Stone (Pittsburgh Titans 2) by Sawyer Bennett-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 1, 2022.

Minor league player Stone Dumelin lost his younger brother when the Titans’ team plane went down. He never expected the phone call that followed.

After a shoulder injury put my NHL career on ice, I resigned myself to the fact I’d never see my way out of the minor league again. As my career faded, my estranged brother’s star shot into orbit as the first line left winger for the Pittsburgh Titans. But when the team’s plane crashed returning home one night, his light was snuffed out, and I was given the opportunity of a lifetime.

Now I’m in Pittsburgh, playing for the Titans, and face-to-face with my dead brother’s ghost at every turn. His locker, his legacy, his persistent and annoyingly gorgeous attorney who won’t stop contacting me about his estate, even though I’ve demanded she leave me alone.

Harlow Alston would be extremely appealing if she wasn’t so aggravating. Only…that’s a complete lie. She pushes all the right buttons for me, and as much as I want her to quit pestering me about Brooks’s estate, I find myself intrigued by the fiery redhead who can’t take no for an answer. And the more I learn about Harlow, the more I find she might be the key to understanding who Brooks really was, and who I want to be.

I’ve got a second shot at a career I thought I’d lost and the opportunity to build something real with Harlow, but can I find strength to move forward or will my past dictate my future?

••••••

REVIEW:STONE is the second instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult PITTSBURGH TITANS hockey, romance series-a spin off from the author’s ARIZONA VENGEANCE series. This is left winger Stone Dumelin, and attorney Harlow Alston’s story line. STONE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: If you have not read the author’s Arizona Vengeance series, there may be spoilers in my review. Most of the events of STONE run parallel to, and cross over with the events of book one BADEN.

SOME BACKGROUND: Several weeks earlier, a devastating plane crashed claimed the lives of the entire Pittsburgh Titans hockey team including coaches and staff. Rebuilding the team, owner Brienne Norcross, offered positions to one-time professional and semi-pro players, including our story line hero.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Stone and Harlow) STONE follows the building romance and relationship between left winger Stone Dumelin, and attorney Harlow Alston. Stone Dumelin lost his younger brother Brooks in the plane crash that claimed the lives of the Pittsburgh Titans professional hockey team but when the new owner offered Stone a position on the rebuilding team, Stone struggled with what was and what will never be but an insistent attorney for his brother’s estate forces Stone to look at the bigger picture, a picture of which Stone knew little about. Enter attorney Harlow Alston, and the woman with whom Stone will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Stone and Harlow, and the potential fall-out as Stone struggles with secrets revealed, and his position in the life of Harlow Alston.

Stone Dumelin had been estranged from his younger brother Brooks for many years, an estrangement forced and built by someone they both knew. Unable to forgive himself or his brother Stone struggles going forward until Harlow reveals some truths, and the special place Stone had always held in his brother’s life. Harlow Alston battles her own demons on a daily basis but the loss of Brooks means more than anyone ever knew. Hoping to ease the suffering of Brooks’ brother Stone, Harlow offers up some friendship and advise, watching from the sidelines in case Stone’s life implodes.

The relationship between Stone and Harlow begins in the aftermath of the plane crash that took the life of Brooks Dumelin. Harlow is a representative for the estate of Brooks Dumelin, and Stone struggles with the demons that continue to drive a wedge between the once tight-knit brothers. As Stone slowly discovers the truth about what happened and why, Harlow becomes his angel and support when things spiral out of control. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include the members of the Pittsburgh Titans: Gage Heyward, Coen Highsmith, head coach Matt Keller,and team owner Brienne Norcross, as well as goalie coach Baden Oulett. We are introduced to Stone’s parents Mason and Nancy Dumelin, and his aunt Bethany; Harlow’s parents Robert and Celia, and Harlow’s assistant Bonita.

STONE is a story of family and fractured relationships, betrayal and trust; obsession and greed; struggled and loss. The character driven premise is emotional, revealing and tragic; the romance is intimate and edgy; the characters are edgy and dynamic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one BADEN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Stone (Daring the Kane Brothers #5) by Kelly Gendron-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 1, 2020

She’s waited a long time to confront me, and after one red-hot kiss, I wonder what’s going to happen when she realizes she can’t have what she wants?

JAGGS showed up about a year ago. She’s feisty and difficult to ignore. She befriended my brother, and my family loves her. But the sexy spitfire hates me. She thinks I don’t know why she wants to destroy me or why she appeared out of nowhere, but I do.

With his dark amber eyes and smooth whiskey voice, this drug-fueled rock star has somehow become my addiction.

So what if he has a black belt in playing guitar, if he’s an Army vet who can deactivate bombs, or that he bubbles over with hotness? He’s the man who ruined my life, and no matter how tempting STONE KANE might be, I plan to crush him.

••••••

REVIEW:STONE is the fifth instalment in Kelly Gendron’s contemporary, adult DARING THE KANE BROTHERS erotic, romance series focusing on the Kane siblings. This is former EOD specialist US army soldier / guitarist Stone Kane, and auto mechanic Amanda aka Jaggs Downey’s story line. STONE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. Daring the Kane Brothers is a spin-off from the author’s Breaking the Declan Brothers series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Stone and Jaggs) STONE follows the contemptuous relationship between former EOD specialist US army soldier / guitarist Stone Kane, and auto mechanic Amanda aka Jaggs Downey. Approximately one year earlier, Amanda aka Jaggs Downey arrived in Culver City, California, looking for a job at Crash Kane’s garage but in that year Jaggs’ relationship with Crash’s brother Stone started as a hate-filled, vitriolic, war of words that only worsened as time went by. Stone Kane rarely returns to visit his family, suffering the affects of his time in Iraq, a time he chooses to numb with alcohol and drugs but his last visit finds him spending the weekend at Crash’s house with Jaggs Downey, the woman with whom Stone will fall in love. What ensues is the back and forth, up and down building relationship between Jaggs and Stone, and the potential fall-out as Jaggs struggles with Stone’s rockstar lifestyle, and the potential for Stone to break her heart.

Several years earlier Jaggs’ sister Jenny died in an explosion and Jaggs Downey blames Stone Kane. Stone is an addict and struggles with his sobriety, and in this Jaggs is looking to destroy our story line hero but Stone keeps secret that truth about what happened months before, a truth that once revealed changes the direction of Jaggs and Stone’s relationship, a relationship that is about to cross the line, and never return.

The relationship between Jaggs and Stone is an enemies to lovers based upon mistaken belief and a need for revenge. Jaggs’ sister is dead and she is desperate to place the blame, seeking her vengeance against an innocent man, who himself, struggles with the death of so many in the past. When the truth is revealed, Jaggs and Stone take their affair on the road but our heroine refuses to loose her heart to a man who is capable of destroying her soul. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

All of the Kane siblings, and their mother Olivia Kane play secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Stone’s fellow band members Trigger, the drummer, Derrick, the lead singer, and their roadie Getty.

The world building reveals both Jaggs and Kane’s heart breaking and soul-crushing backgrounds: Jaggs and her sister Jenny’s ten different foster families, and Kane and his brother Steele’s birth mother’s horrific death.

STONE is a story of mistaken beliefs and a need for revenge; a story of revelations, acceptance, moving forward and love. The premise is captivating and heart breaking; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are energetic, broken but healing.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Token
Steele
Crash
NIX
STONE

Copy supplied for review

reviewed by Sandy

TOKEN-ONLY 99¢: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

STEELE: ONLY 99¢: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / / Amazon.au / B&N / KOBO / Apple /

CRASH-ONLY $1.99: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple

NIX-ONLY $1.99: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Apple / Google Play

He stares at the Keurig for a long hard second.
“You know how to use it, right?” I snicker.
“Yeah.” He scowls at me. “Where’s those things?”
“Pods?”
“Yeah.” He half growls.
“Up in the cupboard.” I nudge in the direction. He continues to stare at me. And all I can think about is what he might have going on in those lounge pants. Dammit, why did he ask me if I was going to get in bed with him? As if!
The truth be told, it brought me back to the day in the storage room when he was screwing one of his groupies. It’s not like I haven’t imagined what sex might be with the philandering rock star. I just convinced myself it would suck.
He smiles at me as he had when he nearly pulled the sheets back.
Is he messing with me?
I know he hates me as much as I hate him. Is he trying to be lewd? Trying to turn me off or on? Neither will work as I only have one feeling for the man—hate.
Still, it’s strange. He’s never paid me any attention. He’s never struck up a conversation or looked at me for that matter. He usually acts as if I don’t exist. So what’s with the sexual advances and all the fake smiles this morning?
What’s going on here?
I watch him get the pod and prepare himself a cup of coffee.
He takes a sip. “Ah, that’s good,” he says in a low, sexy raspy voice. He takes another sip and another, then sets the mug down on the counter and turns to me. “Thanks for last night. I was really fucked up.” His tone more sober and sincere.
“Yeah.” I clear my throat, instructing my eyes not to look at his chest or anything else other than his face. “Like I said, I didn’t want to tell my best friend his brother died on my watch.”
He flicks his hair from his face. “Crash is your best friend?”
“Yeah.” It’s the truth. He’s one of my only friends. I haven’t been this close to anyone since Jenny was killed. Crash and his family mean a lot to me, so that must be why I didn’t let Stone die last night. It’s not like I don’t want him dead, but the second I got the opportunity to have what I want, I did everything in my power—which was grabbing a pillow and sleeping on the floor, so not much—to keep the asshole alive.
He takes a step toward me, bringing his hard-to-resist aroma closer to my nostrils. “You two ain’t sleeping together?”
“Not that it’s any of your business.” I set my mug on the counter, and he takes a step closer. My back straightens.
“No. I suppose it ain’t.” His eyes roam to my mouth, pausing for an unspoken salacious moment. “But I know what you want.”
Yeah, you dead. “What’s that?” I smirk, his eyes making it back to mine.
He smiles, reaches for his mug, and takes another sip of coffee. I shake my head, staying focused on his face. I wonder what he looks like beneath all that scruff and hair. His eyes, the color, it’s brighter, softer, and lighter than I thought, but like the smooth whiskey color, the effects are no doubt the same, and too much of those eyes could alter my thinking. And I’ve already concluded that I hate the way my body reacts around him.
He sets the mug down and takes another step toward me. His hand comes out. Not sure what he’s going after, I grab his wrist and squeeze hard.
“I was going to check your mug to see if you needed another cup,” he says with a husky chuckle. “Do I scare you?”
“Scare? No.” I release his wrist. “Repulse? Yes.”
He bends until our heads are level. I get another whiff of his fuck-me-hard scent that clings to him like sweat and sex. I’m quick to swallow down the unbridled desire attempting to stir in me. His eyes lower to my mouth, then slowly move back up. I watch, sensing an attack of some kind. He leans forward. “I’m going to kiss you…

Kelly’s motto ~ “Bad boys, give ’em a little time and experience, and they will evolve into misbehaving men!” And what hot-blooded woman doesn’t want a naughty, all grown up bad boy?

Kelly Gendron is the author of the TroubleMaker series, the up and coming series ~ Breaking the Declan Brothers, and a few other romantic suspense novels.

When she’s not writing steamy, blush producing romances, she’s out meeting new people while representing a group of reputable nursing facilities. You can find Kelly in a quiet suburb, somewhere between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. If you Google her, she’ll pop up there too. And, please do find her. Kelly loves to hear from her readers, and meeting new people.

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