Review: Taint by S.L. Jennings

Title: Taint

Author: S.L. Jennings

Series: Sexual Education #1

Publication date: October 14th, 2014

Pages: 288

ISBN: 9780062389718

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):
This no-holds barred, sexy New York Times bestseller pushes the envelope like no other novel has as it spins the titillating, enticing tale of one man who teaches women everything they need to know to make their partners happy in the bedroom... while making their own wildest fantasies come true.

Right now, you're probably asking yourself two things: Who am I? And, what the hell are you doing here? Let's start with the most obvious question, shall we?

You're here, ladies, because you can't f*ck.

Oh, stop it. Don't cringe. No one under the age of 80 clutches their pearls. You might as well get used to it, because for the next six weeks, you're going to hear that word a lot. And you're going to say it a lot. Go ahead, try it out on your tongue. F*ck. F***ck. Ok, good. Now where were we? If you enrolled yourself in this program then you are wholly aware that you're a lousy lay. Good for you. Admitting it is half the battle. For those of you that have been sent here by your husband or significant other, dry your tears and get over it. You've been given a gift, ladies. The gift of mind-blowing, wall-climbing, multiple-orgasm-inducing sex. You have the opportunity to f*ck like a porn star. And I guarantee, you will when I'm done with you.

And who am I? Well, for the next six weeks, I will be your lover, your teacher, your best friend, and your worst enemy. Your every-f*cking-thing. I'm the one who is going to save your relationship and your sex life.

I am Justice Drake.

And I turn housewives into whores. Now... who's first?

Review:
I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Erotica smut is a stay-at-home mom's bread and butter. While on maternity leave I wanted it to become my escape from the dirty diapers and fussing. I hadn't read a quality erotica novel in quite some time and was anxious to try the genre out once more and see if it still enticed me as much as it used to. On a whim, I decided to delve into my abundant review novel collection and found this little gem. Not going to lie, the cover and title caught my eye, but the synopsis made the story a must read. I wasted no time diving in as soon as the baby went down for a nap.

Justice is a blunt and no-nonsense type of man. He is good at what he does and, despite his unconventional ways, he has often saved marriages. He re-educates women on the fundamental aspects of sex. He teaches them what they need to do to entice their philandering husbands back to their bed instead of the twenty-something groupie/co-ed they all seem to flock to. But, when one of the clients, Ally, catches his eye and takes his breath away, he starts to wonder if he shouldn't keep his secrets of marital bliss to himself.

But that isn't the half of it. Justice has secrets that have nothing to do with how to be a sexpot in the bedroom. He's buried his past as deep as possible and hopes it never resurfaces. But the unexpected connection causes it all to bubble back into his present. He has to decide whether he is willing to give up everything he has accumulated over the years for a woman he is not supposed to want in the first place.

The blunt way Justice speaks, acts, and even thinks was a shock. Of course, that was the intention. I didn't exactly clutch my pearls but I did raise a brow. It was what made me really wonder if I could continue on through the story. I grimaced a lot and shook my head more times than I can count but about half way through the book I grew desensitized.

I started to appreciate the story overall, but it still read a little like a soap opera. I was waiting for a child's paternity to be called into question or an evil twin to resurface (which wasn't too far off... not to spoil anything). I am not a big fan of daytime television because of the unrealistic plot lines and that characteristic of this story made it a little difficult to get into it.

I felt for Justice though. I wanted to see him find happiness and let his past go. His plight drew me in and getting to read a story from the male perspective was different.

I didn't completely dislike the book. There were good and bad parts that left a 'eh' feeling toward the end for me. I am not a soap opera fan but others may not feel the same way. If you are a person who lives off shows like General Hospital (is that even still on?) then this may be a fun read for you.

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Review: Take Me For Granted by K.A. Linde @AuthorKALinde

Title: Take Me for Granted

Author: K.A. Linde

Series: Take Me #1

Publication date: April 29th, 2014

Pages: 350

ISBN: 9780996053006

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):
Grant
Manwhore. Adrenaline junkie. Lead singer of ContraBand. What you see is what you get. I make no apologies for my actions, and by now no one expects any from me. I live my life the way I want and as long as it pushes the demons back, then I'm solid. I've never needed a chick for more than a good lay. Why would I need just one when I can have a different one every night?

Until she walks into my world.

Aribel
Mouthy. Perfectionist. Princeton student. Chemistry major. Yes, that pretty much describes me. Oh, and virgin. But I'm only nineteen, and have more important things to concern myself with. What really matters is finishing my degree and getting a good job. I've worked hard for what I want, and do what's expected of me. I don't need anyone to get in my way.

Until he opens up my world.

But if I give you my world, whatever you do... don't TAKE ME for granted.

Review:

Sometimes, in my life as a new mom, I need to look back on what it meant to be young and carefree. New Adult has been my genre of choice when I need an escape back to simpler times without adding in the teenage angst (yuck, who wants to relive that?). I have had a few K.A. Linde books slide across my electronic review desk but have never indulged in her writing until now. I had high hopes that I wouldn't be disappointed in my choice as my reading schedule has been precarious with a demanding newborn.

Grant is the stereotypical lead singer rocker dude. He sleeps around, drinks, smokes weed, and typically could not care less about anyone but his very limited inner-circle. Every woman he meets is simply a means to an end, a quick lay before moving on to yet another of the same. Groupies flock to him from every angle and he is more than accommodating... for the first 20 minutes at least. However, he meets his match when he expects 'easy' from Aribel.

Aribel has no desire to be another notch on Grant's rather whiddled down bedpost. She has her goals in mind: study as hard as possible to make the grades to graduate and do something productive with her life. That does not include getting tangled in Grant's sheets... despite the heat he brings with him in every cocky gesture or teasing remark. 

Grant and Aribel are two of the most unlike people to become involved with each other. But some how the fast and loose rocker and the uptight and shy recluse find solace in each other's company. Grant, running from his past, and Aribel, sprinting towards her future, were not looking for any sort of entanglement. But sometimes love can be found in the most unlikely of people. 

I am a sucker for books about troubled rock stars being changed (usually for the better) by good, well-meaning girls. Every woman wants to believe they can change a bad boys vices for the better and I am no exception. I found myself more and more frustrated with the groupie population. Any woman who has no self respect really doesn't deserve any from me (in my opinion). I watched Grant be surrounded by these women who believe the best way to tame the beast is by warming his bed. Yeah, because that always works. 

I loved that Aribel didn't swoon every time Grant hit on her. I liked that Grant found the strong-willed nerd intriguing to the point of pursuit. The major fault I had in the book is one I can't devulge. I can't spoil a paramount plot aspect by discussing it in this review. However, I will say, that I found Grant's 'demons' to be immature. The reason the situation happen was due to a crippling condition. A little understanding from Grant would have made it a more believable hook for the story. Instead, it just seemed like Grant was faulting an otherwise good person for an uncontrollable characteristic. This cost Grant quite a few cool points in my book. When you lose interest in the opposite sex protagonist it can be to the detriment of the book as a whole.

But, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book. I truly did. Grant was hunky despite, what I feel, is a immaturity on his part and Aribel was delightful. Nothing makes this book addict sit up and take notice then when the most unlikely of beauties can tame the most debauched of beasts.

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