The Farthest Edge (Honey #2) by Kristen Ashley ~ Review

Source: Purchased.

The Farthest Edge (Honey #2) by Kristen Ashley

Step into the Honey Club, where every sensual boundary will be tested in search of the ultimate pleasure…

Branch doesn’t exist. Living off the grid, he’s looking for a way to forget his past and the guilt that plagues him. But no woman has ever been able to bring him to the edge he craves.

After a traumatic experience of her own, Evangeline stepped away from the decadent world of the Honey Club. But when she gets Branch’s offer—to play without boundaries or commitments—it’s too tempting for her to refuse.
As their passion ignites, Evangeline and Branch push each other to their farthest limit, fulfilling their darkest desires while falling harder and deeper than they ever imagined.

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I've been on a huge Kristen Ashley binge lately, both by doing some re-reading and picking up books of hers that I hadn't gotten around to reading yet. Since The Farthest Edge just released in June, this was my first reading of it -- but I am absolutely certain that it will not be my last because I loved this book even more than The Deep End.

This second installment in the Honey series follows Branch and Evangeline. Branch has a bloody, tragic past that he lives in the shadow of every day. Evangeline is keeping her head up after a terrible break in trust in her previous relationship. They are both well-written, thoroughly fleshed-out characters that I adored getting the POVs of -- both in their individual arcs and their growth together.

Like usual with KA's books, this one drew me in quickly. Like, from the very beginning. Once I got started, the book was on my mind until I reached the end even if I didn't always have time to devote to sitting down and reading it. This is a quality I LOVE about Kristen Ashley's books, since I can be pretty fickle with choosing what to read. It's nice to have go-to books that I know will capture me every time.

As for how I enjoyed The Farthest Edge more than The Deep End -- and I've been thinking about this, because it's difficult not to compare, right? I really liked The Deep End. But. The Farthest Edge was better (to me, personally) because it was very focused on advancing Evangeline and Branch as a couple, whereas The Deep End was Amelie and Olly getting together AND Olly coming to terms with his sexual preferences. So instead of the romance getting dragged backward by that, Branch and Evangeline were instead working through their own hang ups in order to be together.

And that said, that's another shining gem about this book: It is two people with baggage (admittedly, one of them has more to sort out than the other) who take a crack at being together anyway. They aren't perfect. They can't predict the future, so they are together for now to see where it goes. And I greatly appreciate how they're just together for so much of the novel. And I appreciate how they don't have unnecessary drama marring the way. Then again, Branch and Evangeline aren't unnecessary drama type people.

Lastly, I will never ever get over how endlessly adorable Branch and Evangeline are as a couple. I'm not going to go into detail (because I want y'all to experience the sweetness yourself without me taking away from it), but I smiled so hard at these two. It was magnificent.

Overall, The Farthest Edge is a spectacular addition to Kristen Ashley's erotic Honey series. It's hot and sweet and deep and absolutely a new favorite!

5 stars - A spectacular installment in the Honey series -- and a new favorite!

The Proposition by Katie Ashley ~ Review

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Source:  Received eBook from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From Goodreads:

With her thirtieth birthday looming, Emma Harrison finds her biological clock clanging and the elusive knight in shining armor yet to appear. She’s running out of options, especially after her gay best friend backs out from being her sperm donor. Of course, there’s always a sperm bank, but Emma fears a donor mix-up might impregnate her with the spawn of Satan.

Resident company womanizer, Aidan Fitzgerald, is used to always getting what he wants, especially in the bedroom. When Emma spurns his advances at the company Christmas party, he's determined to have her no matter what it takes. After Aidan learns of Emma's predicament, he is quick to offer a proposition that will benefit them both. He will father Emma's child, but she must conceive it with him naturally. Not one for hook-ups or casual sex, Emma is reluctant to take him up on his offer, but his charm, coupled with her intense desire for motherhood, wins out.

Soon their baby-making sessions become more than just physical. Aidan can't seem to walk away from her while Emma begins to wonder if Aidan could be the one. But can Aidan leave his past behind to become the man Emma needs him to be.

My Thoughts:

3 stars - An interesting premise with lots of steam!

What I liked about this book was the premise.  Girl wants to get pregnant.  Boy wants to get some.  Great.  Let's do it together.  But life is never that easy and this book showed that.

Aidan truly is a womanizer with a heart.  When push comes to shove, he's really not as bad as his reputation would say.  Instead, he is mostly a selfish guy that never really thinks about the other side of things.  When Emma points things out with "that mouth of hers', he's quick to make things right.

Emma wants a baby so bad it's consuming her.  Willing to try anything to have one, she agrees to Aidan's desires.  But she falls pretty darn fast for the bad boy.

Almost too predictable, this was one scorching hot scene after another.  I could have told Emma what would happen.  Actually, I think she could have guessed before her heart got involved.

With a killer cliff hanger ending, this one will definitely have you wanting to download book two.  Good thing it just came out.  Check this book out if you like your books heavily steamed!

Book Trailer

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Up To Me by M. Leighton ~ Excerpt & Giveaway

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Book description:

Happily ever after doesn’t come easy.  But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms.  He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest.  Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

   Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time.  And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back.  Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises.  Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well.  She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option.  And this is one of them.  If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life.  But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

Excerpt

“It’s hard as hell to keep my hands off you.  And my eyes.  I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Olivia’s cheeks turn a pretty pink.  “Really?’

“Really what?”

“You really can’t keep your eyes off me?”

“God, to be so smart, you’re thick-headed.  Have I not made the way I feel about you abundantly clear?”

I thought I had, but maybe what’s clear to me isn’t so obvious to her. If that’s the case, I’ll have to make a point of being very…forthcoming.

Olivia shrugs and shifts her eyes to the side.  I move in closer and bend until she looks at me.

“Hey, I know this is all new and I know how you feel about guys like me.”  She starts to interrupt, but I stop her with a finger across her lips.  “But I hope you’re starting to see that there’s more to me than you first thought.  Than what you first assumed.  You have to remember that I’m playing a part, too.  One that would be even trickier if I didn’t make each one so extreme.  But you know the real me.  You know that in some ways I’m both guys and in some ways I’m neither.”

“How will I ever know the real you then?”

I can see the worry in her eyes; I just don’t know what has happened in the last little while to put it back in there.  I thought we’d moved past all this. 

I brush her satiny cheek with the backs of my fingers.  “You already do.”

Here's my 5 star reviews of Down To You and Up To Me.

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About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

About Michelle:  I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined.  I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace.  I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

M. Leighton | Goodreads | Twitter | FB 

****Giveaway****

 (1) eBook copy of DOWN TO YOU (The Bad Boys, #1). Book formats available are for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo only. Open International.   

Down To You (Bad Boys Series, #1) by M. Leighton

The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not. Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white. But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.

Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her. Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them. Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire. She wants them both. And they want her. How will she ever choose between them?

Yeah, you WANT this one for sure.  Fill out the rafflecopter below.

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Tempting the Player by J. Lynn ~ Review

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Source:  Received from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review

(Please note that J. Lynn is JLAs adult books and this one is VERY adult)

Tempting the Player (Gamble Brother #2)

From Goodreads:

Chad Gamble, all-star pitcher for the Nationals, is one of the best players on—and off—the field. And right now, the notorious bad boy wants Bridget Rodgers. But with her lush curves and snappy comebacks, the feisty redhead is the kind of woman a man wants to settle down with…and that’s the last thing Chad needs.

When the paparazzi catch them in a compromising position, Chad’s manager issues an ultimatum: clean up his act or kiss his multi-million dollar contract goodbye. To save his career, his meddling publicist says he'll have to convince everyone Bridget isn’t just his flavor of the week, but his girlfriend.

Being blackmailed into a fake relationship with Chad Gamble isn’t easy, especially when the sizzling physical attraction between them is undeniable. With a month to go on their arranged pretense, it's going to take every ounce of willpower they have not to fall into bed together...or in love.

My Thoughts:

 

5 stars - Scorching HOT from the get go & just got better from there! 

What do I say about this book? I can tell you that I LOVED the first book in this series, Tempting the Best Man.   I don't read as much adult books and this series is truly ADULT but I loved it.  As much as I loved TtBM, TtP was so much better.  Why?

I'm thinking it's Chad.  He's VERY rough around the edges and his image is even worse than reality.  NO way is this man falling for just ONE girl.  But then he sees Bridget.  Everyone agrees that Bridget is NOT Chad's normal women, including his babysitter - heehee.  Not telling what that's about but it's too funny. Back to this Bridget being different than his normal fare - yeah THAT's what makes her different and the boy has no chance - though he puts up a good fight. Or rather she does. Have I said too much? Hmmm....yes maybe I have.

Bottom line, this book is one scorching hot ride - pun intended - with a delicious story compelling you forward!  Easily, this book is a one sitting kinda book.  I took two but not because I didn't want to do it in one!!!

If you loved Tempting the Best Man, then this one is a RUN RIGHT NOW AND GET IT kinda book.  If you haven't read TtBM, you can still read this one - it's a companion kinda series BUT you will so want to read TtBM later - just sayin'

So if hot, sexy, steam romance is your thing, then RUN, do not walk, to pick this one up.

J. Lynn | Goodreads | Amazon | B&N