Second Draft (Men with Wood, #1) by C.M. Seabrook

Synopsis:

It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen her, the only woman that’s ever gotten under my skin, and made me wish I was a better man. More than just the washed up hockey player, turned sports journalist whose body is almost as scarred as his soul. 

Layla Harper made me hope again. But life has a warped sense of humor, and I wasn’t the only Bennett brother that fell for the girl with the caramel colored eyes. 

The night I saw Travis with her I knew I’d lost, even before I had the chance to fight. Because one thing I never compete with my brother over is women. Even if the woman stole my breath, and my heart with one single kiss. 

And damn, what a kiss it had been. 

Now, she’s pregnant with my brother’s baby. A baby he wants nothing to do with. And he’s asked me to clean up his mess. 

What he doesn’t know is that I’m in love with her, and I have no intention of offering her the deal he’s laid out. I have a deal of my own. One that will finally make her mine.

Rating: ★★★★

Review:

I was 0.5 seconds away from loving this book!! The plot was definitely different, revolving around a very awkward and sticky situation but it had no trouble keeping me engaged. I found myself having emotional outburst while reading this. I smiled and laughed like a little school girl, I gasped & gave a lot of well deserved side eye, but I could not put the book down.

There were some things that I felt were unrealistic and earned a good eye roll but were not completely unbelievable. At times throughout the book the relationship between Layla and Carter seemed liked it was moving too fast in some areas and in others seemed like they were at a standstill. Their relationship lacked the consistency I was looking for but I still couldn't help but root for them.

Hot & Bothered (Out of Uniform #1 - 3) by Elle Kennedy

Synopsis:

Three sizzling-hot stories from New York Times and international bestselling author Elle Kennedy! 

Give a SEAL an inch, and he’ll take your heart. 

Heat of the Moment 

For almost a year Shelby has lusted over swoon-worthy Garrett, but she can’t figure out why he’s not interested…until she overhears him saying she’s too vanilla for his taste. When a heat wave sends the sexy Navy SEAL into her bakery, she finally has the opportunity to show him exactly what he’s missing… 

Heat of Passion 

Holly has too much on her plate to think about a serious relationship. A hot fling with a SEAL, though, is the perfect way to take the edge off. The last thing she expects is to run into her gorgeous one-night stand weeks later, and to discover that Carson wants the one thing she doesn’t: more. In the face of his methodical seduction, her resistance is crumbling… 

Heat of the Storm 

Will has waited fifteen years for the storm that sends Mackenzie into his arms. He’s the one man not scared of her psychic gift, and their one night of passion is enough to convince this tenacious SEAL that they are much, much more than friends. Now he just has to convince her of that… 

Warning: Contains dangerously hot Navy SEALS, and heroines not afraid to take them on one—or two—at a time.

Rating:★★★★

Review:

I can't believe I really enjoyed reading this. My thoughts for this book will be quick and simple because my thoughts are pretty straight forward for each story. 

Heat of the Moment followed Garret & Shelby and it was really steamy, unrealistic at some points, but overall a pretty cute adult romance story. 

Heat of Passion follows Carson & Holly and it was funny, unrealistic at some points, but the were the more relatable couple out of the book. 

Finally, Heat of the Storm follows Will & Mackenzie, which was basically porn on a page, but it also had it's funny moments despite being dry and lacking in it's non porn parts. Overall. I loved how they all intertwined together but I have to admit I ran out of steam by the time we got to Will's story and it seems like the author did, too. I noticed she didn't really focus on the actual plot of his story as much as she did the previous two, it seemed she focused more on the sex scenes more than anything else.

All in all I enjoyed the book as a collection.

Never Kiss a Stranger (Never #1) by Winter Renshaw

Synopsis:

It was an innocent mistake… 

All workaholic real estate broker Addison Andrews wanted was one night of pleasure, and picking the right guy was no different than shopping from a catalog thanks to the dating app on her phone. His name was Wilder, and his profile was blank – just a sexy picture of a man who promised every wicked intention of a one-night stand. 

The agreement was simple. One night. No last names. But the second their bodies melded together in the sheets of their posh Manhattan hotel room, there was no denying they fit together like two pieces of a broken puzzle. 

There’s just one problem… 

Addison unknowingly swiped right on the one man she wasn’t supposed to be with – her new stepbrother. All it takes is one bite of forbidden fruit to become addicted, but being with him has major consequences for their entire family. And if anyone found out about them, the career she worked so hard to build would crumble to the ground. 

But Wilder Van Cleef doesn’t care about the possibility of a scandal. He wants her, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes. 

PLEASE NOTE: This is a standalone, full-length romance novel with NO cliffhanger. Contains a dominating alpha male hero and scenes of a sexual nature. Please be 18+.

Rating:★★★

Review:

It's been a while since I've read an actual romance novel, not erotica, and I really enjoyed it. I've honestly realized how much I've missed some good adult romance novels in my life.

When the book first started off I was a bit skeptical and a little "meh" about it. It picked up a little slower than I would have liked it to and it immediately started off with an one night stand sex scene before we got the chance to actually meet and feel out our characters, which was the book's biggest downfall. But on the up side of that initial encounter, the sex scenes were done really well and not in a "written porno" type of way so you won't get the feel of erotica while reading.

By the end of the book I did get to build up a bond with the main character although, I was getting frustrated with Addison for the same reasons that Wilder was. It's a pet peeve of mines to read about characters that can't say what they feel, causing unnecessary drama, but unfortunately that makes up the plot lines for many novels and genres across the world. Also, I didn't like the extent of sacrifice and blame that the characters when into. I just don't believe in expecting someone else to sacrifice their happiness for your own and it overly selfish. "Mama gotta have a life too!" - Baby Boy 

The one thing I look for in a romance novel is drama because that signifies reality for me, and butterflies did this book have a lot of drama going on! Relationship drama, family drama, and work place drama created our dramatic trilogy and I loved every waking second of it. About a good 50% of this was predictable for me but I was still kept on the edge of my seat to watch it all play out.  

I would love to give my recommendation for this book to anyone looking to dive into a good romance novel. It's a pretty quick and easy read to get through.