Author Archives: coffeebookslifeblog
Review: Wild Dreams by Mari Carr
Wild Dreams
Mari Carr
Wilder Irish Series, Book 12
Oliver has always longed for a love just like his parents have—all three of them. He’s certain he’s already halfway to that happily ever after. His foster brother calls it wild, but Ollie knows they can find the woman of their dreams.
Gavin has always accepted that life is just one disappointment after another. Growing up in the foster system taught him that. Oliver is one of the few people he can trust, so he prefers they stay a two-man band.
Erin is a curvy, spunky brunette neither of them saw coming. But fate has another wild card in store for the three of them, one that will test everyone’s faith in their very different dreams for the future.
Review: A Cowboy Kind of Love by Donna Grant
A Cowboy Kind of Love
Donna Grant
Heart of Texas Series, Book 6
Jace Wilder has been rebuilding his life since the love of his life, Taryn, up and left town unexpectedly. But when she mysteriously returns, Jace’s dependable world comes crashing down. Taryn is hiding a dangerous secret, and no matter how hard he tries, Jace can’t stay away―especially when Taryn is at risk. And especially when the attraction he thought he’d buried long ago is back and hotter than ever. Will he be able to trust Taryn again?
Taryn Hillman’s world fell apart one horrifying night, and it’s never been the same since. When she sees a small chance at untangling herself, she takes it, though it means returning to Clearview – and seeing Jace again. But when he vows to protect her, will Taryn take a chance, and this time, never let him go?
4.5 Stars
Fast paced and full of suspense, A Cowboy Kind of Love will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Jace has had a rough time to say it lightly. The baggage he carries from the military is not what haunts his thoughts and dreams. That place is reserved for the love of his life who walked away without barely a word five years ago. Worry and anger have filled his mind and suffering a bit as to never finding out what happened to her yet his love for her has never faded.
Taryn is a woman who would and did do anything to keep her family safe. Taryn got pulled into a world of darkness and crime. The last five years I have taken a toll on her and all she wants is freedom for herself and her sister. When a plan in place and the determination of a headstrong, caring woman. Things are not all them seem in Trayn’s world, making her make quick decisions, on a dime, forcing her to bring the one person into the middle of this mess that’s completely wanted to keep out of it.
Donna Grant rocked A Cowboy Kind of Love hard! I was captivated and enthralled within the first few pages. Jace may be one of the greatest heroes ever written. His sense of pride, honor and loyalty are some of his greatest drinks. His ability to see past things beyond anyone’s control and that his heart continues to love like it never missed a beat. Taryn was not at all anything like I thought she’d be. She was dedicated and devoted and went above and beyond. Stronger than she gives herself credit for. Jace and Taryn together was something quite beautiful. They both were trying to protect each other with every bit of means they had. Taryn learned with the help of Jace that family is not always blood. Their story is not an easy one but it is a very good one. Emotional and heart wrenching with danger looking over their shoulder yet healing and romantic. Twist and turns are all over the place but yet the calvary of cowboys more than willingly takes it on for friendship and family.
Cover Reveal: Fake by Kylie Scott
Fake, an all new sexy fake relationship standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott is coming May 18th and we have the amazing cover!
He walks the red carpet. She’s more familiar with vacuuming one.
When a scandal tarnishes the reputation of hot as hell A-lister, Patrick Walsh, he needs a reputation rescue, pronto.
Enter waitress Norah Peers–a nobody who’s average with a capital A. She’s available, dependable, and has sworn off men for the rest of her natural born life. In other words: the perfect match for a no-strings fake romance.
For the right amount of money, she can avoid waitressing and play the part of his dependable down-to-earth girlfriend. What she can’t avoid–dammit–is the growing steam between them.
But being hounded by the paparazzi and having her life dissected on social media is a panic attack in the making. And while Patrick might be a charming rogue on screen, in real life he’s a six-foot-two confusing, gorgeous, brooding grump, who keeps her at a distance . . . but also makes her feel like this bond between them might be more than just an act.
Being dumped on cue should be no big deal. Except being fake with Patrick is the realist relationship Norah has ever had. What’s a girl to do, but flip the script, and ask for a re-match made in Hollywood?
Reserve yours now! Amazon: https://amzn.to/2P2liAJ Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/Fake Kobo: https://bit.ly/2QfG54j Nook: https://bit.ly/32pTdWT Apple Books: https://apple.co/3v5gzh8
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3egt0j3
Cover Designer: Hang Le Model: Norbi Novak Photographer: Marq Mendez
About Kylie Scott Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.
Connect with Kylie Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XujcZh Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2GngiQq Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OiXx3I Twitter: http://bit.ly/391pjJM Instagram: http://bit.ly/2EUrx11 Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2Imusk3 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2S7cc32 Book+Main Bites: http://bit.ly/2ETz5RQ Stay up to date with Kylie by joining her mailing list: http://bit.ly/2TOOivT Website: https://kyliescott.com/
Review: A Tale of Two Cookies by Eve Calder
A Tale of Two Cookies
Eve Calder
A Cookie House Mystery Series, Book 3
But the groom vanishes right as a television crew descends on the town to film a hot, new realty show. Is there a connection? Is her friend Desiree somehow involved? Or did groom Judson simply get cold feet? The bride and groom were paired better than warm cookies and cold milk, so Kate doesn’t buy it.
As the show’s cast runs amok on the island and the investigation into Judson’s disappearance heats up, Kate and her pal Maxi, along with town dog Oliver, will brave the rambunctious world of reality TV and a wedding weekend gone awry, in an all-out effort to find the missing groom.
A visit to the Cookie House is like going home.
A Tale of Two Cookies finds Kate McGuire nicely settled into her own new home of Coral Cay. The Cookie House is doing well and Oliver is as friendly as ever! The beautiful and slow pace of the resort town it’s just what a former New York pastry chef truly needed. With cookie baking classes with the locals and her mentor and friend visiting from New York for her wedding, Kates got plenty of good times I’ve had. Until the day of the wedding when the groom is a no-show and the pieces just don’t add up. Mix in a reality TV show filming within the small town really shakes things up for Kate and the Cookie House gang.
I absolutely adore this series. A Tale of Two Cookies is like a vacation with a mystery. Author Eve Calder truly transports the reader to the gorgeous island of Coral Cay. Kate and Maxi’s friendship has developed into a strong bond and I love their interactions with each other. The townsfolk are colorful and charismatic and truly help bring the series together. Kate has a way of picking up the crumbs and putting the pieces together with the help and wisdom of the Coral Cay Irregular‘s. Kate never doubted her friend Desiree even though pieces of the puzzle would have made her look like the crazy one. I love how it seems like most of the town comes together to get to the bottom of the craziness that happens in their town. A Tale of Two Cookies is a fun and twisting Mystery that had me reading from beginning to end in one sitting. You can gobble up the story just like you can Kate’s delectable cookies. This is a fine addition to the Cookie House Mystery series and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Review: My One Night by Carrie Ann Ryan
My One Night
Carrie Ann Ryan
On My Own Series, Book 1
Elise Hoover never expected this. She didn’t want to go to another party, but when her friend pulls her in, she somehow finds herself hiding in a corner with…him.
Dillon Connolly.
The smirking, so-called good guy with the shadows in his eyes. A single glance, a sweet smile, and she lets herself have one night of giving in.
Only she has to promise herself not to fall in love. No matter the cost.
Audio Review: Headhunter by Kristen Proby
Headhunter
Kristen Proby
With Me in Seattle: Mafia Series, Book 2
As the son of one of the States’ most prominent mob bosses, Shane Martinelli’s always been immersed in society’s shady underbelly. Learning to navigate it and keep to the edges was working just fine until an acquaintance turns up missing, and he fears the worst. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he hasn’t stopped thinking about her. Luckily, as an ex-special operative, he’s uniquely qualified to track her down and keep her safe. Unfortunately, nobody’s making that easy—not the people who took her nor the woman herself.
Ivie Jordan has led a pretty uneventful life, and that’s just how she likes it. Especially since she’ll be the first to admit that she doesn’t do so well in social situations. She’s a proud business owner, and while she doesn’t have family, she does have a network of people who look out for her. Little did she know that being accepted into that fold came with a laundry list of issues. When the worst happens, and she’s forced to rely on the ruggedly handsome alpha hero who comes to her rescue, she discovers her inner badass—and the sultry vixen on her other shoulder.
Too bad the two of them are literally running for their lives and trying to ensure the safety of those they love. There is way more at stake than meets the eye.
It’s time for the hunted to become the hunters.
Kristen Proby has a thing with Mafia Romance!
Hang on tight, because Headhunter will keep you on the edge from beginning to end! Also if you read Underboss you know this one is set up for intensity.
I am not sure who was carrying more secrets. The wickedly sexy Shane Martinelli or beautifully sweet Ivie Johnson. One ran away from a past that is now catching up with her and the other holds so many secrets that the average man would break. Shane and Ivie have mastered the dance of flirting with one another. Now at that life or death situation Shane steps in to protect Ivie. As the danger brews so does the attraction. The passion becomes as intense as the danger.
Headhunter is a fast paced, intense yet intimate story of danger and romance. There’s something Maria stories that intrigue me. To find out there is a sub genre in romance, excitement is an understatement. Kristen Proby hits it out of the park on so many levels. The danger is on point. The family ties and rivalries are intense and intriguing. The romance is as dangerous as the danger. The narration of this story gave me chills in all the right way. Ms. Probly’s story very much walked off the pages with narrators Lee Samuels and Kristen Leigh.
Review: Fighting the Fire by Laura Kaye
Fighting the Fire
Laura Kaye
Warrior Fight Club Series, Book 3
One night is never enough…
For firefighter Sean Riddick, Warrior Fight Club keeps the demons of his past at bay, even though it means seeing Daniela England. Her ball-busting sarcasm drives him nuts, and he knows he’s damaged goods anyway, but he can’t help but remember how good they were together that one time. Now he wants to take her to the mats no matter how much they go toe to toe.
ER nurse Daniela England has lost so much that she’s vowed never to need anyone again. Fight club helps her beat back her survivor’s guilt, but it means dealing with Riddick. The hot-but-infuriating firefighter is everything she wants to avoid, which is why their one-night stand was a mistake. Now she needs to keep her distance so it doesn’t happen again.
But when Dani witnesses Sean’s motorcycle accident, she steps up to help him recover. One on one, they get beneath all the snark and find a connection neither expected. As Sean heals, the sparks between them burst into red-hot passion—and ignite old wounds. Now there are fires all around—and they have to decide which they’ll fight and which they’ll let consume them.
4 Stars
Laura Kaye is back and in fire.
One night. Was it a mistake or was it not enough? There are many kinds of battle wounds and not all of them you can see. Demons that continue to hunt long after the deed has been done. Warrior Fight Club helps give those that have served a safe way to battle those demons in a way they can only understand.
Sean and Dani gave into the passion and dance around it didn’t happen. Their banter and barbs were as good as their sparring matching. They both felt so deeply in everything they did. And that made watching these two dance around their attraction very entering. They both felt so much on a soul deep level. In many ways Sean and Dani are very alike. Both have previous military careers in both of them having jobs in service that put themselves on the line for the needs of others. Dani was loyal to the soul level. Her devotion is something to be proud of. Sean Was a wonderful hero. He had this unique mix of just enough alpha, a dash of cockiness with some vulnerability. I loved Dani and Sean together!
It still amazes me how much Laura Kaye can make you feel so much while reading.
Fighting the Fire took a long road to make into the reader’s hand. I am so grateful the Ms. Kaye was able to overcome the trials it took to get Sean and Dani’s story. Fight the Fire will hit you in the heart, make you feel and smile at the ending.
Review: Deadly Editions by Paige Shelton
Deadly Editions
Paige Shelton
A Scottish Bookshop Mystery, Book 6
A treasure hunt through Edinburgh gives way to a search for a villain terrorizing the city in Paige Shelton’s Deadly Editions, the sixth Scottish Bookshop Mystery.
Bookseller Delaney Nichols receives a mysterious cloaked visitor one evening at the Cracked Spine Bookshop. He presents to her an even more perplexing note: an invitation to an exclusive treasure hunt hosted by eccentric socialite Shelaigh O’Connor. Delaney is intrigued, but also cautious: Shelaigh, while charming in person, has a reputation for her hijinks as a wealthy young woman in the ’70s. She was even once suspected for the murder of a former boyfriend, though ultimately cleared of all charges.
But Delaney is enticed by the grand prize at the end of the treasure hunt: a highly valuable first edition copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson. The winner is also to receive the contents of Shelaigh’s vast library, and an unspecified sum of cash.
The night after the first meeting of the treasure hunters, however, several homes in Edinburgh are robbed in a manner reminiscent of Shelaigh’s old tricks. And when a man connected to Shelaigh is killed, suspicion builds. Except Sheilagh herself has disappeared from her home, seemingly kidnapped by the villain.
Terror mounts throughout the city as Delaney attempts to solve the mystery, while trying to stay out of the killer’s clutches. For she, it seems, is his next target.
3.5 Stars
Deadly Edition is a fantastic addition to the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries!
Treasure hunts and books what more could a person want. Delaney Nichols is all about the books but when a mysterious message about taking part in a treasure hunt is delivered by a mysterious source has our bookstore owner a little leery. One of four people to receive this unexpected invitation by eccentric socialite Shelagh O’Connor. After attending the meeting Delaney is intrigued by the treasure hunt and the prizes. The quest is to find a rare first edition of Robert Louis Stevenson‘s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Shelagh has a questionable past and as this treasure hunt begins it seems some of those questionable acts are resurfacing. Homes get broken into, a murder turns things up a notch and the eccentric socialite is kidnapped. Delaney puts her nose to the page and finds the clues to start figuring out what is actually going on.
Deadly Edition is a mystery within a mystery and I absolutely enjoyed it. Visiting Edinburgh with Delaney is always a treat. From the snowy setting that starts off the story to the big part the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde plays within the story is absolutely enjoyable. Paige Shelton hits this one home big time. The story is absolutely engaging. She has a way of making you think while getting lost within the story. The characters are what make me come back each and every time. Page is amazing but she is who she is because of those she hangs out with. Her husband Tom, friends- Agee, Rose, hamlet and Elias all play a big part in the story and add so much personality and dimension to it. Not only was this a treasure hunt but it was also like a pub crawl too. I love the descriptions of each of them. With a handful of suspects, a few really good twists and a jaw-dropping moment makes Deadly Editions an enjoyable read from beginning to end.
Review: Under the Cover of Murder by Lauren Elliott
Under the Cover of Murder
Lauren Elliott
Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series, Book 6
Bookshop owner and maid of honor Addie Greyborne vows to catch the killer who crashed her best friend’s wedding…
It promises to be Greyborne Harbor’s wedding of the year. The impending nuptials of Serena Chandler and Zach Ludlow will take place aboard his family’s luxurious super-yacht, currently moored in the harbor and the talk of the town. But on the day of the wedding, a man’s body washes up on the beach with no ID, only a torn page from a book in his pocket. As owner of Beyond the Page Books and Curios, bibliophile Addie is called in to identify the book, but she cannot.
The morning following the extravagant ceremony, a second body washes ashore and Addie has a sinking feeling that the two deaths are connected. While the guests are held on the yacht as the police investigate, at least Addie can peruse Zach’s father’s rare books library on board. A copy of Agatha Christie’s first Hercule Poirot novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, provides a clue that the killer may still be on the ship—but narrowing down the suspects without becoming the next victim may prove a truly Herculean task…
Under the Cover of Murder is an entertaining story within a good mystery and wonderful characters that keep reader coming back the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries.
When a dead Body with only a book page, washes up on the beach next to where her best friend is getting married, Addie gets called in to help. When another soon follows she can’t help to get herself involved. Every guest on the yacht is a suspect and with everyone sequestered on board. When the possible motive is as long as the guest list Addie does the thing that she does best, put on her charm, listen really well and ask just the right questions.
Addie is a great character and I enjoy every visit with her. Under the Cover of Murder is a wonderful cozy mystery, set in a beautiful little town with a nice touch of romance. Addie’s friends are like family and she does what it takes for any of them. Family and friendship with a bit of murder.
Review: Wicked and True by Shayla Black
Wicked and True: Zyron and Tessa, Book 2
Shayla Black
Wicked and Devoted Series, Book 4
Kindle EditionPublished March 23rd 2021
He’d protect her from the world. But who will protect her from him?
For agonizing months, Chase “Zyron” Garrett has been forbidden from touching Tessa, the pretty office assistant who makes him burn. But when danger strikes EM Security Management and top-secret information is leaked, it’s obvious the team has a mole…and the evidence points to the woman he’s fallen for. The bosses demand he investigate her, so he resolves to stop at nothing, even stripping her bare—body and soul—for the truth.
Tessa Lawrence has known heartbreak in the past, but Zy has always been her staunchest protector. Since he was contractually off-limits, the Southern, sassy single mom clung to her friendship with the daring demolitions expert who’d stolen her heart and focused on making the best life for her daughter. But when the barriers between her and Zy are suddenly gone, she welcomes him into her bed, not realizing she’s giving him the power to destroy her. Or that the enemy is watching.
4 Stars
Just when you think that things can’t get more crazy or complicated it does just that. Wicked and True is intense in suspense, danger and passion. Tessa and Zy story is a roller coaster ride for sure.
The danger hits home at EM Security and the cards are down. The rules change to fit the game that must be played. Zy was handed the gift of this greatest desire yet the other edge of the sword is he must prove her innocence and a game bigger than them. Tessa thinks she knows the dangers of the people whom she works for, but her thoughts will never match the reality that is now knocking at her door. Tessa and Zy embrace the chemistry they have been fighting for so long while the world around them takes a turn that they never saw come.
Shayla Black hits hard with Wicked and True. I knew that when Wicked as Lies ended we were in for something big with the continuation of Tessa and Zy story. EM Security is hit hard at its core. Hit so hard that the only answer is betrayal. Zy and Tessa both find themselves in compromising positions to protect. They both put themselves on the line, hurt one another and found something very beautiful in a heap of darkness. Ms. Black brings the action and the passion. Zy and Tessa have built themselves up so much, they’re explosive together. Non stop passion along with unexpected plot twists and a high dose of danger will keep your attention from beginning to end.
