Book Review- Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger

   

King (noun):
1) Having the highest rank in a dominance hierarchy
2) The most powerful man in a group
3) Liam Black

He was a stranger to me, a dark and dangerous presence who materialized from the shadows one rainy night to save me from a vicious attack. I didn’t know his name or where he was from. All I knew was that the only place I’d ever felt safe was in his arms.

But safety is an illusion.
And not every savior is a hero.
And—as I’d soon find out—having a king save your life comes with a price.

Liam Black wanted something from me in return.

AMAZON LINK 

4.5  STARS

A surprising story is what this was.  And True?  What a funny mix of gentle, smart and at times fearless is what she is.  Her conversations with "wolfie"are so often hilarious.  She called him that because for the longest time, she didn't know his name was Liam.  Later she saw how his name Liam Black stuck fear into the hearts of men.
Liam is FULL of mysteries.  As much as he was fighting it his attraction to Tru is off the charts.  It even scares him how obsessive he feels for her.  Heck for a whole year he sat in her booth in the cafe and just devoured her with his eyes.  He called her "Queen Bee" at some point.
I liked how the more time they spent together the easier it was to really "see" each other and get where the other was coming from and thinking.  Well Tru didn't know ALL of what Liam was thinking.  I liked that it had both of their P.O.V.'s but it was different in that for many chapters in the beginning we only hear Tru's.  Much later we get a few from Liam then back to Tru for a while.  It was an interesting way to do it.
Okay to be fair knowing that this was a dark romance to expect some sex scenes but this was mega scenes. Good thing that the story itself was really good.  I liked how it ended and ended with a good Epilogue following.

 I  borrowed this book for free with my Prime Reading membership.

Sing Wherever I Go - We The Kingdom (Lyrics)

BOOK REVIEW- RELENTLESS by Vanessa Vale

A fun weekend at a friend’s wedding in Denver takes a bizarre twist for Anna Scott when her rental car is pulled over due to an “anonymous tip.” In her trunk…a dead man linked to warring crime families in Denver and New York. It should be easy for an innocent woman to be cleared for an simple mix-up. But was it a mistake? The police aren’t so sure, and neither is the crime boss who wants vengeance for his son-in-law’s death. Suddenly appearing on the radar means that now Anna Scott is in real trouble. Two years ago, Anna Scott didn’t exist. The police think she knows way too much about criminal procedures and they’re determined to find out her secret. Their attention forces Anna to play a deadly game of cat and mouse with both the mafia and the police. This twist of fate could not only expose her, but place her, and anyone close to her in jeopardy.

Jake Griffin is playing a deadly game. He’s spent the last few months undercover in the Moretti crime family. The mysterious and beautiful Anna Scott is a big problem. Moretti assigns him to find out who she is and what she’s after, and to kill her if she becomes a problem. Jake needs to focus on taking down Moretti, not risking his life and career protecting a sexy woman who is a complete mystery. Unfortunately, he can’t stop wondering about her. He knows she’s lying, but his gut instincts, and the bone deep desire he feels every time he sees her, won’t allow him to walk away. He discovers that he’s willing to go to war with the whole world for one alluring, yet vulnerable woman. He can’t seem to stop taking desperate gambles where she’s concerned. The most dangerous of all might be trusting her with the truth.
AMAZON

5 STARS

Why, oh Why did I wait so long to read this story?  It's been sitting a while before I got to it. It was powerful had quite the punch to it with incredible depth.  You want emotion in your story?  This will do it to you.  You want interesting people?  Put a check mark in that box as well.  It also had PLENTY of dangerous plots to keep things moving but without being confusing. That was a win to me. 

Anna was someone who was fascinating to Jake and I admit that she was fascinating to me too.  She turned Jake upside down as he tried to figure out if she was as innocent as she appeared.  It's going to take a while.  It was an enjoyable journey when watching her growth from terrified walking it alone woman to overcoming it all.

Jake (Grif) had his secrets too as he walked a very dangerous line. As dangerous as it was at least HE wasn't walking alone.   But like Anna what a great character he was too.  I loved them both.

By the way, there will be heat between Anna and Grif.  But first there is tenderness and understanding from Grif.  And anger for what she has gone through.  He was up for whatever it took for her to get justice.

This story was filled with surprises and some off-the chart evil people.  A spectacular ending with a good epilogue made me happy.


I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest opinion of it.

BOOK REVIEW- K-9 HIDEOUT ( (A K-9 Alaska #4) by Elizabeth Heiter

      What is the lustrous substance that forms pearls called?What is the lustrous substance that forms pearls called?

Dirty cops, hidden identities and a deadly stalker…

Police handler Tate Emory is thankful that Sabrina Jones saved his trusty K-9 companion, Sitka, but he didn’t sign up for national media exposure. That publicity unveils his true identity to the dirty Boston cops he took down…and brings Sabrina’s murderous stalker even closer to his target. With their covers blown, Tate will risk his life—and his guarded heart—to save Sabrina from a fatal end.

From Harlequin Intrigue: Seek thrills. Solve crimes. Justice served. 

AMAZON LINK 

4 STARS

 This town seems to be a Town of Many Secrets & Hidings.  That made things even more interesting.There's hints of secrets just about everywhere. 

I liked both Sabrina, Tate and of course Sitka. 

The story starts out good but also has quite a few times where it just slows down for a while.  Those times did bother me some.  But it does set up a good foundation.  But I guess the idea is for us to wait for the other shoe to drop too. And  it was a big shoe when it did drop.  That wasn't the only big surprise coming either.   There's a few more that you won't see coming.

Great ending with a good Epilogue.

I read this book through Amazon Prime Free Reading Library.

 

BOOK REVIEW- My Older Brother's Runaway Bride by Chloe Roberts

   

I never imagined that I’d skip my own wedding only to end up in the company of my ex’s older brother.

 

Compassionate, understanding, crazy hot, and… completely off-limits!

 

To exacerbate the difficult circumstances, I also wind up acting as his fake girlfriend to catch an enemy that threatens his life. 

No chance I'd ever be romantically involved with him... but being stuck with him in close quarters totally flipped the script.

Whenever he's around, my heart goes into overdrive, and my brain takes a siesta - talk about a deadly combination!

I don't know whether to run for the hills or into his arms.

I never imagined that I’d skip my own wedding only to end up in the company of my ex’s older brother.

Compassionate, understanding, crazy hot, and… completely off-limits!

To exacerbate the difficult circumstances, I also wind up acting as his fake girlfriend to catch an enemy that threatens his life. 

No chance I'd ever be romantically involved with him... but being stuck with him in close quarters totally flipped the script.

Whenever he's around, my heart goes into overdrive, and my brain takes a siesta - talk about a deadly combination!

I don't know whether to run for the hills or into his arms.

I COULDN'T FIND IT ON AMAZON OR GOODREADS .

I did like both of the main characters and that they both got to share their points of view.  The story started out strong but felt like it kind of slowed for a while.  But it did get better as it went along and there was a couple of surprising twists towards the end.  Because the dangers were real.

I found the story to be just okay with a happy ending.

I did get this through a Newsletter for free

BOOK REVIEW- Highland Beast (Sons of Sinclair# 4) by Heather McCollum

   

Romance

Description

Bàs Sinclair is the cold and brutal hand—and sword—of justice across the Highlands. He has one destiny: to bring fear into the hearts of guilty men. But when he is called to execute a midwife for her crimes, he cannot raise his weapon. For Bàs already knows this lovely, part-wild creature. After all, she gave him his first and only kiss…

Shana Drummond will do anything to protect her beloved sister. Now her cruel, merciless brother-in-law has called upon Bàs to have Shana killed for crimes she didn’t commit. She can’t reconcile the cold, lethal warrior before her with the gentle one she met—nay, kissed—only days before.

But mercy from Bàs can only lead to one thing: war among the clans. A war that will test allegiances, tear families apart, and challenge everything Bàs knows about himself and his heart. Because once this Highlander knows love, nothing will stop him from keeping Shana safe…even if it means destroying his own destiny.

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

What an unusual story this turned out to be.  It wasn't exactly what I was expecting.  Making it almost impossible to predict was going to happen next. But that was also a good thing in my opinion. I also enjoyed the things that happened in daily life in his clan that drew both main characters into some interesting situations.

What a surprise Bàs Sinclair turned out to be. You could really feel the emotions beginning from the time as a sensitive 5 year old little boy.  I liked seeing the complexity of his life now and that there was so much more to him than just being the hand of death.  Hard to believe but I really liked him.  He was so alone even among his family.

Everyone feared him, except his brothers who were his fellow Horseman and his sister Hannah. The brothers and their wives added a great dimension to the story.  Hannah has been his champion since childhood and protected him as much as she could.  She was so clever and a boldness that had been hidden.  I was glad to see that she has her story coming too.

Turns out it was a good thing that Bàs met Shana before he was supposed to execute her in his role as the Horseman of Death.  It gave him the truth against what was being claimed by her evil brother-in-law.  But that doesn't mean things are going to be made easier though. Along the way, it also brings up a question.  Could  both of the main characters add more to their roles as one who aids life, and one who aids death.

I know Bàs is the one I've talked about the most but Shana was a force to be reckoned with too.  I loved how brave, loyal, loving, knowledgeable about being a midwife, and good to the core that she was.  More than a match to go toe to toe with Bàs.  Especially as she fights with anger towards him when she finds out what he does for the clan.

Fierce battles against lies, betrayals, and a few actual physical battles are in this story.  Especially towards the end. It gets really intense. 

I liked how the story ended and how 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- On His Six: A Former Military Protector Romance Standalone (Away From Keyboard # 3) by Patricia D. Eddy

  NEWSLETTER?/

 

Ryker McCabe

Give me a room full of armed hostiles and I know exactly what to do. But a head full of memories? There's no evasion plan for those. Sit rep: I let my team down and nearly got us all killed.

I’m no coward. But I’m going dark. Back to Boston to exorcise a demon. Instead, I run into a woman being chased by her own. A jade-eyed redhead as soft and tiny as I am hard and rough. With a mouth made for sass, the heart of a fighter—and a potentially deadly problem.

Wren Kane

Ryker’s huge. Inked, scarred, and, at first glance, scary as all get out. Until I notice his mesmerizing, multi-colored eyes. He’s my last hope to prove my brother didn’t die of an overdose. My hacking skills only go so far, and good fudging luck finding anyone else insane enough to take on the Russian mob.

Danger throws gas on the sparks between us. But Russian drug lords don’t take betrayal lightly. And to bring down this monster, Ry will have to unleash his own.

Note: On His Six is book 3 in the bestselling Away From Keyboard series. It can be read as a standalone.

AMAZON LINK 

 

What a dark start to Ryker's part of the story. I have to say that parts of this story are NOT for the weak of heart. There is plenty of emotions much coming from the torture that Ryker endured.  And what his team members suffered including Dax who was the only other survivor from Hell.

Wren what a kooky, super smart tiny woman. I adored her.  Her substitute for swearing words were hilarious.  I really liked how she really "saw" Ryker.  He was amazed how easily she could read him.  But as time goes on we find that she isn't exempt from torture either.  For me that part was tough to read.

The story is a full one, with some humor, and good people who are trying to re-connect with Ryder, who has been hiding.

The evil guys?  Worse than you can imagine.

The ending however was good. I loved how Ryker finally finds love that he so deserves although he hadn't thought so.  He had given up hope on ever finding anyone.  And tiny Wren, is tiny in size only but her heart is big.

I received a copy of this book for free without being required to leave a review.

BOOK REVIEW- Protecting Lucy by Hunter Rose

   

Older. Dominant. And brutally handsome.

Jackson is so much better than he was years ago.

As my older brother’s best friend, he turned me down

And, I vowed to never feel anything for him after that. But now he’s thrust back into my life…

I won’t let my old feelings for him resurface.

My resolve weakens when someone starts stalking me, and Jackson makes it his mission to protect me.

And when things get more and more dangerous, I find myself falling for Jackson even harder.

Will I be able to survive the danger looming and my feeling for Jackson?  GOODREADS LINK

 

I understood  that the beginning of the book with Lucy being 16 years old made sense.  She really did have quite the crush on Jackson that made sense.  Her brother Dean's best friend was hot.  So that part was of course a bit juvenile because of the ages.  But for me at least, it seemed like the interactions and even their biting conversations continued to be juvenile.  I just couldn't connect with their story.  Turns out this wasn't my cup of tea.

I will give it points for having plenty of emotions, and angst.  Even Trina and Dean added some background interest.  However, how dumb Lucy seemed to be to me with her "hiding" the dangers stalking her for so long.  She's old enough now in the story to be more adult about things.  I get that she was tired of being caught up in yet another mistake.  But it had me shaking my head and another miss when it came to connecting. 

Sorry author, I'd take a look at some of  your other books but this was a miss for me. 

 

I got this free through Bookfunnel.

BOOK REVIEW- Bulletproof (Shadow Agents # 4) by Cynthia Eden

   

He was assigned to protect her…
not make her his own.

Cale Lane had his orders: keep Cassidy Sherridan alive at all costs especially when six armed men storming the Rio ballroom to take her out? Using herself as bait was the first step in her plan to bring a killer to justice—and she didn’t need the former Texas ranger blowing her cover. Yet now he had a more urgent mission: uncover Cassidy’s secrets…one by one.

Previously published as Glitter and Gunfire.

AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

Cale and Cassidy, what great people not only separately but as they fought evil and butted heads often.  But hey, we know that their romance wasn't going to be easy.  I enjoyed their battles and their attraction.  One of my favorite things was when Cassidy shared:  She used bad memories to push away the current fear.  Fight one fear with another..an old trick for her. Loved that!

Mercer?  He's a whole bag of control and often came across as a bully.  Which I personally hate but he's also the head of the EOD and has a lot of people that he's in charge of.  Their lives and the operations that they are in are totally in his hands.  So he's used to being in control.  

Emotional, dangerous like you can 't expect, evil "geniuses, betrayals and surprises that you won't see coming is how I would describe this story. 

The ending?  Just what I was looking for.

   

 

BOOK REVIEW- My Mafia Protector by Ella Adair

   my mafia protector

Never accept the love of a mob boss…  they always disappoint.

That’s what I thought, until he appeared back into my life.

Luca - the only man I ever loved but now I can't even look at him without getting upset.

We knew each other for years.

Being children of mafia Bosses wasn't easy, but we confided in each other. 

Now it's all a mess.

A rival family has stolen my daughter and I’m paying for my father's mistakes.

Now that Luca is back, I can't stand him but I need him.

He is the only one who can protect me.

I'm stuck contemplating when to tell him the truth.

That it is OUR little girl we are fighting to save

 

This is a good story that I couldn't find on Amazon or Goodreads.  That's a shame. Because I did enjoy it and just seemed to sail right through it.  I would have liked to leave a review.

I liked the history that Luca and Jaquetta (Jackie  ) shared.  They practically grew up together.  He was always there for her through many hardships and joys until he wasn't.  It had to do with him trying to protect her again..from that mafia life. 

Jaquetta just misses Luca although some parts of her also hate him for just vanishing from her life.  They definitely have some emotions to work out, if they can.  Because danger is coming straight for them. It's also coming straight for sweet, innocent Rose.

Bobby and John P. are an important part of Luca's team.  Especially Bobby who also grew up with both Luca and Jaquetta.  

As expected it comes to a violent ending but also in some parts a hopeful one too.

I received a free copy of this book when I claimed a copy from the author's newsletter. 

BOOK REVIEW- On the Line by Fern Michaels

   

 

General Fiction (Adult)

Description

The masterful storytelling and nail-biting suspense that are trademarks of beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels combine in this thrilling standalone novel, as a star Manhattan chef must uncover his family’s past to protect their lives—and his own. Perfect for fans of Nora Roberts and Rachel Caine . . .

Mateo Castillo is a rising star chef on the Manhattan culinary scene. But just as he’s about to reap the rewards of his skill and hard work by being featured on a major TV cooking competition, Mateo collapses in his restaurant’s kitchen—and regains consciousness in a hospital emergency room.

If it weren’t for a security guard finding him in time, Mateo would have bled to death.  The cause of his sudden illness is as mysterious as it is worrying, and Mateo and his family undergo a battery of genetic tests. Yet the answers that start to emerge only raise more questions.

Mateo’s parents fled their home in Colombia many years ago, seeking refuge from the infamous cartels. Now the test results threaten to uncover a dark secret that exposes his family to dangers in the past—while clouding the investigation into who is trying to hurt Mateo in the present . . . 

 AMAZON LINK

 5 Stars

 

This story was a surprise to me.  Why?   I have read quite a few different stories by this author.  But this one was totally unlike anything I had read so far from her.  It also had great world building in more than one way. Just incredibly good writing with a lot of personality, emotions and depth.

Mateo was such a great guy. He was not only skilled but kind and generous too. He treated everyone he met with such honor.  Everyone loved him or did they?  With his health at risk, is it because someone is trying to kill him or is it something from his past? That is the question.  And it drives this story.  So does the look into his parent's past which also provides so much interest and emotions too ! It was unexpected but so enjoyable too.  This part after awhile shines a light on that secret that was mentioned.

Dr. Adrian Ardell, I wasn't sure how much she was going to have to do with the story personally.  I liked how she entered into the story with her own P.O.V.  I ended up liking her quite a bit. It also helps that she is like a bloodhound/detective when it comes to solving medical mysteries. That is definitely a point in Mateo's favor.  Even in this very serious health fight, I loved the humor that popped up between the two. 

Prepare yourself for quite the reveal of everything.  It makes for a good ending and the beginning of other things. 

 

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

 

(NETGALLEY)

BOOK REVIEW- Protecting Piper (Wilde Ways #1) by Cynthia Eden

   

She was off-limits.

Eric Wilde has always known that Piper Lane isn’t for him. She is his younger brother’s best friend…and probably more. But that hasn’t stopped Eric from wanting her, from longing for the one woman that he can’t have. Sure, he’s rich, successful—he’s built a security empire, and he’s got the world at his feet. Only he doesn’t have her.

He is the one man she needs the most.

Free-spirited Piper Lane has always considered Eric to be the enemy. He’s seemed to resent her, and the guy just flat-out makes her nervous. Every time she’s around him, she winds up doing something horribly embarrassing. But, this time…everything has changed. This time, he’s the one man she needs the most.

Something is stalking Piper.

A stranger has broken into Piper’s home twice, and she feels like someone is following her. Watching her every move. She needs a professional to help her—so enter Eric Wilde. He promises her protection, he promises to put his best investigators on her case, and he even moves her into his house. Suddenly, the guy who has always been the villain in her life…he’s now playing the role of hero.

Everything will change as the danger mounts.

And maybe Eric isn’t so bad, after all. The more time that Piper spends with him, the more she realizes that her feelings for Eric are far more complicated that she ever imagined. Desire explodes between them even as the danger deepens around her. Someone in the dark is targeting Piper, and he is determined that if he can’t possess her…then he will destroy her.

 BOUGHT @

AMAZON LINK

 5 STARS

I'm sorry but Ben (Eric's brother) was SO annoying!   And the more time that went on made me think, "What an idiot" he was.  Most of that came from times that he interfered with Eric. I felt he was out of line when it came from trying to protect his best friend Piper from Eric. He was kind of possessive which irritated me.  The only good point in his favor was that he was such a lifelong friend and was trying to have her back.  In this case, though he wasn't as skilled as he would have liked to protect her.

  But Eric has everything needed to protect her. As secrets start to come out, he's done standing back from the woman he loves. It begins to be pretty clear how long he's loved her.  Eric is one fierce gorgeous, smart guy.  

Finally we get to Piper and it also clear how easy it is for others to love her.  There's plenty of "dangerous" love out there. Also a lot of potential men who could be after Piper.  Intensity is at a high level throughout.  The attraction/relationship between Piper and Eric keeps things interesting. I loved them being together when they finally get there.

Twists, turns, surprises, murders make things unpredictable but the story has a surprising ending.  I liked that there was a H.E.A. ending.

BOOK REVIEW- Over Her Dead Body (Defenders of Battle Mountain# 5) by Nichole Severn

 

 Someone wants her dead.
It’s up to him to make sure that doesn’t happen.

The first bullet didn’t kill her. But the next one might. With a target on her back, Battle Mountain reserve officer Isla Vachs has no choice but to trust Adan Sergeant. The soldier turned bodyguard has one final mission: protect his best friend’s widow and her daughter. As each step plunges Adan and Isla deeper into a sniper’s crosshairs, a deadly truth is about to become chillingly clear…

AMAZON LINK 

5 STARS

There was a question that kept cropping up for me and of course the people in the story.  How in the world was the assassin picking their victims. They seem so totally unrelated.  And the biggest question is why Isla?

The relationship between Mazi and Adan really was special and I liked that.  The relationship between Isa and Adan was dicey.  Emotional and filled with angst and some guilt on both of their parts.  Most of that guilt coming from Clint's death and some how they each feel like they failed him. Of course, it didn't help that Clint was keeping a lot of secrets from them. 

I also liked the how the fellow officers in the community had each others back and were such a family.  The mayor however you can keep him.  That political poser.  He causes a lot of trouble.

Several times I just wanted to shake Isla until her teeth rattled.  She let her emotions rile her and she stomps out into the open. It's like she totally forgot that someone wants to kill her. And her behavior is something that puts other people in danger as well.  

Speaking of danger there will be PLENTY of that.  A lot of UNPREDICTABLE danger, which really kept the story jumping.  I just never knew what was going to happen next.

The ending was just as intense as the story has been all along.  But it has a good ending and even better beginning

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

BOOK HUMOR: Stages of Book Grief