Down on Her Knees by Christine Bell
Book Three of the Dare Me series
Publisher: Entangled
Publication Date: February 24, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Bought from Amazon
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Four lessons, no strings…
Detective Rafe Davenport has always made Courtney DeLollis uneasy. While her instincts whisper, Touch him, her mind says, Run. But since she learned that he’s dominant in the bedroom, she hasn’t been able to forget about it. She should be appalled—she knows all too well what happens when a man has too much control—but a deeper, darker part of her is fascinated...
And so is Rafe. The sexual tension between them is thick enough to touch, and damn, does he want to touch. So he suggests something that will benefit them both. Four scenes—because anything more is a relationship, and Rafe won’t go there ever again. Each scenario is designed to tease and torment. To show Courtney that with every submission comes the reward of scintillating pleasure. But once he has Courtney down on her knees, Rafe realizes that she might be the one woman capable of bringing him to his…
I loved Down for the Count, book one of the Dare Me series, so when I saw that Down on Her Knees was on sale for $0.99, I knew I had to buy it! I've read other Christine Bell books and she has not disappointed me! Her Brazen romances are always so steamy and so romantic.
Courtney has always been secretly intrigued by Rafe, although she says she isn't interested in him or his adventurous bedroom activities. Rafe has always been attracted to Courtney, and he finally has her where he wants her - fascinated, and too interested to turn him down. Four scenes is all they'll do - because neither want a relationship - but will four scenes be enough?
I adored Courtney and Rafe! From the first scene, their chemistry is off the charts. Christine Bell writes sexual tension so well! In all of her books, the hot tension precluding the sexy times is almost always just as hot as the sexy times themselves.
Courtney is a likable heroine, and Rafe is a charming and wicked hero. He's domineering but so caring and considerate. And he's a man in uniform! I have a soft spot for those types. Courtney is nervous of trying Rafe's style, but she's always very adventurous herself. I love her bravery!
Suffice it to say, I really liked the characters and their character development. I think they're a great pair together, and I enjoyed watching them grow together. They worked for their happy ending, which made me happy!
Like I said, the steamy scenes are so steamy! Christine Bell is a master when it comes to all the good stuff. No need to worry, Rafe's activities aren't terribly risque, nothing like hardcore erotica material. I really enjoyed the chemistry and tension between these two characters, and all the steamy interactions they shared!
Overall another solid (and hot) book from Christine Bell! I adore her books and will definitely be looking out for more from her in the future.
I hope this isn't TOO spoilery, but I really wish these two had done more scenes together! I felt like my Kindle was going to catch fire, just from reading this book. More is always better, in romance novels! (In my opinion.)
I highly recommend this particular Brazen novel, especially for the $0.99 I paid! I believe it's usually $2.99 but still! Any of Christine Bell's Brazen novels are worth the money.
4 stars. Christine Bell has yet to disappoint me! This Dare Me series is so good. Quick, steamy, and filled with really likable, realistic characters!
Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Book Three of the Dare Me series
Publisher: Entangled
Publication Date: February 24, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Bought from Amazon
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Four lessons, no strings…
Detective Rafe Davenport has always made Courtney DeLollis uneasy. While her instincts whisper, Touch him, her mind says, Run. But since she learned that he’s dominant in the bedroom, she hasn’t been able to forget about it. She should be appalled—she knows all too well what happens when a man has too much control—but a deeper, darker part of her is fascinated...
And so is Rafe. The sexual tension between them is thick enough to touch, and damn, does he want to touch. So he suggests something that will benefit them both. Four scenes—because anything more is a relationship, and Rafe won’t go there ever again. Each scenario is designed to tease and torment. To show Courtney that with every submission comes the reward of scintillating pleasure. But once he has Courtney down on her knees, Rafe realizes that she might be the one woman capable of bringing him to his…
What I Liked:
Courtney has always been secretly intrigued by Rafe, although she says she isn't interested in him or his adventurous bedroom activities. Rafe has always been attracted to Courtney, and he finally has her where he wants her - fascinated, and too interested to turn him down. Four scenes is all they'll do - because neither want a relationship - but will four scenes be enough?
I adored Courtney and Rafe! From the first scene, their chemistry is off the charts. Christine Bell writes sexual tension so well! In all of her books, the hot tension precluding the sexy times is almost always just as hot as the sexy times themselves.
Courtney is a likable heroine, and Rafe is a charming and wicked hero. He's domineering but so caring and considerate. And he's a man in uniform! I have a soft spot for those types. Courtney is nervous of trying Rafe's style, but she's always very adventurous herself. I love her bravery!
Suffice it to say, I really liked the characters and their character development. I think they're a great pair together, and I enjoyed watching them grow together. They worked for their happy ending, which made me happy!
Like I said, the steamy scenes are so steamy! Christine Bell is a master when it comes to all the good stuff. No need to worry, Rafe's activities aren't terribly risque, nothing like hardcore erotica material. I really enjoyed the chemistry and tension between these two characters, and all the steamy interactions they shared!
Overall another solid (and hot) book from Christine Bell! I adore her books and will definitely be looking out for more from her in the future.
What I Did Not Like:
I hope this isn't TOO spoilery, but I really wish these two had done more scenes together! I felt like my Kindle was going to catch fire, just from reading this book. More is always better, in romance novels! (In my opinion.)
Would I Recommend It:
Rating:
4 stars. Christine Bell has yet to disappoint me! This Dare Me series is so good. Quick, steamy, and filled with really likable, realistic characters!
Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
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Tell Me You Want Me by Joya Ryan
Book Two of the Search and Seduce series
Publisher: Entangled
Publication Date: January 4, 2016
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
She’s getting dirty with the bad boy…
Determined to find her inner badass and save her business, boutique owner Michelle Ruby signs up for a twenty-four hour survival class. Except, she’s the only person who registered, and the guide is a sex-on-a-stick G.I. Joe come to life. Between his massive muscles, smoldering blue eyes, and “there’s no crying in camping” attitude, she’s in trouble…in more ways than one.
Search and rescue squad member Dex Young never thought he’d be roped into teaching “survival skills” to pageant queens. His sole student is upper class, upper state, and sexy as hell. And he has a sneaking suspicion that beneath her tight updo and designer jeans, there’s a sex kitten waiting to claw her way out.
But Dex knows women like her. Knows they only bring guys like him home to piss off their daddies. If it’s the bad boy experience she wants, she’ll get it. And Dex? Well, he can’t wait to find out just how dirty Michelle’s willing to get…
I read the first book in this series, Tell Me You Need Me, and thought it was okay. This book was also just okay! Not bad but not amazing. I LOVE the idea of this book - search and rescue hotties - but in this particular book, it felt too short and I didn't quite connect with the heroine.
Michelle comes from a very rich family in New York, but she is in Beaufort trying to make her own way. Her boutique isn't doing so well, but she's trying to be independent and adventurous. She signs up for a survival class with the Search and Rescue team, and that means spending some one-on-one time with Dex, one of the hottest squad members. Too bad Dex knows her type - rich, only looking for one night. But lucky for them both, he's the man for one night stands. But one night might not be enough for either of them...
I really, really liked Dex. Honestly I could do with my own Dex. He's such a modern-day rogue, and a lot naughty, but he's a good person. He loves being a civil servant, loves helping others. Even with all their sexy interactions together, Dex does teach Michelle about survival.
I love Dex and Michelle together. Michelle has this whole list of sexual experiences she wants to have, and Dex, being Dex, sees the list and is intrigued. One by one, he helps her experience each of them. I actually really enjoyed this premise, because some of those experiences were pretty steamy! Michelle is more dirty-minded than she thinks.
Beyond the sexy times, I wasn't all that interested in the story. It's mostly about Michelle's struggle to remain independent from her rich parents - I guess I just wasn't that interested in Michelle. Read on!
Michelle wasn't someone I connected with, honestly. She is VERY rich and despite trying to be independent, her richness and rich background totally shows. She goes into the forest with Jimmy Choo boots, for crying out loud! I think I didn't like her at first, and she never grew on me,
Like I said above, I wasn't really invested in her story beyond the sexy times with Dex. So she wants to be independent. And stay far away from her rich parents and rich controlling ex-fiance. It just didn't appeal to me! And how Dex felt about all of that (coming from the background he has) - so heartbreaking! I really felt for Dex.
This story was also VERY short. More is always good, in romance novels! More steamy scenes. More tender scenes. More... more. This story felt a little compacted, in my opinion!
I liked the book overall, but I don't necessarily recommend it. It's not the best Brazen novel I've read - there are a lot of really good ones! Like the Dare Me series by Christine Bell, or anything by Megan Erickson or Tessa Bailey or Jennifer Bonds.
3 stars. Joya Ryan has me intrigued by her writing and her stories, but I haven't really LOVED one yet. I think I'll keep trying, because she definitely knows how to write some steamy encounters!
Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Book Two of the Search and Seduce series
Publisher: Entangled
Publication Date: January 4, 2016
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
She’s getting dirty with the bad boy…
Determined to find her inner badass and save her business, boutique owner Michelle Ruby signs up for a twenty-four hour survival class. Except, she’s the only person who registered, and the guide is a sex-on-a-stick G.I. Joe come to life. Between his massive muscles, smoldering blue eyes, and “there’s no crying in camping” attitude, she’s in trouble…in more ways than one.
Search and rescue squad member Dex Young never thought he’d be roped into teaching “survival skills” to pageant queens. His sole student is upper class, upper state, and sexy as hell. And he has a sneaking suspicion that beneath her tight updo and designer jeans, there’s a sex kitten waiting to claw her way out.
But Dex knows women like her. Knows they only bring guys like him home to piss off their daddies. If it’s the bad boy experience she wants, she’ll get it. And Dex? Well, he can’t wait to find out just how dirty Michelle’s willing to get…
What I Liked:
I read the first book in this series, Tell Me You Need Me, and thought it was okay. This book was also just okay! Not bad but not amazing. I LOVE the idea of this book - search and rescue hotties - but in this particular book, it felt too short and I didn't quite connect with the heroine.
Michelle comes from a very rich family in New York, but she is in Beaufort trying to make her own way. Her boutique isn't doing so well, but she's trying to be independent and adventurous. She signs up for a survival class with the Search and Rescue team, and that means spending some one-on-one time with Dex, one of the hottest squad members. Too bad Dex knows her type - rich, only looking for one night. But lucky for them both, he's the man for one night stands. But one night might not be enough for either of them...
I really, really liked Dex. Honestly I could do with my own Dex. He's such a modern-day rogue, and a lot naughty, but he's a good person. He loves being a civil servant, loves helping others. Even with all their sexy interactions together, Dex does teach Michelle about survival.
I love Dex and Michelle together. Michelle has this whole list of sexual experiences she wants to have, and Dex, being Dex, sees the list and is intrigued. One by one, he helps her experience each of them. I actually really enjoyed this premise, because some of those experiences were pretty steamy! Michelle is more dirty-minded than she thinks.
Beyond the sexy times, I wasn't all that interested in the story. It's mostly about Michelle's struggle to remain independent from her rich parents - I guess I just wasn't that interested in Michelle. Read on!
What I Did Not Like:
Like I said above, I wasn't really invested in her story beyond the sexy times with Dex. So she wants to be independent. And stay far away from her rich parents and rich controlling ex-fiance. It just didn't appeal to me! And how Dex felt about all of that (coming from the background he has) - so heartbreaking! I really felt for Dex.
This story was also VERY short. More is always good, in romance novels! More steamy scenes. More tender scenes. More... more. This story felt a little compacted, in my opinion!
Would I Recommend It:
I liked the book overall, but I don't necessarily recommend it. It's not the best Brazen novel I've read - there are a lot of really good ones! Like the Dare Me series by Christine Bell, or anything by Megan Erickson or Tessa Bailey or Jennifer Bonds.
Rating:
Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!
I always want to read more adult novels, but it is a struggle because we keep The Book Bratz mainly YA with same NA thrown in, and because of school we try to review everything we read so we won't fall behind. I been eyeing Tell Me You Want Me so I am bit bummed that it fell short for you. Michelle sounds like a character I wouldn't connect with either, I hate the rich types. Hmm, I think I might just skip this one over if I had the chance to read it. Great reviews!
ReplyDeleteAmber | The Book Bratz
Heh! I honestly never cared about keeping my blog focused on one thing or the other - there are so many readers who follow my blog that enjoy both YA and adult as well! Funnily enough, we usually share the same tastes. :D These two were fun to read! The Joya Ryan one isn't particularly memorable but I did like the Christine Bell one a lot.
DeleteThank you, Amber!
Awesome reviews Alyssa. <3 Thank you for sharing about these books :) I'm glad you liked the characters in the first one. And yay for steamy scenes ;) I need to read books like this too. ONE DAY. I'm unsure about these two, though. But glad you enjoyed them both :)
ReplyDeleteI know they're not for you! But if you ever do decide to cross into the adult romance world... I have all the recommendations you could possible want to read. :D
DeleteThank you!