Hiding Under The Sheets

Review | Hate F*@k (Part One)

Saturday, March 28, 2015

I don't like Cole. But I do like his hungry gaze.
I think I like it a lot.

Warning: This is just the start. This doesn't end well. And it's going to get much worse before it ever gets better.

Cole:

I push her buttons. I want to push them in the good way. Dirty, up-against-the-wall, my-hand-in-her-pants kind of way.

But that’s not possible, because I’m dark and she’s light, and we both know it.

So I push her buttons in the bad way, making her hate me.

Hailey:

If a genie granted me three wishes, I’d ask for Cole Parker to never look at me again, that I’d forget the dark promise in his eyes, and that just once, before he vanished from my life completely, that he’d push me up against a wall and fuck me.

Then I’d go wash my mouth out with soap.

Overview from Goodreads

See Hate F*@K Part One (Hate Fuck #1) by Ainsley Booth in:

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MY REVIEW OF HATE F*@K PART TWO

ARC received via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review but it didn’t affect my opinion about this book.

I should've heeded the warning that was stated on the first part of the book.

Warning: This is just the start. This doesn't end well. And it's going to get much worse before it gets better.

I read this book, thinking it was one of those serial eroticas that don't have much plot and was more on sex. I didn't expect it to be like this. It caught me off guard.

Hailey Dashford Reid tries to lead a normal life but her publicly scandalous family makes it impossible for her to do so. She's attracted to Cole Parker, a man from a group her dad hired as their security detail, despite her dislike with him.

Cole Parker is a member of the Horus Group and knows that lusting after his client's daughter is a big fat NO. But how long will he be able to resist the forbidden fruit?

Lame summary again. Whatevs.

Anyway, I really liked the story. Like I said, it wasn't what I expected.

Jesus, life is too short to not laugh regularly.

I admired Hailey because despite being in a fucked-up family with attention-seeking members, she didn't allow them to drag her down and strived to be independent.

With Cole, well, I do like him but it wasn't instantaneous even though he was the kind of guy that I would immediately put in my "men that cream your panties" category.

I was just kind of confused with him at first, you know. He was hell-bent on not allowing himself to touch Hailey but he was the one who was always aggressive and the one who initiated things, making Hailey baffled and shit.

He kisses in a way that needs consent, that makes you feel like you've been stripped bare and fucked hard. This kiss is going to leave me achey and satisfied, even though the bare part can't happen.

Another reason we can't do this—he could have me on my knees, desperate for scraps of his attention, with no effort at all.

Nevertheless, the attraction between the two main characters was almost tangible for me I felt that they might combust if they didn't actually do something about it.

I just had a few problems though. The lack of background information had been bugging me the whole time I read the book.

Like what kind of family is the Reid family? How influential are they that Hailey's sister ended up having a scandal with the VP? Are they like the Kardashians or something?

When the I read the title, I was kind of expecting some really hard and intense and steamy fucking because it's usually how hate sex works, right?

Review | Rock Hard by Nalini Singh

Monday, March 09, 2015

“I want to do all sorts of things to you, Ms. Baird, just not in public.”

Gabriel Bishop was a former professional rugby player, but after suffering an Achilles tendon injury, he was forced to retire. With his MBA, he decided to venture in business. Everyone thought he was fooling around but after proving that he had skills, he was now a widely known businessman who had a knack of saving a company in a brink of shutting down. He was recently hired as the CEO of Saxon & Archer, another company that was in its bankruptcy.

There he met Charlotte Baird. She was shy and an introvert. But hidden beneath her shapeless suits and prim glasses was an intelligence and competence that Gabriel needed to help him rise the company from its state. He then hired her as his personal assistant, despite her initial protests and timidity. Gabriel was determined to make the woman he saw only in glimpses come out.

A few months later, Charlotte’s shyness around Gabriel disappeared. He decided to pursue her. But with Charlotte’s past trying to hinder them from moving forward, will there be a happy ending for Charlie-mouse and the T-rex.

See Rock Hard (Rock Kiss #2) by Nalini Singh in:

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ARC received via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review but it didn’t affect my opinion about this book.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. And I'm not saying it just because I love Nalini Singh and I adore her Psy-Changeling series. I really love this book.

The progress of the story was just right, it wasn't too fast or too slow; the plot wasn't your typical 'boss falls in love with secretary' type of story; the characters had depth. Basically everything in this story is perfect.

But what I loved most were the characters.

Gabriel Bishop was really magnificent. Dreamy sigh. You know, before I read this story, if you asked me who my favorite book boyfriend was, I would probably give you at least five names because I couldn't decide who to say. Not because I love them all but because none of them had the perfect combination for me. Some were way too possessive, too territorial, too controlling, too intense. But now, I could say it right away, it's Gabriel Bishop and here are some of the reasons why:

• He knows when to apply the macho Neanderthal attitude.

Holding her against him without trapping her in a way that might make her panic, Gabriel tried to temper his rage. Charlotte didn’t need him to be a macho stud right now.

Why is this a big deal for me? Men like Gabriel were very protective of the people they love which might sometimes drive them to be impulsive. When he found out what happened to Charlie, I expected him to be like, "What's the name of that bastard? I'm gonna kill him blahblahblah" but he wasn't. He knew what Charlie needed. Instead of putting himself first, he prioritized Charlie's comfort over his anger ang frustration.

• Gabriel works. I read a lot of stories where heroes held high positions in a company. They could leave work right away or have a lot of free time or something. (I thought that happened when they retired.) They always made it seem that their work was easy when the really it wasn't. Gabriel worked more than twelve hours a day, seven days a week. How he managed that was beyond me.

• He was an athlete then a businessman. As if it wasn't enough that he was athletic, he had to be smart too. You couldn't ask for more.

With Charlotte Baird, I had to give it to her. She was also amazing. I've always admired women who managed to move on after their abuse.

• Charlie proved that you didn't need to be assertive in order to be strong. Despite what happened to her in the past, she didn’t allow that to pull her down, instead she strived to become a better person.

• Even if Charlie was timid, she kept Gabriel on his toes with their banter.

“When did you get so bossy, Ms. Baird?”

“Self-defense against a certain T-Rex.”

• She threw a cupcake at his head. Oh, and did I mention that she also threw an industrial-sized stapler at him too?

I'm pretty sure my review didn't give the book justice on how good it is. *sigh* Up to this moment, it still brings a smile on my face whenever I read from how they started, how Gabriel was really patient with Charlotte, how they were finally together. I know this kind of story is common nowadays but the delivery of this story is perfect for me.

Review | It Ain't Me Babe by Tillie Cole

Monday, February 16, 2015

You stole my heart fifteen years ago and you still haven’t given it back.

Two different people. One meeting that changed their lives forever.

Salome has always thought that following Prophet David is the right thing, that what he says is the way of God. But when her blood sister dies, Salome runs away from The Order, where she grew up her whole life.

River "Styx" Nash could never forget the girl with wolf eyes he once met in the forest even though people thought he was only imagining her. Now he is the president of the Hades Hangmen Motorcycle Club. All his life, he's been raised in a very dangerous life led by bikers.

One night changes it all as Salome finds her way in Styx's turf, injured, after surviving from running away from The Order. She then faces what life is like outside, that it really isn't what The Order made her believe it was. And River is determined not to let go of the girl that had his heart for years already.

See It Ain’t Me Babe (Hades Hangmen #1) by Tillie Cole in:

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You couldn't ask a more unconventional couple than this two. Their differences were literally like heaven and hell and yet they found an unbreakable bond that even time couldn't dissolve.

The story was told in dual pov and I had to give it to Tillie Cole because successfully did what other authors usually fail to do when they use dual povs, or in some cases, multiple povs. It isn't enough that the characters see things in their perspective. They also have to sound unlike from each other because, really, they didn't have the same upbringing and mindset. It was evident in this story and I was ensnared by how it went. I really couldn't make a concrete prediction because I've never encountered a story like this at all.

Add to that, the main characters in this story had so much depth for me. It wouldn't be easy to forget them, nor that I want to.

He had no idea of the life I had lived, of the tenacity of my spirit or the multiple horrors I had to endure on a daily basis. I am a survivor. The scars he found so repulsive were a testament to my strength. I cannot, will not, be ashamed of actions thrust on me by others.
As God is my witness, I was a child!

Salome, or Mae, as she was called later on, was a really courageous character. If you could just read what she went through, it's amazing that she didn't go insane. She was also a force to be reckoned with when she's determined. I was just sad that she had to go through all of those things that The Order subjected her to. And their reasoning, god, it was so insane.

Also, it was disturbing for me when I realized that what happened to her was actually inspired in real life, albeit exaggerated.

‘It Ain’t Me, Babe’ was inspired by the testimonies of ex-members from several NRM’s and the leaders that abused the power they had over their members—especially the women.
The female protagonist in this novel, ‘Salome’, endures situations inspired by real events told to me personally by survivors of such groups.

Styx also didn't allow his disability to hinder him. Although he was called the Hangmen Mute, people still feared him which was really amazing since I expected them to look down on him for his stuttered speech.

“Mae… You need a b-better man. It ain’t me, babe, no matter how much you th-think it is… or want it to be.”

He had always thought that he didn't deserve Mae, that he deserved someone better than a man who sometimes got pleasure in killing.

“Persephone, the goddess, lived with Hades, did she not? She supported him even when others thought she was wrong to do so?”
I nodded slowly.
Her long lashes met her cheeks, then fluttered up. “She fell in love with the dark lord, even though it did not seem right, did she not?”
I nodded again. Where the hell is she going with this?
She sighed happily and blushed. “Just like I have done with you.”
But they complement each other. *sighs dreamily*

Looking forward to reading the next book! Though I’m especially excited for the third one!!

Review | Bound by Duty by Cora Reilly

Sunday, February 15, 2015

My heart had moved on from one unattainable man to the next.

Valentina's first marriage was a sham. At eighteen, she married Antonio even knowing that he was gay, hoping that he would eventually learn to love her back. But it was futile. Her marriage was used to hide her husband's sexuality.

After his death, she marries Dante, the future head of the Chicago familia. The secrets that she intends to keep are threatened to be unveiled but she is also determined to finally have a true marriage.

But with Dante's indifference with her, Valentina's not so sure if her wishes would come true.

I didn't really get my hopes up when I found out who the couple was in this book. Yeah, I'm more excited with Gia and Matteo's story. I've said that a lot of times already. That said, I really don't know what to feel about this book.

As usual, Cora Reilly's writing got me really attached with her character. I sympathized with Valentina throughout the story.

See Bound by Duty (Born in Blood Mafia #2) by Cora Reilly in:

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MY REVIEW OF BOUND OF HONOR

“At one point, I thought I could never love someone as I loved Antonio, no matter how unrequited that love was. And today I’m condemning him to his death for another man who will never love me back.”

Up until the end, I didn't feel that Dante loved Valentina even if she thought he did.

Would he ever love me? Would I ever find in this marriage what I so desperately wanted?

Or if he did (since we don't know what was in his mind) it wasn’t as much as he did with his first wife. It was like Valentina's only the second best, like he didn't have a choice at all but to care for her.

For the first time, I’d know he loved me while he’d make love to me, even if he’d never said the words aloud.

Which was realistic in its own way. Dante clearly loved his first wife and even in her death, nobody could replace her. Not even Valentina. What they (Dante and his first wife) had was not something irreplaceable.

I still think that Valentina deserved something more. After the shit she went through, she deserved somebody who would adore her like Luca did with Aria.

“Make love to me. Just today. I know you don’t love me. Pretend, just for tonight. Hold me in your arms for once.”

Perhaps Dante might improve through time, after all, love is not instant. I hope we could have a glimpse of what ran in his mind.

3.5

Review | From Rags by Suzanne Wright

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Review | Bound by Honor by Cora Reilly

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

“You’re not a good man, no. But you are good for me. I feel safe in your arms. I don’t know why, don’t even know why I love you, but I do, and that won’t change.”

At fifteen, Aria Scuderi, daughter of the Chicago Familia Consigliere, was betrothed to the New York Familia Capo di Capei’s oldest son to ensure the peace between two families as they unite to fight against the Russian Bratva and Taiwanese Triad who were claiming their territories.

Three years later, Aria marries the charismatic and good-looking Luca Vitiello who is popularly known as The Vice for crushing a man throat with his bare hands and a literal stranger to her.

With death the only means of escape, Aria steps into the marriage and leave her family that means the world to her with the intention of making Luca learn how to love her.

See Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia #1) by Cora Reilly in:

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MY REVIEW OF BOUND BY DUTY

“I enter alive and I will have to get out dead.”

There was a part of me that wanted to scream at her to fight and escape that world. Why couldn’t she be strong enough to go against them? But then I remember that she grew up with them and knew what they were capable of. Considering that their father didn't hesitate raising his hand once his children did something to upset him, Aria knew they wouldn't hesitate to torture her, if not kill her, once she went against them. And she had a very vital role for them. The road she took certainly told me that she knew which fights to take and that proved that she was a very courageous heroine.

“You shouldn’t love me, Aria. I’m not someone who should be loved. People fear me, they hate me, they respect me, they admire me, but they don’t love me. I’m a killer. I’m good at killing. Better probably than at anything else, and I don’t regret it. Fuck, sometimes I even enjoy it. That’s a man you want to love?”

“It’s not a matter of want, Luca. It’s not like I could choose to stop loving you.”

It was very clear that Luca worshipped the ground that Aria walked on. One could expect that men like him would certainly get immediately what was due to them. Instead, he took his time and actually went slow with Aria. He even wooed her. For a man who had no qualms to kill, he was unbelievably gentle with his wife.

This is the first book that I read from Cora Reilly and she definitely caught me in her spell. Now I'm looking forward to read the next books in the Born in Blood Chronicles!

Pages

Review | Hate F*@k (Part Two)

Review | Hate F*@k (Part One)

Review | Rock Hard by Nalini Singh

Review | It Ain't Me Babe by Tillie Cole

Review | Bound by Duty by Cora Reilly

Review | From Rags by Suzanne Wright

Review | Bound by Honor by Cora Reilly

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