Jasinda Wilder

I guess I am reading the wrong books. I went into this book, well, series of books offered up all in one package, with an open mind. The Big Girls Do It boxed set sounded like something I could really enjoy. A story of female empowerment, of women who may be on the ‘fluffy’ side, but who stood up for themselves and accepted who they were, and didn’t let anyone hold them back.

Doy.

Can I get any dumber? Instead of a good tale, these are, once again, 95 pages of sex scenes and a page of show more story. Not all that unusual in today’s book market, but deeply boring if truth be told. It seems that this style of “writing” follows a simplistic formula that focuses on the hinky rather than having any real storyline. Don’t get me wrong, I like a little warmth to my stories if that is something that is integral to a storyline, but having the characters going at it like monkeys in filthy alleys on second meeting? Uh, has anyone ever heard of self-respect? Uck.

There was a positive story that could have been written here. The main character, Anna, is a big girl but is actually quite beautiful. She is bright, creative, and capable, but she has also been drug down by men who treat her like dirt because she isn’t a size zero. Well, that is to be expected, but she has the strength to carry it off.

And then, of course, she is swept off her feet by Chase, a ‘hunk’ rock-star. She falls into an alley with him, then into bed, and then watches as he moves to New York to follow his singing career with his band. Disappointed, Anna finally sees the truly nice guy she has worked with as a DJ for six years, Jeff, and they start what appears to be a sound and healthy relationship.

And then, of course, the pretty-boy-rock-star comes back into play, and all bets are off. Of course, in this sort of book, the whole idea seems to be for the woman to ‘tame the bad guy’ so she runs off to New York leaving the nice guy in the lurch. No wonder guys complain that women don’t really want a good guy – women apparently show them that at every turn! Of course, when the pretty boy does exactly what one would expect him to do, Anna runs back and flings herself into the good guys arms again…. Until the naughty boy comes back, and of course she is dying to “give him a chance to explain.” Draw your own pictures. All in all? Anna the user. Anna the whiner. Anna the emotional misogynist. Yes, she has been hurt, but she seems to be determined to make sure that she hurts herself over and over again, following around after the guy that will definitely hurt her while bashing away at the one who never would. And Anna’s friend, who of course thinks she should “give the bad boy another chance” no matter what was happening in that alley, right? Gag.

For all the hopes that one might find a book where “imperfect” women have strong self esteem, this is still just another story about a big woman allowing herself to be used – and her big friend pushing her to accept what she can get from the ‘bad boy,’ including kinky sex and closing her eyes to alley hook-ups with multiple women, instead of focusing on the true love and affection of someone who really cares. Wow, thanks author for that little bon mot…

I just hope that, at some point I can find a romantic series that shows women who are more interested in a real, solid, loving relationship than in whips, blindfolds, and men who will never, stick around without cheating at every opportunity. This certainly isn’t it and that is just sad. Again. show less

Have you ever read a book and been so moved, you still remember it many years later? In 2020, my favorite author published a book very different from the well known Badd family series. Of course I bought it and devoured the story. A two or three tissue book for sure.
It’s been a year since Nadia lost the love of her life, Adrian. He had an aggressive cancer and didn’t tell her till almost the end of his life. He knew that, as a nurse, Nadia would have put her life on hold to care for him, show more and he didn’t want that. She receives a letter from Adrian that tells her he bought a cabin in a remote area, and it’s hers. She hasn’t been thriving, just surviving and her knew her well enough to predict her state of mind. With the encouragement of her best friend, she goes to the cabin to hopefully heal from her grief.
The cabin nearby was gifted to Nathan from Adrian. They were acquainted on a movie set from one of Adrian’s books, as Nathan is a skilled carpenter. Adrian leaves detailed instructions in his last book written only for Nathan on how to woo Nadia. Nathan has also lost the love of his life in a car accident.
Both are devastated by the loss of a spouse, and it’s the beginning of a friendship. Nathan leaves Nadia coffee everyday, as Adrian had written in the book, that Nadia was a horrible coffee preparer. Their attraction grows and they become friends, then lovers. They begin the process of healing from their loss to build a new life. Highly recommended. show less

What's a girl to do?

Moments before your wedding you feel this need to see your groom. You wander down to where is only to find him having sex with one of your bridesmaids.....someone you really don't know, the friend of the girlfriend of one of the groom's friend. That doesn't spell disaster does it.

So you run off, get drunk with your dad's cop buddies and in the misted of a drunken, enlightened moment decide you need to get away. Start fresh. Before anyone can say anything much tackle you show more to the ground you run up to a small plane getting ready to take off, bribe the pilot to take you wherever he's going and you're off. Nothing about this plan could be THAT bad right?

It's only after you've strapped in you realize he said he's going to Alaska. And he won't be able to bring you back with him. Stuck in Alaska, really? Yea life decisions while under the influence aren't generally a good to act on.

Meanwhile up in Ketchikan, AK Sebastian Badd, the oldest of 8 Badd brothers, is dealing with the death of his father, taking over the family bar and the reading of the will that has some odd requests. "Bast" is the only brother who stayed in AK. All the others have gone off to see the world and chase their dreams. Now thanks to his dad's will they have to come back and spend one year tending to the bar if they wish to receive their inheritance....it isn't much but it's a little something.

Sparks (and insults) fly the moment Dru walks into the bar. Soaking wet, wearing her wedding dress.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the banter and the interesting dynamic between Bast and his brothers. Eight alpha males who love their brothers but sometimes don't know how to talk with one another. Who haven't worked out all their issues over their mother leaving them. And mostly the brothers don't know how to convince Bast that without him stepping up and filling in for their mother there is no way they could have gone and followed their dreams, becoming successes and what it means to them that he did all of that. They don't need the money their father's has left them but they have come back because they feel they owe it to him.

Now Dru discovering each brother and their off the charts hotness level is funny. She can bicker with the best of them. Since her father is a retired USMC Drill Sergeant/Cop she knows how to physically handle herself. But it's the way she meets each brother and how they react to one another that made me smile. I mean she takes down Zane, the Navy Seal, with a knee to the groin when him and Bast start fighting.

Is it a love story? Yes. Is it a brother's reuniting story? Most definitely. Is there hot sex? OH YEAH. Add to that the fact I genuinely started liking each and every one of the brothers. The author did good in giving them enough characteristics to make them believable as brothers but different enough to keep them interesting as people.

Will I be reading the other books....OH HELL YEAH! show less

First off, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a new couple was given the majority of the spotlight. I absolutely LOVE Valentine and Kyrie but I felt that they were already put through so much in Beta that I couldn’t fathom much more. Don’t get me wrong, they get plenty of screen time and steamy scenes together but the stage is shared, as well as the narration.

Layla was included in the first two novels in this series as Kyrie’s best friend. I was excited to discover that I would show more have the opportunity to know her much better. Layla is an extremely tough woman. She doesn’t care about hurting feelings, mushy emotions, or telling it exactly how she views it. Layla is brash, abrasive, and often difficult to like since she has solid barriers surrounding every side. She has lived her life watching out for herself and refuses to rely on others.

Harris is best known as Roth’s right-hand-man and a guy you can trust to protect your life. He is impossible to get a read on since he never reveals any weakness or reaction, other than taking out the enemy. It was fascinating to dive into the complex layers that create his character. It was high time Harris got a little spice and light into his life. It doesn’t come easily of course but that is all part of the fun.

Vitaly is out for bloody revenge and is a constant threat. This novel offers up nonstop twists and turns, suspense and violence, retribution and action, thrills and drama, as well as plenty of passionate sex that Jasinda does best. I was constantly on edge and this story is truly an adventure. I can never get enough of this author’s exceptional writing. If you are searching for different and unique, make sure to snag up this series! show less