Book Review: Power Play by Eliza Gayle

Author: Eliza Gayle

Series: Pleasure Playground #2

My Rating: 4 cups

Blurb (from Goodreads):

She wants the escape. He wants control. They both need love.
Jennifer Croft is at the peak of her career. As a bondage model at Altered Ego, she’s become the crème de la crème of the fetish world, ensuring herself a top spot in her profession. The world is her oyster. Her personal life on the other hand… It’s not pretty. Only her fascination with pain play keeps the ghosts of her past at bay.
After tragedy sends Daegan McKenna to the South for a much needed change of pace, the last thing he expects to find is a closet submissive hiding in plain sight. She’s hot-tempered and in denial — a heady combination that brings out the dominant looking for a challenge. He’s already loved and lost more than one man should, but the haunted look in her eyes prompts him to make her an offer. He’ll indulge her darkest fantasies, if she’ll agree to give up control. Then he’ll let her go.
Unfortunately, the past never stays in the past and old insecurities cause complications neither of them wanted. Now temporary is not enough.

Before I start talking about this great book, let me wish you again a Happy New Year. I hope you had fun last night. I know I did :)

I thought it would be a good idea to start the year with a book from the same genre as the last book I read in 2011. It's the very first book I've read by Eliza Gayle and I have this sudden urge to smack myself. I just finished this book and I have that moment (I'm sure many of you have had this moment too!) of complete confusion and I'm asking myself "Why didn't I try this author before??".

I think you all know by now that I love alpha heroes for my romances/erotic romances, heroes that though they are strong, dominant, sexy as hell, they don't need to be 100% perfect. To quote from my favorite TV drama, "Perfect is boring". So I have to say I fell in love with Daegan McKenna. He's not the perfect guy, but he's perfect for Jennifer. He's a patient, yet stubborn man, one that doesn't quit easily. He knows he wants Jennifer and he keeps trying to seduce her, make her his. He's also a scarred man, running from his past. He's trying to move on, but until he met Jennifer, he wasn't really trying that much. I think he needed Jennifer as much as she needed him.

Jennifer is a successful fetish model with a lot of secrets and fears. She doesn't trust much, she's afraid of what other people might do or think if she lets them get too close, so she keeps everyone at arm's length. She tried to do that with Daegan, but he won't have any of that. I loved how they interacted with each other, how they helped each other get over their pasts.

I also got curious about Murphy and Chase, so I had to find out more about them. I'm going to start reading their book, Midnight Playground, soon.

I definitely recommend this book, if you're a fan of erotic romance and BDSM. It was a very good book and I'm going to try more of Ms Gayle's books. In the meantime, I'm waiting for news on the next book of this series :D

My Rating:

Happy New Year!!

Chick Lit Challenge 2012

I'm a fan of chick lit, so I had to sign up to this challenge. It's hosted by Samantha @ Chick Lit Plus. Here are the rules:

1. Challengers will read 12 chick lit books throughout 2012. You can obviously read more books of other genres, but you need at least 12 chick lit to count for this challenge.
2. Two of the twelve books need to be from debut authors. The debuts should be released in 2012. I have a feature on my blog that will highlight new releases and debuts, so you can find suggestions there.

If you want to read the original post or to sign up, check out Samantha's post here. 

I haven't decided what books I'll read, but I'll list them here as I read them.

1. Death On Heels - Ellen Byerrum 
2. I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella
3. Breaking The Rules - Cat Lavoie
4. Brownie Fix - Ellen Cardona
5. Alison Wonderland - Helen Smith

Book Review: Nobody's Hero by Kallypso Masters

Author: Kallypso Masters
Series: Rescue Me #3
My Rating: 5 cups
Blurb: (from Goodreads):

Retired Marine Master Sergeant Adam Montague has battled through four war zones, but now finds himself running from Karla Paxton, who has declared war on his heart. With a twenty-five year age difference, he feels he should be her guardian and protector, not her lover. But Karla's knack for turning up in his bed at inopportune times is killing his resolve to do the right thing. Karla isn't a little girl anymore—something his body reminds him of every chance it gets.

Karla Paxton fell in love with Adam when she was a sixteen-year-old runaway and he rescued her. Now, nine years later, she's determined to make Adam see her as a woman. But their age difference is only part of the problem. Adam has been a guardian and protector for lost and vulnerable souls most of his life, but a secret he has run from for more than three decades has kept him emotionally unable to admit he can love anyone. Will she be able to lower his guard long enough to break down the defenses around his heart and help him put to rest the ghosts from his past? In her all-out war to get Adam to surrender his heart, can the strong-willed Goth singer offer herself as his submissive—and at what cost to herself?

I finally gave in and read this book. I wanted to wait, to be closer to the publishing date of the next book in the series (Nobody's Perfect). It's only that the curiosity kept me from being a good girl. I'm glad it did though. If the first two books of this series were good, this was even better.

Adam Montague is an amazing man, one that every woman should have in her life, either as a boyfriend, husband, brother, friend. Heck, even another man would be lucky to have someone as Adam on his side. Adam might appear as a cold guy at first, but it's because he is a very suspicious man. He doesn't trust easily. I think he was afraid of trusting someone and caring about someone so much, only to have that someone taken from his life or to be rejected. But he's a very loyal friend, a caring guy with such an amazing heart. For someone so guarded about his feelings, the way he cares for the ones he calls friends and the way he protects them is simply amazing. I loved Adam. Like I said before, he had trouble facing his feelings and trusting, but Karla changed that. I think Karla is one of the very few people who challenges him. And she does that daily, since they first met when she was a scared, runaway teenager.

Karla is a sweetheart. I loved her character so much and I loved the fact that we see her grow up since the very first book. I don't think there's anyone more perfect than Karla for Master Adam. I really can't think of anyone better.

I also loved the fact that we get to meet Savi again *happy dance* If anyone needs a HEA, then Savi is the one. She's been through so much and she deserves a better life. I just can't wait to see how Damian will try to win her back and how he'll squirm, because let's face it. Savi will keep him on his toes :)

And we also find out more about Marc and Angelina and that's always a great pleasure of mine, keeping up with recent events from the characters who already found their HEA.

I can't wait for the next book in this amazing series.

My Rating:

Follow Friday (7)

Welcome to Follow Friday hosted this week by Parajunkee and Alison!
The main idea behind FF is just to go see a bunch of new blogs you may never have seen before, and follow the ones you like (and they’ll follow you back!) It’s a total win/win, so take a peek around and follow me!

This week’s question is:






The New Year is here -- and everyone wants to know your New Years Blogging Resolution! What are you going to try to revise, revamp and redo for 2012 on your blog?


*taps chin* I promised I wasn't going to think about resolutions, since I can't manage to complete them. I'm thinking it can't do any damage though to hope to do some new stuff :) So here's my list:

1. Comment more. I need to do that. I don't comment near as much as I'd like, so I will to do that in the year that is about to begin. 
2. Book Reviewing: Like I said in another post, I need to post my reviews fast, as soon as I finish reading the books, otherwise I forget important details.
3. TBR pile: I need to go through that loooooooong list of books that are just waiting (im)patiently for me to pick them up and read them. So I promise this year I'll make that list smaller. It can never disappear, since that would mean I've stopped reading (which will never happen), but I can make it smaller, at least for a few days.

I've decided to keep it simple, so I'm stopping there. As it's normal, the more I think about it, more and more things I need to do next year for my blog keep popping up, but I'm stopping at only these 3 things. 

So those are my resolutions. What are yours? 

100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

I really had fun this year trying to finish this reading challenge. The fact that I failed is unimportant :P But I did have fun, so I thought of giving it another try.

Book Chic City is hosting this reading challenge. Here are the guidelines:

1. Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012
2. Rules - Read 100 or more books in 2012
3. All books can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.
4. Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted.
5. You can join at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.

For more information and to sign up, visit Book Chick City's blog.

I will be posting the books below as I read them. Like I said, I'm not going to plan ahead anymore :)

1. Power Play - Eliza Gayle
2. Lothaire - Kresley Cole
3. The Dragonslayer's Sword - Resa Nelson
4. Midnight Playground - Eliza Gayle
5. The Truth About Us - Dalene Flannigan
6. Casual - Oksana Robski
7. Lust On The Rocks - Dianne Venetta
8. The Iron Maiden - Resa Nelson
9. On Message - Joyce T. Strand
10. Mistress Christmas - Lorelei James
11. Ugly To Start With - John Michael Cummings
12. Miss Firecracker - Lorelei James
13. The Awakening of Leeowyn Blake - Mary Parker
14. CurbChek - Zack Fortier
15. Death On Heels - Ellen Byerrum
16. An Untimely Love  - Tendai Huchu
17. Behind Closed Doors - Sherri Hayes
18. The Immortal Rules - Julie Kagawa
19. The Binding - L. Filloon
20. Socialpunk - Monica Leonelle
21. Fighting the Devil - Jeannie Walker
22. A Hint Of Frost - Hailey Edwards
23. Lover Reborn - J.R. Ward
24. Lowcountry Punch - Boo Walker
25. Promises - Amber Garr
26. Sweet Evil - Wendy Higgins
27. Dancing Naked In Dixie - Lauren Clark
28. The Car Thief - Theodore Weesner
29. Dead End Deal - Allen Wyler
30. Legacy of a Dreamer - Allie Jean
31. Bitten - Kelley Armstrong
32. Stolen - Kelley Armstrong
33. Dime Store Magic - Kelley Armstrong
34. Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong
35. I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella
36. In Love With An Angel (original title: Innamorata Di Un Angelo) - Federica Bosco
37. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
38. Of Poseidon - Anna Banks
39. Haunted - Kelley Armstrong
40. The Stone of Darkness - Resa Nelson
41. Evermine - Hailey Edwards
42. Eversworn - Hailey Edwards
43. Haunted - Kelley Armstrong
44. Brownie Fix - Ellen Cardona
45. Her Heart For The Asking - Lisa Mondello
46. His Heart For The Trusting - Lisa Mondello
47. The More I See - Lisa Mondello
48. Breaking The Rules - Cat Lavoie
49. Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead
50. Frostbite - Richelle Mead
51. Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead
52. Blood Promise - Richelle Mead
53. Spirit Bound - Richelle Mead
54. Last Sacrifice - Richelle Mead
55. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead
56. The Golden Lilly - Richelle Mead
57. Differential Equations - Julian Iragorri & Lou Aronica
58. Alison Wonderland - Helen Smith
59. Slave - Sherri Hayes
60. Need - Sherri Hayes
61. Betrayal - Amber Garr
62. Arise - Amber Garr
63. The Iron King - Julie Kagawa
64. The Iron King's Daughter - Julie Kagawa
65. The Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa
66. Spider's Bite - Jennifer Estep
67. Blade Song - J. C. Daniels
68. Ice Queen - Joey W. Hill
69. Mirror Of My Soul - Joey W. Hill
70. Branded Sanctuary - Joey W. Hill
71. Club Mephisto - Annabel Joseph
72. Molly's Lips: Club Mephisto Retold - Annabel Joseph
73. Burn For You - Annabel Joseph
74. My Liege of Dark Haven - Cherise Sinclair
75. Darkfever - Karen Marie Moning
76. Bloodfever - Karen Marie Moning
77. Ecstasy Unveiled - Larissa Ione
78. Sin Undone - Larissa Ione
79. Eternal Rider - Larissa Ione
80. Immortal Rider - Larissa Ione
81. Lethal Rider - Larissa Ione
82. Rogue Rider - Larissa Ione
83. Ironskin - Tina Connolly
84. Web of Lies - Jennifer Estep
85. Venom - Jennifer Estep
86. Tangled Threads - Jennifer Estep
87. Spider's Revenge - Jennifer Estep