From the back of the book:

Marty Matthews had always known about the secret, forbidden pleasures that the women she had grown up with enjoyed. Women whose husbands or lovers were members of the exclusive Club, where they took a selected third into their beds. And there is one man - a dangerous, forbidden man - who is part of this world and who has haunted Marty’s dreams for years. But she has also been the FBI agent assigned to shadow him, making him completely off-limits…That is, until Khalid is cleared and Marty is released from her assignment. Now all bets are off…

The beautiful, fierce Marty Matthews is the one woman Khalid hungers for like no other and is the one woman he dare not let himself have. His past dogs his every step and danger lurks around every corner. If he wants to keep her safe, he must stay away from her. But the power of their desire is something they cannot deny - and once Marty is his. Khalid will do whatever it takes to keep her in his bed and in his arms forever.

I liked this book. It is part of a series, but can stand on its own. Khalid is very mysterious and although we learn a little about him through the book I though that we could have found out more. Marty got on my nerves in the beginning. She is one of those “independent” characters who does stupid things in the name of being her own woman. I did grow to like her more throughout the book, but she will never be one of my favorite characters. The suspense to the story is spelled out from the very beginning. The reader is told who the bad guys are and the whole story leads up to their attack. I kept waiting for something to happen and it took what seemed like forever. The sex in the book is very hot, but lacks emotion. Even though the reader is told that their is a connection, I never felt that there was. The most annoying thing, in my opinion, is the book just ends as soon as the threat is over. It didn’t feel finished to me.

the book girl gives GUILTY PLEASURE a 2/5

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From the back of the book:

Don’t think.

Don’t question.

Just Do.

The anonymous note wasn’t for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in the habit of reading other people’s nail, but it was just a piece of paper with a few lines scrawled on it, clearly meant for the apartment upstairs. It looked so innocent, but decidedly - deliciously - it was not.

Before replacing the not - ant the ones that followed - in its rightful slot, I devoured its contents: suggestions, instructions, commands. Each was more daring, more intricate and more arousing than the last…and I followed them all to the letter.

Before the notes, if a man had told me what to do, I’d have told him where to go. But submission is an art and there’s something oddly freeing about doing someones bidding…especially when it feels so very, very good. But I find that the more I surrender, the more powerful I feel - so it’s time to switch up roles.

We play by my rules now.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand I enjoyed the story. Since it is written in 1st person, it is very much about Paige and no one else. There are several characters that I would have loved to “hear” what they were thinking. On the other hand I felt that the story dragged in places and had a hard time finding any empathy for Paige. She was a hard character to like. I don’t think that you necessarily have to like every character, but since this was her story it would have better if I did. This story is really about finding out who you are more than a romance. In fact, I wouldn’t classify it as romance at all (even though there is a HEA). I think this book leans more towards woman’s fiction. The story isn’t so much about a couple, but one person. I’m saving this book so I can re-read it without the expectations I had the first time. If you are looking for a story about a character learning who they are and learning to except it, this is a great book!

the book girl gives SWITCH by Megan Hart a 4/5

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Disclaimer: I bought this book myself. I didn’t receive any compensation from the author/publisher.

From the back of the book:

After leaving the wrong man, Leah Griffin’s not ready to look for the right one. All she want to do is survive the conference she’s planned and spend time with her best friend, Kate Edwards. But she never expected the conference services manager to be so tall, dark and handsome…or so eager to please. It’s Brandon Long’s job to make Leah happy, and after a scorching interlude in her hotel room, neither can deny that business has become pleasure.

Smart, driven and successful attorney Kate Edwards has spent her life making the right choices. Directly counter to those right choices, she’s involved in a long distance, secret love affair with a co-worker. And Charles Dixon is a bad choice she can’t help but make - over and over. A conference and a promotion bring Kate back to Pennsylvania and suddenly Dix wants far more than a few nights in random hotel rooms. He wants something permanent and Kate has to figure out if sometimes a wrong choice is exactly what a woman needs.

From the back of the book

Four days in Vegas. Two sexy and determined men. One penthouse suite…And no reservations.

Christmas isn’t so merry for Kate and Leah. Kate’s romantic winter holiday is destroyed by the sudden and uninvited presence of Dix’s annoying ex-wife, while Brandon’s super-perfect family and a diamond ring send Leah running for the refuge of a girl’s holiday in Sin City with Kate in tow.

But Dix and Brandon both know what they want. In hot pursuit, the men show up in Vegas ready to use every

sensual trick they have to convince Kate and Leah to take a gamble on forever.

I’m reviewing these books together, because I believe that they should be read together. Separately they are both good books, but together they tell the whole story. Leah and Kate are fantastic characters. They are both a little unsure about what they want in love and a little afraid to go after what they want, until they meet Dix and Brandon. It took a little bit for me to become used to the back and forth between couples, but after a while I didn’t notice it anymore. The story does feature a lot of sex, some of it kinky, but nothing to over the top. I am a big fan of both Megan Hart and Lauren Dane, and love the fact that I could see both of their writing styles in the books. I hope they do more in the future.

the book girl gives TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS and NO RESERVATIONS a 4/5.

to find the books:

Taking Care of Business - Amazon / Books-a-Million / Barnes & Noble

No Reservations - Amazon / Books-a-Million / Barnes & Noble

From the back of the book:

He was the stuff erotic dreams are made of.

Salon owner Julie Stanford has wanted Nathan Tucker ever since she gave him his first massage. Getting paid to feel every inch of his body, stripped, oiled and spread out in front of her…the stuff dreams are made of. But the sexy guy was oblivious to the signals she was sending - until she finished off his final rubdown with something extra. In face, the best extra he’s ever had. Unfortunately, he came around too late. Now, Julie’s moving on…

She was everything he’d dreamed of.

The woman was driving him crazy. She lit fire to his insides, then ran like a scalded cat. And now she’s going to someone else to have all her fantasies fulfilled? Over his dead body. He’s mover than willing to give her what she wants, and as soon as he pins the little minx down, he’ll show her his own brand of sweet seduction.

This is the third book in a series revolving around a group of friends - Faith (book 1), Serena (book 2), and Julie (this book). I loved the first two books, but found this one only okay. Julie is very forward and takes what she wants, which I like about her, but she isn’t really patient or understanding of other’s feelings. I felt like she tried to roll right over Nathan at times. Nathan is supposedly a big alpha male, but I found his waffling over his feelings for Julie a little wimpy. My favorite parts of this story were the ones between Faith/Gray and Serena/Damon. Julie and Nathan just didn’t do it for me. I am looking forward to Micah’s book next, he seems a very complex character.

the book girl gives Sweet Seduction a 3/5!

to find the book:

Amazon

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Books-a-Million

to find out about the author/series:

Maya Banks

From the back of the book:

HE WOULD FULFILL HER EVERY DESIRE.

Since Chase Falladay came to her rescue, two years ago, Kia Rutherford-Stanton has never been able to forget the powerful man or the kind of life he leads. Two years later, when she runs into Chase and his friend, Khalid and leaves the bar with them that night, she knows exactly where it is all heading. However, little prepares her for what it is like to be in Chase’s bed. After years of holding back, Kia is finally able to be the woman she’s always dreamed of being - in his arms.

Kia is a dream Chase has not allowed himself to entertain. Now that he has her body, it’s her heart he’s after, and he’s determined to win it, no matter the cost. And even though they both agreed that it would only be for pleasure, somewhere along the way it becomes an all-consuming love.

I thought this book was wonderful. It is an extremely HOT and emotional story. Kia has lusted after Chase for a long time, even though for some of those years she had been married. Her ex-husband, who didn’t treat her right, has caused Kia to stop living and Chase is determined to be the man that brings her back to life. I loved this couple, they were both looking for sex but got more than they bargained for. This book is part of a series, and there were a lot of characters that it seemed the reader should recognize, but it didn’t take anything away from the story. It just made me want to read the books that preceded this one.

the book girl gives Only Pleasure a 4/5.

To find the book:

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Books-a-Million

To find out more about the author:

Lora Leigh

From the back of the book:

For five years, Serena has run Fantasy Incorporated and has devoted her time to fulfilling her clients’ fantasies - never her own. Until now…

Her most secret desire is to give ownership of her body to a man. Someone who will command her, pleasure her and have complete authority over her. So she seeks out Damon Roche, owner of an exclusive sex club and a man strong enough to make her do anything he wants. Anything.

Together they’ll journey into a world she’s only dreamed of. She will be given the opportunity to immerse herself in a different life while her normal one waits for her to return whenever she wishes. Damon has no desire to let her go, however. Serena is the woman he’s long searched for, and it’s up to him to convince her to stay when the game is over. He wants their fantasy to become reality, and wants Serena to remain his pampered, cherished submissive.

This book is HOT, HOT, HOT! One of the things I like the most about the way Maya Banks writes is that she is able to perfectly weave the sexy stuff with the emotional stuff together. I love that! Serena is a woman that doesn’t really know what she wants. She knows that she is interested in a particular fantasy, but doesn’t believe that what she wants is who she really is. Damon Roche is a fantastic character. He is a man who most definitely knows what he wants and how to get it. I loved these two characters together. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

the book girl gives SWEET PERSUASION a 5/5!

To order this book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

To find out more about the author:

Maya Banks