Review: The Things We Never Said by Samantha Young

May 7, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

THINGS WE NEVER SAID
Series: Hart’s Boardwalk #3
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Monica James
Release Date: May 7, 2019

Local metalsmith and gift shop owner, Dahlia McGuire, likes her quiet life in Hartwell, Delaware. It’s the perfect place to hide from her family and the tragic events that led to their estrangement. However, when her father, the person she loves most in the world, needs her Dahlia has no choice but to return to Boston to face her ghosts. One of those happens to be her ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Michael Sullivan. The man she was never supposed to fall in love with.

Michael Sullivan has never forgotten Dahlia McGuire. Some might say he’s never gotten over her. For years he lived with the anger of her desertion, and now, newly-divorced, he’s finally ready to move on. That proves impossible when Dahlia returns to Boston and reawakens their explosive connection. Despite everything, Michael wants her back, but Dahlia can’t seem to let go of the tangled emotions of the past. When she flees home to Hartwell, Michael follows, determined to do everything in his power to convince her they belong together.

However, when the unthinkable hits the quiet seaside town, Michael finds himself trying to unravel more than the mystery of Dahlia’s broken heart. It’s time for truths left unsaid to finally be spoken or Michael and Dahlia might find themselves torn apart forever…

AMAZON 

The truth was I must have been sleepwalking through life all this time because whenever Michael appeared, I was suddenly wide awake.

Things We Never Said was an swoony and emotional second chance romances with a slight twist. It also had one of the most incredible heroes I’ve read in a long while. There’s just something about Michael Sullivan that made me fall head over heels the second he appears on the pages.

Trust me, dahlin’, I appreciate the good things in life, and I’m more grateful than I can say when I come across special. Just never thought I’d come across goddamn extraordinary in my life…

Admittedly, the first two books in this series haven’t been my favorite. But there was something so…different about this one. It had a different vibe and energy to it that I found lacking in the other two.

Michael and Dahlia have a right place but wrong time sort of beginning when they first meet. Their chemistry is immediate and downright incendiary. But Dahlia has just settled in a relationship with a man that’s good for her and she doesn’t want to jeopardize that. But when she finds out that Michael is her boyfriend’s best friend, she knows that any potential they may have had will never be. So they settle into a friendship with a side of burning unrequited love on both sides. It becomes clear just how crazy Michael is about her, but youthful mistakes and fate circumstances soon spell the end for any budding romance they may have had.

When life takes a turn once more, Dahlia finds herself back in her home town and facing the circumstances of her decision all those years ago; the biggest one being Michael. But he’s no longer the sweet man that she knew in her youth. He’s angry, bitter, and hurt. As much as you want to hate Michael for his callous treatment of Dahlia when she first appears back in his life, you just can’t. You know that he’s harboring a lot of pain but you don’t know quite what transpired between the two of them to bring them to this place. That slowly gets trickle fed to the reader chapter by chapter. But when you see this southie boy see the error of his ways and finally pursue Dahlia with a single minded intent to break down all of her walls? Oh my swoon!!!! He’s sheer perfection.

I’ll wait forever for you, Michael Sullivan.” He shook his head. “No waiting required. I’ve been yours since day one.”

I really loved this beautifully emotional romance. The more you learn about Dahlia’s past and what sent her running, the more you begin to understand. It takes the majority of the book to fully unravel the truth, and it’s devastating at the core of it.

There’s also a bit of action and suspense that’s thrown in, along with the tease of two secondary characters that I’m desperately waiting on a book for.

Ultimately, this was an incredibly satisfying read that I enjoyed from start to finish and would recommend to any Sam Young fan out there.

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Review: Bad Saint by Monica James

May 6, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

BAD SAINT
Series: All The Pretty Things Trilogy #1
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: Monica James
Release Date: May 6, 2019

I was kidnapped on my honeymoon by three masked men.

Blindfolded.
Bound.
Destination unknown.

I was told to stay silent and abide by their rules. But they didn’t realize I wasn’t a victim…not anymore.

The open sea was my backdrop for nine torturous days. During that time, glimmers of my fate were revealed by a man with the mysterious chartreuse-colored eyes. He should have scared me, but he didn’t.

He intrigued me. And I intrigued him.

He punished me when I didn’t listen, which was every single day. But beneath his cruelty, I sensed he was guarding a grave secret.

I was sold.
And in a game of poker, no less.

My buyer? A Russian mobster who likes to collect pretty things. Now that I know the truth, I only have one choice.

Sink or swim.

And when one fateful night presents me the opportunity, I take it. I just never anticipated my actions would leave me shipwrecked with my kidnapper.

He needs me alive. I want him dead.

But as days turn into weeks, one thing becomes clear—I should hate him…but I don’t.

My name is Willow.
His name is Saint.

Ironic, isn’t it? He bears a name that denotes nothing but holiness yet delivers nothing but hell. However, if this is hell on earth…God, save my soul.

AMAZON 

He’s leading a lamb to the slaughter, but the one thing he doesn’t realize…is that I’m not a lamb. And I never will be.

Alright. Accountability time. Why have those of you that knew that I’ve never read a Monica James book not slapped me upside the head with one of her books yet? hmm? You should be ashamed of yourselves! Ashamed, I tells ya! Because this girl? Is currently kicking her own ass for only now discovering this author.

Let’s be real here. The mere second that I laid my eyes on that blurb and this cover, I knew this would be my first Monica James book. I’m a sucker for a dark romance. But add in a good captive scenario and stick a fork in me. I’m done!

Having never read this author, I had no idea what to expect from this book. I know that I tend to be ridiculously picky when it comes to dark romance and I was a little nervous with reading it from a new to me author. But my worries soon floated away on the waves of emotion that this story brought! Holy…WOW.

While you spend the majority of the book in Willow’s head, you also get an incredibly unique glimpse of Saint. And let me just tell you, friends, you will be frothing at the mouth for this man. He’s an incredible enigma of violence and hidden pain. Everything about him is shrouded in mystery and you’re utterly desperate to peel back all of his many layers and get an answer for the million questions that will be running through your head as you turn the pages.

I need the darkness to survive. It’s the only way I can live with what I’ve done.”

If you’re like me, and like your heroines to be fierce fighters that don’t give up in even the most dire of circumstances, you’re going to love Willow. Here’s a woman that gets kidnapped on her wedding night, thrown on a boat, threatened within an inch of her life, and told she’s going to be the property of some cruel Russian mobster, yet she never stops fighting. The more you learn about the puzzle pieces that led to her current picture, the more desperate you’ll be to get to the next page.

Saint is certainly no saint in Willow’s world. This is a man that’s responsible for her current circumstances. He’s cruel, cold, and conditioning her for a man that’s promised to be even worse. But beneath that rough masked exterior, there are glimpses of a man that’s something…more.

How do you fall for a criminal who you never even get to understand beyond his words and actions as seen through Willow’s eyes. I don’t know, but I know that I did. There’s just something so magnetic about Saint. Something so vulnerable that you can’t help but glimpse in his actions and words. You want to hate him for the things he does, but you just can’t.

There were a few parts of the story where I felt like the descriptions became too much and got in the way of the story’s pacing. But ultimately, I was just too invested in the story to pay it much mind.

Bad Saint was deliciously dark and utterly captivating. I was totally enraptured in this world and by the time the ending came, my emotions were so up and down, I didn’t know what to do with myself. And then that ending happened!!!! SWEET MOTHER OF ALL THAT’S HOLY I NEED THE NEXT BOOK!!

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Review: Method by Kate Stewart

May 1, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

METHOD
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Kate Stewart
Release Date: April 18, 2019

Hollywood is a temptress, a trickster, a soul-stealing devil. I married an A-list player, knowing I come second place to his craft. But Lucas and I are a golden couple, a modern-day fairy tale.

I’ve never doubted what we built…until the sudden death of Lucas’s best friend has scandal rocking the Hills and shaking the foundation of our relationship.

I chose Lucas as my safe haven…he chose the role of a lifetime.

For the next three months, I’ll share my nights with a stranger, watching as he buries his pain, immersed in his role and living as someone else.

We’ve done this before. I tell myself it’s just another movie, and he’ll return to me.

I should’ve known this time would be different.

To get my husband back, I’ll need the strength of ten men.

As it turns out, I’ll have to go through two.

AMAZON

We are thin hearts trying to break through thick walls.

What is it about Kate Stewart’s words that never fail to pull me into every single emotion that she instills into her incredible books. And this book? It was one emotional roller coaster full of heart wrenching and angsty romance. It was one of the most unique books I’ve read in a long damn while and I couldn’t stop reading it. It reached into the very depth of my reader’s soul and managed to pull out every feeling ranging from one extreme to the other. It made me swoon, it made me cry, and at times it made me rage.

Method touches on a subject that isn’t easy to read. It paints an incredibly vivid picture of what happens when talent and dedication begins to skate the edge of madness and something else. Something dangerous. Something dark.

Mila and Lucas are the epitome of the Hollywood couple; desperately in love with the type of beginning that any romantic’s dreams are made out of. After six year of wedded bliss, the sudden and tragic death of Lucas’s best friend sends them into a tailspin that neither saw coming.

Mila knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she married Lucas. She knew that his craft comes first and she knew the price he paid for the prep he does before his roles. But nothing could prepare her for the mist of mourning that her husband enters after the death of his best friend or just exactly what his dedication to his craft will cost them.

The story is told in several flashbacks ranging from present, to their first meeting, and to the months leading up to their current situation. I don’t typically have an issue with flashbacks, and you can see that the author had a reason for writing them the way that she did. However, I couldn’t help but struggle with this part. Just as I was getting into the feeling of being in the present, it would flash back to 6 years ago, or to the months leading up to their deterioration. This began to get extremely distracting for me. There were parts that felt they jumped too suddenly and if it wasn’t for the shift to italics in the font, I’d have no idea we were suddenly teleported to 5 years ago.

That aside, I fell desperately in love with these characters and their story. My heart bled for Lucas and everything he goes through just as my heart ached for Mila and everything she stood through. This is a couple that loves each other at their worst, but just didn’t expect what would happen when the worst turns ugly. What happens when mourning and regrets begin to morph into something darker. And the price you pay for raw talent and everything that it takes for making it as a Hollywood A-lister. It was raw and gut wrenching and absolutely unforgettable. I devoured all of the words. It kept me reading well into the night. I was completely captivated by this incredible story. It was phenomenal. It was one of a kind. Kate Stewart just gets better and better with every book and I can’t wait to see what her imagination will come up with next.

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Review: More Than Tempt You by Shayla Black

April 30, 2019 by ·

MORE THAN TEMPT YOU
Series: More Than Words #5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Shayla Black
Release Date: April 30, 2019

I romanced her for revenge…but what if she’s not the enemy after all?

I’m Clint Holmes. I was an ambitious guy with a busy life and a growing business. Sure North Dakota wasn’t a tropical paradise, but I was happy enough—until tragedy struck. Now the only thing that matters is finding the person responsible and making her pay. But Bethany Banks is a Harvard-educated shark used to swallowing her enemies whole while playing dangerous corporate games. How can a blue-collar oil man like me possibly beat her?

The moment I lay eyes on my beautiful nemesis, the answer is obvious. I seduce her.

On Maui, where she’s fled, I get to know the man-eater who caused my family so much pain…only to find she’s not the brazen ballbuster I assumed. She’s skittish, secretive, vulnerable. For some reason, my instinct is to protect her. I can’t abandon my plan…but I can’t stop wanting her. Night after night, I pry her open with my touch until I’m drowning in our passion. Soon, I’m questioning everything, especially the fine line between love and hate. But when the past comes back to wreak vengeance and the truth explodes, can I prove that I’m more than tempted to love her forever?

AMAZON

I came for my pound of flesh…but I’m the one who lost my heart.

I have a rule when it comes to Shayla Black books= she writes them, I read them. No exception. And while I get excited about all of her upcoming releases, there was something about this blurb that had me particularly foaming at the mouth. It’s a twist on the enemies to lovers with a splash of revenge and I was dying to get my grabby little hands on it.

Clint is desperate for answers and revenge. After his father loses his entire life’s savings in a Ponzi scheme by those he trusted most, Clint needs to make them pay. His target? The beautiful and vicious financial wiz that held his father’s fortune and up and disappeared when the crooked empire that her father built went crumbling down. But not everything is what it seems.

Hawaii serves the beautiful backdrop to this story as Clint slowly begins to discover that Bethany may not quite be the ruthless shark that he thought she was.

I’ll admit, I had a tough time connecting Bethany’s true self to what I knew about her on paper. She seems to have two very big extremes; who she really is and who she needs to be, and there’s not much in the middle. She’s introverted and almost borderline naive, but at the same time…not. I won’t go into much detail here, but let’s just say some of the things she does for her father, I had a hard time connecting that woman to who she really is. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel for her and everything that she’s been through. This is a woman with many layers, and I was eager to keep unraveling them to get to the core of who she is.

The romance was deeply satisfying. I loved watching Clint’s eventual and almost unwilling fall for her. The more he gets to know the woman behind the enigma, the more he begins to question his resolve. I also loved that this is written in Clint’s POV. I really liked being in his head and experiencing his up and down emotions. He struggles with falling for the woman that’s responsible for his family’s greatest pain and he struggles even more with connecting his gut feelings and his heart.

This story had everything; feels and steam, mystery and action, along with a heart wrenching romance. I enjoyed it thoroughly and can’t wait for more. Hopefully we get Clint’s brothers in the next one.

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than sixty novels. For nearly twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eight years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Connect with Shayla:

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Shayla_Black

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/shaylablacksb/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFM7RZF38CqBlr6YG3a4mRQ

Website: https://www.shaylablack.com

 

· Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance · Tagged With: ,

Review: Chasing Bliss by Lexi Blake

April 24, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

CHASING BLISS
Series: Nights In Bliss #7
Genre: Erotic Romance, Menage, Suspense
Author: Lexi Blake
Release Date: April 23, 2019

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Gemma Wells came to Bliss, Colorado, after a scandal cost her everything. Utterly lost, she’s built walls so high, she thinks no one can get through them. She’s done with love and friendship and all matters of the heart.

Jesse McCann and Cade Sinclair have floated through life, enjoying the world around them, but not becoming a part of it. One look at the pretty attorney and Jesse realizes he’s found a reason to stay put. Cade is crazy about her, but his dark past keeps him at arm’s length. He wants her, but he’s sure he doesn’t deserve her.

But a secret from Gemma’s past threatens to wreck their futures. Her fiancé is back and brings danger with him. Time is running out. Jesse and Cade have to melt this Ice Queen’s heart or she might not leave Bliss alive.

AMAZON

The one who hugged me is Jesse McCann, and he’s apparently a bit of a pervert. The one who’s running away is the man formerly known as Bare-Chested Ape Man. His real name is Cade. Sinclair, I think. Apparently he likes to be naked. Like a lot. This place is weird.”
Naomi grinned. “This place is awesome. So you’re being pursued by a nudist and a Dom?”

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this series is my crack. A guilty pleasure read that always leaves me satisfied with just the right amount of action and suspense drizzled around an enticingly sexy MFM romance. The fictional town of Bliss makes for a charming background filled with quirky and vivid secondary characters that I’ll never get enough of.

After meeting Cade and Jesse in the previous book, I was more than ready for their story. Two sexy mechanics? Bring it on, I say. Of course, in true series fashion, one of them will ultimately be the damaged one and the other be pushing forward for love. And while it may sound formulaic, it never gets old for me. Cade is the standoffish one to Jesse’s lighter side. Though Jesse definitely has his own frustrating quirks himself. And while admittedly I got tired of Cade’s constant push back, I liked the way that Jesse’s easy going demeanor balanced out the dynamic.

Gemma is a heroine that was impossible not to like for me. The woman hides a soft heart beneath a brash and snarky exterior. And yes, this may be because I found her to be my spirit animal, but i just couldn’t help but find her endearing. This is a woman that’s been through a lot and life hardened her edges. She’s slow to trust and she has no problem putting someone in their place. It takes a lot for Jesse to find get to that delicate center she hides so well. And when Cade discovers that she’s not quite the ball buster big city chick that she comes across as, he can’t seem to stay away from her.

I loved the way Gemma gave them both hell and I definitely loved the way they both worked for her in their own right. While I did get frustrated with each of them at some points in the story, I still couldn’t get enough. The action and suspense was perfectly paced and of course I loved more glimpses of my poor broken Michael. I can’t wait for his book! As for this one, it was another fantastic addition to one addicting series!

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New Release & Review: Black List by Lynn Raye Harris

April 23, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

BLACK LIST
Series: Black’s Bandits #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Release Date: April 23, 2019

Jace Kaiser is a man without a country, without connection. His only loyalty is to the group who saved him, and the man who leads them. 
Until her…

The assignment should have been easy. Capture a deadly assassin and take her to HQ. But flawed intel leads to disaster, and Jace abducts a beautiful art appraiser instead. Intrigued by her courage, he’s drawn to her in ways he can’t explain. Dr. Madeline Cole stood up to him, fought for her identity, and never backed down. She’s the kind of woman he could fall for if it wasn’t so dangerous–for her.

Then Maddy is targeted for elimination because she’s the sole person who can identify the mysterious female assassin–and the only thing standing between her and certain death is the sexy mercenary who swears he’ll die before he lets anything happen to her. As the passion between them ignites, it seems clear that keeping Maddy safe has become the most important assignment of Jace’s life.

Even then, protecting her might not be enough–because Jace has secrets that could destroy them both. And someone is determined to unmask them all…

AMAZON

I’m not safe,” he told her. Growled at her, really. “Don’t you know what this is, Maddy?”
She licked her lips. Shook her pretty head. Her eyes were wide. Not scared, but slightly shocked. She didn’t speak.
“It’s a seduction,” he told her. “I want you beneath me. On top of me. Surrounding me. I’ve never even kissed you, and I want you so badly my knees are weak with it.”

Well hot diggity damn! Looks like I’ve got myself another smokin’ hot spinoff to obsess over. See what I did there? HOT series? HOT Spinoff? Ha! I crack myself up sometimes. Quit judging me! It was funny in my head. But I digress.

If you’ve been a devoted Ian Black addict like me, you’ll be practically wetting yourself with excitement over this brand new series. Because we finally get a series for those covert mercenaries that we’ve seen make appearances in so many HOT books. And let me tell you, friends, they’re even hotter than I thought!

The first book brings us the story of the mysterious Jace Kaiser. The man is clouded in mystery like his boss. And if the prologue was anything to go by, you knew you were in for one hell of a ride with his story. A case of mistaken identity when hunting down a dangerous and lethal target, leads Jace down a path he never expected. I mean, it’s not everyday that you essentially kidnap a woman that you think is a lethal assassin only to discover she’s exactly who she says she is. And who she is tempts you like no other. Maddy was a bit too sweet for my tastes at times, but she balanced Jace’s edges nicely. Admittedly, I had a little bit of a hard time connecting to her because I like my heroines with a bit more of an edge, but this is totally a personal bias. Ultimately I loved her and Jace together.

But what REALLY stole the show for me here was the intro to one secondary character that I knew right away would be my catnip. And at the end of the book, I discovered I was not wrong. Holy hot damn! If they end up with who I think they end up with, I’m already salivating for that book. And if you were craving more Ian Black, not only do you get him here, but you even get a peek into his head with a few chapters in his POV. Suffice it to say, this reader was on book cloud 9! I can’t wait for more in this series!

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Review: Praying For Rain by BB Easton

April 11, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

PRAYING FOR RAIN
Series: Praying For Rain #1
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Author: BB Easton
Release Date: April 11, 2019

“None of this matters, and we’re all going to die.”

With only three days left until the predicted apocalypse, the small town of Franklin Springs, Georgia, has become a wasteland of abandoned cars, abandoned homes, abandoned businesses, and abandoned people. People like Rainbow Williams.

Rain isn’t afraid of dying. In fact, she’s looking forward to it. If she can just outrun her pain until April 23, she’ll never have to feel it at all.

Wes Parker has survived every horrible thing this life has thrown at him with nothing more than his resourcefulness and disarming good looks. Why should the end of the world be any different? All he needs are some basic supplies, shelter, and a sucker willing to help him out, which is exactly what he finds when he returns to his hometown of Franklin Springs.

As society crumbles, dangers mount, and secrets refuse to stay buried, two lost souls are thrust together in a twist of fate—one who will do anything to survive and one who can’t wait to die.

Perhaps, together, they can learn how to live.

Before their time runs out.

AMAZON

I’ve finally found what I’ve been missing my whole life, and if I keep it, it will kill me.
No wonder Rain was wearing a black hoodie when I met her.
She’s the fifth fucking horseman of the apocalypse.

Have you ever read a book where the story unravels like a movie reel before your eyes? Because the entire time I was reading Praying For Rain, I could have sworn that I was inside of it. The world building, the mystery, the characters, the totally riveting story line all combined to suck you ride into the story and keep you at the edge of your seat the entire time!

Dystopian is not a genre that I would typically gravitate towards, but when a trusted book friend tells you that a book is a must read, you read the damn book. And if you’re sitting there and thinking on wether or not to take the plunge, I’ll tell you that you NEED TO READ THIS DAMN BOOK!

Rain presses up onto her toes at the same moment that I dive for her parted lips, and our mouths collide like the train wreck that we are.

What would the world turn into if everyone knew they only have days to live? What if everyone was having extremely vivid nightmares that foreshadows the end of days on April 23rd? Nightmares that shows the world burning to the ground and a mysterious entity that’s the cause of it all. Pure chaos and pandemonium would ensue, bringing out the very worst of humanity.

That’s the backdrop of the story in Praying For Rain. Sound delicious? Because it really was. The book introduces Rain, a young woman with secrets and some clearly deep seated issues. Rain has made her peace with the fact that she won’t survive April 23rd. She’s just trying to make the best of the days she has left and numb her pain and memories with anything she can. A chance encounter introduces her to Wes, a man that’s determined to survive. What first starts as a mutually selfish partnership, soon begins to turn into something more.

Wes and Rain were incredibly multi-layered characters. Deeply flawed and broken almost beyond repair, they both have some issues. But as the layers begin to unravel, you begin to see the why’s of it and become more and more invested in these characters and their survival.

While there’s plenty of world building taking place, it’s still very much a character driven story. The first half is somewhat slow paced and it picks up in the second half that leaves you with your jaw on the floor at the end.

This was my first BB Easton book and I now know it will certainly not be my last. I can’t wait for the continuation of this trilogy and see how it all ends.

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Review: Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

April 10, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

MEET CUTE
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Helena Hunting
Release Date: April 9, 2019

Talk about an embarrassing introduction. On her first day of law school, Kailyn ran – quite literally – into the actor she crushed on as a teenager, ending with him sprawled on top of her. Mortified to discover the Daxton Hughes was also a student in her class, her embarrassment over their meet-cute quickly turned into a friendship she never expected. Of course, she never saw his betrayal coming either…

Now, eight years later, Dax is in her office asking for legal advice. Despite her anger, Kailyn can’t help feeling sorry for the devastated man who just became sole guardian to his thirteen-year-old sister. But when her boss gets wind of Kailyn’s new celebrity client, there’s even more at stake than Dax’s custody issues: if she gets Dax to work at their firm, she’ll be promoted to partner.

The more time Kailyn spends with Dax and his sister, the more she starts to feel like a family, and the more she realizes the chemistry they had all those years ago is as fresh as ever. But will they be able to forgive the mistakes of the past, or will one betrayal lead to another?

AMAZON

she seems to have a pretty serious hate-on for me. That rivalry used to amp me up back then, and apparently it still does.

So full disclosure; I’m not sure why, but after reading the blurb and seeing the ADORABLE cover, I was expecting a steamy, laugh out loud rom-com. This book was not quite that. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While it wasn’t quite what I expected, I still fell in love with this story and these characters.

This was an incredibly sweet, character-driven, heartfelt romance. And while it had it’s humorous moments, mostly it managed to tug at every heart string for me.

When Kailyn first met Daxton Hughes, she almost had a fangirl heart attach. It’s not every day that a girl gets to meet the teenage star of her dreams from her favorite TV Show. But this Dax is fully grown and happens to be at the same law school she’s at. So of course she makes a total fool of herself in a way that will make you giggle and feel for her at the same time. But then something happens to turn her fangirling infatuation to hate when Dax betrays her. She never expects to see him again. And then he walks into her law office years later to set up a trust with his parents for his younger sister.

The story takes a bit of a morose turn after the meet cute. The author does such a phenomenal job with the character development. Dax is a hero that’s impossible not to love. There’s just something so incredibly endearing and approachable about him. He’s not your stereotypical cocky lawyer. He’s sweet with this undercurrent of vulnerability that you simply can’t help but fall for. His relationship with his sister is sure to tug every heart string. I absolutely loved her as the secondary character.

Kailyn is not the fumbling fangirl that Dax first met in college. She hates him and he doesn’t know why. There’s plenty of great banter between these two. but mainly its Kailyn giving him hell and Dax taking it all with a smile and charm. The romance is a slow build with plenty of chemistry to keep you completely invested in the characters. I seriously couldn’t get enough of these two. I loved how Kailyn slowly begins to see a side of Dax that she didn’t realize was there. A sweet, vulnerable and endearing side that he shows to her in the way he cares for his sister and even pursues her.

This was a slower paced story with plenty of feels and just a touch of sizzle, and this reader loved every page of it!

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Review: I Want You Back by Lorelei James

April 2, 2019 by · 2 Comments

I WANT YOU BACK
Series: Want You #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Lorelei James
Release Date: April 2, 2019

New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James kicks-off her Want You Series with a Lund family cousin hot enough to melt the ice and mend a broken heart.

Former NHL star Jaxson Lund has returned to the Twin Cities, but he’s at loose ends, unsure if he belongs at Lund Industries, or where he stands with Lucy, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Mimi. Despite the signs she’d like to leave him in the penalty box, the attraction burning between them reinforces his determination to prove that he deserves a second chance…

Lucy Quade is in a good place with a steady job, a nice apartment, and a well-adjusted daughter, which is why she’s hesitant when Jax insists on co-parenting. It’s not that Lucy doesn’t trust Jax…she’s just unconvinced he can handle multiple responsibilities when he’s been singularly focused on playing hockey. But when issues arise with Mimi, Lucy’s shocked at how levelheaded and paternal he acts, giving her a glimpse of the Jax she used to know, the sexy, sweet man she fell for years ago.

Once Lucy lets her guard down, Jax goes all in to show her how good they are together, but will their past remain too large an obstacle to ever overcome?

AMAZON

Kissing Jaxson Lund wasn’t something I could ever forget.

I’ve read a lot of second chance romance; it IS my jam after all. But rarely does one stick out in my memory the way this one did. I was thinking about it days after finishing. I Want You Back is a refreshingly different take on the second-chance romance trope. It’s emotional, raw, and unapologetically real. It doesn’t sugar coat or spare feelings. It takes the reader on an emotional ride with all the bumps along the way. It’s a slow burn sort of read with plenty of chemistry and a dash of angst. I seriously enjoyed this one!

Jaxson Lund is one of the best imperfect characters I’ve read in a while. A retired professional hockey player that allowed his sports reputation to get the best of him, Jax is no stranger to failure. What I loved about him the most is that he wasn’t afraid to take accountability for all the things he did wrong. Here’s a man that’s a recovering alcoholic that lost the love of his life because he betrayed her in the worst way possible. He’s a man that’s trying to right all of his wrongs; including becoming a staple in his daughter’s life when he was more of a memory to her as she was growing up due to his hockey career.

I absolutely loved the way that he fought to get back into his ex’s good graces. But what I really loved the most, is the fact that Lucy wasn’t perfect herself. This was a shockingly realistic look at what happens when two people love each other beyond reason but their pasts mold them into an inevitable conclusion. The story is told in alternating flashbacks of past to present, telling the reader how they got together and what led to their inevitable implosion. Lucy is woman with plenty of issues of her own; including trust issues that are formed by her childhood. Issues that only get reinforced when her and Jaxson break.

There’s no unnecessary drama or added issues in this book to convolute what’s already happening. It’s just two broken people that are slowly working on putting their pieces back together. Their journey back to each other is not paved in sunshine and butterflies, but it’s also not unnecessarily angsty either. I really loved the way that the author handled a lot of the issues in this book. James doesn’t try to sugarcoat the repercussions of Jax’s mistakes and addiction. You get an incredibly realistic look at the results of his hard living. This may come as a shock for some people. I’ll admit that I have NEVER read a book where the author went there but boy do I love that she did. And no I won’t tell you what that was, but I will say that I’m still thinking about it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfectly paced and emotional slow burn. I wished that we got flashbacks a little further and truly experience the break between Lucy and Jax, but at the same time I understand why the author chose not to quite go there. If you’re looking for something just a little different, then you definitely need to check this one out. I can’t wait for the rest of the series. There’s a certain Lund sibling whose book I’m already salivating for.

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Review: Dangerous Beauty by J.T. Geissinger

March 27, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

DANGEROUS BEAUTY
Series: Dangerous Beauty #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Release Date: March 26, 2019

A beautiful fugitive. A hot bodyguard. A high-stakes game of temptation.

For Nasir, former Special Ops military man and bodyguard, his new job seems like an easy-money gig: trail a Russian mobster’s runaway wife in Mexico, enjoy the sun, observe, and report. Just one rule: don’t get too close. But it’s all Naz can do not to watch the alluring dancer’s every move. A closer look is irresistible—especially when she’s in trouble.

Evalina escaped to the island getaway to live an untraceable life—as far away from the past as she can get. But Eva can’t ignore the dark, muscled stud who rescues her from a drug gang. He says he’s an ex-cop on vacation. When providence throws them together time and again, Eva thinks it’s all a beautiful coincidence. Now she’s giving in to a strange new sensation: trust.

But Naz has a mission to accomplish and a secret to keep. Eva has her share of secrets, too. And as the heat flares between them, Naz knows that trust could become the most dangerous impulse of all.

***Part one of a three part series.***

AMAZON

I’m under a spell. She’s cast a spell on me with her sweet smile and her even sweeter mouth, and I’m done for.

From the very first page, the story of Naz and Evalina had absolutely captivated me. A woman on the run and the man sent to Cozumel, Mexico to keep an eye on her for her mobster husband. A dangerous attraction and a love that can cost them everything, this slow burn romance kept me riveted to the pages.

The very second Eva appeared on the pages, I was fascinated with her. This is a woman that has clearly been to hell, and she has no desire to go back.

Survival is simply the art of suffering gracefully when we’re up against forces out of our control. I lost my fear of dying because I expected it every minute of every day. Tomorrows only exist in our minds.

This is a woman that lived through her worst nightmare and has the scars to show for it. On the run for her life, she’s come to Cozumel to live a life under the radar. But then an alluring stranger saves her life and there’s just something about him that she can’t stop thinking about.

Why is your heart hammering, Naz?” “Because you’re crack and I’m an addict.”

Naz is all alpha with a heart of gold. This is a man that puts his life on the line for a living, but now he’s supposed to have an easy assignment; keep an eye on a mobster’s errant run away wife. But nothing is what it seems, and it doesn’t take long for Naz to realize that his assignment is not at all what he thought. And he’ll stop at nothing to protect the woman that he couldn’t help but fall for, even if it costs him everything.

As much as I love a grumpy alpha that fights his feelings with everything he’s got, Naz’s easy affection and fierce protectiveness of Eva made my heart melt. I loved the way that he was with her. This is a man that doesn’t try to go after a woman while holding on to his secrets, and I really liked that about him. He wanted to be with Eva without the pretense of who they thought the other was, and there’s a lot of secrets to unearth between the two of them.

After a moment of shock, I manage, “What are we doing?”
“Badasses like to spoon before a nap, sweetheart.” He presses a soft kiss to the nape of my neck.
“Oh. I wasn’t aware.”

I loved the delicious slow burn between Eva and him. The chemistry was downright incendiary, so by the time they finally give into it, I thought I would explode myself.

There are some subject matters in this book that may be a bit of a trigger for some, so just go in knowing that it does run on the slightly darker side with Eva’s past. The woman is a fighter, though. I loved the way she protects Naz in her own right. There’s this core of strength to her that you can’t help but respect. This is not a woman that runs from her demons, but she faces them head on.

There’s plenty of action along the way and a cameo from my favorite duo Connor and Tabby, from Wicked Sexy. I will never have enough of these two.

Dangerous Beauty is the first book in a trilogy and I’m downright salivating for book two. I adore all things JT Geissinger, and she managed to deliver yet another heart pounding, suspenseful and sizzling read that will keep readers glued to the pages from begging to end.

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