Cover HEA: Sweet Addiction by Maya Banks

Caro discovered a wonderful new cover-gem today and we thought we should share the pretty to make all our Mondays a bit better.  You can thank us later. *wink*

Susi: Okay I admit I'm awfully prejudiced cuz I adore this series but this one is soooo pretty and my absolute favorite in this series so far. I love how everything is just in sync with each other. The background just looks stylish but it didn't steal the attention from what's really importnat: the gorgeous woman. I love her pose and is it weird if I say I have panty-envy? And the pearls are just perfect even though I think that HAS to hurt. LOL But it's pretty and I love it. And I really want to nap on that carpet right now. *g* Love this cover!

Caro:  Oh they used one of my personal pic for a cover!!! yeah right *wink* I kinda wish I looked this good though lol.  I can't stop staring at this cover! I agree it's really pretty. Everything's gorgeous about it, the model is perfect, the colors are enticing. You're right Susi the carpet thingy does make me want to roll on it too! *g* Is it weird that this cover makes me want to touch her silken skin? LOL Well admit it, it does look silky! (and pelt-free *wink at Susi*)

Susi: *tries not to touch the nearly naked woman*

What do you think about this one?

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Review: Sweet Temptation by Maya Banks

Desciption:
He was a by-the-book cop who broke the rules in the bedroom…

Micah Hudson has painful secrets he’s run hard from. He has new friends, a new life, but he’s about to be confronted with the one person who reminds him of all he’s tried to forget—Angelina, the sister of his oldest friend David. She knows everything about his past, including how he and David fell in love with the same woman, and how they decided the best way to prevent her from tearing them apart was to share her between them. But then a terrible accident left Micah alone…

She was willing to do anything to make him see the woman she’d become…

Micah lost the two people who meant the most in the world to him. Angelina lost her only family. And she kept her deepest secret close to her heart. Her love for Micah. No longer willing to wait, she decides it’s time to go after him and bring him to his knees. She knows his secrets, his desires, his kinks and fetishes, and she’ll use whatever it takes to reel him in. Behind the easy going, loves women exterior lies a man with dark needs and passions. She can give him what he wants. But will he decide she’s what he needs?

Review:
After finishing Sweet Seduction, book 3 in this series I couldn't wait to finally get my hands on Micah's book. It was a long wait for my impatient mind but it was totally worth it.

We finally meet Angelina, Micah's better half. She is a girl form his past and was in love with him for some time now. She is a rather strong woman who lived through a lot in her life. She knows how hard it can be and gave Micah time to battle his inner demons. But when she realizes that the long awaited moment of Micah accepting his past is there she HAS to finally take the lead and get her own not so little Dom. Angelina is a strong woman who knows how much power submitting to Micah gives her over him. She knows what she gets herself into but is unsure if Micah is ready to accept her gift and to let go of the past.

Micah was through all the 3 previous books the character that interested me the most. He was always up to everything but I felt that there was more in his past. Something that made him the way he is- not untouchable in the literal sense but unreachable on an emotional plane. That sounds strange but I don't know how to say it differently. He sneaked into my heart real fast and perhaps that is a reason why I loved this book so much. I definitely recommend to read the previous books before starting Sweet Temptation because Ms. Banks put much work into building the mystery about Micah in those. It makes him so much more in this book.

In retrospection many things happen in this book that are usually a bit too much for me. I don't know why it worked in Sweet Temptation but it did. I never felt really uncomfortable although I was shocked by some things. Yep I still am sometimes. LOL

The relationship between Micah and Angelina is different from the start. I always hoped that Micah would accept what they had but he was stubborn. It was strange to see what he did although he still fought his feelings. I told myself that he already accepted it in his heart and just his head had to do that too but after all he risked Angelina's wellbeing with doing all that while still not really wanting her.

All in all I really enjoyed this book. It made me smile, cry, blush and tingle in all the right places. Highly recommended to all lovers of menage and a really hawt read.

To learn more about Maya and her books please visit her website here.

The Sweet Series:
1. Sweet Surrender: my review, reviews @goodreads buy @amazon
2. Sweet Persuasion: my review, reviews @goodreads buy @amazon
3. Sweet Seduction: my review, reviews @goodreads buy @amazon
4. Sweet Temptation: reviews @goodreads buy @amazon 

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Review: Colters' Woman by Maya Banks & Giveaway

Description:
Adam, Ethan and Ryan aren't looking for women. They're looking for a woman. One woman to share their lives and their beds. They don't want a casual romp in the hay, they want the woman who will complete them and they're losing hope of finding her. That is until Adam finds Holly lying in the snow just yards from their cabin. He knows she's different the minute he holds her in his arms. But before Adam gets his hopes up, he knows he has to gauge his brothers reactions. Soon its evident that she's the one. There are a few problems, however convincing her she belongs with them and keeping her safe from the man who wants her dead. Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, ménage à quatre, violence.

Review:

I won this book over at Patti's place. I agreed to review it cuz she was not so fond of the book and wanted to give it another chance(here is Patti's review). But I have to say it really wasn't a book for me either. It took me forever to read it and I had to force myself to do it. But I think my reason for not liking it aren't all the same as Patti's so I will try to tell you what my problem was.

The beginning reminded me of Amber Eyes also by Maya Banks but after I grabbed that one again I saw that the beginnings aren't that identical but it was what I thought as I started it. When he finds Holly in the snow and immediately knows that she is the one I thought okay, it is a book and not reality after all. But when we learn what horrible things Holly went through and then see her falling in love again to 3 men so soon after that I was rather disappointed. I don't have any problem with the 3 men being brothers. They don't really interact in bed with each other, what I find rather an achievement with all these bodies and all, so I really don't mind. But seriously: you have a frightened woman running away from her murdering husband and she meets 3 brothers and bam she loses all her problems with commitment after perhaps 24 hours? I so don't get that at all. I think I would have liked this book more if at least the building up of the relationship would have been more. You can say a hundred times that the men love Holly but that doesn't make me believe it.

I want to read about the struggles and the inner problems all 4 of them faced and not only a short rundown of it.

Another problem I found myself confronted with where the sex scenes. I think this was the first book where I really skipped some of them cuz I just couldn't stand it. Not at all sexy. I felt like reading a porn movie. Perhaps this book is written for men? No idea. Since I finished it I'm thinking about why I didn't like the smex. Perhaps it is connected to the first problem. I think I like the smex in a romance or erotica book when I can feel for the characters or at least like them. Neither was the case in this book for me.

The suspense plot was unfortunately not to my liking either. It was too slow for me and it didn't grab me. The decision for the divorce felt a bit too forced for me and all the surprising action was not surprising at all. I always knew what would happen next- it was really predictable.

So all in all not really my kind of book. The romance was too fast and the action was to slow. I couldn't really feel for the characters and it all left me untouched in the end.

To learn more about Maya Banks and her books please visit her website here.

Other reviews @goodreads. Buy the book @amazon

 

*~*Giveaway*~*

I decided to give the book to

another reviewer so we all can read another opinion about this book.

All you have to do is state that you want to read and review this book in the comments and I will pick one commenter next Sunday(April, 4th).
Good Luck everyone!

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Review: Sweet Seduction (ARC) by Maya Banks

Description:

He was the stuff erotic dreams are made of...
Salon owner Julie Stanford wanted Nathan Tucker ever since she gave him his first massage. Getting paid to feel every inch of his body, stripped, oiled, and spread out in front of her? Stuff dreams are made of. But the sexy lug was oblivious to the signals she was sending—until she finished off his final rub-down with something extra. In fact, the best extra he ever had. Unfortunately, he came around too late. Now Julie’s moving on…
She was everything he’d dreamed of...
The woman was driving him crazy. She lit fire to his insides then ran like a scalded cat. And now she’s going to someone else to have all her fantasies fulfilled? Over his dead body… He’s more than willing to give her what she wants, and as soon as he pins the little minx down, he’d show her his own brand of sweet seduction. (by goodreads.com)




Review:


Julie is a very strong woman who knows exactly what, or better said who she wants. She’s stubborn as hell and doesn’t want to back down. Her ideas are sometimes a bit over the top but she makes them come true nonetheless. Julie runs from one extreme into the next but she won my heart with her sassy attitude and her witty comments. She’s a very reliable person and full of love for her friends. She has character, a very strong one and men seem to be afraid of it. But who is Julie to change herself for men. She doesn’t want to cower in front of one. She knows her goals, doesn’t quarrel with herself, just starts going for them.

Nathan is a real sweetheart. I know men hate to hear that but he really is. He’s caring and never short of a helping hand. There's just one tiny problem: He wants Julie but he’s to shy to do something about it. He feels like a little teenage boy every time she’s near him. He has to find a way to get past this or he will lose her completely. And this would be unacceptable for him. He can be stubborn too.

But when Julie tries to get him out of her head all bets are off. She goes straight for her biggest fantasy and Nathan will do anything to prevent that or better to participate.
Sounds naughty and it definitely is- in a very good way. LOL
Nathan crosses his own limits just to make Julies dreams come true and how sweet is that. I love that man.
Yeah I know it’s not necessary to say but the scenes between the sheets are great as ever but no real surprise because Maya wrote this book and she knows how to make the pages sizzle.



The relationship between the two is slightly different in comparison to the first two books but in my opinion it suits them. I loved the way Maya developed the connection between Nathan and Julie while still getting all the subplot smoothed inside the story. I never lost focus on the main action but was also really intrigued about what happens to everyone else- and there's a lot happening in this book. The groundwork for Micah’s story is so good that I already started counting the days till his book is released(188 days *sigh*). Great book about love and friendship with a good amount of witty and funny comments.




To learn more about Maya and her books please visit her website here.




The Sweet Series:

1. Sweet Surrender: my review, reviews @goodreads
buy @amazon or as ebook @BooksOnBoard
2. Sweet Persuasion:
my review, reviews @goodreads
buy @amazon or as ebook @BooksOnBoard
3. Sweet Seduction(release October, 6th 2009):

other reviews @goodreads
buy
@amazon or as ebook @BooksOnBoard

4. Sweet Temptation (release April, 6th 2010)

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Review: Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks

Description:


For five years, Serena has run Fantasy Incorporated and has devoted her time to fulfilling her clients’ fantasies. Never her own. Until now…
Her most secret desire is to give ownership of her body to a man. Someone who will command her, pleasure her, and have complete authority over her. So she seeks out Damon Roche, owner of an exclusive sex club and a man strong enough to make her do anything he wants. Anything.
Together they’ll journey into a world she’s only dreamed of. She’s given the opportunity to immerse herself in a different life while her normal one waits for her to return whenever she wishes. Damon has no desire to let her go, however. Serena is the woman he’s long searched for, and it’s up to him to convince her to stay when the game is all over with. He wants their fantasy to become their reality and for Serena to remain his pampered, cherished submissive.(by goodreads.com)

Review:

This review is kind of hard for me to write.I enjoyed reading the book but there are few things I’m not sure about. But let’s start at the beginning.

Serena(I love this name) is a successful woman. She has her own firm, a nice car and everything you can want from life except one thing: she wants to be a slave to a powerful master. Not like in the middle ages but like a very strict D/s relationship. I’m not sure if I, or my inner feminist likes this idea. But OK everyone what he likes. She’s not sure how to get that and after talking to Faith about it she contacts Damon and starts to fulfill her own dream. She’s a strong character despite being so submissive. She knows what she wants and I admire her strength to admit it.
Damon is really hot and from the first second I read about him in book 1 I wanted to know more about him. He has very high expectations concerning a functioning relationship. He wants to take charge of everything not only between the sheets. He knows that is much to ask and that not many woman would give so much freedom away. But he wants nothing less and waits for his super submissive to show up in his life. When he learns what Serena really wants he can’t give her to another man because she is exactly what he wants.

The connection between both of them builds relatively fast. Beneath all this master slave thing seems to be real deep feelings. It surprise me to be so emotional and I have to admit at one point their could have been a tear in my eyes. At moments everything is real cute and smooth between them but there are parts in this story I just can’t accept as easily. The slave status is taken real far, perhaps too far for me and is absolutely nothing for the faint of heart. We witness many dirty things in this book from bondage to spankings. I enjoyed reading it nonetheless. It’s really hot but a few things put a damper on it for me.I don’t want to be more specific because it would spoil the book. When you read it you will know what I mean.


The side characters were great as ever. The girls together are great and the boys are just adorable. We meet everyone again and it made me really curious about the next book but I have to admit Julie annoyed me from time to time.

This book is real great read and it’s one of the hottest books I read so far. If you got no problem with BDSM and a master/slave relationship you should get this book ASAP.




This is book 2 in the Sweet Series. If you want to learn more about Sweet Surrender, the first book in this series read my review here. To learn more about Maya and her books please visit her website here.


Read other reviews @goodreads .

Buy this book @amazon or as ebook @BooksOnBoard


Come back tomorrow to read my review of Sweet Seduction, book #3 in the Sweet Series.

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Review: Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks

Description:


Sometimes the first step in taking control is surrendering.
Under Faith Malone’s deceptively soft exterior lies a woman who knows exactly what she wants. A strong man who’ll take without asking—because she’s willing to give him everything…
Dallas cop Gray Montgomery is on a mission: find the guy who killed his partner—and bring him to justice. So far, he’s found a link between the killer and Faith—and if Gray has to get close to her to catch the killer, so be it.
Faith is sweet and feminine, everything Gray wants and desires in a woman, but he suspects she’s playing games. No way she would allow a man to call the shots in their relationship. Or would she?
Faith sees in Gray the strong, dominant man she needs, but he seems determined to keep her at a distance. So she takes matters into her own hands to prove to him it’s no game she’s playing. She’s willing to surrender to the right man. Gray would like to be that man. But catching his partner’s killer has to be his first priority. Until Faith is threatened and Gray realizes he will do anything to protect her.

Review:

Faith is a natural submissive- she wants a man to take the lead and the control. She wants to be cared about and needs to feel treasured. Short said: She wants a REAL man and doesn’t know how to get one of those. She’s intrigued by Gray but is afraid to just get another “wannabe” man. So she makes her own plans about getting what she wants. And where did she go to: the local sex club and his sexy owner Damon.


Gray is on an important mission- he wants to get the murder of his partner but what he finds is sweet Faith. He can’t seem to avoid her. He likes her more every time he sees her and he knows getting involved with her isn’t the smart thing to do. He lies to her because his mission is incognito and he hates every minute of it. But what should he do? Stopping to try to find the murder or just forget her? He goes for the second solution but when he discovers what she plans to do in the sex club all bets are off.


The relationship between both of them is a steady back and forth in the beginning. Faith wants all and as fast as possible and Gray is a little reluctant to believe she really wants what she says. Gray annoyed me a bit with, I can’t even say what exactly. I think he annoyed me because he is himself. I think I just don’t like him. I hated the lying and that he didn’t tell her the truth when he had the chance too. I talked to a few people on twitter about that and it seems I’m the only one who’s thinking so. The sex is hawt- it has nearly everything you can think of: BDSM, D/s play and ménage without being too much. Ok perhaps I should rephrase that: Everything I can think of. Don’t know how dirty your minds are. LOL


The suspense plot is good and the pace of the story is great. I really like Maya’ style of writing. The side characters are perfect. I think I love all the other boys- specially Damon and Micah. OMG, these two are yummy.


On thing I noticed is that Maya uses the word “glad” very often(14 times- yep I counted). I only noticed because I so hate this word so much. I know I’m crazy but it sounds so awful and I have the need to puke every time I read it. I don’t know why perhaps it’s because English is not my mother tongue. So just ignore this if you’ve got no problem with this word.LOL


Ignoring my own craziness this book was really good and I enjoyed reading it.


This is the first book in the Sweet Series.
To learn more about Maya and her books please visit her website here.

Read other review @goodreads
Buy the book @amazon or as ebook @BooksOnBoard.


Come back tomorrow to read my review of Sweet Persuasion, book #2 in the Sweet Series.

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