he has lived and where he came from. Underneath that flirty dress-shirt-wearing party boy lies a misunderstood, troubled yet compassionate boy with a less than stellar home and family. And Jessie, the girl underneath the blue hair and tattoos and behind the camera lens.

Nate and Jessie have had a steady friendship going for them for some time by the start of the book. Diving into their POVs, first, we notice Nate’s ways that he’s notoriously known for around campus and we see him in action. In that comes the differences between the two that somehow makes it work for them. They make the best of friends without the fear of hooking up or any awkwardness because they know they’re not each others type. Their friendship is solid and fun, fully equip with nicknames, and the banter between them is hilarious. The things they dish out had me laughing several times. And the innuendos had me giggling like a 12 year old boy. Anyway… Soon enough, little things start to shift in their friendship and feelings they didn’t understand festers. They quickly dismiss it and they go about their days as per usual. Then as the more they hang out, or open up, the things that lead them to need each other and spend even more time together, those feelings take notice again and intensify as the story progresses.

Meanwhile, not only are they trying to fight their attraction to each other, they have struggles of their own. Especially Nate. He grew up in a facade of big houses and white picket fences when behind closed doors, his family is anything but polished. All I can say is that his father does not deserve the best dad award. His mom still sticks around that man for reasons he doesn’t understand. I have to give Nate’s mom all the kudos and credit for sticking with a husband like that for the sake of her children. Such a selfless and headstrong thing on her part. As Nate was growing up, he noticed his brother start acting like their father or seem to take his side over their moms, and worried for his mom even more. He constantly worries about his brother turning into their father, and leaving his mom with them to fend for herself while he’s out in college.

Then there’s Jessie, who may have tattoos and blue hair, but has a great relationship with her mom, and struggles with the loss of her dad with whom she had a close relationship with. Something Nate envies for. She’s different than those tattoo-working/wearing, blue-haired girl. She’s honest, down-to-earth, strong, intelligent and perceptive, has passion for photography like her father, and not explicitly over-active/talkative. She lives by this inspiring saying from her father everyday that turns out to help balm Nate and his inner demons. We also get to see some of our favorite couples from the previous books again! I almost forgot that Nate and Kai (from Whisper To Me) are cousins. So we get to see a bit more of that hunk. He becomes the voice of reason, the one who stands by his side once he knows the truth about Nate’s father.

Nate constantly struggles with himself due to his father, and his sexual deviancy that went sour with an old girlfriend sometime ago. Since then, he tries to keep his true inner sexual desires to himself when he hooks up. He sees his sexual deviance as a darkness within himself and he’s afraid of going there with Jessie in fear of hurting her and pushing her out of his life. He fears of turning into his father and believes that indulging in his sexual desires the way he wants, that he would turn out to be just like him. What he slowly learns is that we have to tap into our dark side of our nature and face our demons before we can embrace our future. Pepople, like Nate, are afraid of that because it holds a piece of us that we’re too busy denying. But Jessie, sticking by his side, opens up to him and shows him that he’s not as bad as he thinks and she’s not going anywhere. It’s a work in progress (hey, Rome wasn’t built overnight), and Jessie is just what he needs to see that.

I want to address the sex in this book a bit. Nate turns up the heat to an all-time high! I’d blame it on Christina Lee, but we know by now that it’s all Nate’s doing. Teehee. No complaints, though. The previous books in the series were mild and limited to one sex scene or two, equip with plenty of steamy encounters that leads up to it, and I liked that there wasn’t sexual overkill. However, we get more in quantity and a bit kinky in Promise Me This. The sex was hot, intense and erotic though, even if a little risky (don’t worry, no one gets hurt). Public sex–what? Le gasp! Leave it up to Nate, wink wink. The scene at the bar was so sensual and erotic, it’s one of my favorite scenes. And don’t even get me started on what happens on that bridge! And the hotel? Who knew ice-play can be downright HOT? Excuse me while I fan myself. I’m taking him on the Sydney bridge climb with me, no not for THAT reason, but because he has a love for bridges and I’d think his adventurist side would like it.

In pretty much every book of this series, I had a knack for underestimating the characters. The same thing happened in this one too. I just thought that Nate was a carefree guy who likes to have fun and looks out for his friends, all the while sporting a devil-may-care smile and getting his flirt on. Although it was mentioned a time or two that he comes from a rich family and always dresses to kill who drives a nice car and is perpetually flirty, he didn’t throw an arrogant asshole vibe to me. I’ve mentioned in my review for All of You that I didn’t think much of him at first, it wasn’t until we saw how good of a friend he is and how he helped Avery and his buddy Bennett see sense that I found myself wanting to get to know him and wished he was more present. You can ask Christina, I’ve let it known of my crush–to put it mildly–on Nate. He can hold my hand for always. :)

Promise Me This kicks it up a notch in the Between Breaths series in many ways. Plenty of laughs, hungry stolen kisses, steam, friendship and family values, hard truths and hard lessons, adventure, innuendos and sexytimes. I’m so glad Nate got to tell his story. He knows how to deliver on all fronts. Seeing all the sides and depths of Nate made me love him even more. It was a long time coming, but oh so worth the wait! And I must admit that I am little curious about his brother, especially the way he surprised Nate (and me) by standing up to their father.

Lust Factor

4 flames

{Review} Torrent by Gemma James

Title: Torrent
Author: Gemma James
Release Date: July 22, 2014
Genre: Dark Romance, Erotica

She sent an innocent man to prison. Now, eight years later, he's returning the favor...

I've been obsessed with Rafe Mason since I was thirteen. The twisted part of this story is that I still want him even now that he's holding me captive on an island.

Rafe has his reasons for doing what he's doing, and if I'm honest, I can't blame him. I'm the girl who sent him to prison for a heinous crime he didn't commit.

But now he's free and the tables have turned...now he's the one driven by obsession.

NOTE TO READERS: Torrent is a dark romance with kidnapping and other disturbing themes. Intended for mature readers. Not for the faint of heart. You've been warned. Part 1 in the Condemned series.

Review

When I read the book description, the storyline of a girl who got a man sent to prison for something he didn't do, and years later he's out and it's time for her to return a favor. In my head, Imagined that under the dangers of messing with a man like that and him exacting some kind of payment or another, this could turn out to be erotic between them. Even though things did get a little sexy and whole lot dirty, this book just did not live up to what I expected...for a few reasons.

For one, yes, Rafe did take Alex to an island and held her captive there. There's another book I read that followed the same thing, so I also built up my imagination with that too. Bad idea. Because that's where the similarities end. As where the island in said book I mentioned was a beautiful island and the heroine got to traverse on it (thought not at first because escape attempts), in Torrent, Rafe held Alex captive in the basement, chained in a cage. That was super unsexy because she was mistreated in there. Although I understand that she wouldn't get pampered there after what she's done to him, doesn't mean I like how she was treated there. The sexy time parts are when she's let out for good behavior and they get it on in Rafe's bed upstairs. And around the house, as long as she doesn't try anything to his dislike. Because it's back to the cage for her. As long as she was supervised, she could check out and lounge around the house. Those times she was out of that cage was the good parts of this book.

That's the biggest issue I had with this book. But there was another, not as big, but still turned me off. It was near the end when scuffles happened that caused Rafe to wake up with no recollection of what happened the past 8 years. Upon waking up, he doesn't remember being in jail or how he got on the island and what he did there. He also started thinking of some chick he hooked up with before being sent to jail 8 years ago and how it made him hard, and wanted to find her to fuck her again. I don't know why, that just turned me off. For that, I'm not itching to read the next installments in this series.

Torrent wasn't at all a badly written book, it's actually good, but the reason for the low rating is completely biased. So, don't turn away this gritty book because it may be just what you're looking for--It just didn't work out that well for me.

Lust Factor

{Review} Precarious by Bella Jewel

Title: Precarious
Author: Bella Jewel
Release Date: August 4, 2014
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Erotica

In darkness, we find danger. In danger, I find Beau.

Ash is a prison guard, she's tough, she's strong and she never backs away from a fight. She takes her job seriously, she takes her training seriously, and everything in her life goes as planned.

Until the day he is brought into the prison.

She'll never forget meeting Beau 'Krypt' Dawson for the first time. She'll never forget his haunted eyes and his numb expression. He's a member of the Jokers Wrath MC and it is said he killed an innocent family in the middle of a cafe, in cold blood.

Deranged. Crazy. Psychotic. All those words describe the infamous Krypt, but Ash suspects there's far more to the quiet man than meets the eye. Secrets are being hidden by the club, information is being kept under wraps. Krypt is silent for a reason.

Ash is desperate to know that reason.

Continually fighting, Krypt is transferred to a high security prison. Ash is in charge. She's always prepared, always alert. Not even her skills will stop the club from ambushing them and taking back Krypt. Only Ash ends up right in the middle of it. They take her, too.

Now she's stuck with a Motorcycle Club who are tougher than any prisoner she's ever laid eyes on. And they won't let her go. She's too much of a risk. Until the situation can be sorted, they send her and Krypt into the mountains together....alone. An epic, dangerous love will be built on the foundations of darkness.

Review

I liked the spin on the MC premise. We get to see what it's like when a club member gets thrown in a cell, and then there's something conspiring within the prison that raises suspicions about the people who work there. It makes you question what makes a person good and bad, and who you really can trust. Whose got your back, and who will turn on you. In most MC books I've read, we only get glimpses of what goes on while one is locked up but not much more than that. Here, we get a lot more. That's what I liked about Precarious and what sets it apart from the other MC's.

The heroine as a prison guard? Tough as shit and can throw a brick wall of any man who crosses her on his ass. That's my kind of heroine. And the hero who is the prisoner? Yeah, this calls for some interesting and surprising trouble. We also see the clubhouse life, MC business, rescue missions, sex, more sex and whatnot. And there's a sexy ménage near the end, so if you're into that too, you'll be in for quite a treat. If you're usually not (like me), you'll still enjoy it. Nothing too kinky or too much, but still enough to be intrigued by it. There's an ending that sets things in motion for the next book with the club Prez and his little "pain in the ass."

Lust Factor

3.5 flames

{ARC Review} Unrequited by Melody Grace

Title: Unrequited
Author: Melody Grace
Release Date: May 21, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Novella

You can be anyone for a night…

Alicia isn’t the kind of girl to kiss a total stranger up against the wall -- no matter how devastatingly sexy he is. But reeling from a broken heart, she runs straight into the arms of Dex Callahan: rock star, bad boy, and the most seductive man she’s ever known.

Dex is looking for distraction, at any price. The innocent redhead is just what he needs to keep his demons at bay -- but one taste of her sweetness isn’t enough. He needs to possess her, body and soul.

Two searching hearts. One night to discover the passion of a lifetime. Dex is determined to show Alicia the pleasure she’s been denied, but can she let go of her heartache and take a risk on the unknown? Find out in the sizzling new novella from USA Today bestselling author, Melody Grace!

Review

Unrequited is a novella in Melody Grace's new series (sort of) about a girl who is licking her wounds after suffering unrequited love, and a reclusive rock star that is getting back in the spotlight after suffering pain of his own. A good girl who recently got her heart crushed, and a leather-wearing, motorcycle-riding former rock star may seem different on the outside, but they share common ground from deep within. They are both hurting from something, and hope for healing. What they didn't expect was for their lives to cross, or the connection they feel between each other.

Right off the bat, I liked Alicia and I can relate and empathize with her. Unrequited kicked off with an intense blush-worthy hot and heavy encounter between Alicia and some hot stranger. It somehow heightens their connection though. Oh, they did talk some before they found themselves lip-locking outside of the bar. She doesn't recognize him at first, so she wasn't aware of what she has gotten into. It is none other than thee Dex Callahan. A former rock star that dropped off from the face of the earth, and an unexpected make-out/near dry humping encounter. Even before she realizes who he is, Alicia tries to fight whatever is brewing up between them by running for the hills -- or into the bar where said stranger she made out with only minutes ago is performing at -- they find themselves in a bind that calls for an impulsive escape on his motorcycle. Another thing outside of her comfort zone. It is then, after they found a place to hide at, that they get to know more about each other and the heat turns up again.

Readers are treated with a few steamy moments between the two that is a nice little tease for what's to come for Dex and Alicia. It's short yet promising. Our boy Dex is hiding something in his past, and there's more to Alicia's unrequited love with somebody, as well as the other people in her life. Both of which will be explored and revealed throughout the new series. Even though their time together may be short while he's in town, Dex is willing to explore and get to know Alicia more. Alicia on the other hand is half for it -- because how can you resist Dex? -- and half wanting to run far away. She's already hurting, so she doesn't want to risk getting hurt again. What's refreshing and surprised me was that for a (former) rock star, Dex isn't an arrogant, cocky jerk. He has his pain and vulnerability, and the gentleman manner that adds depth to the person he is. He's also not an overwhelming alpha either, but he does demand attention by how he carries himself and pursues what he wants. Usually, insta-love type ticks me off if not done well, and although this isn't exactly insta-love, the connection between them is heady from the get-go. Dex rolls with it and wants to explore it, while Alicia tries to deny it. Signals get mixed due to Alicia and where her feelings currently stands, especially now that Dex is thrown in her path, and the way they misread each other a time or two. But leave it to Dex to risk it just to have Alicia in his arms. The question is, how much is he willing to risk, lose, and fight to keep her? We'll have to find out throughout the series.

I enjoyed and took a liking to both Alicia and Dex both individually as well as together. I loved seeing how domesticated they got in his apartment, almost as much as their steamy encounters. Nothing compares to when they opened up about themselves and what hurt them, because we get layers and dimensions to who they are and what they are all about. Unrequited is a quick and nice read with undertones of emotion that keeps engaged and yearning for more. And the humor and banter will have you smiling so big, laughing out loud, or blushing. The sexual tension is ever-present and promising for these two. I can't wait to see where they go and end up when their story continues in the next full-length installment, Uninhibited. Hurry up, July! If you loved the Beachwood Bay series, you will enjoy this series as well.

**I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review, however, it does not influence my review nor am I being monetarily compensated.**

Lust Factor

   

{Review} In Kelly's Corner by Roxie Rivera

Title: In Kelly's Corner
Author: Roxie Rivera
Release Date: September 27, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance, Romantic Suspense

After a stalker breaks into her home, internet entrepreneur Bee Langston decides Kelly Connolly is the only man who can help her—but seeking help from the former Marine isn’t easy, especially after she made a spectacular fool of herself trying to kiss the sinfully sexy bodyguard.

When Kelly spots Bee weaving her way through the Houston nightspot where he’s working security, all those feelings he’s desperately tried to deny for his best friend’s sister come flooding to the surface. He’ll do anything to keep her safe, even if means getting up close and personal with the one woman he simply can’t have.

Soon, Bee’s stalker isn’t his only problem. His gambling addict father is tangled in a mess of debts to two of Houston’s toughest loan sharks. With the family gym on the line, there’s only one way for Kelly to make everything right. He agrees to fight for the Albanian mob in an underground bare-knuckle fighting tournament.

But winning the tournament and saving his family’s legacy comes at a high price—one that just might cost Bee her life.

Review

Bree Langston is an internet genius, making her way to making millions toward a promising and secure career and future. Everything is nearly set. That is until she found herself a stalker who plays dirty, determined to take her in a downward spiral before she reaches the top. Not only is her business at stake, but so is her life. Bree seeks out protection from the threats of her stalker in form of Kelly Connolly--the one she pined for for years and the only one she truly trusts. Kelly was Bree's brothers best friend, they both fought alongside each other in the marines (before her brother was killed in the war), and he is now working at a security firm, so Bree knows he's the man for the job to protect her.

Kelly, unbeknownst to Bree, has been in love with his best friend's sister and had shared a kiss that tied their connection even more, so when Bree comes to him shaking in fear and in need of his protection, he's rocked to his core with the feelings that he thought were long gone and his fierce need to keep her safe. All those years he's had feelings for Bree, he fought against for the sake of not wanting to betray his best friend (even after his untimely death) by pursuing a relationship with her, so he rejected her then. No matter how many times she had been rejected and years spent apart, it never severed their feelings for each other. It's still there and burning as ever.

They've had history before the story began, and we get to see it (and them) grow more since they reunite (although through some distressful circumstances). Since they've already had feelings before the book started, the romance between them may seem a little fast-paced. And the sexual chemistry is hard-hitting and intensely all-consuming. Kelly protects as fiercely as he loves. But with so much passion as these two have, there will be strain and tension as well. There's back and forth due to their internal battles of what they feel is wrong, and what they feel is right and true. But it was nice and quite frustrating at times to see them break down their walls and go with their feelings. But that doesn't come easy, or course, and with the situations they find themselves in, comes the question whether or not certain characters even make it out alive. And if they do, where will they stand at the end?

We meet the rest of the Connolly boys, Kelly's brothers Jack and Finn that become essential and take on big roles in the story as well as Kelly and Bree's lives. I cannot wait to read their stories (which are out now)!

There are subplots present throughout the story to shake up their already tangled up lives. The stalker is unrelenting and unforgiving and is getting more and more sinister in his vendetta, Kelly's father soon ropes them into bad and dangerous situations, a pay off in form of getting into a ring, family battles, and dealing with an Albanian mob. They've stirred up quite a myriad of unfortunate events in a short amount of time. Good thing the Connolley's and Bree have an alpha-male of a man Kelly on their side to gain their safety back.

There is a plethora of elements that make up this romantic suspense -- sabotage, intrigue, twists and turns, angst, action, mobs, debts, family battles, tension, suspense, angles, trepidation, lies, unhealthy addictions, hot sex, passion, broken trust, and fighting in the ring, safety and heart all wrapped into an enthralling package, so readers are hardly have time to be idle or bored.

Lust Factor

  

{Review} Fighting For Love by L.P. Dover

Title: Fighting For Love
Author: L.P. Dover
Release Date: March 9, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Fighting for someone’s heart is more challenging than fighting for a title.

For a time, many years ago, love had grown, love was made, and in the end … love was lost. The decision to leave had been the worst mistake Shelby Dawson could have ever made. However, at the time—ten years ago—she felt her secret needed to stay hidden, even if it broke her heart and the heart of the man she loved. Back then, he was all hers and she was all his, but now things have changed and he isn’t the same guy she knew.

He happens to be the well-known MMA Heavyweight champion and famous bad boy, Matt ‘The Destroyer’ Reynolds, who once before struggled to help his family pay the bills. Now, he has money flowing with each undefeated win and an insurmountable number of women filling his bed. Everything is perfect for the illustrious fighter, until one day it all changes. In walks the girl from his past, the same girl who promised to stick by him but left and never looked back.

Their second chance to make things right will not come easy, for when one mistake is made an unwelcome consequence soon follows. Someone out there wants to rip them apart and they won’t stop until Matt and Shelby pay the ultimate price … their love.

Review

I've only read one of L. P. Dover's books from the Second Chances series, and that was Meant For Me, and I was hooked to her writing ever since. So, of course I jumped at the chance to read Fighting For Love. It doesn't matter which order you read the series, though, because they are all stand alone's with their own characters and their own stories, so you won't miss a beat. We do, however, see a certain character from Meant For Me comes back with a vendetta. Don't worry, I won't spoil it for you, I'll let you figure out who. After all, the unknown and the unexpected is part of the fun.

We know the gist of their past through the blurb, so I'll skip that part. Because of Shelby walking out of Matt's heart and life years ago, their reunion is not pretty. And that is completely understandable. There were reasons, reasons she's kept hidden, that she believes Matt wouldn't understand and deal with that causes her to walk away from her only love. A secret that could possibly make or break a relationship.

I think it sucks that it is what kept them apart and wasting time for a whole decade. Like any person, Matt keeps his guard up. Around her, and around everyone. Even though it's tough, I just wished that Shelby trusted Matt enough to let him in on her secrets. I mean, aren't you supposed to not keep secrets from the one you love? And aren't they supposed to love you without conditions? I know that secret of hers is scary to let them be known to anyone, but how are you supposed to know if you don't trust them with everything if you don't give it a chance to lay it all out there? I guess I can't blame the girl too much, because if I were in her shoes, I'd walk out too. Especially if it'll save lives if not love.

Of course, there is also that pesky something or someone who stops at nothing to tear a couple apart. There are secrets, intrigue, lies, betrayal, questions looming over their heads and behind their backs. The past rears its ugly head and derails plans of winning them back. This will put their love to the ultimate test. You're left questioning if they can ever come out of this and if their love and withstand anything in their way. Second chances come with a price, and Shelby and Matt learns just how much it'll cost them. It's a long journey of trusting, forgiveness and communication to get their second chance at love and happiness with a promising future together.

What was refreshing is that it's the girl who was the one who walked out and the one to fight for another chance this time, and not the guy. There was plenty of twists and revelations that I did not see coming, and that made it a much more of an enticing and intriguing read. Shelby and Matt's love is honestly undeniable and very passionate. Together they are moving and intense because their love (and lust) runs deep even after all they've been through. And the sexual tension and sex itself is oh so hot and full of steam, and its presence will let it be known whether you're prepared for it or not.

L. P. does not disappoint and her writing does not waver in Fighting For Love. Other than the writing that drew me in, I'm also a sucker for fighting stories, in the ring and for a heart. The passion just flows, and the sparks fly off the wall -- whether they are necking on it or not. Wink, wink. They never stopped loving each other, and in the end it's clear that they really do fit together like no other. It just took some a lot of courage and fighting to get there.

Lust Factor