3 Followers
3 Following
Kassiah

Kassiah

Lovers Unmasked (Entangled Brazen)

Lovers Unmasked - Katee Robert, Cari Quinn, Samanthe Beck, Tessa Bailey Averaged out to 4 stars.

This review also appears on Steamy Guys After Dark, along with an interview with author Katee Robert.

I love reading anthologies and story collections because I get to taste a variety of authors that I might not otherwise have read. I love this particular anthology because it's from one of my favorite publishers and it's filled with stories from some of my favorite authors. So of course I wanted us to be a part of this tour as soon as I heard about it.

I'm going to tell you a little bit about each story, but really, you don't need me to go on and on about this--you just need to read it.

Seducing Mr. Right (Come Undone #3.5) by Katee Robert
I love the idea of a powerful CEO mistaken for the mail guy. Danielle Kastien has plans to finally seduce the guy she's been crushing on at the office Halloween party. What she doesn't know is that sexy Grayson Harper is the CEO--not the mail guy. And that she's about to be the one who is being seduced.
He moved closer and ran a finger down her arm. “I think I like you in leather.”

She tried to cover up her shiver and went for bold. “Look at me. How could you not like me in leather?” ...

“I’d like you much better out of it.”

I really liked this story, even though I thought the ending was kind of abrupt and I question the authenticity of Danielle not knowing Grayson was the owner of the building she works in. The chemistry between these characters was combustible, and this was a hot, fun read. If you haven't checked out Robert's other books, you'll want to after reading Seducing Mr. Right.

Tempted by His Best Friend by Cari Quinn
I think this is the first time I read anything by Cari Quinn, but it won't be the last. I absolutely adore the best friends to more storyline, and once I got over the initial shock of the way things go down *ahem* with them, I liked this one. Teacher Stephanie Price is determined to make her best friend Landon Grant realize they're perfect for each other.
“I could blow your mind,” she whispered, stunning him all over again. Between her fruity scent, full red lips, and bewitching blue eyes, she effortlessly drew him into the dark magic of her spell. She turned away, tossing the last words over her shoulder. “I could even make you beg.”

This story was hot, but I always seem to have a problem with stories where the characters hook up anonymously just because one or both of them is wearing a mask. A mask (and even a darkened room) wouldn't disguise the years of knowing the shape and voice of the other. I don't know--I'm pretty sure I could pick out my BFF in the dark, and we live thousands of miles away from each other. Getting beyond that, I did like the story and am really looking forward to more from Quinn, especially if she writes anything focused on Steff and Lan's other best friend, Craig.

Wicked Games (McCade Brothers #1.5) by Samanthe Beck
Guise, buying this book is worth it just for this story alone, even though the others are great, too. It's no secret that I love Samanthe Beck and the fucking hot guys she writes. Tyler from Private Practice is one of my top ten favorite steamy guys ever. And Trevor McCade from Lover Undercover? Damn. So, it's really no surprise that I loved Wicked Games, too. If you've already read Lover Undercover (and if you haven't, you must), you'll remember Stacy is Kylie's sister and Ian is Trevor's partner. They had a "thing" but broke up. They get back together and sparks fly.
“Bite me.” She struggled to stand up.

“Don’t you worry. We’ll get to that, but, in the meantime…”

He leaned over her to keep her in position and sent his fingers on a slow, unerring journey down her thong and into the juncture between her thighs, where she was warm, and soft, and very wet.

“Oh yeah, I win the bet.”

She called him another rude name, but stopped struggling. A few more gentle passes over the slick silk had her widening her stance and arching her back to give him better access.

The urge to tear her panties off and bury himself inside her rushed through him. Somehow he resisted. “If I let go of you, will you stay put?”

A muffled, affirmative sound served as her reply. She’d turned her head back to the chair and he couldn’t see her face. He decided it wouldn’t do. “Say, ‘Yes, sir. I’ll stay put.’”

Her head popped up at that, and he caught the flash of hot blue eyes in the mirror. “You arrogant son of a—”

“Now, now. You’ll hurt my feelings.” He stopped stroking between her legs, and then removed his hand completely when
she tried to grind against the base of his unmoving thumb.

Her frustrated groan had him choking back a laugh. “Yes, sir. I’ll stay put,” he prompted.

Stubborn Stacy held out another moment, but then finally surrendered. “Yes, sir. I’ll stay put,” she gritted between clenched teeth.

“Good girl.” He let go of her wrists and waited to see if she’d keep her word. She lowered her arms and held on to the seat of the chair. “Good girl,” he repeated. “Since tonight is Halloween, good girls get a treat.”

The lifting of the mask and the bending over the chair and the calling her "angel" and just...gah! I love Ian's personality, and I loved getting to see Trevor and Kylie still in love and happy. I would have liked more of him, though :) I loved how much substance and mystery Beck was able to tell in such a short story. I was surprised by the ending, but I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series, Falling for the Marine.

Protecting What’s Theirs (Line of Duty #1.5) by Tessa Bailey
This is the only one that I really think you need to read the other stories in the series to really understand what's going on. I read (and really liked) Protecting What's His; Bailey definitely has the powerful male character down, and damn if you won't fall in love with Derek all over again.
“Would you like to hear what happens next?”

She inhaled in a rush. “Yes, please. The devil is in the details.”

“I guess that makes me the devil.” One big, callused hand dropped to the outside of her thigh, coasting up her flesh just close enough to raise goose bumps on every inch of her body. Slipping underneath her skirt without hesitation. When he reached her backside, Ginger wanted to beg shamelessly for him to palm her roughly, knead her there. Instead, he merely brushed his fingers down the center of her bottom, along the cherry-red material of her thong. The simple touch had a devastating effect, every nerve ending singing with terrible, glorious need.

“I’m going to take some much-needed time with your mouth right now. While I do, you’re going to continue stroking me until I’m so close to coming, I’ll be ready to die just to drill you against this wall. But I won’t. I’m going to stop you just before I bust. Then I’m going to lick the sweet pussy that’s been waiting so patiently for me.” He surged into her hand. “Come on, baby. Make me suffer.”

I don't want to spoil too much, but I'm pretty sure the title does enough of that on its own. Both Derek and Ginger have always insisted on total honesty since they officially became a couple in the first book, and that hasn't changed. But they're both hiding something from the other--he's heading into a huge raid at work that's very dangerous and she...well. No spoilers. They each feel the other is slipping away because they're covering something up, and it threatens their relationship. I loved the realistic way Ginger felt about what's going on in the story and was happy to get to see more about this couple. He was pretty swoony.

Four super hot stories from four amazing authors. Whether you're just getting to know these writers or they're already your favorites, you can't miss grabbing this collection.