Monthly Archives: September 2021

Unleashed by Her Bear by Felicity Heaton -a review

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Unleashed by Her Bear (Black Ridge Bears 4) by Felicity Heaton-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 21, 2021

Bear shifter Rune hates wolf shifters. Wolves and the hunter organisation Archangel have taken too much from him and the only good wolf is a dead wolf… so when a howl goes up in Black Ridge territory, Rune is out for blood. Only he’s not prepared for the sleek, beautiful and fiery female he finds trapped in a hunter’s snare… or the shadow of his past she has on her tail.

On the run from a pack leader determined to enslave her, Callie is desperate to reach the sanctuary of the White Wolf pack. When she finds herself caught in a trap, things look as if they can’t get any worse… until a mountain of a man emerges from the night, an ice-cold bear who is equal parts alluring and terrifying, and might just be the key to securing her freedom.

Can Callie crack the ice around Rune’s heart and convince him to help her? And when the price of his revenge is risking getting another female killed, will Rune be willing to pay it?

•••••

REVIEW: UNLEASHED BY HER BEAR is the fourth instalment in Felicity Heaton’s contemporary, adult BLACK RIDGE BEARS paranormal romance series. This is bear shifter Rune, and wolf shifter Callie’s story line. UNLEASHED BY HER BEAR 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 (Rune and Callie) UNLEASHED BY HER BEAR follows our heroine Callie, on the run. Trapped and injured Callie will be rescued by a beast of a man whose hatred for wolf shifters runs dark and deep. Trying to escape from a life of abuse, Callie believes she may have run from the frying pan into the fire but desperate times force Callie under the protection of our story line hero. Needing to get to the White Wolf Pack, lone wolf Callie, finds herself surrounded by bears, bears who are reluctant to leave Rune with the injured wolf. Once again, on the move, Rune and Callie must fight off a marauding pack of wolves, wolves determined to take back our story line heroine. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Rune and Callie, and the potential fall-out as Callie’s time with Rune comes to a close.

Callie is a woman on the run, who struggles to trust her would be rescuer then again, Rune hasn’t come across as friendly from the outset. Rune’s past has forced him to hate the wolf shifters, and with it any wolf shifter that crosses his path. Callie suspects that Rune is her fated mate but knows her only chance at survival is to seek refuge and shelter with the White Wolf Pack. As our couple head towards the end of their journey emotions and fate push the shifters together. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Rune’s ‘brothers’ Knox, Saint, Maverick and Lowe, as well as the White Wolf Alpha Rourke, and wolf shifter Carrigan. There is limited interaction between our leads and the supporting characters as most of the story line focuses on getting our heroine to safety.

UNLEASHED BY HER BEAR is another quick read; a story of power and abuse, family and relationships, vengeance and fate. The fast paced premise is edgy and tragic; the romance is intimate; the characters are angry, desperate, and tormented.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Stolen By Her Bear
Rescued by Her Bear
Saved by Her Bear

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling London Vampires series. Seven sexy and sinful Greek god brothers can be your new addiction in the Guardians of Hades series. Or how about four hot alpha shifter brothers in her Cougar Creek Mates series? Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM

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Serve ‘N’ Protect by Tee O’Fallon – a Review

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Serve ‘N’ Protect by Tee O’Fallon – a Review

 

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Description:
Ambushed and left for dead, U.S. Secret Service K-9 Officer Markus York is on the mend and laying low in a safe house while his team tracks down his attacker. But Markus isn’t good at sitting still. Even with his K-9, Ghost, for company, he gets restless and decides now is the perfect time to do some repairs around the house…and inadvertently tears open his wounds.

Fresh out of a bad relationship that ended after a car accident left her with limited mobility, freelance accountant Cassidy Morgan has sworn off men. At least, that’s the plan. Until a frantically barking dog leads her to a neighbor’s house where she finds a mysterious man out cold and bleeding on the floor…and mumbling things like “no, they’ll find me” when she tries to call an ambulance.

Yeah, that’s not at all concerning.

Despite Markus’s surly attitude, Cassidy senses there’s something else at work beneath his rugged, keep-your-distance exterior. Whatever it is, it’s sexy as hell.

With someone still trying to kill him, Markus doesn’t want an innocent to get hurt, let alone take care of him.

If only his dog wasn’t crazy in love with her.

If only the chemistry between Markus and Cassidy didn’t explode whenever they were in the same room.

If only Cassidy wasn’t a target now, too.

 

 

Review:

Serve ‘N’ Protect begins with Cassidy Morgan decorating her home for Christmas and thinking she may have gone a smidge overboard.  She had always loved Christmas and this one would be different for so many reasons.  Lucky to be alive after a horrific accident, she has fought to put her life back together again, both personally and professionally.  As she sat working on her laptop, she heard a continuous barking outside and found a beautiful dog outside that kept running towards her neighbor’s home.  When she saw that a window had been broken, she grabbed her phone and followed the dog.

Cassidy knew her neighbor was out of the country, so when the dog was “insisting” that she go inside, she used the hidden key to see what was going on inside that had the dog so upset.  That’s when she found a man, who was not her neighbor, laying on the floor next to a ladder.

Markus York, and his K-9, Ghost, had come to his friend’s house to recoup after being ambushed and left for dead.  He was supposed to be taking it easy, so how hard could it be to change a lightbulb?  The next thing he knew, a strange woman was pulling out her phone while talking to herself and Ghost saying she was calling 911, which was the last thing that needed to happen.  Once Cassidy made him a believer that he was either going in her car or an ambulance to the emergency room, he relented and let her help him to her car.  He knew he was supposed to lay low until they figured out who had tried to kill him, but he also couldn’t bleed out while waiting.

Once Markus was attended to at the emergency room, someone took a shot at them in the parking lot.  He called the police, anonymously, to report what had happened and went back to his friend’s house.  Eventually, his commanding officer and friends (also in law enforcement) make it there and Cassidy is offered the job of taking care of Markus to make sure he doesn’t overdo anything.  Not only does she need the money, but she feels like Markus needs someone to look after him.  However, once someone comes after Cassidy more than once, Markus knows he’s not the only one in trouble. 

Serve ‘N’ Protect is another wonderfully written story from Tee O’Fallon.  All three characters (Markus, Cassidy and Ghost!) are written well and relatable.  The world that O’Fallon has built with this series pulls you in immediately and makes you reluctant to leave once the story is over.  I loved Cassidy and her determination to not only recover from her accident, but to thrive.  Markus is surly, with good reason, but eventually comes around.  The chemistry between the two of them is amazing and leaves you wanting more.  I also loved the intrigue and the real-life problems they both were dealing with.  The secondary characters are intriguing, most of which we have met in previous books of the series.  If you are a fan of the genre, you will never go wrong with one of O’Fallon’s books.  Well done, Tee O’Fallon!  Very, very, very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Running on Diesel by Melissa Foster-Review & Giveaway Tour

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Running on Diesel (The Whiskeys: Dark Knights At Peaceful Harbor #8) by Melissa Foster-Review & Givaway Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 15, 2021.

RUNNING ON DIESEL is the perfect love story for those who enjoy fiercely loyal and insanely sexy alpha heroes, smart, sassy heroines, strong family bonds, bikers, babies, and more!

Desmond “Diesel” Black is a Nomad with the Dark Knights motorcycle club. He protects others with his life and always rides alone. Tracey Kline left the only family she had for a man who broke more than her spirit, leaving her untrusting and on her own. When a twist of fate reveals pieces of the other no one else sees, will they be able to help each other mend their past hurts and learn to trust the chemistry and connection that’s too strong to deny?
~
The Whiskeys are perfect beach reads with depth of story, strong family ties, and a wealth of emotions. Small town love stories with happily ever afters guaranteed. The Dark Knights motorcycle club is not a typical MC book. These bad-boy bikers are tough, but they have hearts of gold…and they’re not afraid to use them.

••••••••

REVIEW:RUNNING ON DIESEL is the eighth instalment in Melissa Foster’s contemporary, adult THE WHISKEYS: DARK KNIGHTS OF PEACFUL HARBOR erotic, romance series-a spin off from several of the author’s interconnected series. This is thirty-two year old bounty hunter/bartender/Dark Knight Nomad Desmond ‘Diesel’ Black, and twenty-six year old, waitress Tracey Kline’s story line. RUNNING ON DIESEL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

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

Told from dual third person perspectives (Diesel and Tracey) RUNNING ON DIESEL follows the building romance and relationship between thirty-two year old bounty hunter/bartender/Dark Knight Nomad Desmond ‘Diesel’ Black, and twenty-six year old, waitress Tracey Kline. Tracey Kline is a survivor of domestic abuse, and sought refuge in the small town of Peaceful Harbor where she would work alongside our story line hero. Diesel Black was tasked with ‘protecting’ our storyline heroine but two years in, Diesel begins to ‘overstep’ his duties, and knows it is time to move on from the town and the people of Peaceful Harbor but when Tracey is attacked at work, Diesel makes it his mission to destroy the people who attacked the woman with whom he is falling in love. Secrets from the past are about to be revealed, sending Diesel on a mission of his own, where he may not like what he finds. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Diesel and Tracey, and the potential fall-out as Diesel’s time in Peaceful Harbor comes to a close.

The relationship between Diesel and Tracey is acrimonious at best. Diesel’s attraction to Tracey is masked as over-protectiveness, and in this everyone knows to stay clear of our story line heroine. Diesel is a dark, broody and quiet man who struggles to socialize with the people in his life. Tracey has struggled to rebuild her life in Peaceful Harbor but Diesel’s over the top attitude is about to push Tracey into the arms of another man. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of familiar and colorful secondary and supporting characters. As secrets from the past begin to reveal a deeper connection to the Whiskeys and Peaceful Harbor, Diesel discovers that everything about his life has been predicated upon a lie.

RUNNING ON DIESEL is a story of secrets and lies, family and relationships, recovery and moving forward, love and happily ever after. The premise is emotional and engaging; the romance is provocative and intense; the characters entertaining, charismatic, broken but healing.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Tru Blue
Truly Madly Whiskey
Driving Whiskey Wild
Wicked Whiskey Love
Mad About Moon
Taming My Whiskey
The Gritty Truth

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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.

Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.

Find Melissa on the following sites….
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Air Bonded by M.A. Abraham – a Review

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Air Bonded by M.A. Abraham – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Apple

 

Description:
Jenna, Julia, and Alissa are three orphans who were taken in by an elderly couple. The land they live on has been theirs for centuries, it is where they have stood guard over one of the last few portals in existence. They can see the nimbus that marks its location from their farmhouse, and like the others of their calling, they refuse to leave it untended.

Riehl, Goldier, and Falcon know what and who they are looking for. Disguised as apple pickers, the Elven males arrive to find their Life Mates being held at gunpoint. The weapons the enemy is using is beyond their experience and they will have to handle the situation with great care and without exposing their Life Mates to even more danger.

 

 

Review:

Air Bonded by M.A. Abraham is the 3rd novella in her Elven Sentinel series.  Though this is the third book in this series, if you have not read the earlier books, this does read very well as a stand-alone; with enough information to keep you up on the story.  Refresher:  The Sentinels are elves who were sent to live secretly in the human world, and as the parents pass, the children step forward. These elves (pretending to be human) are scattered all over the world to watch over and protect the portals across the land to prevent anyone entering the Elven Empire.  The Elves of the Elven Empire had no idea about the elves sent to the human world, centuries ago, and now with demons determined to discover how to get into the Empire, these elves lives are in danger.

The story continues when Gabriella and Lothrail send three (Goldier, Riehl,Falcon) of their warriors to the human world to find the three ladies (Jenna, Julia, Alissa) who have continued to protect the portal against everyone, keeping the secret, as well as hiding the books that could reveal too many secrets.  The goal of the men, besides knowing that they will find their Lifemates, is to protect them, and get them back to the elven world, thereby closing this portal.   The three girls are already in danger, with the demons holding them as hostage, determined to find the portal and the books.

When the Elves arrive, they sense that the girls are in danger, and pretend to arrive at the scene as boyfriends who have just returned from another apple picking job.  What follows is an intense battle to save the girls, as well as protect themselves from the evil threatening their lives.  When one of the warriors is shot, they need to find away to save him, and manage to escape; at the same time, get the girls to prepare the books to be ready to take with them.  I really did like all six of the leading characters, and it was fun to see them recognize their Lifemates.

Air Bonded was another good story in this series, and though it was brief, I always enjoy seeing Gabriella.  Air Bonded was another short story, that was very well written by M.A. Abraham. I think this story line will end with the next book, and the final portal to be found.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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Code Name: Aries (Zodiac Tactical 1) by Janie Crouch-Review Tour

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Code Name: Aries (Zodiac Tactical 1) by Janie Crouch-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 21, 2021.

My code name is Aries.The stars say I’m aggressive, dominant, first in line to lead.

The stars aren’t wrong.

Zodiac Tactical is my company. It’s run by those I’ve chosen for their skills and ability to outmaneuver adversaries. We guard, protect, rescue…assist on the side of the angels.

We eliminate the threat when nobody else can.

My pastime of putting bad guys out of business has created powerful enemies, but I’ve always made sure there was nothing in my life I couldn’t live without.

Until now. Until her.

She’s not a warrior, she’s an artist. She sees colors everywhere and greets the world—and me—with a smile. I knew I shouldn’t come near her from the beginning, but she’s everything I’ve never been able to be.

And now a monster has taken her, caged her, to get even with me.

My code name is Aries. And I will burn the world to the ground to get her back.

•••••••••

REVIEW:CODE NAME: ARIES is the first instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult ZODIAC TACTICAL romantic suspense series-a spin off from the author’s LINEAR TACTICAL series. This is artist/ waitress Wavy Bollinger, and former US Navy SEAL and CEO of Zodiac Tactical Ian ‘Aries’ DeRose’s story line. CODEN NAME: ARIES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous series is revealed where necessary. Several characters from the original series including Wavy’s brothers Finn and Baby Bollinger, cross over for familiarity.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Wavy and Ian) CODE NAME: ARIES follows the building romance and relationship between artist/ waitress Wavy Bollinger, and former US Navy SEAL and CEO of Zodiac Tactical Ian ‘Aries’ DeRose. Ian DeRose and his team at Zodiac Tactical were on a mission; taking down Erick Huen and the group known as Mosaic, a group connected to human trafficking, medical experiments, murder and fraud but Ian’s need for revenge is personal, and in this anyone connected to Ian becomes fair game. Enter artist and waitress Wavy Bollinger, the woman with whom Ian will fall in love. A visit to Oak Creek, Wyoming in his search for information brings Ian up close and personal with Wavy, and her brother who are determined to protect the sister they love but Ian’s interest in Wavy is about to place a target on her back, a target that is about to break our story line heroine. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Wavy and Ian, and the potential fall-out as Ian’s past is determined to destroy everyone he loves.

Ian DeRose has made many enemies in his life and none more so than the man he is hoping to destroy but Erick Huen is always one step ahead of our hero, and in this, Wavy will become a dangerous pawn in a game that will see our heroine fighting to survive. Wavy Bollinger is no stranger to the darker side of life, having seen what her brothers go through on a daily basis but Wavy never expected to be front and center in a game of revenge, a game where someone is going to die.

The relationship between Wavy and Ian is one of immediate attraction but Ian’s arrival in Oak Creek, Wyoming is met with trepidation and unease. From the outset Ian is unable to commit to any personal time with our story line heroine, as he is often on the move, searching for the man who destroyed his life. Meeting Wavy Bollinger gave Ian a hope for the future but the hope was about to die when his past demanded everything in return. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to several members of the Zodiac Tactical team including Harrison ‘ Sarge’ McEwan, Landon Black, Isaac, Kendrick , Neo, Jenna Franklin as well as a number of the original Linear Tactical Team: Ian MacKay, Finn and Baby Bollinger, and Callum Webb from Omega Sector series. There is a story developing for Sarge.

CODE NAME: ARIES is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and fury, murder, obsession, friendship and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing and twisted with a slight sci-fi vibe; the romance is captivating and spirited; the characters are animated. My only complaint is the quick resolution and apprehension wherein everything took place behind the scenes, and the reader wasn’t privy to the who, how or when.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the coveted RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.

Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband’s job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she’s not listening to the voices in her head (and even when she is), she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211574.Janie_Crouch
Web: http://www.janiecrouch.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janiecrouch/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pmEH1X
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janiecrouch

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When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting-a review

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When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting-a review

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

 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 21, 2021

Running the Spark House, a hotel/event space that has been in her family for years, has been Avery Spark’s lifelong dream. After years of working hard and making personal sacrifices, Avery and her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works with her sisters and loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, and she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she’s happy.

But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur.

Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan and Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she’d dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay and, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built.

••••••

REVIEW:WHEN SPARKS FLY by Helena Hunting is a contemporary, adult, stand alone, erotic, romance story line focusing on PR /event planner and co-owner of Spark House Hotel/Event space Avery Spark, and business consultant Declan.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Declan and Avery) WHEN SPARKS FLY follows the friends to lovers relationship between PR /event planner and co-owner of Spark House Hotel/Event space Avery Spark, and business consultant Declan. Declan and Avery have been best friends since college, and currently share a condo as roommates and best friends but a fatal traffic accident has left Avery dependant upon her best friend for help with the simplest of tasks including mobility and bathroom breaks. Weeks together finds our couple dancing around the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’ pushing their relationship from best friends to more but jealousy is about to rear its’ ugly green head, and the fall-out is about to disrupt a life-long friendship, and a growing love between our leading couple. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Avery and Declan, and the potential fall-out as issues of trust force Avery to walk, leaving an angry and heart broken Declan to reconsider everything he lost.

Spark House is struggling to sign up a sponsor, and with it the event side of the hotel is struggling to survive. A series of real-life bloopers and mistakes finds potential sponsors walking away, forcing the Spark to find blame for their loss of income, targeting both Avery and Declan in the line of fire. As Avery battles daily her in recovery, Declan battles between head and heart as he begins to fall for our story line heroine.

The relationship between Declan and Avery is a best friends to lovers that is put to the test when Avery becomes dependant upon Declan for the smallest of tasks. Declan doesn’t do relationships, our hero is a bit of a manwh*re, but his heart wants something more with our story line heroine, something he struggles to accept and understand. Avery knows falling for her best friend places their friendships in a precarious position, a position that is about to be tested with demons from the past. 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 colorful and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including Avery’s sisters London and Harley, and Declan’s best friends Mark and Jerome. Here’s hoping the author has plans for London and Harley, as well as Mark and Jerome.

WHEN SPARKS FLY is a story of family, friendships, betrayal issues of trust, forgiveness and love. This is NOT a story of cheating or infidelity as some ‘reviewers’ have claimed it to be. Our couple begins as best friends and roommates with neither one making a commitment to one another but jealousy will become the starting point for a crack in the relationship that may not be able to heal. Both Declan and Avery are somewhat immature and selfish but it doesn’t help that their friends and family pick at the scab that refuses to heal. Issues of trust have been a part of Declan for all of his life, and Avery was betrayed by a former love. The premise is engaging, entertaining and captivating; the romance is sexy and hot; the characters are energetic, flawed and playful.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

FOLLOW: NYT and USA Today Bestselling author of The PUCKED Series, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance to romance comedy, sports romance and angsty new adult romance.
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HEARTLESS LOVER (Dark Syndicate 5) by Faith Summers-Review Tour

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HEARTLESS LOVER (Dark Syndicate 5) by Faith Summers

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 16, 2021

What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger…
For a man like me, that thing is darkness.
The darkness from my past never ended my life.
It darkened my heart and flowed through my veins, fueling my hunger for revenge.
That’s why I accepted the job to protect her.

Her: Summer Reeves.
The beautiful angel who became an asset to me when she saw something she shouldn’t have seen.
The job should have been simple.
Protecting her meant getting closer to catching the man who betrayed me.
I learned long before I joined the Bratva that you have to be heartless to be strong.
Except, she was the wild card I never saw coming.

From the moment her lips touched mine, she became the exception to my rules.
That was the moment I claimed her.
I didn’t care that she didn’t belong in my world.
Or that belonging to a man like me was her worst nightmare.
I always get what I want.
She’s mine to protect.
So when death comes to take her, I plan to fight to keep her.

••••••••

REVIEW: HEARTLESS LOVER is the fifth instalment in Faith Summers’ contemporary, adult DARK SYNDICATE dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is thirty-one year old, CEO of Markov Tech, and Obshchak in the Voirik Brotherhood Eric Markov, and twenty-four year old, former actress Summer Reeves’ story line. HEARTLESS LOVER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Eric and Summer) HEARTLESS LOVER follows in the aftermath of the murder of Summer’s twin Scarlett, a victim of mistaken identity while visiting her sister in Italy. As Summer was the intended target, and witnessed the murder of her beloved sister, our heroine heads back to America where she will find herself the prisoner of Eric Markov, the Obshchak in the Voirik Brotherhood. Eric needs information about a man from his past but using Summer will place her in the direct line of fire. What ensues is the acrimonious but building relationship between Eric and Summer, and the potential fall-out as both of their paths collide in a battle of revenge.

Summer Reeves back story is heart breaking and dark, and with it reveals a spiral from which Summer struggles to recover. Finding herself a prisoner of a man who is heartless and cruel, Summer battles between head and heart as each encounter begins to tear down the wall she built years before. Eric Markov has lost everything and spent five years in absolute h*ll. Determined to take down the people who all but destroyed his life, Eric will use any means necessary, including our story line heroine.

The relationship between Eric and Summer begins when Summer is abducted by shortly after her arrival back home in California. Eric’s attraction to Summer is immediate, and with it some questionable motives and ambiguous consent. Summer’s past continues to control her present, and with it, Eric’s interest becomes problematic for our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense but I struggle with the use of a certain four-letter word.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Eric’s right hand man Borya, bodyguard Oleg, housekeeper and cook Lyssa, Pakhan Aiden Romanov, Dominic D’Agostino and Alejandro Ramirez, Eric’s sister Olivia, and Summer’s father John Reeves. The requisite evil has many faces.

HEARTLESS LOVER is a story of betrayal and revenge, power and control, secrets and lies, abuse, murder, seduction and love. The premise is dark, gritty and heart breaking; the romance is impassioned and aggressive; the characters are energetic, broken but healing.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Ruthless Prince
Dark Captor
Wicked Liar
Merciless Hunter

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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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The Sound of Violet by Allen Wolf-Review & Giveaway

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The Sound of Violet by Allen Wolf-Review & Giveaway

THE SOUND OF VIOLET
by Allen Wolf
Release Date: September 21, 2021
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

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

Desperate to find his soulmate, Shawn goes on one awkward date after another until he encounters the alluring Violet. He starts dating her, but his autism keeps him from realizing that she’s actually a prostitute.

Shawn thinks he’s found a possible wife while Violet thinks she’s discovered her ticket to a brand new life. This hilarious and dramatic award-winning story takes all kinds of twists and turns and has been adapted into a major motion picture.

••••••••

REVIEW:THE SOUND OF VIOLET is a contemporary, adult, stand alone story focusing on twenty-four year old computer programmer Shawn Lambent, and prostitute Violet ‘Olivia’ Black.

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

Told from dual third person perspectives (Shawn and Violet) THE SOUND OF VIOLET focuses on one man’s desire for love and to be loved. Twenty-four year old, computer programmer Shawn Lambent, is a young man on the autism spectrum, who ‘sees’ sounds in color. Shawn Lambent develops apps for a dating website, and wishes to one day find his own happily ever after. Meeting Violet Black gives Shawn a hope for the future but Shawn is unaware of Violet’s lifestyle, a lifestyle of which she struggles to leave. As Shawn quickly falls for Violet Black not all is well in Violet’s life, and our heroine must battle the man in charge. What ensues is the building relationship between Shawn and Violet, and the potential fall-out as Violet’s life begins to spiral out of control.

Shawn Lambent wants to find love. Having lived with his aging and ailing grandmother most of his life, Shawn fears one day, living alone, and in this, actively searches for someone to love. As a high functioning young man with autism, Shawn struggles with some of the basic day to day life skills, skills that come easy for the average person. Violet Black is a victim who has found herself in a precarious situation. Struggling to get herself free, Violet knows that her life is no longer under her control. ‘Dating’ Shawn Lambent, Violet sees a way out of her life but getting out will be dangerous for everyone involved.

The relationship between Shawn and Violet is predicated on a series of lies. Shawn has no idea that he has fallen in love with a prostitute, and Violet is reluctant to reveal the truth believing she has found an easy mark.

The secondary and supporting characters are colorful and energetic, reflecting the overall feel of the story line message. We are introduced to Shawn’s grandmother, and his brother Colin, both desperate to protect our story line hero; Violet’s fellow prostitutes Aleesha and Natasha who are caught in a vicious cycle, their pimp Anton; as well as Shawn’s co-workers Tammy and Flynn, and their boss Jake.

THE SOUND OF VIOLET is labelled hilarious and dramatic but I struggled to find anything funny or ‘hilarious’ about the story line content. Allen Wolf addresses autism, discrimination, sexual trafficking, abuse, power and control, and in this the story line is dramatic and intense. There are also several references to religion and religious beliefs, sometimes quoting bible verses in times of stress. As the book has been adapted into a major motion picture, perhaps the tone of the ‘film version’ plays out differently than the book. The premise is imaginative and spirited but often reads like a movie script.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Allen Wolf is an award-winning novelist, filmmaker, and game creator. He is also the host of the popular Navigating Hollywood podcast.

His debut novel “The Sound of Violet” has won multiple accolades and is described as “Entertaining, well-paced, and highly visual” by Kirkus Reviews. It is now a major motion picture. (www.TheSoundOfViolet.com)

He has won 39 awards for his games that are available as books, including You’re Pulling My Leg! and You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior. They’ve brought smiles to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

As a filmmaker, Allen wrote, directed, and produced “In My Sleep,” which was released worldwide, won multiple film festivals, and is available on iTunes and Amazon Prime. Hollywood Reporter raved, “In My Sleep never rests, a credit to the tight, psychologically astute pacing of filmmaker Wolf.”

Allen graduated from New York University’s film school. He married his Persian princess, and they are raising two kids together. He enjoys traveling around the world and hearing other people’s life stories. Allen also cherishes spending time with his family, eating chocolate, and visiting Disneyland.

Allen Wolf’s publisher (Morning Star Publishing) is graciously offering a signed,  paper copy of  THE SOUND OF VIOLET to ONE (1) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe.

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

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9. Giveaway open to USA only

10. Giveaway runs from September 20-24, 2021

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