BOOK REVIEW- Kiss of the Assassin by Joylene Nowell Butler

   

General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance 

Description

Marina Antonovna, a Soviet spy, and Mateo Arcusa, an American homicide lieutenant first meet in Cambodia during the Vietnam War as enemies. Fearful that the most powerful man in the Soviet Union, KGB Chairman Vladimir Kurenkov, has ordered her death, Marina risks everything to defect to the United States. She promises Mateo that her days as an assassin are over. Vladimir is determined to do whatever it takes to bring her back and, by threatening Mateo’s life, forces Marina to break her promise.

AMAZON LINK 

 4 STARS

I liked this book but with some reservations! I think I'll start with those reservations first. I didn't enjoy all the back and forth when it came to current time and past time.  Not a fan of it but usually okay with a little.  This book had more than I am usually comfortable with. Also more of the political countries histories than I like although you could tell the author did their homework.   For me, though it slowed the story down.  But that's my personal feelings on that.

Now moving on to the more positive things that I liked:

What a breathtaking start to this book.  And the edge of the seat action continues throughout.

 I absolutely was on board when it came to Marina and Mateo.  That's quite a feat considering Marina has been turned into a heartless assassin. Yes, the heartless assassin who is violently ill, throwing up after each kill. Something that she HAS to keep secret.     Also the way she has been raised and used for YEARS was shameful, and so well shown.  Plus the fear that she has been under makes it a lot easier to hope for her.  Hope that she can finally really be freed from under her guardian's thumb.  So you can see how Marina has been trained to show no emotions, but the story is emotional and not just with her.

Mateo was great as far as I was concerned. Mateo causes a shift in Marina even in their most dangerous meeting. He was prepared to die honorably but Marina saw something in him and took the risks of making sure he stayed alive. 

Plenty of twists, turns and dangers are in the story with adversaries and two-faced people coming out of the woodwork.  Marina and Mateo are also being twisted right and left when it comes to their attraction.  Will they ever have a life together or will they continue to just see each other years apart or never again? 

I liked how the story ended with a good Epilogue included. 

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

(NETGALLEY)  

 

Book Review- A Wicked Game (The Ruthless Rivals #3) by Kate Bateman

   

Romance

A Wicked Game marks the third book in Kate Batema

Tuesday, December 27th at 9am PT/12

n's popular regency romance series, Ruthless Rivals.

If there’s one thing impossible for a Davies to resist, it’s a challenge from a Montgomery. . .

A teasing bet.

Shipwrecked and imprisoned thanks to an incorrect map, Captain Morgan Davies has returned to London to exact sweet revenge on the cartographer responsible for his suffering. He’s also vowed to claim the winner’s prize—three kisses—in the bet he made with his long-time nemesis, the prickly, smart-mouthed Harriet Montgomery. His incarceration has clarified his feelings for her, but convincing the infuriating woman he wants to marry her is going to be his greatest challenge yet. When Harriet’s revealed to be the very mapmaker he seeks, Morgan decides to combine revenge and seduction into one delightful package. . .

A dangerous enemy.

Harriet’s always wanted witty scoundrel Morgan, and now he’s back; as handsome and as taunting as ever. She has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s failing eyesight and a rival mapmaker copying her work to play wicked games with a dastardly Davies—however tempting he might be. But when a threat from Morgan’s past puts them both in danger, Harry discovers that she and Morgan might not be enemies at all . . .

AMAZON LINK 

 4 STARS

I liked how the story started out with an amusing Prologue.  It did set the tone for the rest of the story and the rivalry between the Montgomery's and the Davies. 

The world building was literally out of this world good.  

The "aha" moment came in pretty early in the book about the title and how well it fit.  I love that in a story when the title fits the story.  It also had a double meaning because yes, there were some wicked games going on.   And quite the seduction when it kicked in. Both Harriet and Morgan were at their best when it came to exchanging bets and dares.  Led to some funny times. But like the story suggests it's not all fun and games because there was a danger out there that will be coming to collect.  

One of my favorite phrases was, "Here be Dragons"but you'll have to read it to fully understand that.

 The only things that was a slight downer for me was all the map making information although it did show the author did their homework.  But it wasn't enough to throw me off this story because well..the people and their "adventures" kept me going.

It comes to a good ending with a very interesting Epilogue.  Looks like Harriet and Morgan are headed for another adventure whether that means another book or not.

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

 

(Through Netgalley)

 

BOOK REVIEW- Vanessa's Guradian (Never Too Late For Love Romantic Suspense) by Josie Jade, Regan Black & Janie Crouch

   

Some people wait their entire life for their ship to come in, not realizing they’re standing at the airport.   

At least that’s how Vanessa Hamilton feels when it comes to romance. In her late 40s and divorced, she’s decided the traditional happily-ever-after route just isn’t for her. And she’s perfectly fine with that.   

When her doctor suggests a vacation to help her de-stress and get her blood pressure under control, she decides on the remote island of Heartbreak Key off the coast of Florida. 

Just her, the beach, and a bunch books...what could go wrong?  

Stumbling onto drug runners? Check.
Tropical storm? Check.
Hoss, the gruff former Navy SEAL who definitely does not help her blood pressure settle? Triple check.  

Trust hasn't come easy for Vanessa since her divorce, but Hoss—despite his scars and tragic past—is showing her heroes do still exist. Maybe her ship was just a little late coming in.  

But it’s never too late for love...

AMAZON LINK 

 4 STARS

The start of the book, had a surprising introduction of Vanessa to the island and Hoss.   It made me smile.   The story also had me smiling at other times too, mainly when it came to "the attraction dance" between Vanessa and Hoss.   It didn't take long to want to see them both get the best when it came to life. They both had struggled so much but deserved so much better than what they had gotten. Oh, they had areas of success and Hoss  had a great friend in Cameron who had been a brother in arms.  I was happy to see that Cameron is going to get his own story too.  
The danger to Vanessa was well shown and unearthed a few surprises early on.  It just made the dangers even deeper for her and made Hoss want to protect her even more.  
I liked that Hoss saw and treasured the maturity that Vanessa owned and didn't see the physical flaws of age that she did.  He thought she was stunning!  Good for him is what I say.
I liked how everything ended and it included a good Epilogue.

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

BOOK REVIEW- Leveled: An Accidental Marriage Romance (Lilac Harbor #2) by Evie Graham

   

Leveled is an accidental marriage turned fake relationship story with tons of laughter and love. This is the second book in the Lilac Harbor series of standalones. I've become a Vegas cliché.

Woke up next to a strange man? Check.
Wicked hangover? Check.
Small boulder of a diamond on my left ring finger? Also, check.

I've never been known for my excellence in decision making. However, this one decision may take the cake. I've somehow ended up married to Everett Brown, the world renowned woodworker notorious for being a reclusive grump. That reclusive grump is also tall, dark and handsome as hell.

After Everett's agent calls congratulating him on his nuptials, and talking about how amazing it will look for the upcoming media showcase on him, I realize we need to stay married and live together. At least for the next few weeks anyways. Now I have to continue running the family hardware store while also playing the role of blissful newlywed. I've never been married before, but I've got this. Marriage can't be that hard--right?

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

I TOTALLY loved this story.  And I know it's because dang what a gal Mac is!  She's funny, charming but also with a mouth that doesn't quit.  Not in a horrible way like some characters can be but just funny in her direct way! She's not out to hurt anyone but she's also not about to stifle herself either.  Humor is her weapon though and she wields it well.  She even gets her new hubby Everett to crack a smile more often and also some deep belly laughs too. And everyone says he's grumpy!  She seems to bring a different side out of him and that was fun to watch even though she could see it scared the heck out of him.  

Speaking of scared, on the inside Mac is kind of scared too because she's not too sure what to do with the feelings she has.  Oh, yeah the physical attraction they have no problem with. It made me smile when she called him Lumberjack, and she wanted to climb him like a tree.  Oh course, he called her pixie, and it was funny to read how much she could pack away when it came to eating. 

I enjoyed it all the way through and the ending didn't disappoint either.  It left me wanting more of this couple but I'm not sure it could get any better.

BOOK REVIEW- Her Delta Force Protector (K-9 Defenders #2) by Sandra Owens

 

Romance 

 

Description

Everyone thinks Harper Jansen is dead.
She is not, and she wants her life back.

When Harper—very much alive but terrified—calls Kade Church, he does what is programmed in his DNA: he protects. Delta Force operator Kade and Duke, his military K-9 school flunker, have the skills to keep Harper safe.

Kade has never allowed himself to think of Harper as more than his best friend, but as they join forces to bring the men who tried to kill her to justice, long-buried feelings surface. And Duke may be a goofball and see everything as a game, but when it counts, he proves he’s more than a boot camp dropout.

Whatever it takes, they’ll save the woman Kade is falling in love with.

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

This story ended up being even better than expected and it drew me in right away. 

Duke the goofy dog was lovable and funny. He loves everyone and everything.  He just loves life.  He also has some surprises hidden that come to life too and almost steals the show.  Almost but not quite. Because Harper and Kade keep things interesting on their own too.  Kade brings humor with his mischievous streak when it shows up.  The emotions that he is hiding is so well shown too.  

I felt that the world building was really well done. Very well fleshed out.

The bad guys think they have Harper right where they want her but have no idea the hornets nest that they have stirred up.  They had no idea the resources that she taps into not only with her dangerous friend Kade.   I enjoyed watching Kade's other helpers come alongside.  They are not only dangerous in their own right when needed but whip smart too!

I liked that Harper and Kade were friends for quite a while first before they began to heat up.  

The ending was good both with the dangerous twist and how Harper and Kade ended up.

 

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

 (NETGALLEY)

 

Book Review- Tick Tock (Sisterhood #34) by Fern Michaels

   

General Fiction (Adult) 

 

Description

In a thrilling new story of female empowerment, adventure, and vigilante justice from the legendary bestseller Fern Michaels, The Sisterhood reunites to avenge an attack against one of their own…

The Sisterhood: a group of women from all walks of life bound by friendship and years of adventure. Armed with vast resources, top-notch expertise, and a loyal network of allies around the globe, the Sisterhood will not rest until every wrong is made right.
 
The women of the Sisterhood have developed a motto: “Whatever it takes.” Regardless of how dangerous an adversary may be, or how overwhelming the odds against them seem, the group’s devotion to each other and to their cause has helped them achieve the seemingly impossible.
 
But there’s a price to pay for success. In the course of both their official careers and their top-secret missions, the Sisterhood—and their menfolk—have acquired enemies. Myra has been feeling uneasy of late, and her fears are justified when her adopted daughter, Nikki, is seriously injured. With Nikki in a coma, and Nikki’s partner, Jack, convinced that the organization’s online security has been breached, the women of the Sisterhood are more vulnerable than they’ve ever been. 
 
On their trail is a vicious felon with scores to settle and a network of accomplices willing to do his bidding, for a price. He’s set his sights on vengeance, and the attack on Nikki is just the beginning. Though frantic with worry about her daughter, Myra and her beloved Charles know it’s me to summon the others and figure out how to take the fight to the enemy’s door. Because no one targets one of their own and gets away with it 

 AMAZON LINK

 4 STARS

I found this book a bit hard to get into and I am quite the fan of most of the Sisterhood series.  I did find the beginning to be a bit confusing. With all of the villains and the story going back and forth between them and the victim.

Maggie did make me smile with her always hungry, endlessly empty stomach.  And I did enjoy Libby who was introduced into the story on the side of The Sisterhood.  Maybe she will be included in some future stories.   

It took a while for the story to get more interesting to me but when it took off, I enjoyed it more.  So although I liked this story, it wasn't quite a favorite for me. Although I do have to give the author points for coming at this story from a different angle than usual.

The ending was good in the justice type sense that The Sisterhood gals dishes out.  I did like that they handed out punishments after interrogating the men and clueless Leroy didn't get the worst of the punishments.  They looked at the people, case by case.  I do have to say the man that deserved the harshest punishment, got it. That last one might make you cringe a bit.

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

 

(NETGALLEY)

BOOK REVIEW- The Perfect Spy: A Clean Romantic Suspense (An Untapped Source Book 1) by Amy Martinsen

   

 

The Perfect Spy is the thrilling first book in the An Untapped Source romantic suspense series. If you like undeniable chemistry, page-turning tension, and Christian values in action, then you’ll love Amy Martinsen’s fast-paced novel.

She’s got the best undercover crew. But will a sinister secret undo them?

Kate Ross has lost way too much in the last six months. With her mother’s death from breast cancer, an agent she handled killed on the job, and her career in jeopardy, the beleaguered CIA officer’s faith in God seems like another casualty. So she’s relieved to be offered a shot at redemption by managing an innovative team of “mom spies”… until they saddle her with a more experienced man as a babysitter.

Battling self-doubt and a loss of confidence in her espionage skills, Kate directs a smoothly successful first mission for the unit. But just as she opens up to her kind and encouraging supervisor, she suspects he’s withholding key information when the subject of their next assignment is his ex-wife. And the only solution to her predicament may be prayers she has no expectation will be answered.

Can Kate find the guiding light to solve the case before her personal crisis threatens national security?

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

This story knocked it out of the park for me.  It didn't take me long to be in Kate's corner and with the kick-butt group of women that she works with. They really were a out of the box group of women that I really enjoyed.   And John, the man who was assigned to them was also a big surprise too!

The story kept me totally involved all the way and had some surprises when it came to some unexpected enemies.  There were some intense times.

I'm thinking that even non-Christians would enjoy this book as well.   I say that because not only is the story really good but also because God was gently weaved into the story too.  No pushy preaching shoved at you that I could see.

I wouldn't mind one bit reading more with this unusual team and their shenanigans. 

BOOK REVIEW- A Christmas Blaze: (Ornamental Match Maker Series # 35) by KC Hart

   

As a single mom, it takes every minute of every day, and every penny in her pocket for Darcy Beller to provide for her seven-year-old son, Frank. She has no time to worry about romance as she struggles to make ends meet in the small Louisiana town of Carson’s Bayou.

But when Frank brings home a fire truck Christmas ornament, along with a permission slip for him to go to their local fire station on a class trip with Darcy as a chaperone, her world suddenly changes.

Even though Blaze Carson’s family are the wealthiest people in Carson’s Bayou, he continues to live his simple life as a fireman in his small town, refusing to let the family money pull him into a world where he has been burned before. He’s happy working his life away serving others through his occupation and does not need to be tied down by a female or a family. But when a woman with a head full of fiery red curls shows up at the station with her inquisitive seven-year-old son, his life begins to turn in a completely different direction.

Can Mrs. Claus work her magic to bring these two people together, living so near one another, but in completely different worlds? Find out in A Christmas Blaze, a sweet inspirational romance that is a fun read for this holiday season.

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

This was a charming, just in time for Christmas story.  It would have been as sweet at any other time too.   It's a good book to cuddle up with in a warm spot with a blanket, a cup of coffee and maybe a cookie or two.  

By the way, I really liked the cover and it was the first thing to catch my eye. Another plus was that it  really did fit the story. 

***BOOK REVIEW- Assassins Retribution (Book #3 English Assassains) by Rachel Amphlett

   

 The English Spy Mysteries is a new concept by crime fiction author, Rachel Amphlett. Combining fast-paced thrilling reads with episodic delivery in the vein of TV shows 24, Alias, and Spooks, series one is a must-read for fans of Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, and James Patterson.

Who spies on the spies?

The net is closing in on Eva and her team, now on the warpath and seeking revenge.

Old alliances are tested, new enemies are exposed, and somehow Eva has to stop a madman unleashing a weapon of terrifying consequences upon an unsuspecting population.

The clock is ticking...

This is another 5 STAR winner as far as I am concerned. First off,  Eva is a favorite for me and as time went on I just wanted to read more stories about her.  I know that this is supposed to be the last in the series.  But please reconsider, I want more Eva.  And what's up with Nathan? He's grown through the series and yes, he's a nerd through and through but in some ways he's also toughed up.  He's still got a tender heart but also gathered some street smarts too.   Is it possible there is a romance there for Eva and Nathan?   The door WAS left open on a few things so for me there is hope of more in the series.  
The twists turns and surprises is off the chart...in the best possible ways.  And I was SO sure I knew who the villain of the piece was.  And SO wrong.  I liked that the author surprised me on that one.  Yes, we knew that Maxim was the villain of the piece but I'm talking about the evil man behind Maxim.  
Well, I'm going to leave it right there when it comes to reviewing the story.  But I would like to mention that I read this book through the HOOPLA Library App and that is where I was first introduced to this author.

BOOK REVIEW- Mine To Hold (Mine- Romantic Suspense # 3) by Cynthia Eden

   

She was one man’s obsession…

Nine years ago, Claire Kramer’s lover brutally killed her family, and he tried to kill her. She escaped, but she’s been haunted ever since that attack. Too afraid to trust another man and too worried that her past will catch up with her, Claire never gets too close to anyone. But then she meets Noah York.

He must have her.

Noah York is a man with secrets. The world sees him as a billionaire hotel tycoon, but Noah has a dark and dangerous side. For years, he worked covert military operations before he built his fortune. When it comes to death, Noah is a master. He knows that he should steer clear of Claire, but the white-hot attraction Noah feels for the delicate beauty is instant—and consuming.

He will never let her go.

Someone else is just as consumed by Claire—someone who will kill to possess her. And if Noah can’t stop the hunter in the darkness, he may just lose the one woman that he can’t live without. 

AMAZON LINK

5  STARS

This was a wildly thrilling story.   With two intense main characters.  Noah because of his past history in the military and the time after had helped shaped him into a very dangerous man.  Claire has been running for her life every since she was sixteen.   There isn't a man that she can trust..well until Noah who really has her spinning.  The last time she was attracted to a handsome, powerful man, it had cost her everything.

The emotions in the story are off the chart and so is the dangers that just seem to keep chasing after her no matter what she does.  Those dangers make for a ruthless roller-coaster ride through out the story. 

The ending was perfect and I liked how it ended.

 

BOOK REVIEW- No Escape From War (Trouble for Hire #1) Cynthia Eden

   

 Author’s note: The Trouble For Hire romance series features hot, former military heroes…and these guys truly are the best kind of trouble. All of the books are stand-alones with guaranteed happy endings. Danger, romance, action, suspense, humor…oh, it’s definitely time to find some trouble…

 

Revenge. Oh, it was going to be sweet.

Warren “War” Channing finally has the chance to nail his beautiful, lying ex. And, no, he doesn’t mean “nail” in the down and dirty sexual way…War means he has the opportunity to send the lovely and infuriating Rose Shadow to jail. Turned out, the woman who had shattered his heart beneath her high heeled shoes was wanted for murder. She was on the run, and he was just the man to hunt her down and toss her into the nearest cell…War could hardly wait.

He was the last man she expected to need.

The breakup had been ugly. Painful. It had ripped out her heart and left her in a sad, crying heap as she ate her ice cream, but Rose had moved the hell on, and she had sworn to never, ever need War again. Except, well, now she did need him and his sneaky skills because Rose was in trouble up to her eyes. The kind of trouble that could wreck a woman’s life.

He’ll make her pay.

Rose has cracked the story of a lifetime. She’s uncovered a brutal serial killer who has been hiding in the shadows—only now, she is his next target. The cops think she’s involved in the string of murders because maybe her DNA had been at a crime scene and maybe she’d been spotted by witnesses at another location, but Rose is a reporter—she’d been at the scenes because she was tracking down the real killer. Now, though, because War has caught her, Rose is out of time and options. War is former special ops. He’s the best PI in town. And he’s the man who gave her more pleasure than should be legal…Too bad that he’s also the man who hates her the most.

Forty-eight hours…then jail.

They make a grudging deal—she’ll pay him anything he wants if he just gives her forty-eight hours before he turns her over to the cops. During that forty-eight hours, he will help her track the real killer. When the clock runs down, she’ll be out of his life for good. Except…a whole lot can change for two people in forty-eight hours. Hate can turn into desire. Need can rage out of control. And a love that you thought was long dead? It just might flash to life again.

Provided, of course, that the murderer hunting Rose doesn’t manage to kill her before she and War can catch him. Forty-eight hours. The countdown starts now…

AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 

I enjoyed this story that was filled with not only really good main characters but also plenty of twists and turns.   Rose and War provide plenty of mistrust between them until it becomes clear someone has been playing them.  You'll have to read it to figure out what I mean by that.  And if you think it's going to be a breeze to figure out who's out to get Rose, think again.  That's another great twist.  

The heat between Rose and War is still alive, but I think you'd already have guessed that.

I like how the story ended and look forward to more stories by this author.

BOOK REVIEW- Wishes Under a Highland Star (A Tale from the Order of the Dragon Knights) by Mary Morgan

   

Historical Fiction | Romance | Sci Fi & Fantasy 

Description

As chieftain for his clan, Alex MacFhearguis struggles with the burden of an unwanted responsibility. With the midwinter feast approaching, he flees his castle to find comfort and solitude within the forest. Yet on his quest, Alex stumbles into a world filled with magic, mysteries, and a woman with beguiling eyes who could capture his heart.

When half-Fae Aine Fraser makes a powerful wish, her simple request unlocks the magic she possesses and brings forth a Highlander into her world. Though the man has lost all his memories, she finds her attraction growing for this brooding warrior with each passing day. Unable to deny her feelings, Aine risks everything when she confesses her greatest secret.

Can a beauty who wished for a champion tame the beast of Leòmhann Castle? 

AMAZON LINK 

 3.5  STARS

Although this was a well developed fairy-tale, I'm not so sure it was for me.  It just didn't grab me as much as I would have liked. 

I do have to give the author credit for building a beautiful world. It was like a fairy-tale inside a fairy-tale.  It was also charming in it's own way.   And it was good to see both Alex and Aine finding their way to each other. 

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

(NETGALLEY)

 

BOOK REVIEW- The Lost Sheenan's Bride (#6 of Taming of the Sheenan's) by Jane Porter

     

Trying to get over a broken heart, twenty-four year old teacher Jet Diekerhof takes a gap year to travel and have an adventure. Her practical farming family is horrified until Jet's older sister Harley gets her a long term sub position at a one room school house in Montana's Paradise Valley. Jet's grateful it's 775 miles from her overly involved family-and the guy who broke her heart. She's also sworn off men until meeting darkly handsome Shane Swan changes everything...

Thirty-four year old Shane Swan has been an outsider since birth. Raised by his maternal grandmother near Flathead Lake, Montana, until her death when he was four, meant he ended up in foster care. But ever smart, determined, and ambitious, Shane has become one of the most successful writers in America. Yet none of his success has answered the burning question: why was he the one given away, and his brothers kept? Now Shane has moved to Marietta to unravel the secrets and lies and what it means to be a Sheenan, and nobody is closer to the Sheenans than Brock's young sister-in-law, Jet.

Normally Shane would never use a woman, but if Jet can connect him with the keys to his past, he doesn't seem to have choice. Until he begins to fall for her. Can two strangers, who were never meant to be, believe in love again?

 AMAZON LINK

4  STARS

It was a good story with intriguing main characters and a lot of well drawn local history.  It also had quite a few people in the story both past and present.  And a couple of times I got lost in who was who and how they connected because there was that intertwining of families.
The emotions in the story especially for Shane was spot on but so was Jet's.  I have to admit I liked her name and the explanation for it.  I found it a bit hard to navigate the reason for all of Shane's names though even though it was explained.   It was easy to understand him writing using an author name though.  And I liked the interchanges between the two and how tender but direct Shane was with Jet.
I liked how it all came together in the end.  I wasn't sure how that was going to happen.

I read this story through the HOOPLA Library App

Book Review- Surrendered Hearts by Nina Levine

   

An arranged marriage, cartel romance.

 

Javier Torres is the kind of man most run from.

He’s ruthless. Brutal. Unforgiving.

He’s dark power in an expensive suit.

I met him at fifteen, loved him at nineteen, and was broken by him two years ago when he shattered my heart and sent me away.

Now, our families want us married.

Joining in this way will strengthen the cartel Javier is poised to take over.

I’ll marry Javier.

I’ll give him my loyalty.

I’ll do what I must for my family.

But I will never give him my heart again or bow down to him.

Except, Javier demands everything from me.

And as far as he’s concerned, all is fair in love and war because when Javier wants something, nothing will stop him.

As our enemies close in on us, my fiancé pushes me to my limits and I discover that things might not be as they’ve always seemed. That maybe this man I’ve always loved would bleed for me in the same way I would for him. 

 

Welcome to the Badlands underworld where ruthless men wage wars for power and the love of a strong woman, and where queens always stand next to their king.

 

The Badlands world is a gritty, violent, mafia-inspired world that is all shades of grey. Raw, emotional romantic suspense with high heat and dark themes. It contains some situations that may upset the reader.

 

My thoughts-  Going in I knew that this was a novella but it just didn't do it for me. It did manage to put a fair amount of emotions into it along with dangers. And I have to give points for the spunky heroine of the story, Emilia. And Javier was hot but I just wanted a bit more depth to the story. Maybe I was expecting too much but that's what I felt.

Book Review- A Hard Day for a Hangover A Novel (Sunshine Vicram Series, 3) by Darynda Jones

   

Mystery & Thrillers 

 Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

The blockbuster conclusion to the bestselling Sunshine Vicram trilogy, A Hard Day for a Hangover will have readers laughing and cheering to the very last page.

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

I've pretty much read all the books in this series but if a new reader starts here, it should be pretty easy to follow. And what great characters are in it.  There is NO one quite like Sunshine.  Well, that might not be 100% true.  Because Sunshine's daughter Auri is more like her mother than you'd think.  Almost like a "Sunshine" in training. It seemed like Auri featured more in this story. She's smart and knows how to work a situation even if she doesn't win every time.  She also has "the nose" for digging deeper into mysteries even dangerous ones. She also makes some new friends (and enemies).  Cruz is some one on the Friend List.  

Quincy is Sunshine's deputy and best friend, who has her back but is also unafraid to call her on stuff.

Levi, the one that Sunshine has been in love with since forever also has some truths revealed.  I was happy to see that happen.  Although I enjoyed the humor, and the funny signs outside of the businesses this wasn't my favorite of the series.  But don't get me wrong, it still had a lot of points in it's favor.

 

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

(Netgalley)

 

BOOK REVIEW- Bent: (An Everyday Heroes World Novel) by Rue Lennox

 

 

She's the hurricane I didn't see coming.
I knew from the moment I met her that I had to have her.
Too bad she belonged to someone else.
Or so I thought.
She dropped the man hanging on her arm with one well-placed kick.
Then she knocked me on my ass and stole my truck.
Avery James doesn’t belong to anyone.
She doesn’t back down.
She doesn’t walk away.
Even when she should.
Chaos might as well be her middle name.
From one disaster to the next, she’s a magnet for mayhem.
Plus, she's too stubborn for her own good.
Blindly charging head-first into a world she doesn't belong in.
My world.
Law, order, and everything in its place.
But Avery?
She makes me want to bend every rule I have.
Even if I break under the strain.

 

AMAZON LINK 

 

5 STARS

 

I took a risk when I decided to read this book.  It could have gone sideways on me, being just another hot book, with more sex than plot or depth.  Not this one!  And I ended up begin SO glad I picked it up. It was a surprise in all the best ways. 

 Let's start with Avery..wow, what a tiny magnet for trouble.  So often she doesn't start stuff but she sure knows how to finish it! She's a fighter that's for sure. And if you touch her without her permission?  Well, you've been warned. 

Carter, what a great guy but often put his foot into his mouth when it comes to Avery. It's just that he sees into her so clearly.  He has also been in love with her for a long time and just doesn't seem to know it while everyone else pretty much knows.  Everyone but Avery that is. It made me smile time and again when it was said to Carter, "little Avery James is your Kryptonite." Well, that was proved time and again too, often in hilarious ways!  I found Avery was someone that got under skin too when it came to enjoying a character.

While I enjoyed the humor a lot, there is also plenty of emotions, family dramas and even some grief.  All well done.  So was the families of both of the main characters.

It comes to an explosive ending with a satisfying epilogue.  

 

 

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

 

 

(BOOKSPROUT)

BOOK REVIEW- Snowbound With My Boss BY Oona Ryda

   

A Billionaire boss, an overworked assistant, a remote cabin, and the blizzard of the century.

How will I function without her?
When my assistant hands me her resignation, I panic.
But that's not my biggest dilemma.
I need a wife ASAP or I’ll lose my company.
In a stroke of genius, I rope the uptight Ms. Miller into playing my fake fiancée for Christmas.
Maybe I’ll finally get to sample the curves hidden under her shapeless business attire.

It’s time to leave this soul-sucking job.
After four years at Cameron Steele’s beck and call, I’m done.
No more middle-of-the-night phone calls. No more incessant demands.
But when the smokin’ hot bosshole offers me eight months’ severance pay for one final assignment, it’s impossible to refuse.
Just my luck we end up snowbound in a remote cabin—with just one bed.

When the snow melts, will the passion fade too?

AMAZON LINK

 4 STARS

Surprisingly good main characters who each shared their own points of view.  That is something that I enjoy and did so in this story too. Talk about two people who seemed to be complete opposites.  There is more than what meets the eye.

 It was also a fun, quick story, which I went through pretty fast.  It also had a few surprises towards the end and a good finish.  The Epilogue was a nice addition too.  

I was given a free copy of this book and was not required to leave a review.  But all comments that I've made are my own  thoughts and opinions.

BOOK REVIEW- Blast Wave by Leo J. Maloney

   

Mystery & Thrillers

Description

From the clandestine corridors of power in London to Tokyo’s historic underground, Alex Morgan fights a devastating global threat in an explosive thriller by real-life Black Ops veteran Leo J. Maloney.

A sniper attack in London’s Trafalgar Square triggers the survive-and-protect instincts of Alex Morgan, special agent of the Zeta organization. As the city erupts into chaos, Alex knows it’s only the first move by the vicious Ares network. Fast-moving events propel her to Tokyo, where Yoki-Dyne, a lucrative and innovative tech company, is under attack.

Alex takes a deep dive into the heart of danger, only to encounter a female operative who may be her best ally – or her worst foe. It’s a race against time to fortify Yoki-Dyne, safeguard the future of Western democracy, and extinguish every threat that stands in her way. 

 AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 I'm pretty sure I haven't read books by this author before. But what an interesting story it was starting with Alex Morgan herself.  She's just going along minding her business on the way to a "meeting'' and things started getting explosive.  And yes, there is a double meeting with that word, "meeting." I also liked that not only did Alex have skills when it came to physical security but also her second job was a working cover.  What do I mean by that?  That her cover was a real business, one that she loved and excelled at.  

Great world building is done in the story with plenty of details.  At times, it felt a bit much to me BUT you can tell the author knew their stuff. But what I loved best was The Action.  The action when it began to move did so really quickly, keeping me in the story.  Also the Zeta's computer team of hackers was something else that kept me reading. Shepard and O'Neal had to keep themselves on their toes on this op. They did a good job of racing around in cyber-world to try to help Alex.  I also couldn't help but like Temi, Alex's Japanese contact.

I really liked that right off the bat it became really clear why the book has the title that it does.  I always like that.  It fit so well.

 

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

(NETGALLEY)

BOOK REVIEW- Frozen In Ice (Ice Breaker Cold Case Romance # 1) by Cynthia Eden

   

Is he a drop dead gorgeous…killer?

Delilah “Lila” Darrow doesn’t belong in the world of the rich and famous, but for one night, she’s going to wear the fanciest dress she can find and pretend that she does. Her plan—get close to reclusive billionaire Archer Radcliffe and find out…is he a murderer?

She knows exactly what Archer likes. She knows how to slip beneath his guard. She knows how to make him fall for her. With the right tools, Delilah believes she can finally make Archer pay for the crime he committed so long ago.

Payback is calling…and she’s wearing a dress made for sin.

Delilah is part of a group of crime solvers called the Ice Breakers—an online team made up of individuals who have the goal of solving cold cases. Five years ago, Delilah’s sister disappeared without a trace. Since then, Delilah has made it her mission to close as many unsolved cases as possible. Archer Radcliffe will be the latest target in her quest.

Except…Archer turns the tables on her. He sees through her lies. Tries to seduce her. And, he also swears his innocence.

Can she trust him? Or is he playing her?

Now that he has Delilah at his side, Archer can finally get the justice—the vengeance—he has craved. The only problem? The beautiful Delilah will be in danger. But Archer intends to stick close to her. So close that the world will believe they are completely in love. So close that a deadly enemy will want to strike. So close that just maybe—if he’s not careful—Archer might begin to fall for the woman he intends to use…

Author’s note: Archer is rich, powerful, and definitely not a man you want as an enemy. Desire can be deadly, and revenge is always best served ice cold. Looking for danger, suspense, scorching scenes, and maybe even a few cold chills? FROZEN IN ICE has you covered.

AMAZON LINK 

4.5 STARS

What a good journey this was.   It kept me involved all the way.  Delilah was one sharp, cunning woman and she starts the story by setting her "trap" to take Archer down in quite the interesting way.  Unusual to say the least but it did what she wanted,  catapulted her into his circle.  She also cracked me up with some of her bold responses to Archer.  She began to not only fascinate him but also somewhat confuse him at times too.  

 The mystery villain is so well done too and once revealed, it was shocking the delusions that the person suffered right down to the end.  Well done author. So was the emotions and Archer's often stoic facial expressions that hid some deep hurts and emotions.  Not a lot of people were in the number that he could really trust.  While Delilah did have some trustworthy people all having her back, who some of them were was a welcome surprise.
I also enjoyed the ending. 

 

Book Review- Plain Jane and Mr. Maybe ( #7 of Plain Jane Series) by Tmonique Stephens

  

Leonid Markovich is everything Sheridan Kincaid is not looking for in a man.
He’s handsome, manipulative, and a member of the New York Syndicate. He’s a criminal in an expensive suit.
But when he comes to her rescue and saves her six-year-old niece from the Mexican cartel, she thinks maybe he’s not so bad.
Maybe Leonid has a heart. Maybe he’s not an asshole.
He proves her wrong when he demands payment because he’s not a hero and for every good deed, there is a price. To keep her niece safe, Sheridan will pay that price, even if that price includes all of her tears, every drop of her blood, every ounce of her pride, and last but not least,
all of her heart.

AMAZON LINK 

 

 This author does it again.  I almost feel guilty for how much I enjoyed this series and this  story.  It's different, definitely different because of Sheridan's motivations.  But still well written and loaded with plenty of tension and the danger that you expect.  
Sheridan wants no part of The Syndicate or the mob and their lifestyle.  Too bad her brother Jamal just can't keep out of dangerous, outside the law trouble.  He's going to cost her a lot more than just her fear which she has been neck deep in.  
Her niece is only six years old but  Kennedy has endured so much in her short amount of years.   But she also brought smiles with some of her spunk when she wasn't being terrorized.  Sheridan would do anything to protect her and that pretty much shows.

Leo, Leo, Leo what a guy you turned out to be.  Bad to the bone, oh yes.  Totally loyal to the "brothers" that he leads with the rest of The Syndicate, that's another yes. He's also been searching for Sheridan since he protected her at a shootout.  Heck, he took a bullet for her without knowing her name.  His attraction/semi obsession is real.

Jose, the cartel leader who murdered his father and brother so that he could be the power makes Sheridan's life a living hell. The actions that happen are edge of the seat as well as emotional. There is sexual heat that happens between Sheridan and Leo and it was going to happen sooner or later.
Everything ends well, with some people having an  violent end.  And follows up with a good Epilogue which I appreciated.

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

Book Humor- I fell into a book & can't get up!