Monthly Archives: July 2021

RAINBOW (Ruthless Kings MC: Baton Rouge 1) by KL Savage-Tour

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RAINBOW (Ruthless Kings MC: Baton Rouge 1) by KL Savage-Review & Excerpt Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 20. 2021

The hotter the flame, the bigger the fire.

I’m a smokejumper.
I go where the flames take me.
And right now, it’s sending me from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.
Louisiana has called for a state of emergency because of a category five hurricane.
First responders from all over the country are coming to help.
It’s where I run into Ryan. A paramedic from Las Vegas.
He’s brave, smart, and gay.
I don’t have an issue with that.
And while I’m getting to know him, I start to battle a different kind of fire.
Our jobs are dangerous, and I don’t believe in waiting for the right time to get what I want.
I’ve never wanted a man.
But I want him.
There’s a problem. He has one rule.
He doesn’t do straight guys.
I’ll have to jump in the smoke and flames between us to show him I have no hesitation.
I’m a cowboy who loves the thrill of a wild ride.
But the storm? It’s far from over. Our lives are at stake.
I live my life to the fullest and I won’t die with regrets.
Ryan is the blaze I never want to fight.
If we go down, we will burn together.
Extinguishing us is not an option.
And my MC will have to get over it.

•••••••

REVIEW: RAINBOW is the first instalment in KL Savage’s contemporary, adult RUTHLESS KING MC: BATON ROUGE erotic, MM, LGBTQ, MC romance series- a spin off from the author’s RUTHLESS KINGS MC. This is thirty-two year old, Ruthless King member and fire jumper Nathan ‘Rainbow’ Kennedy, and paramedic Ryan Hathaway’s story line.

WARNING: Due to the graphic nature and extreme violence, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ryan and Nathan) RAINBOW follows the building romance and relationship between Ruthless King member and fire jumper Nathan ‘Rainbow’ Kennedy, and paramedic Ryan Hathaway. Fifteen years earlier Nathan, and his brother Greer lost their parents to a horrendous California wildfire, and in the ensuing time Nathan and Greer found a home with the Ruthless Kings MC in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fast forward to present day wherein, the arrival of a new paramedic stirs something deep within Nathan Kennedy, something he had never once considered or thought to explore. Enter Las Vegas paramedic Ryan Hathaway, and the man with whom Nathan will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Nathan and Ryan, and the potential fall-out as the MC is targeted, leaving a trail of broken and dead bodies in the wake.

Someone is targeting the Ruthless Kings MC: Baton Rouge since the arrival of Ryan Hathaway. Long time members have been brutally attacked, killed or come under suspicion for aggression and attempted take down of the young paramedic, and Rainbow is determined to destroy the monster attacking the people he loves.

The relationship between Ryan and Nathan is one of immediate attraction but until Ryan’s arrival, Nathan never considered himself gay, bi or pan. The Ruthless Kings MC: Baton Rouge is accepting of the sexual lifestyles of many of its’ members but someone within the ranks is taking aim at those who would otherwise partake of an alternative lifestyle. Ryan knows that to fall for Nathan means eventually leaving with a broken heart but Nathan is determined to proves Ryan is worthy of his love, even though somebody has targeted the Ruthless Kings MC. The M/M $ex scenes are erotic, intense and provocative.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters with the introduction of the Baton Rouge MC. As well as the MC, several members of the local fire department and fire jumpers are up front and center with our story line couple.

RAINBOW is a story of friendships, family, betrayal and loss. A heart breaking tale of discrimination and homophobia such that the acts of violence directed at several of the local MC is cruel, demeaning and tragic-RAINBOW is not a story of hearts and flowers, but a story of hatred and love, revenge and redemption. The premise is dramatic, dark, gritty, and tragic; the romance is edgy ; the characters are determined, inspiring, animated and passionate.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

How the hell do I get myself in these situations? Out of all the jobs as a paramedic, I find myself constantly in front of biker gangs more than regular patients. I mean, I leave Vegas and come to Baton Rouge to do a favor for my boss and end up in Ruthless Kings territory, again? Do they multiply when I blink or something?
Should have told my boss that I wouldn’t swing by his old stomping ground to help cover a staffing shortage his friend was experiencing. It seemed convenient. Stay in Baton Rouge until the storm passes, then head down to the coast where they’ll need me most.
Now I’m here, and I can’t tell if the biker looking at me wants to eat me, fuck me, or kill me.
“For a little guy, you sure know your way around bone,” Butcher grunts.
“For a guy named Butcher, you sure do complain a lot.” I press the fresh bandage against his thigh, maybe a little harder than necessary, and he growls at me.
I always liked riling up a guy bigger than me. I don’t know why. I know I don’t have a death wish, but it’s fun, and usually, bigger guys won’t pick on me. I’m sure my luck will run out soon, but until then, I’m going to poke every single bear.
And giggle as I run away.
“Okay. I’ll just say it was an accident and that no one got shot, or we’d have to report it to the police, and I don’t feel like staying here longer than necessary. Not that your hospitality isn’t… wonderful,” I add, only to sound more like a jerk.
The big guy, the one that wears the patch that says Prez, laughs as he strokes his chin with his fingers. “You’re welcome back anytime, Ryan. We appreciate your willingness to… cooperate.” He reaches into his cut pocket—I learned they weren’t vests after being corrected a few years ago—and pulls out a stack of money.
Here’s the thing about bricks of cash like this: it’s most likely illegal money. Maybe it’s drug money or blood money, but honestly? I don’t really care. I have student loan debt to pay.
I pluck the cash out of his hand and tuck it into my paramedic bag. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.” I give them a mock salute and swallow down my nerves as I wade through the very large bodies covered in leather.
Now that I’m looking at them, I can’t help but wonder if they’re going to let me leave. Maybe I’ll get lucky. Perhaps they’ll want to take turns with my body and ravish me. I might be a smart man, but I’m still a man, and somehow these bikers get better looking with each state I end up in.
Ah, a man can dream, can’t he?
Lye, according to his patch on his vest—I mean, cut—opens the door for me.
Once I’m outside, I take a deep breath and don’t bother looking back. Of course, the quicker I get out of here, the better.
“Hey!”
A deep voice with a twangy edge has me freezing mid-step next to the rig, and I try not to panic. Did one of the guys see me check them out? I didn’t. I think I kept my eyes to myself. I thrust my shoulders back and open the doors to the rig to toss the medical bag inside. I close the left side and see the most handsome man I’ve seen in my entire life. I suck in a breath—no—he stole my ability to breathe, looking as good as he does.

K.L. Savage decided they were tired of looking for the kind of books they wanted to read. They had an itch that needed to be scratched, and as every girl knows, nothing scratches better than an alpha.

They write about gritty, alpha males, sometimes their dark sides, and the women they love.
If you have the same itch, their alpha males should fix that.

Newsletter + FREE book: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wvr02b395h
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Website: http://www.klsavage.com
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Totally Folked (Good Folk 1) by Penny Reid -Review Tour

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Totally Folked (Good Folk: Modern Fairytales 1) by Penny Reid-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 20, 201

One unforgettable night leads to an unlikely shared connection, and unlikely connections never go unnoticed by the good folks in Green Valley, Tennessee…

Jackson James follows the rules. He has to. He’s a sheriff’s deputy in a super small town with a super big personality. However, strict adherence to the law during the day has been enjoyably balanced by rakish rules at night. Jackson, typically happy to protect and serve (and serve, and serve), starts questioning the value of wayward evenings when getting laid starts to feel more like being waylaid. Could it be that Green Valley’s most eligible—and notorious—bachelor longs for something (and someone) real?

Mega movie star Raquel Ezra follows only one rule: always leave them wanting more. Studio execs, reporters, audiences, fans, lovers—no one can get enough of the smart, savvy, and sexy bombshell. But when “generous offers” begin to feel more like excessive demands, years of always leaving has the elusive starlet longing for something (and perhaps someone) lasting.

When Raquel abruptly returns to the quirky Tennessee hamlet, her path crosses with the delectable deputy with whom she spent one unforgettable night. Unfortunately, scandal and intrigue soon follow. Raquel and Jackson must decide which is more important: following their rules? Or, at long last, finding something real.

••••••••••

REVIEW:TOTALLY FOLKED is the first instalment in Penny Reid’s contemporary, adult GOOD FOLK: MODERN FOLKTALES erotic, romance series – a spin off from the author’s WINSTON BROTHERS and KNITTING IN THE CITY series. This is thirty-one year old, deputy sheriff Jackson James, and twenty-eight year old, Hollywood actress Raquel Ezra’s story line. You do not have to have read the original series to understand or follow the current time line.

NOTE: There is a FREE prequel (prologue) novella JUST FOLKING AROUND (see below), that may or may not be included in the new release.

Told from dual first person perspectives ( Jackson and Raquel) TOTALLY FOLKED advances the timeline approximately five years wherein Hollywood superstar Raquel Ezra needs some time alone and lands in Green Valley, Tennessee, to visit her friend Sienna Diaz Winston, where she will come face to face with the man that she can never forget. Five years earlier, an almost one night stand between Raquel and Jackson at Sienna and Jethro’s wedding ended when Raquel ghosted our story line hero. Fast forward to present day, and Raquel, hoping to catch up with our story line hero discovers that he may not feel the same about their time together. What ensues is the back and forth, rebuilding romance and relationship between Raquel and Jackson, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes to a close.

TOTALLY FOLKED is a detailed story line ala ‘Gift of the Magi’ that follows the struggling relationship between our story line couple. Jackson James is a deputy sheriff who claims to only want friendship, and is determined to keep our heroine in the friendship zone but their sexual attraction is palpable and unmistakable to everyone including our story line couple but Jackson refuses to cross the line much to Raquel’s disappointment and heart break. Raquel doesn’t have ‘family’ and considers Sienna and the Winstons part of her crew. Meeting and falling for Jackson James gives our heroine hope for the future but Hollywood is fickle, and the fall-out and secrets are about to land in Green Valley, Tennessee.

The slow building relationship between Jackson and Raquel is one of immediate attraction but an almost one-night stand sees more than five years without contact or communication. Raquel’s return to Green Valley is to consider all of her options going forward, including the man with whom she will fall in love but secrets and lies are about to be exposed, and both Raquel and Jackson have some ‘splaining’ to do. As Jackson continues to keep his distance, with a hands off policy, a case of miscommunication finds our couple at odds going forward as both struggles with issues of low self esteem, and fear of objectification. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate and steamy, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several of the Winston brothers and their significant others. We are introduced to Jackson’s parents Sheriff Jeffrey and Janet James, and his ex Charlotte Mitchell; Raquel’s Hollywood IT-boy Harrison Kent, and her security team Dave and Miguel. There may be something developing between Dave and Charlotte.

TOTALLY FOLKED is an emotional, intricate and sometimes frustrating story line-will he or won’t he? does he or doesn’t he? friendship or love? stay or go !! ? The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is a slow burn seduction of want and need; the characters are energetic and animated although Jackson continued to struggle (withdraw) throughout most of the story. A fantastic introduction to Penny Reid’s new spin off series set in the Winston Brothers’ world.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

________

JUST FOLKING AROUND
Good Folk: Modern Fairytales .5
by Penny Reid
Release Date: June 23, 2021

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

One night? No strings? A sexy game of chess? No problem.

If you’ve never read a Penny Reid book before, this is the place to start! An all new series starter snack from the author of the WINSTON BROTHERS and KNITTING IN THE CITY series. . .

Raquel Ezra loves to fish. With so many fish in the sea, she’s never had a problem baiting the hook or reeling them in. Raquel is a good actress, she can be anyone’s fantasy for a single night as long as they agree to be hers. Which is why she doesn’t think twice about spending an evening in nowhere Tennessee with a smokin’ hot, well-mannered, and intriguing sheriff’s deputy by the name of Jackson James.

Except, when the time comes, Raquel discovers that reality might just be better than any fantasy, and maybe she’s not ready to release this catch.

JUST FOLKING AROUND is a 16k words, contemporary romance, a complete standalone, and is the prequel to TOTALLY FOLKED, book #1 in the Good Folk: Modern Folktales series.

•••••••

REVIEW:JUST FOLKING AROUND is the introductory novella in Penny Reid’s contemporary adult GOOD FOLK: MODERN FOLKTALES erotic, romance series-a spin off from the author’s Winston Brothers series. This is twenty-six year old, deputy sheriff Jackson James, and twenty-three year old, Hollywood starlet Raquel Ezra’s story line.

NOTE: JUST FOLKING AROUND may be included as the prequel in book one TOTALLY FOLKED, and is set five and half years earlier.

Told from first person perspective (Raquel) JUST FOLKING AROUND follows Raquel Ezra, at a friend’s wedding, where she will meet Deputy Sheriff Jackson James, a Tennessee native who stirs something deep within our story line heroine. Only in town for one night, Raquel agrees to an evening with our story line hero, an almost one-night stand that ends with Raquel heading back to a life far from nowhere Tennessee.

JUST FOLKING AROUND is a quick read that covers but a few hours in the life; a hot and sassy introduction that leaves our heroine wanting more from Jackson James, a man who knows a thing or two about making a woman scream.

Own a copy

Reviewed by Sandy

Penny Reid is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Please feel free to drop her a line. She’d be happy to hijack your thoughts! You can find her on her blog or email her: pennreid at gmail dot com

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Isn’t it Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams – Review & Giveaway

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Isn’t it Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
With his passion for romance novels, it was only a matter of time before Vlad wrote one.

Elena Konnikova has lived her entire adult life in the shadows. As the daughter of a Russian journalist who mysteriously disappeared, she escaped danger the only way she knew how: She married her childhood friend, Vladimir, and moved to the United States, where he is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

Vlad, aka the Russian, thought he could be content with his marriage of convenience. But it’s become too difficult to continue in a one-sided relationship. He joined the Bromance Book Club to learn how to make his wife love him, but all he’s learned is that he deserves more. He’s ready to create his own sweeping romance—both on and off the page.

The bros are unwilling to let Vlad forgo true love—and this time they’re not operating solo. They join forces with Vlad’s neighbors, a group of meddling widows who call themselves the Loners. But just when things finally look promising, Elena’s past life intrudes and their happily ever after is cast into doubt.

 

 

Review:

Isn’t It Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams is the 4th book in her Bromance Book Club series.  Having enjoyed the first three books in this series, I looked forward to reading Isn’t It Bromantic and happy to say it was equally as good.  This is a fun romantic series that centers around a male book club group, most being athletes, and how they read and discuss romance novels to help teach each other how to handle women with care and love.

Vlad (aka the Russian) takes center stage in this book. He is a famous professional hockey player, who was well loved by his friends, neighbors and animals.  We got to see him in earlier books as having major stomach issues, but now he is on a gluten free diet, and things have gotten better.  But Vlad is still very much in love with his wife, Elena, but their marriage is on the rocks, as she is never home, at school to learn to be a journalist; both being stubborn thinking neither of them love each other.

Things will change when Vlad suffers a serious injury playing hockey, and his concern that he will never be able to play again.  Elena, who was making plans to go back to Russia, decides she owes Vlad for all the things he has done for her, to pay for everything, and takes over nursing him back to health.  Will this save their marriage?

I did like both Vlad and Elena, but found them both equally annoyingly stubborn, with both having so many misunderstandings and communications that constantly stop them from realizing that they both are very much in love with each other. 

Elena took over full control of nursing Vlad, giving her the chance to meet all the boys from the book club, as well as neighbors, which in time, the boys will push Vlad to learn how to open up more towards Elena, and the girls becoming closer to her, also pushing her to see how much he truly loves her.  This was the fun part, as both groups were truly hilarious.  I even got a kick out the neighbor dog or cat who was always at the house, and the chicken.  The Cheese Man was a riot, and wild fun.

What follows is a fun story, especially with the guys and girl groups trying to help, and the hilarious situations they find themselves in.  Lots of fun.  Vlad was in the process of writing a romance novel, which when the boys discover, they push themselves to help him use the book to learn how to treat Elena.  Elena also had her own secret of investigating the disappearance of her journalist father years before, which also puts her in danger.

Isn’t It Bromantic was another humorous fun story line, with a fantastic group of alpha men and female neighbors that had me laughing throughout.  Lyssa Kay Adams did a wonderful job writing this fun story, which you need to read.  I know I will be waiting for the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of ISN’T IT BROMANTIC? to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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9. Giveaway runs from July 21 – 25, 2021

 

 

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Inked Obsession (Montgomery Ink) by Carrie Ann Ryan-Review Tour

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Inked Obsession (Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins 2) by Carrie Ann Ryan-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 20, 2021

When men in uniform showed up on Eliza Wilder-Strong’s doorstep, she knew her life would be irrevocably altered. She not only lost her husband, but the future she’d carefully planned. A year later, she’s looking to start over—beginning with a solo healing vacation. Only she never expects to see a familiar, tempting face along the way.

Beckett Montgomery refuses to want his little sister’s best friend—especially because she’s a widow. Yet there’s no stopping the connection between them. As the temptation to give in intensifies between them, so do the reasons they shouldn’t stay together.

Painful ghosts from both of their pasts stand in their way and sometimes it’s the living that can haunt you when you’re not looking.

••••••••

REVIEW:The Montgomery’s of Fort Collins are back, and this time C.A.R has gifted us with Beckett’s story. A word of warning to readers, this book takes twist that you will not see coming, but it’s so worth the read!

Beckett has demons, ones that he’s having a very hard time dealing with. A secret from an event that happened, that no matter how he tries, he just can’t let go of. Enter in Eliza. Her life too just took a hard 180 to what she had planned. Her husband is gone, her life gone amuck and now she must learn the role as widow. There is so much to unpack with this book, and I’m not sure were to start. Eliza slowly starts to put her life back together after the loss of her husband from the military, then to again have it flipped right on it’s head again. The poor woman can’t seem to get on stable ground for some time.

Beckett and Eliza are thrown together time and again, their chemistry mounts, but no matter how ready she thinks she is to move on, life is reminding her that nothing is ever easy. My most favorite things about these two is that they started off as friends, then as things moved forward their chemistry growing, their relationship moved to the next level. Beckett and Eliza are thrown together when both their lives are for a lack of better term “hitting the fan” but they need each other to make things right, to give each other the courage to face what they need to.

I freaking love this series! I get giddy every time I pick up a new book but finishing this one gave me the best find of shivers. A pulse pounding, page turning, can’t wait to see what happens next book that if you don’t already have on your TBR you better now! Way to go C.A.R, your mind is a wonderland that I will happily subscribe to.

Click HERE for Sarah’s review of book one INKED PERSUASION

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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Last Guard by Nalini Singh – Review & Giveaway

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Last Guard by Nalini Singh – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Termed merciless by some, and a robotic sociopath by others, Payal Rao is the perfect Psy: cardinal telekinetic, CEO of a major conglomerate, beautiful—and emotionless.

For Canto Mercant, family and loyalty are everything. A cardinal telepath deemed “imperfect” by his race due to a spinal injury, Canto cares for the opinions of very few—and ruthlessly protects those he claims as his own. Head of intel of the influential Mercant family, he prefers to remain a shadow in the Net, unknown and unseen. But Canto is also an Anchor, part of a secretive designation whose task it is to stabilize the PsyNet. Now that critical psychic network is dying, threatening to collapse and kill the entire Psy race with it.

To save those he loves, Canto needs the help of a woman bound to him by a dark past neither has been able to forget. A woman who is the most powerful Anchor of them all: Payal Rao. Neither is ready for the violent inferno about to ignite in the PsyNet…or the passionate madness that threatens to destroy them both.

 

 

Review:

Last Guard by Nalini Singh is the 5th book in her wonderful Psy-Changeling Trinity series.  I have noted many times that Nalini Singh is one of my must read go to authors.  I love both of her Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series.  Nalini never fails to give us a fantastic story, fabulous couple, as well as great secondary characters. No one does world building so smoothly and flawlessly better than Nalini Singh.

Payal Rao, our heroine, is the CEO of the Rao family. Payal is considered cold, merciless and ruthless; she is a powerful cardinal telekinetic, as well as a strong Psy.  What most people do not know is that Payal is also a secret unknown designation A (Anchor).

Canto Mercant, our hero, is a cardinal telepath, and is the head of intel for the Mercant family.  Canto suffered a serious injury when he was a child, and because of that, he is wheelchair bound, unable to feel his legs.  But that does not stop him, as he is powerful member of the family, as well as also being an Anchor.  Canto has noticed on the PsyNet things coming apart, and researches all the unknown A’s, and begins to bring the Anchors together to help the coalition fix the PsyNet before it falls apart; the coalition does not even know anything about the Anchors, which will change.

Canto contacts Payal, and when she agrees to meet him, to his shock, she is the young girl who saved his life all those years ago; he has been looking for her for many years.  They are both damaged, having been sent to a place that almost killed them, but now they have risen above the trauma times, and together they will rise to bring the Anchors forward to try and save the PsyNet.  The chemistry between Payal and Canto was fantastic, and I loved how slowly Canto, gets Payal to open herself to feelings and love; and a unique bond made them that much more powerful. They were a phenomenal couple.  

Though her background is known to be dangerous and ruthless, it was fun to watch Canto bring Payal to meet his grandmother, who is also dangerous and ruthless.  Almost immediately, the grandmother sees that Payal is powerful, but the love she has for Canto is very apparent, and Payal in time will become  part of the strong Mercant family.  Canto comes from a strong family, but a loving one; whereas Payal family is dysfunctional, with her father being the head and manipulative, and her brother a dangerous evil sociopath.
 
What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing and action-packed story that kept me glued to my kindle, unable to put the book down. Last Guard was also a fantastic, as well as emotional love story of two damaged people, with a bond that will continue to grow, bringing them totally together.  I loved Payal and Canto together, as they sizzled throughout the pages, as well as being powerful Anchors to help find a way to save the PsyNet.  I also loved seeing many of our previous heroes, such as Kaleb, Nikita, Aden, Ivy, Anthony, Silver, Valentine, etc.  Last Guard leaves off with the continued threat of an unknown enemy, who is planning on destroying the Psy/Net. 

Last Guard was so very well written by Nalini Singh, which has always been the norm. She never fails to captivate me with her engaging creative stories, fantastic plots, and seamless world building; wonderful couples in each and every story; super secondary characters and fantastic world-building.   I loved every moment of Last Guard.  As I have noted many times, if you have not read Nalini Singh, you are missing such a gem of an author.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Nalini’s publisher is offering Hardcover copy of LAST GUARD to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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Merciless Union (Blood & Thorns 2) by Faith Summers-Review Tour

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Merciless Union (Blood & Thorns DUET 2) by Faith Summers-Review & Excerpt Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 19, 2021.

Everything changed overnight.
Truth became my enemy, and the sting of betrayal dragged me into a web of lies.
I’m damned if I fight to live and damned if I die.
Both will be dangerous for the child growing inside me.
I can’t trust Lucca to save us.
Love is a myth we shouldn’t have explored.
He was always my enemy.
Love just made me forget and blinded me to the truth.
The cruel hand of death is the only answer when doom takes over.
I don’t know if I’ll survive, or if death will bury me along with the sins of the past.

••••••••

REVIEW:MERCILESS UNION is the second and final instalment in Faith Summers’ (aka Khardine Gray) contemporary, adult BLOOD AND THORNS dark, erotic, Mafia, romance duet focusing on soon to be twenty-five year old Italian Mafia princess Aria De Marchi, and twenty-eight year old, Bratva assassin Lucca Dyshekov. MERCILESS UNION should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the cliff-hanger of book one MERCILESS VOWS.

WARNING: Due to the graphic nature of the story line premise and content, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

NOTE: If you have not read book one, there may be spoilers in my review.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Aria and Lucca) MERCILESS UNION picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of book one MERCILESS VOWS. Lucca Dyshekov’s compound came under attack leaving Lucca fighting for his life, and Aria a captive of the men in charge. Struggling to survive but barely holding on, Aria battles between head and heart as secrets from the past begin to reveal betrayal at every level including from the man with whom she is falling in love. As Lucca makes plans to rescue his wife, he will discover that the deception and dishonesty knows no boundaries, as most of his life has been predicated upon a lie. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Lucca and Aria, and the potential fall-out a our couple find themselves in the direct line of fire, without the ability to trust anyone including those once thought to be family and friends.

MERCILESS UNION, like Merciless Vows, is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and revenge, power, control, greed and obsession, hopelessness and love. Faith Summers pulls the reader into a dark, gritty, raw and untamed world of organized crime-the greed and fight for power; the sickness of some people as they fight their way to the top. The premise is edgy, startling, dramatic and intense; the romance struggles in the face of secrets and lies; the characters are passionate, heart breaking, broken yet strong.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one MERCILESS VOWS

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed By Sandy

 

 

I can’t stop moving. Lucca was shot. My heart tumbles in my chest with panic and desperation with every hurried step I take.
“It’s not what you think,” someone who sounds like Jon, Lucca’s best friend, answers. “I’m so sorry, Lucca. You were like a brother to me, but you dug too deep.”
Marylin and I stop short when we see Lucca lying on the ground with blood pouring from his stomach. That’s bad enough. However, the sight of Jon standing over him with his gun aimed at him in one hand and a metal bar in the other makes my blood boil. That answers the question of how the men got on the grounds.
“Lucca!” I scream, and my eyes lock with his silver ones.
In that split second, as I look at him, memory hits me as clear as the image of him lying before me.
I remember the day I first met him. It was at music class. I heard him playing the piano. I was seven, and he was ten. He was playing that song that unlocked my heart.
Clair de Lune.
He offered to help me with my piano lessons so my mother would allow me to play the violin.
That was the moment we began. That was the beginning of our unexpected journey and an unexpected friendship that has lasted my whole life, even though he might not have always been with me. My accident might have robbed me of memories of the magic we shared, but I feel it.
That’s the first memory I’ve had of my childhood that wasn’t locked in a dream.
As the horror hits me that I’m watching him die, I try to get to him. Marylin holds me back, but I try to get away so I can save him.
“No, Aria, we have to get out,” Marylin urges.
“Lucca!” I wail.
“Go!” Lucca shouts to me, and his eyes roll back in his head.


 

Faith Summers is the Dark Contemporary Romance pen name of USA Today Bestselling Author, Khardine Gray.

Warning !! Expect wild romance stories of the scorching hot variety and deliciously dark romance with the kind of alpha male bad boys best reserved for your fantasies.

Dive in and enjoy her naughty page-turners.

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You’re Still the One (Calamity Falls) by Erika Kelly-Review Tour

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You’re Still the One (Calamity Falls 9) by Erika Kelly-Review & Giveaway Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 8, 2021

motorcycle-riding hero
✔️ Sexy wedding planner with a whole lot of explaining to do
✔️Steamy, small town romance
✔️Second chance romance
✔️And lots and lots of make-up sex

When Stella Cavanaugh gets the chance to come home after a seven-year, self-imposed exile, she takes it. She was born to be a wedding planner, and she hopes creating her sister’s wedding might just earn her the redemption she’s been hoping for.

The only thing holding her back is the fear of running into Griffin James, the love of her life. Because she not only hurt her family, she destroyed their relationship. Burned it right to the ground. And she just doesn’t know if she can bear to find out he’s moved on. She sure hasn’t.

Griffin James has a roommate. The fourteen-year-old’s staying with him while his dad’s on deployment. Sounds simple, but the boy’s grandparents are looking for any excuse to pull him out of the clutches of the big, tattooed owner of a bike shop. If Griffin can just stay under their radar, everything should be fine.

But that’s just not possible when Stella bursts into their lives. Her sparkly spirit, her big, splashy ideas, and her impulsiveness always lead to disaster. He knew that…but he couldn’t resist her.

And now she’s on the run again, because…

The very things they love about each other are also what tear them apart.

•••••••

REVIEW:YOU’RE STILL THE ONE is the tenth instalment in Erika Kelly’s contemporary, adult CALAMITY FALLS erotic, romance series focusing on the people of Calamity Falls. This is twenty-five year old, wedding planner Stella Cavanaugh, and mechanic/motorcycle detailer Griffin James’ story line. YOU’RE STILL THE ONE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Stella and Griffin) YOU’RE STILL THE ONE follows the rebuilding romance and relationship between twenty-five year old, wedding planner Stella Cavanaugh, and mechanic/motorcycle detailer Griffin James. Seven years earlier Stella and Griffin’s life imploded when Stella, acting before she thought, destroyed her sister’s trust and faith, and lost the only man she would ever love. Running to places unknown, Stella would settle in New York City where she would eventually find herself working as an event planner. Fast forward to present day wherein, having not spoken to her family in close to seven years, our heroine finds herself back in Calamity Falls, where everything fell apart years before. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Griffin and Stella, and the potential fall out as Stella’s inability to think first, may have cost Griffin everything and more.

Stella’s return to Calamity Falls is about to take a turn she never saw coming. Griffin is looking after his best friend’s fourteen year old son Austin, but the young man’s grandparents are demanding more than Griffin will allow. In an effort to protect the man that she has never stopped loving, Stella surprises everyone with a ‘fake’ engagement announcement, placing herself in the direct line of fire with the man who could destroy her heart. Griffin James never stopped loving Stella Cavanaugh but betrayal came at a cost. Hoping to beg forgiveness from the woman he loved, Griffin discovered Stella had moved on, leaving everything and everyone behind in Calamity Falls.

The relationship between Stella and Griffin is a second chance romance; a fake engagement that threatens Stella’s return to her home town, and the forgiveness of the people she left behind. Stella had yet to reveal to her family that she was back in Calamity Falls, and the within minutes of arrival she had already embarked on a plan of secrets and lies that would surely scream more betrayal at the cost of their love. Griffin wanted nothing more than to forgive the woman that called to his heart but issues of trust meant Griffin struggled with what happened and why. Rekindling his relationship with our story line heroine mean changing his direction in life, a life that now involved a fourteen year old boy. 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, energetic and familiar characters including Stella’s sisters Coco, Lulu and Gigi; their parents; Austin and his father Peyton, and Austin’s grandparents Judge Leonard and Mrs. Pilson, as well as several previous story line characters.

YOU’RE STILL THE ONE is a story of betrayal, secrets, lies and forgiveness; trust and acceptance; romance and love. The premise is emotional, heart warming and real; the romance is seductive ; the characters are sassy, edgy and inspiring.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Award-winning author Erika Kelly has been spinning romantic tales all her life–she just didn’t know it. Raised on the classics, she didn’t discover romantic fiction until later in life. From that moment on, she’s been devouring the genre and has found her true voice as an author. Over three decades she’s written poems, screenplays, plays, short stories, and all kinds of women’s fiction novels. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she’s lived in two countries and seven states, but give her pen and paper, a stack of good books, and a steaming mug of vanilla chai latte and she can make her home anywhere.

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter Signup ** Erika Kelly Goodreads

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

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Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World #9 by Dianna Love

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Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World #9 by Dianna Love

 

 

 

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

 

Description:
The final book in New York Times Bestseller Dianna Love’s explosive Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador™ World series is a thrilling rollercoaster ride to an unexpected ending.

Daegan is given an unconscionable task to execute before he’ll be told how to find the last grimoire volume. Casidhe jumps at learning the truth of her bloodline only to discover a deadly surprise. While running solo, Reese angers the Imortik master who sends two possessed Beladors to drag her to him. Human military lock on Evalle and her Belador team racing to stop preternatural threats. With one last hope of surviving, Cathbad goes all in and encounters a battle he never planned on. The Imortik master escalates his plans sooner than anyone expected.

Everything comes down to this moment and Daegan is not ready.

 

 

Review:

Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World by Dianna Love is the 9th and final book in this arc.  I have to say that this book was the best one yet, and I loved everything about it. It was simply great, forcing me to finish it in one day. Well done, Dianna.

Refresher: Daegan and his team are attacked by Immortiks, who were supposed dead many years ago. They are racing against time to find the missing ‘grimoire volumes, before the Immortiks are all released to take over and destroy the world. Daegan and his team are all involved in various dangerous situations along the way.

Daegan and Casidhe are now together and bonded, but both are still stubborn when not wanting either of them to be in danger.  Casidhe learns who and where she came from, and we get to see what she can do.  Casidhe later finds that she has some amazing powerful abilities, which will also enable her to shift into something very unique, and help battle the enemies with Daegan and Tristan.   They did turn out to be a great couple, as they are wild and crazy about each other; it was nice to see them totally trust each other. 

Reese, very much pregnant, has an immortik invading her body, and Quinn is having a hard time trying to protect her, as everyone (including Reese)  are trying to keep him away from her, since the Immortik is too dangerous should it invade Quinn.    With Quinn only concentrating on Reese and their unborn child, Daegan makes Evalle the new maister, and she organizes all the Beladors to come forward to help save some of their own, as well as find a way to stop the Immortiks.  Isak has been helpful attacking the Immortiks, as he worries about Adrianna, who is slowly recovering.

Daegan gets a surprise visitor (Brynhild), who will join hands with him to fight against the Immortiks, as she now knows that Daegan was innocent all those years ago. As we knew in the last few books, Queen Maeve was the one who faked the Red Dragon at the Dragoni War.  There are a number of shocking surprises, that come forth to help Daegan; and some evil ones who need to die.

Cathbad, who is truly bad, is determined to kill Queen Maeve, so that he can take over Taur Medb, as well as regenerate his powers; he tried to use Macha, as well as Maeve, but hopefully justice comes to him.     

The last half of the book was extremely tense and exciting, with so many twists and surprises.  This final book was an edge of your seat suspenseful story, that had me unable to put the book down; I needed to know what will happen next.  I do not want to tell too much more, as you need to read this book to see how it all ends; not to mention who survives and who doesn’t. Dianna Love outdid herself with this fantastic finale. I think I might have to read the last half again.  Very well done.  I am very happy and satisfied with this wonderful conclusion.  If you love paranormal, urban fantasy, suspense, romance, wonderful characters, then you should be reading Dianna Love.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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