Random Review . . . My Russian Beast by Marian Tee

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Synopsis:

Professionally accomplished but socially awkward, Fredericka Spears can’t ask for anything else in her life except for one thing – to know the pleasure of a man’s possession. The truth is, she’s tired of being a virgin. She’s tired of pleasuring herself while fantasizing about a man she can never have. 

A man who’s beautiful, powerful, and well six years younger--

Like she says: he’s a man she can’t ever have. 

To put an end to her agony and stupid fantasies, Fredericka decides to take a lover, but guess who volunteers for the job? 

The beautiful, powerful, and younger Russian billionaire Sergei Grachyov – also known as that man she can’t ever have. 

My Review

**3.7 Stars**

The premise of this book was very good. When I read the synopsis, I thought it was going to be a great game of cat and mouse. While it was a game of cat and mouse, I can't say that I'd call it great.

Fredericka is a woman on the path of a great career, but she finds herself lacking something and decides to go for it. She chose Alexeyev, but he isn't who she ends up with. Sergei places himself in the center of her life and refuses to budge. He basically doted on her and became her best friend, but only because Fredericka wouldn't let him be more. He spent the majority of the book being her friend and waiting in the wings for her to admit to wanting more. She had a very bad experience with younger men/older women, so she held herself and, ultimately, her happiness back. I liked that she pursued what she wanted in her career and that she was successful in her own right. She honestly didn't need a man, but she desperately want one.

The things I didn't like was the fact that while Sergei doted on Fredericka, he was essential a condescending a**hole. In his head he would call her stupid or silly (not necessarily those exact words, but the meaning is there). I felt like he really loved her, but at the same time it seemed as though he thought he was better than her. I also felt that the synopsis of the book was very misleading. It repeatedly said Sergei was a man Fredericka couldn't have, she in fact she could. Literally, she could have had him at any moment. He became her best friend because she wouldn't have him. He went against all his rules and his tight control, just so she could have him. She repeatedly rejected him. It also said she decided to take a lover and Sergei volunteers; that's not quite what I got from the story, but interpretations are a big part of writing so maybe that's just me. Also, why did they keep referring to Sergei as the Russian or the Billionaire? I got that in the first chapter...he's a Russian billionaire; why repeatedly refer to him as that. It seems like Sergei would have been much easier to refer to him as. As nicknames, I think they were both bad.

Overall, the plot was well thought out and the scenes were interesting. I enjoyed reading the book and would probably recommend it to those who have an affinity for Russian billionaire romances.

Meet Marian:

Marian Tee is a Filipino-Chinese New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the Philippines. She writes steamy and sweet romantic comedies, both paranormal and contemporary. She genuinely loves to hear from her readers and works hard to answer everyone's mails and messages. Drop her a line anytime!

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Random Review . . . Warrior's Providence by Stephanie West

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Synopsis:

Providence worked hard to become one of the first women to join her pararescue squad. It was difficult being one of the guys and yet not, all at the same time, but she was up for the task. Besides, there was nothing more satisfying than helping your fellow man, it was what she was born to do. Never in a million years did Providence expect to find herself abducted from a routine mission off the Florida coast by...ALIENS. 

Dagaa and Madhava, once enemies, became fast friends after a centuries long civil war. Both of them were beyond ready to see Cadi enter a new era. But now they face a new battle, convincing all of Cadi to embrace and rescue the Toufik, their former slaves, from a dying planet. It wasn't going to be an easy task. Infighting threatened their hard won peace and put Cadi at risk from a new foe. With so much at stake Madhava and Dagaa are blindsided when they find a fiery-haired human female on their enemy's ship. Providence's bold and loving nature awakens a side that both warriors had long since forgotten. The only problem, can Dagaa and Madhava share her affection, and can Providence withstand the love of not just one, but two overprotective warriors. Only fate knows a warrior's providence. 
Note: This book involves M/F/M scenes. 

My Review

**3.5 Stars**

I enjoyed this book. I loved that Providence was so level-headed and that she saw beauty and understanding where others didn't. I liked that she remained true to herself and her feelings. She was able to fall in love with two completely different men (Madhava's scarred, yet rugged  and Dagaa's playfully handsome) while doing everything in her power to keep them from going against each other and making them realize she was more important than their beliefs on how they thought she should be treated. She wanted them to remain equal and eventually made them see that in her heart, they were.

I didn't like that the book seemed more like a TV series. Sometimes it picked up where one chapter left off and other times it seemed like there was something missing and it was more of an episode I watched last week instead of a continuous book. That wouldn't have been an issue except it made it seem more like the author just wrote something to keep it going (like an obvious filler) and it made it seem longer than it needed to be.

Overall it was a good read and I'd recommend it to others who read this genre.

Meet Stephanie:

The books I write contain little snippets from my life. I leave that to you to decide which ones. I am far braver and bolder than is likely sensible, so my heroines are just as gutsy. I'd probably be categorized as an adrenalin junky. My life has been an adventure. I've done archaeology in the hot sun, am well versed with power tools, took tae kwon do in college, have ridden on a Harley with a dark stranger, but never met an alien, that I know of.

I began writing when I was younger but set the hobby aside as life got in the way. Now that I'm older I've picked it back up again. 
As a child I had a hard time learning to read so anything I took an interest in was deemed acceptable since "I was reading." 
I enjoy fairy tales, the older unsanitized versions as well as the modern ones, mythology, science fiction, action and romance, or as I like to call them grocery store porn. For some reason I have always found that as I read my mind likes to spin its own tales. 
My stories are always a bit tawdry featuring a heroine who is gifted in some way and will always end happily ever after. It is my opinion this is meant to be entertainment and a depressing ending is not entertainment. Real life offers enough depressing crap. 
My apologies for my horrific grammar, it was something I never seemed able to latch on to, probably connected to the slow reading thing. Believe me people have tried. I truly hope that my fairy tale makes up for it. So here's to the imagination and a little daydream.

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Random Review . . . Alien Paladin's Woman by Vi Voxley

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Synopsis:

Sometimes, what the galaxy needs is a hero no one's ever heard of. 

Tieran, the Commander of the Palian paladins, has never been allowed to have anything of his own, other than the blade in his hands and the honor he serves with. But a feisty, curvy, and utterly impossible human woman is about to change all that. He never thought that he'd desire something or someone as much as he needs her and nothing will take her from him. Even if he has to slay the most feared enemy ever known for her. 

Audrey Price has seen a lot of hard work and cold times as a governor of ice planet mining colonies. She never expected to be in the middle of the greatest hunt in the galaxy, though. One moment, she was protecting her miners from an alien threat, and the next moment, she's tied to said threat, with only one man capable of keeping her and the rest of the universe in one piece. The sexy, infuriating paladin who makes her core pulse as hard as he makes her want to wring his neck. 

Coming to grips with the fact that she's the key to tracking down one of the most mysterious and horrible races known is no easy feat, but that's nothing compared to dealing with the fact that she might be falling for the paladin. And when all eyes are on them, including a pair that can see through space and leave havoc in its path, Audrey and Tieran are in the fight of their life. 

Not only for their own safety, but for that of the galaxy as a whole. 

My Review

**5 Stars**

When I first read about the Palians in the Brion Brides, I thought, "man it'd be great if the Palians weren't so "un-warrior-like" and they could have their own bada** soldiers." Well, you know what they say about being careful what you wish for? Vi Voxley delivered!!! 

I guess it shouldn't have been surprising that the Palians didn't leave themselves defenseless in the galaxy that they basically ruled. To think that this entire time they had warriors that rivaled the likes of the Brion Generals and the Corgan Warlords is pure genius. I think that the development of the Story and the relationship between Tieran, the Paladin Commander, and Audrey, the Governor, was great. It wasn't instal-love, although it was definitely close; and their relationship wasn't sickly sweet, but it worked out perfectly. I liked that while Tieran struggled internally with wanting Audrey as opposed to how he was bred to not feel or want anything (he was created solely to be a Paladin and being the Commander meant he was above reproach in that area), he didn't let it interfere with his mission to kill the fearless or how he actually treated her. I've found that for many characters the stress and angst of internal strife causes them to react negatively when it comes to outward appearances. Kieran didn't succumb to that. I also liked that Audrey wasn't a pushover. She knew what needed to be done and for the most part she did it. There were times that I wanted to strangle her, but overall she made a good match for Tieran. There were times that I expected the book to be utterly mushy (when she woke up from the initial attack after touching the stone/crystal), but they kept things logical and focused on the mission at hand. That's not to say there wasn't any chemistry and stolen moments - because there were!

One of the few things I didn't like was Audrey's seemingly arrogance. She asked Tieran to train her to fight the fearless. Seriously... She wanted the Commander of the Paladins, who has trained his entire life, who was specifically bred to fight beasts of this nature, who was altered and built for this exact purpose HIS ENTIRE LIFE, to train her to beat a monster he struggled to beat. I'll let that sink in. I also didn't like how the Brions were portrayed. I mean, come on!!! They're the Brions!! Granted there were no Brion Generals involved, but still...FREAKING BRIONS!!!

Overall, I loved the book just as I've loved all the previous ones in her alien and human romances. I actually blindly purchase her books now and will continue to do so. I'm very much looking forward to the next because, honestly, who wouldn't look forward to another Brion General. I would recommend this book to others.

About Vi

Vi's a small-town girl with big city dreams. Born and raised in Texas, she's always had her eyes to the stars. Telling stories is her passion and when she can mix a whole lot of steam with equal parts sexy alien hunks, well, things just get that much better, right?

An ardent Rangers fan, she believes all men should come in a yummy beefcake package and that's exactly the kind of heroes she prefers. A curvy woman herself, Vi likes to write heroines as sassy as she is.

She likes indulging in a little wine and a little chocolate, but her first love int life is writing and everything else follows second.

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Random Review . . . Exile by Colleen Vanderlinden

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Synopsis 

Two races fight for what remains of a dying planet.

For generations, the Maarlai, an alien race who fled the destruction of their own home world, have lived silently, hidden, exiled on Earth. They watched, year by year, as humanity destroyed what was once a planet full of hope and promise.

Unable to idly watch as the planet dipped further into destruction, the Maarlai left their hidden villages and went to war with what was left of humanity. With the death of the last great human king, the Maarlai found themselves victorious and vowed to protect and restore the planet that had sheltered them for so long.

A treaty made, an alliance formed.

Shannen of House Lyon is a member of the last of the human royal families. While they bend knee to the Maarlai ruler, her people have not forgotten their former greatness, the years of bloodshed and horror... or the memory of their fallen king.

To ensure a lasting peace between their two peoples, Shannen and three other prominent human women are sent to the Maarlai capital. One of them will wed the future Maarlai king, cementing the peace between former enemies.

When Shannen finds herself married to the Maarlai warrior, she discovers a whole new world... and freedom unlike anything she could have imagined. When war threatens once again, she will need to decide where her loyalties truly lie.

Review

** 3.7 Stars**

Pleasantly Surprised...

I have to start by saying I didn't think this book would be as good as it was, but I really enjoyed it. The writing kept me interested and the characters were relatable. The conflict between the humans and the Maarlai, as well as the internal strife within the Maarlai royal family gave more than enough drama to keep the plot twists intriguing.

I liked that the author made Shannen into someone that was overall disliked (by the majority of the Maarlai), while also helplessly likeable as a character. She suffered a lot in her life and essentially suffered in silence, but she was a very strong person and defended herself when need be. I liked that against all odds she chose to show trust and follow her heart and her instincts. She was in a situation where she knew no one, she was hated, and she still managed to thrive and not become bitter. I wish her relationship with Daarik had blossomed more than it did, but I guess the time that it took was warranted. They had a lot of differences to overcome. I liked that he opened up to her, but I felt he was very naïve throughout most of the story. This was surprising since he was such a renowned warrior. I loved that Shannen and Janara developed such closeness and the initial source of that friendship developed because of books - genius, on the author's part. I was afraid that there could possibly be some sort of love triangle between Shannen, Daarik, and Baerne (Daarik's stepbrother), but I'm glad the author didn't go that route.

I didn't like that this book ended on a cliffhanger (with no release date for the next book as of this review) and with heartbreak, but it does give me something to look forward to from the author. I would read other books in this series, but I find myself on the fence as far as other works by the author are concerned.

About the Author

Colleen Vanderlinden writes about strong, flawed women and the men who love them. She's the author of the Hidden urban fantasy series, the Copper Falls paranormal romance series, the StrikeForce superhero romance series, and the Exile fantasy romance series.

She lives in Michigan with her husband, kids, demonic Basset hound, and two eternally cranky cats. You can find out more about Colleen's books at colleenvanderlinden.com.

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Random Cover Reveal . . . Protecting Her Secrets by Dana Volney

*** Cover Reveal ***

Release Date: October 10, 2016

Random Review . . . Get Lucky by Lila Monroe

What happens when you wake up in a hotel suite next to a gorgeous naked man with absolutely no memory of the past twelve hours? 

I guess it's true what they say. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 

Or at least I hope it stays here. The Romantic Style convention was meant to be a weekend of raucous fun with friends, sun, and enough poolside margaritas to forget about my ex. But now, instead of meeting my fans and signing books, I'm stuck with cocky divorce lawyer Nate Wexler. He's arrogant, infuriating, and I can't keep my hands off of him. Judging by the state of our hotel room, last night was wild. I just wish I could remember it. 

A pair of matching tattoos. A cheap wedding veil. A half empty box of glow in the dark condoms. 

What the hell just happened?

**5 - stars**

A divorce lawyer and a romance writer . . . what could possibly go wrong???

Get Lucky is the ultimate Vegas story, told from the point of view of the main characters, Nate Wexler and  Julia Stevens. They also flashback to the day prior - which is a must since the story is written for the reader to experience their memories returning just as the characters do. I think that gave more credibility to the novel because you really got to experience being a part of the story. 

Nate and Julia meet by bumping into each other (literally). She's in town for a romance writer convention (she's a writer of the genre) and he's there for his best friend's wedding. With lingering bitterness from their own personal lives, they bump heads - until Tequila shots become involved and from there ensues a night of wholehearted drunken debauchery! 

This book was ridiculously hilarious! From the Russian mobsters (one of my most favorite scenes) to the spotted parrot, it was undeniable enjoyment. I especially loved that Julia had two versions of The Doctor actively on a mental feedback loop. She was quirky, and fun, and just downright lovable. Nate, on the other hand, was pessimistic, hateful, and at times extremely mean. As the story developed, so did the characters and by the end there was no way I couldn't root for a "happily ever after."

I wracked my brain trying to figure out things that I didn't like about the novel and I'm pleased to say, there were none! I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Purchase Get Lucky and Stalk Lila:

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Random Lit . . . Between You and I by Beth D. Carter

Contemporary Erotica Romance

Date Published Aug 11, 2016 

A broken engagement left Madeline Shawl feeling like a shattered woman.  When she meets Hunter Caligari, he seems to be the perfect man for some friends-with-benefits action.  But when the easy affair turns into something more, it threatens her comfortable grief.

The passion of the younger man nearly infects her until Hunter tries to articulate it with the three words she refuses to hear. When she pushes him away, wounding his heart, she finds her own broken all over again.

Still, Madeline struggles to leave the past behind and accept that when Hunter said, "I love you," he wasn't just speaking for himself.

Excerpt

“I had a great time,” Hunter murmured.

Madeline wet her dry lips with her tongue. His head moved fractionally closer.

“Me…” She had to clear her throat from the huskiness coming through. “Me too.”

He smiled and their gazes met. Locked. She had this sense of free falling, just plunging head first into an unknown abyss. Had she ever felt like this with Kevin? With him everything had been easy. Simplistic. Nothing like what she was feeling now, with Hunter. He brought his hand up to cup her cheek, and she leaned into it, absorbing his heat. His eyelids narrowed a bit and his attention shifted to her mouth. All sorts of delicious tingles spread through her body because she knew he was going to kiss her. God! She wanted to kiss him back so much it was an ache deep in her gut. His head descended and her eyes fluttered shut just as the first touch of his mouth on hers brushed her lips. So gentle, like the dewy wisp of butterfly wings, and she wondered if he had kissed her at all.

She opened her eyes. The desire pooling in his blue eyes brought a gasp to her lips. His head descended again and this time, he held nothing back. Wild. Erotic. He slid his tongue over hers, tangling, dancing, and sending delicious sensations vibrating over all her nerve endings. Hot and smooth, tasting of everything dark and velvety. She’d never experienced a kiss quite like it before.

And she wanted more.

I like writing about the very ordinary girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, so my heroines will probably never be lawyers, doctors or corporate highrollers.  I try to write characters who aren't cookie cutters and push myself to write complicated situations that I have no idea how to resolve, forcing me to think outside the box.  I love writing characters who are real, complex and full of flaws, heroes and heroines who find redemption through love.

I’ve been pretty fortunate in life to experience some amazing things.  I’ve lived in France, travelled throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand.  I am a mom to an amazing little boy.  I’ve walked a red carpet event and visited the USS Voyager. I hate washing dishes but I love cooking. I hate washing clothes but I love wearing them. Writing my bio is difficult because I never know what to say so I hope you like this one.  My favorite color is red but I look best in black (it’s slimming).  I hate people who don't pick up their dog's crap in public places, people who don’t use turn signals, and I really hate people who are rude and condescending. I especially hate discrimination in all and every form.  And although I love holding a book in my hand, I absolutely adore my ereader, whom I’ve named Ruby.  I love to hear from readers so I’ve made it really easy to find me on the web.

Connect with Beth:

Website: www.bethdcarter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethdcarterauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BethDCarter

Blog: http://bethdcarter.blogspot.com/

Any Others: http://www.amazon.com/BethD.Carter/e/B00EOTD1T0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1385417145&sr=8-1

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Between-You-Beth-D-Carter-ebook/dp/B01K7TO3TM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1470927837&sr=8-2&keywords=beth+d.+carter

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-betweenyouandi-2087035-149.html

Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/between-you-and-i-by-beth-d-carter/