Thursday, June 25, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway for Classified by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine


CLASSIFIED by
ELLA FRANK & BROOKE BLAINE

They train to serve their country.
They strive to be the best.
But only a select few can be...
The Elite

* * *

MATEO MORGAN
CALL SIGN: SOLO


Reckless, arrogant, and bold, Solo is as known in the U.S. Navy for his bad-boy reputation as he is for his skills as a fighter pilot. It’s a surprise to his peers, then, when he’s chosen to train and compete at the most prestigious naval aviation academy in the world.

MISSION RULES:
1. Kick everyone’s ass.
2. Do whatever it takes to win.
3. Do your best to distract the competition.
4. Especially when that competition is a gorgeous blue-eyed perfectionist who makes your blood run hot.

* * *

GRANT HUGHES
CALL SIGN: PANTHER


Disciplined, smart, and confident, Panther can’t afford not to play by the rules. As the son of a top Navy commander, all eyes are on him, and being anything less than number one is unacceptable.

MISSION RULES:
1. Keep it safe in the air.
2. Prove you’re more than Commander Hughes’s son.
3. No distractions. Stay focused.
4. Don’t fall for your competition—especially not the rebellious heartbreaker with lips made for sinning.

In the heat of the hot California sun, tempers flare and desires ignite as Solo and Panther try to resist their attraction while fighting to be number one.
With passion this intense, the question remains:
Who’s gonna come out on top?


REVIEW: 4 STARS
"He was everything I'd ever wanted, and never dreamed I could have."

FINALLY!!! I needed this closure. I've loved Panther and Solo from the minute I met them, so it was no doubt that this final book was a necessary read! I know I am always bragging abut how well Ella and Brooke write together - I have never hid that love affair I have with them. But, I think it goes a step farther because I *know* that whenever they write a story, I am going to get a full story. One that has a rich history, a full background, some amazing characters (sure helps that they are sexy!!), and plenty of growth in those characters. It's a well tuned machine between these two, and I can definitively say that I will read anything they write. I have been enamored by their words since I first read them, and once again - they gave me an ending worthy of a huge smile.

Instead of saying the same thing every time about how much I love Panther and Solo; how much they have made me smile; or how much their love melts my heart - I can't say it enough. It's just really easy to say that they honestly work for me. Their men are able to not only catch my attention, but they garner my emotions and my heart. They have an easy going perfection. Light enough to smile throughout, heavy enough to get emotional over, and swoony enough to melt.

I love reading vulnerability in a strong, alpha male. I love when I can feel the vulnerability shooting off the pages. The love these two shared was nothing short of amazing because in the industry they're in, I cannot imagine the stress of the job alone, let alone coming out to everyone. I LOVED their story and I cannot recommend it enough.

"When I met you, you were this cocky pilot who couldn't play well with others, and now --"
"I play well with you?"

Panther and Solo honestly turned me into a pile of goo. They melted my heart a bit, and the wonderful writing sure made it easy fall in love with yet another couple by this duo. But my favorite part was the moment when they let down their guard and actually allowed another person in. These were two very alpha, cocky males. They knew their place...their hierarchy, if you will. Top dogs, proving a point with a cocksure attitude. I loved that about them SO much. But when the inner workings of the emotions came out and reared their not-so-ugly heads, watching these men fall in love was seriously the swooniest - all the heart eyes. I loved them so so much. <sigh>

These ladies are so smart and emotive with their words; extremely expressive. It did, however, take me a few minutes {{a couple of times}} to reconcile Solo and Panther's soft side with their alpha side that was predominantly on display. It seemed out of character from when I was first meeting them and getting to know them, up until the end. It was just a personality shock to see these super macho, alpha assholes turn into mush around each other. But it was such a joy to see it all come together.

Panther and Solo's own language of love came through effortlessly and it was easy to understand everything Ella and Brooke were spelling out for me - pain, inhibition, just the doubt these guys felt, allowing themselves to give in to those feelings that were so foreign to them. I loved watching them break down and come out and enjoy all they had coming to them.

There is nothing I love more than to settle into a storyline - a couple to fall in love with. Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine have delivered that consistently and meticulously. I love the ease in which their stories seems to be told. I never feel like I walk away with questions.....other than just wanting more of their men. I LOVE this duo. I am so glad I finally started reading them - I will always look forward to more!!

"Just when I thought I had the upper hand with him, he managed to take it right back."
~BEE









~MEET ELLA FRANK~
Ella Frank is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite contemporary romance, Sex Addict. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!”

Some of her favorite authors include Tiffany Reisz, Kresley Cole, Riley Hart, J.R. Ward, Erika Wilde, Gena Showalter, and Carly Phillips.

~CONNECT WITH ELLA~

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~MEET BROOKE BLAINE~
Brooke Blaine is a USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance that ranges from comedy to suspense to erotic. The latter has scarred her conservative Southern family for life, bless their hearts.

You could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her ‘quiet time.’ Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas.

She is the author of Flash Point, a romantic suspense standalone, as well as the co-author of the erotic series, A Desperate Man, with Ella Frank. The latter has scarred her conservative southern family for life, bless their hearts. Licked, a romantic comedy, will be released November 11th, 2015 and is the first in the L.A. Liaisons series. 

If you’d like to get in touch with her, she’s easy to find - just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that’s dominated her cell phone for ten years.

~CONNECT WITH BROOKE~


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Tuesday, June 16, 2020

DNF Review for Worth the Risk by Lissanne Jones


WORTH THE RISK
by LISSANNE JONES

Will taking a shot at love be worth risking the friendship of a lifetime?

Jessica Coleman and Rory Cooke have been best friends since they were children, but as they approach their thirtieth birthdays they realize the love they feel for each other is no longer platonic.

Rory is sure that Jess is the woman for him and always has been, but he's forced to stand by and watch her date another man. What if she never works out what he has - that they're meant to be together?

Jess finally recognizes Rory for who he truly is – the man she’s in love with. But she's afraid to take that leap, because if their romance ends she's not only lost her lover, but her best friend as well.

Will they decide that being in love is worth the risk of losing the extraordinary friendship they already have, or will they stay just friends forever?


DNF REVIEW

I was excited to check out this book (as well as a fresh, new voice) when I first heard about it. I shared it and the series on my page a few times because it honestly sounded really good. It has all the makings for a great book for those that like sweet reads. Less angst, zero drama, and the sincerity of a love that was in the works their whole lives. And that is exactly what this one was - it was the equivalent of a Hallmark Channel movie in book form - super sweet, no real drama to cause any issues, and an easy-go-lucky love story. Jones gives us two responsible characters, good looking ones - of course, and lives that are intertwined and rich with history and friendship. The best of friends; do anything for each other kind of friends.

But that's really all it is.

Why couldn't I finish this one then if it was so easy? Because it was too easy. I know, I know...that makes no sense, Bee! I have made mention time and time again that sweet is really hard for me to get into and it has to be written just right, but it also has to be done well. While this wasn't terrible or anything, it definitely needed some more push, as well as less tell and more show. Literally, everything was told to me. Every step. Every bite of cake. Every single thing you do on the daily was told to me. Show me. Grow the story. Give me the action and make the words move. It really was just told to me. No real emotion in the words, and there was a very limited amount of ornamentation or embellishment. I love a story rich with descriptions and character growth.

To be honest, I didn't make it very far into this book because as I got into it, I knew that it wasn't grabbing me and the writing style was a bit...rudimentary; a bit basic for me. I could feel the heart that was poured into this book. I really could. I have chatted with Lissanne a number of times, and the same person I've chatted with online was in this book - so that says a lot, for me. BUT, the writing needed more depth. I wanted more definition and description. It lacked growth and development. I would have liked to see more flourish come through, something that was definitely necessary to give it more of a 'personality' so it wasn't like every other sweet romance out there. Otherwise, it just lacked the hold I needed to keep going, which made it a boring read for me and I honestly hate to say that. It just needed .... more. The covers are beautiful. The synopses are great. The actual storytelling was just not very polished to me.

Again, to be 100% honest, this wasn't a bad book. It was just ridiculously sweet and easy going. That's just not my cup of tea. I have been able to read some sweet books, but I pick them sparingly because I know they don't always work for me. I wish Ms. Jones much luck in her writing career because she has many stories to tell, and I love to see that drive she has for all the stories she has brewing. I just don't do well with this brand of sweet, so I am stepping away and tapping out. Many congratulations on your first book, with many more to come.

~BEE


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No giveaway for DNF reviews


~MEET LISSANNE JONES~
Lissanne Jones lives in her hometown of Sydney, Australia, where she writes steamy romance books. Her favourite animal is the flamingo, she hoards stationery (especially A5 dot grid notebooks), and she loves to travel. She's always dreaming up new stories and wishing there were more hours in the day to write them all!

~CONNECT WITH LISSANNE~

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