Kelly Favor - For His Pleasure Books 1-6

I have separated the ratings for each book. However, it ended up being the same for them all anyways. I guess the ratings weren't that great because it feels really similar to Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James without the intensity and the chemistry between Ana and Grey, which is why the story seems to fall short. I believe the author should have developed the characters more.
There were some interesting parts. I grouped Books 1-6 together because they were generally about the same people. Book 6 introduces the audience to a new set of couple that is featured in the next 6 books of the series.
I do not like how the books were divided into mini parts. I understand that it is to keep the audience interested and drawl sales, but it is frustrating and it feels incomplete. I just find the style a bit annoying. I am still debating if I even want to bother reading the next 6 books about the new couple or not.

Kelly Favor - For His Pleasure 01 - For His Pleasure
Rating: 5/10
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Kelly Favor - For His Pleasure 02 - For His Taking

Rating: 5/10

Favorite Part:

“It’s got twenty-five bathrooms and twenty-three bedrooms. Fifty thousand square feet.”
“Why…why would you need any of that? You could provide room and board to a small village with that much space.”
He chuckled at her astonishment. “I suppose I don’t technically need the space.
But one day I do hope to have a family, and I like the idea of having plenty of room for guests; mothers and fathers, uncles, grandparents, little
kids. And everyone has their own privacy, nobody’s on top of each other.”
“Nobody can even find each other,” she said.
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Kelly Favor - For His Pleasure 03 - For His Keeping
Rating: 5/10
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Kelly Favor - For His Pleasure 04 - For His Honor
Rating: 5/10
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Kelly Favor - For His Pleasure 05 - For His Trust
Rating: 5/10

Favorite Part:
“I’m not trying to prove I can keep up with you in the witty banter department, Red. That’s not one of my life goals.”
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Kelly Favor - For His Pleasure 06 - For His Forever
Rating: 5/10
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Book: Leanne Banks - Billionaire’s Baby

Rating: 5/10

Favorite Part:


“I don’t need a husband. I just need things to stay the same,” Haley said.
“Hmm. Well, I can guarantee that won’t happen. C’mon, let’s get a look at the executioner. He may hand us our pink slips, but I hear he’s a hunk. He’s a bachelor,” she added with emphasis, then sighed. “But I also heard he has a beautiful blonde assistant who’s angling for another position and making some progress in that direction.”
Haley couldn’t help smiling at Susan’s ability to get the personal scoop on the new owner. “How do you get all this info?”
“I keep my ear to the ground and my nose to the wind.”
“Sounds like a recipe for a crick in the neck.”
“Aren’t you cute?” Susan said with a chuckle.

Book: Jules Bennett - Caught in the Spotlight

Rating: 5/10

Interesting beginning since it starts off with the main girl in a towel. It was a decent read. Too bad there were no surprises within the story however.

Book: Anna Cleary - The Night That Started It All

Rating: 5/10

Another ok read without much to say.

Book: Kim Lawrence - The Petrelli Heir

Rating: 5/10

Not much to say besides the fact that the story was another decent read.

Book: Emma Darcy - The Incorrigible Playboy

Rating: 5/10

Favorite Part:


‘Now, let me select cocktails for you both,’ he said, the vivid blue eyes twinkling confidence in his choices. ‘A Margarita for you, Elizabeth.’
It surprised her that he’d actually picked her favourite.
‘Why that one?’ she asked, curious about his correct guessing.
He grinned. ‘Because you’re the salt of the earth and I revere you for it.’
She rolled her eyes. The day Harry Finn showed any reverence for her was yet to dawn. He was just making a link to the salt-encrusted rim of the glass that was always used for a Margarita cocktail.
‘You’re right on both counts,’ Lucy happily volunteered.
‘Ellie loves Margaritas and she is the salt of the earth. I don’t know what I’d do without her. She’s always been my anchor.’
‘An anchor,’ Harry repeated musingly. ‘I think that’s what’s been missing from my life.’
‘An anchor would only weigh you down, Harry,’
Elizabeth put in dryly. ‘It would feel like an albatross around your neck.’
‘Some chains I wouldn’t mind wearing.’
‘Try gold.’

Book: Maisey Yates - Her Little White Lie

Rating: 6/10

While the interactions between the characters are interesting and funny, the story as a whole didn't really impress me much.

Favorite Parts: 

“Oh, sorry. Most people like babies, you know,” she said, stepping out into the hall, closing the door behind her.
“I have no interest in having any of my own. I’m not certain why it would be important for me to like babies.”
“They’re cute.”
“Yes, so are puppies but I don’t want one.”


“As for the parent interview …” He neatly sidestepped the moment.
“What about it?”
“I don’t see how it will be a problem.”
“You may have to grow a personality between now and then.”
“And you may want to tone yours down.”
“Why because a fun-loving, smiley person might not make a good parent? Do I need to be a bit more dour?”
“Are you calling me … dour?” he asked.
“If the scowl fits.”
“You’re going to have to keep yourself from taking shots at me in the presence of the social worker. Actually, you should probably keep yourself from taking shots at me because I’m your boss.”


“Is that what you think?” he asked.
Something in his eyes changed, the look becoming hungry, wild almost, as far from cool, calm, stuffed shirt Dante Romani as she could possibly imagine.
“I … obviously,” she said, her throat suddenly dry.
“What is obvious about it?” he asked.
“I’m … I’m …”
“Attractive,” he said.
She blinked. “Even with the pink stripe?”
“It’s growing on me.”
“Maybe I will get it colored over next time. In that case.”
“You just like to be difficult.”
She shrugged. “I’m a contrary beast, on occasion, I admit it.”

Book: Susanna Carr - Her Shameful Secret

Rating: 7/10

This one was surprisingly interesting. Although the secret was spilled quite early, I am not too disappointed because it was an interesting twist in the relationship between the two main characters. They not only have a child on the way, but the child isn't even the main guy's! In fact, it is his brother's child! So how is the author or the romantic hero supposed to overcome this shock and forgive the heroine? Well, love conquers all doesn't it? The story had just enough conflict between the characters to keep the story interesting, but not too twisted or long.

Book: Sara Craven - Wife in the Shadows

Rating: 5/10

Not much to say besides the fact that it was an ok read. I have found that most of these Harlequin stories to only be decent reads. They seem to be missing something. It is either the fight/struggle to realizing the attraction or it is the element of surprise. It is kind of disappointing since many of them have such promising summaries. *sigh*

Book: Anna J. Evans - Devil Take Me

Rating: 5/10

Another interesting summary, but only a decent read. Also another post without much to write about. How disappointing.

Book: Alexandra Hawkins - All Afternoon with a Scandalous Marquess

Rating: 8/10

I rated this a 10/10 at first, but then I had to subtract some points because the plot was a bit jumpy which was a shame since there were so many amusing parts I liked about the story.

Favorite Parts:


Anna came up from behind and embraced her. “Though I’ll admit Sainthill is rather pretty to look at.”
Catherine softly snorted at the understatement. “His body is quite admirable, too. You never know until a man disrobes if one should thank God or the man’s expensive tailor.”


Isabel slipped her arm around him and encouraged Vane to sit. “Were you fighting?” she asked, casting wary glances at Reign and Frost.
“If we were fighting, we would have taken it out of the house,” Frost said, rolling his eyes in disgust as Vane leaned against his wife and savored her tender inspection of his feigned injuries. “Past incidents have proven that you ladies are awfully protective of your furniture.”


“A servant arrived with a note from Hunter. He sends his apologies for being unable to join us. Something required his immediate attention,” Sin explained as he toyed with the pearl necklace his wife wore.
“If Hunter has any sense, that something is blond and naked in his bed,” Frost quipped.
Regan rolled her eyes at her brother. “Must you always be so vulgar?”
Without any hesitation, Frost replied, “Why shouldn’t I when I excel at it?”


Hunter’s left hand tightened on the balustrade as he tossed his head back and laughed. “And I should listen to the sage advice of a man who has never kept a mistress longer than four months?”
“Three months.”
“Three, then.” Anger glittered in Hunter’s eyes as he struggled to mask it with humor. “And your father … tell me again: What sport was he engaging in when he collapsed and died?”
Saint’s lips thinned at his friend’s cruel reminder. “Women. He was bedding his current mistress when his heart failed him.” Saint had been six years old when it happened. His mother had weathered the scandal with her head held high, though privately she was thoroughly humiliated. “Why do you ask? If you are planning to be unfaithful to your wife, you might want to let your physician examine you first to see if your heart is sound.”
“My heart is fine, Saint.” Hunter emptied his glass and set it on the table. He turned to leave.
“Where are you going?”
The duke absently shrugged. “Since we have missed the little gathering at Dare’s, it would be a pity not to sample the delights of the Golden Pearl. I’ll let you know if my heart gives me any trouble.”
The duke patted his heart and smirked.
“Arse,” Saint muttered under his breath.


“If this is subtlety, Lord Sainthill, I find your execution somewhat lacking.”
Saint started, caught unawares by the blonde’s approach. He recovered quickly by saying, “Spying, Anna? I thought you preferred to participate?”


The lie will suffice. The truth will only lead to trouble.


“I trust this will suffice for your silence.”
Mr. Royles tugged on the opening and pulled out a coin. He held it up to the lantern and grinned, exposing a missing eyetooth. “Aye, this will do, poppet. For a time, that is.”
“For your sake, make it a long while, Mr. Royles. If you ruin my business, there will be no point in paying you to keep my secrets.”
“Have you forgotten who is in charge?”
“Not in the slightest.” The corners of her mouth curled into an unpleasant smile as she revealed the pocket pistol she had been concealing. Ignoring his curse, she aimed it directly at his black heart. “I am willing to be generous because I have unfinished business in London and I am not prepared to leave as of yet. However, mark my words, Mr. Royles. There will come a day when your silence will no longer be necessary.”
“You wouldn’t pull that trigger on an unarmed man.”
“You would be amazed what I would be willing to do to protect myself,” she said, her finger tightening on the trigger. “Don’t try my patience. Such a miscalculation regarding my daring or affection for you would be quite fatal.”

Book: Kresley Cole - Shadow's Claim

Rating: 10/10

A fun, exciting, and steamy read. Definitely one of my favorites. I think I am going to seek out more of this author's writings and see if she can keep my interest.

Favorite Parts:


Resisting Morgana was impossible—and for others, deadly.
Raum had once asked Bettina, “How can you even tell your godmother loves you?”
“One, because Morgana keeps visiting me in a realm she hates. Two, because I keep surviving the visits...”


"...my style is to under-promise and over-deliver..." - Morgana


“Shut it, Leo.” She’d nicknamed him that, an acronym for his name. He was one of the most feared fiends in all the Lore—and yet she ribbed him with ease.
Lothaire, in turn, loved it.
They were about to kiss when Trehan cleared his throat.
“Ah, Cousin Trehan.” Though Lothaire’s red eyes were uncanny, today he looked rational—and very cunning.
“I’ll let you two boys chat.” Elizabeth extricated herself from his arms, earning a growl of displeasure. “And once you’re done, Leo, come on up and see me.” She winked and began sauntering toward the exit; like a male possessed, Lothaire rose to follow her.
Then, making a visible effort to restrain himself, he sat once more. “I know what you’re thinking, Cousin. Lothaire keeps a tight rein on her,” he said, looking immensely pleased with himself. “Indeed I do.”
From the anteroom: “Oh, please! I’ve got you locked down tighter than a gopher’s ass in flood season. And we both know it!”
Lothaire gazed with utter longing in Elizabeth’s direction before turning to Trehan. “She’ll pay for that comment later.”
“Brang it, Leo.”

Book: Fenella J. Miller - The Duke's Reform

Rating: 5/10

The synopsis held such promise, but I felt it was a so-so read. There wasn't anything noteworthy and I didn't have anything interesting to add so no "Favorite Part" section.

Book: Anne Mallory - Seven Secrets of Seduction

10/10

Favorite Parts:


“There is still our challenge.”
“Did you seduce your governess before she finished your lessons on mathematics?” She plopped a stack of books onto a shelf. “The week has long since passed. And you won.”
“Not in my heart, I didn?t.” Not in the seeds of his demise.
“If I believed in its existence, perhaps I could concur.”
“Oh, it is there. Shriveled and bound. Just waiting for you to set it free.”
“You are an unrepentant tease, your lordship.”
“As I said previously, a tease doesn?t follow through.” He stretched a finger along a strip of softly bound leather.
“An emotional tease. You are physically quite happy to follow through, but you make far too many empty promises concerning your feelings.”



“Do you hate yourself?”
“No.” She looked from the window to him again. There was a strange calmness to her gaze. “Do you?”
“Hard to hate perfection.”

Note from X♡X♡, a Hopeless Romantic

Dear Fellow Readers,

First of all, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to browse my blog. I have tons of fun sharing bits and pieces of the things that interest me and I hope you will continue to lend me your support. Although I would like people to leave me comments about their thoughts as well, I understand that everyone is busy and/or want to bother, so I won't nag. xD

I just wanted to let you know the next few posts are going to be a bit different. Since I do not wish to repeat myself in every post about the reason why, I have decided to make this post explaining the reasons.

I have recently been moving to a different house and therefore, didn't have time to post or do much but read while I wait for my internet to be fixed. Since I've read so many different books, I have complied mostly just a list of my favorite parts and the ratings of each book. There will be rarely any comments about the summary or any of the usual details I include. I do hope to have the time to correct this endeavor sometime in the future, but for now, bear with me.

Thanks again for paying attention!