RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Second Position (Dirty Dancing #2)

Melody Grace continues her new Dirty Dancing serial with SECOND POSITION, releasing today. If you need to catch up and read First Position yet (and you REALLY need to read it!), you're in luck - it's only $0.99 today.

Second Position (Dirty Dancing #2), by Melody Grace
Published November 12, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, provided by the author
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * iBooks
 
Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Dancing with the perfect partner is like the most exquisite climax of your life.
Can you feel it? The way our bodies rock together. My hands pinning you down, my mouth sliding over your hot, damp skin. Each hard thrust driving deep to that place you never dreamed possible. Every breathless cry hurtling you closer to the edge.
Beyond words. Beyond thought. Beyond reason.
Free.
I’d all but given up on perfection like that. Until I met her. Annalise.
Her body is pure motion; her spirit, a caged bird just waiting to be set free.
I will claim her. I will possess her.
I will teach her the most erotic dance of all.

The sexiness is ramped up to nuclear proportions in the second act of Melody Grace's Dirty Dancing serial. In SECOND POSITION, not only do Annalise and Raphael continue to connect in the physical sense, but they actually start to get to know one another. They talk about their likes and dislikes and what drives them in their dance. We see them share dreams and fears and offer support and loyalty.  The building of a relationship against the backdrop of an ancient city and set to the music of Swan Lake and hip hop are making this series into something special. 

Annalise is freaking out because of her injury, but an unexpected reprive gives her more time to prepare her dance and spend time with Raphael. Soon, she finds her life being pulled even more strongly in two different directions. On one side, she sees her mother's dream of her being a prima ballerina nearly within her grasp. And, on the other side is the forming of a new dream born of freedom to choose and to be with someone she loves. 

Raphael has seemed so completely in control of everything in his life before now. I loved that, in Second Position, we see a much more vulnerable Raphael. He opens up to Annalise about his aspirations regarding his dance, but also the guilt and self-doubt that comes along with it. He doesn't want to let down his friends or ruin the sure thing that he has going on in Rome. But, the sure thing isn't what excites him. It's very real stress that he's feeling, and it was nice to see him open up to Annalise. 

And, really, Annalise is the only one who could possibly understand where he's coming from. It's the creation of this bond that really starts to solidify them as a real couple. In First Position, they had just met, and sure, there was a lot of lust going on with both of them. And, certainly none of that goes away just because they are getting to know one another. But, I had this longing for them to have something REAL. It seems like they both deserve that, after trudging through their lives so far, being what other people want them to be. They deserve to have something for themselves, and where that connection was lacking in the first installment of this series, it finally explodes to life in this one. 

Their commitment to be something more to one another is not without its pitfalls, particularly for Annalise. As she decides to help Raphael reach for his dreams, she has to continue working toward her own. Or, rather, her mother's dreams for her. No one ever asks her what she wants, except for Raphael. Annalise's mother, her instructor and even the people she considers to be her very best friends all have an agenda and what they think is the best thing in mind for Annalise. I can't even begin to imagine what that feels like inside a 19-year-old's head. I wanted nothing more than for Annalise to tell them all to go eff themselves. Maybe I'll get lucky and get my wish in the final book. 

Raphael is also dealing with the backlash from his decision to move on from his street dancing and try and make a more honest career out of his dance. His best friend Luca thought they'd run a restaurant together. His partner Francesca (a biotch with a capital B) is jealous of his new found connection with Annalise. His family thinks his pursuit of dance as a career is foolish. It seems the cards are not stacked in his favor. 

And, as much as I hate to admit it, the ending of Second Position was a deliciously well-done cliffy. Just when it seems like Annalise has found the balance she needs and the way to make everyone happy, a bomb is dropped in the middle of it all. I'd like to say that I know what side she'll end up on when it's all said and done. Melody Grace has never once let me down. But, how Annalise gets there is sure to be an emotional and drama-filled trip. Only a few weeks left to wait until we find out for sure. 

THE DIRTY DANCING SERIES RELEASE DATES:

FIRST POSITION -- 11/5

SECOND POSITION -- 11/12

THIRD POSITION -- 12/1

About the Author

Melody Grace is the New York Times bestselling author of the Beachwood Bay series. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover, after spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting after fictional menfolk. She is author of USA Today & international bestselling Beachwood Bay series.

REVIEW: Coming Home (The Surrender Trilogy #3)

Coming Home (The Surrender Trilogy #3), by Lydia Michaels
Published January 21, 2014
Publisher: Intermix
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) The conclusion of the savage, sensual Surrender trilogy in which betrayal, pain, and vengeance threaten to destroy a passion between two damaged souls…

Evelyn “Scout” Keats thought she finally found her long-sought happiness in billionaire Lucian Patras. But even though Lucian has always treated her like a queen, she has discovered she is nothing more than a pawn in his own secret game.

Worse, her long-time friend and supposed shining knight, Parker Hughes has also used her for his own interests by playing a part in Lucian’s game. Everyone’s honor is suspect, and no one can be trusted. It is Scout’s worst nightmare come to life.

As she struggles to comprehend the cost of a broken heart and the value of love, she must choose, once and for all, how much her pride can endure—and how much she is willing to risk to be truly happy.

One thing I will say about Lydia Michaels' Surrender Trilogy - it was frustrating. But, by the time we reach Coming Home, the frustration is all the good sort. I never doubted that Lydia would give Lucien and Evelyn their HEA. Getting there, however, was quite a bumpy road. And, I guess that's okay, because otherwise, what would be the point in reading their story, right? 

Evelyn now knows everything that both Lucien and Parker did to keep her in their lives, and she's decided she doesn't need either of them or their overbearing, controlling, manipulative ways. She's going it alone, and has a job and an apartment and possessions that she legitimately earned. She thought that would make her happy and accomplished. But, Evelyn is slowly learning the hard way - which is sometimes the ONLY way - that home really is where the heart is, and her heart is not at her grocery store job or her crappy studio apartment. It's in the penthouse suite at Patras Hotel with Lucien. 

I always say that I love a tough chick. Those wishy washy sorts that need a man to save them are my least favorite sort of heroine. Perhaps that's why I loved Coming Home so much. Evelyn's moxie and determination to make it in this hard world despite her lack of skills is admirable. It was also frustrating as hell for awhile, mostly because Evelyn continued to miss the big picture. I get that she felt she had something to prove, especially given where she came from. But, it made me insanely crazy that she thought the only way to get from point A to point B was alone. 

Lucien has come so very far from the overbearing douchebag we met in Falling In. It's hard to believe this is the same guy who made that awful proposition the first time he met Evelyn. Lucien is as alpha as they come. He has money and power and has fallen in love HARD. He wants nothing more than to shelter and protect and care for the woman who holds his heart, and it's killing him to stand back and let her do her own thing. I loved that he went against his own grain for her. I love that he struggled with it so much. And, I even love that he wasn't always successful. 

Evelyn has always pretty much been alone. So, this isn't anything new for her, really. For Lucien, though, everything she asks of him goes against his nature. So, in my mind, Lucien sacrificed so much more for Evelyn. It made me so mad that she didn't see that for such a long time. 

Eventually, though, my faith in Lydia Michaels paid off. And, although Evelyn and Lucien were back together, their road was still not without potholes and pitfalls. There was the aftermath of the Parker debacle for both of them to deal with first. And, that had to have been difficult for Evelyn, especially. To know that the only person who was your friend knowingly put your life in danger for his own self-serving needs would destroy me. 

There's also Slade - Lucien's former friend and Parker's co-conspirator. Turns out, Slade's been keeping a secret from Lucien, and it was that secret that was the driving force behind every underhanded thing he did to keep Evelyn and Lucien apart. I loved that this secret threw me for a loop. I didn't see it coming, and yet, when it was revealed, I could've smacked myself for not seeing it sooner. 

And, finally, all the loose ends in regards to Evelyn's mother are also tied up in Coming Home. That's the part of this story that always makes me feel so sad. I can't even imagine what that's like.

As always, Evelyn's and Lucien's chemistry is the best part of this series. Whether they're having angry sex or sweet sex or dirty sex or passionate sex - it's ALL good sex. And, by the time we reach Coming Home, the depth of their feelings for one another colors it all. 

"Her life was compiled in seasons. there were warm months and cold, but nothing took relevant shape until she'd met him. He made everything matter. He made her matter."

I'm so sad to reach the end of their story. I could've read more and more from them. But, the ending was satisfying and sweet. I couldn't have asked for anything better. 

NEW ADULT MONDAYS: Suddenly Royal (Suddenly Royal #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.

Suddenly Royal (Suddenly Royal #1), by Nicole Chase
Published April 23, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders. 

I remember when Suddenly Royal came out. I initially passed it up because I wasn't sure it was for me. It seemed a little... cutsey. But, as the other books in the series came out, I became more and more curious about this series that seems to pick up more fans every week. When my next Audible credit became available, I went for it and ended up being so glad I did. I wasn't always crazy about the audio version, but this book was exactly what I needed.

Samantha's world comes to a screeching halt when she finds out she's descended from royalty and is invited to return to her family's homeland to reclaim her land and title. Thing is, Samantha has a real life here in the states. She's getting ready to graduate with her master's degree, she's taking care of her dad who is sick, and she has no idea what to do with money and power or with a certain hottie prince who is quickly wearing down her defenses.

One of the hallmarks of the new adult genre is intense drama and angst. There's usually at least one tragic past or traumatic event that defines the couple in question and causes them to come together through either shared sadness or a hero-complex. Amazingly and refreshingly, there is NONE of that in Suddenly Royal.

So, you might ask yourself, what is left? I mean, sure - there has to be some sort of drama or conflict. Otherwise, what sort of story is there to tell? I assure you - there is still drama and angst in Suddenly Royal. It just doesn't come from tragedy. It's much more organic, which is a nice change of pace. Above all else, this was a book about two people trying to figure out their place in each others' lives.

Samantha is a stubborn girl. She is a good student, studying to become an expert in birds of prey. She lives with her BFF and helps take care of her dad who has cancer. She's content and has no desire to change anything. Not even when gorgeous prince Alex lands in her back yard and starts actively pursuing her. Sam held out for a long time - waaaaaay longer than I ever would have. Alex was completely and utterly perfect. He was beautiful and kind and smart and charismatic. Oh yeah - and, he's a prince of a foreign country, so that means he's loaded and has a pretty sexy accent. That Sam held him off for a day, much less weeks and weeks was sorta frustrating.

Samantha does go to Lilaria to reclaim her title. That's when the story really picked up. It's a fictional country, yet I loved how well Nicole Chase painted it. They have their own language and government. The story for how Samantha is a part of it all was completely believable and not contrived in any way. Samantha's hang-ups to getting involved with Alex were understandable, even if her reticence became intensely frustrating after a time.

But, when Samantha finally gave in and she and Alex had their moment - OMG, it was so fantastic. The chemistry that had been building for so many chapters absolutely exploded. Those two were amazing together, and it was way hotter than I expected it would be. The ending couldn't have been more perfect, with loose ends for Samantha, Alex, and even all the side characters being tied up nicely.

I listened to the audio version of Suddenly Royal. It wasn't my favorite, but it certainly wasn't the worst I'd ever listened to either. I thought the narrator, Caitlin Davies, sounded kind of sleepy. She did do a nice job with Alex's voice, though. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series. Not sure I'll do the audio versions this time around, but I can't wait to read Catherine's story. Especially if it contains more glimpses of Sam and Prince Yummy.