It's 2:19 in the morning as I'm writing this blog entry. It has nothing to do with books.. no wait. It is, a little.

★★★★★5 stars!!!

This was just an awesome read with one of the best closing lines, ever! Elle Kennedy gave this story so much meat, the epilogue was simply the second cherry on top of an already-huge dollop of frosting topping the most delicious cake.

Pardon if it sounds like I'm laying it on thick, but I'm just pleasantly surprised by hoe much I enjoyed Tucker and Sabrina's story. To be honest, Tucker didn't make much of an impression on me when I read the earlier books (not as much impression as Dean left, the manwhore that he is, for example). I knew a few things about him: he's steady, chill, and has no problem doing the "mom duties" in a house full of testosterone-ridden college athletes. As for Sabrina, we only ever saw her through Dean's eyes, and she came across as a bitch. Extremely smart, yes, but still a bitch.

Well, THE GOAL brought these characters to the spotlight and we get to see beyond their "steady" and "bitch" veneers.

It was first hinted in the third book, The Score, that Tucker had somehow gotten involved with Sabrina. It was surprising to me; I wouldn't immediately think if pairing these two, if given the chance. Elle Kennedy does an excellent job of convincing skeptical readers like me, though! Tucker and Sabrina are like puzzle pieces. They are very different in upbringing, temperament, inclinations, how they perceive situations, and how they respond to problems as they arise... and yet, the author makes it very believable and probable that they still inevitably end up working things out together.

This is where Tucker really shone for me! He's just a really, really, really good man. Not the meek, in-your-face "good guy" anti-thesis of the "bad boy" stereotype, but a guy who's screwed on right, know what I mean? He is patient without coming across as an annoying martyr. He gives space whenever Sabrina needs it, doesn't smother her with affection but neither does he make her feel that she's forgotten. Tucker is now my second favorite hero in this series next to Garett! (read Garett's story in book 1, The Deal)

With Sabrina, I did not immediately love her, but neither did I become extremely annoyed with her. This happens a lot with strong, independent heroines I read about who wind up making stupid, narrow-minded decisions about the people they love. I'm sure many of you have encountered a character like this before! Sabrina very nearly crossed that line with me, but it must be with the way Elle Kennedy wrote her that I understood her more than I disagreed with her. Yes she is a strong woman, she's a Superwoman to tell the truth (juggling a full load at Harvard Law, plus working two jobs on the side?? On top of other things? That's admirably unbelievable!)... but she's also vulnerable. She's not a goody-two-shoes either. She is outspoken about her sexuality, knows her appeal to men, and she can definitely hold her own against athletes and foul-mouthed men that she's forced to mingle with. She's the ultimate femme fatale. You very quickly realize that she is indeed the perfect match for Tucker.

I can't recommend this book enough! THE GOAL is a perfect weekend read. Oh, and it's pretty long, this book. Definitely read this on a Saturday so that in case you don't finish in one sitting, you still have the rest of the weekend to savor it.

Oh, and one last thing! The Goal's closing line is one of the best, and one of my favorites--ever!

"...love is the ultimate goal. It's not the one I had strived for, but I was lucky enough, so damn lucky, to achieve it."

Note on the cover: The Off-Campus Series has a new set of covers! The "abs covers", as I like to refer to them, are being replaced with the pretty lady covers, which I love! Check them out:

My sincerest thanks to Elle Kennedy, the publisher and Nina Bocci PR for the ARC copy via Netgalley!

5 stars! ★★★★★

I'm no longer in the habit of signing up for tour reviews for every single book that catches my eye. I learned the hard way that (a) I am not Superwoman and I can't speed through a multitude of tasks, and (b) signing up for too many tour reviews makes blogging feel more like a task instead of a hobby that I love.

Last May, though, there were a few book review opportunities that I just couldn't let pass. Signed up for at least two, and waited patiently for a response. May turned to June, and when I didn't hear back from the publicists, I thought, oh well, at least I tried. Imagine my surprise when I found on my Kindle a review copy of one of the books I signed up for. Cue in excited squeal! It was only then that I realized I received a copy even though I didn't get a confirmation email. Hmm, better check my email more closely, or the spam folder...

And indeed, that was where I found the emails I was waiting and hoping dearly for! My goodness.

Note to self: don't ignore that Spam folder for too long!

So in the aftermath, I am one lucky reader who got these review copiess (cue in excited squeal again!).



Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst (add to Goodreads)

Hot on the heels of her beloved Marriage to a Billionaire novels, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst nails it with the first in an all-new sexy romance series featuring red-hot contractor siblings who give the Property Brothers a run for their money!

Ever the responsible eldest brother, Caleb Pierce started working for his father’s luxury contracting business at a young age, dreaming of one day sitting in the boss’s chair. But his father’s will throws a wrench in his plans by stipulating that Caleb share control of the family business with his two estranged brothers.

Things only get more complicated when demanding high-end home designer Morgan hires Caleb to build her a customized dream house that matches her specifications to a T—or she’ll use her powerful connections to poison the Pierce brothers’ reputation. Not one to ignore a challenge, Caleb vows to get the job done—if only he can stop getting distracted by his new client’s perfect…amenities.

But there’s more to icy Morgan than meets the eye. And Caleb’s not the only one who knows how to use a stud-finder. In fact, Morgan is pretty sure she’s found hers—and he looks quite enticing in a hard hat. As sparks fly between Morgan and Caleb despite his best intentions not to mix business and pleasure, will she finally warm up and help him lay the foundation for everlasting love?



Hard to Hold by Katie Rose (add to Goodreads)

New Jersey Hurricanes striker Logan Hart lives for the grind of training, the adrenaline of competition, and all the perks of the road—until his ex hands him a baby and tells Logan to raise her on his own. He’s eager to pass this bundle of joy into more capable hands and get back to his hard-playing, hard-partying ways. But when a beautiful, blond drill sergeant of a nanny turns Logan’s life upside down, he sets a new goal: winning her heart.

Isabella Bennett takes pride in teaching the rich and famous how to become loving families. Her no-nonsense style is just what Logan and his crying, copper-haired cutie need. So why can’t she get the image of Logan’s tanned, muscular body out of her head? Isabella’s here to whip a new father into shape, not fall for a sexy ladies’ man. But their chemistry is too tantalizing to ignore, much like the temptation to trust someone with her deepest secrets—and embrace a loving family all her own.


Life has been so hectic lately, and I'm in the mood for these feel-good, sweet, romantic reads! Now I'm all set. =) Thank God for authors.

If you've been through my blog posts before, you may already know that the aforementioned author is one of my absolute faves!

A year ago today, Penelope Douglas officially became a published author and her first books, the Fall Away Series, got distributed to different countries. Of course by then, I already read her existing books =D and reviewed a couple for blog tours. If you haven't read a book by Penelope Douglas yet, I urge you to go pick up Bully, her very first published work. This is a New Adult romance that's addictive and just really well done for a first book.

So now, on to the reveal of the covers for her two upcoming books!

HIDEAWAY is the sequel to her erotic suspense, Corrupt.
PUNK 57 is another NA romance (Penelope writes these reeeeeaaaallllyy well!) with a sweet premise of friends to lovers, pen-pals to sweethearts!

HIDEAWAY, Devil's Night book 2

PUNK 57 

★★★★★ 5 stars!!!

I just had to put those exclamation points in there because this book really hit me like a ton of bricks!

It's not unusual for me to be hungover on a really good book and not be in the mood for anything else for the next two days or more. This is the first time though when, literally, the moment I reached the very last page in my kindle (which I still repeatedly tapped, by the way, hoping for some kind of miracle and a couple more Epilogue pages would suddenly appear), I just knew I wouldn't be reading anything else for at least a week. I was lying on the sofa because my heart was already weak at this point (haha!). My right hand holding my kindle was the only part of my body that showed life, basically. So when I was done, my right arm just flopped right down and became dead like the rest of me.

I'm not exactly painting an attractive picture here, I'm sorry! In all seriousness, Unseen Messages just blew me away. I grew to care very much about the main characters and how they will be at the end of the story.

The synopsis tells us much of what this is mainly is about: our two main characters, Estelle and Galloway, survive a crash and are stranded on an island.

"They started as strangers. They grew to be friends. They fought the desire to be lovers." 

What the synopsis doesn't say, and what you guys should find out for yourselves, is how the event came about, who were involved, and most importantly (for me at least), how long they were there in that island.

I thought at first this would be something like Blue Lagoon where the characters would eventually adapt very well with the environment, that they'd build a fantastic cottage with slides, and that food would be abundant, that they will be healthy, etc... Unseen Messages does not ignore the realities of living with literally none of the most basic luxuries--not even a starter kit for boy scouts. Food, clean water, a proper ax to cut wood with, matches, medicine--my gosh, medicine. You'll have higher appreciation for penicillin and antibiotics after reading this book.

Estelle and Galloway had to learn how to survive without these very important things on hand.Sure, they'd get some coconuts and fish... but in reality they aren't getting all the essential nutrients the body needs to continue living. I love that Pepper Winters pointed that out in the narrative.

All those emotional, physical and mental difficulties aside... I love that the very best of humanity also took center stage in this book. =) The characters didn't go Lord of the Flies, thank God. They sought strength from one another, and in the process they really did become a family. The best parts are the happy moments shared by the characters, because in a situation like theirs, those moments are truly precious. They would have a really good few days, and then one instance of bad could overshadow that completely. Say, one day someone would get wounded. Without meds on hand, that could escalate from minor to deadly. So, as the reader I also cherished those happy moments because at any given time, it could be taken away.

Towards the end of the book, I became very much in sync with what the characters were feeling and thinking. In spite of the heartbreak and trauma, you do reach a point where you can choose to remember the happy times instead of dwelling over the bad.

I highly, highly recommend this book! This is by far the most memorable read of 2016 for me. It constantly slips through my mind even weeks after reading it. There would be moments when I'd suddenly think of this character and wonder (as though they were real people, lol), "How are they doing now?" It's crazy! And I adore Pepper Winters for writing something that makes me think that way about fictional characters.

To sum things up, Unseen Messages is hands-down one of the best I've read. =) The first chapters leading up to the crash had me holding my breath. It was nerve-wracking, I had goosebumps on my arms! I started reading while in line at my voting precinct (yeah, during the Philippine general elections! The analogy of a crash and the national election was not lost on me!), and I was gasping and clutching my kindle tightly, and I just gabbed at my sister who was sitting beside me. I just had to talk about what I was reading at that point! Overall, this book gave me a very fulfilling reading experience. Those hours were definitely worth it.

Read this, read this, read this!

★★★★☆ 4.5 stars

Elissa and Liam have had a shot at a relationship six years earlier. They were a really good match. They were funny together, sexy together, and they just clicked. Unfortunately, their careers were in the way. They had to make decisions which resulted in them having to break things off--and not on amiable terms. At all. Upon learning Elissa's side of the story, Liam will seem like a douche. But of course, there is also the other side of the story, and that's what makes the entire thing interesting and exciting.

These two have a lot of chemistry, new fiance and 6 years of separation notwithstanding. You know how it is with exes with unresolved issues? They will either bite each others head off or dance around each other again with lots of flirting and reminiscing. For Liam and Lissa, it was the latter. They are just so good together that their sad separation got to me. It also made their reunion very, very exciting to read about! I felt kilig all over, and I just kept rooting for them to end up together!

The secondary characters are also very likable. I was so ready to hate Angel, Liam's fiance and co-star... but no, she just had to be this quirky, likable, and all-around nice person. She's beautiful, she's smart, and she comes from a wealthy family but she's not a snob about her wealth.

Lissa's best friend, Josh, was also extremely likable. At first I thought he would be built up to be the third party in the love story, but it was made clear from the beginning that Elissa had nothing but platonic love for him. Their friendship and level of ease in each other's company was almost envious! I usually see this type of friendship between girls and gay friends, but this time I was thinking how great it would be to have a guy best friend--because of Josh.

So, final verdict: read WICKED HEART because it's really enjoyable. You will laugh, you'll be sad, but overall you'll have a happy time reading from start to finish. It can be read as a standalone, which I'm sure is a plus for some readers. Finally, it's Leisa Rayven =) you're pretty much guaranteed a good time reading.

★★★★★ 5 awesome stars!

When I first learned that Lucas Titan was going to have his story told, I was absolutely excited. For those who are new to the series, Lucas was first introduced in Beneath This Ink. He was as a jackass and I absolutely disliked his guts. Notice that I didn't use the word "hate", though. Even then, there was something magnetic and charming about him even though he acted selfishly and abominably. I don't know if Meghan March already planned to write his book as early as then, but he definitely came across as a potential hero in a next book. And now we have BENEATH THESE SCARS!

I love the chemistry between Lucas and Yve. At first I thought they were an unlikely pair. Lucas, as I've said, is kind of a selfish jerk, and Yve has a strong personality. I thought they'd clash, so I haven't imagined them together (Yve was also introduced in one of the earlier books). Meghan March really made their pairing work, though!

I love that Lucas wasn't transformed into a gentleman. He maintained that wealthy-jerk vibe. At the same time, you cannot doubt how intense he can be towards people he cares about. Yve being in trouble brings out the good guy in him, but without losing the antagonistic traits we saw the first time he appeared in this series. My descriptions may sound convoluted now, lol, but believe me. All the nuances of Lucas characteristics really fit the story perfectly.

With Yve, I like how Meghan was able to balance her strong, ball-buster personality with the vulnerability that lurks just beneath the surface. She doesn't come across as fake, as a trying hard "strong woman". She just is. She has a bad past that she'd rather forget. Unfortunately, that past is rearing its ugly head

Fortunately for Yve is that Lucas has made her his business before things start to go bad for her. I loooooove him as this arrogant knight in shining armor! In other books the "bad-boy" hero would often lose his edge. I love that Lucas doesn't lose his arrogance at all, even as he goes all-out in ensuring Yve's safety.

Oh, another thing for fans of this series should look forward to: every scene Lucas had with Con and Lord. Oh what FUN! (fyi for those who don't know or forgot, Lucas and Con are kind of sworn enemies. And since Lord is Con's stepbrother, so...) I just love it when old characters have important roles to play in sequels. Who doesn't, right?

Just like the other books in this series, BENEATH THESE SCARS is meaty. There's not just one plot to solve. There are several other subplots, other day-to-day issues that make these characters feel more realistic and relatable. Classic Meghan March, giving readers a lot more than what the synopsis tells.

So without a doubt and not an ounce of surprise from me, this one's another fave! This series continues to impress me and makes me wait (im)patiently for more. Keep them coming Ms. March!

★★★★ 4 stars

Here we go again! Sigh…

DIRTY PLEASURES immediately follows the final events of DIRTY BILLIONAIRE (read my review here!). Holly has just left her dirty-talking, billionaire husband, Creighton Karas. Normally I'd roll my eyes at dramatics over a single mistake, but in this instance I empathize with her. Creighton did not promise her love, but he did give his word that he will consider her career top priority, just as he does his own. Unfortunately, he forgot about Holly and that she had to make it to her scheduled tour—or else, her record label will drop her like a hot potato. Hurt and determined to succeed, she takes off on her own.

As the second book of this series, this was all about the growth of Creighton and Holly's relationship. They did things backwards if you recall in book 1: hookup first, a very public proposal driven by lust, and then a wedding very soon after. It's crazy. It's no wonder they are having trouble now.

There is one awesome thing here though: Creighton truly wants to make things work. I looooove it when the guys grovel. It's heart-melting, isn't it, when the heroes go out of their way to prove themselves to the heroine? Especially after a major screw-up? I was truly impressed with the lengths he had taken to make it up to Holly. He had to make major adjustments, from his lifestyle to the way he conducts business. However, since he is mostly on this mission throughout the book, his intensity was toned down by several notches. In book 1, he is an all-out tease king. He says such provocative things that had me blushing and looking over my shoulder. He's still like that in DIRTY PLEASURES, but... not so much anymore. Or I guess not the same intensity level. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something was just different.

I still like this second installment, but not as much as the first. Yes, I loved grovelling Creighton, but again I missed his intensity in book 1. The ending was another reason. SPOILER ALERT: Holly, yet again, leaves Creighton. If I was sympathetic the first time it happened, this time I'm just, "oh gosh, not again…" .

Tip? When you read this, make sure you also have the third book, DIRTY TOGETHER, because you'll want to just get on with what happens next. It is very obvious what the "next big fight" will be about, so I just wanted to know right away how the characters would handle it (crossing my fingers that no one will be running away yet again!).

I have a confession to make: I haven't read a book by Jojo Moyes yet.

Boy, do I regret it now! I kept seeing his books at Booksale since November last year. I should have taken that as a sign, LOL! So anyway, I saw the trailer for "Me Before You", and I think it's amazing. My sisters and I are definitely looking forward to the movie. The trailer just made me want to read the book, asap!

I can't tell you how much Penelope Douglas just blew my mind this evening! Trying to be the good employee that I should be, I did not open my FB at all and turned off all alerts this morning. So, at 8:30 tonight (it's 8:53 pm as I'm writing this) I finally checked out the FB world.... and was promptly blown away by the bonus scenes Penelope Douglas posted on her page!

Don't you just love it when authors write extra scenes for your favorite books? High-five if you agree!

For fans of the series, the scenes are to be posted on Penelope's website but they're not yet up as of now. You can check out all three scenes on her FB page:

• Scene 1: Madoc POV ➜ http://bit.ly/FallAwayBonus1
• Scene 2: Jared POV ➜ http://bit.ly/FallAwayBonus2
• Scene 3: Lucas POV ➜ http://bit.ly/FallAwayBonus3

★★★☆ 3.5 stars

★★★★☆ 4.5 steamy stars!

"My Christmas Eve one-night stand was supposed to be just that--one night. And now I'm married to him."

Meghan March promised us that this new series is going to be her steamiest yet, and guess what? She did deliver. =) I started reading DIRTY BILLIONAIRE at the gym. I almost fell over the treadmill and the elliptical a couple of times because I had to look over my shoulder and make sure there was no one standing behind me. Goodness, Creighton Karas has an incredibly filthy mouth! He lives up to the tone of the synopsis, really. Just a bit more... businessman-like, I should say. The synopsis made him sound like a reckless young man, almost like a manwhore rockstar.

So, we have Holly Wix, a country singer who aspires for a brighter spotlight. She's stuck in a PR stunt to revive the dying career of her record label's top male star. She's being driven to the wall with their latest demand: agree to a fake engagement with said top male star and endure the next several months as the joke of town. Sick and tired of her situation but knowing that she has no choice, she wanted to do one act of rebellion before the staged engagement. She decided to have a one night stand. It just so happens that the guy she picked is Creighton, a man who goes after what he wants and pulls out all the stops to get it. And after that one night together, Creighton decides he wants more of Holly. Exclusively. Yes, that means marriage. He's that intense!

I did not expect what followed next. Of course, there are a couple more sexy scenes (these two are married, after all), but the main conflict became Holly's career and how she ranks in Creighton's list of priorities. Creighton is a busy man, and that's a given because he's a billionaire. Meghan March proceeds to establish how much Holly values her career. This is her dream, and she's already very talented but she also works very hard for it. She may have married this man on a whim, and she may have done it for her career... but there's also a part of her that hopes the relationship will develop into something more meaningful. As they grow closer emotionally, and as they share more significant moments together, she began to hope that Creighton would value her life goals and dreams as much as he values his own businesses.

DIRTY BILLIONAIRE ends badly for these two, and I remember going, "Shucks, that's it?!" when I reached the last page. This is a shorter than Meghan March's Beneath Series, and I guess it's because she really meant to tell Holly and Creighton's story in three books. I was caught off guard by the ending though, and overall I felt wanting just a little bit more in terms of length and story. I wanted the next book asap because it felt like I need a little bit more...!

So, DIRTY BILLIONAIRE comes highly recommended if you are in the mood for smut *wink2* because this book is really smoking! It was a nice jolt for me because I was starting to descend to a slump, reading books of the same wavelength... it was like accidentally biting onto a tiny green jalopeno, haha! Oh, and you might want to read with your back to a wall, just saying! Unless you're in the company of fellow romance readers, it could be a tad embarrassing if someone reads one of Creighton's lines. =)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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