Paradise Found: Cain (Paradise Stories Book 2) ~ L.B. Dunbar

“I hate that I love you,” she said. “You left me.”

“I lost you, there’s a difference. Now that I found you, I intend to keep you.”

Lost.

I’d tasted the sweetest fruit of temptation, and I wanted another bite. I had promised myself before, but once wasn’t enough. The savory flavor of her lingered long after I’d lost her. Contending with the pressure to return to the fight, in order to prove myself to my father and the world, I had to let her go.

Found.

It has been a year. Sofie Vincentia and I had played a dangerous game. For one night, we pretended, only to discover our farce was real. I’d lost her, but I hadn’t stopped searching, hoping for her return. I was used to getting what I wanted, so when she didn’t come to me, I had to go after her. This would be the greatest fight of my life.

This is a great follow up to Paradise Fought: Abel. We got a glimpse of Cain and the burdens he bears in Abel’s story, but in Paradise Found: Cain, we really see the demons he fights. His father, the man he killed, Abel, Sofie… all of them contribute to his burdens.

I really enjoy LB’s writing. The way she is able to take biblical references and turn them in to a modern romance is really impressive. I got hooked right in to the story line and fell for these characters.

The push and pull between Sofie and Cain made me want to throw my kindle. They both want each other, but through a series of misunderstandings and some legal documents, Sofie is super reserved and Cain is ready to do anything to have her back. He feels like he lost her once and never wants to lose her again. Sofie, feels that Cain left her once, what’s stopping him from doing it again. Gah!

I really liked Cain and Sofie. Even though, Cain is supposed to be a snake, I mean he is the Cobra, he has a romantic side and is completely in love with Sofie. Sofie is tougher than she gives herself credit for. I don’t know if I would have been able to hold off this sexy fighter the way she did.  Sigh.

Paradise Fought: Abel (Paradise #1) ~ L.B. Dunbar

I'm not a fighter.

I was born into a fighting family. As the middle child, I was overlooked in favor of my older brother.

He took the negative attention, too. In comparison, there's nothing special about me.

I’m not as big as Cobra. I’m not as strong as Cobra. He's the alpha.

I'm a beta. 

The second son.

The lesser one. 

The one never encouraged to fight, never encouraged to do anything, but stay out of my father’s way.

I'm not a lover either - but I wished to be – that’s why I needed her.

I met a girl in the pouring rain. 

Sounds cliché, but it's true. It changed everything.

Because of love, I learned to fight.

Betas come second, but in this fight, my story is first.

Gah! Abel was the quiet one, the second son, the one never noticed. It broke my heart that all he ever wanted was Elma, but she couldn’t see what was right in front of her. Such a gorgeous and selfless man, yet he was a disgrace to his father and a geek in Elma’s eyes.

Elma was completely consumed with her brother’s death and the situation that she fell into after all his gambling and debt was brought to light. Her mother completely fell off the deep end and basically left Elma to fend for herself. As strong as Elma was to keep going, she was also very selfish. I often found myself yelling at the book to open her eyes and realize that Abel loved her. But she only worried about how she could get revenge and who she had to use to get there. By the time she realizes she truly has feelings for Abel, he learns of her plan and it rocks the “deal” that they made.

Abel is a fighter. Just like the Betta fish. He’s constantly feeling he has to prove himself to his father and try to get out of his brother’s shadow. He is fixated on Elma and when the opportunity to help her, in exchange for getting close to her, comes up, he jumps at it. He keeps trying to get her to notice him, but she only has eyes for Thor…. At least that’s what he thinks until he learns of her true plans. Those plans gut Abel and make him feel exactly how every other person in his life has made him feel, unloved.

I was rooting for Abel to get all he desired. I love the quiet, shy geek he was, and I wanted him to beat his brother, prove himself to his father and get the girl. Not too much to ask, right? Even after being chastised and shunned by his father, he still wanted his approval and love. He kept trying to be with Elma and tried to make her see him. He never gave up. He continued to fight and I loved that about his character. The angst and sexual tension between Elma and Abel was super-hot and their love scenes…..explosive. I could not get enough of this story and I cannot wait to hear Cain’s side next. 

"Fight. For Love. Betta"

The Trials of Guinevere DeGrance (Legendary Rock Star Series #5) ~ L.B Dunbar

AMAZON US / UK

iBOOKS / B&N / KOBO

Don’t judge me. I know you want to, but let’s get some facts straight in my defense.
1. I love Arturo King
2. He left me behind.
3. I was lonely.
4. Lansing was an old friend.
5. I love Arturo King.

Did you burn the fictional damsel in distress that cuddled and kissed her best friend when her fantastical boyfriend disappeared for months? No, you didn’t. You sympathized with her loneliness before you read ahead to make sure the boyfriend was coming back to her. Loneliness is not a crime. It’s cruel to be alone, but not a crime, the last I knew. If it is a crime, I’ll light the match to ignite myself for what I’ve done. Goodness knows I’m burning up with guilt as it is. But I want my story to be told in my defense before I’m judged too harshly. Arturo King might be a rock star legend, but he and I are human. We make mistakes. We made mistakes. Do we need to suffer for all of eternity because of them? I hope not. The jury still seems to be out, though. The greater question is: Is it possible to rekindle our love, when the secrets could burn us all?

Holy Crap! Arturo has returned!! Guinevere and Arturo are still hot as ever for each other, but their anger is all consuming. I could feel it through LB’s writing and I absolutely loved it.

Each deserved to be angry, hurt and heartbroken with each other. The angst leading up to when Arturo and Guinie finally talk was powerful. The constant push and pull of the tension, the miss communications and the involvement of Ana had me on edge and wanting to slap a few people myself.

I won’t give away too much, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book in the series and while I thought it would be the conclusion, there is plenty to run with should LB want to continue. I’m so involved with these characters now; I hope that there is more coming. (Fingers Crossed)

The Truth of Tristan Lyons (Legendary Rock Star # 4) ~ LB Dunbar

Heartbreaker. 

I understand why I have the nickname. Hey, what can I say? I like women. All women. It doesn’t matter what shape, size, or color. I’m even into sharing. I’ve done it all, seen it all, but I’m at an all-time low. Who wouldn’t be? My best friend is missing. My uncle’s an asshole. I don’t know who I am without The Nights. We are a band of brothers, soldiering through the world with our music. Only, our faithful leader is gone, and everyone else in the band is falling for the oldest trap: love. Love is a lie. It is painful. It is hurtful. 

I need a break. I want to be alone. I'm not prepared to share the exclusive home on the Island. I'm not prepared for her. I don’t know who she is or why she's here. She tells me to call her Ireland. I tell her my first name only. Originally, I don’t want to believe she doesn’t recognize me. Bass guitarist for The Nights, come on? After a while we both play the game. Secrets are another form of lies, aren't they? 

Our fantasy will crash to reality too soon. Secrets catch up to you. The truth has to be told. It confirms what I already know: love is a lie. 

Until her. 

::Sign::The Heartbreaker. That man could break my heart any day::fans face::

Tristan Lyons is one emotion wreck, constantly drinking himself in to oblivion so he doesn’t have to feel. He could have any woman at the drop of a hat, but when Arturo’s absence, Guinevere’s pain, Lansing’s baby momma drama and Perkins happy nuptials get to be too much, Tristan goes to the Cayman Islands for some peace. 

Ireland will not take Tristan’s crap. Natural beauty that she is, she doesn’t feel wanted or sexy. She feels as if she is an object for her parents to pawn off and her uncle to get his cheap thrill off of….Ewe Gross! When Ireland meets Tristan, she dumps his alcohol down the drain and demands a change. What Tristan finally realizes is that he could have hurt Ireland, like his uncle used to hurt him and he stops drinking, cold turkey.

After the initial withdrawals, Tristan starts to hang with Ireland and they start to form a bond. Only finding out after he has started to fall for her, she is to be married to another man. (No spoiler on who that other man is, but you have to read so you can find out!!) Seriously, that still happens in this day-in-age?? Ireland’s family is in some kind of debt she doesn’t know about and all Tristan wants to do is save her, but she has to stick up for herself first.

I loved this twist on the story of Tristan from the Arthurian Legends. The pure chaos at the end of this book has me thirsting for more. ::Spoiler Alert:: Arturo’s re-appearance, Guinevere’s response, the Nights new album, Lansing’s new baby and Tristan’s baby….Holy Hell we’re in for a wild ride!!

Playlist

The Story of Lansing Lotte (Legendary Rock Stars #2) ~ L.B. Dunbar

I get it. I’ve heard the jokes. My name sounds like some medieval character who was a hero. Hell, my best friend’s named Arturo King. Ring any medieval bells? But this is my story and I’m no hero. I also get the jokes. Lancelot is a play on the words lance and lot, and a lance refers to a sword, which is a euphemism for dick. What does a man do with his dick? He fucks. A lot. So if my name is Lansing Lotte, I must be “fucking lot.” Get it? Fucking a lot? Which I’m not saying I don’t, that’s not the point. Another reference to something sexual. Get my point? Huh, I made a punny. But again this is my story, and I haven’t done anything funny. In fact, I’ve killed three women, and only one of them I loved. Yeah, that’s right? Not laughing now. It’s not funny. And I’m definitely no fucking hero.

This is one emotional roller coaster!! Starting off with the MAJOR cliffy from the Legend of Arturo King, The Story of Lansing Lotte jumps right in where we left off. Guinie is in mourning, Lansing is still hoping for his one chance and Elaine completely takes advantage of a drunken Lansing, when he drinks himself into a stupor over Arturo’s accident and missing body.

Guinie is a mess and starts to latch on to Lansing. She knows he’s wanted her for a long time, but does she really care about him, or is she just lonely and lost?

Lansing, being the “hero” that he doesn’t want to admit, saves “3A” and her daughter Fleur from a fire in his building, and their once innocent flirting takes to new heights when he moves them in with him. Lila and Fleur are everything that Lansing needs, but doesn’t know it.

Sightings of Arturo are starting to happen, Ana is pushing Guinevere to move on from Arturo, no one can get in touch with Mure Lin, we are introduced to Perk’s new girl, Hollister, ::spoiler alert:: and Elaine is pregnant from the one night with Lansing. Whew!! Talk about a mouth full (that has two meanings hehehe)! 

I love the spin on the classic King Author, Lancelot and Guinevere love triangle, but I am so happy that L.B. Dunbar makes a happy ending for Lansing here. After he got his head out of his ass and realized all the chaos surrounding him, he finally put a stop to it. Lansing may have saved Lila and Fleur from the fire, but they saved Lasing from the drama and fire that he was in.