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Maryse's Book Blog

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Terri Anne Browning – The Rocker Series Reading Order

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Rock star series alert!! It’s already five books in, and these fellow readers are enjoying them!

Teresa: I’m currently reading The Rocker That Holds Her by Terri Ann Browning.  I love this series!

Syl: The Rocker series by Terri Anne Browning is an excellent rocker series three books are out so far and they are all great reads.

Rochelle: my favorite lately is The Rocker That Needs Me.

Jean:  I am reading The Rocker That Needs Me now and it was a great series!

Jalena: Love these! Every single one of them!

Wow, book one does look good! She tours with a famous band (and they’ve known her since she was very young, and they all take care of each other)… but the synopsis ends on a sort of “sad/scary” note…

About book #1:

Touring with four rockers is the thing of dreams…

At least that is what people tell me. To me those four rockers are my family. They have watched over me from the time I was five years old. Protecting me from my mother and her drunken, drug addict rages. When they made it big they still watched over me. And when my monster of a mother died they took over as my guardians.

In the six years since that happened I have watched over the four men that mean everything to me. I take care of them just as they once took care of me. I handle all the dirty work behind the scenes of a rockers life. It isn’t always pretty. At times it can be damn near disgusting, especially when I have to get rid of their one night stands. Ugh!

Taking care of them doesn’t bother me though. I mean it’s not like I’m in love with one of them. That would be crazy. Falling for a rocker is NOT smart.

Okay, so I’m not smart. I love my guys, and one of them kind of holds my heart in his big old rocker hand. But I’m dealing. I’ve been able to keep it my little secret for years now. I’m not, however, dealing with this bug that I seem to have caught. It scares the hell out of me. I hate doctors, but I’m suddenly more worried about finding out what is wrong with me than what the doctor might do to me.

When I get my test results back my life will never be the same again…

            

Reader Question… Solved! The book where she’s a young teacher and her neighbor is a wealthy playboy…

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Reader question time! This one looks good and doesn’t ring a bell for me. Maybe someone out there knows?

Now go into this “description” carefully because I can’t tell how far she described into the book, and I’d hate for there to be spoilers for some that haven’t read it yet.

So if you can’t tell by the first couple of lines, then skip the rest of this reader’s description:

Jessica asks:

Can anyone help me find the book where the main character is a younger teacher who moves to a place her grandparents left her. The next door neighbor who just moves in is a wealthy guy with a young son.

The sister of the neighbor ends up dating the main character’s jerk ex boyfriend. It takes a while for the main characters to get together because he is a “man whore” and once they do on New Years Eve he is an ass and then *spoiler*.

Anyone?

Reader Suggestions:

Inevitable (Harmony Book 1) by Angela Graham as suggested by Jennifer on Facebook

Tanya: Hi the book is 100% Inevitable by Angela Graham. The second book is out its called Irreplaceable & we are waiting for the 3rd Awesome story 🙂

Catherine: I agree with Tanya. It’s Inevitable by Angela Graham.

Danette: Yeah, sounds like Inevitable to me, too. The final book will be out soon.

Jessica: Thank you so much! That’s it! I knew you girls would be able to help me!!

[lasso rel=”inevitable-harmony-book-1″ id=”118936″]

Kitty French – The Knight Trilogy Reading Order

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I haven’t read this one yet, but book #1 was a hit with many of our fellow readers. Some recommend it as a good “What to Read After Fifty” series, and book #3 was just released today!!

YAY! The trilogy is complete. 😀

Kasey: Maryse, Maryse, Maryse! I follow you and always agree with your suggestions, well now I have a MAJOR suggestion for you! Knight & Play by Kitty French. My oh my Lucien Knight is Christian, Giddeon, Travis, Lucas, I could keep going (but I hope you get my point) all wrapped up into one bad boy. This book is amazing! I am now sitting here waiting for book two, yes thats the kicker. But please read this so I have someone to squee over this man with. He is a new gush over for me. I loaned it to a friend and she is hooked as well!

Marina: I was looking for a billionaire read similar to 50 Shades and Bared to You and this one fit that feel. The steamy scenes are VERY hot and if the 2nd were out I would read it immediately.

Shanda: Wow, Lucien will have you swooning…….  It was a great steamy read

About book #1:

There’s only one thing in life Lucien Knight really hates, and that’s husbands who cheat on their wives.
There’s only one problem in Sophie Black’s life. Her cheating husband…
From the moment Lucien & Sophie meet, the seal is set.

    

Book Review – Sex Love Repeat by Alessandra Torre

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Sex Love Repeat (UPDATE: This book has now been renamed “Undertow“)

<— Now THAT was a good movie!!! 😉 Er… I mean, book. Yep, you guessed, it. It played out so well I forgot I was reading. In fact, this book just came out today, wasn’t anywhere near my book radar (I had no clue about it) until Jules posted a link to it exclaiming it was LIVE. I was all.. “well she sounds excited, so let me look this up.” And the blurb absolutely teased me. Enticed me. SOLD me.

Holy moly I couldn’t believe my eyes. This seemed like it was going to be EXACTLY what I was looking for. SO obviously angsty, crazy, intense, and completely headed for trouble. And as soon as I started already speculating where this could possibly go (just on the blurb alone) I knew… it was MINE!!!

I started it immediately, and I didn’t put it down (except to exclaim my glee over a new reveal, or periodically eeeeeeep! on our Facebook page). And what made this all that much better, is that SO many of you jumped right in with me.  A spontaneous “read-along” that equally rocked so many of our Saturday afternoons! Just look at us having so much fun:

Maryse’s Book Blog: Thanks to Jules for bringing this brand new release to our attention. I just read the synopsis. Whoa! This sounds like it’s going to be a SUPER tumultuous/angsty/romantically heart-aching read.

Okay, so from what I gather: She has two boyfriends. They both know about the other (although the relationships don’t “intersect”) but it’s how the author ends the synopsis that has me wanting to give this a go… asap! ‘Cause you see, there’s another woman…

“She hates me.
I don’t even know she exists.
She loves them. I love them.
And they love me.

EVERYTHING else hangs in the balance.”

Lisa: this is a great book, read it yesterday in one day. Must read!

Maryse’s Book Blog: YAY!!! Good to know. This one sounds different!

Sandra: I’m nervous about reading this

Maryse’s Book Blog: What kind of nervous?

Sandra: It seems like it’s going to be filled with angst

Maryse’s Book Blog: Yep… making me nervous, too. But then again… it’s that very “nervousness” that has me wanting to read it.

Lindsay: OMG I’m reading this now. Seriously did not see stuff coming… I’m on the edge of my seat with this one!

Sadie: Super angsty? I’m in

Alice: Oh you guys are so Bad! I one clicked! Do you know how many times I have one clicked this week with all the deals. I have no life. I need to get out and meet a man to become my boyfriend to take out all this pent up frustration out on since my breakup months ago. Who has time to read a Kindle with 500 books. Ugh.

Ashley: Just one clicked

Rebecca: I just got it. Now i need the kids to go to bed and the husband to go out, i can start. I will catch up reading by tonight.

Maryse’s Book Blog: Ok I’m still in the beginning stages but the writing is reeeeallly good so far. Loving! It has a very mature, thoughtfully intelligent feel. But still exciting in the fact that she essentially has two love-lives…

Scoti: Just finished it! What a roller coaster but I really enjoyed it!

Feifei: I was really impressed with the way Ms. Torre addressed the ‘love triangle’ aspect of it. If you do read it, I think you’ll be surprised with the twists and turns in there

Yanira: “Mature, thoughtfully intelligent feel” I’m so sold! I need a break from college aged teens. As soon as I’m done with Addicted for Now, I’ll get on this one.

Maryse’s Book Blog: 28% and… Whoa! I think my eyebrows have been in my hairline for the last 5 minutes. *whooooooo* this is different. Definitely that.

Sadie: 41% – started as soon as I saw your post

Kirsten: I’ve just started. I heard this one is fantastic

Maryse’s Book Blog: Eeeeeeep!! The book just took a crazy turn and I totally “what! what, whhhhaaaaaaat-ed!!!” Out loud. My husband was all… “what happened?!!” and I said… “My book!” Whoa! Again… Very fun.

Sadie: Was it around **%? I kinda gasped too

Maryse’s Book Blog: Yep!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Eeeeeeep! *bites nails* are you “there” Sadie?

Kirsten: Y’all are making me NERVOUS!

Maryse’s Book Blog: It’s good, Kirsten. Just you wait!

Kirsten: I love/hate these love triangle books. I’m only 10% in, but loving the writing.

Erin: I just clicked it. I am a angst junkie!!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: This is such a good movie!!! I mean book… Heh.

Sadie: **% maryse. Where are you? I’m reading this so fast I haven’t even processed it LOL. Writing is good and while I don’t mind love triangles I don’t think it’s too painful for people who don’t like them…because they are all aware that there are other parties

Maryse’s Book Blog: Yep I’m right where u are Sadie!

Sadie:It’s super steamy and twisty. Was just saying I wish it was longer, which is a good sign… Kirsten I might be the wrong person to ask but I don’t think it’s THAT angsty…just entertaining

Maryse’s Book Blog: Definitely entertaining!

Kirsten: Ok. Thanks ladies

Lindsay: All done, it was an unusual yet gripping love story. Loved it!

Emma: Yep… Me too! Loved it! Couldn’t put it down.

Sadie: Finished! Whoa, haven’t read a book that fast in a while. Very entertaining! Kinda want to go back and reread parts after that epilogue! (It is a standalone.)

Lisa: I started Blind Obsession yesterday but the angst and likely heart break had me stop. I can’t handle that sort of pressure. Ahhhhh. Now I’m in this freak stage afraid to pick up my next book. Maryse, is this one ‘safe territory’ for the moment?

Maryse’s Book Blog: This is safe-ish, Lisa. Although at some point… it did give me a slight “Blind Obsession” feel. Funny that you brought that one up. I loved this one. Much fun, great twist, and OMG steamy! Now when I say safe, I don’t mean safe-safe. There is angst, but this one is pure entertainment, plus a few adrenalizing eeeeeep moments… This one is SO fun! But not in a “funny” way. More like stuff I totally didn’t see coming and I LOVED that!

I had three books started as of yesterday, all seemed potentially really good, but I couldn’t settle on one. I think it’s ’cause the fates had this one in store for me today. And it did NOT disappoint!

Clever, sharp, twisty and turny, and so unique! Great writing, great detail, intense passion, secrets looming, intensity building. And the rawness of some of the more… let’s call them “intimate” moments. eek Simply eye-popping just in the “psychology” of it all.

I knew, from the start, what I was signing up for. And I made sure he knew the same. That I was a sexual creature, who couldn’t stand by and wait to be beckoned.

Such an unusual arrangement and I just knew we were playing with fire. Speaking of fire… this one was very hot, and exactly the kind of OMG whoa! read I was looking for.

So what’s it about? An intense love triangle, but not our “usual”. One that was… allowed. Understood. Accepted for what it needed to be.

I think he was surprised at how easy it turned out to be. The seamless union our lives took. The separation played a big part in that. The separation of my two worlds. That was, and still is, the key that keeps this whole production running.

They didn’t ever cross over…

I love it, and they love it. They don’t need to know who the other is. That would take it a step too close, a step too real.

but OMG they were so obviously a trio.

I don’t want to do anything to disrupt the perfection that is us. The three of us. Living two separate relationships.

Disrupt. Yeah… 😉

I don’t want to venture too far from the blurb, so I’ll just say… no. I’m not saying any more. I went into this with that blurb alone, blind to everything else, was guessing the “outcome” like crazy and still was delightfully surprised.

Maybe even blindsided. And I think you should be, too.

Read it!!! Read it! Read it! Read it! Readit!! If you like the kind of books that I do, this is FOR YOU!!! It’s not perfect (maybe longer would have made it so)… but it’s d@mn fun! A few very entertaining hours await you. Then get back to me and tell me your reactions (spoiler-free of course).

Unputdownable, exciting, fun and totally headed for trouble! 😛

4.5 stars! (had it been longer so that I could have indulged in even MORE of it, might have made it 5 stars). BUT!!! There was plenty of EVERYTHING and it was so well done, that honestly, I’m plenty good with it, as is.

P.S. I did a quick search in my email once Jules announced this release and sure enough, I had a review copy (and I gobbled it up!). Thank you Alessandra Torre for sending it my way!!! *wheeeeeeee* I had a BLAST! Now I’m off to stalk your other work.

P.P.S. I love when I finish a book and I’m so amped that I can’t help but review it right away. There was no need for me to sit and contemplate. I devoured it, and that says it all, for me. In fact, I think I highlighted the whole darn thing. lol

➔➔➔  Looking for my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 star reviews. 😀

➔➔➔  Love this author? Browse more Alessandra Torre features and reviews on my blog. 😀

Book Review – Aftermath by Cara Dee

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Aftermath
<— You just know from the cover that my eyes popped with reading glee, when I saw it. Dark looking, intriguing, and that title? “Aftermath“. Whoa. This was going to explore some depth, I just knew it. Not just “dark & psychological” (I love those!) but a potential romance of the M/M kind.

Two men that survived a kidnapping, forming an emotional bond so deep, that they continue to need each other, after the fact. We’ve heard about this kind of thing before. Maybe not Stockholm Syndrome, but certainly… right up my alley!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Who wants to read an M/M book with me? This book has been calling me so hard —> Aftermath by Cara Dee (two men survive a a five-month long kidnapping together- eeeeep!! Definitely up my alley!). I’m starting it tonight!! I can’t wait, I’ve been craving this one for days and the feedback from our fellow readers that jumped on it over the last week or so has me even more excited.

Tracie: Maryse you will love this book. It’s absolutely fantastic.

Marie: Halfway thru it now – whooaaaaa sooo good

Dawn: Read it the other night! It was very good!

Kandace: It is so good. You will love them. I loved how separate they were broken but together they were something amazing. Gun or no gun!!

LeAnn: Loved this book!!

Pam: Such a good read. It was one of my first m/m. Very well written. Worth the read!

Yvette: Ooooh I’m in!

Kathy: I’m in too! It sounds soooooooo gooood!

Rebecca: Ooooh Maryse, Dark read and m/m, you will be in heaven!!

Maura: Was a great read, not as dark as I expected. Loved Cam and his moody, brooding self but he had a very tender side when he was there for Austin and vice versa. They helped each other heal and found love.

Maryse’s Book Blog: I’m almost done! Very good (and very steamy!!!!!)

Danicka: @40% really liking this!

Danicka: It was great! Can’t wait to read your review!!

Agreed guys!!! It was so good. Little mini roller coaster rides… over and over again (in scary form, and in romance form). 😉

How did you simply leave a five-month long kidnapping behind you?

And that is the question, right there. That is a HUGE part of this story. Coming to grips. Surviving “life” after surviving horror.

Not as dark as I expected, but only because we start the book in a way where we’re (er… I mean THEY’RE) already free, and we backtrack throughout the book, via their memories. It’s part of the healing process. Also part of their nightmares. And believe me, even though we have that *slight* comfort of re-living through memories only, what they experienced was horrific and scary.

So what’s it about?

A group of various men (all strangers) are kidnapped, and held hostage for five months. Paired up in cells, they are subjected to mental and physical torture. Our two main characters were paired in their cell together. One, a married man/business professional, and the other, of the more “bad boy” lifestyle. But in this cell, all that matters is survival, and the will to live. The hope of escape. And eventually, the need for comfort.

This is the exploration of that horror story, the discovery (why did this happen?)… and the aftermath. How these drastically changed men attempt to re-integrate themselves into their old lives. And what they still need, to cope. Each other.

Another reason Austin couldn’t sleep was his odd need to check in with Cam – the man he’d been thrown into a cage-like cell with all those months ago. After spending most of their time together, they’d formed a bond he didn’t understand, but it was there nonetheless. In fact, it felt wrong not to see him everyday now.

It had a little of everything that love to read about. That darkness that kept me on the edge of my seat, an undeniable bond (due to that horrific situation), angst (due to the nature of the situation), and that M/M highly detailed, super-steaminess that I can’t help but bite my lip over. *whoooooooo fans self* HOT!!! Yes yes… it’s true. I totally bite my lip (cliché, I know) when my stomach starts er… “butterfly-dipping” like it did in this one. redface *blush*

Okay skip this part if you haven’t read this book yet (and want to experience the story without anymore outside influence). It’s time for me to analyze my connection to it…

However, despite my heightened-adrenaline expectations, it wasn’t as gut-wrenching, or heart-fluttering as some of the past M/M’s that I’ve become attached to. Admittedly, I’m fairly new to the genre, so I’ve got a lot to learn. But one thing that keeps me so hooked is the “gay for you” aspect, that absolutely changes the character’s lives. That doubt, denial and the moments of heartbreak. Acceptance. Rejection. And it’s through all of that angst that I fall head-over-heels in love with them as they do with each other. It almost seems the harder they deny themselves, the more intense their feelings become. And mine always follow suit. I’m really addicted to that overwhelming desire, need, emotional want, that just can’t be denied, but with that side of hesitancy.

And this one did have that, but just not in angsty spades.  These m/m books bring that exciting *oomph* factor to romance, but this one was a gentler oomph. 😉

Perhaps, had the book been a bit longer, we could have experienced the initial bonding, hesitancy, and confusion, in more detail. The road to “them” could have been drawn out a bit more. But in this case, the bond was already there.

So I’ve come to the conclusion that while this is about the romance, it was just as much about their healing.

Okay I’m done self-analyzing!! You can come back now! 😀

That said, I connected and swooned plenty. It had just enough of everything to have me (and mostly keep me) feeling it. Smiling at times, hurting at others.

Plus, we got answers! And with those answers, I found out that there’s another book on the way. I’m in for more.

3.75 to 4 stars

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