Cedric (Savage Kings MC #12) by Lane Hart & DB West-a review

Cedric (Savage Kings MC #12) by Lane Hart & DB West-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 28, 2020

Everything changed two years ago.

Evelyn Young was only eighteen when she agreed to marry an outlaw biker. There was no other way for her to pay the medical bills her mother was accruing, so she said goodbye to her longtime best friend Cedric Crawford and ran away with the bad boy.

Not a day goes by that Evelyn doesn’t miss her old life with Cedric. The only way she survives with an abusive spouse is by reminding herself that her mother is still thankfully fighting for her life.

Evelyn never thought she would ever see Cedric again; but while she was busy popping pills to stay numb, Cedric’s been making plans.

Big plans.

When Cedric finally comes back into Evelyn’s life, he’s no longer the sweet, innocent boy she left behind. He’s a heck of a lot bigger with sexy tattoos and a brand-new leather cut – a symbol of the badass man he’s become.

Not a man but a Savage King.

And a King will do whatever it takes to save his Queen.

••••••••

REVIEW:CEDRIC is the twelfth instalment in Lane Hart and DB West’s contemporary, adult SAVAGE KINGS MC erotic, MC romance series focusing on the members of the Savage Kings MC. This is Savage King member Cedric Crawford, and Evelyn Young’s story line. CEDRIC can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. Some of the events of CEDRIC cross-over with, or run parallel to several earlier story lines.

WARNING: Due to the graphic nature of the story line there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Evelyn and Cedric) spanning a ten year time line, CEDRIC follows the childhood best friends to lovers/ rekindling romance between twenty years olds Cedric Crawford and Evelyn Young. At ten years of age Evelyn Young would meet Cedric Crawford, and from that day forward would become best friends and fall in love, but neither one was willing to be the first to admit to their mutual attraction and love but Evelyn’s mother was slowly succumbing to kidney disease, and in an effort to help her mother, Evelyn agrees to marry Lowell, a man she does not love, a man who uses and abuses our story line heroine. Unable to let go of the woman he has always loved, Cedric goes in search of a solution, first attempting to get the local sheriff involved. When all else failed, Cedric found his way into the Savage Kings’ MC compound, prospecting until the time he would be able to help the woman he loved. Two years would pass, as Cedric became a man Evelyn would no longer recognize, but a man who was willing to risk his life to free our story line heroine.

Evelyn Young was desperate to save her mother’s life and knew by marrying a member of the Dirty Aces MC, that her life would never be the same. Abused and tormented, manipulated and controlled, Evelyn would be forced into a life of drug addiction, an addiction that helped her get through her daily life. Cedric Crawford had never stopped loving Evelyn Young even though Evelyn broke our hero’s heart. Unable to let go, Cedric would keeps tabs on the woman he loved in an effort to ensure she would one-day be his but Cedric would need help from the Savage Kings MC, but not before Cedric had patched into the MC that would become his home.

The relationship between Cedric and Evelyn begins as childhood best friends. Cedric had fallen in love with Evelyn Young but was reluctant to reveal his feelings lest he lose the only woman he would ever love. Having watched Evelyn ‘date’ a number of men, Cedric would wait until it was too late. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate between Cedric and Evelyn; between Evelyn and Lowell are rough and abusive.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of the members of the Savage Kings MC and their significant others. We are introduced to Evelyn’s husband and member of the Dirty Aces MC Lowell; and Evelyn’s long suffering mother Rita.

CEDRIC is a story of desperation, betrayal and vengeance; of family, friendships, desolation and retribution. Our heroine, at times, is a little TSTL (too stupid to live) but desperation makes one do stupid things. The premise is dark and gritty; the characters are broken and lost; the romance struggles in the face of lies, betrayal, addiction and two years of separation.

Reading order and Previous Reviews
Chase
Abe
Torin
War
Maddox
Kings Road (prequel)
Dalton
Reece
Miles
Sax
Cooper
Gabe and Ian

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne – a Review

The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne – Review, Excerpt & Blog Tour

 

 

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Description:
The life Olivia Harper always dreamed of isn’t so dreamy these days. The 16-hour work days are unfulfilling and so are things with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when she hears that her estranged mother, Juliet, has been seriously injured in a car accident, Liv has no choice but to pack up her life and head home to beautiful Cape Sanctuary on the Northern California coast.

It’s just for a few months—that’s what Liv keeps telling herself. But the closer she gets to Cape Sanctuary, the painful memories start flooding back: Natalie, her vibrant, passionate older sister who downward-spiraled into addiction. The fights with her mother who enabled her sister at every turn. The overdose that took Natalie, leaving her now-teenaged daughter, Caitlin, an orphan.

As Liv tries to balance her own needs with those of her injured mother and an obstinate, resentful fifteen-year-old, it becomes clear that all three Harper women have been keeping heartbreaking secrets from one another. And as those secrets are revealed, Liv, Juliet, and Caitlin will see that it’s never too late—or too early—to heal family wounds and find forgiveness.

 

 

Review:

The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne is a wonderful standalone story revolving around a family, with a bit of romance.  This is the first time I have read Thayne, and after reading this wonderful story, it will not be my last. 

The Sea Glass Cottage has three different POV’s, revolving around 3 generations of the Harper family; Olivia, Juliet and Caitlin.  The story begins with Olivia, who receives a call from a friend that her mother has fallen and is in the hospital.  Though she left home 12 years ago, Olivia Harper decides it’s time to go home to Cape Sanctuary, California and help her mother, who will be laid up for a while; and takes a leave from her job. Her mother, Juliet, doesn’t want to burden her daughter, but knows she has no choice, as she has a few broken bones; she also is keeping a secret from everyone, that though she is in remission, she has MS.   Caitlin, Juliet’s granddaughter and Olivia’s niece, is 15 years old, and devoted to her grandmother, but nasty to Olivia. Each of them has their own issues that affect their behavior with each other, which were caused by the death of both Juliet’s husband, and daughter, Natalie.

Olivia is determined to take care of her mother, feeling guilty of having left long ago, as well as working hard to keep the business flowing.  She meets Cooper, the new Fire Chief, and brother to her best friend; she has always had a slight crush on him in her teenage years.  Cooper tried to save her father during the fire he lost his life in, and he was also close friends to her sister, Natalie.  Juliet, while in recovery, is fussed over by her friend and neighbor, Henry, who cares about her; she knows she has feelings for him, but tries to brush it off because of the age difference (he is younger by about 8 years) and her MS disease, which is a secret. Caitlin spent a lot of time with her friend, Jake, as he helped her investigate who could be the father she did not know; they used DNA to find him.  A surprise here.   At first, I have to admit, I did not like Caitlin, especially her nastiness with Olivia.  But in time, she did get better. This story revolves around all three women, as it was an emotional roller coaster of secrets, family, love, forgiving and moving forward. 

What follows is a heartwarming, emotional and sweet story with some wonderful characters created by Thayne; such as the three leading ladies, Cooper, Melody, Henry, Jake, and the animals.  This was so very well written by RaeAnne Thayne, as it kept my attention from start to finish.  The Sea Glass Cottage was a wonderful story that you should read. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Olivia

Olivia shoved her hands into her pockets against the damp Seattle afternoon. Nothing would take the chill from her bones, though. She knew that. Even five days of sick leave, huddling in her bed and mindlessly bingeing on cooking shows hadn’t done anything but make her crave cake.
She couldn’t hide away in her apartment forever. Eventually she was going to have to reenter life and go back to work, which was why she stood outside this coffee shop in a typical spring drizzle with her heart pounding and her stomach in knots.
This was stupid. The odds of anything like that happening to her again were ridiculously small. She couldn’t let one man battling mental illness and drug abuse control the rest of her life.
She could do this.
She reached out to pull the door open, but before she could make contact with the metal handle, her cell phone chimed from her pocket.
She knew instantly from the ringtone it was her best friend from high school, who still lived in Cape Sanctuary with her three children.
Talking to Melody was more important than testing her re¬solve by going into the Kozy Kitchen right now, she told herself. She answered the call, already heading back across the street to her own apartment.
“Mel,” she answered, her voice slightly breathless from the adrenaline still pumping through her and from the stairs she was racing up two at a time. “I’m so glad you called.”
Glad didn’t come close to covering the extent of her relief. She really hadn’t wanted to go into that coffee shop. Not yet. Why should she make herself? She had coffee at home and could have groceries delivered when she needed them.
“You know why I’m calling, then?” Melody asked, a strange note in her voice.
“I know it’s amazing to hear from you. You’ve been on my mind.”
She was not only a coward but a lousy friend. She hadn’t checked in with Melody in a few weeks, despite knowing her friend was going through a life upheaval far worse than witness¬ing an attack on someone else.
As she unlocked her apartment, the cutest rescue dog in the world, a tiny, fluffy cross between a Chihuahua and a miniature poodle, gyrated with joy at the sight of her.
Yet another reason she didn’t have to leave. If she needed love and attention, she only had to call her dog and Otis would come running.
She scooped him up and let him lick her face, already feeling some of her anxiety calm.
“I was thinking how great it would be if you and the boys could come up and stay with me for a few days when school gets out for the summer,” she said now to Melody. “We could take the boys to the Space Needle, maybe hop the ferry up to the San Juans and go whale watching. They would love it. What do you think?”
The words seemed to be spilling out of her, too fast. She was babbling, a weird combination of relief that she hadn’t had to face that coffee shop and guilt that she had been wrapped up so tightly with her own life that she hadn’t reached out to a friend in need.
“My apartment isn’t very big,” she went on without waiting for an answer. “But I have an extra bedroom and can pick up some air beds for the boys. They’ve got some really comfortable ones these days. I’ve got a friend who says she stayed on one at her sister’s house in Tacoma and slept better than she does on her regular mattress. I’ve still got my car, though I hardly drive it in the city, and the boys would love to meet Otis. Maybe we could even drive to Olympic National Park, if you wanted.”
“Liv. Stop.” Melody cut her off. “Though that all sounds amazing and I’m sure the boys would love it, we can talk about that later. You have no idea why I called, do you?”
“I… Why did you call?”
Melody was silent for a few seconds. “I’m afraid there’s been an accident,” she finally said.
The breath ran out of Olivia like somebody had popped one of those air mattresses with a bread knife.
“Oh no. Is it one of your boys?” Oh please, she prayed. Don’t let it be one of the boys.
Melody had been through enough over the past three months, since her jerkhole husband ran off with one of his high school students.
“No, honey. It’s not my family. It’s yours.”
Her words seemed to come from far away and it took a long time for them to pierce through.
No. Impossible.
Fear rushed back in, swamping her like a fast-moving tide. She sank blindly onto the sofa.
“Is it Caitlin?”
“It’s not your niece. Stop throwing out guesses and just let me tell you. It’s your mom. Before you freak out, let me just say, first of all, she’s okay, from what I understand. I don’t have all the details but I do know she’s in the hospital, but she’s okay. It could have been much worse.”
Her mom. Olivia tried to picture Juliet lying in a hospital bed and couldn’t quite do it. Juliet Harper didn’t have time to be in a hospital bed. She was always hurrying somewhere, either next door to Sea Glass Cottage to the garden center the Harper family had run in Cape Sanctuary for generations or down the hill to town to help a friend or to one of Caitlin’s school events.
“What happened?”
“She had a bad fall and suffered a concussion and I think some broken bones.”
Olivia’s stomach twisted. A concussion. Broken bones. Oh man. “Fell where? Off one of the cliffs near the garden center?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know all the details yet. This just happened this morning and it’s still early for the gossip to make all the rounds around town. I assumed you already knew. That Cait¬lin or someone would have called you. I was only checking in to see how I can help.”
This morning. She glanced at her watch. Her mother had been in an accident hours earlier and Olivia was just finding out about it now, in late afternoon.
Someone should have told her—if not Juliet herself, then, as Melody said, at least Caitlin.
Given their recent history, it wasn’t particularly surprising that her niece, raised by Olivia’s mother since she was a baby, hadn’t bothered to call. Olivia wasn’t Caitlin’s favorite person right now. These days, during Olivia’s regular video chats with her mother, Caitlin never popped in to say hi anymore. At fif¬teen, Caitlin was abrasive and moody and didn’t seem to like Olivia much, for reasons she didn’t quite understand.
“I’m sure someone tried to reach me but my phone has been having trouble,” she lied. Her phone never had trouble. She made sure it was always in working order, since so much of her freelance business depended on her clients being able to reach her and on her being able to Tweet or post something on the fly.
“I’m glad I checked in, then.”
“Same here. Thank you.”
Several bones broken and a long recovery. Oh dear. That would be tough on Juliet, especially this time of year when the garden center always saw peak business.
“Thank you for telling me. Is she in the hospital there in Cape Sanctuary or was she taken to one of the bigger cities?”
“I’m not sure. I can call around for you, if you want.”
“I’ll find out. You have enough to worry about.”
“Keep me posted. I’m worried about her. She’s a pretty great lady, that mom of yours.”
Olivia shifted, uncomfortable as she always was when others spoke about her mother to her. Everyone loved her, with good reason. Juliet was warm, gracious, kind to just about everyone in their beachside community of Cape Sanctuary.
Which made Olivia’s own awkward, tangled relationship with her mother even harder to comprehend.
“Will you be able to come home for a few days?”
Home. How could she go home when she couldn’t even walk into the coffee shop across the street?
“I don’t know. I’ll have to see what’s going on there.”
How could she possibly travel all the way to Northern Cali¬fornia? A complicated mix of emotions seemed to lodge like a tangled ball of yarn in her chest whenever she thought about her hometown, which she loved and hated in equal measures.
The town held so much guilt and pain and sorrow. Her father was buried there and so was her sister. Each room in Sea Glass Cottage stirred like the swirl of dust motes with memo¬ries of happier times.
Olivia hadn’t been back in more than a year. She kept mean¬ing to make a trip but something else always seemed to come up. She usually went for the holidays at least, but the previous year she’d backed out of even that after work obligations kept her in Seattle until Christmas Eve and a storm had made last-minute travel difficult. She had spent the holiday with friends instead of with her mother and Caitlin and had felt guilty that she had enjoyed it much more than the previous few when she had gone home.
She couldn’t avoid it now, though. A trip back to Cape Sanc¬tuary was long overdue, especially if her mother needed her.

 

 


New York Times
 bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

Social Links:

Author Website
Twitter: @RaeAnneThayne
Facebook: AuthorRaeAnneThayne
Instagram: @RaeAnneThayne
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/116118.RaeAnne_Thayne

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Winter’s Divide by M. LaVon-Review & Interview

Winter’s Divide by M. LaVon-Review and Interview

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 14, 2020

The end of the world didn’t happen with one single event or happen without warning. No, it happened a little at a time, in plain sight, with everyone watching and doing nothing to stop it.

As the pandemic that threatens to end human civilization makes landfall in the United States, Cate Winter’s life is turned upside down. After she and her sons fall ill with the mysterious virus, her husband, Tom, disappears. Weeks later, when Cate wakes up from a coma, she is alone—and the world has been torn apart.

One-third of the human population across the globe is dead and domestic militants and vigilantes are forcing the government into a civil war. And soon Cate begins to uncover secrets, secrets that have shattered her image of a picture-perfect life and entered her into the most heart-wrenching fight for survival. Can Cate uncover the truth—in time to save the survivors?

•••••••

REVIEW:WINTER’S DIVIDE is the first instalment in M. LaVon’s adult, post –apocalyptic series focusing on the aftermath of a viral pandemic that has killed over thirty per-cent of the world’s population in the year 2025.

WARNING: WINTER’S DIVIDE contains scenes of graphic violence, bloodshed and assault that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from numerous first person perspectives including Cate Winter, Cate’s chief of staff Liz Hutchenson, and Liz’s brother, arms dealer Adam Hutchenson, WINTER’S DIVIDE follows our heroine after she wakes from a six week coma caused by a virus of unknown origins. With her husband missing, and her two teenaged sons by her side, Cate returns to her family owned company WMS (Winter Medical Solutions) in an effort to help contain the fall-out of a pandemic that is destroying the people and country she loves. But all is not well in the world she once lived, as several hundred survivors have gathered at the Winter Estate compound in the hopes of finding a safe harbor in the face of the upcoming war. As Cate and her team battle to survive, the enemy presents itself with an all too familiar face.

WINTER’S DIVIDE is a timely release in the face of the 2020 Coronovirus pandemic. From the inability to contain the virus, to the conspiracy theories surrounding government intervention and a biological weapon used to contain the hordes, WINTER’S DIVIDE is a dark, gritty and oft-times graphic depiction of a world gone mad-think The Walking Dead ™ without the zombies. From anarchy to rogue bands of militia controlled by a faceless, psycopathic enemy who sits in the high tower of power and control, chaos and disorder ensue when the Free Nationalists (FN) declare war against the US government, attacking military bases, research facilities and government organizations. No one is safe: no one can be trusted; family and friendship are just two more f-words to add to the list.

M. LaVon pulls the reader into a raw and startling world of what ifs and whys. A cautionary tale of survival in the aftermath of a civilization gone mad.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Mandy and welcome to The Reading Cafe.

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

Follow: Amazon author page / Goodreads

Mandy: Personally—I am a mom of two super active school age boys and have a pretty cool husband who supports my ever-evolving artistic passions. I love crafts, including decorating theme cakes, painting, writing, and creating. Professionally—I am a communications professional who loves to help others tell their story. I manage executive level communications, employee engagement, and operations for a tech company. I have a master’s in communications from the University of Washington (Go Huskies!).

TRC:Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Mandy: My mom—She had a passion for poetry and would read to us when we were young. I would try and write poems, short stories and such, attempting to mimic what I had heard. She always loved reading my writing. But I had some challenges, I am dyslexic, and for most of my life I was terrified to put my work out there for people to see. Creative writing has a certain level of inherent vulnerability. You are sharing a part of yourself. So, I focused on technical and formal writing, finding comfort in writing for other people.

My mom really pushed me to write for myself. She battled breast cancer for 17 years. In her final year, I wrote an article about my professional journey as a dyslexic communicator, and she cried and I cried, and she insisted I finally write a book and “show the world…”. As her health began to take a turn, sitting in her hospital room on my birthday, I jotted down the first few lines of Winter’s Divide.

Then the cancer spread, and her eyesight began to deteriorate, I would write a chapter then read it to her. I read her the last chapter a couple of days before her journey came to an end. She was very proud. My mom was my best friend and my biggest fan, it meant a lot to share that experience with her.

TRC:What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing this story?

Honestly, the writing part was exhilarating. It poured out and I loved every moment. It was an escape from my own personal painful reality, imagining life without my mom. As for publishing—terrifying and exhausting. I put it out to a few agents, but ultimately chickened out and published it myself. There are elements of the story that are real and raw, and not as commercially appealing for a broader audience. I felt those elements were important enough to talk about and take a risk.

TRC:Would you please tell us something about the premise of WINTER’S DIVIDE?

Mandy: I am a big fan of the dystopic/post-apocalyptic/end-of-things genre, there are a lot of stories that are really centered around men and young adults, I really wanted to tell the story from a different perspective. Being careful to not share a spoiler—There were certain social undertones I felt were important to dive into, to spark debate and conversation about things that make us uncomfortable, like politics, equality, mental health, etc. I also wanted to write a story where the line between good and evil was harder to define.

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

Mandy: I currently have 3 planned for this series. Book 2 is almost done and will hopefully be out in the fall. It is a continuation of the story and picks up shortly after Winter’s Divide ends.

TRC:What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning WINTER’S DIVIDE?

Mandy: I had the basic idea for Winter’s Divide for a few years, but I did not start writing right away. I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to research, I studied a lot. Mostly around the catalyst for what would be the end-of-things. After the first sample chapter, that defined the tone I wanted, I plotted out the sequential key moments and built from there over the course of a few months.

TRC:With the recent outbreak and pandemic of the Coronavirus, how significant to, or similar in retrospect, is your story line premise to real-life events?

Mandy: I have heard from several of my early readers, asking how I have felt in light of the current circumstances and remarking on the eerie coincidences within my book. Honestly, the timing is not at all what I had imagined for my book launch period. I thought I would be casually reading excerpts, sipping a glass of wine, and chatting with readers about the shocking reality I created. Not living out aspects of my story, isolating in my home and watching life as we know it shift to a ‘new normal’.

Though there are several areas in my book that feel too close to home right now, thankfully, it is fiction. And our current situation is not as dramatic as I depict in the book. As I wrote it, I did know that it was a story on the border of being more realistic fiction, but I think that is what makes it relatable. However, I could not have imagined this level of relatability.

TRC:The story line contains a number of triggers for more sensitive readers. How, if at all, were you affected by your own writing and the imagery presented?

Mandy :  In some spots, it was really rough to get through and there were times I really had to grit my teeth and stop myself from sugar-coating the description. When I first set out to write this book, I had a very long conversation with my sister (super bibliophile), about the story arc, what I wanted to convey, and the tone I wanted to set. I wanted it to be gritty, real, raw, and brutal. Not like anything I had ever written. I wanted to describe the primal side of survival from a female perspective. My sister was my gut check for every twist and turn, making sure I was being true to my vision.
Every challenging moment, positive or not, was intentional and purposely positioned throughout the book. They are meant to be shocking and thought provoking.

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?

Mandy:  Yes! Totally. I actually did a cover survey with some of my early readers, and the high contrast black and white was the favorite. The cover art I chose was intentionally out of the norm for the genre. I wanted to differentiate the book and give it room to breathe in a sea of similar covers. Book 2 has a similar cover to connect them.

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

Mandy: I love this question! Like I mentioned before, I was very planful of my overall story outline. But when I was struck by something, a feeling, inspiration to dig deeper, to follow the breadcrumbs a character was leaving, it was hard to ignore. There were certain points where I made some choices that would support a future for those characters. The future of the characters really laid the groundwork for book 2.

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?

Mandy: Be there with their characters—I am not going to lie, there were moments where I found myself crying my eyes out, and my husband was like “um… why are you crying? You wrote it”. But when you imagine it, you are there, you are beside them for every moment and you define how they go on. You pick them up and make them go on sometimes. It is hard to ignore those emotions.

I hope people connect with the characters as much as I did. I am an avid reader as well, and I appreciate the books that give me chills, tears, make me laugh out loud, or break me into a million little pieces… Just know if you cry, are mad, or angry when reading Winter’s Divide, I was right there with you.

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

Mandy: 100%, yes! I love a good climactic movie scores and dramatic instrumentals when I write. Especially, something moody and emotional. When I commute to work, I put on my playlist and use that moment of solitude to get deep in the mood and lost in imagining the story. When I know I am going for a certain feeling, I am very deliberate with the music I listen to. Some of my go to artists for Winter’s Divide included: Paul Cardall, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, David Tolk, James Blackshaw, Max Richter, Ahn Trio, and Bon Iver. Also, the playlist at the back of the book is true to that character. It is a very unexpected compilation, but intentionally colorful and mood setting.

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

Mandy: That every writer is 100% just a writer. Many of the writers I know and from my personal experience, have day jobs and families. We write between kids and work. I write with kids running around or late at night after I have read a bedtime story or folded laundry. I work a normal full-time job during the day and write when I can. I have been known to crank out a chapter or two on my phone notepad at a baseball game. Just a normal, average, working mom with a passion to share stories.

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

Mandy: I am super artsy, but have no musical talent whatsoever. I played the flute in Junior high and was so bad they moved me to tuba.

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

Mandy: Ugh! Hardest question! I have a lot of authors that I love for different reasons; for how they made me feel, what thoughts they inspired, what sleep I lost, how hard I cried… If I am not writing, I am reading. Elizabeth Barrett Browning. just because at one point in my childhood I wanted to be her.

TRC:On what are you currently working?

Mandy: Book 2! I am excited to bring the next phase of the story to life coming in the fall.

TRC:Would you like to add anything else?

Mandy: I know these are difficult times for everyone. We will get through this. Be thoughtful of each other. Help your healthcare workers out and social distance, us this time to read a good book. The team here at the Reading Café has provided some amazing suggestions.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Spaghetti Squash, with a taco top! (Baked spaghetti squash with turkey taco meat, beans, cheese, salsa… baked until the cheese is melty, then add all the taco fixings, trust me, it is so good!)

Favorite Dessert – I am not a big fan sweets, but I can’t say no to a good tiramisu.

Favorite TV Show – I love Blacklist and the new Lost in Space, and no surprise Handmaid’s Tale

Last Movie You Saw – Harriet, love it, cried throughout

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Milk Chocolate with salted caramel

Secret Celebrity Crush – Tom Ellis or Russell Wilson

Last Vacation Destination – Nashville, TN

Do you have any pets? – Sadly no, but I love animals (especially big, soft, lazy ones)

Last book you read – The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson, really enjoyed it

TRC: Thank you Mandy for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best and congratulations on the release of Winter’s Divide.

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The King’s Justice by Susan Elia MacNeal – a Review

The King’s Justice by Susan Elia MacNeal – a Review

 

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Description:
London. December, 1942. As the Russian army repels German forces from Stalingrad, Maggie Hope, secret agent and spy, takes a break from the Special Operations Executive division to defuse bombs in London. But Maggie herself is like an explosion waiting to happen. Shaken by a recent case, she finds herself living more dangerously–taking more risks than usual, smoking again, drinking gin and riding a motorcycle–and the last thing she wants is to get entangled in another crime. But when she’s called upon to look into a stolen Stradivarius, one of the finest violins ever made, Maggie finds the case too alluring to resist.

Meanwhile, there’s a serial killer on the loose in London and Maggie’s skills are in demand. Little does she know that in the process of investigating this dangerous predator, she will come face to face with a new sort of evil…and discover a link between the precious violin and the murders no one could ever have expected.

 

 

Review:

The King’s Justice by Susan Elia MacNeal is the 9th book in her historical Maggie Hope series. I have not read this author before, and was concerned that starting in the 9th book would be a problem.  But Macneal did a great job writing this story, and giving any needed information to learn about our heroine.  In this historical fiction background, Maggie Hope, our heroine, has had various jobs during this time period (approx. 1942-1943), such as secret agent, spy, and secretary to Winston Churchill.  After a harrowing time, where she had been kidnapped, as well as her time in Scotland,  Maggie wants nothing to do with murder cases, as she steps away from Special Operations Executive Division and instead defuses bombs in London. 

Detective Chief Inspector James Durgin, who worked with Maggie in previous cases, is handling a serial killer case.  He begs Maggie to help him find the killer, but Maggie doesn’t want to get into anything to do with murder.  A previous serial killer (Book 6), Nicholas Reitter, who is on death row, professes to know who this new killer is, he requests Maggie, who put him in prison, to come talk to him in jail.  Maggie hesitated, since he had kidnapped her in a previous story, and she still has nightmares about him.  But when James pleads with Maggie to help him out, she gives in.

What follows is an exciting story revolving around a mass murderer, and Maggie’s attempt to discover what Reitter knows.  Will she be able to rebound from the trauma of past cases, and find the murderer before they strike again?  The King’s Justice was a thought provoking story line, with a great historical background, which includes the dark side of the war, intrigue and violent serial killers.

Maggie was a great heroine, who in this book was suffering mentally with PSTD and nightmares from previous cases, which is why she stepped away from her job.  When she is needed, she will push away her inner demons to use her amazing detective skills to help find the killer.  I did enjoy this book, but I also felt it is better to start from the beginning to learn more about Maggie Hope.  I suggest to read this series and start with the first book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Sisters of the Coven by Amelia Shaw-Review & Excerpt

Sisters of the Coven (Daughters of the Warlock #1) by Amelia Shaw-Review & Excerpt

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 1, 2020

Her Mother’s death unleashes her biggest secret….. the secret that could destroy them all.

When Ava’s mother dies, the responsibility of her daughters safety falls to the eldest of the three. Heir to the Coven, she must locate the most powerful warlock in all the realms: her father.

Only problem is, he has no idea he has a daughter, and the Counsel of Warlock’s is not about to allow an illegitimate heir to inherit their power.

Now Ava must hide who she is…or risk the wrath of the most powerful warlocks in the Universe. But hiding the power inside her isn’t as easy as it sounds, and soon, she finds her life and the life of her sisters in danger.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: I’ve read a few of the authors previous books, and I’m opening it with much anticipation…..

Ava being the eldest of three sisters isn’t impressed with her mother, although she’s dying, her mother is still a formidable figure.

Getting told that she had to look after and protect her younger sisters has Ava annoyed. Why her? They are old enough, but there is something her mother is hiding…..

When your whole world literally falls down around your ears, you would expect to feel fear, wouldn’t you? Ava did, but she also felt free, no longer under the harsh tongue of her mother.

We follow Ava through a minefield…. finding out about her father was the easy part, finding out both herself and her sisters will be hunted and murdered by the council was hard, and why? Her father can only have one heir by his wife chosen by the council, see where this is going?

This book is told in the main characters point of view. I got the impression when first reading the character of Ava, she was a bit of a brat!! But the further you get into the book, Ava shows us why she’s cold, her mother always pushed her, she got the talks, Courtney and Bella got the love. But we see Ava grow, she needs answers to her heritage so she has to be careful where she looks for answers.

So does Ava get to meet her father? And who is Tavlor? And what is the connection that Ava feels with him? Can she trust him?

It ends on a cliffhanger!! So I’m definitely wanting to read the next instalment.

Copy supplied for review

? Reviewed by Juile B

Excerpt kindly provided by the author

“Why is everyone afraid of you?”
I wasn’t sure if this was rude or not to ask. I probably should have been a little more tactful, but the words popped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Now that they were out there, I couldn’t take them back. I would own them, then.
There was a twitch in Tavlor’s cheek as his straight lips tilted down into a frown. “Because I’m a bastard,” he said as though it was obvious. “An abomination. A half breed.”
I curled my fingers into fists. He didn’t even seem perturbed by the horrible things he was saying. Not in the slightest. I giggled a little at that moment. I couldn’t help it. The whole thing was ludicrous.
He turned to glare at me, and I clamped my hand over my mouth.
“I’m sorry,” I said, though I didn’t sound sorry in the slightest. “You sound like one of them. It’s ridiculous.”
I rolled my eyes, just for good measure.
His gaze changed, his liquid silver eyes piercing my soul.
I swallowed down a moan and cleared my throat with a cough. “Can you like… not do that please?”
“Not do what?” He asked, his tone confused.
I immediately looked away. He must not even realize. No wonder he was deadly. He didn’t even realize what sort of affect he had on people.
“The…” I gestured with my hand, hoping it would help me explain. “I don’t even know what it is. I feel like you’re looking into my soul.”
He looked away and straightened his spine as though recovering from an insult. “I apologise.”
“Oh no, it’s okay,” I said quickly. I didn’t want him to think he was doing anything wrong. Was he doing anything wrong? I didn’t know the technicalities, of course. I didn’t know the laws here. But whatever he was doing, it didn’t seem like it was being done on purpose. “You probably can’t help it, it’s just un-nerving.”
“I know.” His voice was still a growl, but there was a sheepishness about it that was almost endearing. “People hate it.”
Hate it? I burst out laughing again and this time he rounded on me. “What are you laughing at?” he demanded.
I winced. I hadn’t meant to offend him. Strangely, I found myself wanting to console him, to make him understand that I wasn’t trying to tease. Everything was catching up to me – Mother’s death, Father’s rejection and then offer of help, Mallory’s strange bigotry. I was also missing my sister’s more than I cared to admit only because it would bring me even more pain.
“Oh no!” I shook my head. “That’s not what I meant… I…”
I glanced around at all the strangers still watching us. “Can we go somewhere private?” I asked in a whisper.
Tavlor nodded. “Follow me.”

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DRIVE ME CRAZY by Samantha Chase-Review & Excerpt Tour

DRIVE ME CRAZY (Road Tripping #1) by Samantha Chase-Review and Excerpt Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 17, 2020

One car.
Two strangers.
Infinite possibilities.

Grace Mackie is having the worst day.

Finding out her fiancé only proposed for the sake of a promotion is one thing. But discovering he’d also knocked up his assistant? There’s no coming back from that. Desperate to escape her own destination wedding, she’ll do just about everything to get back home and put the whole mess behind her. Even driving cross-country in a rental car.

Finn Kavanaugh’s day is even worse.

What had started as a brother bonding trip has now left him stranded three thousand miles from home without a car or credit card. Because his brother took off with both. So much for bonding, right? As much as he might want to throttle his brother, he first has to find a way to get home. His only option? A rental car and a cross-country trek.

Neither of them expected their trip would come complete with a surprise passenger. But desperate times and all that.

Warning — This sweet, sexy and laugh out loud funny romance is filled with all the most ridiculous road trip stories you can imagine and sure to drive you crazy with all the feels!

•••••••••

REVIEW: DRIVE ME CRAZY is the first instalment in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult ROAD TRIPPING romance series. This is thirty year old, auto mechanic Finn Kavanaugh, and twenty-eight year old, career advisor Grace Mackie.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Finn and Grace) DRIVE ME CRAZY follows the building relationship and romance between thirty year old, auto mechanic Finn Kavanaugh, and twenty-eight year old, career advisor Grace Mackie. On the day of Grace’s wedding to her now ex-fiance Jared, our heroine would discover that Jared had not been faithful for months. Desperate to get out of Lake Tahoe, Grace would find herself at a local car rental where the lone remaining truck was about to be her only means of travel for the next several days but Grace never expected to be sharing the ride with auto mechanic Finn Kavanaugh. Finn Kavanaugh was currently stranded in Lake Tahoe when his brother Dave decided to ‘steal’ his car, leaving our hero without a means to get home. Afraid of flying, Finn would have to share the last remaining vehicle with a woman who would slowly wrap around his heart. What ensues is the cross-country journey of Finn and Grace, and the fall-out when their time together comes to a close.

Grace Mackie wants to enjoy life, and her trip cross country with Finn Kavanaugh is the perfect time to travel and tour but Finn struggles in the face of his brother’s betrayal, and the woman he believes should be grieving the loss of her love. As the journey gathers momentum, our couple explore the country’s most popular attractions, as well as exploring one another’s bodies. Their connection is not immediate but the sexual attraction and chemistry is palpable. The $ex scenes are all implied.

The secondary and supporting characters are limited to Finn’s troubled brother Dave, as well as Grace’s ex-fiance Jared, and her mother back home.

DRIVE ME CRAZY is a sweet story; a slow burn but passionate romance with an animated couple, and a happily ever after.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

“Why do I have to shop for you? I’ve got my own shopping to do. And we agreed–just minutes ago, mind you–how we were responsible for ourselves. I’m not shopping for you, Grace.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Oh, come on! Seriously? Look at me, Finn! Haven’t I been humiliated enough today? Now you expect me to go inside and shop looking like this?”
“Trust me, Grace, no one is going to judge you in there. If anything, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t even be in the top ten of weird dressers in there.” He paused and grinned. “I believe there’s an entire website dedicated to the crazy way people dress to shop at Walmart. You’ll be fine.”
She wanted to argue because the thought of facing any more people while wearing her wedding dress was beyond unappealing, but she knew the quickest way to get out of the damn dress was to go inside for herself and shop.
“Fine,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Thirty minutes,” he stated firmly as they climbed from the truck. “Let’s give ourselves thirty minutes to get in and done so we can get on the road.”
Grace nodded because it all sounded good to her. The sooner they got what they needed and moved on, the happier she’d be.
Once they stepped inside the store and grabbed their own shopping carts, Grace was amazed at how the majority of the people simply glanced at her and kept on walking.
Thank God.
Finn reminded her of the time and walked away. Part of her had hoped they’d shop together because it would make her look a little less pathetic, but…with no other choice, she embraced the spectacle that she was and began shopping.
The basic toiletries were first–shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a razor. Her makeup was in her satchel, so she was good there. Thinking quick, she grabbed a brush and a couple of bands for her hair. Next, she walked over to the women’s department and grabbed a couple of pairs of yoga pants, a couple of pairs of jeans, and a handful of t-shirts. Next came tennis shoes, socks, and underwear. The cart was filling up, but she still had a few more things to grab. Two nightshirts and a robe were thrown in before she walked over to the travel section and found a suitcase and travel pillow.
Standing back, she examined everything she had picked and knew it would have to do. If she forgot anything, no doubt she and Finn could stop along the way. Deciding she could go and check out, Grace had gone all of five steps when her stomach started to grumble. In all the wedding preparation hoopla earlier, she hadn’t eaten. The plan had been to enjoy a big dinner after the ceremony, and with everything she had to do to get ready, she had skipped lunch.
“Snacks,” she muttered. “Better grab some snacks.” What followed could best be described as a hungry child left unsupervised in a candy store. The top of her shopping cart was covered in every variety of candy bar topped with several bags of chips, some snack cakes, and a six-pack of soda. Smiling with satisfaction, she said, “That should do it.”
She spotted Finn on one of the checkout lines and walked over and moved in behind him. He took one glance at her cart and then at her.
“Is this your passive-aggressive way of saying you’re hungry?” he asked, one dark brow arched.
“Right now, I should be cutting my wedding cake,” she replied sarcastically. “After enjoying a three-course meal that included chateaubriand, grilled scallops, baby asparagus, and a Caesar salad.”
“Oh.”
“And…I skipped lunch!” She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a ‘take that!’ look.
He stepped closer and examined the contents of her cart and Grace looked around him toward his.
It was way more organized.
And contained a lot less stuff.
“Are you sure you got everything?” she asked. “It doesn’t look like you have enough.”
Shrugging, Finn began unloading his purchases onto the belt. Grace watched and counted three pairs of jeans, a package of t-shirts, a package of socks, a package of boxers, some kit that contained all the male-essential toiletries, a brush, and a duffle bag.
Clearly, Finn was an efficient shopper.
He shrugged. “Don’t need much. This isn’t a vacation; it’s just so I don’t smell while we’re driving.”
Um…okay, she thought. Most men she knew would be a little more eloquent in describing this sort of thing but whatever. Jared would have insisted they go to a mall to shop and then…nope. She was not going to go there. For starters, Jared would never do a road trip, and second, she didn’t want to even think about him right now.
The bastard.
Finn bagged up his stuff and paid while Grace loaded her stuff on the belt. The cashier looked at her and then at Finn and smiled broadly. “Honeymoon off to a rough start?” she asked. “What happened? The airline lose your luggage?”
Grace could feel her cheeks heating and didn’t know how to respond because, really, did this cashier need to be on the receiving end of all the sarcasm, anger, and snark that was just dying to be released?
Before she could do or say anything, Finn leaned in and laughed. “They sure did! It’s been a wild day, and we’re anxious just to have some necessities until the whole mess gets cleared up, aren’t we, honey?”
She looked at him like he was crazy, but when she realized what he was doing, she began to laugh along with him. “You know it, sweetie pie!” She turned to the cashier. “We know this is just a little bump in the road, and it will give us something to laugh about and tell our grandkids one day!”
Soon the cashier was laughing with them. “You two are adorable!” Then she started ringing up Grace’s things. “Although, just a bit of marriage advice for you…don’t pay for things separately! You are one now! Embrace it!”
Grace looked nervously at Finn, who looked away, and she knew he was snickering. She just knew it! Keeping her smile in place, she said, “This will be our last separate purchase, right, baby?”
Grinning, Finn nodded. “Of course, snookums. Now, why don’t we let this lovely lady finish ringing you up so you can get changed and we can get going?”
Just the thought of getting out of the gown was enough to spur Grace into action. After she paid, she pulled a pair of yoga pants, a t-shirt, socks, and sneakers from the bags and walked over to the ladies’ room. Finn took the rest of the purchases and told her he’d meet her at the truck, and that was fine with her.
It didn’t take long, however, for her to realize that this wasn’t going to be a quick-change. It had taken the help of Tilly to get into her gown, and no matter how hard she tried, it was impossible to get out of it alone. She was practically sewn into it. She stepped out of the stall and caught her reflection in the mirror and wanted to cry. There was a time when she’d thought this was her dream gown. The salesgirl at the dress shop had said it was a fairytale fantasy kind of gown and had sold her with her whimsical description. The fitted bodice was adorned with exquisite lace appliques and accented with beads and rhinestones. The sheer off-the-shoulder neckline was exactly what she had wanted, and months of working out at the gym meant she could really show off her arms.
But the floor-length skirt had sealed the deal for her. The oversized skirt was embellished with delicate handmade flowers. The outer layer was made of tulle, the interlayer was made of silk net, and the lining was made of satin. The first time she had tried it on, she felt like a princess. And now look at her. She was muddy, the dress was ruined, her makeup was a smeared mess, and she was standing in a Walmart bathroom. Muttering a curse, Grace grabbed her new clothes and stormed out of the ladies’ room and out to the parking lot where she found Finn eating one of her candy bars.
“Hey!” she snapped. “What the hell, Finn? Those are mine!”
With a shrug, he laughed and looked her up and down. “Problem?”
“Yes, there’s a problem! Why wouldn’t there be a problem?” she asked sarcastically. “I can’t get out of this stupid gown. I can’t reach the damn buttons.” Turning her back to him, she motioned to them. “Can you…can you please just help me?”
He popped the last bite of candy into his mouth before reaching out and Grace could feel his knuckles gently caress her skin. Tingles of awareness ran down her spine, and she cursed herself for responding at all at a time like this.
“These buttons are ridiculously small,” he murmured as he leaned in close, and now she could feel his warm breath along her spine too.
“I’m in hell,” she muttered.
“Excuse me?”
“What? Oh…uh, nothing. Just commenting on how rotten my luck’s been today.”
She felt his hands down near her waist and quickly stepped aside. “I think that should do it. Thanks.” Glancing toward the massive store, Grace considered her options. The rain had stopped, and she was just so damn tired. “Hey, can you just…you know…turn around?”
Finn looked at her like she was crazy. “You’re not going to get changed right here, are you?”
“C’mon, Finn. I don’t want to hike back inside!” she whined. “My feet are killing me, this dress is wide open now in the back and…please? Just stand in front of me. I’ll open the truck door to shield me on one side and you can shield me on the other. I’ll be fast, I swear!”
“Grace, you can’t be serious…”
And that was it.
She’d hit her breaking point. Stepping in close, she poked him in the chest. “Do you think that maybe–just maybe–something can go my way tonight? Isn’t it bad enough that I’m standing here in a Walmart parking lot on what was supposed to be my wedding night? I’m tired, I’m hungry, and all I want is to take this damn dress off! You ate one of my candy bars, so you owe me! Now, are you going to help me or not? Because I’ve got to tell you, Finn, I’m not opposed to stripping down right here and just getting it over with!”
By the time she was done, she was breathless and shaking with rage, and Finn must have realized it because he turned around and gave her some room. “Wait,” he said. Stepping around her, he reached into the space behind the seats and pulled out all the shopping bags. Loading his hands with all of them, he stepped in front of her and turned his back to her. “Extra blockage.”
As crazy as it sounded, it was the nicest thing he could have done for her.
“Thank you,” she said softly, and then quickly stripped off her dress and pulled on her new comfy clothes.

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Twitter / Website / Facebook

Samantha ChaseNew York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

 

When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in NorthCarolina.

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Hers to Tame by Rhenna Morgan – a Review

Hers to Tame by Rhenna Morgan –  Review & Spotlight

 

 

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Description:
Book two of NOLA Knights, the heart-stoppingly sexy spin-off series by Men of Haven author Rhenna Morgan

As an avtoritet for the most powerful crime syndicate in New Orleans, Kir Vasilek doesn’t act without purpose, doesn’t speak without thought and never, ever loses his cool. The lives of his brothers, his family, depend on it. But then Cassie McClintock strolls back into his life, and staying cool is next to impossible. Cassie was the one who got away—and Kir is willing to break all his own rules to keep it from happening ever again.

It’s one thing to report on the Russian mafia; it’s quite another to sleep with one of them, especially one as dangerous, and as sinfully sexy, as Kir Vasilek. Even though the information he once provided helped make her career—and the memory of his touch still keeps her up at night—Cassie knows too much about his world to go down that path.

But when Kir reaches out for help after a rival family comes for one of his own, Cassie doesn’t want to say no, either to investigating a gruesome murder or to the heat that pulls her right back into his arms…and his heart. Taming Kir—and helping to save the family she’s come to call her own—is not the story she thought she’d write, but it’s the one she’s determined will get a happy ending.

 

Review:

Hers to Tame by Rhenna Morgan is the 2nd book in her NOLA Knights series.  I’ve not read the first book, but I don’t think you need to worry too much. 

Kir use to be a bodyguard for the Bratva, now he runs a crew of his own, but he’s not the boss, that title belongs to his brother Sergei “His to defend” although not blood brothers, they guard each other’s backs and love each other like brothers. 

After watching Sergei fall for Evette, Kir longs for the same connection with a woman, but his past won’t allow that to happen (being sold into a Bratva as a young boy changed him) so Kir settles down to fact he will remain alone. 

Cassie is a reporter but, she’s not really had a good story in a while. She needs a fresh story, but going back to a source she used before maybe difficult. But if she needs to stay at the top of her game, Cassie is going to have to swallow her pride and ask the one man she walked away from. 

Almost from the moment they reconnect you can see that Kir wants Cassie on a permanent basis. Not just as help finding out who killed a member of his crew, but as a companion, maybe even more of a commitment!!! He makes plans to show her his world and his family. 

Cassie really likes Kir, but she knows about his background and is very wary, but after meeting his “family”, she sees a different side to the Bratva and Kir. But there is her job to consider! Won’t people wonder how she got her stories? And will they assume they will favour Kir and his family? 

But there is the murder to solve, and Cassie’s involvement may put her in the firing line! Is someone targeting her? Kir? Or the whole Bratva? 

I liked this book, in fact I’m off to find the first book. 

The sex isn’t too over the top, and there is isn’t too much either?

The connection between Sergei and Kir got me wanting to find out more, and what made the boss man fall for Evette, and then there is Roman (another group leader) he’s as close to Sergei as Kir is (and rumour has it, that his book is next) 

I’d recommend this book all day long. The plot flows really well. Characters are a delight to read about. And doing research on the author I found a series in which a lot of characters that we meet in this book are from (so this in theory is a spin off series) but you don’t need to read it, it just gives you more info on the characters. But I think that’s another series to be added to my never standing TBR list ?

Reviewed by Julie B

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

“Please take this in the spirit it’s intended, but you work for a man who’s suspected of leading a growing crime family. I don’t think me telling you where I live is a good idea.”
“1023 South Franklin Avenue.”
Cassie stopped so hard she wobbled slightly in her heels. “How did you… I mean, I only just moved in there.”
His smile softened and his words were offered with gentle deliberateness. “I’m a very thorough man, Cassie. You can’t possibly think I wouldn’t learn everything I could about a person before I shared important information with them.”
Very thorough.
Frighteningly so.
She shook the foreboding off and resumed her trek to the station, albeit on slightly less stable legs. “All the more reason for us to meet someplace public.”
“All right. Then I’ll pick you up and take you somewhere.”
“Not necessary.” She checked both ways on the street and hurried across. “Just tell me where you want to talk, and I’ll meet you there.”
“I’m afraid my retrieving you and escorting you is nonnegotiable.”
She frowned at him, but kept going. “You’ve got a lot of points you won’t negotiate. Tell me why this one’s one of them.”
“Because while I’m very much interested in hearing what you have to share, I’m not interested in anyone else hearing. The best way to ensure our privacy is to make sure no one else knows where we’re going—including you.”
She stopped just six feet from the station’s front door. “You don’t trust me?”
“Should I?”
Hmm. He did kind of have a point. And given how she’d stiffed him after their second date, he still might be wondering if she’d simply used him. “Fine. Pick me up at my place tomorrow at eight. But don’t pick any place fancy. A coffee shop, or someplace simple. And not Starbucks either. It’s criminal what they charge for coffee.”
His mouth twitched as if it were all he could do to keep a wisecrack trapped behind his lips. “You seem determined to expose me to establishments with limited standards.” He nodded, the picture of gentility and confidence. “I’ll endeavor to pick a location that suits your expectations.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Until tomorrow, then.”
He had great hands. Not too smooth like someone trapped in an office, but a man’s hands. Slightly calloused, with long fingers and blunt fingertips. Of all the things she’d replayed from their time together, his touch had been the most frequent. Which was exactly why she’d be smart to avoid any and all physical contact with him going forward.
Glutton for punishment and well-mannered Texas girl that she was, she slipped her palm against his.
Oh, yeah.
Still amazing.
Electric and warm. Supercharged and bristling with promise.
And that was just her hand.
“Thank you again for the dinner. It wasn’t necessary, but I appreciate it all the same.” Hating the breathiness in her voice, she tried to release her hand.
Kir held it tight, the pad of his thumb subtly moving over the tender spot between her thumb and her forefinger. As if he were remembering other, more in¬timate places he’d touched her. “I assure you. The pleasure was all mine.”
He gently released her, turned without the least amount of hesitation, and strolled toward the parking lot like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Watching him was something to relish. An indulgence she didn’t even realize she’d taken until he
stepped off the sidewalk and turned to open the door to his car.
Great. And now he’s busted you ogling him.
She swung one of the double glass doors open and strode into the arctic reception area.
“Girl, that dude was hot,” Bonnie said before Cassie’s eyes could adjust from the blinding sunshine outside. “He your boyfriend?”
“Oh, no.” She set the paper bag on the counter and shook her head. “Just a contact that helped me out on a few stories a while back.”
And ruined me for other men, but why quibble over details?
Bonnie took the bag and opened it, but the look on her face and her answering chuckle said she didn’t buy a word Cassie’d said. “Uh-huh. Looked to me like he was plotting how to peel you out of your professional getup.”
Yeah, it’d felt like that, too. But she wasn’t going to think about that now. Or ever, if she could help it. “Nope. Just talking business.” She waved toward the bag and headed back toward the newsroom.
“Good business, or bad business?”
Cassie swung the door to the hallway open and cast Bonnie one last look. “I haven’t decided yet. Could have been the lottery, or the biggest wrong turn of my life.”

Copyright © 2020 by Rhenna Morgan


 

 

 



A native Oklahoman, Rhenna Morgan is a certified romance junkie. Whether it’s contemporary, paranormal, or fantasy you’re after, Rhenna’s stories pack romantic escape full of new, exciting worlds, and strong, intuitive men who fight to keep the women they want. For advance release news and exclusive content, sign up for her newsletter at http://RhennaMorgan.com. You’ll also find all of her social links there, along with her smoking hot inspiration boards.

Social Media Links

Website: http://rhennamorgan.com/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhennamorgan/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8596977.Rhenna_Morgan

 

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Bayside Fantasies by Melissa Foster-Review & Giveaway Tour

Bayside Fantasies (Bayside Romance #6) by Melissa Foster-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 18, 2020

In BAYSIDE FANTASIES…
Tegan Fine has never had a plan—life, business, or otherwise. But she’s always had goals—to laugh daily and to pay it forward as often as she is able, just like her favorite uncle always did. After inheriting her great-uncle’s amphitheater, Tegan makes a risky move to a charming small town on Cape Cod to carry on her uncle’s legacy and hopefully expand the business with her new friend, Harper. Unfortunately, those goals aren’t doing much to help her plan a business strategy for her new endeavor. With Harper counting on her and her uncle’s legacy at stake, she swears off all distractions, determined to succeed. If only she could stop bumping into a certain arrogant, witty, and excruciatingly hot businessman who tweaks her nerves and invades her every thought. Including her late-night fantasies.

Self-professed workaholic Jett Masters never slows down. He lives life with no attachments—except to his clients, to whom he gives his all. A reluctant trip to his hometown has him itching to shake the ghosts of his past and get back to spinning deals and adding to his investments. But when he comes face-to-face with a gorgeous, handsy woman who is quite possibly the snarkiest and most disorganized person he’s ever met, sparks fly, and his sharp mind stumbles. He doesn’t even know her name, but he can’t get her out of his mind.

A chance encounter turns into a wild, sexy night, and their chemistry is off the charts—even if their ideals, and their lives, are worlds apart. Neither Jett nor Tegan is looking for more. Becoming friends with benefits seems like the perfect solution. But when they are trapped together in torrential weather, they work side by side in the aftermath, and every passionate kiss deepens their connection. Secrets are shared, trust is built, and no promises dare be made. As their lives move on, lines begin to blur, hearts get hurt, and their true selves come into focus. Tegan and Jett are left wondering if they make the perfect storm, or if they’ve reached the end of their bayside fantasy.

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REVIEW:BAYSIDE FANTASIES is the sixth instalment in Melissa Foster’s contemporary, adult BAYSIDE SUMMERS erotic, romance series focusing on a tight knit group of friends in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. This is billionaire investor Jett Masters, and Tegan Fine’s storyline. BAYSIDE FANTASIES and subsequently BAYSIDE SUMMERS is another one of Melissa Foster’s spin off series from both the Love in Bloom and Seaside Summers series but can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Several characters and couples cross over between series for cohesion and familiarity. Tegan was first introduced in Bayside Romance.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jett and Tegan) BAYSIDE FANTASIES focuses on the building relationship between billionaire investor Jett Masters, and Tegan Fine. Following the death of her beloved uncle Harvey Fine, Tegan set out to Brewster Massachusetts, in an effort to take over her uncle’s amphitheater business but a night out with friends to celebrate Harper Garner’s bachelorette party (Bayside Romance) found Tegan face to face with the stranger she eyed just days before. Enter billionaire investor Jett Masters, and the man with whom Tegan would fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Tegan and Jett, and the potential fall-out as Jett’s lifestyle takes him away more than he is home.

Tegan Fine does a little bit of everything including traveling the world on her own. With the approach of summer Tegan is putting together a series of summer theater productions for adults and children using her uncle’s amphitheater as the backdrop and stage for the season’s offerings. Jett Masters is a workaholic; a man who struggles with demons from the past and a dysfunctional family dynamic that pushes Jett to stay away from the family he once loved. Meeting Tegan Fine pulls Jett back to Brewster Massachusetts where he will have to face his father, a man with whom he struggles to accept or love.

The relationship between Tegan and Jett begins as a ‘friends with benefits’ as neither one admits to expecting anything long term. Jett is rarely home for more than a couple of days, and Tegan enjoys the independent life of a young, single woman but when the heart begins to fall, the head is about to discover that love is not always a two-way street. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of the previous story line couples. We are introduced to Tegan’s uncle’s assistant Jack ‘Jock’ Steele who may or may not have an interest in single mother and divorcee Daphne. In all honesty, I think an excel chart or family tree is required to keep track of all of the characters, their series, and their relationships to one another.

BAYSIDE FANTASIES is a story of family and friendships; of, grief and loss; of betrayal, recovery, and acceptance. The premise is detailed and entertaining- there is quite a bit going on in Cape Cod, Massachusetts; the characters are flirty and real; the romance is spicy, tender and sassy. BAYSIDE FANTASIES is a heart warming, captivating and uplifting story.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews:
Bayside Desires
Bayside Passions
Bayside Heat
Bayside Escape
Bayside Romance

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Bayside Desires (Bayside Summers #1) 

As the co-owner of Bayside Resorts, Rick Savage has a fabulous job working with his best friends and brother, and a thriving business in Washington, DC, which he’ll be returning to at the end of the summer. Spending time with his family is great, but being back on Cape Cod has unearthed painful memories. When sweet, smart, and overly cautious Desiree Cleary moves in next door, Rick is drawn to the sexy preschool teacher, and she just might prove to be the perfect distraction.

Running an art gallery was not in preschool teacher Desiree Cleary’s plans, but after being tricked into coming to her impetuous, unreliable mother’s aid, she’s stuck spending the summer with the badass half sister she barely knows and a misbehaving dog. If that’s not frustrating enough, she can’t escape the sparks igniting with her strikingly handsome and pushy neighbor, Rick, who makes all her warning bells go off.

Passion ignites as Desiree and Rick spend long summer nights sharing heartfelt confessions and steamy kisses. For the first time in years Rick is enjoying life again instead of hiding behind mounds of work miles away from his family. Desiree has touched him in a way that makes him want to slow down. Only slowing down means dealing with his demons, and he isn’t sure who he’ll be when he comes out the other side.

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Bayside Passions (Bayside Summers #2)  
Bayside Passions (Bayside Summers Book 2) by [Foster, Melissa]

When Emery Andrews’s best friend, Desiree, moves away, falls in love, and opens a an inn all in one summer, she feels her absence like a missing limb. Until she visits over the holidays and meets sinfully hot Dean Masters, who’s as easy on the eyes as he is to talk to. After returning home, what starts as a flurry of late-night flirtations quickly turns into a deep connection and unexpected friendship. Now, months later, Desiree offers Emery a job teaching yoga at the inn. Adventurous Emery jumps at the chance and heads for Wellfleet, Massachusetts, to reunite with her BFF and her new close friend, Dean.After months of sharing their lives, and their secrets, over video chats and phone calls, Dean’s ready to move things to the next level. The fact that Emery seems oblivious to the sparks between them and has recently put her foot down about dating friends just means he’ll have to bide his time.

When Emery finds a naked man in her kitchen the first morning she’s there, Dean doesn’t hesitate to move her into his guest room. Maybe now Emery will see what’s right before her eyes–although that guy she’s got a date with might be a problem.

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BAYSIDE HEAT (Bayside Summers #3)

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 8, 2018

Drake Savage has always done the right thing, especially where beautiful and fiercely determined Serena Mallery is concerned-even when it means keeping his feelings for her to himself. Serena has always wanted more than what their small town of Wellfleet, Massachusetts has to offer, and Drake’s roots are so deeply entrenched in the Cape, it’s all he can do to watch her pack up her life and move away.

Serena has always had big dreams. As a teenager she dreamed of becoming an interior designer and marrying smart, musically inclined, sexy-as-sin Drake Savage. Now she’s finally landed a killer job with a top interior design firm, but though she has spent the last four years working side by side with Drake, he’s never made a move. Four years is long enough for her to accept reality, and her new job in Boston is the perfect way to move on.

A weak moment leads to sizzling, sensual kisses, opening a door through which they’ve both been aching to walk. But Serena’s determined not to give up her shot at the career she’s always dreamed of, and Drake has loved her for too many years to stand in her way. With true love at their fingertips and a world of unstoppable passion igniting between them, can the two star-crossed lovers find their way to their happily ever after?

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Bayside Escape (Bayside Summers #4)
Bayside Heat (Bayside Summers Book 3) by [Foster, Melissa]
Two years ago Violet Vancroft was a nomadic artist who never wanted to put down roots and Andre Shaw was a prominent Boston physician whose roots ran too deep to unearth. Their love didn’t stand a chance-or at least that’s what Violet believed when she received a plea for help from the sister she’d never really known-so she snuck away like a thief in the night. 
Now Andre travels the world setting up new medical clinics, and Violet has finally found the family she’d always craved and the roots she’d never known she wanted. When their paths cross unexpectedly, it’s not the reunion either one imagined. But they’ve never stopped loving each other, and after the dust of anger and hurt settles, passion ignites even hotter than before. As the end to Andre’s time at the Cape nears, reality sets in, leaving them no closer to a future than they were before. Violet and Andre are forced to dig deep to discover if they’re destined to live apart forever or if true love really can conquer all. 
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Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big-family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, Wild Boys and Bad Boys After Dark, and the Montgomerys. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented– perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex and relatable issues.Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.

Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on Facebook or her personal website.

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