Review - Underestimated (Underestimated #1) by Jettie Woodruff

Synopsis

Morgan starts her life in a bad situation, she doesn't really know what she wants out of life. She's never had anyone to look up to or help guide her in the right direction. She had it rough and never dreamed that it could get worse. However, she finds that it can and it does.

She learns what real hell is when she meets the husband that she doesn't want to marry but isn't given a choice. 

Can she escape? She can and does, only to wake up and find herself right back at square one.

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Warning! This is not your everyday fall in love romance. This book contains disturbing situations, strong language, graphic, sexual content - some forced, some not. If it's a happily ever after love story that you are looking for, you should probably move on. If you are up for the ride, stick around and it may just turn into a love story after all.

My 5 Star Review

This book pushed so many boundries, and I loved it.

I can't tell you how many times I had to take a break and cool off before returning to it.

It was hard, real & raw.

Just the way I love my books.

Underestimated is a book about second chances. About renewal. Finding yourself after you have been through hell. 

Morgan Kelly is our heroine. She has had a shit life, that never truly seems to get better. She is sold to Drew at a young age (17) and made to live with him. What do you do when you come from a poor family and have nothing or no one to protect you? Your father is a b*stard that could care less about you. Your mother ran away and left you with him. Some rich guy comes to your father, offering to buy you for a large sum of money, of course the piece will say yes.  So she is taken to this mansion in Las Vegas. Forced to live with this Guy who beats her and makes her do whatever he wants. And believe me, he gets creative.

Drew Kelly. Our Hero. The asshat. He is sexy and rich. We don't learn much about him until about halfway through. But to Morgan he is the Devil incarnate. We know he runs/owns Jewelry stores around the world and wants for nothing. He has GQ model looks and is dominate. But we can't really see why or where with him. We get nothing. But good things come to those who wait. :)

6 years Morgan waits. She never forgets. Thankfully she isn't alone. A housekeeper helps her escape from the madman. She steals money from his accounts. Changes her name and leaves. She goes to Maine and starts a life their as Riley. She gets an amazing job. Meets friends and starts a relationship with the studly local cop, Dawson Bade. They don't hit it off right away. Morgan is recluse and afraid. She can't help but look over her shoulder, thinking Drew will show up and snatch her. I was right there with her too. I was scared shitless, he was going to turn up and drag her back to hell.

Dawson is the complete opposite of Drew. He is caring, soft, and loving. Pretty much perfect. He eventually gets Morgan to open up little by little. She never fully forgets, the nightmares about her time with Drew won't let her. And more, she misses the sex. She gets turned on so much, she has to relieve herself after the dream. Some people may find this weird, but I definitely do not. She was taken as a virgin by Drew. She doesn't know Vanilla sex. She only knows what Drew has done to her. For 6 long years she was dominated/controlled. She does like sex with Dawson though. Finally she is with someone that wants to please HER. Someone that cares about her needs and wants.

Life for Morgan is amazing in her sleepy little town, with her friends that care for her. She has everything she always wanted. She can't help but miss Drew in a way though. Which I totally understood. You can't completely forget when something like that happens to you. You will never be "normal" again. I think she deals with it realistically. 

For her job Morgan is asked to accompany Starlight, her boss, to a trade show in Las Vegas. She goes, after some hesitation, and has an amazing time. Things look great. It's as though Drew has totally forgotten about her. She will never be found and be able to live happily with Dawson. You didn't think that would actually happen though right? Not in a Jettie Woodruff book. 

On her second trade show trip to Las Vegas, Morgan is seen by one of Drew's men/bitches. They chase Morgan down in her car on the highway and she wrecks. It is devastating. I don't think I have ever read that fast in my life. I was flipping pages like crazy. My heart hurt so bad for her. When she wakes up in the hospital 5 weeks later, she has no recollection of who she is. She remembers NOTHING!! I was almost crying during this scene. They are calling her Mrs. Kelly and Drew is beside her playing the doting husband. Drew doesn't slip up. He takes her back to his mansion and makes up a story, telling her she went to France to study English and that they are a happily married couple. Eventually Morgan starts putting it together though. How Drew treats her is not adding up with his story or how she feels.

Morgan is different after the accident. No longer the scared little kitten, she is a lion. She doesn't let Drew walk all over her. Drew isn't the same either. He softens. He actually talks to her and listens to what she has to say. They spend a lot of time together doing things they never did before. Like eating and walking around the estate. The sex was even different. Morgan pretty much puts Drew in his place. LOVED it. This is when I started getting really confused. I hate Drew right? YES, I do. He is a bastard through and through. But.. He is now caring and sexy. What a mind fuck!! I had no idea what I wanted for Morgan anymore.

She will find out the truth, no matter the cost. I LOVE this Morgan. She was taking charge of her life. I was so happy for her, but scared at the same time. Would she figure out the truth of why Drew wanted her to begin with? What would Drew do to her when she found out? What will she do about her second life in Maine and the people that loved her there, especially Dawson?

I won't go into anymore detail. You NEED to read this book. It is amazing. Just open your mind and follow Morgan through this journey of suspense, love, and second chances. You won't be disappointed.

Review - Night Owl by M. Pierce (The Night Owl Trilogy #1)

Synopsis

At twenty-eight, Matt Sky has the perfect life. He has a beautiful girlfriend, a massive inheritance, and four national bestsellers -- all penned under his airtight alias, M. Pierce.

At twenty-seven, Hannah Catalano is a train wreck. Her boyfriend is a deadbeat and her job is abysmal.

Matt and Hannah meet online as writing partners. Their relationship is safe, anonymous, and innocent...

Until Matt sees a picture of Hannah. Hannah's picture sparks an attraction Matt is powerless to ignore. When circumstance brings Matt and Hannah together, the strangers begin a love story that's passionate, poignant, unforgettable, and unstoppable.

My 5 Star Review

This book was absolutely amazing.

A diamond in the rough really.

When I first saw it was labeled as 'erotica' with 'bdsm' elements. I thought I pretty much had it panned. The rich, alpha male hero. Shy, virginal acting Heroine.

But I was completely wrong. I labeled this wrong, but really, how can you blame me. I love erotic novels, but there are some plots that are completely used up. I didn't want another dud. So I was going to wait. See how everyone else got on with it. Wait for the second part, because of the Cliffy. I'm so glad I didn't.

I have no idea what everyone is talking about. This book is NOTHING like fsog. I've read a ton of bdsm books and this one for me stood on it's own.

"Again and again we went there together—tumbling over the raw edge, touching the live wire, collapsing, exploding, dissolving like dead stars."

The writing. Wow, I was speechless. It flowed so effortlessly. It was the best written book in erotica I have ever read. The point of view was duel. My favorite thing about the book though, was being able to be inside of the Hero's head. He's damaged, sad, and lost most of the book. But when he was with our Heroine, Hannah, he was completely captivating. He became someone else; Dominating, sexy, smart. I couldn't get enough of him.

"Matt's smirks came in flavors- two parts kindness, one part wicked amusement, a little lust in the mix. Oh, and one hundred percent smug bastard."

I loved Hannah. She wasn't a shy virginal mess. She made decision by thinking them out. She was smart and caring, but also had a backbone. I could understand her reasoning behind the decisions she made. Even though they pissed me off something royally. That was the point. She couldn't stay away from Matt. From the very fist time talking to him, she was entranced, completely. (how could she not be?) They were electric together. Imho, the sex scenes were original. Yes, there was a little blindfold and ONE scene with a belt, but how they were written and how Matt delivered, was unlike any other. HOT.

"My thoughts drifted back over all the way's he touched me. My ass, my breasts, my sex. God, I loved the way he handled me, like he had a right to my body. Like I was his. I loved his voice, demanding, dictating, demeaning, and, in the end, desperate.."

The book did end on a Cliffy, as I said above. But it ended nicely, I think. I wasn't left thinking, "WTF?" The Epilogue is what leads you into the next book, which I hope will be released early !