One of the things I love about the bookish world is that one book can evoke different feelings in all sorts of readers. One book can be a five-star read for me and a DNF for someone else. We all see something different because we're all different and I love exploring those differences by reading reviews.

Full disclosure: I read these books years ago, but I do remember enjoying them. Have you read them? Are you interested?

Virgin (A Real Man #2) by Jenika Snow

Quinn
I met Isabel when I was ten.
I fell in love with her before I even knew what that meant.
I knew from the moment I saw her she was it for me. No one else compared to her, and I’d do anything to make her mine. But I was afraid of losing the friendship we have, so I've kept my mouth shut.
But she's leaving me, and I know I can't keep how I feel inside any longer.
Saving myself for the girl I loved isn't a hardship, but something I'm proud of. When it comes to Isabel giving her my virginity, and making her see we belong together, is all that matters.

Isabel
Quinn is like the other half of my soul, the one person I can talk to about anything. He has the bad boy thing going on but is also respectful as much as he is a rebel.
He is the first and only boy I will ever love.
Being forced to move across the country, and leave him behind is like leaving a piece of myself in the process. But telling Quinn, I am madly in love with him could put a strain on our friendship. I didn’t know if that’s something I can handle or risk.

Quinn
Nothing can keep me from Isabel. She is it for me, and I mean that in every conceivable way. Nothing can keep me from her. I hope she's ready because there isn't anything or anyone that will stop me from having her as mine.

Devil (now known as Memory) by Ker Dukey

Evi Devil.
Yes, that’s really my name.
The irony is not lost on me.
I was created from two evil souls and have the name to prove it.
Devil worshipers, perverts, murderer. Is all terms used to describe the parents I refuse to remember. My mind won’t allow me to.
And why would I want to?
One born of dirty blood running through her veins can never truly be clean from its murky hue.
No matter what they try to tell me happened in my past, my mind denies me access, therefore how can I know it’s true?
How can I believe that’s what I’m born from?
Glimpses of my past haunt me, the screams of terror echo in the silent darkness of my memories, trying to remind me that my Mother went from room to room butchering our family.
I’ve learned from scars that I suffered abuse and that my Father and siblings weren’t my Mother’s only victims.
Hearing what they tell me.
Reading the words printed in the papers. None of it can prepare me for what’s to come.
My biggest lesson is learning that some memories we suppress for a reason.

Cut & Blow Pt.1 by Ashley Giannoccaro

The smell of perm lotion and the sound of the dryer’s blowing hot air camouflages the truth, the lies, and the real stories behind the people inside the hair salon.
Cut & Blow flash in neon lights above the glass front of the outdated shop, but inside young talent shave and layer hair while making small talk with clients, that over share.
Ailee is a twenty-year old stylist with more secrets of her own than she hears from others on a daily basis. But, when a tall, long haired customer comes in and seduces her with his deep voice, the skeletons come tumbling out her closet before she can shut the door. Falling in love with him is like stepping off a ledge, she knows it won’t end well, but it feels so good on the way down.
Rainieri watches his wife from a distance, until he just cannot watch any longer. Through the salon window he sees someone else taking what is his, setting off his possessive streak. When she doesn’t get his subtle messages and her stubborn nature won’t give up, he steps in to take what was his all along.

──────　♔　──────

Coldhearted Bastard by Jenika Snow

He didn’t have a heart... but he wanted hers.

All I knew about life was anger and violence. Pain and suffering. Kill or be killed.

I was a “fixer” for the Ruin—a syndicate for the Bratva, Cosa Nostra, Cartel, and any other organized crime faction that dealt in the darker, crueler aspects of humanity.

I was a free agent who was called upon to do things weaker men didn’t have the stomach for.

And when you surround yourself with death for long enough, soon, you didn’t remember what it felt like to be alive.

And then I saw her. She was a fragile little thing who tried to be strong. But I could tell she’d seen too much horror in the world, too much of the ugly within people. I should have stayed away. I’d only bring her farther down into the darkness.

But for the first time in my life, I felt a stirring in my chest, this protectiveness and possessiveness toward another living person. And it was painful. It made me feel alive.

Lina tried to hide how broken she was, but I was an old friend of being ruined. She held secrets I’d find out. Because for the first time in my miserable life, I wanted something for myself. I felt something more than apathy and indifference.

I wanted to possess the innocence she clung to. I wanted to break it open and consume it for myself.

I could look into her too trusting blue eyes and knew I’d maim for her. I’d kill for her. And that became our truth when her past finally came back for her when my present tried to destroy her.

They thought they could take the one thing—the only thing—I’d ever wanted for myself. They were wrong.

When I looked at her, I felt some of the monster that made me who I retreated back to my black soul. He’d never leave... but he’d share the space.

For her.





Arlo knew nothing but cold, lethal purpose. And then he met Galina, someone he could make a real connection with, someone he would do anything to protect. He made this story for me and I lived for every moment of his truth.

Galina was also easy to like. She was a girl who had some hard knocks in life — seriously, her own father served her up to settle his debts — so she always knew she could only rely on and trust in herself. When Arlo offered to be her perfect anti-hero, she didn't quite know how to act.

I didn't need another father. And although mine was worthless and the world wouldn't miss him if he was gone, I also didn't need anybody to look after me. I could do that myself. No one could take care of me better than me.

Her tendency to lie and hide and be ungrateful got on my nerves, but Arlo man... he made everything better. Who doesn't love a guy who's willing to mow down any and everyone who wants to hurt his girl? I coudn't get enough of this guy!

Coldhearted Bastard gave me hot and sexy with plenty of action to spice things up.


Jenika Snow is a USA Today bestselling author who has been publishing smutty romance since 2009. She’s a firm believer that there’s the perfect book boyfriend out there for everyone! When not working on her next story, she can be found reading (preferably when the weather is gloomy and rainy), paying way too much attention to her cats, or watching re-runs of Roseanne.

She was mine before I even knew her name...

Felix

When I first saw Maggie, I knew we'd be the best of friends. I wanted that desperately, wanted her in my life, and I'd do anything to make sure that happened.

Until Maggie came in my life I didn't know what love was.

She'll be my first and last.

I'll be her only.

He kept his distance. She saved her virginity.

He hasn’t been with a woman in five years.

She hasn’t been with a real man... until now.

That first time I saw her—my mate—I’d been ready to kick some guy’s ass for even looking at her. I made no apologies for my possessive, territorial side. I was a grizzly bear shifter, after all. It was my nature to be over the top.

Bethany hadn’t known what to do at first—being mated to a shifter—one who was grouchy and burly and made no apologies for how rugged he really was.
But she wanted me, my sweet little human mate, who could have brought a beast like me to my knees with just a look.

I’d wanted nothing more than to throw her over my shoulder and take her back to my lair like a caveman. But I let her take the lead, even if my bear wasn’t happy, even if the alpha in me wanted to have my way with her right then and there.

And I would have my way with her. All the ways that counted, in fact. I’d claim her, mark her, and before it was all said and done, there’d be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Bethany was owned by a grizzly.

Warning: Holy moly, this hero’s crazy for his mate, but who wouldn’t want one OTT alpha bear shifter obsessed with you? This story is sweet and sexy, and oh so very filthy. Of course,you get a happily ever after … and a little somethin’-somethin’at the end to wrap it up nicely.

It should have just been a simple vacation, away from everyone and everything to clear my head. But I soon realized I wasn’t alone.

He stalked me, hunted me. I should’ve run faster, tried harder. But the truth was I liked him chasing me.

Wolf was a ruthless man, his way of living barbaric. Now he had me in his off-the-grid cabin, what he deemed my new home. I was his new wife, would have his babies.

I was his irrevocably.

I shouldn’t have felt arousal. But I did.

He’s not going to let me escape ... but then again, maybe I don’t want to.


Warning: This one has bite to it—even if it’s NOT paranormal! As per the usual ... it’s short and fast, pretty unrealistic, but it gets right down to the juicy bits. It’s one of those stories that will have you wanting to find your own Wolf in the woods.

Goodreads | Amazon

MY REVIEW

This was a super fast and easy read. Wolf was a loner, living in the woods in a cabin, living a simple life. Ruby was living in town, although she preferred her own company, and was off to enjoy a couple of weeks in the woods in solitude, unplugged from the world. And then Wolf saw Ruby. Wolf wanted Ruby. Wolf was ready to claim Ruby. Wolf carried Ruby off to his cabin. And they lived happily ever after in erotic bliss. Sounds good? I know it sounded darn good to me!

The Ash brothers—they know how to handle their wood.

A new smoking-hot Ash Brothers novella from USA TODAY bestselling author Jenika Snow

I’ve been celibate for years, by choice. No woman has held my interest long enough to be worth sacrificing time spent at Ash Lumber, energy spent building the family business.

All that changed when a feisty redhead walked into our job-site trailer.

Andra.

Her skirts drive me crazy and her trying so hard to flat-out ignore me does the rest. Her flushed cheeks when we flirt are enough to send me to bed for a week.

Andra might be supervising this development deal, but there’s no way we’re going to be able to keep things professional around here. My celibate streak is over, and I owe it all to her.

This book is approximately 13,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

For those times when size does matter. The Dirty Bits from Carina Press: quick and dirty, just the way we like it.

When my sister passed away I adopted her daughter, Dolly, and raised her as my own. We were all we had left in this world and I was going to try my hardest to make sure she never wanted for anything.

That’s why I needed someone I trusted to watch over the most important person in my life. Being a businessman meant I was out of the house a good portion of the day, a necessary evil to provide for Dolly. A live-in nanny would ensure Dolly got the best care possible when I wasn’t with her.

And when I saw Emma for the first time I didn’t just see a caretaker for Dolly. I saw a woman who had every caveman instinct in me rising up like a primal beast. I felt possession and need for Emma the likes of which I’d never experienced before.
I didn’t just want a nanny anymore, I wanted Emma … all of her.

She might think this was just another job, but before our time was up Emma would realize she was mine and I wasn't letting her go.

Warning: Guys, this book is going to give you whiplash for how insta-crazy it is. Talk about a hero who can’t keep his hands off his woman! This may look like a sugary sweet read—and it is—but make no mistake: it’s filthy as hell. We have one alpha hero who instantly falls for the heroine and won’t let her go. Maybe a little obsessive, but hey, that’s what we like.

NICK

My firm has been hired to make sure Holly gets her biggest Christmas wish.

The rules are simple:

Seduction and fantasy, and absolutely no sex.

But, the moment I get a look at the delicious redhead all rules go out the window faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas night.

I shouldn’t touch her, but it is the season of giving, after all.

And I really want to give Holly a night we both will never forget.

The problem is, once she wraps that sweet little tongue on my candy cane,

I want much more than just one night.

Warning: Welcome to Jenika and Jordan’s Hot-Bite Christmas where the packages are big, the stockings are definitely hung, and snow isn’t the only thing that gets plowed. We’ve decided you’ve been good this year, so pull up a chair and enjoy a quick, dirty little cup of Christmas Cheer.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Standalone - A Real Man #15
Release - August 19, 2017
Genre - Smut
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Length - 72 pages

Being bad never felt so good.

RYE
I'd been called bad, dangerous … a criminal. And I didn't deny it. Everyone knew it, especially the one woman I wanted but couldn't have.

I should've stayed away, should've left her alone. Jessa was the daughter of my business partner, too young for me, too innocent.

But I wanted her in the worst of ways, and no amount of self-control could keep me from her.

I wanted to claim every part of her, make her know what it was like to have a real man between her thighs.

And I’d have her.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Standalone - A Real Man #14
Release - June 28, 2017
Genre - Erotic Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Length - 60 pages

LAYLA

For the last two years Lachlan has been my personal bodyguard. Although I don’t feel in danger and don’t need someone constantly watching me, because it’s Lachlan, I can’t help but feel safe.

I love him.

He is big and strong, with training that makes him deadly. Anyone who is stupid enough to cross him learns that swiftly.
But I’m too afraid to tell him how much I want him. I’m too afraid to tell him that I crave him.