Monthly Archives: November 2018

A Rancher’s Bride (Heart Falls #4) by Vivian Arend-a review

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A RANCHER’S BRIDE (Heart Falls #4) by Vivian Arend-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 20, 2018

Welcome to Heart Falls, where there’s more at stake than the future of the Silver Stone ranch.

With the ranch teetering on the brink of disaster, accepting an invitation to the gala of the year is a top business priority for Luke Stone. Having a significant other on his arm isn’t merely a good idea, it’s a necessity. Doesn’t matter that he’s currently single—there’s a logical solution. Kelli is easy company, a vital part of ranch operations, and willing to sing Silver Stone’s praises all day long. She’ll be perfect.

Kelli James has kept a lot of secrets over the eight years since she boldly walked onto the ranch. Her biggest challenge, though, has been hiding her crush on the sexiest cowboy she’s ever laid eyes on. When Luke informs her they’re headed to the mountains for a week-long, work-related event, she’s not sure what to expect.

That he signed her up to play the part of the perfect rancher’s bride-to-be wasn’t it…

••••••••••

REVIEW: A RANCHER’S BRIDE is the fourth instalment in Vivian Arend’s contemporary, adult HEART FALLS erotic, romance cowboy series focusing on the Stone Siblings of Heart Falls, Alberta-Caleb, Luke, Walker, Ginny and Dustin. This is thirty-something, rancher Luke Stone, and twenty-three year old, ranch hand Kelli James’ story line. A RANCHER’S BRIDE can be read as a stand alone without any difficult. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The HEART FALLS series is a spin off from the author’s SIX PACK RANCH series, but you do not have to have read the original series to follow or understand the current story lines.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Luke and Kelli) A RANCHER’S BRIDE follows the friends to lovers relationship / fake fiancé trope between thirty-something, rancher Luke Stone, and twenty-three year old, ranch hand Kelli James. Eight years earlier, lost and on the run, Kelli James found her way to Silver Stone ranch in the hopes of procuring a place to live, and a much needed job. Meeting Luke Stone stirred something deep within the young teenage girl but Luke was about to enter into another relationship that forced Kelli to watch from the sidelines as the man with whom she would fall in love, fell in love with someone else. Fast forward to present day wherein Luke, now single and desperately trying to save the Silver Stone ranch, invites Kelli to the Triple Crown Gala, where the who’s who of horse breeders gather to schmooze and set up deals. What ensues is the building romance and sexual relationship between Kelli and Luke, and the potential fall-out as their time together draws to a close when the gala comes to a satisfying conclusion.

Luke and his brothers are desperately trying to save the Silver Stone ranch since the death of their parents years before. An invitation to the Triple Crown Gala meant the possibility of saving the ranch, and securing a financial windfall but the hosts were all about ‘family’ meaning Luke needed Kelli to pose as his fiancé in order to put up a united front. What they never expected was to fall in love, or have their future relationship threatened by someone from the past.

The relationship between Kelli and Luke is one of friends to lovers; a fake fiancé / employee and boss arrangement between two people desperate to find something more. Luke’s previous relationship ended in disaster, and Kelli was in no position to become the rebound lover but offers herself up for their time away. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Caleb and Tamara (A Rancher’s Heart 1), Walker and Ivy (A Rancher’s Song #2), Hannah Lane (A Firefighter’s Christmas #3), youngest brother Dustin; veterinarian Josiah Ryder; Tamara’s sister Lisa Coleman : Ivy’s sisters Tansy and Rose; Silver Stone ranch foreman Ashton Stewart; Triple Crown gala attendees Jack and Diane, and Timothy Carlyn. Josiah and Lisa’s story line is next in The Cowgirl’s Forever Love, the first instalment in the author’s new spin-off series The Colemans of Heart Falls.

A RANCHER’S BRIDE is a story of family and friendship; romance and love. The premise is engaging, heart warming and inviting; the characters are spirited and moving; the romance is seductive. THE RANCHER’S BRIDE is a delightful romance between two people who deserve their own happily ever after.

Reading Oder and Previous Reviews
A Rancher’s Heart
A Rancher’s Song
A Firefighter’s Christmas Gift
A Rancher’s Bride

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler – a Review

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Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler – a Review

 

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Description:
Samuel Keegan used to man the wheel of the Sea Dog over 200 years ago, but these days he’s the front man of a southern rock band. Rum and women are plentiful, but his world is changing rapidly now that his crew is back together searching for the Holy Grail to break their curse. But the quest leads him to a historian with raven hair and a wicked smile. She holds all the answers, but she could also spell death for them all.

Dr. Charlotte Sinclair works for the Maritime Museum in Savannah, an expert on ancient pirate wrecks. When a government agent requests her help in a top-secret investigation, she discovers not only is the Holy Grail real, but the lead singer of her favorite band is actually the immortal pilot of the Sea Dog crew.

The search for the Grail opens some dark secrets better left hidden, and Charlotte’s life might depend on one Pirate’s Passion…

 

 

Review:

Pirate’s Passion by Lisa Kessler is the 2nd book in her Sentinels of Savannah series.  I did not read the first book in this series, but it was not an issue, as this book read very well as a standalone. However, I will have to go back to read the first book, and I really enjoyed Pirate’s Passion.

We meet Dr. Charlotte Sinclair, our heroine, at the start.  Char works at the Maritime Museum in Savannah as a historian, specializing in ancient pirate wrecks and lore.  She is a workaholic, and her friend pushes her to go out and have fun…say yes to everything.   She goes to a bar, where a rock band is playing, and meets Keegan, the lead singer.

Samuel Keegan, our hero and lead singer for the band. What most people do not know is that Samuel Keegan was a pirate on the Sea Dog 200 years ago.  He and some of his crew sipped from the Holy Grail and received immortality. Now all these years later, they find their healing is getting slower, and they fear losing the immortality.  So they have asked for help to find the missing Holy Grail

Keegan finds himself attracted to the new girl watching his show.  When he makes an attempt for her to join him after the show, she says ‘yes’, but just when things were getting hot, Char gets a phone call and needs to leave.  Char meets with a government agent who wants her to help them find the Holy Grail, since she is the best person to do so.  The agent introduces her to the pirate from the ship, and to her surprise, she sees Keegan.  All of this is the beginning of this wonderful exciting and fun story.

What follows is an exciting adventure the brings Char together with Keegan and his crew in a desparate attempt to find the stolen Holy Grail, and fight off the enemies who want to destroy the Sea Dog crew, and keep the Grail for themselves.   The romance between Charlotte and Keegan was very hot, as their chemistry together was sizzling.  I loved how Char accepted that Keegan and his crew were indeed the members of the Sea Dog 300 years ago; she loved history and this was like a dream come true for her.  Charlotte was a great heroine, smart, savvy and independent; and she was great working with them to fight the enemy. There were a some dangerous situations that put her life in danger, keeping us in suspense.

I loved the theme of Pirate’s Passion, and seeing the surviving pirate crew, how they each handle their immortality.  Again, I loved Char and Keegan together, and the secondary characters were very good.  Pirate’s Passion was not only exciting, action packed, with a nice romance, but also an excellent mystery which kept us glued to the frantic climax.  I look forward to reading the next book in this series, as Lisa Kessler has many crew members to give us more stories. I wholly recommend you read this series, and I plan to go back and read the first book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Tequila High (100 Proof Series) by M. Leighton-a review

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TEQUILA HIGH (100 Proof) by M. Leighton-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: November 18, 2018

Haley Brandt isn’t the one-night-stand type, but too much tequila and a man with two sinfully black eyes left her breathless and willing to break her own rules. Her only solace was the fact that she’d never see him again.

Until the next morning when she finds out he’s her ride out of town and back to the ranch where she grew up.

Nixon Holt works with Haley’s father, so Haley makes her position clear—she doesn’t get involved with ranch employees. Ever. At nineteen, she’d learned her lesson the hard way, and it became her one unbreakable rule.

But Nixon makes his position clear, too: He’s going to wear down Haley’s defenses and he won’t stop until she breaks all her rules for him. He’s well on his way when Haley finds out the one thing that could make her hate him. Nixon is left with two choices: walk away or break all his rules for her.

••••••••••

REVIEW: TEQUILA HIGH is the first instalment in Michelle Leighton’s contemporary, adult, 100 Proof, romance series. This is fashion boutique owner, twenty-nine year old, Haley Brandt, and ranch hand Nixon Holt’s story line.

Told from dual first person points of view (Nixon and Haley) TEQUILA HIGH follows the building but forbidden relationship between fashion boutique owner, twenty-nine year old, Haley Brandt, and ranch hand Nixon Holt. Ten years earlier Haley Brandt’s heart was destroyed by the young man she loved, and in the aftermath our heroine ran from friends and family to places unknown. Fast forward to present day wherein Haley has been summoned home to the family ranch, a place that holds too many bad memories of the past. An almost one-night stand upon her return, involving too much tequila, turns into something more when she is introduced to her father’s new ranch hand Nixon Holt, the man with whom Haley will fall in love. What ensues is the secret romance and relationship between Haley and Nixon when they are forced to live and work together at the Circle B Ranch, and the fall-out as Nixon’s lies by omission push Haley to run, once again.

Haley Brandt knows love and betrayal; not once but twice, Haley’s heart has been destroyed, and returning to the Circle B Ranch stirs up too many memories of a time long ago. Meeting Nixon Holt gives Haley the opportunity to put everything behind but Nixon’s lies by omission threaten any new-found stability for our story line heroine. Nixon Holt knows he must come clean with Haley Brandt but his secrets are not his to reveal. Nixon doesn’t do relationships; he’s never fallen in love, and our hero isn’t willing to accept that his happily ever after is his almost one-night stand.

The relationship between Haley and Nixon begins as a dare. Haley’s best friend Lia dares a boozed-up Haley to get ‘back on the proverbial horse’, and in the aftermath Haley must deal with the fall-out of kissing her father’s new ranch hand. Nixon is immediately drawn to the sexy red-haired siren, and is hoping for a mutual arrangement for everybody concerned. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and seductive, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Haley’s best friend Lia, as well as Haley’s sisters Hannah, Harper and Hope, and their father John Brandt. The back and forth, sibling camaraderie is fun and familiar. I am hoping the author has plans for the Brandt sisters.

TEQUILA HIGH is a fast paced, realistic, and emotional story. The premise is engaging and moving; the romance is sexy and sassy; the chemistry is immediate; the characters are colorful, captivating and dynamic. TEQUILA HIGH has a little bit of everything: romance, humor, fun, betrayal, anxiety and heart break.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding wild horses, skiing the slopes of Aspen or scuba diving with a hot rock star, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

About Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I’m convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

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Seasons of Sorcery Fantasy Anthology with Jennifer Estep, Grace Draven, Jeffe Kennedy and Amanda Bouchet-dual reviews

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SEASONS OF SORCERY: A Fantasy Anthology by Jennifer Estep, Grace Draven, Jeffe Kennedy and Amanda Bouchet- Dual Reviews

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

About the book: Release Date November 13, 2018

Description:
WINTER’S WEB BY JENNIFER ESTEP
An assassin at a renaissance faire. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, if you’re Gin Blanco. This Spider is trapped in someone else’s icy web—and it seems like they don’t want her to leave the faire alive . . .

A CURSE FOR SPRING BY AMANDA BOUCHET
A malevolent spell strangles the kingdom of Leathen in catastrophic drought. Prince Daric must break the curse before his people starve. A once-mighty goddess trapped in a human body might be the key—but saving his kingdom could mean losing all that he loves.

THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER BY JEFFE KENNEDY
As unofficial consort to the High Queen, former mercenary Harlan Konyngrr faces a challenge worse than looming war and fearsome dragons. His long-held secrets threaten what he loves most—and he must make a choice between vows to two women.

A WILDERNESS OF GLASS BY GRACE DRAVEN
The stretch of sea known as The Gray rules the lives of those in the village of Ancilar, including widow Brida Gazi. In the aftermath of an autumn storm, Brida discovers one of the sea’s secrets cast onto the shore—a discovery that will change her world, mend her soul, and put her in the greatest danger she’s ever faced.

 

SANDY’s Review:

SEASONS OF SORCERY is a multi-authored fantasy anthology by Jennifer Estep, Grace Draven, Jeffe Kennedy and Amanda Bouchet. A great mix of writing styles, the anthology is a fantastic and entertaining peek at the other.

_______

WINTER’S WEB by Jennifer Estep
 WINTER’S WEB by Jennifer Estep is instalment 17.5 in the author’s contemporary, adult ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN paranormal/ urban fantasy series focusing on Gin Blanco aka The Spider aka The Assassin –the reigning Queen of the paranormal Underworld of Ashland. WINTER’S WEB can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Winter’s Web takes place after Venom in the Vein.

Told from first person point of view (Gin Blanco) WINTER’S WEB follows Gin and the gang as they are ‘coerced’ into participating at Ashland’s annual Winter’s Web Renaissance Faire. Surprising himself and everyone he loved, Gin’s lover Owen Grayson won tickets to the local fair but things don’t go according to plans when Gin finds herself stalked by a group of giants, and the man that she loves, goes missing. As Gin battles to save her life, Owen faces a familiar face in a battle between money, his life, and power.

WINTER’S WEB is a quick read; a fast paced, action packed story of power and greed, elemental magic, and love. A heart pounding tale with familiar faces, energetic fight scenes, and a captivating couple WINTER’S WEB is the perfect addition to Estep’s Elemental Assassin series.

___________

A CURSE FOR SPRING by Amanda Bouchet
 A CURSE FOR SPRING by Amanda Bouchet is an adult, stand alone, fantasy story line focusing on Prince Daric and the woman he loves as they journey in the hopes of ending decades of drought for the kingdom of Leathen.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Daric and Rain) A CURSE FOR SPRING focuses on the kingdom of Leathen, and the decades old drought. Daric has loved Rain for most of his life since the day he pulled her from the magical mist, but the ongoing drought is threatening the people of Leathen. Promised to another woman in exchange for water, Daris refuses to accept his father’s demands, hoping he and Rain will be able to find what is necessary to restore the land, and continue together towards a happily ever after. But Rain knows that her time with Daric has an expiry date, an expiry date that is tied to the Leathen drought, and the curse that surrounds the man that she loves.

Amanda Bouchet draws the reader into a love story; a cross-country adventure wherein our couple will profess their love as they search for a way to break the curse. A CURSE FOR SPRING is an intriguing and passionate tale of ill-fated lovers.

_____________

THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER by Jeffe Kennedy
 THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is a novella set in the author’s Uncharted Realms fantasy series, and takes place after The Arrows of the Heart.

NOTE: THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is an adult fantasy story line with recalled spousal violence that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from first person perspective (Harlan) THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is a story of magic, dragons, war, secrets and struggle. Harlan is head of security for Castle Ordnung, and the people are preparing for a two-pronged attack. Tensions have been high between Harlan and the woman he loves, High Queen Ursula of the Thirteen Kingdoms, but betrayal from within, Harlan’s sacred vows to his family back home, and loyalties to the Queen, threaten the peace between our leading couple. Secrets from the past, dividing family and friends, once again threatens the relationship between Harlan and Ursula.

THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is a revealing story line of family, betrayal, loss and love. A mesmorizing and intriguing story, THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER is a magical, sexy and spirited tale.

_____________

A WILDERNESS OF GLASS BY Grace Draven
A WILDERNESS OF GLASS is a novella set in Grace Draven’s fantasy World of the Wraith Kings.

Told from third person point of view A WILDERNESS OF GLASS follows Ancilar’s magical flute player and widow Brida Gazi and friends as they have accepted an invitation to perform for Lord Andras Frantisek at Castle Banat. Intrigued by her music, a stranger would embark on a journey in an effort to regain what was once lost. A sudden storm brought a bountiful harvest to the small village but a bounty rich with fantastical beasts and promises of more.

A WILDERNESS OF GLASS is an engaging and entertaining, forbidden love story; of family, friendship, betrayal and loss; a journey into the fantastic between a woman and the creature she has grown to love.

 


BARB’s Reviews:
Seasons of Sorcery Anthology are novellas written by Jennifer Estep, Amanda Bouchet, Jeffe Kennedy and Grace Draven.   I looked forward to reading this anthology, as some of my favorite authors have stories that I must always read.   I will write a short review of each arc to give you my thoughts on each book.

Winter’s Web by Jennifer Estep
This is a novella that takes place in Estep’s wonderful world of her Elemental Assassin series. Anything even short, is a must read for me, because we get more time to spend with Gin Blanco, our spider assassin heroine. 

In Winter’s Web, Gin and the gang (Owen, Bria, Finn, Sophie) all attend in costume the renaissance faire.  Gin isn’t thrilled to be in costume, but she is determined to have fun. Of course, anywhere Gin goes there is bound to be problems.  At the faire, she watches a woman that marvels the crowd with her sword expertise, and before the day is out, Gin is face to face with a dangerous enemy, who is out to kill someone she loves.  We have come to know that Gin will go through hell and back to save those she loves.  This was an exciting, action- packed short story that I savored from start to finish.  I will not tell too much more, as it would be spoilers.  If you are an Elemental Assassin fan, you need to read this and enjoy the fun.

A Curse for Spring by Amanda Bouchet
I looked forward to reading this short story, since I had read and loved Bouchet’s last series. Prince Daric is desperate to save his land, the Kingdom of Leathen.  They have been in a catastrophic drought for many years, and now they face losing their land to another kingdom.  Rain, our heroine, has lived with Daric and his family for many years, since they pulled her out of a magic weather mist; she was a goddess of Spring, and is now human. With the threat of having to merge Leathen with the enemy kingdom, as well as marry the enemy’s Queen’s daughter, Daric desperately needs to find a way to break the water curse, and save his family.  He and Rain, who have come to fall in love with each other over the years, go on a journey that will change their lives and destiny.  I loved Rain and Daric together, and this was a heartwarming quick fun story, that had moments of sadness. 

The Dragons of Summer by Jeffe Kennedy
This story revolves around our hero, Harlan, who is the consort of the High Queen, Ursula. With war on the horizon, Harlan, who is also head of security, is extra cautious protecting his Queen.  We learn quickly that Harlan and Ursula are lovers, but she also knows he is keeping secrets of his past, that threaten their relationship.  When members of the Queen’s team arrive to help plan on stopping the attack, Harlan loses his cool with some of the members of his family and must decide to reveal to Ursula his secrets of his past or lose her for good. What follows is a wonderful story where Harlan’s family betrayed him and his sister years before, and when he explains the terrible truth about his sister, Ursula is fully by his side.   As the group put differences aside, Harlan will come to terms with his brother and together they will all prepare to fight for survival in this war.  It is a wonderful story of family, love, loyalty, betrayal, with excellent characters, sexy romance and dragons.

A Wilderness of Glass by Grace Draven
Brida Gazi, our heroine, is a flute player with elements of magic.  When Brida plays her flute with others from her town at a Lord’s party, a stranger accosts her.  The stranger wants to know where she got the flute, which was created by her brother, using a bone found by the ocean.   When she walks during the evening by the ocean she comes across two strange species badly injured.  Brida will try to save them, and use her flute to communicate with sea creatures. What follows is a sweet and impelling story of Brida learning the secrets of the sea and her flute, and changing her life along the way with an unlikely romance, and the danger when evil rears its ugly head.  This was a different and well written story.

Copy supplied for review

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Script of the Heart by Robin D. Owens – a Review

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Script of the Heart by Robin D. Owens – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

 

Description:
Giniana Filix, a dedicated Healer, is desperate to raise funds for an experimental treatment to save her dying FamCat. She has no time or interest in a relationship.

Growing up on an impoverished estate as the last of his line, actor Klay St. Johnswort hears of a script of a lifetime, a script he believes will catapult his career to greatness and enable him to restore his home. Appalled to learn the script has mysteriously disappeared, he is determined to reclaim it at all costs.His desire to be close fuels her fear of abandonment.

Her distrust of actors clashes with his pride in his craft. But they discover a connection they can’t deny. Will their attraction be enough to force them to write their own Script of the Heart?

 

Review:

Script of the Heart by Robin D. Owens is the 15th book in her wonderful Celta Heart Mates series. The Celta series takes place in a futuristic world, filled with magic, animal familiars, telepathy and romance. 

We meet our heroine Giniana Felix at the start, as she is desperate to come up with funds to save her Fam cat, who is very old, and possibly dying.  There is a possible last chance treatment that cost a fortune, and Giniana  is working overtime for other houses as a healer for those residences.  Giniana has no time for herself, and when she meets an actor, she brushes him off, since she has no love for actors, because of her childhood family memories.

Klay St. Johnswort  (Johns), our hero, is one of the best actors, and now with his show closing, he is desperate to find a new gig.  When he hears about a missing script by a well-known author, Johns is determined to find the script, which will help him win the lead of the new show.

He meets Giniana and is immediately attracted to her, even though she dislikes actors.  In a short time, Johns and Giniana will act on their feelings, and a romance begins.  Johns begins to worry about Giniana working herself to the bone, and not eating or getting enough sleep. As his feelings grow, he does what he can to help Giniana with her struggles, and to prove to her he is worthy of her love…actors are not all bad.

Johns is at first afraid of her fam cat, but things change when he rescues a kitten.  Giniana will accept the kitten, and her older cat decides the kitten is his fam.  This was a cute and fun part of the story, as the kitten was adorable, and the older cat adopted the kitten. I have always loved the fams in all the stories.  Listening to them speak telepathically is always enjoyable and so much fun. In Script of the Heart, it was great to have two Fams.  I really liked Johns and Giniana, and rooted hard for them to stay together.

What follows is an exciting, sweet romantic tale, with a bit of a mystery finding the script, as well as the suspense if Giniana will find a way to pay for the treatment, and if it will save her Fam.  

Once again, Robin D. Owens gives us another wonderful addition to this series, with two unlikely people, who will find true love.   If you enjoy romances in a fun fantasy magic world, you should be reading this series. I am a big fan of this series, and always love visiting Celta and the Fams. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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Revenge of the Fae / Blood of the Fae (The Forbidden Fae #1 & #2) by Carly Fall-a review

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Revenge of the Fae / Blood of the Fae (The Forbidden Fae #1 & #2) by Carly Fall-a review

REVENGE OF THE FAE
(The Forbidden Fae #1)
by Carly Fall
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk/ Amazon. au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 30,2018

A Fae hell-bent on Revenge. A shifter prison guard searching for answers. And a dangerous path to cross. When a family member is murdered, Avery Dubois is led to believe the murderer isn’t human. But her wildly dangerous journey for the truth ends when she is thrown into solitary confinement in a paranormal penitentiary. With the help of a were-shifter guard—Gabe—she discovers a theft from his pack may very well be connected the murder of her loved one. Gabe agrees to break her out of prison on one condition: she provides him with the information she discovered to hunt down the one responsible for both crimes. But rivalry between Fae and Shifters goes back several generations, and neither knows if they can really trust the other. And as they work together to solve both cases, Avery quickly realizes that helping Gabe could put her in more danger. If she doesn’t, however, they could both end up dead

••••••••••••

REVIEW: REVENGE OF THE FAE is the first instalment in Carly Fall’s contemporary, adult THE FORBIDDEN FAE paranormal series focusing on half-Fae Avery Dubois.

In the world of the supernaturals not everyone gets along including the rift between the shifters and the Fae. Working at a construction site with a group of wolves is only the beginning of a downward spiral that finds our heroine the survivor of a sexual assault, the murder of her mother, and the questionable investigation by a potentially dirty cop. Finding herself imprisoned in a jail for the supernatural, our heroine is once again targeted, only to be rescued by were-shifter and prison guard Gabe, whose own ‘mother’ is a powerful Fae. What ensues is the search for the person responsible for Avery’s mother’s death, and the hunt for the truth.

REVENGE OF THE FAE is a story of betrayal, revenge and the discrimination between supernatural species. Carly Fall pulls the reader into an imaginative and edgy story of one woman’s struggle to survive in a world that sees her as nothing more than a satisfying lunch. From ravenous vampires to violent shifters REVENGE OF THE FAE is a dramatic and spirited tale of the paranormal.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

___________

BLOOD OF THE FAE
(The Forbidden Fae Series #2)
by Carly Fall
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk / Amazon. au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 15, 2018

Someone is murdering the Fae … and Avery may be next on their list

When Avery’s long-lost father shows up in Seattle, Washington, he warns her that her being half-Fae has placed her in grave danger. Once again, she’s thrust into the drama of the paranormal world she’s tried to avoid.

Were-shifter Gabe Turneaux has tried to stay out of Avery’s life, but when her father asks him to be her bodyguard, he becomes tangled up with her once again. The only problem is, Gabe has his own agenda when he takes the job … one of revenge. And he’ll stop at nothing until he gets it.

When the Fae of Seattle begin to disappear and turn up with the blood drained from their bodies, Gabe and Avery set out to find who is responsible before Avery is attacked. But a discovery soon reveals a deep betrayal that leaves them with no one to trust. Not even each other.

One wrong move, and they’ll both wind up dead.

••••••••••

REVIEW: BLOOD OF THE FAE is the second instalment in Carly Fall’s contemporary, adult THE FORBIDDEN FAE paranormal series. BLOOD OF THE FAE continues to focus on half-Fae Avery Dubois, and wolf-shifter Gabe Turneaux. BLOOD OF THE FAE should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up shortly after the events of book one -Revenge of the Fae.

NOTE: BLOOD OF THE FAE contains scenes of graphic violence and may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Avery and Gabe) BLOOD OF THE FAE finds our heroine, half-Fae Avery Dubois working as a diner waitress in Blaine, Washington, a town rife with supernatural species. An unexpected visit from wolf-shifter and Spectral Prison guard Gabe Turneaux reveals an underground supernatural element targeting the Fae for their blood and their power. Hiding under Gabe’s protection with the Bellevue Pack, Avery is abducted and learns quickly that everyone is suspect, and someone is going to die. Fae blood is a hot commodity, and someone close is caught in the mix.

BLOOD OF THE FAE is a fast paced, action packed story of family, friendship, betrayal and revenge. Carly Fall pulls the reader into a story of power, greed and deception. Avery Dubois struggles in the face of adversity and heartbreak; not all supernatural heroines are powerful or strong. BLOOD OF THE FAE is an imaginative and energetic instalment in Carly Fall’s THE FORBIDDEN FAE series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy 

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The Bastard (Filthy Duet #1) by Lisa Renee Jones-Review & Excerpt Tour

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THE BASTARD (Filthy Duet #1) by Lisa Renee Jones-Review and Excerpt Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date November 14, 2018

ERIC MITCHELL’S STORY
I’m the bastard child, son to the mistress, my father’s backup heir to the Mitchell empire. He sent me to Harvard. I left and became a Navy SEAL, but I’m back now, and I finished school on my own dime. I’m now the right hand man to Grayson Bennett, the billionaire who runs the Bennett Empire. I’m now a few months from being a billionaire myself. I don’t need my father’s company or his love. My “brother” can have it. I will never go back there. I will never be the mistake my father made, the way he was the mistake my mother made.

And then she walks in the door, the princess I’d once wanted more than I’d wanted my father’s love. She wants me to come back. She says my father needs to be saved. I don’t want to save my father but I do want her. Deeply. Passionately. More than I want anything else.

But she’s The Princess and I’m The Bastard. We don’t fit. We don’t belong together and yet she says he needs me, that she needs me. We’re like sugar and spice, we don’t mix, but I really crave a taste. Just one. What harm can just one taste do?

•••••••••

REVIEW: THE BASTARD is the first instalment in Lisa Renee Jones’ contemporary, adult FILTHY DUET erotic, romantic suspense duology focusing on billionaire/ Navy SEAL and second in command to Grayson Bennett, Eric Mitchell, and heiress Harper Evans’ story line. Eric was first introduced in the author’s DIRTY RICH BETRAYAL (Dirty Rich #4) but you do not have to have read the previous release to understand or follow the story. As per most of Lisa’s series, there is a slight cross-over with inclusion of some of the characters from the author’s Walker Security series including Blake Walker.

Told from dual first person perspectives THE BASTARD follows the building but forbidden relationship between billionaire / Navy SEAL and second in command to Grayson Bennett, Eric Mitchell, and heiress Harper Evans. Six years earlier, Eric Mitchell, the bastard son of Kingston Motors CEO Jeff Kingston met his father’s new step-daughter Harper Evans, a woman Eric dubbed The Princess, but a woman that stirred something deep within our story line hero. A one-night stand followed by the realization of who and what Harper Evans represented further pushed Eric away from his birth right, as the spare to the heir of Kingston Motors. Fast forward to present day wherein Harper Evans is in desperate need of Eric’s help, help Eric isn’t willing to give without a price. What ensues is the acrimonious relationship but growing romance between Eric and Harper, and the fall-out as Eric believes Harper is setting him up to be destroyed by the family who have rejected him from birth.

Eric Mitchell knows the pain of betrayal; the heartbreak of rejection; and the loss of someone close but Eric has never forgotten the woman who currently works for the family who all but ignores his existence, a family he is hoping to take down, and destroy. Harper Evans is trying to save what’s left of her father’s legacy, a legacy ‘stolen’ through betrayal but a legacy she no longer controls. Asking Eric Mitchell for help is all kinds of wrong knowing his relationship with the Kingston’s is dangerous and dark, a relationship that continues to fester with secrets and lies.

The relationship between Eric and Harper is one of second chances; a forbidden romance, of a sorts, between two people connected by marriage, and the mutual betrayal by someone close. Eric’s distrust of Harper goes beyond their one-night stand, mistrust that continues to build as secrets are revealed. The $ex scenes are passionate, intimate and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic, language and text. The palpable sexual attraction is heavy and real.

The world building follows the tempestuous and caustic relationship between Eric Mitchell, and the family thast refuses to acknowledge his existence. As the bastard son of Jeff Kingston, Eric’s presence is unwelcome but it is his relationship with Harper Evans that forces a show down between brothers, and father and son. As Harper and Eric begin an investigation into Kingston Motors, our couple are targeted from both inside and outside the family.

We are introduced to Harper’s mother; Eric’s grandmother Gigi; his half-brother Isaac, and father Jeff Kingston. The dysfunctional family dynamics are incredulous-trust is absent; doubt and uncertainty, secrets and lies are facts of life.

THE BASTARD is an intriguing, engaging and intelligent story line. The premise is imaginative and energetic; the characters are sassy, spirited and strong; the romance is sensual and provocative. Lisa Renee Jones pulls the reader into a thrilling, impassioned and suspenseful story of family, power and greed. THE BASTARD ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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

 

“This is a bad idea,” she whispers, but her voice is raspy, affected, the taste of her hunger damn near on my tongue.

I kiss her, a quick brush of lips, and a lick that has the heat between us damn near explosive. “Still think it’s a bad idea?”

Her hands flatten on my chest but they flex rather than push. “We both know this is wrong.”

“And yet you followed me here.”

“You said that already,”

“You knew what would happen,” I accuse.

“I was angry.”

I certainly know where anger and family collide, in ways I won’t explain to anyone. My jaw sets hard and I release her, putting a wide step between us. “Stay or go, but if you stay, you’re going to end up naked.”

“I know your father’s an asshole, but my mother loves him and my father’s company is now a part of this one.”

“The part where I said that if you stayed, you’d end up naked.” I reach for her and pull her to me. “You did understand that, correct?”

“I don’t scare off that easily. If I did, I wouldn’t be working for your father and under your brother.”

“It’s me I want you under,” I say, molding her close, my hands sliding up her back.

“I’m too young and stupid for business, but I’m just right to fuck?” she challenges.

“I’m warning you, Harper, not talking down to you. And if you’re young and stupid, so was I.”

“You wanted to be here,” she says.

“Yes,” I say, tangling my fingers into her hair. “I wanted to be here, just like I want to be right here, right now, with you.” My mouth closes down on hers once more, a deep thrust of tongue that’s as unforgiving as my father would be if it came down to choosing her or Isaac. It’s all about demand and I expect her to push back, to give me the rejection that sends her to the door and me to the fucking airport. That’s not what I get.

Her hand on my chest doesn’t push me away. She moans and her elbow softens, those perfect curves I’d admired from a distance now pressed nice and close, right up to the moment she jerks back. “My God. What are we doing? You’re my stepbrother.”

I walk her back against the wall, my hands caressing up her ribcage to cup her breasts. “I told you,” I say, stroking my thumbs over her nipples. “I’m not your fucking brother. Not now. Not ever.” I cup her face, lean in and my mouth finds her mouth, and if she thought my tongue unforgiving before now, she was wrong. This is unforgiving. It’s in my blood. It’s who I am, who I was born to be. A bastard who wants her.

I have this sudden need that consumes me. I shove my hand into the top of her dress, fingering her nipple. She makes this soft, sexy sound that has my cock twitching, expanding beneath my zipper. As if she knows, she presses her hand to my crotch and holy fuck, I need inside this woman. I push off the wall and shrug out of my jacket, my gaze raking over the tops of her breasts. Her teeth scrape her bottom lip, and I want that mouth on my body. I want my mouth on her body.

I toss the jacket, rip away my tie, and she doesn’t run away as I half expect she will. She closes the space between us, her fingers on my buttons, working them down my shirt, but when one hand slides down to my crotch, I react. I slow things down before I fuck her and this is over, and when it is, I’m gone. Suddenly I’m not ready to leave, which is why I turn her to the wall, and force her hands to its surface, yanking down her zipper before I pull my shirt over my head. I step into her, my erection at her backside, my lips at her ear.

“You saw me watching you across the pool,” I say, my fingers catching the straps at her shoulders.

“Of course I saw you. You wanted me to see you.”

“Yes. I did. I wanted you to know I wanted to fuck you.” I shove the straps of her dress down her arms. “I wanted you to know I wanted you naked.” I pull the dress down, and with no bra to contend with I have it down her hips and to her feet. I lift her and kick it away, taking a moment to appreciate just how perfect her heart-shaped ass is before I turn her to face me.

My fingers tangle in her hair and I pull her to me. “And since you’re here,” I add, “I will assume you got that message loud and clear.”

“I’m still angry and you’re still an arrogant asshole, but apparently it doesn’t matter, so fuck me before I come to my senses.”

I press my cheek to hers, my hand on her cheek, lips by her ear. “I promise to use my tongue in all the right places to make sure you have no regrets.”

She pants out a breath that tells me my words affect her and I’m right there when she does, kissing her again, drinking her in, and damn she tastes good; one part innocence, one part a drug that knows how good it feels. And she does feel so fucking good.

I scoop her up and carry her through the living area to the bedroom, because hell, I don’t know, it just feels like I should fuck her on the bed, though I could have easily kept her right there by the door. I want this woman. I want her in a bad way and I wanted her from the moment I saw her by that pool. I set her on her feet and I pull her close. “This is where I lick and you come on my tongue.”


 

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Lisa Renee JonesNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series.

In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is also the author of the bestselling the bestselling DIRTY MONEY and WHITE LIES series. And will be publishing the first book in her Lilah Love suspense series with Amazon Publishing in March 2018.

Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.

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What Were You Thinking, Paige Taylor? by Amanda Ashby – a Review

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What Were You Thinking, Paige Taylor? by Amanda Ashby – a Review

 

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Description:
After her carefully ordered world imploded, Paige Taylor cracks up. On her tenth self-help book, it seemed like a good idea at the time to reinvent herself––move from Manhattan to the tiny beachside town of St. Clair––and take over the local bookstore. But instead of discovering her spiritual Nirvana, she’s neck-deep in a floundering business, the locals treat her like a plague victim, and her mom’s suddenly decided to visit––with no end in sight––and keeps coming home with one surprise after the next. Added to that pot of crazy, the one guy who sets her pulse racing has sworn off women forever. He’s got a Samsonite filled with baggage, but damn he looks good hauling it down the street. And giving her those sexy half-smiles. And tempting her to take him for a test ride. Soon Paige discovers that reinventing herself takes more than just a change of address and a pithy quote on Instagram. She needs to face the truth about her life, and that’s something she can’t do alone.

 

Review:

What Were You Thinking, Paige Taylor? by Amanda Ashby is the 1st book in her new Belles of St. Clair series.

Sounds like heaven to me, relocating and opening a bookstore. But it wasn’t an easy choice for Paige. 

Paige has always been a “yes” girl, a pushover and pretty easy going. But after a disastrous relationship, she’s on a journey of self discovery, instead of “yes”, it’s going to be a “no” from Paige. And going to a small town to run a bookshop seems like an ideal solution, Paige intends to reinvent herself, and concentrate on her happiness and wellbeing. 

Reading the book, was a lot of fun, so many mishaps and accidents. The internal dialogue she had with herself had me smiling at odd moments. 

Her relationship with her mother was a nice touch (that parent who means well, but has no clue) the hostility that the town has for Paige at the beginning (a newcomer is always looked upon with suspicion) the bookshop that Paige pinned her new life on (not that easy to run when it’s not doing to good) and then we have Luke, the banter and chemistry was fun to read. 

So will Paige find happiness in St. Clair ? And if not, can I buy her bookstore? ?

Reviewed by Julie B.

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