BOOK REVIIEW- Who Needs Mistletoe? by Laura Chapman *

 Charlie London has finally made it. She's the lead singer of a rising-the-charts band. She's casually dating Hollywood's golden boy. And she has a publicist who works very hard to make sure everyone knows all of this. But when her band is bumped from a televised holiday concert--and her boyfriend is photographed canoodling with a co-star--just days before Christmas, Charlie's perfectly crafted world is crumbling apart. She impulsively hops a flight to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, so she can bring her boyfriend in line and get her career back on track. Her plan seems to be working until a winter storm leaves her stranded en route.

Guitarist Flint Randal has been crazy about Charlie from the moment she walked in to audition for their band three years ago. Knowing her strict policy against dating a bandmate, he's kept his feelings in check. Until now. When grounded planes send them on a cross-country road trip--alone--Flint sees his chance to finally prove that her one-and-only has been there all along.

As detours and disasters plague their journey, Charlie and Flint grow closer. Will the magic of the holiday season--and the promise of true love--bring them together at last? Or will the siren call of fame get in the way?  AMAZON LINK    
     3 STARS

I really wanted to like this story a lot more than I did.  It had some charm but I also feel that just maybe it was for a much younger age group than mine.  It didn't feel all that deep.   Although it was a clean story with no wild sex scenes which was refreshing.
Charlie London is definitely a girl with goals and a list.  She is very career oriented and has sacrificed a lot to try to get to the top.  But there were quite a few times that I felt like she was a brat.  It made it hard for me to like her at times. The author did a good job though of showing some of the reasons for her behaviors. 
Flint is the long suffering good guy of the piece.  I liked that he did allow some of his frustration and irritations with Charlie to show from time to time.   A man with a backbone, talent and an INCREDIBLE amount of patience.  
The reason for the title of this book does show up in the story and then it made sense. 
There is a H.E.A. which makes for a good Christmas story.  Or just a good ending for romance lovers no matter what the season.  

I did really like the attractive eBook cover.


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

BOOK REVIEW- TWWINED SHADOW (The Shadow Series #1) by Candice Bundy

I, Becka Rowan, live in a time of uneasy peace. A fragile truce stands between humans, shifters, and the fae-touched—those who turn inward to their Houses for loyalty and protection and live in isolation from the outside world.
For an ungifted like me, that’s impossible to do.
Born of the fae but not blessed with their powers, I’ve grown up as an outcast within the human world. Humans don’t trust people like me with fae heritage, and the fae don’t bother with the ungifted. I said screw it and embraced college, determined to make my own fate.
Just when I thought I could start a prestigious internship and continue my quest to address interspecies conflict, someone murdered my twin sister, an adept illusionist and heir to our family lineage.
So, I’m going back home to say goodbye. Back to House Rowan. I take a deep breath, knowing after a short few days I’ll return to the city, free again from the melodrama of the House I was raised in.
There’s just one hitch in my plan—Quinn, a fae-touched member of the Enforcer’s Guild assigned to investigate the killing. Quinn doesn’t let the typical fae prejudices against the ungifted prevent him from staying close to me. Uncomfortably close. Besides, he needs my help to figure out what happened to my sister.
How can I refuse?  AMAZON LINK
        5 +STARS



INTENSE, is one good way to describe this book. 
INSANE..and insanely good is another way to describe it. 
Awesome World building definitely fits as well. 
Complex people in the story, a lot of them with so many rigid rules. 
It didn't take me long to become "Team Becka" all the way! Becka went through quite the struggle to find herself.   She had so much disapproval to go through and it wasn't over yet.  But now she refuses to let others take that uniqueness, that freedom away from her.  Becka had learned to be very direct after being in the human world.  She despised all the drama that seemed to be a essential part of the Fae world. 
Quinn, Quinn, What are you up to?  Can you be trusted?  One minute I thought, yes and then another moment I wasn't so sure.  He definitely keeps everyone on their toes.  Especially Becka who so WANTS to fully trust him.  
The action, mysteries, plots and dangers kept me on the edge of my seat.    The emotions are well done here especially Becka's grief over her twin sister's murder.  But brace yourself that's not the only emotions flowing in this book.  
Many questions are answered here but there is also a MAJOR threat revealed that had been hidden for a very long time.  That adventure continues in Book 2, "Poisoned Shadow" and I'm ready to read on!


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

BOOK REVIEW- Into The Black ( A Scifi Mystery) by Beth Barany *

Into The Black is perfect for fans of J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas books and Killjoys and CSI. It contains a slow-burn romance, enhanced humans, cool high-tech gadgets, a futuristic vision of the Earth, and a tough kick-ass heroine with secrets.

Description
She wanted to make her mark. How hard could it be?
In 2130, at Bijoux de L’Etoile, a high-end casino orbiting Earth, you can get anything you desire.
Newly-hired as an investigator, Janey McCallister wants to solve her first big case—the theft of a priceless gem.
When her case of theft escalates to murder and points to the seedy underbelly of world affairs, Janey has to rely on her new team and trust the mysterious insurance investigator, Orlando Valdez—before a killer escapes into the black.  AMAZON LINK
           4 STARS



This was an interesting book.  It had an out of this world (pun intended) world  that is built.  It's made from scratch and in depth, full setting of this imaginary place.  
The main character Janey was also someone who had some pretty good depth and it became easy to become a cheerleader for her success.  She was smart, tough, loving towards her mother, and the reader also gets to see her flaws too.
Orlando Valdez, wow what a complex person he was.  Interesting but he also kept not only Janey confused, he also had me wondering what his deal was.  
Speaking of confusing, there were times that I was almost as confused as Janey as to what was going on.  Don't get me wrong, it made the story  even better for me.  
I usually like my stories to have some romance in them and this one had two people off balance with each other.  Oh, the attraction was there and some flirting with a promise of maybe more but that was it.
Everything comes to a good conclusion with a peek into the next book in the series.
One question that I didn't feel got answered  was, what was going on with her enhancement?  Still, it was such a well written story, I didn't hold that against the author.  
By the way, I loved the cover for this eBook !


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

BOOK REVIEW- Maneuver (Men of Inked: Southside Book 1) by Chelle Bliss *

 This isn't how fairy tales typically begin, but it's where mine starts...

No money, no phone, and abandoned on the streets of Chicago.



With my baby in my arms, I wander into a bar in a shady neighborhood and ask to use their phone.

When my father turns us away and completely disowns me, the bar owner, and total hottie, offers us a place to stay...no strings attached.

I'm leery at first.
Hot alpha guy.


Down on her luck single mother.
I mean, who wouldn't be?

Lucio Gallo isn't like most men, though. He's fiercely protective, loyal, and did I mention he's covered in nothing but muscle?

Above all else, he's everything I need but never knew I wanted.   AMAZON LINK
                                   4 STARS

The Gallos from Chicago are one unique family.  Dysfunctional in so many ways but also so good in a lot of ways too.  They gather Delilah into their group like a long lost relative and her baby, Lulu as well.  I liked the whole family. Their mother was one interesting person all on her own too.
Lucio was a really great M.C. who has a big heart and loves hard.  When he opens up his heart that is.  And Delilah and her daughter  surprise him by walking  right into his heart really quickly.  I enjoyed how this gentle giant was so sweet and loving with both of them.  The interactions between Lucio and Lulu were so sweet and tender.  Even the way he was with Delilah was his way of cherishing her.  That was something she had never encountered ever in her life.
And yes the language will be adult at times.  And Delilah is a hot mess at first as she finds her feet with Lucio's help.  They do get to the point where they have hot sex as well.  I felt like that could have been written a little less of  but it was well written too. 
It was interesting to watch Delilah get stronger with a strength she never knew she had. It wasn't just Lucio that helped her find it but also the need to do whatever she had to do to have her daughter come first.  Lucio, Delilah and the Gallo family were all on the same page when it came to loving and protecting the baby. 
It all comes together in the end with an Epilogue which I always enjoy.

**SINACH - I KNOW WHO I AM (official video)

BOOK REVIEW- A Bodyguard of Lies ( The Jake Bernstein FBI Series) by Donna Del Oro *

Description

FBI analyst Jake Bernstein is recruited to go undercover and investigate an American grandmother wanted for war crimes during WWII but currently on a tour of England and Ireland with her granddaughter. Jake joins them and runs into complications when his growing attraction to the woman's granddaughter challenges his obligation to remain emotionally detached. As the investigation intensifies, a neo-Nazi group tries to prevent him from learning the truth and Jake struggles to stay alive long enough to either prove the woman's guilt or exonerate her.

Despite Meg Larsen's mounting passion for the stranger who has joined their tour, she suspects he's not who he claims to be. When she realizes her grandmother, the woman who raised her, is the target of the man's investigation, her first instinct is to protect her. Eventually, however, Meg must face the possibility of her grandmother's lifetime of lies while forced to trust a man who has become both their nemesis and bodyguard.  AMAZON LINK
      4 STARS

I had mixed feelings on this book.  I will say that the mystery of it was well written, the world building was excellent and each person's personality well done.  I like history and while it was part of the story it also felt like it was a bit too much history and surroundings for me.
Jake- boy, was he in a tough spot.  He has a job to do but he also knows quickly that Meg is "The One."
Mary McCoy Snider- she was quite the surprise from the very beginning (the prologue) until the end.
Horst/Cousin Tommy- another person who was an important figure in the story.
Granddaughter....Meghan Larsen (Meg)she was SO over her head but she was no spineless chick. And her emotions about her Grandmother and Jake and the whole scene she was thrown into hit all the roller-coaster feelings that you can think of.  I liked her and her love for Mary against all odds.   And her attraction to Jake was causing her all kinds of turmoil and some happiness to though.

It starts with a dramatic prologue.  Setting everything up really well.  There is times of switching from the past to the current time but it was done smoothly.  It didn't cause any confusion.  
The whole chase about who The Hummingbird and The Black Widow really are was well played.  It also caused a whole lot of emotions for all that are involved as well as some unexpected dangers.
Of other interest is the fact that the Turquoise eye color was an important identifier. And I enjoyed the information about Mary and Meg being able to be vocal mimics.  I found that an interesting phrase and explanation.
I feel a little cheated in the end.  Like I was left hanging a bit.  What happens next for Meg & Jake?  I know there was a semi-promise but did they get a H.E.A?  They both did agree that they had had a strange courtship.  I would have liked a bit more like maybe an Epilogue.  Or maybe the author is planning another book? 


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

BOOK REVIEW- To Catch an Earl (A Bow Street Bachelors Novel #2) by Kate Bateman *

Description

Kate Bateman's To Catch an Earl continues her historical Regency Romance Bow Street Bachelors series.
Working undercover for London’s first official police force, the Bow Street Bachelors have an obligation to serve the city’s best interests—even while they’re falling for the city’s most alluring women…
SHE KNOWS HOW TO STEAL A KISS.

Alex Harland, Earl of Melton and dedicated rake, never pictured himself as an agent of inquiry. But the thrill of investigation is a challenge he now embraces. When he’s asked to pursue the Nightjar, a notorious thief who is reclaiming France’s crown jewels, the case throws him into the path of the beautiful and equally elusive Emmy Danvers, reminding him of the only puzzle he’s never solved: the identity of the mysterious woman who once stole a kiss from him—and left him wanting so much more…

WILL HE SURRENDER HIS HEART?

The daughter of a thief, Emmy learned long ago how to keep her secrets safeguarded—and, as the notorious Nightjar, her love for Alex Harland is one of them. With the determined earl hot on her trail—and making her hot under the collar—Emmy has no choice but to keep her distance. But when a moment’s danger threatens Emmy’s life as well as her name, will Alex finally discover that he’s followed every clue…to true love?   AMAZON LINK
       3.5 STARS

This book had pretty good main characters with plenty of dangers , clever ideas and emotional ups and downs.  
Emmaline or Emmy as she is called never really have a chance for a normal life.  She craved it but is caught the thieving way of life.  Since the age of 14 she was pressured by her father into the life of crime. Although her father viewed it differently.  He saw it more as a noble cause along with the thrill of being so skilled that he had not been caught.  Emmy also had more of her family who were in cahoots with her in the jobs that she pulled.  Since her father's death, it was just Emmy, her brother Luc (who was wounded in the war) and her regal grandmother Camille.  Not to be forgotten is also Sally Hawkins who almost family and has been a huge help in so many ways.  She was a master of disguises that Emmy needed.  She also had her eye on Luc.  You'll have to read to see if that goes anywhere.  Each one of these people added a lot to the story.  That I did enjoy.  Also all the clever ideas that "the team" came up with when it came to sneaking into places to rob.

Alex Harland was an interesting opponent whose emotions seesawed back and forth when it came to Emmy.  And what was that elusive scent he keeps smelling? It was driving him around the bend every time he smelled it.  It reminds him so strongly of the mysterious woman he met years ago. She was the one who wore such a unique perfume. His life moved on but he never forgot her. He was on the side of the law and he began to suspect Emmy of more than just being beautiful and mischievous.  
At first I wondered about the name "Nightjar" being the title given the famous thief.   It made more sense when I read later that it was a nocturnal bird and that it blends well with its environment.   Then it made perfect sense.
Everything was well described in the story without being overwhelming or too stuffy. I will also add that there is some sexual scenes in the story.  I also wish that I had liked it more; although it did have it's moments.



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