Shattered Heart by Dorothy F. Shaw

Shattered Heart:
The Donnellys, Book 3
By: Dorothy F. Shaw
Publisher: Samhain Publishers
Published: January 19, 2016
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Spanking, Anal Play, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Toys
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: January 21, 2016

 

A crush is just a fantasy. The real thing packs some serious heat.

The Donnellys, Book 3

When Cynthia Donnelly lays eyes on her high school crush at her brother’s wedding rehearsal, she regrets her self-imposed, one-year moratorium on dating. If possible, he’s even hotter now than when they were teens.

Back in school, Shane made a point to ignore his best friend’s cute, sassy little sister. Now that she’s grown into an incredibly sexy woman full of Irish spunk, resisting her is out of the question. Besides, in his book, all “hands-off” rules have expired.

One sizzling night together should have been enough. Instead, the heat rises, tempting Cyn to take a chance on a long-distance relationship and making Shane consider pulling up stakes and moving back to L.A.

Cyn’s recently dumped ex, however, has other ideas. His quest to get her back escalates into violence, shattering Cyn’s faith in herself, and in anyone else of the male persuasion, and leaving Shane with his work cut out for him to repair the damage or lose his shot at a once-in-a-lifetime love.

Warning: This book contains a physical assault. Buckle up for a bumpy emotional journey with the characters as they fall apart and then slowly find their way to healing, and to each other. You might get angry or tearful along the way, you may even get frustrated, but as is with any good love story, it’ll be worth it in the end.

When Book 2 in this series was released I was beyond excited. I had been eagerly awaiting Jimmy’s story and if you read my review of that book, you know it far exceeded my expectations. I never imagined another book in the series could top it. I was so wrong. Shane and Cyn’s journey to each other is at times incredibly frustrating, sweetly touching, laugh out loud funny and burn up the sheets sexy.

Cyn hooks up with her longtime crush/brother’s best friend when he is in town for the wedding of another of her brothers. Their chemistry is off the charts, which leads to Cyn completely disregarding her year long celibacy pact with her sister and inviting Shane into her bed. When her ex-boyfriend goes off the deep end and brutally attacks her, Cyn realizes she cannot trust her own instincts when it comes to choosing a good man. She repeatedly pushes Shane away until he is forced to protect his heart from the one person he wants to give it to.

Cyn and Shane’s romance is heart-wrenching, super sexy and best of all, realistic. I love the scene in the strip club where the brothers basically give Shane permission to pursue their sister when Shane has no real clue yet that he even has any intention to do so. It’s representative of the true dynamics of a big, nosy family. Everyone is in everyone else’s business. It’s believable and it’s heart warming. It’s so easy to connect with these characters and truly care about them when they feel as though they could be part of your own family.

I love how the Ms. Shaw presents all the Donnelly characters without making it confusing. They are a big family and it would be easy to lose track of who is who, but that is not the case here. They are all unique characters with their own stories to tell and hopefully we will be enjoying them for a long time to come.

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Defensive Heart by Dorothy F. Shaw

Defensive Heart: 
The Donnellys Book 2
By: Dorothy F. Shaw
Publisher: Samhain
Published: September 8, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Oral Sex
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: September 8, 2015

 

Uptown girl, tattooed bad boy. Think you know which one is wild? You’d be wrong.

Greenwich Village is home to successful artist Jimmy Donnelly, and the world is his playground. A broken heart in college left him with zero interest in being tied down. But when he meets a sexy, quick-witted Manhattan attorney, he reconsiders his bad boy ways.

Sonja Martin’s life is filled with work, an ex-husband who refuses to stay gone, and a teenage daughter who won’t follow the rules. Jimmy, with his myriad of tattoos and piercings, looks more like one of her clients than a potential lover. But when every argument between them feels more like foreplay, she can’t seem to stay out of his bed.

The heat burns through whatever defenses Sonja thought she had. And Jimmy finds his every fantasy fulfilled—and exceeded—by a woman whose fire burns as bright as her fiercely guarded vulnerability.

But his case for breaking her out of her self-imposed mold might just be dismissed. And he’ll lose the best thing he’s ever found.

Ok so after reading the first book in this series, I was seriously hooked on Jimmy and hoping the second book would be his story. Lucky for me, Miss Shaw did not disappoint. This book totally exceeded my expectations (and they were pretty high to begin with).

Jimmy is tattoed, pierced and an artist. He is pretty much the trifecta of a hot, bad boy. The thing is, he’s not really a bad boy. He’s sweet and just plain adorable, but only with Sonja. He enjoys getting her worked up in all the best physical ways, but isn’t afraid to push her emotional buttons as well. She’s cold to him, without really wanting to be. It just makes him work that much harder to crack her ice.

Sonja is a criminal lawyer who works too much. She wants to let Jimmy in but continues to find ways to convince herself it won’t work - he’s too young, he’s too demanding, she’s not looking for a relationship, etc. Her teenage daughter is a handful. Her rebellious nature creates problems between Sonja and her ex-husband, who incidentally is a real piece of work. All of these things, in Sonja’s mind, are reasons she cannot allow Jimmy to be anything more than a bed buddy.

There are so many amazing parts to this story. I love that Jimmy never really gives up on her. No matter how much she pushes him away, he keeps coming back with a new way to break through her wall. He is determined to be a part of her life. I love how he relates to her daughter and quickly becomes someone she feels comfortable and safe with. What woman doesn’t want a guy as sexy as Jimmy who treats her daughter like something precious to be cared for and protected? Major swoon-worthy! Every time Sonja pushed him away, I found myself wanting to yell in frustration.

This book grabbed me and sucked me right in. I stayed up most of the night reading and reluctantly put it down to go to work. Still, I found every chance I could to continue reading it while I was there. While this book stands on its own, if you haven’t read the first book in the series, you should. Ryan’s story was great and there are several glimpses of Jimmy that made me crave more of him. There is no hint in this book of which Donnelly we’ll meet next, but I have no doubt it will be amazing. Until then I will read Jimmy’s story again and try to be patient.

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Red Hot & Boom! by Various Authors

Red Hot & Boom! (A Sizzling Hot Collection of Stories)
By: Randi Alexander, Rene Folsom, Sable Hunter & Ryan O’Leary, Graylin Rane, Cassandra Carr, Michel Prince, Christin Lovell, Desiree Holt, Mari Carr and Alexandra O’Hurley
Published: June 6, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday
Content: M/F, M/F/M, Spanking, Anal Play, Anal Sex, Oral Sex
Length: Mulitple Short Stories
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: June 5, 2015

 

The Red Hot Authors present Red Hot & BOOM! A Sizzling Hot Collection of Stories.
Celebrate Independence Day with Ten Books from Authors who will Heat Your Summer Nights:

ALL HAT NO CATTLE by Randi Alexander

Deep in cowboy country for a rodeo, Harper Johansen is looking for a cowboy of her own, but roughneck Shaw Donahue needs to convince her to value a man for more than his cattle. 

FOR LIBERTY by Rene Folsom

While deployed, his mission classified, the heartfelt letters Maximus writes are the only bits of communication Liberty receives while he is away. His letters are a constant reminder of why he chooses to fight: For Liberty. 

COME WITH ME by Sable Hunter

Lacy has never experienced the big ‘O’. This July 4th will have more explosions than fireworks in the sky. Jake will prove to Lacy he can be all she needs – in bed and out.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHERRY by Graylin Rane

When a widowed news reporter receives notice she’ll receive a Candy Man, she’s nervous. Can she open her heart and her home to another man?

SCORIN’ ON THE FOURTH OF JULY by Cassandra Carr 

When professional hockey player Mikael meets USA Olympic goaltender Terri, both her beauty and skill attract him. But Terri might have to leave town to keep playing and their blossoming love put on ice.

ONE LAST RODEO by Michel Prince

Mistakes happen when we’re young, now this rodeo pickup man will have one chance to fix it with his ex. She ran to the city to make it big on the news, but he’ll bring this country girl home.

STARS AND SPARKS by Christin Lovell

One curvy journalist. One ex-marine. Two people attempting to find their new place in this world, but, sometimes, it’s not about finding a place; it’s about finding a person. And there’s nothing but stars and sparks between these two.
FIRECRACKER! by Desiree Holt – She's hot as a pistol in the rodeo ring, leaving the competition n ashes. But can this firecracker bring the same explosive emotion to a night with two hot, hot, hot men?

SPARKS FLY by Mari Carr 

I Do is the easy part. Happily ever after? Not so much. Over the Fourth of July weekend, Evan vows he'll reignite his wife, Annie's passion with his own brand of fireworks.

RETURN TO HER by Alexandra O’Hurley

Writhing passion quickly turns into more when friends become lovers. Their surrender comes days before an ill-timed deployment, where the two are quickly ripped apart. Will fate prevent this soldier from returning to her?

Let me start by saying I am not typically a fan of short stories. I am a fast reader and I prefer longer stories in novel form that I can savor for as long as possible. That being said, these are some of the most amazing short stories I have ever read. I enjoyed this book from start to finish and then went back and started it again. “Red Hot & Boom” indeed!

All of the stories have a Fourth of July/Independence Day theme (hence the title). That is pretty much where the similarities end. They are all unique stories, with their own plots and true to life characters. Out of the ten stories featured, it would be extremely difficult to choose a favorite. It really depends what kind of mood you are in. If you want a sexy threesome, Desiree Holt’s "Firecracker!" is definitely the way to go. If you want an inspiring story about a couple reigniting their fire, Mari Carr practically burns the place down in "Sparks Fly". That is one hot story! And if you want a sweet and sexy love story with a HEA, "Come With Me", by Sable Hunter & Ryan O’Leary is just what you are looking for. There is something for everyone here. This is a phenomenal collection by some very talented writers who have made me a fan of short stories again.

So why only 4.5 hearts out of 5? Well, the reason for that is, out of the 10 stories in the book, I felt that one or two were not quite complete for me. They felt rushed. The stories weren’t as well developed as the others and the endings were quite abrupt. They were good stories and kept me entertained. But they were only good where the others were excellent. Still, I’ve read the book twice already and I can definitely see myself picking it up to read again in the future.

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Unworthy Heart by Dorothy F. Shaw

Unworthy Heart
By: Dorothy F. Shaw
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Published: May 5, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Spanking, Anal Play, Oral Sex
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: May 15, 2015

 

Opposites not only attract, sometimes they spontaneously combust.

The Donnellys, Book 1

Ryan Donnelly’s past relationship may have failed, but he’s determined to make single fatherhood and his career a resounding success. He’s got his eye on the top of the ladder at an L.A. marketing firm when his gaze snags on co-worker Maiya Rossini.

She’s a feisty, witty, tattooed redhead who’s nowhere near his type, but she pushes every one of his hot buttons.

Maiya clawed her way out of her dysfunctional, trailer-park childhood to earn a college degree and establish a promising career. Her future dreams are big, bright and packed with full-throttle fun, but when it comes to matters of the heart and men—especially stuffy corporate types like Ryan—her past slams on the emotional brakes.

In the office and in the bedroom, Maiya and Ryan rub each other in all the right ways. Though Maiya is everything Ryan didn’t know he wanted, he’s got his work cut out for him convincing her she’s worthy of love—or the bright light she’s brought to his life could slip through his fingers.

Warning: Contains a lot of graphic, yummy sex. To those prone to lock their bedroom doors, fair warning. In this book, there are no doors, only windows. With no curtains. For those who aren’t afraid to keep their eyes wide open: Enjoy the show!

Amazing! I don't even know where to begin with this book. So I'll start with what I enjoyed the most - the banter. No one writes banter like Dorothy Shaw. It's at times laugh out loud funny, other times sexy, it can even be sarcastic, but it's never dull. The banter between Ryan and Maiya is definitely entertaining and is a huge part of what makes them such a perfect fit.

Maiya gives new meaning to the term fiery redhead. She is a force of nature. At one point when Ryan starts to think he may have feelings for her, he describes her as "a red-headed, tattooed angel...With heaven in her eyes, and hell between her legs." Nothing could be more fitting. She shows the world her strength and determination but Ryan sees through the mask she puts on for the rest of the world. He wants nothing more than to be her safe place but she reminds him of someone from his past and he's not sure if he can put himself or his son through this. At the same time, Maiya hasn't been able to rely on anyone but herself in such a long time, she doesn't know how to trust someone else to be her safety net. The only problem is they have this intense sexual attraction that leads to the hottest, most satisfying sex either of them has ever had. The sex makes their emotional connection deeper and it becomes painful for them to stay away from each other even though they both hold on to their own stubborn reasons for not being together. When her mom becomes ill and Ryan tries to support her, it becomes too much for her to handle and she pushes away the first person in a long time who only wants to give her unconditional love and support. The demons from her past do their best to convince her that she is undeserving of it.

I loved this story! It's a different take on a workplace romance. The characters are well-developed, the plot is original, the dialogue is interesting and the sex is off the charts H-O-T! The relationship between Maiya and Ryan feels incredibly real. It's messy, it's difficult, it's confusing, it's fun, it's sexy and all those things contribute to the feeling that you could be reading about people you know. The way they talk to and relate to each other is true to life. There's nothing fancy or over the top. That is a large part of what makes this book so great. It is completely believable.

I'm interested to see how things work out for Ryan's brother Jimmy. We got a little taste of him in this book but it's obvious there is so much more there that hasn't been revealed. The same can be said for Ryan's sister Cyn. Dorothy gave us little teasers on several members of the Donnelly clan. If this first installment is anything to go by, the rest of the series will be incredible! Bring on book 2!!

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STEELE: Into Your Heart by Rie Warren

STEELE: Into Your Heart (Carolina Bad Boys #3)
By: Rie Warren
Publisher: Rie Warren
Published: April 2, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Anal Play, Anal Sex, Oral Sex
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: April 4, 2015

 

Brodie Steele is a badass MC dude. Ashe Kingston is a sexy police officer with an attitude. Their bad blood runs deep. But after they hook up at a wild biker week, can they keep their pact? What happens at Bike Week stays at Bike Week. Yeah, right.

Riding out the rough years following a family tragedy, Brodie is still trying to put his life back together when he finds something he never expected with Ashe. She annoys the ever lovin’ hell out of him, and turns him on so much he can’t see straight. He keeps coming back for more.

Ashe isn’t just a hard-nosed police officer. And she wants no part of Brodie outside of their no-strings-attached fling. There’s no way he’s settling-down material but he’s hard to resist with his inked sleeves and rebellious ways, not to mention piercings in places that make Ashe melt. Brodie Steele is dangerous, delicious, and suddenly determined to have her.

If there’s anything more risky than laying his heart on the line for this sexy woman, it’s Ashe’s job. It puts her life in danger in a way he can’t possibly protect her from. Can their hot bond win out over the bad blood of years past? Or will Ashe be taken from Brodie before she lets him into her heart?

This book got 5 stars from me, only because there is no option for more than that. Let’s just call it 5 plus. I eagerly and not too patiently awaited the release of this book so when I was offered a copy to review before the release date, I jumped at the chance. About two paragraphs in and I knew Rie Warren had done it again! This book is part of a series and although it can be read as a stand alone, with compelling characters, believable plots and steaming hot sex, you would have to be crazy not to devour every single one. Rie Warren weaves a story around you so that before you realize it, you are sucked in and it is as if you are living it with them. The characters become part of your family and you feel everything they feel.

Brodie sees Officer Ashe Kingston dancing in a bar during Bike Week and is beyond shocked to find the sexy dancer is the same woman who destroyed his family. Still, he is drawn to her. He really doesn’t want to be. They agree that with their history, it would be a mistake to get involved. That doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time during Bike Week before they go back to their separate lives.

Brodie Steele is the ultimate bad boy. He is VP of a motorcycle club, is a total badass, has women tripping over themselves to sleep with him (thanks in part to a couple of strategically placed piercings) and he would do anything to protect the people he loves. He is a good brother and has a great relationship with his sister Cat and his brother Boomer. He is sexy, strong and he has a huge heart. There are several times when he shows his softer side and it’s enough to melt your heart. I can’t imagine anyone who reads this book not falling in love with Brodie.

I love the fact that Rie Warren never abandons her characters. Each book builds on the one before it so that her characters lives are progressing as the new characters are introduced. Her plots are not left unfinished and her readers are not left wondering “whatever happened to…?”. Josh and Leelee, Cat and Nick, and Nick’s grandmother all have their places in this book without overshadowing the main story of Ashe and Brodie. Up until Brodie came along, Nick was my favorite “Carolina Bad Boy”, so I was glad to get an update on his life with Cat.

I have to admit, I read this book really slowly because I never wanted it to end. I savored every word and when I was done, immediately started it again. I am a huge fan of Rie Warren and this series. I don’t know how she does it but everything she writes is simply amazing. Every time I think it can’t get any better, she tops her best and blows my mind. I can’t wait to read Boomer’s story.

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Storms in a Shot Glass by Zee Monodee

Storms in a Shot Glass (Destiny’s Child #2)
By: Zee Monodee
Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company
Published: October 21, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: March 21, 2015

 

A little bump is about to make a lot of ripples...

The quiet, orderly life of personal assistant Jane Smithers takes a ninety-degree turn the day she finds out she accidentally got pregnant from a one-night stand. This is one complication she doesn't need, especially when one knows her world is peopled by lunatic Russian models, an immature boss posing as a CEO, and a mother who would make shark-infested waters look like a midsummer country pond.

The world of corporate lawyer and billionaire tycoon Michael Rinaldi is ruled by cold, hard logic, and straight-on facts. Until the day he meets Jane, and suddenly he has no idea why this insignificant-looking woman has the knack of plunging him head-first into the churning waters of tempestuous emotion and hot-headed impulse.

The last thing either needs is to get tangled in a tabloid frenzy.

Throw in a baby neither thought they wanted and add a dash of very gossipy scandal, and suddenly Jane and Michael realize that the world as they've known it so far will never be the same again.

But will they be able to live with this reality?

Jane Smithers is pregnant. She had a drunken, one night stand on New Years Eve with her engaged neighbor that she barely remembers. Being that her life is always neat and orderly, finding out she is pregnant completely knocks her off balance. She has enough people in her life pulling her in all directions, including her needy and seemingly incompetent boss and her pushy, demanding mother who seems to be more concerned with keeping up appearances than her daughter’s happiness. A baby is the last thing she needs at this point in her life. And being a single parent will bring a whole different set of problems.

When Jane meets Michael Rinaldi, she doesn’t want to like him. He’s a bossy, alpha male who only adds to her headaches by announcing he is the father of the baby to her family and friends. He’s also the estranged son of her current boss and his claiming of the baby causes problems for Jane personally and professionally. When a nosy reporter employs some underhanded methods to dig up dirt on the couple and publishes it in a gossip magazine, both their lives get turned upside down. Jane wants to protect Michael from the gossip and protect his reputation. Michael doesn’t care about any of that, only wanting to be there for Jane and her baby but making her realize that is the real challenge.

This is a true romance in every sense of the word. Jane and Michael both have poor role models when it comes to love and romance. Her mother has numerous marriages behind her and is portrayed as shallow and vain. She cares only about herself and can make any situation about her. Michael’s resentment towards his father stems from the man’s abandonment of his wife and young son. Despite all that, they find each other and have strong feelings that cannot be denied. Their desire to protect each other and their unwillingness to admit their love for each other almost rip them apart but their love is obvious in everything they do.

This is a very well written and entertaining story. It's unlike any book I’ve read before. I thought the story was original and I loved that the characters had depth and were believable. For Jane, her emotions were chaotic, without making her appear out of control. When dealing with her mother she would be sad one minute and angry the next. With Michael, he would be arguing with his father and then become caring and attentive in the next instant when Jane needed him.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more from her. This is a very enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it.

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