Review: The Grump Who Stole Summer by Ella Fields

January 16, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

THE GRUMP WHO STOLE SUMMER
Author: Ella Fields
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 7, 2022

USA Today bestselling author, Ella Fields, returns to contemporary romance with an all-new angsty enemies to lovers standalone.

I never meant to hurt her.
Okay, so that might be a lie. The truth is, I just… panicked.

My soul died when I was fourteen, and there was no reviving it. But when the one person who’d tried made headlines, got dumped by her Ivy League college, and was forced to work in my bookstore, I began to wonder if I needed it when my heart beat faster at just the sight of her.

I began to wonder if I’d been wrong to push her away three years ago, and if she was as I’d hoped and feared—different. If maybe, she could truly accept a guy like me.
All of me. Every vile, cruel, tattered piece.

First, I had to find out a few things.
Would she still smile and laugh when I said something acidic?
Would she still melt beneath the pads of my inexperienced fingers?
Did she still want me as much as I wanted her?
And finally, could she ever forgive an undeserving prick like me?
Something told me I’d regret not finding out.

Told in dual POV, The Grump Who Stole Summer is a full-length standalone, enemies to lovers second chance romance. It contains some sensitive subject matter.

AMAZON

Did I hurt you?”
“No, but you have ruined me.” He kissed under my jaw. “The score is finally even.”

When I think of angst, Ella Fields immediately comes to mind. The woman has ruined me when it comes to her particular brand of angst. And like the masochist that I am when it comes to her books, I eagerly scream “hurt me” every time she releases a book. I have no shame in my game. She writes an asshole like no other. *dreamy sigh*

Now this one was a bit different and not quite what I expected. It was an enemies to lovers with a twist, but not as rip your hair out angsty as Ella’s usual. The story itself took me a bit to get into. The characters, while unique, didn’t click with me right away. Though they certainly did grow on me.

Smith is a not just a grump, he’s a recluse. He hates everything and everyone, and barely manages to keep his book store afloat because he can’t be bothered to smile or be polite to a customer.

Alice is a bit of spoiled princess, though not all is at it seems with her. After going a bit too wild in college and getting caught with her boobs out on display in a paparazzi shot, well, suffice it to say her business mogul mother is non too pleased. Her punishment? A volunteering gig at a local book store. What Alice doesn’t realize until she gets there, is that the reclusive grumpy owner and her have a history, and it’s not the kind she wants to think about again. Once upon a time, he broke her heart.

These characters, though they come off a bit…strange at first, are incredibly multi layered. Not all is at it seems, and with each new chapter, I found myself growing deeper under their spell. Though the pacing of the book was a bit slower for me, I can’t complain too much, because the end more than made up for it. I loved the flashbacks of Smith and Alice interwoven into their present. Smith is still the broken, tortured, and grumpy asshole he was when Alice first met him. But still waters definitely run deep with this man, and when the truth finally gets revealed? DAMN.

I loved that Alice’s parents weren’t the stereotypical rich a-holes. They loved her and I loved seeing her mother’s conniving sweet side come out at the end. The twisty ending definitely made the book for me, though. Right out of a soap opera drama, but damn was it delicious.

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Review: Hooked by Emily McIntire

December 28, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

HOOKED
Series: Never After #1
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Emily McIntire
Release Date: September 7, 2021

 

He wants revenge, but he wants her more.

Once Upon A Time, there was a little boy.
His belly full of laughter, his life full of joy.
Until one day, something changed; stripped his innocence away.
The hole inside making space for the devil to come and play.
His dreams gone forever, he grew up way too fast.
An endless night of crocodiles, and watches made of glass.
He grew into a villain, the taste of vengeance on his tongue.
Craving to make his enemies pay for the misdeeds they had done.
Instead he found a darling girl, and refused to let her go.
For what better way to make the man pay, than to steal his little shadow.

*Hooked is a full-length, complete standalone and the first in The Never After Series: A collection of fractured fairy tales where the villains get the happy ever after. This is a DARK Contemporary romance (not fantasy) featuring mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised.*

 

AMAZON

 

Some men are born into this world with purpose; other men are mutilated into it.

I love a good fairy tale retelling with a twist, and this one definitely delivered. I love the direction the author took this one with a twist on the classic and read this in one sitting.

You want to watch the world burn?”
“Let me guess, you’ll set it on fire?” I ask.
He chuckles, the sound vibrating through me and settling into my bones. “No, darling. I’ll hand you the match, and stand at your back, watching you become queen of the ashes.”

Hook was a character I knew I’d love straight off the bat. The perfect tortured anti-hero that you love to hate and hate to love. This is a man who has waited years to exact revenge on the man who took everything from him. And the sweet and innocent daughter of said enemy who walks herself right into his hands is the perfect way to do it. Though he doesn’t expect the chemistry between them.

Wendy is the daughter of the infamous business man Peter Michaels. She’s also completely naive to the man her father really is. When her friend invites her to the Jolly Roger for the chance to spot the gorgeous and enigmatic Hook, the last thing she expects is to snag his attention.

Now being an avid dark romance reader, I have to say this book missed a few opportunities to really delve into the true dark elements where it just grazed the surface…like Hook’s past. But there were still plenty of dark elements to satisfy. What I wished we did have is a bit more of a backbone for Wendy. As much as I love the praise kink, Wendy was just too much of a pushover at times. The things she lets Hook get away with, along with her “friends” was frustrating. But the chemistry between them was satisfying enough for me not to dwell too much on that part. The twist and reveal at the end was one I saw coming really early on as well. But again, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Ultimately, I seriously enjoyed this book. I’m definitely hooked on this author now (see what I did there?) and can’t wait for the next installment in this world.

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Review: The Bastard’s Betrayal by Katee Robert

August 27, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

THE BASTARD’S BETRAYAL
Series: Scandalous Scions Book 1
Genre: Mafia Romance
Author: Katee Robert
Release Date: August 25, 2021

She thought it was love.

Rose Romanov is a mafia princess, and everything that entails. Violently over-protective parents. A giant extended family, all ready to kill anyone who looks at her wrong. Learning to run a business that isn’t exactly on the right side of the law. So, naturally, when she meets a nice guy who isn’t in the life, she falls hard… Right up until the she discovers her new boyfriend isn’t a civilian at all.

But he betrayed her.

When Dante Verducci was sent on an undercover mission to evaluate the Romanov family for weakness, he never expected to have an instant connection with their unlikely heir. There’s something fierce and feral about Rose that calls to him. They’re alike, even if they’re both lying to each other during the months they date. Before he could figure out a new plan, Rose finds out who he really is, dumps him, and immediately enters an engagement with the heir of a rival family. Yeah, no, that’s not going to work for Dante.

Now he’ll do anything to reclaim her. Even go to war.

AMAZON

His gaze flicked to the gun in her hands. “You really think you’re going to shoot me? You were coming around my cock twenty-four hours ago.”
Fury nearly made her black out. Maybe she wouldn’t regret this after all. He was so fucking sure of her, of this situation, as if the gun in her hand didn’t mean a single damn thing. She’d prove him wrong. Rose steadied her stance, reaching for the one thing she could that would hurt him a fraction of as much as he’d hurt her.
“I faked it.” She pulled the trigger.

When a book starts with that quote, you know you’re in for a good time. I love me some Katee Roberts, and when I saw she’s releasing a spin off from The O’Malleys series, I was all over it. I love a good mafia romance, and throw in a bit of betrayal and hate lust into the mix and I’m done. STICK A FORK IN ME. I love it.

I loved the first half of this story. Rose Romanov is a heroine that you instantly love. The woman is a badass. She’s a mafia princess and the daughter of Dmitri and Keira from The Bastard’s Bargain. If you haven’t read that book, don’t worry, you can easily pick things up with this one as it is the launch of a new series.

Rose can’t seem to do right by her family. She knows that having a relationship with a sexy bartender who she recently met isn’t meant to be because of her family responsibility. But when she finds out that the bartender isn’t who he says he was and he happens to have ties to a rival mafia? Suffice it to say she’s pissed.

Boy meets girl. Boy betrays girl. Girl get pissed and shoots boy. Boy is determined and kidnaps girl on her wedding day (of her arranged marriage) and will stop at nothing, including plying her with orgasms to make her his.
Having said that, I loved the first half of this book. The kidnapping, the push and pull, the hate lust, the second chance romance vibes. All of it just did it for me. But then the story lost a bit of steam for me. I wanted more mafia action, but most of it was a bit on the meh side. Outside of a few brief glimpses and instances, not much else happens. I began to grow bored and to skim. I also found myself wishing we got some glimpse of how these two got together. That all takes place off the pages, and I would have loved a bit more fleshing out of their original connection. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved their chemistry, I just also wished for at least a flashback or two.

And then there’s the set up for the next book? GIMME! It sounds utterly delicious.

If you’re looking for a super spicy mafia romance, definitely read this. It’s not the usual grittiness that I prefer in my mafia romance, but the spice made up for it and I still enjoyed it quite a bit.

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Review: The Brazen by Willa Nash

July 15, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

THE BRAZEN
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Calamity, Montana #3
Author: Willa Nash
Release Date: July 15, 2021

From USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry, writing as Willa Nash, comes a stranded together, small town romance.

Kerrigan Hale’s personal life is about as exciting as a bucket of tar. With hard work and hustle as her steadfast companions, who needs romance or adventure? Her empire in Calamity, Montana, isn’t going to build itself.

For years, her mentor—and investor—helped make her dreams come true. Until his unexpected death put her fate in his grandson’s hands. A brazen billionaire, he seems intent on ruining Kerrigan’s life.

But if Pierce Sullivan thinks she’ll go down without a fight, he’s sorely mistaken. Pushed to the extreme, she drives to his ritzy mountain lodge to force the arrogant You Can Call Me Mr. Sullivan to hear her out.

No sooner does she arrive than a snowstorm traps her with Pierce. Stranded together for days, she’s in for the battle of her life. Pierce is nearly irresistible by candlelight. Without his suits and fancy cars, he’s almost human.

Except only a fool would let down her guard. And Kerrigan can’t risk her future. Not when she doesn’t know if he’s out to pilfer her dreams . . . or to steal her heart.

AMAZON

Never in my life had I seen an angry woman I wanted to kiss so much.

The second I read about Kerrigan yelling at the sleek business man in The Bluff, I was immediately desperate for their story. I mean, can the set up sound more delicious? Small town romance, enemies to lovers, with a splash of force proximity. Yes, please, and thank you!

Kerrigan is exactly the type of heroine I love to read about. She’s intelligent, fiercely undefended though slightly down on her luck. She took a loan from a mentor to follow her dreams, but then the investor died in a tragic accident and his entirely too handsome for his own good grandson is in town to collect on the debt. Suffice it to say they clash at first sight.

I love this series and I simply adore this author, and while I enjoyed this installment, it wasn’t entirely my favorite. The romance was cute, but just a bit too insta love for my taste. Now, that’s not to say that they get all gooey eyes the second they meet, because let’s be clear, they hate each other, mostly. It takes months for them to get on the same page, but that happens off the pages, and so when they finally do get together, it feels quick. It was still highly satisfying, but I suppose I would have loved more of a burn.

That aside, I really enjoyed this one. Though I’d be lying that Pierce’s sassy assistant Nellie didn’t steal the thunder each time she appeared on the pages. And when we get more insight into her and Pierce’s best friend? GAH. ALL OF THE NEED. But I digress.

While I didn’t love every element of this story, I still enjoyed it quite a bit. It was swoony, emotional, with multi layered characters and plenty of heart. If you love small town romance, this series is simply not to be missed.


Willa Nash is USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry’s alter ego, writing contemporary romance stories for Kindle Unlimited. Lover of Swedish Fish, hater of laundry, she lives in Washington State with her husband and two sons. She was born and raised in Montana and has a passion for writing books in the state she calls home.

Devney loves hearing from her readers. Connect with her on social media!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Review: The Sweetest Thing by Maya Hughes

July 8, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

THE SWEETEST THING
Series: SWANK #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Maya Hughes
Release Date: July 1, 2021

Goldilocks has gotten a bit off track. I found her in my room, my bathroom and my bathtub to be precise.

Sabrina Mason is my new roommate. My new unwelcome roommate. Babysitting my Grandma’s apartment means Sabrina’s here to stay. But we’d agreed my room was off limits.

It’s bad enough my nightmares are getting worse, but having her around makes holding it together a little easier. Her smell, smart mouth and sexy a–anyway. I can’t let her get under my skin although it might be too late. In her sloppy bun and pajamas curled up on the couch, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. But a relationship isn’t what I need right now.

It’s hard to remember that when she’s glowering at me when I’m being an ass. We’re forced to live together for only a few more months, I can hold out until I can’t.

She’s in my bathtub and she’s not telling me to leave. So I ask the question, “do you want me to go?”

And I’m shocked as hell when her answer isn’t ‘yes’.

AMAZON

She was a temptation beyond any I’d faced before. I’d never wanted anything as much as I wanted to feel her against me.

Swank is Maya’s more lighthearted series featuring male best friends who meet their matches and The Sweetest Thing was Hunter’s story.

After an ugly breakup, Sabrina is just looking to pick her pieces back up. A generous offer of temporary room is something that she can’t pass up. But what she didn’t expect is the insomniac, cranky roommate that also happens to live there.

Hunter is a man with a tortured past who is desperate to hang on to his secrets. And a woman invading his personal space was not on his agenda. Especially a woman that temps him beyond reason. Theirs is a delicious slow burn full of push and pull and the story a lighthearted contemporary romance. What kept this being a higher rating for me was the same issue I had with The Proposal; it felt too drawn out. I found myself skimming a good chunk of it. DOn’t get me wrong, it was sweet and cute, but also felt unnecessary. It could have easily have shaved off 5-7 chapters with the story losing nothing in the process. As it was, I found myself growing bored at the pacing.

I loved Sabrina’s character. She was so incredibly endearing with her insecurities and the way she fought through Hunter’s stubbornness with his brother that you can’t help but love her. Hunter was a little more hard to love. His push and pull, hot and cold personality made me want to shake him. And his refusal of his brother made me want to strangle him. While I understood his struggles, it just didn’t feel dire enough to warrant his reaction to everything.

That being said, I still enjoyed it. It was cute, fun, and satisfying. It hit the spot just right for a good Maya Hughes fix that I needed after her Falling trilogy. And the cross over into that trilogy with the intro to the couple of the next SWANK book? NEED! I can’t wait for Maddy’s story.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted and steamy romance, this will hit the spot nicely.

Maya Hughes, that’s me!, can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the
bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life,
namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone
new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I love writing stories that capture the possibilities of the paths less travelled and enjoy
experiencing life through my characters’ eyes.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some
of my favorite things are cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe,
traveling with my family and Jeff Goldblum.

AUTHOR LINKS
Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook

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Review: Treasured by Lexi Blake

June 22, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

TREASURED
Series: Masters & Mercenaries #22.5 / Sanctum Nights #11
Genre: BDSM, Contemporary Romance
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: June 22, 2021

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake comes a new story in her Masters and Mercenaries series…

David Hawthorne has a great life. His job as a professor at a prestigious Dallas college is everything he hoped for. Now that his brother is back from the Navy, life seems to be settling down. All he needs to do is finish the book he’s working on and his tenure will be assured. When he gets invited to interview a reclusive expert, he knows he’s gotten lucky. But being the stepson of Sean Taggart comes with its drawbacks, including an overprotective mom who sends a security detail to keep him safe. He doesn’t need a bodyguard, but when Tessa Santiago shows up on his doorstep, the idea of her giving him close cover doesn’t seem so bad.

Tessa has always excelled at most anything she tried, except romance. The whole relationship thing just didn’t work out for her. She’s not looking for love, and she’s certainly not looking for it with an academic who happens to be connected to her boss’s family. The last thing she wants is to escort an overly pampered pretentious man-child around South America to ensure he doesn’t get into trouble. Still, there’s something about David that calls to her. In addition to watching his back, she will have to avoid falling into the trap of soulful eyes and a deep voice that gets her heart racing.

But when the seemingly simple mission turns into a treacherous race for a hidden artifact, David and Tess know this assignment could cost them far more than their jobs. If they can overcome the odds, the lost treasure might not be their most valuable reward.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

AMAZON 

You want me to call you ‘Sir’?”
“While that would be appropriate, what we have is special, so I think we’ll use a different, special, term.”
“David, I told you. This is just sex. Maybe we shouldn’t be so…”
“Professor,” he said, ignoring her outburst. “You will call me Professor when you’re submitting.”

This series can have a million books and I will never grow tired of it. Never.

Now while I love Lexi’s bad@ss mercenaries, there’s just something about a sexy nerd that just hits the spot. And David Hawthorne was everything I had hoped he’d be. Kyle is Sean’s stepson and the exact antithesis to his brother, Kyle. Kyle is the bad@ss protector with a tortured past, but David is the handsome professor with a secret kink for dominance. He’s the perfect gentleman with some hangups from his childhood that he still works through.

Tessa and he meet at a party and share an instant spark, but Tessa is gun shy after a failed engagement so she ghosts him when he tries to contact her after. Of course fate has other plans when Tessa is hired to be his bodyguard on a trip for a treasure hunt. Forced proximity at it’s best here.

Now admittedly, I wasn’t as interested in the treasure hunt and mystery around it. It was interesting but didn’t have me totally engrossed either. I loved the romance between David and Tessa. She never sees this quiet and charismatic man coming. He’s unassuming in a way but in such a way that he totally sneaks up on her. I loved watching their connection grow. I also love the addition of spending more time with Sean, and of course my favorite, Ian. Now I’m super looking forward to Kyle’s book next.

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Review: Break Up With Him, For Me by Whitney G.

June 19, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

BREAK UP WITH HIM, FOR ME
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Whitney G.
Release Date: May 31, 2021

Penelope, I know that it’s three o’clock in the morning, but I have to get this off my chest.

I can’t give you any more advice on landing this other guy, can’t tell you another “sexy” thing that you should do, or suggest a new set of filthy words that you should text him late at night.

As your best friend, I’ve reached my limit, and I can honestly say that he doesn’t deserve you.

I’m not saying all of this because I’m f-cking jealous, or because he had the audacity to say that he makes more money than me. (I still can’t find his name on the Forbes 500 list, and I know damn well that he’s renting that Ferrari, but that’s a story for a different day.)

He’s not who you think he is, and the better man has always been right in front of you…

You have every reason to never give me a chance since you know me better than anyone, and you agree with all the tabloids calling me “The Cocky King of New York,” and the “Untamed Playboy of Manhattan.” But I honestly believe that you’re better off with someone else, and I need you to see.

I’m not asking for too much…I just want you to break up with him, for me.

AMAZON

I have no idea what ‘this’ is, Hayden. When exactly would you need my help?”
“Tomorrow and every morning this week,” I said. “We ride at dawn.”
Silence. “Can you be honest with me?” He let out a long breath. “Is it cocaine or heroin?”

I’ve been desperately waiting for a full length romance from Whit for what feels like forever. As much as I love her steamy novellas, I wanted a bigger hit of her brand of banter and alphas. And I definitely got it with this book.

This was a slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers romance filled with hilarious banter that I couldn’t get enough of. Hayden is Penelope’s older brother’s best friend. When Pen’s parents pass and her brother chases his career dreams of being an MMA brother, Hayden becomes a bit of Penelope’s keeper. Unwittingly they shift from bantering enemies to unlikely friends. Hayden becoming almost like a crutch to Penelope at times. He’s becomes her relationship guru as she stumbles from one disastrous “relationship” to another.

Admittedly, I had a tough time connecting with Pen’s character. It feels like she barely has any growth from 17 to early twenties and remains the bumbling ingenue even boyfriend #15 later. It was frustrating to read. She used Hayden like a crutch more than a friend at times, and that was even more frustrating.

Hayden is the type of alpha I’ve come to crave from Whit. He’s a rich manwh*re whose sudden feelings for his best friend’s younger sister hits him like a two by four. I loved the build up between them, though I could have done with a bit less flashbacks. Those parts dragged a bit for me and were a bit of same old same old. I didn’t really care to know about any more breakups beyond the first two. I also didn’t care for the side plot with Simon. The way that it all resolved was odd and…unsatisfying. But my main quibble was Pen’s brother. I HATED him. SO HARD. I needed him to redeem himself at the end. Grovel. Beg for forgiveness. ANYTHING. But it was mostly glazed over.

All that aside, I did still enjoy this quite a bit. It was steamy and fun and full of banter. I don’t think I could dislike a Whitney G book. Not really. There’s just something about her books that no matter if I have quibbles or not, they’ll still leave me with a smile on my face. And this one certainly did the trick.

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Review: Smoke & Mirrors by Skye Jordan

June 16, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

SMOKE & MIRRORS
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Forged In Fire #2
Author: Skye Jordan
Release Date: May  31,  2021

Another sizzling firefighter romance from New York Times bestselling author Skye Jordan.

I’m taking a break from women. I’ve been lied to once too often, and I’m over it.


Then Isabel, my best friend’s little sister, blows into town without notice, bringing the past with her. Her secret past.

From the moment she crashes poker night and hustles the whole firehouse out of a couple hundred bucks, I know she’s not telling the truth about why she’s here.

Lies have influenced my entire life.

They’ve also torn my world apart too many times already.

But by the time the truth comes out, she’s tangled around my heart like barbed wire, and there’s no way out unscathed.

AMAZON 


I love me a sizzling firefighter romance and this one hit the spot just right.

Logan is the quintessential nice guy but he’s far from perfect. Years ago he was Isabel’s brother’s best friend and for one night they were something else entirely. But then Isabel left to chase her dreams and left everything behind. Their ties were tight back then. Isabel was also best friends with Logan’s younger sister. Until she left town and everyone else behind.

Now she’s back and she’s hiding something, including the illusion of her perfect life which took a turn somewhere while chasing her dreams in the concrete jungle of New York. Her stopover in the small town is temporary but it doesn’t take long for the chemistry that always brewed between her and Logan to rear its head and for her to start falling in love with the town and the new citizens that she didn’t know when she left as a teen.

While I totally understood Isabel’s issues from her past and everything she’s dealing with now, I have to say Logan frustrated me. Yes he has a history himself but his hangups were a bit extreme at times for what they were in my opinion. I was also beyond frustrated with Tucker and his immaturity though I am looking forward to seeing his inevitable fall an the playboy get his.

This was a sweet and steamy romance. While I loved the secondary characters, two in particular stole the show; the cussing parrot and the cute and trouble making puppy. Can’t wait for the next one in the series!

 

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Review: Blame It on the Tequila by Fiona Cole

May 27, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

BLAME IT ON THE TEQUILA
Series: Blame It On The Alcohol #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Fiona Cole
Release Date: May 27, 2020

The world loves him and his music, but I loved him first. 

It started on a dance floor after too much tequila and ended with looking into the handsome face I never thought I’d see again. In-person, at least.

I saw his face all the time on magazine covers.

To the world, he’s Parker Callahan- famous rockstar.

To me, he was the boy I loved, the stepbrother who left me behind to follow his dreams.

After our tequila-fueled encounter, he wants me back but that’s not a road I’m ready to walk down again. He broke my heart once, and even five years later, I’m not sure I could handle another blow.

When a once-in-a-lifetime offer comes my way, even my broken heart isn’t enough for me to be able to turn it down. I agree to join the band’s tour and help Parker write his next album–but this time I’m not falling in love.

This time I’ll walk away.

If there is one thing life has taught me, it’s that love never goes to plan–especially when Parker is involved. 

  Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
AMAZON

I’d never had the all-consuming urge to go, go, go until we were one. I’d never had the urge to crawl inside someone and never come out. Until him

I’m a sucker for a second chance romance. Something about the feels and angst of it just does it for me. Add a rockstar into the mix, and I’m so sold!

This one had a bit of a mystery element to it that hooked me from the very first page. The story is told in alternating past and present, with the majority of the story taking place in the present.

Parker and Nova first met as teens. They had an immediate chemistry and pull that both of them tried desperately to avoid because they were step siblings. Their mutual love of music brought them together, but then seemed to ultimately tear them apart. Parker and Nova fell hard and fast, until they fell apart and everything changed.

Years later, Nova is still not quite over Parker, but she’s moved on and determined not to think about that part of her life again. But then a night of tequila and a bit of fate bring them into each other’s orbits again.

Parker is determined not to let Nova walk away this time, and Nova is just as determined to run from all of it. She’s pretty hell bent on avoiding Parker, until fate intervenes once more and puts them as close to each other as possible.

While I enjoyed the story, I didn’t love it as much as I did the first book. I think part of it stems from my frustration with Nova and her inability to tackle anything head on. She runs from any confrontation and while I understood it at the very end when the big part of the mystery gets revealed, it was no less frustrating. Ultimately, I can’t place my finger on exactly what it was or why, but it was just missing a little something for me. That spark just wasn’t there. I liked the couple and the romance, but I wasn’t riveted to the pages. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It was a fun and engaging read. It just won’t be anything I’d come back to.

Fiona Cole is a military wife and a stay at home mom with degrees in biology and chemistry. As much as she loved science, she decided to postpone her career to stay at home with her two little girls, and immersed herself in the world of books until finally deciding to write her own.

 Connect with Fiona

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Review: Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

February 19, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

RUTHLESS CREATURES
Series: Queens & Monsters #1
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Suspense
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Release Date: February 19, 2021

An explosive new novel of love, lies, and obsession from bestselling author J.T. Geissinger

Five years ago, my fiancé disappeared. Left me with a wedding dress I’d never wear. Left me with the kind of scars that can’t be healed. The man I built my future on vanished like a ghost. All that remained were my broken heart and unanswered questions.

Until a mysterious stranger arrives in town.

Tall, dark, and dangerous, Kage is as full of secrets as he is sex appeal. Though I know he’s hiding something, I’m drawn to him like a moth to flame.

The intensity of our connection is addictive, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Heat crackles between us with every look, desire flares into passion, and I fall hard, helpless to resist.

But when I discover how he’s tied to the darkness in my past, I learn what happens when you fly recklessly into fire:

You get burned.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

AMAZON | AMAZON PAPERBACK

People say time heals all wounds, but those people are assholes. Wounds like mine don’t heal. I’ve just learned to control the bleeding.

I have an obsession with JT Geissinger’s words. The woman has created some of my absolute favorite alphas and some of my favorite heroines. She’s the queen of banter and uber alphas. And I love me some uber alphas.

Ruthless Creatures is the start of her brand new Queens & Monsters series and I was so here for it. Mafia bad boys meet their match with fierce heroines? Yes please and thank you!

Let’s start with what I loved. Nat and Sloane. I am a sucker for a sassy and fiercely loyal BFF dynamic, and these two had it in spades. I couldn’t get enough of them.

He said that?”
“Verbatim.”
“Holy shit.”
“That was pretty much my reaction, too.”
Sloane pauses. “And you didn’t throw yourself to your knees, rip open his zipper, and latch onto him like a sucker fish?”
Rolling my eyes, I sigh. “And they say romance is dead.”

I lived for glimpses of Sloane in all her sassy, maneater glory. I love a female that owns her sexuality and is not one to settle. I can’t wait to meet the man to bring her to her knees. But I digress.

Nat met the love of her life, only for him to disappear on their wedding day. Five years later, she’s still moving on from the loss. The worst of it is the not knowing what happened to him and whether he’s alive or dead.

She’s been living in limbo all these years, keeping her heart in check, and not able to commit to any man. Until a mysterious stranger with an aura of danger changes everything.

Kage was absolutely DELICIOUS. When I tell you that the man has presence, I mean he has PRESENSE. He practically oozes sexuality and badass. But he’s also hiding something dark and dangerous with Nat in the front and center of it. He tries to deny their chemistry for as long as he can (which wasn’t that long) until his need for her turns desperate. Now I’m not one for the insta-love vibe, but it actually worked for me here.

What kept this from being a five star were a few things. One, while the sex was hot, there was just too much of it. I found myself skimming sex scenes, and when I admit to doing this, you know it’s a lot. This was a lot more erotic than what I’m used to from JT’s other books. And don’t get me wrong, I’m a girl that loves a good sex scene. But when it begins to detract from the plot, it’s too much. I wanted more character development. I wanted more meat to the story. I felt like the focus was on the sexy times rather than the seriously intriguing plot. There’s so much to unpack here with the rival mafia families, and I would have loved to spend more time with that. As it was, I found the primary focus to be on the sex. The other, because the focus was primarily on the plot, the characters were more forgettable then what I’m used to from this author as well. I won’t find myself going back for a re-read of this one.

Now that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, because I really did. I finished it in one sitting. Did I love it? No. But I did like it quite a bit. I’m complete hooked on the series, and the set up for the next book? I’m drooling.

If you’re looking for a super spicy book with a bad boy, mafia, suspense, and the hottest dirty talk, you need to check this one out.


J.T. Geissinger is a bestselling author of emotionally charged romance and women’s fiction. Ranging from funny, feisty rom coms to intense, edgy suspense, her books have sold more than one million copies and been translated into several languages.

She is the recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and is a two-time finalist for the RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America®. She has also been a finalist in the Booksellers’ Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.

Her first novel was published in 2012. Since then she’s written eighteen more novels. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drinking wine, surfing the internet, and daydreaming about all the things she’s going to be when she grows up. She lives near the beach in Los Angeles with her husband and deaf/demented rescue kitty, Ginger.

Connect with J.T. Geissinger

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