Monthly Archives: September 2018

Bound for Sin by Tess LeSue – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Posted on by
18

Bound for Sin by Tess LeSue – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

 

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
WANTED: A resourceful frontiersman, for the purpose of matrimony…

When Georgiana Bee Blunt advertises for a husband, she’s not looking for a handsome man, or a smart man, or a charming man. What she wants is a brute. A no-nonsense, capable backwoodsman who won’t trouble her with talk of love; she just wants someone to get her and her fatherless children safely to California. Matt Slater seems to fit the bill perfectly. The man looks like he could wrestle a bear and not even break a sweat. The only problem is he doesn’t want a wife. Well, not the only problem…

Truth be told, Georgiana has more problems than she knows what to do with. Left holding a gold claim by her not-so-dearly departed husband, Georgina finds her eldest son held ransom by the sinister Hec Boehm and his henchmen, and herself facing a journey of more than two thousand miles to rescue him. With four children in tow. And no nanny.

All Matt Slater wants is to be left alone. He’s spent most his life on his lonesome in the wilderness, and he’s comfortable that way. But then a widow with big blue eyes and the tenacity of a buffalo turns his entire life upside down, and before he knows it, he’s playing caretaker to a pack of kids…and trying not to succumb to their mother’s charms.

 

 

Review:

Bound for Sin by Tess LeSue is the 2nd book in her western historical romance Frontiers of the Heart series.  The story take place during the Gold Rush Days, and LeSue gives us a perfect look at life during those times. 

We meet our heroine Georgina at the start, with her interviewing candidates for a husband.   Georgina needs to find herself a strong man, who can help her go back to California to help find her oldest son, who is being held for ransom (gold land claim).  She has her 4 young children in tow with her, which makes things difficult for her, since the children are a handful.  

Matt Slater, our hero, is the brother of Luke Slater (first book hero), and plans to travel home to Oregon, but on the way will lead a wagon train through rough terrain.  He meets the pretty Georgina, but is determined to stay clear of her trying to find a husband.  He does convince her to join his wagon train, as she will be safe with them. Georgina finds the rugged handsome Matt just what she wants, especially with her also feeling attracted to him.    In a short time, Matt will give in to become her fake fiancée, to help her get around the men following her to make sure she goes to California. 

Once they all leave for the rough trek, Matt will slowly find himself enamored by Georgina, and she even more so, as she watches how he manages to control her children, and they all care for him.  Can Georgina win Matt over?

I loved the way Matt was so great with the kids; perfect father material.  It did not take long for him to give into his feelings for Georgina, as their chemistry was scorching. Together they make plans to go to California to get her son. 

I do not want to tell too much more, as the last ¼ of the book had some twists and turns, which changes things drastically.  What follows is a sweet adventure with some danger, excitement and the humorous banter between Matt and Georgina.   I really liked them together, but there were so many issues that kept them apart; even to the point that I was beginning to lose hope.  Especially as we got closer to the end, things were happily looking up, and a surprise twist blows it all away.  Will Matt ever find happiness with Georgina?  You will have to read the book to find out. 

It was a very intense but satisfying finish.  Bound for Sin was a sweet fun historical western that was exciting, romantic  and humorous, with a great couple.  I suggest you read Bound for Sin, which was very well written by Tess LeSue.    I look forward to the next book by Tess LeSue.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

by Tess LeSue

When I was a kid I was mad for the Anne of Green Gables TV mini-series. I’d read the books but the mini-series was something else again. It was an idyllic, pretty world, complete with a bittersweet soundtrack that was so romantic it made my heart ache. I used to watch my video tapes of it at least once a week, without fail. Both the original series and the sequel, when Anne broke my heart by turning down Gilbert Blythe, and then mended it again by realizing she’d loved him all along.  Who can forget their first kiss, on a twilit autumn bridge over a shining pond? I loved the nostalgia of both series, the sense of time passing, and moments being lost, of the present becoming the past. I loved the sheer beauty of it: the blossoms and wind-swept beaches, the snow-covered fields and the thick woods. I loved Gilbert Blythe; he was the perfect romantic hero. He was tall, dark, handsome, smart – and he knew he loved Anne from the moment he saw her. He didn’t waver. He knew he she was, warts and all, and he loved everything about her. Oh, the look in his eyes when she rejected him. That breathless pain. I also loved Matthew and Marilla and the way they stumbled into parenting, startled by their own joy. I loved the sprawling cast of secondary characters: kindred spirits and inspiring teachers; gossipy neighbours and kind storekeepers; postmistresses and pastors; entire interlocked communities of people, living simple but rich lives, in a time before globalism or modernity. Most of all I loved Anne, who is a heroine for the ages. Whip-smart and independent-minded, she always got back on her feet after a setback and forged ahead no matter the obstacles; she was passionate and impulsive; she was kind. She loved books. She wasn’t afraid to compete with the boys.

When I was a kid watching Anne of Green Gables I never thought of it as a Western, but in many ways it is. A mannered Canadian Western. It’s about a small farming community at the turn of the century, and a girl who arrives, wide-eyed with wonder at the beauty and opportunity she finds. There are dirt roads, horses and carriages, and a simple country life: picking apples, baking, milking cows, going to school in a simple one-room school house. There are hay rides and cotillions, scandals and enduring friendships. While it differs from the American Western in many ways, it has many intersections, not least of which is the intrinsic melancholy for a time and a place that has passed. I kept thinking of Anne of Green Gables as I wrote Bound for Sin (I even re-watched the series, the TV in on the background as I wrote) because for me the thrill and comfort of Anne is also the thrill and comfort I look for in a romance set in the west.

My work is nothing like Anne of Green Gables, and yet the echoes are there. The sprawling casts of characters: quirky and funny and interlocked, their lives woven together so tightly that they can never extricate themselves from one another. Westerns are about people and the ways they forge new communities in wild places. The beauty of both the natural world and the simple life are central to Anne of Green Gables, and are also the focus of the entire ‘Frontiers of the Heart’ series. In Bound for Sin my characters cover almost two thousand miles of some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world: we see the breathtaking beauty of the Cascades, the bleached power of deserts, the majesty of the grasslands in a storm. And, just like Anne, my heroine Georgiana wants nothing more than a place to call home.

In a western home is a modest concept (although not so modest it doesn’t come with comforts). Home is a patch of land and a house, the bounty of nature at your doorstep, family around you, food in the larder, and the chance to live free. Desires common to most humans. When I think of Georgiana’s end point, it’s not unlike Green Gables: a whitewashed house under spreading shade trees, rockers on a wraparound porch, fields and forests for the children to roam, and a kitchen that always has coffee on the stove and a pie on the table. Only Georgiana also has a husband beside her, making short work of both the coffee and the pie, and keeping her well accompanied through the long winter nights.

In this age we live in – of technological saturation, information overload, and 24/7 busyness – the fantasy of old-fashioned country life is a comfort. When you pick up a western, you can leave all the 21st century problems behind and strike out for a new place, a place that isn’t citified, a place where you can enjoy the simple pleasures, and put love in the centre of the story.

 

 

Tess’s publisher is offering a paper copy of BOUND FOR SIN 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 Tess LeSue 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. Giveaway open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from September 5 -9, 2018

 

Share

The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig & Karen White -a Review

Posted on by
12

The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig & Karen White -a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
A captivating historical mystery, infused with romance, that links the lives of three women across a century—two deep in the past, one in the present—to the doomed passenger liner, RMS Lusitania.

May 2013
Her finances are in dire straits and bestselling author Sarah Blake is struggling to find a big idea for her next book. Desperate, she breaks the one promise she made to her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother and opens an old chest that belonged to her great-grandfather, who died when the RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915. What she discovers there could change history. Sarah embarks on an ambitious journey to England to enlist the help of John Langford, a recently disgraced Member of Parliament whose family archives might contain the only key to the long-ago catastrophe. . . .

April 1915
Southern belle Caroline Telfair Hochstetter’s marriage is in crisis. Her formerly attentive industrialist husband, Gilbert, has become remote, pre-occupied with business . . . and something else that she can’t quite put a finger on. She’s hoping a trip to London in Lusitania’s lavish first-class accommodations will help them reconnect—but she can’t ignore the spark she feels for her old friend, Robert Langford, who turns out to be on the same voyage. Feeling restless and longing for a different existence, Caroline is determined to stop being a bystander, and take charge of her own life. . . .

Tessa Fairweather is traveling second-class on the Lusitania, returning home to Devon. Or at least, that’s her story. Tessa has never left the United States and her English accent is a hasty fake. She’s really Tennessee Schaff, the daughter of a roving con man, and she can steal and forge just about anything. But she’s had enough. Her partner has promised that if they can pull off this one last heist aboard the Lusitania, they’ll finally leave the game behind. Tess desperately wants to believe that, but Tess has the uneasy feeling there’s something about this job that isn’t as it seems. . . .

As the Lusitania steams toward its fate, three women work against time to unravel a plot that will change the course of their own lives . . . and history itself. 

 

Review:

The Glass Ocean is written by three bestselling authors (Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White), and it was done so well and seamlessly.  The Glass Ocean is centered on the Lusitania ship, with three POV’s; three woman, two from the 1915 period and one in modern day (2013). 

In the modern day time period, we meet Sarah Blake, a bestselling author, who is in the midst of a writer’s block, when she opens an old chest that belonged to her great grandfather.  What she finds will take her to England to investigate the connection between her great-grandfather and another man (Robert Langford), who were both on the Lusitania. Sarah will only be able to get so far, until she meets John Langford, a descendant of Robert.  At first John, wants nothing to do with Sarah and her quest, but finally decides to work with her to uncover some mysteries and a possible betrayal.

In May, 1915 we meet two women who are on board the Lusitania.  Caroline Hochstetter, the beautiful and elegant wife of Gilbert, a successful businessman, who has been very secretive and distant with her while on the ship.  Caroline loves her husband, but she is dismayed that he has been busy and away during their trip.  It is Robert Langford, who always had a crush on Caroline, and who will spend more time with her during her husband’s absence. 

We also meet Tess Fairweather, who is on the Lusitania to steal and forge an important document that her sister has set up.  Tess begins to suspect that something is wrong, and cannot get the truth from her sister.  She ends up befriending Robert Langsford, and in time he will discover that she is not who she says she is.

What follows is a compelling and interesting story that will eventually tie all three pieces together, with Carolyn, Tess eventually meeting during the catastrophic bombing of the Lusitania, as well as Robert.  It will be Sarah and John who find missing documents to flesh out the truth of what happened in 1915, and who survived. 

The Glass Ocean not only was a captivating mystery, with espionage, betrayals, love affairs, and the history of the Lusitania in background.  I enjoyed the additions of nice romances building up between some of the main characters, as well as the majestic glamour descriptions of the ship.  The Glass Ocean was written so very well, and I strongly suggest you read this book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Share

Dark Sentinel (Carpathian / Dark Series #28) by Christine Feehan-Dual Review & Giveaway

Posted on by
38

DARK SENTINEL (Carpathians / Dark Series #28) by Christine Feehan-Dual Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

DARK SENTINEL
Carpathian / Dark Series #28
by Christine Feehan
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: adult, paranormal, erotic, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 4,2018

After the devastating loss of her entire family, Lorraine Peters heads to the woods searching for peace of mind and anything to quell the anger in her soul. Instead, she stumbles upon a scene of horrific violence, as one man lies helpless in the face of three attackers.

Andor Katona’s existence has been a harsh one, living for centuries as a monk in the Carpathian Mountains. Unable to find his lifemate, he almost welcomes his release from a colorless and unfeeling world at the hands of the vampire hunters who have mistaken him for their prey. That is, until a whirling ball of fury bursts onto the scene, determined to save him.

In one glimpse, in one breath, Andor recognizes Lorraine as his lifemate, but it will take more than their telepathic connection to convince her of their immortal bond. Lorraine is a lethal combination of cunning and courage. So much so that she captures the attention of a master vampire, one who has already lost what was once irreplaceable to him. One who will strike with deadly precision at Andor and his ancient Carpathian comrades in a war to end all wars.

•••••••••

Sandy’s REVIEW: DARK SENTINEL is the twenty-eighth instalment in Christine Feehan’s CARPATHIANS/DARK erotic, paranormal, romance series. This is ancient warrior Andor Katona, and Lorraine Peters’ story line. DARK SENTINEL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although there is an ongoing series arc that continues in Dark Sentinel. Several of the previous story line characters play secondary and supporting roles including a number of warriors, from a Carpathian monastery, who have yet to find their lifemates.

SOME BACKGROUND: All Carpathian males must find their lifemates before they turn vampire or greet the dawn. Without a lifemate, the males no longer see in color, feel pain or experience emotions. A lifemate is the light to their dark. She is the keeper of his heart and the keeper of his soul. As the unmated Carpathian male ages, the darkness begins to envelope his soul.

 Told from dual third person perspectives (Andor and Lorraine) DARK SENTINEL continues to focus on a group of ancient Carpathian warriors, nearing the end of their search for a lifemate, who had previously locked themselves away from the world in a monastery high in the Carpathian mountains. A call to help their fellow warriors in America found our hero Andor Katona fighting the evil that had once been a proud Carpathian male. Close to death, Andor would face his future in the guise of human female Lorraine Peters, a woman willing to risk her life to protect a stranger who was telepathically announcing the end of his life. With just a few spoken words from our story line heroine, Andor knew that the brave but stubborn female was his fated lifemate. What ensues is Lorraine’s effort to help heal the man with whom she is falling in love, as a powerful vampire resurfaces in an effort to find his own fated mate.

DARK SENTINEL follows the building relationship between ancient warrior Andor Katona, and Lorraine Peters. Lorraine easily accepts the existence of vampires and the Carpathian species but struggles with the ‘fated lifemate’ aspect of their lives. As a human female with strong psychic capabilities Lorraine soon finds herself traversing between ‘planes of existence’ as the Carpathian healers battle to save Andor’s life but our heroine remains hesitant to give up control of her human life.

Andor Katona gave up all hope of finding the light to his dark; his other half knowing to hide away in a mountainous monastery would in effect hide the warriors from any potential mate. Moving to America to aid in the war against the growing army of vampires, Andor knows that Lorraine is his salvation but convincing the woman, is a task on its own. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

DARK SENTINEL follows all the hallmarks of Christine Feehan’s CARPATHIAN/ DARK series including the stubborn heroine, and a Carpathian male who is duty bound to protect the woman he loves. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including the reappearance of infamous healer Gary Daratrazanoff, as well as a number of former Carpathian monastery warriors. Details continue to emerge regarding the Malinov brothers and their decision to turn vampire, including new information not previously revealed. The vampires have acquired the ability to formulate plans, something else that is slowly changing the series arc. The premise is entertaining and revealing but bogs down with too much repetition; the characters are bold and colorful; the romance is fated and spicy. DARK SENTINEL is an intriguing and detailed story , one that will be enjoyed by die-hard Feehan fans.

 

Barb’s Review: Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan is the 28th book in her fantastic Dark/Carpathian series.  I must say that I am thrilled that Christine Feehan has returned to what made the Dark series so successful.  After a number of books where the Carpathian men were very abusive, I had thought perhaps the time had come to move on, but that has happily changed.

Andor Katona, our hero, is one of the men who spent years in the monastery living as a monk, and is now living with Tariq’s group in their compound in the US. After a major battle where he killed a few vampires, Andor is attacked by humans who have become puppets by a master vampire, and he lays badly injured; he decides that perhaps now is the time to end his life.  But out of nowhere comes a woman swinging a saucepan at the three men to protect Andor.  To his shock her voice reaches him and he begins to see color; finally after centuries, he has found his lifemate.

Lorraine Peters, our heroine, loves the peace and quiet of the woods, and while camping she discovers the badly beaten man being attacked, and instincts push her to help save him. Of course, Lorraine doesn’t believe in vampires, and in a short time, she will learn that there is a different life out there.   Lorraine tries to protect Andor, whom she feels some attraction to, from being attacked further.  A few of Andor’s friends come to his rescue and to Lorraine, when she is attacked.  One of our favorites, Gary, plays a big part in this story, as he is the healer who will save Andor, along with two other Carpathians. 

What follows is a wonderful story, where Andor and Lorraine, work with Gary, Sandu and Ferro to destroy the puppets, and quickly return to Tariq Asenguard’s home, to prepare for whatever Sergei Malinov is planning against them. When Lorraine was attacked, they feared Malinov implanted something in her, but nothing was found.  In the previous book, we learned that Sergei is trying to take Elisabeta, who is underground healing. I expect we will learn more about her in the next book.

I loved Andor and Lorraine together.  She was a great heroine, a tough fighter, who willingly accepted Andor’s and Carpathian’s lifestyle.  Andor was so wonderful & patient with Lorraine, such a welcome change. Their romance heated up quickly, but though very sexual, Andor was so good with Lorraine.  It was also nice to spend time with Tariq, Charlotte, Genevieve, Emeline, Dragomire, and the children we got to know in the previous two books. 

In Dark Sentinel, so much happens to keep us glued to our seats, and I could not put the book down.  The exciting storyline plots; the return of Sergei Malinov;  a strong wonderful  heroine and a hero who not only worshipped his life mate, but treated her  like a queen, and the great recurring characters in Tariq’s compound. I loved Dark Sentinel.

Dark Sentinel was a fantastic, exciting, non-stop pulse pounding story, with a wonderful couple we rooted for from the beginning. The story does end somewhat abrupt with knowing that we still have more with the Malinovs still around, I can’t wait to see where Christine will be taking us in the next book.

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

“Are you comfortable?” Andor kept his gaze fixed on Lorraine’s face. She clearly had no idea how beautiful she was, or what danger she was in. She was confident in her skills to protect herself, and he understood why. She had training. She was far better than average when it came to defending herself, man or woman. The problem was, she was dealing with a Carpathian, not a human and he had no intentions of letting her get away.
“Yes. I should ask you the same thing.” She turned her head to look down at him.
She had finished covering him up to his neck in rich, dark soil. Already he could feel the healing properties working on his wounds. He wasn’t out of the woods, so to speak. He needed more blood and a good healer. He had sent out the call to his brethren, using their common path, not the one used by most Carpathians. Vampires would have been able to hear that one as well.
“I am as comfortable as possible.” He was, as much as he could be under the circumstances, but he needed to shut down his heart and lungs, to keep from losing any more blood. He had definitely slowed the leaks, but until he could get a healer there to help him, he was still in trouble.
He sent her a small smile. “You’re indulging me.”
She turned on her side and propped her head up with one hand. “Yes. I figure if you’re right, and the soil helps, it’s all to the good. If you’re wrong and you get some raging infection, at least I granted your last wish before you died.”
“I have decided I want to live.”
“The great debate you had going earlier. It didn’t make sense until I saw all those wounds on your body. You really were in a battle before the three stooges showed up.”
He picked up from her mind that the reference to “three stooges” was from a long-ago television show. Her natural shields were lowered because she’d started to grow comfortable with him. He knew he would have to work on that with her. They could never take the chance that a vampire nearby might read her thoughts, or creep into her mind.
“I was in a battle. I know I look like I didn’t do very well against them, but in my defense, there were several of them. I managed to defeat them, and while I was trying to heal the wounds, the band of assassins showed up.” There was just the slightest bit of ego in telling her the truth. He didn’t want her to think her lifemate couldn’t take care of her.
“I wondered how they managed to sneak up on you and do so much damage.”
“To heal a body, one has to shed their own body and become pure spirit. I didn’t have anyone guarding the empty shell I left behind. That gave them their opportunity.”
Her eyes widened. “Could you do that now? I could guard you. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” Her tone was skeptical but hopeful.
He nearly groaned. He wasn’t making a good showing as a potential husband or mate. “I’m too weak.”
“I’ll give you more blood.”
It was a generous offer considering she didn’t like anything to do with blood and she would have to remove the shields completely from her mind as she’d done before. “Thank you, sívamet. I appreciate your offer and certainly will take you up on it later, but at the moment, I wish to hear your voice. It soothes me and keeps the pain at bay.”


 

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 70 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, Ghostwalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series and Torpedo Ink. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.

Follow: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

 

The Reading Cafe and Christine’s Feehan’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of DARK SENTINEL to ONE 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 LIKE Christine Feehan on Facebook

4. Please 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 open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from September 4-8, 2018

Share

Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

Posted on by
13

Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb – a Review

 

Leverage in Death
In-Death series – Book #47
by J.D. Robb
Release Date: September 4, 2018

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository / iBooks

 

Description:
Lieutenant Eve Dallas puzzles over a bizarre suicide bombing in a Wall St. office building in the latest in the #1 New York Times bestselling series…

For the airline executives finalizing a merger that would make news in the business world, the nine a.m. meeting would be a major milestone. But after marketing VP Paul Rogan walked into the plush conference room, strapped with explosives, the headlines told of death and destruction instead. The NYPSD’s Eve Dallas confirms that Rogan was cruelly coerced by two masked men holding his family hostage. His motive was saving his wife and daughter―but what was the motive of the masked men?

Despite the chaos and bad publicity, blowing up one meeting isn’t going to put the brakes on the merger. All it’s accomplished is shattering a lot of innocent lives. Now, with the help of her billionaire husband Roarke, Eve must untangle the reason for an inexplicable act of terror, look at suspects inside and outside both corporations, and determine whether the root of this crime lies in simple sabotage, or something far more complex and twisted.

 

 

 

Review:

Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb is the 47th book in her fantastic In-Death series. As most of you know, I am an In-Death fanatic, having now read 47 full length novels, and all the novellas of this series, and as always…I never want this series to end.  I love Eve Dallas and Roarke, as they continue to be the best literary couple. 

Once again, Eve is thrown into a horrific case, which involves a suicide bombing at a merger meeting in an office.  With 11 dead and others badly injured, Eve and her team discover that the bomber, Paul Rogan, was a VP of one of the companies planning their merger.  With the survivors noting that Rogan was acting strangely, apologizing before he set off the bomb.  Eve, Peabody and the team will go to Rogan’s house and discover the wife tied up and the young daughter locked in a room; both were severely traumatized.  They learn that two men came in the middle of the night and threatened their deaths, if Paul did not follow their instructions, which included fitting him with a lethal explosive vest.

With Roarke’s financial knowledge, Eve will discover the motive of the men behind the bombing.  With the merger put on hold, the stock as expected dramatically dropped, but later that day, announcements were made that the merger was still on, causing the stock to rise up again.  Those who bought the stock at the low price, made a lot of money.

What follows is an intense and suspenseful case, with the team desperate to find the murderers, before this happens again.  In a short time, there will be a murder of a person of interest, and then another suicide bombing will occur, with that family also terrorized.  Eve, Peabody, Baxter & Trueheart will desperately try to find a common bond linking the murders.  I will not give spoilers, as saying too much more would ruin it for you.

Leverage in Death was another wonderful intense, wildly exciting murder mystery in the wonderful world of Eve and Roarke, and the great supporting cast that surrounds them.  Believe me when I say there is no better group of recurring secondary characters then in this series.

Within the tense story, it was nice to see Eve take care of Peabody and McNab, allowing them to go to Hollywood to attend the Oscars for Nadine’s book turned into a movie.  The reactions of Peabody was a blast.  It was also sweet fun to see Mavis (who was going to sing at the Oscars) and Bella, who was all over Eve.  It is always precious to see this, especially since Eve is not really good with babies.  Of course, it goes without saying that the romance between Eve and Roarke is wonderful, as their love for each other shows so well.  I always adore Galahad, their cat.

Leverage in Death was so well written by Robb, and there were some hold your breath moments that kept us on the edge of our seats, especially in a major fight between Eve and one of the murderers.  Wow.   If you have not read this series, you are missing one of the best thrillers, with a super couple, and awesome secondary characters.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

One Perfect Kiss by Jaci Burton – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Posted on by
34

One Perfect Kiss by Jaci Burton – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / iBooks / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Josie Barnes has always craved a sense of home. She’s found that in Hope, Oklahoma–she bought a house, has a new job as an English teacher at Hope High, she’s made wonderful friends, and she’s taking in stray animals that no one else wants. Now she’s flirting with fellow teacher and hot high school football coach Zach Powers. But he’s almost too good to be true, and Josie learned long ago not to trust in the too-good-to-be-true, because it has always let her down.

A former pro football player, Zach had to pull back when a career-ending knee injury forced him to rethink his future. Now he’s happy calling plays as Coach. If he could just get Josie Barnes to stop benching his players for their poor grades, life would be perfect. Instead, she drives him crazy as the stern teacher at school and the sexy woman of his dreams outside of the classroom. He knows she’s been hurt in the past, but he wants to be that guy she can trust.

The one thing Josie has never been able to count on is the people closest to her. But Zach intends to show her that what they have between them is a textbook case of love

 

 

Review:

One Perfect Kiss by Jaci Burton is the 8th book in her wonderful Hope series. This series is a wonderful small town romance, with a great couple that Burton continues to give us in each and every book.  It is always great to visit Hope and get to see all of our favorite recurring characters (previous book couples). 

One Perfect Kiss introduces us to our couple, Zach Powers and Josie Barnes; both of whom are teachers at Hope High.   Zach is a former pro football player, who had to quit due to a knee injury, and ended up in Hope as a teacher and football coach.

Josie is an English teacher at the High School, and is content in her life in Hope.  She has made good friends (all of whom we met in previous books), but Josie is not interested in becoming involved with anyone.  She is divorced, with her ex leaving her and also must deal with her distant mother, who is a drug addict.

When Josie puts two football players on probation because of bad grades, Zach comes to her upset.  He agrees to work with his two players to help them pass, and she will remove them from probation, allowing them to play.  This opens the door for both of them to spend some time together getting to know each other.  In a short time, despite Josie’s determination not to become involved, a slow built romance starts to heat up.  Zach begins to fall for Josie, and knows he needs to be patient, as she has some issues from the past holding her back.  Their relationship will become hotter, as they both succumb to their feelings.  I did love Zach and how he was able to get Josie to trust him. 

Besides spending time with all of our favorites, I absolutely adored Zach’s dog, Wilson, whom he adopted with Josie’s persuasion.  I also got a kick out of Tumbles, Josie’s cat, who at first was not friendly to Zach, who ended up calling him all kinds of nicknames (satan, prince of darkness,etc).  It was cute, and in time Tumbles and Zach would become friends.

Josie’s relationship with her mother did have a big impact on her life, but with her life changing as she falls in love with Zach, she attempts to find a way to help her mother into rehab.

Jaci Burton once again gives us a sweet heartwarming story line, with another wonderful couple, a sensational group of friends, and the small town atmosphere of Hope. If you enjoy sweet, sexy romances, great couples, friendships, family, cute dogs and cats, then you need to be reading this series.  You can’t get wrong reading anything by Jaci Burton.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

He turned to face her and pulled her against him. Her body was hot and he wanted to touch her skin without the impediment of clothes between them. His fingers roamed her back, and that heat licked along his fingertips, making him itch to explore her further.
“I’m happy to help enhance your kissing experience.”
She tilted her head back. “I have experience with kissing, Zach.”
“I imagine you do. We should put our experiences together and see how that goes. If you’re interested.”
“I’m interested, and you should most definitely kiss me.”
He moved in, but then Wilson butted in between them and barked.
That heated moment dissipated in an instant.
Josie laughed and took a step back. Zach frowned and stared down at Wilson, who was dancing between them.
“I think he might need to pee,” she said.
“Dude, we were just outside. You peed on everything.”
Wilson continued to wag his tail, so Zach went to the back door and opened it, then went outside with the dog, who dashed over to a nearby tree and, sure enough, peed on it.
“Okay, Wilson. I’m noting you have the smallest bladder in town.”
“Hey, at least he let you know he had to go out,” Josie said, coming up beside him and sliding her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “That’s more than most dogs would do on day one at a new place. You should praise him and give him a treat.”
“For using a bush as a urinal?”
“Yes. That’s how you encourage him to do the same thing the next time.”
He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “The next time I want to kiss you?”
She laughed. “These lips aren’t going anywhere. Except inside. It’s getting a little chilly out here.”
“Okay. Go pick out a bottle of wine. I’ll hang out here with the dog for a while and see if there’s anything else he wants to do.”
“See? Now you’re getting the hang of being a dog daddy.”
He grimaced. “Dog daddy? Please don’t ever call me that again.”
She grinned, then disappeared. Zach wandered the yard with Wilson, who, despite sniffing every blade of grass, every bush and tree trunk, did nothing else remarkable, so they finally went back inside. Josie had some stuff piled up on the kitchen island.
“Hey, I rummaged while you and Wilson were outside. Hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t.”
“Good. I figured you’d want to watch the game—” She lifted her head up. “Some game or whatever. If you’re not particular about what game, I have suggestions.”
He walked into the kitchen. “You do, huh?”
“I do. Anyway, I found cheese and fruit and awesome crackers in your pantry. You are well stocked. I’m impressed.”
“I like to eat and it pisses me off when there’s no food in the house.”
“Good food, apparently.”
Wilson trotted over to the water bowl and took several long drinks. Zach pulled his attention back to Josie, who had apparently found the bottle opener because she was pulling the cork out of a bottle.
“Something wrong with good food?” he asked.
“Not in my book. You want wine?”
“Sure.”
She’d made herself at home in his kitchen. He didn’t know how to feel about that. His kitchen, hell his entire house, was his domain.
He liked people just fine, enjoyed entertaining them and hanging out with them, but usually never on his own turf. There were a lot of reasons for him choosing to keep his home base to himself, and Josie making herself comfortable here was a…thing.
But he’d invited her over, so any way he felt about it, he was going to have to keep it to himself.
And as she laid the tray on the coffee table, kicked off her shoes and pulled her feet up on his sofa, and Wilson jumped up and curled up next to her, he had to admit to feeling a kick of something he’d never felt before. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what that feeling was, only that watching Josie petting Wilson made him ache for something he was sure he’d never had before.
“You going to stand there and stare at us, or are you going to come over here and sit down?”
He blinked at Josie’s words, but he didn’t move. For some reason he felt frozen, unable to take that step forward.
Come on, idiot, you can do this. It’s not like she asked you to get married or move in or anything. It’s just sitting on the damn couch together.
Whatever this thing was, he needed to get over it. Forcing his feet to move, he made his way to the couch and sat between Josie and the dog. Wilson got up, turned around in a circle three times, inched over a bit toward him and went to sleep, his body nudged against Zach’s right thigh.

 

 

Jaci’s publisher is offering TWO (2) paper copies of the winners choice from the HOPE 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-in, 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 LIKE and Follow Jaci Burton 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. Giveaway open to USA only.

8. Giveaway runs from September 3 – 7, 2018

 

 

Share

Nimue’s Gift (Dragons of Incendium 5.5) by Deborah Cooke-a review

Posted on by
12

NIMUE’S GIFT (Dragons of Incendium 5.5) by Deborah Cooke-a review

ebook only 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 4, 2018

The birth of three royal babies in rapid succession calls for a celebration! King Ouros and Queen Ignita invite the best and the brightest to share their joy in the arrival of their grandchildren from daughters Thalina, Anguissa, and Percipia.

But the ritual of esteemed guests granting each child a gift brings a surprise that will cast a long shadow…

•••••••••

REVIEW: NIMUE’S GIFT by Deborah Cooke is a short story that falls between Wyvern’s Angel and Wyvern’s Wizard in the author’s paranormal/sci-fi/fantasy series focusing on the twelve royal dragon princesses of Incendium. NIMUE’S GIFT can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order. NIMUE’S GIFT is the first instalment in the Dragons of Incendium featuring a slight cross-over with the author’s Dragonfire series but I am not sure in which series the story line will continue.

SOME BACKGROUND: The twelve female dragon princesses of Incendium search for their ‘HeartKeeper’-their mate and the carrier of the seed-but the princes of Regalia are not necessarily the male that calls to the princesses’ heart. As each female dragon shifter finds her mate, another sister waits in the wings for the ‘Carrier of the Seed’ and male that calls to her heart.

Told from several third person perspectives NIMUE’S GIFT follows a number of paths as a visitor imparts a gift to several members of the ruling family. The birth of three royal babies is celebrated with great pomp and fanfare but one being of immense power and magic has claimed the original dragonfire bestowing an invaluable legacy and offering upon the youngest members of the royal family.

NIMUE’S GIFT is a short story that opens up a realm of possibilities for both the Dragonfire series and the Dragons of Incendium with a potential cross-over between characters and back stories. A revealing and intriguing instalment NIMUE’S GIFT is a well-written narrative wherein the story is told through observation as the reader is up close and personal with the author as she begins to weave endless possibilities for the dragons we love.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Wyvern’s Mate
Nero’s Dream
Wyvern’s Prince
Arista’s Legacy
Wyvern’s Warrior
Kraws’ Secret
Wyvern’s Outlaw
Celo’s Quest
Wyvern’s Angel
Nimue’s Gift

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

Under Control (Boston Fire #5) by Shannon Stacey-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

Posted on by
11

Under Control (Boston Fire #5) by Shannon Stacey-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Tour

UNDER CONTROL
Boston Fire #5
by Shannon Stacey
Release Date: August 28,2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 28, 2018

When faced with the opportunity to change shifts while staying in the same house, veteran firefighter Derek Gilman jumps at the chance. His new schedule means not working Saturdays, which means more time to spend with his two kids. His divorce may have been amicable, but being a firefighter and a single dad is a lot to juggle. And when fate brings a gorgeous, wealthy woman into his life, he’s pretty sure he can’t handle more than he already is.

Olivia McGovern loves plans. She planned to start her own business and planned its growth. It’s earning her seven figures now, but her personal life simply doesn’t exist. Getting trapped in a broken elevator figures in exactly nowhere, and freaking out in front of a sexy firefighter definitely isn’t on the agenda. Especially not one with two kids and an ex.

What would have been a random incident with an attractive stranger becomes something more when a charity event brings them back together. They’re from different sides of the tracks, literally—with friends, family and careers to consider. But as Derek and Olivia are discovering, chemistry doesn’t allow for plans, and love doesn’t bother with logistics.

•••••••••

REVIEW: UNDER CONTROL is the fifth instalment in Shannon Stacey’s contemporary, adult BOSTON FIRE romance series focusing on Boston’s first responders. This is firefighter and single father Derek Gilman, and business consultant Olivia McGovern’s story line. UNDER CONTROL 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 (Derek and Olivia) UNDER CONTROL follows the building relationship between firefighter and single father Derek Gilman, and business consultant Olivia McGovern. Trapped in an elevator was never in the plans for Olivia McGovern but trapped with firefighter Derek Gilman made Olivia think about the possibilities of something more. Approached to help with a children’s fund-raiser Olivia is shocked to learn that the fireman starring in her fantasies is also a member of the fund-raising board. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Derekk and Olivia, and the potential fall-out as Olivia struggles to step outside of her comfort zone in an effort to make time for the man, and his family, with whom she is falling in love.

Olivia McGovern is a well-organized and detailed planner; a consultant whose own life is revolves around a schedule of meetings, business appointments, and very little time for personal affairs. Meeting firefighter Derek Gilman throws all of Olivia’s plans into disarray especially where is concerns emergency call-outs, and family considerations. Derek Gilman never again thought he would find love but life proved him wrong falling in love with the woman who stole his heart. Hoping to make Olivia his happily ever after Derek struggles with Olivia’s current life-style, a life-style he believes isn’t conducive to family or a happily ever after.

The relationship between Derek and Olivia is one of immediate attraction; an accidental meeting between two people whose lives go in opposite directions. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Most of the previous story line ‘firefighters’ and their spouses play secondary and supporting roles, We are introduced to Derek’s ex-wife Amber, and her husband Jason, and their children Julia and Isaac, as well as Olivia’s PA Kelsey. Firefighter Grant and Wren’s story line is next in FLARE UP.

The world building focuses on the relationship between Olivia and Derek as they must come to terms with their diverging careers. Olivia battles between head and heart while Derek believes Olivia’s career matters more than his kids. Herein lies the conflict when Derek addresses the elephant in the room, a presumptuous elephant that is about to stomp all over Olivia’s heart.

UNDER CONTROL is a story of family and friendships, heartbreak and misunderstanding. The premise is engaging and real; the characters are colorful and charismatic; the romance is passionate and spirited. UNDER CONTROL is a sexy, sassy and animated look at the reality of life and everything it has to offer.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

A woman stepped out of an office ahead and turned, walking ahead of him in the same direction. She was notable for two reasons. One, she wasn’t looking at a cell phone. That in itself was enough to make her stand out in this crowd.
But it was her looks that captured Derek’s attention. He only got a glimpse of her profile before she turned, but she had delicate features and dark blond hair drawn up off her neck in a loose bun. Her navy suit looked as if it had been tailored specifically for her body, and the coat flared slightly, accenting the curve of her hips. Her legs were long, and his gaze lingered on her calves before sliding up to the soft spots behind her knees that were playing peekaboo with the hem of her skirt.
And he’d never realized how sexy the click of high heels on a marble tile floor could be. When he was a kid, he’d hated the sound because the high heels usually belonged to an angry teacher he was following down the hallway to the principal’s office. But following this woman as she walked down the hallway with long, confident strides was a hell of a lot more enjoyable.
Of course, she reached the elevator just as the door opened and a man stepped out. Because he’d slowed to leave enough space to appreciate the view, Derek knew there was a good chance the door would close before he reached it and there was no way in hell he was taking the stairs if he didn’t have to.
“Hold the door, please,” he called as the woman stepped in and pushed a button on the panel.
She looked up at him and he saw the hesitation in her body language. She didn’t want to, but he watched the fact he was a firefighter register, plus it would be rude to pretend she hadn’t heard him after making eye contact. He smiled as she hit the button to hold the doors.
“Thank you.” The button for the lobby was already lit, so he stepped back as the doors slid closed.
She only nodded and pulled her phone out of the back pocket of the leather journal she was holding, which was stuffed with notebooks and paper from the looks of it. But Derek could see her reflection in the highly polished metal door and she was looking at him. And not a quick glance to make sure the stranger was staying on his own side, but a lingering look.
He should say something, but he wasn’t sure what to say, since women wearing power suits in the Back Bay were way out of his league. The floors were ticking past like seconds on the clock, though, and he was running out of time.
She was taking a step forward, probably in anticipation of reaching the lobby level soon, when there was a grinding sound and the elevator lurched to a stop. Off-balance, she stumbled and—thanks to good reflexes and maybe some good luck—he ended up with an armful of beautiful woman.
Apparently he was getting an extension.
She tilted her face up to him, and he saw the distress in her pretty greenish-blue eyes. “What’s happening?”
“We stopped,” he said, hoping she’d find the obvious answer funny. In his experience, humor relaxed people. She didn’t even crack a smile, and he cleared his throat before continuing. “There are a few reasons it could happen, but the system probably has a problem or a malfunction somewhere and it shut the elevator down to be safe.”
“This is not safe.” She wasn’t in a full-blown panic, but her anxiety practically crackled around her, and she was clutching his arm so tightly he could feel her grip through the heavy bunker coat. “And what do you mean by a malfunction? So something could be more wrong than the fact we’re not moving anymore?”
“Everything’s fine.” He had to let his arms fall away from her as she backed away, wincing a little. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” He wasn’t reassured by the quick way she said it, as if it was a reflex and maybe not the truth.
He pulled out his phone to send a quick group text to Danny Walsh—Engine 59’s LT—and Rick Gullotti. Elevator’s stuck. Why? Then he peeled off the heavy coat and tossed it on the floor, dropping the helmet on top of it while she sent a text message of her own to somebody. “We’re okay in here. Just try to stay calm and we’ll be out in no time.”
“Stay calm,” she muttered as her phone vibrated and she sent another text. “That’s easy for you to say. Being brave in the face of death is part of your job.”
That was a little dramatic, but she wasn’t totally wrong. About his job, anyway. “You’re not facing death. I promise.”
His phone vibrated with a response from Walsh. Working on it. Stand by.
The woman’s face was slightly flushed. “Shouldn’t you… I don’t know. Go up through the ceiling hatch and climb up the cable or something?”
Derek managed—barely—not to laugh outright at her, but he couldn’t hold back a short chuckle. “I’m a firefighter, not John McClane.”
“Who’s John McClane?”
Oh, she did not just ask that. “The greatest action hero of all time? The guy from Die Hard?”
“I’ve heard of those movies, but I’ve never seen any of them.”
If he’d needed any more of a definitive sign this woman wasn’t his type, that was it. There were six movies, so she had to work at not seeing any of them. “You’re missing out. So, what’s your name?”
“Olivia.”
“Pretty name.” Classic and elegant, and it suited her. “I’m Derek.”
“Can you pry open the doors?” she asked, clearly not in a place to be distracted by small talk.
“With my bare hands?” He held them up, showing off his lack of tools. “I work out a little, but not that much.”
Her gaze flicked over his body, and he stood up straighter and sucked in his gut. Not that there was much to suck in, but he wasn’t in his twenties anymore. Hell, he was barely still in his thirties. “You work out more than a little.”
Her tone of voice made it sound like just an observation, but he didn’t miss her gaze lingering for a second on his chest or the way her eyebrow lifted as her mouth curved into a hint of a smile. She wasn’t flirting, but she liked what she saw and he’d take the win. He’d need all the ego boosting he could get once the other guys started giving him shit for having to rescue him from an elevator.
Then she shifted her weight and, when she winced again, Derek gave her a stern look. “You’re hurt.”
“No, I’m not. I twisted my ankle a little when the elevator stopped.”
“You need to get those shoes off and let me look at it.”
She laughed and shook her head. “I don’t care how nice this elevator is, I am not touching the floor with my bare feet.”
Derek picked up his coat, letting the helmet roll free, and—with a flourish—spread it over the floor in front of her. “Your carpet, milady.”


 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author SHANNON STACEY lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and off-roading with her friends and family. You can contact Shannon through her website, www.shannonstacey.com, as well as sign up for her newsletter.

Website http://www.shannonstacey.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shannonstacey.authorpage
Twitter https://twitter.com/shannonstacey
Goodreads https://goo.gl/h4Z1wW
Amazon http://amzn.to/2Fu9RbN

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour provider

To celebrate the release of UNDER CONTROL by Shannon Stacey, we’re giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner!

LINK:   http://bit.ly/2LyyGp5

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open to internationally. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Carina Press.  Giveaway ends 9/11/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted.

Share

Memento Mori (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten #1) by Lexi Blake-Review & Excerpt Tour

Posted on by
11

MEMENTO MORI (Masters and Mercenaries: The Forgotten #1) by Lexi Blake- Review & Excerpt Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 28, 2018

Six men with no memories of the past
One leader with no hope for the future

A man without a past

Jax woke up in a lab, his memories erased, and his mind reprogrammed to serve a mad woman’s will. After being liberated from his prison, he pledged himself to the only thing he truly knows-his team. Six men who lost everything they were. They must make certain no one else gets their hands on the drugs that stole their lives, all while hiding from every intelligence organization on the planet. The trail has led him to an unforgiving mountainside and a beautiful wilderness expert who may be his only hope of finding the truth.

A woman with a bright future

River Lee knows her way around the Colorado wilderness. She’s finally found a home in a place called Bliss after years lost in darkness. The nature guide prefers to show her clients the beauty found in the land, but she also knows the secrets the mountains hold. When she meets Jax, something about the troubled man calls to her. She agrees to lead him to the site of an abandoned government facility hidden deep in the forest. She never dreamed she was stepping into the middle of a battlefield.

A love that could heal a broken soul

Spending time with River, Jax discovers a peace he’s never known. Their passion unlocks a side of himself he didn’t even know he was missing. When an old enemy makes his first move, Jax and River find themselves fighting for their lives. But when his past is revealed, will River be caught in the crosshairs of a global conspiracy?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: MEMENTO MORI is the first instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult MASTERS AND MERCENARIES: The Forgotten erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on six former military soldiers (Jax, Dante, Sasha, Tucker, Owen and Robert) whose minds and lives were eradicated and erased. This is Jax, and mountain tour guide River Lee’s story line. The Forgotten is a spin-off from the author’s Masters and Mercenaries series, and the characters were first introduced and play an important throughout the original series.

NOTE: If you have not read Lexi Blake’s original Masters and Mercenaries series, their may be some confusion as it pertains to the Lost Boys backstory.

SOME BACKGROUND: Several months earlier the mercenaries from the McKay-Taggart Black Ops group rescued, from an unauthorized military lab, six men they labelled the ‘Lost Boys’. With their memories wiped clean, no ID, and no traceable DNA, the Lost Boys were essentially ‘new born’ soldiers trained to kill and destroy.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jax and River) MEMENTO MORI follows the building relationship between Jax, and tour guide River Lee. Jax, and his fellow Lost Boys are desperate to uncover the truth about their pasts, and the drugs used to control their lives, but without any memories of the who, how, or why, the where was a mystery until the probability of a secret government lab in the mountains near Bliss, Colorado. Enter mountain tour guide River Lee, a woman whose own life spiralled out of control with the death of her father, and the subsequent fraudulent marriage to a serial con-man. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Jax and River, and the potential fall-out as Jax must keep secret the truth about the mission that is about to go horribly wrong.

Jax is a man frustrated about his lack of a past. Along with the men he calls ‘brothers’ Jax is willing to risk it all to discover the whereabouts of the secret lab but risking the life of the woman he loves means going it alone. River Lee is unable to move past the her husband’s betrayal, and falling for a man like Jax meant another round of betrayal when the truth was revealed.

The relationship between Jax and River is one of immediate attraction but Jax’s handler ‘Big Tag’ has warned the Lost Boys that their mission must remain a secret; and affairs of the heart will only lead to heartbreak and pain. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a very large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including the men that Jax calls brothers: Dante, Sasha, Tucker, Owen and Robert, as well as Big Tag; Heather aka Solo; Andy and Ty. The requisite evil has many faces, some of whom may be working for the same side. You may need a spread-sheet to keep track of all of the characters, and their relationships to one another. There is plenty of confusion as well, with the numerous names and aliases for all of the story line characters, which makes for a difficult time trying to keep track of the familial relationships, government departments and connections.

MEMENTO MORI is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and loss focusing on six men who have had to relearn the skills of life, as well as their struggle to move on from the evil that continues to permeate their minds. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the characters are broken, colorful, dynamic and lost; the romance is passionate and heated.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

“This place is beautiful,” he said when she hesitated.
She nodded but didn’t move from her seat. “I love it here. I went to college in Denver, but I always missed this place. When I was younger, my dad had a house in Creede. He started the business there, but when he could, he moved us out of town. My dad was a loner, I suppose. Creede has a population of four hundred and Dad thought that was way too many people.”
“I know the feeling. I lived in London for a while. That was definitely too many people.” He kept his tone even. It was odd. Now that he was here, that hunger he always felt was tempered by her fear. He’d thought he would take anything offered to him, but he couldn’t having met her. If the blonde had offered herself up, he would have turned her down. Over the two hours they’d sat in the booth, eating fried food and drinking beer, he’d figured something out. Some people were more special than others. River was special. He should be more cynical. He could hear Damon Knight telling him to be cautious, but he couldn’t make himself do it. Perhaps it was the fact that he didn’t have a long well of history to draw from and to teach him that this was likely a mistake.
It didn’t feel like a mistake.
“Wow. I’ve never been farther than Kansas City.” She still wasn’t moving and her voice had taken on a tremulous tone.
His heart constricted, and it was surprisingly easy to not listen to his dick. His dick was pleading with him to get aggressive. His dick was trying to convince him that if he could get inside her, she would accept him.
Yeah, he wasn’t going to listen to his dick.
“If you’ve changed your mind, I can call my brother to pick me up. I have a phone and so does he. His number is programmed in. I don’t want to scare you. I had a good time talking to you tonight. It was one of the nicest nights I’ve had in a long time.” Ever. It was the best night ever. It was the first night he felt normal, though he wasn’t exactly sure what that word meant. Comfortable was a better one. That tight feeling in his chest had eased as he’d sat in the booth with River and Tucker and Heather.
Although he’d hated lying to her.
She finally turned, looking at him. Her eyes shone in the moonlight. “You mean that, don’t you?”
He wanted to touch her. He’d had to force his hands not to move toward her all night long. The most he’d allowed himself was to have their hips and shoulders touch as they’d sat next to each other. He’d decided it had been a good thing he’d sat next to her because he was fairly certain he had a case of Big Tag’s crazy eyes, and she would have seen them had he sat across from her.
“I do mean it. Please don’t get me wrong. I want you. I would like nothing more in the world than to take you into that cabin, lay you out, and make a feast of you. I want to kiss you and when I say that I don’t merely mean your lips. I want to put my mouth all over your body. But more than I want that, I want you to like me.” It was important somehow. He wouldn’t see her after tonight, but he couldn’t stand the idea that she was afraid of him.
Everyone was afraid of him. Everyone he knew was waiting for his powder keg to blow, but he’d sworn to himself earlier in the evening that it wouldn’t blow around her. He would protect her even if it was only for one night.

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Share