Monthly Archives: March 2016

A Billionaire After Dark (Overnight Billionaires #2) by Katie Lane-a review

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A BILLIONAIRE AFTER DARK (Overnight Billionaires #2) by Katie Lane-a review

A Billionaire After Dark

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

About the book: Release Date March 29, 2016

With endless wealth comes irresistible temptation . . .

It’s an undisputed fact that Nash Beaumont is the hottest of the Beaumont brothers. His slow, sensual smile charms every French Kiss employee-and tempts every woman to buy the company’s lingerie. But beneath Nash’s raw charisma is a dark, kinky side that he struggles to control . . . a side that may be exposed by one lovely-and unexpectedly adventurous woman.

Reporter Eden Huckabee needs a story. And when she discovers Nash’s dirty little secret, she thinks she’s found it. But Eden doesn’t count on Nash turning the tables on her-or that she will fall so deeply for this unbelievably sexy, one-in-a-billion Beaumont.

•••••••••

REVIEW: A BILLIONAIRE AFTER DARK is the second installment in Katie Lane’s adult, contemporary OVERNIGHT BILLIONAIRES romance series focusing on the Beaumont Brothers –Deacon, Nash and Grayson. This is French Kiss Lingerie owner Nash Beaumont, and reporter/ bar tender Eden Huckabee’s story line. A BILLIONAIRE AFTER DARK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Nash and Eden) A BILLIONAIRE AFTER DARK follows reporter Eden Huckabee as she goes undercover as an escort to expose the seedy underworld of prostitution and escorts services in San Francisco. What ensues is a late night encounter with a ‘client’ known only as the ‘Dark Seducer’- a client whose kinky wants and needs find our heroine entering a domain she knows nothing about. When the escort service mistakenly believes that Eden is setting up her own nightly business, not only is Eden threatened, but so too, are the other girls who inadvertently allowed Eden to ‘entertain’ one of their clients.

The relationship between Eden and Nash is one that begins as a professional service but Eden’s inexperience throws a bit of a wrench into Nash wants and needs. Nash is a man with a dark and secreted past-a past filled with heartbreak and betrayal that have shaped the man that Nash has become. Eden is a woman on a mission; determined to make it in the world of investigative journalism but finds herself falling in love with the man she is using to uncover the truth. The $ex scenes are seductive and provocative. Eden’s lie of omission about the investigation finds our heroine alone when the truth is finally revealed.

The secondary and supporting characters include Nash’s brothers Grayson, and Deacon ( A Billionaire Between the Sheets ), as well as Deacon’s wife Olivia, and her step-mother whose own love life is about to implode. PA Kelly, and her fiancée / lawyer Jason return as they prepare for their own upcoming nuptials. And of course, Eden’s hippie grandparents-the Beaumont’s nudist neighbors-make for some entertaining scenarios.

The world building continues to focus on the rehabilitation of The French Kiss Lingerie company, and the Beaumont Brothers endeavor to design comfortable but sexy lingerie. The reader is also brought into the family dynamics-the history of the Beaumont siblings, their father Donny John, and the mother who died too young.

A BILLIONAIRE AFTER DARK is an emotional story line about one man’s dark past that has tormented his adult life; about one woman trying to make it big as a journalist in a world of which she is unprepared; and about a couple who fall in love but are destroyed by betrayal and lies. The premise is fateful and dramatic; the characters are charismatic, inspiring and fun; the romance is passionate, emotional and somewhat destructive-lies, even by omission, make for awkward bedfellows when the truth is revealed in black and white.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Seventh Son (Norman Conquest #4) by Ashley York-a review

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The Seventh Son (Norman Conquest #4) by Ashley York-a review

The Seventh Son

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /

About the Book: Release Date March 30, 2016

Drogheda, Ireland 1075

The sixth son bears a curse as certain as the seventh son bears a blessing. When Tadhg MacNaughton’s betrothed is ripped from his arms and married to another, he believes the legend is true.

Tisa O’Brien’s life slams into a downward spiral at the news she is no longer betrothed to the love of her life but to the tanist of a warring, prideful clan with dangerous political aspirations, the Meic Lochlainn. She faces her destiny with all the strength and dignity of her Irish heritage despite dealing with a husband who resents her and meets his needs in the arms of others, fighting off the lustful advances of her father-in-law, Aodh, and longing for the husband of her heart.

Tadhg MacNaughton makes a deal with the devil to ensure the survival of his clan as he is commanded to fight for Aodh who envisions himself the new High King of Eire. Up close and personal, Tadhg must witness his true love’s marriage and remain silent even as it rips him apart. When a sinister plot to overthrow King William of England led by the exiled Leofrid Godwin and Clan Meic Lochlainn comes to light, Tadhg is faced with saving his clan or endangering his sister and her Norman husband.

An Irish beauty and a warrior betrayed, doomed in love from the start or does fate have something else in store for them?

REVIEW

4.5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

WOW .. well that was a little different. Different in a good way and not what I come to expect in a medieval romance. Don’t get me wrong, it had all I covet, it was just that there was so much going on at all times that I felt like I was always trying to keep up with the stories pace. I kinda really loved that too! I also have never experienced what I will refer to as a love octagon. Everyone was loving up on people they shouldn’t be loving up on and saying there was a love triangle is just too simple! LOL

The Seventh Son by Ashley York is a medieval romance and the 4th book of her “Norman Conquest” series. I did not read the first three before I read this one, and I did feel like I was missing out on some back story because of that. I will go back and read the first three for sure. I suppose you could read this as a stand alone, but again, why miss out!?

Set in Ireland 1075, the book gets down to business right away. Tadhg MacNaughton has become clan leader after the death of his father. He also has uncovered a secret as to why his father broke a peace treaty with a clan that they share resources with. It just so happens that Tadhg has been betrothed to this other clans daughter since they were kids and is madly in love with her. Tadhg is strong in conviction, wise and takes his leadership seriously. After receiving news that his betrothal is broken, he must endure hardship and humiliation in order to feed his people.

Tisa O’Brien is devastated when she learns her betrothal is broken. She loves Tadhg with all her heart and cannot understand what happened. Before she has a chance to protest, she is whisked away and married to another clan who are reputed to be savages at best. Her new husband is actually homosexual, her father in law a disgusting beast who lusts for her in a way that makes you stomach turn, and then to add insult to injury, she finds out that Tadhg will be fighting for this clan in order to feed his own clan.

The story loops, goes up and down, inside and out from there. There was never one dull moment. Ashley really placed much effort in ensuring character believably. I love it when an author can also make you like and hate a character at the same time. If you are an emotional reader like I am, then you will appreciate all the emotions experienced in this book. You may even find that you are rooting for a villain to get a HEA .. LOL

Overall a very impressive read and an author I am excited to indulge in. I did feel a little confused as to who was who in the beginning, but that stems from not reading the first 3 books and appreciated some back story. That will be rectified soon! If you are looking for a great medieval romance that has a dash of different, then this is the author for you!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Copy Supplied by the author

Reviewed by Rachel T

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Blast from the Past: Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter-a review

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Blast from the Past: Devil’s Embrace by Catherine Coulter-a review

Blast From the Past

Welcome to a new feature at The Reading Cafe-BLAST FROM THE PAST-a look back at some of the oldies but goodies in the world of literary romance and ‘bodice-ripper- style novels.  Our first installment is DEVIL’S EMBRACE by Catherine Coulter. Please enjoy Rachel’s review and tell us about some of your favorite romance story lines from the past.

 

Devil's Embrace

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

 

From the author

Dear Reader:

Welcome to my very first historical romance, Devil’s Embrace,titled by my husband, and first published in 1982. I’ve updated it stylistically, edited it, trimmed it just a bit, and the art department designed a splendid new cover that magically includes some of the original art work.

Cassie Brougham and Anthony Welles, Earl of Clare, are my favorite characters of all time. Cassie has known the Earl of Clare all her life, but she’s in love with a soldier she’s been secretly writing to since she was fifteen. Now he’s home and they’re going to be married. But the day before her wedding, Anthony Welles kidnaps her aboard his yacht and sails away with her to Genoa, Italy; his stated intention to make her his wife.

Cassie is not happy about this.

This is an unusual love story, to say the least, that will make you weep and laugh and root for what you know is best for both of them. There is pain, doubt, captivation, and escape. But regardless of what happens, this is a love that is of the forever sort, something that is true and very real, and will stay close to your heart, I hope, for a very long time.

If you missed Devil’s Embrace the first time around, do read it now.

Enjoy,

Catherine Coulter (The Author)

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

THIS BOOK! ONE SERIOUS HOT MESS .. and I loved every single wrong, abusive, degrading, dramatic, bodice ripping minute of it. LOL

So here is a “Blast from The Past” review of Catherine Coulter’s Devil’s Embrace (the first book of her Devil series) and keep in mind that this was first published in 1982. This was written well before there was an established new adult, biker/rocker. BDSM romance sub genre. This was written in the time when Bodice Rippers were the risque read and I personally may have snuck a book or two from my mother’s book shelf when I was a young girl to indulge in what I knew was wrong ..lol! I know many readers will see nothing but the abuse and lack of integrity in characters and yes that is not always my fave part, BUT, I am an emotional reader who loves to bask in the dramatic, and these old bodice ripper books always give me goosebumps, make me so seething angry that I want to whip my book across the room, make me cry at the unfairness in treatment of characters, and finally, completely feel agahst at the audacity that the author went … there! So once I am done reading a book like this .. I honestly find .. I am the HOT MESS who just read something so completely ridiculously brilliant, I feel I need to defend why I loved it. LOL

I will start this review by saying that there is the following. Rape, non-con everything, abuse, kidnapping etc .. if you are triggered by any of these, please skip this book.

We are set in the late 18th century and our heroine Cassie Brougham (high noble beauty) is about to marry the man of her dreams. Before she gets to say her “I do’s” and live happily ever after she is kidnapped by our hero Anthony Welles (he is an Earl) and taken away from everything she loves. In order to keep her bound to him, Anthony takes her virginity making her his in every way. He imprisons her to keep her close so he has every chance to change her anger into passion.

As they travel across water, foreign land, Anthony does everything wrong to get Cassie to come around and open her heart enough marry him. Cassie will not have any of it as she believes Anthony has ruined her life (and he has). As time goes by, Cassie slowly begins to give in to the passion Anthony teaches her and maybe even fall a little bit in love with him regardless of her angry heart.

Both Cassie and Anthony have crazy adventures, misunderstandings, jealous spiteful moments and so many other characters and situations thrown their way to do everything to make things harder. Sometimes, it’s even their own selves that get in their own way. This book has it all, but keep in mind it is seriously dark and quite frankly unkind at times.

Catherine Coulter is a vivid writer. She can write her words in a way that let’s me see beautiful (and not so beautiful) imagery in my mind. I gasped and tingled at some points in this story. Her secondary characters certainly had a place in this book, but my goodness her main characters were perfectly imperfect! You made me FEEL and FEEL HARSH Catherine .. that gives you a 5 star in my opinion, no matter what some will precieve as right or wrong in your story telling process.

Next month I will “Blast from the Past” the second book to this series and I am eager to indulge!

HAPPY BODICE RIPPING READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel T

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The Do-Over by L.E.Bross-Review and Giveaway

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THE DO-OVER by L.E. Bross-Review and Giveaway

The Do Over Banner

The Do-Over
by L.E. Bross
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance
Release Date: March 28, 2016

The Do-Over

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 28, 2016

Melanie McAllister’s brand new copy of Home Improvement for Dummies doesn’t even begin to cover the DIY advice she really needs: how to put the pieces of her life back together. Her cheating ex-husband’s insider trading scandal destroyed her family’s multi-million dollar company and left Mel with nothing but the run-down oceanfront cottage she inherited from her parents. Biscay Beach, Maine, seems as good a place to start over as any.

Hot-as-hell carpenter Eli Stuart understands new beginnings. Once a rising star in the art world, the former sculptor has been secretly carving out a new existence in the small coastal town ever since the sheen on his old life turned to rust. He’s willing to bet the feisty brunette in need of major home repairs has never lifted a tool heavier than a nail file—until Mel is racing the clock to make her ramshackle home fit for winter and, facing a near-empty bank account, decides she can do it all herself.

So Eli offers Mel a deal: if she helps him with the renovations, he’ll cut the bill in half. Soon Mel and her damned home improvement book are driving Eli mad with an explosive urge to return to his studio and fire up his torch once more. His new work is crude and raw, and before long, he can’t keep his hands off Mel, either. But a muse from his past could ruin it all for the second time—if Eli and Mel can’t let go of who they used to be and trust their hearts with a do-over.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE DO-OVER by L.E. Bross is a romance story line about two people burned by previous relationships, neither one looking for a second chance at love. When Melanie McAllister’s life spirals out of control, she finds herself in Biscay Beach, Maine helping manage her very pregnant sister’s ‘Arts and Tarts’ café. Following the destruction of her marriage, her career and her father’s million dollar company, our heroine picks up the pieces of her life, and endeavors to renovate the family cottage-all that she has left of her mother’s possessions. Enter Eli Stuart- the local carpenter and handyman with secrets of his own.

In the beginning the relationship and attraction between Eli and Melanie is more or less one sided; Melanie has been burned, and lost everything in her life, and she isn’t willing to open her heart to another man. Eli’s past is haunted by betrayal and heartbreak, but he is a man who is willing to give love another try. There are some issues with a lack of communication; secrets from the past; and betrayal that has hardened the heart to a second chance. The $ex scenes are limited but seductive, provocative and hot.

We are introduced to Melanie’s sister Liesel, and her husband Dave-Dave is Eli’s best friend, therefore Liesel knows more about Eli’s past than she is willing to admit.

The world building focuses on the relationship between Melanie and Eli; Melanie’s inability to let go of the past; and Liesl’s hometown café where everyone knows your name !!

THE DO-OVER is a sexy read; a predictable story line about two people trying to escape the past, finding love and a possible future together. The premise is fun; the characters are colorful and animated; the romance is a slow build to a happily ever after.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

Giveaway

L.E. Bross’s publisher is offering an ecopy of THE DO-OVER to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the  log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please follow Jennifer Ashley on Twitter.

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

10. Giveaway runs from March 26-29, 2016

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To Win a Lady’s Heart by Ingrid Hahn – a Review

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To Win a Lady’s Heart by Ingrid Hahn – a Review

 

To Win a Lady's HeartAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
England, 1811. When John Merrick, the Earl of Corbeau, is caught in a locked storeroom with Lady Grace, he has but one choice-marry her. He cannot bear to tarnish any woman’s reputation, least of all Lady Grace’s.

Lady Grace Landon will do anything to help her mother and sisters, crushed and impoverished by her father’s disgrace. But throwing herself into the arms of her dearest friend’s older brother to trap him in marriage? Never.

Corbeau needs to prove that he loves her, despite her father’s misdeeds. After years of being an object of scorn, not even falling in love with Corbeau alters Lady Grace’s determination to not bring her disrepute upon another. However, if they don’t realize that the greatest honor is love given freely without regard to society’s censure, they stand to lose far more than they ever imagined.

 

Review:

To Win a Lady’s Heart by Ingrid Hahn takes place in 1811 England. Lady Grace Landon is attending a party with her mother and sisters. Their life the past few years has been filled with scandal and gossip. Wanting nothing more than to disappear in a dark corner and read a good book, Lady Grace finds herself in a locked storeroom with one John Merrick, the Earl of Corbeau.  His lordship has loved Lady Grace from afar for quite a long time, even previously asking to court her, and the predicament they now find themselves in is quite the quandary. Being the honorable man that he is, he does not want to sully her reputation anymore than it already is. And after being found alone together without chaperones, he decides right then and there to announce that he and Lady Grace are now engaged. 

Lady Grace’s entire family has had a rough few years after their fathers scandalous deceit and gambling transgressions, he left his family in ruins upon his death.  Lady Grace would never bring the scandal that follows her and her family to his Lordship.  With regret and a clear conscious she resigns herself to breaking off the engagement and moving on with her life. After all, it is for the best for everyone involved! But Lord Corbeau has other ideas. And he will do whatever he can to win her heart. 

With an invitation to a Christmas celebration at Lord Corbeau’s manor, he decides to use this time to win over Lady Grace’s heart. But can he do that before she decides to break off their engagement? Will she finally give in to the Earl and have the life she truly wants? Or will she walk away with a broken heart, protecting the Earl from unnecessary scandal? 

As the party continues on around them, Lady Grace slowly lets down her guard, but with  a house full of guests and a few that aren’t so happy with the Earl’s decision to marry who he has chosen,  Lady a grace feels quite overwhelmed. Wanting to make the right decision for the Earl, and for herself proves to possibly more than Grace can handle! 

I found Lady Grace to be a woman on honor and substance, even though her fathers legacy has followed them for quite some time. And even though she would love nothing more than to marry the Earl, she knows that she can not bring scandal to his name, which is what she will surely do if she marries him. Lady Grace is headstrong and stubborn in her beliefs, and I loved the process in which Lord Corbeau attempted to court her. Grace’s best friend Hetty, happens to be the Lord’s sister and I found her quite lovely. She was curious and inquisitive and does her part to move things along between Lady Grace and Lord Corbeau.  Lady Grace shows herself as a truly caring woman, as she joins the Earl in the stables, and in the meeting of the charges on his estate close to Christmas. 

Lord Corbeau is everything you want in an Earl. He is of strong mind and body, steadfast in his beliefs and resolute in his honor. I fell for him quite quickly. The fact that he was an Earl, yet not afraid to work with his staff to better his estate showed quite character.  

The story played out like a Masterpiece Classic and I fell completely head over hills in love with the quaintness off it! I was swept away in the Christmas scene that unfolded and found myself daydreaming of attending such a celebration. But make no mistake, there is also a quite delicious intimate scene between Lady Grace and Lord Corbeau, so wonderful that it left me wanting more!   I truly look forward to more stories of the Landon sisters with the hopes that Hetty gets her own happy ending also.  

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher

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Rushing the Goal / Overtime (Assassins 8 & 7) by Toni Aleo-reviews

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Rushing the Goal/ Overtime (Assassins 8 & 7) by Toni Aleo-reviews

Assassins 7 and 8

••••••••••••••

Rushing the Goal

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / KOBO /

RUSHING THE GOAL (Assassins #8) by Toni Aleo

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release DateMarch 28, 2016

Introduced in Toni Aleo’s Bellevue Bullies Series, it’s the Sinclair brothers’ big sister’s turn to find love in the next installment of the New York Times and USA Today best-selling series, the Assassins.

Lucy Sinclair was no stranger to pain.

She grew up with three younger brothers, met a bad boy, got pregnant by him, married him, and then suffered through a nasty divorce from him. Pain. That was pain. To top it off, she even had to go through the heartbreaking divorce of her parents. Through it all, she survived. All she cared about was making sure her daughter was happy and taken care of. Despite an ex-husband hell-bent on ruining her life, she fought to overcome. She’s gotten to the point that she’s okay with being just okay. She never cared about herself because she never had the time. It was Angie and only Angie she focused on, but that all changed when Benji Paxton offered to help her daughter on the ice.

Benji knew the moment he saw Lucy, he’d never be the same. Especially when she came with the bundle of crazy that was her daughter. His heart wasn’t ready for them. After years spent sobering up and finding who he was without the alcohol, he never forgot he was being punished for not appreciating the love he had when he was younger. Because of his past, he had gotten used to being alone, a recluse, but even he had to admit it was getting old. He was lonely. Hockey wasn’t enough anymore. He wanted a family; he wanted his true love.

And Lucy and Angie were just that.

They were just two lost souls.

Floating through life with no purpose.

But finding each other gave them direction, a chance at a future.

And had them both Rushing the Goal to be together.

••••••••••

REVIEW: RUSHING THE GOAL is the eighth full length installment in Toni Aleo’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS hockey , romance series focusing on the men and women the professional hockey team –the Nashville Assassins. This is Benjamin ‘Benj’ Paxton, and interior designer/single mother Lucy Sinclair’s storyline. Lucy and her brothers were first introduced in Toni’s BELLEVUE BULLIES series; some of Benji’s history and story is first revealed in book seven-OVERTIME. RUSHING THE GOAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Benji and Lucy) RUSHING THE GOAL follows Lucy in a constant battle with her ex-husband- a man who continues to make Lucy’s life miserable-resulting in a heroine who is always angry, anxious, and over protective of the seven year old daughter she adores. Enter Benji Paxton, a professional hockey player for the Nashville Assassins, and a man whose dark and deadly past controls the man that he is today.

Benji Paxton lost everything twelve years earlier when a transport truck destroyed the family that he loved. Following years of alcohol abuse Benji lost his wife and daughter, and a brother to an accident he believes could have been prevented if not for the addiction that controlled his life. Fast forward to present day, and Benji is a changed man; a man who believes that he has found the woman who will pull him out of the past, and into a future he hopes to deserve.

The relationship between Benji and Lucy is one of immediate attraction. Benji helps coach a group of children for minor hockey, and Lucy’s daughter is about to enter into the family game that everyone loves so much. The $ex scenes are intimate, provocative and intense. Benji is looking towards the future; Lucy is trying to survive one day at a time.

All of Lucy’s brothers and their respective significant others from the Bellevue Bullies series play secondary and supporting roles, as well as several members of the Nashville Assassins. We are introduced to the Sinclair matriarch who is about to enter into a new life of her own; and the family patriarch who is desperately trying to make amends for the sins of his past. Lucy’s ex husband plays significant role in the story line as he sets about to destroy Lucy and the man with whom she has fallen in love.

RUSHING THE GOAL is an emotional story line that focuses on the disintegration of the family; separation and divorce; and the battle for custody of a little girl who only wants to be loved. The premise is exciting, entertaining and frustrating; the characters are colorful, charismatic and emotional; the romance is a slow build to a happily ever after.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

________________

OvertimeOVERTIME
(Assassins #7)
by Toni Aleo
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance, hockey

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 10, 2015

Down and out with an injury keeping him away from the game, Assassins’ defenseman Jordie Thomas lives for the blades of his skates on the ice and the feeling of oblivion off it. With no choice but to heal, he’s forced away from the sport that runs through his veins. With everything at stake and darkness setting in, he quickly finds himself spiraling even further out of control. As his life begins to come crashing down around him and his contract with the Nashville Assassins on the line, he’s given an ultimatum. Ready or not, Jordie is forced to face his past, the fears that consume him, and the one woman he let walk away.

Kacey King had her professional dreams come true, yet her heart was battered and broken. With an Olympic gold medal around her neck, she’s ready to look forward to the future but without the one man she wanted in it. She’s missing the key pieces of her heart she left months ago with the only person who was capable of destroying it, causing her to falter in all her plans to move on.

In the game of life, there are winners and losers, and neither Jordie nor Kacey want to be on the losing bench. If only Jordie could convince Kacey he’s a changed man and that he wants her right by his side as his MVP for the biggest and best parts of a life they build together. With emotions running high and the game on the line, can two proud people find happiness with each other, or will their hearts and souls be left in the cold? Will they see that sometimes having someone by your side who knows the good, bad, and broken is better than going it alone and losing everything through the back of the net? They are out of time on the game clock and fighting for the win of their lives.

But overtime was made for an Assassin like Jordie.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: OVERTIME is the seventh full length installment in Toni Aleo’s adult, contemporary ASSASSINS erotic, romance series focusing on the members of the professional hockey team the Nashville Assassins. This is Assassins’s defenseman Jordie Thomas, and Olympic Hockey champion Kacey King’s (Karson’s sister LACES AND LACE) story line-a second chance at love for two people destroyed by demons from the past. OVERTIME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. There is a prequel novella tobKacey and Jordie’s story-WANTING TO FORGET- but it is not necessary for the comprehension of OVERTIME.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jordie and Kacey) OVERTIME is the second chance at love for Kacey and Jordie. Following four months together wherein Kacey fell in love, Jordie walked away without a backwards glance. Fast forward to present day Jordie finds himself in a disciplinary hearing fighting for his career and his professional life. Too much partying, manwhoring and drinking, and a positive drug test he knows nothing about Jordie is given no option but to enter rehab or face down a trade to another team. What ensues are Jordie’s battle with temptation, and his recovery from an injury that almost ended his career. Jordie’s return to civilian life finds our hero facing the biggest challenge of his life-asking for forgiveness and a second chance from the person whose life he destroyed the most.

OVERTIME looks at the destructive nature of addiction, and the precipitating factors that destroyed a young boy’s life when his mother all but kicked him to the curb and denied any and all responsibility for the abuse and neglect inflicted upon the four year old boy. Jordie’s life is haunted by his mother’s rejection, and his inability to get passed what was and what will never be. Jordie’s relationship with Kacey finds our hero pushing away the woman that he loves fearing rejection once again. OVERTIME is the culmination of betrayal, heartbreak, rehabilitation and redemption for one man, and the woman that he has always loved.

The secondary and supporting characters include Kacey’s brother Karson, and his wife Lacey; Kacey and Karson’s parents, as well as some of the members of the Assassin’s hockey team, their owner Elli Adler and her player/husband Shea. Kacey’s parent see more than anyone thought possible, and it is great to see a set of parents who support their children, and tell it like it is.

OVERTIME is an emotional story line with a broken hero; a heroine who loves a man that destroyed her heart; and a couple whose lives are pushed to the limits when the past comes back looking for something more. The premise is a bit of a slow build as Jordie struggles with the past, and Kacey refuses to acknowledge his existence. The characters are colorful, charismatic and heartbreaking-once again, it took some time for Kacey to forgive Jordie’s betrayal, all the while condemning his actions at every opportunity; Kacey’s anger knew no boundaries; her heartbreak was palpable. The romance is a second chance story of forgiveness; and looking forward to so much more.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Wicked Dix (Hard Love Romance #2) by Monica James-Review & Giveaway

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WICKED DIX (Hard Love Romance #2) by Monica James-Review and Giveaway

WICKED DIX

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 24, 2016

I’ve always been a bad boy, with a very wicked reputation.

But then I met Madison – sweet, vulnerable, innocent Madison. She makes me feel as if there is hope for me. As if I could be a good man. I need her more than I need air to breathe.

There’s just one problem: Juliet. She’s a temptress who won’t take no for an answer. If I resist her, she’ll use our dirty secret to ruin everything with Madison.

I don’t want to lose Madison, but can I really change? This is my chance to prove that I can. But it’s going to be one hell of a ride.

Are you ready?

••••••••••

REVIEW: WICKED DIX (formerly known as Driven to Sin) is the second installment in Monica James’s new adult, contemporary HARD LOVE ROMANCE series (formerly known as ‘Sinful Pleasures’) focusing on psychiatrist Dr. Dixon Mathews, and college student Madison. Their continuing story follows our couple as they traverse a minefield of unprofessional ethics, dysfunctional family dynamics, and a myriad of lies and lies by omission wherein Madison will discover that everything she thinks she knows about the man that she loves is disguising the truth about the man he truly is. WICKED DIX should not be read as a stand alone as the story continues upon the events of book one-DIRTY DIX (formerly known as Addicted To Sin).

Told from dual first person points of view (Dixon and Madison) WICKED DIX looks at the fall out of Dixon’s man-whoring way; his unprofessional actions of the past; and his need to control the woman who is about to destroy his life. Dixon is caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place as it pertains to one of his former patients-a woman with close ties to Madison, and the woman who is about to destroy his life. But Dixon isn’t about to go down without a fight, and embarks on an ill-fated mission of abuse of power and professional charm. What ensues is the building relationship between Dixon and Madison, and the fall out of their relationship when the truth is finally revealed.

The ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters includes both Dixon and Madison’s extended family; their friends, co-workers, and the requisite evil that continues to attack our leading couple at every turn. But, to be honest, by keeping secret the truth about his relationship with Juliette, Dixon continued to poke the bear; add fuel to the fire; and circle the abyss of betrayal and heartbreak. His fear for the woman the he loved prevented him from seeing the whole picture, no matter how many times he was warned about the potential for disaster. Dix’s actions were irrational and unreasonable under the circumstances-there would never have been any positive outcome from the games and situation with Juliette of which he was slowly losing control.

I will add, that I am not a fan of mid-series title and cover changes due to the potential for confusion. When I first discovered WICKED DIX on Netgalley, I thought, WOW, another new series by Monica James, but then realized, it was a part of a series that I was already reading, but the title, the series name and the covers had all been changed. This is confusing to readers, especially long time followers of the author who has a habit of frequently changing covers e.g. one of her series has had three (3) complete cover changes to date.

WICKED DIX is an intense, dramatic and heartbreaking story line with a predictable outcome to Dixon’s loss of control. There are some humorous moments when Dix gets together with his friends and buddies. The premise is fateful and intoxicating; the characters are passionate and sometimes destructive; the romance is a startling fight towards a happily ever after. There were several points at which my frustration level rose knowing that the end results were not going to be good but in true romance style, all will be forgiven, but not necessarily forgotten.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of DIRTY DIX (formerly known as Addicted to Sin)

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Cloaked in Secrecy by T.F. Walsh – a Review

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Cloaked in Secrecy by T.F. Walsh – a Review

 

Cloaked in SecrecyAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Death has followed Alena Novac’s circus family for years. When the police arrest her brother for a murder he didn’t commit, she has only a week to rescue him before he transforms into his wolf form in prison and exposes their wulfkin existence to the world.

Enre Ulf, a former member of the Varlac, the fearsome ruling wulfkin clan, plans to infiltrate Alena’s circus clan and take out their alpha to save his home in Transylvania. Except he never expected his wolf to claim the alpha’s daughter, Alena, as his mate, or feel compelled to save her brother to help protect the secrets of the wulfkin.
 
With the police closing in and the blood feud threatening them, Alena and Enre must overcome their pasts to save their packs’ futures.

 

Review:

 

Cloaked in Secrecy by T.F. Walsh, continues The Wulfkin Legacy with Alena, Nicolai, Enre and the Bulgarian traveling circus wulfkin pack. 

Alena and Nicolai are running through the woods, trying to catch Mila, a moonwulf that transformed into a wulfkin and is now stuck in her wolf form.  During the hunt for Mila, Alena finds Enre, an unknown wulfkin, and her instincts know he is here to spy on the pack.  Then the situation takes a dangerous turn.  Alena finds Nicolai bent over a bloody body, the police are arresting him and Enre is trying to keep Alena from getting caught.  In the process, Enre takes a bullet protecting Alena and she is forced to bring him back to the circus trailers. 

Maxim, the Alpha of the pack and Alena’s dad is not happy to hear the news about Nicolai being arrested nor is he happy to see Enre brought into the picture.  Alena and Enre have an immediate and explosive chemistry and their wolves are causing all kinds of chaos within each other.  Alena sees Enre as the enemy and doesn’t want to feel anything for him.  And with the added stress of needing to rescue Nicolai, Alena doesn’t know what to do.

I could go on and on with more characters and plot twists, but that would give away too much.  I thoroughly enjoy books that are in a series.  Reading how each story builds on the last, seeing the past characters get entwined into the newest story is always intriguing. 

T.F. Walsh has a unique talent of weaving a suspenseful web around her characters.  What you think might happen usually does not.  The suspense and sexual tension builds page after page after page until the story comes to an explosive conclusion.  Books that you can’t put down until you find out what happens are always the best. 

Reviewed by Tricia

Copy provided by Author

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