Monthly Archives: July 2017

One Week with the Marine by Allison Gatta – a Review

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One Week with the Marine by Allison Gatta – a Review

 

One Week With The MarineAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Best friends with benefits…

Avery Forrester has never been the type to settle down—not to one place, not to one job, and certainly not to one man. Still, when her long-term best friend with benefits comes home on leave with a plan—including marriage and children—she realizes she’ll have to do something drastic in order to keep him. Luckily, drastic is what she does best.

…isn’t enough anymore.

U.S. Marine Holden Morris has never backed down from a challenge. And this time, that challenge is persuading wild child Avery Forrester, the woman he’s loved his entire life, to marry him. He wants the whole deal—a wife, a family. But convincing her to become a military wife won’t be easy. Then again, he knows Avery—in every way possible. Armed with that kind of knowledge—carnal and otherwise–how can he possibly fail?

 

Review:

One Week With The Marine by Allison Gatta is part of her Love on Location series.  Avery Forrester lives life by her own rules.  Everything she does is on her terms. She has protected herself and her feelings for many years and her relationship with her best friend Holden has been one with a long with-standing arrangement.  Best friends with benefits. No strings attached.  But this time around something has changed. While Avery’s body and heart are telling her one thing, her mind is doing its best to protect her. But is she willing to lose the one constant that has been there for her since high school. 

Marine Captain Holden Morris has made up his mind.  On leave this time around he is going to visit his best friend with benefits,  Avery. But he is bound and determined to change their arrangement into something much more permanent!  Never one to fail a mission – will he be able to win her over in the short time he has on leave?

The relationship between Avery and Holden is one of true friendship.  But changing from an arrangement to something more permanent won’t be the easiest thing to accomplish! Avery is stubborn and protecting her heart from the fiasco of a life her mother had. She will do anything to protect herself! But in doing that it may cost her the one thing that means the most to her – Holden.

The story flowed nicely although at times I found Avery’s stubbornness grating. It takes her quite a long time to come around and admit what she wants.  The story is sweet and comforting. And you know that inside Holden’s arms is exactly where Avery should be.  And in the end when they finally come to a mutual agreement, one that both of them want, you are happy and over-joyed for them.   It truly was a warm and lovely story with a happily ever after.  Look forward to this series continuing.

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher

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Say No More by Liliana Hart – a Review

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Say No More by Liliana Hart – a Review

 

Say No MoreAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Sometimes the dead do rise…

Dante Malcolm is a man of refined tastes. He was once a part of Britain’s Elite Intelligence Force, but there was a reason he’d never been able to capture Simon Locke, the notorious thief who always seemed to be one step ahead. That’s because Dante and Simon were one and the same, until Dante’s double life eventually caught up with him and now he belongs to the Gravediggers.

Liv Rothschild is a Detective Inspector with Interpol and is the one responsible for catching MI-6’s most notorious agent in his final heist—except the heist killed him. But something has never felt right about his death, and it’s haunted her for months. It was too easy, and Dante Malcolm was too smart to go down that way.

Dante might belong to the Gravediggers in body, but his heart and soul will always belong to the next job. The rest of the team doesn’t know about his alter ego because he made sure the information went missing from his file. So when the job he’s always waited for seems like a possibility, he sneaks out of the country like a thief in the night, only to run into the only woman who’s ever been able to match him in wit—and passion—for the job. Except they’re standing on opposite sides of the law—and only one of them can walk away with the prize.

 

Review:

Say No More by Liliana Hart is the 3rd book in her Gravediggers series.   Liliana Hart once again gives us another wonderful exciting, fun, action filled and hot story line revolving around the Gravediggers we have come to love.  Brief refresher: The Gravediggers are elite former military men that work at a funeral home as a cover, and are in actuality working for a secret government agency that takes on impossible missions.

 In Say No More, Dante Malcom is our hero, and we learn so much about his past life and why Eve picked him to be part of the Gravediggers.   Liv Rothschild, our heroine, was an awesome heroine; she is the best one yet, and believe me when I say the first two heroines were great.  But Liv was fantastic, being an Interpol agent, beautiful, savvy, smart and someone who can stand up to even the best Gravediggers.

Before Dante became a Gravedigger, he was a con artist thief, who had multiple identities and was Liv’s partner on Britain’s Elite Intelligence Force; their mission was to find the elusive thief, Simon Locke.  Besides being partners, Dante and Liv are also lovers.

When Eve Winter (the head of the Gravediggers) visits Dante at a party with Liv, she convinces him to accept her offer to join the Gravediggers (or he will end up in jail), since she knows everything, including that he is truly Simon Locke.  Before the night is out, Simon lays dead (he isn’t really dead, as all the Gravediggers are technically dead, as a serum makes them appear dead, and then they are revived), and Liv is shocked to find out he was Simon Locke.  She will have to prove her innocence, and despite her broken heart, will eventually join Interpol, as one of their best agents.

What follows is a terrific story with Eve sending Dante to Europe to steal a stolen document that has dangerous codes that will release nuclear weapons.  Liv is on another assignment to find a powerful man behind child slavery, and is determined to stop him. Both will end up in the same place, with Liv in total shock seeing her dead lover alive.  The Gravedigger team will help Dante, and Liv will eventually also help in the dangerous mission to save the children, as well as find the codes. 

I loved Dante and Liv together, as they were so great, not to mention their sizzling chemistry.   I hope to see more of them in the future books.  This was an enjoyable, exciting story, great characters, especially those we met in earlier books, a wonderful couple and a sexy romance.  Liliana Hart once again gives us a fun filled, action packed, and fast paced story that had me unable to put the book down.  I suggest you start this series by reading in the correct order to fully understand the background of this series:  The Darkest Corner, Gone to Dust and now Say No More. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Stubborn as a Mule (Sex and Sweet Tea #2) by Juliette Poe-Review and Excerpt Tour

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STUBBORN AS A MULE (Sex and Sweet Tea #2) by Juliette Poe -Review and Excerpt Tour

Stubborn as a Mule Banner

STUBBORN AS A MULE
Sex and Sweet Tea #2
by Juliette Poe
Release Date: July 20, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, clean romance

Stubborn as a Mule

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / ibooks / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 20, 2017

Down in Whynot, NC, there are three things that hold true: 1) life moves just a little bit slower, 2) family means everything, and 3) you don’t mess with history.

When his family decides to sell a home that’s been part of their history for over a century, Lowe Mancinkus is madder than a hornet. To add insult to injury, the woman who purchased it is some fancy pants, city girl looking to fix it up and sell it off. Doesn’t matter that she’s sexy as hell or that just being near her gets his blood racing like never before. That home belongs to his family, or at least it did until she came to town.

Well that just won’t do, now will it?

From the moment that she laid eyes on the historical home in rural North Carolina, Melinda Rothschild knew Mainer House was something special. The perfect escape from life in New York City, Melinda signed the papers and set to work restoring the house to its natural beauty. That is until an angry Lowe showed up on her doorstep one day. With a scowl on his handsome, chiseled face. And a shotgun in his strong, muscular arms.

Is it getting hot in here?

Melinda’s about to get a lesson on life in the south, but Lowe is about to learn a lesson of his own – this city girl doesn’t back down from a fight.

••••••••••

REVIEW:  STUBBORN AS A MULE is the second installment in Juliette Poe’s (aka Sawyer Bennett) contemporary, adult SEX AND SWEET TEA romance series focusing on the people of Whynot, North Carolina. This is carpenter and home town bad boy Lowe Mancinkus, and New Yorker, interior designer Melinda Rothschild’s story line. STUBBORNS AS A MULE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from several first person points of view including Lowe and Melinda STUBBORN AS A MULE follows the building relationship between carpenter Lowe Mancinkus, and interior designer Melinda Rothschild. Melinda Rothschild likes to flip homes so her purchase of the one hundred year old historic Mancinkus family home known as the old Mainer House has pushed Lowe Mancinkus over the edge and in front of a judge facing criminal trespassing and property damage. To atone for his ‘sins’ Lowe has been forced to make reparations and help Melinda Rothschild renovate and redecorate the house his family no longer owns. What ensues is the building relationship between Lowe and Melinda, and the fall out when the local town gossips start spreading rumors that Melinda believes to be true.

We are reintroduced to several Whynot residents including Lowe’s grandfather Pap, local hardware store owner Floyd as well Melinda’s best friend Morri and Lynette, who is desperate to rekindle a relationship with our story line hero. The usual town gossips, busy-bodies and meddling characters present as a colorful mix of eccentric

STUBBORN AS A MULE is a small-town, lighthearted romance about one woman’s struggle to be accepted by the town she will come to love, and one man’s battle to prove he is more than the sum of his past. The premise is sweet; the romance is fated-the $ex scenes are all implied and fade to black. The characters are numerous, colorful and eclectic. If you like clean and charming love stories then Juliette Poe’s SEX AND SWEET TEA series is right for you.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of Book 1-AIN’T HE PRECIOUS

AIN’T HE PRECIOUS ebook is FREE for a limited time: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / ibooks /

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Stubborns as a mule teaser

Excerpt

 

“Looking good, Lowe Mancinkus,” I hear a woman call out as I stretch upward to paint the top of the frame around the window. Turning my head to look over my shoulder, I see Lynette Carnes getting ready to walk into Sweet Cakes across the street. She’s our town’s very own Daisy Duke. By that, I mean she struts around in miniscule jean shorts, high heels, and a sleeveless blouse tied off just underneath her very ample chest.
She’s definitely nice to look at, although she doesn’t have much going on above the cleavage.
“Morning, Lynette,” I call back. “Lookin’ good yourself.”
She grins and blows a kiss at me before walking into Larkin’s shop.
The front door opens and Mely steps out onto the porch, carrying a cup of coffee. There’s no doubt in my mind she witnessed that exchange from the other side of the doorway. It’s obvious by the pinched expression she has on her face. Still, she brings the coffee over to me and sets it on the porch rail.
“Thanks, darlin’,” I tell her as I go back to brushing paint over the layer of primer I’d put on a few hours ago. I’d decided to work half a day here at Mainer House, not because I was anxious to get the work done, but because I wanted to be around Melinda Rothschild.
She may not be strutting around in little shorts and a low-cut blouse, but she is most definitely a prettier picture than I’ve ever seen around these parts. She’s wearing a white sundress with a halter top, and her shoulders are lightly tanned with tiny freckles. Her legs are long, bare, and perfectly adorned with nothing more than a pair of simple white sandals. Her silky blonde hair is pulled away from her face at the top of her head and she looks like a breath of fresh air.
Mely leans against the porch rail, crosses her arms low under her breasts, and watches me work for a minute. I wonder if she likes what she sees.
I think so.
There was going to be another kiss last night if Morri hadn’t managed to ruin that little moment. And while I’d never stoop to mention this to Mely, I’m pretty sure he’d been hovering at the top of the stairs, just waiting to ruin it.
“Much better than hot pink,” Mely says as I continue to apply paint to the casing. I have no clue what the hell I was thinking when I painted her house pink. It was an attention getter and since the two people whose attention it got were Mely and Judge Bowe, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out I might have been pulling on her metaphorical pigtails a bit.
“I should have this finished by tomorrow,” I tell her. “Then all will be right again.”
“Odd since it took you a single night to do the damage,” she quips. I don’t look back at her, but I hear the laughter in her voice.
“Well, neon pink isn’t all that easy to cover up,” I tell her with a laugh.
She snickers and I can’t believe she was trying to get me thrown in jail last week. My how the mighty have fallen.
“When in Rome and all that,” Mely says and I turn to look at her from my perch on the ladder. She jerks her chin over her shoulder in the direction of Sweet Cakes. “Is that the standard southern girl uniform?”
Chuckling, I cut my eyes over to Sweet Cakes where sexy Lynette just disappeared into. I’m not about to tell Mely that I have actual carnal knowledge about that southern girl, even if it was back in my younger years.
Looking back to Mely, I take in her stylishly sweet dress that doesn’t reveal much but is still sexy at the same time. Giving her a wink, I say, “There’s nothing standard about you, Melinda Rothschild, so I’m advising you to stay away from that look. I think you’re mighty fine just the way you are.”

 

 

About The author

Sawyer Bennett : Juliette Poe

Follow: Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Juliette Poe is the sweet and swoony alter ego of New York Times Best Selling author, Sawyer Bennett.

A fun-loving southern girl, Juliette knows the allure of sweet tea, small towns, and long summer nights, that some of the best dates end sitting on the front porch swing, and that family is top priority. She brings love in the south to life in her debut series, Sex & Sweet Tea.

When Juliette isn’t delivering the sweetest kind of romance, she’s teaching her southern belle daughter the fine art of fishing, the importance of wearing Chucks, and the endless possibilities of a vivid imagination.

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Rocky Mountain Home (Six Pack Ranch #11) by Vivian Arend-a review

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME (Six Pack Ranch #11) by Vivian Arend-a review

Rocky Mountain Home

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Chapters Indigo / B&N /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 18, 2017

There’s no distance you can run to escape the past.

Too stubborn to face his sins, Jesse Coleman bolted from the Six Pack Ranch, only to fall straight into the arms of a beautiful stranger. Twelve hours later, the seductive firebrand is nothing but a whiskey-laced memory—but one powerful enough to convince Jesse tracking down his elusive lover is worth the effort.

Darilyn Hayes figured it was her lucky night when the sexiest cowboy in Alberta interrupted her annual drink-until-I-fall-over wake. At least until four weeks later when she discovers she’s pregnant and her one-night-stand is nowhere to be found. Still, as she’s shared with her devoted blog readers, Dare has dealt with life’s not-so-gentle surprises before. She’ll make it on her own.

When an internet picture gone viral leads to their reunion, Jesse’s floored by Dare’s news. She’s very clear she’s not looking for a commitment, but screw that. He’s going to do the right thing by her and his unborn kid. The fact they lit the sheets on fire is a bonus, but with a baby on the way, both their lives are gonna change.

Jesse’s got a ton of family to reconnect with, including his estranged twin. Dare holds family loosely—even though she loves them—because she knows too well how fragile life can be. Between her and Jesse, they’ve got enough baggage to open a store.

But they still have a shot at forever—if they’re willing to fight for it.

This final novel in the series contains the following:
A sexy, dirty, cocky-as-hell prodigal son Coleman with massive bridges to rebuild. A woman able to see to the heart of the matter yet bold enough to speak the truth. A family of extraordinary resolve and endless love. A wedding or two. And babies—oh lordy, the babies…

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME is the eleventh and final installment in Vivian Arend’s contemporary, adult SIX PACK RANCH erotic, romance cowboy series focusing on the large extended family of the Coleman clan. This is prodigal son and Joel’s twin Jesse Coleman, and blogger Darilyn ‘Dare’ Hayes’ story line. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME 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 (Jesse and Dare) ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME focuses on a drunken one-night stand, four months earlier, that results in a pregnancy for Jesse Coleman and Darilyn Hayes. Never catching one another’s last names, Dare Hayes takes to the internet, posting a picture of Jesse on her blog, in the hopes of locating her sexy one-night stand. Knowing his family would never accept anything less than a relationship with the mother of his child, Jesse proposes in the hopes of getting to know the woman with whom he will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Jesse and Dare, and Dare’s overwhelming welcome into the Coleman clan.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME is a story of family and forgiveness as Jesse reluctantly returns to the family fold hoping to mend the bridges he burned several months before when guilt and betrayal forced Jesse away from the people he loved. Months have passed since Jesse’s disappearance but with his return comes love and acceptance that never waivered in light of his need to run.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most if not all of the previous story line couples, several Coleman/Thompson cousins, as well as the introduction of Dare’s extended family –the Stone family of Heart Falls- and the lead in to another spin off / cross-over series focusing on the Heart Falls cowboys with Tamara Coleman and Caleb Stone.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME brings together the growing Coleman clan; the loving family dynamics; and Jesse’s need to for forgiveness to move forward with his life. There are moments of humor and fun; heartbreak and guilt; falling in love and letting go of the past. The premise is energetic and inspiring; the characters are colorful, passionate and spirited; the romance is captivating and intense. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOME and the SIX PACK RANCH series is perfect for lovers of cowboys, romance and happily ever afters.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Kiss My Boots (Coming Home #2) by Harper Sloan: Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

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KISS MY BOOTS (Coming Home #2) by Harper Sloan-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway

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KISS MY BOOTS
Coming Home #2
by Harper Sloan
Release Date: July 18,2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

Kiss My Boots

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / ibooks / BAM / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 18, 2017

In this second of the sultry, Western-set Coming Home series from New York Times bestselling author Harper Sloan, Quinn Davis might finally have a shot at her own happily-ever-after—but will she let love in, or will she tell it to go ahead and kiss her boots?

Quinn Davis prefers to live her life quietly. She’s the stereotypical tomboy with two overprotective big brothers who have always been there to protect her, especially from devilishly handsome cowboys with silver tongues. That is, until Tate Montgomery comes riding into town. Their first meeting, however, is far from something out of a fairy tale and only further convinces Quinn that men aren’t worth her time.

The only place Tate Montgomery ever truly felt at home growing up was during the long, sweltering summer months he spent at his Gram and Paw’s farm in Pine Oak, Texas. Now, Tate has returned to his childhood sanctuary seeking a fresh start—but if he’s being entirely honest, he’s not just back for the wranglers and Stetsons. During those summers, Quinn was a friend-turned-young-love who Tate lost when life threw him a curveball and he cut all ties to his past; but all it takes is one glance at the raven-haired beauty he did his best to forget for him to realize just how much he’s been missing…

•••••••••

REVIEW: KISS MY BOOTS is the second installment in Harper Sloan’s contemporary, adult COMING HOME erotic, romance series focusing on the Davis siblings: Maverick, Quinn and Clayton Davis. This is auto mechanic Quinn Davis, and physician Tate Montgomery’s story line. KISS MY BOOTS 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 first person points of view (Quinn and Tate) including some memories of the past, KISS MY BOOTS is a second chance romance between auto mechanic Quinn Davis, and ob-gyn Tate Montgomery. Nine years earlier Tate Montgomery walked out of Quinn’s life leaving a heartbroken woman to struggle with the how and whys. Tate and Quinn were childhood friends, summer lovers and in love; planning a future together as Tate prepared for medical school but within days all traces of Tate disappeared while Quinn struggled to move on with her life. Fast forward to present day wherein Quinn is now the successful owner of the family run garage, and Tate Montgomery has returned to Pine Oak Texas, looking for a new start and a second chance with the woman he has always loved. What ensues is the rekindling romance between Tate and Quinn as our couple come face to face with demons from their past.

Nine years ago Tate Montgomery left Quinn Davis for Atlanta, Georgia on his way to a promising medical career but in doing so left behind his heart and his soul destroying the woman with whom he promised a happily ever after. Tate was not a hometown boy but a young man who spent his summers in Pine Oak, Texas at his grandparents home, where falling in love with Quinn was immediate and fated. Quinn Davis’s life was never the same when the man that she loved refused to acknowledge her existence; refusing to move forward Quinn would never find love knowing that her heart belonged to a man who no longer cared. With issues of abandonment, the fall out of Tate’s disappearance sent Quinn into a darkness that continues to present day.

The relationship between Quinn and Tate is one of second chances; a love that never waivered in spite of the circumstances and disappearance of Tate from Quinn’s life. Their rekindling romance is met with very little resistance as Tate explains the who, what and why of his years of silence. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Maverick and Leigh (Lost Rider #1 ), eldest brother Clayton Davis, Tate’s friend Mark Blake; an assortment of office staff and nosey townsfolk. The Davis sibling’s relationship is very close; a tight knit family of brothers and sister whose lives were destroyed by secrets, lies and betrayal, and a father who struggled with his own personal demons.

KISS MY BOOTS is a story of romance and love; of second chances; of one man’s need to atone for sins of the past. The premise is engaging and heartwarming; the romance is edgy and emotional; the characters are animated and passionate. KISS MY BOOTS is a wonderful and energetic addition to Harper Sloan’s romantic, cowboy series COMING HOME.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book 1-LOST RIDER.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Kiss My Boots Teaser

About The Author beige

Harper SloanHarper Sloan is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn’t writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand.

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Giveaway beige

Harper’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of LOST RIDER (Book 1 in the Coming Home series) 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. Follow Harper Sloan on Facebook.

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

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Please follow The Reading Cafe on Tumblr

8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from July 20-24, 2017

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Complicating (Preston’s Mill #3) by Noelle Adams & Samantha Chase-a review

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COMPLICATING (Preston’s Mill #3) by Noelle Adams and Samantha Chase-a review

Complicating

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 17, 2017

Forget all those other accidental pregnancy romances you might have read.

Daisy and Carter don’t have a one-night stand…because it’s thirty minutes in a back room at a wedding reception. And Carter isn’t a bad boy baby-daddy…except for the motorcycle, tattoos, and attitude. Daisy doesn’t have the typical issues with her pregnancy…if you don’t count the morning sickness, food cravings, and occasional horniness. And Carter doesn’t hang around all the time, wanting both her and the baby…until he falls in love.

But they definitely don’t become a happy family…right away.

Daisy has always been a good girl. She’s never done anything wild or spontaneous until she has a little too much to drink at a wedding and has a fling with a sexy stranger. She thought they were careful, but accidents happen. And now she’s going to have the baby of a man she barely knows.

Carter is her opposite in every way and completely the wrong man for her. They can still work out a reasonable arrangement regarding the baby. But the more time she spends with him, the less reasonable she feels. And he’s acting all possessive and protective, so it gets harder and harder to convince herself that he’s just the father of her baby.

She wants him to be so much more.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: COMPLICATING is the third installment in Noelle Adams /Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult PRESTON’S MILL romance series focusing on the town and people of Preston’s Mills. This is Daisy, Preston’s Mills librarian, and Norfolk mechanic Carter Hayes’s story line. COMPLICATING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Daisy and Carter) COMPLICATING follows the building relationship between Preston’s Mill uptight, shy librarian Daisy, and motorcycle riding, tattooed mechanic Carter Hayes. While attending Chris and Heather’s wedding Daisy was challenged by her best friend Chloe to hit on three men throughout the evening, and in doing so Daisy came face to face with the man who would become an integral part of her future. A quickie in the closet with Carter Hayes leads to an unplanned pregnancy, and Daisy is all but willing to go it alone without the help of the child’s father. Carter maybe a little rough looking for the small town of Preston’s Mill but he is a man who is determined to be a part of his child’s life. What ensues is the back and forth, emotional roller coaster as Carter tries to support the mother of his child while said mother does everything to push Carter out of their lives with her fierce need to be totally independent.

COMPLICATING is a story about two people unprepared for the future that is about to change their lives. The heroine’s immature attitude and lack of compassion as it pertained to the father of her child made for many difficult moments throughout the story. For most of the story line Daisy was unwilling to compromise or let go of her preconceived notions and ideas . As hard as Carter tried to be a part of Daisy and his unborn child’s life, he couldn’t quite live up to Daisy or the town’s perception of the perfect father image. And of course, to complicate matters, Carter panics on more than one occasion as the reality of the situation hits too close to home.

The relationship between Daisy and Carter begins as a dare that quickly morphs into a lifelong connection with the impending birth of their son or daughter, and because of the forced situation the emotional ties that would have otherwise developed in a loving relationship were few and far between. Months will pass before any semblance of love or togetherness is permanently offered due to the heroine’s inability to accept what Carter was willing to offer, and even then, the profession of love felt forced and underwhelming. The limited number of $ex scenes are mostly implied.

COMPLICATING was a difficult read for me as I struggled to accept the heroine’s attitude and immature behavior. Carter, as the expectant father, was willing to stand up and do everything he could for the mother of his child but Daisy’s need to be independent of the man with whom she would fall in love, was disconcerting and uncomfortable especially at a time when some men are unwilling to accept responsibility for an unplanned child. This was not a case of rampant feminism but of a woman  unwilling to look at the bigger picture. Although COMPLICATING is a story of fiction, the heroine’s attitude was unacceptable (for me) under the circumstance, as Carter never gave any indication that he would be an unwilling or unacceptable father, and yet he was quickly judged unsuitable by the people of Preston’s Mill-small town mentality not one of my favorite tropes. As with everything in life, opinions are subjective, and other readers may see a different side to the story line heroine.

Oh, and the cover is completely wrong. Carter is said to be well-built, with unruly dark hair, covered in tattoos; and Daisy is a woman with long red hair. Not quite the image portrayed on the story-book cover.

Copy supplied for review.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Demon’s Fever by T.F. Walsh – a Review

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Demon’s Fever by T.F. Walsh – a Review

 

Demon's FeverAmazon

Description:
A half-demon dating a demon hunter… she’s asking for danger.
 

After losing her dishwasher job, Cary Stone finds herself broke and homeless. And, oh yeah, she’s also a half-demon who has to stay in hiding because everyone wants her dead. Awesome. So when she’s offered a job to hunt demons at Argos Inc., she jumps at the chance to get a new lease on life. But in order to keep the job, she has to pass a series of tests.

Failing isn’t an option as Cary has to do whatever it takes to nail this opportunity. And then there is the hotshot demon hunter that is sexy motivation to reach her goal… but if he knew what she really was, he’d want her dead too. Can things get any worse?

Levi Walker is pissed off. After being the best demon hunter at Argos Inc. since forever, they want to screw him by not paying him for the jobs? Nope, Levi decides it’s time to go. Or at least it was until a hunt he’s on spins wildly out of control and causes a catastrophic loss…and everyone at Argos blames Levi. Now faced with being sued for the damage, Levi begins pursuing the evidence to clear his name. Jumping right into the fray, Levi soon finds himself in mortal danger. But he’s a fighter who’ll battle until the end…which may come sooner rather than later, now that he’s met a beautiful and mysterious hunter at Argos and can barely keep his mind on the job.

Will Levi stay alive long enough to find the proof to clear his name and leave Argos for good or will Cary prove to be the sexy and dangerous distraction that he just can’t ignore? 

 

 

REVIEW:

Cary is a kick butt demon hunter who is seriously down on her luck.  Broke and evicted from her apartment, she jumps at the chance to work for a company that hunts demons.  She was trained by her dad to hunt and she does a darn good job at it.  But what will happen if anyone ever finds out she is half demon?  Cary hopes she never has to find out.

When Cary meets Levi, she’s knocked off her feet.  She has always tried to stay away from relationships because of her half demon status, but there is something about Levi that she can’t resist.  Levi is just as swept away for Cary but he has to stay focused to capture the demon that is wrecking havoc on his life. 

I’ve read several of T.F. Walsh’s books and I’ve loved them all, Demon’s Fever included.  Cary and Levi pull you right into the dark side of demon hunting.  The chemistry between these two is hot! 

T.F. Walsh makes the characters come to life and pulls you right into each book.  There is never a dull moment, Cary and Levi are captivating, the demons are wickedly funny at times (a demon possessed car, that’s scary funny) and I’m glued to each page to see what happens next.  Her talent with words creates a world that comes to life as you read.  The ending of each story has me anticipating the next book she writes.

Reviewed by Tricia

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Spellbinder (Moonshadow #2) by Thea Harrison – Dual Review

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Spellbinder (Moonshadow #2) by Thea Harrison – Dual Review

 

SpellbinderAmazon / B&N / Kobo / Book Depository

Description;
Kidnapped while on tour, musician Sidonie Martel is transported to the mystical land of Avalon. A human without magical ability, she is completely vulnerable to the deadly forces surrounding her.

When she defies her captors and refuses to share her music, an act of violent cruelty leaves her broken, her ability to play silenced, maybe forever. Her only hope is a whisper in the dark, gentle hands that offer healing, and a man who refuses to show her his face yet who offers advice she dare not ignore.

One of the most feared and powerful sorcerers in history, Morgan le Fae serves a Queen he despises, Isabeau of the Light Court. Once a famous bard and an advisor to kings, Morgan has been enslaved to Isabeau for hundreds of years, acting as enforcer and the commander of her deadly Hounds.

Sidonie’s music touches Morgan in places he had abandoned centuries ago, and her fiery spirit resurrects feelings he had believed long dead. For Sidonie, trapped in captivity, passion offers a comfort she cannot resist.

But Isabeau holds Morgan bound in magical chains that only Death can break. And in the court of a cruel, jealous Queen, the only thing that burns hotter than love is revenge…

 

Barb’s Review:

Spellbinder by Thea Harrison is the 2nd book in her Moonshadow series. I am a big fan of Harrison’s Elder Races series.  Spellbinder is a trilogy within this series, concentrating on the Elder Races in Europe. In the first book of this series, Morgan le Fae was the enemy, though we did know there was a story to be had for him. 

In Spellbinder, Morgan, who is a powerful sorcerer before being bound by Isabeau, and we learn why he did the awful things we have seen him do in some previous books.  Isabeau, who is the Queen of the Light Court, is vicious and terrifying; she owns Morgan forcing him to do her bidding.   We meet Sidonie Martel, a world renowned musician, who is on tour.   Morgan, who was injured in battle, goes to earth to recuperate and be free temporarily from the hated Isabeau.  While resting, he overhears about a female musician who captivates her audience. Morgan will become enamored with her music, as it not only soothes him, but allows him to feel again, something he has not done in hundreds of years. 

One night, Sidonie is kidnapped and transported to Avalon, the land of the light court and Isabeau.  The kidnapper wanted revenge on Morgan, and sensed his feelings for Sidonie.  Poor Sidonie, she had no idea where she was, or why. When she allows her temper to rise against the Queen, she is punished with them breaking all her fingers.  Sidonie, sitting in her prison cell and feeling her ilfe is over, will wake up one evening to find some dark stranger healing her hands.

Rather than to tell too much more, as you need to read this book; what follows is an exciting and sweet slow build romance between Morgan and Sidonie, as well as an tense captivating storyline.  It was great to see Morgan slowly open his heart and love again; allowing us to learn to sympathize and care about him.   In order to find a way to escape, Sidonie will use her music to charm the Queen, allowing her to roam freely in Avalon.  She will do anything she can to find a way to free Morgan too.  The last half of the book was very exciting, with a few twists along the way.  

Spellbinder was another wonderful addition to this trilogy and the Elder Races series.  Thea Harrison once again gives us a fabulous couple, captivating storyline, evil villains, sweet romance in a wonderful world.

 

Sandy’s Review

SPELLBINDER is the second installment in Thea Harrison’s contemporary, adult MOONSHADOW paranormal/fantasy trilogy-a spin off from the author’s ELDER RACES series. This is sorcerer/lycanthrope Morgan le Fae, and musician Sidonie Martel’s story line. SPELLBINDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Morgan le Fae has been a troubling character throughout a number of the Elder Races installments, and SPELLBINDER reveals the true extent of Morgan’s leashed confinement.

Told from dual third person points of view (Sidonie and Morgan) SPELLBINDER is loosely based in the Arthurian legend of Morgan Le Fay- a powerful sorceress whose name is also synonymous with Welsh folklore of shapeshifting myth.

For hundreds of years Morgan le Fae has been cursed to serve the sadistic and evil Queen Isabeau of the Light Court but her most recent acquisition, a human female and musician Sidonie Martel, finds Morgan attempting to usurp the curse byway of carefully treading around the rules that govern his cursed existence. Tortured and imprisoned, Sidonie will be befriended by a man she knows nothing about but a man with powers that can be used for nefarious purpose. What ensues is the forbidden but building relationship between Sidonie and Morgan le Fae, and their struggle to break Morgan free of Queen Isabeau’s control.

SPELLLBINDER is a slow building story line and relationship between two people thrown together by fate and circumstance. Sidonie is an award winning musician and Morgan has fallen in love with both the woman and her music. Discovering Sidonie has been imprisoned by the Queen of the Light Court Morgan tries desperately to make Sidonie’s life a little more comfortable while he struggles to find a way to set free them both.

Thea Harrison weaves folklore, myth and magic blending the Elder Races with the Moonshadow trilogy hinting at the origins of the Elder Races themselves. From fae to lycanthrope, sorcerers to dragons, gods to humans, the world of the supernatural comes alive when Thea Harrison puts pen to paper. The premise is entertaining and intriguing; the characters are colorful, dynamic and strong; the romance is seductive and intense. SPELLBINDER is a wonderful and exciting installment in Thea Harrison’s MOONSHADOW trilogy.

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