Book Review: The Hook Up (Game On Series Book 1) by Kristen Callihan

The Hook Up (Game On Series Book 1) 

by Kristen Callihan

Series: Game On
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (January 16, 2015)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 2164 KB
Print Length: 354 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Plain Jane Books (September 7, 2014)
Publication Date: September 7, 2014
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★   

My thoughts:

I honestly thought this would suck as the male lead character, Drew, is so perfect! Gorgeous, super hawt, the star quarterback, that type of guy who lots of girls would die for, and --- so honest and down to earth. Whaatt??? I was scratching my head, can't believe that an author would dare create a perfection like that! And then the female lead, Anna, has insecurity issues. Right, typical characters for romance novels, perfect guy falls in love with damaged girl. Another thing that bothered me SO. MUCH. is their lust-at-first-sight. The never-ending fucking sessions seemed tiring. I was actually skipping... just giving it a few more chances and then Drew showed his consistency being the perfect good guy, mixed with the right amount of teenage/college drama and life lessons. Suddenly everything became tooo awesome! Anna redeemed herself at the second half and with the HEA, yeah, my final verdict is 5-stars!

The Hook Up is one of the best college romances I've read in a long time. I feel so lucky to have read this as my first for this year! The Hook Up is also my first from the author and looking forward to reading her other books in the Game On series!

Purchase your copy

About the book:

The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love 

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy, right? 

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule… 

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she's shut him down. Completely. 

That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It's a good thing Drew knows all about winning. 

All’s fair in love and football…Game on.

About the author:

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather do. She is a three-time RITA nominee, and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading. 

Website: kristencallihan.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/KristenCallihan
Twitter: twitter.com/kris10callihan
Email: kristen.callihan@aol.com

Book Spotlight: Hot Highlanders and Wild Warriors: Erotic Romance For Women by Delilah Devlin

Hot Highlanders and Wild Warriors: Erotic Romance For Women
by Delilah Devlin

Paperback: 242 pages
Publisher: Tempted Romance (October 14, 2014)
Amazon Paperback Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 552 KB
Print Length: 242 pages
Publisher: Tempted Romance (September 22, 2014)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Kindle Link

About the book:

Imagine a time when survival required physical strength and men were judged by their fierce loyalty and unshakeable honor. USA Today bestselling author Delilah Devlin has collected the most evocative tales of historical romance in Hot Highlanders and Wild Warriors, which is full of wild knights, hunky horsemen and Scottish warriors whose courage on the battlefield is only outmatched by their ardor for their ladyloves. In Layla Chase's Icelandic coming-of-age story, a rough combatant from a neighboring clan is softened by "The Maiden's Kiss." A battle-broken Highlander returns to the castle in Susannah Chapin's "Wicked" and is made whole again in the arms of his perfect mate. An aristocratic warrior woman makes an unforgettable impression when she hunts alongside an entrancing Mongol general in Connie Wilkins's danger-filled "A Falcon in Flight." The Stories of these bravehearts will have you heading for the hills!

Book Excerpt:

Excerpt from “The Squire” by Cela Winter, part of the anthology Hot Highlanders and Wild Warriors: Erotic Romance for Women by Delilah Devlin

The day’s ride followed by a punishing round of sword practice should have tired her out, but Wilfreda found herself sleepless, alight inside with her awareness of Godfrey lying a hand’s span away. 

It wasn’t just his handsome face or battle prowess that caused her yearning; he was everything a knight should be— noble, pious, kind. It nigh broke her heart to rebuff his attempts to befriend the squire he believed her to be. 

A woman’s lust was greater than a man’s, ’twas common knowledge, but her craving for Godfrey shocked her. It was nothing like her feeling for Ranulf—making love with him had been but a delicious game. This was entirely different.

Living so closely with a man, with Godfrey, was awkward in more ways than just the ruse she maintained. That evening, he’d casually whipped off his linen shirt and used it to wipe the sweat from the back of his neck. It was such an ordinary gesture, one any man might make. Why did it affect her so? When he turned away, she lifted the shirt to her face, breathing in the man-scent of him. 

Seeing him walk about their shared tent half-naked set her to imagining how his hard muscles would feel under her hands, his weight on top of her… She struggled with the longing to reveal her secret, in part to share the burden of it, but mainly for him to know her as a woman. 

What if she rolled over and pressed her body to his? What if she took his hand, placed it on her breast, and— 

Godfrey gave a low groan as he rose from his bed and stumbled outside. 

With a moment of unexpected privacy, her hand stole to her quim. As she caressed herself, her mind drifted in dreamy exploration of Godfrey’s body and his reaction. How the firm column of his throat would feel beneath her lips, his hiss as she tongued his red-brown nipples, the way he would groan when she slipped her hand down his brais to cup his balls and stroke his cock to readiness.

Amazon Buy Links

Amazon Paperback / Kindle Links

Book Review: The Arab Marilyn Monroe Erotic Prelude by Sienna Wilder

The Arab Marilyn Monroe 
Erotic Prelude
by Sienna Wilder

Series: The Arab Marilyn Monroe
Paperback: 52 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2 edition (April 3, 2014)
Amazon Paperback Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 543 KB
Print Length: 41 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Kindle Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Sienna Wilder. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

I'm straight and this is my third time reading same sex, my first woman to woman erotic story. And I enjoyed reading this! Although to be honest, I did not read most of the sexcapades part as I am not comfortable with it, I found Olivia's story very compelling. 

Olivia is a straight woman, she has a boyfriend but she's not happy - not satisfied with what they have. When she meets Fairuz, an Arab woman she sees in a Parisian cafe, she was bewitched. When she's about to leave she was stunned to find herself approaching Fairuz telling her she's beautiful. It only started like that and she can't stop thinking about her.

Olivia and Fairuz are both likeable characters. I like how the author wove the story adding different cultures and traditions. For a short story, everything you need to know is already here. I thank the author for sharing this book with me. Bi or straight, you would absolutely like this book!


About the book:

DESIRE. Twenty-five year old Olivia Pappas thinks she's frigid, until she’s bewitched in a Parisian café by exotic Fairuz. Though same-sex love is taboo in both their cultures and religions, unstoppable passion arises as Olivia becomes immersed in an erotic affair that rips away her insecurity, giving her the confidence to live comfortably in her own beautiful skin. 

About the author:

Sienna lives California with her wife. She enjoys reading, scuba diving, and dancing. She is grateful for her readers’ appreciation and support in her publishing adventures.

If you’ve enjoyed any of Sienna's stories, please post a rating and review where you bought it, along with Goodreads.com, and recommend it to your friends! Sienna will do her best to reply to emails at: sienna.wilderer@gmail.com

Book Review: Fixed on You by Laurelin Paige

Fixed on You

Book 1 of the Fixed Trilogy

Author: Laurelin Paige
Series: Fixed Trilogy
Paperback: 228 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (September 13, 2013)
Amazon Paperback Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 2095 KB
Print Length: 228 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Laurelin Paige (June 24, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Kindle Link

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 



My thoughts:

The book tells the story of Alayna, a very intelligent and beautiful woman who is suffering from obsessive love disorder.  Right after finishing MBA, she  hopes to achieve her dreams of getting into the 'upper management level'. She knows what she wants, what to do and definitely what NOT to do. Do not date incredibly gorgeous men. Just focus on work and date 'safe' men. Safe means average men or above average without sparks - fuck and forget type of men. She's been clean for three years until she met Hudson Pierce, her boss.

Hudson needs to break off an engagement with his longtime girlfriend and he believes Alayna is the perfect girl to do it. Since Alayna has money problem and didn't want to disappoint her boss, she accepts the job. Only Hudson cannot be considered as 'safe' and 'average'. She knows it will be a struggle not to fall back to  her problem but she wants to try. 

I picked up this book mainly because I was intrigued by the synopsis. A woman suffering from obsessive love disorder, stalking someone, weird and dangerous behavior, yikes! Read the book and wow, loved it! I read the whole story in 3 hours and double wow, on a weekday! Yay, it was sooo good. 

I liked that Alayna, her character and the situation she is in felt real. Even if I never experienced her obsession over a guy, Alayna's story is relatable. Or maybe because falling in love with someone you 'shouldn't' have I believe everyone can relate to that. It was interesting at the same time depressing to read the story. Aww, the saddest part is falling in love with Hudson, a man who is incapable of loving. I laughed and cried with her, it was such an emotional journey for me reading this book.

Btw, I started the book not knowing (missed that part from the synopsis) this is an erotic romance book, too many HOT sex scenes in here, but I think the story alone is seriously a must read. Definitely reading book 2 soon!

About the book:

Fixed on You is the first book in a trilogy but ends without a cliffhanger. Due to mature material, it is recommended for ages 17+. 

Stalking and restraining orders are a thing of Alayna Wither's past. With her MBA newly in hand, she has her future figured out--move up at the nightclub she works at and stay away from any guy who might trigger her obsessive love disorder. A perfect plan. But what Alayna didn't figure on is Hudson Pierce, the new owner of the nightclub. He's smart, rich, and gorgeous--the kind of guy Alayna knows to stay away from if she wants to keep her past tendencies in check. Except, Hudson's fixed his sights on her. He wants her in his bed and makes no secret of it. Avoiding him isn't an option after he offers a business proposition she can't turn down and she's drawn further into his universe, unable to resist his gravitational pull. When she learns Hudson has a dark history of his own, she realizes too late that she's fallen for the worst man she could possibly get involved with. Or maybe their less than ideal pasts give them an opportunity to heal each other and finally find the love their lives have been missing.

About the author:

Laurelin Paige is the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Fixed Trilogy. She's a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there's kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn't seem to complain, however. When she isn't reading or writing sexy stories, she's probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by Bob Diforio of D4EO Literary Agency.