Torian (Hunting Her #3) by Eden Summers-Review & Giveaway Tour

TORIAN (Hunting Her #3) by Eden Summers-Review Tour

 

ebook ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 25, 2019.

He’s my nemesis.
My tormentor.
A notorious criminal with a smoldering smile to mask the devil hidden beneath.

Conniving. Threatening. Brutal.
He stalks me from the shadows.
Makes me itch to place him behind bars.

But he has an offer I can’t refuse.
A major risk with the perfect reward.

I can’t let down my guard.
Can’t be tempted to trust him.

Not even when I begin to understand his corrupt ways.

Because the only face the devil shows is the one he wants you to see.
And all I’m seeing is hunger.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: TORIAN is the third instalment in Eden Summer’s contemporary, adult HUNTING HER romantic, mafia style, suspense series. This is Cole Torian, and FBI agent Anissa Fox’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cole and Anissa) TORIAN focuses on the take down of crime-lord Luther Torian. Following the arrest and subsequent escape of Luther Torian, Special Agent Anissa Fox finds herself drugged and a virtual prisoner of Luther’s son Cole Torian. Arriving in Greece, Anissa has no means of escape but soon discovers Cole’s plans behind Anissa’s abduction, plans that point at Luther’s demise. What ensues is the acrimonious and tempestuous relationship between Cole and Anissa, and the fall-out as Anissa becomes a pawn in a game between father and son.

Cole Torian despises his father and uncle for their control of sexual slavery, drugs and human trafficking. Hoping to put an end to his father’s control, and his uncle’s legacy, Cole sets into motion a plan to take down the monster he once called father. Anissa Fox struggles with her place within the FBI. Her father’s dirty history has tainted our story line heroine, a taint that will continue when she begins to fall for Cole Torian.

The relationship between Cole and Nissa is an enemies to frenemies back to enemies relationship that struggles with issues of trust, secrets, lies and betrayal. Cole and Nissa battle their attraction to one another, attraction that leads to sexual involvement but romance and a happily ever after may not in their future.

We are re-introduced to Hunter and Sarah, Decker and Keira, as well as Cole’s half-brother Tobias, their father Luther Torian, his sexual slave Penny, as well as a number of hitmen, security guards and Cole’s friend, ex-Navy SEAL Luca.

TORIAN is a heart breaking story of family, blood, betrayal and vengeance. The premise is dark and gritty; the characters are colorful but broken. TORIAN ends on a cliff-hanger, and I hope there is a happily ever after in their future.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Hunter
Decker
Torian

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Eden Summers is a bestselling author of contemporary romance with a side of sizzle and sarcasm.

She lives in Australia with a young family who are well aware she’s circling the drain of insanity. Eden can’t resist alpha dominance, dark features and sarcasm in her fictional heroes and loves a strong heroine who knows when to bite her tongue but also serves retribution with a feminine smile on her face

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Drilled Deep by Frankie Love & CM Seabrook-review tour

DRILLED DEEP by Frankie Love & CM Seabrook-Review Tour

ONLY 99¢ or £0.99 Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 23, 2019

Before today I wasn’t sure I believed in love-at-first-sight.

Now? Hell, I feel like my heart’s been drilled deep.

Ana Clemente fills it. Entirely. Problem is, how exactly do I explain that to this sweet little bookworm without scaring her away?
She’s young, innocent, and way out of my league.

I’m a salt of the earth man; I believe in family, faith, and forever.

It’s time I prove to Ana that I want to do more than build her some bookshelves.

I want to build a life with her.

Dear Reader,
Colton King’s the brawny beast you’ve been waiting for.

He’s a man on a mission.

She may start off as a virgin, but pretty soon she’ll know what all the fuss is about. Our blue-collar hero will make sure of it! xo,

Frankie & Chantel

Hammers and Veils is a series of short and flirty stories sure to make you melt!

••••••

REVIEW: For those of you that love a contemporary modern-day fairy tale, this book
is for you.

Enter in Ana a heiress with the parents that you wouldn’t wish on anyone,
she spent more of her time alone and went to a all-girls school. You would
think she would be cold and unfeeling, but no, Ana is warm and kind. All
she wants out of life is to find love, and live her happy, just her happy.

Well when she needs some work done to her library, enter Colton King of
Nailed It Construction, handyman extraordinaire. Hot, sexy and all man.

Colton was raised with stories of love at first sight from his parents, but
he was completely unprepared for Ana. When they first meet each other, they
are both surprised at the effect they have on one other, but are consumed
by their intense connection. Will they give into it? Will they make it
work? Through plot twists, steamy scenes and some very awesome nicknames,
you are catapulted into a world of love, loss and love found again, prepare
yourself to fall in love all over again with these authors.

Warning, some light physical abuse towards the end.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Stripped Bare
Nailed Down
Screwed Tight
Drilled Deep

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

 

Colton“Damn,” I say as I pull my truck to a stop in front of the Clemente mansion. The house is on private grounds just outside the city, and while I’ve heard about the size of the place, I wasn’t prepared for how big it actually is.
Compared to the two-bedroom ranch where I grew up, the place looks like Buckingham Palace.
Sure, now that Nailed It Construction has taken off, I live more than comfortably these days. I no longer share an eight by ten bedroom with my twin brother Dillan, even though I still manage to make it back home every Sunday for one of my mom’s home cooked meals.
I bought my house, or rather the property eight years ago, right out of high school. Saved the money I earned every summer working at the timber yard until I had enough to buy the land outright. It only took me another four years, and a lot of sweat and tears, not to mention free labor from my friends, Mason, Porter, and Eli, to build my dream house. A five-bedroom, four-car garage ranch with all the bells and whistles, and enough room inside and out to eventually have a brood of kids running around.
Not that I’m anywhere close to that happening-the whole family thing. It’s been years since I’ve had anything even resembling a relationship. I’m not a player, but I’m also not interested in settling down with someone who I know isn’t my match. The guys used to give me a hard time about my romantic notions of soul mates and love at first sight-until it happened to them. But I grew up hearing my parents’ stories about how they first met, and how my dad knew the moment he saw my mom that she would be his bride. Two weeks later they were married and a year after that they had me and my brother.
We never had much growing up, but what we had a lot of was love. And I made a promise to myself years ago that I wouldn’t settle for anything less.
You can have money and success, but without someone to share it with, what’s the point of life?
I rub the back of my neck and take in the mansion. The architecture is definitely turn of the twentieth century with large pillars and impressive stonework. Despite that the place looks abandoned, the grounds have undoubtedly been maintained by a professional gardener.
It’s gorgeous.
But the place feels cold. Empty. A house, but not a home.
It makes me wonder about the woman who owns the place. I’ve always believed that a house is a reflection of a person’s soul. And if my theory is correct, I’m in for a real treat with Ana Clemente, the woman who inherited the place six months ago.
“She’s some type of heiress.” Mason had said handing me the job details, his lip curling up in a sneer when he said it. “You can have the job. I’m not in the mood to deal with some socialite brat.”
“Thanks,” I’d muttered, taking the file, even though I was secretly intrigued.
It’s just a simple carpentry job according to the notes. And even if Mason is right, and the woman turns out to be a handful, the work shouldn’t take me more than a few days.
I grab my toolbox out of the back of my truck and head up the long stone stairwell toward the double, solid wood doors, and ring the doorbell.
When no one answers, I ring it again, expecting to be greeted by a butler with an English accent, or a maid in one of those little black and white outfits carrying a feather duster.
But when the door opens, I’m not prepared for the woman who greets me.
The first thing that strikes me is how tiny she is, especially compared to my massive six-foot-four build. But it’s her eyes, a rich chocolate brown hidden behind a pair of oversized glasses, that grab my attention and don’t let go.
Shit, the girl is beautiful, but in an unassuming way. Her chestnut hair is piled high on her head in a messy bun, and she uses her index finger to push her glasses up her nose. Her face is free of makeup, and there’s a splattering of freckles across her cheeks, which have turned a deep shade of pink.
Then she smiles, and I swear I forget to breathe. The woman isn’t just beautiful, she’s gorgeous. It’s like sunlight infuses her, pours from her, warmth and a subtle strength that makes me want to pull her into my arms and kiss her.
Hell, I want to do more than just kiss her.
But I don’t even know her name.
“Hi,” she says, looking up at me expectantly.
I clear my throat and hold my hand out. “Hi. I’m Colton King.”
She looks down at my outstretched hand, pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and I see a flicker of uncertainty.
“Colton King?” My name on her lips has all sorts of fantasies playing out in my mind. But I see the apprehension when she says it. “Do I know you?”
I realize that I’ve been standing here awkwardly for the last couple of minutes without any explanation of why I’m here. But god, the woman has me all twisted up inside.
One look, my father’s words tumble through my head. And I knew she was the one.
I shove the thought away, because I’m not here for this sweet little thing in front of me, I’m here for a job.
Pulling my hand back, I run my palm over the scruff on my jaw. “I’m from Nailed It Construction. I’m here to do some work on the library. Building new shelves? Is Ana Clemente here?”
“Oh right.” She lets out a little breath. I see some of her tension disappear, and she opens the door wider, allowing me to enter. “Sorry. I don’t get a lot of visitors.” This time it’s her who holds out her hand. “I’m Ana.”
I know my brows raise and my mouth drops open, but I can’t help the reaction. With one look I’d come to a million conclusions about the innocent beauty in front of me. I’d figured she was the maid, or maybe a distant relative, but it’d never crossed my mind that she was the heiress.
Mason said Ana was a socialite, a brat-but one look at this sweet thing and I know he was wrong.
She’s more than an heiress who needs some work done to her house.
Before today I wasn’t sure I believed in love at first sight.
Now? Hell, I feel like my heart’s been drilled deep. Ana Clemente fills it, entirely.
Problem is, how exactly do I explain that without scaring her away?

 


 

Frankie Love: writes filthy-sweet stories about bad boys and mountain men. As a thirty-something mom to six who is ridiculously in love with her own bearded hottie, she believes in love-at-first-sight and happily-ever-afters. She also believes in the power of a quickie.

❤️ Get ready to fall in love … you deserve it! ❤️

Website – http://bit.ly/2ra5I7t
Amazon Author Page –http://amzn.to/2r9ZVhS
Facebook – http://bit.ly/2plUQ6R
Instagram – http://bit.ly/2r3u1ld
Pinterest – http://bit.ly/2scHurz

_____________

CM Seabrook: When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s most likely spending time with her family, cooking, singing, or racing between soccer, hockey and karate practices. She’s living her own happily ever after with her husband of fifteen years and their two daughters.

She loves creating new exciting characters – from sexy, bad boy alphas, to the passionate, fiery women who love them.

Canadian born and bred, she started life in Edmonton, Alberta, and now resides in London, Ontario. She attended Western University where she graduated with an Honors degree in Anthropology.

Her guilty pleasures include red wine, pasta, binge watching Starz originals, and hanging out with her rescue pup, Jaxx.

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On Fractured Ground by Subject BGD-Review & Interview

ON FRACTURED GROUND (The Shattered Lives Chronicles #1) by Subject BGD-Review & Interview

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 1, 2019.

There are no heroes here. Only survivors.

As a child, Tylar Daislea was abandoned at Cellar Institute. A despicable fortress with just one directive: to brainwash, train and traffic women. Introduced to her first trainer at sixteen, she excelled through the initial two years of skills. Until one fateful afternoon, when it all fell apart.

When Tylar leads a second skill trainer to ruin, Corbin Manning receives the call. His father’s unsolved murder left him in charge of the illicit facility his family established decades ago. Forced to return to an underground world he always loathed, Tylar’s behavior threatens to drive him past the brink of his tolerance.

Thrust into the middle is Corbin’s most trusted employee, Chase Tiburon. Faced with a distasteful decision, Chase must return to his former life as a skill trainer or take on a task that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

ABOUT THE SERIES:

Welcome to the universe of Shattered Lives. Dare to take a glimpse into the dark world of the Manning Bloodline. A patriarchal extremist family known for being reclusive in life and ruthless in business. Raised with disregard for everything except bloodline reputation, preservation of genes and success, their heirs are shrewd and without remorse. Over the past three hundred years, all marriages have been arranged and only men have been sired. The leading cause of death is each other.

This series is not for the weak of stomach or the soft of heart. It will challenge the crux of nature versus nurture, as it explores the extremes the mind will go to ensure survival and quality of life.

On Fractured Ground is just the beginning…

*** THIS SERIES IS DARK. IT CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT AND POTENTIAL EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS *** It is unsuitable for readers under the age of 18. Sexual content is frequent, but the story is not formulated erotica and should not be considered romance.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: ON FRACTURED GROUND is the first instalment in Subject BGD’s contemporary, adult THE SHATTERED LIVES CHRONICLES dark, psychological thriller focusing on Tylar Daislea, Corbin Manning, and Corbin’s best friend Chase.

NOTE: Due to the story line content including sexual slavery, assault, rape, non-consensual acts and murder ON FRACTURED GROUND may contain triggers and that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Tylar, Corbin and Chase ON FRACTURED GROUND follows Tylar Daislea throughout her ‘training’ as a sexual slave. Left at the Cellar Institute as a young child, Tylar would begin a lifetime of discipline and instruction on how to be an obedient sexual slave. Having never known anything other than the ‘guidance’ and instruction of her proctors and trainers at the Cellar Institute Tylar Daislea is coached and indoctrinated into the illegal world of sexual slavery, setting the groundwork for her sale to an unknown buyer. Stripped of their humanity, the ‘slaves in training’ are brainwashed, mentally and emotionally abused in preparation for a world they know nothing about. Having defied her ‘handlers and trainers’ on more than one occasion, our heroine Tylar Daislea must endure solitary confinement, isolation and deprivation for having questioned and disobeyed the people in charge. If not for the desperate act of the reluctant Cellar Institute owner Corbin Manning, and his right hand man Chase, Tylar’s life may have been forfeited months before.

Tylar Daislea is drawn to a man who makes the life and death decisions at Cellar Institute. Power and control, discipline and obedience, form the basis of the Institutes drive to succeed in an attempt to provide a service to the rich and well-connected but Corbin Manning keeps secret the truth about Tylar’s connections to the Cellar Institute, a connection that prevents Corbin from relinquishing total ownership and control.

ON FRACTURED GROUND is a well written, sweeping and detailed, dark, gritty, raw and bleak look at the lengths some people will go to in order to control and destroy the lives of the most vulnerable; a sick and twisted game in order to break the strong, and weed out the weak. The premise is blunt and heart breaking; the characters are broken, damaged, fragmented and torn.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi and welcome to The Reading Café.

Congratulations on the recent release of ON FRACTURED GROUND.

Subject BGD: Thank you!

TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

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Subject BGD: Born and raised in Western Washington, I grew up with horses, and dirt bikes. As an adult, I’m huge into gaming. Tabletop games dominate my non-writing life, though video games also hold a special place in my heart. My favorite mechanics are resource management and worker placement. Party games are fun, but I’m not a huge fan of social deduction. I never turn down a game of 7 Wonders, with our without expansions. Always down for a night of Dungeons and Dragons, or a weekend of Kingdom Death Monster. When console gaming comes into play, it’s usually Borderlands, Destiny, Witcher, Dragon Age, or Skyrim.

TRC: Subject BGD is a mysterious choice for your author name. Would you please address the use of Subject BGD, and any significance it has to the series?

Subject BGD: Due to the theme of the Shattered Lives Chronicles, I wanted to keep my real name separate from the series. I thought it would be neat for my penname to foreshadow a reveal in Book 3, Broken by Blood. Gayle Schnaber is also a pseudonym, since Facebook would not allow me to create a profile as Subject BGD. Not every FB group will allow authors to join as pages, and they are full of great resources. A reoccurring character, readers will meet the inspiration for Gayle in On Fractured Ground.

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Subject BGD: The series was as an outlet for tragedies that struck throughout my life, and it was never intended to be published. It helped me work through everything from childhood hospitalizations, assaults, DV, emotional abuse, an earth-shattering discovery about my family, and even a miscarriage. I “finished” the story in 2008, but rewrote it whenever I felt devastated. I would alter reality to make things 10x worse for my characters, and force them to be stronger than I ever could. I cursed Corbin with the ability to shut down, though at the price of sometimes exploding. I granted Tylar the courage to stand up for herself, no matter the risk. And I gifted Chase with the level head I never had, but not the sense to avoid working for a corrupt establishment.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first novel?

Subject BGD: Writing was easy, I pantsed the entire series (in Layman’s, no outline or mapped plot, though I did create a retroactive timeline to keep everything straight). The challenge came when a friend read part of the story in 2018 and convinced me to publish. Luckily, she offered help with marketing and editing (she has experience with both). But I had to learn to identify and remove passive voice, and change telling to showing. At over 1,000,000 words, the story also had to be split into volumes. Rewriting to fix pacing has been no small task, but the reward of reading a tighter manuscript is exhilarating. I’ve been thrilled by the reaction from readers!

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of ON FRACTURED GROUND and the Shattered Lives Chronicles?

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

Subject BGD: Most people find a way to normalize atrocities when they feel powerless. It’s a survival mechanism, and it is prolific in victims of long-term abuse. Corbin’s psychological abuse began at birth; Tylar’s when she was 4-years-old. On Fractured Ground introduces what they endured, demonstrates how it made them who they are as it continues to shape their lives, and reveals its impact on the people around them. This is NOT a story about heroes. It’s a tale of survival, and the cost is different for each of the 3 main characters.

TRC: There are a number of potential ‘triggers’ for more sensitive readers. What would you like to say to the readers to address their fears?

Subject BGD: Although the settings, events, and people are fictional, the situations that compelled me to write them are real. My self-administered therapy is not suitable for all readers, but creating an adaptation of devastating experiences saved me from suicide more than once. It was how I survived sexual assault by an ex, and another by a coworker a decade and a half later. The Shattered Lives Chronicles was the only means of escaping my darkest hours. I hope others can find the strength I did through Tylar, Chase, and Corbin.

 TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Subject BGD:The finished story will be divided into 5 or 6 novels. Remaining Shards will be the final installment for this story in the Chronicles, though I have a second that takes place 19 years later. At 371,285 words, it focuses more on the Texas Mannings and delves a little deeper into the realm of eugenics. I have no idea how it ends, so it’s hard to tell how many books it will add. Probably another 3 to 5.

 TRC: From where did you get the idea for ON FRACTURED GROUND?

Subject BGD:Sexual frustration and too much daytime TV. It was supposed to be a short erotic fanfic based on General Hospital in the early 2000s. Next thing I know it’s a GH-less monstrosity with sex included, although no longer the focus. Oops?

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning ON FRACTURED GROUND and the Shattered Lives Chronicles?

Subject BGD: I wrote first and asked questions later. When reading back through, I dug for plausibility on certain scenarios that might seem outlandish. Since the story deals with experimental psychology, fact-checking dropped me down a number of conspiracy theory rabbit holes. These always lead to some aspect of the modern-day interpretation of the Illuminati. Yes, I know their real history (way more boring than what people think of them nowadays). No, the series does not contain their theories or ideology. They are mentioned in passing by a character in Book 3. It’s a nod to the conspiracy theorists and to make fun of myself for spending too many hours reading myths about world domination.

TRC: What was the most challenging scene to write?

Subject BGD: Tylar’s extreme naiveté was often a difficult thing to portray. Cellar Institute censors education, reading material, music and videos. Its students can count and tell time, but do not know simple math and have never seen money. Though taught enough to be conversational, they are undereducated to a degree that makes them seem “dumb as a pile of rocks” to outsiders. As someone who benefitted from formal education, I had to rack my brain over what they would or wouldn’t know. Then came the task of figuring out how an intelligent woman raised under such conditions would make deductions the others wouldn’t. Later in the story, I had to give her a believable train of thought for learning the impossible. It was a very interesting challenge.

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Subject BGD: Yes. It’s a reader’s first impression when browsing online or in bookstores. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but truth is most people do.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Subject BGD: I sit down with an idea, a beverage of choice, and the best of intentions. Everything that happens from there takes on a life of its own. Things do not always go my way and most plans fly out the window. It’s another reason I run with ideas, instead of outlining. Too much work for something the characters and plot will deviate away from.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Subject BGD: In Dnd, we call it ‘character vs. player knowledge’. The Author must know their character inside and out, and be able to put themselves in the situation AS that character. Fleshing this out goes so much deeper than a simple character description sheet (those are a great start, though). You need to know exactly what your character would do in any given situation, which often means living as your character for a time. It means rewriting, and backstories. Side fiction also helps A LOT, because it gives the opportunity to flesh out not just who they are, but WHY they are.

I’ve read a number of books where the characters are either underdeveloped, or I get yanked from the story when they do or say things that don’t align with their values/personality.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Subject BGD: I need complete silence when creating. If people are moving about the cabin, it pulls me out of the universe and I get irritated. However, there is a story arc involving a band called Tight Merge, and I created a soundtrack for the series in Spotify. So, music is still an important part of the process!

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Subject BGD: That we are what we write. Sure, most of us pour our souls into our manuscripts, but we are still a separate entity. After reading what my series was about, a friend said: “I didn’t know you felt that way about men.” The story doesn’t reflect my views on men or women. My devastated brain gave birth to a work of fiction, which developed a personality of its own as it grew.

TRC: How should authors measure a book’s success?

Subject BGD:By how the inspires its readers to feel. We create a way for people to escape their everyday lives. For a novel to be truly successful, it must transport its reader to another universe and allow them the opportunity to be someone else for a time.

TRC: What is something that few, if anyone, knows about you?

Subject BGD: I am an extrovert who suffers from a social anxiety that often feels debilitating. Whenever I reveal this, people are shocked. Apparently, I hide it very well.

TRC: Who is your favorite author (living or dead)?

Subject BGD: Brandon Sanderson, hands down. Before I discovered him, it was Dan Simmons.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Subject BGD: Rewriting Book 2: Fragmented Past. Hoping to have it ready before April, 2020!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Subject BGD: I have a free flash fiction backstory for the Shattered Lives Chronicles available on my website, and I plan to write more. At less than 1,000 words, ‘Collared’ recounts the day Corbin’s parents met in Sicily. Unrelated to Cellar Institute, this 5-minute read can be enjoyed as a stand-alone for those who have not yet read On Fractured Ground. If you have read the first installment of the series, it provides some insight and has an Easter egg for Book 4: Malunion.

I’ve written another short stand-alone called ‘Pixies in the Night’, which uncovers some of the mystery behind Tylar’s parents. It’s been submitted for publication in an online flash fiction magazine. If it’s accepted, I’ll post its link to my site!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Sushi

Favorite Dessert
DQ Blizzard

Favorite TV Show
I’d probably have to say Rick and Morty. I own a number of their board games, as well.

Last Movie You Saw
Mortal Engines

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Milk Chocolate, all the way!

Secret Celebrity Crush
Ian Somerhalder

Last Vacation Destination
Japan (spent 3 days in Tokyo, and 3 in Okinawa).

Do you have any pets?
I rescued a Siamese kitten 7 years ago, and trained her like a dog. She knows ‘no’, ‘come here’, ‘get down’, and comes to her name.

Last book you read
A post-apocalyptic novella called “Life after the Fall” by G.J. Ogden. It’s a prequel to his Planetsider series. I’m currently reading the next installment, aptly named ‘The Planetsider’. I’m also listening to the Harry Potter series on Audible.

TRC: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of ON FRACTURED GROUND. We wish you all the best.

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The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver – a Review

The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver – a Review

 

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Description:
“You have been abandoned.”

A young woman has gone missing in Silicon Valley and her father has hired Colter Shaw to find her. The son of a survivalist family, Shaw is an expert tracker. Now he makes a living as a “reward seeker,” traveling the country to help police solve crimes and private citizens locate missing persons. But what seems a simple investigation quickly thrusts him into the dark heart of America’s tech hub and the cutthroat billion-dollar video-gaming industry.

“Escape if you can.”

When another victim is kidnapped, the clues point to one video game with a troubled past–The Whispering Man. In that game, the player has to survive after being abandoned in an inhospitable setting with five random objects. Is a madman bringing the game to life?

“Or die with dignity.”

Shaw finds himself caught in a cat-and-mouse game, risking his own life to save the victims even as he pursues the kidnapper across both Silicon Valley and the dark ‘net. Encountering eccentric game designers, trigger-happy gamers and ruthless tech titans, he soon learns that he isn’t the only one on the hunt: someone is on his trail and closing fast.

 

 

Review:

The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver is the 1st book in his new Colter Shaw series.  We meet our hero, Colter Shaw, who is investigating the disappearance of woman who is missing in Silicon Valley.  Colter is an expert tracker and investigator, who accepts cases for rewards; he is technically not a private investigator, but having grown up trained by his father to be a survivalist, he has become one of the best at helping solve cases, especially in dire situations.  What is nice about this book is that Deaver gives us glimpses into Colter’s life growing up, living with his highly intelligent mother and father, and how he became so good at what he does. 

Colter is a different kind of hero, who is not only smart, tough, savvy, but he is also conscientious & caring about what cases to take and his determination to find the victim; as well as using his probability percentages to solve cases.

The Never Game revolves around the video gaming industry in Silicone Valley, and when Colter begins to delve deeper into the case, he realizes the culprit seems to be following steps played in an older game, The Whispering Man.  Early on he manages to find the victim barely alive, utilizing the first level of the game, The Abandoned Factory.  With the help of a female gamer, Colter initiates himself with the top management of various ruthless gaming leaders, designers, gamers, etc.   When another person is kidnapped, and clues arise that the culprit is now on the second level of the game, Colter will have his hands full trying to work with Joint Major Crimes Task Force in Santa Clara, CA. 

To tell too much more would be spoilers. I will say that The Never Game was an exciting, non-stop intense, suspense thriller, with many twists and turns, especially in the last half of the book.  I look forward to reading more about Colter Shaw in future books, as he made a wonderful hero.  The Never Game was so very well written by Jeffery Deaver.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Vow of Silence by Melynda Price – a Review

Vow of Silence by Melynda Price – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / iTunes / Google Play

 

Description:
A killer is hiding in plain sight…

The last thing Homicide Detective Josiah Troyer wants is to return to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and his Amish roots. But a madman is killing young girls and Josiah’s expertise with the tight-knit community is very much needed by the FBI. Unfortunately, going home means dealing with his past and the woman he left behind.

Hannah is desperately trying to rebuild her life after the death of her Amish husband, and now, the murder of her sister. Protecting her young son from the violence is her only goal––and then she runs into the last man she expected to see, her ex Josiah. He left her eight years ago to work with the Englishers and forgiving him hasn’t been easy.

But the killer has Hannah in his crosshairs, and she and Josiah will have to work together if she’s going to survive.

 

Review:

The last place homicide Detective Joe (Josiah) Troyer wants to go is back home to Lancaster, PA. He casted aside his Amish roots eight years previously and is now a detective in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Joe left behind his Amish roots for a new life, leaving behind his one and only true love Hannah Beiler, with no intention of ever looking back.  But there is a serial killer preying on young Amish girls and the FBI has decided that Joe is the only person that can go there and get the answers they are so desperately looking for. He thought of ways of getting out of going, but when he saw one of the victims, things became personal.

Cassie Beiler, Hannah’s sister was recently killed. And the last thing he wanted to do was return and have to face the woman who’s heart he broke.  But he also knows that no one else will be able to infiltrate the stoic silence that is the Amish way.  And seeing as how he was once part of their community he knows more of the ways of the Amish than anyone else in the FBI currently. But Joe has been excommunicated and shunned. Getting back into the community to get answers isn’t going to be as easy as anyone thinks.

The moment he returns to Lancaster and sees Hannah for the first time, he is brought back to everything that made him fall in love with her. And he begins to realize that he may have made a mistake in leaving. This is a second chance romance story and the author did an amazing job laying out the groundwork of Josiah and

Hannah’s previous relationship.  You could feel the love between them previously and how quickly it returned when they were reunited. Hannah Beiler has lost her husband eight months ago, and now her sister has been killed.  Someone is preying on young Amish girls. Hannah vows that she would even make a deal with the devil to find out who killed her sister. So when Josiah returns, that is exactly what she does.

Casting aside her anger and hurtful pride, she decides to help Josiah find out who could be doing this. But the moment they are alone together she realizes that even with all the hurt he brought her, she is still very much in love with him. She realizes that even talking to Josiah can cause problems for her within her community, problems that she just doesn’t need right now.

Can she cast her heartache aside and forgive Josiah, and help him find the killer of her sister and the other young Amish girls?  What will Josiah have to do to get back into the community that has sworn to shun him?  And where in the midst of everything can Josiah and Hannah find a peace with each other, and explore the renewed feelings that seeing each other again has brought about?

One of the best parts of this book is the POV of the serial killer.  In between the new found love and trust that Hannah and Josiah are building are chapters that completely bring you to the edge.  The mind of the serial killer, the way he thinks and the actions he lays out are disturbing and just plain creepy.  But you devour the book so quickly, because you want to know what he is going to do next. 

This author (Melynda Price) brought me right back to my roots of Pennsylvania and everything was absolutely spot on. From the Amish ways, to their dialect, to their shunning of members that do not return after their rumspringa.Even to how when one leaves the Amish ways, their families are lost to them and how some struggle to find a semblance of themselves while having no family around to help you.

 A wonderfully chilling, second chance romance that I recommend for a cold weather cloudy day.

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher

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Texas Sirens Series 1-7 by Lexi Blake-Review Tour

Siren in Waiting/ Siren in Bloom / Siren Unleashed (Texas Sirens 4-7) by Lexi Blake-Review Tour

SIREN UNLEASHED
(Texas Sirens #7)
by Lexi Blake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, BDSM, menage, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release Date May 21, 2019

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Detectives Ben and Chase Dawson have been sent to investigate an unusual murder at an exclusive resort owned by Julian Lodge. The prime suspect is a young woman who was the last person to see the victim alive. Julian wants them to ensure her safety while also conducting the investigation. The job seems simple enough, until Ben and Chase discover that the beautiful woman they have both come to desire has dark secrets.

Natalie Buchanan came to the Willow Fork Tranquility Spa seeking sanctuary after escaping the clutches of a twisted sadist. Working as a massage therapist at the resort has given her a chance to heal. It also offers her an opportunity to reconnect to the lifestyle she thought she would never be comfortable in again. But when one of her regular clients ends up dead on her table, Natalie fears that the monster she once escaped has come back to claim her.

As Natalie rediscovers her own power, all three will be forced to confront her past.

••••••••••

REVIEW: SIREN UNLEASHED is the seventh instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult TEXAS SIRENS erotic, BDSM , romance series focusing on the men and women of an upscale Dallas spa and resort known as The Club, which doubles as a BDSM club. This is twin detectives / Dominants Ben and Chase Dawson, and massage therapist / submissive Natalie Buchanan’s story line. SIREN UNLEASHED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story. Ben first introduced in book six SIREN IN BLOOM; Chase was first introduced in book five SIREN IN WAITING. The Texas Sirens series is a spin-off from the author’s NIGHTS IN BLISS, COLORADO series.

NOTE: SIREN UNLEASHED is the re-release of the 2012 book authored by Sophie Oak aka Lexi Blake with new content. There is also a slight cross-over with the characters from the author’s Masters and Mercenaries series, and Nights in Bliss, Colorado.

WARNING: SIREN UNLEASHED contains scenes of M/F/M ménage, and BDSM sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers. There is also reference to sexual slavery, abduction, torture and rape.

Told from several third person perspectives including Ben, Chase and Natalie SIREN UNLEASHED follows the Dom/sub relationship between twin detectives / Dominants Ben and Chase Dawson, and massage therapist / submissive Natalie Buchanan. Months earlier Natalie, along with two other submissives were kidnapped and held prisoner by a man who believed himself Master to their slaves. Healing but alone, Natalie now works as a massage therapist at The Club spa and resort, where her latest client is found murdered, and Natalie was the last to see him alive. Enter detectives and Dominants Ben and Chase Dawson, and the men with whom Natalie will fall in love. What ensues is the building sexual, Dom /sub, and love relationship between Ben, Chase and Natalie, and the search for the truth behind the murder of the self-proclaimed furniture king of East Texas.

Natalie struggles to move on from the past. Well versed in the world of BDSM and Dom/sub relationships Natalie battles the demons that continue to haunt her days and nights. Meeting detectives Ben and Chase Dawson stirs something deep within our story line heroine, something she long thought buried and dead. Ben and Chase Dawson, although identical twins, are as different as night and day when it comes to the need to Dominate and control. Bringing a broken submissive into their lives meant starting from the bottom up in an effort to help Natalie heal from the atrocities inflicted upon her very soul.

The relationship between Ben, Chase and Natalie is one of immediate attraction but a relationship based in Natalie’s need for control; to submit to a Master that is able to control the demons that continue to control her life. Ben Dawson is the more empathetic of the two brothers; Chase knows what Natalie needs, from the very start. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and intense. There are some scenes of spanking and light bondage.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of the previous story line couples and characters, Ben and Chase’s sister Georgia, as well as a number of the McKay –Taggart clan from Masters and Mercenaries.

SIREN UNLEASHED is a story of family, betrayal, vengeance and trust. The premise is sensitive and gripping; the romance is spicy and provocative; the characters are sassy and spirited but struggle with memories of the past. SIREN UNLEASHED is an intimate and edgy look at the recovery and acceptance; love and happily ever after.

Copy supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy

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

 

“Why don’t you smile?”
Chase shrugged. “I don’t know. Just how I was born. So where’s the dragon tattoo?”
Now she was the one smiling. Smart-mouthed bastard. Yeah, that was kind of sexy. “Hey, I was fucked up before it was cool. This is my fourth hair color this year. I was bright yellow two months ago, but someone called me Big Bird.”
His hand came up, barely touching her hair. “I like Cotton Candy better.”
“Yeah, don’t expect sweet.”
There it was, that hint of a smile that made her want more. “I think you could be very sweet if someone handled you the right way.”
“What if I don’t want to be handled?” The question came out on a flirty huff. God, was that really her voice? Was she flirting with this Dom like she could take him on?
The smile deepened, bringing out ridiculously sexy dimples. “Oh, you want to be handled, sweets.”
She kind of did. But she was still afraid. “I don’t think I could stand to be tied down.”
“How about a male hand on your body? Could you handle that? No ropes. No cuffs. But I would have to put hands on you, and not in that ‘I’m your dad’ way the other guy did.”
Honesty. Lots of honesty. “I don’t know how I would handle it. I know I didn’t like the thought of you servicing me. When you walked up, it felt like I was hiring you or something. I didn’t like that.”
He softly brought the pad of his index finger to brush her nose. “Picky sub.”
“I know what it feels like to be used. I don’t want to use you.”
A single muscular shoulder shrugged. “We all use people. It comes down to how we use them and whether or not they’re okay with being used. How are you going to get what you need if you don’t use someone?”
“It feels wrong.”
“Are you being honest with me about what you want? Is this a plot to trick me into marrying you?”
She rolled her eyes. “No.”
“Then we’re good, sub,” he promised. “You want to play a little in a safe environment with someone who’ll give you some space. I’m cool with that.”
“What do you get out of it?” She needed to know that there was an exchange.
“Ah, you’re a clean-slate girl. Well, sweetness, what I get out of it is the sight of what I think is going to be a spectacular ass. And when I turn in later, I’ll have something to masturbate to.”
She felt her eyes flare. Well, there was honesty for her. “I think you could find someone to help you out.”
He grimaced. “It would be harder than you think. Not a lot of women appreciate my sparkling personality. And besides, I think I’m going to be faithful for the night. I doubt you’ll let me have you, so I’ll pretend.”
The idea of him lying in bed, his hand on his cock while he thought about her, made her breath catch. And still she had to push. “Why me?”
He was silent for a moment, as though deciding how honest he should be. “Because you’re vibrant and different and you’ve muted your glow, but I think you could light up this room if you let go. I would be using you a little, too. I don’t do many good things. I’m basically selfish. Maybe I want to feel good about myself for once.”
She wasn’t giving him credit. She was judging him the way she expected to be judged, on the outside without a single thought to what was happening in his head. She’d looked at his gorgeous body and expected him to not have a soul, much less one as screwed over as hers.
“We could try. You could try to touch me.” She could handle that surely.
“Why don’t you touch me instead?”


 

SMALL TOWN SIREN
(Texas Sirens #1)
by Lexi Blake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, BDSM, menage, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 9, 2018

Re-released in a second edition with a prologue and three new chapters.

Two cowboys looking for love…

Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood met in foster care. Over the years, they’ve become best friends and partners. They share a business as cattle ranchers and a house. There’s only one thing missing: a woman to share. The men are sure they’ve found that woman when Abigail Moore arrives in their small town, Willow Fork, TX.

A woman trying to find her place in the world…

Abby left her hometown twenty years before under a cloud of scandal. She’s raised a daughter, forged a new life for herself, and is ready for the next phase when she meets the handsome cowboys.

One small town that’s ready to explode…

They’re a dream come true—Jack is the sexy Dom, and Sam the playful lover. It’s everything she’s ever fantasized about. There’s only one problem. She’s still not welcome in Willow Fork, and someone is willing to kill to keep her away.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: SMALL TOWN SIREN is the first instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult TEXAS SIRENS erotic, BDSM, ménage romance series focusing on the men and women who are members of an upscale Dallas spa and resort known as The Club, which doubles as a BDSM club. This is thirty-two year old billionaire ranchers Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood, and thirty-seven year old, registered nurse Abigail ‘Abby’ Moore’s story line. The Texas Sirens series is a spin-off from the author’s NIGHTS IN BLISS, COLORADO series.

NOTE: SMALL TOWN SIREN is the re-release of the 2010 book authored by Sophie Oak aka Lexi Blake with new content.

WARNING: SMALL TOWN SIREN contains scenes of M/F/M ménage, and BDSM sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Jack, Sam and Abby SMALL TOWN SIREN follows Abby Moore from age seventeen to thirty seven, from a high school pregnancy to the town whore, to a woman who must return to the town that pushed her away. Her mother’s fall and subsequent recovery finds Abby struggling to fit into a town whose people aren’t willing to give anyone a second chance. Desperate for money when no one would hire her, Abby Moore would become the talk of the town when she began working at the local diner. Meeting ranchers Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood meant a second chance for Abby Moore, a chance that would all but be destroyed by the locals who never wanted our heroine to return. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Jack, Sam and Abby, and the potential fall-out as Abby is willing to sacrifice her happiness to protect the men that she loved.

Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood met, and grew up in the foster care system. Working together, they purchased one of the largest ranches in Willow Fork, Texas, a ranch that is desperately in need of a woman’s love. Abby Moore’s return to Willow Fork came with the trepidation and humiliation of sins of the past, sins for which she continues to pay over twenty years later.

The relationship between Abby, Jack and Sam is one of immediate attraction. Sam and Jack know immediately that Abby is the woman whom they are willing to share; to marry and with whom to grow old. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. There are scenes of discipline, spanking and whipping, as well as M/F/M sexual situations.

The secondary and supporting characters include the requisite small-minded townies who are unable to let go of the past. Abby never deserved the reputation accorded by years of gossip but a reputation that continued to grow, fed by a woman unable to forget what she lost and how. We are introduced to Abby’s daughter Lexi, and her mother Diane Moore; her friend and diner owner Christa and Mike; Sam and Jack’s housekeeper Benita Wells; and Ruby Echols, a woman considered the town matriarch.

SMALL TOWN SIREN is a story of discrimination and prejudice; of vengeance and heart break; of lust, love, second chances and happily ever after. There is always a bit of a struggle to accept the actions of people who consider themselves above the law but such is the life of many a small town America. The premise is inviting; the romance is tender, captivating and seductive; the characters are colorful and energetic. SMALL TOWN SIREN is a great start to the Texas Sirens series.

_________________

SIREN IN THE CITY
(Texas Sirens #2)
by Lexi Blake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, BDSM, menage, romance

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

About the book: Re-release January 23, 2018

Re-released in a second edition with new scenes.

Jack and Sam married Abby. It was supposed to be for forever, but lately Abby wonders where her alpha male has gone. Jack has retreated and life has become decidedly vanilla. It isn’t the true marriage she and Sam wanted. Sam and Abby know the time has come to fight for what they need.

A call from his mentor forces Jack to revisit the club where he discovered his sexuality. Jack’s half-brother is in the city and interested in a little blackmail. Can Jack handle two defiant subs and a brother in need of some tough love?
Sometimes all it takes to find the way home is a little love and a lot of mischief.

••••••••••

REVIEW: SIREN IN THE CITY is the second instalment in Lexi Blake’s aka Sophia Oak’s contemporary, adult TEXAS SIRENS erotic, BDSM, ménage romance series focusing on the men and women of an upscale Dallas spa and resort known as The Club, which doubles as a BDSM club. This is the continuing story of thirty-two year old billionaire ranchers Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood, and thirty-seven year old, registered nurse Abigail ‘Abby’ Moore’s story line. SIREN IN THE CITY should not be read as a stand alone as is picks up a few months after the events of SMALL TOWN SIREN. The Texas Sirens series is a spin-off from the author’s NIGHTS IN BLISS, COLORADO series.

NOTE: SIREN IN THE CITY is the re-release of the 2010 book authored by Sophie Oak aka Lexi Blake with new content. There is also a slight cross-over with the introduction of some of the characters from the author’s Masters and Mercenaries series.

WARNING: SIREN IN THE CITY contains scenes of M/F/M ménage , M/M, and BDSM sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Jack, Sam, and Abigail SIREN IN THE CITY focuses on the fractured relationship between thirty-two year old billionaire ranchers Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood, and thirty-seven year old, registered nurse Abigail ‘Abby’ Moore. Six months after an incident that threatened the relationship of Abby, Sam and Jack, Jack struggles with issues of PTSD, helplessness, and insecurity a it pertains to his ability to protect the people he loves. Battling his own demons, and demons from the past Jack is sequestered by Julian Lodge, owner the The Club, in an effort to uncover the truth behind his half-brother’s need to blackmail the family. Left alone to their own devices, Sam and Abby set out on an adventure of their own only to wreak havoc as their search for something they both want but lost. What ensues is the rekindling relationship and romance between Jack, Sam and Abby, and the potential fall-out as the trio, once again, come face to face with their own mortality.

The relationship between Jack and his sub/lovers is broken and damaged. Jack is unable to come to terms with what happened and why, leaving Sam and Abby struggling with their place in Jack’s life. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, aggressive and intense. There are scenes of discipline, spanking and whipping, as well as M/F/M, and M/M sexual situations.

We are introduced to Jack’s half-brother Lucas Cameron, as well as Lucas’ father’s campaign manager Mr. Slater; Julian Lodge’s subs Jeremy and Sally, Master Leo Meyer, and the introduction of the McKay-Taggart team including Jake and Adam.

SIREN IN THE CITY is a story of family, betrayal, acceptance and forgiveness. The premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is energetic and steamy; the characters are colorful and lively.

___________________

SIREN ENSLAVED
(Texas Sirens #3)
by Lexi Blake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, BDSM, menage, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 24, 2018

Re-released in a second edition with new scenes.

Julian Lodge has everything a man could want. He’s rich, successful and owns the most exclusive club in Dallas. But something is missing.

Finn Taylor has worked his way up in the world from humble beginnings in Willow Fork, Texas. The only thing he still loves in his hometown is Danielle Bay. He never told her he was actually bisexual, and he never confessed his love for her. Now she’s getting married, and Finn is sure he’s lost his chance with the only person he’ll ever love.

Julian’s vacation to the Barnes-Fleetwood ranch brings them all together. After Dani jumps into Julian’s car while fleeing her wedding, Julian knows he has to have her. But nothing is easy in Willow Fork. A danger from Julian’s past threatens them all. Julian will have to convince both Dani and Finn that being his will be the best decision they ever made.

•••••••••

REVIEW: SIREN ENSLAVED is the third instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult TEXAS SIRENS erotic, BDSM, romance series focusing on the of an upscale Dallas spa and resort known as The Club, which doubles as a BDSM club. This is billionaire businessman and Dominant Julian Lodge, and submissives -attorney Finn Taylor, and medical receptionist Danielle Bay’s story line. SIREN ENSLAVED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion. The Texas Sirens series is a spin-off from the author’s NIGHTS IN BLISS, COLORADO series.

NOTE: SIREN UNLEASHED is the re-release of the 2011 book authored by Sophie Oak aka Lexi Blake with new content. There is also a slight cross-over with the characters from the author’s Masters and Mercenaries series, and Nights in Bliss, Colorado.

WARNING: SIREN UNLEASHED contains scenes of M/M/F sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives (Julian, Finn and Danielle) SIREN ENSLAVED follows in the wake of Danielle Bay’s actions as a runaway bride. Jumping into a stranger’s car Danielle will come face to face with her future in the guise of billionaire businessman Julian Lodge. With her best friend by her side, Danielle and Finn would become the submissives to a man who struggles to let go of his heart and fall in love. When Julian’s past demands vengeance for perceived sins and rejection, Danielle will find herself a willing sacrifice to save the man with whom she would fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Julian, Finn and Danielle, and the potential fall-out as Julian continues to hold everyone at arm’s length including the Finn Taylor and Danielle Bay.

Finn Taylor is a bisexual male who has lusted after his best friend for as long as he can remember but Finn struggles with his attraction to Dani knowing she may never forgive him for his lie of omission. Julian Lodge is a powerful man who has yet to find his own happily ever after. Unable to let go of the memories of the past, fearing rejection, Julian refuses to let any one close to his heart. Danielle Bay has struggled all of her life to look after her younger sister since the death of her parents but marriage to a man she doesn’t love finds our heroine on the run, into the arms of a stranger who turns into something more.

The relationship between Dani and Finn is a friends to lovers; between Dani and Julian, and Finn and Julian is one of insta-lust and submission. Julian is also a bi-sexual male is who willing to enter into a contracted relationship with Dani and Finn but the heart wants something more than rules and regulations, the heart wants passion, love and a happily ever after. From the minute Dani jumps into his car, Julian senses a woman that is willing to submit to everything he demands. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense; passionate and steamy, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Lucas and Lexi; Sean and Ian Taggart; psychiatrist Leo Meyer; Jack, Sam and Abigail; Dani’s ex-fiance Jimbo; her sister Val; as well as brother and sister Jeremy and Tricia Walker.

SIREN ENSLAVED is a story of betrayal and revenge; love, heart break and obsession; relationship and acceptance.The premise is entertaining and bewitching; the characters are energetic and charismatic; the romance is captivating but fraught with torment and pain.

____________

SIREN BELOVED
TEXAS SIRENS #4
by Lexi Blake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, BDSM, menage, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release July 18, 2018

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Aidan O’Malley walked away from his fiancée, Lexi, and their best friend, Lucas, after a night of passion left him shaken to his core. When Aidan returns home from Iraq, he’s haunted by all he has lost. The enemy broke his body, destroying his dreams of a career in music. Worse still, he lost Lexi and Lucas. That damage he’d done all by himself. While he can’t restore what combat took from him, he’s determined to reclaim the two loves of his life.

Lucas Cameron is a changed man. After connecting with his brother, he found the discipline to get his life on track. His legal career is flourishing, but his love life is a train wreck. The woman he loves is spiraling out of control. After Aidan abandoned them, Lucas and Lexi clung together but no matter how hard he tries, Lucas can’t find a way to heal the wounds that Lexi carries.

Lexi Moore feels like a jigsaw puzzle with too many missing pieces. Losing Aidan was hard, but the true reason for her shattered spirit is a secret she only shares with her beloved Lucas. She knows she is drowning and the time has come to heal, but the holes in her heart hold her back from moving on. Shedding the burden she carries is her only hope for a happy future, but she fears she will never have the strength to reveal her secret.

When Aidan walks back into their lives, Lucas and Lexi know everything is about to change. But as they fight to reconcile their past and reclaim what they lost, a vicious predator stalks Lexi. In order to stop the killer, all three must confront the secrets they’ve carried…before they’re buried by them.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: SIREN BELOVED is the fourth instalment in Lexi Blake’s (aka Sophie Oak) contemporary, adult TEXAS SIRENS erotic, BDSM romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women of an upscale Dallas spa and resort known as The Club, which doubles as a BDSM club. This is Dom Aidan O’Malley, sub/author Lexi Moore, and switch Lucas Cameron’s story line. SIREN BELOVED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion. The Texas Sirens series is a spin-off from the author’s NIGHTS IN BLISS, COLORADO series.

NOTE: SIREN BELOVED is the re-release of the 2011 book authored by Sophie Oak aka Lexi Blake with new content. There is also a slight cross-over with the characters from the author’s Masters and Mercenaries, and Nights in Bliss, Colorado series.

WARNING: SIREN BELOVED contains scenes of M/M/F ménage, and BDSM sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Lexi, Aidan and Lucas SIREN BELOVED follows the rekindling relationship between Dom Aidan O’Malley, sub/author Lexi Moore, and switch Lucas Cameron. Years earlier Aidan O’Malley walked out of Lexi Moore’s life, struggling with her need to be submissive, and his attraction to her best friend Lucas Cameron. Following a disastrous deployment in Iraq, Aidan has returned home, and in an effort to reclaim the man and woman he loves, has sought significant training in the art of Domination. But all does not go according to plan when his attempt at ‘anonymous play’ leads to potential heart breaking for Lucas and Lexi. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Aidan, Lexi and Lucas, as our trio find themselves targeted by an unknown source.

Throughout the story Lucas, Lexi and Aidan find themselves on the receiving end of threats meant to intimidate and destroy. From destruction of property, bullet wounds, car accidents and physical assault, our trio must work together in an effort to uncover the person responsible for trying to destroy their lives.

The relationship between Lexi and Lucas continued long after Aidan walked out of their lives. In an effort to aid Lexi in her ongoing downward spiral in the years since Aidan left, Lucas struggles to Dominate Lexi the way she needs to be dominated and controlled. With Aidan’s return both Lucas and Lexi must re-learn to submit to the man they never stopped loving, a submission that will bring the trio closer to their own happily ever after.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Lexi’s mother Abigail Barnes-Fleetwood, and her two husbands Jackson and Sam; Ian and Sean Taggart, Julian Lodge, as well as the introduction of security specialists Ben and Chase Dawson; Aidan’s former unit buddy Dwight, and ex-girlfriend Karen.

SIREN BELOVED is a story of second chances, betrayal, vengeance, and love. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the characters are energetic, dynamic and colorful; the romance is erotic , passionate and intense.

Copy supplied for review

_____________________

SIREN IN WAITING
(Texas Sirens #5)
by Lexi Blake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, BDSM, menage, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release September 2018

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

Bethany “Mouse” Hobbes spent her entire life waiting, especially for the love of Bo O’Malley. But for the first time in her life, she is ready to start living, with or without him. She has found her dream, restoring a rustic farmhouse on the outskirts of town.

Trev McNamara left Deer Run a high school hero and has returned, his football career in ruins. When Trev meets Mouse, he discovers a passion strong enough to overcome his past. But can she accept his need for control?

Bo O’Malley has lived his whole life in the shadow of his brother, never committing to anything or anyone. When the woman he secretly loved all his life begins an affair with the man who betrayed his trust, Bo will do anything to claim her as his own.

Transformed by their love, will Mouse be enough woman for both of them?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: SIREN IN WAITING is the fifth instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult TEXAS SIRENS erotic, BDSM, romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women of the exclusive Dallas BDSM spot known as The Club. This is former professional football star / Dom Trev McNamara, accountant Bethany ‘Mouse’ Hobbes, Bo O’Malley’s story line. SIREN IN WAITING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. TEXAS SIRENS series is a spin-off from the author’s NIGHTS IN BLISS, COLORADO series.

NOTE: SIREN IN WAITING is the re-release of Sophie Oak’s aka Lexi Blake’s 2011 novel.

WARNING: SIREN IN WAITING contains scenes of M/F/M sexual situations including spanking, bondage, anal play and discipline.

Told from several third person perspectives including Trev, Bethany and Bo SIREN IN WAITING follows the life-long friendship of Bethany Hobbes and Bo O’Malley that is about to implode when Bethany is befriended and Dominated by the town pariah, disgraced former football star Trev McNamara. Upon his return to his hometown of Deer Run, Texas Trev McNamara struggles with what was and what will never be. With one year left on his sobriety program at ‘The Club’, Trev finds himself outside a bar, battling between head and heart when he comes across a young woman fighting a battle of her own. Bethany ‘Mouse’ Hobbes has loved her best friend Bo O’Malley all of her life but has watched from the sidelines as Bo flirts and seduces every female around. Meeting Trev McNamara gives Bethany a chance at her own happily ever after, a chance that may be destroyed when someone targets our heroine where she lives. What ensues is the building Dom/sub/love relationship between Trev, Bethan and Bo; and the potential fall-out as Bethany’s new project becomes ground zero.

The relationship between Bo and Bethany is a friends to lovers relationship that struggles with an imaginary line that Bo refuses to cross. It is only when Bo discovers that Bethany has moved on with someone new does Bo realize that losing Bethany would mean losing a part of his soul. Trev McNamara has screwed up so badly that his reputation precedes his return to town. A fallen hero; a man who burned out and destroyed his career for the world to see. A Dominant by nature, Trev would find his passion at ‘The Club’, mentored by psychiatrist and Dom Leo Meyer, and in this Trev was hoping to claim Bethany as his very own submissive. The $ex scenes are intense and erotic.

WE are introduced to psychiatrist and Dom Leo Meyer; Trev’s sister Shelley McNamara and her husband Bryce; as well as the reintroduction of Bo’s brother Aidan O’Malley, and his partners Lexi Moore and Lucas Cameron.

SIREN IN WAITING focuses on unrequited love; on addiction and recovery; on the criminal element of small town America. The premise is captivating and engaging; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are energetic, colorful and lost.

Own a copy

______________

SIREN IN BLOOM
(Texas Sirens #6)
by Lexi Blake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, BDSM, menage, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release November 6, 2018

Re-released in a second edition with new content.

For psychologist Leo Meyer, peace and comfort come through strict discipline and order. It’s one of the reasons he was chosen by Julian Lodge to be the Dom in residence at his club. His time there has been a near-perfect existence filled with a daily routine free from the chaos of emotional attachment. With the exception of his brief relationship with Shelley McNamara, that is. She may have been the only woman he ever truly loved, but he was confident he had put her out of his mind until she walked into his club on the arm of another man.

Shelley McNamara is tired of waiting for her new life to begin. After finally finding freedom from an abusive marriage, she is eager to discover who she really is. After her encounter with Leo Meyer, she knows that the first thing she wants to explore is the lifestyle he exposed her to during their brief time together. She’s been promised her new Dom will be an excellent fit, but she can’t imagine anyone could fill the hole left by Leo. Until she sees Master Wolf.

After a devastating injury forced his retirement from the Navy SEALs, Wolf has been restless and lost. Hoping to reconnect with his estranged family in Dallas, Wolf accepted a new job working for Julian Lodge. His first assignment is training a beautiful woman named Shelley. Her fiery nature unlocks feelings he didn’t know he was capable of after a life spent in combat. The closer they become, the more certain he is that she is his ideal mate. The only catch is that her relationship with Leo may not be as resolved as they both believed.

Just when Shelley believes the looming shadow of her deceased husband has finally cleared away, a dangerous killer arrives at her door seeking retribution. Leo and Wolf will have to put their grievances aside, leverage all their training, and work together to keep her safe and claim her heart.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: SIREN IN BLOOM is the sixth instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary, adult TEXAS SIRENS erotic, BDSM romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women of an upscale Dallas spa and resort known as The Club, which doubles as a BDSM club. This is brothers/Doms/former Navy SEALs Wolf Meyer, psychologist Leo Meyer, and interior decorator Shelley McNamara’s story line. SIREN IN BLOOM can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion. The Texas Sirens series is a spin-off from the author’s NIGHTS IN BLISS, COLORADO series.

NOTE: SIREN IN BLOOM re-release of the 2012 book authored by Sophie Oak aka Lexi Blake with new content. There is also a slight cross-over with the characters from the author’s Masters and Mercenaries, and Nights in Bliss, Colorado series.

WARNING: SIREN IN BLOOM contains scenes of M/F/M ménage, and BDSM sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Wolf, Leo and Shelley SIREN IN BLOOM follows the building Dom/sub relationship between Wolf Meyer, and Shelley McNamara, and the love/hate relationship between Wolf, Leo and the woman they love. Fifteen months earlier Shelley McNamara Hughes pushed away the man that she loved in order to protect him from the man that she married. Fast forward to present day wherein Shelley, newly widowed and on her own, is hoping to test her submissive side by joining the members at the Dallas based BDSM joint-The Club. But Shelley struggles with the identity of the man originally scheduled to train her, the man she never stopped loving. Having been assigned a new Dom at The Club, Shelley will come face to face with Leo’s brother Wolf, the other man with whom she would fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Wolf, Shelley and Leo, and the potential fall-out as both Shelley and Leo’s pasts come seeking revenge targeting our couple in the process.

Shelley McNamara knows the pain of losing someone you love but protecting Leo Meyer was her only priority when months earlier she pushed him out of her life. Meeting his brother Wolf meant a possible second chance at love but a chance that may push Leo further away. Wolf Meyer knows Leo has never stopped loving the woman with whom he, himself, has fallen in love but to protect everyone’s heart, Wolf is willing to step aside to clear the path to his brother’s own happily ever after. What no one expected was for Shelley’s past to cross over with Leo’s army life, a past that was about to demand pay back and vengeance.

The fractured relationship between Leo and Wolf comes to a head when they soon realize that they are both in love with the same woman. Thinking only of his brother’s happiness, Wolf is willing to walk away, in order for his brother to live with the woman he has always loved. Shelley is determined to love both men equally but convincing the stubborn brothers takes an act of disobedience, and a near-death occurrence to pull Leo and Wolf back into her orbit. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate, erotic and intense. There are some scenes of bondage, spanking and discipline.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Julian Lodge, attorney Finn Taylor, and their wife Dani; Jack Barnes, Sam and Abigail; tortured sub Kitten; former Bliss, Colorado sheriff’s deputy, embattled Logan Green; mercenary for hire Steve Holder. The requisite evil has many faces.

SIREN IN BLOOM is a story of family, betrayal, vengeance, and love. The premise is animated and energetic; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are colorful, dynamic and struggling. SIREN IN BLOOM is a story of ménage love, BDMS relationships, healing and letting go.

Own a copy

Lexi Blake: 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

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The Protocol Series 1-3 by Eden Butler-Review Tour

The Protocol Series 1-3 by Eden Butler-Review Tour

BUY THE BUNDLE

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

AGAINST PROTOCOL
Protocol #1
by Eden Butler

Genre: contemporary, adult, erotic, romantic suspense

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 23, 2018

Everyone has secrets, even the leader of the free world.

Even his wife.

I was Ophelia Harris, America’s youngest First Lady.

Now I’m America’s Widow, and my husband’s secrets continue to haunt me.

They continue to threaten my life.

I’m supposed to grieve with the world and keep up the façade of the perfect marriage
and the perfect life.

But I can’t.

Because of him.

Cruz Solano, the man I can never have and the only one I’ll ever want.

••••••••••••

MY THOUGHTS:  ‘Reviewing’ a serialized novel is difficult; made more challenging when consecutive instalments are brief requiring cohesion between instalments for a completed summary. World building and character development transpires over several instalments making it problematic for individual reviews but necessary for a cumulative final judgement.

REVIEW:  AGAINST PROTOCOL is the first instalment in Eden Butler’s contemporary, adult PROTOCOL erotic, romance serial focusing on former first lady Ophelia ‘Lia’ Harris, and Secret Service agent Cruz Solano.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cruz and Lia) AGAINST PROTOCOL follows in the wake of the assassination of the American President, leaving First Lady Ophelia ‘Lia’ Harris a widow at thirty-six. Having endured her husband’s numerous affairs, Lia is shocked to discover that her new security detail includes the man with whom she was once in love. Enter Cruz Solano, Lia’s former college lover.

AGAINST PROTOCOL sets the stage for the second chance relationship and romance between Lia and Cruz, as the security team must endeavour to keep the former First Lady safe. With her husband’s killer still on the run, Lia is considered a target until the job is done. The premise is engaging; the $ex scene is intimate and intense; the characters are colorful and dynamic.

____________

BROKEN PROTOCOL
Protocol #2
by Eden Butler

Genre: contemporary, adult, erotic, romantic suspense

They call me America’s Widow.

They expect me to mourn forever.

But, I’ve taken a lover.

Someone fierce.

Someone irresistible.

Someone dangerous.

The closer I get to Cruz, the more I’m convinced he’s keeping secrets.

And secrets, I’ve learned, can be deadly.

•••••••••

REVIEWBROKEN PROTOCOL is the second instalment in Eden Butler’s contemporary, adult PROTOCOL erotic, romantic suspense serial. BROKEN PROTOCOL is the continuing story of former First Lady Ophelia ‘Lia’ Harris, and Secret Service agent Cruz Solano. BROKEN PROTOCOL can not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of AGAINST PROTOCOL.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lia and Cruz) using present day and memories from the past BROKEN PROTOCOL follows Lia and Cruz as they battle their attraction to one another. Former college sweethearts, Lia and Cruz will rekindle their sexual relationship that places our couple in the direct line of fire. Unable to protect Lia from the potential fall-out, Cruz takes Lia to the safety of a cabin the woods. HIdden secrets, about to be exposed, Lia must come to terms with what was, what happened, and what may never be.

Eden Butler continues to build the suspense towards another potential heart break for out story line heroine. A very quick read, BROKEN PROTOCOL adds another intriguing instalment in the PROTOCOL serial.

____________

FINAL PROTOCOL
Protocol #3
by Eden Butler

Genre: contemporary, adult, erotic, romantic suspense

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release October 8, 2018

The worst betrayals are ones you don’t see coming.

The greatest lies are the ones we pretend aren’t real.

But my life is at the mercy of Cruz Solano, the greatest pretender of them all.

Now I have no one to trust, nowhere to hide and the country I love is in the hands of a sociopath.

If I want to survive, there’s only one person I can trust.

The same person who is willing to sacrifice love for duty: me

•••••••••

REVIEW:FINAL PROTOCOL is the third and final instalment in Eden Butler’s contemporary, adult PROTOCOL serialized erotic, romantic suspense story. FINAL PROTOCOL is the continuing story of former First Lady Ophelia ‘Lia’ Harris, and Secret Service agent Cruz Solano.  FINAL PROTOCOL can not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of BROKEN PROTOCOL.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lia and Cruz) using present day and memories from the past, FINAL PROTOCOL follows in the wake of Lia believing Cruz may be guilty of the ultimate sin. On the run, Lia discovers she is not alone, and the man that she loves may be battling for his life. 

FINAL PROTOCOL is another quick read revealing the truth about what happened and why: the assassination of the US President, and the people behind the power, the control, and the cover up pointing fingers at an innocent man. The fast paced premise pulls the reader into a story of betrayal and vengeance; domination and control; second chances and happily ever after.

 

Copies supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Eden Butler is an editor and writer of Contemporary Romance novels and the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum.

When she’s not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque ancestor, Eden patiently waits for her Hogwarts letter, edits, reads and spends way too much time watching rugby, Doctor Who and New Orleans Saints football.

She is currently living under teenage rule alongside her husband in southeast Louisiana.

Subscribe to Eden’s newsletter http://eepurl.com/VXQXD for giveaways, sneak peeks and various goodies that might just give you a chuckle.

Website: www.edenbutler.com
Twitter: twitter.com/EdenButler_
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eden.butler.10
Newsletter:http://eepurl.com/VXQXD
GoodReads:goodreads.com/author/show/7275168.Ede…

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THE DARK BONES (A Dark Lure #2) by Loreth Anne White-Review Tour

THE DARK BONES (Dark Lure #2) by Loreth Anne White-Review Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 21, 2019

he’s come back to solve the mystery of her father’s death and confront her own dark past.
When Detective Rebecca North left her rural hometown, she vowed never to return. Her father’s apparent suicide has changed that. The official report is that retired cop Noah North shot himself, knocked over a lantern, and set his isolated cabin ablaze. But Rebecca cannot believe he killed himself.

To prove it, she needs the help of Ash Haugen, the man she left behind. But Rebecca and Ash share more than broken hearts. Something darker lies between them, and the investigation is stirring it back to life. Clues lead them to the home of Olivia West and her deeply troubled twelve-year-old daughter, Tori. The child knows more about the murder than anyone can imagine, but she’s too terrified to say a word.

And as a cold-blooded killer resurfaces from the past, Rebecca and Ash begin to fear that their own secrets may be even harder to survive.

••••••••••••

REVIEW:THE DARK BONES is the second instalment in Loreth Anne White’s contemporary, adult, A DARK LURE psychological thriller series. This is RCMP commercial crimes Detective Sergeant Rebecca North, and Ash Haugen’s story line. THE DARK BONES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives including Ash and Rebecca, following several intersecting paths, using present day and memories from the past, THE DARK BONES follows in the wake of the death of Rebecca’s father, retired Cariboo Country cop Noah North. Having never expected to return to Cariboo Country, Rebecca North struggles with the evidence of her father’s demise. A man determined to solve a twenty-year old missing persons case, Noah North had apparently disturbed the dead, having opened up too many wounds, that were long thought buried and forgotten. Rebecca, desperate to prove her father’s death was a homicide, our heroine battles demons from the past, the memories of what was and what will never be, and a close-knit town of reluctant witnesses, dark secrets, and painful regrets. Reconnecting with Ash Haugen, the man she once loved, meant reconnecting with the heart break of betrayal and loss. What ensues is the rekindling relationship between Ash and Rebecca as our couple separately begin n investigation of their own into Noah North’s death, and the possible connection to Ash Haugen’s past.

THE DARK BONES is an intense, psychological thriller that looks at the angry, small-town mentality of protecting their own. From the secrets long buried with the dead, to the habitual town gossips, THE DARK BONES slowly reveals a complicated past, dangerous present and potential future when Noah North reopened a twenty-year old missing persons case that sets into motion a series of events that resulted in his death. Loreth Anne White pulls the reader into a suspense filled, strong and dramatic story of secrets and lies; of betrayal and vengeance; of lost love and forgotten time.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Rebecca felt warmth. She was enveloped by it. She heard the crackle and pop of dry logs burning and, in the distance, dogs barking. The smell of … fire—Her eyes shot open, her heart thumping.

He sat there. Ash. In a chair by the fire, watching her with his ice-blue eyes. She was in his living room, and the lighting had been dimmed. The flickering glow of the flames in the hearth behind him cast his rugged features into sharp relief. The scar down the side of his face looked harsh. An old brown dog with a white muzzle slept on a rug in front of the hearth.

Rebecca’s brain slotted puzzle pieces into place as she struggled through a mental haze to backtrack and figure out how she’d gotten here: The lights following her. The razed cabin and the clues that someone had been inside the shed and maybe fled the scene. Ash shooting at her. No gas in her truck. Fear of dying. Coming here to Haugen Ranch. Shucking her dad’s gear in Ash’s mudroom. Him helping her into the living room of his old family home—a great big log house built by his grandfather. Seating her on the sofa.

She sat up slowly, trying to pull her brain into sharper focus. A down duvet was wrapped around her, a heated blanket beneath that. The duvet smelled of fresh laundry. Yes, she recalled, the fire had already been going in the hearth when he’d brought her in—she’d noticed that. Next had come hot tea with honey, warm clothes handed to her—fleece, oversize. More tea.

He’d told her not to talk. Discussion could wait.

She met his eyes now and felt a visceral connection across the darkened room. This was her first proper look at him after all these years.

Her teen lover had aged. As she had. But he’d matured in a way she found attractive. He was neither sweet nor handsome. Rugged rather. A brooding look. Sun bronzed and weathered. Her attention returned to his scar. So prominent, cutting down the left side of his face from eye to jaw. He could have had plastic surgery over the past decades, but clearly hadn’t. Her memory slipped back to the day she’d tried to patch him up with the help of a small medical kit and knowledge she’d gleaned during her part-time job as a veterinary assistant.

He lied…

Her attention shifted to his hands. His knuckles were scarred.

What were you protecting him from that day?

She recalled the blood she’d seen on those ragged and bruised knuckles that day. Why had she not told her father she didn’t know for certain he’d fallen off his horse and been dragged across sharp terrain?

Why had she not questioned more firmly, at age sixteen, Ash’s refusal to go to the ER facility on that particular day? What deep psychology had driven her to possibly blind herself to search for a darker truth?

In that tempestuous, hormone-filled year she was sixteen, had she conveniently compartmentalized something that had created cognitive dissonance, because she’d just recently started sleeping with Ash, and needed to believe him? Needed to trust him again?

How had her actions that day shaped this present? Could it—she—have possibly played a role in her father’s death?

And why, oh dear God why, did Ash still make her feel things? This—this—was why she’d stayed away. He held an animal kind of magnetism over her. She felt it now, her gaze locked with his arctic eyes. Her attraction had blinded her to the fact he was not good for her. He was a liar.

She cleared her throat. “What time is it?”

“Almost midnight. You going to be okay? Do I need to drive you to Clinton?”

From his ranch it would take almost an hour, in the dark, on bad roads. And the ER would be closed. They’d have to call 911 for emergency to open up with an on-call physician. It reminded Rebecca that out here, one looked after one’s own.

“I … I must have passed out.”

A half smile. “Slept like a baby. You must have been tired.”

A desire to tell him all rose in Rebecca: How rough her journey home had been with the storms. How seeing her father’s body had gutted her. How exhausted she felt, emotionally. But she held back as her mind sharpened and the immediacy of why she was here, with him, in this house, was pulled into clear focus.

“What made you return to my father’s place when you did, Ash? How did you come to find me?”

“I go up to the Broken Bar mesa sometimes. The view of the valley on a clear, cold night is surreal.” A pause. “I needed to think.” After seeing you. The unspoken words seemed to simmer between them. “Someplace above it all. Then as the moon rose, I caught light glinting off metal where your father’s place was. I thought it might be a vehicle, so I went to check before heading home.” He paused. “You could have died out there.”

Rebecca swallowed as this fact sank like a stone through her gut.

“Have you been sitting there watching me like that all night?”

“You worried me,” he said. Then, very quietly, he added, “And I like to look at you.” He paused. “It’s been so long.”


 

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