Monthly Archives: July 2022

✨ Refuge for Cherilyn by Deanndra Hall-Review Tour ✨

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Refuge for Cherilyn (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha; Bluegrass Bravery #14) by Deanndra Hall-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 12, 2022

A conservation officer. A single mom. And a growing pile of bodies …

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Conservation Officer Shaw Harrison is still reeling from a nasty divorce. With his ex-wife and daughter states away, he throws himself into his work, trying to numb the pain. But when he discovers a woman and her children hiding in the woods, broken, scared, and defeated, Shaw jumps into action and brings them to sanctuary.

Cherilyn Travis will do anything for her daughters. And when she finds herself as one of the only witnesses to a murder, she knows she must find safety for her children. With a special needs child, her options are limited. Surrendering to the help and kindness of the Kentucky conservation officer is her only option. As Shaw and Cherilyn grow closer, their enemies will do anything to keep them apart. Can Shaw find refuge for Cherilyn, or will his own family pay the price?

••••

REVIEW:REFUGE FOR CHERILYN is the fourteenth addition by Deanndra Hall in the contemporary, adult multi-authored Police and Fire: Operation Alpha; Bluegrass Bravery romantic suspense series based on characters first introduced by author Susan Stoker. This is single mother Cherilyn Travis, and Kentucy Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Conservation Officer Shaw Harrison’s story line. REFUGE FOR CHERILYN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Shaw and Cherilyn) REFUGE FOR CHERILYN follows in the wake of a murder in Cherilyn Travis’ building. Cherilyn Travis and her two daughters are hiding in the forests of Kentucky but when they are discovered by Shaw Harrison, Cherilyn doesn’t know whether to run or give up. Hiding from a killer has meant struggling to feed and house her daughters but Cherilyn never expected to find herself falling for the man who would steal her heart. Shaw Harrison was called in when witnesses reported an abandoned car, and three women living alone in the woods. Shaw knew immediately that he would become protector and guardian of Cherilyn and her daughter’s but our hero never expected for his own fifteen year old daughter to be the one who ultimately saves the people he loves. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Shaw and Cherilyn, and the potential fall-out as a serial killer sets his sights on Cherilyn Travis.

Cherilyn Travis is the mother to a fifteen year old daughter, and ten year old special needs child. Having potentially witnessed the person responsible for the murder of her neighbor, Cherilyn and her daughters went on the run with nothing the clothes on their backs, and a car they had to abandon so it wouldn’t be found. Shaw Harrison never expected to come face to face with his future in the guise of a struggling single mother, hiding in the woods in the state of Kentucky but Shaw was immediately smitten with the woman that would steal his heart.

The relationship between Shaw and Cherilyn begins as a recovery and rescue, and from their first meeting Shaw knew Cherilyn was the woman he would one day all his own. Cherilyn continued to struggle with events from the past but her daughters were her first priority, and keeping them safe meant putting her trust in a man she knew nothing about. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Cherilyn’s daughters Maya and Lara; Shaw’s parents Leslie and Johnny, and his daughter Candace; social worker Maisey and her husband deputy sheriff Aaron Friedman, and Sheriff Carly McEvers, as well as the return of FBI Agent Cruz Livingston, and Texas Ranger Daxton Chambers fro Susan Stoker’s Police and Fire: Operation Alpha.

REFUGE FOR CHERILYN is a story of family and relationships, fear and frustration, love and acceptance. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is captivating and seductive; the characters are desperate, energetic yet strong-both have some issues of low self esteem.

 

Previous Reviews

Shelter for Tanna
Justice for LIella
Fighting For Lorna
Justice for Maisey
Shelter For Nita
Justice forJoElla
Refuge for Flora
Fighting for Amethyst
Refuge for Phaedra

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Deanndra Hall is a working author living in the far western end of the beautiful Bluegrass State with her husband of over 35 years and small menagerie of weird little dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s editing. When she’s doing neither of those two things, she’s having dinner with friends, spending time with family, kayaking, eating chocolate, drinking beer or moonshine, or looking for something that she put in the wrong place and can’t seem to find (which is pretty much everything she owns).

 

 

 

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Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs – a Review

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Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs – a Review

 

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Description:
Jerome “Sugar” Barnes learned the art of baking in his grandma’s bakery, also called Sugar, on historic Perdita Street in San Francisco. He supplies baked goods to the Lost and Found Bookshop across the street.

When the restaurant that shares his commercial kitchen loses its longtime tenant, a newcomer moves in: Margot Salton, a barbecue master from Texas.

Margot isn’t exactly on the run, but she needs a fresh start. She’s taken care of herself her whole life, pulling herself up by her fingernails to recover from trauma, and her dream has been to open a restaurant somewhere far, far from Texas. The shared kitchen with Jerome Sugar’s bakery is the perfect setup: a state-of-the-art kitchen and a vibrant neighborhood popular with tourists and locals.

Margot instantly takes to Jerome’s grandmother, the lively, opinionated Ida, and the older woman proves to be a good mentor. Margot thinks Jerome is gorgeous, and despite their different backgrounds their attraction is powerful–even though Jerome worries that Margot will simply move on from him once she’s found some peace and stability. But just as she starts to relax into a happy new future, Margot’s past in Texas comes back to haunt her…

 

 

Review:

Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs is another one of her wonderful standalone novels. The story revolves around Margot Salton, our heroine, who at the start has moved from Texas to open her dream barbeque restaurant; Margot has developed a special sauce that has become a masterpiece. The story is told in two timelines; the success in opening her new restaurant in San Francisco and meeting Jerome, who runs the local bakery next store; and her past in Texas, which was a harsh period in her life. This did start as a lighthearted story, only to spend more than half to see the hardship and injustice she had to endure.  

In the past, a young Margie, helped out in a BBQ restaurant that started her into developing wonderful sauces. In between, she hanged out with friends, including one older boy, who she decided she did not want to continue their relationship, since he was very arrogant and only cared about what he wanted.  One evening, making more sauces, the boy, after her telling him it was over, he then rapes her, in the process of choking her; Margie desperate for her life, manages to grab hold of his gun and shoots him.  This was self-defense, as he was killing her; but the laws in Texas only cared that she killed him.  Everything changed for Margie, as the victim’s family was wealthy and powerful, and Margie was treated horribly; with the police, judicial system and bad lawyers.  Almost a year will pass with a friendship that will bring a very good lawyer to finally free her, and eventually move away, under a different assumed name.  The past story was long and very a dark story to read.

When we finally go back to the present, we learn more about Margot’s successful new business and her relationship that will grow with Jerome, who owns the bakery.  Margot got to know Jerome’s mother, Ida, as they became close; with us getting a backstory about a love from the past. It was a nice story with Ida and Frank.  I really did like how Jerome was patient and caring with Margot, and when she reveals her horrific period of the past, he still professes his love.  The past will rear its ugly head again, but Margot will stand up to fight the evil. The food (barbeque and bakery) was fun to read, leaving us a bit hungry.

Sugar and Salt was very well written by Susan Wiggs. It is a story of tragedy, second chances, as well as love and friendship.  Though there was a long and tragic storyline from the past, but overall this was a great story line.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Taking the Fight (Gloves Off-Next Generation) by LP Dover-review

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Taking the Fight (Gloves Off-Next Generation 2) by LP Dover-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 26, 2022.

Two months ago, everything changed. The enemy no longer feels the need to sulk in the shadows. Instead, he hides in plain sight and prepares his attack… against Reagan Jameson.

Reagan knew this day would come. She proudly holds the featherweight title and is known as one of the sexiest female fighters in MMA history. She can handle her own, and that’s exactly what she plans to do with Nikolai. Unfortunately, things aren’t as they were before. When given an offer she can’t refuse, Reagan is well aware nothing good will come of it.

They promised her power, prestige, and money… a world full of intrigue and dangerous desires. Not being able to resist the allure, she gives in and becomes a pawn in their game. She’s able to fool those closest to her into believing everything is okay… except for Braden Emerson.

Braden’s reputation as one of the toughest fighters in the circuit hasn’t gone unnoticed. In fact, it’s his skills that get him lured into the pit of danger. While he vows to keep Reagan safe no matter the cost, his desire for her is used against him. As passion ignites between the pair, they must work together if they hope to survive.

Fighting for a title is one thing, but nothing beats the stakes of fighting for love. This is one TKO that could cost them everything.

•••••

REVIEW:TAKING THE FIGHT is the second instalment in LP Dover’s contemporary, adult GLOVES OFF-NEXT GENERATION erotic, MMA romance series-a spin off/next generation series from the author’s GLOVES OFF series. This is MMA fighters Reagan Jameson and Braden Emerson’s story lines. TAKING THE FIGHT can be read as a stand aloe without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines or series is revealed where necessary. Reagan is the daughter of Ryley and Ashley (Ryley’s Revenge/Gloves Off 2); Braden is the son of Paxton and Gabriella (Paxton’s Promise / Gloves Off 3).

WARNING : Due to the nature of the story line premise including graphic violence, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Reagan and Braden) TAKING THE FIGHT follows the building but acrimonious relationship between childhood friends and MMA second generation fighters Reagan Jameson and Braden Emerson. Reagan Jameson struggles in the wake of her attraction to Braden Emerson but Braden is persistent and refuses to back down to the woman he loves. When Reagan is offered a deal to train the sister of a powerful man, our heroine battles between head and heart knowing all was not right in their well connected world. While Reagan trains Annika Sellinger, her brother Finn makes a play for our story line heroine, a play that is matched by Annika’s attempted seduction of Braden Emerson. The ultimate play comes when our couple are forced to fight for their lives in the ring, a fight that threatens everything and everyone they love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Braden and Reagan, and the potential fall-out as those pulling the strings make it difficult for our couple to say no.

Reagan Jameson fights her attraction to our story line hero but Braden knows Reagan is the woman he loves but fearing threat from the past, our couple are blindsided when a new player enters the world of the MMA, a player who demands everything and more.

The relationship between Braden and Reagan is a frenemies to lovers; a childhood friends relationship in which Braden struggles with Reagan’s involvement with Finn Sellinger, a man whose connections go deep and dark. As Reagan and Braden’s relationship turns into something more, there are those who refuse to give up or back down in their need for our story line couple. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and intense.

We are reintroduced to Carter Reynolds, son of Matt Reynolds, and model Emma Jameson’s, Reagan’s sister (Craving The Fight 1); mob brothers Seth and Nikolai Michelson; Finn Sellinger and his sister Annika, as well as the cameo appearances of fighters Trey Miller, Parks Bradshaw and several members of the Jameson and Emerson clans.

TAKING THE FIGHT is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is intriguing, impassioned and dramatic; the romance is captivating and seductive; the characters are powerful, determined and strong ..but.. from the outset, Reagan’s involvement with the Sellinger siblings screamed all kinds of TSTL (too stupid to live), and yet she was willing to cross a line from which there was no going back.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one CRAVING THE FIGHT

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

LP Dover: Website/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Google+ / Amazon / Goodreads / Newsletter

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

She loves to write, but she also loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes and white water rafting, and has a passion for singing. Her two youngest fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime, usually Christmas carols.

Dover has written countless novels, including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed & Dangerous series, the Royal Shifters series, the Society X series, the Circle of Justice series, and her standalone novel Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense, but if she got to choose a setting in which to live, it would be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency and Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management for dramatic rights.

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Boyfriend Material by Ilsa Madden-Mills-review & excerpt tour

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Boyfriend Material (Hawthorne University 2) by Ilsa Madden-Mills-review & excerpt tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 25, 2022

Skyscraper cheekbones, lush lips, and magnetic topaz eyes.
I’m talking about Eric Hansen.
Rich prick.
Glorified hockey star.
Thinks he’s amazing.
Yeah. The Golden Boy and I are well acquainted. In prep school he trampled on my heart and kept right on going.

Three years later, he’s living the high life with frat parties and puck bunnies at Hawthorne University. On the other hand, people barely notice me. I’m the nobody, surviving in the seedy part of town as I struggle to keep my head above treacherous waters.

The avoidance game we’ve been playing was working—until he rescues me from a bad guy and claims he wants to help me more. Hello. I don’t need a knight in shining armor. This girl saves herself.

Yet, I’m not sure how long I can ignore the undeniable spark between us.
(It’s not even a spark; it’s a full-fledged, blazing fire.)

Can this hockey player prove he’s boyfriend material, or will this be a game we both lose?

••••••

REVIEW: BOYFRIEND MATERIAL is the second instalment in Ilsa Madden-Mills’ contemporary, new-adult HAWTHORNE UNIVERSITY erotic, sports romance series. This is college seniors, hockey star Eric Hansen, and Julia Lauren’s story line. BOYFRIEND MATERIAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

WARNING : Due to the nature of the story line premise including sexual assault and slut shaming, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Eric and Julia) BOYFRIEND MATERIAL follows the building relationship between college seniors, hockey star Eric Hansen, and Julia Lauren. Eric and Julia met in prep school but one night together pushed Julia out of Eric’s life. Now seniors in college, Eric is struggling with a direction in life, hoping to make it big in professional hockey but his parents have plans Eric does not want to follow; Julia has some struggles of her own, having lost everything when her mother’s life spiralled out of control. Now Julia is drowning in debt, owing money to someone from her mother’s past, a debt she is paying through questionable means but when Eric witnesses an attack against our story line heroine, Eric becomes protector and guardian of the woman with whom he will fall in love. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and relationship between Eric and Julia, and the potential fall out as Eric’s parents take control, pushing our heroine out of his life.

The relationship between Eric and Julia is an enemies to lovers, a bully romance in which most of Eric’s friends are misogynistic and bullies, aiming their vitriol at women and our story line heroine. Eric battles between head and heart knowing his parents had other plans for his future but his attraction to Julia comes with the possibility of losing it all. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many with questionable ethics and behavior. We are introduced to several members of Eric’s hockey team, as well as the troubled Kappa fraternity; Julia’s friends Poppy and Taylor, and Eric’s grieving parents.

BOYFRIEND MATERIAL is a story of addiction and abuse, desperation and convictions, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is dramatic, emotional and heart breaking; the romance is seductive and impassioned; the characters are broken, struggling and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Eric’s large frame and rugged handsomeness takes the air from my lungs. His hair is pulled back in a man-bun, my fav look on him.
No. I do not have a favorite look for him, but it does show off his ridiculous cheekbones and aristocratic, slightly bent nose.
He’s wearing jeans, gold Converse, and a HU shirt. The lion on the front seems to glare at me—much like he is now.
I lean against the doorjamb. Be cool, be cool. “Howdy, partner.”
He doesn’t smile. “That guy at the laundromat is scary. Stay away from him. I mean it.”
I huff. The nerve of him to tell me what to do.
“That’s what I told you. I repeat, you could have been hurt. Let me handle Connor.”
His arms cross. “How did you get involved with him? Are you on drugs?”
I tuck my hands in my pockets and dip my head so he can’t see how much his words hurt. I know I strip, no one has to remind me, but in prep school, I was the goody-two shoes who never wavered. I had to keep my grades up to keep my scholarship—not that I was ever invited to parties. I wrote poetry. I drew. I daydreamed about him. “Do I look like an addict?”
His golden eyes roam over me. Assessing. “Maybe.”
My throat tingles with words I want to say but know I shouldn’t.
The less he knows, the better.
His nose flares. “I’m trying to help you and you’re giving me the cold shoulder. What’s wrong with you?”
I swallow thickly as I gaze at him. “Eric. Please. Being around me will only smear your good name—”
“Stop,” he calls out, then rubs his face, his anger seeming to deflate like a popped tire. “Don’t put yourself down like that. You’re a person, Julia. One that people care about.”
And I want to protect those people.
I chew on my bottom lip. “You shouldn’t have interfered.”
He lets out a long sigh, gives me a searching look, goes to leave, then stops. He reaches into his pocket and holds something up. “This is yours, I assume.”
I stare at the ring, my lips parting. “How did you . . .?”
But he’s already out the door.

Follow:Goodreads / Website / Facebook Group / Amazon Author / Twitter /

Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.

Fourteen of her Eighteen novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Not My Romeo #1; The Revenge Pact #1; Dear Ava, Fake Fiancée, I Dare You, and I Promise You #2; I Hate You #5; Not My Match, I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She’s addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females.

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When Stars Come Out by Scarlett St. Clair -a Review

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When Stars Come Out by Scarlett St. Clair -a Review

 

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Description:
Anora Silby can see the dead and turn spirits into gold coins, two things she would prefer to keep secret as she tries to lead a normal life at her new school. After all, she didn’t change her identity for nothing.

As it turns out, hiding her weirdness is just one of many challenges. By the end of her first day, she’s claimed the soul of a dead girl on campus and lost the coin. Turns out, the coin gives others the ability to steal souls, and when a classmate ends up dead, there’s no mistaking the murder weapon.

Navigating the loss of her Poppa, her mother’s mistrust, and Roundtable, an anonymous student gossip app threatening to expose her, are hard enough. Now she must find the person who stole her coin before more lives are lost, but that means making herself a target for the Order, an organization that governs the dead on Earth — and they want Anora and her powers for themselves

 

 

Review:

When Stars Come Out by Scarlett St. Clair is the first book in her new YA series, When Stars Come Out.  After having finished this book, I was thrilled that this was a new series, as I really enjoyed this book, and its heroine, Anora.

Anora Silby, our heroine, moved to Oklahoma with her mother, after an incident in New York; and now she has a new identity and attends her first day at her new school. Anora can secretly see the dead, and turns their spirits to gold coins that will free their soul move on; she was hoping for a normal life, and on day one she runs into a dead girl on campus.  Anora was able to claim the soul, but she lost the coin, which stops the soul from moving forward, as well as enable someone who finds the coin, to steal other souls. Trying not to be suspicious while meeting new class mates, Anora is worried and determined to find the missing coin.

She meets many of her new classmates, especially the cute Shy, whom she immediately finds herself crushing him.  Shy is friends with Natalie and Jacobi, whom are suspicious of Anora; but she also befriends Lennon, Lily and Thane.  Who can she really trust? When one of her classmates is found dead, Anora knows that someone has found the coin, and is using it to create chaos; she is determined to find the person, and at the same time, learn how to use her growing powers.

We also learn about the Order, who are raven hybrids, in charge of protecting the town. Shy and Natalie begin to suspect that Anora is the Eurydice, who sees the dead and is able to summon open the gates to send them through to the underworld.  Is Anora really the Eurydice?

What follows is an exciting, at times tense story as Anora doesn’t know who to trust, and finds herself facing various creatures, and evil, as she becomes the target.  I really did like when all of sudden hellhounds decided to watch over and protect Anora; there were also witches, occultists, and half human/hybrid evils. When Stars Come Out was a terrific fast paced, exciting YA urban fantasy, with a wonderful heroine, great characters and a slow burn romance. When Stars Come Out was so very well written by Scarlett St. Clair, and I cannot wait for the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Desperation (Dark Mafia/Age Gap Romance)by Crimson Syn-review

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Desperation (Dark Mafia/Age Gap Romance)by Crimson Syn-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 22, 2022

***Sometimes it’s the Beast that needs saving.***

GABRIEL

Gabriel Falcon has just been named Boss of the Mexican American Mafia
Nicknamed, El Rey, he is not interested in keeping his new throne.
Fighting to escape, hopelessness slowly starts to seep in,
And in his darkness, his eyes come across the young Sol.
A deep obsession commences,
Sol becomes the love he is so desperate to conquer,
But there is an unexpected evil that is watching his every move.
And if he’s not careful, he may lose it all.

SOL

Sol has been betrayed and sold to the highest bidder.
Wife to the Mexican Cartel’s most vicious drug lords.
She’s succumbed to a life of rejection and abuse,
Surrounded by death, she sees no end in sight.
That is until she meets Gabriel Aguirre.
Dark, brooding, and dangerous,
She is forced to submit to this new brutal life,
But when in hands of a loyal King,
A woman could quickly learn how to become a Queen.

••••••

REVIEW:DESPERATION is the first instalment in Crimson Syn’s contemporary, adult DARK MAFIA ROMANCE series. This is forty-two year old, new head of the Mexican American Mafia Gabriel ‘El Rey’ Falcon Aguirre, and twenty-one year old Sol Dominguez’ story line.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several first person perspectives (Gabriel, Sol, Ivan, Jeronimo) DESPERATION follows in the aftermath of the assassination of Gabriel Aguirre’s father Ernest Aguirre, the head of LaFamilia Aguirre. As the new leader, Gabriel is expected to continue the ruthless reign of his father but Gabriel has spent most of his life running his legitimate business, and wants nothing to do as his father’s heir until Gabriel comes face to face with another wounded bird, in the guise of twenty-one year old Sol Dominguez, a young woman sold by her family into sexual slavery for a debt owed, then forced to marry a man just as evil as Gabriel’s father but all is not well in La Familia Aguirre, as someone else is pulling the strings behind the scenes, throwing Gabriel into a war with the Mexican and Columbian Cartel. What ensues is the tempestuous, age-gap relationship between Sol and Gabriel, and the fall-out as the dead refuse to die, and Gabriel discovers that that he and Sol have been used as pawns for bigger and more dangerous control.

The relationship between Sol and Gabriel is one of the forbidden. Sol is married to an abusive man but Gabriel wants someone he cannot have. A surprise awaits Gabriel with the arrival of our story line heroine, an arrival predicated up the death and assassination of someone else. The $ex scenes are aggressive and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Gabriel’s uncle Ivan Aguirre; Sol’s husband Jeronimo Dominguez, as well as several capos, security, and Gabriel’s housekeeper Lupita. The requisite evil has many faces.

DESPERATION is a fast paced, novella length story of power and control, desperation and obsession, murder and vengeance, and dysfunctional family dynamics. The premise is dark, gritty and raw; the romance is provocative; the characters are colorful, dangerous and powerful. DESPERATION ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

My name is Crimson Syn, not really, but what fun is it to use my real name. Instead I’ll use my inner goddess’ name, it’s much more fun that way. I grew up in New York City where I had a wonderful education, loving parents and awesome friends. What more could a girl ask for?

I started writing at the age of sixteen. The first romance I read was Stephanie Laurens’ Devil’s Bride. Since then I have been influenced by dozens of flourishing romance authors and even more dashing and daring rogues. I must say it, but Fifty Shades was not my first erotic romance, nor did it influence me to start writing them. If you’ve never read Mary Balogh, Elizabeth Hoyt, Lisa Kleypas, Bertrice Small or A.N. Roquelaure’s Sleeping Beauty trilogy, then you’re missing out. Those were my sweet introductions to erotic romance, and boy were they hot.

So here I am, after reading so many wonderful stories, I have too many sinful tales of my own not to share. I like my alphas rough and possessive, and I have no shame in saying it or writing it. I had delightfully wicked teachers growing up, their books took me to new worlds and brought me new loves. So, I want to do the same for you. I want to indulge my readers in those steamy reads that will send them into the arms of dangerous alphas and deliciously sexy rogues, without leaving the confines of their nice warm bed. If I am able to entice your inner goddesses, then I have done my job and I am satisfied.

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Aura of Night by Heather Graham – a Review

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Aura of Night by Heather Graham – a Review

 

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Description:
True evil never dies. It only waits in the dark.

All book editor Megan Law wants is to bury the memory of her brutal kidnapping and move on with her life. So when her publisher asks her to spin her hellish experience into the next bestseller, Megan agrees only because it might help keep other women safe. Then a mysterious, gruesome package arrives in the mail—a reminder that the nightmare isn’t over just yet.

FBI investigator Ragnar Johnson is running out of time. He knows in his gut there’s more to the recent Embracer killings, and he needs Megan’s help. Even with their rocky past behind them, working together now isn’t going to be easy. But when things take a deadly turn, Megan and Ragnar discover a deep connection that they’ll have to use, because something is trying to tear them apart…forever.

 

 

Review:

Aura of Night by Heather Graham is the 37th book in her Krewe of Hunters series.  I am a big fan of Heather Graham, as her romance suspense books are always exciting and action packed.  Aura of Night is the second book in this trilogy arc.  The last book (1st in trilogy arc) was centered on Colleen, who is an FBI agent (with the Krewe Hunters), and in this book, her sister Megan is the lead.  

Megan, our heroine, is a book editor, and her publisher wants her to write about her experience when she was kidnapped (mistaken identity, supposed to be Colleen), almost buried alive.  Though Megan is back at work, she still has nightmares, and not to mention psychic abilities, such as seeing the dead. When the FBI agent comes to NY, he convinces Megan that she is still in danger, and when she receives a horrific package, she knows that she needs to go to a safe house with the agent, whom she has a crush on.

Ragnar Johanson, our hero, interviews the two men (now in prison) who were responsible in killing multiple women, and he immediately suspects there are more people outside under the guise of The Embracer; and he knows he has to get to Megan. Together they arrive at a safe house, with some other agents, but Megan is determined to work closely with Ragnar to help find the clues, using her abilities; in order to help save other women.  Ragnar agrees and Megan joins his investigation.  Megan watches Ragnar interview the men in prison, and immediately senses danger for someone else; they race against time to save one woman from being buried alive, and discover another villain. Who truly is the Embracer and how is he puling in strange people to do his deeds? 

What follows is a tense exciting thriller that will have Ragnar, Megan, and other members of the Krewe team, working together to save the women. I loved Megan’s dog, Hugo, who was so important in finding those buried. To say too much more would be spoilers, and you need to read this from start to finish, as there are some twists and surprises. 

The wild tense ending as we raced to the climax, had me holding my breath to see who will survive.  Aura of Night was an exciting, intense, suspenseful, dark story of murder, with a sweet slow burn romance, great couple and lots of action throughout. Once again, Heather Graham gives us a wild, mindboggling thriller, that kept our attention from start to finish.  I did like that both Ragnar and Megan, as they made a great couple.  If you like intense supernatural thrillers, which is written so very well by Heather Graham, then I suggest you read Aura of Night.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rhett Redeemed (Knights & Dragons MC)by Chantal Fernando-a review

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Rhett Redeemed (Knights & Dragons MC 2) by Chantal Fernando-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 26, 2022

Life is about choices. He had a history of making bad ones.

Ready for a New Start

United with her newly discovered half sister, Constance Wilder finally has a family. She should be happy, but she’s not. Instead, she’s even lonelier, which is why a one-night stand with a sexy biker is just what she needs. A few hours of wild sex won’t just bring her pleasure—it will help her forget.

A Series of Bad Choices

Rhett did what was necessary to step into his role as leader of the Wind Dragons MC, which included cutting ties with the woman he loved. He wouldn’t change it, but that doesn’t make it easier. Thankfully, the beautiful woman across the bar is a welcome distraction. He never expected her to light a spark inside him, leaving him wanting more.

Destined for Disaster

Constance falls hard for Rhett. Not only is she pretty sure he’s her soul mate, but he’s the one person she has connected to in a long time. But when it is revealed that Rhett is her sister’s ex, Constance is faced with losing her newly found family, making happily-ever-after seem damn near impossible.

••••••

REVIEW:RHETT REDEEMED is the second instalment in Chantal Fernando’s contemporary, adult KNIGHTS & DRAGONS MC erotic, MC romance series-a blending of the author’s KNIGHTS OF FURY and WIND DRAGONS MC series. This is the soon to be president of the Wind Dragons MC Rhett Madden , and Constance ‘Con’ Wilder’s story line. Con is Cara’s half-sister (Decker’s Dilemma 1) , and Rhett is the son of Talon and Tia (Wild Ride/Wind Dragons 4.5). RHETT REDEEMED can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading book one DECKER’S DILEMMA. There is a slight cross-over with the author’s FAST AND FURY series.

Note: The events of RHETT REDEEMED take place approximately one year after the events of book one DECKER’S DILEMMA

Told from dual first person perspectives (Con and Rhett) RHETT REDEEMED follows the building romance and relationship between soon to be president of the Wind Dragons MC Rhett Madden , and Constance ‘Con’ Wilder. Approximately one year earlier Rhett broke the heart of his best friend and lover Cara Ward, pushing her into the arms of former cop Seth Decker. Cara and Rhett have made amends but Rhett often found himself on the outside looking in, lonely for female companionship until a one-night stand with Constance aka Con Wilder. A few weeks would pass as Con and Rhett drifted in and out of one another’s life until Rhett was ready to introduce Con to his MC family. To everyone’s shock including Rhett and Con, they would discover that Constance Wilder is Rhett’s ex-girlfriend Cara’s half-sister, a sister she shared with their absentee father. Rhett and Con would once again become persona non-grata, and any building relationship is destroyed by Con’s connection to Cara, and Con’s refusal to cross an invisible line from whence there is no going back. What ensues is the building but struggling relationship between Con and Rhett, and the potential fall-out as our couple continue to battle between head and heart knowing Rhett had unknowingly fallen for two sisters, and a potential war with Forgotten Children aka FC Gang targets Constance in a game of revenge.

The relationship between Con and Rhett begins as a one night stand that is slow to develop in the face of no information, and Con’s move to another job working for the Fast And Fury Custom Garage. Rhett often finds himself on the outside since his break up with Cara, and the ensuing aftermath and vitriol from family and friends but Rhett never expected to fall for Constance Wilder, a woman who had just found her own family, and was afraid to lose it all. As the relationship between Con and Rhett goes from hot to cold to hot once again, a surprise awaits our couple, a surprise that places Con in the direct line of target. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several members from the Knights of Fury and Wind Dragons MC ;Seth Decker and Constance’s sister Cara; Cara’s best friend Clover Black and her significant other Felix Banks (Fallen Princess/Wind Dragons MC 7), as well as Cameron Davies, and Bronte Pierce (Fast and Fury Series).

RHETT REDEEMED is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and hurt, family, friendships, forgiveness and love. The premise is captivating, engaging and dramatic; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are hurting, energetic and charismatic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one DECKER’S DILEMMA

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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