Review: First Semester by Q.B. Tyler

First Semester by Q.B. Tyler

Series: Campus Tales #1

Publication date: September 12th, 2018

Pages: 184

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

My rebound wasn't supposed to be the best sex of my life.

He definitely wasn't supposed to walk into class Monday morning on my first day of college.

He wasn't supposed to be my teacher.

He did things to my body that no man had ever done before.

Things I wanted him to do again

And again.

And again.

But the man I had in my bed two days ago was now off limits.

He was my teacher.

I was his student.

I couldn't have him...

I wanted him anyway.

First Semester is a 50,000 word standalone novel and the first in The Campus Tales series.

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Review:

Life didn't seem fair by Skyler's standards. She had gone to Italy for three months, fell in love, and ultimately gotten her heart broken. She came home to start college after taking a year off and met a friend who was determined to break her out of her shell. Skyler meets a man who was gorgeous beyond all reason and she thinks he was just what the doctor ordered to get over her ex. It seemed he was in a similar boat so this could work for them. After one night together fate decides it has other plans for the two and Skyler realizes that the man teaching her Social Justice class is none other than the man who rocked her world a few days prior. Now that they were both forbidden from repeating their night together they want it all the more. But they shouldn't. This could ruined both their college career and living career if it got out. But can they resist each other?

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and while it was extremely heavy on the sex without a lot of deviation, I did like a little of the underlying plot. I do wish if the author was going to play the male protagonist at being a dominant 'daddy' type that she would have leaned into it a bit more. Add some kink to spice it up even more. Sure the forbidden nature of it was hot but if he's gonna be all possessive and growly then go all in on it. I think that would have made this book even better than it already was. Which is phenomenal. The writing style and plot were there, the sex was extremely prevalent, but I felt for the characters which made it a top tier book for me.

Skyler was very steadfast in her personality. She didn't change for anyone and she was unapologetically amazing. She kept getting twisted all over the place and while she didn't particularly enjoy it she didn't become dramatic and whiny as some other female protagonists would get when faced with a challenge. She was willing to compromise and to work within the perimeters that were given to her. She only had a flash of jealousy once or twice but otherwise she trusted Aiden which was surprising what with her history being so close to his and seeing how he very much was not as trusting.

The romance was good, the taboo subplot was good, the characters were excellent, the writing was perfection, and the sex scenes were hot, hot, hot! What is there to complain about?

Book Blitz with Excerpt + Giveaway: A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares by A.J. Locke @maqueripe @XpressoTours

A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares by A.J. Locke

Publication date: March 26th, 2024

Synopsis:

They say humans are dreams and Fiends are nightmares. For though Fiends have magic, beauty, and power, their immortal lives are restricted. Vampires must sate their blood lust. Wytches will crumble to dust when their magic runs out. Shapeshifting Haunts must keep their vicious beasts caged. Incubi and succubi cannot indulge in carnal pleasure without dire consequences.

Novari is a human who bartends for Luccero, an alluring incubus and the star of her fantasies She can't have Luc, but she does have Keo, who also wouldn't mind Luc's touch. Keo, who loathes being a vampire, is in pursuit of a fabled cure that turn Fiends human. A cure highly in demand as many Fiends crave freedom from their burdened lives.

When an unexpected discovery about the cure's location puts Novari and Keo in danger, they take refuge in Luccero's sprawling manor. There, they contemplate how to stay safe... and succumb to each other's seduction.

The pleasure she finds with Luc and Keo makes Novari want to hide away forever, but when the danger zeroes in, they'll have to figure out how to overcome it before the dream they've found together becomes a nightmare.

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Excerpt

"I want to take my time with you," he said against my skin. "I want to learn you, explore you. I want to see your reaction to every touch I lay upon you. I want to hear how you say my name as I take you over the edge. Give me control, Nova. Let me enjoy you the way I want. Will you do that?"

He raised his head and stared at me. His hair was a cocoon around us, as was his aura, which had already awakened my arousal in ways that made me feel like I was burning, like I was the heart of a star and Luc was the depths of the universe around me.

"Yes," I breathed. "I'm yours."

"Mine..." A shudder went through him as he searched my eyes.

"I have had many years to master my control. But I will want to take you, Nova. That is the nature of who I am, it is everything I was made to be. I will want to consume every part of you. I will not, because I have promised you safe play, but you must understand that I am nothing but a creature of sexual desires and unless you truly trust me... we should not do this."

"Luc..." I hadn't missed the note of longing in his voice, or the underlay of frustration.

I am nothing but a creature of sexual desire.

I slid my hand down his chest. "I trust you. And I understand the risks and the boundaries that cannot be crossed. So please," this time I flicked my tongue across his lips, "please consume me."

"I will make you mine," he whispered back. "My plaything, my captive. I will pull you into depths you will never want to surface from. Be careful what you ask of me."

A.J. LOCKE is a young adult and adult fantasy author, and also writes and illustrates picture books. She is an artist of various mediums including oil and acrylic paint, and watercolor. When she's trying to avoid her writing projects she can be found trying to make a dent in her TBR pile, playing video games, watching anime, baking, and chasing the ever elusive eight hours of sleep. A.J. is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and now resides in NYC.

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Review: Revenge by Carmen Black

Revenge by Carmen Black

Series: The Princes of Powell #1

Publication date: November 13th, 2020

Pages: 197

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

Elliot, Felix, and Leo.

The three of them had made the last four years of my life miserable. They ruled Woodman High - doing whatever they wanted to whomever they wanted - and I was a prime target. My best friend, Pierre, and I had suffered through the pranks, name calling, and ridicule but finally we were about to be free. Once I graduated, I wouldn't have to see any of them ever again.

Or so I thought. It turns out college has its own share of bullies, including my new roommate Vivian. After she turned my first days into a living hell, I decided that I wasn't going to spend another four years under someone's thumb, and I turned to the only people that I knew could help me fight back. Fortunately, Elliot, Felix, and Leo agreed to help me get my revenge... but at what price?

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Review:

Kat was finally out of high school and away from her bullies of the last four years. Or so she thought. When Kat started at her new school she was determined to go into it with an open mind. Nobody knew her nor the embarrassment she had dealt with at the hands of Elliot, Leo, and Felix. She thought she could find a friend in her roommate but her roommate made it very clear from the moment she met her that there was going to be no friendship waged between the two. If anything, Vivian took one look at Kat and decided to make her life a living hell - sounds familiar. Determined to not live a life of torment again she turned to the few that were professionals in bullying to get a crash course and revenge on her roommate, her original bullies that just so happened to be at a neighboring school. Can the boys give Kat a crash course in bullying or will they fall back into old habits and join in the mission to destroy Kat completely?

There was so much wrong with this book I almost DNFed it several times. But it was like a trainwreck. I kept turning the page and watching the crash over and over again. I will note a few things in the book that really turned me off to the whole thing.

One, there was no reason for Kat's roommate to hate her. None. She could dislike her for being different sure but to hate her with such venom simply for existing? That doesn't happen unless there is something else underlying it as was touched on a bit with Kat's high school bullies. She was created as an antagonist for Kat to have a reason to go to her previous bullies and try to find help. It was a hook for the story and it was just not believable in the slightest. 

Two, there were characters added that were unnecessary for the overall plot. Jason and Eric? Why? They served no purpose other than small ones that really didn't make them as necessary as they appeared in the beginning of the book. And Eric just up and disappeared randomly. Like, one minute there, the next gone. One minute he was good with Kat, then ignoring her, then being a jackass, then back to saying he liked her and wanted to take her, and then poof! Gone. What? Marco? Polo? Eric? No? Right. Jason only served one purpose in the book and that could have been accomplished with a nameless character of no worth. They weren't needed except for, once again, poor plot motivators.

Three, the main character's wardrobe changed every single sex scene. In the book she had her clothes ruined and was given shorts and leggings. Then why the hell in every sex scene is she wearing a skirt?! Where did the skirt come from? I mean she was in one on the first sex scene but... I am so confused.

Four, the reverse harem trope only works if the boys are all on the same page but it seemed to be a lot of sneaking around between them and jealousy. And then there was no discussion about them hashing it out or anything, they just all of a sudden were fine. Did they all get lobotomies and I missed it?

And finally, five, the story was all over the place. There were places they went and things they did that had no reason behind it. There was nothing or merit in some scenes and interactions. She was all over the place for it only being the first few days before classes started. And boy was she all over the damned place. Here is an example of such. Kat gets with her bullies. Her best friend finds out. Her best friend does something unspeakable because he was so upset by her getting with her bullies. Kat reaches out to come see him (which is what the second book is it seems) and he talks to her like nothing even happened. And signs a text "Love, Pierre." Who the hell signs texts like that?? Just doesn't make a lick of sense!

There was nothing redeemable about this book. It read like it was generated by ChatGPT and then just thrown on Amazon with fingers crossed that someone would read it. Nobody can say I didn't give it a fair shake because I read it cover to cover and I want those few hours back. I feel this is a book the author needs to take back to the drawing board and read it through themselves to make changes to the format. Take out the fluff and add some grit. I will not be reading the sequel as it should have ended with the first book. The second was unnecessary.

Book Blitz with Excerpt + Giveaway: Pulling Her Resources by Mia Sivan @XpressoTours

Pulling Her Resources by Mia Sivan

Publication date: March 16th, 2024

Synopsis:

In Tel Aviv's high-stakes business world, Dafna works in a startup teetering on the brink of financial doom. Divorced for six years and starved for passion, she goes on a wild one-night stand with a hot, much younger bartender. But then, the tattooed barman strolls into her startup. Surprise! Turns out he is Erez Ben Ami, the CPA assigned to go over their books with a fine-tooth comb.

Erez is a single dad, with a young brother to support. His boss offers him a dream position, but there's a catch: first, review a new, promising startup and make it as favorable as possible. His future is on the line, and he must suppress his feelings for Dafna, keeping his hands and other parts to himself.

Dafna can't stop wanting Erez, he is the man who made her get over her ex-husband. They spend hours together, and soon, they're using the office desks for more than emails.

Erez is falling for Dafna, she is the woman he has always looked for. When he suspects shady dealings within her company, he finds himself at a loss. Investigating it can cost him his dream job, as well as the love of his life.

Pulling Her Resources is a stand-alone later-in-life steamy romance featuring a forbidden workplace affair, financial intrigue and a Happy Ever After.

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Excerpt

"Do you have a condom?"

Fuck! Rookie mistake!

"A condom?" He stalled, panic building in his abdomen, realizing that he most definitely didn't have one. He didn't travel everywhere with them. His brother would have been better prepared. Eitan always had one in his trousers' back pocket.

"You know, that's so embarrassing. I don't."

"This is my one and only night at the luna park, and I want to go on all the rides."

"We could do other stuff. Tell me what you want." He would make more love to her tonight, condom or no condom.

"To feel you in me, on me," Dafna answered.

She was killing him.

MIA SIVAN is an Israeli woman who lives, works and loves in Tel Aviv. The city is as much a part of her books as any other character.

Mia has worked as a senior investment manager for many years, and the books she writes draws much from her personal experience, as well as real-life scams that took place in the Israeli financial market.

When not writing or dreaming up steamy scenes, she lives with her handsome husband and even handsomer two sons, and enjoys long walks by the beach (it's Tel Aviv, it's never too cold).

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