Showing posts with label Swerve. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swerve. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Review: Her Wish by Sophie H. Morgan

Her Wish by Sophie H. Morgan
Series: Playboy Genie, Book 1
Publisher: Swerve
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781250129215
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

This playboy has finally met his match…

Charlie’s sick of Genies. Too beautiful, too sure of themselves, too “celebrity”. And way too eager to grant wishes in the worldwide Lottery that entices mortals into buying tickets in the hope of winning their desires. Charlie would rather walk naked through Times Square than buy a ticket. Unfortunately, her friend springs for one in Charlie’s name – and it gets picked. She refuses to get sucked in and has no qualms about saying so to the famously arrogant, devilishly handsome Genie at her door. Sexy Blue Eyes will just have to take no for an answer.

Jax Michaels would love to take no for an answer. As the most famous Genie on the East Coast, known for his sex appeal, his cheeky interviews, and his roguish style of granting wishes, he only has to turn to the next in line to find a willing partner. After all, every woman wants him – except, apparently, Charlie Donahue, who throws back his charming words, sneers at his calculated grins, and refuses to even consider wishing. Jax isn't a fool. He’s prepared to wash his hands of this infuriating, appealing female…until his Handler informs him that quitting is not an option. And if he can’t talk her into wishing, Jax will have to try playing a little dirty.

Forget Powerball – I totally want a ticket to win a wish from one of Sophie H. Morgan’s Genies! Her Wish is a fresh and fun paranormal romance. I loved Ms. Morgan’s whole concept of celebrity Genies, the corporation that employs them, and wishes being granted to weekly lottery winners.

Charlie believes in hard work, not wishes. And when her best friend buys her a lottery ticket and Charlie wins, Charlie would rather chew glass than make a wish. Unfortunately for her, Jax Michaels – the Genie who is supposed to grant Charlie her wish – can’t let her just skip out on her wish. On the surface, the stunningly gorgeous, oh-so-charming Jax who has women throwing themselves at his feet is everything Charlie despises. But when he keeps popping in, the two actually start to get to know one another and the real fun begins. I loved that Charlie threw Jax for a loop by being unimpressed with his looks, charm, magic, and celebrity.

Charlie has her reasons for not wanting a wish, and though it took a while to learn her reasons, I understood why it was too personal for her to immediately open up and share with Jax. As for Jax, I – like Charlie – wasn’t immediately bowled over by him because he was arrogant as could be. This actually worked really well for the story, because it gave me a chance to start liking Jax alongside Charlie. There’s more to Jax than most people see. Most people don’t look past his looks or charm, just like most people don’t look past Charlie’s “plain Jane” looks and acerbic wit. Both of them are smart, flawed people who come into their own over the course of the story and their personal journeys had me as engaged as their romance. Charlie and Jax make an excellent couple and I found it difficult to put Her Wish down because the chemistry they had was so appealing. Even when they’re fighting, sparks fly and they’re equally matched. Jax and Charlie simply work on every level. They don’t instantly fall in love. Heck, they don’t even instantly fall in lust. Their love story is a natural progression as they come to know each other and I just loved that. It’s not smooth sailing for these two. Their strong personalities, differing views, and Charlie’s old wounds and insecurities mean that it’s a bumpy road to happily ever after, but it’s a road well worth travelling.

Her Wish is the first book in Ms. Morgan’s Playboy Genie series and I’m can’t wait to delve further into the world of the Genies. I was fascinated by the bits and pieces of WFY that we got to see and the Genies who worked there. I’m definitely hoping future books show us more of how WFY works. There are also a couple of supporting characters, both magical and mortal, who I’m really hoping get books of their own one day. Jax’s Handler, Luka, Jax’s assistant, Josh, and Charlie’s roommate, Kate, added extra humor and heart to the story and helped make the world come alive.

Her Wish is unique, fun, and as charming as Jax himself. I adored Jax and Charlie’s romance and I can’t wait to read the next Playboy Genie story, His Command.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Review: Body Rocks by A.M. Arthur

Body Rocks by A.M. Arthur
Series: Off Beat, Book 1
Publisher: Swerve
Genre: New Adult Erotic Contemporary Male/Male Romance Body Rocks Cover
ISBN: 9781250105851
Release Date: June 28, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Everything is finally falling into place for Trey Cooper: his band has been accepted into one of the biggest music competitions in the country…too bad their drummer just quit to play with XYZ, their biggest rival. When Trey has a mind-blowingly hot hookup with a mysterious violinist, Trey definitely plans to see him again – just not on stage as a member of XYZ.

Dominic Bounds’ time to make his musical dreams come true is running out. If something doesn’t happen fast, he has to head home to find a real job. This competition is his last chance, and Dom needs to come out on top – but he never expected to fall for his rival. As Dom and Trey risk everything to begin a secret affair, there’s no denying their chemistry is off the charts – but could their band rivalry turn their romance into a one-hit wonder?

Body Rocks is a great mix of sweetness, eroticism, and angst. What starts out as a sexy story about two young men from rival bands develops into something much more. Trey and Dom are endearing heroes who both possess an innate goodness and optimism that made me smile more than once over the course of the story. It’s easy to root for them because they’re likeable, and I became invested in the story because there’s so much joy to be found in their burgeoning romance. When they meet onstage at an open mic night – not knowing they’re each from rival bands – things heat up fast. Yet even though Body Rocks is a hot and heavy story, there’s an innocence about Trey and Dom, and the lack of cynicism keeps the story buoyant even through its darker moments.

Trey and Dom fall fast and hard for one another, but the rivalry between their bands isn’t all that threatens to keep them apart. This is where (strangely enough) the story’s strongest point is also its weakest. A.M. Arthur makes this book stand apart with her diverse cast and how they cope with heavy issues. However, though I loved this about the book, the sheer abundance of issues Dom and Trey face also took the story down a notch for me. Body Rocks tackles abuse, sexual assault, attempted suicide, blackmail, self-harm, special needs, coming out, and more. Don’t get me wrong: I loved that Ms. Arthur isn’t afraid to approach serious topics and she treated each one with honesty, emotion, and respect. However, with so many serious issues packed into the story, I didn’t feel like any of them were given the depth they deserved; there were simply too many topics and not enough time to delve into them properly.

Body Rocks is a compelling read that’s packed with action and emotion. Even with all the hard topics woven into the story, Body Rocks never feels weighed down by angst. This is a story of love (romantic, familial, and between friends) and healing. Trey and Dom are such vibrant characters that the book moves at a fast pace and the families they have made for themselves are simply wonderful. I can’t wait to read the next Off Beat book, Steady Stroke!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Review: Beauty and the Highland Beast by Lecia Cornwall

Beauty and the Highland Beast by Lecia Cornwall
Series: Highland Fairy Tale, Book 1
Publisher: Swerve
Genre: Historical Romance
ISBN: 9781250111616
Release Date: June 21, 2016
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Powerful and dangerous highlander Dair Sinclair was once the favored son of his clan, The Sinclairs of Carraig Brigh. With Dair at the helm, Sinclair ships circled the globe bringing home incredible fortune. Until one deadly mission when Dair is captured, tortured and is unable to save his young cousin. He returns home breaking under the weight of his guilt and becomes known as the Madman of Carraig Brigh.

When a pagan healer predicts that only a virgin bride can heal his son’s body and mind, Dair’s father sets off to find the perfect wife for his son. At the castle of the fearsome McLeods, he meets lovely and kind Fia MacLeod.

Although Dair does his best to frighten Fia, she sees the man underneath the damage and uses her charm and special gifts to heal his mind and heart. Will Dair let Fia love him or is he cursed with madness forever?

Dair Sinclair was once a sailor, brave and bold, until he and his cousin were taken captive, his men were killed, and he was forced to watch his cousin be raped, tortured, and murdered. Dair barely survived his imprisonment, but his physical wounds are the least of his problems. People believe him to be mad, and he doesn’t think they’re wrong. His father is determined to heal him, so determined he takes the advice of a healer who says that only a virgin can cure his son.

Fia is the overlooked daughter of the McLeod brood. A childhood accident left her with scars and a limp, and she’s mostly forgotten about, left to tend wounded animals. When she’s offered the chance of an adventure, she takes it, hoping she can help. The attraction she feels for Dair is surprising, as is the fact that, for once, someone truly seems to see her. But Dair’s demons aren’t the only obstacles the two must overcome if they hope to have a fairytale happily ever after.

The classic tale of a beauty who saves her beast is given an eighteenth century Scottish twist in Beauty and the Highland Beast. Lecia Cornwall mixes fairytale romance with darker elements in this fast-paced first installment of her Highland Fairy Tale series.

Fia is a charming heroine with a kind heart and a gift for healing. She’s so sweet, it’s not surprising animals and people flock to her, but I liked that Ms. Cornwall never entered saccharine territory with Fia. She’s got a backbone that goes with the giving heart, making her a heroine you can root for. Dair is a man who isn’t cursed, but rather coping with psychological trauma in a time when no one understood such things. He’s drowning in the past until Fia gives him a reason to look to the future. I liked Dair, was intrigued by the glimpses of his character that we were given, but I never felt I truly got to know who he was as a man. This made it slightly difficult to become invested in the romance; with only one character feeling truly formed, the love story is enjoyable, but never felt like it reached its true potential.

Beauty and the Highland Beast has both lighthearted humor (mostly in the form of Fia’s beast of a cat) and incredibly dark elements, and the two don’t blend together as well as they could or should. Rather than blending the light and the dark, the story went back and forth between the two. Without giving spoilers, I can only say that individually, the brighter moments were charming and fun, and the darker elements were ominous and left me with a vague feeling of disquiet even after all was said and done. In other words, all the right pieces of an engaging tale were there – they simply could have fit together smoother. Still, as it stands, Ms. Cornwall has delivered an enjoyable twist on a fairytale with a likeable hero and heroine and a story where love conquers all. Even though the story was a bit uneven, I liked Beauty and the Highland Beast well enough that I’m looking forward to reading the next Highland Fairy Tale book.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.