Ripped

Title:  Ripped (The REAL series Book 5)
Author:  Katy Evans
Type:  Part of a Series but could be a Standalone
Rating:  4 Stars
Synopsis:  The fifth book in the New York Times new adult series that began with Real. When an angry, heartbroken girl is forced to be near her rocker ex-boyfriend, only time will tell if the fire between them will consume them both.
Pandora, the gothic friend of Brooke (Real, Mine, Remy) and Melanie, thought that getting her heart broken by her bad boy rocker ex could only happen once. But now, he's back in town with the biggest concert of the year. Pandora hates him so much that she gets Melanie to come with her and play a prank on him at his gig. But when they are caught by security, and her ex himself is summoned, he decides not to press charges if she'll follow certain conditions. Pandora likes none of his rules, or that he's in charge of her, especially since they seem designed to make sure she's in close contact with him again. But the closeness reignites the passion they once shared, and soon no matter how much she wants to hate him, it's clear she's still hung up on him. And worse: he knows it too.
My Review:  I love Katy Evans however she has ruined me for other men in her stories because of one Mr Remington "Riptide" Tate (from Real (The REAL series Book 1))!!  Ripped was emotional and funny.  There were a few times their fights or comments had me laughing out loud.  You can read this book without reading the other books in this series first however it does give some spoilers about the other characters.  I recommend this book to anyone that loves a dirty talking hot MC.  Heated exchanges, sarcastic remarks, sexual tension and sexy twin band members made this a good story that I didn't want to put down.

“We’ve hurt each other too much. Our past runs too deep. We can’t suddenly just be . . . happy.”

Raze

Title:  Raze
Author:  Tillie Cole
Type:  Angst, Romance, Fighter
Rating:  4.5 Stars!
Synopsis: To take back life, one must first face death...
One man stripped of his freedom, his morals...his life.
Conditioned in captivity to maim, to kill and to slaughter, prisoner 818 becomes an unremorseful, unrivaled and unstoppable fighter in the ring. Violence is all he knows. Death and brutality are the masters of his fate.
After years of incarceration in an underground hell, only one thought occupies his mind: revenge...bloody, slow and violent revenge.
Revenge on the man who lied.
Revenge on the man who wronged him.
Revenge on the man who condemned him and turned him into this: a rage-fueled killing machine. A monster void of humanity; a monster filled with hate.
And no one will stand in the way of getting what he wants.
One woman stripped of her freedom, her morals...her life.
Kisa Volkova is the only daughter of Kirill ‘The Silencer’ Volkov, head of the infamous ‘Triad’ bosses of New York's Russian Bratva. Her life is protected. In reality, it’s a virtual prison. Her father’s savage treatment of his rivals and his lucrative and coveted underground gambling ring—The Dungeon—ensures too many enemies lurk at their door.
She dreams to be set free.
Kisa has known only cruelty and loss in her short life. As manager of her father’s death match enterprise, only grief and pain fill her days. Her mafia boss father, in her world, rules absolute. And her fiancé, Alik Durov, is no better; the Dungeon’s five-time champion, a stone-cold killer, the treasured son of her father’s best friend, and her very own—and much resented—personal guard. Unrivaled in both strength and social standing, Alik controls every facet of Kisa’s life, dominates her every move; keeps her subdued and dead inside...then one night changes everything.
While working for her church—the only reprieve in her constant surveillance—Kisa stumbles across a tattooed, scarred, but stunningly beautiful homeless man on the streets. Something about him stirs feelings deep within her; familiar yet impossibly forbidden desires. He doesn’t talk. Doesn’t communicate with anyone. He’s a man beyond saving, and a man she must quickly forget...for both their sakes.
But when weeks later, out of the blue and to her complete surprise, he’s announced as the replacement fighter in The Dungeon, Kisa knows she’s in a whole lot of trouble. He’s built, ripped and lethally unforgiving to his opponents, leaving fear in his wake and the look of death in his eyes.
Kisa becomes obsessed with him. Yearns for him. Craves his touch. Needs to possess this mysterious man...this man they call Raze.
Dark Contemporary Romance. Contains explicit sexual situations, excessive violence, disturbingly sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and mature topics. Recommended for age 18 years and up.

My Review of RAZE:  First I have to say that Tillie Cole is a great writer.  I am currently reading another book by a different author and I am still thinking about Raze!  This story is just that good!  A dark, twisted romance that takes you on a captivating, gritty and thrilling ride of emotions;  hope, hate, love, sadness and revenge all play their part.  Book has dual POVs.  I highly recommend RAZE, it was addictive and hard to put down!

Filthy Beautiful Lust

Title:  Filthy Beautiful Lust (Filthy Beautiful Lies 3)
Author:  Kendall Ryan
Type:  Series, Alpha
Rating:  4.5 Stars!
Synopsis:  Pace Drake loves sex. He knows where to get it, what to say, what to do, and he makes no apologies for satisfying his needs. But when he meets single mom, Kylie Sloan, he's enthralled by her, and begins to question his standard operating procedure. After all, there's no chase, no mystery when banging a woman in a nightclub bathroom. Kylie's depth and determination make the sloppy, drunken hookups that fill his weekends seem empty and shallow. She's the opposite of the desperate, clingy women he's used to. She doesn’t want or need anyone to take care of her and that only makes him want to care for her more.
Kylie's trust in men has vanished. The last guy she was with played ding-dong-ditch-it with her uterus and left her with a baby to raise. Now her infant son is the only man she has time for, even if she misses sex and intimacy more than she'd ever admit. Opening her heart up to a younger man who's best known for no-strings-attached sex and his casual lifestyle is probably the worst idea she's ever had. But Pace wants to prove to her there are still a few good guys left, and watching the sweet way he interacts with her baby makes her want to try…but she can really trust that his days of hitting it and quitting it are in his past?
Filthy Beautiful Lust is the third book in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series, however it can be read as a standalone novel (no cliffhanger). To understand the full growth and development of the characters, it is recommended that you begin with book 1, Filthy Beautiful Lies, then read book 2, Filthy Beautiful Love.
My Review:  I loved Pace Drake from the first two books so I was very happy with his story.  It's sexy situations with a playboy and a working mother.  I really loved all three books in this series.  Kendall Ryan has a way of weaving two characters with complex problems into a great passionate story that you don't want to put down.

Fighter - Tijan

Title:  Fighter

Author:  Tijan

Type:  Action, Fighter, Romance

Rating:  4.5 Stars!

Synopsis:  All of Dale's brothers help with their bounty hunting business, all except her. Wanting out of that life, she left for college, but on her first morning back home for the holidays, she’s back to chasing after a bail jumper. When she realizes the jumper is her ex-boyfriend, Jax, Dale gets dragged into helping him evade her brothers so he can win an underground fighting competition. Jax has to win the competition to help his sister, but soon sparks fly between Jax and Dale. Old wounds are reopened, and Dale may need help herself because she’s close to falling back in love with her Fighter.

My Review:  Tijan is a great writer and knows how to suck you into a story!  A little different type of read from this author.  Fighter is lighter with some funny moments.  I loved both main characters right away.  Can't wait for more from this author!

Dirty Ties

Title:  Dirty Ties
Author:  Pam Godwin
Type:  Standalone
Rating:  4.5 Stars!
Synopsis:  Revenge. 
I race to finance it.  I evade to protect it.  I kill to attain it.  I planned everything.  Except her.  The alluring, curvaceous blonde at the finish line.  With sapphire eyes that cheat and lie.  Whose powerful family murdered mine.  I hate her.  I want her.  I know she’s hiding something.  But so am I.
My Review:  Sexual tension, mystery, action, dual POV's and more!   Sucks you into a well written story right from the beginning.  Great character development and steamy situations.  If you are looking for a book with angst, revenge, and love and loyalty pick this one up.  Dirty Ties held my interest from beginning to end.  :-)