Review: Darkest Sin by J. Saman

June 23, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

DARKEST SIN
Series: Las Vegas Sin #3
Genre: Dark, Romantic Suspense
Author: J. Saman
Release Date: June 22, 2020

Everyone has an ex who haunts them.

Mine shot me in the arm and told me to run or he’d kill everyone I ever loved. And then he’d kill me.

Years later, he’s made good on that promise. I’m the only one left.

He’s got his sights set on finding me, and my options on places to hide are quickly running out.

Until I meet a gorgeous assassin with an agenda of his own…putting not only my life, but my heart in danger.

With piercing green eyes and irresistible confidence, Gavin tells me not to be afraid. Promises he’s on my side. Swears he’s here to protect me instead of doing what he does best…kill.

The desire to trust him is tempting. The passion between us, even more so.

But when everything I thought I knew is suddenly flipped upside down, and all that’s dangerous and forbidden comes to light, I have to make a choice.

Continue to run and hide…

Or risk it all, including the man who somehow captured my heart.

AMAZON

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His mere presence is a threat. A weapon I’d bet he wields meticulously yet unapologetically. He’s sinisterly beautiful. An intoxicating poison.

I told myself that 2020 will be the year that I try more new to me authors, and J Saman has been on my radar for way too long. So of course the second I saw the blurb to Darkest Sin, I knew this would be my first book by her. And after finishing, I can happily report that I’m hooked! And before you jump down my throat, yes, I started this series with book 3. If you’ve followed my reviews for even a hot minute, you should already know that I like to do things a bit backasswards. Quit judging. And while this novel certainly stands on it’s own and I had no trouble at all immediately diving into this world, I could definitely tell there were some story arcs that carried over from the previous two books. So I’ll definitely be going back to read those.

As for this book, I seriously enjoyed it. It was suspenseful, sexy, and totally addicting. I will warn you to suspend your disbelief here. There are some things that happen that are a bit out there and don’t get fully fleshed out and somewhat glossed over on the procedural side of things. But I also couldn’t find it in me to care. I was that sucked in. And this is coming from someone that reads a ton of suspense and is usually a stickler for these sort of details.

Gavin Moore…
Professional killer.
White knight and darkest sin.

Emma is on the run. The man she fell in love with is not at all the man she thought he was and has turned into her perfect nightmare. She’s lost everyone she’s ever loved and doesn’t spend long in any one place. used to constantly looking over her shoulder, she finds herself in Vegas, and in the crosshairs of someone else.

Gavin is not who he seems. While he wants Emma to believe he’s a perfect stranger that’s merely hitting on her for a date, he’s so much more. A professional killer and a man on a mission, he’s there for her but she doesn’t know why.

I won’t go too far into the story since you can get that from the blurb. But I will tell you that I was immediately hooked on Gavin. The man was sinfully delicious with an aura of danger that oozed from his every pore. GAH. And considering how much I dislike weak heroines, I was even more hooked on Emma. The woman is a fighter through and through. She’s not quite what she appears to be herself, and the more the layers were peeled back with her, the more intrigued I became. This is a woman that can fight her own battles and isn’t afraid to give as good as she gets. And considering that there’s a hit on her life, she doesn’t let the fear guide her. She takes everything head on, and I seriously loved that about her.

I had one minor quibble with the way that the dialogue is written, it was difficult to understand who was speaking in certain parts. But aside from that, I seriously enjoyed the writing. The story, was completely addicting. The mystery, the suspense, the non stop action made it a fast paced read that I couldn’t get enough of. And the romance? SIZZLING.

Suffice it to say, I’ve definitely found me a new author to add to my never ending TBR and plan on reading pretty much everything this woman writes (including the rest of this series).

To celebrate the release of Darkest Sin, J. Saman has a giveaway for you! Head here to enter: http://jsamanbooks.com/updates

J. Saman is a USA Today bestselling author who is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).

She’s an admitted lover of second chance romances, love triangles, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing contemporary romance filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side – especially for their women.

FACEBOOK | READER GROUP | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | BOOKBUB | AMAZON | BOOKS + MAIN 

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Review: Healing of the Wolf by Cherise Sinclair

June 21, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

THE HEALING OF THE WOLF
Series: The Wild Hunt Legacy #5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Cherise Sinclair
Release Date: June 23, 2020

A decade in captivity tore away all hope.

But Margery never lost her resolve to help the sick. The village she’d hoped to serve as banfasa, caring for the ill and injured, is long gone. Humans captured the young shifters and killed the adults. Finally rescued, she has a chance at her dreams—at least for meaningful work. With her leg crippled and her face scarred, she knows she has no hope of ever finding love.

Tynan is ready to find their mate.

After years away from his littermate as a police officer among humans, Tynan is finally home, a beta in the wolf pack, and serving his people as a law officer. Assigned as Margery’s mentor in the pack, he patiently works to earn the skittish little wolf’s trust. Her captivity has left her with problems, including a fear of uniforms. But he’s a fixer at heart—and he’s starting to want more from the gentle female than just friendship.

Donal has no intention of making a family.

Separated from his littermate for years, Donal has remained unmated, devoting his energies to healing. Believing ugly rumors about their new neighbor—a banfasa—he won’t have her in his clinic or his life—no matter what his newly returned brother wants.

But a feral shifter’s attack on Tynan shows Margery in a whole different light. She’s levelheaded, compassionate, sweet—and far too appealing. What male could resist her?

But even as the brothers work to win their mate, cruel forces move to crush their entire clan.

AMAZON

It had taken him far too long, but he saw her in return. And liked everything he saw.

Cherise Sinclair books are my happy place. Whether she’s writing emotionally charged BDSM romance or just as emotionally charged MFM PNR, one thing is guaranteed; I’ll be glued to the pages.

If you haven’t read her Wild Hunt Legacy series, you, my friend, are seriously missing out. If you’re a fan of sexy PNR, I can guarantee this series is as unique as they come. Aside from the sizzle factor of each female getting not one but two alpha male mates, this series also packs one hell of an emotional punch which I’ve come addicted to.

Margery is a survivor. She’s spent years in captivity, surviving unspeakable brutalities and watching her fellow prisoners die at the hands of the vicious shifter hunters, Scythe. When she’s finally rescued, she’s experiencing a whole new world. She’s basically grown up in captivity, so the shifter life and traditions are a foreign concept to her. Margery is so easy to love. There’s just something so fierce about her. She’s a warrior in her own right. She’s survived horrors, but none of it has damaged her caring heart. She’s one of the most endearing heroines I’ve read. She’s just impossible not to love. Your heart breaks for her and you can’t help but yearn for her HEA.

Tynan is easy to love, too. He’s a cop in the human world, and the PTSD of her captivity with the Scythe soldiers makes Margery skittish around men in uniform. Tynan immediately puts her on edge. What I loved about him is just how patient and sweet he was with her. He recognizes her sweet soul right away and a woman that he needs to be with. He patiently waits her out and works through all of her fear and walls. This man was EVERYTHING.

Donal was a bit of a different story. The healer has some misconceptions of Margery that take him some time to work through. These misconceptions make him give her a bit of a cool reception and had me wanting to shake him in parts. However, when he finally sees the errors or his ways, he’s one determined man.

I loved the three of them together and I love how Sinclair manages to combine emotion and passion with a sizzling touch. I love this series, and can’t recommend it enough for all of my fellow PNR fans out there.

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Review: Welcome To The Dark Side by Giana Darling

June 18, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE
Series: FALLEN MEN #2
Genre: Dark, MC Romance
Author: Giana Darling
Release Date: April 18, 2018

 

I was a good girl.

I ate my vegetables, volunteered at the local autism centre and sat in the front pew of church every Sunday.

Then, I got cancer.

What the hell kind of reward was that for a boring life well lived?

I was a seventeen-year-old paradigm of virtue and I was tired of it.

So, when I finally ran into the man I’d been writing to since he saved my life as a little girl and he offered to show me the dark side of life before I left it for good, I said yes.

Only, I didn’t know that Zeus Garro was the President of The Fallen MC and when you made a deal with a man who is worse than the devil, there was no going back…

This is Daddy Zeus Garro’s story from Lessons In Corruption. A standalone in The Fallen Men series.

AMAZON

I was sick. Sick with lust for a girl nineteen years younger than me and morally sick because of it.

I’ve been eyeing this series for forever it feels like. But I was somewhat burned out on MC romance, or at least on the poorly written ones masquerading as MC romance, that I was a little trigger shy. What? I’m judgy! This shouldn’t be news to you here. But the allure of a taboo romance with a dirty talking MC prez proved to be too much, so I finally bit the bullet and dove in. And I am so glad I did!!!

He was breathtaking in every sense. Terrifying beyond comprehension and so gorgeous, it was a physical blow to the senses.

This book was everything I didn’t know I wanted. If you’re a fan of a good age gap, this one delivers in spades. It was like a love child of Undeniable and Motorcycle Man. Or as I call it, my catnip. Me-Ow! *purrs contentedly*

Now before all of you pearl clutchers come after me for liking a book between a 17 year old and a man 19 years her senior, I’d like to say that this is set in BC where the age of consent is 16. The heroine is also wise and mature well beyond her years as a product of her circumstance. That was probably one thing that worried me with starting this. Naive, immature heroines are my kryptonite. I can’t deal with it. Louise was great! She definitely had her teenage moments, which just made it believable. But she wasn’t an immature brat. Being the daughter of a corrupt mayor and parents who barely pay attention, and surviving leukemia has forced her to grow up quick. She first meets Zeus Garro in a hail of bullets as a young girl, when he saves her life. And the rest, as they say is history. They’re reunited again when Zeus gets out of jail and Louise is now a teenager with an entirely different form of hero worship for the dangerously lethal biker.

Zeus was perfection. The man is a dirty talking god. He’s utterly electric on the pages. I swear I got tingles just reading about him. He’s an MC Prez that doesn’t shy away from blood shed, but he’s also a devoted father. And he’s so dirty. I mean DURTY. GOD but it was delicious.

Now look, I’d be lying if I said this book was perfect. There were pacing issues. Quite a few of them. This messed a little with the flow of the story. However, I was so invested that I barely batted an eye lash at it. What did get me, though, were the KA-isms. And by KA-isms, I mean it was almost too much with the similarities at times. Now considering I had just finished a Kristen Ashley book right before this, clearly this was very fresh on my mind. I’ve read plenty of books that emulate her style, and I don’t usually mind it. However, this author clearly has writing chops, and her work can stand on its own and I would have loved if it resonated here. But the characters all sound like KA men with their aversion to any words ending with a consonant, amongst other things, yeah? What frustrated me was this was not just in dialogue but with inner monologue as well. I get that a character should stay consistent, but it was just too much. Then there’s the chapters that start in the middle of a sex scene, much like KA. What I’m saying is, the similarities were there, and it’s worth a mention.

Now, aside from that, this book was SOLID. I’m talking page-turner. Full of action, hot romance, and all of the grit. It read like a good MC book should. It felt authentic. These men were not innocent by any means, but you can’t help but love them. Zeus is just a god amongst men. This is a character that I won’t be forgetting any time soon. There’s just something about him that sticks with you.

If you’re a fan of gritty MC romance, this is an absolute must read. Take it from this cynic, you want to meet daddy Zeus. Do it and thank me later.

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Review: Hard Pass by Sara Ney

June 16, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

HARD PASS
Series: Trophy Boyfriends #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Sara Ney
Release Date: June 16, 2020

“Hard pass.”

That’s what the last girl I slept with said when she got her first sober glimpse of me. She laughed, walked out of my penthouse—and I never saw her again. It doesn’t matter that I’m a rich, professional athlete; what mattered was my face.

Beauty might only be skin deep for some—but I know better.

“Pay up.”

That’s what the last girl I spoke to said over the phone when I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Desperate to sell a set of rare baseball cards, she’s clever and entertaining. I’m instantly smitten, but nowhere ready to reveal myself. Thank god she has no idea who I am—or what I look like.
I’m a professional athlete–how hard can playing the love game be?

AMAZON

There’s nothing wrong with being a nice guy! Why do guys hate that so much?”
“Because, Miranda, nice guys usually only finish first in the movies. They are not the trophy boyfriends every girl wants.”

A new series from Sara Ney and with some baseball thrown in? SIGN ME THE H*LL UP, I SAY! To say that I’ve been eagerly anticipating this book may be a mild understatement. Rabid may be an apt description of my need. I’ve been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book, so the second it landed on my kindle, I jumped on it faster than you can say “gimme”.

As much as I love reading about those sexy alpha males, I do love a good underdog story. And when it comes to Noah, he was one of the most endearing underdogs. As a matter of fact, he reminded me so much of Rhett from The Learning Hours. And y’all, I loved Rhett from The Learning Hours. Noah is a professional baseball player and a total recluse. Being a shortstop for the Chicago Steam means he gets plenty of attention for his skill and money. But he’s not exactly raking it in with the ladies. He’s a genuinely nice guy but with plenty of insecurities when it comes to his looks. So when he sees a woman selling a rare baseball card on the internet that he’s desperate for, he’s too shy to go himself, and sends his womanizing teammate to pretend to be him. Suffice it to say the meeting doesn’t go as planned and hilarity ensues.

Miranda has had it with the womanizing and cocky a-holes. And she’s definitely not impressed with Noah’s teammate. Especially when she can’t reconcile the nice guy she’s been talking to on the phone with the cocky jerk that shows up. She wants nothing to do with that guy, but the one on the texts still draws her interest.

I absolutely devoured this book. It was ridiculously cute with a touch of sizzle and plenty of laughs. I loved Noah. This is a guy that you can’t help but to root for. He’s adorably awkward but he’s still all alpha male when it comes to pleasing his woman. GOD but I loved him. Miranda was the perfect balance to his quirks and insecurities and I absolutely loved the two of them together. Add in the quirky secondary characters like Buzz and I blinked and realized I was done with the book. I’m so hooked on this new series and seriously can’t wait for the next one. As much as I love the nice guys, I hope we’ll get a few a-holes out of this series too.

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Review: Dream Maker by Kristen Ashley

May 26, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

DREAM MAKER
Series: Dream Team #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kristen Ashley
Release Date: May 26, 2020

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Dream Man and Rock Chick series comes a brand new story about love, friendship, and the bonds of sisterhood.

Evie is a bonafide nerd and a hyper-intelligent chick who has worked her whole life to get what she wants. Growing up, she had no support from her family and has only ever been able to rely on herself. So when Evie decides she wants to earn her engineering degree, she realizes she needs to take an alternative path to get there. She takes a job dancing at Smithie’s club thinking this would be a quick side gig, where she can make the money she needs. But with her lack of dancing skills and an alpha bad boy who becomes overly protective, Evie realizes this might not be as easy as she thought.

Daniel “Mag” Magnusson knows a thing or two about pain, but the mask he wears is excellent. No one can tell that this good-looking, quick-witted, and roguish guy has deep-seated issues. Mag puts on a funny-guy routine so he can hide his broken heart and PTSD. But when Evie dances her way into Mag’s life, he realizes that he needs to come face-to-face with the demons of his past if he wants a future with her.

AMAZON

All my life, you know?”
“All your life what, baby?”
“Until you.”
He curved both arms around me and his voice was growly when he asked, “Until me, what?”
“The people I loved made loving them hard. Until you.”

*giddy wiggle*

Hey! Pssst! You there! You listening to this? Because this cynic just read a KA book and loved it! No but seriously. Guys. I seriously got my KA mojo back with this book and I’m so thrilled because now I’m also seriously hooked on this series!

So here’s the tea. It had the following:

1. A heroine that’s dorky, somewhat a klutz, but beautiful with hair up to THERE and curves in the right places.
2. A hero that can probably hold a conversation using only “yeah”, “babe”, and grunts
3. A heroine that’s down on her luck but has a vagina spun from gold because everyone and I mean EVERYONE falls for her. Even the bad guys.
4. A lot of action
5. Plenty of secondary characters hilarious antics, including a cross over with Rock Chicks and Dream Man.
6. A ‘comando’ hero
7. Hot shmexy loving
8. A new cast of characters in the form of gorgeous but down on their luck women who turn to stripping but the strip club owner is THE BEST
9. Male characters that will never pronounce a hard consonant at the end of their words.
10. Girlfriends that get into crazy situations but stay tight through all of it.

And this girl is giddy with excitement!!! Why? Because this is the vintage KA I love and missed.

Now look, if you’ve read ANY KA book in the past, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It may sound crazy to any who haven’t read her, but for me, this tried and true formula of hers just does it for me. And if the chemistry is there for the MCs, then I’m putty in your hands.

Evie and Danny were so good together. Their chemistry was undeniable. And what I really loved was that the action kept going well beyond the 50% mark of the book. In the last few KA books, I’ve admittedly grown bored by the halfway mark and felt like the rest was filler, but not here. There was a lot of book here, and all of it was GOOD.

It’s not everyday you meet a cast of strippers that you just absolutely fall in love with and are dying to read their stories. And can we just talk about the set up for the second book? Because GAH! But let me not get ahead of myself here and focus on this one.

Evie was fantastic. Of course everyone, their mother, and their uncle Harry loved her. But she’s impossible not to love. Except, unfortunately for some deadbeat members of her family that get her in life threatening danger.

Danny is a guy she gets set up on a date with by her friend and coworker, and they have instant sparks. And of course when he finds out she’s in danger, he immediately moves her in with him and will move heaven and earth to protect her. And this girl gobbled it right up.

Yes, it’s a tried and true formula but with a cast of new faces, and it just worked, you guy. It worked so well. This was like a combination of Rock Chicks and Dream Man and it was delicious! I was immediately hooked and I’m already desperate for more!

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New Release & Review: Black Knight by Rina Kent

May 21, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

BLACK KNIGHT
Series: Royal Elite #4
Genre: New Adult, Mature YA
Author: Rina Kent
Release Date: May 21, 2020

Love is impossible. Hate is an open game.

Kimberly

He was once my best friend, now he’s my worst enemy.

Xander Knight is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Ridiculously popular.

Brutally cruel.

He’s a knight but won’t do any saving.

 

Xander

We started as a dream, now we’re a nightmare.

Kimberly Reed is pathetically fake.

Terribly innocent.

Secretly black.

She can hide but never from me.

AMAZON

BINGE THE SERIES

CRUEL KING | DEVIANT KING | STEEL PRINCESS | TWISTED KINGDOM

 

I can’t have her, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play with her. Love is impossible, but hate is an open game.

This was my sort of book crack! Full of angst, crazy drama, plot twists, and did I mention the angst? ALL OF THE ANGST. Now if you follow my reviews, you already know I love my heroes mean. Like MEAN. I want to hate them while simultaneously wanting to have their babies. Not that I want to have Xander’s babies. The guy is in high school. That’s illegal, dammit! What? It’s fiction, stop judging me. GOD. But I digress. I’ve been waiting for this book since being introduced to Kim and Xander in the beginning of the series. And dare I say, I think this may have been my favorite book in the series so far!

Xander is the fire and I’m the gasoline waiting to burn.

I knew going into this and from the author’s foreward that this wouldn’t be a light read. Still waters run deep, as they say, and Kim definitely had a lot more layers to her than first meets the eye. This girl is so broken. My heart hurt for her. And at the same time, kudos for Rina for daring to go there and spare no detail.

Xander and Kim used to be each others everything. Until they weren’t. And when they weren’t, it wasn’t just bad. It was borderline toxic. He hates her for something that happened in their childhood and he punishes her for it every chance he gets. And while Kim may have been the super quiet and introverted in the previous books, she truly grows into herself here. She begins to slowly come out of her shell and doesn’t just take things lying down anymore.

This book reminded me quite a bit of Broken Knight, so if you loved that one, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. It’s similar but still different enough to stand on it’s own. So when I say it reminded me, I mean in a ‘if you liked that, you’d like this’ sort of way. But I digress again.

There’s a lot of drama that happens here, so if that’s not your thing, this may not be for you. I gobbled it up with a spoon. It was crazy, OTT, and borderline ridiculous, but it was SO GODDAMN DELICIOUS that I didn’t even care. It fit. Like everything just fit, you know? It didn’t feel excessive but fit the story, which I definitely appreciate.

There’s one particular plot twist that made me scratch my head a little bit and is the reason for the lower rating here, but I’m also a picky beoch. So don’t mind me. This was entirely personal preference here.

The deliciousness of the angst. The finger-licking drama. The sizzling and oh so dirty romance. All of it hit every box for me. Rina Kent knows how to write an asshole, and this girl is so here for it. I cannot wait for more in this series!

Rina Kent is an international bestselling author of everything enemies to lovers romance.

Darkness is her playground, suspense is her best friend, and twists are her brain’s food. However, she likes to think she’s a romantic at heart in some way, so don’t kill her hopes just yet.

Her heroes are anti-heroes and villains because she was always the weirdo who fell in love with the guys no one roots for. Her books are sprinkled with a touch of mystery, a healthy dose of angst, a pinch of violence, and lots of intense passion.

Rina spends her private days in a peaceful town in North Africa daydreaming about the next plot idea or laughing like an evil mastermind when those ideas come together.

Don’t forget to Sign up to Rina Kent’s Newsletter for news about future releases and an exclusive gift.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website | Newsletter | Bookbub | Instagram |
 Facebook | Exclusive Facebook Group | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

To celebrate the release of Black Knight, Rina Kent is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Head to her Facebook page to enter: https://www.facebook.com/rinaakent/

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Review: Hell Hath No Fury by RC Boldt

May 21, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

HELL HATH NO FURY
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: RC Boldt
Release Date: May 19, 2020

In Hell Hath No Fury, RC Boldt brings us an unforgettable tale of loss, betrayal, and revenge in this new romantic suspense standalone…

Seven years ago, they took everything from me.

My father. My husband. My child.

When they stole my chance at justice, I vowed to get revenge.

Then I met him.

He tempts that long-lost part of me, but his presence is a reminder that betrayal lurks around every corner.

Their biggest mistake is underestimating my commitment for vengeance.

They don’t realize that when it comes to a woman like me, hell hath no fury.

AMAZON

This story is about a woman who had everything taken from her. And how she took it all back.

The second I read this synopsis, I knew this would be my first RC Boldt book. Heck, the cover didn’t exactly talk me out of it either. A revenge plot AND a badass heroine all in one? Sign me the hell up!

Hell Hath No Fury was a non-stop thrill ride full of grit, vengeance, plot twists, and a sizzling romance in the backdrop of a heart-pounding suspense. In a word, it was DELICIOUS.

Now I love me a good revenge plot, but there’s something so much more delicious when the one wreaking the vengeance is a female. A female that lost her entire world in one heartbreaking and violent moment, and never recovered. A female that had all of the odds stacked against her, who tried to go up against an organization that has everyone in their pocket and it cost her even more. When she couldn’t get justice the legal way, she turned to a different way. A way that turned her into judge, jury, and executioner. And I was SO HERE FOR IT.

There was something equally vulnerable and badass about Caitlin that I couldn’t get enough of. She goes after her revenge knowing full well that she doesn’t walk out of it in the end. She wants justice for her family and the only way to get it is to go after those that took it from her and make them pay.

Now as for the hero? GAH. This man. GAH. I don’t even know what to tell you without spoiling it. But let’s just say he was the perfect balance to Caitlin’s badass, because he was just as big of one himself. He gives intense a new meaning. He was mysterious, enigmatic, secretive, and I fell hard and fast.

Now in all fairness, if you don’t read a lot of suspense, this book is dang near perfect. As a reader that reads a ton in this genre, there were a few plot…things that didn’t quite add up for me. Not plot holes, necessarily, but things that came together a little too perfectly without much explanation, that I wish we got a little more of. Like the seven years that Caitlin spent away and how she got there. We get most of it off the pages, but I would have loved more. I also didn’t quite love the twist at the end.

Now all that aside, I still devoured this book. It was addictive. The story was quick-paced and full of action and with a sizzling romance that I couldn’t get enough of. It was different, and unique, and I seriously loved it. I’m definitely a new RC Boldt fan and highly recommend this book if you’re looking for something that will keep you on your toes and reading well into the night.

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Review: Blowback by Monica James

May 7, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

BLOWBACK
Series: The Monsters Within Duet #2
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Monica James
Release Date: May 7, 2020

This was supposed to be simple. Vengeance was mine. But I should know by now that nothing in life is easy.

My endgame has changed all because I met someone who wishes I was dead. Yet her hatred is the only thing saving her from The Big Bad. My lies protect her, so the harder she hates, the safer she is.

The thing about love and hate—it skates a very thin line. I need to stay away. It’s better for everyone if I do. But fighting this is like fighting nature.

Our paths crossed for a reason, and my Tiger isn’t fooled. Once the smoke clears, she will see every player, including me. I don’t deserve a second chance. But I want one…because I want her. The question is, what happens when the truth is finally revealed?

With the end in sight, I can promise you there will be nothing but violence and mayhem.

Oh yes, blood will be shed.

AMAZON

My body, my mind, and my heart are lost to him, and I don’t know if they’ll ever be found.

Truth be told, I’m not a big trilogy or duet girl. More often than not, the next book will lose it’s fizzle for me. Or the conclusion feels like filler, stretched out, and total anticlimactic. True story. Most trilogies I’ve read, I’ll devour book one and then the next one will fall short. I’m a picky beoch, okay? Stop looking at me like that.

When I read Bullseye: The Monsters Within Duet Book 1 I was immediately hooked on this dark world. The story was a whirlwind of bloody twists and depraved turns. Bull’s story is not for the faint of heart. And when the cliffhanger hit, you were left reeling picking your jaw off of the floor.

To say that I was desperate for the final book would be a small understatement. I was damn near rabid for it. So when this landed on my kindle, I jumped right in. And I devoured it in one sitting. What. A. Ride.

This brings the conclusion of Bull and Tiger’s story and it was EPIC. There’s so much that happens and I was so here for it. What I loved is even though Bull made peace with his fingers for Tiger, he never once lost the edge that makes him HIM. He was still just as darkly depraved and still focused on his revenge. Only now there was another factor in his motivation; to protect the woman he fell for from a complete and total psychopath.

Admittedly, I struggled buying into Tiger’s quick turn around when it came to her brother. It’s like a switch was flipped with her and she saw the light. But a part of me got it too. I loved Bull and Tiger’s depraved brand of love. They feed each other’s demons and I totally got the connection between them.

This story was a non-stop thrill ride full dark twist and turns. It was gritty. It was bloody. It was unputdownable. While the first 20% was a bit slow for me, it picked up quickly by the 30% mark and wouldn’t stop until the end. If you’re looking for a deliciously dark duet with a revenge plot, a tortured hero, and an imperfectly perfect heroine that falls for him, look no further.

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Review: Stone Princess by Devney Perry

May 5, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

STONE PRINCESS
Series: Tin Gypsy #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Devney Perry
Release Date: May 5, 2020

Presley Marks has just become a cliché: the jilted bride. Wearing a white dress, standing in front of her friends and family, she announces that her fiancé—according to his text—has forgotten about the wedding.

Humiliated and angry, she hides from the world in the mundane routine of her life. Working at the Clifton Forge Garage isn’t glamorous, but it’s safe from the spotlight.

At least it was, until Shaw Valance comes to town.

The notorious Hollywood actor is starring in a movie based on the town’s infamous murder. When he’s not on set, Shaw hovers at the garage, watching as they build his custom motorcycle and irritating her with his handsome smile. He was supposed to leave once filming wrapped and go back to his fancy life, not buy the house next door.

But Shaw might regret that purchase once Presley’s ex-fiancé returns, bringing with him a war between old rivals that could burn both their houses down.

AMAZON

Somewhere along the way, he’d become more than Shaw Valance. The fame had worn off. Now he was just the beautiful man in my bed who made me feel special.

Gosh, I am SO obsessed with this series. And it just seems to keep getting better and better with every book. Do yourself a favor and definitely read these in order. Trust me on that. There’s an overarching story arc that continues through the series. And this book will have a HUGE spoiler for the first two books. So if you plan on reading those, don’t read this one first. You need to experience everything in order.

Presley Marks immediately caught my attention in Gypsy King. She’s just one of the guys when it comes to working at the garage. The guys are extra protective of her, especially when it comes to her fiancé that no one thinks is good enough for her. Especially when that fiancé is also a member of a rival biker gang to Tin Gypsy and there’s no love lost between them. Pres may look like a cute pixie, but she’s definitely a tough chick. But even tough chicks suffer from heartbreak, and that’s exactly what happens to Presley when she gets left at the altar.

Nursing a broken heart, the last thing she wants is for a Hollywood movie star in town to film a movie based on events that shattered their lives to set his sights on her. But Shaw is not at all what he appears. He may be a famous movie star, but he’s also down to earth, sweet, and patient. He’s determined to wear her down because the first time he lays eyes on her, he knows she’s different. He’s not a player. He’s not cocky. He’s utter perfection with a Hollywood smile and it wasn’t difficult to fall hard and fast for Shaw right along with Presley.

I love the small town backdrop of this series. And when you have an unforgettable romance set in this sleepy town, it’s utter perfection. The chemistry between Shaw and Presley is instant and sizzling, though their romance is a bit of a slow burn. The man pursues and woos her, and I loved every page of it.

But there’s also a good bit of suspense happening in the background. You get to understand exactly what kept Presley with her boyfriend all those years. You get to understand her history and how it followed her into her present. The second half of the book was definitely my favorite. I love that Presley doesn’t sit on a pedestal pining after a man. There’s an incredible set up for the next book with a bombshell of a twist thrown in that I was obsessed with. If you’re a fan of this series, you definitely won’t want to miss this book! I can’t wait for the next one.

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Review: Heartless King by Maya Hughes

April 26, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

HEARTLESS KING
Series: Kings of Rittenhouse #5
Genre: Contemporary, Sports Romance
Author: Maya Hughes
Release Date: April 23, 2020

Two blue lines. That means not pregnant, right? Right? Oh, sh*t.

Five years ago, Colm Frost asked me to marry him and I ran. I ran from my painful past too raw and fresh to escape. He was the only one who looked at me like I wasn’t broken and made me believe it. He made me feel it.

Now, he’s the hot, angry, hockey player on the mend.

I’m the physiotherapist who’s supposed to get him back on his feet.

I don’t think our night together was what his doctor prescribed, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t dreamt of him every time I close my eyes. I woke up beside him with my body still singing from the way he fanned the flames of my desire, but I couldn’t stay.

His lips on my neck. His hands wrapped around my waist. His impressive…ahem, touch leaving me breathless.

One moment of wild inhibition and it’s come back to bite me in the butt. Kind of like he did that night.

But a baby? Our night was supposed to be a one time thing, closing a door on the future I couldn’t handle.

Will this new bump in the road be everything we needed to find our forever?

Heartless King is a standalone friends to enemies to lovers, accidental pregnancy romance that brings all the laugh out loud, angsty feels!

AMAZON

Imogen was a dangerous element to introduce to my life. She made me feel whole when I wasn’t. She made me feel things were possible that weren’t. She made me want things I couldn’t have.

Colm Frost. Oh you poor broken soul, you.

This book introduced an interesting dilemma for me. On the one hand, I absolutely hated Colm in the previous book as a secondary character. I’m talking HATED him. Like wanting to reach through the book and twist his nuts off sort of hate. Yeah. That serious. But on the other hand, I was desperate to know more about the man and what makes him tick. There had to be some serious hidden pain for him to lash out as he did, and boy was I right.

I held onto that anger because it was a hell of a lot better than the crushing sadness, the loneliness and rejection that had become the hallmark of my life with everyone other than the Kings.

First of all, if you’re planning to read this as a standalone; don’t. Seriously. Yes, technically there’s enough background given to be able to understand everything, but you’d also be missing a lot of overarching story arcs and background that the previous books paved the foundation for. Trust me on this. You’d enjoy this book so much more if you read it in order. And you’d also be able to understand Colm a whole lot better as well.

Reeling on the heels of finding out his sister went behind his back and set fire to all of their plans while also dating his teammate and best friend behind his back was the catalyst that set everything in motion. Colm was already a live wire of feeling, but this was the straw the broke the camel’s back. He’s tired of being the good guy. The reliable guy. The guy that gives up everything to do what’s right and puts everyone first. But his new look on life is also one full of fiery self destruction fueled by anger and a pain kept hidden for years. Drowning his sorrows in alcohol and lost in a haze of partying and resentment, Colm may lose everything, including his spot on the team. His teammates and friends are desperate to help him, and the only solution they find is Imogen.

Imogen and Colm have a history dating back five years, but it’s certainly not as simple as the blurb makes it seem. Imogen is still working through the pain of losing her fiancé. It’s been over five years, but as much as everyone around her tries to get her to move on, she simply can’t. The only man that seems to be the exception to the rule, is Colm, and he comes with issues of his own.

As a physiotherapist, Imogen offers to help him recover from his recent injury to get him back on the ice. But this is no simple relationship. There’s a connection there that burns bright, but both Imogen and Colm seem to not be able to help self destruction.

Man, I loved and hated these two together. While Colm comes off as selfish and irrational in some of his anger at first, this book begins to peel back the layers, and soon you understand just how deep it goes. Imogen was the perfect salve to his tortured soul. But Imogen has issues of her own. Their chemistry was undeniable. I’m not usually a reader that goes for the surprise baby trope, but it seriously worked here. This was the perfect book to end the series with. And while there were parts of the story where I still wanted to strangle Colm and shake some sense into him, I grew to love him, faults and all by the end.

If you’ve read this series, you certainly won’t want to miss the conclusion.


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

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