Review: The Proposition (The Proposition #1) by Katie Ashley

Title: The Proposition (The Proposition #1)
Author: Katie Ashley
Published: November 1st 2012
Publisher: Katie Ashley
My rating: 4 stars

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?

I was so glad I picked this book up on a whim. I didn't even check out the blurb nor did I find the cover eye-catching, in fact I didn't quite like it. I don't really know what urged me to pick and download this. But for whatever the hell reason, I just did. I started reading this with no idea what this book will be about. So you see, I was surprised, completely surprised to find myself devouring this in one night. And gratefully thanking my instinct for letting me pick this. Because this book is so freaking awesome! I rarely write reviews for adult books but I can't pass up the opportunity to express how thoroughly I enjoyed this book and to convince other readers to have this book. So here we go...

Emma Harrison, like any other normal woman wants to have a family. But she feels like her biological clock is ticking away to fast and a romantic relationship with a guy wouldn't be coming close anytime soon. So she decided to get a sperm donor from her gay best friend. However things turned quite differently when her friend suddenly backed out which left her pretty devastated with almost no options. But then comes Aidan Fitzgerald - the answer to her prayers. He offered to be her sperm donor but in a condition that they would have it in a traditional way - meaning she has to sleep with him until he gets her successfully knocked up.

Upon realizing that this story is going to be that way I had my doubts that this could be any more different than the other books with the same plot. But then the author surprised me by taking things a bit faster and differently than I expected. Only it did really good because it brought me to a place where I wasn't very familiar with how things would go. So I was left really thinking and anticipating everything.

Emma was such a wonderful character. She was smart, adorable and impressive. She seems to be a shy heroine but in fact she was a very dependent and strong woman. She knows what she wants and what she does. She keeps her emotions in check but she doesn't hold them back. I like how she lets herself take a chance for a relationship with Aidan despite the risks behind it. I thought she would start to complicate things but between her and Aidan she was actually the braver and reasonable one.

Aidan on the other hand, I wasn't so sure at first. I didn't like him right away but as the story progressed I was able to see a lot of admirable layers in him. I love how he tends to be so genuinely caring with Emma, how he loved his nephews and how considerate he was with most things. However, he was also a character that has a lot of doubts in him and some secrets that holds him back. The last part had me almost not forgive him but when her sister mentioned that there's something in him can't let on and his tendencies of self-sabotaging himself I realized there's something dark, deep and emotional trauma Aidan was carrying within himself. And I know he deserved a second chance.

Now with the ending. That one caught me really off guard! And I hate cliffhangers! God, I was so caught up with all that's happening that I barely noticed that I only have a page left and when I reached the ending I was utterly, absolutely left shocked and hanging. Although this left me a bit in disarray I was glad that the author decided to have it that way and have things be settled in a second book. This would leave lots of time and space for discussion and exploration between the relationship of Emma and Aidan and their circumstances. And I do really want that.

I could say that this is probably one of my most favorite adult contemporary romance I'v read. I enjoyed it very much. The plot was fantastic, the characters were very lovable, the banters and dialogues were funny and entertaining, and the scenes were absolutely sweet, swoon-worthy and yes, steamy. Overall, this is one hell of a brilliant and stunning read. I can't wait for the next book! :)

*I'd like to recommend this to everyone although I have to say that this is an adult book and contains some explicit and graphic contents. But if you're not that sensitive I would love for you to try this.

Review: Broken by Megan Hart

Title: Broken

Author: Megan Hart

Published: May 1st 2007

Publisher: Spice

Read synopsis: Goodreads

Rating: 4 stars

If there is an erotic novel I would recommend and wouldn't be really embarrassed, okay, maybe a little, some parts of it were definitely way out of my comfort zone but still I think it would be this book. It was so much more than I had expected. I was surprised to find that this book has such a wonderful plot and depth that was just so emotionally gripping and utterly heartbreaking. I'd never thought a novel of this genre would make quite an impact on me but this one did. 

What's so wonderful about this book was how the author captured the struggles and emotions of each characters beautifully yet realistically through words and phrases in a way that would make you be involved with them, be connected with them in such a level that you could totally feel and understand what they were going through. 

It was so easy to sympathized with them yet it was hard to think what you really want to happen to them. I was torn between wanting Sadie and Adam's situation and relationship to heal and be better and wanting Joe and Sadie's companionship turn into something more and deeper. 

Sadie's internal struggles of finding out who she is after everything that had happened, of looking for someone who could provide her needs, someone who could make her feel special, someone who could talk to her and ask her about her problems, someone who could take care of her for once was so utterly poignant and heartbreaking that forced me to shed some few tears.

For once, I found myself reading a book where I cannot hate any of the main characters. No matter how flawed or wrong or frustrating they could be. I was left to understand them and their situation. And with that I saw how strong and admiring these characters could be too.

Although this was categorize as an erotic-romance novel I could say that it is way more than that. I'm not much into this kind of genre and even though some parts of it were quite uncomfortable for me, setting those aside, the emotional aspect of this book and it's profundity is absolutely wonderful and very compelling. I love how the author crafted her words into such beautiful and riveting lines and dialogues that could bring out intense emotions from you. I'm glad I was able to read this. This was such a new but wonderful experience for me. I recommend this.

Review: That Wedding (That Boy #2) by Jillian Dodd

Title: That Wedding

Author: Jillian Dodd

Published: February 10th 2012

Read synopsis: Goodreads

Rating: 3.5 stars

First of all I'd like to say that I really enjoyed this book, not as much as the first one though, but still I had fun reading this. However there were parts that just made me quite annoyed and frustrated and I think I just can't really overlook them this time - but maybe that could just be me. Ha! The book still did a very good job on showing the important aspects - especially marriage and what goes with it, struggles and conflicts couples face and overcoming past heartbreaks (Jaydyn's parents' death). 

I swoon a lot of times to Jadyn and Philip's relationship. It was cute, funny, and really sweet. Although I do think it was a bit unhealthy during the first parts but it definitely matured as the story went by. I understand Jadyn's struggles and confusion as she prepared for the wedding. But sometimes she pretty gets on my nerve. Haha! Her thoughts were pretty shallow most of the time and that just annoyed and frustrated me, especially during their counseling. But that doesn't mean I hate her. I, on the most part, feel sorry for her, I thought that if her parents were there she wouldn't be acting like that, she would have understand and face it better. But there was this one part that almost put me on edge! I almost pulled out my hair. And some of her past escapades kinda shocked me. But still, all went well. I was relieved, happy and touched when she finally realized what was wrong - how she thought that she handled her parents death well but in fact she did it terribly - and learned her lesson and what she has to do.

Jadyn, Philip and Danny's friendship was still very much highlighted in this story. And it was still really great and wonderful and I just loved how it was. And I found myself jealous of Jadyn again for having such wonderful and loyal boys in her life. 

I also loved a lot of scenes in this book that made laughed so much! One was the "huge spider" scene! That was epic! It was just so funny and hilarious! Then the bachelors party, ah, I was grinning the entire time reading that part. And of course the wedding, it was wonderful and amazing though I think it was too extravagant, too perfect, but why not? Right? Favorite part of the wedding? When Danny and the boys danced! Haha! I can so much imagine them dancing the dougie, it would just looked so hot! lol! 

And yeah, I really enjoyed how thorough Jillian Dodd showed the wedding planning here. In fact while reading this I started to plan my own wedding too! Wahahaha! I actually felt excited even though I know it would happen years from now. I didn't actually thought of that but after reading this it just kinda feel nice to think about it. 

Overall, this was still a very good read! Funny, sweet and steamy with a very wonderful ending. I was thrilled when I learned there would be a third book, That Baby! Yay! I would definitely be looking forward to it! :))

Review: Strangers by Barbara Elsborg

Title: Strangers

Author: Barbara Elsborg

Published: November 2nd 2009

Publisher: Ellora's Cave

Read synopsis: Goodreads

Rating: 3.75 stars

I'm not usually into adult romances and much more not into erotica. But I keep on seeing this book on my feed a lot of times before and lately, like it was trying to really get my attention to read it. So when I checked the blurb I suddenly felt curious. And when I saw that the characters were two suicidal person who met during the time they were trying to kill themselves then falling in love - which I thought was kinda sweet and hilarious at the same time - I decided I'll give this a try. To add more, the guy's a famous actor and the girl was just an ordinary girl - I'm such a sucker for that kind of pairing! So there it goes, straight to my tbr. I wasn't planning to read it right away when I got the copy but I decided to do a sneak peak, however that sneak peak eventually went into full time reading that I wasn't even able to update it here. 

It was definitely a good and sweet read. Though I would say there were parts that were really cliche it was still really amusing and fascinating. The very first part was my favorite, it was really emotionally gripping and compelling. I love how the author wrote that particular scene because really it was beautiful. And I got my favorite line in there, 

"Don't let me go."

Yeah, it may sound so used and cliche but when you see where and how that line was used, you'll get it. It was really touching. 

Kate and Charlie were both broken characters and I was touched with their own histories and struggles. Especially with Kate, my nurturing instinct suddenly kicked in when I learned her story. She's the kind of character were you'd definitely want to protect and save. Despite all those devastating things she experienced she's a strong and independent person. Charlie, on the other hand was a little whoa!, some of his behavior definitely can put you off but the author did a very great job on showing and voicing Charlie's struggle and problems to make us understand him better. It was heartwarming to see how this two people met and found salvation from each other. Falling genuinely in love in the process and also learning something about themselves. 

Some of my disappointment were just that I wished the intensity of writing on the very very first part has remained through out the entire story. There were also too many sex scenes that I find a little unnecessary for the plot (Or maybe its just me since I'm really not into that stuff and some parts made me really cringe. lol!). And last, I find the major conflict on the last part pretty cliche and very traditional in style for me, the kind which I really avoid because it made me so anxious and frustrated. But the good is the ending definitely made me happy. Haha! It was great, sweet and satisfying.

Review: Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

~For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. 

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source – a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.~ (Goodreads Summary)

First of all, I'm wondering why this is on he young-adult bookshelf? This is practically an erotica, not that its bad. I was just a little surprised when the first intimate scene came. Haha! I mean I wasn't really actually expecting something that detailed. I just thought this was just a contemporary young-adult novel, so yeah. Haha! But hey, I did like the story of this book. See, I gave it a 4 stars. LOL. :DD

I'm usually not into this kind of novel, the tone is serious, dramatic, and definitely mature. However I was already caught up in the story before I found out that this is way more mature than...the mature things I expected. Haha! But anyhoo, the story's definitely good. And quite unique or different...for me, I guess, because it focuses on the girl who did the cheating. Whereas in usual love stories the story centers on the guy or the girl who got cheated.

The writing is good and has the effect to hold you tight with great curiosity. However there are situations that I think was constantly repeating and repeating making the book brutally long, that made me frustrated. But surprisingly, I was patient. I can't seem to drop and stop reading. And well, in the end, I guess it was worth it. :))

The author has this great way of making you hate the character and love them at the same time. You'll find yourself thinking that they are soo adorable, and cute, and lovely and then the next your'll be saying he's a jerk or she's a bitch or they are both idiots. But in the end you'll still both love them. >:DD

Kiera' character was frustrating yet you would still like and understand her. She's naive and her indecisiveness was really annoying. She seem to realize everything late. I got frustrated a lot with her but I can't seem to really hate her that much. Even though what she did was seriously uhmm...bitchy I still find myself wishing her to be happy and okay.

And then Kellan. During the middle parts, when the tension between him and Kiera was getting intense, I was almost totally convinced that even though he's a drop-dead-gorgeous, achingly handsome and absurdly attractive guy, he was a total man-whore. But after hearing his story, Oh my, Its like I just wanted to hold him and hug him and tell him that its okay, that there are people who really do love him. And then at that point I finally understand him. I just saw a boy who just wanted to love and to be loved, and I forgive him for what he did...even though it was really bad.

I love the last part, the way Stephens made it balanced. By making Kiera feel the impact and consequences of what they did. To feel miserable and realize her mistakes. But in the end to find love back and happiness.