REVIEW & EXCERPT: Ruled (Outlaws #3)

Ruled (Outlaws #3), by Elle Kennedy
Publish Date: November 1, 2016
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult dystopian romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Despite his magnetic personality, Rylan can’t seem to seduce Reese, the deadly leader of their town of outlaws. Winning her over is a welcome challenge, but her indifference isn’t the only thing standing in his way. If he wants Reese, Rylan must also win over Sloan, her stoic protector...

Sloan has always loved Reese, but their painful past has stolen his chances of a future with her. Rylan’s interest in Reese only intensifies the tension—until Sloan begins to wonder if the reckless man might be the one person who can bridge the distance...

The last time Reese fell for the wrong man, she had no choice but to kill him. Now, she desperately wants to take what both Rylan and Sloan are offering. But if she makes the wrong call again, she risks losing them both.

Since the beginning of this series, Rylan has sort of stolen the show, you know what I mean? Even though the first two books were about other characters, whenever Rylan was present, he was PRESENT. He's the fun, sexy guy that every dude wants to be friends with and every girl wants to get with. So, I just knew - I KNEW - that his book would be the best of the series. And I was SO right. 

We learned in earlier books that Rylan is really into Reese. Reese is the hardass ruler of the largest town in their dystopian world. Rylan loves how strong and sexy she is. And I think he secretly loves that she turns him down every time he propositions her. 

Reese loves her town and taking care of her people, but her previous relationship has proven to her that being alone is better for everyone. Reese isn't actually alone though. She has her right-hand man, Sloan, always by her side to advise her and support her. And secretly crush on her. 

Rylan is in Reese's town for awhile, which means he has lots of time to wear her down. And wear her down he does. But, he also learns that Reese and Sloan are a package deal. She doesn't make any decision or do anything major without consulting with him first. Good thing Rylan is the kind of guy that doesn't care about that. In fact, having Sloan join he and Reese is even better than he could've dreamed. And definitely way more feelings than he ever bargained for. 

If you thought Claimed and Addicted were hot, trust me when I say, you haven't seen anything until you've read Ruled. The three of them - Rylan, Sloan and Reese - are so ridiculously explosive. They're all three very different, so they have a very unique dynamic. Reese is the hardened one. Sloan is the intense one. Rylan is the fun one. So, when all three of them decide to give in to everything they're feeling, it's seriously incredible. 

Now, of course, the threesome isn't the only part of the book. There are other things going on with the  Enforcers that have been circling the town like vultures. A pivotal moment in the book changes everything for Reese and her people, and sets things up for the next book in the series. It also forces Reese to make a choice - decide to put her past in the past for good, or continue allowing ghosts to make her decisions for her. Those moments proved her stronger than I thought possible. 

This series is incredible. There's almost no dystopian erotica out there, so this series is unique. Not only that, but it's so well done. The world building, the characters, the situations - they're all so real and tangible. Elle Kennedy has done an amazing job, and I can't wait to see which characters she's going to give an HEA to next. 

Reese curled both hands around the cracked ceramic mug and breathed in the mint-flavored steam rising from the rim. It heated the tip of her nose and brought a much-needed rush of warmth. She’d felt chilled to the bone all morning, and it had nothing to do with the dipping temperature outside.

“So the raid was a success?” The very pregnant Bethany waddled over to the small sofa under the window.

Reese nodded. “We’ve got enough guns and ammo to start a war.”

Bethany’s eyebrows flicked up. “Or a revolution.”

“Same thing.”

“Is it?”

She didn’t even know anymore. Reese lifted the mug to her lips and took a small sip, all the while doing her best to avoid looking at Bethany’s bulging stomach. Seeing it reminded her of her own losses, the choice that had been stolen from her. And it reminded her of Arch, the ginger-haired giant who was never going to see his baby come into this world.

Arch had been a good man, an exceptional soldier. Everyone in town was still grieving for him, but none more so than his woman, whose brown eyes fixed on Reese now.

“What’s going on?” Bethany stroked her belly in absent- minded gestures. “You look worried.”

Reese set down her mug. “Nah, I’m fine.”

“Bullshit. Something’s up.”

She hesitated, because she didn’t confide in many people. Sloan was the one she went to when she was feeling vulnerable. Sometimes Lennox. Tamara. But for all the others, she put on a strong front. She was their leader, which meant they weren’t allowed to see her worrying, or vacillating, or drowning in self-doubt.

She’d known Bethany a long time, though. Shit, it had been almost eight years now. The two women were seventeen when they’d first crossed paths. Where the hell did the time go?

“I did something stupid last night,” she found herself confessing.

“Yeah? What’d you do?”

“Rylan.”

Bethany snorted. “Ah. So he finally charmed his way into your bed?”

The humor in Bethany’s eyes was such a welcome sight that Reese’s heart squeezed. In the two months since Arch’s death, Bethany’s expressions had alternated between completely vacant and raw with grief.

“How was it?” Bethany pressed.

How was it? Reese couldn’t even begin to answer that. Hell, she wasn’t sure there were actual words in the English language that could describe what went down between the two of them last night.

No, the three of them.

Her wrists were still sore from Sloan’s punishing grip. He’d held her, restrained her so she was at Rylan’s mercy. Sloan’s mercy. The memory sent a rush of desire to her core, which only confused her body. She didn’t even know who she’d been coming for last night. Rylan? Or Sloan? Or both?

What she did know was that she’d done a very bad thing. A dangerous thing.

Rylan had been as wild and addictive as she’d suspected he’d be, but . . . she’d crossed a line with Sloan. She’d stared into his eyes while she was sobbing in release. She’d clung to him while Rylan screwed her hard enough to make her see stars. She’d threatened their friendship, and for what? A few orgasms?

It wasn’t fair to Sloan. She knew damn well that he wanted her—she’d always known—yet she’d selfishly asked him to be there last night, even though it must have been torture for him.

What kind of friend did that make her?

“You’re worrying me again.”

Bethany’s quiet voice jolted her from her thoughts. “I’m sorry,” Reese murmured. She picked up her mug and took another long sip. “My head is foggy this morning.”

“Good sex will do that to you.”

REVIEW: Addicted (Outlaws #2)

Addicted (Outlaws #2), by Elle Kennedy
Publish Date: June 28, 2016
Publisher: Signet
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult dystopian romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Lennox used to live in a paradise on earth with his best friend Jamie, in a place where visitors came and went, allowing their desires to run free. But everything changes when a deadly attack forces them to take up with Connor Mackenzie’s band of Outlaws. Lennox knows Jamie is hung up on someone else, but he’s always believed he’s the man for her—and won’t let her go without a fight. 

Even though Jamie is well aware that Lennox is one hot specimen of a man, she refuses to let sex ruin the most important relationship in her life. But when the object of her interest spurns her, she indulges in a little pleasure-filled revenge with her very magnetic, very willing best friend. One thrilling night with Lennox is enough to awaken Jamie’s unexpected desires for him. And now that she’s had a taste, she’s not sure she can ever give him up...

I love that Elle Kennedy has gone out on a limb with this fantastic dystopian series. I've read a lot of super sexy romance books. I've also read a lot of dystopian series. But, this combination of the two is definitely a first for me. And hopefully not the last. 

In Claimed (Outlaws #1), we met Lennox and Jamie - the operators of a way station/whorehouse/bar - and I never got the vibe that they were into each other. But, once we got into their heads, the situation became very different. They've been BFFs for 20 years, and herein lies the problem. We've seen it a hundred times - best friends who are into one another but don't make a move because they're afraid they'll ruin what they already have. Apparently, men and women fall into that trap in post-apocalyptic North America too. 

In Addicted, Lennox and Jamie are put together during an extended trip to a neighboring town, and a series of events cause Jamie to finally look at Lennox in a different way. And thank goodness for that, because these two together? Unbelievably hot. Crazy hot. RIDICULOUSLY hot. 

But the best part about Lennox and Jamie is that there are real, true feelings there too. They already love each other, so it's not like when Connor and Hudson met in book one and were strangers who didn't trust each other. Lennox and Jamie have history and shared experiences. They already know everything about the other. And, that just made their sexy times even more awesome. 

But, those feelings also cause other issues. There's jealousy and possessiveness and protectiveness that was never there before, and it freaks them both out. Just because they know each other as well as they know themselves does not mean they have an easier go of it. In fact, I would argue that it makes it so much harder for them, because they have to purposefully shift their views that have held steady for two decades. And they have to do it much faster than that. 

In addition to the relationship drama, which admittedly takes center stage, there's a lot of other things going on. Reese, the leader of the town, is keeping secrets from Connor's group, and Rylan is there to try and find out what they are. Jamie is also dealing with her feelings on starting a family and whether trying it in this rough world is worth it. The townspeople are being trained to fight, and a lively competition is going on as a way to help them. Honestly, this was probably my second favorite part of the book. It was fun and a good way to break up what was happening between Lennox and Jamie. 

There are a few twists and turns that kept me guessing and gasping. And the event at the end are going to have repercussions for a long time. This world that Elle Kennedy has created is fantastic and compelling. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

NEW ADULT MONDAYS: The Score (Off-Campus #3)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

The Score (Off-Campus #3), by Elle Kennedy
Publish Date: January 11, 2016
Publisher: Self-published
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) He knows how to score, on and off the ice. 

Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di-Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands.

It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over. 

Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.

In the first two Off-Campus books, Dean seemed kinda slimy. Now, after reading his story, I think he may just be the best one of all of them.

It's quite a turn around of opinions - Elle Kennedy did a masterful job of humanizing the manwhore of the group. She turned him into a person who you not only liked, but one you found yourself rooting for, cheering on, and crying with. 

We've met Allie before too. She's Hannah's roommate and on-again, off-again girlfriend to her longtime boyfriend. In The Score, we see that they are now off-again, and Allie is determined that this time it'll stick. She's just not happy with him anymore. Kudos to her for realizing the difference between happiness and habit. She enlists the help of her friends, and by proxy their boyfriends and Dean, to keep her from running back to him.

Dean was never looking for a relationship. He was doing just fine banging a new girl every week, thankyouverymuch. But, Allie did something no other girl ever had. She turned him down. Repeatedly. 

I love it when that happens. It seems to be a pattern with the boys in this entire series so far. Girls, take note. Boys will always notice a girl who speaks her mind and stands up for herself. They like girls who don't give it up to every popular guy on campus just to get ahead. And they prefer girls who have real goals that don't include doing every member of the hockey team. 

Once we got into Dean's story, we realize there's so much more to this exhibitionist sex-fiend than meets the eye. He had some things happen in his past that he's not proud of, and those things are suddenly thrust in his face again. He's also forced to work outside of the privileged box in which he finds himself, which opens his mind to new career possibilities. Dean is also made to deal with some hard things, which is how he finds out who his real friends are and whether Allie is someone he can step up and change for. 

The Score was surprisingly emotional. My heart was sad for both Allie and Dean at different parts of the book. This book also contained some of the trademark humor that we've seen in the previous two books in the series. That humor comes from the relationship of these four BFFs. Garrett, Logan, Dean and Tucker are such good friends - it's one of my favorite parts of each book. They yank each others' chains and joke around all the time. But, when one of them needs the others for support, they are there with no questions asked. Even if that means a serious come-to-Jesus talk. 

The Goal will be the last book in the series, and we had a pretty jaw-dropping introduction to what Tucker's story will be about at the end of The Score. It's sure to finish things off with these four friends in a spectacular way. 

NEW ADULT MONDAYS: The Mistake (Off-Campus #2)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

The Mistake (Off-Campus #2), by Elle Kennedy
Publish Date: May 6, 2015
Publisher: Self-published
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) He’s a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

And the awesomeness continues...

Before I was even finished reading The Deal (Off-Campus #1), I had already bought The Mistake. It was really a pretty easy decision. These Briar University hockey players have completely stolen my heart. 

The Mistake follows John Logan - or, just Logan to most everyone who knows him - who is struggling to beat down his feelings for his BFF Garrett's new girlfriend Hannah Wells (the couple from The Deal). Like any good friend, he feels incredibly guilty for wanting her for himself. Since Logan is a viral young male, he tries to screw away his feelings. Ha. 

The Mistake is your classic jock meets wallflower trope. Although at first glance, Grace doesn't seem like the type to be able to bring Logan to his knees and make him forget about Hannah, she does just that. For a few hours. Aaaaaanddddd then Logan screws it up. Of course. 

They spend the summer apart, and while Logan spends that time trying not to think about how he won't be able to do what he wants after graduation, as well as the mousy girl who sort of blew his mind for a night. Grace spends that time shoring up her walls so that when she gets back to school, she can resist the charms of the hot hockey player who seriously hurt her feelings. 

I loved Grace. Like, A LOT. She's shy and a little off the wall. But, she is determined. I felt so badly for her when Logan hurt her feelings, and I have to give her credit for making strides to ensure that it didn't happen again. She makes Logan work for her affections, and as it turns out, that was exactly what he needed in order to prove to both Grace and himself that this was for real. 

For Logan's part, this is a kid who is being pulled in more directions than he should. He's trying to deal with his feelings for Hannah, plus the fact that, even if he's drafted by the NHL, he can't play for them. Grace is the one bright spot in his life. And I loved that about them. 

Elle Kennedy is a master at creating characters who seem to be one thing on the surface, but once you dig a little deeper, you discover they are something completely different. Her characters and her stories have many layers, and while you're peeling away those layers, you don't want to stop reading. You know there's more there than what you think, and that when you get there, it's going to be good. Oh, and did I mention that her books are sexy as hell? Because they are. And that's just the icing on top. 

So, this is now two out of the four roommates' stories told - two more to go. 

NEW ADULT MONDAYS: The Deal (Off-Campus #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

The Deal (Off-Campus #1), by Elle Kennedy
Publish Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Self-published
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy... 

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

...and it’s going to be oh so good.

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

I've got my new adult mojo back! After falling into sort of a funk and a general disenfranchisement with the new adult genre as a whole there for awhile, I finally succumbed to intense peer pressure and started to read The Deal. I really dig sports-themed books, and I had heard nothing but good things about this series from sources I totally trust. The Deal was one of my Christmas Amazon gift card purchases, and I have to say it was one of the best (so far, anyway). 

The deal is an example of one of my favorite tropes - the smart-girl-falls-for-the-cocky-jock story line will always be one of my favorites. Mostly because I love it when these womanizing BMOCs meet their match in the most unexpected person. 

Garrett Graham is the most popular boy on campus. He's hot, smart and a phenom on ice hockey skates. He's been pigeon-holed by Hannah Wells, a girl in his philosophy class. She assumes he's a dumb jock who has no brains except for the one he keeps in his pants. But, he can help her get the boy she really wants, and she can help him keep his philosophy grade up so that he can keep playing hockey. And so their relationship begins. 

There is a definite progression in Garrett and Hannah's relationship, and I liked that. There was definitely no insta-love. Hannah had her sights set on another guy, and Garrett only liked Hannah for her brains. They clashed constantly. Hannah was the first girl who didn't fawn all over him, and Garrett just doesn't know what to do with that. But, slowly, the animosity between them grew to friendship. Then, to so much more. And that's when Garrett is REALLY thrown for a loop.

I never expected her. Sometimes people sneak up on you and suddenly you don't know how you ever lived without them. How you went about your day and hung out with your friends and fucked other people without having this one important person in your life.

The banter between Hannah and Garrett was my favorite part. It was so smartly written, too. Totally believable and adorable, the snark and snappy comebacks that constantly flew between these two kept me smiling and laughing even when things threatened to get heavy. 

The Deal is written in dual POV. The sex is about what you would expect from a new adult book. It's not excessive, but what there is is pretty hot. 

The biggest indication that I loved this book is in the fact that, immediately after I finished, I went online and bought book 2, The Mistake. If you're one of the few who, like me, had heard talk of The Deal, but haven't yet pulled the trigger, please go do it now. You won't regret it.