Whatcha Reading? (108)

A new Saturday post where you can share with us what you are currently (or just finished) reading and I will share my brief thoughts on books that I read during the previous week.

July 16 - 22nd:

Perv by Dakota Gray

Rating = 4 Stars

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads

Oh, damn, but Nate was a filthy, filthy man.

That's not a complaint. Nope. Not. At. All.

I really enjoyed this one. Hella damn hot.

Plus, it was fun, too! Yes, some lines were a bit over-the-top, but with Gray's writing style and this particular story, it worked for me and made me snicker rather than rolling my eyes in irritation.

He's former military, has a scar on his face, and a fetish for eating pussy. No joke.

She's a paralegal, gives him plenty of push back. Also, heroine of color (black)!

Will definitely be back for more from Gray (aka, Melissa Blue)

Find all my tweeted quotes HERE

Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh

Audiobook from Overdrive

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads

Narrator = Rosalyn Landor
Narration rating = 4 - 4 1/2 Stars
Rating = 4 Stars

• School teacher heroine
• Running from her past
• Has an amazing singing voice but doesn't really use it (see: running from her past)
• Independent, knows what she wants/makes her happy, takes no shit
• Really enjoyed her character
• He's a viscount
• Sometimes was a bit jerkish with his way of thinking about/talking about others
• Was way too single-minded and pushy with her for far too long
• Didn't listen to Frances when she told him repeatedly that she didn't want to sing or go to London again, etc.
• Set up: forced proximity from a snow storm + one night stand before they go on their separate ways
• Really enjoyed this story, even though I wasn't always happy with Lucius
• Landor's narration is what really made this one -- highly recommend it in audio!

Misconduct by Samantha Kane

Releases on Tuesday
Rating = DNF @ 27%

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads

Oh this book was a flaming pile of garbage -- and I didn't even make it 1/3 in!


I go into more detail in this ranty review on my GR, if you want to know why I threw this one aside.

Rogue Desire by Various Authors

Anthology (8 novellas)

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads

Rating = 3 1/2 Stars
Stories ranged from 2 stars to 4 stars

• There's a virgin, recluse hero in one!
• Heroine AND hero of color representation throughout these stories
• Also Jewish rep
• One story is M/M
• A bit of femdom pegging
• Former escort hero ahoy!
• Dirty as hell -- of course, because this was Dakota Gray's story
• Second chance with a pastor hero
• Rebel park ranger hero
• Overall, love the concept of this anthology and enjoyed most of the stories
• Some more than others -- didn't hate any, but a few of the middle stories just didn't grab me
• Even the ones I did really love were, of course, too short (these are 7-15K short stories, remember) so they weren't perfect, either, but they gave me enough that I happily WANTED more from them.
• Amy Jo Cousins' story (the M/M romance) will be getting a follow up novella, which makes me so happy because their story was sooooo not done. At all.

Find all my tweeted quotes HERE
I did a bit more of a review on my GR
It's also $0.99 which is a great deal for all this variety!

Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

Audiobook from Overdrive

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads

Narrator = Ashford McNab
Narration rating = 4 Stars
Rating = 4 Stars

• Oh, Apollo. My heart broke for him in the last book and it was still aching as he finally gets his HEA! He went through so much...
• Gotta love a gentle giant type
• He's hiding out as a gardener (though he actually IS passionate about creating gardens)
• He's mute because of a previous injury -- but he does get his voice back later
• Heroine is an actress (trying her hand at writing plays, too)
• Single mother
• Young son wasn't overly annoying, so there's that
• He also has a dog, so some fun/cute there too
• Why is it that no matter how many of Hoyt's novels that I read, I'm still momentarily surprised (in a good way, mind!) at how hot the sex scenes are? Because daaaaaamn, these two tho.... 🔥
• I so love this series, and this was another great installment
• Narration: Great! I don't really have any complaints about it.
• I see that Trevillion's story is next and I. Cannot. Wait. *glares at library wait list*

Find all my tweeted quotes HERE

The King of Bourbon Street by Thea De Salle 

Rating = 4 Stars

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads

• This week's #TBQsTBR pick (weekly Twitter poll)
• Divorced, rich Southern hero
• Bi
• He prefers women more than men, but he's not against men
• Older (37)
• Plus size, rich heroine
• Younger (24)
• Kink/BDSM elements
• Some bondage and spanking, the use of a high-power vibrating "saddle", etc etc.
• It's hot, but yeah, I get that the kink won't be for all
• It's not the most extreme kink I've come across, but it's definitely present, and done well.
• Really enjoyed this one. Hot as hell. Kinky. I loved that the heroine is round -- legit round, not this volumptous, perfect hour-glass with "killer curves", but jiggly-round. And she owns it!
• Body positive / Fat positive
• Also: HER WEIGHT IS NOT AN ISSUE
• No dieting, no "I can't be loved until I look like __", etc
• Definitely curious about the next book -- Heroine is the ex-wife of this hero
• Yay for not having a shitty/evil ex!
• My only complaint has NOTHING to do with the book (or author!) and everything to do with the cover
• I went off about it on Twitter but look at that cover model -- DOES SHE LOOK LIKE A 5 FOOT JIGGLY-ROUND FAT HEROINE? NOOOOOOOOO SHE DOES NOT AT ALL

Find all my tweeted quotes HERE

Currently Listening To:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Audio
Goodreads

I enjoyed book 1 (read, didn't listen to it though, so let's see if this narrator works for it) and I'm in the mood for Nordic mythology and kickass women again. :)

Currently Reading:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads
Out August 1st

I had a great time with book 1 earlier this year, finally reading my ARC of 2.

So what are YOU currently reading? 

Enjoy!



Until Next Time,