BOOK REVIEW- Seconds to Live (Homeland Heroes #1) by Susan Sleeman *

Description

When cybercriminals hack into the US Marshals' Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses' personal details to the highest bidders, the RED Team led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. But before he can even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life. Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness's help, as she's the person who has come closest to discovering Phantom's identity.

Trouble is, she's a witness under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating marshal who knows his deepest secrets. But Phantom claims he knows where the witness is hiding and will kill her, so to stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must work through their personal pain and learn to trust each other. . . . The seconds are ticking down before someone dies
 AMAZON LINK     .
   4 STARS

Dramatic start to the story.  You feel the intensity of it pretty quickly.   There's a clever, cruel villain out there that won't be easy to find let alone stop. 
I liked that the two main characters have only known each other for six months.  Well, they have communicated online for six months but haven't met yet.   But this case is something that changes that.  They have shared some pretty private challenges in the anonymity of being online.  But now, it's going to be a bit awkward as they meet face to face.  It leads to some frictions while they are on the job. It also has a low key romance which they are fighting.
Some of the people that Taylor is responsible to protect those who follow the rules in WITSEC.  Dustee just didn't happen to be one of those.  It is putting her twin sister and herself in even more danger.  Taylor will still go to the mat when it comes to protecting them and that also puts her in the line of fire. 
This was an intense, emotional, action story with twists and surprises.   It even has touches here and there of faith in God being shown.  
Some of the most dramatic surprises awaited me towards the end of the story.   The identity of Phantom had to be one of the biggest. 

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

BOOK REVIEW- Midnight Kisses by Alexa Rivers *

 Note: this novella has been previous published as New Year's Wedding.

Book Details

Emily Parker has a secret. One that none of her friends or family could possibly guess. Not because she’s good at keeping secrets—she’s abysmal—but rather because it’s so far out of the realm of possibility that it’s incomprehensible. Good-natured Emily has had the hots for reclusive Justin Simons for fifteen years. Fifteen.

This wouldn’t have been such a bad thing, except that until a year ago, Justin had been engaged to another woman. Now he’s free, rocking the gorgeous bushman look, and she’s ready to make a play for his heart.

Justin doesn’t trust easily. Not since his fiancé ran off with his cousin two weeks before their wedding. But he can’t seem to stop lusting after Emily—him, and every other guy in their New Zealand hometown.

Then he’s invited to his ex’s romantic New Year’s Eve wedding. Because why not rub salt in the wound? Fortunately, Emily might just be available to go with him.

But what happens when one person falls and the other is scared to let go?

4 STARS

Unrequited love?  That just might be about to change .  That doesn't mean it's going to be a smooth ride for anybody.  
Grumpy, gloomy Justin was kind of a loner before he got dumped.  Now its worse because he couldn't bear to be the butt of all the gossip.  Sure, he knew most people were rooting for him but this small community still liked it's gossip.
Sweet, sweet Emily.  The whole town basically loved her.  She is a very successful businesswoman.  And the whole town would attest to the fact that she never had a mean word to say about anyone.  She is not only sweet but evidently gorgeous.  She attracted more than one man's eye but she ever so kindly didn't let any man get close.  Oh they tried but the locals knew it wasn't going to happen.
I wouldn't say it's a really deep story.   But it was a fun, quick story that was sweet but with a touch of heat as well.   You can count on at least one misunderstanding before they get their H.E.A.  
I really liked the eBook cover too. 

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

BOOK REVIEW- The Christmas Princess by Patricia McLinn

A Princess for a few weeks …
The coming Christmas season isn’t looking great for April Gareaux. Her job is uninspiring, her engagement is off, and she has nowhere to live. Certainly her family would take her in, especially Leslie and Grady Roberts and their circle of friends who have become her extended family. But it’s time she stops relying on them.

Then comes an extraordinary offer – spend the holidays in Washington, D.C., with King Jozef of Bariavak as his possible long-lost granddaughter. Even more extraordinary is the man behind the offer and the one who will be beside her through the coming weeks, Hunter Pierce.

This is the last assignment Hunter would pick. Determination and grit have moved him beyond his past in Bariavak. Yet, here it is standing in front of him again, refusing to be ignored. … Just like his reactions to April. How can he fight what he’s feeling when they’re together all the time.


King Jozef has known tragedy in his life. Now, comes this lovely young woman bringing joy to his holidays. How can he resist dabbling in some royal matchmaking. Wouldn’t it be delightful if he could give April a Christmas gift she will never forget …
… Her Prince for a Lifetime    AMAZON LINK
                                4 STARS



What an enjoyable book this was.  The main characters of April and Hunter had layers of interesting to them. Both had painful childhoods even if they were wildly different.  
April is such a kind, caring woman who is also pretty astute when it comes to people.  She sees things that others often miss.  And she's there to help the people she cares for. Everyone she meets usually becomes a friend because of that caring heart.  Whether it be at the homeless shelter, or with hotel staff or the dog shelter that she volunteers at.  She  sees herself as always being rescued but her family sees it differently.  One family member showed her later on that she has been the rescuer as well.  April also added some humor to the things going on as well.   I got a big kick out her observation about Hunter having the "The Jaw."
Hunter was so much the opposite of April.  She was fairly open with her feelings and Hunter was often described  as being like granite.  His supervisor, Sharon Johnson (who I also really liked) said that he needed to let his feelings out before it basically blew the top of his head off.
 King Jozef was holding some secrets close to his chest but also liked meddling in slightly mischievous ways too.  Some of those secrets that he is holding will give the story some really good surprises. 

There were plenty of other secondary characters.  Some of them not so sweet and light either.  It doesn't make them bad people just a little tougher to like at first. 
There is of course a H.E.A. for Hunter and April.  And I appreciated the quick look into the next book, "The Surprise Princess (The Wedding Series Book 6)"  I just might have to follow up with that one too.

BOOK REVIEW- British Bratva : A Russian Mafia Romance (Russian Underworld Book 2) by Flora Ferrari *

 *British Bratva is an insta-everything standalone instalove romance with an HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.

Book Details

 Maxim
Staking out the London journalist who's set on exposing the Bratva's money launderer, my mission is to stop him in his tracks. But it's the man's stepdaughter who stops me in mine. The younger woman I fall in love with from a distance is everything I ever wanted and when I find out he's been hurting her, there's nothing I won't do to make her mine.

Elizabeth
All I wanted was to find a way to tear down my stepfather's reputation and make a life of my own on the other side, but when a mysterious Russian keeps turning up to save the day, I have to make a choice between the plans I made and the future I never thought I'd have.

Will I risk everything I thought I ever wanted to give myself body, soul and all of my heart to an older man? Would I join the Russian Mafia to be with him forever?  AMAZON LINK

     4 STARS

As you can guess this from the book blurb this was an action story with an emotional romance.  Both Maxim and Elizabeth were interesting main characters who each tell the story from their own P.O.V.  Both of them also had some hostile things happening in their childhood that made them older than their actual age.  Something that was a strong connector between Maxi and Elizabeth besides just their attraction to each other.

I like that each of their P.O.V's  isn't done in a way that is just a re-hashing step by step of what has happened.  Done first by one person and then the other; not my favorite way of reading P.O.V.'s in a book.  It's fine if that person is responding to how they felt about the same situation because doesn't that make part of the story?  

As I'm reading the story I couldn't help but keep thinking, "how is this going to end well, or does it?"  That kept me reading for sure. 

While I thought the writing was pretty good as was the tensions I also had some mixed feelings about the story.  One of those feelings was about all the sex and his "twitching" body part. That phrase might have just been a bit overused to my way of thinking at least. 

 Still, I think it deserves 4 Stars on Amazon.   It was written when it comes to a dark romance with a lot of sex sizzle to it.   It was something different with an Anti-Hero main character.  

It has a good Epilogue with a surprise Extended Epilogue which I enjoyed.  So all in all I have to say that I liked it but with some reservations. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW- Somebody To Love by (Ryker Falls Book 1) Wendy Vella

 Description
He was the bad boy no one trusted.
Bailey’s burned out, and not sure what leads her back to Ryker Falls, but has a feeling it’s got something to do with closure. Bad boy Joe Trainer was once her soulmate, but she isn’t sure she has a soul anymore. Finding he’s made something of his life is a shock, as he’d been on a one-way trip to hell when she left. This new Joe is sexy and enticing, but she knows all too well there’s a devil underneath the urbane exterior.
She was the good girl who never broke the rules.
When Joe’s childhood friend, Bailey Jones, returns to Ryker Falls, his life suddenly shifts from settled to off-center. Once they’d been closer than anyone ever guessed; now, they’re chilly strangers. But Joe’s not letting his stubborn, sexy-as-hell ex-best friend stay closed off. He lost her once through his own stupidity; this time he’s never letting her go. Joe knows he doesn’t deserve a second chance, but he’s never played by the rules before, so he’s not starting now. Game on.  AMAZON LINK
                                                                       5 STARS


What a great little gem this turned out to be.  And talk about drawing me in quickly.  Within the first couple of chapters I so wanted to know more of Bailey's story.  She's been away 15 years but it also looks like a lot of those years had been tough on her.  Bailey may have been basically all on her own except for her controlling grandfather.  
Of course Joe's life hasn't all been a walk in the park either. Joe had some family behind him and that included his brothers, his Aunt Jess
and cousin Piper. Not to be forgotten is Joe's best friend Fin. 
 Not everyone in the community liked him though and Mrs. Howard was one nasty voice.  But he has built a good life for himself. 

 I also really enjoyed how the brothers did the teased each other with guy good natured ribbing.  One of my favorites has to be when Jack told Joe, " I may love you like a brother, because you are but you have the emotional maturity of a Twinkie."  This is only one of the other things that made me smile in the book. Buzz is another one.  Buzz is Joe's dog who he often jokingly claims the community likes his dog more than they like him. 
What a great additional character Mr. Goldhirsh turned out to be. He was a man of Jewish descent who started out life in a Nazi concentration camp in Germany.   Joe observed that he was the most position person that he knew.  And as you read on, you see that he has quite a bit of wisdom that he's not shy to share.
Twists and surprises were woven in a really great way making it a superb book.  It kept me involved every step of the way.  There is an incredible twist toward the end that in no way did I see coming.  Ah, Good!
"I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Will o’ the Wisp by Lucy Naylor Kubash

Description

In spite of a broken heart, Allison Delaney carved out a life for herself and her young daughter on her grandparents' farm. Her child and the horses she rescues are all that matter. Then a sudden threat to their safety puts her back in touch with Shane McBride, the man she never thought to see again. Returning to the small town of Silver Creek brings back a lot of memories for Shane, ones he treasures haunted by the ones that made him leave, but this time he is determined to stay and make things right. Trusting Shane may be her only choice, but now Allison fears not only the threat against her farm but the risk of losing her heart again. AMAZON LINK
                                                               4 STARS

Alison and Shane have quite the past history.  And not all of it good.  Back in their heyday they thought they would  be together soon and forever.  But then life reared it's ugly head and Shane leaves without even a word to Alison about it. That's gotta sting and it does for a very long time.  She ends up marrying Shane's best friend Jason and life goes on.  Alison is now a widow.  A widow with secrets and more than one danger crowding her. It seemed like she just couldn't seem to catch a break.  One problem after another would crop up.  She did have some friends who helped her when they could.  That was one plus in her life and it included the local veterinarian,  Doc Brewster.  
Doc Brewster was someone important to Shane was well.  In his youth the doc was there for him when he desperately needed help.  So now it's Shane's chance to help out the ailing veterinarian. 
Lizzie was also an enjoyable addition to the story as another main character.  Lizzie is a very responsible little girl. She's also horse crazy like her mom.  Some of the horses included in the story were rescued horses.  I liked that inclusion in the story.
Things really get more and more twisted as the attacks kept coming.  Add into the mix a dangerous animal that is prowling around.  Make that a four legged animal because there were some dangerous two legged people messing around as well.  One of those people causing problems doesn't get totally revealed until towards the end.  That's something that places Lizzie in unexpected danger. 
All in all, a good story that kept tensions high.  If you like romance with suspense this book should do it.  The romance, the re-gaining lost ground, the tenderness and forgiveness leads to a H.E.A.



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

BOOK REVIEW- Hidden Obsession (Alliance Agency #2) by India Kells *

Book Details

 On the hot streets of Miami, someone is watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike at a team member of the Alliance Agency.
Cleo Darwin is the stunning violet-haired office manager of the Alliance Agency. She is capable, controlled and respected by the people she works with. But the woman who has such complete control has a secret. Her past is anything but pretty; it is messy and cruel and why she strives to live her life with no room for surprises.
Until she meets Mason Bentley, the clean-cut suit wearing operative that makes her body hum and her heart wants more. She tries to fight the attraction they share but he is slowly breaking down her defenses and showing the life she could have with him -- a future.
Mason Bentley has spent his life protecting the rich and famous, from politicians to royalty, and never has he been tempted to change the rigid control he has on his life until her. Cleo walked into his life and made him yearn for a future filled with bright colors and love.
Now, a stalker is hunting Cleo, and as the threats escalate and the stakes become perilous, will Mason be able to protect the woman he has given his heart to, from the person who wants her dead?
The stakes have never been higher and the danger never so real, but not all is as it seems as secrets and past lives crash into the present.    AMAZON LINK
                                                4 STARS

The book cover caught my attention first. It made me stop long enough to read the book information.  And now I want to write a review on it.  
I have to say that I had mixed feelings on the book.   Was it the main characters?  No.  I liked both of them.  They were unique and had some layers to their personalities.  
I even liked the supporting characters that surrounded them.  They were not only highly skilled but loyal to the bone.  A mix of chosen people who become like family. 
Was it the mystery of Cleo's stalker?  No, that was done in a scary good way.  
 It's got to be the way the sexual encounters between Cleo and Mason almost overtook the story.  That's just my opinion.  I know that both Cleo and Mason were hot for each other the moment that they met.  They hid it really well for quite a while.  But once it was out in the open between them?  Wow, get out the fire-hose! That had we bouncing between 3 or 4 Stars on Amazon.  The thing that had me bounce back up to 4 was because they really did care for each other.  That was legit.  And also because the forces that were against them were so well done with at least 1 huge, totally unexpected twist towards the end.  

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