Monthly Archives: July 2019

Falling With You by Carrie Ann Ryan-Review Tour

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Falling With You (Fractured Connections #3) by Carrie Ann Ryan-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 16, 2019

NYT bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan concludes a brand new series where second chances don’t come often, and overcoming an unexpected loss means breaking everything you knew.

The day I lost my best friend was the day I realized that I’d been living in the past. I’ve tried to find a way to heal, to mend that break. Somehow, I came through it partially whole. But I know I couldn’t have done that without Aiden Connolly.

The problem is, he once loved my best friend. And now she’s gone, and I refuse to be in that shadow, or worse, a replacement for someone we both loved.

~~

I left them all behind.

My brother.

My family.

My best friend.

And her.

Only Sienna Knight doesn’t realize what she means to me. But before I can make sure she knows, I need to figure out exactly what that is.

••••••••

REVIEW: Falling With You begins with Sienna Knight and her friends at their favorite hangout, which is owned by the Connolly brothers. There are four brothers to whom which two of her best friends just happen to be involved with. After a long day at work, Sienna tells them that she is going to head home. Aiden Connolly is leaving as well and offers to walk her to her car. She protests, but then gives in. On their way to Sienna’s car, Aiden realizes he has left his phone and reluctantly runs back to get it. About two seconds later, Sienna is brutally attacked and dragged into the alley. She tries to fight back, but they overpower her pretty easily. As she’s about to lose consciousness, the guy who is holding her abruptly lets go. She hears shouts and sees Aiden fighting with the attackers and they finally run away as others come running.

While Sienna is being checked out at the emergency room, all she can worry about is Aiden. When she finds out that he has broken his hand, she immediately goes into guilt mode. Aiden is a chef and she knows he can’t work with a broken hand. Sienna doesn’t get to talk to Aiden at the hospital and her friends and family take her home. She’s rattled and banged up, but she will be fine. At least physically…..

Aiden is mad…..at himself and at the world for what he feels like he let happen. Deep down he knows that it’s not his fault, but he can’t get the sight of Sienna being attacked out of his head. He ends up going back to work, giving orders and being a jerk in general.

Sienna has settled back in to work and finds a bit of solace in working with her physical therapy patients. Even though everyone is still worried about her, she is determined to not let what happened turn her into a coward. However, once Aiden and Sienna talk about the attack and know that neither is to blame, the know they have to face other issues. Namely, their attraction to each other and that ‘one’ night that they say should have never happened.

As the two of them navigate their now acknowledged feelings for each other, a misunderstanding threatens to derail everything. But, as an old secret comes to light and a new threat to Sienna emerges, they soon figure out that, together, they can get through the roughest of times.

Falling With You is an emotional read, that, like the other books in this series, deals with some heavy storylines. Sienna is a complex character. She is having a hard time with Allison’s suicide (which you learn about in the first book, Breaking Without You). She is also having a hard time with survivor’s guilt (in my humble opinion). She is doing her best to move on. Aiden is written with a little complexity too. Once his and Allison’s secret comes to light, you fall even harder for him. However, it’s when he and Sienna finally acknowledge their long held feelings for each other that truly melts your heart. If you’re a fan of friends to lovers, you’ll absolutely love this story. This is a story wrought with emotion, so have a few tissues ready, because you’ll fall in love with not only Sienna and Aiden, but the entire ensemble! Well done, Carrie Ann Ryan! Very, very well done!

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Breaking Without you
Shouldn’t Have You
Falling With You

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

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Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.

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The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory – Review & Giveaway

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The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Maddie and Theo have two things in common:

1. Alexa is their best friend
2. They hate each other

After an “oops, we made a mistake” night together, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa’s wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they’re comfortable with. Underneath the sharp barbs they toss at each other is a simmering attraction that won’t fade. It builds until they find themselves sneaking off together to release some tension when Alexa isn’t looking, agreeing they would end it once the wedding is over. When it’s suddenly pushed up and they only have a few months left of secret rendezvouses, they find themselves regretting that the end is near. Two people this different can’t possibly have a connection other than the purely physical, right?

But as with any engagement with a nemesis, there are unspoken rules that must be abided by. First and foremost, don’t fall in love.

 

 

Review:

The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory is the 3rd book in her The Wedding Date series. This story revolves around Maddie Forest and Theo Stephens whom we met in the previous books.   Alexa, our 1st book heroine, is getting married, and both Maddie and Theo are her best friends; except they both hate each other. Theo is a bit arrogant, and Maddie, though very smart and outgoing. With Alexa depending on them for help, and that Maddie is a bridesmaid, and Theo a bridesman, they try to get along for her sake, and which forces them to be around each other a lot.    

One night, after spending time with Alexa and their friends, one gives the other a ride home, and out of nowhere, they end up in bed with each other.  To their shock, they enjoy the hot steamy sex and make a deal to enjoy the fun, but keep it a secret from everyone, including Alexa, at least until after the wedding is over.

What follows is an enemies to lovers romance that was fun, as well as very steamy.  They both look forward to trysts, as they cannot resist the passion between them.   As the wedding draws nearer, will they admit to each other about their growing feelings?  It was fun to watch them slowly learn more about each other, and see things in a different light, as well as become aware that they have begun to fall hard.  I loved seeing Alexa and Drew, as well as Carlos & Nik (2nd book), as well as Alexa’s sister; as they all made a fun group.   A misunderstanding will break things up, but it was pretty funny when Alexa and their friends pulled a fast one on Maddie and Theo, to bring them back together, as the secret was never a secret all along.  LOL  You will need to read this part to enjoy.

The Wedding Party was a fast, fun and enjoyable romance.  This does read well as a standalone, but why miss the fun, and start with the first book, The Wedding Date.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 



Jasmine Guillory is the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Date, The Proposal, and the forthcoming The Wedding Party. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, Oprah Magazine.com, and Shondaland.com. She lives in Oakland, California.

 

 

Jasmine Guillory’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of THE WEDDING PARTY to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE Jasmine Guillory on Facebook

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

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

9.. Giveaway runs from July 16 – 20, 2019

 

 

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Woodland Pack Series by Amelia Shaw-Reviews

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WOODLAND PACK series by Amelia Shaw -reveiws

The Pack’s Mate (Woodland Packs Book 1)
by Amelia Shaw

Genre: paranormal, erotic, romance

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

I’m a doctor who hasn’t had a date since cell phones became ‘smart.’ How is it possible that three gorgeous guys can all want me at once?
It was a normal day, during a normal shift, in my normal life… when everything changed.

I wake up in a house in the middle of the woods with three men that allege they can turn in to WOLVES.

I don’t believe them of course. Who would?

But the proof is undeniable, and so is the attraction I feel for all three of them.

I want them… I do. And if wolf shifters are real… then all bets are off.

I’m Alice and I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole.

I wanna see how deep this desire goes, because i won’t choose between them.

And luckily, they don’t ask me to.

Even with the threat of the bear shifters, and the fact that this all-male pack hasn’t born a female in over fifty years…

I need them.

This too big, sassy, smart girl is gonna get her happily ever after. Even if it means going against every instinct I have.
This story is a standalone novella set in the Woodlands Pack world, can be read in or out of order.
A steamy Reverse Harem wolf shifter romance with no cheating and a guaranteed super sweet, happily ever after.

For readers who love Alpha men, and women who fall hard and fast.

••••••••••••

REVIEW:  Okay ….. Threesomes and shifters!!! I’ve read a few of these types of books, they seem to be the in thing at the moment. (1 woman and 3 men)

There hasn’t been a female wolf born into the woodlands pack for over 50 years, the population has given up hope of ever finding a mate. So the elders decided to pass a law where 3 Wolves form a triad (an Alpha, Beta and an Omega make up each little “pack”) and when they find their mate, they are to protect and guard them. But finding a mate is easier said than done. So they need to start looking for human females to breed with. (But Dexter’s pack will only mate with their Fated mate.)

Dexter is the Alpha of the pack, what he says usually goes. He’s known Jay and Taylor since they were all young, so his triad was always going to be those two. He wants a mate, and lately that’s all he can think of, someone to come home to, and someone he can have kids with, but with no females in the pack, he had to do something, and searching in the human world, seems like the only option left open to them.
Having touched Claire, he feels a jolt and when she faints at his feet, Dexter whisks her up into his arms and into the truck, then reality hits. What has he done?!?!

Jay is your omega, the caregiver, he wants a mate and a houseful of kids (in fact he would be happy to stay at home and look after the kids) he is the peacemaker, and when they find their mates, it’s going to be a happy home.

Taylor is the Beta of the group (second in command) he’s always been happy to follow Dexter’s orders. He’s the one who usually goes into town to find a little female companionship, but even that is wearing thin. How do you find your mate?

Claire is a doctor. She loves her job, not too keen on the long hours, but it comes with the job.

Waking up in a strange house isn’t Claire’s thing, but she remembers seeing a big man, shaking his hand, then nothing. And overhearing three guys talking about “sharing her” has her scared. How the hell did she get here? And what do they want? And when she sees what they can become……

This is where I get confused, previous books have the threesome looking for one female, and although Dexter said he didn’t mind sharing, when he meets Claire for the first time, he sends his pack mates away, he is fiercely jealous and guarded. (I thought it was a group decision to share?)

The foursome then have to work out how this life is going to work for them. And how will Claire cope when trouble comes knocking in the shape of angry bears?

Reviewed by Julie B ?

_______________

Claiming their Mate (Woodland Packs Book 2)
by Amelia Shaw

Genre: paranormal, erotic, romance

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

‘I have the worst luck with men… But this takes the cake.
I HATE my name. Nevaeh… For the uninitiated, that’s Heaven spelled backwards.

My parents were hippies… or that’s my excuse for them. Trailer trash is probably closer to the truth.

And despite my weird childhood. Nothing beats this. I’ve entered the twilight zone.

Seriously. With three men who turn into WOLVES…

And they say I’m their destiny…

But they don’t realise the truth. Not yet. I’m poison. Cursed.

And my ex-boyfriend, turned stalker is a biker… with a pack of his own.

They won’t stand next to me if he threatens them… or will they?

When will I wake up?
Or if this is real… will I end up like Claire?
Pregnant and mated to three men who will take down anyone in their path?
This story is a standalone novella set in the Woodlands Pack world, can be read in or out of order.
A steamy Reverse Harem wolf shifter romance with no cheating and a guaranteed super sweet, happily ever after.

For readers who love Alpha men, and women who fall hard and fast.

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: This story starts with Grayson talking to Claire the human that belongs to part of the pack, she belongs to the triad of wolves (Dexter, Taylor and Jay) in book one. He wants to know how to look for his mate, and when will he know her?

Aaron is the beta of the group, Grayson’s second in command. Not as fast as Grayson but just as deadly. Prepared to protect his mate. He longs to come home to someone, to care and cook for her.

Brad is the Omega of the trio, he’s the homemaker, the caretaker of the pack. He wants a mate to care for, and children would be the icing on the cake.

Grayson is the Alpha, born to protect and provide for his pack and future mate. Now he knows there are human women out there compatible with their wolves, Grayson wants a mate for his little pack.

Neveah is married to her job. She loves being a nurse, and doesn’t think twice about pulling a double shift.

Visiting her friend Claire (we meet her in a previous book) she’s surprised and upset to hear Claire is ready to give up the double shifts and late nights, she thought they would be doing work together like the old days, once Claire comes back to work (something happened in Claire’s book, and she got injured) But Claire has a secret she needs to share with Neveah.

Neveah came across as very narrow minded and a bit of a prude, she finds out her friend is having a relationship with three other guys!!! And when Claire explains about the triad she is with, Neveah doesn’t really believe her. And for the three men being shifters!!! Well that takes a bit of convincing.

Meeting the three men/shifters proves just too much for Neveah and she leaves. She can’t or won’t commit, she’s worked too hard to get where she is, and the last man she trusted beat her and broke her trust. She can’t do it again!!!

The book then goes on to explore the feelings that Neveah has the the triad, and how the three men cope with a commitment shy female. Oh and her ex makes a nasty reappearance. And we find out why the bears want the wolves to be extinct!!!

Reviewed by Julie B?

__________

SAVING THE PACK (Woodland Pack #3)
by Amelia Shaw

Genre: paranormal, erotic, romance

Release Date: July 15, 2019

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

One night of hedonistic rebellion…
…now she’s sentenced to death.

A Cinderella with no Prince in sight
I’ve cooked and cleaned and slaved through my lonely life, but it’ll be worth it when I find my bear-shifter mate.
He won’t offer love or loyalty, but he’ll give me the family I crave.
My dreams shatter when I discover I’m human—an outcast who smells ‘wrong’, who no bear will touch.
Lies, loss, rejection. They shred my heart like claws through flesh.
I seek solace at a bar with a bottle of Jack.
Then Tayte walks in, all sizzling seduction and heart-pounding heat.
Turns out a sexy alpha-wolf is all the pain relief I need.

Her greatest joy spirals into a terrifying nightmare.
I’m pregnant to the wolf.
And the bears want me dead.
I need the alpha’s protection. I’ll beg, offer myself as a slave if it’ll save my baby.
But I get more than I bargained for. Tayte’s three-wolf-pack are a package deal.
And they claim I’m their mate.
They show me more soul-searing passion than I ever imagined… and my hopeful heart blossoms with each tender caress.
Could these wolves love me, not just my baby?
And can they protect us both from the bears’ deadly vengeance?

•••••••••••

REVIEW:  Celeste had only ever known hurt and rejection. So she was use to it, but it still came as a shock when the bears she thought of as family passed a sentence of death onto her. (She had cooked and cleaned and was practically their slave, but she still thought of them as family) so she’s gotten a little drunk a few months ago, so she’d met a stranger and had sex with him, and yes she’s gotten pregnant by said stranger, but that didn’t mean she was to die!! And what about her poor little baby? It wasn’t their fault, so Celeste did what any sensible female would do…. she ran!!!!

Tayte is the Alpha of this little triad. He met a sweet little human in a bar a few months ago, but was too drunk to realise he had his fated mate in his arms. But now he has her, and she’s pregnant. He just needs to keep her safe from the bears that will surely try to take her back!! Over his dead body, his little pack will keep her safe, and if need be, the larger pack he lives with will come to his aid if need be. But why did the bears take her in as a child? Did they know she was meant to be a mate to a wolf? The bears and wolves have never really gotten on, but to keep her away from them, did they have some ulterior motive? As Alpha of this group, he needs to find out, and fast!!

Dane is the sweet omega, he’s use to being the caregiver, the homemaker (although cooking isn’t his strongest point, he’s happy if his little pack is happy.) So when Celeste comes on the scene, yes he’s happy his family is complete, but having his mate already pregnant with the alphas child, Dane is a little insecure as to his role in the pack now, what if she doesn’t want him? What’s he to do?

Sam is Tayte’s Beta, the second in command, but with Celeste in the triad now, all manner of feelings are being stirred up, jealousy that it’s the alphas baby (with a triad it could be anyone’s baby, so all will have a vested interest) nerves, what if Tayte and Celeste don’t want to be in a triad? And hurt, Celeste didn’t even seem to worry when he and Dane left the bedroom. But he does know he will do everything in his power to keep her safe, she may not want him, but he’s bonded to her already, he would give his life up for her.

Finding their mate was great, finding out she was already pregnant with their alpha’s baby, not so great, Sam and Dane felt a little left out, what is Celeste only wanted them because they came as a triad? What if their Alpha didn’t want to share Celeste?

This book was a little different from the others, Celeste already knew about the shifter world, what she didn’t know was that she was fated to be a wolf mate and not a bear mate. With the other two books in this trilogy the human females were unaware there were shifters in the world. So they took a little more convincing they were mates to three wolf shifters.

I did find it a little harder to connect with this triad and their mate, only because of the instant love Dane and Sam had for Celeste (with the other two books it was a little slower in forming) also some of the sex scenes seemed a little forced (a good story doesn’t always need loads of unnecessary sex) but I did like the fact we had more info on why the bears were trying to find and keep human females away from the wolf packs. And I enjoyed catching up with the other two triads from previous books.

Reviewed by Julie B ?

Copies supplied for review

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Sing Me to Sleep ( The Lost Shards #3) by Anna Argent – Dual Review

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Sing Me to Sleep (The Lost Shards #3) by Anna Argent – Dual Review

 

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Description:
Stygian Attis, raised by a cruel grandfather who hated him for the circumstances of his birth, was taught to suppress his feelings and desires, but when a beautiful thief sneaks into his room, something stirs inside him.

He wants her. His shards—the magical fragments of ancient souls he carries—want her, too. They whisper that she has the power to change his life forever, if only he can keep her from slipping out of his grasp.

Echo Charmaine is on the run from the man who killed her entire family. If he catches her, he’ll kill her for the power she now carries. But before she can move on to the next town, the voices in her head demand that she drop off a tattered, magical bit of paper. When she gets caught delivering the mystical mail, she inadvertently stumbles into something far bigger than she ever could have imagined, tying her destiny to that of a big, intoxicating man who has the power to make her yearn for things she knows are impossible for a woman on the run.

Now, drawn together by passion and the shards they share, their fates are inextricably entwined. If they can’t find a way to rid themselves of the evil that haunts them before the next new moon, neither of them will make it out alive…

 

BARB’s Review:  Sing Me to Sleep by Anna Argent is the 3rd book in her The Lost Shards series.  Refresher:  What is Riven and Vires?  Riven is a secret group that protects those that carry magical shards, and the evil Vires, are the ones who will kill to inherit those shards for themselves.  What are Shards? Shards are souls with magical powers that move on to siblings of the dying person; but if they are killed, the person who murdered them will inherit the powers of the victim. The shards can be dark or light, and the person who inherits them needs to balance the good and bad.  Not so with the Vires, as they want the powers and will use them for evil purposes.

Stygian Attis, our hero, is a member of Riven and has learned over the years to control whatever evil shards he has.  One night he is suddenly woken by someone in his house, and manages to capture the intruder.  

Echo Charmaine, our heroine, has been on the run for many years, after the death of her mother and sisters.  She is constantly running from an evil member of the Vires, who desperately wants to kill her to gain her shards.   Echo also deals with those voices that tell her things to do, and it is that which brings her to Stygian’s place to leave a magical paper, which will turn out to be a prophecy.  When she is captured by Stygian, she tries numerous times to escape, as she trusts no one.  Stygian will take her to the Riven headquarters, where Eden will acknowledge that she is good, not a member of Vires.  But Echo lives in fear, and despite the Riven people explaining that they will help keep her safe, her distrust forces her to want to run away; this despite the dynamic attraction between her and Stygian

In a short time, the prophecy is discovered to have a way to remove the evil shard in Stygian, and also in Echo.  There is a way to trap the evil witch who is pushing them to do bad things.  It will take Stygian and Echo to work together to find clues from before her mother was killed that will reveal what they need to retrieve to save themselves.

What follows is a tense, exciting, non-stop action thriller that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.  Echo will be in for a shock when she is approached and threatened by someone in her past.  The relationship between Stygian and Echo became very hot, and we rooted hard for them to find a way to stay together.  Not only were Stygian and Echo a great couple, but I cannot wait to see what Argent has in store for us from the many wonderful secondary characters we have met along the way.   I do not want to tell too much more, as it would be spoilers, and possibly ruin it for you.

Sing Me to Sleep was a wonderful addition to this fantastic series, and once again written so well by Anna Argent.  Sing Me to Sleep had a bit of everything that kept you reading throughout; suspense, excitement, danger, intense action, and romance.  I suggest you start with the first book in this series, in order to learn about the two factions, as well as about the shards; in order to understand everything.

 

SANDY’S Review:

SING ME TO SLEEP is the third instalment in Anna Argent’s contemporary, adult THE LOST SHARDS paranormal romance series focusing on a group of people imbued with magic powers. This is twenty-nine year old Stygian Attis, and Echo Charmaine’s story line. SING ME TO SLEEP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information fro he previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and history.

SOME BACKGROUND: The world as we know it is filled with magic, and throughout history people have been blessed or cursed with magical abilities. The ongoing war between good and evil pits the Riven against the Vires in their search for anyone with magical shards-slivers of magic passed down from parent to child, or in many cases, upon the death of someone with magic. By killing someone with magic, the perpetrator ‘inherits’ the shards of his/her victims; upon the death of a loved one, the shard is passed to the nearest kin.

Told from several third person perspectives including Stygian and Echo SING ME TO SLEEP follows Echo Charmaine as the ‘voice’ in her head sends her to the Riven compound, a compound where she must deliver the ‘prophecy’ to Stygian Attis. Trying to stay one step ahead of the creature she calls ‘rat-man’ Echo finds herself a virtual prisoner of the Riven and the man with whom she will fall in love. As Stygian wages war with the voices in his own head, the ‘slivers’ of evil begin to take control, control that places Echo and Stygian in a precarious position as they begin their journey to see the prophecy fulfilled. What ensues is the building relationship between Stygian and Echo, and the fall-out as the past threatens to destroy Stygian’s tenuous hold on his life and that of the woman he loves including the voices that are aware of how close our hero is to losing it all.

Echo Charmaine has the ability to control people with song but our heroine has lost everyone she loves when the ‘rat-man’ took everything and more. Now eight years later, trying to stay one step ahead of the evil that continues to threaten her life, Echo finds temporary solace with a man whose past is tied directly with her own.

Meanwhile Riven leader Garrick Andor, and Holt Bardrick find themselves on the hunt for their former Riven leader Starry Mandrake, a woman who has taken too many souls, and is no longer the woman they once trusted and loved.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including the Riven leader Garrick Andor, IT expert Marvel Manning, empath and healer Eliana, historian and librarian Harold Lionel, fifteen year old Eden, a young woman with the ability to ‘read’ the shards, and her protector, fifty something Argo. The requisite evil has many faces as the Riven continue to battle the Vires, as the Vires hunt for those with the dangerous shards.

SING ME TO SLEEP is a captivating and unique look at the paranormal. The premise is engaging and fascinating; the characters are colorful but struggling; the romance is intoxicating but suffers with issues of trust and possible manipulation.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shards of Blood And Shadow
A Brush With Fate

Copies supplied for review

It’s CHRISTMAS in July with these limited time amazing ebook deals on books 1 & 2 of the THE LOST SHARDS series.

SHARDS OF BLOOD AND SHADOW-ONLY 99¢

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

A BRUSH WITH FATE-ONLY $1.99

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

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BALLERINA FOR THE BRATVA by Maura Rose-a review

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BALLERINA FOR THE BRATVA (A Russian Mafia Romance) by Maura Rose-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 8, 2019

The flame burns hot in the dance of love…

ALEXEI

My father is gone and it’s up to me to run the Vanin bratva’s operations now. This means going to America to meet up with the Sokolovs, to strengthen the ties that bind and secure my family’s place in the Russian mafia world. As the new boss, I need to make a name for myself both at home and abroad, and find out more about the legacy my father left behind after his sudden death.

But that’s not all I find.

Her. The ballerina. Her grace and talent put even the best dancers from my home country to shame. Her energy and beauty make me want her, make me need her, make me crave a taste of her.

Damn the alliances, damn the expectations. I’m my own man, and I’ll do things my own way. I have to have her, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make her mine…

JANET

Dance. It’s all I’ve known for my entire life. My parents told me I could be anything I wanted to be, as long as I was the best at what I did, and I have lived accordingly. Now, I have finally made it. I’m the prima ballerina—something I have fantasized about since I was old enough to tie my pointe shoes. Nothing can distract me from this dream come true.

Nothing except a handsome stranger with shockingly blue eyes and a roguish smile. He’s tall. He’s hot. And I can tell that underneath that tailored suit of his is a rock-hard body. And that’s not the only thing…

But he’s dangerous, I can tell. And as enticing as he is with his old-fashioned charm and sexy Slavic accent, I can’t let a man like that burrow his way into my heart. Can I?

•••••••••

REVIEW: BALLERINA FOR THE BRATVA is the fourth instalment in Maura Rose’s contemporary, adult RUSSIAN MAFIA ROMANCE series focusing on the members of the Russian Bratva. This is the Vanin Bratva’s new leader Alexei Vanin, and American born ballerina Janet Wong’s story line. BALLERINA FOR THE BRATVA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Alexei and Janet) BALLERINA FOR THE BRATVA follows Alexei Vanin in the aftermath of his father’s death. As the new head of the Vanin Bratva Alexei heads to America in an effort to introduce himself as his father’s successor. What Alexei never expected was to meet American born Prima Ballerina Janet Wong, a woman who stirs something deep within our story line hero. What ensues is the building relationship between Janet and Alexei, and the potential fall-out as Alexei keeps secret his life back home.

Alexei Vanin needs to make a good impression on his American Bratva counterparts but something isn’t right when he is introduced to his former Russian compatriots. Hoping to reconcile with what he has learned, our hero heads back to Russia in an effort to shore up his defences if the truth is revealed. Janet Wong has dreamed of being the Prima Ballerina and her hard work has paid off with the dual lead in Swan Lake. Meeting Alexei Vanin meant a chance for a future but a future that begins with lies of omission.

The relationship between Janet and Alexei is one of immediate attraction but Alexei is only in the US for a short while. Janet’s social life is virtually non-existent as she spends every waking minute working towards her professional debut. Alexei is determined to seduce the woman that calls to his heart, a woman he will one day bring home to meet his mother. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Alexei’s mother Masha Vanin; Janet’s parents, and fellow ballerina’s Sofia and Vicky; as well as the head of the Sokolov Bratva Ivan Sokolov and his wife Kelly (Burning for the Bratva); his lieutenant Pavel and his wife Natalia (Blazing for the Bratva).

BALLERINA FOR THE BRATVA is a sexy and engaging story line with powerful hero who isn’t afraid to show his softer side. The premise is captivating; the romance is intimate; the characters are colorful and dynamic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Beholden to the Bratva
Burning for the Bratva
Blazing for the Bratva
Ballerina for the Bratva

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Other Brother by Hazel Kelly-Review & Giveaway tour

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The Other Brother (Beta Brothers #4) by Hazel Kelly-Review & Giveaway tour

THE OTHER BROTHER
Beta Brothers #4
by Hazel Kelly
Release Date: July 4, 2019
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 4, 2019

I never imagined I’d hit rock bottom.

To be honest, the only thing I expected less was him.

From the moment our eyes met across the zucchini, something woke in me and started dusting away the cobwebs I’d let gather around my heart.

Not that there was anything loveable about the guy. He was gentle as a scorpion when I met him, and his venomous words stung me more than once. Which was fine. Really. Detesting him made it easier to do my job. Easier to sleep at night.

But it was all a front, a costume, a lie. He’d simply been a beast for so long he didn’t know how to stop stomping around his castle, his grudges clanging behind him like a rusted ball and chain.

Yet even the most hardened men can change. Even the most stubborn can learn to admit when they’re wrong.

Not that Ash was wrong very often. At least, not when it came to me.

And now I feel hopeful again. Beautiful. Enchanted.

All because of a beast.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: Ash is the typical billionaire bachelor man, he spends him money how he wants, and he wants someone that can cook. A trip to the grocery store changes his world, Ash is rather gruff and is not used to people just coming up to him, let alone telling him what he should do. So when Piper confronts him in the veggie section of the store, telling him he is purchasing the wrong zucchini, he is pleasantly surprised, but before he can utter a word, she is out of his reach.

Piper is a woman with a passion for cooking, but in of a out of a very bad situation. A chance encounter at the grocery store and Piper is blinded by a man straight out of her fantasies. Later, after a call from work, she meets her mystery man again, but this time he is offering her a job.

Dive into the world of Ash and Piper and they learn to trust not only themselves again, but also each other. Both have pasts they want to forget, but with Ash’s trust issues ruin the new start that they both want? Will Piper ever reach her for her dreams? Are second chances even worth it?

This was such a pleasure read, interesting and memorial characters, funny little jokes and steamy scenes that will make you wish for your significant other and a quite place to hold up. A warming story of second chances and new found memories. A one-click buy for sure!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah L

 

About Hazel Kelly:

Hazel Kelly is an Amazon bestselling author who writes sweet and steamy romance that will make you smile all over.

When she’s not traveling the globe in search of cozy hammocks to write in, she enjoys tackling her tbr list with a nice big glass of anything will do. She lives in Dublin with a charming Irishman and their three-legged furbaby.

 

Connect with Hazel:

Website: https://www.hazelkelly.com

Facebook➜ www.facebook.com/hazelkellyauthor
Instagram➜ www.instagram.com/hazelkellyauthor
And join her Inner Circle @ ➜ www.hazelkelly.com/innercircle

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

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FALLEN SAINT (All the Pretty Things #2) by Monica James-a review

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FALLEN SAINT (All the Pretty Things #2) by Monica James-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 14, 2019.

Just as this nightmare began, I once again find myself bound, destination unknown. However, this time, my kidnapper is the man who shattered my world beyond repair.

Aleksei Popov—Russia’s number one mobster, and the man I was sold to.

His intentions for me are clear—submit, obey him, and call him master—but I won’t surrender. I’m not like the other girls. Whether that’s a blessing or curse, I’ve yet to decide. The problem is, my disobedience intrigues my captor all the more.

When we arrive in Russia, the rules change.

Saint, the man who was once a sinner, is my only salvation. What was forbidden now gives me hope that there is light in the darkness. He will risk everything to set me free.

But behind these opulent walls, things aren’t what they seem, and when the fine line between pleasure and pain begins to blur, only one thing matters—saving my soul.

I will lie.

Cheat.

Steal.

I was once an angel, but now… I’m a fallen saint, ready to inflict my own pain and burn this hellhole to the ground.

••••••••••

REVIEW: FALLEN SAINT second instalment in Monica James’ contemporary, adult ALL THE PRETTY THINGS dark, romance trilogy focusing on Willow Shaw, and thirty-three year old, Saint Hennessy. FALLEN SAINT should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of book one BAD SAINT.

SOME BACKGROUND: Willow Shaw was sold as a means to an end; a payment for a debt but a payment that offered so much more for our anti-hero, Saint Hennessy, who is battling to save not only his sister but the woman with whom he has fallen in love.

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

Told from first person perspective (Willow) FALLEN SAINT follows in the aftermath of Willow Shaw’s abduction, and her subsequent arrival in Russia into the hands of a drug lord known for his dalliances in human slavery, arms deals, and a potential member of a secretive group known as The Circle. With Willow’s safe arrival, and Saint’s meticulous care of his prized possession, Russian mobster Aleksei Popov offers Saint and his sister their freedom, as payment for services rendered. Leaving Willow in the hands of Aleksei threatens Saint’s barely veiled control of his anger, an anger he has directed at the Russian mobster. As Willow is prepared for her ‘coming out’ to The Circle, Saint prepares a surprise of his own. What ensues is the building relationship between Saint and Willow, as Willow slowly succumbs to Aleksei’s charismatic personality when left on her own.

FALLEN SAINT is an intriguing, captivating and seductive story; a Stockholm Syndrome-esque scenario wherein our heroine struggles between her head and her heart, not only with Saint but with her ultimate captor. A bird in a gilded cage, Willow begins to fall under the spell of the people controlling her life, a life that is no longer her own. A dark and emotional forbidden romance; an enemies to lovers relationship; a haunting tale of dark secrets, dangerous liaisons, manipulation, power and control.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one BAD SAINT

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.

She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

TWITTER/ FACEBOOK/ PINTEREST/AUTHORGRAPH/ WEBSITE

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The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets by Molly Fader-a review

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The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets by Molly Fader-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 16, 3=2019

What drove their family apart just might bring them back together… It’s been seventeen years since the tragic summer the McAvoy sisters fell apart. Lindy, the wild one, left home, carved out a new life in the city and never looked back. Delia, the sister who stayed, became a mother herself, raising her daughters and running the family shop in their small Pennsylvania hometown on the shores of Lake Erie.But now, with their mother’s ailing health and a rebellious teenager to rein in, Delia has no choice but to welcome Lindy home. As the two sisters try to put their family back in order, they finally have the chance to reclaim what’s been lost over the years: for Delia, professional dreams and a happy marriage, and for Lindy, a sense of home and an old flame–and best of all, each other. But when one turbulent night leads to a shocking revelation, the women must face the past they’ve avoided for a decade. And there’s nothing like an old secret to bring the McAvoy women back together and stronger than ever.With warm affection and wry wit, Molly Fader’s The McAvoy Sisters Book of Secrets is about the ties that bind family and the power of secrets to hold us back or set us free.

••••••••

REVIEW: THE MCAVOY SISTERS BOOK OF SECRETS by Molly Fader is a contemporary, adult, story line of woman’s fiction focusing on the McAvoy family: matriarch Meredith, sisters Delia (husband Dan) and Lindy, and Delia’s daughter Brin.

Told from four third person perspectives (Meredith, Delia, Lindy and Brin) THE MCAVOY SISTERS focuses on seventeen years of secrets and heart break. Delia and Dan had their future’s ahead of them but one night destroyed it all. Fast forward to present day wherein Lindy returns home to help care for their ailing mother but struggles with the less than warm welcome of the sister she loves. Lindy and Delia have been estranged for close to seventeen years, an estrangement brought about by tragedy and the unacknowledged events of what happened years before. With their mother battling failing health, and Delia’s daughter Brin rebelling at every opportunity, Lindy becomes the beacon in the storm for a family that continues to spiral in to the abyss. What ensues is the rekindling relationship between Lindy and Delia, as Delia continues to bury the past, a past that is currently demanding to be revealed.

THE MCAVOY SISTERS BOOK OF SECRETS is a story of family, secrets, lies and the fall out of seventeen years of buried pain and profound shame. As Delia’s daughter Brin begins to unravel the mystery of her family’s past, Delia is forced to reveal the truth even though the pain continues to destroy her heart.

Molly Fader pulls the reader into a tale of one family’s journey and struggle with the destructive nature of secrets, tragedy, and their control of our every day lives. The strength of the premise is found in each of the character’s battle within themselves and with one another. The characters are passionate in their presentation as they face the truth of what happened years before in order to move forward.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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