Review: The Wrong Heart by Jennifer Hartmann

THE WRONG HEART
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Jennifer Hartmann
Release Date: August 10, 2021

When my husband died, he left my broken heart behind.

He left another heart behind, too—his.

I know it’s wrong. I shouldn’t be contacting the recipient of my husband’s heart. I don’t even expect him to reply…

But there’s a desperate, twisted part of me that hopes he will.

No names.

No personal details.

Just a conversation.

The only thing I have left of my husband is inside him.

***

‘The Wrong Heart’ is an angst-filled contemporary romance standalone. This book deals with heavy themes, such as loss of a loved one and self-harm/suicide.

 

AMAZON

You said I look at you like I’m trying to fix you,” she says softly, her eyes scanning my face, searching for a crack. A hole. A way in. “You look at me like you’re trying to break me.”

I love a romance that can make me feel. A story that can break me and put me back together again while forever engraving itself on my heart and memory. And boy did this book do that and more.

We are not responsible for the choices that others make. It’s human condition to latch onto the whys and what ifs because that gives us power when we feel like we have none. But we’re looking for power in the wrong place,” she explains. “The power is not in the past—it’s in the present. It’s in how we choose to move forward, and how we can mold our grief into something useful. Something beautiful.”

I have one major pet peeve when it comes to books with a dead spouse, and it’s when that spouse is made to be something…less. You know what I’m talking about. Either they’re villanized, or the love is less intense, anything to justify the new love being…more. Why is that? Because it’s not easy to pull off having one great love that passes, while also making the new love be just as real. So kudos to you Jennifer Harmann, for not just doing this, but doing it beautifully. I tip my hat off to you madam.
Melody is desperately in love with her husband. He’s her everything and he loves her with the same selfless intensity. Until one day where she loses him in the most tragic way, irrevocably changing the course of her life.

What I loved most about Melody’s character, is no matter how hard and dark her road is in the wake of her husband’s passing, she’s not bitter. She doesn’t let this tragedy define her. Her heat and soul shines through this story, and I simply adored her quiet and unobtrusive strength. That doesn’t mean she’s not broken. She’s devastated at the loss, and barely sees through her grieving. Until one day, she does something that really forces her to wake up. Joining a group for other broken souls (I’ll keep this vague for spoiler reasons), she meets Parker. The broody, grumpy man who has demons he doesn’t believe he’ll ever be able to fight. He’s a man that’s irrevocably broken by the darkness of his past and childhood. He wants nothing to do with anyone, and the sweet and sunny woman determined to get past his defenses is among those things. Yet she still manages to make it past the cracks.

This book was beautiful, in the most tragic of ways. These characters are so vivid and multilayered. My heart broke for both of them, but especially my poor broken Parker. This is a man with some serious demons who allows the ghosts of the past to color his present. The angst, the emotion, the gut wrenching emotion was EVERYTHING. Their budding romance was full of pain and hurdles. And I loved watching them fight through it to get their HEA. And wow was it beautiful. I cried, I sobbed, and I fell head over heels in love with this incredible story. And that epilogue?! MY GOD. What have you done to me, Jennifer?!

If you’re looking for a romance that will be a straight punch to the feels and that will stay with you for a long while, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Review: Western Waves by Brittainy Cherry

WESTERN WAVES
Series: Compass #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Brittainy Cherry
Release Date: December 9, 2021

 

I always believed in fairy tales, but he preferred horrors.

Damian Blackstone didn’t care about my existence. He came into my world for one reason only. He came to find answers about his past.

He moved like the villain in my favorite fairy tales. He wasn’t the one who received the happily ever afters; he was the one who destroyed them.

Which was why I couldn’t understand why the man who raised me set it up in his will for Damian and me to be married. I wasn’t certain I’d be able to live with a man like Damian. We were as opposite as any two people could be. I loved to bathe in the sunlight while he prospered in the shadows.

I didn’t think I’d develop feelings for the one who looked at me as if I were nothing more than a means to an end. Yet in his darkness, sometimes I’d see sparks of light. I’d see gentleness. I’d see his soul.

We became entangled with one another as we fell into mistakes and called them fate. I was his Cinderella, and he was my Beast.

I wasn’t certain that twisted fairy tales ended with happily ever afters.
Still, I was determined to find out.

 

AMAZON


The second I saw the blurb to this book, I knew this would be my first Brittainy Cherry book. Unfortunately, as excited as I was to read it, the further I got into the story, the less I liked it. In all fairness, it was looking to be a solid 3 star read for me…until a certain plot device towards the end. As Christian Grey once said, I have very singular tastes. And that particular plot device? HATE it. I absolutely loath it actually. It truly ruined the entire story for me. But more about that in a minute.

I love a modern twist on a fairy tale. This one was definitely the perfect set up with an enemies to lovers twist. Unfortunately, the enemies to lovers thing barely lasted a few chapters into the story. But that’s fine. Stella and Damian have a unique meet cute when Damian is the grumpy stranger that takes the last scone at a bakery and they have it out. Stella never expects to see the man again, but has quite the surprise when not only is he at the reading of the will to the man who was like a father to her. But his final wish is for them to get married in order to collect on a hefty inheritance left for both of them. The twist? Stella has a boyfriend of ten years who fully encourages her to do this. I mean, why not? It’s in name only.

While I liked the story for the most part, what I disliked is that the characters became more about their particular issues than anything else. Stella and her insecurities through years of belittling by the wicked step mothers. Damian and his abandonment issues. The romance was entirely lackluster due to the fact Stella and her horrid boyfriend are together for the majority of the story. And when they finally do get together? The particular twist completely ruined any warm and fuzzies I would have had from it. When I tell you I hated it, I seriously couldn’t be more disappointed by the direction that this story took. It felt so unfair to the characters and their plight, and just ruined any and all romance in it for me. Sadly, that thing plummet my rating to a two. While I can’t say I loved the book, if it hadn’t been for that, it would have been a solid three star. I’d love to try this author again, but sadly, this book did absolutely nothing for me. This is a personal taste thing obviously, and as you can see, plenty of readers loved this one. So read it and judge for yourself.

Review: Sexy as Sin by Willow Winters

SEXY AS SIN
Series: Underworld Kings
Genre: Contemporary Romance, MC/Mafia
Author: Willow Winters
Release Date: December 21, 2021


I was her first and her everything, no matter what anyone else says I loved her and I still do.

Sexy as Sin by Willow Wintersis now live!

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Willow Winters, comes a sexy second-chance MC romance set in a gritty underworld you won’t soon forget.

Sexy and sinful.

Those words have been used to describe me a time or two. But they fit her too. My ride or die. My one and only. My addiction and my sanity. Our pairing was a business decision done right.

Until all hell broke loose.

I took the fall for her, and it cost me everything.

Prison made me harder; this life made me colder. Seeing her again for the first time in years, eyes wide with promises and heartbreak, I can feel time falling away.

But danger still haunts her, and I’m not the man I once was. There’s no way she could love the monster I’ve become. Still, I’ll do anything to protect her. Even if it means taking down everyone standing in my way.

Sexy as Sin is a standalone novel in the Underworld Kings series.

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She has always been mine. Even though she broke my heart. Even after years of being apart. She’s mine. She’ll always be mine.

I’ve been wanting to read a Willow Winters books forever. But I’m a commitment phobe when it comes to trilogies and series, because I want instant gratification. *sheepish grin* What? At least I own it. But I digress. I have so many of her books on my kindle, but wanted to start with a standalone. So when I saw she’d be releasing a book with the Underground Kings series, I knew this would be my first book of hers. And it did not disappoint. It’s a mashup of MC and mafia with a sexy twist.

Cill and Kat were madly in love until one night when everything came crashing down and both their lives were changed irrevocably. Kat’s world is turned upside down and Cill spends four years behind bars when he refused to turn on his MC. Now he’s out and he’s determined to get his woman back, but Kat is not the same sound girl she was when Cill went away. She’s got secrets, secrets that can break what little thread they still have.

Admittedly, I fully expected an MF romance reading the blurb. So imagine my surprise at the sexy little twist towards the end. Though my one quibble, perhaps due to the shortness of the story, is it didn’t feel fully set up for the sharing element. However, you won’t find this girl complaining, because I still enjoyed the hell out of it. There’s a little of everything; suspense, angst, emotion, and all of the steam. I read this in one sitting and highly recommend for anyone looking for a steamy MC/Mafia read.

I started writing after having my little girl, Evie, December of 2015. All during my pregnancy with her I read. I only wanted to read romance novels and I read everything I could get my hands on. I would read a book a day — sometimes two. In January I was staying up late with her and just thinking of all these stories. They came to me constantly. I finally sat down and just started writing. I always wanted to do it so I figured, why not?

I never thought I would reach this point of success to be honest. It’s insane to me that I have connected with so many readers.

And I love each and every one of them for all of their support. I’ll be honest, some days are HARD. I have my littles during the day and I write at night. Some days are just simply exhausting and then I hear from a reader and it motivates me to push through and keep writing.  I couldn’t be more grateful for this wonderful career.

 

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Review: Washed Away by RC Boldt

WASHED AWAY
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: RC Boldt
Release Date: December 7,  2021

USA TODAY bestselling author RC Boldt brings us a sizzling romance chock-full of intrigue and deceit in this brand new romantic suspense…

All that’s forgotten isn’t always gone…

I’m at death’s doorstep when my body washes up on shore in Panama.

My memory is a blank slate.

I can’t even remember my name.

I don’t know who shot me and left me for dead–or why.

Patient and kind, the lone doctor there mends my body while offering me refuge.

But as tiny flashbacks of my past occur, I wonder if there’s anyone I can trust.

It’s up to me to discover whether I’m in danger or a danger to others.

Whether I’ve actually found love or if it’s all been a lie.

I need answers to find out who I really am.

If only I could remember…

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I’m so goddamn fucked. All over a woman with no recollection of her own name.

There’s simply nothing more satisfying than a twisty, romantic suspense from RC Boldt. The woman just knows how to deliver a one two adrenaline punch like no other. And this reader is so here for it.

I’m not going to tell you much about the story, because you’d simply not enjoy it unless going into it absolutely blind. So you won’t get more than the blurb offers from this review.

When a wounded woman washes up on shore in Panama near his small practice, Dr Liam King knows he has to help her. Barely clinging to life, it’s a miracle the woman survives. And given the wounds she suffered, it’s no surprise when she wakes up with absolutely no recollection of who she is.

The story is told in first person POV, alternating between Liam, the mystery woman, and journal entries that hint at a life no longer remembered. As time goes by, she remembers small snippets of her past and the reader gets each kernel of information as she does, desperate for more clues as you try to put the pieces together. You also see her fall for the handsome and equally mysterious doctor, who harbors plenty of his own dark secrets. Admittedly, while the pacing is good, the first half of the book felt a bit slow. But the second half more than makes up for it. It’s high octane, full of twists and turns, and incendiary romance.

The twisty story kept me glued to the pages from beginning to finish. And the ending was sheer perfection. I’m also hoping a certain secondary character gets their own book, because I’m desperate for their HEA now. But if you’re looking for a twisty and steamy romantic suspense, look no further.

RC Boldt is a USA Today bestselling author currently living in part of the Costa Rican jungle with the love of her life and her mini-me.

If you’re in the mood for some killer mojitos or can’t recall the lyrics to a particular 80s song, she’s your girl.

Connect with RC Boldt 

Website: http://www.rcboldtbooks.com

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Review: Kingdom Come by Aleatha Romig

KINGDOM COME
Series:
An Underworld Kings Series Standalone
Author: Aleatha Romig
Genre: Mafia Romance
Release Date: November 16, 2021

They say the price of freedom is learning that you have nothing left to lose.

There was a time when I had it all. Money. Power. Love. And in the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Along the road to my new life, I have a chance meeting with Cecilia Abernathy. Born to greatness, this American princess is out of my league. That doesn’t mean I don’t see her for the woman she is behind the headlines. In a rare glimpse I see not only her outward beauty but her inner determination. I’m moved by her in ways I don’t allow myself to ponder.

Time passes and I’m moving forward, persevering beyond my loss, and making a new name for myself. And then I’m given an assignment.

One job.
One quest.

If I succeed, my kingdom will be at hand.
If I fail, there will be no more chances.

Men like me aren’t saviors, and that isn’t my assignment. My mission is to find the daughter of one of the most powerful men in New York, in the country, and maybe the world. Find her and deliver her to her family’s rival.

Cecilia Abernathy has been kidnapped. All I have to do is exchange her current hell for another. And then I can walk away and claim my reward.

Has my taste of freedom made me willing to sell my soul for a kingdom?

Find out the answer in KINGDOM COME, a dangerous forced-proximity stand-alone romance by New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig.

AMAZON

My kingdom would never come. A man didn’t fuck two of the most dangerous families and get rewarded.

Now it’s been a hot minute since I last read an Aleatha book. Since Consequences actually. And you know what? I have no idea why. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that this author can write one hell of a romantic suspense thriller. And this book? Oh what an intricate web it was.

Tell me you’re sorry that you woke the monster within me, the one that died when I died. Tell me to back away, Cecilia.”
My breasts throbbed against his hard chest. “I’m not sorry, Greyson.”
Releasing my hair, he reached for my wrists and pulled them over my head. “Oh, you will be.”

This was a slow burn romance full of intricate plot twists, action and suspense. Greyson is a character that’s easy to fall for. This is a broken man with plenty of demons in his past. I will say I feel like I did myself a disservice by not reading Devil’s Deal first. There is definitely some carry over from that story, and I couldn’t help but feel I was missing details of Greyson that would have been covered there. But having said that, there are still plenty of details given here to make sure the reader understands.

Greyson is a man running from his past. He’s an interesting dynamic of unassuming alpha. There’s this quiet intensity to him which I really loved. Cecilia was easily my favorite character in this story. This is a woman that’s grown up in privilege and money, but there’s a strength to her that gets unveiled with every new chapter. The woman is kidnapped, abused, and held to be sold. When all hope seems lost by her, she’s rescued by a handsome stranger. Only she doesn’t quite realize he has an agenda of his own.

There’s a strong mystery, thriller element to this story, which I loved. I couldn’t wait to peel back the layers of this this intricate web of lies and betrayal. Greyson does his best to keep Cecilia at arm’s length, but there’s only only so much he can do to avoid the temptation of the brewing chemistry between them.

My only quibble with the story is I felt like I was missing a large chunk by not having read the Devil’s duet first, but that’s on me. While this did feel like a standalone, I still think I would have enjoyed it even more had I read that duet first. But nonetheless, this was a story I devoured and enjoyed the hell out of. I now need to rectify my mistake of waiting so long to read another Aleatha book and binge on her backlist.

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America.  She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

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Review: Dark Reign by Amelia Wilde

DARK REIGN
Series:
Trilogy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Amelia Wilde
Release Date:
November 9, 2021

“Dark Reign is sinful, deliciously complex and naughty, with an anti-hero who’s hauntingly addicting.” – Marni Mann, USA Today bestselling author

Wealthy.
Reclusive.
Dangerous.

Emerson LeBlanc doesn’t enter society much.

He only ventures out in pursuit of new art for his collection.

It starts with a haunting painting.

Then he meets the artist…

Innocent Daphne Morelli is more exquisite than anything he’s ever seen. He becomes obsessed with her.

It doesn’t matter that she’s a living, breathing person with her own hopes and dreams.

She’ll be the perfect addition to his collection..

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Stop me,” he mutters. “What?” He takes my face in his hand and tilts it up. Those blue-green eyes are all shadows now. “Stop me,” he says again.

Do I love toxic fictional men? Absolutely.
Do I love dangerous toxic fictional men? Hell yes, I do.
Do I love Amelia Wilde’s particular brand of toxic alphas? GOD YES.

Now the woman upped her level of dangerous to stalker level, and I am SO HERE FOR IT.

Emerson is an enigma. He’s known in the art world as The Collector. He’s a connoisseur of fine art. He’s obsessed with the acquisition of it almost as much as his ownership. But his current obsession is a female whose name he doesn’t yet known. He’s fixated on her, and on a scale of 1 to 10, he’s at You level.
So basically somewhere at 175.

Daphne is the younger Morelli sibling and the sister of Leo from Secret Beast. She’s highly protected, sheltered, but not entirely naive. SHe’s also an up and coming artist. And when Emerson discovers that the woman behind the art he’s been admiring is also the beautiful stranger that captivated him when he saw her on the street? Well, all bets are off. He will do anything to get her away from her overprotective brother and have her in every sense.

These two were such dynamic characters. Emerson with his secret demons and stalker ways, and Daphne with her sheltered ingenue vibes. Admittedly this is not the sort of heroine I gravitate towards. She’s a bit too innocent, but you see her rose colored glasses come off with time. And slowly but surely she began to grow on me.

In typical Amelia fashion she closes on a killer cliff that leaves you desperate for the next book and I cannot FREAKING wait.

Amelia Wilde is a USA TODAY bestselling author of dangerous contemporary romance and loves it a little too much. She lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters. She spends most of her time typing furiously on an iPad and appreciating the natural splendor of her home state from where she likes it best: inside.

Connect with Amelia

Website: https://awilderomance.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14671616.Amelia_Wilde

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Amelia-Wilde/e/B01C38CNJ2

Facebook: facebook.com/awilderomance

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Review: Sinning Like Hell by Trilina Pucci

SINNING LIKE HELL
Series:
The St. Simeon Prep Series #2
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Trilina Pucci
Release Date:
November 3, 2021

USA TODAY bestselling author, Trilina Pucci brings you the finale of Sutton and Calder’s heart wrenching love story.

We’ll never run away.

There won’t be stars or a blue sky filled with heaven staring down on us.

All we have is death and destruction.

A life sentence, forced to survive within the absence of our love.

Until five years later.

 


“Death isn’t waiting for Calder—it’s listening for his instruction.”

 


Sinning like Hell is the continuation of book one, Just like Heaven. Book one must be read to understand book two

AMAZON

Catch up with the duet and grab Just Like Heaven!

AMAZON

Death isn’t waiting for Calder. It’s listening for his instruction.”

Wow.
Talk about your all consuming unforgettable reads. This duet was ALL OF THE THINGS. I have no words. I’m actually stunned speechless after sobbing my way through that ending and all I know I that I am NOT OKAY!

This is heaven. And she’s the only version I’ll ever want.

Romeo and Juliet could never! This book was star crossed lovers on crack, with all of the drama, action, grit, and a romance that burrows under your skin and just stays there. I thought I loved Calder in book one, but it was nothing compared to what I felt for him in this one.

Admittedly, the first book was a bit insta for my tastes, but dang, this one more than made up for it with the grit, angst, and the emotion. It was a fiery conclusion with twists that I never saw coming. And damn, it was not afraid to go there. It hurt. It hurt so good.

We’ll never run away. There won’t be stars or blue skies filled with heavens staring down on us. All we have is death and destruction. A life sentence, forced to survive within the absence of our love.

I loved watching Sutton grow into her own. She aged beyond her years with everything she’s been through. And as much as I wished I saw her kick some ass and take names herself, seeing her fiery spirit come through was also enough. This woman goes through hell and back and my heart hurt for her.

Imagine loving someone so much that you’d be willing to stand in the middle of hell and take on the devil just for a chance to be with them again. You’d do unimaginable things…

I binge read this story. I was already rabid for this conclusion when I finished book one. But nothing prepared me for the experience that was this book. Talk about your ending with a bang! SO GOOD!


Trilina is a former professional dancer (you may have even seen her on the MTV Music Awards) and a USA Today Bestselling author who loves cupcakes and bourbon.

When she isn’t writing steamy love stories, she can be found devouring Netflix with her husband, Anthony, and their three kiddos. Pucci’s journey into writing started impulsively. She wanted to check off a box on her bucket list, but what began as wish-fulfillment has become incredibly fulfilling. Now she can’t see her life without her characters, her readers, and this community.

She’s known for being a trope defier, writing outside of the box and creating fictional worlds her readers never want to leave.

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Review: Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry

INDIGO RIDGE
Series:
The Edens #1
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Author:
Devney Perry
Release Date:
October 26, 2021

 

Winslow Covington believes in life, liberty and the letter of the law.

As Quincy, Montana’s new chief of police, she’s determined to prove herself to the community and show them she didn’t earn her position because her grandfather is the mayor.

According to her pops, all she has to do is earn favor with the Edens.

But winning over the town’s founding family might have been easier if not for her one-night stand with their oldest son.

In her defense, it was her first night in town and she didn’t realize that the rugged and charming man who wooed her into bed was Quincy royalty.

Sleeping with Griffin Eden was a huge mistake, one she’s trying to forget. He’s insufferable, arrogant and keeps reminding everyone that she’s an outsider. Winslow does her best to avoid Griffin, but when a woman is found dead on Eden property, the two of them have no choice but to cross paths.

As clues to the murderer lead to one of Quincy’s own, Griffin realizes Winslow is more than he gave her credit for. Beautiful and intelligent, she proves hard to resist. For him. And the killer.


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Griffin Eden was tantalizing. Magnetic. Rugged and bold. And naked in my bed.

Devney Perry books are my happy place. There’s just something about them that always feel like a warm blanket on a cold day. Comforting and satisfying. When I need a hit of small town romance with all of the feels and a splash of spice, she’s my go to. So I’m so excited to have this new series from her and if book one is anything to go by, we’re in for a real treat.

This series introduces the Eden family, a founding family of sorts in Quincy, Montana. I will say that I didn’t really get full enemies to lovers vibe here. Generally, I expect a bit more push and pull with that trope, but this one still hit the spot.

Winslow or Winnie comes to Quincy as the new chief of police. She’s got years of experience under her belt, but finds that when her grandfather is the mayor, nepotism assumptions run wild. Plus the town isn’t too keen on outsiders. When she meets a handsome man at a bar, she’s glad to find out he’s not a local before sharing an incendiary night in his truck. Only to later find out that he’s not exactly who she thought. This is where the enemies to lovers bit hits.

Griff is not one for entanglements of the heart himself. He’s certainly not a relationship guy and he doesn’t mess with the locals. So when he finds out that the beauty he shared one night with is the town’s new chief of police, he’s not exactly thrilled. He’s also not entirely thrilled that she is doggedly investigating what is an apparent suicide in a long stream of suicides in the small town.

I loved the mystery element of the story. I love that it’s not predictable and really kept you guessing until the final revelations. I also loved the relationship between Winn and Griff. Winnie is no push over and she doesn’t take any of Griff’s attitude. But it also doesn’t take long for their chemistry to push past all of their boundaries and man was it satisfying to see Griff’s possessive side show through.

I don’t know who you are or what you’re doing, but I’m having a conversation with Winnie,” Skyler said, standing taller.
“And I’m here to give her an orgasm before dinner. Let’s find out which one of us she’d rather have stick around.”

The romance, the mystery, the small town and their charismatic residents, all of it just hit the spot just right for me. We also get a sneak peek into the rest of the Eden siblings, and I can’t wait to learn more about them in their books.

Devney is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her family. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop.

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Review: Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling

DANGEROUS TEMPTATION
Series: Dark Dream #1
Genre: Mafia Romance
Author: Giana Darling
Release Date:
October 26, 2021

He arrives all dressed in black.

 

Diamond cufflinks.

A watch on his tanned wrist that cost more than we would ever see in a lifetime of work.

He carries a single red rose for my mother.

Months later, Tiernan Morelli lays red roses on my mother’s grave.

That same day, he tells me that he is my new guardian.

I should have known from the very start that he had more in common with the thorns than the rose.

Now I know the truth: I’m a pawn in his dangerous game of revenge.

I was too young and naive.

Now it’s too late to save myself from his clutches.

 

Now I belong to him.

AMAZON

Poor little thing thought I was her salvation when all I intended to offer her was ruination.

Oh.
My.
GOD.

All of the ways that I loved this book. But I can summarize why in just two words. Ready? Tiernan Morelli. Need more words? OK, I got you.

I’m the kind of man that finds pleasure in pain. I’m the kind of man who makes a woman scream and cry because she doesn’t know how to take the intensity of the things I do to her body. I’m the kind of man that would make a woman crawl and beg for me before I deigned to put her out of her misery by setting her on my dick.”

This book was my trope crack for me. TROPE CRACK. Age gap. Mafia. Guardian/ward. Revenge. Enemies to lovers. ALL OF THE THINGS. And it was simply finger licking good.
Now I will say that any age gap has to have a strong heroine. If she’s too naive or too sheltered, there’s an ick factor in it for me. But Bianca was a heroine that I instantly connected with. She’s a young woman who was forced to grow up too quick because of her flighty mother who’s been hopping from one man to another since the loss of her father. But when her mother’s new man shows up at the door and spares no niceties, she’s not exactly thrilled. Tiernan is rude, crude, and seems to hate the sight of her. He’s also harboring a dark secret and a revenge plot years in the making.

Now at first I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about a hero that dates the mom first. But those concerns were quickly wiped. It just worked here. Don’t ask me how or why. It just did.

When Bianca’s mother passes, they have no one. She has her sick younger brother to think about and she’s months shy of 18. So when Tiernan shows up and says he’s their new guardian, it’s the devil you know. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t defy him and doesn’t fight him at every turn. But Tiernan is not exactly nurturing himself. He has inserted himself into their life with a dark agenda and his secrets can cost Bianca everything. The chemistry between them is also downright incendiary.

This. This was what I wanted. Rough-edged, teeth-bitten love. A body against mine like a weapon, inside me like an invasion. I wanted to be filled up and used because he couldn’t get enough. Couldn’t help himself. Couldn’t be a gentleman. Now, I understood that love wasn’t soft and warm. It was fire and brimstone and if I wasn’t careful, it would burn me alive.

This story was pure book crack. I devoured it in one sitting. I couldn’t bear to put it down for even a second. It was addicting AF and I couldn’t get enough. And the wait for book two? TORTUROUS.

Giana slayed me with this story and I cannot wait for the conclusion.

Review: Broken Playboy by Laura Lee

BROKEN PLAYBOY
Series: Windsor Academy #4
Genre: New Adult Romance
Author: Laura Lee
Release Date: October 22, 2021

They call me a player.

A joker.

The guy always down for a good time.

But if they knew the secrets I’ve been keeping, they’d call me something else entirely.

For the last two years, I’ve been buried in shame, numbing the pain with various vices. Drowning in self-hatred and concealing it with a smile.

I had a system in place, a surety that no one would learn the truth. Then Sydney Carrington came waltzing back into my life.

She’s the new headmaster’s daughter.
The most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.
The one person on Earth who can expose what I’ve worked so tirelessly to hide:

That I’m the fucking villain in this story.

BROKEN PLAYBOY is the fourth book in the Windsor Academy world. While it may be read as a standalone, as it focuses on a new couple, your reading experience may be enhanced if you read the entire series in order.
Wicked Liars
Ruthless Kings
Fallen Heirs

AMAZON

Enter the release giveaway for Broken Playboy!
​​https://bit.ly/BROKENPLAYBOYRELEASEGIVEAWAY

There’s madness in our kiss. Complete chaos swirled with desperation.

Who read a series backasswards again and started with book 4?
Do I have regrets? Not. A. One.

Well, actually I do have one. And that’s the fact that I haven’t read this author sooner. Clearly I’ve been sleeping on Laura Lee, but I plan on changing this immediately.

But let’s talk about this book. What do we a have? Well, there’s a broody, tortured, and I mean SERIOUSLY tortured bad boy who drowns his demons in drugs, alcohol, and sex. Me? GIDDY. Give me more.

What else we have? A spitfire heroine who is sassy and tough, but not impeccable to our hero’s raw sexuality, no matter how much of an ass he’s being. Me? Slightly annoyed but really intrigued.

But in all seriousness, I actually really liked the dynamic. Bentley is a king of his high school. He’s the bad boy every guy wants to be, and every girl wants to be with. He’s also hiding secrets that are slowly eating away at him that not even his best friends know. I really loved the growth his character goes through. There’s so many layers to this guy. So many, that I didn’t even care that he used words like “dawg”. Sydney is the new girl on campus. She’s not the cliche poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, but she’s not exactly stupid rich like the rest of the school. When she runs into Bentley, he looks familiar and she doesn’t know why. And Bentley? Well he hates her on the spot for reasons unknown to her.

There’s definitely some delicious tension and the enemies to lovers vibes are strong here and I gobbled them right up. I liked how Sydney takes no sh*t, even if she does give in too easily when Bentley turns the charm on and lets him get away too easy for his crap. But did I care? Not even a little. I was to invested.

The story has quite a bit of depth, and I loved how the author peels back the layers there as well. She doesn’t graze over the addiction element, which I appreciated. There’s plenty of background given that I didn’t feel lost having read this without the first three books. There’s definitely some story arc cross over and I greedily grabbed the first three books to learn more.

If you’re looking for a steamy enemies to lovers romance set in high school, this one was a clear winner for me. No cap. Did I use that right? I had to ask my daughter about that phrase. God I’m old.

Copyright © 2015 · Dirty Girl Romance

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