ARC/BKfunnel/ Carols of Deception-Book 2- by Cait Byrne

   amazon

The holidays are over, but the secrets keep piling up…

Elinor March thought her first Thorndale Christmas would be quiet—until a local is murdered on the steps of the vicarage, and her closest friend is arrested for the crime. As scandal rocks the village, Ellie can’t sit by and do nothing. But investigating only draws her deeper into the village’s tangled past—and its present-day betrayals.

As evidence mounts and gossip spreads, Ellie’s search for answers risks tearing the community apart. Meanwhile, her relationship with Vicar Tom Ashworth falters under pressure—and unspoken truths.

A hidden art cache, secret wartime ties, and a grieving village on edge… this mystery is anything but cozy.

--- MY 5 STAR REVIEW- TITLED: Another Unusual Christmas 

This is an ongoing story and this is Book 2 in that group.   And I read the first book and wanted to continue. 

Elinor March is continuing her search because things aren't adding up !  The Vicar Tom Ashwood and Elinor THOUGHT it was finished but it's NOT !  "Ellie" as she likes to be called now by most of the town while some still like to be more formal and keep the Dr. part of her name.  Ellie already found it odd that the woman Detective Morrison was so quick to finish Dr. Robert Blackwood's death and close it as a suicide. But Ellie is an expert and the handwriting on the suicide is clearly a forgery !  She knows this when she compares it against a letter sent to her grandmother years ago ! 

Dorothy Fairfax declares that she was a great friend with  her grandmother but I'm not so sure. Dorthy is regal and self confident but she's also pushy when it comes to saying that this investigation is dangerous ! There is plenty of twists and turns in this investigation !Other people also warn of danger including the village doctor !

I loved the friendship and more development on potential romance between Tom and Ellie !  Interesting touch about how Tom brought Ellie some special macaroons one night and finds out how she hates them. They have negative memories for her from her weaseling, confidence killing jerk ex-husband Richard !  "Weaponized Maroons", what a great Descriptive,  phrase ! I loved that ! She did tell Tom that she would work on that though because he did such a special thing just for her ! Tom is great ! 

Tom's daughter Lucy, is as adorable as ever especially in her not so innocent efforts to get her dad and Ellie together. I hope it works, it seems to be !

Then Lucy,  in a surprise twist is  taken as Leverage...to be continued to Book 3.  

I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.

 

jan 10-ARCBksprout/ Twins for the Mafia King by Roxy Vale

  Booksprout

 

One minute I’m sent to negotiate with a mafia heir. The next, I realize he’s my ex’s brother—and I’m pregnant with his twins.

Drake Doyle should’ve been just another name on my file—an Irish-American billionaire tangled in blood and power.

The kind of man diplomats like me are trained to outsmart, not crave.

But when he appeared on that video call, that smirk made me forget every rule.

Because I know him. He’s my ex’s brother—the one I swore I’d never see again.

Now he demands a trade: his brother’s freedom for the Russian ambassador’s life. And I’m the one sent to face him.

Except our late-night negotiations become something else: a burner phone for confessions, video calls that blur into a dangerous fantasy.

And one reckless night when he finally claims me as his own.

He’s obsessive, impossible to resist. And somewhere between duty and desire, I lose myself.

But when two heartbeats flicker on the ultrasound, I stop being the negotiator—and become the woman who’d kill for her family.

 Hosted by Roxy Vale Romance

Note from the Author

Enjoy the book! And please leave your honest review on Amazon when the book goes live on 7th of January 2026.

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My 5 STAR Review TITLED: Be Aware That it's HOT & Explicit

 

Natalia  Debechenko is the Russian negotiator sent in last minute. She's been working for the Russian Embassy that's on American soil for 3 years.  She's an American born Russian, which puts her in between a rock and a hard place ! Olga was Natalia's superior at the Embassy and boy was she tough !

Natalia is  definitely attracted to "bad boys" by her own definition ! And here comes trouble:

Drake Doyle is the Irish-American Billionaire who she has to work with through the phone/video at the embassy.   Dang, but he looks familiar to her and that scares her. He's trying to get his creep of a brother Liam back from the capture of the Russians. Liam is his father, Connor's golden boy, his favorite son ! Connor only see Drake as The Muscle.  Natalia almost loses it when she realizes it's her ex, Liam that she's trying to negotiate about freeing.  But she has a job to do and she's good at it. Well, until she isn't.

The phone turns into some very hot, phone sex until the real thing happens, often.  

The Drake family weird hacker named Hunter is totally worth mentioning. He's highly skilled funny and totally loyal. So is James Lowe, the German man, who ALWAYS has Drake's back. Always had and always will ! There are also a couple more really good people on Drake's team and I wasn't sure everyone was going to make it out alive !

I adored Natalia's mother and kept wondering throughout, "what happens to her if Natalia runs?"  She was very interesting woman with strengths that Natalia didn't see coming !

There is a Senator that is helping the Drake family as well. Also worth a mention.   

I don't trust Liam for one hot second ! Has he changed any at al all or is he still charmingly trying his lies ?  I think personally he's psycho but time will tell. 

This story was emotional, had lots of depth and some MAJOR Twists towards the end.  

 The Epilogue was a welcome good relief after all of the story and I was glad that it ended that way !

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

JAN8/bksprout/MY DAMAGED FAKE FIANCE/ (Damaged Billionaire Music Mayhem) by Lexi Cole

  Booksprout

 

She’s chaos in heels with a smile that makes the world combust. I’m the ex‑SEAL they hired to guard every dangerous curve of her body.

Zayne Lee. Beautiful rebel.  Deliciously out of control.  

But I don’t do popstars. I don’t do chaos. I definitely don’t do feelings. 

I do the job—precise, lethal when needed.

 Then the threats get real—notes, packages, promises written in blood. Her music label demands a cover. My solution and mistake: a fake engagement. 

She slips her hand in mine and everything shifts.  Glitter on her lips and a touch that makes discipline feel like a joke.

Now we share a bed, a heat that wrecks me every night, and lies that taste like sin. 

I tell myself it’s only the job. It’s not. 

I’ve fallen for her.

When the stalker steps out of the shadows, claiming to expose us and destroy her, I won’t just protect her—I’ll hunt him and become the nightmare he can’t wake from. 

Because I’m steel. She’s my weakness.  

And I will burn the world to keep her safe.

Mature

Novella

Romance billionaire ex-navy seal fake fiance alpha male damsel enemies-to-lovers protector bodyguard curvy sassy/sunshine

Hosted by My Damaged Fake Fiance - ARC Team S

Note from the Author

Your opinion is valued more than you know. As a new author it makes me develop into a better writer. You are greatly appreciated. Thank you, Lexi

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------My 5 STARS Review Notes Titled:   Plenty of Threats & Slow Romance

Zayne Lee is a beautiful rebel and Kade Grayson suddenly slams into her life. Literally ! He's the billionaire bodyguard fighting it but falling in love with her She's brilliant, beautiful, bigger than life and sassy even when she starts to get terrified.  She wants no part of him or his RULES until she must. But even then at times she still will give him sass. That stalker is playing a brilliant, scary game of appearing and scaring her and then magically disappearing. No sign of hi. He's like a ghost !

Collin Gray is the man she sees the most because he's basically he face of her record brand. I didn't like him and I didn't trust him. He's always pushing her even when she's about to break ! He's a cold fish who doesn't see her as a human and calls her an "asset", a product. She does call him on it more than once but the show must go on. 

Something is off with Zayne's best friend and dancer, Tiff.  Suddenly Zayne notices it after a performance but can't put her finger on it.  

I loved the suspense, the twists and surprises. I kept wondering if the stalker was working alone.   It all comes to a great conclusion. I just have to also mention that I loved the slow, protective romance between Zayne and Kade. And how he worked himself almost to exhaustion until they caught the "problem"  

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

Jan 10 Booksprout/ Wicked Choices - A Dark Scottish Mafia Romance (The MacTavish Heirs #7) by Arianna Fraser

  Booksprout

 

Even a man who knows his duty can be selfish.I'm Michael MacTavish, first born to Cormac, Chieftain of the MacTavish Mafia. I will take over my father's role, overseeing the biggest crime family in Scotland and our multi-billion dollar empire. I know my duty.

I also know what I want. What I crave. Sweet Sophie, our housekeeper's daughter. I've kept my distance. But when she's caught in the middle of a web of betrayal, the only way I can save her from being punished by my family is simple. Marry her.
Sophie:
There's nothing more ironic than the realization that getting everything I ever dreamt of... is the worst possible thing that could happen to me. When the man I knew as charming and kind, turns cold and cruel when he thinks I'm a traitor to his clan. That a hasty, forced marriage is nothing like my ridiculous, girlish dreams.  And the most difficult thing of all? The knowledge that I'm still hopelessly in love with him. Tropes:
Forbidden Love
Forced Proximity
Age-gap Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
Touch her and die vibes
Power Imbalance
Forced Marriage

Wicked Choices - A Dark Scottish Mafia Romance has a HEA and no cheating. If you like your men dark, complex, and morally gray, Michael is your next book boyfriend.

 

Hosted by MacTavish Stolen Brides

Note from the Author

Thank you for your time, keen eye and your insight! I appreciate your support, not just for me, but other indie authors as well.

Review on at least 1:

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Goodreads

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--- MY 5 Star- REVIEW NOTES TITLED :  The McTavish Mafia Family Is HUGE & Wild 

 

It was a nice touch that the book  included,  The MacTavish Family Tree. It's short  but concise.  I liked the plot idea of Michael the main character wanting the housekeeper's daughter, Sophie. That was different. 

Cormac McTavish is the Chieftain of the head of this Scottish Mafia and is amused by her and Maisie , the first day that she saw him, 10 years ago.  There are a couple of flashbacks in the beginning but then settled down into the current times for the most part. 

Michael is now 34 but a difference of 12 years between him and Sophie ! Sophie hears in her head from her dead brother and when she told her mother that, it got her sent to therapy so now she just keeps it to herself ! Some funny exchanges between Sophie and her brother ! That was well done. 

Michael has a twin sister, Catriona and we meet her husband Lucas briefly in the beginning ! That's okay because that whole, huge family bands together when trouble hits against Michael and Sophie!  No family left behind ! Michael has his best captain Ryan that he shares a lot with. . Michael does have  secret that only a few people know about and he father does know. Michael also knows the family motto is basically "show no weakness.'' 

Mala is Michael's mother and she is a doll but she also understands that she will do whatever she has to to protect her family. One of the people that she DOESN'T want in her family is that cold fish, Celia Montrose ! She treats anyone under her billionaire father like servants. Although she doesn't let Michael see that because she wants to hook him, Everyone hates her but want to let Michael make the moves about her. 

Turns out Michael has had feelings for Sophie for years but now he doesn't trust her. Trust doesn't come easy. And Sophie's mother, Martha has been hiding a HUGE secret of her own. One that brings all the trouble to their door ! Even Sophie didn't know why they have been running and hiding all these years. Yep, its a doozie !  Martha has been trying to keep her daughter safe from an evil San  Fransisco Mafia man, named Taylor and that led to HER huge mistake that caused Sophie's marriage. Great TWISTS and Surprises ! And a BIG one happens again when Martha redeems herself !

It made me laugh when it came to all the stories of how how the  McTavis's met their husbands or wives. No sweet, meet and greet for any of them. And Sophie had to laugh too about her marriage. The story is emotional because of Sophie being attracted and loving Michael for years ! Another spot where I laughed, was when they realized how many Mafia doctors they had in the family and it even confused Michael at least once !

There's a traitor in their midst which explains a lot although I never expected it to be that person ! And the motive?  Double Wow ! 

Maisie, is still Sophie's best friend and she was another character that I just loved ! She was spunky and a hoot !  The whole family knew that it was Maisie that got Sophie in trouble along side her and often had to get Michael to get them out of it ! She was wild and I can't wait to see her get her own story and see who could possibly be brave enough to take her on !

 By the way, there are a lot of hot, married scenes as well !

 I'm so glad that I  received a free copy of this book via Booksprout . I loved everything about this book so I'm thrilled to leave this review !

bkfunnel/ The Making of A Spy by Judy Hutson

   For any other questions, please contact:
Judy Hutson <judyhutson@judyhutsonwrites.com>

In this prequel to the international thriller Spy Notes, music publicist - Johnny Harrington's life is upended when she narrowly survives a deadly ambush, the sole witness to a murder she was never meant to see.

With two people dead, including her own client, one of the biggest rap stars in the business - Johnny is trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

She must uncover the shooter's identity before he silences her for good, as the ruthless killer works to cover his tracks and eliminate the one person who can expose his crimes.

My Review Notes: 4 Stars TITLED: A good start

Johnny Harrigton is the publicist for Li'l Man  and she was with him when he got killed ! Well, NOT exactly with him because she was laying down in the back seat of the car because she was tired.  Her male friend Bobby tries to help her as he tells her to be careful. Tybo, the leader of a different music group needs a publicist and wants to hire her. She doesn't really want to work for him but at the party she hears, "The Voice".  That's all she knows of the killer since she really didn't see his face.  Now she is on the hunt and its just the beginning !

ARCJanuary 5th, 2026 / Marked by the Bratva Heir Book 1 of Morikov Bratva Brothers by Sasha Cole

 Booksprout

 

I went from hating the Bratva heir to being his forced fiancée.

Now I'm the woman he kidnaps to protect. 

One week ago, I was living paycheck to paycheck, not dodging bullets.
Then my uncle died and left me the shipping empire I never wanted.

Turns out, the docks come with blood money... and a target on my back.

Everyone wants me dead — except for the hot Russian, Leb Morikov.
He shoved a ring on my finger and called it protection. I called it captivity.

He moves like patience, kills like instinct, and touches like he owns you.

His protection comes wrapped in steel edges and silk sheets. Now my heart is the ransom.

But when his enemies come after him, I have to make a choice: stay the helpless wife… or storm hell to get him back.

Turns out, I look damn good holding a gun.

 

Hosted by Sasha's Mafia ARC team

Note from the Author

Please enjoy the book and leave your honest review. Thanks so much!

Must review on:

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File(s) available:

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----------------- 

MY 5 STAR REVIEW TITLED:    Dark HEA

 

Elise is at her Uncle Patrick's funeral when she hears the foghorn from the Port Harrows. It gives her chills as it sinks in that she is now the heir to Hollister Docks. Now, people start to move in trying to get control of the docks through her and they are not the friendly kind of people you want to deal with. Mikhail is Leb's evil cousin who wants to take her control away but Leb gets there first ! Leb Morikov has been studying her and he's patient.  I came to like him fairly quickly and of course, could sympathize with Elise being held in a silken cage for her own "protection.: 

I liked her best friend, Carmen who had texted her about there were discrepancies in the books that her deceased uncle had kept.  He was a crook among crooks and promised things that he couldn't deliver..now.  And the Irish want what he promised and plan to have Elise pay up..immediately. But Leb, wasn't having any of that. 

Twists, turns and dangers keep the tension high and I enjoyed the romance in the story as well. Turns out that Elise is tougher than anyone had ever imagined but Leb sees her.

Great ending to the story . 

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I'm glad that I did because I  found it had a lot of depth.  

bkfunnel/ Undercover Sliver Fox Billionaire by Liz Fraise

  For any other questions, please contact:
Liz Fraise <info@lizfraiseauthor.com>

I’m the billionaire CEO going undercover to catch a thief.

They’re bleeding my company dry.

I never meant to fall for one of my employees.

I lost my heart the minute I saw her:  sassy, sexy, intelligent, a stunning tech goddess.

Ana is all curves and clever jabs.

 Her intuition is sharp—she doesn't trust me.

 But I trust her.

Her integrity is unquestionable.

She works smart, and she cares.

Recognition clicks between us: attraction and something familiar.

Each time we touch, it’s explosive.

Soon, unquestionable passion ignites hotter than any corporate scandal.

Then, a mandatory retreat throws us together.

A stolen kiss by the fire turns into a soul-stirring love affair.

She calls me her silver fox lover.

Now, I need her in my bed every night.

 But I’m lying to her every day!

Ana hates liars.

What will happen when she finds out my true identity?

I could lose her forever.

----My 4 Star Review TITLED; Secret Romance, Hidden Thief 

Ana Rodriguez is late. Late for an important group meeting with Max and The Team when she collides with Carter.  She's got the prototype they need for that meeting at Stratagem Tech and doesn't need that delay with that handsome older man.  

She's interested in him but has adopted a strict NO fraternizing with people at work after being stung by Blake who stole one of her ideas.  But Carter is causing some strong pressure on that rule of hers !!

When we get Carter Mason's P.O.V. its at his Day 2 at the firm, of being undercover. And he hates working at a desk. Being confided doing nonsense stuff on the computer so that he doesn't blow the fact that he knows more than a newbie should  !  It doesn't take long for Ana to suspect that something is wrong about Carter and she's one clever woman, who is spectacular at her job.  Carter is also now fighting HIS attraction to Ana and he's finding that is harder to do as time goes on.

The story has a good ending with the thief being caught and the romance between Ana and Carter getting even better.