Reviews: Brazen Edition! (#2)

Hi, lovely people! Like I've done in the past, I'm posting several Brazen reviews in one post! This might be a regular occurrence. :D This particular set wasn't the best show of Brazen novels, but a few of them were okay!

Played by Clare James
Book Two of the Elite PR series
Publisher: Brazen
Publication Date: October 19, 2015
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Play. Or be played.

The music should be enough. End of story. But Aaron Major is finding out it's not, and now his agent has hired a firm of suits to help launch his debut album, turning his life into a goddamn circus. Smile here. Play there. Be nice. Well, screw that. If Aaron wanted to spend his time shaking hands and kissing babies, he would've gone into politics.

Helping launch the career of country singer Aaron Major should be a cakewalk for PR pro Melody Sharp. Aaron is charming, sexy, and oh-so-appealing when he's on stage. Off stage, though, he's her worst nightmare. A stubborn, ornery, reclusive nightmare without a lick of business-or fashion-sense. The only way he's going to make it in music is with a serious makeover-and quite possibly a personality transplant.

Soon, they're engaged in a game of give and take, and though it's Melody calling the shots, it's Aaron who holds all control...

What I Liked:

I absolutely LOVED Caught by Clare James (book one of this series), and at the time, I thought it was a standalone. So I was thrilled to see that there would be another book! The final scene of Caught was a giant hint at another book! Mel and her sexy cowboy get their own book. Win! While I didn't love this book nearly as much as I enjoyed Caught, I thought this one was pretty good!

Melody Sharp needs to do something with her career. Her boss, Miranda, has demoted her from her position as a PR manager, lumping her in with the interns. When a new guy moves into the apartment across from Mel's, she discovers that he's super hot... and a country singer. He's about to launch a new song, and Mel is going give him a makeover. She'll help him launch his new label, but he'll have to keep his hands off of her...

Melody is so different from the female protagonist of Caught, Vivian. Vivian is so ambitious and driven, whereas Melody is a bit... stuck. When she gets kicked out of her apartment, her new neighbor, Aaron Major, offers to let her stay in his extra room. Turns out, he's a country singer who used to be popular, and is now coming back from a dry spell. It's a perfect opportunity for Melody to clean up her act, and for Aaron's launch to go big.

So Mel lets this new project fill her, and she really gets back into her PR groove. I like Mel - she has a knack for publicity and promotion, and she's really good at what she does. She's also kind and tough, and doesn't let Aaron's agent (assistant? agent? Rita, that lady) push her around.

Aaron is a different male protagonist than I was expecting. He's almost reluctant to launch his new label, image, country singer self. His first start into the country music world did not end well, and he disappeared for years. Now solo, he's hoping to have a successful and positive impact. He doesn't want to hire Mel at first, but he sees the logic and benefit in doing so quickly.

Especially when things heat up in the little apartment. At first, I wasn't a fan of Mel living in his apartment, just because that plot twist seemed too convenient, and also very similar to the events in Caught. But it lead to some steamy scenes for sure. While I didn't find this book quite as hot as Caught, it's clear that Clare James knows how to write sexy and non-repetitive scenes.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The big finale wasn't that great for me, and I mentioned a few things that I'll discuss below, but I did like this book. I'll definitely be looking out for more Brazen books by Clare James!

What I Did Not Like:

To be honest, I wasn't feeling the climax and ending of this book. It centers around Aaron's launch party, and there's so much drama and angst going on. I get it, famous people are always going to be surrounded by drama. Aaron himself is so chill and low-key. But his agent (assistant, whoever), his "damaged" past, his former bandmate... I won't go into the specifics, but these things didn't really do much for me. I especially didn't like the ex-bandmate. I did like Aaron's brother though, he was a nice surprise (I hope the next book - there MUST be another - will be about him!). And ugh, Rita. What a pain in the neck.

I actually wasn't feeling the fact that Melody and Aaron began living together. It felt convenient, way too easy. This definitely works in some books, but in this one, I didn't like that I expected it (like, obviously she's going to be behind on her rent, and the neighbor she literally JUST met is going to offer to let her stay with him, and OF COURSE he turns out to be a country star who probably needs a PR agent). There must be another way for these two to get close!

This book wasn't quite as hot as I'd hoped, but of course, Caught set my expectations very high, for this author. So this isn't necessarily a complaint, but more of an Alyssa request. Ish.

Would I Recommend It:

Despite the three-star-rating, I would recommend this one. When I finished, I wasn't entirely impressed, and I knew I didn't love it. I vacillated between three and four stars, but settled on three because this isn't a particularly memorable Brazen, and I didn't love it. Still, it was decent!

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. This was definitely on the positive side of 3 stars, and not the negative side. If anything, try Caught by this author - it was amazing!

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Tempting the New Boss by Angela Claire

Book Three of the Sleeping the Enemy series

Publisher: Brazen

Publication Date: October 19, 2015

Rating: 1 star

Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sometimes you have to break the rules…

When Camilla Anderson loses her job just as a position at Talbot Inc. opens up, there's no way she's questioning the lucky break. Working for the quirky, reclusive CEO will pay off her student loans within a year, and they're flying to Europe in his private jet.

Mason Talbot isn't good at talking to women. Well, to anyone, really. But when his new lawyer boards his plane, biology kicks in. But he can't tell if her adverse reaction is to him or his painfully awkward attempts at flirting.

As the flight gets bumpier, Mr. High IQ gets calmer. And…he holds her hand? Maybe the guy is redeemable after all. As soon as they land, she'll have to teach her endearingly awkward new boss how to seduce a girl properly.

That is, if they don't die in a fiery plane crash first.

What I Liked:

Uuuggghhh, this book. I'm sorry I requested it, to be honest. I rarely ever say that, but I wished I hadn't. I didn't need this one!

Mason Talbot is a thirty-year-old billionaire with a ridiculously high IQ and awkward social skills. He's shy, has no filter, and rarely realizes when he says something he shouldn't. Like propositioning his new lawyer, Camilla. He asks Camilla if they can have sex - and she is (rightfully) outraged! How can he ask an employee of that!? But Mason is so clueless (really, he is) that he didn't realize you can't do that. Camilla thinks he's hot, but would she cross that line?

Yes. Yes, she would.

What I Did Not Like:

Aahhhh. Where to start. I didn't particular like Mason. Didn't hate him, didn't like him. As a romance novel hero, he didn't work for me. I don't particularly like reading about a strapping hero in an adult romance novel that is awkward and weird and shy. Sorry, but it's not a preference that I have. Like, he didn't come across as attractive, which romance-novel heroes should. Sure, the author tried to make him physically attractive to me. But again. I don't particularly like awkward and shy and clueless (don't get me started on the clueless-ness) heroes. I'm not saying that they all have to be muscular, rich, confident, brooding men. But... this guy was a turnoff.

I liked him, but not as a Brazen-novel hero. A friend, a brother, a warm hug. But not as someone who is supposed to ooze sex appeal (which, apparently, he does, despite the fact that he looks like a hobo and is totally vacant). His clueless and blunt attitude scared me a bit. 

And there's Camilla - I didn't like her. I'm not sure exactly what it was about her, but I did not like her. At first she's totally outraged that he would ask her to have sex with him, and she keeps going on and on for PAGES about how she would never, and then five minutes later... boom! They're going at it like bunnies. Hmmm. I'm not a fan of her overall, but that scene really bothered me. Also I don't like her in the second half of the book especially, with even more mixed signals and so much un-professionalism and whining. So. Much. Whining.

I'm not a huge fan of Camilla's family. Honestly, they're kind of rude. They act superior because Camilla's little brother has special needs. They totally misjudge Mason, over and over. Nope, the parents were especially bad, and I didn't like them. But then, typically I have issues with books that feature larger (eight kids?!) families.

The romance wasn't all that steamy. One scene was pretty steamy, but nothing particularly memorable. Mason just isn't an appealing guy, sexually. He's socially awkward and totally shy, but a sex god in bed? This did not come across as consistent - or believable - to me. Also I just could not see him as attractive. Not for a sexy romance novel.

The ending of this book is such BS. I wish Camilla could end up alone (hey, we all know how romance novels end, especially Brazen novels). The HEA is so sickening, like in a overly sugary way. Camilla is such a b****! She doesn't deserve Mason.

Overall, the execution of this book was bad. The book was just not good.

Would I Recommend It:

I can't recommend this one to anyone on a good conscious (or even a bad conscious). Not Brazen book lovers, or romance novel lovers. Skip this one, you don't need it in your life!

Rating:

1 star. Definitely the worst Brazen novel I've read - and I've read so, so many. I think, before this book, my lowest rating of a Brazen novel was 3 stars. So I generally like these books. But this has been my lone exception!

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A Moment of Weakness by Brooklyn Skye

Publisher: Brazen

Publication Date: October 19, 2015

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

He can fight anything...except his need for her.

Until her new job starts in September, buttoned-up elementary school teacher Laurel Harris is at loose ends and in need of cash. Fortunately her best friend's older brother is a single dad and desperately needs a nanny. Or so she's told. She doesn't anticipate him being such a menacing, muscled, and undeniably gorgeous man...or that he has zero interest in hiring a nanny.

Micah Crane will do right by his young daughter, no matter the cost. And right now, that cost is juggling parenthood with long hours at his bar and working as an enforcer for a notorious crime boss. He doesn't need another complication in his life, but the sweet, frustratingly opinionated little blonde hell-bent on caring for his daughter stirs his blood like no woman ever has.

All it takes is a moment of weakness to ignite the lust blazing between them. A moment that will unravel their self-control and unleash all of Micah's darkest secrets...

What I Liked:

Okay this book wasn't as bad as I had expected. One of my blogging friends didn't like this book at all, so I went into it with super low expectations. Obviously I didn't love it, but I thought it was okay! 

Micah Crane has two lives - he part-owns a bar called The Alibi, and he enforces for a crime boss. He is stuck enforcing, and can't get out. When someone owes Russo money, Micah is sent to have "a chat" with the person. His life is dangerous, but Micah wants the best life for his daughter, Shae. Which includes hiring a nanny for the summer, to watch Shae. Laurel is Micah's sister's best friend, and she's excellent with children. Shae loves her, and it's not long before Micah starts to feel something for Laurel. Overpowering lust, for sure. But with his lifestyle, can he afford to feel anything more?

Micah is such an interesting guy. He's a complete grump, douche, a**hole, but he has the best intentions for Shae. He can't say no to her, and he will put all else aside for her. He isn't the nicest guy to Shae when he gives her the job, but he can't deny the attraction between them. Especially since they are living together (in order to do her nanny duties properly, Laurel is staying at Micah's apartment for the summer).

Laurel is really young, and so sweet. She's twenty-four, certified for teaching, and wants to change the world, one child at a time. She's always wanted to work with younger children, and six-year-old Shae is a perfect start. Too bad Shae's father is a "scary sex god" (to quote Laurel), who likes to yell when he doesn't like how things are handled with regards to his daughter. But Laurel is so attracted to Micah, and doesn't fight it.

Their chemistry is instant from the start, and I think the author did a good job of keeping the pot of tension and chemistry well-mixed and steamy. Although I personally think the first kiss scene came on suddenly, in terms of percentage into the book, it didn't. The relationship progresses, as does the chemistry. The steamy scenes aren't super hot, but Laurel and Micah get it on.

It's interesting to see Micah's crime-boss-work life mesh with his bar-and-Shae life, especially when he tells Laurel about why he is always coming back home with bruises and cuts and blood. The big climax comes when he ends up in the hospital, and pushes Laurel away. That scenes was totally expected, and very sad.

Overall, this book was okay, an engaging read, but not totally memorable.

What I Did Not Like:

The steamy scenes could have been MUCH steamy. Like, on a scale of one to five (one being wintery cool, five being burning hot), this book probably ranks at a two. There are steamy scenes, but they're not Brazen steamy. They're not memorable. There isn't a single scene that jumps out at me, and they're all kind of along the same type of scene (like, errr, position, action, etc.).

Micah's constant a**hole attitude was annoying. I understand WHY he is the way he is, but it's irritating, and I wanted to yell back or something. If I were Laurel, I might have quit. And I think Laurel was put off at times, but not enough to leave. She really wanted to work with Shae.

The ending was a bit implausible, I think! After going through the whole book, saying how you're stuck in the crime-boss-type-lifestyle and can't get out... well, I won't say anything beyond that. I don't understand how Micah got about doing what he did. It didn't seem authentic, and this took a big hit out of the rating.

Would I Recommend It:

While I didn't absolutely abhor this book, I didn't love it either, and I'm not sure I'd recommend it. I usually don't enjoy books with kids, but that aspect didn't really bother me, in this book. Other things did bother me, and I didn't find this Brazen novel particularly memorable. So I can't really recommend this one, it isn't the best Brazen novel out there!

Rating:

3 stars. I gave this book a shot because I know I don't like books with one of the protagonists having a child already, so I figured I might give at least a few of these romance novels a chance. This one wasn't bad, but I didn't really like it a lot. 

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