Weekly Wrap-Up

This week at Smexy…
A review – Hold Me Close by Megan Hart (mandi)
A- review – Rebel Bride by Elizabeth Moss (sheena)
B+ review – Fish Stick Fridays by Rhys Ford (tori)
B+ review – Steal Me by Lauren Layne (mandi)
B review – Blood Kiss by J.R. Ward (mandi)
B review – Misconduct by Penelope Douglas (tori)
B- review – Feel the Burn by G.A. Aiken (may)
C+ review – Shadow’s End by Thea Harrison (tori)

Smexy’s Top Ten
Smexy Deals!

News from Mandi: I don’t have a lot to report because I spent a lot of my week reading the new Megan Hart which I reviewed yesterday. I’m 60% through Crashed Out by Tessa Bailey (out next week) and I’m not feeling it. I mean – it’s okay, but it’s a lot of sex and I don’t feel the emotional connection between the hero and heroine. We’ll see how it plays out at the end.

News from Sheena:

Whoa! Crazy week and damned if I didn’t live to tell the tale. A family trip to NYC, rogue kids and I managed to squeeze some reading in between!

The Last First Boy by Sonya Weiss– New Adult (a rarity for me, I typically shy away from these over wrought yarns) novel where we see a truly beautiful friendship try to survive sex, family scandal and lots of self esteem issues. New author for me, Sonya Weiss- great voice and solid start to a new series sure to give you a serious case of the feels!

Off The Clock by Roni Loren– The first in a hot new series, Off the Clock knocked my socks off! I didn’t love the last Loren book I read, however, office romance, professional boundaries and facing your fears are all tackled in this smart, sexy romp! Full review to come!

The Pretty by Darlene Jacobs– Mixed Martial Arts Paranormal Romance. Give it a chance they said, it will be interesting they said, you love dirty brawlers and paranormal and general “otherness”- go for it they said. Well. That is the last time I allow the voices in my head to pick my books! I gave this novel the good ole college try, even after walking away twice- it was just too bizarre and the writing style kept me too far removed from the characters for any semblance of investment to take root. I think the heroine is batshit, the hero is bizarre and the plot non existent. It was in fact, not very pretty at all.

Blood Kiss by J.R Ward– Ahh a refreshing return to the good ole days. Throwback to old school Ward and a BDB novel that I absolutely loved. Ward wrote an awesome blog about it, long story short, in the spring we get the…new age-anything-can-happen-even-dead-shellan/heroines-and-yes-I’m-still-a-little-bitter-about-it BDB mega novels and in December, sweet, sweet December we get a Legacy book! Two BDB novels in one year, Hell Yeah!

This weekend I plan to read 2 book rec’s Misconduct and Corrupt! Have a great weekend!

Tori’s News: Been Christmas shopping and doing a little decorating this week. Online shopping and free delivery is the best thing since Reese’s invented peanut butter cups. Tomorrow I am going with the kid and friends to Tampa for an outdoor concert featuring her favorite band-Twenty One Pilots. An early present from the most awesome mom EVAH!! :P

The Harder You Fall by Gena Showalter–The best book in the series I do believe. A fun snarky unapologetic heroine and a sexy damaged hero with OCD are falling in love though the hero’s MANY issues are putting up some serious roadblocks. Some of the best sexual tension I’ve seen in awhile blends well with the flirting, humor, and serious undertones. I laughed almost the entire book.

Persuasion by Violetta Rand–A new MC romance contemporary that focuses hard on the hero and heroine while interjecting with a small plotline about the MC itself. This story was awkward to read. Lots of facts and rules-almost as though a list was made of what was to be added-but I found the execution was bland and somewhat impersonal. The romance was also a hard sell for me. Review to come.

Blood Kiss by J.R. Ward–LOOOOVVVEEEDDD. This is why I stuck with Ward’s BDB series for so long and what I have been missing. Maybe Ward fired her muse or found a new one but in here she goes old skool and everything that made this series great is in here. Smooth tight storyline, dynamic characters, witty dialogue, and a sexy romance. I also enjoyed the side plot with Butch and Marissa. I had been waiting to see how they were doing.

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz–A romantic thriller that brings a mystery from over 2 decades ago to light when a young woman is forced home after her grandmother dies. Heavy on the investigation al angle, Krentz keeps readers on their toes as she cleverly reveals her intentions. Read my review here.

This weekend I have the concert and we are redoing our bedroom. I have no idea what or when I will have time to read this weekend. :P