Book Review: Loving You Easy (Loving on the Edge #9) by Roni Loren

Loving You Easy
Loving on the Edge #9

By:
Roni Loren

Publisher:
Berkley

Release Date:
Sept. 6, 2016

Add to
Goodreads

Source:
eARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

Three lovers really click in the latest from the New York Times bestselling author of Call on Me— 

Cora has an amazing sex life. She’s beautiful, daring, and the most popular submissive in Hayven. Too bad none of it’s real... 

IT specialist Cora Benning has figured out the key to her formerly disastrous love life—make it virtual. In the online world of Hayven, she’s free of her geek girl image and can indulge her most private fantasies with a sexy, mysterious master without anyone in her life discovering her secrets. Until her information is hacked and she finds herself working to fix the breach under two very powerful men—one who seems all too familiar... 

Best friends and business partners Ren Muroya and Hayes Fox were once revered dominants. Then Hayes was wrongfully sent to prison and everything changed. Ren wants to get back to who they were. Hayes can’t risk it. But when they discover the new IT specialist is their online fascination, and that she’s never felt a dominant’s touch, the temptation to turn virtual into reality becomes all too great… 

My Thoughts:

Loving You Easy is a continuation of the Loving on the Edge Series by Roni Loren.  This series is erotica at it's best, and is not "vanilla" as far as sexually-charged romance is concerned. Ms. Loren pushes boundaries in the romance genre, and shows readers the allure of sexual exploration and experimentation.  

Cora Benning has never considered herself beautiful.  She is introverted, savvy with computers, and considers herself a "tomboy geek girl."  Her love life has suffered, and her ex-boyfriend said she was "like a dude with a vagina."  Therefore, Cora has decided to explore her sexuality by playing a virtual game called "Hayven." 

In this virtual reality she meets the powerful, sexy, and sexually dominating, "Master Dmitry" and gets to be the beautiful, confident, and sexually submissive, "Lenore."  "Hayven" gives her the anonymity and freedom to explore her sexual kinks and interests in voyeurism and BDSM.

At a networking party, Cora meets the sexy Ren Muroya, when he is in a compromising position.  She feels the allure of the way he dominates over his sexual partner.  Ren tries to get to know Cora at the function, but then she quickly leaves the party.

When the virtual game, "Hayven" gets hacked into, and Cora is almost assaulted due to the hack, she decides to take action. She goes to the office of the game maker, and is shocked to learn that the owners are Ren Muroya and his business partner, Hayes Fox, who resembles her virtual game partner, "Master Dmitry."  She has decided to join the team to try and track down the computer hacker, and make "Hayven" a safe place again.  

However, when the team begins to realize that the hacker might be a dangerous person out to hurt Hayes by setting him up, the three of them band together.  Soon, all three of them are in the midst of danger from an obsessed madman.  When business turns to pleasure, Cora, Ren and Hayes, have to decide if the menage is a temporary fun time, or if it may have the potential to turn into a meaningful lifetime love.

Loving You Easy was fast-paced, and had me looking forward to turning the page.  I'm not one to be in to stories that have menage, but I really enjoyed this one.  Ms. Loren did an excellent job of developing the relationships between all three main characters, and found a way to give them substance.  We learned about their past histories, their hopes, fears, insecurities, and desires.  Cora, Ren, and Hayes made each other whole, and gave me insight in to how three people could fall in love with one another.  However, my favorite aspect of the story was watching Cora empower herself.  She became confident, and owned her sexuality.  I loved watching her insecurities and self-doubt vanish, as she became a woman to be admired.      

My Rating:

I give, Loving You Easy, by Roni Loren, 4 Kinky, Sexually Confident, Deranged Stalker, Menage, Love Filled Stars!  If you like colorful erotica, filled with virtual gaming, BDSM, and danger filled suspense, then read this story!  Roni Loren is one of my favorite erotica authors, and her stories never disappoint!  

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo

About Roni Loren:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. After earning a master’s degree in social work from LSU, she worked in a mental health hospital, counseled birthmothers as an adoption coordinator, and did management recruiting in her PJs. But she always returned to writing. 

Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her cooking, watching reality television, or picking up another hobby she doesn't need--in other words, procrastinating like a boss. She is a RITA Award winner and a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Release Day Book Review: Break Me Down (Loving on the Edge #8.5) by Roni Loren

Break Me Down
Loving on the Edge #8.5

By:
Roni Loren

Release Date:
Oct. 27, 2015

Publisher:
InterMix

Add to
Goodreads

Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

The New York Times bestselling author of Call on Me invites you to discover the thrill of control as one couple wrestles for power in and out of the bedroom… 

Samantha Dunbar needs to forget Gibson Andrews. When he trained her to be a domme, she experienced just how hot things could get with the sexy executive. She was ready to hand him everything—including her heart. But Gibson backed away, declaring them incompatible. He’s a dominant, and Sam’s no submissive. 

But after an attack shakes Sam to her core, Gibson tracks her down at her family’s rundown farmhouse and makes her an offer. He’ll stay the week and be hers in every way—a helping hand for the renovation and a willing lover in her bed. He swore he’d never give up control to anyone again, but he hasn’t been able to touch another woman since Sam. Maybe a week alone with her will cure him of his relentless craving. 

But one taste only makes them want more, and Sam and Gibson are drawn in deeper than ever. The man who won’t give in has just met the girl who won’t give up…

My Thoughts:

Roni Loren writes sexy and unconventional erotica.  Her books are most definitely not for the sexually conservative.  I have enjoyed the Loving on the Edge series, and was excited to read this novella.  I have been wanting to learn more about Gibson and Samantha after learning a little bit about them in previous books in the series.

Gibson "Gib" Andrews and Samantha "Sam" Dunbar both engage in the BDSM lifestyle and are members of "The Ranch," a private place where members go to engage in various sexual activities.  Gib is a dominant, and was the person that trained Sam.  However, during one point in their training, things got heated, and ever since that day, Gib and Sam can't stop thinking about each other.  The largest problem for the both of them is that they are  both dominant.  When Sam is attacked, Gib is willing to do anything to help her feel empowered again.  He agrees to one week of being Sam's submissive.

This is the first book that I've read where the female was the domme and the male was the submissive in this lifestyle.  It was interesting learning more about BDSM and being made aware of how things work with this role reversal.  Gib struggled with feelings of shame and embarrassment.  He was brought up with an abusive father that drilled in to him macho philosophies.  He had to battle the ghosts from his past, and learn to accept himself.

Sam had her own inner struggles as well.  Bounced around in the foster care system, she's never felt loved or accepted for who she is.  When couples came to adopt, poor Sam always got passed by.  She wants a love where she is not someone's dirty little secret, and knows that Gib and her can have an amazing relationship.  

It was interesting and at times heartbreaking watching Gib and Sam's struggles.  I was rooting for these two from the beginning.  It was obvious that they had deep rooted feelings for one another, a solid friendship, and were compatible sexually.  I am excited to continue this series, because I have enjoyed it immensely.       

My Rating:

I give, Break Me Down, by Roni Loren, 4 Sexually Adventurous, Accepting Yourself, Healing & New Horizon Filled Stars!  I would recommend this story to those that are curious about the BDSM lifestyle, and enjoy an unconventional love story!

Purchase At:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

About Roni Loren:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. 

If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that's it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Blog Tour: Yours All Along (Loving on the Edge #7.5) by Roni Loren

Yours All Along
Loving on the Edge #7.5

By:
Roni Loren

Release Date:
June 16, 2015

Publisher:
InterMix

Add to 
Goodreads

Source:
eARC from publisher for a honest review

GR's Summary:

The new Loving on the Edge romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Nothing Between Us turns on the heat between two men who wonder how much they’re willing to risk in the name of love. 

Four years after an accident tore their friendship apart, Hunter and Devon are living separate lives. Hunter is now the all-America hero—a congressman’s son and a pro pitcher in Houston preparing to marry his beauty-queen girlfriend. Devon is in Dallas running a new restaurant. 

But when Hunter unexpectedly shows up in Devon’s bar, Devon can’t turn him away. Damn it if the man isn’t still gorgeous. But engaged? Hell no. All he’s doing for Devon is bringing back memories of their college-roommate days, and the night their relationship went too far. Turns out Hunter has never forgotten it either. 

Now Devon can’t help but be drawn in all over again by the only guy who’s ever gotten close enough to break his heart. Maybe one more night together would be enough for both of them to finally move on. Or maybe one night will change everything… 

My Thoughts:

Roni Loren sure knows how to write sexy!  She builds up that sweet anticipation between her characters, gives us a strong emotional connection, and gives her readers exactly what they want!

Yours All Along is a novella about Hunter and Devon.  It begins in the present time, flashes to the past, and ends in the present.  Currently, Hunter is a successful star baseball pitcher for the Astros, and engaged to a former beauty queen.  Between his star status, and the fact that his father is a congressman, has lead every aspect of Hunter's life to be in the public eye.  It's three months until Hunter's upcoming nuptials, and he feels stressed and trapped.  His fiancee, Macy, sends him away on a vacation to Dallas, so that he can get rested up.

While in Dallas, Hunter goes to visit his former best friend, Devon.  They haven't seen each other in four years.  Devon is currently running a successful restaurant and is not in a relationship.  The story than flashes back to four years in the past, and we learn what ended such an important friendship.  Needless to say, I was riveted!  As I learned about Hunter and Devon's past, I felt for both of these characters; Hunter, who was very confused, didn't know what he wanted, and was scared to break away from his family, as well as Devon, who was strong in his identity, and in love with his best friend.

Hunter and Devon had a very special friendship.  I was pulling for a HEA for both of them, and genuinely loved both of these characters.  Yours All Along, was a fast-paced story, about finding yourself, the strong bonds of friendship, true love, courage, and triumph.  

I highly recommend it! Call on Me is the next story in the Loving on the Edge series, and will focus on Devon's younger sister, Oakley.  We briefly met her in this novella, and I am excited to get to know her better.  I am also hoping to get more Hunter and Devon in her story, because I'm not ready to let these two characters go yet!

My Rating:

I give, Yours All Along, by Roni Loren, 4.5 Self-Discovery, Special Bond, Sensual, "One of a Kind Love" Filled Stars!  Ms. Loren never disappoints! 

Book Excerpt:

     Hunter smirked, and they trudged toward the frat house, the wind seeming to get harder and colder as they walked. Where the hell did California get off having this kind of weather anyway? 

     But the chill only got marginally better when they slipped inside the front door of the house. Hunter’s breath came out in a white puff. “What the fuck?” 

     Ames, one of the brothers who’d run ahead of him, stepped out of the kitchen, coffee mug in hand. “Looks like we weren’t the only ones pranking tonight. Heat’s been cut off and some jerkoff threw all of our blankets and bedding into the pool.” 

     “What?” Dev asked, looking up the staircase.

     “Maintenance can’t get out here until the morning. I’m heading over to my girlfriend’s apartment. You might want to find a place to crash, too, or plan on sleeping in your coats tonight.” He patted Dev on his way to the door. “Nice work tonight, gentlemen.” 

     Devon watched Ames go and then both he and Hunter vaulted up the stairs to their room. When they pushed open the door, they both cursed simultaneously.

     “Motherfuck.” 

     “Son of a bitch.” 

     Devon’s bed had been completely stripped down to the mattress, and a bag of ice from the local gas station had been opened up and spread across it. A note pinned to the headboard read, Sigmas wet the bed. 

     Hunter’s bed was stripped as well, but apparently they’d run out of ice because instead of the full ice bath, all of Hunter’s underwear were strewn across the bed, and baby powder had been dumped all over them. His note read, Sigmas shit their pants. Hunter stalked over and swept the laundry from his bed, sending a powdery cloud wafting through the room. “Bastards.” 

     Devon coughed. “At least your bed is mostly dry. And smells baby fresh.” 

     Hunter looked over at the mess on Devon’s side of the room. “No shit. No way you can sleep on that. Let’s get all of that off of yours so it can dry out. I’ve got extra blankets and pillows in the closet. You can share my bed tonight.” 

     Devon lifted a brow. “You’re not even going to buy me dinner first? What kind of boy do you think I am?” 

     Hunter grabbed an ice cube and chucked it at him. “Shut it, Easton. You’re lucky I’m not making you sleep on the petri couch.” 

     Ugh, no way. Devon shuddered at the thought of putting any exposed skin on the main couch downstairs. Two decades of parties, hookups, and God knows what else on that fabric. “Screw that. I think the floor in the bathroom is cleaner than that couch. But seriously, you sure you’re okay with sharing a bed? I mean, if you’re weirded out by that or you’re worried about what the other guys will say, I’m not going to be offended. I can find somewhere to crash.” 

     “With one of your on-again, off-again boyfriends?” “

     No, I don’t have boyfriends. Too much work. I have acquaintances who I occasionally do dirty things with.” 

     Hunter sniffed. “No need to go whore yourself out for a bed to sleep in. I’m fine. Just don’t steal my covers, ’cause it’s fucking frigid in here.” 

     Hunter walked over to the closet and dumped out a laundry bin, lined it with a garbage bag, and then brought it over to Devon’s bed to start moving the ice into it. They worked in silence for a while, just the clink of the ice hitting the plastic container filling the room, but the quiet was anything but calm for Devon. He was going to share a bed with Hunter. They’d roomed together for almost a year. Things were comfortable. Good. Devon admired without crossing any lines. But it was going to be fucking torture sharing that small bed with the warm, hard body of the university’s favorite athlete.

Purchase At:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

About Roni Loren:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. After earning a master’s degree in social work from LSU, she worked in a mental hospital, counseled birthmothers as an adoption coordinator, and did management recruiting in her PJs. But she always returned to writing. 

Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars concerts. She is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series.

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Organized By:

http://authorspal.blogspot.com

Book Review: Need You Tonight (Loving on the Edge #5) by Roni Loren

Add to Goodreads

Need You Tonight
Loving on the Edge #5
By:  Roni Loren
Published:  March 4, 2014
Publisher:  Berkley Romance
Source:  Publisher
Mature Content:  18 & Up

GR's Summary:

She’s making a wish list, and he wants to be on top.

From foster kid to trophy wife, Tessa McAllen is about to reinvent herself all over again—and defy every insult her cheating ex-husband ever used against her: Selfish? She’s championing a charity. Stupid? She’s getting her degree.

Boring in bed?

Kade Vandergriff can help her with that one. When they encounter each other at a singles event held at one of his restaurants, Tessa blurts out that kink is for girls who try too hard, and Kade instantly wants to show this sassy stranger how thrilling a night under his command can be…but when he learns her name, the game changes for both of them.

In high school, Tessa was the popular girl who stuttering, awkward Kade fell for. But she chose another. Now, as she eagerly learns lesson after lesson, he’s going to make sure she never forgets him again.

My Thoughts:

Need You Tonight, by Roni Loren, is the second story that I have read by her.  I also read a short story of hers in the Fifty First Times: A New Adult Anthology, and her story was one of my favorites.  What I have learned from reading these stories is that Ms. Loren is not afraid to take on taboo subject matter.  She explores sexuality in a variety of ways, whether is is writing about a homosexual couple, or in this case BDSM.  Before I read this story, I had no idea what it was about. I just thought that the storyline sounded really interesting, and I knew that it was an erotic novel.  This story was so much more that I expected.  It had an amazing story line, three-dimensional characters, and introduced me to a sexual lifestyle that I did not know much about.  It was about two characters breaking down all of their walls, completely trusting each other, and being themselves, knowing that the other person will not judge them.

Generally, Erotica focuses on the sex in a story, and many times the story development is lacking.  In Need You Tonight, while sex was prevalent, and emphasized in this story, we also get a strong plot, and well developed, complex characters.  This story is told from the dual perspectives of Tessa and Kade, and flashes back and forth between 1996 and the present.  Tessa is in a loveless sham of a marriage with her high school sweetheart, Doug.  She was a foster child most of her life, and married Doug for security, and because she thought that he loved her.  One day, when she gets home early, she see's Doug having hot, and passionate sex with the woman who she thought was her best friend, Marilyn.  She throws fruit at his head, and he has the nerve to tell her that she is acting immature, and that the reason he cheated was because she was boring in bed, and his intellectual inferior.  He then tells her to call the maid to clean up the mess she made, and hands her his credit card to go shopping as pay back for his cheating.  Tessa takes his credit card all right!  She uses it to get herself a divorce lawyer, and a plane ticket to her hometown in Texas to stay with her foster sister, Sam.  

Unfortunately, Tessa lacks work experience, and skills.  She goes from living the posh life style, to living in a bad neighborhood, and working for a temp agency.  She is worried about the charity she founded for foster children aging out of the system, because Doug has pulled his funding, and won't reinstate it, unless she takes him back.  Doug is a preacher on television, and after the divorce, he lost many of his followers.  He's also in danger of losing his television show.  He ran Tessa's name through the gossip columns claiming that she was a pill-popping, cheating, gold digger, but not before she let the columns know that he cheated on her.  He is determined and will do anything to get her back, so he can make it appear like she lied about him and was in the wrong.  In the meantime, Sam drags Tessa to a cooking class, where she meets the sexy, charming, and mesmerizing Kade.  The two share a sizzling connection, and an intense attraction.  That night they have the most passionate sexual experience that Tessa's ever had, and Kade offers to teach her more.  While Tessa doesn't want to form an attachment, she's happy to learn a few lessons, and have this experience, so that she can make a check mark on her checklist of the changes she wants to make in her life.  One of course being, not to be boring in bed.  Kade and Tessa don't realize that they knew each other in high school, and share an intimate history together.  

Kade use to stutter, have long stringy hair, wear all black, and was tall and lanky.  Now he is unrecognizable 13 years later.  He wears designer suits, is sophisticated, charming, doesn't stutter, has a great hair style, and muscular build.  Tessa died her hair, cut it, and has curves.  Eventually, Kade ends up figuring out who Tessa is and realizes that he still has feelings for her.  He realizes he wants to be with her, but what happens when Tessa agrees to only one night at a time, and will all bets be off when she realizes who Kade is?

Need You Tonight hooked me from the very first page.  Ms. Loren has a great writing style.  He prose flow effortlessly, and take you in to the story.  It is easy to visualize the characters, plot dynamics, and various settings with her seamless prose.  Like I said before, I didn't realize that her characters would be so complex and multilayered.  I felt like I really knew Tessa and Kade.  I came to care about the characters, and they could have easily been real people.  This story was amazing!  It was suspenseful, with a variety of plot twists, had a great romance, and background story, and some of the hottest love scenes that I have ever read.  My favorite aspect of the story was getting to read about Kade and Tessa in high school.  Ms. Loren did a great job of depicting their innocence, strong feelings for one another, and beautiful friendship.  I love the second chance at love story trope, and I was rooting for Kade and Tessa from the very beginning to the very end of the story.

There was a strong sexual component in this story.  Once I got half way through the story, It started to get deeply in to BDSM.  Blindfolds, ties, spanking, acting out sexual fantasies, and even a threesome.  I was a little uncomfortable with some of the sexual acts, and just want to let you readers know what to expect so you're not blindsided, if you are uncomfortable with those types of things.

My Rating:

I give, Need You Tonight, by Roni Loren, 4.5 Erotic, Risque, Kinky & Explicit Stars!  This story had a great story line, and sex scenes, but like I said, this story is not for everyone.  If you are in to the BDSM lifestyle, or are just curious to learn more about it, I suggest you read, Need You Tonight!  It was a great erotic romance, and I look forward to reading more stories by Ms. Loren!

My Favorite Quotes:

"Stop doubting yourself.  Inexperience does not mean boring.  Boring is a woman who isn't present with you in the moment.  Boring is a woman who lies there and doesn't participate or who isn't open to trying new things.  Boring is an attitude, not a lack of skill or experience.  If you've got the desire, the rest can be learned.  Taught."  (Pg. 47)

~Kade

"Baby." He grabbed her shoulders and leaned back to look at her.  "You coming back to me has the best thing that's happened in my life since Rosalie was born.  I feel like all this time I've been cycling through relationships, I was just waiting for what I really wanted.  Who I always needed.  You."  (Pg. 332)

~Kade

Puchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

About Roni Loren:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. 

Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars concerts.

She is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the The Loving on the Edge series and other sexy things.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter