REVIEW: How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren

How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren

Series: Tales of the Underlight, #3

Publication Date: May 13th 2013

Publisher: Carina Press

ebook, 292 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

It's all been leading to this .

Jolie Benoit has become a skilled agent of the Underlight, relying on her savvy to complete assignments while Sergeant Wesley Haukon was out of commission. But an unexpected clue to the Order of Ananke's diabolical scheme rattles Jolie, and she turns to Hauk for comfort.

It's been years since Hauk took comfort from the touch of another person, though his love for Jolie is deep and powerful. Uncomfortable in his skin, scarred by a terrible fire, he is unable to give in to the pleasures that Jolie so desperately wants to grant him.

Meanwhile, the Order is lurking in the shadows—and when they strike, the blow is swift and terrible. Hauk and Jolie scramble to fight for their community, but with the future of the Underlight threatened, no one is safe. And Hauk will never be the same…

How Beauty Loved the Beast is the much awaited conclusion to the very successful sci-fi series, Tales of The Underlight written by Jax Garren and let me tell you fans of the series won't be disappointed in the least. I know I wasn't! And how could I ever be when Garren's writing style and the way she portrays her heroes and their emotions is simply irresistible!

If you read my reviews of the previous two books in the series then you know how much I loved everything about Jax Garren's writing style and her story. So, there's no need for me to repeat myself by saying what an amazing author she is once more or how much I loved her main and secondary heroes of this story. Even if all the books in the series are rather short, Jax Garren's stories are character driven. Her main focus is her characters and their emotions and that is why I probably love so much this series. Jolie is so much more than a pretty dancer and Hauk is so much more than scars and muscles.

The final book in the series, wraps up the whole plot but here I have to note that there are more things to be said. Maybe most of the basic things were covered but I'm left feeling that there's just more to everything. I don't know if the author did that on purpose and she will return on the same universe with another set of characters later or things couldn't possibly wrap up better, but I sure hope that it was intentional. In my mind there are two characters who would make a perfect couple for a future story but that remains to be seen. After all, The Order of Ananke is far from defeated...

But while I really liked pretty much everything about How Beauty Loved the Beast, somehow, I was left unsatisfied too. Maybe part of that is because of the ending of the story and how I felt that there were more things to be said. Maybe it's because the whole thing wrapped up pretty quickly. And maybe it is because this final instalment in the series was more focused on Jolie's and Hauk's relationship rather than what happened with Underlight and the Order and their final battle. But probably, it's because of all the reasons mentioned above. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed reading about Jolie and Hauk, they are one of my favorite fictional couples but when so many other crucial things kept happening or were on the verge of happening, I just felt that it was wrong for the sole focus of the story to be their relationship. Maybe I'm wrong here, but that's what I was expecting from this final book. And while I did get a closure I still don't know how I feel about that. And the ending.... Well, after reading the author's note at the end I couldn't help but agreeing with her choice of ending but still, I found myself wanting the alternative... But, despite that, the whole ending is a matter of preference. Either one of them would fit the story, so that wasn't any real problem. Any problems I had were purely with the way things wrapped up with the Order rather than anything else.

All in all, How Beauty Loved the Beast is just as amazing as the rest books in this series even if I had some minor troubles with it. Despite what I said I really enjoyed reading it and I just can't wait to read anything else Jax Garren will write in the future. And even if I truly hope that she will return on the same universe again I really want to read something completely different and new too. Whatever the case, there's no way I'm gonna miss Garren's next story!

* Review first published at Book Lovers Inc
* ARC provided via NetGalley for review purposes

REVIEW: How Beauty Saved the Beast by Jax Garren

How Beauty Saved the Beast by Jax Garren

Series:Tales of the Underlight, #2

Publication Date: February 11th 2013

Publisher:Carina Press

Kindle Edition, 208 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Jolie Benoit left her old life behind to become an agent of the Underlight. Training under Sergeant Wesley Haukon, she’s honing her combat skills, all the while coping with the intense sexual attraction she feels for Hauk. She keeps their friendship casual, but when his high school sweetheart transfers into their division, Jolie finds herself grappling with jealousy.

The Underlight gave Hauk a purpose, but he can’t escape his past completely. The physical and emotional scars from the fire that killed seven fellow Army Rangers will mark him forever. Jolie sends his protective instincts into overdrive, but he’s convinced he’ll never be worthy of her love.

Hauk is determined to keep Jolie from harm. But when the Order of Ananke ambushes them with a new weapon that neutralizes Hauk, making him vulnerable, it’s Jolie who must tap into her hidden strengths to rescue him—or risk losing him forever…

If you read my review of the first book in Jax Garren's incredible Tales of the Underlight series, then you know that I fell in love with it! So, to say that I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book, would be an understatement. And even though it took me a while to finally read it *hangs head in shame* I can't even begin to describe how much I loved How Beauty Saved the Beast! Jax Garren is an author you need to watch out for. She's incredibly talented!

How Beauty Saved the Beast starts exactly where the first book ended and Jolie finds herself torn between her feelings for Hauk and her mission with the Underlight. The tension between them is simply delicious. They can't live without the other but still try to fight their feelings. They kiss and then they drive each other apart, all because they are afraid of what their feelings can cause. Not to the mission, but because of what those feelings mean for them. The way Jolie is jealous of Hauk is plainly adorable.

Apart from that, the second instalment, has everything that made me love so much the first book and then some. You still get the same beautifully written, character driven story but enhanced with some delicious sexual tension. How Beauty Saved the Beast may not be a very long story, but still, Jax Garren manages to explore every main and secondary character to his/her full potential. And that is what I love most about this series and this author. How all her characters have their own place in the story and evolve.

I won't say anything about the story itself, I hate spoilers, so the only thing I will say it is that it's fast paced and action packed. Jolie isn't just a pretty face. She can seriously kick some ass! And Hauk..., well, like I said, I have to love and care some much about a male character since Terrible from Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series. Maybe because they are both deeply scarred heroes, both physically and emotionally. I don't know. What I know is, that both of them are among my favorite ever fictional characters!

All in all, Jax Garren doesn't disappoint with her second book and all I can say is that I can't possibly wait for the last book in the series!

* This title was provided for review via NetGalley

REVIEW: Improper Relations by Juliana Ross

Improper Relations by Juliana Ross

Publication Date:April 23rd 2012

Publisher:Carina Press

E-book, 58 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Dorset, 1858

When Hannah's caught watching her late husband's cousin debauch the maid in the library, she's mortified—but also intrigued. An unpaid companion to his aunt, she's used to being ignored.

The black sheep of the family, Leo has nothing but his good looks and noble birth to recommend him. Hannah ought to be appalled at what she's witnessed, but there's something about Leo that draws her to him.

When Leo claims he can prove that women can feel desire as passionately as men, Hannah is incredulous. Her own experiences have been uninspiring. Yet she can't bring herself to refuse his audacious proposal when he offers to tutor her in the art of lovemaking. As the tantalizing, wicked lessons continue, she begins to fear she's losing not just her inhibitions, but her heart as well. The poorest of relations, she has nothing to offer Leo but herself. Will it be enough when their erotic education ends?

Improper Relations by Juliana Ross is so small a story that I actually read it in a couple of hours. Yeap, it's really short. Short and really hot that is. Because what this story lacks in plot and character development makes up for level of hotness.

But let's take things from the beginning, shall we? I picked up this book, because many of my trusted GR reviewers have really liked it. So even if I really try to stay away from really short stories, I gave this one a chance. And maybe because I knew from the beginning that I shouldn't be expecting much in the character development and plot department, I ended up liking Improper Relations way more than I probably should. Because this story is focused only in the sex scenes and little more else. And those sex scenes are definitely well written. Now all the rest, that make a good story stand out among the others are barely there. Like a plot. There's no plot. Only a basic one. Inexperienced woman takes sex lessons from experienced man, she falls for him and they live happily ever after. Can't be more basic than that right?

The character development is also as good as absent. And how could it not when Improper Relations is so short. There's simply no room to develop any characters in so small a story. So, like I said, all there is to this book is the sex scenes. Which are well written and hot but once more, I found myself just reading them not caring for the heroes' feelings. I just couldn't feel them or connect with them, because honestly, I didn't have time to get to care for them. So, even if the sex scenes are written in a hot way, still, I couldn't connect to them and fully appreciate them.

Bottom line, pick Improper Relations fully aware that there's not much else in this story apart from some really good sex scenes and a nice setting. If you want a more elaborate story, search somewhere else. This one, will leave you unsatisfied.

REVIEW: Love in the Afternoon by Alison Packard

Love in the Afternoon by Alison Packard

Publication Date:December 17th 2012

Publisher:Carina Press

ebook, 245 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Kayla Maxwell is eager to shed her slasher-flick bimbo image—and she plans to do just that in her new role on daytime’s most popular soap. With a chance to showcase her dramatic range, Kayla will be able to wash away the lingering betrayal and public humiliation left by her controlling, philandering ex-boyfriend.

Sean Barrett, the son of an influential, award-winning actor, is the hottest soap star in the country. Paired on-screen with the talented and beautiful Kayla Maxwell, Sean is determined to keep her at arm’s length, burned before by fame-seeking actresses who had no qualms about using him to get to his famous father.

But when Kayla receives threatening letters, her past as a scream queen seems to be coming back to haunt her. Succumbing to an attraction neither one of them can deny, Sean and Kayla must face down her stalker and their own personal demons before trusting what they both feel—a love that lasts long after the cameras stop rolling.

Love in the Afternoon was a most pleasant surprise of a story! It was incredibly cute and sweet and sexy enough to keep me glued to my e-reader. I mean what's not there to love in this story? Good and easy to relate to characters - check. Toe-curling romance - check. Interesting plot - check. Love in the Afternoon has all that I'm searching for in a contemporary romance.

You know me, I'm a sucker for celebrity stories, whether it's about actors or singers, and this one is among the best of that kind I read in a long time... Alison Packard did an amazing job in writing a story, that although it follows most of the cliches in contemporary romance, manages to stand out with a sweet story and a sizzling hot couple. I fell in love with Kayla and Sean and their story! I loved how they didn't express their undying love from the first chapters but I had the chance to see their romance bloom. I loved how Packard made them become friends at first and then something more. That way I could get to know them better, warm to them and care for their happily ever after and not just focus on the sexiness level of their relationship. Don't get me wrong, I'm all in for the sexy parts, just not when they are the sole focus of a story. Something that fortunately, wasn't the case in Love in the Afternoon.

This is the story of Kayla and Sean, both soap opera actors who meet on set and their on screen chemistry follows them outside of the set as well. But there's also something sinister lurking in the corners of this story, or rather someone who wants to hurt Kayla. So you see, Love in the Afternoon hasn't only a romantic plot to keep you glued to the pages but there's also a hint of a mystery,some suspense. Granted, I had guessed the identity of the stalker waaay to soon, but still, it was a fun book to read. And as you guessed, I didn't really need the mystery part of this story to keep me turning the pages :)

Kayla is sweet and I liked how she grew to be independent by the end of the book. She was strong and didn't put up with Sean when he was acting like a lunatic towards the end of the story. Unlike many other heroines who forgive everything easily, she put up a fight. I liked that about her. Sean on the other hand was caring and an alpha, hot male, like every self respecting hero should be ; ) I liked him even in his bad times and what I remember most of him is how protective he was of Kayla.

Another favorite part of the story were the filming parts. I don't really know how it really is on a set, so I really enjoyed the descriptions of their on set relationship in contrast to that of their real life.

All in all, Love in the Afternoon is a sweet contemporary romance title I literally devoured! It had everything I'm looking for in a romantic title and in the exact right amount. Totally recommend it!

*This title was provided for a review through NetGalley

EARLY REVIEW: Platinum by Jeffe Kennedy

Platinum by Jeffe Kennedy

Publication Date:February 25th 2013

Publisher:Carina Press

ebook
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Althea Grant's Charleston gallery might be suffering from the bad economy, and her artistic aspirations have gone nowhere, but she's doing just fine, thank you. When bad-boy sculptor Steel rides up on his motorcycle looking to rent studio space, his infusion of cash is more than welcome. But his art is raw, visceral, sexual—and completely inappropriate for her pastel world of watercolor landscapes.

Steel, fascinated by Althea's rare albino coloring, sees in her the key to his next piece: a metal satyr designed for bondage games. Moving into her gallery basement is the first step; seducing the cool Southern belle into modeling for him is the second.

As Steel peels away her careful manners and tasteful outfits, Althea begins to realize her life isn't just fine at all—it's as pale and washed-out as the watercolor paintings she's failing to sell. Can she transform her life and accept her most secret desires?

The review was originally published at Book Lovers Inc

To be completely honest, I don't even know how to rate Platinum by Jeffe Kennedy and it's my second erotica title in a row that I face the very same problem. And that is none other, than the whole story being focused on the sex and nothing else apart from that. Should I rate Platinum based on how hot a book it is or how well described the sex scenes are, my rating would probably be a 4. But a good book, erotica or no, isn't the one that is hot. That's still an important factor, especially if the title is within the erotica genre, but come on authors, there are so many other things for you to explore other than that. Like a plot, or character development and easy flowing dialogues. The hot sex is good but what of all the other things that make your story solid?

Platinum I'm afraid falls into that category of books where there's nothing else to it other than the sex parts. There's no plot, no character development, the characters have a minimum background, the dialogues are cheesy as hell and stiff and to sum it up, there's nothing going on in this book other than the two protagonists having hot sex every other page.

I mean, the whole story starts with a brief introduction of Althea and Steel (yeah the guy goes under that name and not his real one, had me laughing hysterically over that name quite a few times, because do you get the metaphor here, or is only my mind THAT dirty?) and before you even know it, Steel lives under Althea's roof, giving her easy access to his, ehm... art. We get a couple of chapters before the whole action begins, I have to give credit to the author for that one, where we get to meet Althea a little bit better and how uptight she is and in desperate need of a good old fashioned f**k. After that point, all we get is sex, sex and oh, some more sex. All we really know about Althea is the fact that she once wanted to be an artist but never had the talent, how prim and proper she is, but underneath that facade, she craves for something spicier in her life that manages to unlock her ability to paint as well. While on the other hand, all we know about Steel is that he had a troubled past, he's a good artist and likes to have his sex a little bit rougher in the edges. That's all.

As far as the plot of Platinum is concerned, well, there's not one to be honest. Nothing. All the story is about is how some rough sex can make an uptight woman feel better and increase her self esteem and because we do want our happily ever after, she finds the man of her dreams in the process (of having rough sex that is). And speaking of the man of her dreams, that ending was so quickly wrapped up, so unrealistic that it just managed to make me roll my eyes one more time before I reached the last word of this book.

All in all, Platinum is a hot story and if you're searching for just well written sex, then this is just the book for you. If like me, you care about other things of little consequence such as good characters and a plot, then stay away from Platinum. You will feel disappointed.

 * This ARC was provided for review from NetGalley