Filthy Deal by Lisa Renee Jones

Rating -
Standalone - Scandalous Billionaires #1
Release - March 7, 2024
Genre - Contemporary Romance / forbidden
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - several descriptive scenes
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 581 pages



Part One: The Bastard ~ This story was almost overwhelming in its passion. It felt at times as if I was stuck in the erotic embrace of the couple while learning virtually nothing about the situation at hand. There's something going on at Eric's dad's company... something that is potentially dangerous... something that has jeopardized lives... and yet I'm no closer to figuring out what that something is at the end of this book. I hope it all becomes clear in the next one.

There's no doubt that Eric and Harper share a once-in-a-lifetime connection. Their connection never broke during their six year separation. I'm not sure what the future holds for this couple but knowing LRJ, their happy ending is somewhere on the horizon and I'm eager to watch it unfold.

Full review HERE


Part Two: The Princess ~ Aside from wishing that this was told entirely from Eric's perspective, hating Harper, and finding out that it's a filthy trilogy and not a filthy duet, I'm totally on board to discover all of this story's hidden truths and find out what's really going on. LRJ has the amazing ability to completely hold me captive to her stories and keep me guessing and I love it. With one heck of a cliffhanger, where Harper is once again questioning Eric, I'm really looking forward to how this author will close out this couple's saga.

Full review HERE


Part Three: The Empire ~ I love Eric so much! This man, this savant, this SEAL, this self-made billionaire, this honorable and incredible man earned a special place in my heart. I loved him for his inner strength and for his vulnerabilities. I admired his perseverance and his ability to see the big picture. I never doubted him and I'm glad that Harper learned not to as well. I must admit that I found parts of their dialogue and Harper's inner thoughts a bit repetitive, but I was still able to be wowed by this couple's romance. The Empire perfectly wrapped up the love and intrigue that the Filthy Trilogy successfully portrayed and I can't wait to see where all of these characters end up next!

Full review HERE

Show Off by Lani Lynn Vale

Other books in the series: Fun House * Freak Show

Seventy shades of messed up.

That was what she’d been told about herself for nearly her entire life.

From a young age, she knew what it was like to be hated. To be loathed so much by a person that they literally resented the air you breathed.

For her entire childhood, she fought to live, despite her father’s constant effort to make her life a living hell.
Her sisters and brother have no clue what kind of closet psychopath their father really was, and she’ll die before she ruins their picture-perfect view of him.

Why? Because she’s already broken. There’s no fixing this kind of damaged. But there’s no reason everyone else needs to suffer, too.

***

From the moment Hannibal Peters laid eyes on Hades Singh, he knew she was the one.
That was why he ran.

That was why, when he saw her suffering, he couldn’t stay away.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

I had no clue how Lani Lynn Vale would redeem Hades Singh in my eyes, but after reading this book, I realized that I should never have doubted this author.

I absolutely freaking loved Hades!!

I actually like her more than I like her twin, Caristonia.
Go figure.

Hades was seriously misunderstood and the first person to see her, to really see her, was Hannibal. He understood her in a way that she didn't even know she craved. He filled all of her empty places and this author captured their relationship so perfectly.

There's a stalker after her sister and Hades is determined to catch him and stop him... with Hannibal's help. He's a veteran with his own security company so who better to have on her side? With their instantaneous connection and insane chemistry leading the way, it was no wonder that these two quickly realized how nicely they fit each other.

Her family was a bit oblivious, but I'm glad that Hades worked with them so that they could all be in a better place. I'm a huge fan of this family and the side characters introduced and can't wait to continue this series.


Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

Visit https://lanilynnvale.com for more information!

FYI: This series is an MM Interracial Fantasy Romance I read through Kindle Unlimited

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Spark of Madness by Brynn Ford

Mercy is a sinner, and Arlo is no saint…

MERCY - For years, I've served the men of Ember Glen. I've endured their depravity because it's required. But when the most vicious man in our village decides to target me during a purge, I have to make a choice…

I can kneel and serve…
or I can run and become a sinner.

I choose sin…
I choose to run.

Only, I didn't expect another man to chase me…
I didn't expect the harrowing punishments he'd make me endure once I was caught…
And I certainly didn't expect to find passion for him.

The man who calls me a sinner sets my soul on fire.

REVIEW ~ 4 stars

Let me start off by saying THANK YOU to Jessica @Chatterbooks Book Blog, From her rave review of the series, I knew I had to give it a try. Dark romance, dystopian society, strong heroine, horrific experiences, sinners and servants… Spark of Madness has all of that and more.

I admired the heck out of Mercy. She seemed to be the only one who questioned her place in life. She was the only one who spoke up for how wrong things were. Why were men allowed to subjugate, abuse, and generally mistreat women with no consequences? Why were women punished for questioning or refusing the status quo? She was a warrior for her people, even if they couldn’t see or acknowledge it.

After recently watching The Handmaid’s Tale, I couldn’t help drawing parallels, but at the same time, this story is so different. The construct of this society is also mired in twisted religion, women are oppressed, meant to be seen and to serve, not to have thoughts or feelings or to be heard. Select men are chosen to rule over everyone and each caste has a certain set of rules they must follow. In that vein, Arlo reminded me of Nick, in that he lives in the society and, until meeting Mercy, he believed in the principles of that society. However, he starts to question himself and those around him. While he first tries to rationalize it, it seems he’s coming to accept that something’s wrong with what he was forced to believe.

Arlo isn't a hero in my eyes... yet. But with the way this author writes, I can easily see her convincing me to like him.

My thoughts for the rest of this series:
- Killian must die. The elders must die.
- I think that the idea of no world beyond Ember’s Glen is a lie. I think normal society exists and this cultish environment exists outside of accepted society. I hope Mercy burns down this place and finds a new home in the real world. That would be my hope for her happy ending. I’m not sold on that ending being with Arlo, but I’m guessing the next two books will work to change my mind.

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Blaze of Misery by Brynn Ford

ARLO
She's destined to die, yet she consumes my every waking thought.

I'm struggling against everything I've been taught to believe.
I'm falling for a sinner, and my passion for her is destroying my world.

As Mercy endures untold torment at the hands of my brothers, my soul splinters, breaking in ways I didn't know were possible. I want her so much it consumes me. I need her so much that I'd burn for eternity in exchange for a single moment with her...if only I could sell my soul to spare her life.

The fear of her looming death begs my mind to open, and all I want is a world where she lives.

MERCY
Absolution. They could etch the word into my skin, and still, it would never find me.

The trials for my soul begin, but they aren't truly meant to save me.
Nothing can save me from the way I've been broken by the men of Ember Glen.

The man who hurt me the most is also the man whose touch sets me on fire. Arlo Rainn hasn’t earned my thoughts, my attention, or my desire, yet he possesses me entirely. My feelings for him strengthen as we explore our forbidden passion, and as he comes to know me better, he begins to see the world through my eyes.

My warden's perspective is shifting, and I fall deeper into the madness of my need for him.

REVIEW ~ 5 stars

I couldn’t sleep from reading and wanting to continue reading this book. I’m freaking hooked and can’t wait to see the next hurdle Mercy must pass. This woman is so strong, full of compassion, with a certain sweetness and softness I find so endearing. The warrior within her is blazing through and I can’t wait to continue to see her fight.

I still think Killian has to die. This dude is cruel and deserves punishment that meets his crimes and actions. Death is the only solution.

I’m not sure how I feel about the other members of The Control. Owen seems to be reasonable (if a lot delusional), Wesley seems to take pleasure in being cruel (and yet try to appear kind), Ryker seems to be a determined Killian follower (like that guy needs anyone to encourage his wickedness), and the other member I don’t even remember. I hope Theo is a help rather than a hindrance in the rebellion to come.

I wonder where the missing pages of Mercy’s mother’s journal are. Who made sure she found the journal in the first place? And what do those pages have to say?

I’m curious about what exists outside of Ember Glen. I’m sure it’s a futuristic version of our society and I hope I get a chance to see Mercy thrive in the freedom of it.

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Embers of Mercy by Brynn Ford

MERCY
Death has always been chasing me, and I fear it's finally caught up.

If this trial doesn't end my life, it will surely take my mind.
And nothing could have prepared me for the despair yet to come.

Though everything seems hopeless, my love for Arlo remains constant. A part of me wants to give up and fade away with him. But secrets are being kept, and though I never expected to live long enough to learn the truth, a brewing rebellion might be the end of it all.

If Arlo and I are going down in flames, at least we can burn Ember Glen down with us.

ARLO
The end of everything approaches, and I've never felt so lost.

I'm sickened by the trial Mercy is forced to endure.
If I could complete it in her stead, I would trade places with her in a heartbeat.

I can't do anything for her, and it wrecks my soul. My sanity is shattered, and I lose all control. And though my actions draw death nearer, its imminence inspires boldness. When we finally discover the truth, we have nothing left to lose.

One way or another, Mercy and I will end this—either everything will change, or we'll leave this place burning in our wake.

REVIEW ~ 4.5 stars

It's the last book of the trilogy and it gave me almost everything I could have wanted in an ending.

❥ bring on the rebellion
❥ let all castes unite
❥ Kill all those who NEED to die
❥ a happy ending for those who definitely deserve it

I'm being intentionally vague, but my only issue with this final book was that I wanted more. I wanted to spend time with Mercy and Arlo as they enjoyed their freedom. I wanted to really know what life was like for them away from Ember Glen and I wanted more justice to be found.

You know me... I'm a greedy goose.

If you love dark romance with horrific elements, situations that really push your boundaries, and love that shines a bright light through the darkness, then you NEED this series on your to-read list.

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Priest by Sierra Simone

There are many rules a priest can't break.
A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God.

I've always been good at following rules.
Until she came.
My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I'm twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again.
I am a priest and this is my confession.



You better clutch your pearls because this book is absolutely filthy... and I enjoyed the heck out of it!

Tyler and Poppy were two clueless, love-struck people caught up in an impossible situation. He was a priest and she was his greatest temptation. Their lust game was strong. And while I didn't love how predictable this story was, I liked it. I liked how dirty these characters got, desecrating altars and such.

Poppy was hard to take seriously and Tyler came off as a bit pathetic... and yet I still liked them. I did believe that there was too much religion talk. Tyler was feeling guilty all over the place, which was understandable, but if you're not planning on stopping, figure your ish out!

Overall, it was a delicious smutty story and I recommend it to anyone who loves reading anything taboo.

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Midnight Mass by Sierra Simone

Priest #1.5
Release - December 8, 2015
Genre - Contemporary Romance novella
POV - Hero 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Amazon
Length - 193 pages
Publisher - Indie

We are told that God will punish the wicked. That sinful men will reap what they sow. We are told to scourge our souls with prayer and pain to become clean once again.

Well, here I am. Wicked and sinful. Desperate to become clean…even though it feels so good to be dirty.

But even I never expected what came next.

Even I never expected my punishment to come so soon.

MY REVIEW - 3 stars

I enjoyed the conflict that existed within Tyler. He’d left the church, married his temptation, and was steps away from achieving his doctorate. He should have been happy. Instead, he was a steaming pile of insecurity. He and Poppy were dealing with their new normal, and it wasn’t without its pitfalls. Their happily ever after definitely wasn't easily achieved.


Sierra is a voracious reader of all things including the smuttiest smut, young adult, piles of non-fiction for research, and everything Bill Bryson (especially on audio).

She loves writing the dirtiest things that she can think of, King Arthur, sparkling water, Tarot, coffee, leggings, and learning new words daily.

Her previous jobs have included firing ceramics, teaching living history lessons in one-room school house in full, 1904-approved school marm attire, and working as a librarian for several years—not in that order

She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, two children, and two giant dogs. (And two cats, but they're so naughty we don't talk about them.)

Visit https://www.thesierrasimone.com for more information

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Hunter Avenged by N.J. Walters

It’s taken Viking hunter Sven Knutson six frustrating months to find her. To track down the angel responsible for compromising the Forgotten Brotherhood and waking the drakon. She may be clever. Resourceful. But no one ever gets away from Sven. Ever.

All Rivka longed for as an angel was a chance to serve on Earth and help humans. Instead, it all went impossibly, horribly wrong, and she still doesn’t understand how or even why. All she knows is that she’s on the run—not only from Heaven’s dangerous elite guard, but also from the Brotherhood, who want answers.

She might just have to trust the immortal Viking whose icy blue eyes make her feel almost wickedly human. Because someone wants Rivka dead and the Brotherhood eliminated. Someone powerful enough to take on the most dangerous assassins who have ever lived. Someone who could unleash the fury of both Heaven and Hell…and Rivka is the key.



When I finished reading Bjorn Cursed and met Sven, I knew I needed him to have his own book. And I've been eager for it ever since. I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to finally get his story in my hands. I don't often fangirl the heck out of myself, but I'm fangirling people!

I already knew that Sven was saved and enslaved by the goddess Freya and was now free to live any life he chose. His parents were alive and he could have a relationship with them, but aside from joining The Brotherhood, he's kept his distance.

And maybe, with the weight of destiny on his shoulders, he'll finally give himself a chance to be truly happy and embrace all of his blessings.

I really enjoyed this story. As the conclusion to an incredible series, I was happy to see most of the past characters make an appearance and in such impactful ways. I loved what blossomed between Sven and Rivka. From the way he hunted her around the world to bring her to justice in the plot against The Brotherhood, to his realizing that all he wanted to do was protect her from any and everyone who might have reason to do her harm. Sven was such an amazing hero and Rivka came into her own in such a wonderful way!


This series made N.J. Walters a must-read and must-buy author for me. There are incredibly gifted heroes, exciting plots and connections, and so much freaking love!


Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.

One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel and life would never be the same. N.J. has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Visit http://www.njwalters.com for more information!

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Broken Angel by Cynthia Eden

A fallen angel has a bad side...and that side is about to be set free.

Angel Lila is being hunted - she can feel the hunter closing in behind her. Every move she makes, he's stalking after her. But does the werewolf on her trail want to destroy her - or can he protect her from the growing darkness that she is trying so desperately to fight?

Werewolf Rayce Lovel doesn't know what to do with an angel - especially one who makes him think too much about paradise. Lila may be heavenly, but every time he's near her, Rayce wants to sin. Angels aren't supposed to feel, but Lila was introduced to the world by way of pain. Pain is all she's known for far too long, and now, Rayce is tempted to introduce gorgeous Lila to pleasure.

But the longer an angel stays out of heaven, the more dangerous she can become. Lila sinks deeper into the darkness with each night that passes, and she finds herself becoming a pawn in an eternal battle...good versus evil. Is Rayce really her protector? Perhaps he is just the hungry wolf who has been sent to ensure that Lila never sets foot back in her paradise.



Instalove with a forbidden romance twist? I'm here for all of it!

After rescuing Lila, she went off the grid and Rayce has been searching for her ever since. He's supposed to be looking for her for his friend, the Lord of the Dark, but all he wants to do is protect her from anything that can hurt her—even if it means saving her from himself. But what happens when even his best intentions lead them down a dangerous path?

As a fallen angel, Lila has no idea what's happening to her. But something is definitely happening to her and the author did a great job of capturing her fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. However, with all of her doubts, there was one thing (or one person) she was pretty sure of... Rayce.

And I couldn't get enough of Rayce.

As an Alpha werewolf, he was wild, he was fierce, he was dominating and controlling, but he was also kind and sweet and generous and loving and amazing.

With tons of action, this story had me turning the pages very quickly and I'm looking forward to reading more from this series.



Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

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Suck This by Lani Lynn Vale

Blood, sex and alcohol.

That was what Club Worth was all about.

Ever since vampires had come out to the world, people had been obsessed. Take a walk on the wild side and see what the nightclub was all about.

Acadia Powell, on the other hand, didn’t do vampires. Nor did she do messy.

What she did do was stay away from people like Constantine Worth, Master of the City, and the most gorgeous man in the history of men. It didn’t matter that he had hypnotizing eyes, beautiful lips, and the sexiest body she’d ever had the privilege of laying eyes on.

It should be easy for her to stay away, but with each subsequent encounter, it’s becoming harder and harder to fight the growing need inside of her.

***

Constantine Worth knew that Acadia was off limits. Not only was she human and not willing to slum it with the undead, but she was also the baby sister of the city’s chief of police. The man that liked to arrest him every other day and twice on Sunday.

He should hate her based solely on the last name she shared with her brother. Yet each time he sees her, he forgets that he’s supposed to be playing nice. She sets his blood to boil, and each time she lets the verbal slurs flow, he finds it harder and harder to maintain his distance.

Soon, he will have to make a choice. Maintain his upstanding relationship with human law enforcement, or take what he wants, and damn the consequences.



Con wanted Acadia.
Acadia wanted Con.
These two couldn't keep their eyes or their thoughts off of each other.
Too bad Acadia's human.
Funny how forbidden fruit is always the sweetest!

When one of my favorite authors decides to dabble, once again, with paranormal romance, you better believe I was gonna be all over that! LLV's books are my solace and I found some comfort with this one.

While this story tackled some ugliness (those activists were no joke), I couldn't help but be enamored by all that was developing between Con and Acadia. He was so mysterious and utterly irresistible to her. And although she was supposed to be off limits, he couldn't help but give into temptation, again and again and again.

---

Not gonna lie, I did have some issues with this story.
* It was a bit all over the place and I sometimes felt like I was dumped in the middle of an untold story.
* Acadia had a best friend, but aside from a couple of scenes, that friend was never seen again. Which was weird because Acadia went through something intense. Where was her friend then?
* other than putting the blame for what happened to Acadia at their feet, the human activists were never really put to justice that I could see. Does that mean her case is still open?
* Con's organization, his foothold on their town, his allies, everything that was a part of him was so vaguely mentioned, but I wanted some more details. For example, his dad popped up on page. More please!
* Con's dead daughter and undead wife. Ummm... why wasn't this properly explored? What happens now?
* Acadia's entire life was vague. She was such a one-dimensional character that I struggled to give her a chance.
* Honestly, more details about the important stuff and less about the unimportant stuff would have worked well.


Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

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Always Been You by Q.B. Tyler

Wrong. Sinful. Taboo.

I know I shouldn't want him.

I know I shouldn't touch myself in the middle of the night as thoughts of him run through my mind.

Thoughts of his kiss, his touch, his love.

I'd spent years obsessing over the man I thought I couldn't have.

But as it turns out, he wants me too.

And he wants me now.



I'll be honest... taboo reads haven't really been on my radar lately. I can't even remember when the last time my eyes even came across one. However, when I read this review from Sonya, I couldn't pass it up. She made it sound so good and I'm happy to say that I agree. At least for the most part.

So this isn't your typical 'he's my stepbrother and we're now involved. There's some fallout and a happy ending' kind of read. This is about adopted siblings. Gabi was adopted when she was two. She was a part of the family in every single way.

But what's a girl to do when she falls in love with her older brother?

Knowing they can't be together doesn't keep her heart from aching for him. It doesn't stop her body's longing for him.

So what happens when she finds out he feels the same way?


I liked a lot of what this story offered. The writing was definitely on point. The chemistry between the characters was beyond sizzling. The drama was actually kept to a minimum, if you can believe it. I even liked the dynamic explored by Gabi and James in their new relationship. I found it more realistic that they were being realistic about how strange their circumstances were. They knew it was messed up, they knew that many people would be grossed out, but their love wouldn't allow any of that to matter.


I do wish this story encompassed more than just the sexual chemistry between the characters. I know, I can't believe I even typed that, but it's true. There were some flashbacks that missed the mark on showing me the depth of their relationship. It was more tell than show and I would have loved to see the before better. Overall, a very solid read and I can easily recommend it to anyone looking for a bit more than a splash of taboo in their romance.


Write. Wine. Work. Repeat.

A look inside the mind of a not so ex-party girl's escape from her crazy life. Hailing from the nation's capital, q.B. Tyler, spends her days constructing her "Happily ever afters" with a twist, featuring sassy heroines and the heroes that worship them. But most importantly the love story that develops despite inconvenient circumstances.

Check out https://authorqbtyler.com/ for more information

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Marked for Seduction by S.J. Rowe

Thieves don’t get caught…

However, Tess’s career both started and stopped when she was. Her hand wasn’t the only thing she would lose this time. What was she to do: save her skin or let another die?

Primes choose loyalty over personal joy…

For over 200 years, Maliki didn’t regret exchanging his death for a life filled with duty and to right the wrongs that killed him. Under the watchful eye of an outsider makes it harder, especially with one that keeps tugging on a heart he thought was lost. When forced to choose, will he kill the Kayen, the soulless creatures of the night, or the talented thief hired to steal the secrets of his hidden society?

Does love make a soul whole?

Forced to work together: one to save three lives, the other thousands. Are they willing to push aside their desire to find those that betrayed them? Both have no problem surrendering their souls to spare another’s life, but are they willing to sacrifice their hearts this time?




I love when a new-to-me author's work gives me the giggles. Marked for Seduction was funny, sexy, and a wee bit suspenseful. Throw in some supernatural drama and it made for quite the entertaining read. Tess was a thief with a huge heart while Maliki was a male who was slowly discovering that love could play a part in his life too. They didn't make sense, their romance was almost forbidden, and yet something about them worked.

I'll admit that I'm intrigued by the idea of the whole Cain and Abel secret society of immortals or semi-immortals, locked in an endless battle of good vs. evil. I do wish that I learned more about the inner workings of that society, the people who make it their priority to protect humans, and even the evil ones who look at humans as fodder. For instance, why did I find out so much about everyone else's super powers, but nothing about Maliki's? Did he not have one?

Overall, a solid story and I'll probably read from this author again.