LOVING LUCAS (LIES & LEATHER:#1)

LOVING LUCAS (LIES & LEATHER:#1)                      VIOLETTA RAND

Loving Lucas (Lies & Leather, #1)Twenty-one-year-old Karlie Augustine is a survivor. She’s smart and tough, but she’s in too deep with a bad boyfriend who isn’t above breaking her spirit—or her body. Luckily, help arrives in the form of a leather-clad, motorcycle-riding hunk on the right side of the law. Lucas Lafontaine is pure muscle, a Corpus Christi cop who ignites something primal deep within Karlie. And when he offers her room and board in exchange for housekeeping, she finally starts to feel safe again.

As their arrangement turns deliciously decadent, Lucas gets hooked on Karlie’s killer body and fighting spirit. He wants to heal the pain he sees behind her eyes, but to protect her he needs to keep her close, especially now that her psycho ex won’t take a hint. Even as Lucas fights his own battle for custody of his young son, he knows that what he’s found with Karlie is real—and that he’d do anything to protect the woman he wants to take to the finish line.

MY REVIEW:

     Karlie Augustine was in the foster care system as a child.  She never was given love but she was taught and made to cook and clean.  At 18 she was given $500.00 and put on the street no longer their responsibility.  She did however find out they would pay for her college education, so she decided to make a go of it.
     A year and a half ago she meets Connor Seville at a bar.  They spent the night dancing, drinking, and talking the whole night.  The one thing they had in common was motorcycle racing.  You see Connor is a National winner making a hometown favorite.  So when Karlie started showing up at the hospital with odd injuries no one questioned the fact she could be being abused by Connor their hero.  Yet, she was.
     This time though they were at a race when Connor lost control letting his temper out.  He and she were in their trailer and he didn’t want her to go out to the fire pit alone where their friends were but she said she was going so he went after her by yanking, pulling her hair, trying to break her big toe, when she was able to stumbling out of the trailer.  She looked around for her best friend Marie and her boyfriend Brandon, but they weren’t there.  The only ones there were all Connor’s friends.  None wanted to make an enemy of their hero.
     When Connor was getting ready to strike her Lucas La Fontaine came to her rescue.  Knocking Connor on his ass to the ground.  At this point Marie and Brandon had already shown up and taken her away from the fire that Connor had almost backed her into.  So he told Marie to go with Karlie to get her packed up.  While he held Connor down with his foot on the chest.  They did and Marie and Brandon invited him to their camp to talk and have a drink.  At which point they start to learn about each other.  All three knowing now that she is homeless and will need to find a part time job.  Lucas offers her something she can’t resist.  It is not without wanting to get close to her that is for sure.  He lost his heart for her the minute he saw her and then to see Connor man handle her pissed him off.

     This was an interesting erotic story.  There were some very gripping moments that kept me on the edge of my seat for sure.  Yet, there were tender moments that made you think.  But those love scenes did at times make me fan myself that is for sure.  All in all a very good storyline.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

OFF LIMITS (ACE HOCKEY #1.5)

OFF LIMITS (ACE HOCKEY #1.5)             KELLY JAMIESON

Off Limits (Aces Hockey, #1.5)The Christmas season always puts a smile on Jenna McFadden’s face. Even though she’s bringing a boyfriend home for the first time, inside she’s dying to see Andrew. Years ago, when the McFaddens took the troubled teen into their home, Jenna had to keep her blazing-hot crush a secret. And now that he’s playing pro hockey for the NHL’s Chicago Aces, nothing’s changed. With his wide shoulders and taut muscles, Andrew’s the most tempting package in the house . . . one that Jenna’s dying to unwrap.
 
Andrew Ross just can’t make a play for Jenna. Her dad and brothers wouldn’t approve, and he could never betray the trust of the wonderful people who treated him like family when he lost his own. That’s what makes the holidays so hard. Whether Jenna’s skating with Andrew on a frozen pond or sitting on his lap while he plays Santa, she’s pushing all their boundaries—and there’s only so much a man can take. Andrew knows that she’s off-limits. But something deep down tells him that Jenna’s heart is the one prize he simply has to win.
 
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
MY REVIEW:
     At the age of 16 Andrew Ross loss everyone he loved.  His older brother fell ill and died, his parents couldn’t handle it and became alcoholics, his father left them, and his mother drank harder killing herself in a car accident.  Being that he was good friends with Connor McFadden and Connor’s dad Gary was his hockey coach he was at their house a lot.  So when Gary (a local cop) found out that Andrew was now homeless he spoke to his wife Brenda about keeping him full time.  She said yes.
     Once he was settled he gave him the ground rules.  One being no touching his 14 year old daughter, Jenna.  Which was one of the hardest things ever for his lust filled 16 year old heart.  Because he had fallen for her way before he ever came to live with them.  But he respected Brenda and Gary so much he never questioned following the rules.  He put all his effort and frustration into the one thing he knew he was good at which is hockey.  Living in the house with one of the best coaches he didn’t want to disappoint him so it made him push himself more.
     He and Jenna circled each other in hopes not only the other would see but no one in the family.  When Andrew went off to college Jenna knew she needed to move on.  She tried but two years later when it was her turn to go off to college she chose to go to the same college as Andrew.  Which he found off since there was no teaching program there.  They would see each other in passing but that was it.  Then one day he came by to check on her she was crying because her math was causing her fits.  He helped her when one thing leads to another.  They ended up spending the whole weekend together.  But Sunday he had a game.  Not soon after he left guess who shows up at her dorm?  Her two older brothers, Connor and Daniel.  They were in town to go to the game and they wanted her to go see Andrew play hockey with them. 
     When the game Andrew looks in the audience for Jenna he sees who she is with.  Then the guilt hits him on how he is not only betraying the people that raised him but his best friends too.  So after the game and the guys have gone he goes to talk to Jenna explaining how he can’t betray the family and she understands and before he has to be the one to cut her loose she releases him.  She says she knows he already lost one family and would never ask him to take the chance to lose another.  When she says good-bye it is pretty much for several years for she avoids the times that he would be home at her parents for visits.  Like all summer and some Thanksgivings and Christmas’.
     This year however all the family is coming home but Jenna is bringing a boyfriend home because he asked to spend the holidays with her and since she was going home she invited him.  She has a good feeling about this guy he could be the one that makes her forget the man she had been trying to avoid.  He is sweet, low key, and a bit of a snob but he really likes her.  Will he pass mustard?  Can he really hold his own?  Family of males with a princess thrown into the mix will cause them to be harder right?  Having Emily and Daniel there with their first precious Christopher made things less tense.  Even with Jon (her boyfriend) there she kept taking quick looks at Andrew. 
     Can this or could they ever find a way back to each other?  Or are they forever doomed to love from afar?  Does Jon make a good impression?  Or does he make things difficult and unpleasant?  How do they find their way back?
     I really enjoyed this erotic love story.  It felt real and true to the piece. In the case of love riddled with fear that faith and communication can make each fall away.  Once your heart knows its mate, it works a great deal of the time.  I give this 5 ++++ stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.

Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

LUCKY FOR YOU #3

LUCKY FOR YOU #3                                   JAYNE DENKER

Lucky For You by Jayne DenkerIt's where everyone remembers your name—and your mistakes. But the quaint Catskills town of Marsden has a way of inspiring the unlikeliest reunions, flipping the script on the best laid plans, and opening even the most stubborn hearts… 

Jordan Leigh's always had a reputation for being bad news. So she figured it was only a matter of time before she got into serious trouble. But serving house arrest in her hometown of Marsden is truly cruel and unusual punishment. Plus she's under police officer Will Nash's up-close-and-all-too-personal supervision…which could make things worse—or more fun.

To make amends, Jordan throws herself into making nice with her neighbors, taking in stray animals, and helping teenage girls get back on track. But what she really wants is to get on the right track with Will. To do that, she'll have to show him she's grown up. And if that means making him break his own rules and face down his own fears, she's up for the challenge …
MY REVIEWS:
     Sometimes our hearts want more than anything those things we know aren’t good for us.  Which is the case for Officer William (Will) Nash.  His heart fell in love with Jordon Leigh, back in kindergarten.  At the age of 7 her father moved them away from her grandma something she could never forgive her father for.
     But she soon came to be with her grandma more.  Causing nothing but trouble in their small hometown.  Her grandma is eccentric and did enough on her own to be the talk of the town but in a not so bold or negative way.  Jordon did foolish things that resulted in the whole town, except Will, to hating her or trusting her.
     But Will has always had a soft spot for her.  Her father hates the town of Marsden and moved them away when she was 7.  So now at 27 and having to come home with an ankle bracelet monitor care of the court system to keep her under house arrest basically did not do good things for her already bad image.  She knows she is defeated once again by these small minded people.  In fact she is resigned to it.  Yet, Will starts to surprise her by showing glimmers of wanting to believe her and wanting her mind, body, and soul.
     With Jordon having no edit button she still keeps making mean and outlandish remarks.  Will has been there to be her voice that should be in her head saying, “Snarky back it up.”  Jordon is just a, “What you see is what you get.”  Which in turn helps Will get off the bench to meet lips halfway.  Overcoming fear of commitment with a guy who promised you marriage in kindergarten seems odd.  Jordon spent her whole life in motion and talking for a reason, hell even getting in trouble was to produce a reaction.  Will knew it and would let her do it to them.  He was tired of one night stands and he wanted more from this woman who could make him laugh and made it happen in the first 3 seconds together.  Or make him jealous just by talking to his brother Cam.  At the same time leave him speechless when he saw the rawness in her eyes when the town’s people ganged up on her for things she did as a youth.  Can Will get her to see life his way or will Jordon break him like everyone says?  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.

Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

A SEAL FOREVER #3

A SEAL FOREVER #3                                     ANNE ELIZABETH

A SEAL Forever by Anne ElizabethSpecial Operator Declan Smith was a dedicated U.S. Navy SEAL, a known player, and daredevil who loved pushing the limits. But on his last mission, an IED leaves him injured and angry as hell—and it changes everything. 

When a loud crash disturbs his neighbor, Maura Maxwell, she assumes the sailor next door is up to his usual bad behavior. But the man she finds covered in glass is far from the cocky ladies' man she'd grown to tolerate. Lying before her is a man fighting to rediscover his place in the world—and he can't do it alone.

MY REVIEW:
     Sometimes the universe just brings all the stars into alignment so that two hearts that are meant to be together will be.  As is the case for Maura Maxwell and Declan Swifton.  They are fairly new neighbors who share a balcony.  They share pleasantries, maybe lust, by saying hello and exchanging names.
     From day one Declan had peaked Maura’s interest but she had seen the revolving door of beautiful women each night who tended to take to hiding out in her apartment and watching him when he was out on their shared balcony.  She was totally taken by him and his physical ability as a Navy SEAL yet she still had a problem with all the women.
     She and Dec did have the love of the outdoors, the ocean, and life in common even though she hadn’t really talked about it.  Yet she knew his zest for life was there in everything he did he was continually an act of motion.  But what stole her heart was one day she watched him on the beach teaching some young boys to fly their kites and then for two hours proceeded to teach them fun new tricks.
     One day soon after Dec got home Maura decided she was going to go out for a night of paddling.  She had just bought a new board, at least to her, and a few nights ago she stood on the board under the stars finding it extremely relaxing.  She knew it was a great and serious workout for her core and it really was exercise she just didn’t care it was so worth it.  She grabbed her paddleboard and paddle board and took off.  It had taken a full day on calm glass ocean to master the art of centering her weight and using muscles she had to help balance.  Which you wouldn’t think would be hard for a gymnastics and parkour instructor.
     Once at the water she didn’t even stop she got right in, got on, and pushed off.  She climbed on, she centered, and paddled out thinking maybe the water might be calmer a little further out.  Not true she kept rolling off the board trying to fight the current.  At this rate she would never get up on her board.  What she didn’t know and Dec had seen on his swim back from the base was that a storm was moving in quick.  On her next attempt to stand it lasted a few seconds before she realized she was in a current change that moved quickly, then there was the first lightning strike above, and then the sky opened up.
     Maura at this point was holding on to her board for dear life as water splashed into her mouth and causing her to choke and sputter.  She tried to head to shore but a wave caught her knocking her over which cost her the new paddle which was halfway to Mexico by now.  She found her board got back on.  The thing was it was raining so hard she couldn’t figure out which way it was to shore.  She was filled with panic now.
     The rain and the waves were growing larger.  It was way too hard for her to get her bearings.  She could feel hot tears falling from her eyes but she still had a death grip on her board she couldn’t let go.  She didn’t know what to do.  At that moment she promised herself, “If I survive this, from here on out, I will be bolder and smarter.”  At that moment she and her board smacked into a buoy anchored two miles off shore of Imperial Beach.  Her hands grabbed on, got on but lost her board.
     Meanwhile, Dec had just finished his shower before his date.  He went out to the balcony to look at the storm when his trained eye saw something unusual out at sea.  He got his binoculars and hurried back to the balcony to check it out.  He realized it was his shy new neighbor Maura Maxwell as her board was heading to Japan.  She was holding a buoy not meant as a flotation device.  Pulling on trunks with record speed he takes off to do what he had trained his whole life to do, swim, and rescue.  He knew she would be afraid he just hoped she would follow his instructions so he wouldn’t have to knock her out.  She did, now it was time to get her warmed.  He fireman carried her to her apartment stripped her and put her into a warm bath.  When they looked into each other’s eyes the attraction was unbelievable. 
     The next thing they knew they were kissing several times but they were so good and so intense it scared him.  He took her out of the bath dried her off and got her into her bedroom.  Then he left…

     What an amazingly emotionally filled yet joyfully empowering book.  These characters were who I want to grow-up to be.  They pushed themselves to be better, pushed through fears, and reached out for love and life.  This is a book on heartache, loyalty, love, friendship, tradition, and perseverance.  So well worth the read.  5++++ stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

I'LL BE THERE #6

I'LL BE THERE #6                                         SAMANTHA CHASE

This Montgomery Has a Head for Business
Working for Zach Montgomery is challenging on many levels-coming from a wealthy and powerful family, he lives by his own rules and doesn't answer to anyone. But Gabriella Martine has no intention of backing down. She's used to handling stubborn men, and it doesn't hurt that Zach is smart, charismatic...and gorgeous.

And a Heart for Adventure
Zach's perfect world is turned upside down when a climbing accident leaves him broken, angry, and maddeningly dependent. In his slow quest for recovery, Gabriella is always there to help...but as Zach comes to see his beautiful assistant in a new light, he is forced to re-evaluate what it really means to be a man worthy of Gabriella's love.
Montgomery Brothers Series:
Wait for Me (Book 1)
Trust in Me (Book 2)
Stay with Me (Book 3)
Return to You (Book 4)
Meant for You (Book 5)
I'll Be There (Book 6)


MY REVIEW:
        I have read at least one book in this series and know Zach Montgomery is one extreme man.  It is all or nothing.  For most things that’s great for others it’s not.  One place it’s not is in showing his softer, loving, and caring side to those that love him and those he loves.  That was about to change if his Uncle William and father Robert had anything to say in the matter.  Which they did if he wanted to hold his position in the company.  But William had an ace up his sleeve by the name of Gabriella Martine, Zach’s personal assistant.
     You see Zach was severely injured in a mountain climbing accident.  Being that he is the president of the West Coast branch of the family business things are in a holding pattern.  You see neither of the patriarchs wanted to open a West Coast branch but Zach proved them wrong by making it successful.  By his side was Gabriella and from the day he interviewed her he knew she was beautiful so he put himself in check and knew he would never cross that line.  Her professionalism never gave him cause to think otherwise.
     Until one day he was eavesdropping on some male employees that were saying things like they had to be sleeping with each other for sure especially on all the business trips they went on.  Then one said he googled her and found out she worked for this company his friend works for.  He asked about her.  The friend said that she had slept with the vice president.  The juicy part is he had been married at the time got divorced and then married her sister.  He confronted the men, put them all on probation, and went to Gabriella’s to warn her but her family was there who confirmed the truth but not in a nice way.
     From that day on things had changed no free spirits around each other only the straightforward strict Zach.  It was his only way to keep her at a distance and her not leave and walk out.  Here’s the problem Zach was on a climb in Alaska, he was injured so badly he has to learn to walk again basically.  There is one problem, his ego.  Well, not sure because he keeps firing all his PT specialist because they are not doing it his way.  His dad and uncle put their heads together and decide that they will tell him they are putting Ethan Reed as acting President since he doesn’t seem motivated to get back to work.
     They only tell him this after getting Gabriella on board to go to his house to work full-time.  Even after the time in Alaska he threw her out of the hospital room hell the state itself.  It works in his uncle William’s favor since he observes people and his indications tell him that before the accident there were a lot of sexual tension from Zach and Gabriella.  So these two being made to work so close could make or break them.  Just what he wanted.  But is it going to be good for the two of them?
     This book is filled with a lot of family interference which feeds the family sagas that I love so much.  This one has a great deal of scheming, self-centeredness, love, and fun all in one.  This is a fun series you won’t regret reading at all.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at:
www.1rad-readerreviews.com


THE BILLIONAIRE HEARTBREAKER

THE BILLIONAIRE HEARTBREAKER      MANDY BAXTER

In The Billionaire Heartbreaker, Travis Christensen's life is one big party. He only has two concerns: being a star goalkeeper on the ice for the Dallas Stars, and keeping a revolving door of women at his beck and call. But when a feisty, fiery PR rep comes to tone down his image before the coach benches him, Travis has got a whole new mess on his hands...and he can't help but want more.
Reily Martin never met an image she couldn't make squeaky clean. So when the coach of the Dallas Stars hires her to reform their bad-boy goalie, Reily is more than up to the challenge. But dealing with the arrogant-and incredibly sexy-Travis Christensen proves to be more than she bargained for. She knows she shouldn't fall for hockey's most notorious playboy-but as the heat blazes between them, it gets harder and harder to say no.

My Review:
  Travis Christensen comes from a large family of boys.  Their father ran out on their mother and them.  When he died he left them Billionaires which none of them wanted anything to do with.  They were all wealthy in their own right Travis is a pro hockey player for the Dallas Stars.  But he is a loose cannon and they need to reel him in for the sake of the team. 
     You see Travis is at the top of his game in hockey as the number one goalie in the league but his bad boy image is getting out of hand.  You see him rolling out of strange women’s homes almost every night after a late night of heavy partying.  Now however he is showing up to work as the poster boy of the “walk of shame.”  Smelling of alcohol and still drunk or hungover.
     This is where Reily Martin gets called in.  She is a P.R. Rep basically a pro handler.  She is brought in to shine up his image and help him fly right.  Since they are so close to the Stanley Cup and they have a good chance at winning it all.  She has had success with other celebs and knows she can turn Travis around.  Bob the manager calls to let her know that he set up the meeting with her and Travis.  She can tell that Travis wasn’t happy just by the way Bob’s tone is coming across and the phrasing he is using.
     Sure enough the next day when Travis arrived it was 3pm their meeting had been set for 9am.  She made it clear to him she was not happy he tried to handle her by flirting at any other time would have worked.  It was pantie wetting worthy for sure but this was not the time.  Yet, she put him in his place telling him how it was that Bob may have told him he would bench him.  If he didn’t cooperate but…if they couldn’t get him on board and he continued to act like a frat boy instead of a pro player like he is then the owner was ready to not resign his contract for next year.
     Somewhere along the line he notice the woman behind the librarian look and like her blushing.  Then he liked her bantering and strictness.  He just liked her.  He didn’t expect that at all.  She liked him too but held that back.  She was his handler…
     See how these two maneuver around their growing feelings for one another.  What do they learn about one another that no one else knows?  Can it really be just stories the press made up?  I really enjoyed this storyline on how we can all read into a certain situation but until we are brave enough to ask and find out we will never know.  The erotic love scene is so sensual that you can’t be unaware of the feelings they have but how we talk ourselves into believing what is or isn’t there.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at:
www.1rad-readerreviews.com

MIDNIGHT WRANGLER

MIDNIGHT WRANGLER                            CAT JOHNSON

Midnight Wrangler by Cat JohnsonOne Lonely Widower…

Rohn Lerner is a successful Oklahoma rancher. He’s old enough to know what he likes, and still young enough to enjoy it. But losing his wife five years ago wore him thin. He’s not ready to date, but he needs someone to share a meal with as badly as someone to warm his bed.

One Woman with a Secret…

Bonnie Martin fled her Oklahoma home years ago, leaving behind her abusive father, and Rohn, the lost love she never forgot. Now she’s back to settle her father’s estate, but she has no idea that she’s about to bump into Rohn or that they’ll fall for each other all over again.

One Night That Changes Everything…
 

MY REVIEW:
     There is always something special about the first crush you have.  No matter who you fall madly in love with after or even marry that first crush is always there.  You can even look at it logically telling yourself it would have never happened… I’m not their type, their lifestyle ended up being totally different than mine, and we didn’t have the same views and would have killed each other.  That crush is still there.
     Which is totally the case for Rohn Lerner.  He was outside of five years that his wife of 15+ years died of cancer.  He really started to get lonely and taking stalk of his life to see all the people he loved and who have left him including his first real love and first sex partner Bonnie (Blue) Martin.  Who up and left him at the end of summer to go to college without saying goodbye.  Forever making him insecure as to what he did.
     He and Bonnie Blue didn’t meet until a couple of days before they were to graduate at their Senior Prom.  He was there with a date he had been roped into taking when he met Bonnie at the snack table.  Her hour was up and she was getting ready to go into the dance.  They chatted for a bit he was surprised he had never noticed her before.  What he noticed that night was she did not follow the trend she stood out as far as dresses went and her style of hair and makeup.  She owned her style and looked beautiful.  That night he so wanted to dance with her but because he brought a date he didn’t.  His friend that night told him her father was looking for summer help.
     The next afternoon Rohn showed up at Bonnie’s doorstep looking to talk to her dad.   He was still out in the fields working.  Bonnie not really caring for her mean grouchy father had no clue he was hiring.  So, she asked him into the kitchen where her mom was cooking.  She asks her mom who says yes and tells Rohn to have a seat.  Bonnie serves tea then her mom starts asking about the prom.  Bonnie wanted to die.  Her dad came in and hired him.
     From here the story goes from present to the past between Bonnie and Rohn and back again throughout.  You see Bonnie just found out her much hated father had passed away and she has been left his farm. Yay Her!  Not!  She must go back to the town she fled 25 years ago.  Leaving behind all her worst memories and greatest memories as well.  Not to mention the love of her young life and the guy she gave herself to for the first time as well as her heart.  Now if she could just avoid him during her painful walk down memory lane as she weeds through what was left behind of her father’s life.  Hopefully she can lay the ghost of her father to rest and the fear he instilled in her and move on…
     This was not the first in the series that I have read.  I wasn’t disappointed that was for sure.  The relationship Rohn has with his ranch hands is a nice blend of humor and affection.  The relationship he had and has with Bonnie becomes even more complicated and the ranch hands Tyler, Justin and Colton make it even more interesting.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by Netgalley.com.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com
    

                                                                      Back to You #1 Hard Crush HARD CRUSH                                  ...