Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review – Changing the Rules

17 Thursday May 2018

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Changing the Rules

A Champion Valley Novel

by Erin Kern

The next standalone novel in Erin Kern’s Champion Valley series!

This alpha athlete is about to meet his match…

Cameron Shaw knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to coaching high school boys on the football field, but caring for a six-year-old girl is a whole different ballgame. When a gorgeous, highly opinionated woman shows up with his niece in tow and claims he’s Piper’s new guardian, Cameron’s first response is “hell no.” But he can’t abandon a little girl who just lost her mother….

Audrey Bennett wasn’t planning to stick around town, but Piper’s gruff, way-too-good-looking-for-his-own-ego uncle clearly needs help. The longer she stays-watching Cameron teach Piper to make pancakes and tie her sparkly pink shoelaces-the harder it is to leave. Especially when he stops arguing and gives Audrey the most toe-curling kiss of her life. But just as she thinks he might be the one, a secret he’s been keeping threatens to tear apart their happy little family.

“Smoldering and sexy and genuinely touching.” -RT Book Reviews on Along Came Trouble

While there were a couple of things that I feel like weren’t resolved, they weren’t related to the romance between Cam & Audrey so I let it go.  I’m OK ignoring little things if I get a great, realistic love story 🙂  And that’s definitely what I liked about Changing the Rules.  Everything felt normal – the slow burn of these two getting to know each other, falling in love, and learning to trust not only the other but themselves.

Both Cam & Audrey had things that happened in their lives that have left them a little burned when it comes to commitment.   With the death of Piper’s mom (Cam’s estranged half-sister) they have to come together to do the right thing for the little girl.  Time and proximity has them getting to know each other and liking what they see.  They still are hesitant, but not so much so that it brings on too much drama.  Instead they just have to learn to listen to their hearts.

Full of cute moments and feelings being explored, I was very pleased with how smoothly Kern brings these two together and has them working their way to being a family.

Book Review – HOT SEAL Redemption

16 Wednesday May 2018

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HOT SEAL Redemption

HOT SEAL Team #5

By Lynn Raye Harris

Bailey Jones doesn’t know jack about babies, but she knows how much it sucks to have a deadbeat father. So when her sister drops off her newborn baby and then disappears, Bailey is ready and willing to confront anyone, including a six-foot-two, sexier-than-sin Navy SEAL sniper, and make him do his duty.

Alexei “Camel” Kamarov is not the sort of man to carelessly father a kid, but as the oldest of six, he does know a thing or two about babies. The firebrand on his doorstep might have mistakenly tagged him as the baby daddy, but Bailey is cute, and Alexei is more than willing to give her a hands-on class in Baby 101.

When a ruthless criminal comes looking for the missing sister–putting Bailey and the baby in danger–the situation escalates. Bringing them under his roof and enlisting his HOT teammates to help find Bailey’s sister are easy. But as Alexei and Bailey draw closer, passions erupt and feelings tangle.

That’s nothing compared to the danger lurking in the shadows–and the test that awaits them both. Bailey will need to give everything she’s got to redeem Alexei’s faith in love. And he’ll have to move heaven and earth to save her–before someone takes her away from him for good…

I’ve read quite a few of the HOT series but this is my first of the HOT SEAL off-shoots and I can honestly say it didn’t make a difference.  I stopped because I fell behind by a book or two and there seemed to be enough flow from book to book (mostly with the bad guy) that I didn’t feel comfortable picking up again in the middle.  I was assured this was a good place to start back up, though, and I’m sure glad I listened!

Based on the stories I’d read before I knew I’d get action and emotion, with strong women and take charge men, and this one didn’t disappoint.  From the first page I was hooked!  After her sister left her in charge of her niece, Bailey goes barreling over to Alexei’s to confront the man who she thought was the baby’s dad.  From her banging on his door and yelling her *ahem* “high” opinion about him to Alexei bringing her into his home to help her take care of Ana, it’s fun and sassy and a great meet-cute.

Of course, bad things come calling when Bailey gets threatened at work by someone looking for her sister.  With the brains and brawn that populate the HOT team, Bailey has a lot of help at her disposal.  But it’s going to take some time which keeps her in Alexei’s orbit just that much longer … lucky girl!

Neither of them were looking to get involved, but the heart rarely plays fair and I really enjoyed watching both Bailey and Alexei fall in love.  They struggle with it a bit and have a few moments where being a little more up front about their changing feelings would have saved them both some heartache, but overall it was pretty drama free (which I appreciate).  Instead, we get two people who thought they wanted one thing slowly figuring out that maybe they want something so much different after all.

With a large dose of sizzle between the main characters, a little bit of danger thrown in to spice things up, Alexei and Bailey’s romance if a ton of fun to read.  I’m looking forward to enjoying more of the HOT guys … maybe I’ll go back and get the ones I’ve missed!

Book Review – Lennon Reborn

11 Friday May 2018

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I so love those Preload boys!

*****

Lennon Reborn

Preload #4

by Scarlett Cole

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 1, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press SWERVE

Format: Digital and Paperback

Blurb:

Lennon McCartney is not a broken man. Because being broken implies being whole once. When a horrific accident deprives him of the one thing he loves—his talent as a fierce and explosive drummer—Lennon is left with a life chained by an abusive mother, by crushing guilt over a tragic past. A life he doesn’t want.

Dr. Georgia Starr is a legend. She’s one of the most successful neurosurgeons in the world, coming from a long-line of respected New York doctors. Her life is built around solving complex medical cases in order to bring relief and hope to sick children. But the one problem she can’t solve is how to live her life. How to shake loose the burden of being her elitist, arrogant father’s daughter. How to be free.

Can a man who despises his life and a woman who desperately needs to live find the answers, and love, with each other?

Buy Now: Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iBooks | Chapters Indigo

*****

Excerpt:

“Will you tell me about the band? Dred said you were brothers? You told me about Adam. But Dred, Elliott, the others.”

Lennon swallowed hard. He should have expected the question at some point. “Nik’s the oldest. He’s the glue that kept us together as a family. Our social worker, Maisey, always said that seeing as biological families don’t get to choose their families yet somehow make it work, so should we. And Nik’s past . . . well, I guess he took it to heart and became the patriarch. Dred is the brains of the band, and the one most passionate about our music and careers.”

Lennon swallowed hard, hoping to avoid a hint of emotion in his words. “Elliott is the mom of the group. Maisey says he has a way with broken kids. Guess Jordan and I would agree with that. Jordan is the soul.”

“So what are you?” she asked, letting go of his hand and rolling close so she was on her side, her head on his shoulder.

“The annoying little brother,” he said. Georgia smacked him playfully across the stomach. He automatically went for her hand to hold it against him but couldn’t reach. Fuck.

“I don’t believe it for a second,” she said as she gripped his chin and turned him to face her. “They’re expressing too much love and concern for someone who is simply an annoying little brother. You did let them know you are okay, right?”

“I did. Wanna check my phone?” he asked, then sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, Gia. I have this habit . . . of pushing people away.”

“Why?” Georgia asked, moving to her knees in front of him.

He couldn’t help but look up at her.

“You are lucky that people worry about you, Lennon. They love you, like genuinely, with their whole hearts. If anything happened to me, my father would care only about the implications for his neurosurgery legacy and who I would leave this place to in my will.”

The words bounced around in his brain. He wanted to ignore them, wanted to let them fall into the cracks between the two of them, but he couldn’t. Because they came from her, he felt compelled to hear them. And because he was listening, like actually paying attention to every word that fell from those pretty lips of hers, he heard the hurt. Heard the loss behind the boldly spoken statement.

She was lost, like him.

“I’m going to hire a physical therapist to start coming to the condo every day and a personal trainer to kick my ass into gear,” he said suddenly. Perhaps if he jump-started his own life, she’d copy him and jump-start her own. “But I’m only going to do it if you agree to make some changes in yours.”

“Lennon,” she said, those pretty eyes studying his intently, “you have to do this for yourself, not because of me.”

“I know,” he replied. “But what’s wrong with a little motivation between friends? You need to stop more often, let more into your life than being a superstar neurosurgeon. I know you thrive on it, I know you love it. Happiness can come from so many different places, I think we both need to learn that. And I don’t want you to do it for me. Don’t you want it for yourself?”

Georgia sighed. “I do,” she whispered, the weight of those two simple words hitting him squarely in the chest. Because in another life, in another time, he could imagine her saying them to him in a completely different setting.

Copyright © 2018 Scarlett Cole

*****

Review:

I hate to say it (and I think it was because of all the build-up I saw around this book’s release) but I didn’t find Lennon Reborn to be THAT heart-wrenching.  I felt for the guy so very much and I was so happy to finally find out why he is the way he is … but I kinda was waiting for even more of an emotional punch.  Don’t get me wrong, there are a TON of feels here and I relished every one, but they didn’t grab hold of my heart and squeeze like I expected them to.

The opening is definitely nerve-wracking and when you find out exactly how much it costs Lennon you can’t help but get choked up.  He’s done a good job of hiding his troubles behind the jerk mask he wears, but life has not been kind to this man (I cannot imagine how he managed to survive his childhood) and the only thing that kept him together was his music and his band mates … now he’s losing one of those and his deepest fear is that he’ll lose it all.  Lucky for him, he has his own savior in Dr. Georgia Starr.

Georgia usually deals with pediatric patients but when she’s right there at Lennon’s accident she does everything she can to help.  When she finds herself thinking about Lennon afterward, it doesn’t take her long before she finds herself in his room.  And the hurt she senses in him (and their obvious attraction) has her going out of her way to get him back on his feet.  She’s just not fully aware of what that is going to mean for them both.

I loved these two together.  Lennon is struggling but he senses something in Georgia, something that speaks to his damaged side.  While he’s given himself up as a lost cause, he thinks that she needs someone to help her get more out of life and he’s decided to help her.  As for Georgia, she’s not going to let Lennon wallow.  Her blunt, up-front personality is so refreshing and it definitely keeps him on his toes, making him think about more than what he’s lost (not just today but always).

Together Lennon and Georgia manage to work through their demons and figure out a way to enjoy life again.  Steamy, sexy, and full of all sorts of emotions, Lennon Reborn is another wonderful entry into a fabulous series about men dealing with their pasts and the women who love them enough to help them through it.

*****

Author Info:

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada were I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.

Connect with Scarlett: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win the Complete Preload Signed Paperback Series eBooks!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29515/

*****

Book Review – Royal Treatment

27 Friday Apr 2018

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Who’s in the mood for another of His Royal Hotnesses …

*****

Royal Treatment

A His Royal Hotness Novel

by Tracy Wolff

Blurb:

Once upon a time I was being groomed to sit on the throne of Wildemar. Now I’m lucky they let me into the palace through the front door. After I was kidnapped and tortured by extremists, my reward upon my release is that nobody trusts me enough to let me be king. And since my twin brother, Kian, has assumed all my responsibilities, I figure why not take over as the black sheep?

But after breaking things off with my betrothed—we never had much chemistry, anyway—and giving the jetsetting playboy lifestyle a try, I’m starting to wonder if I’m cut out for this s***. Then I meet Lola Barnes, a drop-dead gorgeous entrepreneur from the States who’s as refreshing as she is feisty.

It’s supposed to be a one-night-stand—until the press catches wind of my “new American sweetheart.” Trouble is, Lola’s no sweetheart. But the more I see our names together in the headlines, the more I find myself craving another taste. . . .

Ballantine Group; Loveswept | On Sale: April 24, 2018 | ISBN: 9781101884898| Pages 285 | Price: $4.99

*****

Excerpt:

“My flight leaves in a little over three hours, Garrett, and I am going to be on it.”

“Don’t you understand? No one will believe a woman in the first stages of a relationship goes running off to another city.”

“Maybe not in your rarified world where half of everyone’s job is learning how to manipulate the press and the public. But in the real world where I live, nearly everyone will believe it. People have relationships and manage to go to work all over the world.”

I think of the months of being chained up, of sleeping sitting up with my arms above my head while my body screamed from pain and exhaustion. “My world’s not that rarified.”

“Dude, your world is as rarified as it gets. And you’ve got three security guards sitting outside to make sure it stays that way.” Lola swings her suitcase off the bed with a roll of her eyes. “And I get it. I understand that you were raised to believe the sun rises and sets on you, and that every time you so much as breathe it’s national news. But really. You aren’t that special.”

Things are getting tense between us and I know I’ve got two choices. Continue down the road to a full-blown fight that will get me nothing or try to defuse the situation.

I settle for the latter as I raise my brows at her. “That’s not what you were saying an hour ago.”

Surprise flickers in her eyes, then is gone as quickly as it came. “An hour ago I was under duress,” she answers with a sniff.

I waggle my brows at her. “And here I thought you were under me.”

She snort-laughs, then slaps a hand over her mouth like she wants to pull the sound back in. But it’s so unexpected that I kind of love it. The same way I love that she talks in her sleep and has a star-shaped cluster of freckles on her left hip. The same way—

And fuck. Just fuck. I really am falling for this woman and, apparently, there’s not a damn thing I can do to keep her from walking away in three hours. It shouldn’t matter, but it does.

I just wish I knew how I got here. Lola was supposed to be a distraction, a fun means to the ends I’ve been working toward my entire life. She sure as hell wasn’t supposed to be something more for me to care about. Something more for me to lose.

What the hell am I supposed to do now?

*****

Review:

After reading Royal Pain I was so anxious to get Garrett’s book – he was bound to be dealing with a lot after his kidnapping and Wolff delivered.

Although I was a little surprised that Garrett’s dad didn’t show up more.  We get some conversations about him and a couple with him but he never actually appears.  And with how much of an a** he is to his kids, creating a LOT of issues along the way, I would have expected more.  Not that his actions don’t have consequences that are in play here – they are and often – but I wanted more like we got with Kian’s book.

Instead, Garrett is mostly (and totally understandably) dealing with the fallout from his months spent being tortured and his recovery afterward.  He’s been struggling and it takes meeting an in-your-face rule breaker to throw him off his game and out of his head.  As a bit of her free spirit rubs off on him, Garrett starts to really feel again … which also opens him up to the possibilities of finally coming to terms with what has happened to him in the last year.  It won’t be pretty but it is definitely needed.

I found Lola to be fun and sassy.  She’s got a big personality but she’s not overwhelming and I never found her to be overdone.  Instead she’s brash, but caring.  And totally not intimidated by Garrett’s title.  She definitely doesn’t let him get away with too much and instead helps him find his way back to the land of the living.

I will say that I got annoyed at the both a couple of times as they spent too much time beating themselves up for the exact same thing.  Something would happen and they’d both start taking responsibility and offering verbose apologies.  Before kissing and making up of course.  It wasn’t horrible but I would find myself thinking “ugh, get over yourself” a time or two 🙂

While I don’t think the daddy issues (for either of them) were properly resolved, I am pleased with the way Wolff handled Garrett’s issues.  He’s good at bottling things up and hiding behind his princely mask, but he was never going to get better until he finally opened up about his feelings.  It took someone coming in from the outside who could give him the care & understanding he needed and I’m glad Wolff gave him Lola for that.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff lives in Texas and teaches writing at her local community college. She is married and the mother of three young sons.

*****

Book Review – Total Bravery

25 Wednesday Apr 2018

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Piper J. Drake’s latest True Heroes novel brings readers a new team to get to know … and fall in love with.

*****

Total Bravery

True Heroes series

by Piper J. Drake

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: April 24, 2018

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing – Forever

Print Length: 304 Pages

Format: Digital and Mass Market Paperback

Blurb:

True heroes will do anything to protect the women they love…

As the newest recruit at Search and Protect, Raul has a lot to prove. Luckily, he’s got the best friend and partner a man could ask for: a highly trained, fiercely loyal German Shepherd Dog named Taz. Together, Raul and Taz make an unbeatable team. But their first mission in Hawaii really puts them to the test when an international kidnapping ring sets its sights on the bravest woman Raul’s ever met . . .

Mali knows her latest job has put one hell of a target on her back. And on this small island paradise, there’s nowhere to hide. With a service dog like Taz, Mali feels safe. Sharing close quarters with a smoldering muscle-for-hire like Raul, she feels something else – an unexpected wave of desire. Raul feels it too. But when the kidnappers make their move, he’s got to turn that slow-burning passion into hard-hitting action – and save the life of the woman he loves.

Get More information at: Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | GooglePlay

More from the True Heroes series:

Extreme Honor

Hot military heroes, the women who love them, and the dogs that always have their backs. EXTREME HONOR is the first book in a high adrenaline contemporary suspense series from Piper J. Drake.

HONOR, LOYALTY, LOVE

David Cruz is good at two things: war and training dogs. The ex-soldier’s toughest case is Atlas, a Belgian Malinois whose handler died in combat. Nobody at Hope’s Crossing Kennel can break through the animal’s grief. That is, until dog whisperer Evelyn Jones walks into the facility . . . and into Atlas’s heart. David hates to admit that the curvy blonde’s mesmerizing effect isn’t limited to canines. But when Lyn’s work with Atlas puts her in danger, David will do anything to protect her.

Lyn realizes that David’s own battle scars make him uniquely qualified for his job as a trainer. Tough as nails yet gentle when it counts, he’s gotten closer to Atlas than anyone else-and he’s willing to put his hard-wired suspicion aside to let her do the same. But someone desperate enough to kill doesn’t want Lyn working with Atlas. Now only teamwork, trust, and courage can save two troubled hearts and the dog who loves them both . . .

Get More information at: Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Ultimate Courage

LOVE IS AN ACT OF BRAVERY

Retired Navy SEAL Alex Rojas is putting his life back together, one piece at a time. Being a single dad to his young daughter and working at Hope’s Crossing Kennels to help rehab a former guard dog, he struggles every day to control his PTSD. But when Elisa Hall shows up, on the run and way too cautious, she unleashes his every protective instinct.

Elisa’s past never stays in her rearview mirror for long, and she refuses to put anyone else in danger. But with Alex guarding her so fiercely yet looking at her so tenderly, she’s never felt safer . . . or more terrified that the secrets she keeps could put countless people in grave peril. The only way for both to fully escape their demons will take the ultimate act of courage: letting go and learning to trust each other.

Get More information at: Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Absolute Trust

LOVE IS THE GREATEST RISK OF ALL

After multiple tours of duty, Brandon Forte returns to his hometown on a personal mission: to open a facility for military service dogs like Haydn, a German shepherd who’s seen his share of combat and loss. It also brings him back to Sophie Kim, a beacon of light in his life . . . and the one woman he can’t have. But Forte’s success means he’s made enemies in high places. Enemies who are now after Sophie . . .

When Forte enlisted and left without saying goodbye, Sophie did her best to move on. But with her first love back in town, looking sexier than ever, she’s constantly reminded of what they could have had. Then after he risks himself for her, Sophie realizes she’ll have to put her life in the hands of the man who broke her heart, knowing the danger -and the sparks between them- could consume them both.

Get More information at: Goodreads  | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

*****

Excerpt:

A woman’s voice was on the other end of the line, strained and wary.

“Raul Sá.” He pulled the phone away from his ear to glance at the screen. No traceable caller ID.

“I was calling the Search and Protect Organization.” The woman hesitated. “I’m looking for Arin Siri.”

“She’s working right now. Must’ve forwarded her calls to my line.”

There was a long pause. “This is Mali, Arin’s sister. Please help me.”

*****

Review:

Total Bravery is another installment in the True Heroes world but not really a continuation of the series.  Raul is starting a new job in Hawaii and has just become partners with Taz, a German Shepherd Dog that was trained at Hope’s Crossing.  That’s pretty much it for the crossover with the original stories 🙂  Well, that and the general feel of the story – sexy, smart, and bada** hero, a strong heroine in need of help, and a group of colleagues that are more than capable of helping out.

Mali is my kinda heroine – smart and level-headed.  When things go bad for her, she doesn’t freak out, listens to those with more experience, and does her best to stay out of the way when she needs to.  She may need help but she’s definitely no damsel in distress.  Raul is the kind of ex-military hero you’d expect.  He’s got the training but he’s also got the heart to do what he needs to do in any given situation.  It’s not always the easy thing but he tries his best to make it the best one.

I feel like Piper does a pretty good job delving into a difficult situation here, addressing human trafficking.  It’s an awful, heart-breaking, and so very real.  Between Mali’s research and what they come across while trying to find her missing teammates, we get an idea of how easy and dangerous it can be.  It’s not near as bad here as it is in real life but it gives you enough of a feel for it that your imagination can run wild.

I do kinda wish we’d gotten a little bit more about why Raul doesn’t feel worthy of being with Mali.  It seemed like ti would become an issue, and he flirts around the edges of his reasoning, but then he gets over it.  There are a few family issues between Mali and Arin that I think need a bit more exploration but I’m hoping that there will be ample time for that in a story starring Arin.  Overall, though, Drake does a good job of tying up her threads in a complete and satisfying story.  (Just like the Siri sister drama I’m anticipating more with the big bad from the story showing up in future books.)

A mix of intrigue, action, and smoldering romance, Total Bravery is well written, well paced, and just in general well done 🙂

*****

Author Info:

Piper J. Drake is a bestselling author of romantic suspense and edgy contemporary romance, a frequent flyer, and day job road warrior. She is often distracted by dogs, cupcakes, and random shenanigans.

Connect with Piper at: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google + | GoodReads| Youtube

*****

Giveaway:

Enter to win a Piper J Drake Gift Basket (print copies of Extreme Honor and Hidden Impact, sports bag, fun Piper J Drake and Corbin swag)

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29504/

*****

Tour Schedule:

April 23rd
Nikkis book nook – Review
Romance Reviews Today Blog – Spotlight
Tantos Livros Tão Pouco Tempo – Spotlight
A Chick Who Reads – Spotlight
AlwaysReiding – Spotlight
Books A-Brewin’ – Spotlight
Crazy Beautiful Reads – Spotlight
Good Choice Reading – Spotlight
LadyTechie’s Book Musings – Spotlight
Sweet Red Reads – Spotlight
The World As I See It – Spotlight

April 24th
Angel’s Guilty Pleasures – Spotlight
Kiss Like a Girl – Review
Reading Reality – Review
Splashes Into Books – Review
The Book Quarry – Review
The Power of Three Readers – Review
The Reading Café – Spotlight
I Love Romance – Spotlight
Lilly’s Book World – Spotlight
OMGreads – Spotlight
TBR Book Blog – Spotlight
Victoria’s Thoughts and Reviews – Spotlight

April 25th
Book Loving Pixies – Review
Oh My Growing TBR – Review
RoloPoloBookBlog – Review
Romances Ever After – Review
BBBf-sizzlereads – Spotlight
Books to get lost in – Spotlight
Deborah Favorite Book Reviews, Spotlight and More – Spotlight
I Need to Read That – Spotlight
Lisa Book Blog @ LEL – Spotlight
Once Upon a Book Blog – Spotlight
Teatime and Books – Spotlight
We All Make Mistakes in Books – Spotlight
Romantic Reads and Such – Spotlight

April 26th
Adventures Thru Wonderland – Review
Caitlyn Lynch, Author and Book Blogger – Review
Jen’s Reading Obsession – Spotlight
Nicole’s Book Musings – Spotlight
Book Addicts Reviews – Spotlight
Cat’s Guilty Pleasure – Spotlight
Dog Eared Pages – Spotlight
Insatiable Readings – Spotlight
Lisa Loves Books – Spotlight
Reads All the Books – Spotlight
The Reading Diaries – Spotlight
Yearwood La Novela – Spotlight

April 27th
Book Magic – Under a spell with every page – Review
Lit. 4 Ladies – Spotlight
Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews – Review
A small girl, her man and her books – Spotlight
Book Lovers Reviews and Recommendations – Spotlight
Cathy’s World – Spotlight
Evermore Books – Spotlight
JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Spotlight
More Books Than Livros – Spotlight
Reese’s Review – Spotlight
The Voluptuous Book Diva – Spotlight
Books+Pastelitos – Spotlight

Book Review – Forget You

20 Friday Apr 2018

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Falling for your rich, gorgeous, commitment-phobic boss … yeah, that usually goes well 🙂

*****

Forget You

Kingman Brothers #1

by Nina Crespo

Blurb:

In the first novel in the new Kingman Brothers series from Nina Crespo a disgruntled assistant is wrangled into staying on to help her boss when he suffers from amnesia after a plane crash…Playing this out with him was so wrong, but she didn’t want to stop.

Sophie Jordan dreams about hooking up with Nicolas “King” Kingman—the gorgeous CEO of her company—but as her boss, he’ll always remain out of reach. King knows he isn’t built for happily-ever-afters and only indulges in brief romantic encounters. But when Sophie agrees to fill in as his last-minute date to a charity gala, an unexpected discovery quickly escalates their platonic relationship to one of passion.

King is determined to ignore their attraction and, feeling betrayed, Sophie severs ties with him and the company. Everything changes, however, when he’s injured in an accident, and Sophie agrees to help until he closes a major deal. Unfortunately, he’s developed amnesia, and although he doesn’t remember their night together, desire binds them in ways they can’t resist.

Time is running out on closing the deal, as well as Sophie moving on to her new career. Will King deny love in favor of winning and lose Sophie forever?

Available Now!

Order this title at these online retailers

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2xG4aDh

B&N: https://bit.ly/2HtofC9

iBooks: https://apple.co/2JEk2MD

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2EFbfpQ

BAM https://bit.ly/2GQQzkM

Google Books: https://bit.ly/2HtMosa

Add FORGET YOU to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

*****

Excerpt:

What he was about to do seemed crazy. He just needed to hear Sophie say nothing sexual had ever happened between them. Then he could chalk up those images as pure fantasy.

He pulled into a space, threw the gear in park, and got out. Sophie’s shocked expression alone would whip him down to size. Guilt over dreaming of her naked would replace his attraction to her. That’s exactly what he needed. A heaping pile of remorse.

Signs with numbers and arrows led him through the maze of duplexes in the courtyard. In the past, he’d followed her from work after a long night to make sure she’d made it safely home, but he’d never actually gone to her apartment before. King located the right door and rapped on it. Not that he had a good reason now.

A porch light flickered on above him. He heard movement inside. What if Sophie’s roommate answered? He’d forgotten about her. Shit. What was his excuse? A lost phone number. Problems accessing the presentation from his computer.

Sophie opened the door. Devoid of makeup, hair swept back into a ponytail, and dressed in a faded green tee and jean shorts, she radiated uncomplicated beauty. “King? What are you doing here?”

He barely squashed the need to take her in his arms and went inside. “We have to talk. Is your roommate here?”

“No. Robin’s at work.” She closed the door. “Why? What’s going on?”

“When were we together?”

“Yesterday. Don’t you remember?” The genuine concern in her expression made him feel like a cross between a jerk for thinking of her sexually and a man struggling to prove his sanity.

“No. I mean yes.” He raked his hair and pulled so hard his scalp stung. “When did we sleep together?” Shock. Laughter. An emphatic denial. He braced for them.

Sophie paled. She shrugged and brushed her bangs from her forehead. Her tell. She planned to deny what happened.

No way in hell was she getting away with that. “How long ago was it? Weeks? Days? Why didn’t you tell me?”

What’s next for Sophie and King? Pick up your copy of FORGET YOU, The Kingman Brothers and find out. Available April 16, 2018

*****

Review:

I liked Sophie (although I do think she didn’t make King work hard enough to win her back).  She’s tried really hard to resist King, knowing exactly what kind of womanizer he is.  She likes her job and crushing on him from the other side of the office door is at least something … until one night things get out of hand.  I have to admire her for standing up for herself and getting out of the situation when she needed to.  With King’s injury, though, everything changes.  She still has feelings for him and the hurt is still there but she tries her best to keep things going smoothly for now.  I couldn’t help cheering for her to go after the things that would make her really happy.

The amnesia thing isn’t as bad as might sound.  King only looses a little bit of time, just enough to make the deal they’d been working on difficult.  (It isn’t some soap opera-y thing 🙂 )  It helps to keep them together for just a little bit longer while King gets back on his feet.  It also had me feeling even more for her.  To be the only one to know what really happened but to face him every day and pretend like everything is fine … just awful.

I do wish we’d gotten a bit more about King’s relationship with his father.  Crespo gives us just enough to understand why he doesn’t get involved but I think a little more detail would have made him even more relatable.  As it is, for some, he might come off as a big of an a$$ instead of someone with issues.  He really doesn’t treat women well at all before he finally lets Sophie in.

Full of angst and drama, uncomfortable moments and difficult situations, Forget You isn’t a light and easy read.  But it does bring heat, heartache, growth, and a HEA ending.

*****

Author Info:

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions—the beach, kickboxing, a good glass of wine, and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a “borrowing spree” in her older sister’s bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Curiosity about people and places, including what’s beyond the stars, fuels her writer’s imagination. Indulge in her sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales to feed your own addiction for love, romance, and happily ever after.

Need Nina? You can also visit her online at the following places:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | FreshFiction |BookBub | Authorsdb | Newsletter | Pinterest

**EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY**

In Nina Crespo’s newsletter during release week there will be an exclusive giveaway for newsletter subscribers only – Subscribe today for a chance to enter!

*****

Giveaway:

Grand Prize: $15 Amazon Gift Card and (1) Digital Copy or Print Copy (if available) of any backlist Nina Crespo title

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29498/

*****

Book review – On the Line

19 Thursday Apr 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Sneak Peek

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Sexy football player, smoking hot body, AND a loving father … sign me up!

*****

On the Line

A Milwaukee Dragons Novel

by Liz Lincoln

Blurb:

Is this man: A) a super-hot NFL player, B) the guy you’re sexting, or C) your new boss?
 
If you’re Carrie Herron, the answer is: D) all of the above. First, Carrie starts exchanging steamy text messages with the sexy single dad she meets in line at the grocery store. Then she lands a job as the live-in nanny for the daughter of the Milwaukee Dragons’ newest star. With any luck, she’ll be back on her financial feet before the next cosplay convention rolls around. But when Carrie shows up for work and realizes that her new boss is the guilty pleasure in her phone, she has no choice but to try to keep things professional. Oh, how would Poison Ivy handle a temptation like Seth Chamberlain?

After getting traded from Houston to Milwaukee, Seth’s having a tough time keeping his head in the game, let alone making sure that his daughter is fitting in. So if the only nanny that Madison will tolerate is a grown woman who likes comic books even more than she does . . . well, so be it. Too bad the nanny is also the gorgeous redhead Seth’s been flirting with all this time. But with Carrie’s knowing glances and kissable lips driving him wild, Seth must decide whether he’s ready to put everything on the line.

*****

Excerpt:

She took several long, slow breaths with her eyes closed, trying to ground herself and remember all the reasons she couldn’t throw herself at Seth and kiss him right that instant. When she finally got her pulse back in the vicinity of normal, she opened her eyes, scanning the lot for a trash can. She didn’t want her mostly empty cup to drip in Seth’s car.

She spotted one near the building and pushed off the hood to walk away. “I’m going to—”

The rest of the words died on her tongue when Seth’s hand wrapped around her upper arm and turned her back toward him. She looked up, taking in the six feet four inches—yeah, she’d looked up his stats—of broad, delicious man filling her vision.

She didn’t breathe as she watched him rake his gaze over her. The hunger she felt in it made her nipples harden to the point of visibility, but she was too turned on to care. As if he didn’t already know what he did to her.

Huffing out a breath, he took the step into her space. Another step forward and her back pressed against the SUV’s hood, his hand slid into her hair, and his lips descended on hers.

It all happened so fast, she didn’t have a chance to process everything. Her body simply reacted, her mouth moving under his as her arms slid around his large body. She clutched his back, pulling him closer; they both moaned.

With her lips parted, Seth’s tongue slid into her mouth and began a wild exploration. She stroked her own tongue against his and elicited another moan. All the while, the coarse hairs of his beard scraped at her skin, adding to the myriad of sensations vying for her attention.

But overshadowing them all was the feel of his body pressed to hers. He slid one arm around her, the other tangled in her hair as his thumb caressed her cheek. His arm held her tightly against him, his hand splayed low on her back.

Such a bad idea. But so, so good.

Restless and reckless, she needed to touch more of him. She wanted to feel all those muscles, feel the power coiled up in his athlete’s body. She slid her hands up his arms and he shuddered against her.

“Carrie,” he groaned, then gave her lower lip a little nip before sinking in deep once again. Lights burst behind her eyelids and she dug her nails into his biceps, drawing a moan that vibrated from him into her.

A domino effect of sensation and reaction, sensation and reaction.

What would be his reaction to the sensation of her running her hands over his shoulders until they met at the nape of his neck?

He deepened the angle of their kiss and traced his tongue along the edges of her teeth. She nipped playfully at his tongue, and he chuckled and pressed tighter to her.

Pressed his solid erection against her, a little higher than where she wanted it most. But she didn’t chase after it. Not in a public parking lot, no matter how much she wanted to.

“You are too fucking sexy,” he bit out, his voice a rough rasp over her ear.

And his kiss was too good. Too much from just a little kiss. Her muscles twitched as heat coursed through her. She couldn’t take it. They needed to stop.

Before she could say something, he drew his face back enough to look into her eyes. His own were dark blue and stormy, the lines of his face tense.

“Seth.” She mouthed it more than spoke, barely a whisper escaping. She didn’t have enough breath for more.

“Jesus, Carrie. I don’t . . .” He searched her face for another hot moment. “You are so sexy.”

He made her sexy. She’d never felt this wild with a man before, this uninhibited. No other man could have inspired her to make out against the hood of a car. But Seth connected with something hidden deep inside her, a woman unafraid to grab what she wanted and take it.

Except she couldn’t take it. Not now. Maybe not ever.

He huffed out a frustrated sound, his breath hot over her lips.

A new wave of desire rolled through her and it took all her restraint not to pull him back down to her and again get lost in his kiss.

“I think I finally understand what singers mean when they say they’re drunk on a woman.” His voice was raw and thick.

She trembled inside at his words, unsure what to think of them, unsure how to respond.

So she said, “We can’t do this.” Her voice came out breathy, but with his chest still pressed to hers, her nipples hard, her breasts heavy and aching, she couldn’t pull in enough air. “But I still . . .” She lifted her lashes and made herself look directly into his eyes.

This close, they were impossibly, intensely blue. Something softened in her chest, leaving a hot, melted ache she didn’t understand.

He felt drunk from kissing her. Holy swoon. No man had ever said something so bluntly honest to her. And she felt it too, a dizzying high buzzing through her simply from having his mouth pressed to hers.

Sex with him would probably be better than the highest-quality narcotic. All the fun, none of the illegality or addicting side effects.

Too bad she needed a job and a house more than she needed great sex.

*****

Review:

Seth is trying his hardest to be a good dad.  Unfortunately that means uprooting his daughter from their home in Houston and moving to Milwaukee.  At 12, she’s at a difficult age already so it is even rougher to have to start all over.  But he’s a good man and he’s doing the best he can.  Running into a sexy redhead at the grocery story, and one who is willing to give him feminine hygiene help, has things looking up.

Carrie is having a rough time after losing her job as a teach and not getting any bites on a new one.  She’s starting to really stress when she’s rescued by a hottie in the checkout lane.  Being able to help him return leads to some sexy flirting.  When a possible job lands in her lap, things are definitely looking up … until she discovers her potential new boss is the guy she’s been sexting.  Yikes!  You have to admire how well she handles it 🙂

I think these two were hotter NOT having sex than most couples are when they do!  I loved their first meeting and then the inevitable struggle as Carrie becomes the nanny for Seth’s preteen daughter.  It’s not easy for them to ignore their attraction but they do try … and although they don’t necessarily succeed, I have to like that it is pretty drama free between them.  They understand why that it is best to keep things professional and they try their hardest to keep it that way.

I am pretty surprised at how many 3 star or less reviews there are for this one.  I’m actually mostly amused by how many of them are based solely on the fact that this is in third person.  That never bothers me and I didn’t have any difficulty following along here so I guess it’s just a personal preference thing.  There were also some complaints that the ending was too rushed but I thought it worked.  It may not have been as emotion-driven as some but I think that it worked well with the flow of the rest of the story.

Overall, I found On the Line to be amusing, flirty, sexy, and full of heart.  It was entertaining watching the two of them fight their feelings for Madison’s sake … and, of course, fail!  Is it predictable?  Probably, but it is enjoyable regardless.  Bringing light-hearted fun with enough feels to keep you turning pages, Lincoln delivers a winner in my opinion.

*****

Author Info:

Liz has been concocting stories as long as she can remember, and from the beginning they involved two people falling in love.

When she’s not writing, she spends her time rooting for the UW Badgers and the Green Bay Packers (or yearning for the return of football season), cross-stitching and embroidering sassy sayings or nerdy characters (Wonder Woman is her favorite), and drinking too much Diet Coke.

She lives in Milwaukee, WI, with her husband, two kids, two cats, and a turtle.

Website:  https://lizlincoln.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TheLizLincoln

*****

Book Review – Mornings on Main

13 Friday Apr 2018

Posted by in Blog Tour, Book Review, Sneak Peek

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This is one of those reads that you need to be prepared to invest some time in.  Wait until you can give it your full attention – you will be glad you did!

*****

Mornings on Main

by Jodie Thomas

Blurb:

“Compelling and beautifully written.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author on Ransom Canyon

From the beloved and bestselling author of the Ransom Canyon and Harmony, Texas series comes a powerful, heartwarming story about generations of family and the ironclad bonds they forge.

When Jillian James lands in the small town Texas community of Laurel Springs, she’s definitely not planning to stay—except to find a few clues about the father who abandoned her and destroyed her faith in family.

Connor Larady is a single dad, and the only one caring for his grandmother, Eugenia, who has Alzheimer’s. And now he has to close Eugenia’s quilt shop. When Connor meets down-on-her-luck Jillian, he’s out of options. Can he trust the newcomer to do right by his grandmother’s legacy?

Jillian is done with relationships. But as she grows closer to Connor and Eugenia, she must consider giving up her nomadic life for a future with those who need her.

An inspiring family saga that asks us to consider what love and chosen family really mean.

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

Get your copy at:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ouUokx

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2EX7H7B

B&N: http://bit.ly/2HPRb73

B-A-M: http://bit.ly/2HPRe2J

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2EVGvWH

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2F0hp4Y

iBooks: https://apple.co/2GNnlyD

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2GKhRVt

Book Depository: http://bit.ly/2CoRNRC

*****

Excerpt:

A long slice of light shone into the dark shadows of the quilt shop. For a moment, Jillian thought she was in the wrong place. No soft ribbons of florescent bulbs twenty feet above. No laughter from the quilter’s corner. No smell of coffee drifting from the tiny kitchen.

Only a long-legged girl dressed in black, staring at her as if Jillian had just interrupted a demonic ritual.

The backward lettering of A Stitch in Time circled across the front window. Right place. Jillian was in the quilt shop. Squaring her shoulders, she moved forward.

“Hi,” Jillian managed as she widened the opening of the door. She wasn’t sure if she was trying to see the invader bet­ter or simply wanted to enlarge her escape route.

The strange girl swung one leg so it bumped against the side of the counter in a heartbeat rhythm. Her hair was so light it appeared white, and hung straight past her shoulders.

A dozen bracelets, all appearing to be made out of rusty bolts, clanked on her arms as she turned toward the back of the store.

“Dad!” the intruder yelled. “Someone’s drifted in.”

Rows of lights began to click on, starting from the back and finally reaching the front. All the beautiful colors of the store returned, but the escapee from the Addams Family re­mained. Her black peacoat, with batwing shoulder pads, was ripped in several places. Black eyeliner extended almost to her ears and charcoal, lace gloves covered her hands.

Jillian studied the girl carefully. On the bright side, the coat and leggings matched. Both black and ragged. She appeared to be wearing three blouses, the last one a lace nightgown. Silk, holey as if moth-eaten, and spotted with what looked like bloodstains. Her skirt, with several chains hanging off it, reminded Jillian of a midnight plaid kilt.

They both turned as footsteps stormed from the back. “Sorry,” Connor Larady shouted. “I usually have the place all opened up by this time.”

He didn’t seem to notice the girl still perched on the coun­ter. “I’ll have a key made for you so you won’t have to wait for me if I’m running late.”

When Jillian turned her gaze to the girl, Connor finally acknowledged the goth in the room. “Oh, I’m sorry, Jillian, this is my daughter. Sunnie, this is the lady who is helping Gram organize the shop.”

Jillian offered her hand, hoping the strange girl wouldn’t try to suck her blood. She was so thin and pale she probably hadn’t eaten in days.

The girl reluctantly took Jillian’s offered hand, but her handshake was limp.

If there was a prize for someone born with the wrong name, Sunnie Larady would win. Stormy might be better. Or Scary.

She slid off the counter. Six feet of pure adolescent rebel­lion. “I need to get to school, Connor.” She said her father’s name louder than the rest of the sentence.

“Right.” Connor turned to Jillian. “Will you be all right here? Gram should be dropped off any minute.”

“I’m fine. I’ll watch for her.” Jillian smiled at Sunnie. “Nice to meet you.”

The girl shrugged and walked out.

*****

Review:

One of those sweet, small town romances that is just as much women’s fiction as it is romance, Mornings on Main is the kind of story that you have to cherish.  It isn’t fast paced and you definitely can’t speed through it.  Instead you need to settle back and get ready to enjoy every page, every encounter, every brush of the hand, every secret that slips out, every glimpse into what makes people tick, every chance to get to know them just that tiny bit better.  It’s a slow, gentle process and all the better for it.

Neither Jillian nor Connor are looking for someone.  They live their lives a certain way and figure that’s what they are built for … until they meet each other.  While the connection is immediate, they go through a lot of fits and starts because both of them are wary.  Jillian’s upbringing (and continued nomadic lifestyle) and Connor’s romantic history mean that getting close to others isn’t easy for them.  But what the heart wants can be hard to resist.

As much as I loved seeing Jillian and Connor slowly fall in love, I think the women in his life are just as awesome.  The friendship between Connor’s grandmother, Eugenia, and her lifelong friend, Joe, is oh-so-touching.  And her battle with her wandering memories is enough to bring you to tears.  But it’s Connor’s daughter, Sunnie, and her romantic woes that grabbed hold of my heart.  She’s at a difficult age but she’s got a good amount of spunk to help see her thru it 🙂

Yes, there is a beautiful love story here with two people finding something they didn’t know they were missing, but there is so much more.  The search for home and family.  The need for a connection to the past and future, as well as to someone else.  There are bonds that tie us together, some we are born with and some we make, but they are all important in making us who we are.

*****

Author Info:

New York Times and USA Today’s bestselling author Jodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels “Distinctive…Memorable,” and that in her stories “[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes.” In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN’S REWARD. She also received the National Readers’ Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008). While continuing to work as a novelist, Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.

Website: http://www.jodithomas.com/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jodithomas/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JodiThomasAuthor

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/JodiThomasAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jodi0007/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20273.Jodi_Thomas

*****

Tour Schedule:

April 2nd

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

April 3rd

Always a happy ever after – Review

Sofia Loves Books – Review

April 4th

Hearts & Scribbles – Excerpt

Melena’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt

April 5th

Evermore Books – Excerpt

April 6th

Belle’s Book Belfry – Review & Excerpt

April 7th

Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt

April 8th

The Butterfly Reads – Review & Excerpt

April 9th

Geronimo Reads – Review & Excerpt

The bookworms obsession – Review

April 10th

The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt

Two Girls with Books – Review

April 11th

Nerdy Dirty and Flirty – Excerpt

The Book Maven – Review & Excerpt

April 12th

Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt

Totally Bex – Review & Excerpt

April 13th

KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt

Romantic Reads and Such – Review & Excerpt

April 14th

More Books Than Livros – Review & Excerpt

Ripe For Reader – Review & Excerpt

April 15th

Adventures in Writing – Excerpt

Bookishly Yours – Review & Excerpt

April 16th

Renee Entress’s Blog – Review & Excerpt

Shannon’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

April 17th

Aaly and The Books – Review & Excerpt

Mama She’s Crazy About Books – Review

April 18th

Jax’s Book Magic – Review & Excerpt

Maybe SS Riki – Review & Excerpt

April 19th

MI Bookshelf – Review

Tangents and Tissues – Excerpt

April 20th

Shelly’s Book Corner – Excerpt

Teatime and Books – Excerpt

Book Review – Dangerous Witness

11 Wednesday Apr 2018

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Dangerous Witness

Redemption Harbor Series

by Katie Reus

He foolishly let her go…

When the woman he loved walked out of his life, Brooks Alexander was certain she did so willingly—with the cool two-million his father had offered as incentive to walk away. So when the former Marine scout sniper learns that Darcy didn’t take a dime of his father’s payoff, Brooks realizes he made an epic mistake. He’s determined to make things right and reclaim his woman. Except neither task is as easily accomplished as he first thought.

Now her life is in his hands…

Wedding planner Darcy is no stranger to disappointment when it comes to the men in her life. When Brooks accused her of taking his father’s bribe, she was devastated that he thought so little of her—and realized he never knew her at all. So she walked away with her pride intact and her heart broken. Now, months later, an overheard conversation puts Darcy in the crosshairs of a dangerous criminal with powerful connections. With nowhere else to turn, she has no choice but to put all her trust in Redemption Harbor Consulting—and its cofounder, the man who broke her heart.

This is the first in the series that I’ve read and while technically it’s a stand-alone novel, I probably would have benefited from having read the other stories.  Reus does a pretty good job of giving new readers the info they need but I think that there are certain nuances and details that I missed out on.

While I enjoyed Brooks as a hero, he was definitely everything you could want as a part of this elite unit of mercenaries – strong, tough, smart, and ruthless.  He also loves Darcy with his whole heart … even if he did go and screw it up at the very beginning 🙂

If I was Darcy I’d definitely have made him work for it a bit more but I also have to appreciate the lack of games and dramatics between the two.  There’s hesitation on her part and a bit of groveling on his, but they do eventually figure it out.  I also like that Darcy is smart enough to realize that this is something much bigger than she can’t handle on her own.  She listens to the professionals and lets them help guide her.

And speaking of danger, Reus sure knows how to crank things up.  The action and suspense element of this story was balanced really well with the romance portion.  Overall, an enjoyable read and some more stories to add to my TBR pile because I’m dying to get my hands on the other stories in this series 🙂

Book Review – The Devilish Duke

10 Tuesday Apr 2018

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The Devilish Duke

by Maddison Michaels

Devlin Markham, the notorious “Devil Duke” of Huntington, needs a woman. And not just any woman. If he can’t woo one of the most eccentric bluestockings of the Ton within the month, he can kiss his hard-earned fortune goodbye. But he’s always thought love a wasted emotion and marriage an inconvenience at best. And oddly enough, Lady Sophie Wolcott seems unmoved by his charm…

When Sophie learns her beloved orphanage is in imminent danger, she will do anything to save it. Even marry a ruthless rake who takes what he wants in business and pleasure. A man who’s everything she’s always feared most—but whom she reluctantly begins yearning for.

Then Sophie becomes the target of a killer lurking from the dark shadows of Devlin’s past. And they find not only their lives in jeopardy but their very hearts.

These two are a ton of fun together.  Sophie is spirited, sassy, and not only willing to stand up for herself but for Devlin too.  Which makes her all the more attractive to him.  Devlin embraces his “devil” moniker but he isn’t truly as bad as they make him out to be.  Instead he’s got some pretty big walls thanks to an awful childhood and it will take a strong woman to get past them.  Lucky for him, Sophie is up to the challenge.

I do kinda wish there had been more (or maybe better) clues about who the killer was so the reader had a better chance of figuring it out.  It was tied up nicely, with a logical motive, a clever villain, and an exciting ending.  But I felt like I was given details only as I needed them so there was little chance of guessing what would happen ahead of time.  That isn’t necessarily bad but it could be frustrating for those who like to be more involved in solving the whodunit.

I read somewhere that Michaels is a new author but she proves herself to be quite the writer.  Nicely paced, great characters, excitement, romance, danger … she brings it all and does it well.  I’m definitely going to keep my eye on her – I think she’s got a great future ahead of her!