X

Maryse's Book Blog

Following my heart, one book at a time...

You are here: Home / Home

Latest Paranormal & Contemporary Romance Book Releases – September 24th 2013

By 16 Comments

A few new releases that I was anticipating are out! Story completions, sexy vampires and possibly a mega-cliffhanger relief. YAY! But… there are a few “new-to-me” ones in here that have my attention. Especially TWO that made me mini-squee. Both look suuuuper-steamy (I mean, erotica level) and a bit out of my comfort zone (or into my exciting reading zone). One involves a MMF trio (actually sounds super-angsty, too), and one is so obviously a D/s book (but with a possible teacher-student twist). I’m a happy happy girl!

P.S. You’ll see ’em noted below. Can’t miss ’em!
P.P.S. Let me know if I’m missing any or if you loved any. 🙂

BARGAINS

  • Promise Me Darkness (book #1) by Paige Weaver – is SUPER BARGAIN priced!! (book #2 was just released below)
  • Perfect Regret (Bad Rep) by A. Meredith Walters <– Kat found it, and Nancy says: “Sale is for 48 hours only!”
  • Abigail’s choice by L.J. Dee
  • More Than This by Jay McLean <— Linh recommends!! “I read a wonderful book yesterday and wanted to share. … Definite new book boyfriend alert!”
  • Searching For Moore (Needing Moore Series) by Julie Richman <— so many of our fellow readers appear to be loving this. … with book #2 coming out in about a week! Rebecka says: “Oh god, this was so good. I was up til 2 am finishing this. Why are books so awesome? I remember when sleep was awesome.”
  • Axel (Corps Security) by Harper Sloan <—  tons of our fellow readers LOVE this mega-alpha.
     

PARANORMAL

                  

CONTEMPORARY

                                             

He doesn’t want her… “Unrequited Love” Book Recommendations:

By 54 Comments

UPDATED May 13th 2020!! Just scroll down to the UPDATED DATE section for all the new additions. 😀

ALSO!! Don’t forget to check out these lists for even more:

Carla: Ahhh I love some unrequited love stories. But I want something very real and deep like experiment in terror, fever series, Heller… You know when she’s pining for him but he just doesn’t see her that way or he doesn’t see her at all… He can even be an ass. I want that deep ache. I haven’t read one like this in ages… Oh I really miss them!

YES!!!! He doesn’t want her… “The Unrequited Love Book Recommendations List”. But actually… it’s more than that. Here’s a REALLY great reader request that I wasn’t really able to answer. But I KNOW where she’s coming from with this.

Do you remember my first and favorite from Kristen Ashley? Tate from “Sweet Dreams“? Do you remember that *oomph* when we (I mean… she) first saw him. And do you remember that punch to the gut when she overhead him… disgruntled about her being around?

Gah!!! I was HOOKED. How DARE HE!!??? And oh boy, I wanted her to so prove a point. Prove him wrong. And every step of the way, I loved every moment of them. I didn’t expect his nonchalance and in fact, so obvious disinterest in her, and I didn’t expect that pain right off that bat. After all. Screw him! Who is he?!! He doesn’t know us! I mean her. Right? But we hurt anyway, didn’t we?

And so did Fatima. There was a certain “feel” to the book she’s using as a suggestion (Sweet Dreams), that had me addicted AT ONCE, and I want more like this, too. That feel of being attracted to somebody, that instant infatuation, he takes your breath away, and… he doesn’t even notice you. Or worse. He notices you, and doesn’t pay you any attention. Or worse yet. He notices you, pays you attention but it’s… not the good kind. And there was that burning sort of… “jealousy” too.

I get exactly what she’s asking. If you’ve read this, you know what we’re wanting.

For this list, we want the reality of unrequited crushes (and even better… books that have a more mature feel than just “unrequited crushes”). We want the one where the guy had no real interest in the heroine at first. We want books that have that initial punch to the gut. The hurt. We want the personal growth. The resistance, and the insistence. And then maybe… HIS chase. Or our chase.

And Fatima? I actually have another from Kristen Ashley where the guy at first… barely notices the girl. It’s called RAID. YEARS of it. And YEARS of her “being” where he usually is… just in case he stops by. Just in case he *might* notice her this time. It had that same realistic edge:

It was silly but I couldn’t let go of the hope that one day, he’d walk in, look at me, and maybe pop by my table to have a chat where I would boggle his mind with my brilliance. I’d charm him with my manner. Then he’d ask me out on a date. At the end of which, maybe, hopefully, I’d finally be able to touch his hair (amongst other things).

This never happened.

We want more!! We wanna work for it! 😀

Here’s Fatima’s request:

Fatima: Hiiiii!!!! Maryse, and whoever else.. Help?! – well – this is crazy.. But I’m looking for books. Where, the lead female is in love / likes a guy who has another woman / love interest in his life … AND books similar to, say, kristen ashleys – sweet dreams… As we know, Tate called L Fat…, so I’m also looking for books where the guy has been particularly mean / jerky / a$$holish / insulting to the heroin.. Please please help with titles!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Oh I like this!!!! I want to know them too. They are kind of few and far between….

Fatima: *sigh* I know!! And as much as I like reading books with teens and the younger gen … I prefer books with characters that are a little older.. Love them.. For some reason they seem way way, more.. – call me nuts but I totally dig the whole get jealous scenes.. *shrugs* & oh well.. To whoever reads this and helps, thanks!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Me too!!!! Let’s hope we get some bites.

Fatima: *prays and hopes like hell* & yes I know that’s sorta contradictory haha

Claudia: I don’t know if you read any one of these (they are very good):”Reaper’s Property”, “Undeniable”, “Consequences” ..?

Jeannie: I haven’t read The Nature of Cruelty yet, but the guy was really cruel to the heroine (hence the title).

Fatima: Thanks jeannie! I’m definitely gonna check it out. I started consequences (maryse I checked your review out on it) and OMG! – I want to kill him!!.. (I’m only like in the 3rd chapter) I assumed that maybe his like Caleb from the dark duet.. But, but.. *sputters* argh!

Traci: Have you read Broken by Megan Hart? I don’t think it’s exactly what you’re looking for, but definitely a twist on what you’re looking for. I really enjoyed it!

All good suggestions. So… does anyone have any more?

UNREQUITED LOVE ROMANCE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS (updated 05-13-2020):

Najwa: Empire by Rachel Van Dyken is also an awesome book and it’s definitely unrequited love .. I loved this one more than unbreak my heart which is one of my all time favorites. P.S. this is book 7 from Eagle Elite series and its best to be read after Elude book 6 from the series. However it can be read as stand alone

Zandy: I just read Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas last night and it is unrequited love at its finest! The heroine had a one sided love for his husband for 8 years!!! It is a slow burn historical romance and beautifully written.

Shreyasi: Try Kiss an Angel guys. It has good grovel too.

Margie: This probably can also go under What to Read after KA – Hero by Samantha Young. Some of her books are better than others. But just finished this and it’s terrific. Great strong heroine and alpha hero. Lots of angst. But a good story. Has HEA and no cliffhanger. Hope this is a series.

Lauren B: Not that aren’t enough Kristen Ashley books on the list (if you can have too many) but what about Own the Wind: A Chaos Novel (The Chaos Series Book 1)? Shy was kind of a jerk to teenage Tabby who had a huge crush on him. That’s one of my favorites!

Leslie M: I finished Timid (Lark Cove Book 2) by Devey Perry last night. I actually liked it better than book 1 – 4****! I enjoyed the “unrequited love” storyline. Although this is about diff couple than 1st book, to me it is not a standalone.

DeAnna: I would say that my fav unrequited love book would probably be Jagged (Colorado Mountain Series Book 5) by Kristen Ashley.

Grey: My favorite unrequited love… would have to be The Unrequited by Saffron Kent.

Nicole: devoured The Unrequited, it was intense, but oh so good!!

Katharine: You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sara Manning was a deeper story but definitely had that “mean” quality.

Terry: I don’t know if you like historical romance but Romancing Mister Bridgerton With 2nd Epilogue (Bridgertons Book 4) fits the bill for unrequited love. He isn’t super mean to her but she over hears him say something bad about her and it is wrenching. I highly recommend it! New to your site and I love it!

MichelleS: Romancing Mr. bridgerton? With Colin & Penelope Featherington? My absolute fave of that whole series!!! Loved that one. Slow burns are best.

Maryse: Unbreak My Heart (Fostering Love Book 1) is one of my absolute FAVORITE unrequited love stories. Oh the pining and the hurt that came with his reactions to her. UGHHHH!!!! That book makes SO many of my favorite trope lists, but unrequited love is my all-time favorite of them all, and THIS BOOK DID IT for me!!! Ahhhhhhh my heart!!!! …this is as unrequited as it gets. I couldn’t have asked for more. 😉 P.S. Here’s my Book Review. …

Robyn: I’m glad to see you read Unbreak My Heart. It is my most favorite books of all time. I have read it so many times. Just thinking about it gives me butterflies. GAH!

Ashley: I read Unbreak My Heart because it kept popping up on the blog and OH BOY that was amazing.

Robyn: Maryse and everyone, I’m soooo excited to tell you about a book I just finished! It’s called IF | A Novel by Randi Cooley Wilson. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and OMG what a book. It reminds me a little of the Avoiding series by KA Linde. The main characters meet freshman year of college. Oh the angst with these two! Eeek! It’s never the right time for them. I don’t want to give anything away, it’s that good.

This book is right up there with Unbreak My Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn. Now if you know anything about me, that is one of my all time favorite books and nothing can top it. If is giving it a run for the money. You guys have to read this glorious book!

Robyn: All My Life sounds so much like my favorite book Unbreak My Heart!! She’s known him and loved him since childhood, marriage, a child and divorce and he doesn’t know or realize this. This sounds like some angsty unrequited love to moi.

Maryse: Right Robyn??? I LOVED Unbreak My Heart so All My Life sounds like exactly my thing!!!

Vivian:

Maryse: OMG YESSSSS!! I was hooked on that series BIG TIME. It GUTTED ME!!!! Here are my reviews.

Margie: Suggest reading Beyond Repair by Susie Tate. Great heroine who overhears hero bad mouthing her to friends. Ms. Tate has other books in this same theme.

Margie: Just finished Under Locke by Mariana Zapata (released Jan 2914). It has it all. Unrequited love, overhearing H insult h, alpha H, feisty h – great read.

Margie: I can suggest one more that’s a fun read and has great characters with snappy dialog. It’s Here for the Cake by Emily Poule. A great first author book. Smart heroine is encouraged to attend destination wedding of her ex to break up the wedding. One of those books to keep and re-read.

Yvette: Oh and I don’t know how you feel about historical romances but I read one that made me cry with how much the heroine was feeling and how badly the hero was hurting her by not loving her. It’s called The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel (The Highland Guard Book 1) by Monica McCarty.

Vivian: When it comes to the “King of All Assh*oles”…the crown definitely goes to Bastian in “Surviving Raine: Surviving Raine Book 1”…by Shay Savage

Julie O: You are so right Vivian! Like I have said before, I couldn’t stand him for the first half of the book and then didn’t think I could live without him for the second. Just goes to show who you can fall in love with!

Maryse: AGREEEEED!! One of my favorite books ever, and had me feeling furious and swooning. SOOOO GOOOD!! Here’s my 5 star Book Review.

Robyn: Undo Me: The Good Ol’ Boys by M. Robinson! This book! God, it was so angsty. This book could go into the unrequited love and books that made me cry categories. This is the third book in the series and by far the best! The H/h went through years of torment to finally get to where they were at the end of the book. Please read these books, you won’t be disappointed!

Robyn: Complicate Me: The Good Ol’ Boys. It’s full of angst and unrequited love. Our favorite! Alexandra has known these 4 boys basically since birth. As they grow up together her bond with Lucas gets stronger and of course they love each other. They have to deny this love because the rest of the boys and their parents don’t want them together. They go through their trials and tribulations throughout their lives until they finally realize the can’t not be together! I fell in love with Alex and her Boys and can’t wait for the next boy, Jacobs book!

Christine: Eternally North by Tillie Cole. He is a jerk to her since first meeting. VERY funny book.

Amy: Maryse! Every Ugly Word has unrequited love and WORSE is that she has to see him dating one of the girls who hates her and makes her life miserable…and he just won’t see it or believe it. UGH!!

Maryse: Amy I love unrequited love!! Well I mean… in BOOKS. Only in books.

Amy: …my lord but that was crazy. Just to clarify, there was no ugly crying involved, no death, no love triangles (more like just unrequited love), and it had a slight supernatural twist to it because she can communicate with her older self in the mirror.

So, final verdict? YES! Read it! Just know going into it that it’s intense and heavy on the whole bullying thing, which is what was making me freak out through most of it. Not knowing what was coming next from those stupid meanies is what caused all the apprehension and anxiety for me. And her mother is AWFUL. Now, if that sort of thing (bullying in books) doesn’t affect you that way when you read it, then you probably won’t lose your sh!t the way I did. 😛

Christine: I cant believe I forgot about ‘Fallen Crest High (Fallen Crest Series, Book 1)’ and ‘Fallen Crest Family (Fallen Crest Series, Book 2)’ by Tijan. Dysfunctional family, jerks galore. One of the darker reads. Read this – you are missing out BIG TIME!!!

Hollie: I love books like this as well. If you haven’t tried The Fall From Grace (Mad World Book 1) (Mad World) Series by Christine Zolendz its definately worth the read. The hero and heroine start out being quite hurtful to one another.

Janet: Lead: A Stage Dive Novel (Stage Dive Series Book 3) was great! Unrequited love, ultra-steamy, tear-jerking, funny… contains my new favorite, loved-hated-loved, flawed hot-man.

Cheryl: Just finished Boy In A Band (Morgan Mallory Series Book 1). It was SO good. A LONG drawn-out angst filled, seemingly unrequited love relationship. I am sitting here with tears running down my face still in shock at not only how it ended but at the events leading up to the end. The *way* I was broadsided with an *event* made me think it couldn’t possibly be real, even though I have finished the book and know it is. Amy I so need your manatee!!

I know there is a sequel, but not sure I’m going to read it. It somehow seems to take place prior to the ending of BIAB. Ugh, now I have to re-think what I want to read next. I wanted a gut-punch and I so got that!! *sniffle, ugly cry*

Tessa: Boy in a Band. I swear, BiaB is a train wreck. The girl just can’t say no to this guy…

Amy: …with this one? I just feel sad for her. Every time he ropes her back in (ooooooh he’s a JERKFACE, Maryse!!!!) I keep thinking, don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t– *throws up hands* Way to go, dumba$$.

Carla: I just read a book (Precarious (Jokers’ Wrath, Book 1) by Bella Jewel) that gave me this same KA feel that I was looking for Maryse. It’s not as good as KA, but… Plus there are enough of push and pull, romantic, pining and unrequited love and even some “oh no he didn’t” moments just like you said. But it’s a short story (just 192 pages) but this book gave me just what I wanted.

Angela: Just finished Precarious and it was so good. I haven’t had that heart dropping Travis like squeee in a long time but this book gave it to me and there are some sexy sexy scenes in it that shocked me! If it is in not on your TBR list you need to add it!

Julie O: Nobody writes the “alpha male” like Kristen Ashley. For those of you who haven’t read the Burg series, you are missing out. I would definitely start on the first one, “For You”. The next is “At Peace” which is one of my all time favorite books. I absolutely love Joe (Cal), in fact would pick him for a husband if I could! I love Travis, Kellen, Tate, and Tack but Joe is at the top of my list.

I wish all authors would write like Kristen, she writes long books you can really get lost in. Most of her books are series, where you will see characters that you loved from other books repeated and she is the greatest epilogue writer ever. She could teach classes on writing epilogues. She wraps it all up in one book, no waiting months on a sequel to come out and when you finish one of her books you feel fulfilled and there is a HEA. Just wish she could write faster or clone herself!

Maryse: Agreed! She’s one of my forever #1 favorites!!! And a writing machine at that, and yet, we still can’t get enough. LOL!!

Julie O: Maryse, If a book comes out by Kristen Ashley I automatically click it for my kindle, don’t even look to see what it is about. I shouldn’t complain that she doesn’t write enough, she is like you say a “writing machine”.

Megan: 20% into Sweet Dreams and I shot out of bed saying only to myself I love this man…. why haven’t I read this a long time ago? Thank you Maryse for yet another great read!!!!!

Lauren: The Untouchable series by Lindsay Delagair. Not only does he not return her feelings, he is a hit man hired to kill her!! Maybe try…

Megan: I agree with Lauren about the Untouchable series!! Those books are one of my favorite unrequited love stories!!

Recommendations from 2013 (original list)

Kim: anyone who hasn’t tried R L Mathewsons ‘neighbour from hell series’ needs to do that.. Right now. I think Playing for keeps is the first, but it’s fun and beautiful and I reeeeally want to marry a Bradford.

Lori: I do love it when it just settles into the 2 main characters. Breathe kinda has that going on. The h is in love with the H for years, and doesn’t think he notices her, though he’s not an a-hole to her. I loved the nature of cruelty, it’s probably in my top 25 this year, and I’ve read about 700 books this year, so that’s saying something.

Jennifer: I fell so hard for Joe in At Peace” – YES!! I remember… he was kind of a “one-nighter” type with her (see my Book Review)

Jennifer: Tack in Motorcycle Man … They all had a “jerk” mentality. I just love an intense book jerk, especially one that eventually comes around in a big way!” – but of course! Total player… sort of. Another “one night stand” heart-break… and his reasoning for it *ooof!!!* (see my Book Review)

“Or when Ty told Lexi that all p*ssy comes with chains. Actually I think it’s worse becaus it IS a series so we get to live and breathe the characters longer. I love me some KA so I feel confident in the comparison. If that’s the feeling she’s looking for this series will totally work.”  (see my Book Review)

  • Law Man (Dream Man) by Kristen Ashley <— suggested by Paula.
  • Rock Chick Revenge by Kristen Ashley  <— suggested by Paula.
  • Back to You by Priscilla Glenn <— suggested by Paula. (Here is my review)
  • Rock Me by Cherrie Lynn <— Also recommended by Paula. Actually a pretty good suggestion… long-time crush on this tattooed hottie. One of my ALL time favorite books, and while he wasn’t a jerk to her, there was some incredible pining here. LOVE LOVE LOVE! (See my Book Review)
  • Heller by J.D. Nixon <— Rebecka also suggests this:

“Have you read the Heller series. It’s hard to compare because it’s not one thing he says to her but there’s definitely a pattern of assh*le over the course of the series that beaks my heart the way Tate did when he called Laurie fat.” (see the Heller Series Reading Order)

Bobbie: “You must read Everything I’ve Never Had by Lynetta Halat. This book it’s your mood perfectly!! Adrian and Celeste have just the cure for you!!!” (ohhh look! “…a forbidden attraction between the widow and her husband’s bad boy cousin, Adrian.“

  • Paradise by Judith Mcnaught <— Kristina recommends this one: “One of my all time favorites is Paradise by Judith McNaught. 4.3 rating over 13,000 votes on Goodreads.”
  • Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet: Book 1) by CJ Roberts <— Kristina recommends this series (and while I’ve seen this more as a super-dark series, he definitely was a jerk for a very looong time. Yes!
  • Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips <— Amy recommends this one: “…As humorless as he is deadly handsome, he drags the irrepressible Daisy away from her uptown life and sets out to tame her.“
  • Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead <– Kristina recommends this one for this list, too.
  • Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins <— and Kristina recommends this one.
  • What Price Paradise by Katherine Allred <— recommended by Erica, saying:

“…not the ultimate a$$hole but he loves someone else…” – just read the synopsis and OMG this sounds angsty!

Yvette: Have you read The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders? It’s about a husband trying to win his wife’s love again after she asks for a divorce and he realizes, ‘oh shit she actually means it’. It gave me a few sucker punches to the heart.

Rebecka: I totally forgot about The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders. Unrequited love at its finest.

➔➔➔  Looking for more of our favorite recommendations? Browse our “Ultimate Favorites Lists” here. Are you in the mood for a certain kind of story? Browse our favorite “genre/trope categories” here.

                                 

Book Review – Unattainable by Madeline Sheehan

By 26 Comments

Unattainable (Undeniable: Book Three) – This book IS LIVE ON AMAZON right now!! <— Note: This is book #3, so make sure to read #1 (Undeniable) & #2 (Unbeautifully) first.
Another stand-out installment in this gritty biker-series that had me riveted from page one. I was excited to start it, and I was even more ecstatic as I read it. And yet… *sigh* I’m torn, ’cause I don’t even know how to explain to you the kind of… devious thrill I get while reading these.

What was it about being invited on the back of a bike that drove women crazy?

It was insulting.

Sexist.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

And it was hot as f%&k.

YES!!!! I am SO there.

Yet, with this… there’s so much more to it, than just being on “the back of a bike”. Not that I’ve ever been on the back of one… er. Oh! Except when I was nine, and my uncle brought me to breakfast on the back of his Harley. That was fun! Apparently I “leaned” into it a but too much. Poor guy had to compensate for my extra… what? 50lbs? How much does a 9-year old weigh, anyway?

*whoops* Totally off track.

Anyway, there’s something so exciting about anticipating the next shocking reveal.  The moment I know should appall me (and it does… it does ;)) but at the same time, I can’t believe it went there, and I’m kind of glad it did. Okay. No. I’m really glad it did. Indulging my deviant side. Ah come on. We’ve all got a little bit of it in us, don’t we? Noooooo? It’s just me? Ummm hmmm. Sure. 😉

These books tell me a story, and introduce me to a lifestyle that I have no access to in real life. Which is good thing. ‘Cause I mean… I know for a fact I couldn’t hack the life of an “old lady”. But I’ll certainly step into the imaginary shoes of one for a day.

Girls are stupid like that. Falling in love with what they can never have the untouchable, the seemingly larger than life, the unattainable.

Yep.

And this author indulges my bad-girl side. Safely. The only thing that suffers is my mind. That poor logical thing has to war with my crazy heart and they both can barely stand each other during these reads. ESPECIALLY in this one.

As I was explaining these to a friend last night, they’re awesome (some of my favorite books) but you have to be open to… where they take you. You don’t have to agree with it, or even like the events (or the people) or want to “be them”… but expect the outrageous (and I mean outrageous!) and go into these, not expecting a life lesson… but a guilty pleasure. Go in for the rude. Whoops. I mean ride, but rude works, too. 😉 It’s almost easier to recommend these kinds of stories if they’re shows or movies, then reading them as books ’cause recommending these books is so much more personal. You just can’t help but internalize them and then second-guess your response. I feel like I always have to be careful in reminding readers, these stories pull no punches. In fact, they’re gonna punch YOU in the face many times! But I’m totally game for that.

Ruthless bad-ass criminals that do what they want, when they want, how they want (and I mean anything. You piss ’em off, ya might just get a punch in the face or three… or a bullet in the head – woman or man. Sometimes… it doesn’t even matter). You tangle with them, you live their lifestyle, and sure… you get their “protection” but you also have to abide by their rules. It’s not a free-for-all. There is a hierarchy here. A different kind of justice prevails and “fair or unfair”, social norms and righteous indignation do not belong.

Yep. I have a kind of dark fascination with this underbelly of society, I read these twitching excitedly, grinning, grimacing and cringing in delight. And then every once in awhile,  it gets to be even too much for me (well, you know… something happens that even I stop and think – OMG how am I gonna review THAT?)

THAT? What’s THAT? Well, I’ll tell you. In just a second…

So what’s it about?

Cage and Tegen have been best friends since childhood (raised in a motorcycle club). Cage being the son of the club’s president, and Tegen, the daughter of one of the sort of… “old ladies”. More like a mistress to one of the guys. Anyway, Tegen’s always crushed on Cage, and Cage… didn’t reciprocate. Until one night, he did. And then proceeded to kick her out of bed the next morning in typical “bad-boy” fashion telling her “it wasn’t like that for him”. And Tegen’s red-headed temper and fiery ways exploded every chance she got. And I get it. Whoa. That was… ROAR!!!!!!!! (and yet SO expected. Come on Tegen… really? But wait. That would have totally been me, too, so who am I to judge?)

I wasn’t careful. I let that love blossom uncontrollably until it was in full bloom, exploding from within me, with nowhere to go. It wasn’t the same for him. The older he grew, the more he changed. Gone was the sweet, caring boy he’d been, and in his place… He became the cockiest, most self-centered, self-serving, egotistical, narcissistic, and depraved motherf$%ker I’d ever met in my life.

She loathed these men, and loathed the one she used to trust and feel safe around. If Tegen’s around, watch out! Bad-ass bikers or not, she’s always in their face, screaming. *whoo* Kind of exhausting actually, and I’m telling you, as “bad-guys” as these guys are, the restraint they showed around her outbursts was quite impressive. No worries, these bikers are still plenty hard-core in this one.

Anyway, this is about them. Older, mid-twenties now and stuck seeing each other after a few years of separation. Cage now thinks she’s hot, and she has never gotten over him. And still despises everything about him (while secretly suffering in love with him). You want tumultuous love affair? You got it! You want another mega-alpha male that says stuff that should make you want to kick him you know where, and instead, you swoon? You got it!

“Take it,” he said hoarsely, grabbing her hands and interlocking their fingers.

*whoooo* excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor….

But there was something else. Another storyline that I wasn’t expecting that I went crazy for.

And this… is THAT.

OMG you guys, THAT is the part that had me connecting full-on. The character that I was introduced to past installments (actually participated in something that I abhorred in the first book), but I didn’t see him coming in this one. Oh, I knew he’d be in this one, but I didn’t know how much he’d steal the show, for me. Dirty and his story blew me away.

Dirty. He was dirty. He was filthy, both inside and out. He was a hollowed out, rotted piece of sh!t who should have quit breathing a long time ago yet, for some stupid f#$king reason, Deuce wouldn’t let him.

His past broke me, and his present (his coping mechanisms) revolted me. I was BEYOND conflicted. How??!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Okay I’m not that far in yet, but I can already tell, Dirty’s story is going to be my favorite. Whoa. This is going to hurt…

Nicole: That was my favorite part of the book!!! I would almost like a novella of those two, needed more!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: OMG. I did not see that coming…

Cézanne: I’m only 14% in and me and a friend were just discussing that. I like Dirty.

Maryse’s Book Blog: I’m where u’re at.

Melany: I finished it…and loved him. More so than Cage…somehow.

Louise: Dirty so far—a tearjerker! Wondering about Elliie!

Amy: According to my Kindle, I’m 14% in. At this point, I’m thinking there should be 3 separate books: One for Cage and Tegan, one for whatever is going to happen with Dirty and Ellie, and one for Hawk, Jase and Dorothy.

Brandi: LOOOVE Dirty!!

Melissa: It’s totally going to hurt

Christy: Just finished it !! Just found this series on Amazon read all 3 in 2 days so I have a Hell’s Horseman hangover. I hope there will be more in the series.

Mandi: I am at 14% as well and have to agree with you all the way!

Darla: I just finished it! I want to be dirty….I mean, I freaking LOVED Dirty. Between this series and Sons of Anarchy…I’m going to end up leaving my husband and becoming somebody’s old lady in an MC.

Maryse’s Book Blog: LOL!!!

Louise: Omg Darla! I’ve been thinking the same thing! Find a MC that needs 2 old ladies!

Melanie: I loved Dirty, I was so shocked how much and how deep his story really was. I could have read a whole book about him. And Cage is such a little Deuce even if he doesn’t want to admit it.

Claudia: Dirty it’s my fav!! I wish she would write a book just about him..

Catherine: It’s 3am and I just finished. Tegen & Cage delivered all the drama but Dirty & Ellie stole my heart. I am too pumped to sleep right now. Loved it!

Maryse’s Book Blog: Still reading… still sooooo into Dirty’s story. Now THAT is a tortured soul. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

Mary: I loved Dirty. X

Jennifer: Just finished and it was so freaking good!!! What a ride! Can’t wait for the next book!

Kandace: Did you finish? I felt bad for a “certain” person. I want someone to be HIS number one. Dirty’s story was my favorite. And D’s story is the hottest mess of them all. I hope hers is next.

Heather: Loved this book… I am still reeling from it! Dirty, What a heart breaker. Cage, I loved his story. ZZ, damn! D, deserves her HEA. Once again, cannot wait for the next one! I absolutely love this author, she ROCKS. I remember how I felt when I read the first book, I was so emotionally wrung out! Couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks.

Trisha: Just finished the book. I was floored at the Dirty business. I found myself tied to those characters over the main ones.

sidenote: skip just a bit of this below in case you want to go into this not knowing anymore. No spoilers really, but again, me analyzing myself in connection to the story…

How could I possibly connect to this… well… beautiful monster. Beautiful? Oh yes… “Dirty” is just a part of his coping mechanism.

…she would f%^k him willingly too if she knew what he actually looked like.

How can I empathize with him, and hope for him, considering…? He wonders that, too.

Every day he struggled. He struggled with remembering, he struggled with forgetting, he struggled with all the f%^ked up, perverted bullsh!t that went round and round in his head,

“Dirty” has self-loathing down pat, and he punishes himself by hurting himself, loses himself and then hurts others and then hurts himself even more because of it. He’s caught in a vicious cycle and one side of me felt the need to hate him, once I found out just how depraved he was. But, in his head, in his memories, I felt destroyed for him, too.

F$%ked up was all he’d ever known.

One thing’s for sure, I pretty much mostly only wanted Dirty’s story. I wanted to live out every moment of his “current situation” (not so much his past, but I was willing to go there with him, if he needed me to). His realizations, his torment and his tiny moments of reprieve. His disgust, his outright terror, and the one thing that could connect him to his humanity again.

Because when he was alone he could shake, he could tremble, he could scream and yell, he could punch walls, he could punch himself. Alone he could cry. Alone he could let the fear out…

I wanted to devour every second of every day of him with him… and as Ellie, once she came into the picture. And we mostly did… for a good portion of it.

And that will be mostly, my only “qualm” about this book. What was almost my favorite book in the series, what started out as OMG 5-stars right from the start, and for the whole first half kind of… lost some of it’s momentum. Dirty’s story was monumental for me. HUGE. And handled with such care and detail and devotion to his healing. And such a risk, considering his “coping” mechanisms. I don’t wanna say it. Just know it’s bad.

He was getting as much attention as the “main characters” and I was LOVING it. His story was so much deeper, so much more painful and had sooooo much potential. I was blown away and so excited (hoping) that we’d get to experience him… coming back to life.

And at a certain point, considering how much detail and thought went into his story in the first half, I feel like he was somewhat rushed through for the second half. I thought to myself, maybe it’s because he’ll be getting his own book? Maybe we won’t be getting his HEA in this one, we’ll just be tentatively “healing” with him, for now, and when he gets his own book, we’ll go through it all with him? And I don’t want to say too much about him in this review, other than… I think I needed more. I feel like I missed… a lot. Through his eyes and through Ellie’s. Sure, we got plenty, but there was SO much more I wanted to experience though her eyes. And through his. I dunno. I feel like we got plenty, but emotionally, I was so there, and then… *sigh* His story could have been phenomenal. It could have been it’s own book. Maybe the best one. Either way, he stole the show. Maybe there’s more to come?

Sidenote: My personal analyzing is over. Okay, you can start reading again… 😉

Do I recommend it? OF COURSE!!!! A solid, perfectly placed book in a series that I’m crazy about. The way this author writes, you internalize and live it, instead of just watch it. Almost as if we’re them or at the very least agreeing with them. Rooting for them.

It’s a totally different kind of entertainment. You have to be in it for the ride, in for the danger, in for the crazy reality and the “morally ambiguous” (<— that’s putting it mildly). In for the love that makes all sorts of horrendous and brutal mistakes. Maybe even accept that some characters might not have an “HEA”.

I dunno. All I know is while I struggle with so many parts of these books (from their violent outbursts, to their sexual exploits), as a whole I can’t get enough. Bored? Never with these. There’s always something that has you gasping in outrage, and just as much of it will have you sighing in deeeeep emotional love. And then… it just might tear your heart out, too.

And you know what? In all of that chaos, there are life lessons.

There is personal and emotional growth. There is a trust that develops overtime. And each book almost seems to heal them, more and more as the series progresses. Most of these guys have come from broken homes, abused childhoods, and are severely damaged. Alone. But together, they become family, and there’s just something about that connection, that protection, and that sense of solidarity that has me beaming even after all of my flinching.

“You’re family,” he’d growl. “And I take care of family.”

I simply… love these books. I can’t put ’em down, and I read ’em slow just so I don’t have to be finished too quickly. So I can live with them (and love with them) for an entire day. And maybe even part of my night, instead of just a few hours.

4.5 stars! (5 stars for the first half, 4 stars for the second half).

Here are the books to come —> Undeniable Series Reading Order

P.S. Bring on Jase!!! He’s always been my favorite since book #1. And while Ripper is my “current” favorite, I can’t wait to finally spend an entire book with Jase. I’m hoping he takes the cake. Oh right… he’s gotta take it from Hawk. Eeeeep! I can’t wait! (and yes….. I think Hawk deserves her more, but like I told a certain character in the book, “Christina” 😉 … “I can’t help it. The heart wants what it wants and I want Jase!” 😉

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

Book Review – Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves

By 8 Comments

Covet
Whoa. The synopsis for this one had my attention months ago, ’cause it was obvious this story would lead us on an intense, yet uncomfortable path. Just the title alone says so much. I couldn’t wait!! And it delivered. Even when it took me out of my comfort-zone, made me cringe, it simultaneously made me ache. It has that real life feel, and I was in!

In fact, the *cringeworthy* stuff often has that added bonus for me. Eeep! I know… sometimes I worry that I should stick to sweet and safe (lest I be labelled… a bad book-influence). 😉 And I do enjoy sweet and safe, but I like to delve into the socially… unacceptable.

The books that make me uncomfortable (make me feel one thing, while my mind simultaneously chastises me) are how I get my mini-adrenaline-rushes. I love to agonize with the characters, and get all caught up in their passions, mistakes, repercussions and eventual growth. Their happiness, and peace. Hey if its not books, then it’s gonna be skydiving, so as long as the books are doing it for me, I think they’re safer. If I’m connecting to the story, my brain is really good at perceiving it as my “reality”, and I get realllly worked up. Fun! And this book was one of ’em!

While romance books are my usual read, “Covet” is not considered a romance novel (but still, managed to be right up my alley):

Sara: Waiting for your review of Covet! I heard that most people say its more of a women’s fiction book

Maryse: Sara, I guess it is… women’s fiction? Sorta. I don’t know much about what constitutes that genre, but it IS about love (romantic love, family, friends, all of that), difficult decisions, personal need, priorities and real-life issues… but love is what it’s mostly all about.

I mean it’s about a struggling marriage and a woman who, by chance, becomes friends with a reallllly handsome police officer, so you know… 😉 (but it’s not about “the police force” or anything like that). It’s not “traditional romance” but it is a love story… make no mistake about it.

Nicole: Does it involve cheating? I was so wrecked after reading Arsen.

Maryse: Uhhhh… well. *eeep* I can’t say where it actually goes (it’s part of the journey). Let’s just say she’s married, she’s lonely (husband’s always away on biz trips), and she makes a good friend…

Lori: Sadie says it’s more women’s fiction than romance…

Kandace: …so no shagging? is it just a bunch of girls sitting around drinking tea. Or is it more like a Jill Mansell book?

Sadie: LOL … haven’t started yet but will definitely report back on the shagging

Lori: Yes, let us know Sadie… not a fan of tea

Maryse’s Book Blog: I think I can confirm, no tea… 😉 Hehe. Remember the pining you guys had last night? And the slight eeeeep factor?… you know. Not to THAT extent, mind you… but the cravings and bad girl “hand-slappings” are there…

Lori: Ooh, you’re tempting Maryse! I don’t know if it could be to THAT extent again lol was exhausting…but sooo much fun already called dibs on the cop (yes I will share Kandace)

I knew it wasn’t considered “romance” along the lines of the author’s other novel “On The Island” (devastating circumstances + isolation between a “sort of” teacher and her student … oh that was soooooo good). While this one wasn’t that, it was something else that would make me squirm (and maybe even feel for her while I was squirming).

We’re the Cantons. Sun-kissed, all-American, picture perfect. By all appearances, we’re the ideal suburban family. As long as you don’t look too closely.

But I was worried this might be too much. I had just read a few along “these lines”, and here I was getting into yet, another one.

This author explores love in all of it’s glory and in it’s moments of pain and distress, too. Difficult decisions slap her characters in the face, when reality sets in, and they are no longer in their “safe-zone bubble”. Socially unacceptable circumstances, and yet a reality that happens every day. This topic is nothing new…

I realize that these are not the thoughts of a happily married woman, but at the moment I am not very happily married.

But you know what? She does it with taste. She handles the eeeeep-factor with care. Coveting is such a dirty word. And yet… Tracey let’s her characters live, love and grow the way they need to, even in their missteps.

So what’s it about?

Claire and her husband, Chris, are having marriage difficulties as the stress of downsizing puts a damper on their “cushy” lifestyle. After losing his prestigious job, Claire’s husband is struggling to make ends meet. The worry of not being able to provide for his family is eating him alive (emasculating him in the process), so he takes on a high stress job that has him traveling all over the country every week. Even though Claire is having success with her own graphic design business, he refuses to accept her salary as the main-income in the family.

I’m tired of talking about it – the recession, the horrible job market, Chris’s depression, and the resulting emotional upheaval that ripped through my household. I’m just done.

Clare is lonely, and feeling dejected. Having lost that sense of intimacy with her husband (his mind is anywhere but “here” right now) their marriage is already so strained. And now that he is never home, she fears they will be too far gone by the time he feels he’s “caught up” in his professional life to slow down and catch up with their personal life.

And in her time alone, she inadvertently makes a new friend (Daniel). A gorgeous police officer that pulls her over one day for a broken light… and they just seem to keep crossing paths.

Two police officers are leaning up against a squad car, talking. The tall, dark-haired one looks familiar. “Remember that police officer that pulled me over for that taillight last month?” I ask.

“The ridiculously good-looking one?” Elisa says.

“Yes,” I say. I’m pretty sure that’s him over there. The one with the dark hair.”

She shields her eyes from the late afternoon sun and looks in their direction. “Wow, you weren’t kidding. He’s easy on the eyes.”

Innocently, at first. Their attraction to one another is undeniable, but at first, Claire suspects her flirting and infatuation with him is only due to her growing loneliness. And his uniform, of course. 😉

I keep thinking about the officer’s smile. Maybe it’s some kind of latent cop fantasy I don’t know I had. Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since my husband paid any attention to me at all. Maybe it’s because I’m so damn lonely.

But married or not, Daniel can’t get her off his mind and finds himself “helping” her in various “innocent” ways. Even helps her get a graphic design job with his police station. And with all of this proximity and undeniable attraction… they really start connecting.

“Do you want to go for a motorcycle ride?”

Oh oh. File:icon neutral.gif

Claire and I already knew better. And yet… there went the butterflies again.

It looks as if he hasn’t shaved in a couple of days and the dark stubble that covers his face , and the worn jeans and long-sleeved gray t-shirt he’s wearing are a radical change from the clean-shaven, uniformed police officer I’m used to; he’s absolutely smoldering.

And the lighthearted friendship grows deeper…

Does it get crazy? Does it go there? Does it go too far? Do we get a happily ever after? Well… the secret is safe with me. But you know… somebody loses in this mess. Or do they all gain, in the end? Ahhhh see. That is the question, and this gently tumultous ride will get you there.

Gently tumultuous? Yes, gently. Lingering, drawn out and almost hesitant in it’s approach. I loved the… “discovery” of it. We explore every thought and nuance that runs through the character’s heads. This isn’t so focused on the physical aspect of it (such as perhaps, a more torrid but all-out romance version of this). But it is about personal introspection, growth, acceptance and realizations. Inevitable change, and adapting with that change. What dreams were made of vs. what reality did to those dreams. Her husband, his goals and expectations of himself. Her friends, their lives, and how so many of them are closer in “personal conflict” then she ever realized. Life isn’t always, or maybe even ever… what we expect it to be.

Sure, this book isn’t considered “romance” but I still took it in as a love story. I had butterflies, I had needs, I had wants, I had expectations, I had fears. I had angst, and confusion and this story lead me to each one of these feelings in full-force.

Did the fact that it was more “gentle” in it’s approach keep me from all-out going crazy over this book? Maybe a little. And yet at the same time, done right, a book that deals with a socially apprehensible subject (whether it be Stockholm, teacher/student, love triangles and infidelity) when it takes me right out of my comfort zone and goes full-on “ouch”… well, that shock factor often “does it” for me.

And yet, gentle or not, I fell hard for a certain character in the book. Thought about him for days after this and in fact, went on a search for romance books featuring police officers. I wanted the uniform and all of that “unapproachable and somewhat intimidating” appeal again. I wanted to discover the man behind the uniform, just so I could have that feeling again.

…when he smiles at me and looks at me, all the nerve endings in my body start vibrating, as if he can generate an electric current by virtue of his expression and his proximity. Strange because until now I’ve never been one to swoon over a man in uniform.

Ahhhhh that delicious flirting when you realize that the gorgeous officer with the no-nonsense, stoic appearance can actually be flirted with, without him arresting you for indecent behavior right after! Tee hee!! eek Heck I dunno. I’ve never done it (but I sure as heck noticed the swoon-worthy ones a time or two. Or three). 😉  And how exciting when the man behind the uniform might actually peek through for just a moment, to smile back.

Ohhhh I know. Police officers are human, too. But there’s just something about them. And don’t even get me started on military men. 😉

Hehe. All that to say that I really connected to this one. It might not have put me in a frenzy, but I read every single line and lived it, with her.

Beautifully written, eloquently handled (even in it’s more risqué subject matter), and at times… heart-wrenching. I felt every bit of it. Plus! I loved that little twist. 😉

4.5 stars!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy. Here’s hoping there will be more to come from this author (whether it be more of this story or another, she is an automatic read for me!)

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

➔➔➔  Love this author? Browse more Tracey Garvis Graves features and reviews on my blog. 😀

➔➔➔  Love this trope? Browse more marital strife or infidelity features and reviews on my blog. 😀

The original cover. I like the new one, up there, better. 😉 It represents more, to me.

Just released – Unattainable by Madeline Sheehan. Bring on the bikers!

By 10 Comments

<—- It’s LIVE my friends!!! Book #3 in Madeline Sheehan’s Undeniable Series! I shall now FEAST on “Unattainable”.

Into bad-ass biker books and motorcycle clubs, and haven’t read these yet? Ha! I have a feeling all of you have, 😉 but just in case, might I suggest these as your next adrenaline-rush, bad-guy, gritty and super intense romance reads?

Here are my reviews:

Just look at this crazy synopsis!! Had I not known that I already love Madeline Sheehan’s series and read this while searching for my next read, I would have been ALL over this in a heartbeat!

Warning: This is not a virtuous and tender love story. It’s chaotic, ruthless, and tragic. This story takes love and kills its innocence, steals away the pure moments, and crushes the hearts of the broken. A story born in childhood, tying one girl to one boy, leads to a destructive path—that hurts more than it doesn’t, that shatters more than it heals—testing the love that binds the two through a lifetime.

Tegen Matthews is the daughter of Dorothy Kelley, a club whore in the Hell’s Horsemen. A plain little girl, Tegen falls into the gritty world of the motorcycle club. When she meets a sweet, caring boy, she embraces the warmth and affection he shows her. Cage West is the son of the president of the Hell’s Horsemen. Tall and blond with deep brown eyes, as he grows up Cage realizes the power of his dimpled smile and smooth drawl. With one chance encounter, Tegen becomes forever tied to Cage. Following is a wayward journey that is filled with regrets, mistakes, and heartache, pulling at the threads that hold them together. Cage and Tegen fight hard but love harder, and in the end, what matters is where the journey takes one girl and one boy, who have been twined with one another since the beginning.

This is Tegen and Cage’s story.

Love doesn’t erase a broken heart, and it sure doesn’t change people. But no matter how old, how flimsy, how frayed the rope of love is, it keeps you tethered to the people you love.

Author says:

“I HOPE YOU love Cage & Tegen (Dirty & Ellie) every bit as much as I do. AND THAT’S A WHOLE LOTTA LOVE RIGHT THERE.”

Contact Me | About Maryse | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Policy | © 2025 Maryse.net – Maryse’s Book Blog |
I am part of the Amazon affiliate program, which is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Other than potential affiliate link commissions, I receive no compensation for reviews. All opinions I have expressed are my own.