Obsessed With Myshelf

Romance Books

Month: November 2014

Drunk Reading: The Hangover // Wallbanger: hilarious, sexy and really good fun

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Book:   Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Have I read it before?:  No

What did I drink?:  pre-gamed with three beers while bowling with the family, then started clearing out those partially used bottles of wine from thanksgiving. I was cursing my mother for liking white zin because I find that stuff repulsive. However, I still killed the bottle.

How do I feel:  Beer before wine – totally fine. Don’t think that’s the saying, but it worked for me.

General Thoughts:

This book is hilarious. Hi-fucking-larious. I have never laughed so hard at a romance novel in my life. Alice Clayton started the book with a bang  – seriously – and I could not stop laughing. For a second I thought I had turned into the Giggler. OH. and there was a SCOTUS reference!!!

If I hadn’t been won over before – that did it right then and there.

Ok, brief synopsis: Caroline moves into a new apartment and her first night there she is introduced (through the wall) to her Wallbanger neighbor, Simon, and his harem of women. Technically, there are only three. Does three make a harem? I should google that. ANYWAY, Caroline nicknames them. She tries to get a glimpse of Simon. She Simon-proofs her bedroom wall after an unfortunate incident with a picture frame.

The build up between Caroline and Simon is adorable, sexy, and just really good fun. It also tortured me a little bit.

oh. and i was getting drunker around the time she agreed to go out with her ex-boyfriend.

Also, to quote Christina Lauren….

And she does. The banter made me laugh while still heating me up in all the right places. There is an inordinate amount of nooking.

AND THEN right at the time when these two Friends-Who-May-Be-More start to get a little closer SIMON DENIES HER. and I about died.

The rest of the book continues the same fantastic banter and funny quips, but also lets us see a little deeper into Simon and Caroline. I loved loved loved this book. I would classify this as a soft-erotica as there is a little bit of action, but it’s no where near the intensity of many other books in the erotica genre. However, what the book lacks in sex, it makes up in humor and innuendo. This book is just FUN and if you haven’t, you must read it immediately. You Will Like It.

(p.s. I can’t thank Alice Clayton enough for writing such a funny book because I was in dire need of some humor after a Thanksgiving marathon family weekend and this DELIVERED. 😉 )

Reaction/Review: Captivated By You

Author:   Sylvia Day

Book:     Captivated By You

Series:    Crossfire, book 4

tl;dr recommendation:    Perfection. Utter perfection.

Longer Review/Reaction:

In case you’ve been living under an erotica rock, the incredibly anticipated fourth book in the Crossfire series was released last Tuesday. Now, I don’t get excited about much. Really. I’m trying to think of the last time I was this excited for something and I can’t. I mean, I guess I should probably say my wedding, but I was too nervous about dealing with all-of-the-people-who-should-probably-never-be-in-a-room-together to be super excited. I’m only sort of joking. (side note, my husband swears I lack a sense of humor – of course, I think I’m hilarious. Agree to disagree).

ANYWAY, last Monday I was vibrating with excitement. I took off work on Tuesday (which backfired since I ended up working this weekend, but it was WORTH IT). I stopped at Sheetz on the way home and stocked up on caffeine. I worked out.

I got my snacks out. I watched three episodes of Mike&Molly with my husband. I had my Kindle fucking charged. And then midnight happened. AND NOTHING. holy shit. Amazon is super lucky it doesn’t have brick and mortar stores. I was attempting to be calm but was frankly failing miserably. My husband asked if maybe they released it on West Coast time. I figured, I don’t know – l’ll ask:

@amazonkindle do you auto release books on west coast time?! The east coast gal is dying for #CaptivatedByYou

— Heather (@OWMyshelf) November 18, 2014

I got an answer:

@owmyshelf While there is no specific time a book is released, newly released books will be sent out on their release date. ^JY — Kindle Help (@KindleHelp) November 18, 2014

SERIOUSLY?! SERIOUSLY?! That’s blasphemy. Lesson learned. I will try to be less psychotic next time (this is doubtful). Regardless, I decided to try to sleep for a few hours and then see if it appeared. I managed 2 1/2 hours.

I know I spelled words wrong. Don’t judge me. IT WAS 3AM.

Sigh. Let me tell you how good this series is. Gideon is basically the most imperfect perfect human being in existence and I spent my time mentally yelling at Eva not to fuck it up. I’m certain that’s probably not how it’s supposed to be read, but I’m a little biased. Good God. I almost forget perhaps the best part: We get to read in Gideon’s point of view. Basically fucking amazing. I squealed. I swooned. I fangirled.

The book picks up after Eva and Gideon get back from their wedding and very brief honeymoon. They have to deal with Brett & Corinne & Anne & Magdalene. Cary has to deal with his impending baby (I am convinced that either 1) she’s not actually pregnant; or 2) the baby isn’t his – also, calm down. No spoilers, we don’t find this out) and Eva and Gideon are still trying to make this thing work. OH. We do find out what happened to Megumi!!! I mean, I probably shouldn’t put exclamation points after that….considering.

I spent the better part of three months prior to this release petrified that Eva was going to cheat on Gideon with Brett. Lovely Sylvia’s release of the first three chapters did absolutely nothing to quell my fear. I promised my best friend I wouldn’t give spoilers, but just know that I’m ok with how things went down. You can calm down too. It’ll be ok.

I read a comment by a reader who claimed that the book was terrible because “nothing happened.” I’m sorry. Did we read the same book? ALL THE STUFF HAPPENED. Of course, you don’t get closure and that’s incredibly frustrating, but that’s also expected because, hello: Book 5 (One With You). However, Sylvia writes beautifully. She captures the love of Gideon and Eva while they continue to stumble through their complex relationship. And I once again fell in love with these characters. Their heat and connection is undeniable and I feel a little silly for being so concerned about whether I was going to love this book as much as the other three.

My little sleep was totally worth it. Of course, I couldn’t fall asleep to save my life after I finished the book at 7am. But thank fuck I planned ahead and took the day off. Totally worth it. This series is like sitting next to a warm fire with a cup of coffee on a rainy day: ahhhh, utter perfection.

Skip to the Good Part – RELEASE DAY Launch, Review & Giveaway!

Tour banner

Skip to the Good Part Synopsis:

Find your next red-hot read in this sizzling collection of sexy scenes

99¢ only through release week—regularly $2.99

Skip to the Good Part: 20 Authors Reveal Their Steamiest Scenes offers face-fanning romance and tie-me-up sizzle (and everything in between) from top authors including New York Times and USA Today bestsellers.

The collection features a British alpha who wants to turn a good girl bad, a woman realizing her impetuous marriage to a stripper isn’t all bad, a bad boy boxer who could use a large dose of sexual healing, a carnie who has found new and inventive uses for fun house mirrors, and a rocker who wants to woo the girl who got away: his high school sweetheart.

Read 20 of the best steamy scenes in contemporary romance and erotic romance today. This 250-page collection will get your blood pumping, your heart racing, and your skin tingling—you’re sure to discover a new favorite.

Due to the graphic nature of some content, this collection is recommended strictly for mature readers.

sttgp1teaser-books sttgp1teaser

New York Times best-selling authors:

Raine Miller
Kendall Ryan
K. Bromberg
Carly Phillips
Denise Grover Swank
S.L. Scott

USA Today best-selling authors:

Christine Bell
Rebecca Shea
Andrea Smith

Featuring:

Magan Vernon
Kristie Cook
Nevaeh Lee & Michelle Lynn
Alessandra Thomas
Selena Laurence
Heidi Joy Tretheway
Elizabeth Briggs
Meghan March
Taylor Michaels
K.B. Nelson
Elise Covert

Buy Links:

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo |Barnes & Noble

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My Review:

I was familiar with some of these authors and stories prior to reading, but oh dear lord my TBR list has just exploded. This compilation is full of steamy scenes that leave you gasping, panting, and begging for more.

I flitted through a variety of emotions while reading these – my heart oscillated between breaking and overflowing while I glimpsed into the minds of these characters. There’s sex in a car, ON a car, in a shower, on a plane, against a window, on a couch, in an office, against a wall, in a fun house and almost in the middle of a damn casino. Oh, and you know, on a bed too.

I’ve read some comments recently that some readers skip OVER the good parts. Oh for the love of Christ, WHY?! If the book is good everywhere else, then the sex scenes are also usually good. This compilation is PROOF POSITIVE that scenes exist that you’ll skip to instead of over.

Let’s get to some of my favorites:

Pricelessquote

AHHHH! This book opens with a bang (see what I did there?! I’m hilarious). This scene is fantastically written and very very hot. Ivan is sexy, strong, and mysterious. I haven’t yet gotten my fill of Ivan and I must.get.more.

Brombergquote

SEX ON SEX! This is perhaps one of the most popular scenes from this trilogy – and for good reason. Perhaps I’m a little biased since I’m a huge K. Bromberg fan, but Colton and Rylee’s sex on his car (aptly named Sex) is fucking fantastic. I want more of Colton….anywhere and everywhere…

Phillipsquote

This scene was insanely hot. Ian makes me want to be bound, tied and waiting for his hot mouth. Riley’s independence streak but desire to submit makes this scene even hotter (IF THAT IS POSSIBLE). I can’t wait to read more….I was left a bit breathless & absolutely wanting.

Thomasquote

Ohmyfuckinggod. This is one of the hottest scenes I’ve ever read AND I DIED AT THE ENDING. Ryder is obviously hot and apparently conflicted. The truth or dare game is crazy, out of control, perfect. This book is a must read for me. [adds to TBR list immediately].

Covertquote

This scene is a bit voyeuristic, arousing (for everyone involved), and OH…OH that window. This scene really resonated with me and made me a little crazy. It will most definitely be replaying in my mind for awhile…a long while…

Read it and love it!

OH – and here’s that giveaway – click on the link & Enter:  Skip To the Good Part GIVEAWAY!!

Drunk Reading: The Hangover

Book: Addicted To You by Beth Kery (writing as Bethany Kane)

Have I read it before?:  No

What did I drink?:  boxed wine because i’m all class. When I ran out, I upgraded to a bottle.

How do I feel:  Totally fine. Thank goodness.

General Thoughts:

oh this book is so good. not that i should be surprised, since this is Beth Kery and all. She knows how I like it, and she certainly delivered with this book. I’m giving nothing away by stating that the book opens with an incredibly intense sex scene during which you don’t even know the main female character’s name. And. It. Is. Unbelievably. Hot.

Of course, you eventually learn that Rill Pierce, big time Hollywood producer, has snuck away to Vulture’s Canyon, Illinois to wallow in his own self loathing after his wife, Eden, dies. Katie Hughes, a tax attorney, was Eden’s best friend and the little sister of Rill’s best friend – Everett Hughes, a big time hollywood actor. After eighteen months of Rill’s seclusion from the world, Katie decides it’s enough and goes to him.

I was super concerned that this fancy pants business guy was going to get in the way of Rill & Katie getting together.

But I didn’t have to worry. Katie’s strong and can hold her own. I was cheering for Katie a bit.

Rill can be surly. and brusque. and assholey. But he’s built up quite a wall around his heart that needs to be broken through – but Katie is up for the challenge. However, obviously I reacted a bit during the sweet torture that occurs up to the first time they actually have sex (well, the first time he remembers it anyway)

I loved this story. Not only is the sex hot (let me just say that there’s woods and an outdoor swing) but the characters are well written and you begin rooting for Rill almost immediately. Well, at least I began rooting for him. I love seeing a strong man work through his demons to find light – and I also love hot men who can chop wood and who like to hike. So really, this book hit all of my hot buttons.

Ahh, now on to book 2 in the series – Exposed To You!

Review: Dirty Rowdy Thing

Author:     Christina Lauren
Series:      Wild Seasons
Books in Series:

Sweet Filthy Boy
Dirty Rowdy Thing

The tl;dr recommendation: I’ll get caught in Finn’s net anytime.

Longer Review:

Finngasm (Finn-gasm), n. : the mind-blowing, pleasure-inducing result of Finn Roberts’ beautifully fine hands/mouth/dick. See also: Harlow Vega.

He’s so hot he deserves his own word. I am serious.

This lumberjack  fisherman pulled me in hook, line and sinker and I didn’t even put up a fight…well, maybe a little one but only because he’s hotter when you fight back a bit. Want more puns?! I CAN DO THAT. His bait and tackle box is fully stocked and I assure you, I didn’t have to be lured to keep reading.

Ok. done with the puns. Maybe.

Dirty Rowdy Thing is the second in the Wild Seasons series which follows Mia, Harlow and Lola after their graduation from college. Sweet Filthy Boy (also awesome, btw) was the first in the series and we pick up with Harlow and Finn’s story.

What I love most about this book is how easy it is. I mean, yes, yes, Harlow’s easy in the beginning. We all know that she traveled to Canada in ONLY A TRENCH COAT to surprise Finn but then left only a day later disgruntled. What happened?! Ahhh, don’t worry – Christina Lauren tell you. And it’s probably not what you think. But when I say easy, I mean that the book is so fun to read. I flew through it and couldn’t put it down. Basically my billiable hours sucked that day but I DIDN’T CARE.

Harlow may have been an easy lay at first, but her superficial cover is peeled back to reveal a headstrong, loyal, breakable girl underneath. When she’s paired with Finn – equally loyal, headstrong, and breakable – the two work to find their footing and to figure out what they really want out of life and a relationship.

Finn is masculine and dominant – somehow adorably so. He’s introspective, hard-working and (spoiler alert!) falls easily for Harlow without even realizing it – but then DOES realize it – and acknowledge it. Basically he’s pretty perfect. I loved falling into his steadfast hands and letting him steer the ship. Sorrrrry!

I had to pull a Harlow and read this one twice in a row just to make sure it was as good as I thought. It was.

You will ultimately fall in love with each character as they fall in love with each other. The easy (there’s that word again) interaction between the two is really endearing – and so is the honesty. You know how you read a book and you’re like ‘goddamnit will she just say what she thinks?!’ but then the character never does? NO WORRIES HERE. Harlow lays it out there and I love love love it. She’s blunt, honest, a little bit vengeful and seriously likeable. And, did I mention the sex? OH THE SEX. If that’s how fishermen fuck, I’m making my husband buy a boat.

Thanks Christina Lauren for giving us yet another go-to book boyfriend. Must we wait until 2015 for more Wild Seasons?!

Review: Sweet Filthy Boy

Author:     Christina Lauren
Series:      Wild Seasons
Books in Series:

Sweet Filthy Boy
Dirty Rowdy Thing (Out this TUESDAY!!!)

Fun fact: I prefer real books. and so I bought this one used online (gotta stretch my book budget) – imagine my surprise when I received a SIGNED COPY. #win. I can only imagine that a divorce was involved and the ex-husband is getting rid of all of her books, because shit. I’m not parting with that. Don’t worry, it’s now found its #foreverhome.

The tl;dr recommendation: lovelovelove. read it. and then buy Dirty Rowdy Thing on Tuesday!!

Longer Review:

Christina Lauren do it again with this fantastic kick-off to a new series! Three college graduates, Mia, Harlow & Lola, take off for a weekend of fun and freedom in Las Vegas right after graduation. It’s all fun and games until Mia connects with Ansel’s eyes from across the bar. The fireworks they shared with their eyes explode with a drunken night that ends with a much more permanent connection…oh, it’s so so good.

I looked up at my friend and her mother who were blissfully chatting with one another while I was reading (see, I was SORT OF BEING SOCIAL) and gasped when I got to the morning after this drunken evening. Holy Shit. I actually sort of wished I would have saved this first-read for drunk reading. My tweets would have been hilarious.

Ok, enough talking around in circles without giving any spoilers.

Ansel is delicious, sweet, kind, and a really really good guy. And he’s hot. and French. YUM. Obviously he fucks up at some point – DON’T THEY ALL?! – but by the time he does it’s easily forgivable (at least by me) due to the impressive character development created in the book. I loved that Ansel is an attorney (self-interest, obvi) and kudos to Christina Lauren for accurately portraying how working long hours can manifest guilt on both sides.

Mia is also not without struggles but I actually found her NOT to be annoying. SEVEN MILLIONS POINTS AWARDED FOR THAT. There was actually a sex scene during which Mia didn’t come. I really love the fantasy but this was the most real sex scene ever. As the characters breakthrough the weirdness and awkwardness of what happened in Vegas, you get to see them fall in love with each other and their situation. Ahhhh, it made me smile.

The only thing that bugged me – and i think this has to be for a reason – is that even though it’s clear that Mia loves Ansel she NEVER TELLS HIM. fuckfuckfuck. I hope we get to witness that that in the next few books as we meet up with Finn & Harlow in Dirty Rowdy Thing! ON TUESDAY!!!!