Monthly Archives: July 2018

The Empire of Ashes by Anthony Ryan – Review & Giveaway

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The Empire of Ashes by Anthony Ryan – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
For hundreds of years, the Ironship Trading Syndicate was fuelled by drake blood–and protected by the Blood-blessed, those few who could drink it and wield fearsome powers. But now the very thing that sustained the corporate world threatens to destroy it.

A drake of unimaginable power has risen, and it commands an army of both beasts and men. Rogue Blood-blessed Claydon Torcreek, Syndicate agent Lizanne Lethridge, and Ironship captain Corrick Hilemore, spread to disparate corners of the world, must rely upon the new powers and knowledge they have gained at great price to halt its forces–or face the end of all they know.

 

 

Review:

The Empire of Ashes by Anthony Ryan is the 3rd and final book in his The Draconis Memoria trilogy.  This series is an epic fantasy, with an amazing amount of details and world building that includes magic, war, destruction, blood blessed and dragons.  Though the dragons are a major part of the storyline, it is the blood blessed humans who drink the blood harvested from dead dragons that give them the magic to perform many amazing powerful feats.  The story revolves around a war, with the Dragons (Red, Blue, Green & Black) lead by the all mighty White Dragon, who are bent on killing  all humans, with the help of “spoiled” (humans mentally converted by the White to do his bidding).   

As the White Dragon and those enthralled build a powerful and dangerous army to take over the world, the story line continues with the POV of the three leading characters we met in the first book…Lizanne, Clay, Hilemore.  There is also a Pov in the eyes of Sirus, who is spoiled, and working under the White enthrallment.  This is a dark complex world created by Ryan, with the horrors of the battles, as fight they fight for survival in a war against the Dragons onslaught.  

Lizanne and Clay, who continue to be the main characters, are both blood blessed, which enables them to use the effects of the powers from drinking the blood to use magic to fight against the enemy and find a way to defeat them before it’s too late. 

I did feel early on, the complex details and the many characters throughout dragged the story a bit, especially since this was over 600 pages. The last third of the book was thrilling as we raced to the climax. 

What follows is an exciting, dangerous, intense storyline filled with non-stop action.  All of our heroes are on their own, with no contact; and as the tension grows, we fear for their lives, as well as losing hope that this is battle they cannot win. To tell too much more would be spoilers, as this is a difficult review to write, with so many details.  I will say that I loved Lizanne, as she was some tough heroine, who refused to ever give up, and I loved Clay.

Anthony Ryan does a masterful job in bringing this intense  and complex story to a satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy epic fantasies, in a sort of sci-fi dystopian world, with lots of action, then you should be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Anthony Ryan’s publisher is offering a hardcover copy of THE EMPIRE OF ASHES to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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8. Giveaway runs from July 3 to 7, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Museum of Us by Tara Wilson Redd – Review & Blog Tour

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The Museum of Us by Tara Wilson Redd – Review & Blog Tour

 

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Description:
Secrets are con artists: they trick you into letting them out.

Sadie loves her rocker boyfriend Henry and her running partner and best friend Lucie, but no one can measure up to her truest love and hero, the dazzling and passionate George. George, her secret.

When something goes wrong and Sadie is taken to the hospital calling out for George, her hidden life may be exposed. Now she must confront the truth of the past, and protect a world she is terrified to lose.

 

 

Review:

The Museum Of Us is the debut novel by Tara Wilson Redd.

Sometimes reality is too much to handle. We all find ways to escape the realities of this world. For me it’s getting lost in the pages of a book. When we are young, those of us that are bookworms, we could get completely lost in the pages of a book. Transport ourselves into the world of Hogwarts, or take an adventure with a hobbit. But as we begin to age, those moments of getting lose in those worlds are less and less.

But for Sadie, she loses herself in her daydreams.  She walks within two worlds. The real world, where she has a rocker boyfriend, Henry and best friend Lucie who love and support everything that she does. They are and will always be there for her.  But then there is the other world that Sadie gets lost in.  Lost within her own mind and self.  But this world does not compare to the real world. This world contains George. George is her hero, her best friend, her true love.  They have walked a hundred worlds and lost themselves in the pages of hundreds of books.  But George isn’t real.  He is only real within Sadie’s mind.

Which is why she has kept him a complete secret from the real world and all who love and support her.  But that all changes when Sadie is in a car accident and rushed to the emergency room.  While in the midst of the chaos she screams for George. Desperate to know where he is. This signals the doctors that something else is going on – more than meets the eye.  Sadie then spends some time in the hospital and then a psychiatric ward, trying to determine what is real and what isn’t.

She can’t lose George, he has always been there for her and she does not want to live her life without him. When her two worlds threaten to collide will Sadie be able to face the reality of a world without George? Will she be able to continue without him?

I am going to be honest the beginning of this book completely confused me, I was lost in the chaos and confusion of what is Sadie’s world and why it is that way.  The story unfurls into a wondrous mental health expose.  I love the worlds that George and Sadie travel to. Hogwarts, Amsterdam – all of the worlds were so beautifully written and the picture they painted was spot on. The writing drags you in and doesn’t let you go.  After finishing the book I believe the confusion of Sadie’s world in the beginning only enriches the story as it develops and also shows a glimpse into what mental illness is truly like.

This story may cause triggers for some but for the most part I believe it could only enrich others as they experience what the life of someone with a mental illness might be like.

In the end Sadie must decide if she can move forward without George and the world she has created or continue on with her fantasies and daydreams.

I would absolutely recommend this book, with a side note that it does involve mental health and mental health issues.

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher

 

TARA WILSON REDD, a graduate of Reed College, grew up all over the United States, including in St. Louis, Seattle, and Central Oregon. An impenitent dilettante, she is interested in everything, but especially language, travel, and animals. When she is home from her adventures, she lives in Washington, DC, where she works in libraries. The Museum of Us is her first novel. Visit her online at tarawilsonredd.com

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Strong Hold (Redemption #5) by Sarah Castille-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

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STRONG HOLD (Redemption #5) by Sarah Castille-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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ABOUT HE BOOK: Release Date July 3, 3018

“Shayla?”
For the longest moment Zack’s brain couldn’t process the sight in front of him.
Seven years, ten months and twenty-seven days. That was how long it had been since he’d seen her. That was how long it had been since he’d lived a life without regret.

Fight promoter Zack Grayson is on the prowl for a rising star. As the top recruiter of a prestigious MMA promotion company, he wants to take someone where he will never be able to go again: the top of the professional league. He didn’t expect that someone to be the woman he loved…and left.

Top-ranked MMA amateur fighter Shayla “Shilla the Killa” Tanner built walls around her heart when Zack left her seven years ago–and again when her husband turned violent. Now, seeing Zack is nearly enough to send those walls crumbling. But she can’t risk the exposure of the limelight, and she definitely can’t risk another heartbreak.

As Shayla and Zack grow closer, though, business turns personal. And once their passion unleashes, there’s no going back…

•••••••

REVIEW: STRONG HOLD is the fifth instalment in Sarah Castille’s contemporary, adult REDEMPTION erotic, MMA, romance series focusing on the men and women of the MMA Club Redemption. This is thirty-year old MMA fighter and promoter Zack ‘Slayer’ Grayson, and twenty-five year old, former ballerina turned MMA fighter Shayla Tanner’s story line. STRONG HOLD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from first person point of view (Shayla), and third person perspective (Zack) STRONG HOLD follows the second chance romance between MMA fighter and promoter Zack ‘Slayer’ Grayson, and former ballerina turned MMA fighter Shayla Tanner. Zack and Shayla were childhood best friends, and high school sweethearts but on the night Shayla gave Zack her most prized possession, Zack walked away without a second glance. Fast forward to present day, wherein Shayla will come face to face with the man that broke her heart, and destroyed her soul. Enter MMA fighter and promoter Zack ‘Slayer’ Grayson, and the man with whom Shayla was still in love. What ensues is the rekindling romance between Zack and Shayla, as Zack takes control of Shayla’s training, in an effort to get closer to the woman he loves.

Zack had no idea that Shayla Tanner, his Shayla Tanner, was on the amateur circuit of the MMA. Heading into Redemption to recruit possible new talent, Zack will have to face the wrath of the woman from whom he walked away but a woman who has lost and suffered more than Jake could ever have imagined. Shayla struggled in the years following Zack’s ill-timed escape but none more so than into the arms of an abusive man who all but destroyed what was left of our heroine’s life.

The relationship between Zack and Shayla is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between former best friends, and sweethearts but a romance that suffers with too many memories from the past. Zack is determined to prove himself worthy of Shayla’s trust and respect even if it means protecting her from herself. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense but, once again, I take issue with a certain four-letter word that I find unnecessary in a romance story line. Used only once, I felt it was more for shock value than descriptive narration.

Most of the previous story line couples and characters play secondary and supporting roles, some byway of mention or cameo appearance: Blade Saw, Renegade, Rampage, Torment, Homicide Hank, Fuzzy and Doctor Death (all of the nick names must be used in the arena and at the gym), as well as the only other female fighter at Redemption Sandy, and Shayla’s nemesis in the ring Carla Gordon.

STRONG HOLD is a dramatic, intense and captivating story. The premise is energetic and impassioned; the characters are dynamic and vigorous; the romance is provocative and fated. Sarah Castille writes tantalizing romances, strong heroes, and sassy heroines.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Against the Ropes
In Your Corner
Full Contact
Fighting Attraction

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

A disturbance near the door draws our attention. Zack is here. How irritating. This was supposed to be my night to get drunk and forget he ever walked back into my life. But chances are he’ll never make it to our table. Already, the crowd is three deep around him with no end in sight, and there are fangirls clinging to him like flies.
Zack’s star power keeps him occupied and away from our table for the next hour. He signs napkins, arms, cheeks, and even the curve of one woman’s ass. Before long, he is steered to the wall bearing the Protein Palace logo to pose for pictures with his fans. I don’t want to watch him, but I do. I’ve never loved anyone the way I loved Zack. I opened myself fully to him. I gave him everything, and he filled me so completely, I never wanted more. Every time I see him, the memories come flooding back. Ten years of happiness destroyed by one night of pain.
“He’s been checking you out,” Doctor Death says, a scowl marring the perfection of his handsome face as he stares at Zack, posing with two eager fangirls.
Zack looks devastatingly gorgeous tonight in his tight, black skull-print T-shirt, stretched deliciously over his muscular chest, and a pair of well-worn jeans, snug in all the right places. From the way the fangirls have latched on to his biceps, I’m not the only one to notice.
“I heard a rumor you had a history together,” Doctor Death continues.
“We’re just friends.”
Zack catches me watching him, and in that second when our gazes connect, I remember every reason why I loved him. The way the gold flecks sparkled in his dark eyes when he was happy, the way he watched over me, his easy laughter, the feel of his body against mine, his lips on my lips, his breath on my skin, his hands—God, the things he could do with his hands—the steady beat of his heart as we lay together making dreams for a future we would never have.
After Zack finishes posing for pictures, Fred “Bulldog” Jenner, a heavyweight fighter from a rival gym and one of Sadist’s fiercest competitors, challenges Zack to an arm wrestle. Such is how fighters entertain themselves when they’re training. No fights in case of injury, no excessive drinking because of calories. But when fighters are pumped, as they usually are at this time of day, they need an outlet, and the Protein Palace has a special table set aside for the occasion.
Zack graciously accepts the challenge. Although he and Bulldog are evenly matched in height—two or three inches over six feet—Bulldog is actively training and must outweigh Zack by at least fifty pounds of solid muscle. Still, Zack clearly hasn’t let himself go as many retired fighters do. There isn’t an inch of fat on his toned body. And God, those biceps…
Not wanting to be left out, I join the crowd around their table. Although this is just for fun, there is more at stake than just a friendly arm wrestle. Zack was a big, big name in the sport, and Bulldog is shooting for the pros. A win over Zack sends a message that Bulldog is the man to beat. Out with the old and in with the new.
My heart thuds in my chest when Bulldog clasps Zack’s hand. Although it makes no sense, I want Zack to win. He started from nothing and worked hard to get to where he is, and no one knows that better than I do. Despite what happened between us, I am a secret Slayer fangirl, too.
Biceps flex. Hands grip. A hum of excitement winds its way through the crowd. Bulldog grunts, and his arm shakes. Sweat beads on his forehead. He shifts in his seat, and his chair scrapes over the tile floor. The air thickens with the primal scent of testosterone. I’m surprised I don’t suddenly grow a beard.
Someone turns up the music, and the Black Keys’ “Everlasting Light” plays through the speakers. Zack’s lips turn up at the corners. He lifts his gaze and smiles at me.
Because this was our song. We had both loved this band with its steady beats, old-time sound, and meaningful lyrics. “Everlasting Light” was the song Zack had strummed on his bass while I practiced at the studio late into the night. It was the song he had asked the band to play when he had danced with me at my grad. It was the song he had sung softly to me after we had made love. And I had believed the lyrics as if they were his words. I had believed he wanted to be my sun in the darkness and my everlasting light. They were the last words I had heard him say. They are the last words I want to hear now.
A sigh escapes my lips, and although there is no possible way he could have heard me over the music or the chant of the crowd, his face tightens, and the gold in his eyes fades to black.
Wham. Bulldog’s hand goes down. Sandy lifts Zack’s arm in a victory salute. The crowd cheers, and people surge forward to congratulate the victor.
“Who’s next?” someone shouts.
The crowd hoots and hollers, and names get bandied about. The noise makes my headache worse, and I turn back to the Redemption corner, looking for Doctor Death. Maybe I will take that ride.
A chair scrapes over the floor. And then a table. People shift to the side as if to give way.
My pulse kicks up a notch, and I know, without being able to see through the crowd, that he’s coming for me.

 

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah Castille, graduated with a B.A Honors degree in History and an LL.B. (law degree) and practiced law on the West Coast for several years before succumbing to the lure of foreign travel. She obtained a Masters Degree in Law from the University of Edinburgh and then practiced at one of the world’s largest law firms in London, England during which time she traveled extensively, wrote moderately, and developed a taste for tea, European footwear and Greek cuisine.

She traded in her life of European glamor for the comforts of the frozen North and the excitement of home renovation, during which time she wrote extensively, never traveled, and developed a taste for beef jerky, Tim Horton’s coffee and Sorels.

After her first book, Legal Heat, won prizes in nine Romance Writers’ Association chapter contests, including the Grand Prize in the Valley of the Sun Hot Prospects Contest, Sarah decided to take a break from high heels and legal practice to write about red-hot alpha males and the women who tame them. Her second book, Against the Ropes, was named as one of Publishers Weekly’s Top Ten Picks for Romance & Erotica for fall 2013, and her third book, Unraveled, hit the New York Times Bestseller’s list. Sarah’s current release, Barely Undercover, was named as the “Must Read Erotic Romance of the Year” in the Sneak Peek Reader’s Choice Awards (2013). She hasn’t dusted off her briefcase yet!

Sarah lives with her husband, munchkins and a family of owls in the shadow of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, where she is currently working on her next novel.

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To Catch a Texas Star by Linda Broday – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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To Catch a Texas Star by Linda Broday – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Description:
He’ll do what it takes to prove his love…

The son of a notorious outlaw, Roan Penny yearns to make his life count…but heroism comes with a price. Left badly injured, only the kindness of a gentle stranger can save him. He longs to be with the captivating beauty―his savior, his Texas star, his Marley Rose McClain―but he knows he’d bring her nothing but trouble.

If only he could convince his heart of that.

Marley’s lived a charmed life, and she’s determined to spend the rest of her days at her quiet hero’s side…but she isn’t what she seems. A life-long secret threatens to destroy everything she knows―and everything she could hope to be. As dangerous men threaten to pull her back into the shadows, a desperate Roan must ride hell-bent for leather to save the other half of his heart…before he can lose her light for good.

 

Review:

To Catch a Texas Star by Linda Broday is the 3rd book in her Texas Heroes western historical romance series. I loved both books in this series, and I am happy to say this was as equally as good. I do not read much western romances, but I have come to love Linda Broday’s writing and I will continue to read her books.

At the start, we meet our hero, Roan Penny, who is a drifter, working for a local rancher.  Roan has befriended the rancher who had become his friend, and when a group of vigilantes attack the ranch and kill the rancher, Roan is determined to enact revenge.  But unfortunately for Roan, the attackers beat him badly, putting him on horse and leaving him barely alive.

Marley Rose, who was the precious child when we spent time with Duel and Jessie McClain (previous book heroes) years before.  Marley is now all grown up, and it is she who will come across the badly beaten Roan.   She will bring him back to the Aces and Eights ranch, which her mother and father run and where she and all her siblings live.  We knew that Duel and Jessie were very caring and loving people, and it is no surprise to see that besides Marley, they have over the years taken in a number of lost or abandoned children.

Both Marley and Jessie see to Roan’s wounds, as his life hangs by a thread.  Roan slowly begins to gain his conscious, and is immediately calmed by the voice of the woman taking care of him.  Marley herself has been somewhat sheltered by her parents, and finds that she is becoming attracted to Roan.  It will take Roan more time to gain his strength, and in time Duel, who senses that Roan is one of the good guys, will trust him.  After telling the family about his attack and the death of his friend, Duel offers him a job on the ranch, allowing him to be able to work and have the time get better, before he tries to find the culprits.

Marley and Roan find themselves falling hard for each other, though Roan feels there is no future, since he will probably get killed going after the attackers.  But everything he was missing all his life, was right there in Marley… love, happiness, family, togetherness. Will Roan give up everything he has always wanted to pursue a dangerous mission and leave Marley?

Marley was not only sweet, gentle, caring and lovable to everyone, but she is also very strong and determined in her own rights.   She refuses to allow Roan to put himself in danger, and is determined to help him.

What follows is an exciting action packed adventure that will put all of them in danger, as they try to find out who is behind the murder, as well as the stolen cattle off the ranch.  Most of all, the main villain is evil, and determined to get Marley at any cost.  Can Roan save her?

To Catch a Texas Star is a unique and wonderful story of two people very much different who will find love for each other, find a way to survive the evil chasing them throughout this story.

I really loved this heartwarming story, as Marley and Roan were a wonderful  couple.  Spending time with Duel, Jessie and the other children was also fun. Linda Broday once again gives us another wonderful couple, sweet romance,  great secondary characters, action and so very well written.  I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed this heartwarming story, and the wonderful characters Linda Broday has created.  I strongly suggest you read To Catch a Texas Star.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Unable to bear the torture, Roan whirled and crushed his lips to Marley’s.
A hunger so powerful that it hurt to breathe spread through him, rushing along his limbs and touching off a whirlwind inside him. He stood in the storm and let the emotion wash over his body, healing his ragged spirit and muzzling his fear.
A raspy moan escaped. His heart beating like a thundering herd of buffalo, he held Marley so tightly against him that he expected her to complain. If he could somehow open himself up and draw her inside, he would. He’d protect her with every bit of strength he had and carry the beautiful woman with him forever.
Dear, God, he wanted her. Wanted her more than anything in the world. His hands roamed over her curves, memorizing every indentation and soft swell. She seemed to be learning every inch of him as well, and the way she clutched, kneaded, and caressed him spoke of a great need of her own.
The air seemed to vibrate with this craving that swept through him. His senses filled with her, Roan deepened the kiss and backed her against a work table where they repaired harnesses and saddles. Tightening his grip, he lifted her onto the planks. She reached for him, knocking off his hat and it tumbled to the floor.
His heartbeat roared in his ears and drowned out everything except this overpowering desire for her.
How long they stood wrapped in each other’s arms, he didn’t know. He was barely conscious of where they were, or of the dawn breaking. Men and children would spill out any second and find them.
It took everything he had to break the kiss. He tenderly brushed a tendril of hair from her eyes and studied her dark eyes. “You’re like those shooting stars we watched. You blaze across a man’s life with such a streak of color and pageantry it steals a man’s breath. You’re my Texas star, Marley Rose McClain. That is if you don’t object to the title.”
His Texas Star. Yes, that’s exactly what she would always be.
Marley’s breath hitched. “That’s beautiful. I’ve never been compared to a shooting star before.”
“Well, you are. I don’t know what the future holds or if I’ll ever see you again,” he mumbled against her mouth. “Keep shining, Texas Star, for as long as you live.”
“I will.” Marley’s glistening gaze met his and she ran a fingertip along his jawline. “No promises, no regrets.”
“None.” The rooster finally crowed, reminding Roan he’d best hurry. “Maybe you’ll write a story one day about me and how you saved my life one frosty morn.”
Tears bubbled in her eyes. “You’d better come back or I’ll come looking for you.”
“You will, huh?”
“I’ll brave a den of snakes and go through a hail of bullets to get to you, and you can count on that.” Marley straightened his collar and picked a piece of lint from his coat. “You’re a handsome man, Roan Penny. Women are going to chase you, but it doesn’t mean you have to let them catch you.” Her voice broke.
Roan swallowed a lump in his throat. This was tearing him up inside.
With a cry, she tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him close for another kiss.
“I’ll pray for you, Roan,” she whispered.
“Save your prayers for those who believe in their power.”
Before the banked fire had a chance to flare again, Roan stepped away from her and issued a stern warning. “Don’t come after me. I mean it. You don’t know the danger waiting in San Saba. If they knew I cared for you, they’d kill you. Promise you’ll stay here. You have to promise not to come after my sorry hide. Go on with your life.”
Marley shook her head, her dark eyes large in the low light. “I can’t do that.”

 

 

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Even Money / Double Down (All In Duet 1 & 2) by Alessandra Torre-reviews

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EVEN MONEY / DOUBLE DOWN (All In Duet 1 & 2) by Alessandra Torre-reviews

EVEN MONEY
(All In Duet #1)
by Alessandra Torre
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2018

Sometimes it only takes a minute. A connection of eyes across a room, a quickened heartbeat, and everything changes.

I was a cocktail waitress with a fondness for partying and meaningless sex.
He owned half of Vegas, with the reputation to match.

I should have turned away. Instead, I stepped closer.

Then, the lies started.
Rumors spread.
Stalking commenced.
And someone died.

None of it stopped me from falling in love.

*This is book 1 in a duet.

••••••

REVIEW: EVEN MONEY is the first instalment in Alessandra Torre’s contemporary, adult ALL IN romantic suspense duet focusing on thirty seven year old, Las Vegas billionaire and multiple casino owner Dario Capece, and twenty-two year old, college student /cocktail waitress Bell Hartley.

NOTE: Due to the story line content, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person point of view (Bell), and several third person perspectives including Dario Capece EVEN MONEY follows the forbidden relationship between Las Vegas billionaire casino owner Dario Capece, and twenty-two year old college student / cocktail waitress Bell Hartley. Bell Hartley is a struggling cocktail waitress working for an underground casino that caters to the uber rich and famous- those who wish to remain out of the public eye. Enter Las Vegas casino owner Dario Capece, a married, powerful, self-made billionaire, known as the king of Vegas, who worked his way up through the ranks including a ten-year marriage of convenience to the Majestic Casino heiress Gwen Hawk, a marriage, that for all intents and purposes was, in name only. Affairs and sex outside of the marriage is an accepted practice between the married couple but falling in love, with someone else, meant a change in status that was a difficult prospect to swallow. Meeting Bell Hartley threw all caution to the wind including his personal mandate never to fall in love, or to let any outside relationships interfere with his business or his wife.

Dario Capece wants Bell Hartley within minutes of meeting our story line heroine but Dario’s reputation as a manwh*re with a hard-nosed, take no prisoners attitude is only surpassed by the scathing reputation of his father in law Robert Hawk. Warned by her friends to not get involved with Dario Capece, Bell Hartley is drawn like a moth to a flame, an involvement that has attracted the attention of the man in charge. Bell Hartley is no withering wallflower but a tormented heroine whose own past is filled with betrayal and loss. What ensues is the insta-lust/inta-love relationship between Dario and Bell, and the fall-out as the upset to the status-quo means someone may be about to lose their life.

EVEN MONEY is an intriguing and suspenseful story line that reveals a number of heart-breaking backstories, the power of money, and the potential for greed and jealousy to destroy them all. The premise is edgy and fascinating; the characters are spirited, flawed and tragic; the romance is intimate, intense and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. EVEN MONEY ends on a cliffhanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

_______________

DOUBLE DOWN
(All In Duet #2)
by Alessandra Torre
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 18, 2018

In Vegas, there was one man who was off limits. One man… and I fell for him.

I knew there were risks. Still, I played the game. When Dario Capece called, I answered. When he beckoned, I came. When he broke all my rules, I looked the other way.

I knew there were risks. I just never realized they included death.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: DOUBLE DOWN is the second instalment in Alessandra Torre’s contemporary, adult ALL IN romantic suspense duet focusing on thirty-seven year old, Las Vegas billionaire and multiple casino owner Dario Capece, and twenty-two year old, college student /cocktail waitress Bell Hartley. DOUBLE DOWN should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately following the events and cliff hanger of book one EVEN MONEY.

Told from first person point of view (Bell Hartley), and several third person perspectives including Dario Capece DOUBLE DOWN follows in the aftermath of a tragedy that all but destroys Dario’s life. With Bell in hiding, Dario is forced to face his demons including the man he holds responsible for all that has happened, and possibly more. An ensuing investigation begins to point fingers in only one direction but a direction that could quickly bounce back to our story line hero. The relationship between Bell and Dario takes a backseat as a plan is put into motion to expose the truth, a truth that becomes more volatile with every reveal.

From murdered and missing girls, to a vendetta aimed at destroying them all, DOUBLE DOWN focuses on the take down of a man so corrupt that his remaining family vows vengeance against those perceived to be in the wrong. Just when their lives begin to settle down, the vendetta reaches another crisis point, and Bell becomes fodder for revenge against years of abuse and betrayal.

DOUBLE DOWN is a story of romance and love, and of one man who has found his happily ever after only to have it quickly pulled in the blink of an eye. The investigation and take down are quick; a number of details are behind the scenes and mostly implied; the conflict resolutions are questionable and without much fanfare or exposure. Overall, DOUBLE DOWN is an entertaining and engaging story but the rush to the finish, and open-ended conclusion left me a little unfulfilled. Alessandra Torre’s ALL IN duet is a dramatic and intense series that will captivate your attention until the very end.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Built to Last (Black Knights Inc #12) by Julie Ann Walker-Review, Excerpt and Giveaway Tour

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BUILT TO LAST (Black Knights Inc #12) by Julie Ann Walker-Review, Excerpt and Giveaway Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play / iTunes

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 3, 3018

Masterful, mysterious, and completely ruthless, Jamin “Angel” Agassi joined the Black Knights Inc. after a mission-gone-wrong forced him to undergo extensive plastic surgery and change his name. He’s going to bring down the world’s worst crime syndicate, and hopefully keep Sonya Butler, a love from his past, from discovering who he really is…

When a dark-eyed stranger gets caught up in Sonya’s latest mission, she starts to question all her hard-won instincts. Something about Angel tells her he’s more than he seems, and sometimes, when she least expects it, he reminds her of a man she used to know. As the bullets fly, she realizes that in love and war nothing is ever what it seems

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REVIEW:  BUILT TO LAST is the twelfth and final instalment in Julie Ann Walker’s contemporary, adult BLACK KNIGHTS INC romantic suspense /military, action series focusing on an elite group of ex Navy SEALS, FBI, CIA and military heroes headquartered and fronted by a custom motorcycle shop in Chicago known as Black Knights Inc. This is assassin Jamin ‘Angel’ Agassi, and thirty-two year old Interpol agent Sonya Butler’s story line. BUILT TO LAST can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in orders, especially the last few instalments, as there is an ongoing premise focusing on a terrorist known as ‘The Spider’.

Told from several third person points of view including Angel and Sonya BUILT TO LAST follows the rekindling romance between Interpol agent Sonya Butler and assassin Jamin ‘Angel’ Agassi, a man who is familiar to our heroine yet not. Ten years earlier, Sonya Butler saw her lover murdered trying to take down a bomber, and in the ensuing time has continued to grieve and never moved on. Fast forward to present day wherein Sonya will come face to face with a man, although unrecognizable, reminds our heroine of the love she has lost. Enter Jamin ‘Angel’ Agassi, Sonya’s former lover, and the man that will once again, destroy her heart. What ensues is the (re)building relationship between Angel and Sonya, as our couple unknowingly work together to stop the man they have come to know as ‘The Spider’.

Angel is an assassin, known as the Prince of Shadows, an assassin feared by all. Ten years under cover with an assumed identity finds Angel struggling to keep his secret from the woman he loves. Two weeks in her presence, and Angel battles both his attraction to, and the questionable circumstances under which, our heroine now finds herself working for the terrorist known as The Spider. Not only does Angel have secrets to hide but Sonya’s secrets are soon to be revealed.

Throughout the last few instalments there has been a building relationship between Colby ‘Ace’ Ventura and Rusty Parker. Their ongoing attraction to one another is stifled by Rusty’s inability to come out of the proverbial closet, a closet hindered by his family’s deep –rooted religious beliefs. A life and death situation opens his heart such that Rusty must come clean to the people he loves.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including most of the previous story line couples-some by cameo, updates or offhand mention. The author ‘introduces’ six new warriors who have been assigned to the BKI team-here’s hoping for a new spin-off.

BUILT TO LAST is a story of betrayal and vengeance; family and forgiveness; love and a happily ever after. The premise is intriguing, action packed and entertaining; the romance is passionate and fated; the characters are dynamic and charismatic. Julie Ann Walker’s BLACK KNIGHTS INC is an edgy, sassy and intelligent series with lovable heroes, and brilliant heroines.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Hell on Wheels
In Rides Trouble
Rev It Up
Thrill Ride
Born Wild
Hell For Leather
Full Throttle
Too Hard To Handle
Wild Ride
Fuel For Fire
Hot Pursuit
Built to Last

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

NOTE: Excerpt intended for mature readers 18+ due to language and sexual content

 

What was he doing? What the hell was he doing?
Oh, right. With everything he had, he was kissing the woman he’d fallen in love with a decade earlier and, God help him, loved still. His mind and body had traveled down I-Want-Your-Sex Road so fast that he’d missed his exit to This-Is-a-Really-Bad-Idea Town.
A really bad idea, he warned himself and followed that up with It isn’t fair to her.
Of course, when she slipped her tongue between his teeth, tentatively exploring, it took everything he had not to fall to his knees. Her mouth tasted of love and loss, of a wonderful and terrible past and a murky, tormented future.
It’s not fair, he silently reminded himself again. She doesn’t know who I am.
And yet she wanted him.
It was there in her eyes when she looked at him. A familiar longing. A confused, punch-drunk hunger that defied logic and reason because it was instinctual, a product of their lizard brains recognizing in each other the perfect physical mate. All the plastic surgery in the world couldn’t mask that.
“Mmm,” he hummed when she sucked on his tongue. Just a little. Just a nibble. He angled her head so he could align their mouths more closely.
In all the years that had passed, he had tried to convince himself their connection, their passion, had been a product of their youthful hearts. Two undisciplined lovers hungry to experience the thrill of the fall. But now? Oh, now, with her in his arms, with her mouth eager and greedy on his, he realized it had been so much more.
He didn’t believe in fated love or one-and-only’s, but neither could he discount the truth staring him in the face. Or, rather, the truth gripping his shoulders and trying to inhale him.
No woman had ever come close to touching his heart the way Sonya had. And certainly no woman had ever brought him the kind of pleasure she did.
And believe me, he thought as he nipped her plump bottom lip, knowing it would make her gasp, I let plenty of them try.
Since he’d left her, he hadn’t exactly lived the life of a monk. Looking back, he realized he’d been searching for Sonya inside other women, looking for that same connection, that same spark. But no matter how hard he’d tried, no matter how many birds he’d bounced atop countless beds, he’d always come up empty-handed.
Now, he realized that was because Sonya was it. The one. The standard by which he’d judged women and beauty and bravery and grace. He’d compared every smile to her smile, every laugh to her laugh. To him, she was everything a woman should be, her name branded upon his heart.
Fool that he was, he took great delight in knowing she felt the same, knowing she’d only ever loved one man. Him.
Or, at least she loved me as I was back then, he thought, stepping in to her until she was flush along his front, loving the feminine heat rolling off her body and the way she didn’t hesitate to rub herself against him.
That was the problem, wasn’t it? Not that she rubbed herself against him; that was heaven on earth. But that she loved him as he was back then. Because—and this was God’s honest truth—that man was dead in all the ways that counted. When Mark had become Majid who had, in turn, become Angel, he’d given up his home, his name, his face…and the woman he loved.
He’d done it in the name of Israel and freedom and the lives of innocent people everywhere including hers. But he’d done it nonetheless. He’d left her.
Left her to miss him. Left her to mourn him. Left her to fend for herself in a treacherous and merciless world. And look what had happened. She’d fallen into the grasp of a man like Grafton.
How can she ever forgive me?
Anguish grabbed hold of his heart and shoved it into his throat at the same time she grabbed the back of his head and went up on tiptoe to press herself more firmly against him.
When guilt had threatened to swamp him over the years, he had always been able to justify things to himself and chase the insidious emotion away. Now, knowing what had become of her, knowing if he had stayed, she wouldn’t be in this awful position, remorse wormed its way inside his gut and set up shop.
He’d wronged her for the right reasons. He’d made a decision that broke their hearts and quite possibly saved their lives. He’d wrecked their little world to make the larger one safer for everyone.
Yet…was it possible there might have been another way? Could he have answered the call of his country and his ramsad and held on to the woman he loved? Ten years ago, he would have insisted that how things had happened was the only way any of it could have happened. Today? Well, today a seed of doubt had been planted.
It was all so complicated. So confusing.
There were only two things he knew for sure. First, he was determined to figure out why she allowed herself to work for Grafton, to discover precisely what the bastard had on her to keep her under his thumb if it wasn’t her love and loyalty to the jewel thief. Second, along with bringing Grafton/Spider down, he was determined to save Sonya. She didn’t deserve this fate she’d found for herself. He believed that with everything inside him.
His thoughts dissolved then because her starved and impatient kisses turned abandoned. She’d lost herself to passion, hungrily devouring his lips and tongue and running her hands over his shoulders, up into his short hair. His mind drifted back to a time when his thick, dark locks had been long enough for her to curl her fingers around. His cock responded to her wicked seduction by straining against the fly of his jeans, seeking the heat and the soft give of her belly.
She moaned with pleasure.
He moaned for more of her.


 

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Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of award-winning romantic suspense. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award, been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award. Her latest release was named a Top Ten Romance of 2014 by Booklist. Her books have been described as “alpha, edgy, and downright hot.” Most days you can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Be sure to sign up for Julie’s occasional newsletter at: http://julieannwalker.com

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