Permanent Ink is a hot romance with mild daddy kink. Jericho is a 40 year old man who owns his own tattoo shop and has a best friend named Landon. LanPermanent Ink is a hot romance with mild daddy kink. Jericho is a 40 year old man who owns his own tattoo shop and has a best friend named Landon. Landon's son, Poe, is arrested again and Landon's had it. Had it with bailing him out, paying his legal fees, had it period. As he's complaining to Jericho about him, Jericho comes up with the idea to have Poe come in and work as his front counter person until he can replace him with someone permanent. Jericho had no idea his brilliant idea would end up with him meeting the young man who'd end up becoming so important to him.
[image][image]
Of course Jericho already knew Poe, but only in an acquaintance type way, so his attraction to the sullen kid comes as a surprise to him. He doesn't realize that Poe is not only bi, but has a daddy & mommy fetish. He only sleeps with older men and women who use him and order him around in bed, and he likes it that way. He's never been interested in an actual relationship with anyone, until he starts realizing just how amazing Jericho is, and not just because he's a silver fox with tattoos. But, can Jericho and Poe possibly make a relationship work when Landon is Jericho's best friend? And when Poe insists on not only continuing to do his graffiti, but also to hang out with his obnoxious best friend, Blue, who ends up being the biggest punk in the entire story?
[image][image]
I like Permanent Ink despite its daddy kink. I am most definitely not into daddy play, but it's pretty mild here. I do like dominating men, though, and Jericho is definitely dominant in the bedroom. He's not controlling in any other way, but he is dominant, and Poe loves it because he's definitely a sub. Permanent Ink is sexy, but not overly so, and the relationship between Poe and Jericho is an interesting one. I like that Poe does quite a bit of character growth, going from sullen brat to maturing man with a stability he didn't have before. Jericho is a really good influence on Poe, and it's for this reason that Landon can accept their relationship. Speaking of Landon, I think he may be my favorite character in Permanent Ink. I'd love to read his story.
So if you have any interest in older man/younger man romance, mild daddy kink, or just MM in general, make sure to put Permanent Ink on your TBR list. You will not regret it.
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
Merged review:
Permanent Ink is a hot romance with mild daddy kink. Jericho is a 40 year old man who owns his own tattoo shop and has a best friend named Landon. Landon's son, Poe, is arrested again and Landon's had it. Had it with bailing him out, paying his legal fees, had it period. As he's complaining to Jericho about him, Jericho comes up with the idea to have Poe come in and work as his front counter person until he can replace him with someone permanent. Jericho had no idea his brilliant idea would end up with him meeting the young man who'd end up becoming so important to him.
[image][image]
Of course Jericho already knew Poe, but only in an acquaintance type way, so his attraction to the sullen kid comes as a surprise to him. He doesn't realize that Poe is not only bi, but has a daddy & mommy fetish. He only sleeps with older men and women who use him and order him around in bed, and he likes it that way. He's never been interested in an actual relationship with anyone, until he starts realizing just how amazing Jericho is, and not just because he's a silver fox with tattoos. But, can Jericho and Poe possibly make a relationship work when Landon is Jericho's best friend? And when Poe insists on not only continuing to do his graffiti, but also to hang out with his obnoxious best friend, Blue, who ends up being the biggest punk in the entire story?
[image][image]
I like Permanent Ink despite its daddy kink. I am most definitely not into daddy play, but it's pretty mild here. I do like dominating men, though, and Jericho is definitely dominant in the bedroom. He's not controlling in any other way, but he is dominant, and Poe loves it because he's definitely a sub. Permanent Ink is sexy, but not overly so, and the relationship between Poe and Jericho is an interesting one. I like that Poe does quite a bit of character growth, going from sullen brat to maturing man with a stability he didn't have before. Jericho is a really good influence on Poe, and it's for this reason that Landon can accept their relationship. Speaking of Landon, I think he may be my favorite character in Permanent Ink. I'd love to read his story.
So if you have any interest in older man/younger man romance, mild daddy kink, or just MM in general, make sure to put Permanent Ink on your TBR list. You will not regret it.
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review....more
Ah...I was looking forward to this follow up to Beneath the Skin. I wanted to see if Sirena/Bella, Ari's sister, could redeem herself, because in BeneAh...I was looking forward to this follow up to Beneath the Skin. I wanted to see if Sirena/Bella, Ari's sister, could redeem herself, because in Beneath the Skin I disliked her a lot. Here in Close to the Skin, she gets to shine. I can't quite say I ever liked her, definitely didn't love her, but I will say that she somewhat redeemed herself. She seems to love Ari and to have forgiven him for whatever misdeeds she erroneously thought he committed in Beneath the Skin, so that made me pretty happy considering that Ari is my forever love in the Skin Quartet series so far. She's fighting her feelings for Vernon, her ex, crime lord, all around bad guy who's trying to go, says he is going, straight. She and Vernon have a long, complicated history. There's love and lust all combined with suspense and action that Zara West is so deft at.
Bella really doesn't want to have anything to do with Vernon and his criminal ways. No, she wants to concentrate on her tattoo business, rescuing cats and her deco boys (graffiti artists) who are also her friends. But, Vernon is persistent, and in love with his Sirena. He's also ruthless, even though he claims to be going straight. Bella knows better than to believe the man, no matter that her heart wants him, loves him. But, when things come to a head, will Bella and Vernon make it? Will love win out over his criminal ways? Will it win out over Bella's hardened heart?
Close to the Skin is a great follow up to Beneath the Skin. Bella doesn't really endear herself to me as I was hoping, but she does somewhat redeem herself from the bitchy sister she was in Beneath the Skin. Vernon, for all his criminal ways, is really likable and pretty adorable even. Their chemistry, combined with the suspense and action make for a layered, well-written romantic suspense. I'm really looking forward to book #3!
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
Merged review:
Ah...I was looking forward to this follow up to Beneath the Skin. I wanted to see if Sirena/Bella, Ari's sister, could redeem herself, because in Beneath the Skin I disliked her a lot. Here in Close to the Skin, she gets to shine. I can't quite say I ever liked her, definitely didn't love her, but I will say that she somewhat redeemed herself. She seems to love Ari and to have forgiven him for whatever misdeeds she erroneously thought he committed in Beneath the Skin, so that made me pretty happy considering that Ari is my forever love in the Skin Quartet series so far. She's fighting her feelings for Vernon, her ex, crime lord, all around bad guy who's trying to go, says he is going, straight. She and Vernon have a long, complicated history. There's love and lust all combined with suspense and action that Zara West is so deft at.
Bella really doesn't want to have anything to do with Vernon and his criminal ways. No, she wants to concentrate on her tattoo business, rescuing cats and her deco boys (graffiti artists) who are also her friends. But, Vernon is persistent, and in love with his Sirena. He's also ruthless, even though he claims to be going straight. Bella knows better than to believe the man, no matter that her heart wants him, loves him. But, when things come to a head, will Bella and Vernon make it? Will love win out over his criminal ways? Will it win out over Bella's hardened heart?
Close to the Skin is a great follow up to Beneath the Skin. Bella doesn't really endear herself to me as I was hoping, but she does somewhat redeem herself from the bitchy sister she was in Beneath the Skin. Vernon, for all his criminal ways, is really likable and pretty adorable even. Their chemistry, combined with the suspense and action make for a layered, well-written romantic suspense. I'm really looking forward to book #3!
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review....more
Reese is just trying to dodge the worst date when she meets a grumpy but gorgeous tattoo artist. She may have been able to hold her own against him that night, but what of when she walks into her new job and finds he's the managing partner at her new law firm where she's just landed a paralegal job? Will she let Dawson take care of her as he wants? Will she hand him her heart as well as her body?
Dawson's whole world is thrown off kilter when a much younger woman waltzes into his secret world as a tattoo artist, then into his other world as a ruthless attorney. He wants her. He can't have her according to their no-fraternization policy, but Dawson's used to taking what he wants. How long will Reese resist what he knows is between them? And how can he get around their forbidden limitations?
I love a good workplace romance, when the two characters are as adorable as Dawson and Reese, I'm even happier. He's a decade older, grumpy to her sunshiney sassiness, and determined to have her from the first second he lays eyes on her. But what makes them so good together is that his ruthless doesn't extend to his heart - he is so sweet and swoony with her, even as she resists him. And she's so strong, feisty and independent, not wanting to rely on him even though he wants to, does, take care of her. But she could only resist for so long, and when she finally gave in, the spice was so yum! Age gaps are not normally my thing, especially when the two are in such different places in life, but Reese and Dawson make this trope look good because the gap, though it was significant, didn't matter in the end, wasn't an obstacle they couldn't overcome.
Tennyson has been in love with her best friend Chris' older brother, Noah, since they were teens. But he left to join the Army Rangers when she was 16. It's been 10 years since she's seen him and now that he's back, she's intent on getting him to see her as more than just a young girl, as his brother's best friend. She doesn't know that while he was serving his country, her letters kept him sane and kept reminding him of her. Now that he's back, he's determined to claim her as his, that is, if his little brother hasn't already claimed her first.
For such a short story, Morning Light is surprisingly well crafted and well drawn. Tenn and Noah's relationship developed naturally and it was evident their feelings had been brewing for years. The only thing that could have made their story better is if it had an epilogue. Other than that, though, it's great - sweet and steamy and paced well.
Noah (Morning Light) has asked his friend, fellow Army Ranger, Callum Eversman, to look out for Molly while he and Tenn are on their honeymoon. Cal is only too glad to do a favor for his friend while he's on leave, but he didn't expect to find his charge so enticing. Molly is in North Carolina after she followed her Delta Force brother there, and she's loving where she's settled. She left behind an ex she had put in prison for assaulting her, and it seems as if perhaps he's sent someone after her. Thank God Cal's protective instincts are in overtime here. But, can they resist their growing attraction to each other while living in such close quarters to each other? And can Molly resist falling in love with a guy who's just going to leave in a couple weeks to go back to the Rangers?
I really liked Two in the Afternoon. Cal and Molly have serious chemistry, and Cal is one of the sweetest, fiercest protectors I've read in quite awhile.
Stay the Night is the third in the A Day of Pleasure series and my favorite. This time it's Chris and Lainey's story. Chris is Noah's brother and Tenn's best friend (Morning Light) and he's been attracted to Lainey, Cal's sister (Two in the Afternoon) since she came to town shortly after Cal did. But, he's never made a move, just content with admiring her from afar and lightly flirting with her when he saw her. Lainey, like Molly, is in town after dealing with an abusive ex, and she's not really open to relationships, especially ones with playboys like she assumes Chris is. But, when Chris comes to her rescue after she falls and sprains her ankle, she soon sees a different side to him, and their attraction explodes.
I really liked Stay the Night. I wasn't sure I'd like Chris again after the hurtful words her threw at Tenn in Morning Light, but he thoroughly redeemed himself here. And Lainey is the perfect woman for him - she's sweet, she's sassy, and she's tough.
I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
Merged review:
A Day of Pleasure is a great box set with three interconnected stories.
Tennyson has been in love with her best friend Chris' older brother, Noah, since they were teens. But he left to join the Army Rangers when she was 16. It's been 10 years since she's seen him and now that he's back, she's intent on getting him to see her as more than just a young girl, as his brother's best friend. She doesn't know that while he was serving his country, her letters kept him sane and kept reminding him of her. Now that he's back, he's determined to claim her as his, that is, if his little brother hasn't already claimed her first.
For such a short story, Morning Light is surprisingly well crafted and well drawn. Tenn and Noah's relationship developed naturally and it was evident their feelings had been brewing for years. The only thing that could have made their story better is if it had an epilogue. Other than that, though, it's great - sweet and steamy and paced well.
Noah (Morning Light) has asked his friend, fellow Army Ranger, Callum Eversman, to look out for Molly while he and Tenn are on their honeymoon. Cal is only too glad to do a favor for his friend while he's on leave, but he didn't expect to find his charge so enticing. Molly is in North Carolina after she followed her Delta Force brother there, and she's loving where she's settled. She left behind an ex she had put in prison for assaulting her, and it seems as if perhaps he's sent someone after her. Thank God Cal's protective instincts are in overtime here. But, can they resist their growing attraction to each other while living in such close quarters to each other? And can Molly resist falling in love with a guy who's just going to leave in a couple weeks to go back to the Rangers?
I really liked Two in the Afternoon. Cal and Molly have serious chemistry, and Cal is one of the sweetest, fiercest protectors I've read in quite awhile.
Stay the Night is the third in the A Day of Pleasure series and my favorite. This time it's Chris and Lainey's story. Chris is Noah's brother and Tenn's best friend (Morning Light) and he's been attracted to Lainey, Cal's sister (Two in the Afternoon) since she came to town shortly after Cal did. But, he's never made a move, just content with admiring her from afar and lightly flirting with her when he saw her. Lainey, like Molly, is in town after dealing with an abusive ex, and she's not really open to relationships, especially ones with playboys like she assumes Chris is. But, when Chris comes to her rescue after she falls and sprains her ankle, she soon sees a different side to him, and their attraction explodes.
I really liked Stay the Night. I wasn't sure I'd like Chris again after the hurtful words her threw at Tenn in Morning Light, but he thoroughly redeemed himself here. And Lainey is the perfect woman for him - she's sweet, she's sassy, and she's tough.
I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review....more
Jordan had what she thought was a deep, intense connection one night in Vegas, but when she woke up the next morning, Peter left after making her feel cheap and used. For 10 years since, she's hated him, but hasn't forgotten the way he made her feel before leaving so abruptly. Then he strolls into her thriving tattoo shop, and she's thrown back into the all the emotions she felt back then. Though they try to act as if they don't recognize each other, they're only playing games, and it soon becomes obvious Peter is seeking a second chance, a chance to reconnect. He clearly wants to help her check off her list, but she's not having it. Or is she?
Jordan may not know it, but Peter has been stalking her on socials for years. He's never gotten over her and the connection they found that night. He had to take care of something the next morning, so had to leave, but he wanted to keep in contact, not realizing how his departure would make her feel. But now he's back and he's determined she give into all those feelings he knows she still has. His enormous baggage, though, could be a permanent obstacle if he doesn't figure out a way to deal with it.
Argh! These two were so frustrating! Well, Peter was, and Jordan was understandably very resistant to giving him a second chance. But though they frustrated the hell out of me, I loved them together, loved their story. Their connection withstood all the years in between the first and second meetings, and their chemistry was smokin' hot. Though this is a billionaire, Vegas themed story, it's got deeper veins than the average story with the same tropes. I was invested all the way through, just hoping they would finally work through all their issues and finally get that second chance Peter had always wanted, and that Jordan never thought there was a chance in hell they'd have.
[image]
ARC provided by Wildfire Marketing Solutions for an honest review.
Janie wants nothing to do with the tattoo parlor that was more important to her father than she, his own daughter. Oh he wasn't a horrible father or anything, he was just, preoccupied with his shop, and not with her. Now her father has passed and it's time for Janie to give the shop back to the men who work there, specifically to Fox, her dad's friend and the shop manager. But after hearing a conversation between Fox and one of his colleagues, suddenly Janie's not so sure she's going to sign over the shop to him. Nope, she's going to work here and prove to them she's not the brainless idiot they think she is. And try to ignore the way Fox makes her feel beneath all their antagonism.
Torch, what he likes to call Janie to irritate her, is Fox's best friend's daughter. Not only does she drive him absolutely nuts with her influencer lifestyle and all the makeup she wears, but he knows he's not anywhere near capable of being the kind of man who deserves her. It's why he constantly antagonizes her. But when she decides to stick around instead of signing over the tattoo shop to him, all the proximity is wreaking havoc on his restraint, and even his heart, loathe though he is to admit it. If he could get past all his baggage, he could give Janie the one thing no one has ever given her - sticking around because he loves her.
Damn, these two positively lit up my Kindle with all their chemistry! Their banter is witty and snarky and did nothing to disguise just how much they didn't dislike each other as they claimed. They both had a lot of baggage, though, and it got in their way, a lot. In fact, Fox's back and forth was the only thing I didn't like about their story. I wanted to smack him at times, because he was just so frustrating. And of course he managed to hurt Janie because of that baggage, so yeah, not too happy with him at times. Aside from Fox's baggage getting in the way, I liked everything else. Age gaps aren't always my thing, but it's done well here, they are absolutely delicious together, and the secondary cast is one I'm looking forward to reading more about.
[image]
ARC provided by Literally Yours PR for an honest review.
Once during her teen years, Cedar met her rockstar idol Fin in an embarrassing way. Now years later, her best friend is engaged to his best friend and bandmate, so they're in each other's orbits again. But though he's seriously interested in her, she literally runs from him every chance she gets. He doesn't know what she's been through in her past, why she jumps when she's touched, and why she always has a bat handy for protection, but he really, really wants to know all these things and more. His swaggering confidence and persistence, coupled with his rockstar appeal, just might charm her, if he has his way.
Fin and Cedar are rockstar romance gold. She's sassy and strong, but thinks she's broken. He's a typical rockstar all sex appeal and confidence, who falls hard, falls first for the only woman to not throw herself at him. There is a whole secondary cast that is begging for their own stories, and actually it's here where the only part of the story appeared that I was unsure of, as they obviously had a connection forged in the first book, which I didn't read, so I felt out of the loop throughout the story. Still, though, I like this story and Fin and Cedar's sizzling chemistry. My favorite part though? Her dad and how he got the last scene in the story, I'm hoping this means his own story is coming.
Billie's just found out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. So setting him up by bringing in all the women seems like a great idea. Unfortunately, all it does is get her tattoo shop's landlord very annoyed at her. But that same landlord seems very interested in dating her when they meet again. Is Billie willing to open herself up to more heartbreak? Perhaps she and Colby can just be friends...who don't really date and try to ignore the heat between them.
Just when Colby and Billie's "undates" were going so well...a huge bombshell is dropped on him. Is Billie willing to stick around with him while he figures out his new life? Willing to be his rock when everything is falling apart?
Undating has to be one of the cutest ways for someone to actually date someone who's wary. Billie was so, so wary of relationships after her cheating ex, and Colby was determined to get beyond those walls, so it was the only way he could be around her. Sweet, sexy, fun, and then of course the revelation was dropped and the emotional moments came hard and fast halfway through. I wanted to shake Colby a few times after that, and hurt for Billie. I was here for every page, though, and I fell hard for this adorable friends to more. This writing duo is one of my favorites and it's because they always give me such interesting, fleshed out and likable characters like Billie and Colby and crew. There's more than enough steam to light up your Kindle and even more heart, this duo's signature.
Billie's just found out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. So setting him up by bringing in all the women seems like a great idea. Unfortunately, all it does is get her tattoo shop's landlord very annoyed at her. But that same landlord seems very interested in dating her when they meet again. Is Billie willing to open herself up to more heartbreak? Perhaps she and Colby can just be friends...who don't really date and try to ignore the heat between them.
Just when Colby and Billie's "undates" were going so well...a huge bombshell is dropped on him. Is Billie willing to stick around with him while he figures out his new life? Willing to be his rock when everything is falling apart?
Undating has to be one of the cutest ways for someone to actually date someone who's wary. Billie was so, so wary of relationships after her cheating ex, and Colby was determined to get beyond those walls, so it was the only way he could be around her. Sweet, sexy, fun, and then of course the revelation was dropped and the emotional moments came hard and fast halfway through. I wanted to shake Colby a few times after that, and hurt for Billie. I was here for every page, though, and I fell hard for this adorable friends to more. This writing duo is one of my favorites and it's because they always give me such interesting, fleshed out and likable characters like Billie and Colby and crew. There's more than enough steam to light up your Kindle and even more heart, this duo's signature.
When Hadley and her brother's friend Cash, start a relationship, it should be a good thing, but Cash is not about to keep it a secret from Holt much longer. Holt is his brother from another mother, and breaking the bro code isn't something he did lightly. He has to tell him the truth, and that means putting him and Hadley on hold for awhile, just until he secures Holt's blessing.
Hadley's an adult now, and that means her overprotective brother doesn't get a say in who she has a relationship with, even if it's with his best friend. But Cash doesn't see eye to eye with her, and is about to blow up the good thing they have going. If only she could get to her brother before Cash does. If only a very permanent result of their feelings wasn't about to make itself known.
Brother's best friend is such a fun trope. It's usually done with lots of angst and delicious forbidden encounters, but it's only really successfully done when the hero values his relationship with the friend's sister more than he values his friendship with his friend. I'm glad to note that is definitely the case here. Cash is a truly good guy with a huge heart (and a delicious mouth) who's head over heels in love with Hadley. She in turn is crazy about Cash, but unsure of how her brother will react to them being together. They're seriously sweet together, their chemistry is smokin' and I love how everything works out for them in the end. These bakers are hot and I'm eagerly waiting for the next guy to fall in love now.
Cait is having a harder time resisting Brant lately. Then he goes and rescues her and a dog from the marsh, and co-adopts the dog with her. Now she's finding it even harder to resist the man with his kind nature and his beautiful smile. Will she let him past her walls completely? Or have the scars from her past done too much damage to her? Is her heart filled with too much fear at taking that leap with Brant?
Brant has been drawn to the gorgeous, skittish woman he calls Caity ever since she appeared on the island. He flirts and he charms, but he knows the shadows he sees in her eyes are there for a reason. Rescuing her and a dog from the marsh, though, then offering to co-adopt the dog with her has given him a way to reach her, to scale the walls she keeps around herself. He knows she's wary, but he's determined to get herself to open up completely to him, to get her to see how he feels about her. Now she just has to figure out her part and let him in.
Cait - my God, I just wanted to give this woman a huge hug the whole way through. She had been through so much, was so guarded, but I could tell even before she opened up to Brant that she had so much love to give. I love the way Brant sweetly, gently (and so so deliciously) wooed her and found his way into her heart. Sweet, swoony and sexy - now I can't wait for more Silver Harbor.
Waking up from a coma and finding out one's husband has cheated, yeah not such a great way to reawaken. Now Anna has to move on with her life. When she meets Leif, someone who was also involved in the same accident that put her in a coma, it will lead to the best relationship of her life. One that starts with friendship and morphs into much more.
Pause is a sweet, short friends to lovers novella. I love how close they become in such a short amount of time, and how easily they fall into a friendship. The chemistry is suitably hot, bolstered by their already strong emotional connection, leading to happiness at the end. Both Leif and Anna are likable, sweet characters, and I especially like how much stronger Anna had become by the end of Pause.
[image]
ARC via Social Butterfly PR for an honest review. Ebook also purchased via Amazon.
When Jax and Frankie can no longer withstand, they give into their attraction, and things are never the same. But it isn't until Frankie's adorable little girl asks something of Jax that things REALLY change between the "enemies." But things will not be easy because he's spent his whole life thinking his childhood spent in foster care messed him up to the point of not being fit for (or wanting) love or a committed relationship. Will Frankie and her daughter be enough to show Jax just how deserving he is of love?
[image]
I adored Jax and Frankie! Though they were purportedly "enemies," it was obvious from their very first appearance in this series that they were far from that. All their snark and banter was blatantly masking decidedly non-enemy like feelings and a serious, serious attraction. Jax may have had demons that caused him to run when things got serious a time or two, and his friends knew it, but I love that it was Frankie who finally gave him a reason to stick around. A Co-Worker's Crush was the perfect story with the best couple to end this amazing series. I'm going to miss The Rooftop Crew and can only hope some (or all) of them make cameos in coming stories.
To say Garret handled badly the surprise of the plumber he called being a woman is a slight understatement. Said woman, Charlie, may not have reacted well to Garret's chauvinistic reaction, but she certainly noticed her friend Tig's new guest tattooist was hot! But she wasn't open to love, to relationships, to dating, to men, period, so there was no chance of her acting on the attraction, even if he had been remotely as attracted to her as she was to him.
Garret was hurt by an ex and carried that baggage with him, just as Charlie carried the scars of her past with her. Did that mean these two damaged people didn't have a chance in hell of ever being together?
Charlie and Garret are quiet fire together. I like how low key but emotionally substantial their story is, how well they ended up fitting together, and ultimately, how sweet they were, even when they were snarking at each other. Tattooed Troublemaker is sweet, sexy and witty, a great addition to the Cocky Hero Club.
ARC via Give Me Books Promotions for an honest review.