Tag Team Review: Strait Laced by Kate Aaron

Philip Lomax is a man with ambition. Getting ahead in business doesn't leave much time for fun. Relationships aren’t part of his plan, and falling in love will have to wait.

Go-go dancer and all-round bad boy Ben is his polar opposite but they can't seem to leave each other alone.

While Philip's certain nothing can come of it, Ben is determined to prove Philip isn't as strait-laced as he appears. Will opposites attract in this standalone contemporary romance?

Average

Lost in a Book - 3.5 Hearts

This book was difficult to rate because while it wasn’t necessarily my cuppa, I can see the appeal and the overall enjoyment some might get out of the low angst read that features a couple navigating every day life and finding a way to do it together. So, for those of you who don’t want to be on the edge of your seat and take a break from angst in books and/or real life- this may be your cuppa.

Philip is on a business trip to Manchester and heads to a club in The Village he frequents while in town. Hanging in the shadows, Philip watches men having the experiences he wants but could never would never partake in. He’s uptight and constantly worries about what everyone in his life thinks about him and his choices. It cripples his ability to just live, get out of his head and stop judging. Luckily, a sexy go-go dancer likes what he sees and “buys” Philip a drink.

*Googles nearest club with go-go dancers... for a friend*

Ben is a sexy, tattooed, pierced, and scantily glad go-go dancer that breaks Philip slowly out of his shell. He remains an enigma for some of the book and I needed his story. I just knew something had to be missing from his outward carefree persona. As the pieces are put in place, my feels for Ben increased.

As I mentioned above, this story is really low angst. There were some situations thrown in here and there but overall, just an easy relational read with natural growing pains present in any relationship. It's two opposite men meeting, enjoying each other, and seeing how they fit together. I like how rational Ben is when it comes to Philip. Philip is a worry wart and Ben can sooth him while getting him to let go and finally live for himself.

“Ben unravelled me, stripped me apart, put me back together, and had me humming like a well-oiled engine.”

The first 30% moved super slow IMO and I was relieved when it began picking up a tiny bit. One thing that served as a pick me up were the smexy times. Ben is a pro at getting Philip to take the stick out of his ass and replace it with objects that are much more promising. The days of Philip’s sex being quieter than a church mouse were over. Ben worked him and they had some great chemistry.

“Nobody had ever set me alight this way. No man had made me shake and tremble, claw at him and cry out shamelessly because I couldn’t get enough.”

“I wanted to be rubbed raw, bruised and bitten, fucked hard and long until I couldn’t stand it anymore and my orgasm was dragged out of me kicking and screaming.”

I liked the MCs together and the growth they made as individuals. Thank goodness because Philip was driving me crazy with being all Judgy McJudgerson. The relationship pacing was authentic without the presence of insta-love and the magic peen. They moved through each phase of the getting to know each other, liking, and then loving and we were there through it all... which isn't a complete positive. I could have done without such an in-depth seminar on the ins and outs of the London/Manchester night life and *every* aspect of domesticated bliss. Still, it was enjoyable and I'd recommend it if you're looking for low key read with lots of domestication and some heat.

“I don’t mind fighting for you, Philip. Even if the only person I’m fighting is you.”

Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ - 2.5 Hearts


Unfortunately, I came down on the other side of the 3 hearts mark on this fence straddler. I struggled with this one for 4 days and while there were things that I liked, it's not one I'll remember.

The quotes above show the sexual chemistry Philip and Ben have. I won't deny that the sex (biting, rough sex but no MANTIES 😢) was hot and their chemistry is undeniable, but there's not enough of it to be categorized as PWP and what happens outside the sex didn't wow me.

Their relationship has very little drama from without or within which I enjoyed along with the realistic progression and sweetly domestic HEA. Aside from Philip's continual loop of unworthiness, they do have a good opposites attract thing happening and I liked that Ben challenges him in all things.

Ben's character is charming and irresistible; he's defiant and unapologetic about his circumstances both past and present. Perhaps if we had gotten his POV my rating would be higher. Who knows? As it stands we only get Philip's POV and he's not nearly as dynamic. Struggling with self-image issues and constantly preoccupied with what others think of him are hackneyed concepts that have to be done exceptionally well for me to connect. There were moments, but there was also a lack of depth.

"After a certain point you have live your own life without worrying what everyone else will think."

However, my main criticism is the tedium. Info dumps and pointless conversations that do not add to the narrative in meaningful ways stymied my emotional connection to this narrative. As an emotional reader, that's what I look for in every story I read and if I can't find it chances are high that I'm not going to enjoy the experience all that much.

Perhaps it's the slice of life storyline that doesn't resonate where this author is concerned, since my last foray din't go much better than this. I may give her AU slavefic a shot and see how that goes but I think this is the end of line between me and Aaron's contemporary reads.

I wouldn't recommend but my opinions are my own and YMMV.

Review copies were provided.

Review: Fangs and Catnip (Dead and Breakfast #1) by Julia Talbot

A romance worth fighting for—tooth and claw.

Solitary vampire Fallon Underwood gets all the social interaction he needs being the silent partner at the Dead and Breakfast B and B high in the Colorado mountains. Change is hard for Fallon, so when his business partner, Tanner, suggests hiring a new manager for the inn, he’s adamant that they don’t need help, especially not in the form of bouncy werecat Carter Hughes.

Carter is a happy-go-lucky kitty, and he loves the hospitality industry, so the D and B ought to be a great place for him. He falls for Fallon as soon as he picks up one of Fallon’s novels and begins to woo the vamp with gifts. When Fallon finally succumbs to Carter’s feline charms, the results are unexpected, to say the least. Their mating will have irreversible consequences—for their bodies and their hearts.

“Tell me a story?”

“What kind of story, sweet? A fairy tale?”

“Once upon a time,” he started, amused to the core.

“Oh, I’m good at those. Once upon a time, there was a werekitty. He came to save a vampire from himself.”

That quote really does sum up this sweet and supernaturally packed book.

Told through dual POV’s, this story begins as we meet werebear Tanner who runs the Dead and Breakfast B and B with his silent vampy partner Fallon. Though Tanner has help with a night manager and a cook for the guests, Tanner is exhausted and his bear would love to get some additional sleep during the winter. When Tanner gets Fallon to agree to hire help, he picks the best candidate to interview and ends up hiring him.

Fallon Underwood is one grumpy and gloomy vamp who is also one hell of a horror author. Housed in the top floor of the B and B, Fallon is a silent and stoic partner of the business, allowing Tanner to handle the day to day giving their menagerie of supernatural guests the best treatment the Colorado mountains can offer. When his best friend comes to him begging for help, Fallon gives in though he can’t quite agree with Tanners choice of a werekitty, but at least it’s not a mummy right?

Carter Hughes is the equivalent to Tigger with his kitty bounce and his sometimes very juvenile way of talking and thinking. Though his speech sometimes drove me nuts, Carter is a smart and caring man who just happens to think Fallon is stunning. Not only does he admire the vamps looks but when Carter gets his puma paws on Fallon’s books, he devours all of them in a matter of days and is head over heels for the author.

This was really sweet. I like that Fallon is all “I’m too old. Too set in my ways. I can’t be with a young cat that bounces” and all that denial he has going for him. When in truth, Fallon is drawn to Carter in ways he can’t quite understand. When Carter starts to woo Fallon with thoughtful gifts, Fallon tries to put a stop to it and let Carter down easy even though that’s not what he real wants to do. But with one whispered apology through a closed door and an overhead fanatic review of Fallon’s work by Carter has the vamp finally deciding that denial really is just a river in Egypt he doesn’t want to go down anymore.

These two were as cute as a vamp and a cat can be. I liked the take on Mates between different beings and how each of them handled it. I adored Carter in his shift and how Fallon saw him as well. Though there is trouble with their mating and all the biting (there is A LOT of biting!) that’s going on, neither man knew it what was going on and it does cause a bit of angst in the book. The angst, for me was unnecessary as it made the story drag on when it could have been dealt with sooner with the doctor but, whatever.

The guests at the B and B are so much fun to read about they really added depth to the story. I loved how many different creatures show up and how they B and B caters to their special needs. It really is a fun place to visit while reading this romance and I truly hope that with this being listed as the Dead and Breakfast series that a certain wolf gets a book possible with a certain doctor? Maybe?

Review: Bitten by Desire (Regent's Park Pack, #3) by Annabelle Jacobs

Two lovers from rival packs. Have they come together only to be forced apart?

Alec Knight, a beta in the Regent’s Park pack, guards his heart carefully. Ghosts from his past keep him alone and angry, any hope of a relationship impossible while guilt from the pack wars still haunts him. With the anniversary drawing near, Alec needs a distraction.

As a lowly member of the Primrose Hill pack, Mark Appleton isn’t used to having his alpha’s attention. Lately he’s had more than his fair share, and not for the right reasons. Despite growing suspicions that all is not well, Mark tries hard to do better, but constant criticism leaves him desperate for a stress outlet.

Sex is a good way for shifters to let off steam, and while their packs attack each other with accusations and lies, Alec and Mark work out their frustrations in bed. Pillow talk and shared secrets lead to a closeness neither was expecting, but when pack relations reach an all-time low, any future for them seems out of the question.

If they want to be together, they’ll have to go against their alphas’ wishes—except Alec won’t and Mark can’t.

I’m going to reiterate again because I’m a nag that way that this series should be read in order. I skipped the first one and have pretty much caught up on Nathan and Jared but they feature heavily in this story, so again, don’t be like me.

Annabelle Jacobs delivers a strong, plot-driven story in Bitten By Desire. I can attest that this one is a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I really don’t want to spoil the story so I’m going to shut up about it. But it's SO GOOD!!!

A really weird thing is happening to me with these characters, though. I usually am sorta in Mehsville about at least a few of the characters, but not this series! Nope. In this series I really like all the characters even the villainous ones that you’re not supposed to like play their roles to the hilt! I found myself smiling and getting a little verklempt at some of the scenes between these people at time and other times I found myself getting 16 different kinds of ragey at the bad dudes.

The pack dynamics are the best! The way the betas are portrayed, the way they feel about their unit members, the way they try to put them at ease when they sense their anxiety...

And Cam! He's a particularly spectacular alpha. Fair, honest and trustworthy; he's good people I tell ya. I have some serious heart eyes happening for him.

Alec is portrayed as being cold but I disagree. I think he’s efficient and no nonsense, though he’s not particularly interested in any romantic entanglements so maybe that’s where the “coldness” lies? He’s a fantastic beta. He’s loyal, steadfast and would lay down his life for the good of the pack every day of the week and twice on Sundays, so that makes him pretty amazeballs in my book.

Mark seems to agree with me on the amazeballsness. He’s keen on the older R-pack beta and would like nothing more than to climb him like a tree. The fly in the ointment is that his alpha, Newell <---douchecanoe, has a grudge the size of Texas against Cam. He's jelly if you ask me, but anywhatevers.

With a whole lot of animosity betwixt the two packs it’s not a great idea for Alec and Mark to be engaging in the boom boom, but what fun would that be? A lil danger fucking never hurt anyone, ammiright?

This is the first shifter/shifter pairing so they’re a bit rough with some biting, rimming, marking territory a.k.a. cum play and manhandling, but honestly… I can’t even believe I’m about to say this, but the sex was…

I thought Tim and Seb were hotter. Maybe I was disappointed by the lack of hate sex? There was heat, it just didn’t change my life. However, as we all know I'm a filthy perv and hotness is totally subjective anyway so read it and decide for yourself.

Bottom line, I was waaaayyyyy more captivated by the story arc and their relaysh. Alec and Mark’s connection and eventual bond was in the spotlight and it gave me #feelings. It builds over the narrative from stress relief to more frequent "scenting" to possessive and growly to bonded mates. I loved that there were no games and no back and forth. They're both shifters and realize what's happening and at some point realize that they don't mind that they're headed to Lovesville and just let it happen. It made my heart happy.

I’ve no idea if this is the end. I hope not but I didn’t get a sense of who might be the next coupling and I don’t really know what to do with that other than shamelessly deploy some pathetic eyes…

…in the hopes that the Regent’s Park Pack will return. Because I want to know what happens next.

Recommend to shifter romance fans and those who like action in their stories.

An ARC was provided.

Review: Cam's Promise (Northern States Pack #2) by Lee Oliver

Cam has always known who his fated mate was. Unfortunately, not even his beta wolf status made life any easier, living with the knowledge his alpha mate rejected him. His work with Ranger kept him busy, but now Ranger was mated to the sweet Aiden, finding things to do so his wolf wouldn't go hunting the man they both wanted was getting more difficult by the day.

Levi was an assassin. He made no apology for who he was or how he lived. Yes, he knew he had a mate. Yes, there were a lot of good reasons for claiming him. But the two reasons why he shouldn't, kept Levi away. When Ranger gets in touch and lets him know that things are changing on the council, and he's found the assassins a place to call home, Levi can't resist answering the call.

Territory and power are everything to shifters and having all four assassins living in the Northern States pack brings problems from outside. In town, not all of the locals are as keen with their new Alpha either and yet, somehow, in the muddle, Levi and Cam must find a way to be together. Because sharing the same house, no matter how big it is, makes anything else unbearable.

Warning: Normal warnings about this being a men loving men book apply. If this doesn't appeal, please don't buy this.

This is a fun new shifter series. These books are short and blend together so while you could read this as a standalone, I don’t recommend it because you won’t get a lot of what’s going on.

We met Cam in the first book as the beta wolf who was Ranger’s second and best friend. Cam was known as the wolf to go to for a one night stand and one to definitely remember. From book one you would think Cam is nothing but a walking dick ready to be buried in a hot piece of ass. That is SO not the case.

We know of Levi from Ranger’s book as he is one of only four assassins who work for the shifter council. Levi has been absent only coming around when there is a job to do. And yet, we learn in the epilogue of Ranger’s book that Levi is Cam’s true mate and Cam has been claimed already. Yeah. WTF it up right now folks because I was all WTF before I even started this.

Told from both POV of our true mates, we know that 9 months ago there was a claiming and that 9 months ago Levi broke Cam’s heart by walking away from him and making him promise not to tell anyone what happened. As a girl who loves her true/fated mate stories, my heart hurt like hell thinking of what Cam was going through. Knowing in this series that true mates can only get it up for their mates made me scratch my head at the lengths Cam goes through to keep his promise and made me pissed off at Levi.

Ugh. Levi. Dude. How could you string Cam along for years knowing you were true mates? How could you claim him that way and not finish what you started? How could you and your wolf just walk away from Cam like that? Well, I know why because you tell us you are a bit different but thankfully we get your POV so we know it was hell to be apart from you as well. It was tough but you deserve tougher.

So anyway. They mated, they have been apart and now Ranger has called all his assassin brothers to be part of his pack with his Alpha and true mate Aiden. When Cam finds out Levi is coming he freaks and tries to leave but Levi shows up early and decides he finally wants what is his. I will say the reunion with Cam and Levi was hot and I get how it’s so easily resolved because they are shifters but I really wish Cam wouldn’t have rolled over so easy.
Levi has a secret and it’s partly what kept him away from Cam. No one knew about it (and I won’t tell) but now that Cam knows and accepts Levi in every way, Levi is free to love and he turns into one hell of an Alpha for his beta mate.

Wow. There was a lot in this book and it was short on length. I adore the hell out of Cam. I love Levi but boy is his freaking head crowded. I dug that we got more of Ranger and Aiden, Marcus and Shadow and even the small bit we get of Sean.

The council and all their fuckery with trying to get their assassins back called for some Tarantino action via wolf assassins. I can’t wait for the council to get their asses handed to them. The new line of enforcers for the Northern States Pack just got themselves one hell of a trainer and I wonder if he will find his true mate among them.

But really. I am so freaking fracking excited about the next book because I knew, I KNEW when we met a certain someone he would be Sean’s true mate and holy fuck balls, I was right. Go me.

This was just another short and sexy installment to this series. I am hooked on these wolves and their true mates and definitely want more.

Review: Levi (Leopard's Spots, #1) by Bailey Bradford

A run through the woods turned anything but typical when Levi found the one thing he never expected to find-his mate.

After a week spent in family reunion hell, Levi Travis is more than ready for a little break. But who knew shifting into a snow leopard and loping around in the woods could turn into such a steamy event?

When Levi encounters a cougar shifter in the woods, the attraction is so hot it threatens to shoot off sparks. Levi has fantasized about having a stronger man than him want him, and he's sure the cougar is just such a man. Which is why Levi lets himself get caught, and the intensity of their mating is only equaled by Levi's confusion when the man shifts back into a cougar then turns tail and runs.

Lyndon Hines has been running for months. Hunted, taunted, he didn't know what else to do—until he met a man who made him realize that some things were worth fighting for. Two shifters, each a different breed, neither knowing much about their heritage, Levi and Lyndon come together and find the strength to take on the mad man who is out to end Lyndon's life.

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been released by Pride Publishing. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release. This book is best read in sequence, as part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

One made up word: Smutfest

Yes, this is a very smutty book, with lots of growling, biting, and pounding.

I can see how this series is going to develop, and I found the plot enjoyable, but I was completely distracted by all the sex these two were having. I actually think there is such a thing as too much erotica in a story, and this reached its limit for me. When I start skimming over the sex scenes, I know there is a problem, and it doesn’t matter how sexy the scenes are in their own right, it is too much.

Some may not agree with me, and that’s great, you will enjoy the fuck out of this story (pun absolutely intended). For me, after the first two times, I wanted to get on with the actual plot.

Lyndon is on the run because he is being hunted by another cougar. He doesn’t know who, but they have been marking his belongings and hotel rooms for quite some time. He manages to find himself in the woods, when he comes across another cat shifter, but not a cougar. And that cat shifter smells like they’re in heat.

Levi can’t believe he’s in heat, as it has never happened before and he didn’t think it would happen to the males of the Snow Leopard shifter species. However, he admits that his family doesn’t know much about shifters history as his grandmother’s entire clan was wiped out when she was a child making her the single survivor.

I actually like this part of the plot. This group of shifters are completely oblivious and don’t appear to have ventured out of their own town far enough to discover if there are other shifters. It leaves a lot of questions to be discovered, and I imagine that is what this series is setting up to reveal.

Levi and Lyndon have great sexual chemistry, and the wood scene when they first meet is heat level high. It definitely got my blood pumping, and kept me engaged.

I’m not really a fan of fated mates shifter stories. They’re just really predictable from a romance point of view, and it doesn’t leave much in the way of relationship development in this particular story. I know this trope can be done well, and I have a favourite series that is fated mates, but it is the exception for me, and this story followed the rule.

But…. the rest of this story (where they aren’t humping each other) makes for interesting reading, and I think the plot worked really well with the discovery of other shifter species.

If you like fluffy smut with a bit of drama, and a decent overall story arc, I think this could be worth the time. If you are averse to fated mate stories then you probably won’t be able to avoid the disdain of that trope here, but if you can tolerate it, this is a fun read.

A review copy was provided for an honest opinion

Review Bitten by Design (Regent's Park Pack #2) by Annabelle Jacobs

When the last thing you want, is everything you need…. 

Seb Calloway isn’t interested in shifters. After his best friend bonded with one, he avoids getting involved with them—no matter how hot they are—to prevent the same thing from happening to him. Why take the risk for a few hours of fun?

Tim Walters is the pack doctor. Considered to be mild-mannered and non-threatening by pack standards, he prides himself on being able to stay calm and maintain his control at all times. Desperate for a bond of his own, he knows his interest in Seb is an exercise in futility, but he can’t seem to help himself.

When news emerges that threatens Seb’s safety, he and Tim need to fake a relationship to keep Seb safe. Despite Seb’s refusal to be anything other than friends with benefits, what starts out as pretend, quickly becomes more—for Tim at least. If Tim doesn't want to end up heartbroken, he needs to prove to Seb that loving a shifter doesn’t mean losing himself.

First things first, I didn't read the first one in this series and I should have. Don't be like me. Read the first one. There were quite a few references to the events and characters in Bitten by Mistake that at times had me scratching my head.

I muddled through and pieced things together because we hit the ground running in Bitten by Design.  Seb is Jared's BFF and took over his flat after he moved in with his bonded mate, Nathan. Tension is brewing between the P-Pack and Regent's Park pack with some rogue shifters thrown in to spice things up. Seb's caught in the crossfire so to speak and takes a header down the stairs when there's a scratch at his door. He lands himself in the hospital with a broken leg, wonky wrist and a verra attentive doctor.

Tim is the pack doctor and has a crush on Seb, so when he turns up hurt presumably by the rival pack he gets all possessive and protective. I love it when they get all"mine-y".  

YERP! What I heart about shifters is even when they're not the alpha they're still kinda alpha with the growling and whatnot! Plus the whole "mates" thing, though Seb and Tim aren't fated mates which is at the tippity-top of my list, but they get close enough for me. Jacobs packed a whole passel of things I like including scenting, biting, marking and... uh... getting messy.  

Tim likes it messy as does Seb. *eyebrows* The little gasping, half/broken sentence, begging had me squirming with delight and then Tim went and preened after marking his territory and... #DECEASED! I couldn't have asked for anything more but just to seal the deal Jacobs threw in the fake boyfriend trope! The pack decides since Seb wants to go home that it'd be best if Tim pretends to be his boyfriend because shifters all have a keen sense of smell. So... Tim and Seb have to really "sell" this boyfriends gig. 

The only fly in the ointment is Seb keeps telling himself and saying out loud (which kinda made me want to staple his mouth shut) that he's not interested in being in a bonded mate relaysh. He's plenty attracted to Tim but he keeps hurting his feels when he says their relationship is temporary or faux or whatever which he seems oblivious to, but then proceeds to up the ante in their sexual relationship. The mixed signals thing got a little old and I wish he would've talked to Tim sooner, but that's really my only gripe.

When things ramped up with P-Pack is when I really invested in this series. There is still much animosity between the packs and I would like to formally request an enemies to lovers story featuring Alec and Mark, pretty please with glitter on top.

While I'm praying to the shifter gods to rain shifter hate sex confetti on me I'll continue to float around on the bonded mate fluff infused cotton candy cloud that is Tim and Seb and their HEA. Because it was adorbz, had some feels and hot all at once. Quite the trifecta there.

My first Jacobs was a rousing success and I'm hopeful there will be another Regent's Park Pack story because I like the way she writes pack dynamics and this relationship evolved convincingly. So I'd recommend this to shifter fans or those who enjoy a smuffy, low angst romance. 

A review copy was provided.

Review: Devil's Slave (American Monsters #1) by Lola Hale

I thought I knew what hell was. After years as a cop, I was sure I'd seen the worst humanity had to offer. 

I had no f*cking idea. 

Now I know I've seen hell. Hell is the basement of an industrial warehouse where the rich, bored and psychotic buy their pleasure at the cost of innocent men and women. 

I will take these bastards down, but first, I have to let myself be sold… 

My life as a sexual slave should destroy me. Maybe I'm made for hell because as much as I want to end Domingo Morgan and his sick empire, I can't wait for the next moment I feel his hands on my throat. 

Every day I spend as his property, I crave him a little bit more. 

Lover. Cop. Victim. Damned if I know who I am anymore. My life as Hugh Kincaid, police officer, is over. The only thing that means anything, the only thing that matters now, is that I belong to him. 

Lola Hale explores your darkest erotic fantasies in DEVIL'S SLAVE, the first book in her addictive male/male American Monsters trilogy. This book contains explicit content, including dubious consent.

I'm having trouble articulating how I feel about this book. There is good stuff here, if fucked up characters and situations are your thing. They are my thing. But I felt like this throughout the read. 

I kept trying to get a foothold in the story but there is so much going and yet when I think back on it nothing really happened. I struggled and didn't connect with either character. The potential is there but I found the plot a bit slapdash. People keep dying, none of the other character motivations made sense to me, there seemingly no one trustworthy and I kept thinking all those things were red herrings that detracted from the primary objective.

Hale does a good job with Hugh's characterization. He's a washed up ex-cop, some time private eye who's got an addiction problem. Through a series of events he finds himself Dom's pet. The entire story is told through Hugh and he's somewhat sympathetic and a train wreck. Dom's seemingly a sociopath but still largely enigmatic. Mr. Black was an intriguing secondary character though and a couple of the other secondary characters hold promise.

Honestly, I was expecting it to be kinkier. The kink that is there felt like a checklist with a dibble of pet play, a dabble of humiliation, a smidge of bondage, you get what I mean. Hugh's mouthy and he and Dom throw down frequently which I couldn't tell if it was their version of foreplay or they just like beating the fuck out of each other. Like a mini Fight Club of two.

Dom seems to have a penchant for choking and biting both of which Nate seems to respond to, but there was only one really kinky-pain slutty whipping scene. Honorable mention for the exhibitionist scene in the club. Not mad at that. My stumbling block is whether or not Hugh's responding so much to Dom's domination and the danger he poses, or is it just another gateway to a high. Hugh does like to check out. Some of the sex is hot enough and found this story depraved, yes, but kinky...

The people in this super secret underground ring are engaging in human trafficking and they have their own version of gladiator games. Yep. "Pets", and sometimes people that stepped out of line, fight to the death. I thought Hugh's primary objective was to save his niece who's been kidnapped by said super secret society, but... Hugh's either tweaked out or has the attention span of a tse tse fly. Following him was next to impossible. I'm not one to harp on tense and POV but I would've paid money to get out of his head. I like to be challenged and try to figure out what's going on especially in books that have an element of mystery or suspense, but I feel like I was sent into the gladiator ring with an arm and a leg tethered and blindfolded.

I do think Hale has potential and the technical aspects of her writing style are good; what would've helped me is tighter plotting. Perhaps this is all by design and there is some grand plan at work. Only time will tell. I do like that Hugh is older than Dom as well as the concept of this series. Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind when I read it. *shrugs* I may try again once the series is complete.

I'm waffling between 2 and 2.5 Hearts but we don't have a 2.25 Heart thingamajig so I'll go with 2.5.

If dub-con and FUBAR characters are your jam, give the other reviews a looksee before deciding.

A review copy was provided by NetGalley.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Review: A Single Heartbeat by Morgan Elektra

Nature made them adversaries, but one glance ignites a lust stronger than the need for blood.

After 200 years, the nightlife has lost its allure for Reese. A leader among his kind, owner of a nightclub that serves as a banquet of nubile flesh and hot blood, he is bored out of his mind.

His heart hasn't stirred in over a century.

Born to a line of vampire hunters, Will ventures out every day after dark to track down those creatures who have crossed the line from feeding to murder, and destroy them.

All he wants is one night off to drink and dance and maybe get laid.

Too bad it's not his lucky night. Or maybe it is?

Not even witnessing Will stake one of his brethren is enough to quell the lust that Reese feels from his first glimpse of the gorgeous hunter. And though Will knows how dangerous it could be to take the sensual invitation in Reese's dark eyes, he can't resist.

Why fight when they could fuck instead?

I have history of loving the enemies to lovers’ trope and when you have vampires and hunters wanting to get it on, I am all in. I mean from Buffy and Angel (or my favorite Spike) I’ve loved the angst of wanting to fuck or fight and all the play that comes before, during and after. This was right up my dark alley leading to… well, wherever it is vamps are gonna  hang out these days.

That’s all it ever took; a single heartbeat could change a life. End it. Begin it.

Reese is a double century old vampire who is tired of the scene. After the first few or 8 decades the haze of all he can get as a vampire has worn off. Now he is part owner of the hippest new club in town, Sang, and all he wants to do is chill. But when he spots a blond boy in leather dancing as if it were sex on two legs, he lets himself feel the pull of lust and of his heart.

Will, is a vampire hunter by night and while his friends don’t know about his nighttime activities, they know Will needs to unwind. When they find a way to get into Sang, he decides that a night of dancing and letting go is what he needs. As he begins relax, Will feels someone watching him as he dances, and meets the gaze of one hot man who makes his blood run hot. It could be a good thing the man watching him has a thing for blood, eh?

This was fun, sexy and at times totally cheesy but the cheese was called on by the characters so it made it funny instead of cringe worthy. The way Will and Reese met was interesting and how they both decided they meant one another no harm other than the chance to fuck each other stupid was delightful. Yup, a vampire and a vampire hunter decide that the only thing long and hard that will be sunk into anyone will be… you know? *grins*

“Ahh, hunter,” he murmured into the dark. “You are dangerous.”

I like that we get both POV’s with this so we know how each man feels about sleeping with the enemy. It was sweet how Will gave in and how much Reese wanted more than just a chance to taste a hunter’s blood. There was no need for Reese to coerce Will into anything they did in bed or the elevator or behind the club; it was as natural as can be and while they did pause for a second to question what they were doing, pure lust and want won and I was so happy that it did.

For me though, this was way too short and I sincerely hope the author is considering writing more about Reese and Will. The morning after note was enough to have me giddy, excited and hopeful.

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