Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (July 28, 2015)
Series: Stepbrother, Mine (#1)
Genre: Erotica
From New York Times bestselling author Opal Carew comes an erotic new serial about the lengths to which one woman will go to live the life of her dreams.
Dana's always had a clear vision of what she wanted out of life. But when her father dies during her final year of college, Dana's whole world threatens to topple down. In desperate need of money, she comes up with an idea. It's scandalous. It's HOT. And it's got everybody talking. . .Is Dana really going to auction off her own virginity? And at what cost?
Dana's always had a clear vision of what she wanted out of life. But when her father dies during her final year of college, Dana's whole world threatens to topple down. In desperate need of money, she comes up with an idea. It's scandalous. It's HOT. And it's got everybody talking. . .Is Dana really going to auction off her own virginity? And at what cost?
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Kame's Review:
Dana has been financially cut off by her mother and is in a panic about how to pay for the rest of her Master’s degree. Her roommate reminds her she has something that someone would be willing to pay a lot for and maybe that is a viable option.
This is my first Opal Carew book. I have seen her books many times on Amazon and in the bookstores. I have always loved her covers, and this cover – actually the series of covers – drew me in. I did have a few red flags with the blurb – but I decided to be daring and give it a try.
I had an overwhelming feeling right off that I was missing something – like I started the book a few chapters in, or this is a sequel. There were a few flashback moments to when Mason and Dana first met but that didn’t completely alleviate the lost feeling; as I never felt connected to these characters. At times they felt rather stiff to me, like I was watching some bad acting.
Well this is a serial series, with each small installment of the story coming every few weeks. Imagine watching your favorite television show and how you have to wait until the next week to see how the story progresses – this is that but in book form. I am not a fan of serials – but since I could request all three installments from NG I decided to give it a try again.
Here is the deal I am not sure if I didn’t have number 2 on my Kindle if I would have looked for it. Mine Part 1 did not get me interested in them as a couple, and only slightly convinced me they might have a connection. There was no other plot but their road to a sexual relationship (which makes sense since this was labeled Erotica). I realized I need more – it was bland. But since I had number 2 and 3 on my Kindle I kept on reading.
2 1/2 STARS!
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (August 4, 2015)
Series: Stepbrother, Mine (#2)
Genre: Erotica
New York Times bestselling author Opal's HOT new serial continues!
Meet Mason. He is used to getting what he wants. The head of his own corporate empire, he has wealth, means, and no shortage of beautiful women ready to fulfill his every need. But despite having it all, Mason is bored. Until he comes face-to-face with a woman from his past--one who will do anything to get what she wants. But is her desire for Mason worth the risk?
Meet Mason. He is used to getting what he wants. The head of his own corporate empire, he has wealth, means, and no shortage of beautiful women ready to fulfill his every need. But despite having it all, Mason is bored. Until he comes face-to-face with a woman from his past--one who will do anything to get what she wants. But is her desire for Mason worth the risk?
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Kame's Review:
For the few years their parents were married Dana had strong feelings for her stepbrother Mason. Ten years older he showed her more love than her parents ever thought of. Now he is back in her life trying to help her make her dreams come true.
In this book we pick up where the first installment left off; literally, this book gives you a reminder of the last few pages of #1 and then moves on with the story. I really don’t think you should read this one if you haven’t read the first – it is not a stand-alone.
This book got better for me as Dana and Mason were more honest about their feelings; there was also fewer flashbacks. Some unexplained issues still nagged at me, but since the steam level picked up the issues weren’t in the forefront. While I give this a higher score than the first installment it didn’t improve on character development much; I still don’t feel like I know either of these characters, and I am definitely not vested in them. There is a crisis at the end of this book that leads you into #3. I wasn’t sure where the series would go from there – so I kept on reading.
This installment is short, this one seemed the shortest out of the three. I read it in under an hour.
3 STARS!
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (August 11, 2015)
Series: Stepbrother, Mine (#3)
Genre: Erotica
Scandalous love. Smoldering romance. It's all here in the final installment of New York Times bestselling author Opal Carew's erotic serial. . .
Unable to let Dana slip away again, Mason bids on the one thing he's always wanted--even if it is completely forbidden. He's fantasied about having Dana to himself for years, touching her smooth skin, tasting her sweet lips. But Dana is off-limits...or is she? All it takes is just one kiss to find out...
Unable to let Dana slip away again, Mason bids on the one thing he's always wanted--even if it is completely forbidden. He's fantasied about having Dana to himself for years, touching her smooth skin, tasting her sweet lips. But Dana is off-limits...or is she? All it takes is just one kiss to find out...
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Kame's Review:
Mason has a strong protective instinct when it comes to Dana and it is this instinct that guides him to show her he is the wrong man for her. Dana knows her heart will ever love Mason and is willing to go through any test he gives her.
I kept on reading from #2 as I wanted to see if Mason could heal. If he could realize he is the man he believed he could never be. Truly after the first two installments it was Mason who kept me reading. I got to like him and what he had accomplished. I thought he would rise to protect Dana from the dangers revealed at the end of #2. He did, but the way he did it just didn’t sit well with me. I am so tired of the “I am going to make you hate me to save you” plot. Since this is an erotic serial you can imagine all the places it could go, and yeah it did. The writing was still stilted for me, with dialog rather bland. The danger twist was unbelievable and its solution implausible to me. I didn’t feel love and roses with an HEA at the end.
A few observations – I realized I am not a serial reader – I need to have a complete story available to me to read when I want to read it. Second observation – I like my steamy scenes with more plot and substance, erotica might not be a genre for me – no matter the blurb or sexy cover.
2 STARS!
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Kame received an e-ARC of these books from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for her honest opinion.
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Thanks for the reviews, Kame! I know this trope works for many, but I think I'm with you: it's just not my cup of tea.
What about you? Would you read this (or similar) erotica/romances? Do you have a favorite to share?
Enjoy!
Until Next Time,
*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!
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