★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 sure stars!

Another winner from Meghan March! Why am I not surprised. =D

Okay, so this review is waaaay overdue! It wasn't that I did not enjoy it because hello, Maghan March fan over here? So, delay reasons aside, here's my opinion of this book in a nutshell:

"Lord, oh Lord!"

BENEATH THESE CHAINS is way more humorous than the first two in this series (both standalones, by the way). Elle and Lord were already introduced in the earlier books. Lord is co-owner and manager of the pawnshop, Chains. He first came across as this mysterious guy born on the wrong side of the tracks.  Elle is a loud, sassy, wealthy young woman who is all curves and attitude.

Right of the bat, there are two things that makes things complicated for these two people who are obviously very attracted to each other:

Firstly, Elle is the best friend of Lord's brother's girlfriend... so if ever things go south between Lord and Elle, things will get sticky for all four of them. Out of respect to his brother Con, he puts Elle firmly in the off-limits zone. At first.

Secondly, with his tattoos and obviously seedy background; and her all poised and polished, and coming from an upper-class society, there is an obvious discrepancy that is not lost on Lord.

But then really, there's nothing to worry about because Lord, oh Lord!

Once he realized that he's willing to try for something real with Elle, he set those two complications aside and instead gave his best shot at tearing her defenses down.

"I wasn't lying when I said any time you need me, all you have to do is call. I may not be anyone's version of a white knight, but I'll still be coming."

I love that he was the first one to say, I want to go into this relationship with you, but you also have to go all-in with me. All or nothing, baby! Surprisingly, it was Elle who's more reluctant. She's the one who prefers one-time only flings. She doesn't like the idea of relationships because to her, that would be like giving up her independence. She is a single-minded woman who wants to get what she wants. That's the reason why they were thrown together in the first place: Elle demanded that Lord hire her as an employee at his pawnshop. Why? Because she wants to retrieve a precious item that was wrongly pawned off by her jackass step-brother. But this is just one subplot in this book.

Now true to form, Meghan March packs a lot into the storyline. There are a couple new characters who added dimension (and tension) into the love story; and of course, a couple of surprising plot twists that caught me off-guard.

This is really what I love and will always look forward to from the books in this series! :D Refreshing storylines that keep me on the edge of my seat. Several murders, a possible conspirator from within their circle.. whew. These twists did not just pad the pages, though. They also strengthened the main characters' relationship. By the last chapter, nothing feels contrived or superficial. As with the previous two books, Meghan March convinces me that Lord and Elle will truly last, what with everything they went through together.

One of the best aspects of the book, and what readers can look forward to, is the funny banter between Lord and Elle. Even when they are burning up the sheets, those scenes remain light and funny because of Elle's cheeky one-liners.

"Bring it on, pawn star."

I like how their opposite personalities balance each other out. Lord is a bit more serious and very intense. Elle's personality is so out there, but there are also moments where you can see she is vulnerable somehow. Those are the times when Lord's single-minded determination comes in handy. When Elle is vacillating between yes or no, Lord is telling her, I am yes all the way. The ball is now in your court. Whatever your decision will be, you know where I stand.

She looked up at me, eyes big and lost. But I wasn't backing down. This woman was worth it. Worth fighting for, even if I was fighting her. 

★ ★ ★ ★ 4 happy stars!

Ever since I read BROKEN (read my review here), I kept an eye and an ear out for anything new by Lauren Layne. BROKEN wasn't that kind of epic romance that would crush me, torture me emotionally or give me a mental complex. It was just the right kind of chill read. From that book, and the second standalone book in that series entitled CRUSHED, I deduced that Lauren Layne books are really very easy to read. They're not pretentious. They don't promise sweeping, emotional storylines, only to fall short halfway through. Her stories are straightforward. Quite predictable, yes, but there's pleasure in knowing that the H and h I'm rooting for will undeniably get together in the end. Best of all, Lauren Layne's writing doesn't bore me.

So, I went into STEAL ME with those expectations, and I wasn't off the mark. This is a laid-back read that had me smiling, laughing, and enjoying a fluttery feeling in my gut after reading the last paragraph. I imagine fast readers can finish this in one afternoon. It really is a chill read, one that I can easily enjoy after a stressful week at work.

Anthony Moretti is portrayed as this stern and ambitious, newly-made Captain of the NYPD. His sole ambition is to follow in his father's footsteps and eventually become Police Commissioner. Not that his brothers, Luc and Vincent, value their careers in the Police Force any less than him; but it is Anthony who is really focused on the career path he wants to take.

Now in comes Maggie Walker, the new waitress at the diner where the Moretti family takes brunch every Sunday. Apparently she is such a clutz around Anthony--and funnily enough, only around Anthony. She almost always ends up dumping whatever drink and food she's holding on his lap, on his shoes, on his shirt...haha! He frazzles her, and the Moretti family finds this hilarious. They take her side, too, whenever Anthony loses his patience and snaps at her.

The thing is, Maggie is not at all a shy and meek little lady. She has gone through a lot. She was once married to a verbally abusive and cheating man. Her brother and father are leeches who only contact her when they need money. She just wanted to have a new start and anothe shot at everything she's missing in life.

The romance plot branches out to a high-profile theft case that Anthony is working on. He finds out soon enough that the perpetrator has a connection with Maggie. It doesn't go on the typical route of "must protect the witness". The bigger issue here is Anthony's reluctance to be anything more than "police captain". He doesn't believe that he can be a boyfriend, all the more a husband, if he were to become Police Commissioner. This is due to his tragic experience with his last relationship. Honestly, he annoyed the heck out of me when this mentality kicked in. He put Maggie on second priority a couple of times, and I wanted him to do major grovelling before the book was over!

One of the best parts of this book is the Moretti family, really. They may be secondary characters but they are very effective at helping keep the story going. They contributed a lot to the progress of the romance. The humor they bring to the table is also just right to give life to the story... and also tease readers for the next Moretti book: Vincent's!

I recommend STEAL ME if you just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy a light read.. with just a smidgen of crime plot twist to make things more interesting.

★★★★★ 5 stars!

When I first read the synopsis for CORRUPT, it sent chills down my spine. The words are the stuff of thriller films, the kind that would make me cover my eyes. It also confused me: so there are four guys, and only one girl..? Will there be a love triangle, a love square?

Well, there certainly wasn't a square, there wasn't even a romantic triangle. There is, though, one widely-talked about scene involving three. Hint: this is an erotic romance, remember that! *wink2!*

Speaking of erotic romance, this is Penelope Douglas' first foray into the genre. Although her sexy scenes definitely lived up to expectations, there are only a few of those in this book. This isn't a sexfest (which most people would assume whenever they see the word "erotica"). There is a very thrilling and exciting story here. The hint of danger and threat definitely added to the intensity and sex appeal of the book.

...Rika alone at college. In my city. Unprotected. The opportunity is too good to be true as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they're out. We've waited. We've been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true. 

As always, Miss D does a great job at giving us small pieces of the story, one at a time, throughout the book. We know the score: Erika Fane did or said something that sent Michael Crist and his friends, Damon, Will and Kai, to prison. Three years later they finish serving their sentence. Now that they are out, they only have one goal: make her pay.

The narration shifts from the events of that fateful night three years ago to the present. The point of view also alternates between Rika and Michael. The downside of all these alternating timelines and pov's is that my mind was all over the place, so it was a bit slow for me at the beginning. On a positive note, this style became very useful as the story gets more exciting. Readers are given the opportunity to get into the minds of the guys, which was a very good thing because otherwise, readers will only ever see them as monsters out for revenge. We find out that Michael isn't really as vengeful as he thinks he is; that Will is struggling emotionally even though he appears to be more cheerful than any of the guys; that Damon has become more dangerous than we think; and that Kai has become stone cold inside. Each of them just begs for his own book! I am rooting for Kai's first!

I enjoyed Ms. D's character development. I witnessed Rika's transformation from a sheltered society princess to young woman who can own up to what (and who) she wants. By the end of the book, she's fighting her fears. She will no longer allow people with malicious intentions to make decisions for her future. She is not a victim because she won't allow herself to be. Michael was the one who helped her realize this.

Michael didn't get any less intense, but he certainly became more human to me by the end of the story. At the beginning, he and his friends seem to be on a different dimension. They're just so intense and passionate even as they are described as having a poker face, or something. With their blatant disregard for rules and decorum, plus everyone's deference to them including adults in authority? I think I put them on a pedestal. I couldn't even imagine them pooping, know what I mean?

The only other transformation we've seen is in Kai (won't say more about it though, keeping my mouth zipped!), but surely that was just the tip of the iceberg. Like I said, I am so ready to find out more about this guy! As for Will and Damon, we've only so far only seen how they have changed after being in prison. I am holding out hope that Damon will be reformed, and that Will may find the peace of heart and mind that he tries to fill by sleeping with numerous women.

What you can expect about CORRUPT is that it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Michael and his friends, collectively called "The Horsemen", are very seductive as they threaten Rika. It truly is a lengthy foreplay of words and goosebumps-inducing touches! What makes the words effective is that Ms. D made it obvious Rika also likes it. Sure, she's scared by it, but it is also her kink. Remember that, ok? I'd hate for people to jump to conclusions and say that this book promotes toxic and abusive relationships. Whatever, this book is not that at all.

CORRUPT is definitely not just for erotica readers. If you enjoy intensity and stories that ooze sex appeal even without the sex scenes, this one is for you. The thrill of being chased, the seductiveness of danger, Ms. D was able to convey them on page effectively. Just pick this up and you'll enjoy delicious tingles down to the tips of your toes!

And now for the TOP 5 list! I was given the opportunity to ask the author a list of Top 5's, and here it is!

Top 5 Most Difficult Scenes to Write in CORRUPT

Giveaway!

She dresses for autumn year round, loves anything lemon flavored, and believes there is too much blood in her Coca Cola stream. Or too much Coca Cola in her blood stream. Or...

You know what? It doesn't matter. She loves Coke. Now you know.

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and daughter.

I love Meghan March!!! =D Can't say that enough. She's my newfound fave author for 2015, thanks to her Beneath Series. I love, love, love those books, and now I am very excited for this upcoming new series of hers.

The Dirty Billionaire Trilogy promises to be the hottest books she has written thus far! I was privileged to receive an ARC of the first book, and let me tell you: Creighton Karas is one filthy talker!

Book 1: DIRTY BILLIONAIRE

About Meghan March

★★★★ 4 stars

In my previous post, I mentioned how much I loved the first pages of this book. Let me say it again: this is how a prologue or first chapter should be! It grabbed my attention, and let me know that this was going to be an emotional book. After reading the foreword and Harper Sloan's posts on Facebook, I also knew this is a very personal story. Naturally, my expectations went through the roof.

I love the premise of Perfectly Imperfect. A young woman with body image issues is swept off her feet by a man who could have had any beautiful woman he wants. Cinderella and Prince Charming, indeed. Loved it from the get-go!

However, this is not a feel-good fairy tale all through out. In fact, the book starts on a very sad note.

"Self-loathing is a disease."

Willow has been through a lot--emotionally, physically and mentally. Her self-image issues were the result of emotional neglect and verbal abuse from the people who should have been her pillar of support at the time she needed them most. She had let people talk her into believing she deserved the crap she got in life, and as a result, she lost her self-confidence and the will to better herself. When Willow talks about being disgusted with herself, and her worries that Kane would be disgusted with her because of what she had let her family do to her, it was just so sad.. but also incredibly honest.

I also loved how Harper Sloan also showed us what Willow's friends are thinking about. Those short descriptions about how they'd give her a look whenever she's picking at her food; blurting out offhand remarks which actually have a ton of meaning; and saying "I'm fine," when she obviously is not. I love, love them. They are so protective but also supportive of what makes their friend happy. For every Willow out there in the world, I pray they also have a Kirby and Eddie who will support, cheer, and love him/her unconditionally.

Now for the man of the hour: Kane Masters. The synopsis mentioned nothing about what he does for a living, so you'll be pleasantly surprised about this one! Hint: this bit of the story takes our Cinderella plot to a higher level.

Kane pursued Willow with such intensity and determination, it's envious! I also couldn't help but feel so happy for Willow. She's one of those characters for whom you'll think, "Hey, this girl deserves a happy ever after!" She doesn't have to settle for the "short, bald, pot bellied ones," and Kane helps her realize all this.

It's easy to assume that sequels may follow this book. Kane is not the only Masters male (yay!). He has a brother, Kole. A happy-go-lucky celebrity who's openly stated his aversion to marriage and children will make a fabulous book boyfriend, just saying..!

Perfectly Imperfect ends with redemption, success, and all other kinds of victory. Not everyone is unscathed, but let's just say that some people got their comeuppance. As someone who loves a good revenge story, I read the epilogue with such relish.

I'm giving this 4 stars because I wanted just a little bit more...something. Kane and Willow's love story is set in Hollywood, so I was hoping for more oomph from that area.

The best thing about this book is how it speaks to people who have the same issues as Willow. That they should work hard on being strong mentally, emotionally and physically; that even if someone pushes them down the very next day, they can still choose to rise above it and work even harder on being strong; that there are people who will cheer them on and won't leave them alone; that they are stronger than they think; and that one day, there will be a special someone who will accept and love them no matter what they are going through.

I love that Harper Sloan was able to bring to light the difficulties that people with self-image issues face, letting us know what they are most likely thinking and feeling about everything and everyone... But I love best that in spite of this serious story line, she was also able to make it light-hearted, romantic, and at times even funny. That is what life is about, after all. :) Even with all the problems that come our way, there will still be opportunities to love, laugh and have fun--if only we allow ourselves to experience them all.