Bksprout March2- Taken by the Rival Don Gia Hartley

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I kidnapped my enemy’s daughter.
Now I’m willing to burn the city down to keep her.

I wasn’t supposed to touch Vivian Callaro.
She’s the daughter of my rival, the key to everything her dead father owed me.

Taking her should be simple.
Use her to collect what’s owed, then let her go. 

But first, I make sure she sees me kill a man. 

Now she can’t leave. Now she’s mine to contain.

That’s mistake number one.

We share late nights over bloodstained ledgers.
Her mouth challenges me, her brain saves my empire, her spine dares me to deserve her.

I tell myself it’s strategy when I protect her.
I tell myself it’s control when I touch her.

It stops being a lie the moment I choose her over my men.

Over my reputation.

Over my revenge.

Because while I’m falling for the woman I stole, the truth surfaces...
Her father’s death wasn’t collateral.

It was a setup.

And the worst part?
The man responsible is coming for her next…

And I’ll be damned if I let him take anything of mine, especially her.

Explicit

Novel

Romance mafia romance contemporary romance enemies to lovers possessive alpha male touch her and die morally gray hero rival families steamy mafia romance protective alpha kidnap

Hosted by Gia Hartley Romance

Note from the Author

This is my first Mafia Romance novel. I appreciate you taking the time to read it, and I would love your feedback when finished. Thanks!

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-----My 5 STAR REVIEW--TITLED: They are going to have to Dig Deeper

 

Vivian Callaro is a woman who is just living her life working in Art and she's extremely skilled. She has had  some suspicions about how honest her father Antonio really is.  But she didn't really think to much about it. That is until he is murdered. Now, she just has to know who killed him and why.  

Is Elena Marchetti really her friend? I had some doubts about that in the opening of the story. 

  

She thinks that Rafael Morsco is behind her father's  murder.  She just doesn't know what she's been thrown into when she's kidnapped very smoothly by Rafael and his team.  A man named, Tommaso is a member of that team and has been with Rafael for years. She's furious but also smart. Rafael coerces her by threatening her beloved Aunt, a retired school teacher who lovingly raised her after her mother's  death.  Her aunt lives in Connecticut and Rafael shows Vivian that he knows all about her and can "touch' her if Vivian doesn't help him. Bully ! I loved her aunt and wanted to see her re-united with her niece safely !  She was a lovely older woman. 

 The attraction between the MC's is definitely there and turns HOT ! But that doesn't mean that they trust each other.  That takes awhile and some mistakes especially on her part. But they have to work together because they do have some seriously dangerous enemies.  Massimo seemed shady from the start. But there were several other semi-hidden and deeper hidden enemies.  Yess,  Vivian and Rafael WILL have to become a team together and work together to get what they want and stay alive.   It gets pretty intense and enjoyable as they fight their way to their HEA.  Turns out Vivian is not the softer version of herself any more and becomes a sharp weapon against their enemies. 

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

 ___________________________________________________________________

 

Rucci and Lorenzo Castellano are the deep dig enemies- not included in my review. 

ARC/ KINDLE BOUGHT/ Embers of a Second Chance by Ariel Prosper

  

AMAZON 

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She ruined me once. Walked out without a word, leaving me with nothing but a scarred heart and a whole lot of rage.

Now Tessa Morgan is back in Silver Ridge, shoved right into my world like fate’s got a twisted sense of humor.

I tell myself to stay away. To keep it professional, keep it cold. But one look at her—those storm-gray eyes daring me to remember, that cascade of dark hair I used to wrap around my fists, those curves that make my pulse hammer—and I’m toast.

Every shift with her is torture. The scent of her skin, the sway of her body, the way her mouth tilts when she’s about to argue—it all drags me back to nights I swore I’d forget.

She’s fire, pure and dangerous. And I know if I touch her again, I won’t stop.
The question is… will she.

 -----My Review Notes--- The Pressures Increase

Tessa Morgan is coming back to Silver Ridge. The county hired her as the new wildfire education coordinator; a job tailor made for her because of her environmental science degree.  Her  grandmother's best friend is Bernice Hanley who is sitting with her for the station's first meeting.  Her grandmother Leah had passed away and Bernice had now "adopted" her after she passed. Bernice is warm and supportive and also owns Hanley's Cafe & Gifts.   Tessa's sister Claire, stays in contact with her. Tessa has a secret about why she left without warning..does Claire know the secret?  

Ethan Cole hears his Chief Jake Torres welcomes her afterwards. Is he interested in her? Ethan is a good man who is still mad at her but still shows up when she needs him ! Let's face it, he still loves her after ten years. They had been high school lovers and he still wanted her ! Yikes, trouble ahead right?  Tessa starts to do some stupid stuff while photographing things for her job.  Like getting too close to fire lines and getting caught in it or just getting WAY too close !!! It made me want to slap her !!! 

His fellow co-worker Sparky Riggins is good at his job but it's also clear to see that he's an well meaning, funny mischief maker. And I enjoyed how everyone had each other's back at the firehouse, even personally !

There is a snake reporter by the  name of Caleb Bryant. who's a trying to dig up dirt to make himself look big and slant the story, for his benefit of course ! Rumor Monger ! He beings to harass both sisters and Bernice.  But boy, oh boy, does he get taken care of !! I  loved that!

Great conclusion and HEA for Tessa and Ethan.  

I bought this book also on Amazon 

Review by Feb 22, 2026-Bksprt/ARC-Bad Boy I Can't Escape-"Book 2 of Small Town MC Romance Series by Mia Amour

  Bksprout

 Amazon

I inherited land. He inherited me.

And my worst enemy is the only thing standing between me and the grave this town dug for me. 

I came back to Moonrise with a deed to one thousand acres and a plan to burn every secret this town buried with my name.

I didn’t plan on Priest Calder still owning every dark corner of it. 

Ex-MC road captain. Bars. Nightclubs.

A jaw that clenches every time I walk into a room like my existence is a failure he never survived. 

When a threat appears on my door, Priest doesn’t ask.

He moves me into his house because there is nowhere else I’ll live through the night.

 I refuse his help. He stays anyway.

I shove him, and his hands catch mine like he’s been waiting four years for me to touch him first.

 Hate doesn’t blur. It cracks.

And what’s underneath is the reason I should run. 

Then I find it.

The blood oath he swore the night I left.

The silence that destroyed me wasn’t cowardice. It was a deal. 

Exposing it levels his empire.

Staying silent puts me back in the ground. 

And this time, Priest has to decide who he buries.

Explicit

Novel

Romance Enemies to Lovers forced proximity protector instinct small town romance ex-mortorcycle club he falls first alpha entrepeneur smart sassy curvy

Hosted by mia amour romance

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5 STAR REVIEW- TITLED: She's done running

 

I loved this sweet eBook cover.   

I also fell in love with tough,  Isabella Quinn ! She's one determined woman, a fighter !! Ten years ago she ran from this town with her tail between her legs after being laughed at and discredited about her documents of corruption ! Well, she's back and "they" won't be able to laugh it off this time. Her friend warns her to be careful but know she won't stop. Danger, oh yes ! Isabella knows the Gage Mercer and his group wants her stopped; GONE by any means,  if necessary. Things have been buried for years and they  plan to keep it that way ! Mercer has everyone afraid or in their pocket. Judges and law enforcement like Sheriff Wade Harland is among that bunch ! Priest  has his former MC leaning on him and  they want her gone too ! They are at risk as well because they provided security and okayed everything. 

Turns out Isabella's Aunt Elinor left her a will that was  brilliant. A brilliant, clever weapon that when it detonates will be catastrophic for the bad guys.  It could just take Priest Calder with it ! Consequences could be grim for him. How in the world is this going to work out?    

Priest Calder, what an emotional mess he was.  He was trying to hide it from Isabella. I loved how he called her, "Belz" ! He knows how much she hates him and the why of it but he still hopes she never finds out how involved he really was ten years ago.  His friends actually his "brothers" adopted because of their lives aren't fooled about his feelings and tell him what are you going to do about it? His closest, Reed Lawson is blunt and funny at times. He's this big tough, tattooed guy who is now running a successful business AND has his hands full with trying to corral his terrifyingly hilarious 5 year old triplets ! I loved him and the triplets and his way of dealing with them. The oldest triplet, Maddie is the funniest, and most blunt! At least I think so.  Their mother, Lily does show up briefly in the story. Turns out Lily and Reed have their own story written called, " Bad Boy Next Door". 

Priest has 5 "brothers" who are family are- Rafe, Knox, Reed, Jax and Colt. They are a Family of Chaos and are a hoot. They start "adopting" Isabella too !

This was an emotional, suspenseful, well written story with a great ending and Epilogue.

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

ARC 2-20-26 bksprt/ Blood Guilt by Elias Ashcroft

  Bksprout

 

There’s no such thing as a perfect murder—unless you can explain blood that’s been programmed to die.

How do you find a killer that leaves no evidence, no blood, no wounds, just a body with biology rewritten to kill?

It starts when a notorious Southern California crime boss collapses at his daughter’s birthday party—just five days after his acquittal.

FBI Special Agent Erin Ward is called to investigate a death that defies every forensic law.

More bodies start to drop—each one a ghost of justice past.

Each victim marked by an identical, silent countdown inside their veins.

The evidence points to a weapon too small to see, too advanced to exist.

Enlisting Jordan Pike, a reckless field agent, and Aditi Das, a scientist who deciphers life itself, Erin chases the truth onto an unsuspecting California University campus.

There she finds a man who has turned loss into a blueprint for death.

As drones swarm a city on the edge of chaos, Erin faces an invisible enemy who’s turned justice into a weapon—and set the countdown to end with her.

Mature

Novel

Suspense Suspense Thriller Mystery FBI Organized Crime

Hosted by Elias Ashcroft 1

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------------------------My Review Notes- 5 STARS TITLED: Great Suspense

 

Opening scene is with Maya, a barista making a special order for a man who has just a rich bad guy getting off of charges a the courthouse. Never should have happened; so many people hated him and wanted to see him pay.  Suddenly he drops door-nail dead.   Things take off deadly from there. Especially when any other entitled bad guy beats the rap and he's now SUDDENLY dead too ! Neither man had any signs of what killed them, they were in "good health" at the time of their deaths.  

Special Agent Erin Ward is put in charge and ordered to keep it a "Quiet" Investigation. Yeah right, that's going to happen !! She has a good team assigned to her and at first they aren't sure how easy she will be to work with.  They seem like good people to work with though.  Erin does begin to wonder if they have a Revenge Serial Killer at work.

Plenty of suspense that keeps things moving !  I liked Erin and her team even while wondering how in the world would they catch this  person?  Was the killer working with some else?  

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

 

--------------P.S. I DIDN'T FINISH ALL OF IT YET BUT REVIEW WAS DUE-------

ARC-BKSPROUT/ Feb 14/ "The Don's Vengeance" by Jasmin Song

  Bksprout

 

I fell for my sworn enemy's daughter while plotting to destroy her. 

Isabella Russo walks into the club and gives me the best one-night stand of my life. No names. 

The next day, she shows up across the table from me on the business deal of her lifetime. 

That’s when I realize who she is: the daughter of the man who killed my father. 

I'm his only surviving son, a Don raised in secret, trained for one purpose: vengeance. 

And the principessa just walked into my trap. 

She’s perfect for my plan. So, I seduce her. I make her believe I'm someone she can trust. Every dinner reveals a vulnerability. Every touch, another confession. 

But as I steal her secrets, she steals something too. My own damn heart.  

I’m supposed to destroy her deal and her family’s future. 

If I choose Isabella, my family starts a war, with my dead father rolling in his grave.

If I choose my vendetta, my enemies burn, with Isabella at the center of the blaze. 

Explicit

Novel

Romance mafia enemies to lovers one night stand forbidden forced proximity revenge

Hosted by Jasmin Song

Note from the Author

Please enjoy and leave your honest review when the book goes live on Amazon.

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------My  4 Star Review TITLED: Deceitful Seduction/Romance

 

Isabella Russo is her family Mob Lawyer.  Her father is the Don. And she's good at her job.  But her family demands revenge and Isabella is all up for that.  Stephen Hale is really a young man who was spirited away with his mother Maria when his father and older brother were murdered in their home. Maria and Stephanos Petrakos (his real Greek name) were hiding in a closet and saw it all ! They both came to America and Maria married an American professor who now adores her. She didn't feel the same but affection for him has grown on her part at a least.  

This is such an emotional story, with some tender scenes that developed between the main characters.  Several really good and interesting secondary characters and a really good Epilogue. 

 

ARC DUE 2/17-23/ "Knit One, Purl a Secret" (Quillhaven Magical Cozy Mysteries Book 10) by Tessa Silver

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In Quillhaven, friends don't let friends face dangerous magic alone.

The Cozy Loopers knitting circle is more than a weekly gathering. It's a lifeline for six friends navigating love, loss, and second chances in the magical town of Quillhaven. When they decide to create a Valentine's afghan for the Hearts and Hands Charity Auction, they expect needles, yarn, and companionship. What they get is enchanted crimson fiber that reveals their deepest secrets in every stitch.

Nettie faces her wild past and a famous musician who wrote a song about her. Martin confronts the partner he left behind in Boston. Mabel wrestles with guilt over falling in love again after her husband's death. As the magic intensifies and the auction approaches, the group must decide whether honesty is worth the risk of exposure. Can their found family survive the truth woven into their creation?

Find out in Knit One, Purl a Secret, a cozy magical mystery about community, courage, and the threads that bind us together. 

General

Novel

Mystery cozy mystery paranormal witches magic small town found family

Hosted by ARC Team- Knit One, Purl a Secret

Note from the Author

This is Book 10 in a series, however each one can be read as a standalone.

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--------------- 

 My 4 STAR Review TITLED: Crimson Yarn Trouble? 

I loved the dedication by the author that said to Maryann who taught the left handed author to knit ! So sweet ! 

The Foundation:  

The story opens with the Wednesday meeting at the Yarn to Be Wild shop and the Crazy Loopers are meeting.  It's Nettie Silverloop's shop and she's getting tea ready for this favorite time with the group of knitters which includes gossip and companionship. It's an eclectic group:

Mabel Crispin comes next and she has big "news" which the talking cats Leo and Luna wonder about. They always seemed to be around which was a good thing ! Amelia and hubby Arthur Jenkins come in next. He's just there to make sure she got there okay ; they've been happily married for years.  Arthur heads to the hardware story to see Henry and his affectionate dog, Gus.  Greta Bell and then Olivia Sweetwater and within minutes Martin Fitzgerald trails in. 

And then : 

Suddenly after finding some unaccounted for strange but beautiful crimson yarn; they begin to use it for personal squares to add to a large Valentine's afghan.  That's when some REALLY strange things begin to happen. Is that yarn Alive? 

One of my favorite phrases is when Martin mentions that this town see to have a way of making you face things !! 

Great surprises and  heart warming conclusions.  

  I received an ARC from the author and this how I feel about it. P.S. Once again I loved the colorful eBook cover !

due Feb18/ Ruthless Protector by clara dunn

  Bksprout

 

I was sent to watch her. Now I’m sleeping down the hall… and daring anyone to touch what’s mine.

The Kozlov Pakhan doesn’t give assignments. He gives verdicts.

Mine is simple: move into Daria Kozlov’s apartment, track her movements, and prove she’s the leak before the feds freeze our accounts.

If she’s guilty, she disappears. Even if she’s family.

I expect designer clothes and a fake smile.
I find a piano teacher in a threadbare cardigan, a fridge that’s almost empty, and a five-year-old who drags me into a tea party like I’m not built for violence.

That first night, I clear the apartment.

A hidden camera is wedged in her daughter’s bedroom.

At that point, I stop watching Daria—and start hunting the man who put it there.
I don’t have his name yet. But I will.

Daria flinches at blocked numbers. She lies like it keeps her alive. And when I catch the bruises she hides under sleeves, something in me goes cold and final.

I came here to catch a traitor.
Instead I’m standing between a mother, her little girl… and the man who’s been terrorizing them for years.

If he comes for either of them, there won’t be negotiations.
There will be a cold body.

Explicit

Novel

Romance mafia romance dark mafia romance russian mafia romance enemies to lovers romance alpha male romance touch her and die forced proximity steamy contemporary romance action and adventure billionaire romance

Hosted by Clara Dunn Review Team

Note from the Author

To my wonderful ARC readers, Thank you so much for reading and reviewing my newest book! It’s part of a series, but it can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone. You do not need to read the first books to enjoy this one! I’m still finishing up the final round of edits. If you spot anything that needs fixing (typos, formatting hiccups, etc.), please message me directly so I can get it cleaned up fast. Happy reading,
 Clara

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My 5 STAR REVIEW TITLED: Daria & Kira are caught in the middle

Pyotr Fedorov is a dangerous Russian who works for Dimitri Koslv his Pakhan. He goes where he is sent and he figures things out. Whatever needs to be done he checks it out and reports back.  He's been sent to figure out if Daria has been leaking information. If so, she's threat to the organization, she will be "eliminated."  He has a limited time to figure it out. He has to have proof if she is innocent or guilty. Time is quickly running out and there is twists, suspense and surprises along the way.

Daria Kozlov divorced her husband, Bodgan but he still calls and threatens her. He was extremely physically abusive and also emotionally abusive too !  They divorced but he still keeps coming at her. She's terrified out of her mind and just wants to keep her daughter , Kira away from Bogdon !  Kira is such an adorable 5 year old and almost instantly attaches herself to this huge scary man Pyotr. Sharing her dinosaurs and her sprinkles !! That made me smile ! Kira is so hilarious at times!

He's scary rightfully so with adults who cause trouble  but so gentle with her.  Daria doesn't open up to Pyotr right away but when she does it happens slowly until it becomes much clearer what she has endured.  She finally trust Pyotr physically and they do have some "hot times" but he was also very caring afterwords with her too ! I loved how he often called her Little Dove in Russian.  They start fiercely working together and want to put Daria's name in the clear and "take care of" her ex. 

 The suspense is tight, the emotions run high, and "JUSTICE" is finally served and Daria, Pyotr and Kira get their happy ever after,  which shows in the Epilogue.    Throughout the story, Daria is worried about her older sister, who is is in a high stress professional job. She's lost touch with her. At the end of story Dmitri shows her some information that shows she just might have reasons to worry about the new man in her sister's life! I want to read that story too !

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