ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ RULES OF ENTANGLEMENT BY GINA L. MAXWELL

Title:  Rules of Entanglement (Fighting for Love, Book Two)

Author: Gina L. Maxwell

Release Date:  March 31, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Seven days. And seven rules to break...

District Attorney Vanessa McGregor firmly believes that structure and order are the stuff that dreams are made of. Happiness can be planned - and it starts with seven rules she's laid out for her future. But as she's organizing her best friend's wedding in Hawaii, all of Vanessa's best-laid plans are about to meet their match in a wickedly hot MMA fighter...

Jackson "Jax" Maris is focused on surfing, training and fighting. That is, until he opens up his big mouth, and finds himself having to pretend he's engaged to his little sister's best friend, Vanessa. When they're force to share a romantic bungalow, however, their little charade suddenly takes a turn for the seriously sexy. And while Jax is definitely not part of Vanessa's long-term plan, he has seven days - and seven naughty nights - to turn her seven-rule plan upside down.

Book Review

LOVE LOVE LOVE Gina L. Maxwell's series Fighting For Love. And now I am in wait mode for the next book of her series. 

I picked up book one, Seducing Cinderella, cause I was a sucker for the sexy cover.  This author was new, unknown to me, and I wasn't expecting to be wowed. But I started reading the book and soon found myself blown away by the captivating plot and enticing dialogue. Reid was a alpha hero worthy to swoon over and lose your heart to. 

So it was a no brainer that I requested to get an ARC copy of her next release, Rules of Entanglement. 

Just.Wow.

The second book is just as addictive, if not more so, than the first. Jackson Maris is delicious with a capitol D. He has charm, a one-sided lift of the mouth when he smiles, scruffy five o'clock shadow, surfs and board shorts, sporting a tan and a six-pack-plus. All of that and he is flawed. Human. And still damn appealing. 

Used to the island life, Jax shows up late to pick up his sister's BFF and Maid-of-honor-to-be, Vanessa McGregor.  He pulls out all of his best charming features, hoping to dazzle her and gain her forgiveness.

Ah, hell no. 

Vanessa is peeved that she has been made to wait an hour for her ride. And despite Jax's looks, she is furious and lets him know it. 

Pop.Sizzle.Spark -- Sexual chemistry. Jax is instantly attracted to this fiery red head who holds nothing back and spits out just what she thinks of him.

What happens next is a delicious unfolding of events where Jax breaks every rule that Vanessa has ever made. Rules to protect her heart, keep from getting hurt and ultimately, falling in love.  The control that Vanessa strives for starts to crumble, her walls start to fall, and she slowly starts to learn how to depend on someone for the first time and feel safe.  In Jax's arms. 

But the lie that Jax has told to keep Vanessa around lingers between them and Jax realizes he has to come clean. Even if losing her is the result, he must tell her the truth. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the sizzle-pop-bang chemistry between Jax and Vanessa. I cannot wait for more from this brilliantly talented and funny writer. 

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ EDGE OF DAWN BY LARA ADRIAN

Title:  Edge of Dawn (Midnight Breed, Book Eleven)

Author:  Lara Adrian

Expected Release Date: February 26, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost.

Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return.

Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts.

Book Review

Yes, we have moved twenty years into the future and the world now knows of the Breeds existence.  Mira is an adult, captain of the Order, and recovering from the unexpected death of Kellan--The man who she shared only one night of passion before he was taken away from her in a brutal death. 

Mira still struggles with her grief and her contempt for those responsible for Kellan's death--a group of Rebels who blew up the warehouse that Kellan ran into before it exploded, killing him in its raging fire.

Mira's anger and grief is the source of her attack on a human inside a bar who is known for his association with the Rebels. Her violent actions force Lucan's hand and Mira is removed from her position as captain of the Order as well as an extended leave of absence. 

Peace between the humans and the Breed have been strained and a conference has been arranged--bringing both races together in the hopes of easing tensions in their fragile relationship. A brilliant, young scientist, Jeremy Ackmeyer,  is scheduled to appear at this meeting with Mira as his bodyguard. She has special instructions to pick him up and escort him to the World Peace Summit. 

When a group of Rebels kidnap Jeremy at his home, Mira is taken as well. She is brought to their hideout and comes face to face with the mysterious Rebel leader--a man simply known as Bowman. Bowman wants Jeremy to pay for the dangerous weapon he invented that could annihilate the Breed race. And Bowman has a secret identity that brings Mira to her knees. He is the man she has spent the last eight years grieving--Kellan Archer. 

Why did Kellan decide to stay away, have everyone think that he was dead? How can he be the leader of the Rebels-- enemy to the Order and especially to Mira?

There is a lot of political maneuvering in Edge of Dawn. Lucan struggles with wanting to do things the old way and loathes the bureaucratic bullshit he now has to swallow. Then there is a secretive group that is determined to make sure the breeds are exterminated. 

The great thing about this book is seeing the children of the Breeds grown--Nathan, Rafe, Dare, Aric...just to name a few. Their stories unfold and plot possibilities abound. Lara has laid the groundwork to continue this series, hopefully, and I cannot wait to see where she takes these new characters. 

For me, the pacing of Edge of Dawn had its slow moments, but there had to be some new world building and new character development, which slows the tempo just a bit.  

Kellan and Mira's relationship is tumultuous--filled with angst, passion, and despair. The smexy times between Mira and Kellan is SCORCHING.  More so, I think, than in the past. Adrian captures the sensual side as well as the emotional impact with these scenes--sheer perfection.  

Edge of Dawn is a great addition for the Midnight Breed series with a fresh spin to a senescent tale. 

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ BEAUTIFUL BASTARD BY CHRISTINA LAUREN

Title: Beautiful Bastard

Author: Christina Lauren

Expected Release Date: February 12, 2013

ARC provided by NetGalley

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other. Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

Book Review

There is an overwhelming number of fan fictions that have turned to main stream publishing. Sometimes that can be a good thing--readers can discover a brand new author with a talent to weave a beautiful and addictive story. 

Sometimes it can miss the mark, as in the case of Beautiful Bastard. 

Unfortunately there was nothing addictive or beautiful about the story of Chloe and Bennett. 

Beautiful Bastard had a great premise to what could have been an intriguing read, but the elementary writing and over-the-top dialogue had the story falling flat for me. I could not find a connection to either character or a desire to know what happened next. And for me, Bennett was just totally unlikable. Chloe was even more so, because she failed to be what could have been a very strong character. 

Beautiful Bastard turned out to be a bitter disappointment.