KISS ME books

Saturday, April 3, 2021

Stolen Lust by Charmaine Pauls

Stolen Lust is the first book in the Beauty in the Stolen trilogy by Charmaine Pauls and it was unexpected and brilliant. I went in without any expectations and it blew my mind and heart. I fell for the infamous criminal, thief, and kidnapper: Ian Hart. This complex, charismatic, and dangerous character captivated me from start to finish. I can't talk about Ian without mentioning Cassandra Joubert, also known as Cas. Like most of Pauls' past heroines, Cas is vulnerable, headstrong, independent, and passionate. She is Ian's perfect match but their relationship was always doomed from the start. How can love blossom in a relationship that is built on fear and danger? As always, the author excels at this trope and will have you rooting for Cas and Ian—despite the circumstances.

"She was was everything I've ever considered beautiful, too good to be true. I wanted her, all of her, to touch and smell and taste every inch of her skin."

The story begins with Cas on a date gone horribly wrong and made much worse when she is kidnapped and held hostage by a mysterious stranger. The one night she spends with Ian Hart will change her life irrevocably. Cas and Ian's relationship is incredibly complicated but full of passion and lust. Ian is obsessed with Cas and she can't help but return her attraction. Both characters had amazing chemistry with each other and the love scenes were sensual and erotic. The dual perspective by Ian and Cas was excellent at drawing out the tension, angst, longing, and inner turmoil between the two.

"The blackness of my life isn't a color. It's just a canvas for the color she makes as she gives me her tongue and kisses me back."

In the end, I absolutely can't wait to read Stolen Life because the book ends with an intense and dramatic cliffhanger that will change the course of the story as well as the paths of its characters. Zoe and Damian were referenced in this book and I hope there will be a reunion of the siblings by the end of this trilogy. We're also introduced to Leon Hart who I'm sure will get his own spinoff later on. Fans of Charmaine Paul will absolutely LOVE this book because the story has a similar formula to her past series including Dubious Consent and Diamonds are Forever. If you love dark romance with a complex, charming, and charismatic anti-hero who loves passionately and will never let the heroine leave him, then this is the book for you!

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★★

Monday, March 29, 2021

Bitter Vows by Dani René

Bitter Vows is Dani René first book in the Crimson Falls Duet and it was absolutely delicious, sexy, and suspenseful. I'm going to pretend the last chapter doesn't exist because I'm still reeling over that cliffhanger. The book is inspired by the Little Red Riding Hood. With the names Scarlett and Lycan, how can you think otherwise? My favorite aspect about this book was the slow burn but incredibly sexy romance between Scarlett and Lycan. Their relationship is a push and pull where Lycan is extremely dominant, possessive, and in lust with Scarlett. Although Scarlett hates her situation, she can't help but be attracted to Lycan's darkness. However, there are many dark secrets and betrayals between their two families. One might even say there is a curse...

"My prince isn't a knight in shining armor but a commanding wolf in an expensive, tailored suit."

The story starts off with Scarlett Bardot meeting a handsome stranger at one of the parties that her family goes to. It turns out that the stranger is none other than Lycan Shaw but she doesn't realize it until much later on when they are finally introduced. However, there is a twist. Scarlett's father has done something terrible and Lycan now has the upper-hand and key to enacting his revenge against the Bardot family. As a result, Scarlett's hand in marriage has been bought by Lycan. What she doesn't know is that Lycan never intended on marrying anyone until her.

"I want you to know who I am. Even though I'm the monster in this story, the wolf seeking out his prey, I wouldn't hurt you. Not unless you want it."

This is not my first rodeo with Dani René. The way she writes her heroes is sinful. Lycan is no exception and I love that for Scarlett. In the beginning, she is frustrated by Lycan's secrets but soon realizes that there is more than meets the eye between their two families. Her grandmother and father are both hiding a terrible secret. I also want to note that the love scenes between Lycan and Scarlett are scorching hot. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I absolutely can't wait to read Bitter Truths, when it finally releases! If you love your anti-heroes dark, possessive, and sexy, Lycan Shaw will captivate you. Yes, he is dominant and claims that he has no feelings but Scarlett ends up capturing his heart. Overall, I highly recommend this book!

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★★

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Black Sunshine by Karina Halle

Black Sunshine is Karina Halle's first attempt at a vampire romance and I can honestly say that it was an enjoyable but mixed bag overall. There were parts of the book that really intrigued me but fell flat for some. Unfortunately, the story falls under the traps of the genre with a heroine who is special but makes some irrational and stupid mistakes that ends up hurting others. She also falls under love/lust with the "anti-hero" of the book who I personally did not like at first but he did grow on me.

"You're worth more to me than anything they could give me in exchange."

Lenore Warwick is the main heroine of this book and she is special because of her mixed blood. I thought the prologue was absolutely fantastic. Black Sunshine starts off with an assassination attempt that is wrapped up in revenge. This starts off a chain of events that will eventually lead to Lenore meeting Absolon Stavig. What I found interesting about this is that Lenore doesn't remember anything about her past and who her real parents are. Furthermore, Lenore is hunted because of her special blood. I thought the Black Sunshine, the mysterious dimension eerily similar to hell, was an interesting concept!

"I just wanted Solon, in every way I could get him. Even if it's not what he wanted."

Now, let's talk about the part of the book that I actually did like—the romance. Lenore and Solon's relationship was a push and pull, hot and cold. Not only is he much older than her but there is something about him you can't help hate and love. I have to forewarn that there is a scene that might be triggering to some. It happens when Lenore went through her transition and the one helping her was not Solon. In the end, Lenore and Solon had amazing chemistry and their love scenes were very sexy. There were parts of the world-building that interested me but could be more fleshed out. The romance could also have benefited from more angst and emotion. I felt like I was looking at Lenore and Solon's romance on the side instead of being there with them. Anyway, I would love to read future books featuring Wolf, Amethyst, and Ezra. If you love vampire romances with a sexy as sin hero who is both cruel and cold but can be "saved" by the heroine, then this is the book for you!

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★☆

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Release Blitz: Black Sunshine by Karina Halle

Black Sunshine by Karina Halle is now live!

All Lenore Warwick wants for her 21st birthday is to hang out with her friends, finish her second year at Berkley with flying colors, and maybe catch the eye of a hot musician playing a show at a club that she can now (legally) get into.

Unfortunately, fate has other plans for her.

A week before her birthday, she's kidnapped by the brooding and dangerous stranger with cold eyes and a lethal touch, who has been stalking her on San Francisco's fog-shrouded streets. Absolon Stavig isn't your average criminal though. He's a centuries-old vampire who's caught between wanting to kill Lenore and wanting to save her.

You see Lenore, too, is a vampire.
She just doesn't know it yet.

Taken by a pair of vampire slayers when she was just an infant, Lenore was raised never knowing her true nature. All Lenore knows is that she has seemingly normal parents who love her, that she's exceptionally smart, and she's squeamish around blood. But once she turns twenty-one, she'll fully turn into a vampire, and Solon hopes he'll be there to guide her, opening her eyes to her deepest hunger...both sexual and otherwise.

But this turning can't be kept a secret. Soon both slayers and vampires are hunting Lenore, with only Solon and his unpredictable motley crew of vampires to save her.
If they don't kill her first.

Black Sunshine is a dark adult standalone romance with a paranormal twist, about sex, love, secrets, and revenge, set in contemporary San Francisco.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QBMM0s

Amazon Worldwide: mybook.to/BlackSunshine

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2NOo2Bc

Meet Karina

Karina Halle is a former travel writer, music journalist & screenwriter, and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of over 55 bestselling novels, ranging from horror and suspense to contemporary romance. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, and her adopted pitbull Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Root Literary Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster, Hachette & Montlake. Her work has been translated and published in 20 languages.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

Connect with Karina

Website: https://authorkarinahalle.com/

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Amazon: https://amzn.to/31HMztJ

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Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/912577838806567/

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karina-halle