*** Book Review- Falling Stars: A Sci Fi Alien Romance by Kimberly Dean

 

 When representatives from the planets of the troubled Akasha solar system meet to sign a peace accord, talks go awry. Tempers flare, and a battle erupts. Cut off from their own spacecraft, the landing parties commandeer an alien starship to escape.

Trapped onboard the Storm Chaser together, Commander Rhodie Menodora doesn’t trust the sultry Sciroccon Spears who protect their planet’s female president. He’s just not prepared for the pretty little Sciroccon doctor who’s snuck into their midst. When he’s hit by phaser fire protecting his king, though, he’s at her mercy.

Breeze Caelestis took a vow to heal those who are hurting, even if it’s the hard-nosed leader of the King’s Guard from the patriarchal planet of Terrene. Rhodie’s a difficult patient to treat—but they need to learn to work together if they’re going to survive. Living on the run from avenging space military forces, Breeze and Rhodie soon move beyond acceptance to desire. And alien enemies turn to lovers. Yet their starship romance may be short lived for Breeze is on a secret mission, and Rhodie may have the intel she needs to prevent a war between the planets. 

AMAZON LINK 

5+ STARS

What a great story with unpredictable, non-stop action !  And the people of the different races were so well developed as was their culture.  Their physical descriptions and abilities were off the charts good.   

It was really easy to be pulled into the personalities of both Rhodie and Breeze.  And wanting the two of them to overcome all as their romance advanced.  They were bucking big odds to  become lovers.  I enjoyed the way the author wrote their love scenes. It might have been intense but it was also tender and caring.  

Breeze has a sister, Skye  who is also onboard the escaping Storm Chaser.  Skye was the leader of the  Sciroccon people and she wasn't there originally by choice.  But I liked how she was also a part of the story and was just one of several secondary people who added so much.  There are three different groups of people so different but they had to learn how to work together or die.  And I enjoyed their progress and times of friction.

This is one of those stories that kept me on the edge of my seat.  With a ending that made me smile.

I wouldn't mind one bit finding more space romance stories by this author.  Especially if they follow any of the secondary people in this book.  Yes, they were that good. 

 

   " I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book,  and this is my honest opinion about it."

Book Meme- Book Dreaming

  

Book Meme- Too Many Books?

    

Private Group

***Book Review- Louisiana Longshot (A Miss Fortune Mystery, Book 1) by Jana Deleon

   

t was a hell of a long shot....

CIA assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever—in Sinful, Louisiana. With a leak at the CIA and a price placed on her head by one of the world's largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off-grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element. Posing as a former beauty queen turned librarian in a small bayou town seems worse than death to Fortune, but she's determined to fly below the radar until her boss finds the leak and puts the arms dealer out of play. Unfortunately, she hasn't even unpacked a suitcase before her newly inherited dog digs up a human bone in her backyard.

Thrust into the middle of a bayou murder mystery, Fortune teams up with a couple of seemingly sweet old ladies whose looks completely belie their hold on the little town. To top things off, the handsome local deputy is asking her too many questions. If she's not careful, this investigation might blow her cover and get her killed. Armed with her considerable skills and a group of elderly ladies the locals dub The Geritol Mafia, Fortune has no choice but to solve the murder before it's too late.   AMAZON LINK

5+ STARS

I loved this book !   It was one unpredictable roller coaster ride that was a lot of fun.  I grinned so  many times as I read it.  Might have even laughed out loud a time or two.Gertie and Ida   Fortune started it off with her sarcastic wit and her non-girly girl ways.  And it turns out that she wasn't kidding as she found out that just about everything was illegal in Sinful.  Several people had said that trouble just seemed to follow her.  How right they were and it just kept coming in Sinful too.

Gertie and Ida Belle were a hoot. As time went on, I absolutely adored these kooky two.  They might be innocent looking but are they really? 

The deputy sheriff of the town knows stuff is going on and he's focused on Fortune.  He just can't connect the dots which makes for some interesting times.  Deputy LeBlanc irritates Fortune so much that she dubbed him Deputy Charming.  

Plenty of twists, turns and unexpected revelations bring the story to a great conclusion. For now.  In this situation.  Because Fortune still has a price on her head and the leak in the CIA hasn't been found yet.  Still a good read for me.

I just have to add that this book did something unusual for me.  I like my books with romance in it.  This one didn't have one but I loved it anyway.

Book Review- Vengeful Union (Made Series, Book 6) by Brooke Summers

 

 General Fiction (Adult), Romance

Description

Vengeance can be justified… But what happens when an innocent person is targeted?

Destiny Carter’s life changed when her mom died.

Hidden away from the world, Destiny tries to make sense of the betrayal she learned.

She knows about her father’s plan and if she doesn’t escape, she’ll be dead.

She was not expecting her knight in shining armor to be filled with darkness.

Finn Gallagher demands everything from her. She’s not sure that’s something she’s willing to do.

Now there’s an enemy after her. Someone who hits a little close to home for the Gallagher family.

Will she be able to survive when they come for her?

Finn Gallagher’s life has always been filled with violence. He’s lived and breathed it. When he lost his father, Finn changed, he became darker, distrustful, angry.

Finding out who was truly behind the attack on his family, Finn is vying for blood.

Taking his enemy’s daughter was easy. Using her to get back at her father… Not so much.

Destiny Carter isn’t what he expected. Feisty, beautiful, fearless.

He wants everything from her and he’s willing to take what’s his.

But betrayal hits Finn and his family.

Now the question is… Can he get Destiny out alive?

It’s time for revenge and this time it will be justified. AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 

It has a rough start..not for the faint of heart in my opinion. And some of it is going to end that way too. Making this one hard to rate.  But as dark as it often is it also has some good parts too.

Destiny was a great main character.  She might be afraid at times but she REFUSES to back up and let anyone see it.  Finn thought that she had lived a pretty much entitled life but he has no clue to the terror that she has lived under, especially the last few years. But he's not going to let it go until he knows everything about her.

Finn  really is a man that you do not want to cross.  Cross him or try to hurt his family and you will have a VERY unpleasant visit from him. Creatively painful and probably your last. Everyone knows about him.  So it did make me smile when Destiny went toe to toe with him and started calling him, "Psycho Boy." 

There is a fairly large cast of people in the story especially when it comes to Finn's side of people.  A few times I got lost in who was who and how they fit in when it comes to his family.  I found Destiny's family and people easier to follow.  

I did like Finn sister (who is the under-boss) even though she was a force to be reckoned with too.  There were also other people that I liked even though they did bad things.  Come on, most of them are doing violent things as deep in the trench criminals. 

When Finn takes Destiny, things really do turn upside down for both of them.  It also stirs up even more trouble than what they are already facing.  Things are definitely active with a lot of plots and action.  

It does have a good ending for Finn and Destiny which I did enjoy.

 

  "I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley.” These are my honest thoughts and feelings about this book.

Book PREVIEW Review- The Boy On The Highway by Nadya Frank

   

The only psychological crime thriller set in Russia written by a Russian author.

Zoya Volkova makes a living off small-time frauds and stays out of big trouble. Until a simple con spirals out of control and Zoya ends up witnessing the assassination of a prominent Moscow businessman Oleg Dolin. Acting on instinct, she saves his teenage son, Kirill. Now, someone has opened hunting season on her. 

To keep herself and Kirill safe, Zoya must solve the mystery behind the murder. But sieving through the Dolins’ history and connections puts her at odds with Kirill’s mom, Rimma. Even with her son’s life on the line, the woman is determined to preserve her family’s secrets.

As the goons become reckless and the police close in to arrest Zoya, she doesn’t abandon her attempts to save the innocent kid. Can a petty con artist go up against the corrupt police force, Moscow’s wealthiest families, and the omnipotent Russian mafia? 

Psychological suspense meets crime thriller in this dark page-turner with unpredictable twists. Perfect for fans of Laura Lippman, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Gardner. 

THE FULL BOOK CAN BE FOUND HERE AMAZON LINK

I totally missed the point that this was a preview of this book. I don't know how because it clearly shows that on this book cover.  But the chapters that were there I did find interesting. 

 Zoya was just trying to survive and after meeting the young man, it's even more dangerous trying to survive.  It was easy to be pulled into the story after the heart-pounding chase.  As the story is left off it's not looking good for Zoya and Kirill.  

I got this preview though BookFunnel only.

 

Book Review- After Dark with the Duke (The Palace of Rogues #4 ) by Julie Anne Long*

    

General Fiction (Adult) , Romance ,,Women's Fiction

She arrives in the dead of night, a mob out for blood at her heels: Mariana Wylde, the “Harlot of Haywood Street,” an opera diva brought low by a duel fought for her favors. But the ladies of the Grand Palace on the Thames think they can make a silk purse from scandal: They’ll restore her reputation and share in her triumph...provided they can keep her apart from that other guest.

 
Coldly brilliant, fiercely honorable, General James Duncan Blackmore, the Duke of Valkirk, is revered, feared, desired...but nobody truly knows him. Until a clash with a fiery, vulnerable beauty who stands for everything he scorns lays him bare. It’s too clear the only cure for consuming desire is conquest, but their only chance at happiness could lead to their destruction.

The legendary duke never dreamed love would be his last battleground. Valkirk would lay down his life for Mariana, but his choice is stark: risk losing her forever, or do the one thing he vowed he never would...surrender.  AMAZON LINK

3.5 STARS

 I had a hard time rating this story.  I will say it was an unusual story and an even more unusual romance.  There were parts that I liked and others not so much.  I guess it would  be easier to say that it wasn't really my cup of tea. Starting with the Duke/James  was someone that I didn't like at first.  In fact for quite a while. He was severe, stiff, judgemental and way over praised by others.  The last part wasn't his fault though and he finds it a weary thing in fact.  The public has basically put in on a pedestal forgetting that he is just a man.  A man who is not really known but revered.   Even his own grown son was in awe of his father but without really knowing him.

Mariana was a small woman with a big talent.  And a talent for scandal wasn't it but her singing voice was.  I found her a lot easier to like than James.  She had a heart of gold even if some of her decisions landed her in hot water.  She's also not afraid of hard work.  And I began to wonder how in the world things would work out.  

 The Grand Palace on the Thames was filled with colorful, interesting people. They did a lot to add to the story.

I found the story kind of slow but about 60% on my kindle things did begin to shift and change. I started to like how more of the real James shows through. It does slow down a bit again because of all of James trying to figure things out like the military man he has been.  

 I just had to find out how the story would end.  And I did enjoy how everything did end up. 

   I received  an advanced reader copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

** Book Review- Silent Blade (Kinsmen #1) by Ilona Andrews

   

Family is everything. Talent is power. And revenge is sweet. In a distant, future world Kinsmen-small powerful groups of genetically and technologically advanced families-control vast financial empires. They are their own country, their own rulers, and their only limits are other Kinsmen. The struggle for power is a bloody, full-contact sport: in business, on the battlefield...and sometimes in the bedroom. Old hatreds die hard. Old love dies harder.  On the planet Rada, Meli Galdes' family is of minor rank, and were relying on her marriage to Celino, the razor-smart, ruthless leader of the powerful Carvanna empire. When he abruptly breaks their engagement, he ruins her family and guarantees that Meli will never marry, as no suitor will oppose the rich and influential Carvannas. But Meli has a rare, secret, lethal-and valuable-talent. As a melder of energy, she's capable of severing anything in her path. So she 'leaves' her family and trains to become one of the best and most lethal of assassins, all the while covertly guarding her family's interests. Now she's ready to quit; but she has one more assignment. To kill the man who ruined her life.    AMAZON LINK

4 Stars

 This was a shorter story but it was pretty full.  And I did enjoy it.  It's also the first time that I have read any of the Kinsmen stories.

I really liked gutsy Meli even though she had become a assassin.   The information about her skills and how she operates was different but good. 

Celino just wants to be free and he is but he never counted the cost for Meli.  Brilliant guy but at times clueless.  Yes, he was ruthless too and entitled.  He wants something he goes after it no matter what.

The continuing question throughout the story of course is, "Is she really going to kill him?"

I did like how the story ended.  A longer story I wouldn't have minded at all though.

 I read this book through HOOPLA.

Book Review- RUIN ((Devil's Riot MC: Southeast) by E.C. Land

 

 The men of the Devil’s Riot MC: Southeast charter will do anything to keep their lives from turning into complete shambles. In this collection, you get the first three novels in the series. The men within this collection are as dangerous as they are sincere, and the women are spitfires who won’t back down from a fight.

In their world, the only thing that matters is the club. They’ll do anything to make sure their loved ones are safe, even if it means crossing the line.

Within this collection you will receive the following full length novels:

Hammer’s Pride
Malice’s Soul
Axe’s Devotion    AMAZON LINK

3.5 STARS

 This is a well written series of books that intertwine. There is a lot of action and clever evil in all three. Also men who had their hearts closed against finding a forever woman. And to my way of thinking each book keeps getting darker as they go from one book to the last.  In the last one, "Axe's Devotion, there is a lot of described torture.  C.J.'s torture that is; both physical and mental.  

I had a hard time rating this though because I did like all of the main characters and the people who were there for them.

This book might not be for everyone though.  And as one person said elsewhere: 

Please be aware there are triggers in this book.  And I agree.  

I did like that a lot of evil was overcome but I'm thinking not all of them have been erased.   Because there talk about another higher level of evil still out there. 

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

Book Review- KING: a Romantic Military Suspense novel (Deep 8 Book 2) by Kenzie Macallan

 

Mystery & Thrillers, Romance, Romantic Suspense

She’s a hacker turned agent. He will become king to a diamond empire. Can two unlikely lovers survive a sinister conspiracy?

Former MI-6 agent Beck McKenzie needs a fresh start. So after his break-up, he takes an assignment in Zambia to find his long lost family. But when secrets about his past begin to unravel, he’s determined to find out who killed his parents.

World renowned hacker Pippa Stevens lives life on the edge. So as a newly recruited agent, she jumps at the chance to investigate suspicious activity at a diamond company. But when she discovers the truth behind the lab created diamonds, she must move forward on a deadly mission.

As Beck uncovers the lies of those around him, his attraction to Pippa grows. And when the sins of his brother comes to light, he must protect her at all costs, so history doesn’t repeat itself.

Can Beck and Pippa uncover the truth about the diamonds and to find their way to true love? AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

This story was so good only so many levels.  I enjoyed the dual points of view from both Beck and Pippa for a start.  

 Beck had lived quite the life but he's also used to being alone.  Even his work as an agent was done alone as much as he could arrange it.  His one firm demand was that there would be NO women agents as his partner.  Men only if he needed a partner and he had good reasons for feeling that way.  It's also one of the reasons he was so against working with Pippa when she got sent to the job.  At first, he did everything he could to scare her off the job and send her home.  But Pippa had a whole lot more grit than Beck expected.  But he learns. He also learns that she's like a wild redhead that comes in like a hurricane. He was concerned about her inexperience in the field but soon begins to see that she IS a warrior.  I liked how things changed between the main characters into something MORE.  That often made me smile.

I adored Pippa.  She was a hoot.  She had her own style and didn't apologize for it.  She was also charming, smart, often kind and a whirlwind of energy. She's  tough when she needed to be.  If she was in the right she backed down for no one. I loved that she was proud of her ink, which was a part of her.  I really liked best her ink that said, "Lies are like knives." 

Beck's brother, Wafiq is someone who Ibut totally just disliked right away.  He was just so smug and entitled and he was so snarky with Beck and Pippa.  Well he was that way with anyone who he thought was below him.  I wondered if anything would change.

Beck's sister Sabeen was the total opposite of Wafiq.  I hoped she was as sweet and good as she seems. 

Katoo plays an important part of the story too.  He appeared as a sort of mystery man.  The keeper of secrets.  And there were plenty of those.  

There were plenty of surprises and turns in the story.  One of the biggest ones happens early on when Beck makes his first ever visit to his "home" in Africa. Something happens to him that was is totally unexpected.     He is an experienced man when it comes to field work as an ex-agent but this attack was a shock!

There is plenty of action and ALMOST everything is taken care of in this story.  The criminal organization, Deep 8 still needs to be taken totally down and the story continues in the next book"Burn."

 

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

 

Book Review- The Desert Flowers - Lily by Judith Keim

   

When Lily Weaver is asked to help Alec Thurston, the one man she’s ever truly loved, and to come to Palm Desert, California, she doesn’t hesitate. He’s dying of cancer and needs her help in overseeing the sale of his hotel, The Desert Sage Inn, to another hotel group. For five wonderful years, she was his assistant at the hotel until he kindly told her their relationship was getting too serious, and he helped her find other work. With her organizational skills and attention to detail, she’s his perfect choice to oversee the details of the sale to help make a smooth transition while maintaining the reputation of the upscale property.

Unappreciated in her job with a law firm in New York State, she’s eager to leave it and the cold weather to head for the desert. Her only regret is leaving her sister and three-year-old niece behind. Lily arrives at Alec’s house to find two other women summoned to help him. Rose Macklin was once the social director at Alec’s hotel, and Willow Sanchez is like a daughter to him. They join forces to help him, lovingly accepting his nickname for them—the Desert Flowers, similar to the well-known Charlie’s Angels.

As Lily forms her friendship with the other women, she becomes intrigued with the man the hotel company has put in control of the transition. Brian Walden is a war veteran who has never married and is someone who Lily finds, to her delight, she can talk to about most anything when they meet up for early morning walks. Disaster strikes them both as they’re falling in love. Lily ends up having to raise her niece, and Brian is left with a son he never knew he had. It seems only natural that they turn to one another for help, and Lily wonders if this is as Alec might have planned all along.

A series for those who love stories about strong women facing challenges and finding love and happiness along the way.  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 What a good and oftentimes emotional story.  Although it didn't feel like an over the top sappy kind of emotional to me.  

Lily and Brian made for such interesting people who were easy to be drawn into.

I know that the other women Rose and Willow were mentioned as part of the Desert Flowers.  But I was surprised that they were in the story more than I thought they would be.  That wasn't a bad thing though.  They were great people who added so much to the story.  I enjoyed them a lot too.

The challenges that the blurb mentioned were definitely facing all three of the women.  And I liked how most of the things were resolved.  Well, for now anyway because the sale for Alec's Inn hasn't finished yet.  There is a quick look into the next book with Willow's story.  I'm sure everything should be wrapped up in that book.  I liked Willow and would like to see how her life journey continues.

 

  " I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book,  and this is my honest opinion about it.

Book Meme- I don't need sleep. I need answers

 

* Book Review- Bulletproof Christmas by Barb Hahn

   

Where there’s a will…there’s murder.

Crisis: Cattle Barge reaches its exciting Christmas finale!

When the Butlers gather for the Christmas reading of their murdered father’s will, tracker Rory Scott is focused on finding the killer targeting his ex, Cadence Butler. He’s shocked to find the ranch heiress pregnant…with his twins. Wild spirit Rory has never “done” love, but keeping Cadence safe on the run threatens to tame his untamable heart.   AMAZON LINK

3.5 STARS

 

 This story had good main characters with somewhat dysfunctional but interesting family members.  They aren't shown in a lot of depth though because the story is more about Rory and Cadence. Their past is well done.  Something that was shown in quite a bit of depth though was all the regrets that they both had. I felt that there was a bit too much angst over that and it slowed the story for me.

Over all the mystery of why Cadence was being targeted and the chase that followed did keep things moving in a good way. 

The ending for the couple was also a good one.

 

I read this book through Libby that was sent to my Kindle. 

*** Book Review- Night's Bliss (The Ancients Book 3) by Mary Hughes

   

Romance

I could never trust a vampire. Ever. It wasn’t enough that vampires killed my parents and left me for dead. Nope, they also left me with this searing fear of every one of their kind. But when someone I care about grows sick from poison, I have no choice but to infiltrate a Romanian castle filled with pissy, evil vampires in search of the antidote.

And my only saving grace is that for some reason, I can do things other humans can’t.

Unfortunately, I also seem to be the perfect bait for the Vampire King, Kai Elias. More than seven feet of dark, wicked charisma, ancient eyes, and a body that holds more power and raw, animal sexuality than I can resist. But there’s something about Elias that looks painfully, terrifyingly familiar.

Now I am in over my head and my heart. And my only choice is to trust this dark, charismatic creature…or die.  AMAZON LINK

5+ STARS

Breathtaking!! There is a major surprise right off the bat in the first few chapters.  I liked that there was a twist that I wasn't expecting. 

When I looked down at my kindle at 30% read there had already been a lot going on.  And it was super intense.   It also had times there was some tenderness was shown especially on Elias's part.  I really enjoyed that and the emotions of both M.C.'s was really well done.  Those emotions just kept drawing me in. 

Yes, there is some violence because we're talking about bad vampires and those trying to overthrow their evil.  The biggest bad guy is also stunningly clever.  Like Elias says at one point, The Shadow  Lord Umbra has backup plan after backup plan; wheels inside of wheels.  The story does show that cunning. 

The action is almost non-stop and the people who join the story are great !  The story is also incredibly unpredictable which I loved.  Almost as much as I loved the ending.  Whew, what a story !

 

  "I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book through Netgalley.  And these are my honest opinions about it.

** Book Review- Viper's Touch (Devils Riot MC: Originals Book 12)by E.C. Land

 

Viper

After being framed and ending up in prison, I was done with women. I wanted nothing to do with them. A woman was the reason I landed in jail in the first place, so I wasn't ever going to let another put me in so much risk again.

My brothers say I'm callous and they tell me I need to let go of my demons, but the ghosts that haunt me aren't like the ones they've faced. I was betrayed by a woman I was going to spend the rest of my life with. They wouldn't understand, but how could they? All of their ol' ladies are awesome, loyal, and they've got the purest of hearts.

Nothing in my life is different but it's alright with me. Until one day my entire world gets thrown upside down. Nerd catches a glimpse of a woman on a security camera. She's cowering behind a dumpster and blood is running down her skin. I knew then I needed to go see if she was alright and from that moment forward everything changed. The moment Jade came into my life, I started to feel again. I only hope I don't push this marvelous woman away.  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 

When I decided to read this book, I had hopes.  Hopes that It wouldn't be TOO dark because we are talking about M.C.'s.  I also hoped that I would like it.  Turns out both hopes were met.  I ended up liking it more than I had expected.  Viper and Jade definitely did it for me.   Even though his past had hardened his heart against romancing a woman, he was just so gentle and understanding with Jade.  What's not to like about that? Hard not to like Jade as well.  She was spunky and independent to the best of her ability.

 The story does do a good job when it comes to having a depth with both main characters. 

Things go fairly smooth for a while as they interact with a good group of people.  However, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.  And it does which leads up to a dramatic ending. And Yes, to a H.E.A.  

I find myself interested in Jade's best friend Rosemary's story as well as Jade's two brothers.

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

*Book Review- Raven (Georgina Garrett Series Book 5) by Sam Michaels

   

 General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers

 

She's out of retirement – and out for revenge

When Georgina Garrett wakes in the night to find intruders in her house, she knows she must do everything she can to keep her children safe.

But just when she thinks the ordeal is over, she realises something is terribly wrong. She arrives at her crime-lord husband David Maynard's London house to find a bloodbath. Six of David's best men lie dead and he is nowhere to be found.

Georgina may have walked away from the game but she's still the best player on the street. Now, she will stop at nothing to get her husband back and to make whoever took him pay for ever daring to set foot in her town.   AMAZON LINK

3 STARS

 

While it was well written with depth it was not to my taste.  

Georgina was quite the intense, interesting main character and she had a loyal crew.  I will give the author credit for that.  There was a lot of action but it was also way darker than I expected.  It was filled with gory details, which I don't enjoy. The people were interesting but the violence was a bit too much for me.

I also have to say I didn't like the way the story ended although it was a unexpected twist.  There is also another one when it comes to Georgina's close friend (and sometimes sidekick)  Charlotte and her dangerous nephew, Edward.  That one came out of left field and I didn't see it coming.  It might even lead to more of a story but I think it's one I would pass on.  

   I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from Netgalley and these are my own thoughts concerning it.

 

 

Book Review- Teach Me The Ropes by Vanessa Vale

    

Meet the Manning brothers in this steamy small town cowboy series from USA Today Bestselling author Vanessa Vale!

A bachelor auction. I was in a f-ing bachelor auction.I wasn't a cow. A bull, definitely. When the ladies started to bid, it was looking rough.Until she placed the winning bid.The one I wanted. The woman who'd kneed me in the balls the other day.Yeah, I was hot for a woman who wanted nothing to do with me. I was a guy obsessed.She might be the teacher, but she was going to learn she was all mine and I wasn't letting her go.If being a cowboy isn't enough, Sawyer's the town's fire chief. This book might burn up your ereader, but don't worry, he'll be there to put out the flames!   AMAZON LINK

3 STARS

First off, I did like both of the main characters. Kelsey had a bucket load of issues but she was an honorable woman. An honorable woman who has trusted the wrong people a time or two too many. Now she's just trying to get back on her own two feet.
Sawyer was easy to like even though he was thoroughly misunderstood by Kelsey when they first met.
That led to a funny but painful encounter ...painful for Sawyer at least. This won't be the only humor in the story.
Although well written and hot, I have to say that I would have liked more story and a bit less sex. Sawyer also nailed it when he thought he was being kind of crude at times.
The Manning family was interesting. That not only included the other brothers and niece but also Alice. Alice wasn't family by blood but by heart.
I didn't totally get the motive for the arson but maybe more will come up in the follow-up stories with the other brothers. I would also relish Kelsey's ex getting served some well deserved "justice."
The story of Kelsey and Sawyer ends with a lot of hope for their future.

 

 I received a copy of this book through BookFunnel and was not required to leave a review.  All thoughts and words are my own.

Book Review- Search and Rescue by Nichole Severn

     

She’s all that’s standing between him and a soldier’s funeral.

Major Patrick Barnes left the JAG Corps and active duty to return home, never expecting danger to follow. But a killer is picking off the soldiers involved in one of his past cases, and Patrick quickly finds himself in need of rescue—and without the support of an entire army.

Search and Rescue operative Sienna Kincaide lost her last client to a shooter. It won’t happen again. When she saves Patrick from an identical fate, her grief eases, but soon, her drive to complete the mission deepens into dangerous desire. Attachments lead to mistakes, and the connection burning between Sienna and her client might be one neither of them survive.

Can Sienna and Patrick learn to rely on one another in time, or will the killer be the last one standing?  AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

This may be a novella but it's a really full story that starts of with quite the punch from the opening pages.  Plus it never lets up.

Patrick and Sienna find themselves making a very quick connection during the few days that they know each other.  But I found I didn't really mind that at all. 

The drama comes to a conclusion with ALMOST everything taken care of.

There is also a quick look into another book.  That one is called, "Search and Protect."  

   " I voluntarily read a copy of this book,  and this is my honest opinion about it.

Loved your book Meme

 

 

FB

** Book Review- Curse of Slater House by Patricia Rosemoor

   

  Mystery & Thrillers, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy

Buried within the walls of Slater House lives a tale of lost love and not-so-accidental death. It brings heiress Melanie Pierce to meet her high society family she never knew existed. The walls speak to her, triggering genetic memories that show why her mother ran, never to tell her daughter the truth. Ross Bennet is an architect who knows more about the past than he admits, including being friends with her mother. Does he know what or who is behind the Slater Curse–the tragic deaths of Mel's relatives/inheritors? Can they learn the whole truth about the past before the Slater Curse strikes Melanie?  AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

What a story this one turned out to be.  

I didn't know what to make of Ross when he first almost "ran into" Melanie. .  Their first two encounters ended up with him calling her a danger junkie.  It became clear as I continued reading, Melanie was someone who ran into dangers.   She wasn't a stupid person just determined to get to some truths.

That house alone was something else. It almost seemed to be a main character all on it's own.

The story seemed to settle down for a bit before it exploded with action. Surprise after surprise kept cropping up and a multitude of them show up towards the end. 

I have to say that this book was Intense, Unpredictable, Quirky and Different.  And it ends with many secrets exposed and an unusual form of justice served. 

I like romance in any story that I'm reading and this one has it as well as a H.E.A.  

 

 I received an ARC through Netgalley of this book and these are my honest opinions of it.

Book Review- Reader Abduction (Alien Abductions #7) by Eve Langlais

 It should have been a simple volunteer job. Keep the events for the Romancing the Capital convention running smooth. But from the moment Brigitte lays eyes on the male model dipped in purple, hired for the galactic party, she is thrown in to a tizzy-mostly because of his stolen kiss. Imagine her shock once she realizes he's not an actor. This purple alien is for real! And Phyr didn't come RTC alone. He brought a bunch of his mercenary friends to help him abduct all the single ladies. These readers are about to go on a galactic adventure wilder than anything they've ever read in a book-and hotter than anything they could have imagined. 

AMAZON LINK 

3 STARS

This was a quirky, and funny at times kind of story.  It also made it hard for me to rate because it left  me with mixed feelings.  So I guess I have to say that for me it was something that I liked for the most part as a fun story.  A fun story stacked with a few surprises.  Oh and hot purple guys!

I read this book through the Hoopla program.

Book Review- When we found Home by Susan Mallery

 

 Life is meant to be savored, but that's not easy with no family, limited prospects and a past you'd rather not talk about.
Callie Smith doesn't know how to feel when she discovers she has a brother and a sister—Malcolm, who grew up with affection, wealth and privilege, and Keira, a streetwise twelve-year-old. Despite her trepidation, she moves into the grand family home with her siblings and grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington, hoping just maybe this will be the start of a whole new life.
But starting over can be messy. Callie and Keira fit in with each other, but not with their posh new lifestyle, leaving Malcolm feeling like the odd man out in his own home. Becoming a family will take patience, humor, a little bit of wine and a whole lot of love. But love isn't Malcolm's strong suit...until he learns that an open heart, like the family table, can always make room for more. AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

This book pulled me in so quickly I could hardly believe it.  Each and every one of the people in the story had depth and pain of their own.  So well done that you could almost feel their emotions; their struggles.   As I got to know them, I wanted them to win; in every area of their life. 

Santiago plays a part in this story too.  He has a major part of business with Malcolm (a partner of sorts) but he's also a major "player". Well, until Callie drops into his life and then all bets are off.  He's an experienced man when it comes to women.  But with Callie he feels nervous like an inexperienced teen.  He's also a major protector of his family wanting to help each and every one of them.  

Later it comes out that there is a theft going on at the factor.  I had my suspicions on who was doing it.  But it takes time and some troubles that need to be taken care of when the truth comes out.

I liked how the story ended and enjoyed the Epilogue as well.

 

I borrowed this book through Overdrive that put this version on my kindle. 

***Book Review- The Call of Fire (Natura Elementals 1) by Sloane Calder

  

Description

A powerless supernatural mafia princess. A bodyguard hellbent on revenge. And a love that might cost them both everything…

Elspeth Lennox knows dreams are foolish—including the dream to marry for love. Born without elemental power, she’s considered worthless except in the promise that she could produce a rare and superiorly gifted child free from the disease that is slowly killing her brother and so many other Natura.

In exchange for a cure, she agrees to marry and join her bloodline with that of the Natura’s most powerful Russian family--a king very few have ever seen in person.

The last thing the Lennox family needs is another powerful alliance. Fearing retaliation from other Natura families, Elspeth’s grandfather assigns her his most powerful bodyguard to make sure she survives to see her wedding day.

Fire elemental Aleron Foussé has long dreamed of revenge for his father’s murder. Protecting Elspeth will give him the cover he needs to finally achieve that goal. Elspeth’s just a pawn. A distraction he doesn’t need. A dangerous distraction who makes him dream of things he’ll never have. Things he never thought he wanted.

Now he wants it all. He wants her.

But Elspeth holds a secret powerful enough to start a war, and if they’re not careful, their hearts may be the first casualties.    AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

 

 Aleron Foussé has had to keep his thoughts and emotions under control in order to survive.  He also chose  to dull his Fire element when he HAD to report to Seanair.  Seaniar had a way of hindering others powers when they are called to his "place."  He had to serve this monster but he's waiting for his chance to strike. 

Elspeth is caught between a rock and a hard place.  And her grandfather, the all powerful Seanair is one cruel piece of manipulative work.  I really wanted to see him "get his". I know that kind of sounds bloodthirsty but he has harmed so many people.  

The friendship that develops between Elspeth and Aleron was so well done.  From friendship into a dangerous romance is something that kept me interested all the way through.

 Kazumi Fukada or Zum as she was called by Elspeth was Elspeth's "I've got your back best friend".  And she proved it time and again.  She was quite the feisty and often funny woman.   I enjoyed her a whole lot. And the nicknames that she gave some people was a lot of fun too.

The world building was really good, in fact it was incredibly good.  So was the emotional parts to the story which there was plenty.   There was plenty of danger,  and plots as well.

I did feel a few times that the pace of the story slowed a bit more than I liked but it was also a very full story too.  Although hang on because just a bit closer to 60% on my kindle, things really took off!!  As the story gets to the end, surprise after surprise shows up.

There is a happy for now for our main characters but not everything is smoothly taken care of.  You can see that there will be trouble ahead as the Lennox family saga continues in next book"The Lure of Air."

 

   I received  an advanced reader copy from Netgalley  and these are my honest opinions about it.