Claiming Nina by Leslie Johnson

Claiming Nina by Leslie Johnson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received an Advanced Read Copy to submit an honest review.

I have always enjoyed books that Leslie Johnson writes. But this one “Claiming Nina” was a huge surprise from the start. The start already had suspense in it. Fleeing Nina from her rehearsal dinner, you gotta understand that her father was controlling her life and was forcing her into an arranged marriage. The fact she runs into a car and her getaway driver is her best friend hopeful for her not to get caught, being a Chicagoan, I could see them racing down the Kennedy to get to the bus station. But Nina had no idea where she was going but she got set up by her best friend and barely made it. Destination was a small town where everyone know’s your name. Got a job real quick, to only drop soda all over a very good looking man.

The book then goes into this dashing man trying to get to know Nina. (Who by that time changed her name to Amanda.) Adventures of playing cat and mouse, with some really sexy sex scenes in the middle, “Amanda” had to keep her guard up. She was trying to avoid the inevitable. Which is hard on everyone, yet everyone could predict where this story was going. She falls for Adam and his kids, but Adam can sense she’s hiding something.

Then BAM, surprise, the best friend comes back into the spectrum, but the surprise is he’s psycho. And want Nina to fall in love with him. Without spoiling it, I really did enjoy this story. Not only for the hot sex scenes, lol, but how the whole time you had no idea where this story was going. And I don’t explain everything because I want the reader to be as hooked as I was for finding out how is Ms. Johnson going to end the story, when she just brought in a completely different character than the lover and the psycho best friend.




View all my reviews

Billionaire in Vegas by Summer Cooper

Billionaire in Vegas by Summer Cooper
Whenever you see that "Vegas" is in the title, you know everything in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Well sort of....Lacey was lost in the world, had nothing no money, no job, no boyfriend. Thought she was done with love. And just by chance her temp agency calls her to put her on assignment. To a really really really rich old man. But his son, the hottest thing ever, I mean his name his Jude, he's gotta be hot is a complete jerk to her. But she stays with the job anyways even though Jude only sees her as a gold digger.
Her boss sends her off to Vegas with her friends in one of his hotels and of course madness ensues when she finds out Jude is there. Lacey clashed with Jude, but after a drunken night in Vegas, as typical spoilers go in Vegas they get married. So Lacey had to make a decision to stay married to Jude to help him keep his inheritance, where he would give her half. A Billion dollars (yes we're getting high up there now, use to be a million, now it's a billion. She agrees, but only if they don't have to see each other.

As clique as it is, this story does have some pretty hot moments in it. Jude and Lacey have some fun, but Lacey tries to guard her emotions. And doesn't want to fall for the Billionaire, but she slowly sees the true Jude and how he was more than the money. Jude develops feeling for Lacey because he saw her as not being with him just for the money.

Besides some hot bedroom scenes, Ms. Cooper also puts some heart into the characters, that made me invested into them and the story. Of course that would never happen in a million years to have a job fall right into your lap for a Billionaire. Or course you're not going to fall in love with the assy son. But finding out more and more about the heart of the Billionaire, makes you want to feel good at the end. Yes, it was obvious that Vegas was going to get them together, but the end wasn't about being a Billionaire to Lacey. It was the heart of soul of a man, that just happen to be really hot, and trustworthy of Lacey and the reader.

Sam Shepard RIP

"I hate endings. Just detest them." -- Sam Shepard pic.twitter.com/itu4IGaZnW

— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) July 31, 2017

Jenna's Cookie Award: Sin and Cider by Kimberly Reese

Sin and Cider by Kimberly Reese

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Not only am I a Chicagoan, love Cider, and love to sin, but Kimberly Reese I loved your novel! This debut novel is the quintessential way an Erotic Romance should be written. Not only do you have a unique setting at an Orchard, but you wrote REAL characters in your story. The sexual tension from the very beginning of the book, to the heartbreak, to the sex scenes, you will need to fan yourself because they are so hot, to the HEA that leaves you teary eyed. Reese gave us emotion that you can imagine seeing on her character's faces. I say bravo for this being your first book and being so enjoyable and made me happy you're coming out with the adventures of Langley next....can't wait. And P.S. I would go for a cider at anytime before I go for a beer!



View all my reviews

Jenna Snap Theatre Review: Bright Half Life by Tanya Barfield

Bright Half Life by Tanya Barfield

About Face Theatre

If you are anywhere need Theatre Wit in Chicago, if you live in a suburb, if you live hours away, you NEED to see this show. This beautifully done show Bright Half Life is so complex, but yet the simplest of storytelling about two women who are caught up in what comes to them. The simple stage forms the illusion of different levels of life as we watch these two women go through the beginning, the middle, and the end. We find out within minutes that the play brings us back and forth, up and down, backwards and forwards on how time makes this Lesbian couple fly through their life. They go in reverse and forward observing what happens to them when they share their life goals, to jumping on beds, to learning about a father dying, to falling in love, fighting about their children, to going back to when they first met. This 1 1/2 hour running time doesn't need an intermission. These women take over the full stage with such gusto, yet they feel like they are floating in the air dangling their feet down watching their lives like they are riding the Peter Pan ride at Disneyworld.

With the brilliant direction of Keira Fromm, these glorious women glide through the stage, changing in seconds to another scene, and then changing back to the scene they were in 3 minutes ago with the same dynamics as it was 3 minutes ago. Elizabeth Ledo (Erica) travels around with go with the flow, and wants to do things spontaneously, while Patrese McClain (Vicky) is much more of a planner and very straight forward. Both actresses magnificently battle this story to make the tangled web even worse. But you follow them throughout the whole show hoping and wishing it will end jumping out of a plane.

Conveniently placed in Pride Month for Chicago, you need to go and see what two very, very talented actresses can do to a beautiful story while we coast with them into the unknown. And make all your friends go, make it a weekend trip if you do not reside in Chicago.
There is no break for breath what so ever which makes this production so fascinating on how a story about love could be told so backwards and forwards and yet just letting go to fly into the sky.

Jenna's Cookie Award: Tomorrow by Haylee Thorne

LOVED IT- 

so carefully written to not know what is happening til the end

There is always an author that surprises you, there's twists and turns and you have no idea where this is going but you want more. Haylee Thorne's book Tomorrow is a perfect example of this. She starts off with a simple story of Raeva Ray starting the first day of her dream job as a nurse. And trouble was in her patients room when she entered. This beautiful man, Mika Kingsley and he totally sweeps her off her feet. What else are you suppose to do when this beautiful man is telling you that your beautiful, and that you will end up his. Raeva is blinded by his charm, his toe curling kisses, and how he just takes her and doesn't hear no for an answer. This man gets what he wants. And treats her like a princess. Of course you're going to ignore that he's a little creepy the way he has all her cosmetics she uses in his bathroom. Of course she joins the mile high club in his private jet. Of course you're going to ignore that something fishy is going on. I'm sorry but I was Raeva, I would milk it for what it's worth.  Raeva is so sweet and charming and innocence that she has blinders on. You don't care because their sex scenes is literary toe curling and super hot. Thorne writes so sneaky that you don't even know that she is giving you clues throughout the whole book. It's brilliant how you don't find out about Mika's past until the very end. And that's what is so awesome.

I know this is a series but I was not upset when it ended. It ended like how I like a book of a series ended. You're not pissed on the cliffhanger, even though more can be told in this story. Loved it.

Haylee's Amazon Page

Shameless M. Malone

Shameless by M. Malone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Whoa! This book was crazy. And a perfect start of the adventure we're going to through with Lucia and Noah.
It did start a little slow. It did introduce Lucia very well and how she was a strong, independent woman who had something tragic happen to her when she was 15.
I personally think there were too many characters that were introduced with Noah's "security" team. I think not all of them needed to be named, but then again this is book one. So I don't know if all 4-5 of them needed to be introduced or not.
I started to really enjoy the book in the middle when Noah had so many urges to just grab her and kiss her and Lucia kept trying to avoid him and her feelings for him. A lot of tension, which worked very well.
Then what really got me is M. Malone mentioned that Lucia was 21. And I personally think it didn't needed to be added in. She was written so strong and had passion to find out who killed her brother, or take care of her Nonna, making herself grow in her career. I felt she was so much older than she was presented. It kind of ruined it for me a little when her age was mentioned.
The sex scenes were hot, but then again how did Lucia know all these things if she was only 21. I guess I'm just thinking of personal experience myself. I wish I knew what I was doing back then.
Once I got into the book and things were happening, I really was getting into it. I felt this is going in the right direction and I can't wait to read the next one.



View all my reviews



M Malone Author Page

Repeating History by Hanleigh Bradley

When I started reading 'Repeating History', I did not check the blurb first and I'm glad I didn't. I started reading and seeing how complex Clara's character was, and why is this guy who keeps eating Apples annoying the hell out of her. With a lot of twists and turns and the Point of View from Andrew undying love from in the past, there was a whole bunch of sexual tension between both of them. And the tension made it so good, that it was kind of a release when they do end up together. But after the cliffhanger....and I do mean a good old fashion cliffhanger, I can not wait to see where their world leads. Bravo Hanleigh for making a simple cat and mouse game so much more interesting and hot.










Hanleigh Bradley's author page

Shameless Submission by Amand Heartley HOT HOT HOT

Shameless Submission 1 by Amanda Heartley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


So hot your panties will melt right off.

This book was SO HOT. Nothing like a BDSM Romance to have a plot, characters, and sex all intwined into one book. It was sexy hot.


Amanda Heartley's Amazon Page



View all my reviews

Kidnapped by 2 Men Ménage Suspense Romance by Summer Cooper

I received an ARC copy to give an honest review. I gotta say, I always love a good Ménage book but this was a Ménage with a twist. It had a plot and characters I cared about. And they were the kidnappers. Who kidnapped a shell of a girl who wanted her boss, who then turns against her when the kidnappers came in. But oh this book was steamy. Although I did want the ending go a different way, probably because I felt there was a connection between one of the kidnappers and Lilly. But this is a great fast read!

Black by Elin Peer (A really big ginger snap award for this!)

Black by Elin Peer




Oh my, Elin has done it again. She is now my favorite author. How unique and rare story Elin written again. Every story I've read of hers always have a plot that is unbelievably complex and wonderful. Her characters are so tangled into a world that is exclusive to surprise the reader. I loved how the characters were entangled into this dark, yet beautiful world of strange ways of helping Black because Cia with the help of handsome Gabriel. I can not wait to read the rest of this series while I read more of her exquisite Slave Series.Glory to Elin for writing such phenomenal literature.

Elin Peer's Page

View all my reviews

OMG! I loved loved loved The Midnight Club by Michelle Love

The Midnight club by Michelle Love

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I couldn't put it down. I was so engrossed with what was going on, that after the first part was over I didn't realize that the story wasn't over. And even though these boys were all billionaires (a group of gorgeous men all born on the same day) I was so into all of these characters and really wanted to figure out who was killing the loves of the boys in the club. I loved that this was a super hot erotic mystery. So well written, and all character maps were so planned out, I couldn't put it down. I've never read such a unique, exciting, and beautifully written world. Bravo Michelle. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for an honest review. And if being honest in how much I loved this book, then so be it!

Get it cheaper digital or even on Kindle Unlimited. But get it!

Eh It was alright Award: Jack (The Elite) Books #1&2

Jack Book #1&#2 KB Winter

I really didn't feel the characters in this series. Yes I know that it was broken relationship from the get-go in the beginning of book one. But I just didn't understand why I should have care for these characters too much. I thought it was basically on again, off again relationship when I didn't feel like they were really dwelling into what they should be doing. Which was communicating. Instead they just start going off on these fights, which led to break ups and then they couldn't be without each other. I didn't feel like they were dwelled into enough for me to care about them. When I thought was the new character who was going to cause conflict, he was barely even in it. I think I cared more about how the dogs were separated more than the characters themselves. There were some moments where there was a suspense "oh I didn't see that coming" a couple times. But yet, they still didn't communicate with each other until the end. It was like both characters were too much into themselves to really truly care about each other in forming the long term relationship stronger. It was an okay book. But I felt delving into the characters feelings more and maybe causing more conflict would have helped. But the sex scenes were pretty hot! I did receive these books by the author to give an honest review.

KB Winter's Amazon Store

Jenna's Cookie Award: More Than A Slave

More Than A Slave by Anaelle Gadeyne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Reading some of the reviews on how this is degrading. Yes it was a little violent but it was a FICTIONAL world where this slavery does not exist in reality. I feel a lot of people are bring it down because they are comparing it to non-fiction world.

I received this ARC copy to give an honest review. I loved it. I was expecting romantic fluff thinking the book would be a story about a slave and her master. Boy was I wrong.

Yes it is a little gruesome and violent but it also included a woman (Aria, love the characters name) and her strong characterization of speaking up even if that resulted in punishment. And when she falls into the hands of Alexander Anderson and the rumors of how horrible his family, it goes from there. Aria thinking that she will probably will die soon.

The romance comes where Alexander and Aria have a game of "cat and mouse" where they drive each other mad but also includes sexual tension. Throughout the book it was suspenseful because you never knew if Alexander was going to go off his word and abuse her because of his anger issues. But Aria still pushes him back and forth throughout.

Aria is well written because of her sensitivity and her brashness against Alexander. Which the rest of the family believe if he hadn't killed her by now, she must mean something to him.

It was a very nice change of pace in the romantic genre. The only issue I had was when a character spoke in POV and the paragraph later the other character's POV. It got a little confusing.

And the fact that I couldn't put it down, even at work, I believe I found this novel a surprisingly good read.



View all my reviews

Anaelle Gadeyne's Amazon Page

Jenna's Cookie Awards: Reaper's Rival Book #2

Reaper's Rival by Simone Elise

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This time she's a bad ass. Loved how Simone Elise made Abby all grown up with what she needed to do to block out Reaper leaving her. Again it's a major on again, off again story about how they both felt it is for the best to be out of each other lives, except there's really no need to fight it. I felt there was a little dragged on in that case, but again, I was following all their adventures and was so into it. I even cried at one point. Not going to give spoilers out, but there is some parts where it is so touching. And then wam bam there are so many moments that Abby is gun happy, which I though was a nice change from most female characters I've read. And just the same with Reaper. I thought how he showed a really sensitive side to his outer personality when it came to Abby. It was a nice transition from being this bad boy to see how he softens up only to Abby. Shows how much he cares but not too mushy. Which was great. Although I received an ARC copy from the publisher to give a true honest review, I am so ready for book #3.



View all my reviews

Simone Elise's Amazon Page

Jenna's Cookie Award: Elin Peer

Elin Peeris becoming one of my favorite authors. The Accidental Slave was a really great story. The Accidental Slave: Aya's Story by Elin Peer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wonderfully complex

This story was so original with making a whole country up that you would never want to step a foot in. The main characters are so torn but made for each other. It's a beautiful story how they go through the bad and ugly and kept finding each other after denying their feelings for each other. I want to keep reading the series.



View all my reviews

I look forward to reading more and more of her books.

Elin Peer's Amazon Store

So I've been away for a little bit some book reviews...

But after this weekend I will be going full force in trying to get Jenna and the Professor cleaned up and get it into a contest or look for a publisher or do it myself. While I've been taking a break for a little bit, have a couple books I read over the last couple weeks.

Spectra a Paranormal Romance

This was my first Paranormal Romance. I was wondering if I was going to like it. And because it was an easy read and I was intrigued to see what was going to happen in the next chapter, I just kept reading and reading. I did really like how Spectra was written as a strong, non-caring teenager who had some spunk to her. She knew how to carry her head on her shoulders from what happened to her in her past. But the minute she met Bay, she tried to act like he's a suit, but it kept going and going. Their relationship was very interesting in the different worlds they lived in. And how he was so intrigued by Spectra that it I was rooting for him.
I felt the beginning with her old boyfriend that broke her heart because knew she wasn't good enough for him and the kind of person he was, their "friends with benefits" kind of annoyed me. But I thought I would see more of him in the book.
And the other boy toy, I felt there needed to be more of a relationship with those two to counteract her relationship with Bay.

The things I got confused about in the story:
Too many characters involved with too many story lines. Especially Bay's crew. It was a little too much going on with too many characters.

Things I did like from this story:
It was a little Romance that was in a paranormal world. But it wasn't a Romance in a structural sense. But there still was romance. And I was kind of surprised of the ending, but I felt it should of gone to the norm because that's just the kind of Romantic person I am. I thought it was unique story. I didn't mind reading it. It went much easier than I thought it would of. And I'm glad this was my first Paranormal to start me out.

Reaper's Claim: Satan's Sons MC Romance Series Book One

When I got this story to read from Inkitt, I was like "Oh Boy" a biker book. Since I lived about 20 minutes from Daytona Beach for 10 years after growing up in Chicago, I was never a biker-lover. Not only the noise, but the attitude on how bikers thought they owned the road in that area. So I sort of had a bias to not like this book when I first started reading it. When I first started reading I figured all biker club background has to set up which I understand. But then I found a lot of beautiful writing in describing simple words throughout the book. Every once and awhile I would think "Wow that was beautiful."
I did like Abby and Kade's journey throughout the whole book.
I felt that the book was very lengthy (I read an ARC copy, which it looks like it was shorten a little.) Especially for it to be part of a series. It just was starting to get very lengthy at times. There seemed to be a lot of times where the stakes were high and it made me more interested to read. But some other times, I felt it was getting repetitive. A lot of time when there was so much heartbreak it was so sad. And I wanted to yell at Abby or at Kade and say "NO she wants to be with YOU." But it wasn't that I was annoyed with the writing, the opposite. I was investing to these characters. This is where I feel Simone Elise really won me over. Not only for describing feelings in a beautiful way, but also how she did transfer from each Point of View from each character.
I do believe though some characters didn't need to be in POV though. (Even though it may be a prelude for the next book)
I would have liked to have had this well written book to be a standalone that could be a prequel to last chapters. I really thought though the last couple chapters were suspenseful which I really liked, but I am NOT a fan of a cliffhanger if I have to wait 3-6 months to find out what happens. (It is like watching How to Get Away With Murder to find out there aren't any episodes for 3 months because you're watching the fall finale!)

Hot Hot Hot for a Short Story

It's short, but oh so hot.

Jenna's Cookie Award: Bouquet of Gardenias

This is a MUST read if you are Erotic (I mean REALLY Erotica fans) I'm only half way through this and I am just hooked. Nothing is forgotten in each paragraph. It is super, super, super hot. Just beware of getting a little (No really ALOT) turned on. And Ms. Kemp's first novel. If there was a series, I would of bought the whole thing. She totally makes me feel jealous.😛

Follow her at Twitter; http://www.twitter.com/JudyKemp69

I first have to finish this one, to hope she writes another one soon!!!