A man's journey to become a foster father.
Chase A. Turner shares his journey as a single African American gay man to become a foster parent in Rollercoasters and Sons (B07V4ZJ8NB, 2019). He gives a step by step process on how to become a parent in layman terms. He also shares the joy and the heartbreak of being a foster parent. The joy of helping to make a child's life better to having to return them to a possibly unsafe life.
He shares the turmoil that his relationships with his family and partner went through as he went on this journey. How he had to learn to balance his relationships and how to keep them and himself healthy. Mainly, Turner shares his joy in becoming a parent. He shares this dream and reality with us. It was a joy to read and I wish him and his family every success.
I received this book for free in a Goodreads Giveaway and give my opinion without prejudice and voluntarily.
Getting older, going to a new school, getting killed...who knew birthdays could suck so much?
Ebony was already having a complicated life with her mother and two step-brothers when her mother through yet another hissy fit. This one though was leading towards freedom at the Academy.
Finally away from being locked in her room all the time. A chance to talk to other people. A chance to show her mother that she really is a good person and does not need to be punished all the time. Then Ebony gets there and she immediately is found in the company of the most devilish boy in school.
Banished to the tower and only let out for classes, Ebony still manages to find herself among familiar yet unfamiliar faces. All she feels though is the desire to kiss the boys and they want to kiss her back. Yet everyone seems to be keeping secrets from her...because they are.
Angel Ward aka Chantal Cross keeps us guessing with her twists and turns in Forbidden Boys: Academy of Sins (Amazon Digital, B07VNZ15R6, 2019) the first book in the “7 Huntsmen” series. If you like the television show “Once Upon A Time”, then you will definitely like this because everyone is someone else and it is someone familiar. Once you start to figure it out, I will confess you might spend time while reading trying to figure out who someone is (laugh).
Ward keeps you guessing as to what Ebony will do and who the bad guy will turn out to be. I know a few surprised me and I think (think mind you) I may have guessed one or two more for the future. It could just be my suspicious nature. The fact that I am already thinking about it though shows you how hooked Ward has me in the mystery. It is a fun romp and I have to say...I have no clue who the seventh one is. (laugh)
I always feel like in these types of books that there should be a fan board where we can throw up ideas and guess. The fact that I am this engaged tells you that Ward has something. Hopefully the momentum of the action and mystery keeps up because that is what has me hooked!
Two women on an island starting their lives over, what are the chances that cupid's arrow could find them?
Kara has been looking for a permanent teaching job for a while and a semi-permanent position has opened up on the island. She is beyond excited. This is a real chance for her to get away from her life and get her head straight. Time for her and her dog to just walk the beaches, play, and teach.
Lin's mother needed her to watch the bookstore while she takes care of her aunt who had surgery. Lin is more than happy to get away from her life in the city. She is not really comfortable with people, but they come in and leave quickly. They do not stay. She gets to read. There is a routine within the process she can settle into.
Then Kara walks into the bookstore needing craft supplies. Two people who are not ready for a relationship suddenly find themselves saying and doing things they would not normally do.
Emily Engberts really does write cute romances and A Card for Valentine's Day (B07NDX234V, 2019) is no different. Kara and Lin are awkward and funny in their courtship which makes it fun to read. I relate to Lin as I am very similar so I found her responses to be the funniest because I probably would have done the same things.
Engberts gives her characters depth by giving them a characteristic which makes them human - no one is a cookie cutter character. I find this very refreshing in her writing. Her characters are people that you can relate to because you probably know someone like them.
The romances she writes gives you hope that even those of us with perceived imperfections can find love and usually with a touch of humor. Get yourself A Card for Valentine's Day. ✶✶✶✶
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
With a full meal on the menu, Amy is feeling like Angus only sees her on the menu.
Amy's plans fall through for Thanksgiving and she is invited to her neighbor's, Mrs. Rafferty's. The only issue, Mrs. Rafferty does not know how to cook (laugh).
When the big day arrives, so does Mrs. Rafferty's nephew Angus. Angus takes one look at Amy and decides she is the menu. Amy does not mind though as the chemistry between her and Angus is combustible...there are just a few other problems first. One of them being that no one is as they seem.
I do not want to give too much a way as Taken on Thanksgiving (Rainshine, B07XGM6JLM, 2019) by Annabelle Winters is a novella. Winters takes us on a turkey run of twists and turns in Taken. At least we get the sex out of the way first (laugh).
Winters gives us a quick break from reality and fun holiday read with sexy characters. This is a quick read while you are shopping and waiting in line or waiting for that pie to bake. You will laugh, shake your head, and say, “Damn Angus you are good.”
I received a free copy of this book from Author Annabelle Winters and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Isla escapes a possible beating and rape on her wedding night only to be found lost and frozen by bears.
Isla has led an isolated life as a healer to her people. Her uncle decrees one day that she will marry a hated and brutal man. On the day of her wedding, a drunk and depressed Isla just walks away from the party and keeps walking.
She has no clue how far she has gone or for how long she has walked. She is cold and just wants to sleep. There is in the snow and ice is where some bears find her. Isla wakes up warm and cared for by 4 curiously different men. She quickly finds out that they are bears and realizes she just jumped into the cooking fire!
At this point, Skye MacKinnon brings out the humor in Rescued by Bears: A Bear Shifter Romance (2017), the first book of her “Claiming Her Bears” series. The comedy which ensues is hilarious. The obvious misunderstandings between humans and bears and men just being men are just funny. MacKinnon brings in adventure and drama.
There is also sex, but not the obvious kind with a poly-amorous book. I should write that it is not the kind I am used. MacKinnon takes the time for Ilsa to get to know the men individually and have individual relationships with them and solo sex with them. This is not a menage book, this is an actual poly romance book. Rescued is a fun read with a real look at how poly actually works. Kudos to MacKinnon.
A prophecy unfolds trapping childhood friends Gerda and Kai in its frosty mists.
Gerda attends the Grimm Academy to stop her prophecy from happening to her or to anyone else. She remains isolated to ensure that everyone remains safe. One day she hears a familiar voice and it is her dear friend from childhood Kai.
Kai has grown into a fine young man who has come to the Academy to escape his own prophecy. Gerda starts to suspect he is connected to hers. As she tries to prevent the future from happening, the frost slips in unaware.
(dun, dun, dunnnnnnn)
Sorry, I could not help myself (laugh). Laura Greenwood takes on the retelling of the Snow Queen in Frost and Fears in the anthology Once Upon A Yuletide (Divination Publishing, B082FMY9KB, 2019). This is a short story and reads rather quickly.
Gerda is a strong female character who tries to take charge of her destiny, yet stumbles. I do like that Greenwood has Gerda save herself. Greenwood makes the connection of childhood friendship easily enough between Gerda and Kai, I just never felt the “love” connection between them. This could be because of the length of the story and the emotional place Kai was in for most of the story.
I was not familiar with this fairytale, but then I did not grow up with fairytales (laugh). This is a welcome new fairytale to my collection though: a girl who saves herself and her friend then goes dancing. I can dig that. ✶✶✶✶
It was a tough job, but their crew had done tougher. Just go in and steal nine figure pay load, during the day, when everyone is working and Cairo will go in alone to do it. No sweat.
Cairo can fly just about anywhere. Carrow can fix just about anything and he will tell you that. Donovan will screw just about anything that will move and find equipment while doing it.
They have been a successful team for the last five years...until now.
Oh the hard choices of what to write and say and not to say. Thank you Gaja J. Kos for giving me such a hard job! I am loving the ride though. It literally starts off with a bang - a bang to the head but a bang all the same. Then it has another kind of bang that I really like, so I was already thinking that this was my kind of book. (laugh).
Kos then goes into the heart of Trinary (Boris Kos, B081XSXG8N, 2020) the first of her six part “SCAR Forces Delta Faction” series. It is exciting and horrifying all at the same time. Kos throws in a little bit of sci-fi chase scenes, family drama, executions, prison torture, and sarcasm. A true sci-fi kickback read. I loved it! I have no clue where we are going and I cannot wait to find out. ✶✶✶✶✶
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Environment being destroyed - Paul Draker will take on the corporate hotshots. Serial rapist coming for you....
It has been a couple of months since the burning fire swept through Fairbridge and everyone is still in the recovery process. Change is happening though and most of it is unwelcome.
Paul Draker finds corporate employees dumping chemicals on his land and goes after the large entity to in an attempt to stop it from ever happening again.
In the meantime upstate, Alex Keegan's brother Brad has just been released from prison. He had been convicted of raping and torturing three women. He did not just rape them, he mutilated them. Now that he is out, he has plans - all kinds of plans. Unfortunately just as he is about to walk out the prison doors he is told that Alex has been killed in Fairbridge, North Carolina.
Brad is on his way to Draker's place of residence where no one is safe.
This is my first novel by Peter van der Walt and he is now on my “must read list” or should I say Draker is (laugh). I thoroughly enjoyed Brimstone and Paul Draker. The chapters switch back and forth between the two main characters of Draker and Brad. We watch Draker oblivious to the danger heading towards his town and getting ready to take on the big corporate structure in defense of the environment. Then we see the peeling back of Brad's true persona revealing itself on his journey to Fairbridge.
Van der Walt keeps things interesting and moving along. I kept thinking at any time Brad was going to lose his “cool” and nope - van der Walt keeps you guessing. I loved it! I also love Draker's supporting cast and their dramas. There was not a single thing I did not love about this book. Now I need to go and read book one and sit around waiting like everyone else for the next Draker. This is a series you want on your TBR lists.
Brimstone (Rowdy Parrot Limited, B0819TDFRC, 2019) is the second book in the “Fairbridge” series.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Someone has stolen one of the Royals diamond necklaces and it is up to Emily and her men to find it before anyone notices it is missing.
It is almost Valentine's Day and Emily and the guys get a call about a missing diamond necklace. No problem. Meet Royalty. Welcome back two of the guys who have been away on business. Find the necklace and nab the culprit. Celebrate Valentine's Day.
Except nothing about the case is as it seems.
Skye MacKinnon gives us a racy novella with Beloved Heart (9781793927248, 2019), a spin-off of the first novel Abandoned Hearts in her “Defiance” series. It all starts with a red bow for Valentine's Day and it ends with a red bow. One cannot ask for more to celebrate this holiday with (laugh - today is Valentine's Day).
There is a mystery, a red herring, Royalty, and a very “hot” welcoming home party for Emily's men. MacKinnon ends up giving us the gift for the Valentine's with Beloved Heart.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
She woke up with no clue who she was and told she was in medical facility having been beaten almost to death by magical beings. The problems began when she tried to leave her room and realized they locked her in.
She finally remembered her name was Lily Snow. Some memories came back in bits and spurts. She seemed to be missing about ten years of her life. She was trapped in what she was told was a medical facility. Being constantly examined and questioned about who she was and what she might remember.
What she is remembering might get her killed though. So might the ghost she is seeing who is talking to her. Or the fact that she is pregnant and hiding it...with magic.
L.C. Mawson kicks off the “Freya Snow” and “Snowverse” series with a prequel that has so many mysteries Trapped (2016) in a room it can make your head spin. I love it! So I am going to give some hints away. There are two different men involved. Two queens and no I do not mean men in that context. A war. A place off of Earth. Plus the novella ends on a death defying cliffhanger. Breathless.
On to the Hunt...
On the morning of her 16th birthday, Hollis Timewire receives the worst possible news. She can't become a citizen of the world. She's a Diseased One.
Synopsis:
Born with a biomarker that bestows dangerous, brain-altering powers, Hollis is forced to hide underground with other Diseased Ones, who believe that the government falsified history to cover up their genocide.
Now Hollis must discover the truth, and is willing to risk anything, including her powers, to go back home.
Danielle Harrington gives us an exciting debut novel and series with The Diseased Ones (Acorn Publishing, 9781947392694, 2020) the first book in “The Hollis Timewire Series”. In her blog, Harrington admits to being influenced by Suzanne Collins and tones of it can be seen in her writing. This is a benefit for us as Hollis and the supporting cast are an interesting mix.
Our main character Hollis takes us through her experience of what is reality and what is not. Of just want to remain the same and not change who she is. Harrington does a brilliant job of showing each side of the war's point of view. Not only is Hollis confused, but as a reader one does not know how to feel. This is a good thing.
I will warn you that this book ends on a cliffhanger as series books usually do. There is adventure, romance, strife, and betrayal. Harrington gives a great debut and I cannot wait until the next book!
I received an ARC of this book from Xpresso Book Tours and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
A lawyer defends a woman she knows is innocent from one murder and then the woman is charged with another murder she is innocent of.
Rochelle “Ro” Rabinowitz, attorney-at-law, gets assigned a pro bono case for the defense of a woman who is charged with murdering a professor of her pregnant daughter. Pam Wilson, a 62-year-old woman, claims she is innocent and she has an alibi. Pam is a hard-working cashier during the day and she cleans bathrooms at a bar under the table at night to help pay for her dying wife's, Charlotte, chemo treatments, and her daughter's medical bills while Maddie goes to graduate school. Ro and her team quickly find out that not everything is as simple as it seems as another murder occurs which is linked to Pam. A secret comes out about the professor and his activities with Maddie and other students. He had more than one visitor the night he was killed. Maddie finds her biological father and opens up yet another box of buried secrets and yet another murdered body. As the charges pile up and Pam stops talking other than to say she is innocent, Ro and her team race against time as Charlotte's time is running out, Maddie is about to go into labor, and Pam is facing the death sentence.
Attention: spoilers ahead!!!!
I do not usually write reviews with spoilers in them, but in this case it is a little hard not to as this book asks you to suspend an important belief if you are a movie fan. Anne Hagan was challenged to write this book and someone suggested that she take a famous movie and change the ending and she did. She took one of my all time favorite movies of which I have had many discussions about and even had a class on where we debated the movie and the themes in it. Needless to say in Steel City Confidential (2019), Hagan's first book in the “Steel City Series” it is pretty obvious from the get-go which movie and if you are a huge fan you might shake your head through those parts and have to really suspend your belief and ideas to accept her story-line.
How did I do? Did I give too much away? The mix of mysteries, legalese, and drama is handled with finesse by Hagan. I do find the relationship between Ro and her wife to be a complete mystery because so far they seem to have nothing in common nor do they spend any time doing anything that Ro wants to do. It does not seem as if there is even any chemistry between them. Ro's relationship with her team is explained better than with her wife and one can feel the dynamics between all of them. There are some open story-lines which I assume will either be in Steel City 2 or 3 and I hope to see the mysteries solved as this is where Hagan excelled. The lesbian relationships were paper relationships. As for the ending, once again, I really do not want to give anything away, but it contradicts what Hagan has set up in the book by going back to the movie. I want to read the next book because the legal thriller was really good and that is what I would concentrate on in this series. See you at the next bang of the gavel....
When Rebekiah walked into Walker & Blackwell all she wanted to do was give away an inheritance. Then she took one look into Lindsey Blackwell's eyes and thought I can wait a few weeks.
Instant attraction. It does not mean it has to be given into. It's there. It's acknowledged. It can be ignored. Looking can't be wrong. As long as I don't give in and cross any lines. Well...what would it hurt to cross the line a little?
Those thoughts could come from either Rebekiah or Lindsey as they both were thinking along those lines. Rebekiah does not do relationships. She only sleeps with friends. She still has not gotten over Emma who left her with all kinds of money and pain. She just found her photography again, she does not want any complications.
Lindsey likes her life organized. A partner was just fired and she just had to take on all of his cases. She spends most of the year traveling and does have time relationships - just ask any of her last partners.
Now if they could just stop thinking about each other.
I think this is the first time I have read a book about a place and a scene I am so intimately familiar with. Providence (Bold Strokes Books, 9781635556216, 2020) written by Leigh Hays takes place almost in my backyard. I have been to many of the places Hays writes about so it was kind of weird and funny at the same time. I had to keep reminding myself that no I did not see Rebekiah or Lindsey there at any time. (hand to head emoji insert here - I can be such a goober!)
I like this story on so many levels. If you are one of my rainbows, you already know that I am going to applaud the BDSM scenes. They are well written and thought out. Kudos to Hays. The sex scenes are all hot and explore many different interests which I love. Variety is the spice of life and love. Reading this already makes me want to read another Hays book (laugh).
The background for the main characters has just as much depth and sincerity. I can relate to both main characters and Hays does not drown us in the issues, but is gives us enough to feel and connect to the MCs. The interactions between Rebekiah and Lindsey are raw and I think I like this most of all. I know this is written, but it feels unscripted and once again I give credit to Hays for this technique.
Love sometimes does not come easy for us and Hays shows this, but man she makes it look worth it.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Three men, two frenemies, three potential frenemies, and an evil book and more secrets than Lou can keep. She is bound to make a mistake.
Lou is drowning in the Sparkles as Kristi's personality is becoming more dominant and mean. Estelle is getting more emphatic that Lou has to stay with the revenge plan even though she wants to withdraw. Lou wishes she had found out what Tyler really is as she has more power than she is willing to talk about. Sadie also has a lot more power than she shows due to Kirsti.
Then there is Lou's desperate need to bite Francis when she has never had a need to bite another vampire. Brooks is stirring a different kind of magic within her and shares another secret with her. Then there is her attraction to Jayse and her feeling of safety with the anaconda.
Of course in the midst of all this drama is when it happens: the mistake. At first it seems like there is nothing to worry about and then wham! - the mistake comes out of nowhere to ruin everything.
Okay rainbows, I think this is the first time I am going to write a review that is definitely going to have spoilers so do not read if you do not want spoilers. Sorry I see no way to avoid it.
Magical Mistake (Drowlgon Press, B07VYW2JJR, 2019) is the second book in the “Magic and Metaphysics Academy” series by Laura Greenwood and L.A. Boruff. Once again, all I can refer to is the movie Mean Girls (Dir. Mark Waters, 2004) as I did in my last review. Other than the relationship with the trio of guys and the end twist I felt like I was in a deja vu state.
From the talent show and the Christmas song and skimpy costumes, yes the outcome was different but it was still too similar. Then there is the evil book and what Lou ends up writing in there and the event that then happens. Yeah...way too much like the movie for me. I actually kind of guessed the ending though it was still a nice twist, I think I might have guessed the next twist too, but we will see (I'll let you know).
I actually do not know how to finish this...(hand to head emoji). I do not know how I feel about this book. I guess it depends on how the third one works out. So right now we are in a wait and see status. Sorry rainbows, I wish I had more to say. See you at the Academy in my next review.
I cannot believe this is Nicole Rubino's first book because Rubino knocks it out of the park in Something Wicked (9781711028552, 2019) the first book in the “Something Wicked” series.
It has a love quadragle - is that even a word? (laugh) It has bad guys upon bad guys and it all makes sense for them to be bad guys. Then Rubino puts them all in the best place to practice witchcraft: Salem, Massachusetts. I have been there and it made me want to twitch a wand or twinkle my nose.
Wicked has heartache, friendship, betrayal, fight scenes, magic, and family. Rubino takes care with her characters to not make them a one-sided caricature. Some mysteries, we figure out right away because of course we have read these tropes before. Others I did not see coming which was fun and I will be honest the ones I saw coming were fun too.
Theo kind of reminds me of Sabrina from Netflix's version of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch and I love that show. There is not anything I do not like about this book or series so far other than I cannot find when the next book is due out! (laugh)
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
A Fallen Angel filled with loss is partnered with an angry Demon of Sodomy who can seduce without effort. Mission: entry into a sex club to track down a demon.
Barakel is having enough problems watching the man that he loves with a human woman instead of him. Now he is paired with a demon who has no morals. No one knows of his penchant for men, nor of his love for Sahariel. Now if he can just stop himself from lusting after Philotanus, he can stay hidden.
Philotanus does not get it. He is going to therapy. He is learning the cello. Tanus is trying to be good. Now he has to let out some of the demon in him to question people at a sex club. Then he sees Barakel in the required mask and who knew lust on its own could taste so good. Tanus does not need Barakel's baggage nor does he want a relationship. He has his own baggage.
Fate has other plans though as danger keeps putting them in harm's way where the truth will come out.
Barakel's Mask (B07HDDLTV6, 2018) is the fifth book in the “A Series of Angels” series written by Joel Crofoot. This is the only book in the series which is a gay romance and I have to say I am surprised because Crofoot writes a fine romance. I loved the interaction between Barakel and Tanus.
Barakel's backstory was heartfelt and enlightening. I thought Tanus' therapy sessions were interesting and maybe a tad contrived, but I got the point. I probably would have felt more connected if I have read the previous four books and the session I am talking about would have felt more sincere if I had the multi-character connection.
Tanus' humor was a highlight of this romance for me. The action sequences were fun too as was the mystery. Sometimes I felt like I was missing something, but I think once again it is because this is the fifth book of the series and I jumped in here. This can be read as a standalone, but sometimes it feels like you are missing something.
Overall, it is a good romance and action story. I would be interested in reading another gay romance from Crofoot.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Cairo's loyalty is constantly being tested either by SCAR Forces or the rebels. The question is whether her old crew or her new crew will hold her loyalty.
Cairo's sister once again comes to disturb things as Cairo is finally settling into a groove after surviving the plane crash that saved the SCAR Force crews' lives. The Captain and her have been rebuilding the ship in secret and playing with their own fire.
The crew is sent on an interstellar mission to a familiar place for a few of the crew members. Cairo is once again reminded of her place in SCAR Force while Salvatore and her get closer.
Their new location brings familiar faces and quandaries as once again Cairo is reminded of everything SCAR Force has taken away from her. Will she sacrifice her new crew to save herself and her old crew?
Gaja J. Kos opens up multiple cans of mystery in the third book Aphelion (Boris Kos, 2020) in the “SCAR Forces Delta Faction” series. Kos reminds us many times of Cairo's connection to her old crew while at the same time strengthening her ties to the new crew. We can already see a huge battle ahead for Cairo.
Then Kos gives us mystery upon mystery to think about, but no answers. Very exciting (laugh). I cannot wait for the next one!
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
T.H. Hernandez keeps Evan busy in The Resistance (978-0990868897, 2020), the fifth book in “The Union” series. Hernandez has almost non-stop action throughout the book as Evan moves from one mission to another. There is drama in-between, but the pace moves right along as Evan and her friends are starting to get squeezed from all sides.
Hernandez provides an exciting ride, even for a new reader to the series. There is romance, but it is mainly off-page and what is on page is drama filled. Hernandez writes with a crisp and clean style that I like. Plus there was plenty of action to keep me enthralled.
Join The Resistance for a quick fun read.
I received an ARC of this book from Xpresso Book Tours and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Cairo knows another SCAR Delta Force secret - now what to do with the information.
We left Cairo staring at the goods which got her arrested and imprisoned by SCAR in a hangar owned by SCAR. Her crew was set up by SCAR.
Now she has to figure out what to do with the information. Who does she trust? All of a sudden her sister wants to fly out on a mission with her. Then there are her feelings for the Captain. Conflicts.
There are still more surprises in store for Cairo and they are not good.
Gaja J. Kos gives us a chance to breathe in Vortex the fourth book in the “SCAR Forces Delta Faction” series. Kos starts to lay the groundwork for the upcoming books. More details are divulged in this book as Cairo divulges what made her defect from SCAR.
We also learn what has happened to the rest of Cairo's crew. Kos also gives us a peek into Cairo's sister's mindset and what this could mean for Cairo's future. Kos has given us a full plate and then threw us into a bomb field (laugh). It was awesome. There is also another mystery mixed in there which is cool too.
I cannot wait for the next book. If you have not started this series - you really need to. Kos does not disappoint.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
When Ian got out of prison all he wanted to do was find a woman and get laid. All Gabe wanted to do was love Ian.
Ian used Gabe during his conjugal visits in the last year of his five year sentence. Gabe loved it. Ian had guilt and shame over it. All of that is over with now that Ian is out of prison. He has met Quincey and she is perfect. She lights a fire in him and he loves being in her. He is NOT gay. Now if he could just get Gabe out of his head.
Gabe has known he likes men since he was a teenager. He has known that he loves Ian for years. He just wants Ian to give them a chance.
Quincey sees more than either of them would like and she is going to push some buttons.
Gabe and Ian (Editor's Choice Publishing, B07Y5P4MGN, 2019) is the 11th book in the “Savage Kings MC” series by Lane Hart and D.B. West - where the heck have I been?
Whew! Someone hose me down because this book is hot! It has public sex, threesomes, two somes of every variety, and some great descriptive details. (laugh) Y'all know how I love my sex scenes and Hart and West do not disappoint. Holy sugar.
There is a story here too and it is good. This may be the 11th book, but it can be read as a standalone. Each character is fully drawn out and has their own complex issues. There is humor, drama, and feistiness which are fun to read. I enjoyed everything about this book and if you like polyromance with bisexuality, then you will too. ✶✶✶✶
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
You can't go back home again, unless of course you want to be seduced, kidnapped, tortured, and lied to.
Rhee returns to Dark Moon Falls for her father's funeral. Burying the dead and having to face her past drives her to drink. Avoiding her mistakes is harder than she thought when every where she turns she faces a wolf shifter. Don't ask.
She heads to the local bar to hide from the past and goes home with Jaxson - a handsome human hunk. During their night of passion, more than their hips bump in the night. Rhee wakes up to a house full of wolves and the realization that Jaxson lied.
On her way out the door, she not only has to worry about wolves but witches too. Trying to outrun the past, wolves, and witches, Rhee barely has time to grieve.
“Jaxson”, by S.J. Pierce, is one of 15 stories by different authors in Dark Moon Falls (Amazon, B07WJXLGQL, 2019). Pierce packs a lot of action in this novella. Rhee is a fabulously flawed character. She has a past and makes no excuses for her behavior. She faces the consequences even when she does not want to. Pierce layers Rhee's character with those mistakes and experiences and makes her a better person. This makes Rhee a truly likable heroine.
The novella is titled Jaxson but to me the story is the growth of Rhee's character. This happens through quiet moments and then action packed moments. There are some really funny scenes. The second characters are awesome and have some of the best lines.
I should talk about the sex (laugh). The sex is good and Jaxson definitely satisfies.
If the rest of Dark Moon Falls is anything like “Jaxson” then everyone is in for a really good time.
I received an ARC of this book from Author S.J. Pierce and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Jane is having a tough...day, week, year? Now she has to put on a happy face for her sister's wedding in a luxurious vacation spot. A shot or two of tequila might help...or not.
Jane has not found her groove yet. Unfortunately her “perfect” sister has and now she is going to be the happy maid-of-honor in an all paid for vacation wedding destination. No problem, she just has to hide that her life is in a complete flux at the moment.
Then in rides Ari on a motorbike. All of Jane's senses go on alert except for confident and bold women like Ari never go for Plain Jane's like her. Unless maybe they have a shot or two of tequila in them.
Of course the morning after always comes and so do the surprises....
Sienna Waters had me laughing in More Than Me (B081S336NY, 2020) her first book in the “A Hawkin Island Romance” series. I loved the character of Jane and all of her complexities. Who does have life all figured out?
Watching Jane get her groove or should I say display it was at times hilarious and heart-warming. Waters always brings a deep depth of emotion to her characters so that you want them to be your best friends. Well I want Jane to be mine (laugh).
The family dynamic was entertaining and rang too true at times. Waters manages to always balance the growth of the character and the romance so that the character's growth is not short-changed to get the happy ending.
Do not let the cover fool you. Don't wait until beach weather to put this on your reading list. Start your season early on Hawkin's Island.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Someone has stolen one of the Royals diamond necklaces and it is up to Emily and her men to find it before anyone notices it is missing.
It is almost Valentine's Day and Emily and the guys get a call about a missing diamond necklace. No problem. Meet Royalty. Welcome back two of the guys who have been away on business. Find the necklace and nab the culprit. Celebrate Valentine's Day.
Except nothing about the case is as it seems.
Skye MacKinnon gives us a racy novella with Beloved Heart (Peryton Press, 9781793927248, 2019), a spin-off of the first novel Abandoned Hearts in her “Defiance” series. It all starts with a red bow for Valentine's Day and it ends with a red bow. One cannot ask for more to celebrate this holiday with (laugh - today is Valentine's Day).
There is a mystery, a red herring, Royalty, and a very “hot” welcoming home party for Emily's men. MacKinnon ends up giving us the gift for the Valentine's with Beloved Heart.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Kat is going back to school at twenty-eight-years-old. She has to deal with younger kids, the woman who destroyed her childhood, and a secret she has not told anyone.
Zelda is dealing with the death of her father when she looks across the funeral home and sees her former best friend's little sister Kat who is definitely not “little” anymore. Zelda is a little forward with Kat and when she does not hear from her, she assumes that either she is not a lesbian or is jusst not interested.
Kat is absolutely shocked by Zelda's behavior as Zelda destroyed her childhood. Then the shocks keep coming when she looks out a window on campus and there is Zelda again! Then she turns around and there is Zelda asking her out.
Time to confront this issue head on. Nothing is as it seems and time has gone by. Secrets come out, but there are people lurking in the shadows who have other plans for this couple in the making.
Annie Amos is becoming one of my go-to romance authors. Nerd Wife (2020) is the third book in the “Married for a Million” series and I want there to be thirty more books (laugh). This is not your typical enemies-to-lovers or professor-teacher romance. Zelda is not your usual “nerd” nor is Kat a stereotype.
Amos brings originality to both characters. There are also some surprises I did not see coming which was really nice. I do not want to give anything away so I will not say much more. There is cuteness, important issues, romance, betrayal, and “fun”. Amos brings it all and a playlist to go with it. Love it and her!
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Eileen thought she was finally escaping hell and going to heaven - instead she had signed up for worse.
Eileen hesitated before stepping through the gates into Purgatory City. She was leaving the life of starvation and suffering behind. Finally she would have food, comfort, safety, and a roof over her head. All she had to do was step through the gate...unless of course it was all a trick and she died the minute she stepped through.
She answered all of the guards' questions. They asked her again if this was what she wanted and she said, “Yes”. Then she stepped forward through the gates and into the darkness and guess what?
She did not die. Instead she was mutilated, caged, and under some kind of alien mind control. Awesome.
Play the Game or die
Rebecca Royce and Skye MacKinnon have teamed up to give us a fun filled dystopian future where everyone wants you to die including your friends. Welcome to Purgatory City (Peryton Press, 2020) the first book in the “Through the Gates” series where nothing and no one is as it seems to include you.
Mind-tripping. Heart-breaking. Kick-ass heroine. Oh the backstories!!! (sigh) Action-packed. Thrill riding oh my god moments. Rack-em up kill numbers. Where did that (blank) go? Mind-tripping - yeah worth saying twice.
Royce and MacKinnon have reduced me to tags because I am too afraid to give anything away. This is a fabulous writing team with a nice twist on a familiar trope. Dystopia was never so messed up or enjoyable to read.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.