Monthly Archives: August 2020

The Truest Thing by Samantha Young-review tour

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The Truest Thing (Hart’s Boardwalk #4) by Samantha Young- Review tour

 

 

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Goodreads: https://bit.ly/TheTruestThingGR

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2020

Nine years ago, Emery Saunders moved to Hartwell to start her life over as a bookstore owner. Her inability to trust people made it hard for her to find a place in the small community until Jessica Lawson moved to town and befriended the shy beauty.
But there was one person in Hartwell who tried to befriend Emery long before Jessica arrived…

Jack Devlin has his secrets. One of them is that he fell hard for Emery the moment she appeared in Hartwell. Another is that his father blackmailed him into covering up a dark family tragedy. It forced Jack to sever his relationships to protect the people he cared about. Yet, staying away from Emery has not been easy throughout the years and he hasn’t always succeeded. When Jack’s mixed signals hurt Emery once again, she puts him out of her heart for good.
Until the Devlin family secret is finally revealed, freeing Jack from his father’s machinations. What Jack wants more than anything is to repair his relationships, starting with Emery.

However, Emery isn’t ready to forgive and Jack’s not ready to give up.
And when the town’s latest scandal ties Jack and Emery together, Jack is not above using their new reality to prove to Emery once and for all that their love is worthy of the legend of Hart’s Boardwalk.

••••••••

REVIEW:THE TRUEST THING is the fourth instalment in Samantha Young’s contemporary, adult HART’S BOARDWALK romance series focusing on the men and women of Hartwell, Delaware- a spin off from the author’s ON DUBLIN STREET SERIES. This is businessman Jack Devlin, and bookstore owner Emery Saunders’ story line. THE TRUEST THING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from first person perspectives (Emery ) and third person (Jack) using present day and memories from the past THE TRUEST THING focuses on nine years and the building but contemptuous relationship between businessman Jack Devlin, and bookstore owner Emery Saunders. Nine years earlier, heiress Emery Saunders moved to Hartwell, Delaware in an effort to escape her past. Shy and withdrawn, Emery struggled to make friends and meet people but her mutual attraction with local businessman Jack Devlin was often fraught with issues of trust, and Jack’s inability to commit to their friendship or anything permanent. A scandal would rock the small town of Hartwell, Delaware throwing Jack into the lion’s den, forcing Emery to reconsider their friendship, a friendship that had more ups and downs than a hotel elevator . Years would pass as our couple battled their attraction, Jack’s need to run, and the ongoing and often heart breaking and numerous scandals that continue to plague Jack and the Devlin family but all along Emery knew there was more to the story than the gossip revealed. Fast forward to present day wherein a night of passion would leave a heart broken Emery, once again reeling, when Jack disappears without a trace. Unable to move forward without looking back, Emery pushes Jack out of her life only to discover that life was about to change for everyone involved. What ensues is the back and forth, push and pull, yin and yang relationship between Jack and Emery, and the potential fall-out as the Devlin family secrets implode, and Emery is willing to sacrifice her own happily ever after if it means never having to suffer the pain of Jack’s rejection, ever again.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of familiar secondary and supporting characters including Cooper Lawson and Jessica Huntington (The One Real Thing #1), Bailey and Vaughn (Every Little Thing #2) , Boston detective Michael Sullivan, and metalsmith / jewellery designer Dahlia McGuire (Things We Never Said #3) Iris and Ira and their daughter Ivy, who own the local Italian eatery; Cooper’s ex-wife Dana Kellerman, Sheriff Jeff King and the embattled Devlin family including father Ian Devlin, mother Rosalie, his brother Kerr, and sister Rebecca.

THE TRUEST THING is an intricate story of fractured family dynamics; of power, greed, money and control; of friendships, relationships, communication and trust. An emotional, haunting and intriguing premise, THE TRUEST THING invites the read in and never lets go. The characters are broken and tragic; the romance is passionate, raw and heart breaking.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

The One Real Thing
Every Little Thing
On Hart’s Boardwalk
Things We Never Said

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Samantha Young is the New York Times,  USA Today  and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows.  Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017. Play On is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland. Villain is a companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

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Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden Mills-dual review

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Not My Romeo (The Game Changers #1) by Ilsa Madden Mills-dual review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2020

We start off with a lie on Valentine’s Day.

My blind date isn’t the studious guy I expected: he’s a drop-dead gorgeous player with sinful amber eyes. Somehow we end up at his penthouse. I blame the gin and tonic.

The next day I learn he’s Jack Hawke—bad-boy professional quarterback with a murky past. The NDA he has me sign should be a warning that he isn’t a regular person. Please. I sign it Juliet Capulet, so goodbye, famous football player with abs of steel, and good luck tracking down this small-town librarian.

But Jack keeps showing up in places I least expect him. Just when I’m sure he’s gone, he waltzes into my community theater and wins the part of Romeo to my Juliet. How’s a plain, mostly innocent girl like me supposed to resist a man like him?

Is Jack my real Romeo… or will this gorgeous football player only break my heart?

••••••••

Sandy’s REVIEW: NOT MY ROMEO is the first instalment in Ilsa Madden-Mills contemporary, adult THE GAME CHANGERS erotic, romance series. This is twenty-eight year old, professional football quarterback Jack Hawke, and twenty-six year old librarian/lingerie designer Elena Riley.

old from dual first person perspectives (Elena and Jack) NOT MY ROMEO follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-eight year old, professional football quarterback Jack Hawke, and twenty-six year old librarian/lingerie designer Elena Riley. A Valentine blind date, and a one night stand finds our heroine battling between head and heart when she discovers that her blind date wasn’t her blind date after all but professional football player Jack Hawke. Our heroine had mistakenly believed Jack was her date, and Jack, being the gentleman that he isn’t, played along but our hero’s current reputation both on and off the field is in tatters, and quickly finds himself getting attached to a woman who wants something more. Unable to offer Elena forever or a happily ever after, Jack continues to find himself drawn to our heroine, a draw that is about to spiral out of control. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jack and Elena, and the potential fall-out as Jack’s issues of trust find our heroine on the outside looking in when Jack accuses her of manipulation and lies.

Jack Hawke grew up in the foster care system having lived much of his life angry and abused. Betrayal at the hands of his ex force Jack to keep one eye open including having Elena sign an NDA, an agreement Elena refuses to accept. Elena Riley had no idea the who or the what of quarterback Jack Hawke. Falling for Jack, Elena knew she was about to have her heart broken, having been forewarned by our story line hero. Been burned in the past, Elena knows she has to move on but there is always a constant reminder wherever she goes.

The relationship between Jack and Elena starts as a case of mistaken identity , one in which Jack carries over into a one-night stand. Jack doesn’t do relationships having been betrayed by his ex, and in this Jack struggles with issues of trust, issues that will directly affect his relationship with our story line heroine. Elena continues to battle her attraction to Jack knowing Jack wants nothing to do with a happily ever after but Jack’s constant presence in her life give our heroine pause as to perhaps there may be hope for something more. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Elena’s ex boyfriend Preston, her roommate Topher, and her sister Giselle, as well as their mother, Aunt Clare who owns and runs a local salon. We are introduced to Jack’s head of security Quinn, a young man who is more or less our hero’s gopher; fellow teammate and friend Devon, quarterback Aiden Woods, PR agent Lawrence, Town stage director Laura and her son Timmy, and Jack’s ex girlfriend Sophia.

NOT MY ROMEO is a story of family, friendships, betrayal, trust and love; a story of one man’s struggle to move on from the past, and one woman’s heart break when said man refuses to acknowledge her love. The character driven premise is captivating and seductive; the romance is fun and flirty; the characters are lively, dynamic and charming. A wonderful and impassioned story.

 

Barb’s REVIEW:
Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden-Mills is the first book in her new The Game Changers series. We meet our heroine, Elena Riley, as she goes to a restaurant to meet a blind date on Valentine’s Day,  that her roommate set up for her.  After waiting a bit, not seeing the date supposedly wearing a blue shirt, she texts her date, with no response; she notices far in the corner a hot hunk wearing a blue shirt and sitting alone.  She walks to his table and says “are you the guy”.

Jack Hawke, our hero, and famous pro quarterback, is sitting quietly waiting for his dinner to be served.  He is surprised when this beautiful young lady sits down at his table; he then realizes she thinks he is her blind date, who is a weatherman. Jack also noticed that she was one of the rare people who did not recognize him, and goes along with pretending to be her date. It was a pretty funny dinner between them, and they both end up the evening with a wild sexy one-night stand.

Jack and Elena are total opposites.  Jack is shy and private, and does not like the limelight; especially after an ex-girlfriend wrote a book about her affair with him, filled with lies, causing Jack to have major trust issues.  Elena is a librarian and designs sexy lingerie; she is also very outgoing, sassy and a bit wild.  The following day, with Jack already gone before she awoke, she learns that he is not who she thought he was.  When Jack saves a young boy, who asks him for favors, he agrees to perform at the school play, Romeo and Juliet. To his surprise, Elena is playing the part of Juliet, and a wild, sexy, sizzling romance begins to heat up.  Elena finds her self falling hard for Jack, and he feels the same, but his trust issues and fear of anything permanent stands in the way. Will Jack get past his issues to stay with Elena?

I did enjoy the wonderful secondary characters; friends and family of Elena, as well as Jack’s football buddies (especially Devon).   They were all fun.  But most of all, Jack and Elena were so great together, with so much scorching chemistry between them, as well as their romance being terrific and fun. 

Not My Romeo was a fun, lighthearted, sexy, sweet, hot romance, with a fantastic couple.  There were lots of laughter, and sexy scenes.  Ilsa Madden-Mills wrote a wonderful fun romantic story that was just simply fun from start to finish. I also loved the epilogue.  I suggest you read Not My Romeo.

Copies provided by Publisher

 

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The Vanished Queen by Lizbeth Campbell – a Review

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The Vanished Queen by Lizbeth Campbell – a Review

 

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Description:
When a country is held in thrall to a vicious, despotic king, it’s up to one woman to take him down.

Long ago, Queen Mirantha vanished. King Karolje claimed it was an assassination by a neighboring king, but everyone knew it was a lie. He had Disappeared her himself.

But after finding the missing queen’s diary, Anza—impassioned by her father’s unjust execution and inspired by Mirantha’s words—joins the resistance group to overthrow the king. When an encounter with Prince Esvar thrusts her into a dangerous game of court politics, one misstep could lead to a fate worse than death.

Esvar is the second son to an evil king. Trapped under his thumb and desperate for a way out, a chance meeting with Anza gives him the opportunity to join the resistance. Together, they might have the leverage to move against the king—but if they fail, their deaths could mean a total loss of freedom for generations to follow.

 

 

 

Review:

The Vanished Queen by Lizbeth Campbell is a standalone epic fantasy.  This is the first time I have read Campbell, and after completing this book, I hope to read more of her, as The Vanished Queen was a fantastic read.  The story has three POV’s; Anza, Esvar and Mirantha.

We meet Anza, our heroine, at that start when she is sneaks into the library where all books have been locked up and forbidden. She comes across the diary of Queen Mirantha, who disappeared or was killed 12 years by her husband, the King.  The diary, as Anza will read, details Mirantha’s hard life with the evil and corrupt King Karolje, who rules the kingdom with fear and terror under a vicious rule, which has created a resistance that is bent on overthrowing him. Mirantha loves her two sons, Tevin and Esvar, who even to this day, love  and mourn their mother.

Anza, whose father was executed by the King, becomes more determined to join the resistance, as she reads Mirantha’s journal.  When she meets Sparrow, the leader of the resistance, she proves that she is an asset, especially as she has been trained by her father to excel in fighting and bow shooting. Anza was a fabulous heroine, as she was strong, smart, independent and loyal, not to mention her hatred of the king.  After a resistance attack, Anza is taken to be questioned by a bad corrupt captain, only to be saved by Prince Esvar, who claimed she was innocent of any wrong doing.

Prince Esvar, the second son, wants to protect and help his brother, who is the heir to the throne.  They both know their father has no qualms in killing them, if they stand in his way.  Esvar will eventually befriend Anza, and uses this opportunity to approach the resistance to help defeat his father.  With Anza at his side, Esvar tries to convince Sparrow and her team to help him eliminate the close supporters of the King, and help them defeat the King.  Can Sparrow and the resistance trust the Prince?

In the Queen’s journal, we learn how horrific Karojle ruled and destroyed innocent people, as well as making her life difficult, even to the point of killing someone close to her, who she was having an affair with, as well as other friends.  Then she is taken prisoner to disappear, but everyone knew the King was behind her ‘disappearance’.

In a short time, Anza and Esvar will find themselves attracted to each other, which will become a slow built romance that remains in the background.  I loved both Anza and Esvar, as they were great together, with Esvar determined to help his brother take the throne, even if it meant his death.  Early on the story was a bit slow, but as in all fantasy, the beginning introduces all the major characters, when we learn about this world.   The world building was very well done, with many details to give us a glimpse at these wonderful characters, and the political intrigue, struggles and the battle to defeat evil.

The Vanished Queen is a wonderful dark adventure, with fantastic characters, and a world filled with evil, secrets, lies, deceit & betrayal. I will say there is an amazing twist that blew us away.  Very well done.  The last 1/3 of the book was intense, exciting, non-stop action, that had me on the edge, as we raced to the climax.  What I loved the most about this book, was that it was a standalone, not having us wait for a couple more books.  Thank you, Lizbeth Campbell for this fantastic story.  If you like fantasy at its best, I suggest you read The Vanished Queen.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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From That Moment (Promise Me #2) by Carrie Ann Ryan-Review Tour

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From That Moment (Promise Me #2) by Carrie Ann Ryan-Review Tour

 

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2020

Paris Trissel is in a dating rut. Despite the pact she made with her friends to find someone to share her life with, she’s throwing in the towel after only a few blind dates. Add in the fact that the new hire at the job she used to love happens to be the Brady brother she can’t stand, and Paris is having a terrible year.

Prior Brady’s life seems pretty perfect from the outside. He has a wonderful, caring girlfriend, a family he’s never been closer to, and a new job he can’t wait to sink his teeth and talents into. Too bad the woman he has to work with for hours a day hates him on sight.

Once the two are forced to find the balance between chemistry and temptation, however, they’ll realize they’re stronger together than apart. Except when Paris’s past comes back with a vengeance, bringing terror, pain, and horror with it, both she and Prior will have to lean on each other.

In more ways than one.

•••••••••

REVIEW:From That Moment is the second in The Promise Me series by the lovely Carrie Ann Ryan. Now while this can be read as a standalone, I personally recommend reading the first in the series; Forever Only Once first.

From That Moment is an enemy to lover, sexy romance that is sure to capture the hearts and minds of its readers. Reading this book left both a smile on my face and a yearning in my belly. The Brady brothers are an awesome series to read, and I can’t wait to see what happens next with the pack.

Prior Brady is a nerd, a hot nerd, but a nerd just the same. He takes a six month position at another company to get away from his regular day to day management, and what does he find?

Paris Trissel.

That’s right, THAT Paris. The Paris his brother’s woman calls a friend. Paris who Prior will now be working with for the next six month. For Paris life hasn’t been easy,she has a past that still haunts her to this day. She surrounds herself with work and the few trusted people she calls friends, and has clawed her way up from the bottom. Paris loves her job and won’t let the “good ole boys” and their trash talk get her down, from the drama of horrible coworkers and now fighting her growing attraction to Prior…

Paris is in for a change. When her past comes screeching back into her life, trying to uproot all the good she now has, can Paris trust in the growing relationship she and Prior have or will her past drag her back down.

5 out of 5 star review, I really loved Prior and Paris together, their attractions, their love, the way they interact together is all so awesome!!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

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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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Undeniable (Indulgence #4) by Aleatha Romig-Review Tour

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Undeniable (Indulgence #4) by Aleatha Romig-Review Tour

 

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2020.

Forbidden love…is undeniable.

When she was younger, like all little girls, Sophie Hawkins believed in fantasies. She believed in happily-ever-after and that one day her prince would come. What made Sophie’s dreams a bit different was that the man of her dreams wasn’t a fictional prince but her best friend’s dad.

Matt was handsome and nice, the kind of man every woman would want.

Time passes, and through the years, Sophie’s reality changes, yet her attraction and memories of Matt Hamilton never fade. Where boys and men are concerned, Matt remains her gold standard.

When his daughter was young, Matt Hamilton had it all: a family and success.

With the ticking of the clock and changing of the calendar, seasons pass and situations adjust. Business success remains, but personally, his world changes…until the day fate sets the undeniable in motion.

Sophie was a sweet little girl, his daughter’s best friend, and a ray of undeniable sunshine. That was before. Now she’s more. She is a grown woman.

Who can deny the undeniable?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: UNDENIABLE is the fourth instalment and novella in Aleatha Romig’s contemporary, adult INDULGENCE erotic, romance series. This is thirty six year old Matt Hamilton, and eighteen year old, university student Sophie Hawkins. UNDENIABLE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

NOTE: UNDENIABLE was originally released as a podcast story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Matt and Sophie) UNDENIABLE is an age-gap romance focusing on the ‘forbidden’ relationship between thirty-six year old Matt Hamilton, and eighteen year old Sophie Hawkins. Sophie Hawkins is Matt Hamilton’s daughter’s one-time best friend but separated by years and the loss of her parents, Sophie hasn’t seen Matt or Becky since childhood. A recent party where Sophie worked and served as part of the catering crew brought Sophie face to face with her teenaged fantasy, a fantasy that was about to come true. Enter Matt Hamilton, the man Sophie has fantasizesd about for most of her life. What ensues is the quick building and highly sexual relationship between Sophie and Matt, and the potential fall out when Matt re-introduces Sophie to his eighteen year old daughter.

Matt Hamilton never questioned his attraction to his daughter’s eighteen year old friend, a friend with whom he was about to profess his love, his desire and his need. A quick building, erotic relationship wherein our hero ‘teaches’ Sophie Hawkins what it is she has been missing all of her life.

UNDENIABLE is a Quick read; a fast paced, short story of insta-lust and love; a tale of erotica focusing on the sexual relationship between an older man, and a younger woman. The premise is engaging but reads like it was written by a first time author; the romance is provocative but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word; the characters are energetic -the heroine is innocent and naive; the hero is determined to claim Sophie as his own

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Unconventional
Unexpected
Unforgettable

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

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Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years, they’ve raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns or her new lighter side, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

Sign up today to receive her monthly newsletter  and /or text message alerts stay informed.

And if you’re new to ALEATHA, check out her FREE books.

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Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen – a Review

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Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen – a Review

 

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Description:
Mari Tucker is a wildlife biologist who scoops bunnies and endangered tortoises out of harm’s way on construction sites. Still haunted by her past, she takes the most remote jobs in the Mojave Desert to avoid people and hide from her ex. It’s a simple, quiet life filled with sweet animals and solar-powered baking until she ends up assigned to Jack Wyatt’s crew.

Construction foreman Jack Wyatt’s loud, foul-mouthed temper keeps even the most rugged of men on his crew in line. No mistake is overlooked, because out in the desert it could mean life or death. In his opinion, the job site is no place for sensitive biologists, especially one as shy as Mari. But instead of wilting from the heat and hard work, Mari wins over Jack and his crew one homemade brownie at a time.

Jack and Mari find a comfortable rhythm, building a friendship that’s rare for both of them. After Jack’s rocky childhood, they have more in common than they’d imagined. But even the Mojave sun can’t chase away the shadows when the past is determined to track them down…

 

 

Review:

Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen is a standalone romance novel.   We meet our heroine, Mari Tucker, at the start, as she is assigned to her next remote job.  Mari is a wildlife biologist, who enforces the rules on desert construction sites, to protect animals, such as tortoises, bunnies, etc.  Since other members of the bio team can’t stand the foreman of one of the sites, it is her turn to stay the week at Jack Wyatt’s construction site.  Mari feels she can handle it, as she knows about foul-mouthed men, especially her abusive ex.

Jack has a short and nasty temper when dealing with his crew, since he needs perfection, as his boss is always complaining and threatening his job.  He is equally temperamental to Mari, as she is always finding things he needs to avoid, especially the endangered animals.  This does cause delays which makes him even angrier.  Mari is good at her job, and manages to handle Jack and his crew.  In a short time, Jack and Mari will develop a friendship, which show they have more in common than either of them thought.  In the same motel, they meet to watch shows like HGTV, and at times Mari loves to cook for Jack.  Though they are an unlikely pair, each begins to see each other in another light and a slow build romance will start; and even on the site, Jack begins to understand what Mari sees with the animals and accepts the necessary changes.

They both have their own issues, and it was wonderful to watch them rise above them.  Mari was a wonderful heroine, who was also strong; especially trying get past her fears of her ex finding her, as well as learning to stand up for herself.  She was so instrumental on getting past Jack’s grumpy attitude, and bringing out a great guy, who finds love. Very well done.  

Breathe the Sky was a sweet slow built compassionate romance, that was sensual, and also covered other issues, such as threats from a terrible boss or abusive ex-husband; family childhood, etc.  It is a thought-provoking story, and a couple we found ourselves rooting hard for.  Breathe the Sky was very well written by Michelle Hazen.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Sentinel ( Shadowborn Rebellion #2) by Cyndi Friberg-a review

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SENTINEL (Shadowborn Rebellion #2) by Cyndi Friberg

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 18, 2020

Determined to spend some time alone with the feisty human he wants as his mate, Salvo Xett invites Natalie Marino to Ghost City. He’s afraid she will find the abject poverty shocking after the relative luxury of the other villages, but he must know her reaction before he claims her. Ghost City is his home. His mate must be able to see beyond the scorched ruins to the forgotten people desperately needing their help.

No sooner do Salvo and Natalie arrive in Ghost City than they are asked to rescue a kidnapped child. Their investigation takes them on an inadvertent tour through the seediest parts of town. Natalie is horrified yet filled with compassion and determination. Her intense attraction to Salvo might have brought her to Ghost City, but a burning need to help the “urbanites” convinces her to stay. Pleased by her reaction to the conflict, Salvo is even more convinced that he has found his soulmate and will stop at nothing to claim her as his own.

••••••

REVIEW: SENTINEL is the second instalment in Cyndi Friberg’s adult SHADOWBORN REBELLION erotic, sci-fi fantasy series- a spin off from the author’s Outcast series, which in turn is a spin-off from Battle born, which is a spin-off from the Shadow Assassins series ;). This is Sentinel Sarronti Salvo Xett, and human chef Natalie Marino’s story line. SENTINEL can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is a continuing premise throughout, and each additional story builds upon the one before.

SOME BACKGROUND: The humanoid aliens known as Rodytes needed a home and settled on two uninhabited planets but to their shock a race of elf-like creatures, known as the Sarronti, live underground away from the light. Without any available mates, the male only Rodytes sent teams of Outcasts to kidnap or persuade any and all human females from Earth in an attempt to repopulate and find mates for their struggling males but procreation came at a price including the need for genetically matched DNA, a mutual metamorphosis, and magical intervention. A test for compatibility is filed and there may be as many as five males matched to a single female DNA. Thirty percent of the females returned back to Earth, and the struggling males begin vying for the female’s affections. Outcasts are battle born-their mothers were Bilarrian prisoners forced to breed, with their Rodyte captors, in the hopes of restoring magic to the Rodyte people. To complicate matters, the planet they now inhabit hides a secret deep beneath the planet’s surface, an elven like being known as the Sarronti, who must live underground to avoid exposure to the sun’s damaging rays.

Told from several third person perspectives including Salvo and Natalie, SENTINEL follows several paths including the building relationship between Sentinel Salvo Xett, and human chef Natalie Marino, and the murderous attack in Ghost City. Ghost City is a city of mutants whose exposure to the sun’s dangerous rays has created an above world of creatures never to be accepted by ‘normal’ society (think Total Recall and the mutant inhabitants of Mars). On the hunt for a missing child, Natalie and Salvo will begin an investigation into a murder for hire where ‘weapons of unknown origin’ have wreaked havoc on their intended victims in an effort to confuse the people investigating the crime. A plot to kidnap Sarronti General Malik’s mate Kara, along with imprisonment of a powerful sorcerer by Sarronti rebels finds Salvo and Malik on the offensive when Natalie and Kara are used as bait to determine who is responsible for the prelude to war. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Natalie and Salvo, as our couple work behind the scenes in an effort to prevent further damage.

The relationship between Natalie and Salvo is one of immediate attraction. Salvo has wanted our heroine from the first time they met but Salvo believed that Natalie was attracted to someone else. In an effort to ‘get to know’ our heroine, Salvo invites Natalie to Ghost City wherein our couple will soon discover their mutual attraction leads to a bonding as mates. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

SENTINEL is a story of betrayal and vengeance; power and control; discrimination and rebellion. A ‘Total Recall’ esque world of mutants and orphans rejected by ‘normal’ society, SENTINEL reveals the heart breaking and painful discrimination, and segregation of those Sarronti mutated by radiation. The premise is intriguing and sensitive; the romance is fated and spicy; the characters are colorful, energetic, powerful but tragic. Saying that, the abrupt ending is a little disconcerting-a happily ever after –for now type scenario wherein nothing has yet to be revealed, divulged or clarified. And the cover…speechless~

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one SLAYER

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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DISORDERLY CONDUCT by Rebecca Zanetti-a review

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DISORDERLY CONDUCT (The Anna Albertini Files #1) by Rebecca Zanetti-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2020

Bullets and Kisses Can Burn

The last person Anna Albertini expects to see in an orange jumpsuit in District Court—a place she SO doesn’t belong as a new prosecuting attorney—is Aiden Devlin, the man who’d saved her life when they were kids. For years, she has dreamed about him. Now here he is—his eyes blue, his chest wide, and his hands in cuffs.

Sure, Aiden says he doesn’t want her help, and his ties to a deadly motorcycle club should give her warning. Yes, her new boss is a sexy Italian bad boy who might be using the case to climb to the top. Plus, the detective assigned to the case, with his green eyes and broad shoulders, wants her to stay out of his way.

With so much testosterone surrounding her all of a sudden, most women would find it hard to concentrate. This might be why the case leads Anna to yelp during a spa appointment, fall out of a tree, and chase a naked old man around the courtroom. It’s a good thing Anna learned a long time ago to be her own hero, no matter how fast the bullets fly or the kisses consume.

•••••••••

REVIEW: DISORDERLY CONDUCT is the first instalment in Rebecca Zanetti’s contemporary adult THE ANNA ALBERTINI FILES romantic, suspense series focusing on deputy prosecutor Anna Albertini.

Told from first person point of view (Anna Albertini) DISORDERLY CONDUCT follows deputy prosecutor Anna Albertini in the aftermath of a raid on the District Attorney’s office. With her boss suspected of drug trafficking, new DA Nick Basanelli takes over the existing cases, a DA who takes an interest in our story line heroine but to complicate matters, Aiden Devlin, the man who saved her life years before, has returned to Anna’s home town, a man who is currently starring in Anna’s fantasies and dreams, but a man directly connected to Anna’s former boss. As the investigation delves deeper into potential suspects, Anna continuously throws herself into the direct line of fire, opening up an investigation of her own, finding herself in opposition with Detective Pierce of the Timber City police, as she must come to terms with Aiden’s potential involvement. As the number of witnesses turn up missing or dead, Anna, Nick and Detective Pierce follow a trail of clues of potential betrayal.

Meanwhile, years before, our heroine was the victim of a kidnapping but her life was saved by Aiden Devlin. As the years go by, the man responsible continues to torment Anna Albertini, torment that has followed her home to Timber City.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT is a story of power, control, drug trade, betrayal, friendships, relationships, family and love. Anna Albertini is always in the wrong place at the right time, or the right place at the wrong times, and our heroine is a walking disaster as it pertains to her own safety and personal protection. Aiden has assigned himself guardian and protector, a job that even the local police struggle to perform.

As well, Anna Albertini is a woman who has attracted the attention of all three of our story line ‘heroes’: Aiden Devlin, DA Nick Basanelli, and Detective Pierce, and with each our heroine has acknowledged the attraction with the men, as well. I am not sure in which direction our heroine is heading, but Anna likes the bad boy who knows a thing or two about what Anna likes.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT follows several intersecting paths that culminate in the take down of the men responsible but not all is as it appears to be. The character driven premise is strong, imaginative and captivating ; the characters are colorful, energetic and edgy; there is definitely a hint of romance and attraction from numerous angles.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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