Captivated

by Megan Hart

Double the passion and seduction as New York Times bestselling author Megan Hart and international bestselling author Tiffany Reisz weave two provocative tales about power, bad-boy lovers and secret desires! 

 

LETTING GO by Megan Hart: Colleen goes to the same bar every night and orders the same drink: a whiskey, neat. She doesn't drink it, though. Jesse the bartender notices the beautiful, sad woman who keeps to herself. Until one night when she lets go and lets him in. And after that, Jesse has only one mission to show her one night is only the beginning…  

 

SEIZE THE NIGHT by Tiffany Reisz: Five years ago, a night of forbidden passion between Remi and Julien, the heirs of two powerful and competitive horse-racing families, led to a feud that is threatening to ruin both farms. Now Remi must find Julien again but when she does, her need for Julien is just as strong and just as forbidden…

Genres: Romance, Erotica, BDSM, Anthologies, Short Stories, Contemporary Romance, Novella

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2014

About the author

Megan Hart has written in almost every genre of romantic fiction, including historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, fantasy and perhaps most notably, erotic. She also writes non-erotic fantasy and science fiction, as well as continuing to occasionally dabble in horror.

--from the author's website

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here

Reviews

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivated 4 stars


Letting Go by Megan Hart 3,5 stars

This is the first time I'm reading a book from Megan Hart.While I find the story has good potential and I find the sex hot I had issues with the heroine who was talking all the time for her ex husband and this was getting on my nerves!This is the mane reason why I give it only 3,5 stars.Also another problem I had is that the beginning was slow.Lucky for her Jesse kept my interesting till the end..

The story begins with Colleen, who has recently come out of a bad marriage with an abusive man and now that she is alone, still she must deal with him.She goes to a bar where she meets Jessee the barman.Jesse is younger than her and he has a child.I really liked Jesse a lot,he is charming,funny and cute.The sex is hot!! Or better I could say super hot, with the roles to be changed and Colleen to be the one who have control of their bedroom affair
Overall it was a nice story and definitely I'm going to check more books from Megan Hart!!






SEIZE THE NIGHT

Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz 4,5 stars

I'm a big fan of Tiffany Reisz,so I couldn't wait to read this book!!Like I have said so many times always I'm mesmerized by the way this author write amazing stories!Each story is unique!In this book she managed to retell Romeo & Juliet in a sexy way!!And like all her books there are funny moments!

Remi and Julien has spent a scandalous evening before 4 years.And this causes problem to their families..Remi decides to stay away from him until the moment she needs his help...When they meet again,Remi discover that she still has feelings for him..

I liked this new version of Romeo and Juliet!I liked that Tiffany use older heroines and younger heroes.(Like Wesley and Nora from The Original Sinners) same here.The heroine is 26 and the hero 22.I'm not fan of this age difference but still it's interesting ;) Also I always loved Tifanny's heroines! Remi is strong, smart and sexy!







ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 SEIZE THE NIGHT stars

"It's better than I dreamed. And I dreamed this moment so many times."

SEIZE THE NIGHT by Tiffany Reisz: Five years ago, a night of forbidden passion between Remi and Julien, the heirs of two powerful and competitive horse-racing families, led to a feud that is threatening to ruin both farms. Now Remi must find Julien again but when she does, her need for Julien is just as strong and just as forbidden…

I LOVED everything about Seize the Night, it was totally my kind of read; funny, smart and sexy read with heart. It had the whole Romeo and Juliet feel to it BUT told in a whole different way. Plus the addition of Merrick, god I love this man, every girl needs a man like him in her corner. I am secretly praying he gets his own spin off book. You have to read this novella, it is told Ms. Reisz typical flair, one that I will never be tired of.

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2.5 Letting Go stars



LETTING GO by Megan Hart: Colleen goes to the same bar every night and orders the same drink: a whiskey, neat. She doesn't drink it, though. Jesse the bartender notices the beautiful, sad woman who keeps to herself. Until one night when she lets go and lets him in. And after that, Jesse has only one mission to show her one night is only the beginning…

I didn't care too much for this novella, while Jesse was quite a catch, I couldn't get over my hang up with Colleen. I found her frustrating and it didn't even matter when I found out why she is the way she is, it just left a bad taste in my mouth.

"What's bullshit is you trying to act like being in charge sexually makes you a controlling bitch, when one has nothing to do with the other."

That pretty much sums it up, I finished it because it was short enough, but sadly it wasn't a favorite of mine.

ARC kindly provided by Harlequin, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review .

***Quotes above are taken from the ARC version of the book and may differ upon publication.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live http://www.amazon.com/Captivated-Lett...

Both of these stories are quick, sexy reads that are well written.

Letting Go by Meghan Hart
4 Stars

Colleen is a beautiful, smart, successful woman who married a self-centered, alcoholic. Her ex-husband found great joy in verbally abusing her until she began believing the lies he told her. Every Thursday Colleen has been visiting a local bar, Fallen Angel, to get a drink. Every week she goes in orders her whiskey and seltzer water and sits there, not drinking her whiskey drink.

Jesse works as a bartender at Fallen Angel and noticed Colleen, has been been watching her for months. He knows she comes in like clockwork, keeps to herself, and doesn’t drink the alcoholic drink she requests. He is mesmerized by the beautiful, sophisticated woman and wants to get to know her, but Colleen isn’t interested. Colleen is obviously attracted to the sexy bartender but that doesn’t mean she is interested in getting to know the younger, single father.

Everything changes one night when Colleen comes in during a snow storm and Jesse decides to keep the bar open for her.

Colleen and Jesse each have their hang ups, and together they explore them together. I liked both Colleen and Jesse. I felt for both of them and felt like you got to know them and their issues, despite the story being short. This little story is a very hot read about a woman who needs to be in control and man who doesn’t need that, but finds a woman in control very sexy and is willing to give control over.



I enjoyed this one and it was very well written, it just isn’t my preferred type of relationship. I also didn’t love the wasted time between the couple when we only have a limited number of pages.




Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz
4.5 Stars

This modern day twist of Romeo and Juliet was completely delightful. I wasn’t sure how Ms. Reisz was going to pull off the tragic ending, but never fear it was executed perfectly.

Remi and Julian are from rival horse racing families in Kentucky. Four years ago the relationship amongst the families took a turn for the worse when Remi was found half naked with a seventeen year old Julian. Now this isn’t a case of rape or anything ugly, just a misunderstanding. Julian was drinking wine at the party and flirting with Remi. Remi was 22 and wasn’t aware that he was still a minor. Either way, this incident further increased the hatred amongst the two families: Montgomery's and Brite's.

Remi has graduated from collage and working in the family business. She goes to all the races, looks for Julian, but hasn’t seen him in years. When she begins to suspect foul play amongst the families she seeks out Julian to hopefully get more information.

I loved this one and how they reunited years later. I loved the back story - where Julian went, what has been happening between the families and the conclusion of the story.



I don’t think it is a secret that I absolutely love Tiffany Reisz, and here is why. She can take a story like Romeo and Juliet twist things up and make it seem fresh and new. Reisz’s writing is so smart and thought out, I absolutely loved the ending and the “tragic" twist. This one had moments of swooning, laughing and it wouldn’t be Reisz without some smoking hot sex.

I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.


ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ~ 3.5 Stars

Both stories are short and entertaining but overall lack the wow factor.
.


Letting Go ~ 3 Stars is the story of Colleen a bitter and sad divorcee who visits a local bar every Thursday night and wallows. She suffers from the residual effects of verbal abuse from her ex that hinders her ability to move on. Enter Jesse the hot, sweet, single dad, bartender who is very interested in the beautiful brooding blonde.

Colleen finds that she likes to control things in the bedroom with Jesse but she’s the book character that keeps her walls up till another character has to knock some sense into her. Colleen’s boss shows her the error of her ways and all ends on a happy note.

Seize the Night~ 3.5 Stars is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet amongst horseracing farm family rivals. Remi is the daughter and manager of the Arden Farm. She finds some very fishy business going on with large amounts of money being received along with Brite Farms, the rival farm.

Remi and Merrick, her funny assistant, head to Paris to see Julien the only son of the Brite family in hopes for help in solving this money mystery. Years prior Remi and Julien had started the family feud when they were caught in a compromising position together.

Remi and Julien fall into bed and in love very quickly while fixing the feud and making a life together.

ARC kindly provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[✦❋Arianna✦❋ · Rating 3 out of 5]

LETTING GO by Megan Hart - 3 STARS

Colleen has a ritual – every Thursday she goes to "The Fallen Angel", a bar where she orders each and every time the same drink, a glass of seltzer and a glass of whiskey. She’s divorced for three years, but she’s not healed yet. Healed, because her ex was an asshole during their marriage, abusive, alcoholic and with control issues. Every time she goes to this bar, everyone leaves her alone, except for Jesse, but she's not complaining.

Jesse is one of the bartender at "The Fallen Angel". He’s younger than her, but this doesn’t stop him admiring and being attracted by this beautiful woman. He tried to know her for weeks, but Colleen is quiet, never engaging anyone in conversation.

“Everything about this woman made him want to make her happy. Keep her safe.”

Colleen knows how attractive Jesse is, but she thinks she's not ready to be with someone.

Things are about to change between them one night during a snow storm. They start some sort of relationship, practically only sex, but they start to know each other also. Jesse wants more, but Collen doesn’t want to want and need Jesse. She doesn’t want to depend in any way on him.

Will Colleen give herself a chance to happiness with Jesse?



I liked the writing, but the story it was just ok for me. It didn’t wow me in any way. Maybe because it was a novella.The storyline is simple, nothing complicated, even predictable at times. You practically know from the start how the story will progress.

Both main characters are likeable and relatable in the end, even if Colleen pissed me off a little at times.

The switch from male dominant to female in control was nice and refreshing. Not my thing, but I enjoyed it this time.

Overall, a nice enough read!



SEIZE THE NIGHT by Tiffany Reisz - 3.5 STARS

A modern "Romeo and Juliet", "Seize the Night" tells the story of Remi Montgomery and Julian Brite. Their families are rivals in the horse racing business in Kentucky. The feud started four years ago when Remi was 22 and Julian 17 and when Julian’s mother caught them in a ...lets just say a compromising position.

Now Remi is the manager of Arden Farm. She discovers some fraud, a fraud where both her family and Julian's family are involved. She decides she needs Julian help to figure out what’s going on, so when she finds he lives in Paris she and her assistant immediately get on the plane.

Remi never forget Julian and Julian never forget Remi. They still are attracted to each other and soon they fall in love.

“I missed you,” Julien said against her lips. “I kept trying to forget you, and I couldn’t.”
“I think of you every Christmas,” she whispered back. “Christmas hasn’t been the same since that night. No matter what I get, it’s never what I want.”
“What do you want?” Julien asked, and she knew he wasn’t asking about Christmas gifts.
“Another shot at Christmas with you.”

"Seize the Night" was a nice, sweet story, but nothing was outstanding for me. It was for sure better than the first story, but I felt something was missing. I liked the premise, even if it wasn’t something original and the story of course it was predictable. The characters are likeable and funny, especially Remi’s assistant. I think I like him the most.

I liked the ending. It was funny, it wasn’t rushed and we have a happy ending. What’s not to like? Right?

The sex scenes were...just there. I wasn't impressed at all!

The writing was good and the dialogue sarcastic and funny, which I enjoyed, but overall the story was nothing special. But this is just my humble opinion!



Overall, "Captivated" was a good enough read. I must admit I was expecting something else, more sex, less romance I think, but in the end I enjoyed it. I don’t know if I would recommend this one though!

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Captivated
Series: No
Author: Megan Hart & Tiffany Reisz
Release Date: 28th October, 2014
Rating: 3 "Captivating-ish" Stars
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes





The story centres around Colleen a divorcee who although is physically free from the clutches of her manipulative ex husband is still subject to his mind games. Visiting same bar every Thursday night is more than a routine for Colleen, it's also test of strength. It's also something that has not gone unnoticed by Bartender, Jesse. Intrigued by the captivating, beautiful woman, he seeks to get to know.

Jesse advances are initially unwanted & rejected but he soon becomes an outlet in which Colleen can let go and in doing so, exposes her to a part of her personality she did not know existed which excites & scares her. The control she has always wanted and the ability to let go.

“I missed you, too.” Then she kissed him. Right there in the middle of the store, oblivious to anyone who might be watching, not giving a damn if she was making a mistake. She kissed him, kissed him, kissed him.

I pretty much as a rule enjoy anything I read by Megan Hart. I find her writing understated and sexy and her characters relatable, although damaged in some way. That being said although I did enjoy Letting Go, I wouldn't place it among my favourites of her work; Dirty and Strangers.



Imagine Romeo and Juliet combined with some high jinx, pantomime and a dash of Scooby Doo... Seize the Night was not was I was expecting. It was so far fetched although it did have its funny moments by way of Remi's assistant, Merrick. I enjoyed the banter between Julien and Remi and although I wouldn't consider it a classic, it was certainly unique.

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[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars averaged for the two novellas*

"Letting Go" by Megan Hart- 3 stars

This story had a ton of potential, but it suffered from a cold female MC that didn't let readers in.

Colleen is a lonely woman who has been burned from past relationships. She goes to a bar every Thursday and buys a drink, doesn't drink it, and basically broods. As a character, I didn't particularly enjoy her. In fact, she was quite irritating to me. I didn't really get the whole, "I'll buy this drink and not drink it to prove I'm better than it" plot device, and I didn't warm to her throughout the story.

What I did like, a lot, is Colleen's Domme-y side. I thought her chemistry with Jesse was really hot, and I LOVED how Jesse liked to be dominated a little in the bedroom. While I wished that Colleen wasn't so insecure and went even further with her inclinations, I enjoyed the dynamic between the two MCs. Jesse really carried the story, though. He was a very likable character and I could have read even more about him.

While this story wasn't stellar, it was pretty enjoyable and a decent read.

"Seize The Night" by Tiffany Reisz- 4 stars

I'm SO getting into this author's stand-alones! Just like with Misbehaving, I really enjoyed this. It is a light, low angst Romeo and Juliet-type story about two rival horse racing families, and I thought that it was really well done.

I think it is easy to forget how funny Tiffany Reisz is. She is freakin' hilarious, and she brought it out big time in this story.

"Your virginity was hanging over your head?" Remi asked. "And I thought hymens were weird."

I was smiling and laughing out loud the entire time I was reading this one. Sure, the plot is a little silly and it doesn't have the intensity that the Original Sinners series has, but I think that is part of its charm. I love how Tiffany's female characters are so open and sex positive, and her male characters are tend to be beta heroes and comedic straight men.

Overall, I think Tiffany Reisz showed me, yet again, why she is an auto-read author for me. If she keeps bringing the sexy/funny, I'll stay addicted to her stuff!

**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

[Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letting Go by Megan Hart -3 Stars

It is nice to read about an older woman (40) and a younger man (28) every once in awhile. There is not a huge age difference but never the less, it's refreshing.

Colleen is a divorced woman who was did not have a happy marriage and eventually left her husband. He spent a lot of time bringing Colleen down telling her she needed to loosen up so she started drinking and that she was always controlling. Colleen finally left him and found herself alone. She started going to a bar every Thursday night and ordering a drink but never drinking, just to prove to herself she didn't need to drink. She befriended Jesse, the bartender, who seemed to find himself looking at the door every Thursday night. An unlikely pair, a snow storm throws them together and they discover that they share a connection. Colleen likes to control in the bedroom and Jesse doesn't mind taking orders. But with Colleen's age a concern to her and Jess being a single dad, can these two overcome their obstacles to give it a go? Can Colleen's controlling ways in the bedroom be a turnoff to Jesse? Can they both give their chemistry a chance to bloom?

This was a sweet story at second chances. Colleen was vulnerable and had overwhelming indecisiveness that drove me a little crazy. She knew what she wanted yet she was always discounting her wants and needs. Jesse was the man who seemed to accepted her completely if she would give him a chance. While they each had baggage (who doesn’t), they were able to work through it.

Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz -4 Stars

I must say that I always love reading Tiffany Reisz. I know her words are magically, naughty and scandalous.

Remi Montgomery was 21 when she met Julian 17. They met and had an instant connection but Remi didn't know Julian was underage. When they slipped off and things got a little heated between the two, they were discovered. Their parents made a mess of the situation and started a feud amongst themselves. In this twist of Romeo and Juliet, they are rivaling race horse farms. It would be 4 years till these two would see each other again. When Remi figures out there is something wrong with these two horse farms, she turns to the only person she knows that can help her. What would it be like after all those years? While they only spent a few hours together, would that connection they felt still be there? Did the other feel that connection? If you believe in fate, in destiny, this is a wonderfully fun and sexy story!!

Merrick, Remi's assistant, was the funniest guy ever. I loved his brashness, his honesty, his in your face attitude. He was the best- I loved him!! For TOS fan, he reminded me of Griffith!!

I loved the dialogue in this story, it was funny, sassy, sexy, over the top and so very Tiffany Reisz.


ARC kindly provided by Harlequin, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review

[Syndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been wanting to read this book on Valentine Day. After all with the name of Megan Hart, who can resist a little steamy. And boy I do enjoy this book very very much. This is actually 2 novella. Both involving a romance between older women and younger men. There is a light BDSM and the other is forbidden love.

It has been a while since I read Miss Hart book and I do not disappointed with Captivated. It is surely deliver it promise to be spicy and steamy. It feels like reading a sexy fantasy.

4 stars

[Glass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Letting Go by Megan Hart
Rating: 3.5/4 stars

Second chance story about a woman who likes to be in control and a younger man. Hot and sweet.

Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz
Rating: 3 stars

Retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Funny. Short. Noting memorable.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Megan Hart and Tiffany Reisz is a two punch combo. Both authors are accomplished writers with specific style of writing. Their stories don't soften the blows by much. And by blows, it's not about BDSM, it's regarding the emotional baggage or trauma dealt to their protagonist.

In Letting Go, Colleen is a woman who still hasn't let her ex-husband go. She is his unwilling hostage even after the divorce. Not really my kind of gal and I didn't like her much. Even though the story is written well, its a 2.5 star for me because I had a difficult time reading through it. Many a times I wanted to slap Colleen upside the head. She's a headcase and needs to heal herself before she starts dating. Well, not that dating is in her goals.

Jesse is the bartender who falls for the quiet woman ordering a drink once a week yet never drinks it. (The frugal person in me just doesn't get this even after it's been explained. It's a waste of good money.) Jesse does nice things for Colleen only to be kicked in the teeth several times. Give it up! Colleen is no good for you!

Jesse is the proverbial white knight and he just gets screwed because he picks the lost cause. There are distractions in this frustrating tale because Jesse's baby mama rears her ugly head and yet it goes nowhere. Ms. Hart does better with full length stories because this one felt abrupt.

In Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz, it's a hilarious reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet. I never liked the original so this tale makes it much better. This is a 3.5 star one. Ms. Reisz writes some of the best dialog. This is in the same world has her Original Sinners series. The characters do not exactly crossover. There is a nod to an incident which occurs in the Original Sinners series.

Remi is supposed to be a variation on Romeo and he's a she in this tale. Remi is a basically the one running the whole horse racing business for her family. She may be young but she knows what she's doing. Plus she hired a guy who knows absolutely nothing about horses and his skills are exactly what Remi needs. Merrick doesn't actually understand the boss-employee relationship and his lover-boy ways could seem distracting. Instead it injects humour in at the most random places, catching a reader off guard in a good way. One of my favourite arguments between Remi and Merrick is as follows:
"This is not a 'man of the people' routine," Remi said. "Fir of all, I am the people, not of the people. Second, I am not a man."

"Prove it," Merrick said.

"Do I look like a man to you?"

"No. You look like a hot blonde with spectacular tits, which are probably fake, since for all I know, you might be a man."
"I'm not sleeping with you. I'm your employer You are my assistant."

"Until I see you naked I won't knoow if you're actually a man or a woman. It's like Schrodinger's Pussy." (location 1212)

Honestly, Merrick stole the show because Juliet aka Julian is young and rather bland. He's a rich boy who is used as a pawn by his parents. He does take on similiar traits as the original Juliet - young and stupid.

My other favourite line from Merrick as he whines at Remi - "You never tell me anything abou your personal life. You don't hit on me. You ignore me when I hit on you. You keep our work relationship professional no matter how hard I try to make it unprofessional. It's like you have integrity or something, and quite frankly, I'm sick of it." (location 1235)

This set is recommended for those who wish for a quick and easy read on a beach vacation.*provided by NetGalley

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Overall, rounded up because the second story is that good.

Letting Go by Megan Hart 2 Stars

I get why people like Hart. I do. There was a time when I enjoyed her writing as well, but I think she's gotten stuck in her own formula. Admittedly, she does a bang up job of writing the broken woman who's mended by the love of a good man which is what we have here with Jesse and Colleen. I just didn't like Colleen. At all.

Jesse is, frankly, too good for Colleen and all her baggage, but inexplicably, he's taken by her. Colleen's ex-husband is/was a verbally abusive drunk throughout their marriage and his main gripe about her is that she's "too controlling" and uptight. Colleen does like to hold the reins sexually and that is what Jesse responds to almost immediately.

The sex is fairly smoldering between the two of them, but the angst and conflict felt self-inflicted and manufactured. Jesse is a bartender at a bar Colleen frequents every Thursday in a sort of remembrance of the marriage/husband? Huh? Why would you do that? 4 years later? Doesn't make sense to me, but it's a hallmark of Hart's that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

If you're a fan of the Hart formula you'll enjoy this novella.

Seize The Night by Tiffany Reisz 5 Stars


A utterly fantastic retelling of Romeo & Juliet minus the tragic deaths with sex and a horse named Benvolio!

Remi and Julien are the star-crossed lovers of the feuding Montgomerys and Brites. Their families have kept them apart for 4 years after an almost de-flowering at a Christmas party. 4 years later and Remi senses something amiss on the farm which involves these allegedly feuding families who are actually in cahoots to bamboozle the Racing Commission of Kentucky. She gets her cunning and wily assistant, Merrick, to find her lost love so they can join forces and get to the bottom of their families' deception and, possibly, mend the rift.

Reisz' writing style works for me. She makes her characters pop off the page. Did I mention Julien's a ginger? He is! Merrick is hilarious with his snark and his devotion to Remi. The characters are always witty, charming, brash and snarky. She always takes me on the journey with them and this time they went to Paris. How romantic is that? Two star-crossed lovers parted from each other reuniting to fall in love in Paris?

"I love you," he panted. "I keep thinking I'll get to the bottom of what I feel for you. And then I do and the bottom's just a lid and I open the lid and there's more love inside it."

*swoon*

So, so good. Highly recommend for romance lovers.

A copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letting Go – M. Hart.

Jesse has no idea why she comes in every Thursday, orders a drink that never touches her lips and then leaves, only to repeat the same ritual week after week. But can the younger bartender get her to let go?

Connie isn’t freshly out of her divorce, but the scars haven’t faded yet. Her ex is still very much in her life, ensuring that her insecurities never fizzle. Her need for control was something that had turned her ex off, but she finally finds a man that seems to be just as aroused as she is with her need to take the reins. The only problem? The desire they share is quickly turning from want to need and with need comes the chance of hurt.

I own a few Megan Hart books, but I am embarrassed to say they have been collecting dust on the TBR shelf for some time. Reading this little novella gave me the perfect taste of what her writing style offers and brings to the table. No flashy hero that was over the top rich, no major twisty plot that knotted your stomach... just a perfectly told love story. I enjoyed the switch from the male dominant to the female in control. I loved that he took to her demands so quickly and that once she let herself go, she took what she wanted from him.
If this novella is any indication of what to expect from this author, then I know it’s time to move her up the list.

Seize the Night.
Tiffany Reisz brings us a humorous retelling of Romeo & Juliet without the tragic suicide pact ending.

Remi is the manager of her family’s horse racing farm, Arden Farms, but when she notices something is amiss with the finances and that same warning is blaring from the rival farm, Capital Hill – she is off to get to the bottom of this feud and influx of money. The only man that can aide her quest is Julien, the youngest son of the family that owns Capital Hill. The same man that she was caught years ago with, the one she never forgot.

A quick trip to Paris, a master plan and blackmail sums up this humoristic romance where two star-crossed lovers have to battle their family’s refusal to let grudges go.

And yes, TOS fans – we get a few little references to excite us. No Wesley, though.

Is there anything that Ms. Reisz can’t write? From kink laced with humor to spins on Shakespeare where she takes a classic and makes it her own. I absolutely loved Merrick’s character, such a strongly presented co-character that stole the scenes completely.

For those looking for a quick, flirty & fun read, look no further. This is the kind of story you read and you just wish the characters were real and they were your best friends. You can’t go wrong with anything that this author writes. EVER.

Graphics to be posted at a later date.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Letting go - 3.5 stars

I love stories where people get snowed in.
Not my favourite Megan Hart, but still a good erotic novella.
It wasn’t easy to warm up to Colleen, though.


Seize the Night - 2.5 stars

It's an interpretation of Romeo and Juliet and I liked that Remi (the female lead) was Romeo and Julien (the male lead) was Juliet.
But it just tried too hard to be funny. Didn’t do much for me.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars for Letting Go
4.5 stars for Seize The Night

Two short stories with two very different women.

The first story, Letting Go, features a woman who's confidence and self-esteem took a hard hit from her jerk of an ex-husband. Colleen was able to away from her ex, Steve, but while they are no longer together, he continues to try to make himself feel better by bringing her down.

Enter Jesse, the handsome bartender. One snowy night, he gives Colleen back some control. And with that, he gives her confidence she hasn't felt in years.

While I really liked Jesse and his willingness to submit to Colleen, I personally didn't care for her. I really wanted to slap her around as she seemed to misdirect her insecurities onto Jesse.

If I was him, I would have run quick and far away from her. But he didn't. Maybe she had the magical pussy, I'm not sure why he'd put up with her nonsense.

Overall, the story is well written and unexpected, I just wish the female character was as confident out of the bedroom as she was in it.

In the second story, Seize The Night, Mistress Tiffany brings us back to horse country (sorry folks, no Wes). And like all of her work, I loved this story. It was sexy, sweet and clever.

The story centers on a feud between two families that started in the most unexpected of ways. This author just loves a male virgin, and we are the lucky readers of another deflowering. Eventually.

One reason I love this author so much is she writes about strong female characters. Remi is a smart, hardworking woman, who is quick to pick up on a problem involving her family, and the family's biggest rival. With the help of her assistant, Merrick, Remi locates the person who can help look into the problem, and maybe make up for some lost time on the way.

Remi and Julien's reunion is the perfect kind, where both are sorry all the years passed them by, and the connection they felt years ago, isn't gone, but strong.

The author deftly weaves an intriguing story of greed and lies, that's uncovered within the love story. I love the clever way she pulls everything together, tying up all the loose ends. And Merrick provides the laughs throughout. This is a fun and quick read with a sweet end. Tiffany always delivers!

*An ARC was received from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

[Sanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

So let's see...

3.5 Stars for Letting Go by Megan Hart and 4.5 Stars for Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz

Both stories were quite different, however both were really nicely paced for short stories and for once I didn't have the feeling that things were too rushed.

I struggled a bit with Letting Go' as I had a lot of trouble liking the female lead, Colleen. She was so desperate to prove something that she almost ruined a very good thing. The male lead, Jesse, was a real sweetheart though. He was utterly adorable and I loved the way he was portrayed. I admit that I haven't read that many books where the female partner takes the more dominant role but in this case it just didn't feel as natural and effortless as it should have. That may have stemmed from Colleen's struggled but still stopped me from completely enjoying their sexy scenes.


Seize the Night has a different feel to it than the other Tiffany Reisz books I've read. I loved the Romeo and Juliet premise and how it was worked into the story, already starting with the names. In this case I could even overlook the love at first sight vibe. Remi made a great female lead: speaking her mind and making herself heard and still funny. That is a portrayal of women that I love to read about. Julien as male main character was maybe a bit too sweet for me. Yes, he was cute but that's just it. Merrick however was amazing: quirky, dry humor, perverted. All the good stuff and I absolutely loved his banter with Remi. And it hurts a little to say but this time I was missing that wow-effect that I'm so accustomed to - Yes, I'm terribly spoiled. Nonetheless a great story that's definitely worth a read and might've absolutely stolen my heart if Merrick would have been the perverted Romeo in this scenario ;)

ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last read of the year! Yay!

Letting Go 3.5

It was a good one maybe a bit rushed, well it's a short story so I think it's ok.
The fact that the woman is the older one in the relationship it's very interesting and if the dominant is the woman, more interesting. Maybe "dominant" is too much. She's not a mistress but he does EVERYTHING she wants and he worships her *.*
It's the first time I read a book from Megan Hart. Good start!

Seize the Night 4.5

Tiffany Reisz. This woman, for god's sake. It's the fourth short story that I read from her and it's as amazing as the others ones.
It was a funny, hot and cute retelling of Romeo & Juliet without that tragic ending (thank God).
I NEED A FRIEND LIKE MERRICK! I'd pay for him, just bring it to me. HE'S HILARIOUS :D
Julien is SO cute... He's literally the bae.
Fun and quick read.

[Nakeesha]

"Letting Go" didn't grab a hold of me. I like the hero, Jesse. I found him charming, interesting and sympathetic. I got his motivation, but didn't understand his attraction to Collen? Colleen is emotionally abused. Her ex-husband described her as a boring, nagging bitch who had to control everything. Unfortunately, I didn't see anything to the contrary. I didn't warm to her and I didn't understand why Jesse did?

"Seize the Night" the dialogue was witty, but after a few pages I was just confused. So confused?

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 1. It just stopped what the hell??
I was sort of thinking this isn't my sort of romance... I guess because I am not that strong of a leader in the bedroom it is hard for me to relate to a strong female like this!!! Aside from this I enjoyed it. 3.5 Stars

Book 2. This is weird. Im a bit put off by this.
2 stars.
Marking this as a final 2 stars. Book 2 is too weird for 3 stars

[Viviana Izzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

LETTING GO by Megan Hart
This is the first time I read anything by Megan Hart but it won't be the last time. I enjoyed her writing style! This was a story about a woman who is recently divorced from an abusive and controlling man. She goes to the same bar every day but doesn't drink in an effort to show and convince herself she is in control. Turns out the bartender, Jesse, is a hottie and he pays attention. He's also attracted to her. At first he tries to be friend her and she hesitates. However, I'm sure you'd figure it out that THAT doesn't last long. The attraction is mutual and while she is concerned about the age difference, he's younger than she, she is also concerned about a few other things.

There were a few times where I wanted to grab Colleen by the shoulders and shake her to help her realize a good thing while it's in front of her. It felt like the author was perhaps trying too hard to make the "obstacles" a tad bit bigger than they really were and it was obvious to the reader. This didn't make me like Colleen very much. Jesse is a sweetheart who just wanted to be with Colleen and tried his hardest to understand where she was coming from. I am glad things worked out in the end, but again, felt that there was more obstacles/issues being created than necessary.
Rating: 3 Stars

SEIZE THE NIGHT by Tiffany Reisz
I couldn't wait to read this! Love Tiffany Reisz! Her style of writing. Her stories! Just Love. This was a Romeo and Juliet with a twist. In this case Remi, she is the "older woman" by four years and Julien is the younger man who knows exactly what he wants. And he wants Remi! However, they are from from rival horse racing families in Kentucky and they originally met at a party four years ago where they hit it off and they didn't know who the other one was at the time. It was an instant connection. They spent hours talking and getting to know each other. With the instant connection came the attraction they felt for each other. So when then 22 year old Remi is caught semi naked with then 17 year old Julien.. yeah not so good! It was a misunderstanding but the feuding families used this to further their cause!

Fast forward and we have Remi, working for her family and subconsciously looking for Julien at all the events. Unfortunately, he's no where to be found. When she learns that there is something a mist with the family businesses she seeks Julien out for help. When the two of them reconnect the sparks reignite and the story goes on from there!

Oh and Merrick! Merrick is Remi assistant! He is sarcastic, funny, sexy and while he won't say it, very sweet. OH he so needs his own story. I hope one day, Tiffany decides to write SOMETHING, with him. Just need more of him! He brought more umph to an already awesome story!

While not as "HOT" compared to the sex scenes from Tiffany's other stories, I think everything works great together for THIS story!
Rating: 4.5 Stars


This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books

[Angy Potter - Collector of Book Boyfriends · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiffany did an amazing job of taking one of the most famous tragedies ever written, and turning it into a funny, sexy, romantic novella – without the drama! We love reading books without drama, they’re refreshing and good for the soul. We also love reading books about second chances, and this was definitely a second chance for Remi and Julien.

When they met 4 years ago, they had an instant connection. They talked as though they’d known each other forever, and their chemistry was undeniable . But then, things got a little complicated. Yet strangely, those same complications were the ones that got them together again. When Remi tracks Julien down, the connection is most certainly still there.

Remi is a cool character. She’s smart, decisive, and strong, and goes after what she believes in, which I love in a female lead. Julien we get to know through the eyes of Remi and instantly we can see why she fell for him all those years ago. When he reveals the reason he disappeared from Remi’s life it is totally unexpected, and only makes us root for them both even more.

We laughed out loud with Merrick’s comments. He was probably our favorite character in this book (although – hard choice!) And his boss/employee relationship with Remi was hilarious. They were constantly joking and taunting each other, yet underneath the jokes it was clear they genuinely cared for one another.

It would be wrong to say we forget how good Tiffany is, because we don’t. But this book was a brilliant reminder of just HOW good she is. It was also the perfect taster for The King, the 6th book of her Original Sinners series. To say we are excited would be an understatement.

Favorite Quotes:

“She paused when Julien Brite stepped into the doorway of the living room. “I have to say,” Julien began, a crooked smile on his face, “I’m really glad my parents arent here right now.” He wore jeans and a plain T-shirt, no shoes, no socks.“

“Julien kissed her like he’d die if he didn’t, like he hadn’t been kissed in a decade, like he had a gun to the back of his head and had been ordered to kiss her as if his life depended on it”

“Perfect moment #2 – Julien took her to the Musée de I’Orangerie where they stood in silence holding hands as they stared into the deep blue of Monet’s Water Lilies.”

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two very different stories with some commonalities.

Letting Go
The first story, by Megan Hart, is the darker of the two. It's the story of Colleen who has recently come out of a bad marriage and because of some commonly owned property, her ex is still bugging her.

She has a routine in her new life that includes going to the local bar every Thursday night and there she meets Jesse. Jesse is younger than her and is the father of a girl conceived in high school with his then girlfriend.

They both have baggage but one snowbound weekend they find that some of the baggage is a matched set.

I've only read a few stories by Megan Hart but so far there is a sense of melancholia in her stories. In this story I think it comes from Colleen who still struggles to find a sense of herself and is a little afraid when she glimpses the real her. Her relationship with her ex has left her with deep emotional scars and almost a paralysis that prevents her from moving on.

Jesse is simpler in character. He had to grow up fast and struggles with the responsibilities of shared parenting with his dearly loved daughter. But Colleen brings something else into his life.

This is an interesting story of two people who at first glance appear unlikely but who have the capacity to meet each others needs if only they can let go.

Seize the Night

Tiffany Reisz has another stab at a well known Shakespearean tale with this story about Remi and Julien, the scions of two rival Kentucky racing families. Sound familiar. But wait, there's more. We even have some witty sidekicks courtesy of Shakespeare, with a twist.

So we have the classic tale of two star crossed lovers who meet and are torn apart by the machinations of their loving families. But when something is rotten in the state of Kentucky, Remi must seek out Julien to solve the riddle and restore order to the realm.

Drawn together once more, the undeniable attraction is undeniable. So they don't deny it. Julien has been saving up something especially for Remi. *nods*

But there is much ado and it isn't about nothing so a plot is formed that involves three weddings and a funeral. Okay that might be an exaggeration. One wedding, some poison, a cooperative horse...well it works in the story.

As you can probably guess, this is a fairly light-hearted retelling of the tragic tale. I'll give you a hint...nobody actually dies in the end...unless you count un petit mort...

Read it. It was fun.

[Desperado · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by Harlequin via Netgalley for an honest review


Letting Go by Megan Hart, 3.5 ★'s

I'm a HUGE Megan Hart fan. She has this disconcerting way of writing an angst-filled novel that has me near tears at the end. Me. LethalLovely-aka a freaking GANGSTA. So when I went into LG, I expected more of the same. Alas, that wasn't the case, which I totally blame on there not being enough character development due to it being a novella. LG is about this woman, Colleen, who was screwed over hard by her ex-husband into believing that being a strong, independent, assertive woman was wrong. So she meets Jesse, a bartender who's younger than her (IIRC, LG never said how much younger) who has a kid. They get snowed in. They play "Tickle the Snowman's Pickle." There's some very light dom/sub scenes. Angst ensues. The end. It was good and I ADORED Jesse, but I couldn't relate to Colleen due to her reaching bitch-mode every other minute. I mean, I get why but sometimes I was like GURL, STOP! Still, good stuff.

Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz, 3 ★'s

This was my first read by Reisz. I've heard many good things about her "The Original Sinners" series but haven't tried it yet due to a lingering ennui over BDSM romances that just won't quit. But I digress. StN is a sexy retelling of Romeo & Juliet (which I actually did NOT like and do NOT think is a romantic story in the least since for me, there isn't anything romantic about double suicide). We've got Remi O. Montgomery and Julien Brite (YOU SEE WHAT SHE DID THERE?!!?) who are in the horse business in Kentucky (I know nothing about horses) and whose families hate each other with hatred. But Remi and Julien? They've been loving and longing for each other for eons, ever since their first encounter five years earlier (I'm not gonna lie, there was a little eyebrow raising going on when it was revealed that Remi was 22 and Julien was 17 during their first sexual encounter. This is also a younger man/older woman romance (Remi is the woman, BTW). There's LULZ. Lots and lots LULZ, due to Remi's assistant Merrick. And angst! And sadness due to a life-threatening illness. It was good. I'll definitely check Reisz out if I start getting into BDSM again or she writes something that doesn't involve smacks and tickles.

[Lisazj1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letting Go by Megan Hart - 3.5 stars. I like this but I didn't love it. I liked that Colleen was taking her life back and doing what she wanted, what made her happy. I liked Jesse a lot, just a sweet, hot, normal guy, trying to live his life, take care of his kid and do what makes him happy.

When bad weather throws them together, and Colleen gives in to her sudden temptation, they were sexy together but I just didn't feel any chemistry between them. And the back and forth between what Colleen wanted and what she had been taught by her ex to believe of herself...I just never felt the sympathy for her that I thought I should.

Maybe this was a case of "it's not you, it's me" because the plot was great, I should have loved it. As I said, I really did like to see her cutting all that crap by her ex out of her life and living as she wanted. Weirdly, the one thing I was most affected by was the speech Colleen got from her boss and ex-brother-in-law, where he basically tells her it's time to put on her big-girl panties and let all that bad shit go, before it drowns out everything good. But most everything else was kind of flat for me.

Seize the Night by Tiffany Reisz - 4.5-5 stars. I completely loved this, completely. This slightly bonkers, funny and totally sweet retelling of Romeo and Juliet was freaking adorable. And hot, I mean, it's Tiffany Reisz, right? But the erotica, well done as it was, didn't draw my focus from everything else *much*. The characterizations were fabulous, from bold, strong Remi, a kickass, take-no-prisioners kind of girl to sweet Julian, who's just beginning to life his life again to the hilarious, kind-of insane Merrick, Remi's assistant.

I thought the setting for the story was quite apt, as the world of horse-racing and breeding is extremely competitive and can be pretty damn vicious. The possibility of a blood feud was plausible and Ms. Reisz did an amazing job of making Shakespeare's original story fit to the world she decided to re-imagine it in.

I'm not going to say anything else about the plot, you need to read and love it for your self. I will, however, say that I am much more satisfied with the way these lovers ended up than the originals did. I'm not much for tragedies, and loved grinning my way through the whole thing! Loved it!!

[Desiree Mosley - A Love Affair With Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Letting Go by Megan Hart"

This was my first book by Megan Hart so I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew if they teamed it up with Tiffany Reisz it had to be hot.....and I wasn't disappointed! The overall story centers around Colleen, a divorcee who still struggles with the emotional baggage of her marriage. This was both a little to close to home for me and a times really annoying. She can't seem to let go his horrible words.

Enter Jesse, the younger bartender who seems to really pay attention to her likes/dislikes and wants to get to know her even better. When the harsh winter shuts them up together, the heat turns on inside the house! Even hotter, Colleen takes charge and becomes very dominant in her sexual needs and desires. Jesse LOVES this but Colleen again let's things her ex husband said to her, cloud her judgment. Colleen has a lot to overcome if she wants it to work with Jesse but the biggest thing she has to do is admit she needs and wants him and that's okay, it doesn't make her weak.

I enjoyed this story and would give it a solid 3.5 hearts but would have liked Colleen to have a little big more backbone to match her dominant tendencies.

"Seize The Night by Tiffany Reisz"

I know I've said this before, but Tiffany Reisz is one freaking hilarious writer! Even though categorized as erotica, you find yourself laughing hysterically at the dialogue so many of her characters have. This short but awesome story was no different!

A modern day retelling of Romeo and Juliet, we meet Remi and Julien, the children of rival horse breeding/racing family legends. After a misunderstanding at Christmas, the Brite's and Montegomery's have been at war. Now four years later, Remi is convinced something underhanded is going on with both sets of parents. Her only recourse is to seek Julien out and ask for his help.

Reconnecting as if no time has past, Remi and Julien learn quickly what has been standing in their way this entire time and that despite this, there "attraction" is still there! Joining forces in the bedroom and against their parents makes for fireworks all around.

Reisz makes Romeo and Juliet sexy. Fun, fresh and exciting, this is another hit out of the park!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided to me via Netgalley

Letting Go – Megan Hart

Colleen goes to the same bar every Thursday night and orders a single shot of whiskey, but never drinks it. She easily captures the interest of the bartender, Jesse, making him wonder why the mysterious beautiful woman comes in every Thursday, alone for that matter, and never takes that drink. One night, she does, and she invites him home with her where they spend an unforgettable night together. Colleen, having been burned in the past, thinks it’s over; a one night, one time deal. Jesse, on the other hand, wants to show her there’s more where that came from.
Megan Hart is one of my go to authors, and I read everything that she brings out. Although, this was short and sweet, it was still very good, and written in the way that I have come to love and expect from Megan. This story easily could’ve been longer, full length novel in my opinion; however, I thought it was just right, even having a satisfying ending.

Seize the Night – Tiffany Reisz
Four years ago, Remi and Julien spent a scandalous evening together, causing a major feud between their two horse racing families. Remi, determined to not cause any further trouble for the younger Julien, vows to stay away from him, even though she cannot deny the pull she feels to be with him.
When circumstances arise for Remi to reach out to Julien, Remi not only discovers that she still has a strong desire for Julien, but he too, cannot deny the sparks and passion that ignite between the two of them.
This was great! I loved this “modern day Romeo and Juliet without the double suicide at the end story”. Being from the South, horse racing is something that I have always enjoyed and been interested in, and the author did a superb job of making it the background for this awesome short story. This was definitely more of a new adult romance, with the heroine being 26, and the hero being 22, which is typically not my favorite genre. But, this story easily captured my attention and held it. Really enjoyed this very much!
Overall I would give Captivated a solid 4 stars.

[Anasheh Satoorian · Rating 4 out of 5]

SEIZE THE NIGHT:
It is no secret that Tiffany Reisz is an automatic read for me. She can completely switch genres and write cook books and I will still read them. I liked her first Red Hot Reads story, but I really enjoyed Seize the Night! Anytime you take an old and loved classic and put a modern tale on it I am intrigued. When I read the introduction to this story from Tiffany and found out it was going to be reworking of Romeo and Juliet, I was curious to see how Tiffany was going to put her spin on this classic. After reading the first few pages I was completely sold. Immediately we are reintroduced to the amazing humor which is one my favorite aspects in Tiffany's writing style. There is a family struggle, a health scare and a little taste of Parisian romance. My favorite aspect about the story is reversal of certain male/female role that you usually see in most stories.

LETTING GO
I must admit that this is the first time I have read something by Megan Hart. But after reading and enjoying Letting Go I know I will be picking up some more of her titles next time I am in a book store. What immediately sold me to Captivated was our male lead, Jesse. A single dad/bartender/coupon carrying/disney-watching hunk of a man! Geez, where can I find my own Jesse? I am not sure why but this story kind of reminding me of the movie Love Actually! Maybe it was the snow storm, but it definitely had that feel good vibe to it. A feel good vibe with a mixture of hot steamy scenes and a second chance of love, this is a quick fun read for anyone!

[Nika ♥Marie♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was everything I was expecting and more. I have been hearing and tweeting back and forth with Mistress Reisz about her writing another contemporary romance and boy did she not disappoint. It was hot, sweet, and orgasmic. Everything that you can expect from one of her books.

I really enjoyed how well the characters were developed and how strong they were. I loved how it didn’t lose the essence of Romeo and Juliet but she put her own twist on a story so tragic. Reisz still managed to capture all of the beautiful moments that Shakespeare had in the original.

I really loved the rivalry and how she took it to her home town. This made the book seem more real and very modern. All in all this was a really enjoyable read.

[Ladynikiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars for Letting Go
4 stars for Seize the Night <----loved it!!!

[Lisbeth Tejada · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars to the Megan Hart story. 4 stars to the Tiffany one.