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The Baby Contract by CeeRee Fields – Review & Excerpt

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The Baby Contract by CeeRee Fields – Review & Excerpt

 

 

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Description: 
An unwanted wife, a broken contract, and a secret baby.

Elizabeth Sutherland Martinez’s life was idyllic. She married the man of her dreams. Had a supportive stepfather. And a dream job. Until the night she discovered everything she thought was true was a lie. Her husband only needed her to settle a debt to her stepfather by getting Elizabeth pregnant. The child and Elizabeth unknowing pawns in a contract forged between two powerful men bent on adding to their wealth.

She fled from all of it.

Rafael ‘Rafe’ Martinez wanted Elizabeth the first time he set eyes on her. Until he was forced to tangle with her stepfather, who presented Rafe with the unholy bargain. When he realizes Elizabeth only wanted him to impregnate her, Rafe’s done and demands a divorce so he can be free to find love elsewhere.

A year later, the two meet again only to discover they both have been lied to. Him thinking Elizabeth had anything to do with the contract. And her thinking he only wanted Elizabeth because of the contract.

Little do either of them know the rocky path of their beginning will lead them to a love like no other, but first, they have to survive her stepfather’s murderous intentions.

 

 

Review: 

The Baby Contract by CeeRee Fields is the 2nd book in her The Contract series.  I’ve read this author before (The Rayburn Mysteries) so I was eager to see what this was all about…. Now that was different. I really enjoyed that. 

Elizabeth Is happily in love, she has a secret she can’t wait to tell her stepfather and husband, but before she can do that, she overhears something that smashes her world to pieces! 

I get the impression she’s quite a sheltered person, she might write novels under a pen name, but she lives the peaceful life. All she has ever wanted was a family, after losing her mother, her best friend and stepfather became her family, then Rafe was added, and Elizabeth was happy. So she’s got no choice but to run….. 

Rafe I wanted to hate, he really was vile to Elizabeth, but the more you read about him, the more you come to realise he had been played!  He really did love her at first, but an arrangement between Rafe and Harold (stepfather) with Elizabeth’s knowledge and consent (which he finds out she didn’t know about) sours the marriage, now he wants out! The marriage (unknown to Elizabeth) was only meant to be for a year. 

He thinks she’s a gold digger, a cheat and possibly unable to conceive a child! Add in the fact his housekeeper hates Elizabeth, his mother despised her and wants him to marry someone with more clout in their circle!! (So he had that going on in the background) 

My thoughts were if you were in love with that person wouldn’t you challenge them about the affairs? And why only a year? Thought he was a bit of an a$$ to be honest. And a bit gullible (your new girlfriend is taking you for a FOOL!!) 

I liked that, a second chance type of romance, not my usual read, but I really enjoyed the drama, the suspense, and although we knew who the bad guy was (stepfather) and we knew why, it was more than just that. 

The secondary characters were great, they took Elizabeth (now Colby) under their wing and made her feel she finally had a family. They kept her safe from her stepfather, they bolstered her when she was low, and loved her unconditionally. 

The first part of the book is Elizabeth trying to get to grips with the betrayal and shock of her marriage, throw in the fact her stepfather and best friend were trying to kill her (very large estate in trust for her) Coping with a pregnancy on her own, and still in love with her ex! She’s finally living the life she wants. But with constantly having to look over her shoulder for her stepfather it’s all taking it’s toll on her. But she’s not going to give up! 

And I like she’s finding her backbone, she has an opinion and she’s not afraid to voice it anymore. We jump to six months and find Colby (was Elizabeth) living a quiet life on a ranch, she has her extended family around her, and life is growing inside her nicely, she’s also written a book. Life is good (so you know something is coming to screw it up!) 

Well it does…… 

From there it’s a fast pace of cat and mouse, Elizabeth pretending she doesn’t know what her best friend and stepfather are planning, planning for her future. Then add Rafe wanting a second chance! She still loves him, and wants them to be a family. But he’s going to have to prove he’s serious, she wants them to be together always, so it’s down to Rafe to show her.

It’s a second book in the series, I didn’t read the first one. But you don’t need to. So will Rafe and Elizabeth/Colby get back together? What happens when he finds out about the baby? And can Elizabeth stay one step ahead of her stepfather? 

Definitely recommend this book if you’re a fan of murder/mystery stories. 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

 

 

“Where will you go?”
“Back to my ranch…” she gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth.
“Harold doesn’t know you have a ranch?”
“No one here does. It’s like a safe haven that I’ve used the past year while trying to figure out how to lure Harold and Megan out.” She laid her hand over his thigh. “But, I trust you, Rafe.”
He smiled.
“I probably should tell you I’ve changed my name to Colby—”
He covered her mouth and shook his head sharply. “Don’t.”
Confused, she frowned at him.
“No one except Tanner knows your new name and new address, right?”
She nodded.
“Don’t tell me. The music should drown out the microphones in here, but I refuse to chance your safety like that.”
Her eyes popped wide. She had forgotten about the bugs her temporary security team was using to keep her safe.
“Do you understand?”
Her heart melted at seeing his tender side peek out.
She nodded again, and he removed his hand.
“You changed your name too.”
It wasn’t a question, but a statement and the sparkle in his eyes were mischievous as if he loved sharing a secret with her.
And though he didn’t ask, she felt the need to try to explain. “Elizabeth felt like a name for a fool after everything came to light, and I wanted a new start at a new place with a new name.”
The sparkle brightened, and a smile stretched across his face. “After this is over, I’m going on a treasure hunt—”
“Wait. What?” What the hell is he talking about? I just told him I changed my name and moved to a whole new state, and he’s talking about treasure hunts?
His palm cupped her cheek.
“I have the best idea. When we’re done in Alaska, I need to go home, and you’re going to return to wherever your home is—”
“But—”
“Shh, let me finish.” He placed a gentle kiss over her lips.
She reluctantly motioned zipping her lips and tried to keep quiet even though she wanted to protest. They had just found each other, and now he wanted to break up?
“We’re not breaking up, so get that look off your face. But my mother comes back from her trip abroad in February. I have several trips planned for a venture opening their business in February. But the most important thing is,” his earnest gaze tangled with hers. “I want to find you. I’ve been trying to think of a way to apologize for all the bullshit you went through and show you that you can trust me. That I’m not going to let you down again, and this is it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m going to find you. Each day we’re separated, I want us to talk either by phone or by text. If I’m listening like I should have been from the beginning, you’ll give me hints to where you live now, and I’ll use those to find you.”
“Holy crap. You want to stalk me like prey.” And why does that turn me on? Heat curled in her at the thought of having his undivided attention focused on tracking her.
“I do. I want you to know I’m paying attention. So, don’t say ‘this is your hint for this week.’ Just toss something in during our normal conversation—”
“To show you’re actually listening to me.” Like he hadn’t during their marriage. To be fair, she hadn’t paid enough attention either, and she would need to own that.
“We both need to work on our communication, and I think this will do it.” He pulled her into his lap and held her close. “I love you. I have been in love with you the second you tripped over the sidewalk trying to rescue that kid’s dog.”
Her face heated to scalding as she remembered that coffee date. The poor little girl was almost in tears trying to catch the puppy before it darted into traffic. Elizabeth had just barely snagged the ball of fluff before it jumped the curb. Unfortunately, she had tripped over an uneven paving stone, but she had still caught the dog. “I didn’t know you saw that.”
“I did. It was one of the reasons I knew you wouldn’t back out of the contract when Harold presented it. That maybe we could have made it work.” He tightened is arms as if to feel she was actuall there. “Little did we know we were doomed from the start.”
“Why? Why would that be the tipping point?”
“Because you were stubborn enough to forget about breaking your fall instead, you grabbed that mutt and body-slammed the concrete.”
“Yeah, I have to say that hurt like hell.” She nuzzled into the hollow of his neck and sighed. He really did love her. They had just gotten sidetracked for a moment. Just as she was about to suggest another round, heavy footsteps traveled to them, and she scrambled from his lap. “Kenneth.”
“Sounds like he’s awake.”
“Shit.” She snatched up her clothes and raced for the downstairs bathroom, glad she had at least tossed on her shirt even though it only reached the top of her bare thigh. Lying around half-naked with Rafe was one thing, but she would never live down her absolute embarrassment if one of her security people caught a glimpse of her naked ass.

 

 

 

 

TF3-1100

I’m a geek, a gamer, a music lover, and a voracious reader. I love Star Trek and B-grade movies like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and Sharknado. I enjoy figuring out software and learning new things and applying them to whatever book I’m currently working on.

I write romantic adventures. I live vicariously through my characters. I can be a knife-wielding forager who saves her family from deadly kidnappers or a slinky thief who must outmaneuver her sadistic cousin. My male characters aren’t cookie-cutter either. There’s so much diversity in the world that one size does not fit all. It’s the same for love. My male characters range from he-men, alpha types to nerds in glasses who can kickass when needed whether in a board room or in a parking garage. I have characters who are blind and have lost a limb in order to save others.

The one thing they all have in common is they are people who learn to move past their hurdles and find love.

Visit CeeRee Fields at the following links:

Website: https://ceereefields.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/ceereefields

Facebook: facebook.com/ceereefields

 

 

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Dawn Rising by Lisa M. Green – a Review

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Dawn Rising by Lisa M. Green – a Review

 

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Description:
Once upon a time, a girl was born. A hundred years later, she grew up.

Aurianna must rewrite the past in order to save the future. She was supposed to be the answer to an enigmatic prophecy discovered on the night of her birth. But a terrible curse changed her life forever.

That is, until a mysterious stranger arrives to break the spell. He awakens Aurianna to the truth of her past and the powers she never knew she had.

When he sweeps her back in time, she discovers there is more to her life than she ever imagined. The world she encounters is both strange and familiar. But learning to control her newfound elemental powers will be the least of her problems.

She must race against time to uncover the truth about a catastrophe that will leave the world broken, divided, and at war.

Aurianna just wants answers. But the people need a saviour.

 

 

Review:

Dawn Rising by Lisa M. Green is a time travel book and the 1st book in her new Awakened series. Not my usual genre, but I’m always open to new authors and their ideas. The back cover intrigued me, so let’s go….. 

People come out of the darkness, we should be scared, they are dangerous. But if captured they can be drained and then killed. But you need to burn the bodies. But who are the people? Are the citizens aware those people are drained and burned? There are lots of questions that need answering. 

Aurianna knows she’s different, she doesn’t act the same as other, she can remember when the sun came out, when there was warmth in the air. But now there is only grey days and darkness. I did find Aurianna a little annoying at times, acting like a grown up one moment and then childish. 

When a stranger comes to town, she begins to put pieces of a puzzle together. A time traveller, Aurianna is then told she’s the key to a prophecy, she can help the future, but it means she has to go to the past. 

Pharis is a traveller, coming to the future is a dangerous thing, no one has come back yet, so it’s all resting on him. Meeting Aurianna didn’t go the way he expected, and trying to convince her to go to the past with him proves interesting.

What happens next is a fast paced race through this book. Going back to the past to change the future, sounds easy right? Wrong! And they have to train Aurianna to use her powers, but I also get the feeling they are leaving a few things out! And what is the darkness? Do Aurianna and Pharis need to be wary of it?

I have to admit i thoroughly enjoyed the book!

First books in a new series need to be finely balanced, too much information and we get stuck, not enough information and it doesn’t keep the readers interest. This had it. And it kept me turning the pages. 

But I felt the characters needed a little more work, they felt a little stiff. I know we are in hard times, but there doesn’t seem any lightheartedness. And the like/hate/love between Pharis and Aurianna needed just a tweak, they almost seemed to gel, then they’d lose it. 

And we have a twist I didn’t see coming. The ending has you wondering it the next book will start there….. 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

 

 

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If You Dare by Barbara Meyers – a Review

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If You Dare by Barbara Meyers – a Review

 

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Description:
Can a man evolve from arrogant ass to Father of the Year?

Doug Winston looks into his newborn daughter’s eyes and vows to become the kind of man and father worthy of her. But he first must navigate the mess he’s made of his life.

Doug’s wife has left him. The teenage son he raised despises him, the father he worships disowns him, and a child Doug never knew he’d fathered arrives on his doorstep.

After his baby’s mother dies, her sister, Josie, wants to prove him unfit and attain custody.

As Doug embarks on his quest to live authentically, to make amends where he can and build relationships with his children and with Josie, he discovers that the father for whom he was never good enough is part of a vast criminal network.

Just as Doug and Josie cross the line from hate to love, and Doug has cobbled together the family he always wanted, can he bring the man he once idolized to justice in order to protect them all?

 

 

 

 

Review:

Doug didn’t have friends.  He had acquaintances.  Business associates.  He’d lived his whole life in this town yet he’d never developed the sort of personal relationships others managed so easily.  He couldn’t think of one person he could call who would be there for him no questions asked.  God, he had to stop thinking about everything he’d done wrong or else he’d end up drowning.  He needed to focus on trying to do things right from now on.

I’m rather surprised Doug was chosen for the spin-off, on account of being a user-manipulator, but people love redemption arcs, don’t they?  If You Dare is the aptly named sequel by Barbara Meyers.  Doug was a villainous character from book 1 who was handed his just desserts, but the death of his lover, leaving him to raise his infant daughter alone, would bring anyone to their knees from the fallout.  Can Doug reinvent himself?

A continued compliment to Ms. Meyers for her writing prowess.  While doing nothing more than depicting the frenetic details of Doug’s sudden catapult into fatherhood, the writing of ordinary sounds are keen and poignant; engaging and fresh, as always.  I felt like a true fly on the wall, forehead slaps aplenty, agog with this-shouldn’t-be-new-to-you-Miles’-father!, but committed to reading the journey I was on, because the writing was so good!  This was the energy she had in the introductory novel, so just kudos to you for keeping me interested, despite the flawed subject.

Keeping me interested — the plot thickens!  When it rains in Red Bud, Iowa, it’s a deluge.  Doug’s past rears its ugly head yet again and demands he step up to meet the challenge.  Forced to grapple with his selfish behavior, we are treated to the reckoning.  It is this introspection, this insight into Doug’s self-recrimination that allows us to heal alongside him.  Because let me tell you:  that initial silent acknowledgement of Josie’s attractiveness rattled my cage – did he learn nothing?!  Who’s Josie?  The ex-lover’s cousin with a whole lot of judgment to heap upon Doug.  Not a spoiler (it’s in the synopsis) and never a worry, Ms. Meyers reeled Doug back in with a crisis of conscience tug.  The evolution of said relationship is much more palatable.  Dare I say, understandable.

Suffice it to say, the aforementioned plot twist is only one of several subplots to keep you affixed.  About 10 chapters in, I did miss the previous main characters.  Ever the diligent writer, they eventually engaged, albeit briefly.  If Doug’s transformation was to be accepted, he had to confront the disasters he created, to justify our reassessment.  Again, the ability to dovetail Doug from insolent to human was heartfelt and believable.

Just when things finally make sense, life in check and love in surplus, the fear of losing it takes on new meaning.  Look at me going on and on.  Read for yourselves and tell me this wasn’t almost better than the first!  Either way, we all win.  I’m ready for your next book, 😉 

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied for review

 

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British Black Sheep by Lauren Smith – a Review

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British Black Sheep by Lauren Smith – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N

Description:
He is exactly the kind of man Brie Honeyweather swore never to love…or lust after ever again: a sexy, arrogant, British bad boy in a designer suit.Alec is the last person Brie wants to be stuck on an international flight to London with, but hey…at least they’re in first class.

When their flight has to make an emergency landing in a snowstorm just before Christmas, Brie and Alec are thrown together in a single bedroom in a tiny English village. As the snowstorm rages outside, things get intense and emotions and lust run hot. Alec reminds Brie just how much she misses being with a man and how easy it is to fall head over heels too fast.

What should have been an amazing one-nightstand turns into a week-long secret romance at Alec’s family estate when Brie realizes her new boss is Alec’s mother, a British countess. While Brie tries to focus on writing a Christmas book with the countess, all she can think about is getting back into bed with Alec.

She shouldn’t fall for the arrogant brit, especially when their lives are oceans apart and neither of them wants a serious relationship. But Christmas magic has a way of working miracles. Maybe Santa will bring her a happy ending after all…

 

 

Review:

British Black Sheep by Lauren Smith is a Hero Club novel. Brie is a ghostwriter, she’s been doing it for about four years, she loves it, speaking to people and capturing stories and biographies. And when a famous authors asks her to help on a Christmas story, Brie is there. Well, almost there, she has to get on a plane first….. 

Alec is on his way home, burnt out and exhausted with his job. He lives his job, 24/7 being an investment banker gives him the thrills and excitement he craves. The money’s not bad either. And when a delightful young woman scolds him on the plane, Alec has found his entertainment for the long flight home. Teasing her is going to be a lot of fun. 

Being forced to land before scheduled to was unsettling. But to share a room with Alec is mind blowing…. She’s suppose to be unpacking at the beautiful Manor House and writing with the countess, instead she’s stuck with the arrogant if not handsome Brit!!! 

Both Alec and Brie are attracted to one another, they give in and have no regrets. Finding out that they will both be under the same roof at the countess’s home is fun for Alec, but mortifying for Brie! And when she finds out he’s her son!! Well Brie just wants to go home!

Alec then sets about chasing and persuading Brie to have fun with him whilst she’s here. Brie agreed but as long as it remains a secret between them. And when she goes home, that’s it. Alec is up first that, a bit of fun over Christmas, then back to work. No strings, just how he likes it. But just like string, they get tangled up like Christmas lights. It’s not easy trying to keep emotions out of this, it’s only suppose to be fun! 

Brie is going back home soon, and Alec needs to go back to London. I have to admit, reading a Christmas book in the middle of summer was different. I’ve read a few of this author’s books. And I’ve always enjoyed them. This one was no different. 

Definitely a feel good Christmas story?

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

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The Blood King by Abigail Owen – a Review

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The Blood King by Abigail Owen – a Review

 

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Description:
Ruthless dragon king Ladon Ormarr must keep his throne—and his people—safe from the cruel High King at all costs. With war on the horizon, he’ll need a miracle to protect his clan. Luckily, the fates have dropped the irresistible Skylar Amon right into his lap. 

Or so he thought. Because the last thing this phoenix wants is him. 

A phoenix mate is the ticket to securing his throne, but this fiery Amon sister detests Ladon, doesn’t stick to protocols, and regularly offends his warriors and advisers.  

Skylar also has no intention of sticking around, nor does she believe in the whole destined-mates thing. But if it means taking out the High King who murdered her parents, she’ll put up with the too-sexy-for-her-sanity Ladon…temporarily.

Their mating bond may make them want to tear off their clothes, but outside the bedroom…well, Ladon is positive the fates hate him. Just as he starts to win over the mercurial phoenix, everything goes to hell when the High King makes his final move. And Ladon will burn down the world to keep the mate he is unwilling to live without.

Each book in the Inferno Rising series is STANDALONE:

* The Rogue King
* The Blood King

 

 

Review:

The Blood King by Abigail Owen is the 2nd book in her Inferno Rising series. Skylar Is sister to Kaisa, (from book 1 “The Rogue King”) second oldest sister of four Phoenix shifters. 

Skylar and her three sisters were separated and hidden from the world by their mother Serefina. She was afraid of the High King, the Red Dragon Pytheios. She’d watched as he slaughtered her mother, and then her beloved mate Zilant King of the White Dragons. He had hoped to mate with her, or destroy her and gain her powers for himself! 

They were all taught to be wary of dragons especially the red dragon Pytheios. If found, they will be forced to mate and that dragon will be the ruler of all dragons! Other shifters will seek to use their powers! 

What starts out as a rescue mission, Skylar thinks Kaisa has been caught and forced to mate the now Gold King, turns into a fight for freedom. Hearing her sister willing mated Brand, Skylar goes to retreat. Only to find Landon blocking her way. She’s now is prisoner! But not for long, Skylar won’t be anyone’s prisoner, nor will she be a dragon’s bride! Let battle commence! 

Landon is the king of the blue dragons, after losing Kaisa to Brand, he’s running out of time. (If dragons don’t find their mate, they go mad and start to age) he’s got Pytheios breathing down his neck, he’s losing ground. He needs something to restore his clan’s faith, and a Phoenix will do that. He’s not prepared for the feelings Skylar stirs up in him. She drives him crazy, and not always in a good way….

Being a mate to the blue dragon king is not what Skylar envisaged for herself. Being told by her mother that dragons will only want her for her Phoenix and not the woman has made her very wary. 

There is fireworks from the beginning of this book. Really like this series , even though it’s only two books so far, (its a spin off from the Fire’s edge series.) You don’t have to read those to enjoy this series.

I Liked the fact Skylar is very independent, but she’s had to be. Always on her guard has made her very distrustful. Knowing she’s only a mate because she’s a Phoenix and a legacy that comes with it (mate a Phoenix rule all the dragons) puts you in the low self esteem category. But she makes the most of it. But Skylar isn’t going to give up without a fight. She wants a partnership, not a prison! 

Landon is fighting both his feelings for his mate, and the High King the Red Dragon Pytheios, the High King wants all the dragons under his rule, and has taken all but the blue clan. 

Lots of action, enough passion, and a few laughs along the way. It’s nice to catch up with the previous couple. And also snippets of both Skylar’s and Landon’s pasts. We also have the two remaining sisters out in the world, will we get to see them before the end of this book? ?  And will Landon be able to drive the Pytheios out of the blue dragon territory and possibly kill him? 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Calypso’s Heart by M.C. Solaris – a Review

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Calypso’s Heart by M.C. Solaris – a Review

 

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Description:
Sexy shifters. Hot vampires. Intriguing immortals. Strong heroine. Sizzling romance. Page-turning plot full of emotion and excitement. Modern and fresh take on fated mates….

Caly
Do you dream of ridiculously hot men? Okay, maybe you do. (And yes, I’m well aware I should lay off the romance books before bed.) But do you actually ever meet those men you dream about in real life? I didn’t think so. That’s probably a good thing though because I have… And these men from my dreams have done nothing but pull the rug of reality out from under me… which was how I fell and ended up in a world that I thought only existed in romance books.

My name is Caly (AKA Callie) and I’m just an ordinary single woman living the LA dream… paycheck to paycheck. Except whose dream is it? I’m not really sure… but it’s not my dream. Especially because I have really weird dreams… like really weird. Then again, everyone has weird dreams, right?

Blake
I am an alpha wolf shifter and leader of Orion’s Order, a pack of… well, not wolves. We’re an unconventional pack of highly skilled specian hunters that do one thing: hunt the evil in our world. And we were hired by SILE (Species Investigative Law Enforcement) to hunt a bloodthirsty criminal who is infamously untraceable. That was until an irresistible female brought an unexpected twist to our hunt and set things in motion… a motion that has left my pack and our world forever changed.

Welcome to The Order and a secret world of magic and mystery, where a pack of unlikely friends find love and fight against an ancient evil force.

 

 

Review: 

With a backstory like that we are in for a ride. Calypso’s Heart by M.C. Solaris is the first book in the new Orion’s Order series, and an author that I haven’t read before. 

By day Caly Is a paralegal. At night she dreams of being swept off her feet. Her day job is not as thrilling as she’d like, but it pays the bills, only she’s just lost a big client to a rival in the firm! Can anything else go wrong today? 

Blake works for SILE or Species Intelligence and Law Enforcement. His team combines many species of paranormals, they hunt down anyone breaking the law. Or trying to cross The Barrier (it keeps the human world separate from the paranormal one).  Their main task is to find and bring in The Mastermind and The Ghost. Wanted for murders (i get there is more to this story than we are being told at the moment) 

Caly dreams of Blake, (well she doesn’t know it’s Blake at first) but doesn’t communicate with him at first. There is just a lot of staring into one another’s eyes. I did have to chuckle at the description of Caly, it gave me a sense of airhead and a dreamer, but there is so much more to her than that. She chats to both herself and her cat, she loves coffee and music (my kinda girl already) I have a feeling she feels like she doesn’t really fit into the L.A lifestyle, she’s more of a laidback kind of woman. 

Blake is an alpha through and through. A man tied to his job, works hard and expects the same from his team. But he does care for his team, and looks on them as family. We get introduced to Blake’s team (luckily not that large) they all work well together, when not antagonising one another. 

A couple of my favorite characters already were Rhyland and Rhyker. The playful banter between the twin panther shifters and the other members is hilarious to read. 

The book is surprisingly long (but it doesn’t drag anywhere) but really well written. And for a first book I was impressed. Nothing worse than reading pages and pages, but not really going anywhere with it.  Plenty of action (including fight scenes) ? yes there is the usual “you mate, me Alpha” but it’s something that goes with the paranormal territory. 

So….. We have the bad guy or guys (The Mastermind and The Ghost) We have our team of good guys. And we have a human who doesn’t seem to be what she claims. A really good start to what I’m hoping is a wild ride of a series. Definitely recommend this book. 

Reviewed by Julie

Owned copy

 

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The Revolutionary and the Rogue by Blake Ferre – a Review

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The Revolutionary and the Rogue by Blake Ferre – a Review

 

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Description: 
Perrin deVesey knows pain. As a member of Crimson Rose, a secret club for men who love men, he’s taken the vow “to stand and shield.” Standing together during these perilous times is the only thing keeping their necks from the guillotine. Now their leader is using the club to rescue wrongly accused traitors. After losing a past lover to an unjust execution, the decision to support this treasonous cause is easy…until a devastatingly handsome Committee Officer complicates Perrin’s whole world.

Officer Henri Chevalier hates aristocrats. But the man he finds while investigating Crimson Rose is more than just wealthy and fancily clothed. He’s a rogue that could take him to the heart of the uprising and stop it before it starts. His plan to get close to Perrin and steal his secrets backfires, though, when Henri finds himself falling for the damned aristo and his dangerous smile. His heart is even more conflicted as he learns the truth behind their cause…and the truth his own people have been hiding.

Together they must make the choice—to stand and shield at any cost—and their love might be the deadliest weapon in all of France.

 

 

Review:

The Revolutionary and the Rogue by Blake Ferre is a standalone novel. If I read M/M it’s usually shifter based. So reading a Regency M/M romance it’s a little out of my usual genre. But I’ll give it a go….. 

Perrin is a fop, he gives the impression he’s a bored rich aristocrat, in fact he’s helping to free rich people (aristocrats) like him. The French Revolution may have ended, but the rich are still being persecuted. Julian and Perrin were in a club for men who love other men, but it’s forbidden.

And after losing the love of his life, he didn’t really care for much, but he swore to his beloved he would help wherever he could. So on the anniversary of Julien’s death, he’s back at the club they use to frequent with old friends to raise a glass. And to see if they can help the Scarlet Crest! And who is the scarlet crest? No one knows. But many people want to find out, Perrin must be careful. His life and the lives of his friends are at stake! 

Henri is an officer in the French Revolutionary army. His job is to capture spies, he enjoys his work. Freeing the poor from the reign of the aristocracy. He hates the rich, they ruined his life, and the lives of his family, so he won’t stop until everyone in France is an equal. Getting a password to the Scarlet Crest meeting place, Henri hopes to find information on where and when the next rendezvous is and how to stop them from fleeing the country. 

Perrin and Henri meet by accident, Henri saves Perrin from being trampled. Both have a lustful thought at being so close to a stranger. But reality comes crashing in even Henri realises the man he saved is an aristocrat!! Perrin is mortified that he feels anything, he should still be mourning for his beloved Julien, not lusting after someone else! 

They meet again at the Scarlet Crest meeting place. It’s still hostile between them, but so is the strange attraction! Does Henri believe Perrin is helping the rich to flee? He doesn’t want to, but why would he be here? And can Perrin trust Henri, when he knows how much he hates the rich? 

I liked the characters, I liked the premise, but I have to be honest, I didn’t really enjoy the book. I’m not sure what spoilt it for me. But something was missing.

I know gay relationships were frowned upon in those days. And I know it’s a crime to have those feelings. But I didn’t get that feeling from the book, it didn’t feel cloak and dagger. I got the intrigue, I got a little suspense. It just fell a little short. I just didn’t believe the feelings. To me there didn’t seem the passion, the fire, the urgency. 

The characters of Henri and Perrin were good, they were solid and well thought out. Loved Quill (Perrin’s friend) he was fun. As I said, lots of great ideas, just not quite there with the execution. 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Tempting the Prince by Christi Barth – a Review

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Tempting the Prince by Christi Barth – a Review

 

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Description:
What happens when you mix an average American woman with a decidedly not average future King?

I can tell you from experience—a whole lot of complications.

You see, four months ago, my all-American sister, Kelsey, found out that she’s not actually my sister—she’s a princess of a country we’d never heard of. She begged me to come along when she was whisked off to her new palace, so here I am. An outsider who doesn’t fit in anywhere.

Now that she’s settled, I should go back to my exciting new career in New York. I absolutely should not stay in a country where I got shot (long story), where I suck so badly at the national sport that I accidentally murdered the symbol of the monarchy in front of half the country, and—oh yeah—where I can’t stop ogling Kelsey’s actual brother.

The Crown Prince.
The man who has to marry a very important princess. (not me)
The man who must create the next heir to the throne. (without me)
The man I absolutely can never be with. (remember that long story?)
The man who just gave me the best sex of my life…

Did I mention that it’s complicated?

Each book in the Sexy Misadventures of Royals series is STANDALONE:
* The Princess Problem
* Ruling the Princess
* Tempting the Prince

 

 

 

 

Review:

Tempting the Prince begins with Mallory getting lost in the palace.  Again.  Not very long ago, she and her sister, Kelsey, were average Americans from Michigan, living in New York.  That all changed when they found out that Kelsey was not her blood sister and had been adopted.  Add to that fact that Kelsey was also a long lost princess who had been stolen from her birth family and the word “average” went out the window.

Having found out that Kelsey was actually from the European country of Moncriano and a member of the Royal House of Villani, their lives changed in an instant.  Kelsey had had a hard time adapting to life as a royal, in that she was not a fan of all of the protocol and rule following.  Mallory helped Kelsey and tried to keep her on the straight and narrow and promised that she would stay for a few months to help her sister transition into life as a royal.

Things didn’t start out well.  There had been an assassination attempt in which Mallory got caught in the crossfire.  After months of recovery, and news from her doctors that she kept to herself, Mallory threw herself into helping Kelsey.

Needing to get away from the palace for a little while, Mallory ends up at bar of her bodyguard’s choosing.  While sitting at the bar, Mallory is very surprised to hear the very familiar voice of Prince Christian, next in line to be King and brother to Kelsey.  Also a man she can’t quite stop staring at, even though she knows he’s is way out of her league for numerous reasons.  Christian explains to her that this very bar is one where he can go and be himself.  Only then does she notice that a big percentage of the clientele are members of the royal guard.  Enjoying themselves, they eventually end up challenging each other to a game of darts.  It doesn’t take Christian long to realize how competitive Mallory is and decides to use that to his advantage.  However, while shooting darts, Mallory accidentally impales the ‘King to be” with a dart.  Mortified, they head to the back to get Christian cleaned and bandaged, only to find themselves in close quarters.  They also find themselves giving into their growing attraction to each other……..once.  Yep, best laid plans and such……..

Tempting the Prince is a wonderfully written story that pulled me in at the very beginning, even though I hadn’t read the previous books.  I loved the premise and the characters.  Mallory is so loyal to her sister and is torn between protecting herself and protecting her sister.  Christian knows what he wants.  He’s just not quite sure how to get there.  His father, the reigning king, is having issues with the past coming back to haunt him and has left Christian to step into the role.  He also wants Mallory but can’t seem to figure out how to make that work, until he finally sums up the courage to confront his father.  Christian finds it a bit ironic that the one person he knows who needs some help handling the past has the most impressive view of the future and also has the wise words on how to achieve such.  The chemistry between Mallory and Christian also pulls you in.  I loved their interactions, their wit and love for each other.  The secondary characters were well written as well, and I can’t wait to go back and read their stories.   If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll definitely not go wrong with this one.  Well done, Christi Barth!  Very, very well done!!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

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