insecurities – Z. Elizabeth

ARC: Extreme Love – Abby Niles

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

New body. New clothes. New men.

Used to the average Joe, Caitlyn Moore is overwhelmed when the supremely masculine Dante Jones walks into her life and expresses an interest in her. At first she pushes him away, refusing to encourage the attention of a cage fighter. Then she learns Dante has a love ‘em and leave ‘em reputation. What better way to fine-tune her non-existent flirting skills than with a male who won’t stick around? But Dante has no intention of being a practice dummy; he’s out for all or nothing. Now Caitlyn must accept Dante—violent career and all—or let him go.

Dante “Inferno” Jones has one goal: win the Welterweight Championship. At a time when focus is crucial, the last thing he needs is a distraction. Yet Caitlyn Moore becomes a challenge he can’t resist. When the light-hearted pursuit shifts to a battle to win her heart, his focus is shot. Faced with losing the biggest match of his career, Dante must decide if his extreme life also has room for Extreme Love.

4 / 5 stars

Release Date: 30th April 2013

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My Review

*Thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for approving me to read Extreme Love in return for an honest review*

Caitlyn Moore is used to dating average guy kind of guys so when she is taken to an MMA after party after being dragged to the fight by her friend Amy to meet her new boyfriend, there she meets Dante ‘Inferno’ Jones. One look and he has her hot under the collar, but even more so, he’s interested in too!

She finds out about Dante’s reputation and with her lack of flirting skills she decides to test them out on Dante. He’s not going to stick around after his fight after all anyway. But Dante is fed up of just f’ing groupies, he doesn’t want to be a practice dummy for her flirting, he wants all or nothing. And now Caitlyn has to decide if she can accept Dante, with his violent career – or let him go.

Dante has one goal and that is to win the Welterweight Championship. But first he needs to train extra hard to make sure he can win against Sentori – who plays mind games before matches. He knows focus is crucial and he doesn’t need any distractions. But Cait becomes a challenge he can’t resist. But what happens when winning the championship may be easier than winning her heart?

So I have to say, I am one of those people that firstly judges a book by its cover before reading the synopsis. But can you see why I do this when we get book covers that look that this one?
HOLY HELL it is like sex on a book. It just makes you want to lick his perfectly defined abs and tattoo….okay, I need to stop staring at this cover and get on with the review, because it really was a great book to read.

From the first page you become hooked. It starts off with action, and action that makes you want to read on. And then you feel all the emotions stemming from the characters. You will cringe, you will grin, you will laugh, and you will throw your kindle and shout at the characters. I do this a lot with books, but I get stressed when it doesn’t go my way! But you can see why I threw my kindle as you just wanted Cait to stop messing around and admit her feelings. Will she? You’ll have to wait and find out.

As mentioned, Cait is dragged to an MMA fight with her best friend Amy. She’s under the pretence that Amy’s new boyfriend Brad is working there tonight…she has a shock when it turns out they are watching him work. He’s an MMA fighter. To make matters worse, Cait hates the sport and now she is going to an after party where groupies and testosterone will fill the club. Cait isn’t the most confident person and being around skinny-minnies is making her hyperventilate, especially when she locks eyes with one Dante ‘Inferno’ Jones who makes her heart race.

Dante is fed up of groupies and when he locks eyes with Brad’s girlfriend’s friend, he knows he wants to get to know her. But Amy tells him to go slow, to not rush Cait into anything as shes super shy. He doesn’t want to listen to her though, but soon finds out just how reserved Cait is. Short, blunt answers are not what he was expecting and he knows it’s going to be a challenge to get her to break down her barrier.

With Dante’s future fight being the one he has to win, he has to beat the ass that is Sentori, he knows he has to focus on training, but he can’t get Cait out of his head. Winning the fight may be easier than winning her heart, but he’s determined to help her through her insecurities, to show her that he does want her, that any man would be lucky to have her, as long as it’s him. He’s proud of everything she is doing with her career, proud of the little steps she is taking to change into a new and confident her, but then little push-backs occur and its back to step one. But never does he give up, he wants her to realize just how much she means to him, how much he wants her to be with him.

But what happens when his heart is being to affect his training? The only way for him to focus is if Cait gives him something to focus on, and she goes to completely wrong way about it. But in a way it pushes them together, although trouble is on the horizon yet again for these two. Gosh, can they catch a break already? Will Dante give up at the last hurdle after having enough of chasing Cait or will Cait now be the one to make the decision to go after what she realizes it the real deal?

Firstly, I could really empathise with Cait. I know she got on many reviewers nerves, but try to see it from her point of view. She’s lost a hell of a lot of weight, she’s never had male attention on her and she doesn’t know how to handle it. Plus she’s utterly shy with that attention and she still sees herself as ‘fat Cait’ when she looks in the mirror. I really did admire her strength throughout the book. Although she starts off timid and afraid, she comes out of her closet, she changes herself, and she gains confidence with Dante, with switching up her wardrobe and buying clothes that actually fit her.

Right now I am going through a weight loss program to get rid of my University weight. I’ve lost 2 stone so far, my clothes don’t fit me and I am utterly shy with male attention. So before you all judge her what her ways, think about it from her view point.

Okay, so there are points where you want to shake her and tell her that Dante does really like her, he wants to be with her and support her. And the way she acts would send any guy away for good, but Dante doesn’t go anywhere. I liked that she finally realized this and let herself and her true feelings for him show. With comments about her weight (She’s a size 12) from jealous ex-girlfriends and MMA rivals, she did a great job of trying not to let it show, to let her blasé attitude towards the comments prove that even though they hurt inside, she would never let them know. You really see Cait blossom and grow into such a strong and confident character.

DANTE! Oh sweet, sweet Dante. I fell in love with him, got to be said, and you all will too. Despite his hard exterior, his MMA background, he really is a sweet and caring guy. The second he lays eyes on Cait he knows he wants her, want to get to know her but there’s something holding her back. At first it’s like trying to break a goddamn wall talking to her and he’s not used to that, he’s used to women throwing themselves at him but Cait is different and he likes that about her. Likes that shes not like everyone else but shes a tough cookie to speak to.

His determination to want to get to know her pushes him to try and get through to her. I admired that he wouldn’t give up on her, knew that she would begin to trust him soon and open up to him about her life (which had been a journey in itself). When things happen, he keeps coming back. You could see he really did like Cait, he admired her strength (when he found out about her life), really cared for her and he had never felt this way about anyone before. Going from one night stands to one night stands. To finally find someone who he actually wants and needs to be with, he’s determined to make her see that they are perfect together, despite her hatred and hesitation over his fighting. She hates it.

They both go through a journey, together and alone. Cait goes through one of self- discovery and I admired her so much for breaking down her barriers bit by bit, letting not only her friends in but Dante too. He was a big part of those barriers coming down and I loved him for helping Cait out. Dante goes through a journey of falling in love, of fighting for the women he knows is the one for him time and time again, never giving up. But also he has to choose, Cait or his career….which one will he choose?

I absolutely loved Cait’s best friends Pete and Amy. They were brilliant. They were completely supportive and would kick Cait’s butt into gear not just over her insecurities but over her feelings for Dante. She really liked him but didn’t want to show them because she was scared and she hated his job. They made her see she was beautiful both inside and out, helped her with her confidence in herself and with Dante and helped her break out of her shell. They were the perfect friends for Cait and I’m glad they got their happy ending too.

Abby Niles has written an amazing book in Extreme Love. Her writing flowed, she made the characters have their own voices, she wrote about issues that every woman has been thrown in their life and can relate to, and she damn sure made my fall in love with nearly all the characters – there are a few baddies 😉 but other than that, it was hard to put the book down. I had my kindle stuck in my hands until I finished it. I’ve recently been obsessed with reading books about MMA Fighters and this book definitely did not disappoint my visions of these fighters. Abby Niles wrote the fights in a way I understood what he going on (I’m easily confused) and I was cheering, if not wincing, along with Cait and the other supporters. You do get drawn into this book, not just with the fighting, but with cheering for both Cait and Dante.

Extreme Love is out on the 30^th April and I insist that you all download it. If not for the smoking hot cover, then for the journey Cait and Dante go through. It is a struggle, but they get there in the end.

Erotica, New Adult, Romance, Serenity Woods

Mr. Insatiable – Serenity Woods

Posted on March 13, 2013March 13, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

Gossip says he is hot between the sheets. Has Mr. Insatiable finally met his match?

Enya’s been curious about Kit’s bedroom exploits ever since his ex-girlfriend spilled the beans about his…skill. But he’s not for her. Enya can’t provide what he wants from life, especially not between the sheets.

After Enya admits she’s not good at sex, Kit persuades her to trust in him. Together, they can create fireworks in the bedroom. A few drinks followed by a discussion about kinky sex, and Enya succumbs to his charm.

Thrilled he’s been proven correct, Kit can’t keep his hands off Enya, and she’s unable, and unwilling, to resist him. But is it just great sex…or something more?

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My Review

Kit and Enya have been best friends for years, but after his ex-girlfriend spilled the beans about his bedroom antics, Enya has been curious. But he’s not for her. She can’t give him what he wants from life and certainly not in the bedroom.

After spilling that shes not good at sex, Kit ploughs Enya with alcohol and then asks that she trusts him and he shows her just how great she and sex can be

Kit and Enya drink until he persuades her that if they had just one night together, he can show her just how great sex can be. Trusting him, she succumbs to his charms and they see fireworks in the bedroom. He’s proved that she just needed the right partner.

But now he’s can a bite of Enya, he wants more. He can’t seem to keep away or keep his hands off her. Enya tries to stay away, tries to resist him but its failing. She can’t deny him, no matter how much she should.

What happens when her secret is out? How will it affect Kit and will they ever get a chance of being together forever?

This is the second book I’ve read by Serenity Woods and just like Seven Sexy Sins, I absolutely loved it. I love the whole ‘best friends have sex then become lovers’ books and although this book is that, there’s much more to it than sex. It’s about crossing the barrier into uncharted territory and changing up your friendship status into something more. Something you’ve both wanted for years but never acted upon it. Never wanted to cross it until it was actually time to do something about it. And I’m so glad that they did!

Kit and Enya have been best friends for years. Kit is also best friends with her brother, Tristan, as well. They have seen each other in relationships, broken hearted and have always been there for one another. But at her brother’s wedding, Enya is feeling insecure having broken up with her boyfriend and that is the moment that everything shifts in the way she and Kit look at each other.

Kit shows Enya just how great sex is, how great having an orgasm is but after that one night, Enya starts to withdraw from Kit, feeling that everything can’t go back to friendship as they have crossed that barrier. But there’s a little problem, she and Kit are off to Beijing for 4 days so Kit needs to make everything okay between them before then.

And they always say, what happens in Beijing, stays in Beijing (Ok that’s not true, but they do with other places so why not Beijing?). But what happens if Kit doesn’t want that? He wants them to continue seeing one another back home? Enya wants that but with her secret, she can’t give Kit what he wants. Will Kit fight for her or just let the love of his life go?

Enya was a sweet character, but full of self-doubt. I really felt for her throughout the book. Something happened to her and its shaped her into the person she is now. As much as shes put a front on by making people think it doesn’t affect her anymore, it still does. And of course it does. I know it would with me too. But she acts like everything is fine, until Kit sees through her insecurities. He was also blinded by her front but now he’s seen her shred it, he knows shes more vulnerable than she puts on. But with Kit, he makes her see that it’s not the first thing he sees in her. He sees her for the beautiful person she is and makes her see that he’s not going to run away, because he truly wants to be with her.

Kit is a brilliant character and my new book boyfriend. I instantly fell in love with him. Sure he’s flirty and named Mr. Insatiable, and of course, he lives up to his name in the bedroom, but he’s more than that. He’s kind, considerate and is always there for his friends not matter what. He has a big heart and he has loved Enya for years. Much as she has loved him too. He knows what he wants out of life and he’s not afraid to share it. It’s way too cute when guys are upfront about wanting families. I love it. And it was also great to see a kinky character, not afraid to admit what he likes in the bedroom and how upfront he is about it and about his sex life. It certainly made better entertainment on the pages for me!

The sexual tension between these two…whew, even I could feel it through my kindle and those sex scenes. Why hellllllo Mr. Insatiable. How I wish he could come round mine and show me a thing or two. They were hot and steamy and really showed how Kit and Enya were compatible. Not just in the bedroom, but outside too. How shifting from best friends to lovers was probably always inevitable for these two.

I had an inkling in the middle of the book that the ending might happen that way. And it did! But I was so glad it worked out that way and they got their happy ending at last, despite Kit’s dad trying to interfere. Although Kit’s dad did have good reason, he was trying to protect his son from being hurt, I felt dislike for him the way he treated Enya over the whole ‘relationship’. Okay, he had fair points as to why Enya should leave him alone but at the end of the day, it’s not down to him, and Kit and Enya ended up happy together, with everything that Kit wanted in life.

This book was a great, short read. If you’re looking for a ‘friends to lovers’ book, which includes some steamy sex, but also includes some sad moments too then Mr. Insatiable is definitely your book. It takes you on a journey throughout Enya and Kit’s development into becoming lovers, Enya insecurities over it, due to her trauma but overcoming them in time and Kit’s undying love being showed to her each day. It’s a perfect read and Serenity Woods has hooked me in once again with this beautiful and sexy story!

Ps. HOLY MOLY! I just want to run my hands over that body on the book cover. Can you give me his number please Serenity Woods?

Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend – Becca Ann

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

It’s stupid to fall for your brother’s ex. It’s even worse to enlist another’s help to win the ex over. But Brody is desperate and Hayley, his partner in American Sign Language, is more than willing to lend him a few tips.

She’s the school’s matchmaker,’ and with her bizarre and positive personality, Brody finds her easy to talk to, even about the most awkward situations. Hayley’s tips seem to be working, but as Brody learns more about his matchmaker, he starts finding reasons to spend time with her, and not the girl he thought he was in love with.

But Hayley isn’t ready to fall for anyone. Labeled the “Funny Fat Friend” within her group, her self image makes it impossible for Brody to share his feelings without Hayley shrugging it off as a joke.

Convincing her Brody can, and did, fall for the “Funny Fat Friend” turns out to be harder than simply falling in love.

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My Review

Brody and Hayley are partners in their American Sign Language class and although they hardly know one another, they seem to get on pretty well. Brody’s brother’s ex-girlfriend is also in the class, and when Hayley lends him a hand in trying to win Quynn over, he wants to spend his time with Hayley- not trying to win Quynn over.

He and Hayley spend a lot of time together, she’s easy to talk to, makes an awkward situation not so awkward and she has the best personality ever…but she isn’t ready to let go and love someone. She’s labelled the FFF “Fat Funny Friend” and she has no confidence in herself at all. Can Brody convince her that he really has no feelings for Quynn and that he wants her?

I loved both Hayley and Brody. They were great characters, with prominent voices that made me feel closer to both of them when they were going through turmoil throughout the story. Their banter and conversations were so funny and it felt exactly like how two friends should act together – they were having fun and slowly learning more about each other and becoming best friends fast – with the added feelings they had for one another down the line.

Hayley hasn’t had much luck on the boy’s side. She’s been labelled the Fat Funny Friend and in the past when she’s thought guys liked her, they have just used her to get closer to her friends. It doesn’t help when your mum wants you to change yourself too, hence having no confidence in her appearance at all. She has a bubbly and bizarre personality that no one can ignore and as a reader, you become engrossed in her personality and I really saw some of myself in Hayley. I think her personality stems from being labelled the FFF and being used but even if I’m wrong, there is no way those guys who used her could have done that, she was a gem and a sweetheart and I would love her to be my best friend and I would totally hook her up! But I’m glad she had Brody, he saw her, for her and liked her, regardless of her appearance. He fell hook, line and sinker for her and getting her to believe took a while, but I could understand why and when you read it, you will to.

Brody – albeit wanted to be with Quynn at the beginning – had me loving him from the start. When he and Hayley began to constantly hang out and when he realized that he didn’t want Quynn anymore and it was Hayley he wanted, ohh how I wanted to fist-pump him. He was there for Hayley through everything she went through and although it was hard for her to open up to him, he waited until she was ready to tell him what was up. I enjoyed how it was in Brody’s POV. I hardly ever read books where it’s in the guys POV but with this book, I loved it! It was refreshing to see/read how Brody dealt with his feelings for Hayley and her insecurities instead of it being in her POV throughout the book, never understanding Brody’s feelings for her, but his voice shone through and you could tell how much he liked Hayley and how much he wanted her to know that he didn’t care if she was fat, he thought she was the most beautiful girl ever and he just wanted her to believe him and be with him too!

Although at times he bugged me over his dilemmas between Hayley and Quynn. I understand that he wanted to get with Quynn, his brothers ex at the beginning, but the more time he spent with Hayley, the more he wants to spend time with her and he’s all cocked up over both of them, even though Hayley seems to dominantly wins every time. I could really see her hesitations when Brody tries to convince her he really does like her – as she’s been helping him try to get Quynn. I really did want to slap him at times but I suppose, when you’ve been crushing on one person for a while then another comes along and completely steals your thoughts then it’s going to be confusing, I’m just glad he sorted his feelings out and you could see they were genuine.

The ending was super great! He FINALLY manned up – you will see why I say this – and everything worked out perfectly for them. They are the most amazing and funny couple I have read and they definitely deserve to have one another because their chemistry is fantastic, their banter is off the scale and they truly do love one another. AWESOMESAUCE!

If you’re looking for a funny, fluffy and cute story, then Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend is definitely the one for you.