Exposed (The Alex Drake Series Book 2)

This is the second book in the Alex Drake series.

Thirty days.
That’s how long it takes to get to know a billionaire in his natural habitat.
Move in with him. Get to know him better. Discover the real Alex Drake.
At least, that’s what he told Madison Taylor.

Thirty days.
To earn her trust.
To peel back her defenses.
To unravel her desires.
And to let her in on a little secret.

The reason she’s in his life.

I enjoyed reading this book. The story was good and the characters are good. It was a nice quick read.

I found this one better than the first. There was more connection to the characters, especially when Alex and Paco came clean about everything. Alex is a great character. I loved watching his feelings grow towards Madison. Madison is a great character as well. She knows he’s hiding something, but she’s giving him the time to tell her. I think what happened wasn’t surprising when he kept putting it off.

Paco is great. I love his relationship with Alex, and I love how close he’s getting to Madison. I enjoyed seeing how be fitted into overall the picture when everything came out.

Once again, my only problem is the POV that it’s written in. It’s just a personal preference that I prefer books in first person. The story and characters are still great and I definitely want to read the next book. I would recommend it.

My rating: 4/5*

Access (The Alex Drake Series Book 1) by Lexxi James

This is the first book in the Alex Drake series.

When seclusive billionaire Alex Drake sets his sights on Madison, obsession takes over.
Unlocking his world was easy.
Seducing her was inevitable.
But securing her heart might be impossible.
He’s ready to give in to her every desire except for one.
The only thing she wants.
An answer.
To a tiny question.
Why her?

This was a quick enjoyable read. The story was good and the characters were good.

I liked Madison. She’s a very down to earth character with her bad luck and thoughts at the beginning of the book. You can’t blame her for falling into Alex’s lure when he made it so hard not to.

I liked Alex. He’s great and so very sweet. I am wondering what his secret is though. You can guess that it has something to do with a promise and probably related to her brother. He made it impossible for Madison to deny him, being incredibly thoughtful and spoiling her. He does sweep in and change things for her very quickly though, but hey, he does also seem like a good catch. I don’t blame Madison for giving him the 30 days and going along with it.

My only comment would be that I prefer book written in first-person POV. I think it would have elevated the characters and given you a stronger connection to them. That’s a personal preference though.

The story was still good and the characters were great. It was a enjoyable quick read and I am looking forward to reading the next book. I would definitely recommend it.

My rating: 4/5*

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier

This is a standalone book

THE CHOSEN ONE

I vow. You vow. We vow.

Barrington University is home of the Lords, a secret society that requires their blood in payment. They are above all—the most powerful men in the world. They devote their lives to violence in exchange for power. And during their senior year, they are offered a chosen one.

People think growing up with money is freeing, but I promise you, it’s not. My entire life has been planned out for me. I never got the chance to do what I wanted until Ryat Alexander Archer came along and gave me an option for a better life. He offered me what no one else ever had—freedom.

I chose to be his. He made me believe that anyway, but it was just another lie. A way that the Lords manipulate you into doing what they want.

After being sucked into the dark, twisted world of the Lords, I embraced my new role and allowed Ryat to parade me around like the trophy I was to him. But like all things, what started out as a game soon became a fight for survival. And the only way out was death.

I absolutely loved reading this book. The storyline was brilliant and the characters were amazing.

Ryat was such a good character. He was swoon worthy, dominant in all the right ways, fierce, dark, delicious, and yet passionate. I was a little sceptical of his motives at first when it came to Blake. As the story untold, it became clear of the arrangement, but it soon developed into something real and I loved watching their relationship grow. He became obsessed with here in such an edearing way. I loved that she became his world.

Blake was a strong character. She stood up for herself, but she was also forced into things and given no choice. I loved how she handled Ryat. There were too many secrets and lies, and it took a long time for everything to come out in the open.

The spice between them was on another level. Ryat, Christ, that man. He would make anyone melt. I loved reading the scenes between them, and the variety to them. Then seeing it grow into something so real was the icing on the cake.

The story was brilliant and I loved the secret society thing. There were twists and turns along the way, some of which I never saw coming. I loved diving deeper in the Lords and the settings were all great. It was great seeing Ryat and Blake fight everything which came their way.

Overall, this book was fantastic. The storyline and characters were brilliant and this was a deliciously dark, fantastic read. I would definitely recommend it.

My rating: 5/5*

Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles Book 1) by Sarah Bailey

This is the first book in the Villetti Chronicles.

What would you do if you killed someone?

Normal people wouldn’t go running to the prodigal son of a mafia kingpin for help.
I’m not exactly normal.

The daughter of a gang leader embroiled in a turf war. One that has me caught in the crossfire. When you have nowhere else to turn, who better to protect you than someone your own father will never suspect.

Zayn Villetti isn’t a man I should make a deal with. Especially not one involving becoming his little pet.
He demands I obey him in all things.
I’ve never been one to submit.

I have a feeling the man I’ve known most of my life will be my downfall. With his obligations to his family and my presence throwing his world into disarray. My question is… will I be his?

I absolutely loved reading this book. the characters were fantastic and the storyline was great.

I love Zayn. Christ, that man was perfect. He was demanding, tough and dark, and yet he was everything. He gave everything to Ari. He loved hard and would literally burn the world down for her. What isn’t perfect about that?

Ari was a great character. She pushed his buttons in the right way and grew to understand him. I loved watching her feelings slowly grow towards him, developing from platonic to sexual. It was brilliant when he finally gave in. I quite liked the daddy dynamic. It suited Zayn’s personality and Ari melted into the role well. He liked her pushing his buttons and she enjoyed his retaliation. The ending was good as well and I liked what he offered her. It was perfect for them.

The story was great from her murder at the beginning, to his family and father. It brought Zayn and Ari closer together. They both needed each other. As I said, he would burn down the world down for her.

Overall, I absolutely loved this story. The characters were brilliant and the plot developed well. I’m looking forward to reading the next book about his brother. I would definitely recommend this book.

My rating: 5/5*

Owned by Magic (Ruled by Magic Book 2) by Zara J Black

This is the second book in the Rules by Magic series.

I’ll be safe in the prince’s bed, from everyone but him.

I stole from a brutal street gang, and now they want me dead. There’s only one place they can’t touch me. The palace. But safety comes at the cost of my freedom. I’ll sell myself as a courtesan, serve for five years, and leave with enough money to pay my debt.

Crown Prince Adante wields his power like a knife, and when his gaze turns my way, I know he could destroy me. An innocent mistake earns his attention—along with bruised knees and a painful punishment.

I should listen to the others. I shouldn’t catch his eye again. But I’ve always courted danger, and in the prince, I see a chance at power and revenge. He loves to gamble—sadistic games of pleasure and pain.

All I can wager are my body, mind, and soul. And I play to win.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are brilliant and the storyline was good.

I went into this book unsure about how I would find Adante. He came across as a right dick in the last book so I was half expecting to hate him. It’s safe to say that I was pleasantly surprised.

Adante was a brilliant character. You understood him more in this book. He started out as a bit of a dick and was a little harsh at times, but as the story progressed, you slowly understood him. Talia was a great character. She was strong, independent and intelligent. I like how her relationship with the Prince grew. They were both using each other and then it became something real. The spice between them was brilliant as well.

It was interesting to see how things progressed from his point of view regarding the events at the end of the last book. The King seems to be the one feeding the fire here, and clearly Adante and Leo don’t know each others thoughts. The situation could be easily fixed really without the whole ordeal with occurred if they just communicated without the King being a dick.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book and seeing how everything pans out.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. The series is great with fantastic characters.

My rating: 5/5*

Club Shadowlands (Masters of the Shadowlands Book 1) by Cherise Sinclair

This is the first book in the Masters of the Shadowlands series.

One dark ‘n’ stormy night. One short curvy accountant. One very exclusive club.

Jessica can’t believe her luck. After her car slides into a water-filled ditch, she asks to shelter in an isolated mansion only to learns it’s a private bondage club. Given the choice, she decides to enter. She hadn’t realized when signing the “Rules of the Shadowlands” that she’d get much more than she bargained for.

Her next mistake is attracting the attention of Master Z, the intimidatingly, confident owner of the Shadowlands. The most powerful dominant in the club, Master Z can have anyone he wants—and he wants Jessica.

It’s time to enter the darkly seductive world of the Shadowlands…

This was a good quick read. The characters were good and the storyline was enjoyable.

Jessica and Master Z we’re good characters. Jessica knows nothing of the lifestyle and stumbles into the club by mistake. Master Z takes to her and introduces her to things. I enjoyed watching them together and seeing him teach her about the lifestyle. Her thought same concerns were natural and down to earth, and I also enjoyed seeing how he felt as well. The scenes together were good.

My main issue with this book is the tense that it is written in. I just prefer first person POV. I also would have liked to see a little more after the end. How did they develop and grow after?

Overall, this was a quick enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it.

My rating: 4/5*

Ruled by Magic (Ruled By Magic Book 1) by Zara J Black

This is the first book in the series.

To earn my freedom, I must submit.

I’m facing years in prison. My crime? Exposing the sordid secrets of Dexia’s magical elite. In my oppressive territory, mages hold all the power, magical tech is outlawed, and sexuality is repressed.

At my sentencing I expect a bored judge, but instead I get a crowd, reporters, and a handsome mage everyone seems to fear. He makes me kneel at his feet, and offers me a deal. Serve six months as his plaything, and leave a free woman. Shame burns through me, but I accept.

He’s Leopold Rahl, Dexia’s new Lord Commander, the strongest mage in living memory. He’s hunted me for months. He means to see me punished.

And I’ve fallen right into his trap.

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were good and I enjoyed the storyline.

I liked Liv. She was a strong character and you kind of understood her reasoning for going through with everything. She was strong to cope with everything.

Leo was quite a complex character. He treated her horribly at the beginning with all if the humiliation. Yes, he had his reasoning, but he quickly learnt that what she did wasn’t out of malice. I enjoyed seeing him slowly change and seeing his feelings slowly develop.

The storyline was good, although the world building could have been a little clearer. We were thrown into how non-mages and mages were in society and how women were expected to dress. A little more explanation would have made why Leo dressed Liv the way he did more clear and why it was humiliating. You still get the idea eventually though.

It was nice when Leo and Liv established their feelings for once another. Liv enjoyed how he used her body and he knew it, but it meant more when there were feelings involved. As much as he enjoyed humiliating her, he understood that she didn’t like it. After the ending, I would love to know how they both progressed. How much freedom did Leo give her after everything? How did things change after what happened and his newfound status? It leaves you wanting to read the rest of the series knowing that book 3 will conclude them as well as the characters in book 2.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. The characters were great and storyline was good.

My rating: 5/5*

Her Soul To Take (Souls Trilogy) by Harley Laroux

This is the first book in the Souls Trilogy, although each book can be read as a standalone.

Leon I earned my reputation among magicians for a reason: one wrong move and you’re dead. Killer, they called me, and killing is what I’m best at. Except her. The one I was supposed to take, the one I should have killed – I didn’t. The cult that once controlled me wants her, and I’m not about to lose my new toy to them.

Rae I’ve always believed in the supernatural. Hunting for ghosts is my passion, but summoning a demon was never part of the plan. Monsters are roaming the woods, and something ancient – something evil – is waking up and calling my name. I don’t know who I can trust, or how deep this darkness goes. All I know is my one shot at survival is the demon stalking me, and he doesn’t just want my body – he wants my soul.

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were great and the storyline was interesting.

Rae was a great character. She was fierce and strong willed. You have to admire what she went through and came out the other side fighting.

Leon is a fantastic character. He was interesting and witty. How do I summon a demon because after reading this, I kind of want one. I loved watching his relationship with Rae grow and develop. How it turned from a desire to a genuine love was great. I loved reading them both together and the scenes were definitely hot.

The plot was great. I loved the paranormal touch and all of the different creatures. It was a great story and it ended well.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.

My rating: 5/5*

Cataclysm (Four Horsemen Book 4) by Sarah Bailey

This is the forth and final book in the Four Horsemen series.

Drake Ackley – Death.

They call us the men who will drive the world to its knees.
The Four Horsemen.
A pity for them really.
Prescott, West, Francis and I are done with our masks of civility.
Gods who turned on their subjects.

When you unleash death, nothing can withstand it. Everything perishes in the wake of the executioner. The only things left to show for it are ash and dust.

We had allowed our enemies to take from us for far too long. The tables had finally turned. Our woman had arrived to usher in the end.

Scarlett was the catalyst. The fuse.
The match was burning. Time was running out.
And we were about to bring war to the man who stole her from us all those years ago.

This series has been brilliant. I absolutely love the characters and the storyline has been brilliant.

I have loved Scarlett’s development through the series. She’s grown immensely as a character, taking who she was in the last ten years and blending it with her returned memories. She’s strong and fierce.

The boys are all brilliant. I love them all, and yet they are all so different. Scarlett brings out the best in them all. It was great to see Drake finally lower his walls for her and embrace this love towards her. Prescott and Francis are both so lovely, and West, our little psycho has a heart. It was brilliant to see him and Scarlett repair the damage that the last ten years did.

I loved watching them get their revenge and justice. They took everyone down and showed no mercy. They truly were the Four Horsemen with their goddess, Nyx.

The scenes were all smoking hot, and one in particular definitely isn’t for the faint hearted. I found it I far more hotter than I should have.

I enjoyed the ending and seeing everyone find their happiness and closure. They all embraced the fact that they were a family. It was a good satisfying ending.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this series. It has been brilliant to read and I’ve proper binge read it. The characters are brilliant and the storyline it great.

My rating: 5/5*

Corrode (Four Horsemen Book 3) by Sarah Bailey

This is the third book in the Four Horsemen series.

Francis Beaufort – Famine.

They say you shouldn’t hoard your wealth.
Those people know nothing of the power it brings.
Drake, West, Prescott and I are untouchable.
The men known as the Four Horsemen.
Gods ruling over our kingdom.

There are some secrets in this world greater than others. Our fifth was going to find that out the hard way.

Scarlett thought she knew why she’d come back, but she had no idea what lay in the dark recesses of her memories.

It started when we returned her to our sides. When we let desire fuel our needs. And it will end when the truth comes to light.

I am absolutely loving this series. I love the characters and the storyline is great.

I love Scarlett and it was great to see her get her memories back. I’ve been eager to find out what happened that night, and now we know. I love how she’s dealing with everything and I’m glad that she put the boys in their place.

I love each of the boys and I loved seeing them earn her forgiveness. Prescott and Francis are so sweet, and yet they can become animals in the bedroom. It great that they know exactly what she needs. I love her relationship with West as well. Drake has taken the longest to build a proper relationship with her, but his stone walls were definitely broken in this book. Each of them has a great connection to her as well as with each other. The scenes were all insanely hot as well.

I’m enjoying the storyline and watching them get start to get their revenge and justice for the past ten years. After the ending, I’m intrigued about how the boys are going to handle things.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

My rating: 5/5*