Review: A Million Kisses In Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy

March 10, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

A MILLION KISSES IN YOUR LIFETIME
Author: Monica Murphy
Genre: New Adult Romance
Release Date: March 10, 2022

Wren Beaumont is many things.

Beautiful.
Smart.
Sweet.
Innocent.

At Lancaster Prep, the girls love her. They all want to be her friend. Only I see Wren for who she really is.

A repressed little virgin who keeps her feelings locked up so tight she’s probably close to bursting. She thinks she’s above us all.

Even me.

I shouldn’t be drawn to her. She’s not my type.

Until we’re forced to work together in class and realize we might have more things in common than we originally thought. Soon enough I find myself completely obsessed. I will do anything for this girl to make her fall in love with me.

Anything.

AMAZON

Crew Lancaster is too much. Too moody and too dark and too quiet. Too handsome and magnetic and smart. I don’t like how I feel when his eyes are on me.

After devouring and absolutely loving Things I Wanted To Say, I was giddy in anticipation of more books in the Lancaster Prep world. I love Monica’s brand of angst and broody and tortured heroes. But this one caught me a bit by surprise, admittedly, because it was like nothing I expected, and not in a bad way.

Now if you’re expecting the same level of angst as Things I wanted to Say, this isn’t it. Crew Lancaster may be broody, but he’s not Whit Lancaster broody. He’s basically the broody cinnamon roll to his cousin, and I loved that in him.

Wren is the untouchable girl at Lancaster prep. Her family is almost the same level of rich as Crew, but their morals are world apart. She’s the beautiful and untouchable virgin, who can do no wrong, and barely spares Crew a look. He’s determined to get her attention, so when a class projects puts them together, he knows this is his moment.

What’s interesting is Wren is the exact type of heroine that I tend to gravitate away from. She’s too sweet, super sheltered and naive. She’s also the super innocent virgin who’s never been kissed. But there was just something so endearing about her, that where I would get annoyed by a heroine like this in any other book, it somehow worked for her here.

Crew goes from broody to full on cinnamon roll. And again, cinnamon roll is not usually my cuppa, but it also worked for me here. I just loved these two together and watching their avoidance grow to an unlikely friendship which soon bloomed into romance. I absolutely loved them together.

My only minor quibble, is there was little to no conflict in the story, outside of what was happening with secondary characters like with Wren’s father, or the teacher, and some friends. All of these things added tension to their relationship, sure, but I wanted more. I suppose I just expected a touch of angst, or at the very least some conflict between the two considering their difference, but that wasn’t present. Though the woo is super strong with Crew. This guy can teach romance to men double his age. I loved that about him.

I also wish we got a bit more closure with some of the secondary characters like Natalie and Maggie, but perhaps that may come with later books? I’m super curious about the grumpy and broody Marcus, so fingers crossed we may get a book for him too.

All in all this was a bit lighter than I expected, but still hit the spot just right.

 

Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance.

A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, son, their goofy dog, and three cats. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. Or reading. Or binge watching something.

 

Connect with Monica

Website | Goodreads  | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub | Pinterest | Verve Romance | Tik Tok 

 


 

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Review: The Man From Sanctum by Lexi Blake

March 8, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

THE MAN FROM SANCTUM
Series: Masters and Mercenaries: Reloaded Book 3
Genre: Romantic Suspense, BDSM
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: March 8, 2022

A painful past

Deke Murphy and Maddie Hall should never have worked as a couple in high school. She was the class valedictorian and he the jock who took nothing seriously…except her. Together they formed an amazing team, and young love blossomed into something that strengthened them both. Until tragedy struck and Deke made a sacrifice that split them up forever.

An unexpected reunion

Seventeen years later, Maddie is living her dream working for a brilliant tech guru in the beauty of Southern California. She’s made a life for herself and it’s first class all the way. She rarely thinks of the jock who dumped her all those years ago. But when Maddie realizes her boss might be part of an international conspiracy, she can’t deny Deke might be her best bet to solve the mystery. Her one-time sweetheart works for one of the world’s premiere security and investigative firms. She’ll hire him and prove to herself their relationship could never have worked.

A dangerous future

As Maddie and Deke begin to uncover her boss’s secrets, they can’t deny the chemistry that has reignited. But before they can explore the connection growing between them, they must survive the deadly forces hunting them down.

AMAZON

The girl he’d loved was now a woman in trouble. He wasn’t going to let her down. But she might not like how he did it.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: I will never get tired of this series. Doesn’t matter how many books or spin offs, it’s like book crack and I can’t get enough.

Deke Murphy is a character that didn’t fully catch my attention in this series if I’m honest. But if there’s one thing that Lexi is good at, it’s throwing out one hell of a hook at the end of her book. And the hook at the end of The Dom Identity? Let’s just say I was salivating. I love a good second chance romance.

Maddie and Deke were high school sweethearts. She was the brainy one with a golden future, and he was the sexy jock. Maddie thought she’d spend her life with him until he broke her heart and broke up with her so she’d pursue her dream in Yale. Now it’s twenty years later, and Deke is the only person who can help Maddie, who finds herself in a deadly situation. Her tech giant boss may be doing something that could be behind something dangerous, and she’s determined to get to the bottom of it.

Now I have to say I like a bit more tension and angst in my second chance, and this didn’t quite have that. Though, if you like pining heroes, this will do the trick nicely. Because Deke knows exactly what he lost and he’s determined not to make the same mistake twice. I loved his growth and maturity of his character. He owns his mistakes. He doesn’t go all caveman on Maddie, though he is super protective of her.

Maddie was one it took be a bit to warm up to. She’s someone who’s too smart for her own good types. Like she’s so busy looking at things from a black and white perspective, that she misses the little obvious things.

The suspense here is what ultimately stole the show for me. Who is Jane and what secret is she hiding? And holy shit, y’all! When the truth is revealed, my jaw was on the floor. I didn’t see it coming at all. And the set up for Drake’s book? DELICIOUS.

All in all, this one hit the spot nicely, though it wasn’t all the things I hoped. I got my Ian banter, and steamy BDSM with some high octane suspense, so it’s a win.

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Review: Run Posy Run by Cate C. Wells

February 23, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

RUN POSY RUN
Genre: Dark Adult Romance
Author: Cate C. Wells
Release Date: April 21, 2021

She’d better run…

Posy
When I fell for Dario Volpe, I thought he was Prince Charming, and I was the luckiest girl alive. He didn’t care about my past. The talk. The stain on my family’s reputation.

Then he saw something I never wanted anyone to see.

He cares now.

This isn’t a breakup, it’s a warning shot, and if I want to get out of this bad romance alive, I have to run and never look back.
Dario Volpe is no storybook hero. He’s a psychopath, and he can’t decide–kiss me? Or kill me?

Dario
I’m the man behind the curtain, the power behind the throne. I could have killed her, and no one would have blinked an eye. Posy Santoro isn’t exactly a mafia princess.

No one sees her as clearly as I can–the perfect mind hidden by that knockout body in the tight dress.

I made a mistake, running her off, but now I get to play one of my favorite games.

Posy can run, but she isn’t made to be free. She’s made for me. And when I catch her? Game over.

Run Posy Run is a standalone mafia romance with dark elements. Intended for adult readers.

HEA guaranteed.

AMAZON  

Dario and I aren’t a love story. It’s the other kind. Girl meets mysterious, brooding mafioso. Convinces herself they’re in love. Lets him take over her life. And in the end, mysterious is criminal. Brooding is cruel. And the mafioso is a monster.

And so my Cate C Wells binge continues. After devouring The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate, I immediately jumped on this book. Why? Well, because I love me a morally gray hero, and it doesn’t get more morally gray than Dario.

Now look, if sociopath mafioso heroes aren’t your cuppa, you won’t like this book. They happen to be my book crack so I devoured this in one sitting. Posy is not a heroine I’d generally like, but I really enjoyed her. She’s got issues galore; daddy issues, abandonment issues, looking for love in all the wrong places issues. When the man she thought she was going to marry thinks she cheated on him, he cruelly throws her out on her ass. When his protection is gone, her uncle’s betrayal in the mafia puts the target right back on her and so she runs. Except then her mafia boyfriend realizes his mistake and wants her back. But not in the traditional grovel for here back. Oh no. In the chase her, kidnap her, and force her to be his sort of way. And this girl? SO HERE FOR IT.

This book was a touch dark, and a lot fucked up and I enjoyed every page of it. Dario is a true sociopath, a man without feeling or emotion…except when it comes to Posy. I loved watching them rediscover each other but with their masks now fully off. A deliciously dark romance that I enjoyed form beginning to end.

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Review: Beautiful Nightmare by Giana Darling

January 15, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE
Series: Dark Dream Duet #2
Author: Giana Darling
Genre: Contemporary, Dark Romance
Release Date: January 13, 2022

Bianca has finally found her rightful place amid the powerful Constantines.

 

But all is not what it seems in this glittering new world.

 

And Tiernan Morelli refuses to give her up…

 

 


BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE is the final book in the Dark Dream duet by USA Today bestselling author Giana Darling.

AMAZON

He was this contradiction only my heart could decipher. A lovely monster. A beautiful nightmare.


The level of anticipation that I had for this book was EXTREME. When I tell you I devoured book one…I mean I was OBSESSED. I love a good revenge plot, but when you add an age gap and a guardian/ward trope to it? Stick a fork in me. I’m done.

So after the jaw dropping cliffhanger in Dangerous Temptation, I was practically rabid to get my hands on the conclusion. So the second this book dropped on my kindle, I was on it.

The story takes place immediately where book one left off; Bianca reeling after learning of Tiernan’s betrayal and lies, and Tiernan dealing with finally cutting ties from his sadistic father. Bianca finds herself suspiciously accepted by the Constantines. She may be 17, but she’s not naive that there are clearly ulterior motives at play.

Admittedly, Tiernan’s about face with Bianca seemed sudden on the one hand. But this is really because a lot of their development happened in book one. I think if I read these back to back, it wouldn’t have even registered for me. Though I will say that the romance here took a bit of a backseat to the twists and suspense. I would have loved a bit more relationship development aside from the obvious sexual one, but I can’t complain, because the steam was incendiary.

While this book didn’t keep me as riveted as the first one, it was still a one sitting read that I devoured. Between the jaw dropping twists, the suspense, and the reunion of the Morelli brothers, it was still very much a page turner. I’m simply obsessed with this world. Hopefully we get Carter’s book next.

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Review: Kiss And Tell by Maya Hughes

January 6, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

KISS AND TELL
Series: STFU #1
Author: Maya Hughes
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 6, 2022

“Wouldn’t most guys love a no strings attached hook up?

“Maybe, but most guys don’t deserve you. I want to be one who does. And I want to be all tangled up in your strings.”

Newly arrived on campus, I knew two things. 1) No one could know my dad was the president of the university and 2) football players were bad news.My run in, the literal kind with my neighbor cranked up the heat and sparks flew.

A new college campus. A secret bound to explode in my face. And a football player neighbor who is bad news in the best of ways.

Reid Riddick was hotness personified, so of course I literally ran into with him–well, more like he plowed into me.

I didn’t know he was a football player when I started falling and now I can’t stop. A stolen kiss later and my heart races whenever he looks at me from across the quad.

But my secret would spell disaster for him.

I’m the daughter of the college president. The college president who’s been feuding with his football coach for years. Their bitter campus war leaves us teetering on the edges of a divide we can’t see a way across.

Resisting him is more than I can handle. He’s risking it all for me. His team standing. His football season. His pro future.

Throw in a campus gossip site. My out of control new friends. His way too hot roommates. College traditions. A secret campus bar and the only guy who’s ever made me feel like he can’t live without me. And I have one last secret.

Our star-crossed love is my first and I want him to be mine.

Kiss and Tell is the first book in the new St Francis University sports romance series.

AMAZON

COMING SOON IN STFU SERIES

ADD BOOK 2  – THE KISS LIST – COMING SOON

GOODREADS https://bit.ly/thekisslist

My feelings weren’t unrequited, they weren’t being driven deep down because he had his eyes set on my best friend or a spot at the vineyard or me being his new tutor to pass biology or chemistry. Working beside him was like a beautifully wrapped present that had been shoved in my Christmas stocking, but I didn’t get to open it.

Kiss and Tell launches the brand new Fulton U spin-off, and I am so here for it. Generally, I’m the sort of reader that likes her New Adult romance with plenty of drama, and manwhore/alphahole/badboy. What? As Christina Grey once said, my tastes are very…singular.
So imagine my pleasant surprise when I ended up falling for the cinnamon role that was Reid. How deliciously unexpected.

Reid has lived, breathed, and bled football since he was 14. All he wants is to hit the pros. But it has nothing to do with fame and women. The more you get to learn about him and his father, the more you fall for him. He trains hard and doesn’t let any distractions, like women deter him. Besides, his coach is dang near certifiable and kicked off one of his teammates for not breaking up with his girlfriend. Simply because the girlfriend was the daughter of someone who the coach didn’t like. So yeah, suffice it to say it’s enough to put some fear into you. So what happens when you fall for the girl of the university president and a man his coach hates with a passion? Well, definitely some complications.

Leona is a recent transfer. After some recent life events, she made the decision to leave her mom’s home in Australia to come be with her dad. She’s also not entirely keen on anyone knowing who her dad is because she doesn’t want any attention. She wants to be treated like everyone else, and so she moves in on campus.

Leona and Reid have an adorable meet cute when they bump into each other and her legos spill out of her moving box. There’s immediate sparks, but they’re both insecure for various reasons. Leona, because she’s not used to being the girl being noticed. And Reid, well because he’s told himself he can’t be distracted by a relationship.

This was definitely a slow burn, with plenty of character development. There’s a heavy undercurrent of chemistry that makes it almost painful until that first kiss. I loved how sweet Reid was with Leona. He’s not a player and he doesn’t play any mind games. When he makes a decision, that’s it. And he doesn’t bother trying to deny his feelings, which was incredibly refreshing. Leona was incredibly relatable and I absolutely loved her friendship with her roommates.

The new characters that are introduced, particularly Kennedy and Cole, immediately hooked me too. I loved getting to know this new gang of friends. Can’t wait for the next book!

 

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: https://www.goodreads.com/mayahughes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayahugheswrites

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maya-hughes

 



 

 

#STFU #mayahughes #reidandleona #STFUseries #kissandtell #secretlovers

 

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Review: Protect Me Not by Natasha Anders

December 27, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

PROTECT ME NOT
Series: (Un) Professionally Yours #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Natasha Anders
Release Date: October 6, 2021

Some temptations are just not worth the complication.

Victoria Hollingsworth does not need a surly, uncommunicative bodyguard cramping her style, following her everywhere, and intimidating any would-be male callers. She’s a florist for goodness sake, not a princess or a pop star. Having a massive, mysterious bodyguard always hovering is an inconvenience. And yet… there he is, Tyler Chambers, her unwanted protector, ultra-serious, no-nonsense, and off-the-charts hot. Vicki doesn’t want, or need, him as a bodyguard. Yet, disturbingly, he may be everything she wants, and needs, in a man.

Ty hates his current long-term assignment. It’s mind-numbingly tedious. Vicki Hollingsworth is a pain in the butt who talks too much, laughs a lot, and frequently tests his patience. And her life isn’t exactly filled with intrigue and action. Ty is ready for this job to be over. He has a couple of months left before reassignment. So close to being out of here he can taste it. The last thing he needs is to suddenly find his cute-as-a-button charge irresistibly attractive. She’s not his type. Wholesome, adorable, and sweet, Vicki is the kind of woman who needs long-term commitment. And all Ty has to offer is a few short weeks of far-from-wholesome pleasure.

How much chaos can one little florist introduce into his regimented life? Ty is about to find out.

 

AMAZON

 

Some temptations were just not worth the complication.


I love me a good bodyguard romance, and while this one took me a minute to really get into, once I did, I couldn’t put it down.

Now usually, I love my bodyguard romance with a touch more suspense. Ty had been assigned to Vicki by her overprotective brother after one break in in her flower shop. Being a top notch professional in the field, Ty isn’t exactly thrilled at what he considers babysitting duty. And Vicki is just as thrilled at having a constant baby sitter. Suffice it to say they have a bit of a rough start when Vicki purposely antagonizes Ty in the beginning. You’d think that Ty’s sudden waking up 15 months into his charge to realize that he’s attracted to Vicki would be somewhat hard to believe, but it just fit.

Natasha Anders writes very character driven stories, and this one was no different. Admittedly it took me about 20% to really get into this story, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I loved Vicki’s sweetness and pure heart in comparison’s to Ty’s brokenness. After heartbreaking losses, Ty has put up walls around his heart. PTSD and loss will do that to a man. And he feels the only thing he has to offer is a short lived physical relationship with Vicki until his job is officially over and they both move on. He struggles with his attraction to her, but when this slow urn finally explodes, YOWZA! As much as Ty hot and cold, I want you but can’t give you anything back and forth drove me nuts, I still loved him. There are so many layers to this man, that you can’t help but fall for him with each layer you peel back. Vicki’s sweet nature was the perfect balance, and I loved that she wasn’t too much of a push over.

Ty goes from cold to hot to back to cold, and I couldn’t get enough. It was a slow burn romance full of heart and emotion, and a well deserved HEA that put a huge smile on my face.

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Review: Sexy as Sin by Willow Winters

December 21, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

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.

Amazon | Apple Books | Google Play |  Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Signed Paperback

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.

 

Connect with Willow

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram | Twitter | Bookbub | Pinterest | Other | Verve 

Text WILLOW to 797979

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Review: Washed Away by RC Boldt

December 7, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

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…

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14543027.R_C_Boldt

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Kq1H9C

Facebook: http://bit.ly/RCBoldtFB

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BBBReaders/

Instagram: http://bit.ly/RCBoldtIG

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/RCBoldtBB

Verve: https://bit.ly/3jEf18z

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Review: Far From Bliss by Lexi Blake

November 16, 2021 by ·

FAR FROM BLISS
Series: Nights In Bliss, Colorado #12
Genre: Erotic Romance, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: November 16, 2021

Shattered by the past

Michael Novak was a US Marshal with his whole life figured out. Right up until the woman he called partner betrayed him. He’s been hiding in Bliss, CO, trying to pull himself out of the darkness. The only bright light is Lucy Carson. Something about Trio’s favorite waitress calls to him, but he can’t trust his instincts anymore.

Yearning for the future

Lucy has loved Tyler since they were kids, but he never seemed to feel the same way. She worried she would never want a man the way she does Ty, and then Michael grumbled his way into her world. Beyond the broody exterior she sees a burning fire in his eyes, and she is drawn to that flame.

The time is finally right

Ty knows Lucy is the one for him, but Lucy wrote him off romantically long ago. If he could get her to see him in a different light, he knows she would realize that they’re perfect for each other. His obstacle is the town’s reclusive former lawman, Michael. But this is Bliss. A rival can turn into a partner for the right woman. And Lucy is definitely the right woman.

Ty approaches Michael with a plan to get Lucy between them. A bargain is made, and Lucy is their target. But Lucy is already in much more dangerous crosshairs. Murder has come to Bliss, and Lucy is at the center of the investigation.

AMAZON

He wanted Lucy, and he liked having Ty around. They were almost too good to be true. He’d learned it was dangerous to want things.

I don’t care how many books are in this series, I will never grow tired of it. The only thing I love more than Lexi’s MFM menage are her MMF menage. This was the former, and it happened to feature one of my most anticipated characters; the damaged Michael.

WARNING, SPOILER FOR PREVIOUS BOOK

Ever since we saw the fallout of Michael’s relationship in the previous book, you just knew his road toward his HEA would be a good one. This is a man who was betrayed by the woman he loved who turned out not to be who he thought she was and it cost him everything. Now, two years later, he’s still bitter, angry, and punishing himself for not seeing the signs of her betrayal.

Ty and Lucy are best friends, but Lucy never thought they’d be anything more since Ty turned her down back in high school. She’s been lusting quietly after Michael, but she doesn’t think he’s interested in her either. Unbeknown to Lucy, Ty has been in love with her for years. He regrets all the time they’ve wasted, but now that he’s ready to confess his feelings for her, she doesn’t buy it because the man has spent years sowing his wild oats with every female within vicinity. I gotta say, I loved this about Lucy, that she doesn’t just accept his feelings and fully calls him on his BS. Michael has wanted her too, but of course he no longer trusts or believes in love. Cliche? A bit. Did I care? Not even a little.

If I can take one quote that describes this book to perfection…

One of the things he’d started to suspect was that Ty was an overgrown Golden Retriever. Handsome. Athletic. Looked like he could take down the world if he wanted to, but he almost never wanted to. Sometimes that dumbass loyal Golden needed a Rottweiler best friend.

I laughed so hard at that quote, because it describes Ty to a T. He really is like an overgrown puppy. At times almost a little too much so. But he was also the light and sweet relief to Michael’s brood. I loved how they balanced each other and how each brought something different to Lucy. There were even hints to something more than friendship for these two, but sadly it never got there. I’m just a little bitter about it.

In true Bliss fashion there’s a suspense plot with a murder and mystery, which I really enjoyed. Overall another fun installment in one of my guilty pleasure series.

· Filed Under: All Reviews, BDSM, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With: , ,

Review: Kingdom Come by Aleatha Romig

November 16, 2021 by · Leave a Comment
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.

Connect with Aleatha Romig:

Newsletter | Website |  Facebook | Amazon Author Page |Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With: , ,
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