Charming Olivia - Grace Harper

I've recently discussed whether we still judge a book by it's cover.

I don't normally read the synopsis of a book sent to me by an author as end up having too many preconceptions and  end up looking at the reviews and making my mind up before I've even read it. So in essence I'm judging all author sent books by its cover.

This book is a perfect example of when not to Judge a book by its cover.

Charming Olivia

Charming Olivia is the first of three novels in the Geary Brothers Series 

Olivia Gage is a top selling clean romance novelist, but wants to write erotica. Jack Geary leads the lifestyle that Olivia wants to write about. They start talking after a sarcastic written conversation over a review of a corset that he made and a book she wrote.
Over time, they become friends and then he persuades her to spend a week with him. He reasons with her that if she hasn’t experienced erotica first hand then how is she going to write about it.
Charming Olivia is the week she spends with him, each night a different subject, whips & ropes, threesomes, MM sex club and so on. He is determined to talk her out of her clothes and into his bed. Olivia is determined that he is not going to lay a finger on her until she confesses the truth.

 
Over the year that he has been in contact with her, he has told her exactly what he wants to do to her. She tells him she is married and that is why she won’t succumb to his charms but she is not telling the full truth. Once Olivia reveals what the truth is to Jack, she stands no chance.

Book Links

UK Link - Charming Olivia (Geary Brothers Book 1)
US Link - Charming Olivia (Geary Brothers Book 1)

Rachel's Review

Well I must say I wasn't expecting that! I really liked this book. Totally unexpected. I loved the storyline and the characters were relatable. I very much enjoyed reading this book and hope that anyone else reading it will do too,

Well done Grace you should be proud of yourself for writing a genuine 'happy feels' book.

I'm rather hoping the author is writing this from real life experience! And can she take me along next time!

Rachel's rating

4 stars ****


Grace has other books in this series too!

Without Words - A. R. Senault

So this is an author who asked me to review her first book - Without End. She was the first author to ever ask me to review their work. I was both excited (as my large head thought I'd made it as a blogger then) and simultaneously shitting myself. My thoughts have always been........'what happens if I don't like the book they've just sent me for free?'

Well never the less I pressed on and read Without End. I shouldn't have worried, I loved it. It made me laugh out loud and it was a fab story. I fell in love with the Fuckable Four and therefore ensured I checked AR's twitter (a lot) for when the next one was out.

She messaged me a while ago offering me the book for free again in return for another review. I'd already bought the book waaaaay before she'd messaged me. It was on my Kindle on release day!

Without Words

Thalia Frederickson has a new lease on life. Finally, free from the Devil, but never far from her demons. She landed the hottest piece of real estate for her shop, Rock Your Cakes and Cupcakes. Unexpectedly, her salvation works two doors away, in the form of a brooding, tattooed Angel. 

The new shop on Melrose has something to offer that BB Bartholomew cannot resist. His sweet tooth is ready, but nothing can prepare him for the frightened and adorable little baker. Can BB put down his whips for love? Will Thalia give BB the chance to show his feelings, WITHOUT WORDS?


Book Links

UK Link - Without Words: A Melrose Shops Novel
US Link - Without Words: A Melrose Shops Novel

Rachel's Review

So as you've probably guessed I liked the book. This one is a little more heavy than the first book but I loved it all the same. I love BB (not as much as James though!) and reading his an Thalia's story is something I've been looking forward to for a while.

Any way this books is beautifully written. fantastic story line, compelling, tear jerking, hot, steamy, with a brooding alpha, who can ask for more in a book! This is the best one yet and I'm needing the date for the next one so I can prepare. Please let it be a shorter gap this time!

What makes this book even better is that I was utterly jealous that I cant open my open shop on this fictional street!

Rachel's Rating

5 Stars! *****

Omega - Jasinder Wilder

I was dancing around my bedroom when I realised that Omega had hit my Kindle.

I downed tools and read it in one day.

I LOVED Alpha and Beta! Having Omega to finish off this series was an exciting time to be a romance reader!

Omega

When you make an enemy of a man like Vitaly Karahalios, there is nowhere on earth you can go to escape his wrath. He'll find you. He found me, he found Roth. He found Layla.

He found us, and now the unthinkable has happened. Someone I love has been kidnapped.

Again.

This isn't a fairy tale.

Not everyone will get a happily ever after.

Sometimes we can't just walk away from the past.

Love doesn't always save the day.

The beast won't always get his beauty.

But maybe, just maybe we can get our happy ending.

Book Links 

UK Link - Omega (Alpha Book 3)
US Link - Omega (Alpha Book 3)

Rachel's Review

Ok so as I was saying I was terribly excited for release day for this book. The other two had been brilliant and I was hoping this would be the same. I was nervous as a reader as I had high expectations for this book.

I shouldn't have worried! This book was the shit! A book about a strong, intelligent, independent and hilarious woman was the best was to finish the series off! I applaud Jasinder for keeping the momentum going throughout all three books that has meant it is one of my all time favourite series! The sex scenes she writes are amazing but don't dominate the book.

It's a fast paced book and when I finally finished it I was, like, Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!! I even went back and re-read a couple of chapters! I've NEVER done that. NEVER!

Read it. READ IT NOW!!!!

Rachel's Rating

5 well earned stars! *****

Unbind, Unleash and Unfurl (Sub Rosa Trilogy) - Sarach Michelle Lynch

So who here has read any of Sarah's other works? *raises hand and shouts me me me!

If you haven't why not? and if you have which have you read? I was only talking to a colleague at work about these yesterday, saying just how brilliant Sarah is as a writer. She writes about real people and real stories and I love that.

I met Sarah at a recent book signing event in Peterborough and I've already reviewed A Fine Profession and A Fine Pursuit, which I loved. I'm looking forward to seeing her again at the Leeds Author Event next year. If you want more details click here.

Unbind 

 We should chase away from what we’re scared of, right? Run as fast as we can. Yet some of us seem to veer toward chaos and destruction…

Chloe sees anguish and despair lurking beneath the surface of Cai Matthews, the dark and dangerously handsome freelance photographer she meets on her first day in a new job. She can’t see straight in his presence—blinded by a blistering sexual attraction that has the potential to sweep her clean off her feet.

When Cai disappears from the workplace and doesn't come back, Chloe tries to find out more about his life but all she knows is he’s set to inherit a ton of money and his aunt runs one of the most famous fashion magazines in the world.

Cai is running from a complicated past he doesn't like talking about. Gossip columns rage with speculation concerning him and his aunt, who took guardianship of Cai after his parents died.

Conscientious journalist Chloe has a mind for details and once she gains access to his world, Cai realises she could undo every, single dirty little secret that he and his aunt have tried desperately to cover up.

Book Links

UK Link: Unbind (Sub Rosa Trilogy Book 1)
US Link: Unbind (Sub Rosa Trilogy Book 1)

Unfurl

I’ll stab you in the heart.
I'm coming for you.
No secret dies.
But you will.

In the concluding part of Chloe and Cai’s tale of frantic, tempestuous, meaningful love…

When news breaks that enigmatic magazine editor Jennifer Matthews is dead, it irks Chloe that Cai refuses to shed even one tear. What she doesn't know is that he was expecting it, perhaps even, hoping for it.

In this dark, romantic tale of revenge, Cai explodes the deepest, most destructive aspects of his past as he comes to terms with the tragedy at the heart of Jennifer’s downfall. With Chloe’s love and support, he must brave his demons and dodge death to finally end a bitter feud between two damaged families.

Book Links

UK Link Unfurl (Sub Rosa Trilogy Book 2)
US Link Unfurl (Sub Rosa Trilogy Book 2)

Unleash

Have you ever fallen for the wrong person - knowing they're not the one for you?

For Kayla Tate, pain and disappointment are all she has ever known when it comes to love. Is it that she never learned from her mistakes? Or is there a ghost from her past she's yet to lay to rest?

Kayla embarks on a journey during which harsh lessons will be learned and relationships will be tested. It seems to centre around the Sub Rosa mystery, but where will she begin to unpick the threads? All she knows is that something doesn't add up . . .

Kayla's heartbreaking story is about lifelong friendships, taking chances and finding that one person who's willing to risk it all with you - at exactly the right time.


Book Links 

UK Link Unleash (Sub Rosa Trilogy Book 3)
US Link Unleash (Sub Rosa Trilogy Book 3)

Rachel's Review.

So first off these are not your average wimpy girl meets strong alpha stories, in fact these are generous, meaty books with strong female AND male protagonists. I love the way this author writes. She create fantastic real characters, with real problems and sets about creating real relationships and real situations for them to be in.

I flove that her books have an element of what I call 'home' in them. In the Chambermaid series the Female lead came from a village just down the road from me and in this one the female lead in Unbind and Unfurl started off living just one street from where I did. It makes me feel more connected to the books as a reader and makes the stories more relatable.

Over all these books are descriptive, thought provoking, sexy, inspiring, exciting, mysterious, very well thought out and extraordinary well written.

I've read hundreds of books and no one else I've read is like Sarah! I must admit, as much as I loved Chloe, I loved Kayla even more.

These really are must read books and a thorough pleasure to read!

Rachel's Rating.

It really was a 5 star series. *****

Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: Volume One (The Confidential Series #1)

I know, I know! I've not posted a review for ages! My life has been so hectic with work, holidays and well, life in general.

I've still read and tried to get through the ever lengthening tbr list, but alas no time for reviews.

I'll try and get as many as I can done over the next week or so.

Annnnnnd first up is the first book in The Confidential Series. As always I'm just letting you know that this book was sent to me by the author for an honest review. And review it honestly I shall.

Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: Volume One

Two very different people.
One scandalous proposition.
Endless possibilities...

***

I can't believe how different things are now; how complicated my life has become in such a short amount of time.

It was never supposed to be like this.

He's off limits.

He's always been off limits.

I keep telling myself that; that being here with him is not supposed to feel this good.
God, he's not supposed to feel this good.

I wonder what my life would have been like now if I had gone to the clinic on a different day, or if I had just insisted on going with the physician I was initially referred to.

Never in my life would I have thought that in the events that followed the beginning of a regular school week, a random checkup would end up spawning a highly angst-filled, incredibly confusing, and quickly-unfolding mess.

Book Links

UK Link - Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: Volume One (The Confidential Series #1)
US Link -  Doctor-Patient Confidentiality: Volume One (The Confidential Series #1)

Rachel's Review

I'm always thankful to authors that send me their books to review. I always feel honoured and it never feels like a chore when they're good. I liked this book. It was easy to read and yet very descriptive.  I loved the female lead and the book wasn't at all how I imagined it was going to be.

Warning - this is the first in 12 books!

As most people know I'm not the greatest novella/serial fan but I must admit I'm intrigued by these books and I will probably end up reading them just so I know how it ends!

Rachel's Rating

3.5 Stars! Would have been more but 12 books is just too many.