A Review of Four Letter Word by J. Daniels

A Review of Four Letter Word by J. Daniels

A Review of Four Letter Word by J. DanielsFour Letter Word four-stars
by J. Daniels
Published by Grand Central Publishing on October 4th 2016
Genres: Romance, Erotica, Romantic Comedy, New Adult
Pages: 416
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"Love! That's the four letter word to describe how I felt about this unique, sexy story. J. Daniels' hottest book to date."---Penelope Ward, New York Times bestselling author

Fate. Hate. Love. Lies. Which four letter word will change their lives forever? Sydney Paige was never so mortified to hear the words "wrong number" in her life. She meant to tell off the guy who broke her best friend's heart, but unleashed her anger on a perfect stranger instead. And now her world is turned upside down by the captivating man who wants to keep her on the line. Brian Savage is living a life he's quickly come to hate-until Sydney's wild rant has him hooked and hungry for more. Soon the sexy woman on the phone becomes the lover in his bed. But Brian has secrets, and the closer he lets Syd get, the harder it is to shield her from the devastating mistakes of his past . . .

Review of Four Letter Word

 

Four Letter Word is the first novel in the Dirty Deeds series by New York Times bestselling author J. Daniels. The story follows Sydney Paige, a young woman who has recently separated from her husband after years of being in a loveless marriage, and Brian Savage a young man who both co-owns a surfing shop and is involved in adult filming (though for reasons that totally broke my heart). Sydney moves in with her best friend after leaving her husband and is confronted with her friend’s own heartache. This results in a phone call to the completely wrong person- thank goodness! I swear fate stepped in here and directed her to Brian- who was completely flabbergasted and amused by Sydney’s surprise tirade (it was the wrong number, after all). Naturally, this sparked Brian’s interest in Sydney and they decided to carry on a relationship over the phone before finally meeting in person-

And did the sparks fly or what?!

Four Letter Word was brimming with sizzling passion, heartbreaking turmoil, and laugh-out-loud moments!

There were times I laughed, times I cried, and times I needed to turn my fan on blast despite the sub-zero temps outside- it was just that hot! I adored Brian- I mean, do guys like that really exist? He made one fatal mistake and it made him humble- the things he was willing to do to make up for this mistake…and everything he does for Sydney! Ah! It’s just too much. Sydney- here’s a young woman that some women may be able to relate to. I love that she’s not perfect. I love that she’s not certain of every moment of her life, but she’s willing to take chances and learn from her own mistakes. And her relationship with her best friend? I adored it! It reminded me of my own best friend and how close we are.

Despite some of the heavy content (you’ll understand when you read it), J. Daniels was still able to make the story one you could read over and over. The chemistry between the characters was spot on, and it provided the HEA I was hoping for. And that first meeting between them on the beach…uh…yeah. I highly suggest getting a fan for your room when reading that particular part. Sigh.

Four stars for Four Letter Word!!

four-stars
Review of Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires

Review of Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires

Review of Tormentor Mine by Anna ZairesTormentor Mine (Tormentor Mine #1) four-half-stars
by Anna ZairesDima Zales
Published by Mozaika LLC on March 28th 2017
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Action & Adventure, New Adult, General
Pages: 560
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 A new dark romance from New York Times bestseller Anna Zaires

He came to me in the night, a cruel, darkly handsome stranger from the most dangerous corners of Russia. He tormented me and destroyed me, ripping apart my world in his quest for vengeance.

Now he's back, but he’s no longer after my secrets.

The man who stars in my nightmares wants me.

Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires

Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires

Tormentor Mine is the first book in a series by New York Times bestselling author Anna Zaires. I will warn you that there are some situations in the book that might be somewhat disturbing to some. For example, you will often ask yourself as you read through whether the heroine, Sara, truly cares for the love interest Peter because of the way he “takes care of her” or because she might be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. To be honest, by the end of the novel I wasn’t quite sure myself.

The story starts off with Peter’s quest for vengeance. Sara happened to be an innocent bystander who had the misfortune of being married to a man Peter is determined to kill. Peter attacks Sara in her home and basically tortures the information of her husband’s whereabouts from her. The methods he used to extract this information is reflective of his experiences working in Russia’s special forces. I found myself outraged and horrified for her. I don’t blame her for unwittingly disclosing the information (he did waterboard her, tie her to a chair, and then drug her after all) which resulted in the death of her husband. We do later learn of Sara’s now deceased husband’s actions which led to Peter’s vengeance.


 

This is the first romance novel I have read where the heroine suffers from PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks due to the harrowing actions of the love interest. After attacking Sara, Peter finds himself thinking of her. He then decides it would be a great idea to set cameras up all over her house and have people follow her every move. His interest slowly grows into obsession, until finally he decides to play house with Sara. Peter forces Sara to endure his presence, despite her knowing he had tortured her and killed her husband (which she suffers a tremendous amount of guilt for).

This story is seriously unconventional and if you’re not into the whole stalking, obsessing, torture, or psychological, and seriously twisted form of “love” found in this novel, then it might not be for you. However, if you’re wanting to read something completely different from the mainstream love story, then this one will be perfect for you. I will admit to being intrigued by the concept, shocked by the situations presented in the story, and intrigued by both the main characters. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in Sara’s situation. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be loved by someone as intense, dominant, and somewhat scary like Peter.

Finally, Tormentor Mine was well written and the characters provided enough depth that you enjoyed getting into their heads a little. Anna Zaires certainly knows how to leave the reader gasping at the cliffhanger! Ah! Now I’m going to have to pre-order the next one so I can see where the hell Sara is being taken now. The second novel in the Tormentor Mine series, Obsession Mine, is scheduled to be released on November 14th, 2017.

Like this review of Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires? Checkout my other reviews here!

You can get this book instantly for the Kindle on Amazon for $4.99.

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four-half-stars
Review of Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

Review of Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

Review of Elite by Rachel Van DykenElite four-stars
by Rachel Van Dyken
ISBN: 9781455554171
Series: Eagle Elite #1
Published by Grand Central Publishing on October 14th 2014
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Coming of Age, General
Pages: 288
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For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother's death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn't expecting much-but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same . . .

The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she's ever met . . . and they refuse to make things easy for her. There's Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn't long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn't realize she was the enemy -- until it was too late.

Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

Eagle Elite 1 of 8

Elite is the first novel in the Eagle Elite Series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken, published by Forever Publishing on July 9, 2013. This also happens to be the first book that I have read by this author. I found this novel during one of my frequent, and numerous, visits to my local book store (see Trip to Portland). As I usually do, I first scour the bargain section looking to score a deal on a variety of titles and authors. It was during one of my bargain section walkabouts that I first noticed this novel. I can’t exactly pinpoint what drew me to first pick this book up- as you can see, there is a lot of intensity between both the characters on the cover, and the color scheme hints at mystery, passion, and intrigue. After reviewing the synopsis of the novel , which basically touches upon my initial first opinion of the book, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. After all, I am all for discovering new authors.

The book starts off strong with the protagonist, Tracey Rooks, arriving at Eagle Elite University and meeting the university’s “Elect” members. The Elect, consisting of four predictably good-lucking guys, are apparently running the University and have a strange affinity for rules. In fact, you will hear these rules mentioned repeatedly throughout the book. I will admit to being intrigued by the Elect and their strange dynamic. Their parents are all in a position of power, which results in the University being watched by armed security guards. They are also, apparently, able to take control of when you’re allowed to eat lunch, what you’re able to eat for lunch, and limit the number of times you use an elevator. These bizarre actions are explained later in the book, by Nixon the protagonist’s love interest and leader of the Elect, as a way to “keep the peace” around campus. He continues to demonstrate unusual ways to respond to safety and peace by bullying Tracey throughout the novel. His constant barrage of personal attacks on her person results in Tracey being on the receiving end of peer brutality and humiliation. Nixon later explains that he humiliates her in an effort to “protect” her. Unfortunately, he does a rather poor job explaining the vagueness behind this reasoning. But, I kept on reading. As Polonius once stated in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “there’s a method to his madness”. Considering this a possibility, I kept reading.

We later learn that Tracey Rooks is the only heir to one of three different mafia families. I imagine this accounts for the armed guards at Eagle Elite University and the domineering and superior attitude of the Elect, as they also happen to be embroiled in the three families. So, you would think that this discovery would push Nixon and Tracey closer together and thus end the bullying, right? Nope. Nixon continues being an ass to Tracey, despite the confessed feelings between the two. Tracey once again begins to feel sorry for herself rather than rallying and fighting back. It is a little frustrating, but I suppose as the series unravels, Tracey will begin to grow stronger as a character. There is a lot of promise between Nixon and Tracey, and their families provide constant mystery and contribute to the fast-paced plot. The promise of more danger and intrigue at the end of the novel did incite me to purchase the next two books in the series.

I would say that despite the constant mention of rules (which I think are my least favorite part of the book) and the irrational bullying on Nixon’s part in an effort to “protect” Tracey, the novel itself was well-written, the characters were strong, and the plot moved along nicely. I find myself intrigued to discover what the Alfero, Abandonato, and De Lange mafia families will find themselves embroiled in next. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced romance that includes suspense and intrigue. For another review on a novel that is less romance and more suspense check out my review of Uninvited by Sophie Jordan!

This book is available on Amazon Instantly for the Kindle or Paper Back with Two-Day Shipping.

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four-stars

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