10 Nights by Michelle Hughes and Karl Jones.

Well this book ROCKED my little world! I will start with what I loved, that was it was dark, very dark but you could see the light under the door peeking in like bright sunshine. I loved that the main characters Leah and her best friend Janie were normal college grads who did not need a shrink or medication. Also the male leads Rhett (what a friggin name huh?) and his best friend and partner in his law firm, David, also totally normal guys.

The story starts with Janie and Leah graduating. Once they were done with the ceremony Janie tells Leah that they are getting dressed up for her big surprise. What Janie doesn’t say is that she is going to her boyfriend’s favorite club. They arrive at the mansion and are escorted to the dungeon by a butler. They meet Rhett and Janie takes off with David. Rhett takes her into the main room where bdsm scenes are enacted, one stars Janie. She is scared and shocked. A few moments of watching is all Leah needs and she wants to bolt. Rhett stops her and entertains her for a while. After the little talk about what an exclusive club it is and that privacy is a must, they go back. Rhett is asking her how she feels and if she is interested and they talk about her being aroused by what she saw. Especially her friend. She had no idea that Janie was a sub.

That is another thing I LOVED! Also, the way Rhett’s POV is spoken he is so attracted to Leah immediately and he is the opposite of what a Dom is, he has patience and he is kind to her and doesn’t judge. All of this first night was just unreal and like nothing I ever read describing scenes.

When Rhett goes into his office and Leah listens as he speaks about his plans. He explains to her that if she wants he can train her as long as she give him 10 nights. Each night a new pleasure is introduced and this is to open her up to the lifestyle. Leah does agree in deep lust for Rhett. They also discuss that she is a virgin. Yup shocked too!! So when they actually get down to it he is gentle but it is not overly dramatic like other books I have read. He cares, yes but it is not over the top, it is completely in line with his dom position.

The ups and down with all four of the lead characters I found written so well. There was a few times that I felt like I was going to cry for Leah. That being said what transpires between Janie and Leah is real friendship. They love each other and express that even though they love each other, but hate the situation, they support each other. That was so real!! There were times when Janie wanted to go to Rhett and beat his ass, but she respected her friend and trusted her to do what she wanted and was there for support.

The other love for me was how Leah appreciated Rhett for him showing her a world that fascinated and drew her in. She knew right away she had strong feelings for Rhett and she knew it before they actually started their arrangement. In time Rhett reveals his feelings in many ways with many gifts but again not over the top. You never get the feeling that he is trying to buy her, own her, or control her outside the bedroom, she is still her own person.

Now I admit that this is the ONE book I would read again. I don’t say that ever! This was exactly what I love to read! Steam lots and lots of steam but as far as the scenes, they were not over the top and this was a very easy read.

Starting another Jill Shalvis tonight no surprise there!

Homebound by Jodi McClure.

I got this book and I am SO glad I did. I praise Jodi’s work on this book. It was probably about the sweetest thing I have read in a while. There was something about John that was true to the times we live in. I think his story about his job, his wife and just how down he was resonates with a lot of people. 

After John moves home to sort through his job loss and divorce he decides to throw caution to the wind and is careless on his motorcycle. So at 4am with the streets wet he gets into a bad accident. He has to be in bed for a while. His leg was badly broken and his wrist in mangled so he is rendered helpless. His parents help by getting a friend’s daughter Cloey to help him. She is a nurses aide and she is everything that John needs, but doesn’t know it for a while. 

After discussing her grandfather and why she needed bolt cutters, John decides to help her to find whatever it was that her Grandfather left to her when he died. The clues are really hard and take them on a classic reading journey. In the end I was shocked at what they found, but I won’t say it.

My only complaint would be it was too short! I adored the characters and the descriptions so much. What a “feel good” book.

Wow what a complex tale! This book is, I admit, making me feel really old but, it was so real. The girls depicted in this story are everywhere. They are all loyal to friends, coaches, and each other. So what really made me think was how evil Beth was. I mean this girl had her best friend and she didn’t want to share her at anytime with anyone. When the new Coach came into the picture she was threatened. I guess it teaches you that when you are that age you are wearing blinders and have blind faith in people who you are loyal to. The last thing Addy wanted was to think Beth, Tacy, Coach or RiRi were lying. When she discovered things on her own she still wanted and needed approval from Beth. My heart hurt for Coach who was unhappy and wronged by her lover and her husband. 

For Addy she never felt special until she was “chosen” by Coach Colette to be in on her secrets. She was chosen to be a friend and helper. She was feeling so special because of Coach.

The trust and loyalty that there girls shared was strong because they were very involved in their sport and it was a challenging arena. They practiced and did things I found shocking to compete. They worked on their flips and tumbles, got hurt, bruised and dealt with it for the love of their sport. 

So much to think about now! I think it is still rumbling in my head. I really would recommend this one!

Starting this today

In my opinion I am on a Jill Shalvis freakishly long book run! I loved this book. Poor Raine had work cut for her with her job at the Recreation Center and then her volunteer work. She was helping her community out after a California wild fire wrecked most of it. Her boss Rick gets a call from his famous brother Mark who is a Pro hockey coach and needs community service for two players, if not they are suspended. Rick tells him come to Santa Rey and help out and it will teach the players to give back to the community. So in typical Jill Shalvis form he meets his crush from his days growing up in Santa Rey and they not only transform the youth center, the community, but themselves. Mark realizes he can’t leave without Raine and he proves it. Great read and awesome steam factor too!

Great story with so much potential. I wish it was more descriptive and longer. There was a lot of missed opportunity for Demi and I wish that she had more dialogue. Overall a great love story. 4/5 stars