Man of the Year (Vice & Virtue #3) by Bianca Giovanni

In this continuation of the Vice & Virtue series friends-turned-lovers James and Lola are in Las Vegas for the Adult Video Awards. He is up for the biggest prize of the night, Man of the Year, and with his recent retirement, he's bound to win. Will an event celebrating his previous sexual exploits challenge his relationship with his inexperienced girlfriend? How will Lola cope with being thrust into James' spotlight? By the end of this whirlwind weekend, the two will learn that what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas

Four Stars

“I love you, my beautiful girl,” I whisper to her. “I love you so much. I’ve always loved you. I’ll love you forever, Lola. Forever and ever.” 

I was ECSTATIC when I found out Bianca was going to continue James & Lola's story. I thoroughly enjoyed the mini stories and I really enjoyed the full-length novel that is Vice, Virtue & Video. I am a huge sucker for friends-to-romance stories. There’s just something about falling in love with your best friend. It’s like fast-forwarding the getting-to-know-you-phase, and just head onto the bedroom. LOL. Yea, you know there’s nothing wrong with that. 

“What can I say? I fell in love,” I shrug. “I know it sounds totally corny but my heart belongs to her and I seriously can’t even consider having sex with anybody else.” 

So this story takes place about three months after James and Lola finally declared their love for each other. Now that he’s with Lola, James has decided he can no longer remain in the porn business. He’s quite a big actor in the Adult Entertainment world and has had his share of a lot of women. Now that he’s retiring from this career, he’s getting more exposure. They’re in Las Vegas to attend the Adult Video Awards, where James is nominated for a ton Adult Video Awards, including Man of the Year. Lola is there to support him, but feels completely out of place. 

I don’t belong here. I can’t hang with these people, go to events like this, watch spontaneous gangbangs pop up in corners, hear a vengeful slut tell me that I’ll never be enough for James… 

Poor Lola. She is indeed out of her element here. First off, James is the only man she’s ever been sexual with and considers herself very inexperienced, especially considering James has probably slept with the majority of people at this award show. She is beyond intimidated by everything around her. Shit, I would be too. I mean, put yourself in her shoes: I felt awful for her when they started showing clips of all the nominees and the variouspositions there were all in. I would be mortified if I had to endure watching my boyfriend’s sex scenes, let alone watching it with a room full of people he probably fucked. Damn! I felt for her, but she held her own…at least for a little while. There were a lot of vengeful women hating her: It is because of her that their beloved James is leaving the business. Her anxiety is very understandable. Will she be enough for James? 

“Seriously, let’s break this down,” I continue. “I’m getting beauty, brains, humor, crazy-ridiculous-insane hotness and that smart mouth that I love. You’re getting a guy who dropped out of college, who has no valuable skills, whose only claim to fame is having a big dick and who’s going to be shunned by real society the second I leave the Valley. 

I love James. He loves Lola so much, it was so sweet to read. I love that he’s leaving the business for her. They really do belong together. The sex between James and Lola is still scorching and James just practically worships her, in and out of the bedroom. I just love him. However, I did have some gripes with the story. One: Lola’s constant giggling was grating on my nerves. I’ve never met a heroine who giggled as much as she did, even during some hot sex. WTF?! I wanted to slap her a few times and tell her to quit it. LOL. Two: I wanted to see more of possessive and jealous James. I love when men get all-primal and claim what’s theirs. Three: I wished it were a little longer. The drama towards the end could’ve been elaborated a little more, rather than Lola forgiving James immediately. Not that James did anything wrong, but I wished she had explained her concerns a little more. Aside from that, I really enjoyed this story and made a great addition to the series. I can’t wait for more :)

If You Stay (Beautifully Broken #1) by Courtney Cole

24-year old Pax Tate is an asshole. 

Seriously. 

He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad-boy with a bad attitude to match. 

But he’s got his reasons. 

His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with guilt although he doesn’t understand why. What he does know is that he and his dad are left alone and with more issues than they can count. 

As Pax grew up, he tried to be the kid his father always wanted; the perfect golden boy, but it didn’t work. His dad couldn’t overcome his grief long enough to notice and Pax couldn’t keep up the impossible perfect façade. 

So he slipped far, far from it. 

Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the ugliness, the black void that he doesn’t want to deal with. If he pretends that the emptiness isn’t there, then it isn’t, right? 

Wrong. 

And it’s never more apparent than when he meets Mila. 

Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air to his hardened frown, the beauty to his ugly heart. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’s got to figure it out because he needs her to breathe.

When memories of his mother’s death resurface from where he’s repressed them for so long, Mila is there to catch him when the guilt starts making sense. Mila is the one…the one who can save him from his broken troubled heart; from his issues, from the emptiness. 

But only if he can stop being an asshole long enough to allow it. 

He knows that. And he’s working on it. 

But is that enough to make her stay?

Four Stars

She’s like a breath of fresh air.

I may be the Big Bad Wolf, but even wolves need to breathe. 

This was just the kind of book I needed. It was one of those can’t-put-it-down ones that I often crave on my day off. Though this was a short read, it packed quite a punch. On the surface, it’s a story of opposites attracting. The sweet and beautiful Mila paired with Pax, the bad boy with an awful reputation. They first meet under the direst of circumstances, with Pax barely clinging to life and Mila saving him. What happens after the incident is when things start really to heat up. 

I feel like there’s a certain sadness to him, probably because his eyes hint at things that I don’t yet know about him, troubled things. His body is hard, his face is hard, and his eyes are hard. Like stone.

And even still, I am pulled inexplicably to him.

I can’t explain it. It’s not logical. 

Our Hero, Pax, is not your typical Hero. He uses drugs, liquor and woman to cope with his hidden demons. He comes from a very wealthy family, but after the death of his mother, he and his father are not the same. Pax has so much potential, but he continuously wastes it away with his wild lifestyle. When he accidently overdoses, is he at his lowest point. This is when Mila first meets him: Slumped and sprawled in his car with no help. Mila just prays that it wasn’t too late when he was finally taken by ambulance. 

When Pax first wakes up in the hospital, he can’t remember what happened. But what surprises him even more is when Mila walks into his room, checking to see if he is ok. He doesn’t remember her, but what he notices immediately grabs his attention. 

She’s staring at me with clear, green eyes and she’s holding a vase of flowers.

And she’s fucking beautiful.

My gut immediately tightens in response. Holy shit. 

Mila is not the type girl Pax normally hang around with. She gives off an aura of wholesomeness and goodness that is very foreign to Pax. All I know is… I’m drawn to her. She’s everything that I’m not and it fascinates the hell out of me. 

Pax tries to get Mila out of his mind, but he is determined to find out who she is. Why? He doesn’t even know. He knows she’s too good for the likes of him, but that doesn’t stop him from pursing her. Pax manages to fuck up a few more times before Mila reluctantly tries to establish a relationship with him. How he manages to clean his messes up is beyond me. Frankly, I wouldn’t have been as forgiving as Mila, but then again, he is trying. 

“Something about you makes me think that I can be better, maybe even get my shit straight. I haven’t felt that way in a very long time.” ~ Pax 

Mila is still holding a bit of herself back; hesitant and scared ofthe incident happening again. Pax is definitely hiding something. She convinces him to seek help and reluctantly agrees. But once he uncovers his secrets, how will Pax cope? Will he resort to drugs again? Will Pax allow her to help him or will he push her away?

“I’m just not that good at relationships. I haven’t had any practice. But if you stay with me, if you stay… I promise that I will never leave you again.” 

This was such a good read and I’m so thankful for Trish for recommending it to me. It was a tad bit on a darker side, but it was crafted very well. I really liked it and would definitely recommend it.

Truth (Consequences #2) by Aleatha Romig

Claire Nichols endured the CONSEQUENCES of Anthony Rawlings’ vendetta.

When she first arrived to his home, her goal was survival. Through strength and compartmentalization Claire captivated her captor. Her resilience in the face of his rule threatened Anthony’s well developed plan. Domination became desire and power turned to love.

Their passion and adoration in a world of opulence appeared perfect. Yet, reality was a roller coaster of emotion. Claire’s world teetered on the edge of sanity as Antony monitored her every move. When given the opportunity to flee, Claire drove away. A fateful decision which set a well laid plan into motion.

However, unbeknownst to either of them, there were others who saw past the perfect facade of Anthony Rawlings. There were others who saw the TRUTH. Conspiracy and unfulfilled promises result in an early prison release for Claire. Not just a release – a pardon. According to the law, her crime never happened!

Will it be that easy? Faced with freedom from her past... can Claire seize it? Can she build a new life, mend her broken spirit, become the woman she once was, and seek her own revenge? Or is it all a game? And does the game master have different plans?

How does Sophia Burke fit into the puzzle that is Tony and Claire? Will her presence affect the future of this well esteemed man? Can he dominate twice? Is that his goal?

TRUTH continues the tumultuous saga of CONSEQUENCES, introduces new players, and uncovers more intrigue. Aleatha Romig skillfully weaves past transgressions through current deception to create a fervent world of obsessed desire. In this reality can an all-consuming relationship survive?

When buried sins are discovered they threaten not only Tony and Claire’s future -- but their very lives! Will the TRUTH be revealed in time?

Five Stars

**If you haven’t read book one, Consequences, there are spoilers below**

Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. ~ Mahatma Ghandi 

HOLY MOTHER!! That was good. No. Fuck that. It was excellent. First off, thank you, Trish for convincing me to read this. After the mind fuck that is Consequences (book #1), I was waiting for my emotions to simmer down before even considering picking up the sequel. I was livid after book one.LIVID! It was mostly directed at Tony. Frankly, I was scared to read this. My mind wasn’t ready to take another beating. (Pun completely unintentional. Sorry!) 

Tony – his magnetism, his control, his dominance – was erotic. 

Book one elicited so many different feelings towards Anthony: Anger, lust, confusion, but most of all, betrayal. Tony is his own entity. I’ve never met a character that had me so conflicted, ever. I had such a strong love/hate thing for him. By the end of the book, after his ultimate betrayal, I concluded that I hated him. There was no way he was redeemable after what he did. It would take a fucking miracle. I mean, how could Claire possibly forgive him?

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. ~ Helen Keller 

Claire is given a second chance, a pardon if you will. She’s very fortunate to have friends and allies to help get her life back on track. She has found refuge with her ex-boyfriend’s fiancé, Amber McCoy, along with Amber’s brother, Harry. Oh, and may I just go off on a little tangent by saying: I LOVE HARRY! He is such a sweetheart. Okay. I could continue to gush about him, but I don't want to spoil it too much. Anyway, Claire finds comfort and friendship with them both. They welcome her and help her as best they can. She wants nothing more than to move on and leave her past behind. However, it isn’t easy considering Tony is still as obsessed with her as ever. When he finds out about Claire’s pardon, Tony is not a happy man, but he can’t help that he still loves her. He’s seriously twisted that way. How can she move on with her life knowing he’s following her every step? 

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. ~ Confucius 

This sequel wasn’t as much of a mind fuck as book one was, but some parts did have my mind spinning. So many questions were answered, but more questions arose. More layers are unraveled and more secrets are revealed. There were so many little twists and turns that when it finally ended, I was left thinking: Who was manipulating whom? My perception of Tony is still up for debate; I am still left with this internal battle when it comes to my feelings for him. I hated him after book one. Now? Not so much. Is he redeemable? It looks like he might be. Can I ever forgive him for what he has done to Claire? I didn’t think it was possible, but there’s a good chance that I might be able to. And that ending? What was that? I have my theories, but I guess they won’t get answered until book three, Convicted, is out, which I want like NOW. **Deep Breath** This really is an exceptional story. It’ll drive you bat shit crazy, but I loved the journey I have taken so far. 

The Education of Caroline (Education of #2) by Jane Harvey-Berrick

Ten years after their broken affair, Sebastian and Caroline meet again: this time in very different circumstances, against the background of the war in Afghanistan.

Now a successful journalist, Caroline meets Chief Sebastian Hunter, US Marine. Will this chance encounter rekindle the erotic madness of her passionate affair with a younger man?

4.75 Stars

**If you have not read The Education of Sebastian, there are a few spoilers below**

Life is what happens with you least expect it. 

I was so freaking ecstatic when I heard this book finally came out because so eager to start this fantastic series. As soon as I finished The Education of Sebastian, I immediately jumped to this book. Book one ended so abruptly and on such a sad note, that I wanted more. I craved it! It’s been ten years since Sebastian and Caroline were forced apart. They haven’t seen each other since that heartbreaking day. What happens when fate intervenes and they are thrust into each other’s lives once more?

I saw Sebastian’s eyes flicker across to me, then widen with shock as recognition set in, and for the briefest of moments, he looked like the 17 year old I had known. 

After all these years, Caroline never thought he would ever see the love of her life come back into her life. Her life has changed so much since she upped and left her husband, her life and Sebastian. After struggling the first few years, she has now built a new life as a journalist. Her next assignment took her abroad as a war correspondent. It is during one of these training courses is where she runs into Sebastian again. Gone is the sweet and innocent 17 year old and in his place is a 27-year-old, tough and sexy tattooed Marine. He’s multi lingual and his talents are often used on the field, but he’s also built quite a reputation as a womanizer. When she attempts to speak with him, he gives her nothing but a cold reception. What has happened to her beloved Sebastian?

“Why didn’t you come back?” he sobbed. “I waited and waited for you, like I said I would, but you never came back! Why? Why didn’t you come back? I love you I love you I love you.” 

For three years, Sebastian waited for Caroline to come back. He waited until the statute of limitations was over; when it would be safe for Caroline to come back to him, but she never came back. He was devastated. From then on is when he started with the womanizing, but no one ever came close to replacing his beloved Caroline. Seeing her again, after all these years, is more than he can handle. He doesn’t know what to do. He still loves her, but he’s so pissed off that she never came back. Now that she’s back, he knows he can’t stay away from her. Is this the second chance they’ve been waiting for?

“That’s how you make me feel, Caro, like the world just goes away and its just you and me. I… I didn’t thinking I’d ever feel like that again. All those other women, I know it bothers you, but it was just sex. It wasn’t… this.” 

Sebastian and Caroline have their second chance and, boy, did they make the most out of it. They have a limited time together before she leaves for her assignment and he for duty. Not only did they re-kindle their physical relationship, which by the way, was off the fucking charts HOT, but they also wanted a chance to a chance to get to know each other again. They’re in Europe; Geneva to be exact, close enough to Italy. Their plan of touring Italy is about to become reality. 

I love this plan! They mentioned it quite a bit in the first book, while their relationship was just a dream. I loved how their relationship blossomed again. It happened pretty fast, but I didn’t care. These two deserved every ounce of happiness that comes their way. I LOVED partaking in their journey and I’m sad that’s it’s over. I will definitely add this to my must re-read shelf. Just LOVED it!

He frowned. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you, Caro?”

I shook my head. “No, Sebastian, I’m not. But you have to admit, it’s all been pretty fast.”

“It’s been ten years, Caro,” he said, seriously. “I’ve waited long enough.”

The Education of Sebastian (Education of #1) by Jane Harvey-Berrick

A friendship between the lost and lonely Caroline, and the unhappy Sebastian, leads to an illicit love that threatens them both.

Caroline Wilson is trapped in a cold and loveless marriage with an older man. When her husband finally wins a long sought-after promotion, Caroline feels she has little choice but to follow him to a new home in San Diego. There she meets Sebastian, a young man of 17. 

For an all too brief summer, their happiness blooms. 

But external pressures begin to bear down, not least from the overbearing David, and Sebastian’s parents begin to suspect that their son has a secret. Even Caroline’s new friend, Donna, realises that dark passions exist below the serene surface.

4.5-4.75 Stars

He kissed me with sudden ferocity, covering my face and throat with hard, burning kisses. His weight pinned me down as I ran my hands across the taut muscles of his back and shoulders.

“I love you,” he growled. “That’s all that matters.” 

When I came across this book, I wanted to read it like ASAP. The only thing that stopped me was that I knew it ended in a cliffhanger, so I waited for the release of the second book. As soon as book two was released, I was all over it like white on rice. I knew the premise of the story involved a thirty-year-old woman and her 17-year-old lover. Yes, that’s right: Seventeen! Did it bother me? Nope. I LOVED it just the way it is. 

“You want honesty? Well, I don’t know what will happen… but neither do you. Maybe we’ll make it… maybe we won’t. But you’re giving up before we’ve even tried. I don’t understand. Why won’t you take a chance?” ~Sebastian 

Caroline is thirty and stuck in a loveless marriage. She married David when she was only nineteen years old. Eleven years after, she’s utterly miserable. He constantly mistreats her and takes her for granted. He’s a navel officer and traveling comes second nature. When they return to San Diego for the second time around, this is when her life begins to change. 

She’s known Sebastian since he was eight years old. Now, don’t judge just yet, hear me out. When Caroline first lived in San Diego, he would constantly go over to her house and visit with her and her father. He’s never had a happy home life and going over there was like a refuge for him. He was truly saddened when she moved away. Fast forward ten years later, she returns and finds Sebastian all grown up. She’s also starting to realize that he’s constantly flirting with her. But she’s married, albeit not happily, and he’s only seventeen. So what if he’s only four months shy of eighteen: It’s not right, right? However, Sebastian is relentless. He’s always finding ways to hang out with her. It’s only a matter of time when both succumb to their attraction. 

“Can you feel yourself inside me?”

His face was filled with amazement.

“Yes,” he whispered. “I can.” 

Sebastian couldn’t believe she’d come back. He’s loved Caroline for a very long time. Crushing on her when he was only eight was just the starting point. Now that she’s here, he’s going to do everything he can to be with her. It’s always been Caroline. Always. They start an affair. Their first time was pretty memorable. Not only was Caroline Sebastian’s first, but this was also the time where she learns of his age. Heck yea, she freaked. She swore that she would wait til he turned eighteen before doing it again, but unfortunately, that plan blows up in her face. They seriously cannot resist each other. They enjoy being around each other, not only on a physical level, but also a very deep emotional level as well. Caroline starts to wake up. Sebastian makes her want things that she didn’t think were attainable. They set up a plan that when he turns 18, she will not only divorce David, but they plan on running away together. They have dreams of roaming Italy and starting a life together in New York. But how long can they keep their affair a secret?

“I love you, Caroline. I always have. My whole life.” 

The times when they were together were raw, beautiful and sensual. Sebastian is just the sweetest man in the world. He absolutely is 100%, head over heels, in love with Caroline. However, Caroline couldn’t help but constantly question their relationship. Sebastian is gorgeous. Why does he even want me? Could they make their dream work? Her fears were valid, but Sebastian kept reassuring her that they will try to do the best they can to be together. This book had me on pins and needles the whole time. I was waiting for the shoe to drop. I was emotionally invested in their relationship. When this story ended, I was a hot mess. I was glad I read this when I knew book two was out because as soon as I closed this book, I opened book two immediately. I LOVED THIS STORY!