Category Archives: Review
Review: Her Guardian Angel by Larissa Ione
Her Guardian Angel
Larissa Ione
Demonica #17
Masters & Mercenaries Crossover Collection #2
Suzanne is an earthbound angel on her critical first mission: protecting Declan from an emerging supernatural threat at all costs. To keep him close, she hires him as her bodyguard. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that she’s in over her head, defenseless against this devastatingly sexy human who makes her crave his forbidden touch.
Together they’ll have to draw on every ounce of their collective training to resist each other as the enemy closes in, but soon it becomes apparent that nothing could have prepared them for the menace to their lives…or their hearts.
5 Stars
Her Guardian Angel was my favorite read of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Series. Larissa Ione is a go to author for my love of paranormal romance but when you add in my love for Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries, I was gone from the first page! I was beyond curious to see how this was all toning to play out.
Suzanne and Declan make me smile! I loved the chemistry they shared and the depth to each character. Something that I have come to expect from Ms. Iona’s work. The world building of the Demonica Underworld is nothing short of brilliant. Ms. Ione brings something unique to the table with every story she writes. She also treats her reader with no only a darn good romance, but they get a few nice surprises as well. I can’t go into too many details without giving away way too much of this book in my opinion. Just let me say it’s definitely worth the one sit read that I made it.
A copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
Review: Say You Won’t Let Go by Corinne Michaels
Say You Won’t Let Go
Corinne Michaels
Return to Me Series
Masters and Mercerizes crossover series
Emily Young had two goals in her life:
1. Make it big in country music.
2. Get the hell out of Bell Buckle.
She was doing it. She was on her way, until Cooper Townsend landed backstage at her show in Dallas.
This gorgeous, rugged, man of few words was one cowboy she couldn’t afford to let distract her. But with his slow smile and rough hands, she just couldn’t keep away.
With outside forces conspiring against them, Cooper hires the McKay-Taggart team to protect her. Emily refuses to let Cooper get hurt because of her. All she wants is to hold onto him, but she knows the right thing to do is to let go . . .
4 Stars
Cooper is the ideal southern gentleman. He’s got the looks, the charm and all those alpha tendencies that we readers love. He caught my eye from the first page and had me swooning in the end.
Emily is a talented singer with big dreams. She’s sweet yet has a bit of sass and feistiness to her. I really like her and was easy to connect with.
Say You Won’t Go was my first read by Corinne Michaels and will not be my last. For a novella Ms. Michaels packs it full with angst, some drama, dropping in some suspense and all the feels. I love Friends to Lovers stories. Cooper and Emily were amazing together. The chemistry and passion, so very hot. My only disappointment was I wish there would have been a little of the Masters and Mercenaries side, but that in no way took from the enjoyment of the story.
A copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
Review: Close Cover by Lexi Blake
Close Cover
Lexi Blake
Masters and Mercerizes Series
Masters and Mercerizes crossover Series
Lisa Daley’s life is finally going in the right direction. She has finally graduated from college after years of putting herself through school. She’s got a new job at an accounting firm and she’s finished her Sanctum training. Finally on her own and having fun, her life seems pretty perfect. Except she’s lonely and the one man she wants won’t give her a second look.
There is one other little glitch. Apparently, her new firm is really a front for the mob and now they want her dead. Assassins can really ruin a fun girls’ night out. Suddenly strapped to the very same six-foot-five-inch hunk of a bodyguard who makes her heart pound, Lisa can’t decide if this situation is a blessing or a curse.
As the mob closes in, Remy takes his tempting new charge back to the safest place he knows—his home in the bayou. Surrounded by his past, he can’t help wondering if Lisa is his future. To answer that question, he just has to keep her alive.
4.5 Stars
Remy and Lisa gave me a wonderfully unexpected read! Two well writing characters, both equally stubborn and filled with pride. Lisa made the book for me. Life continuously slapped her around and she never gave up. The spirit that lies within this woman is amazing. Lisa held her head high with every obstacle that was put in her path. That is the kind of woman you want you want in your corner. Remy was the unexpected factor of Close Cover for me. If you have followed the Masters and Mercenaries series, we know Remy is not the dating kind. He’s been around the block a time or two. Lol! The dedication this man holds within him is remarkable. There is so much more to Remy than meets the eye. He’s hot, commanding and has more passionate than I would have every believe. Just goes to show you that one should never judge a book by its cover.
Lexi Blake kept me more than entertained with Close Cover. Intense, a plot that keeps you wanting more and so flippin hot. The chemistry between Remy and Lisa is so natural and develop into something extremely passionate. Close Cover is a fantastic addition to the Masters and Mercenaries series and a great start for the crossover Books!
A copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
Review: Fallen Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Fallen Ink
Carrie Ann Ryan
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs, Book 1
The Montgomery Ink series continues with a spin-off in Colorado Springs, where a familiar Montgomery finds her place in a new tattoo shop, and in the arms of her best friend.
Adrienne Montgomery is finally living her dreams. She’s opened a tattoo shop with her brother, Shep, and two of her cousins from Denver and she’s ready to take the city by storm with her art—as long as she can handle the pressure. When her new neighbors decide her shop isn’t a great fit for the community, however, she’ll have to lean on the one person she didn’t expect to fall for along the way…her best friend.
Mace Knight takes pride in two things: his art and his daughter. He knows he’s taking a risk by starting over in a new shop with the Montgomerys, but the stakes are even higher when he finds himself wanting Adrienne more than he thought possible.
The two fall fast and hard but they know the rules; they can’t risk their friendship, no matter how hot it is between the sheets and how many people try to stand in their way.
4 Stars
Friend to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and Carrie Ann Ryan nails it in every way with Fallen Ink.
Adrienne Montgomery is as Montgomery as that get. She has talent and spunky. She’s kind and gentle yet fierce and commanding when she needs to be. A woman trying to make her dreams come true while not allowing letting anything to stand in the way.
Mace Knight is like tattooed knight in shining armor. He’s dedicated to his art and his daughter. Commanding and gentle all in one. He’s a remarkable man who got dealt a crazy hand and is trying to make the best of the cards in his hand.
Adrienne and Mace have a friendship so deep most people question if they are truly friends or more than meets the eye. Their friendship and chemistry is something a lot of people would wish for. While being who they are, Adrienne and Mace discover their friendship is more than they both could have realized. Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs and watching Mace and Adrienne discover who they are together while deal with life changes was enjoyable. Fallen Ink is filled with heat, heart and family. We get all the deep emotions and all the humor of the Montgomery clan. Adrienne and Mace will keep the pages turning.
A copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
ARC Review: Strong by Kylie Scott
Strong
Kylie Scott
Stage Dive Series, Book 4.5
1001 Dark Nights, Evil Eye Productions
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kylie Scott comes a new story in her Stage Dive series…
When the girl of your dreams is kind of a nightmare.
As head of security to Stage Dive, one of the biggest rock bands in the world, Sam Knowles has plenty of experience dealing with trouble. But spoilt brat Martha Nicholson just might be the worst thing he’s ever encountered. The beautiful troublemaker claims to have reformed, but Sam knows better than to think with what’s in his pants. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to make his heart fall into line.
Martha’s had her sights on the seriously built bodyguard for years. Quiet and conservative, he’s not even remotely her type. So why the hell can’t she get him out of her mind? There’s more to her than the Louboutin wearing party-girl of previous years, however. Maybe it’s time to let him in on that fact and deal with this thing between them.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Martha has giving herself a Reputation as a royal, well you know! She was definitely not a favorite of the Stage Dive crew. She’s returned home to help Ben and Lizzy with Gibson. I laughed out loud when I read that. Anyone familiar with the stage dark world completely understand that.
Sam the bodyguard. Helpful to the guys and women of the band but yet a bit mysterious. The muscle for the band is all muscle. He is kind and has a sweet side to him that you see from previous books as well. Who knew that he was crushing on a crazy woman for a decade.
I loved many things about this book but I will be honest I was not crazy about Sam and Martha. Martha made a bad name for herself throughout the series, and in my eyes that’s really hard to make up for. She had a lot of growing up to do. Sam has been responsible for crazy rock band for too many years. I do think Sam was the voice of reason that Martha needs. She did grow up a bit and see her with spaghetti in her hair was quite funny.
Strong does get the entire Stage Dive family together. That is a major treat for the reader of the series. Any appearance made by Mal you know will contain humor. Seeing Jimmy and Ben as fathers is heartwarming. Strong is a nice addition to the Stage Dive Series.
Review: 4-Ever Mine by Jayne Rylon
4-Ever Mine
Jayne Rylon
Four to Score, Book 2
Happy Endings Publishing
A year after Andi claimed her three smoking hot roommates for her own, she’s finally emerging from a blissful haze of lust long enough to look around and realize things aren’t quite as amazing as they could be.
While she and her boyfriends have an incredible sex life, they haven’t fully embraced their relationship in public. When someone puts one and three together—outing them from the polyamorous closet—they have to decide where to go next.
Will they be able to stay together or will reality tear them apart?
4 Stars
Fast paced, oh so steamy and fun!
I alway love going back to visit characters to see what happened after the ever after. This quartet of characters is still discovering their relationship and how it all works. Doubt and concerns come to the surface as the world gives them the biggest bitch slap to the face. That slap pushes them to put up or shut up so to speak.
Andi, Reed, Simon and Cooper are each equine in personality and sexuality. Each bringing their own piece of the puzzle that make them fit in their perfect way. Creating a relationship that fulfills each of them in every way. The passion is intense and off the charts. Blazing is an understatement, but if you read 4-Ever Theirs, you would expect nothing less.
A copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
Review: More Than Love You by Shayla Black
More Than Love You
Shayla Black
More Than Words Series, Book 3
February 13th 2018 by Shelley Bradley, LLC
I’m Noah Weston. For a decade, I’ve quarterbacked America’s most iconic football team and plowed my way through women. Now I’m transitioning from star player to retired jock—with a cloud of allegation hanging over my head. So I’m escaping to the private ocean-front paradise I bought for peace and quiet. What I get instead is stubborn, snarky, wild, lights-my-blood-on-fire Harlow Reed. Since she just left a relationship in a hugely viral way, she should be the last woman I’m seen with.
On second thought, we can help each other…
I need a steady, supportive “girlfriend” for the court of public opinion, not entanglements. Harlow is merely looking for nonstop sweaty sex and screaming orgasms that wring pleasure from her oh-so-luscious body. Three months—that’s how long it should take for us both to scratch this itch and leave our respective scandals behind. But the more I know this woman, the less I can picture my life without her. And when I’m forced to choose, I’ll realize I don’t merely want her in my bed or need her for a ruse. I more than love her enough to do whatever it takes to make her mine for good.
More Than Love You is a sexy and emotional standalone novel in the More Than Words Series.
5 Stars
Harlow is a remarkable woman in many ways. So much strength and cunning yet hiding a world of hurt. She’s quick witted and a fast thinker. I loved the compassion that she shows and shared for other.
Noah has a dedication and determininess that can make just about anyone swoon. His love of family and life is refreshing. There was just something in his nature that made me really like him. Also being a sexy, athlete doesn’t hurt one bit.
A truly remarkable story with two amazingly deep people. Noah and Harlow were made for each other. They complement each other in a way that allowed the weaknesses to be strengthened, allowed there strengths to shine and wounds to be healed. Noah and Harlow show what I think love truly is. A wave of emotions that overtakes, the complexities and work that a relationship takes and the bumps in the road that make it all worth wild. More than Love You is so much more than my words can say to give justice to a book I totally fell in love with.
I discovered Shayla Black when I saw her name of the attending authors list to my very first book conference. I made it a goal to read one book by every author that attended. Shayla Black is the one and only author that I have ever called out from work because I stayed up all night reading my first ever book by her and had to stay home to read the next in the series. It’s somewhat needless to say that I fell in love with Ms. Black’s work from the moment I started reading. The More Than Word Series has gripped on to me in a way that her other books haven’t touched. More Than Love You, in my opinion is the best of the three and now my favorite book Ms. Black has written to date.
A copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
Blog Tour and Review: The Schemer by Avery Flynn
Tyler Jacobson has a plan for everything—except how to handle his completely annoying, utterly frustrating, and totally sexy upstairs neighbor. He couldn’t care less if Everly Ribinski thinks he’s equally irritating—until he discovers she’s the only one who can help him land a business deal that will finally make him feel like he’s more than just a guy from the wrong side of the tracks.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Kobo | iBooks | Nook| Google Play
4 Stars
The Schemer brings one of my favorite romance tropes, Enemies to Lovers. Everly and Tyler are a perfect pair but seeing that through the cloud of sass, snark and bickering makes it hard to see. These two will make you laugh until you cry. The comebacks between Everly and Tyler are priceless! I so enjoyed the cooking classes and there is a pretty good grovel. A secondary romance falls happens within the pages of The Schemer that just puts a big smile on my face. Tyler and Everly are an awesome couple and I very much enjoyed seeing them get to their happy place.
Avery Flynn always amazes me with her combination of sexy and funny that always delivers an amazing story that will entertain readers from beginning to end. The Schemer is everything I love of Ms. Flynn work and then some. The Schemer is the third book of the Harbor City Series and could be read as a stand alone, however reading the previous books will enhance the enjoyment of The Schemer.
A copy of this title was provided for an honest review.
The Negotiator: Amazon | Amazon UK | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play
The Charmer: Amazon | Amazon UK | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play
USA Today bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.
She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staffs knew her by name.
Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.
Review: Luckiest Cowboy of All by Carolyn Brown
A secret baby brings a second chance for love. Carlene Varner’s homecoming isn’t exactly going according to plan. She thought she’d have some time to adjust before introducing her daughter to Jace Dawson, the father her little girl has never known. Instead, within days of her arrival, her house burns down and she and Tilly have no choice but to move in with the sexy cowboy himself at the Prairie Rose ranch. Now the whole Dawson clan-heck, the whole town of Happy-is all up in their business.
Jace has dealt with stubborn bulls and bucking broncos-but being a dad? He is so not ready for this… Yet the more time he spends with Carlene and little Tilly, the harder it is to imagine life without them. Now he just has to convince Carlene that he’s the real deal-and hope that this time she’s here to stay.
Luckiest Cowboy of All by Carolyn Brown is the final book in her Lucky, Texas series. Ms. Brown has once again brought together some characters who entertain with tender moments, family love and unity, witty conversations and fun scenes. These characters are so true to life that I found myself looking at them as friends and family as I read their stories. In this book Carlene Varner returns to Happy, Texas with her third grade, 8 1/2 year old daughter, Tilly because she wants her daughter to grow up in a place where she can happily put down roots. This is something she didn’t have growing up since her family moved every couple years. Carlene knows she will see Jace Dawson who she dated in high school since Happy is such a small town. What happens when they do meet again is a special and enlightening scene in the story. Needless to say the attraction between them is still as hot as ever. What happens along the way to Carlene and Jace finding their Happily Ever After is a fun read.
Carolyn Brown has a brilliant talent when it comes to writing child characters. In my opinion in this story little Tilly absolutely steals the show. She is a chatty, independent whirlwind of a kid and I found her to be the best part of the story. The things this child says are a hoot! For instance how she relates the story of when she saw a mouse in the falling down house she and her mother have moved into really made me laugh. She said, “I think I saw a mouse yesterday. But I didn’t cuss – even though I wanted to – because that get’s me in trouble.” I love this kid!
Reading the next book in a Carolyn Brown series gives you the warm feeling of coming home again after being away for a while. That’s a really great feeling. Pick up Luckiest Cowboy of All and enjoy the warm feeling of getting to know down-home characters in a makes-you-feel-good story.
Review: Breaking Point by Allison Brennan
Breaking Point
Allison Brennan
Lucy Kincaid Series, Book 13
JT Caruso often worries about his sister, given her line of work. This time, when he learns that Bella is working undercover to find a missing girl involved in a dangerous prostitution ring, JT asks FBI Special Agent Lucy Kincaid for help.
Even with Lucy’s extensive experience in running down human traffickers, finding Bella will not be easy. Not only because she is in too deep. But because Bella, who will not rest until she saves the girl, doesn’t want to be found…
The name of the author of this book, Breaking Point is Allison Brennan. This is a story in her Lucy Kincaid series. That’s all I needed to see to know that by picking up this book I was about to have a very exciting, very suspenseful adventure.
As expected this story has a very well-thought-out. well-developed plot with lots of surprises and suspense. As well as being a story about one of my favorite characters, Lucy Kincaid and the various other personalities that are usually featured in the Lucy Kincaid series this story also highlights Bella Caruso, sister to J.T. Caruso of RCK, Rogan-Caruso-Kincaid Protective Services. In this book Bella Caruso, pretending to be a doctor, is deep undercover with a prostitution/human trafficking ring. Bella is such a complex character yet Allison Brennan brings her to life in such a way that the reader can empathisize with her as well as stress with her about the part she plays in assisting such despicable characters. I found myself rooting loudly for Bella’s cause and success. I’m sure readers will enjoy following Bella through her trials and successes in this story.
A story about prostitution/human trafficking and all the ugliness that surrounds this is a hard story to write I’m sure. It’s a hard story to read at times because the plight of these victims is heart-wrenching. Add in the fact that this story highlights the trafficking of young girls and that makes it even tougher to read or even think about. I appreciate though that this author has the courage to bring this major scar on the face of humanity into the light of day. Allison Brennan does an excellent job of bringing the poignancy and tragedy of this to the reader’s attention. I commend her for how well she has researched this tragedy and her excellent skill in writing about this while telling such a suspenseful tale.
This is a masterfully written suspense story and I highly recommend this book!
I was given an ARC by the publisher for an honest review.
Coffee Books Life 