ARC Review: Seduction and Surrender (Reckless #2) by C.C. Gibbs

No-Brainer

Title:  Seduction and Surrender
Author: CC Gibbs
Publisher/Year: Grand Central Publishing 3/1/16
Length:  416 pages
Series:  Reckless #2

Overview

From the peaks of erotic ecstasy–to the point of no return . . .

Power. Passion. Pleasure beyond imagining. Billionaire playboy Rafe Contini offers all this–and more–to the beautiful Nicole Parrish, a young American traveler with a taste for adventure that matches his own. From the private yachts of Monte Carlo to the palatial estates of Geneva to the glittering penthouses of Bangkok, Rafe has shown her a world of unimaginable sensual delights. Now, he is ready to take her to the next daring level. Of danger. Of desire. Of deliciously erotic self-discovery.

Nicole has never known a man as sexy, as strong–or as commanding–as Rafe Contini. Night after steamy night, he turns up the heat, tests her boundaries, and pushes the limits of her body and soul to the point of sweetest agony. But when this masterful lover sweeps her away to a secluded island getaway–where anything can and will happen–Nicole must decide just how far she wants to take this game. And just how much she can bend Rafe’s rules . . .

My Thoughts

I have to start off by saying thanks to the folks at Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for getting me this early read – this is a series that i’ve been invested in before it was a spin-off.  On that note, we start off this 2nd installment with Rafe and Nicole – when they are in hiding in a sense trying to track Zou, all the while, Rafe is trying to keep nicole safe and sated.

What we get here is on par with everything that we’ve come to expect from CC Gibbs – a lot of heat and passion, some great character relationship dynamics and a lot of anxiety wondering when the other shoes going to drop.

Throughout the story, you can see that Rafe’s trying to distract not only Nicole from what’s going on, but himself as much as he won’t admit it.  He’s very involved in the whole scenario trying to find Zhou and his mistress/child but you also see that his head is all wrapped up in Nicole and doesn’t quite know what to do.

The interesting thing here though is that while we’re typically accustomed to seeing the issues as a result of the relationship, anything that keeps these two apart has nothing to do with them – they are GOOD – it’s outside forces pulling at them, but never for too long.

So that being said, it’s very expected in the sense of knowing where the love relationship will go, but the questions that you have throughout while you read is where is Zhou, where is he going to pop up next, who’s he going to hurt and what will that mean.  it’s the last third of the book when things really start to speed up and you’re really getting pulling into the crux of the story.  I have to say that it’s expected yet there were twists, and it was enjoyable to read.  I got what i was hoping for and i’m a happy girl.

 

The question that remains though is what’s next.  who are we going to get to read about next and in what context.  i’m interested and intrigued since this can’t be the end.  that’s all i’m saying.  have a great night all!

ARC Review: Power and Possession (Reckless #1) by CC Gibbs

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Title: Power and Possession
Author: CC Gibbs
Publisher/Year: Grand Central Publishing 9/1/125
Length: 266
Series: Reckless #1

Overview

The ultimate pleasure lies in sweet surrender . . .

Brash. Brilliant. Devastatingly handsome. Billionaire playboy Rafe Contini can have any woman he wants-no strings, no commitments, no promises. But when American graduate student Nicole Parrish crashes his private party in Monte Carlo, he wants more than a casual one-night stand. He wants to possess this beautiful stranger-body, mind, and soul.
Nicole isn’t interested in being possessed by any man-especially one as powerful as Rafe. But with a seductive smile and enigmatic charm, he lures her into his private world of erotic discovery and pushes her to the brink of ecstasy. In the summer days-and nights-that follow, they explore every forbidden fantasy, every willful desire, every wild, dizzying sensation. And come dangerously close to crossing the line-between love and lust, pleasure and pain, power and possession . . .

My Thoughts

I loved the All or Nothing series and this is a spin off of that so i knew that i’d get something great and fantastic.  That and i think that we got a teaser of this story in the final installment of the former series.  I actually feel like i kept waiting for that scene to show up in this first intro to this new series and it wasn’t until the latter third actually when it did pop up.

So as you guys all recall, Dominic has a niece named Nicole who is 22 and this is her story.  Or at least the continuation of her story.  We meet up with her while she’s on ‘holiday’ or summer break from school with her friend Fiona – and they are living it up in Europe somewhere – on a yacht.  It’s on this boat that her life changes and we don’t know yet if it’s for the better or not.  While she’s walking aorund this yacht, nursing a hangover and recalling the craziness of the night before, she runs into what is propbably the sexiest man that she’s ever seen – and well….the sparks fly.  This man of course is Rafe Contini – billionaire businessman, and playboy.

Where we go on this journey is actually a nice place – both are really strong characters – so it’s not one of those ‘naive girl gets sucked into a world that she’s unfamiliar’.  Similar to how CC Gibbs wrote Kate in the other series – we have a girl who knows her value, and maybe she’s still got a bit of ‘finding herself to do;’ but it’s definitely not due to a lack of confidence.  Rafe also knows that he’s sought after – for his money, sexual appeal and any number of other things.

Rafe finds that because Nicole doesn’t just say ‘yes’ to him, that he’s drawn deeper into her web, and Nicole feels like he’s her match in the sense that he gives her butterflies but also makes her feel like she’s able to push herself and him at the same time.  This makes for some GREAT sexual chemistry – and the scening that we have come to love an expect from our author comes out here with vengeance.

I’d have to say that the one downfall to this story is that 2/3 is really just a lot of banter and sexual chemistry – not a bad thing in reality but there’s really a lack of the story development.  I get that the basis for doing this is to show how far out of each of their comfort zone they are in – neither does relationships and that’s exactly where it seems like this is going – but i think that the excitement really only starts when we’re in the last third and Rafe’s company comes under attack from hackers and then well, Dominic shows up at an inopportune time in Paris.  That’s when it gets tense, angsty and well – things really begin to speed up.

Where we are left in the final pages of this story is the edge – there’s definitely a cliffhanger here.  Nicole and Rafe have to ‘flee to safety’ and there’s a big question on if they will be safe, if someone’s going to die, and who’s going to protect whom since we know that Dominic protects what’s his as does Rafe.

There’s also the underlying story of who Rafe’s father is, when he’s going to find out, and the fact that Dominic is so close to him in an odd sort of way.  So…i guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens in book 2 of this series and i’d love to get my hands on that ARC too since i don’t know that i can wait so long.  so….thanks Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to this early and i hope that you guys enjoy it as well!

Blog Tour, Spotlight and GIVEAWAY: Power and Possession by C.C. Gibbs

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Title:  Power and Possession
Author: CC Gibbs
Publisher/Year: Grand Central Publishing 2/3/15
Length: 432

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Overview

The ultimate pleasure lies in sweet surrender . . .
Brash. Brilliant. Devastatingly handsome. Billionaire playboy Rafe Contini can have any woman he wants-no strings, no commitments, no promises. But when American graduate student Nicole Parrish crashes his private party in Monte Carlo, he wants more than a casual one-night stand. He wants to possess this beautiful stranger-body, mind, and soul.
Nicole isn’t interested in being possessed by any man-especially one as powerful as Rafe. But with a seductive smile and enigmatic charm, he lures her into his private world of erotic discovery and pushes her to the brink of ecstasy. In the summer days-and nights-that follow, they explore every forbidden fantasy, every willful desire, every wild, dizzying sensation. And come dangerously close to crossing the line-between love and lust, pleasure and pain, power and possession…

Excerpt

“Where are you staying?”

“At my uncle’s apartment.”

“Come to my place.” He folded his hands on the table, leaned forward a little, his gaze focused, her appeal powerful as a riptide, ignoring the fact that what he was about to say was messing with his head. “I’ll kick out everyone else.”

“Everyone else? Meaning?” She didn’t lack confidence, and he was notorious for his casual sexual encounters.

For some reason he didn’t mind her impertinence. “Only male friends. I never allow women to stay with me.” He smiled. “Until now. So how about it?”

“Sure, I’d like that.” And suddenly the summer takes an interesting turn. So far the boys of summer had been only mildly interesting. “But not for long.” She wrinkled her nose. “I have to go back to school in a couple of weeks.”

Rafe suddenly went still; her little nose twitch reminded him of a child. “Just for the record,” he murmured, “how old are you?” People graduated college at any age; he had at nineteen.

“Worried?” Nicole flashed him a grin. “How much does it matter?”

He scowled. “It matters.”

“Or?”

“Or you’re gone.”

“Now neither of us wants that,” she said, amusement in the blue of her eyes. “Do we?”

He didn’t move a muscle, even his breathing quieted. “Don’t,” he said, very softly. “No games.”

Nicole’s voice was lush with provocation. “Really? I’ve heard you like games.”

“You heard wrong.” He held her gaze for a moment, then sighed. “Tell me your age or get the fuck out.” Hand of fate or not, he didn’t do stupid.

“Twenty-two.” Her brows rose in perfect arcs.

“So, are we seeing blue skies and rainbows once again?” Honeyed sarcasm dripped from each word. “Or do I find someone else at this party to entertain me?”

Rafe’s smile slowly unfurled and his eyes took on a predatory glow. “You could try, I suppose. But you wouldn’t get out the door.”

“Oh dear, oh my, I do declare,” she lamented in playful parody. “Am I your captive?”

“You are.” Smoothly rising from his chair, he strode toward the door. “Now I’m going to lock the door, then fuck you till morning.”

“And then what?”

Whoa. The unmistakable note of demand in her voice brought him to a stop. He turned. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”

She met his insolent gaze and smiled. “I said—and then what?… As in afterward.”

Audacious or foolhardy? Fascinating certainly. He winked. “Afterward, you can tell me your name. How’s that?”

She winked back. “I’ll think about it.”

He went very still. “Is this a contest?”

“I hope not,” she murmured, gazing at him from under her long, dark lashes. “I hope I get what I want.”

“Which is?”

“Do you need a list?”

“Do you know what you’re doing?” Unsure whether it was anger or lust igniting his senses, his voice took on a raspy edge and his golden gaze turned cold.

“I can’t answer that definitively, but right now it looks like your dick knows what it’s doing,” she noted, with a languid lift of her hand.

He looked at her for a moment. A woman had never taunted him before and he wanted to pick her up and shove his dick so far up her pussy he’d need a road map to get out.

“Don’t,” she said, very, very softly. “This could be really good… mind-blowing in fact. You have to know that.”

“Fuck you,” he whispered, shifting his stance enough to ease the pressure on his erection.

“Anytime… Just not that way, okay?”

He dragged in a ragged breath. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

She held his gaze, unflinching. “Nor you me.”

A smile slowly overcame his discontent as he held her contentious stare. “Why don’t we see?” he said very gently. “You might like it after all.” Then he reached back, turned the key in the lock, slid it into his pocket, and moved toward her.”

Buy Links:

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About the author:

C.C. Gibbs is the pen name of New York Timesbestselling author Susan Johnson. She divides her time between the Midwest and Northern California, and considers the life of a writer the best of all possible worlds. Bringing characters to life allows her imagination full rein and researching books is great fun!

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and as promised – here’s the GIVEAWAY – click here for a chance to win one of 10 digital copies of the book Power and Possessin.  Enjoy and Good Luck!

Launch Day Blitz & Giveaway: All He Desires (All or Nothing #3) by CC Gibbs

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Title: All He Desires
Author: CC Gibbs
Publisher/Year: Grand Central Publishing 11/4/14
Length: 284
Series: All or Nothing #3

Excerpt

He glanced at his vintage Cartier Santos Dumont watch. “I don’t have any appointments till noon tomorrow so we have plenty of time. And my appointments can be canceled if necessary.”

“How very accommodating of you,” Kate said softly.

Dominic smiled faintly. “We try.”

Suddenly the image of countless females being accommodated by the incredibly beautiful, sexually talented Knight Enterprises CEO filled Kate’s mind and brought the teasing game to a screeching halt. “But you’re accommodating only me from now on, right?” she said, challenge in the obstinate jut of her chin.

“Only you,” he readily agreed, when he would have found such limitations incomprehensible a few short months ago.

Leaning back against the flax-​colored sofa, her green gaze shimmering with delight, she smiled at the man she loved. “So,” she murmured, with delicate impertinence and a little dip of her head. “Have I really tamed the premier playboy of the Western world?”

A lazy flicker of a smile. “I didn’t think you liked it tame?”

His words hovered palpably in the sudden silence.

Spiked through her body, a flame hot and riveting.

Pooled in seething delirium deep down inside her.

“Meaning?” she whispered, finding it hard to breathe.

“Meaning, why don’t we find out what you do like?” he said gently, coming to his feet in a graceful flow of toned muscle, having patiently waited through the unwrapping of countless boxes for her to finally read his mind. He held out his strong hand with its dusting of dark hair, his long fingers faintly splayed.

A shiver of pleasure raced through her. Broad-​shouldered, lean hipped in jeans and a faded blue Peace T‑shirt, Dominic’s dark, brooding beauty was breathtaking: the long silky black hair, the bad-​boy scorching blue eyes, the high cheekbones and fine bone structure, the arrow-​straight nose, the mouth saved from outright sensuality by the contradictory don’t‑mess-​with‑me firmness. The whole package transcendent male perfection.

And when he leaned down and his hand closed around hers, she trembled at the glut of prodigal sensation, at the feverish need coiling in the pit of her stomach, at the blazing hot desire streaking up her spine. Agitated and restless, she said on a suffocated breath, “I’m sorry. But it’s been so long I don’t think I’m going to last.”

Drawing her to her feet, he slid his hands under her arms, lifted her over the pile of boxes, and set her down. “Then let’s go take care of you.”

Overview
Kate Hart and Dominic Knight’s volatile love affair continues in the last book in the All or Nothing trilogy from C.C. Gibbs. Being tied down to just one woman was the last thing Dominic wanted. But from the moment he laid eyes on Kate, he couldn’t deny his overwhelming desire for her or his need to possess her.
Praise for Book #1, ALL HE WANTS: “There are so many Fifty Shades-esque books on the market nowadays, but book one of the All or Nothing trilogy will be remembered. This sensational debut will spark interest among the most dedicated erotica fans. Gibbs doesn’t beat around the bush, gets straight to the point, and will leave readers gasping for breath…this story is much more imaginative and will take readers to heights they never even believed existed.” —RT Book Reviews
Praise for Book #2, ALL HE NEEDS: “This electrifying follow-up to the debut of the All or Nothing trilogy will satisfy readers across the map. Gibbs’ writing has a way of connecting with one’s libido and keeps readers wanting more. Our hero and heroine’s relationship seems stronger than ever since they’ve been apart, and their explosive meetings together will stay embedded in erotica fans’ memories for a very long time. All He Needs is suspenseful, emotionally driven and will keep Gibbs’ fans wondering how in the world she will be able to top this installment.” —RT Book Reviews
Buy Links:
About the author:
C.C. Gibbs is the pen name of a New York Times bestselling author. She lives in the Midwest, at times in Northern California, is married with three children and considers the life of a writer the best of all possible worlds. Bringing characters to life allows her imagination full rein, while the creative process offers fascinating glimpses into the machinery of the mind. And last but not least, researching anything, but particularly a book like ALL HE DESIRES—thank you Google—is great fun!
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ARC Review: All He Desires (All or Nothing #3) by CC Gibbs

1 Strangers for the Night E-Book Cover

Title: All He Desires
Author: CC Gibbs
Publisher/Year: Grand Central Publishing 11/4/14
Length: 284
Series: All or Nothing #3

Overview

Being tied down to just one woman was the last thing Dominic wanted. But from the moment he laid eyes on Kate, he couldn’t deny his overwhelming desire for her or his need to possess her.

My Thoughts

First off i have to thank the folks at Netgalley for providing me with this ARC – in return for an honest review.  Well that overview clearly doesn’t say much – but i’ll give you the gist.  We know that Dominic was put into a bad situation where he had to ‘marry’ Bianca while she was preggo in exchange for his ‘freedom’ of sorts.  This meant that he was away from Kate and that wasn’t very good for their relationship.

Where we are now in the series is that they are finally back together and Kate’s pregnant with their first child and surprisingly Dominic is VERY excited about it.  That comes to a surprise to just about everyone because that’s not Dominic’s style, but nevertheless we see that it’s great for these 2.

Kate’s insatiable because of the baby, so we certainly see a lot of heat and passion continue on with these two.  As is the case in the other two installments of the series, we get to see a lot of chemistry both from the fact that there’s intense love as well as the way that they combat each other.

Just when everything seems like it’s going to be perfect for them, Kate experiences a life shattering event and things come crashing down.  Where the rest of the story takes us is on the journey of what it means for Kate, what that means for Dominic and what their future will hold.

There were also mini bits of the story that came up there were on my mind throughout I’m still not sure that they were resolved properly.  I kept waiting for Gora or Bianca to turn up and cause trouble or for the divorce not to happen, and we don’t really see as much into that as i’d expected.  i feel like there was a lot of opportunity for more adversity here and there were teases – but nothing finite.

To be completely honest, it’s taken me a really long time to get through this 3rd book.  It’s very different from what i felt reading the others – which were quick reads and kept me super engaged . I don’t know what it was about this story, but i feel like it dragged.  I think that i was hoping for the passionate love story that we had thorughout the other two and while it was VERY clear that there’s love here – i don’t know – it just didn’t hold my attention as well.

What’s nice about this story though is the ending.  We get an epilogue in the final chapters (and epilogue of sorts) that gives you a lead into what will be and then we get a true epilogue that introduces yet another angle of the story that i’m willing to bet will either be a #4 in the series or an adjunct series.  So, all in all, it was ‘eh’ and i always feel bad about saying that – but i have to be honest.  I’d love to hear anyone else’s thoughts when you check this out.  maybe i missed something.