5/5 Review: Burn It Up: A Desert Dogs Novel by Cara McKenna

 

In the latest from the acclaimed author of Give It All, mount up and ride a roaring motorcycle to Fortuity, Nevada, where the heat is rising…
After a decade spent chasing shadier pursuits, Casey Grossier has come home to the badlands to settle down in Fortuity. Vowing to put his days of dirty money behind him, he’s cleaned up his act and become co-owner of Benji’s Saloon. But despite his efforts to be a better man, he can’t shake his crush on his sweet-faced bartender, even though the woman screams trouble.

Abilene Price hopes she can outrun her mistakes and build a safe, respectable life for herself and her baby. So she’d be wise to keep her distance from her boss, Casey, and the rest of his roughneck motorcycle club, the Desert Dogs. But she just might need their help. The return of a violent figure from Abilene’s past ignites a powder keg—and it’s only the beginning…

 

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The first thing I need to say in this review of Burn It Up by Cara McKenna, is I NEED THE REST OF THIS SERIES!!!!  This book caught me by surprise.  The things that both Abilene and Casey has done in their pasts are down right hard to get past but they manage.  It's crazy that what was revealed about each of them was way off track from what I expected.  I almost didn't forgive Abilene for turning her back on Casey after he told her about his past.  They were becoming serious and she had a right to know as he did about her past.  What got me upset was that even after she got to know him, after he was there for her and her new born daughter, she still saw him as a criminal and not as the man he was trying to become.  He was changed and she had no right to judge him given the skeletons in her closet.  I'm happy she finally saw how much of a mistake she made because these two are good for each other.  Factor Mercy, the baby in to the equation and you have the foundation for a great family.  There was so much emotion involved with all the characters and the story line was so well developed I must say that I am incredibly thrilled that I was able to find this world.  I will definitely be recommending this book personally to friends I know who will also fall in love with these people.  I have a feeling also that Miah is soon to find that romance he was looking for.  I am looking forward to reading more of Cara's work.  She is truly an artist.

 

 

4/5 Review: Crosstown Crush: A Sins In the City Novel by Cara McKenna

When he’s working, Mike Heyer is all business—every inch the alpha male, with the hard, capable body to back up his persona. But at home he can be a different man entirely, harboring appetites only his wife gets to glimpse…

When Samira first learned of her husband’s fantasies, she was reluctant, even alarmed. But after witnessing the way they set him on fire, she yielded, and happily indulged. As their games have intensified, so has the rush. And now so has the risk—they’re poised to take Mike’s indecent desires to the next level, by opening their bed to a sexy, brazen stranger. A man seeming custom-made to grant every last one of Mike and Samira’s sinful wishes.

Welcoming someone new into their lives was always a dangerous proposition, but the couple imagined if anything was at stake, it was their privacy…not their hearts.

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First off let me start with a warning....  If you do not have an open mind and do not like reading M/M this may not be the book for you.  I however love reading these types of books and this one was right up my alley.  

Mike had certain fantasy's he was reluctant to tell his wife at first.  When he finally confided them to her she was a bit hesitant at first to go throw with it.  She would pretend she cheated on him and go home to tell him all about it.  It would be an understatement to say Mike was turned on when his wife talked to him about her other lover (imaginary).  The sex was steamy but it was not enough.  After a while they discussed having a new man come into their lives and into their beds.  

I truly enjoyed the interaction between the couple.  Anyone could see they were very much in love and went above and beyond to show it.  How many people can honestly say that they would welcome a third person into their lives because it is something that would make their partner happy?  I like reading these books because it shows that love is not one dimensional.  We tend to look down on what we do not understand but this shows you a marriage that works.  It is not what most consider normal but it works and that is what i love to see.

I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more of Cara McKenna.  She is a true artist with her words.

Review: Give it All by Cara McKenna

Keep your friends close—and your enemies closer....

Bar owner Raina Harper can’t say for sure what Duncan Welch is to her. With her small Nevada town under siege by a ruthless casino development and still reeling from a spate of murders, she knows that trusting the public face of the corporate invaders is risky to say the least. Though, damn, it’s one fine-looking face.…

Duncan may be a mercenary when it comes to getting the job done, but he’s no villain. In fact, the calculating fixer soon finds himself in the bad guys’ crosshairs, framed and facing professional ruin. To clear his name, he’ll need help from Raina and her roughneck motorcycle club, the Desert Dogs. Gaining their trust won’t be easy, and the molten sexual tension between Raina and Duncan only makes things more complicated—especially since Miah Church, Raina’s friend and ex-lover, would sooner strangle Duncan than shake his hand.

One thing’s certain, though: If they don’t deal with their incendiary attraction soon, the whole damn town might go up in flames.…

 

I love Cara McKenna's books, and I really think this is one of  the best of them all. It's sexy as ever. The characters are fully developed and we end up knowing them as real people -- flawed, rough around the edges, and so worthy of respect and love.  Duncan may be one of my favorite romantic hero.He is Alpha male with a quick wit and a gentle soul. I would love for him to rescue me. One of the best things about this book is the humor throughout. Not that it's a comedy, but more that the heroine is a snarky commentator on life and I enjoyed her observations very much.

 

Cara McKenna has written a great story that I was unable to put down. Her characters are realistic and easy to relate to. The romance takes place a little bit at a time so the reader stays satisfied throughout the course of the book. This is book number 2 in the Desert Dogs Series and I am looking forward to book number 3 to find out what will happen next.

 

Another romantic story of two beautiful people meant to be together for life, as they work the around the secrets, fears and insecurities plaguing them. There are a lot of life lessons in this book about dealing with tragedy and letting go of guilt and giving yourself permission to be happy again. I would recommend this for Contemporary Romance fans who want an uncomplicated, easy-going, slightly spicy story.