BOOK REVIEW- Mick (CAOS MC , #1) by K.B. Winters *

     

My bike. My cut. The club.
Three things I love most in life.
But, my club brother, Magnus is f*cking dead.
And he left behind his legacy. A daughter he'd been searching for.
I found her. For him.
What I don't expect is to keep her. For me.
Holy F*ck.
Beautiful is an understatement.
Raven hair, firm round ass, and an attitude to rival any f*ck head in my club.

Talon's arrival in Brently brings up the question everyone has been silently mulling over for months.
Was Magnus' death a set up?
And who's to f*cking blame?
We never expect the answers lay within our club. Betrayal among the brothers is heavy and no one can be trusted.

The ride ahead will be LONG and HARD, but know I have to protect Talon. To keep her safe.
Then I will claim her.
Make her f*cking mine. 

 

 Nope.  I had high hopes for this story but ended up feeling like it really wasn't anything all that special.
Talon was a mixture of sweet but tough when she needed to be and I did like that.  She had times where she was feisty.  
Mick had his code of honor which he lived by and that is shown throughout the story.  
However, it felt like there is a great deal more sex than story. Not a favorite with me.  
It was a quick story with a good ending for the M.C.'s but not a keeper for me.

BOOK REVIEW- A Fairy's Quest: The Magicals Series, #3 by Maya Tyler

   

 Romance , Sci Fi & Fantasy

New York had Broadway. LA had Hollywood. Chicago had magic.

 During the Golden Age of Magic, descendants of The Anunnaki sought refuge in the City of Magic.

 Five years ago, fairy princess Alina Lehrer played the role of dutiful daughter until, in a single act of rebellion, she broke her arranged marriage agreement with David Laurent and destroyed a powerful alliance between their families. She fears her mother will hold it against her until she fulfils her familial duty—to reclaim the fairy crown that had been stolen from them more than a century ago.

 Now, the usurper to the throne is dead, thus ending the fairy-wizard feud. It is time to reclaim the throne, and ultimately the stolen crown. But happily-ever-after seems as far away as ever for Alina. She is still heartbroken after the rejection of her first love and is still healing from a near-death trauma. She must push aside her personal feelings and find a way to confront her demons in order for her to complete her quest.

 Rylan Jackson, codename Orion, has an impeccable record as a trained assassin for The Royal Court of Fairies. As The Court's most trusted asset, he always gets the job done. Until his target is Alina, the one woman he can’t resist.

 Fate has placed Alina and Rylan on opposing sides in a world of deception and betrayal. Where truth is ambiguous. Where loyalties war with affection. Where there are no coincidences.

 But Alina has the power to change her destiny and soon learns Fate is not set in stone.

 AMAZON LINK

3 STARS

 

This story was hard to rate.  Probably because I felt lost and feeling like I got dumped in the deep end.  Definitely felt like I needed to read a prior book in the series to at least get more understanding.  It felt confusing.  And the bouncing back and forth from one time frame to the current times didn't help.  It isn't something that I generally enjoy and it happened a lot in this story.  

Alina was a person that you could feel empathy for.   It's something that her mother didn't have for her.  Alina's mother was a piece of work.  So selfish, self centered and a pushy bully.  

Rylan was a bit of a puzzle for a while but he was an enjoyable character.  Like he said he was a man of many talents. 

There is plenty of dangers, twists and dangerous conspiracies.   This story had a lot of potential.  Although it had a good ending that I was glad for, I still felt like it was also disappointing.  For some of the reasons, I mentioned before.

 "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Liberated: MC Romance Series (Steel Infidels Series Book 1) by [Dez Burke, Clarise Tan] *

   

BOOK 1 OF 5- STEEL INFIDELS SERIES 

LAWYER BY DAY...BAD BOY BIKER BY NIGHT

Flint knows a smart woman like Kendra would never fall for a man like him.
Nothing more than a common outlaw hiding behind a designer suit.
A seriously bad guy.
As VP of the Steel Infidels, he isn't above doing whatever it takes to protect the MC.

Veterinarian Dr. Kendra Shaw has never ignored an animal in need.
When a call comes in about an injured eagle she doesn't think twice about going alone to a secluded cabin to meet the caller. What she finds there sets her on a shocking path she never could've imagined.   AMAZON LINK

3 STARS

I found this story to be Just Okay. Most points I guess go to the fact that I liked the main characters.  Even though things weren't real deep about them, the emotions between them definitely were.  Be prepared for a good deal of sex between them. Well written scenes but I was looking for more story. 

Other than that it felt like it wasn't real deep and that something was just missing. Kendra and Flint do get their happy for now ending.

 Not all of the dangerous people were dealt with so that leaves the door open for more dangers in another book.  Something that there is a quick look into the next book clearly shows.  Danger that is. 

 

BOOK REVIEW- Scoundrel of My Heart (Once Upon a Dukedom, #1) by Lorraine Heath *

 

 

Description

Lorraine Heath begins an exciting new series with a breathtaking romance about a young woman who must marry a titled gentleman to obtain her inheritance and the usuitable man she begins to fall madly in love with


She is desperate to wed a duke…

Lady Kathryn Lambert must marry a titled gentleman to claim her inheritance and has finally gained the attention of a duke. Yet she is unable to forget the scandalous second son who aided in her achievement—or his betrayal.

He wants what he can never possess…

Lord Griffith Stanwick is tormented by the bitter truth that as a “spare,” he will never be able to give Kathryn what she yearns to possess. But when his father is found guilty of treason, Griff detours into the dark and dangerous corners of London, haunted by memories of the woman lost to him forever.

Love not to be denied…

As the duke’s courtship intensifies, Kathryn discovers Griff has become a man to be reckoned with. When old passions flare and new desires ignite, she must decide if sacrificing her legacy is worth a lifetime shared with the scoundrel of her heart. AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

This book was different and unique but I didn't see that right away. In fact at first I wasn't even sure I was going to like it.  I thought it was going to be another story about a dissolute, no direction, second son.  But after awhile it turned into something more.  And the emotions portrayed about how cruelly a "spare" could be treated was really well done.   Griff was all but invisible to his family.  His father would direct attention to his heir of course, a few moments for his daughter but nothing to Griff at all.  I really liked how later he turned all of those experiences to his advantage later.  For a while his life went from bad to worse after his father is accused of treason.  All of them had their lives turned frighteningly upside down.  Griff went from a lighthearted, charming, laughing man who was soft in so many ways to the exact opposite. He had to harden up in order to survive and to help his siblings survive.  He turned into a man that people gave wide birth not because of the scandal but because of his toughness.  

I liked how Griff teased Kathryn by calling her  Freckles.  Kathryn didn't like it and for a while chalked it up to his being mean instead of the affection that he had for her.  It takes them both a while to figure out how much more of their feelings were at work but Griff knows there can be no future for them.   Kathryn has a heavy weight on her shoulders by her loving grandmother.  Now she has to decide if love is her route or marrying a titled gentleman will give her the cottage that holds so many beautiful memories.  Besides, being near the sea makes her feel free.  The verbal sparring between the two was often funny. 

There is still danger out there for Griff's family with only some of it finished.  

I liked how the couple got things figured out and it ended with a H.E.A.  That was something that  I wondered how it was going to happen.  It was ingenious.  There is also a sweet Epilogue.

 

 "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Once Dishonored ( Rogues Redeemed #5) by MaryJo Putney *

   

A man who has lost his honor has nothing...London, 1816. As a Royal Navy officer, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, has fought his share of battles on the high seas, followed by long years of imprisonment. But, on this night, he'd rather be on the burning deck of a ship than in a ballroom, where it is just a matter of time before someone challenges him because of what happened on the Continent.

A woman who has lost her reputation is nothing...When dark-haired beauty Kendra Douglas arrives, a whisper of scandal ripples through the ton. The disgraced divorcee's entrance is an act of daring. Which is exactly why Lucas asks her to dance...

A couple who stands together has everything...Unexpectedly; Lucas offers Kendra his aid in finding the evidence to regain her good name-and her beloved young son. Together they investigate the wicked conspiracy that destroyed her life, and in the midst of danger, find a deep love that will redeem them both-if only they can live long enough to build a future together...AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 

A good story with interesting, challenged main characters.  People who were easy to root for. Even other people in the story were well done. 

It was definitely emotional and also clever when it comes to dealing with the main villain.    Plenty of twists and turns happen before Lucas and Kendra get their H.E.A.  Something that didn't look like it could ever happen.  

Jordan Feliz - The River (Official Lyric Video)

BOOK REVIEW- Big Man on Campus: an Enemies to Lovers College Romance (Big Men on Campus Book 1) by Stephanie Queen *

   

 Big Man on Campus is a sizzling college sports romance. This full length standalone novel is the first in the Big Men On Campus series. If you love stories where enemies become lovers and bad boys are redeemed, then you'll enjoy this one! (Contains sex and language for a mature audience.)

 Jack

They say I'm a troubled kid, labeled a bad-boy jock for my rebel attitude.
You'd think at St. Paul University that label would put me at the top of the watch list for expulsion, or at least be a death sentence to my social life.
But no.
In truth, I should be a pariah, but I'm not.
I'm the BMOC because I'm the starting quarterback of the prized football team. After last season's bowl game victory, I could be Voldemort and I'd still get the champagne treatment.
But who cares? Because the one girl on this campus I want doesn't give a sh*t about football. She thinks bad boys are, well, bad.
Worst of all, she's my nemesis from back home.
It's messed up that I'm stuck on Joni, because she's the biggest threat to my goal of winning the Heisman Trophy. It kills me that she's also a hot tamale as my grandpa would say. If he were still alive.
Losing grandpa started my trouble.
Being with Joni could ruin me. Or it could save me. 

All I need to do is convince her she's not my enemy... AMAZON LINK

   4 STARS

 

I normally don't  read a lot of stories about football or enjoy reading about bullies either.  And this bad boy sure starts out that way at least. But since I've read other books by this author and liked them, I kept reading. And wow, it was full of surprises.  It was emotional with good main characters, who were driven each in their own way.  Jack at times was his own worst enemy but he also had plenty of others who fell into the enemy category.  We also get to see people who are pulling for him, which it takes him awhile to recognize.  One of those who is pulling for him is the girl he bullied, Joni.  Although she is also a bit scared of him at times too. She avoids him at first but when she spends more time with him, she's hoping that she's seeing the truth.  That there is more that is good in Jack than what most people think.

 Even the secondary people were interesting.  They had depth. It was emotional story that you could almost feel.  

It didn't grab me right away but as I kept reading it finally had me wanting to know how everything was going to go for everyone. 

You'll have to read the story to understand all the pressures that people are going through.  I think it's worth it.

 

 

 
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW- Collided: An Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance (Mafia Sinners Book 3) by Anna Ray **

   

Mystery & Thrillers, Romance 

 Collided is the third book in the Mafia Sinners Series and can be read as a standalone an Arranged Marriage Mafia Romance.

Description

They say keep your enemies close. But what if you fell in love with your worst enemy?

Chiara Fiore

My father selling my hand in marriage had pissed me off. It was his fault that he’d drained the entirety of the family money gambling. I was paying the price. But then, I finally met Luca. I was really annoyed with how good-looking he was. I wanted to hate him but his strong jaw, and an attitude that screamed “take charge” made me lose my mind.

Luca Mendacius

Chiara was such a breath of fresh air. She isn’t a woman that takes things lying down. She's sharp-witted and smart-mouthed. It’s a pity that she’s just a pawn in my game.

I’d waited seventeen years to get my revenge on the Fiores, and I wasn’t going to waste my chance now.

Chiara and Luca will have to navigate a rough road to become closer, and even if their differences don’t tear them apart, their enemies might.

Read on to see how the sparks fly when these two heated personalities collide! AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

 I really enjoyed this story and just flew through it.   I was kept interested through the whole thing. 

The main characters were excellent and everyone had an agenda, even them.  Things for Chiara and Luca didn't go exactly as each had planned though.  Because there was that darn attraction.  

You want danger? You want romance?  You want complicated family dealings?   This story has it.  Be careful who you trust is a good motto and it leads to a stunning twist and completion of this story.  H.E.A. is included.

"I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Above and Beyond (To Serve and Protect Book 1) by [Kathryn Shay]**

   

 ABOVE AND BEYOND provides a deep dive into the life of a Secret Service agent, the glamor of Washington politics and a close look at being related to the most powerful man in the world. The story will keep you fascinated and capture your heart with its tender and sometimes hot romance. 

 

A family of heroes, all in dangerous jobs, all irrevocably tied to those they love. Read about the Marino clan in this fast-paced, emotional new series, To Serve and Protect, by NYT bestselling author Kathryn Shay.

Nick Marino is the top guy on POTUS’s Secret Service detail. But he’s temporarily sent to upstate New York to guard the president’s sister, Isabelle Barton, who is being threatened in anonymous notes. There, Nick becomes involved with the widowed mom and twin boys, who quickly win over what he thought was his hardened heart. Amidst the heightened anxiety of tracking down the threats, the constant vigilance and an ever-growing sexual attraction between Isabelle and Nick, these two people must uncover not only the plot against her, but determine what to do about their impossible romance.

AMAZON LINK
4 .5 STARS

This was a really good story all the way around.  There is suspense, dangers and interesting main characters. 
Duty wars with the emotional feelings that Nick Marino begins to develop for Isabelle after a rocky start.  She's an independent woman who hates being in the middle of attention.  And he's a skilled agent who is not used to having his decisions about protection questioned, ever. Yes, you can see where there is going to be fireworks even before their attraction flares.
Isabelle's twin boys added to the story.  So did the family feel that the President had for his sister and the rest of his family.  He had a lot of responsibility but still makes time to treasure his family.
I also liked how tight the Marino family was; there were some tender scenes of their family times.  I especially liked how connected their father, Pa, was when danger threatened one of his children.  He sensed something had happened before it got revealed.
The story deals well with the conspiracies that are going on and I liked how Nick and Isabelle settled things between themselves.  

It looks like the rest of the Marino family (brothers and cousin)  have a book 0f their own.  Looks interesting !

BOOK REVIEW- Her Revenge by Emma Tallon **

    

Mystery & Thrillers 

Strong women, family dramas and nail-biting tension make Her Revenge a book not to be missed!

Description

Fans of Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers and Jacqui Rose will love this gripping new book from bestselling crime author Emma Tallon.

There’s a new girl in town and she has a score to settle.

Scarlet Drew isn’t to be messed with. As the daughter of a notorious London gangster, she’s got enough street smarts to take on the world. When someone close to Scarlet is murdered in cold blood on the East End streets where she grew up, her family’s honour is at stake and she can only think of one thing – revenge.

Joining her aunt Lily at the head of the family business, Scarlet soon realises that the murder is just one part of a plot by a rival firm to take down the entire Drew empire, and she fears that her aunt could be their next target.

As everything they built begins to crumble, the Drew family find their livelihood and their reputations under pressure. Then, Scarlet’s estranged cousin Ruby suddenly comes back into the family, with a revelation that could tear the Drews apart. But can she be trusted? As Scarlet makes some tough decisions, one thing is for sure: family means everything to her and she will stop at nothing to protect it, even if it means putting her own life at risk.  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 I'm giving this story 4 stars on Amazon because of how well written it was.  I liked it but with some reservations.  That reservation being that while I liked it, it wasn't necessarily a favorite.

The people in the story were well drawn as was the world that they lived in.  Scarlet's  twin cousins were good at what they did but they could also be a bit of wild cards.  They would do impulsive, reckless things at times.   And the one that they pull later in the book is insanely, crazy dangerous.  Like it could get you killed, painfully and not just them.  But it would wipe out the WHOLE family.  

Scarlet  was a great main character as was her aunt Lily.  There is plenty of drama when it comes to Scarlet's mom NOT wanting her in her father's dangerous business.  

Lily's daughter Ruby shows up in the story to add bitterness and strife to the family.

Many questions are answered when it comes to who murdered Ronan Drew.  But there is also a surprise waiting in a family twist at the end.  

 

 "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- A Bodyguard to Remember by Alison Bruce **

  

 Prudence Hartley has the usual single mom problems: getting her kids to school on time; juggling a gazillion errands while trying to get a full day’s work done; oh, and don’t forget about dinner.

But Pru’s problems become a tad more complicated and a lot more dangerous when she finds a dead man in her house. Or a dead spy to be exact. Suddenly, a federal agent named David Merrick shows up and whisks her and her kids into protective custody. Pru has so many questions spinning through her brain she doesn’t know where to begin. How is she going to keep her kids safe? What was the dead spy looking for in her house? Why are the spies after her? Oh, and there’s one more question . . . just a pesky, minor thing. Why does Merrick have to be so damn sexy and protective?

AMAZON LINK 

5+ STARS

I'm not sure if I have read any other books by this author before.  But I will be looking for her now.  Because, wow, I loved this book.  So much that I hardly know where to start.  

Prudence was one original main character.  One that I was quick to like.   As the story goes on she also seemed to be somewhat of a danger magnet.  But also as person after person was added to the story, she was also a magnet for people who cared about her.  I liked that each person who was added had depth to their personalities and added to the story.  It was also a relief that it wasn't overwhelming either.  It was a people driven story as much as it was about the suspense.

At first Detective Sergeant Merrick was someone that like Pru, I didn't know what to make of.  He seemed like he was probably good at his job but somewhat emotionless.  He did develop into a deeper person than you expect at first and I ended up liking him a lot too.  

 This story kept me on the edge of  my seat, never knowing what was going to happen next.  And plenty did, happen that is.  There is also a lot of skillful sleuthing too.  These are only a few of the reasons that I liked it.  The romance that was brewing made me smile more than once.

And I was very satisfied on how the story ended and how the romance did too.   That brought about another smile for sure.  

 

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

BOOK REVIEW- The Anti-Cinderella (The Anti-Cinderella Chronicles Book 1) by Tawdra Kandle

   

How many girls can say their first kiss was with a prince in the British royal family?

I was fourteen and he was sixteen, and yes, it was magical. But that kiss didn't exactly change my life. To tell you the truth, I didn't even think about it-or Nicky Windsor-for the next ten years . . . until fate, in the guise of my grandparents, brought us back together again.

Now everything has spun out of control. I'm ducking reporters and photographers when I try to leave home. My friends act as if I'm someone they don't know anymore. The whole world seems to be watching me, wanting to see some kind of modern Cinderella story.

But trust me, I'm no man's princess. I'm more comfortable in tennis shoes than in a tiara, more likely to rock a bucket than a ball gown, and more liable to fall on my face than to pull off a graceful wave.

The only thing that keeps me from running away and hiding is Nicky. He's all I've ever wanted in a man: hot, hunky and head-over-heels in love with me. I think I feel the same way. I think I want to be with him forever.

But the idea of life with the royal family terrifies me. Even if I have found my one and only, can I handle what comes after our happy ending? AMAZON LINK

4 Stars

This was a charming story with a strong woman front and center in the story.  I liked Kyra and her sometimes quirky ways.  And she was not only smart but funny as all get out. So were the conversations between her and her BFF Shelby.  Nicky also had his moments of humor with her too. It also shows on the times under the harsh light and pressure from the media and being hounded by the press wears on her confidence. We get to see a lot of what goes on him her head but we have to go by what Nicky says to get a handle on him. 

I wasn't as enthralled with all the information about her work with plants,farming, it's methods and not wasting food.  I get that it turns out to be just one more thing that Nicky and Kyra had interest in. 

The story does slow down quite a bit for a while with a lot of introspection on Kyra's part.  Things do get hot between her and Nicky.  But they do end up with a happily ever after for now. 

 Looks like there is another book in the adventure,  "The Anti-Cinderella Takes London (The Anti-Cinderella Chronicles Book 2) While I liked this book well enough, I wasn't crazy about it.  Not sure I am going any further into the rest of the books. 

BOOK REVIEW- Captured by the Hawk by [Aurora Springer] **

 

 Fun and fast-paced Space Opera. Grab your copy and dive into the comic misadventures of Grey Kat and Captain Hawk.

Intrepid spy, Grey Kat, is escaping with stolen codes when she is captured by notorious pirate, Captain Black Hawk. In an attempt to buy her freedom, she agrees to help him steal one of the Emperor’s spaceships. But the heist goes terribly wrong. Soon, they are dashing across the galaxy with the Emperor’s troops in pursuit. The two fugitives struggle to protect their secret identities. Can they reconcile their differences in time to elude their enemies?   AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

 This story might be smaller than some but it was large in content. It was full and kept me interested all the way through. It also started strong right from the beginning.
Great main characters that had great depth and they were people that I liked. . There was also good world building that was easy to get into. It was filled with action and dangers with some surprises awaiting the reader.
I liked how the story ended and also the Epilogue as well.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW- Protecting His Pregnant Ex by Katie Knight

   

Grieving over the terminal diagnosis for his sister, Navy SEAL Brock Hardy tries to bury his pain in the arms of the only woman he’s ever loved, Monica Ingram. It’s a mistake; the last thing he wants to do is bring his damaged, personal baggage into Monica’s life and hurt her. Things get even more complicated when he returns home for the funeral and a caseworker with a baby shows up at his late sister’s door the same time as Monica. Turns out Brock’s sister was a foster parent, and with a blizzard brewing, the caseworker has nowhere else to leave the baby. Brock has the house, still set up for childcare, and Monica has experience caring for infants, so they team up…just for now. Meanwhile, Monica has her own surprise for him—she’s pregnant. As Brock and Monica set up house during the storm, an unexplained broken window and snowy footprints outside puts them on edge. Is someone trying to harm the baby?

Monica only wanted to let Brock know she was pregnant, but after volunteering to help the desperate caseworker, she’s now staying in his house, caring for an adorable baby, and feeling things for the sexy SEAL she’d rather not. It’s hard to resist a man as gorgeous and nice as Brock, even if he does try to hide his softer side. Their attraction smolders beneath everything they do, and it doesn’t take much for that spark to turn into a flame. When it’s clear their lives are in danger, Monica’s never been so happy to have a tough Navy SEAL by her side. But after the storm is over and the danger is gone, will Brock be gone too, running away from commitment like he’s always done before? Or will he finally realize love is the best baggage of all?    AMAZON LINK

3 STARS

I'm so sorry to say that this book just didn't do it for me.  I had hoped that it would pull me in but it was just okay.  Part of it I think was because of the hashing and rehashing of Brock's issues when it came to opening up and sharing his feelings.  Any feelings ..they were locked up tight as a drum.  It did help some when he was snowed in with Monica and baby Aaron.  It showed him he did have a softer side but he fought it tooth and nail too.  I felt sorry for Monica because she gave so much and was getting so little in return.

The danger that was after them kept things moving and things do get overcome and solved. 

I will say that Monica and Brock do work their way to a happy ending.  So that was a plus. 

 

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.  And these are my honest opinions.

BOOK REVIEW- That Kind of Guy (Ravenwood Book 3) by Talia Hibbert **

    

She wants a fake relationship. He needs something real.

If there's one thing Rae can't stand, it's pity. She's forty, frazzled, and fed up-so attending an awards ceremony alone while her ex swans about with his new wife? Not an option. To avoid total humiliation, Rae needs a date of her own. And her young, hot-as-hell new best friend is the perfect candidate…

Zach Davis, king of casual hookups, has a secret: the notorious womaniser craves emotional connection, and anonymous encounters leave him feeling hollow. After years of performance, Zach's desperate to be himself. So why does he agree to play Rae's fake boyfriend? And why does it feel so easy?

When the line between pretence and desire blurs, Zach's forced to face an unexpected truth: there's nothing phoney about his need for Rae. But the jaded divorcée's been hurt by playboy men before. Can a weekend of faking it prove that Zach's for real?  AMAZON LNK

5 STARS

 

I loved this story.  Probably mainly because of the main characters.  They had such depth and heart.  They weren't cookie cutter people either. It didn't take long for me to want to see them win in areas that they were hurting in.   Zach was such a sweet guy but he also has a lot of anger that he keeps pushing down.  He's always the cheerful, helpful guy, who is slowly coming to realize that some people have used him.  He was so busy keeping other people happy so often at his own expense. They were fair weather friends who disappeared when he needed them most.  Everyone except Evan and his brother Nate.  

Rae was interesting to the bone.  While she was living in this town she became a bold version of herself (Ravenswood Rae).  She didn't care what anyone else thought except for the small group of friends who were misfits like her.   She could be her sassy self around them.  Weird is what she called herself but so were they.  

 The friendship between Rae and Zach was spunky and often funny.  They "got" each other pretty well for quite a while.  They got to know each other even better at that weekend awards conference.  Things do get hot between them with plenty of foreplay making it a definite adult story. 

 I enjoyed this emotional story all the way to the end.  I also learned about demisexuality  which is something I had never heard of before.  Also touched on a condition called POTS. Both made the story even more interesting and unique.

There is a delightful Epilogue with a H.E.A. Rae and Zach style. 

BOOK REVIEW- Thorn (Sons of Devils MC #1) by Vi Carter

   

“God forgives. The brotherhood doesn't."

THORN
When a Prospect steals from me, I send one of my men after him.
Vengeance is mine.
What he brings back is a payment I'm tempted to accept—if her brother doesn't show up soon.
Her innocence begs me to take her.
To break her.
To kill her brother and keep her as mine.
But she's my captive, and I refuse to cross that line.
Even if she does tempt me at every turn.
The longer her brother stays missing, the more the lines become blurred.
And that's dangerous for us both.

BROOKE

You don't steal from an MC and live to talk about it.
When my brother takes the club’s money and goes into hiding, they come looking for him, and when they can't find him, they take me instead.
I’ve been kidnapped as an unwanted payment for my brother's sin.
Captive to a man hiding behind his anger.
A man whose touch ignites my soul, even as his need for revenge calls for my blood to be spilled.

 3.5 STARS

 I liked what there was of the story.  Had to remember that it was a shorter story.  

Both of the main characters were good ones but I do wish that there had been more depth to them.  The emotions were there though.  So was the attraction even in the middle of some dangerous situations. 

Just to let you know not everything is solved but Brooke and Thorn do get a H.E.A. 

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest thoughts.

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW- Strong Will by Patricia Crumpler *

   

Teacher Emma Whitstone, reserved and quiet, works with deaf children while yearning for a family of her own. Charles Strong Manning is an outgoing, self-assured attorney. They couldn’t be more different, but their incredible chemistry leads to love, marriage, and a family.

There is more to Strong than meets the eye. In addition to his successful consulting law practice, he also has a dangerous and clandestine second job—one that could jeopardize his family. To protect Emma from worry, Strong does not tell her that he is the leader of a four-person undercover rescue operation. When one of those missions goes terribly wrong, and lives are lost, Emma suspects her husband is involved in something mysterious and violent.

 One of Strong’s team-members wants Strong for herself and will do anything to get him.  Finding Emma in a vulnerable state, the woman feeds Emma horrifying information about Strong. Emma takes her children to a place she believes is safe from her husband and the double life he leads. But is any place safe? Is Strong the monster she’s told he is, or the man she fell in love with? Or something entirely different?

Strong leaves no stone unturned and finds his wife and children. Can he convince Emma to trust him again? Will love be enough to heal their wounds? He has never failed a mission. Can he rescue his relationship?  AMAZON LINK

3 STARS

The main characters were good ones although they didn't pull me in as much as I would have liked.  The "courtship" between them felt awkward most of the time.  I know that they were in the getting to know you stage but Strong had SO many secrets it was hard to get to know him.  Wasn't even really feeling the attraction between the two of them. There was  a lot of information about places they went and things they saw or bought.  Good details in that way. It often felt more like a recital of facts.

You could begin to see Strong's double speak as Emma called it.  As for Emma, she was a good woman with a good heart.  Who didn't ask enough questions from the get go. The things that she put up with had me shaking my head more than once.

There were several other good people in the story.  Lars was one and Elizabeth was another.  

If you are looking for dangerous activities in the story it does have that.  And also a H.E.A. which does take some determination for people to get to.  Some much needed honesty as well.  I'm just sorry the story didn't draw me in more.

 

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

BOOK REVIEW- Triplets for the Russian Boss by Bella King *

   

It was one incredible night,
And then he vanished.
But nine months later, I ended up with triplets,
And they all have his tight chocolate curls and pale blue eyes.

Now, he’s back, as arrogant and charming as ever.
Chiseled abs and a thick Russian accent are what got me in trouble the first time.
And this time, he doesn’t just want one night,
He wants to claim me for a lifetime, and he’ll kill anyone who stands in his way.

But there are two glaring problems facing me as I’m pulled into his sea of sinful pleasure.
One – He never told me that he was a wealthy Mafia Boss.
Two – I never told him about the triplets.

It seems we’ve both been keeping secrets…AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

Turns out both of the main characters are risk takers.  Oh, there are differences but it's one of the things that puts them together in the first place.  And things aren't going to be any easier for Kostin and Bonnie the second time around.  Kostin has had so many women (often in some kind of drunken stupor) that he can't place Bonnie.  He just knows she looks familiar. 

Bonnie has no such luck when it comes to memory loss.  Plus every time she looks into her triplets eyes, it's like seeing Kostin all over again.   We don't get to see a lot about those boys.   But enough to get an idea that although they look alike,  their personalities aren't all the same.  Bonnie is living in the Land of Denial when it comes to being able to resist Kostin if they see each other again. 

Yes, there is some violence because let's face it, we're talking Russian Mafia.  It doesn't go real deep into graphic details though which I appreciated.  Something that it does go into deeper is the details of the sex between Bonnie and Kostin.  Making it a definite Adult story along with the language and some of the disrespectful ways he treated her at times.

There is plenty of action and danger to keep things moving.  I do have to say though that I shook my head when it came to what Kostin was driving.  His favorite was his yellow Mustang. But if your in danger, do you want to stand out with that kind of car?  Risk taker once again I think.

There are several surprising twists as if triplets weren't enough of a surprise. There is one threat didn't seem to be totally removed but things do end well for Kostin and Bonnie.

 

 I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

 

 

BOOK REVIEW- High-Stakes Colton (The Coltons of Texas Book 9) by Karen Anders *

   

What's a cowboy to do when he falls for the woman he's investigating? Find out in the latest Coltons of Texas romance! Soul-scarred Texas Ranger Jake McCord is no stranger to hardship and heartache. Assigned to solve a kidnapping case, Jake enters Colton Valley Ranch as a horse whisperer…and watcher. His primary suspect? The victim's daughter, Alanna Colton. Alluring Alanna is the picture of competence and compassion as she trains horses and helps troubled teens work the ranch. Jake is immediately drawn to her, and their mutual attraction only intensifies as he struggles to keep a clear head on the case. But his troubles are just beginning, as others on the ranch arouse suspicion and threaten all Jake and Alanna hold dear.  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 This was a highly emotional story.  It had good main characters. Secondary people in the story were good as well. 

Jake realizes that Alanna isn't the pampered princess that he was expecting.  She is an extremely hard working tough woman.  Tough because she's had to be.  Alanna trusts no one.  Well maybe one woman was a best friend who was super busy with her husband and children.

Jake was an unknown and outsiders were never trusted by the family.  But then she couldn't trust anyone inside her family or outside of it.  Her family definitely defines dysfunctional.  She describes them as circling sharks.  Seems accurate.  Especially her brother, Fowler. He was one nasty piece of work.  Not hard to dislike at all.  He was a big mucky muck in the corporate world but felt he knew everything about everything.  Arrogant and pushy to the bone.

Both of the main characters have several other things in common other than their strong attraction to each other.  They both are carrying many strong responsibilities.  They both have fathers with unrealistic often unreasonable expectations of their children.  

There is plenty of danger to go around coming from several directions. It provided plenty of action especially towards the end.   It was a good story with a happy ending.

BOOK REVIEW- SCOUT (Linear Tactical #11.5) by Janie Crouch **

   

 

Linear Tactical’s Wyatt Highfield is running for his life with intel that will break up a human trafficking ring.   

The last thing he wants is to bring danger to Nadine Macfarlane’s door. The gentle beauty has been through enough, and has the scars—physical and emotional—to prove it.  

But she’s his only option.  

Trying to heal from wounds caused by trusting the wrong person, Nadine has spent the past two years hiding from nearly everyone. The only exception has been her online relationship with Wyatt. So when they meet face-to-face by sheer chance, she thinks it’s a sign from the universe that it’s time to start living.  

Not that it’s time to start dying.  

As Wyatt’s secret comes out, Nadine realizes she has to face the past in order to save the future.

AMAZON LINK 

4.5 STARS

 This story starts out with a bang, literally.  Frank Jenkins is a loudmouthed braggart who drops a bomb of sorts into Wyatt's lap. And Frank has shot off his mouth so much trying to look the hero.   Because of that he makes things even MORE dangerous.  Hard to imagine but true.

 Wyatt's tenderness towards Nadine was so sweet.  There I said it, a tough guy who was so tender and outstandingly good to her.  It got me every time.  Of course, he has been crazy about her from the first time he met her in the hospital.  For two years he's been making sure she's safe.  So much so that the rest of his team family, tease him about him all the time.  Their take is..meet up with her already. 

 What Nadine sees about herself is weakness and ugliness because of her size and scars and trusting nature.  Wyatt sees her differently.  He sees strength, a large heart and a beautiful woman, inside and out.  She's having a hard time believing that but time after time she proves to others first just how strong and smart she is. 

The author did a great job of making me wonder "how did they keep finding Wyatt so quickly?"  Something that he was wondering as well because he did all the things his training had taught him.  It should have been more than enough.

Lexington will play an important part in this story.  And that's all I'm going to tell you.

This story has all the action you could hope for with a few twists thrown in as well as a H.E.A.

 I just want to add that I thought that this was a great cover for the eBook.  It really catches the eye.  Applause for the artist.  In fact I liked every one of the covers for this series.

 

 

 "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Duke of Charm (Dukes of Distinction #2) by Alexa Aston

   

 Historical Fiction , Romance

Each book in Dukes of Distinction is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.

Description

A woman unjustly imprisoned . . .A duke jilted at the altar . . .

Lady Samantha Wallace has been in love since childhood with her brother’s best friend, the Duke of Colebourne, but George only sees her as a little sister. She weds a viscount who is George’s opposite, only to find herself trapped in a miserable marriage. When she becomes a widow, she is held against her will and finally escapes, vowing to live life her own way and never be controlled again.

George is jilted at the altar and becomes one of London’s most scandalous rakes, bedding women left and right. After years of being the Duke of Charm, though, George is tired of his meaningless existence and decides he is ready for a change—which includes finding Sam, who is now a widow, and asking her to be his duchess.

Fate brings George and Samantha together at a house party, where their desire for one another ignites in a torrid encounter. Yet Samantha refuses to wed George. Determined to learn Sam’s secrets and make her his, George will do whatever it takes to fight for the woman he’s always loved in secret.

Will Samantha be able to escape the past that still haunts her and find happiness with the Duke of Charm?

Find the answer in The Duke of Charm, Book 2 in the Dukes of Distinction. AMAZON LINK

4.5 STARS

I really enjoyed this book a lot.  Both of the main characters were interesting and had "stuff" to overcome.  

When I read what happened to Samantha (Sam) after she got married, it made my jaw drop. Her husband's death did not signal her freedom.  Far from it.  And the abuse she suffered when she was held against her will?  She comes to the conclusion that no one not even her brother is coming to her rescue.  So she makes sure she toughens up so she can rescue herself at the first opportunity.  She also has her maid Lucy to think about and rescue.   When she meets back up with George, she doesn't trust his words after hearing how off the rails he had gone as "Charming."  She also vows she will never be under any man or woman's thumb again.  I will be honest and say that I wish her ex-mother-in-law had more justice served against her but that didn't happen.   

George had more redeeming qualities even though he wasted himself for so long.  At least he was getting tired of how empty his bed hopping was making him. That does make for a turning point in his life.  He sure does have his work cut out for him when he realized that Sam is the one and only for him.  His skill in bed does serve him well when he puts them to use with Sam.  It makes for some hot scenes between the two.  Sam still resists marriage for a long time even though she knows she still loves George. 

There is an interesting twist towards the end when it comes to Percival.  I was kind of expecting him to try and come for Sam and try to force her into marriage again. 

Sam and George do get their H.E.A. with a good Epilogue as well.

 

 "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- The Women's War A Novel by Jenna Glass *

 

 

Description

In a feminist fantasy epic, a revolutionary spell gives women the ability to control their own fertility—with consequences that rock their patriarchal society to its core.



When a nobleman’s first duty is to produce a male heir, women are treated like possessions and bargaining chips. But as the aftereffects of a world-altering spell ripple out physically and culturally, women at last have a bargaining chip of their own. And two women in particular find themselves at the liberating crossroads of change.

Alys is the widowed mother of two adolescent children, and the disinherited daughter of a king. Her existence has been carefully regulated, but now she discovers a fierce talent not only for politics but also for magic—once deemed solely the domain of men. Meanwhile, in a neighboring kingdom, young Ellin finds herself unexpectedly on the throne after the sudden death of her grandfather the king and everyone else who stood ahead of her in the line of succession. Conventional wisdom holds that she will marry quickly, then quietly surrender the throne to her new husband. Only, Ellin has other ideas.

The tensions building in the two kingdoms grow abruptly worse when a caravan of exiled women and their escort of disgraced soldiers stumble upon a new source of magic in what was once uninhabitable desert. This new and revolutionary magic—which only women can wield—might well tear down what is left of the patriarchy. The men who currently hold power will do anything to retain it. But what force in the world can stand against the courage and resolution of generations of women who have tasted freedom for the very first time?  AMAZON LINK  

4 STARS

 Wow, what did I just read?  It had a super dramatic beginning that set the stage for what was to come.  It was definitely an adult story with plenty of depth when it came to plots and people.  Its also an adult story because of some it's content when it came to what happened to women who were banished by husbands or fathers.  And The Crown became as what I viewed as pimps when most women were forced to sell themselves and the money went to the Crown.  It's also adult because of some of the violence. 

It took me awhile to get all the people straight in the story.  But they were well fleshed out, and had depth.  The world building for each kingdom and it's cultures was also well done. 

At the end of this book, there is a shocking twist that I didn't see coming.  But I also had hoped for more things to be settled as well.  I found it disappointing that it wasn't.  Especially since it was a long book to begin with.  Then I noticed there is another book that might finish things.  I guess that is up to each individual reader about that.  At this point I am undecided.

 

 

 "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Exiled Duke (An Exile Novel #1) by K.J. Jackson

   

He’s the key to her future and a brutal ruler of the underworld. She’s the only woman to have ever cracked into his cold heart. Now he’s determined to force her exactly where he needs her to be…exiled.

A desperate woman trades everything for a chance of escape.
Penelope Willington is an innocent—innocent to a fault—and she never should have stepped foot into the rookeries, much less sought out the man that had once been her whole world—when she was ten. But that was a long time ago. Desperate times call for extraordinary actions, and Pen can’t afford to miss her one and only chance to find a future free of the vile man determined to force her under his thumb and into his bed.

Her survival depended on his cruelty.
After his parents died, Strider Hoppler was forced to exile the one other person in the world he loved—Penelope Willington. He did it to save Pen, did it cruelly, and he never once looked back. Not until sixteen years later, when she strolled into his lair in the heart of the East End of London.

A cold ruler of the underground.
She entered a world she had no right to be in—his world—a world she should never know for its monstrosities of humanity. No matter that she needed his help. Try as he might to get rid of her, she’s stubborn and before he knows it, Strider is helping her untangle the web of her past.

The more time they spend together, the more Strider finds it impossible to resist the inexplicable draw between the two of them. But is it even possible for this hardened rogue to find the one thing he destroyed long ago—his heart?  AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

What a good story ! This story grabs the interest and emotions right from the Prologue.   It also has plenty of depth not only in the plot but also the main characters.

You could almost feel the despair that Strider and Penelope (Pen) dealt with after the death of their parents.  It was Strider's mother and father but Pen had been unofficially adopted into the family too.   But the terrifying fear and hunger was almost a grinding thing.  But they had each other.  Until they didn't. 

I came to agree with Strider that the Flagston family that took Pen in were a bloody deranged family.   And that's before he even knew how much she has been at the mercy Percival.  It was bad enough that she was treated as an unpaid servant.  She was forced to be rigid and calm without any real freedom of her own.  And she was hounded by the lustful Percival on top of everything else.

 There is plenty of danger and secrets and all the while Strider is trying not to care about Pen.  He recognized that she was his weakness and he knew weakness could get you killed.  Besides, he had to live a life of such darkness and Pen was all light.  

The story comes to a good conclusion with an equally good Epilogue as well. 

 "I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- The Princess and the Bodyguard by Faith Banks *

   

Book Details

Royally in Love is a series of short and sweet clean romances about four royal siblings finding happily ever afters that are anything but common.

A princess who has just learned she’s heir to the throne takes a forbidden day off from her royal duties with her handsome bodyguard.

Princess Sarah of Rhodon has spent most of her charmed life learning how to curtsy and sip champagne. Then, a clerical error comes to light revealing that she—and not her twin brother—is firstborn and heir to the throne. Overnight her party days are over, replaced by boring cabinet meetings and ribbon cuttings.

When palace security intercepts threats on her life, the King insists she takes a bodyguard with her everywhere she goes. What’s a princess to do?

American ex-pat and retired soldier Ryan is sworn to keep the princess safe at all costs. But when she begs for one day of freedom from her glittery life, he can’t say no.

On one forbidden, incognito day, Ryan gets to know the woman behind the crown and Sarah gets to know the man behind the badge. Though ancient laws say they can’t have a future together, their hearts beg to differ.

Royally in Love is the sweet edition of Kate Tilney’s Ridiculously Royal steamy short romance series. While the story and characters are the same, they have been reimagined without explicit language or scenes and with greater depth of emotion and warmth.

 

 3.5 STARS

 This was a short, sweet insta-love story.  It had good main character although it wasn't real deep. And even though it was short, I enjoyed it and just zoomed through it.

 It also had the necessary H.E.A.  At least for me, it was necessary 

"I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”