Monthly Archives: January 2022

Green Envy (The Sin Series #2) by Aleatha Romig-Review Tour

Posted on by
12

Green Envy (The Sin Series #2) by Aleatha Romig-Review Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 18, 2022

“Nothing is enough to the man for whom enough is too little.” ~ Epicurus

At what age did I begin to question everything?

As far back as I, Donavan Sherman, can recall, I saw the world, not through the rose-colored glasses of others—those spectacles worn by the individuals who see what surrounds them and are satisfied—but through vision hued by green.

Life took me along a bumpy path, or better yet, the path I chose led me to encounter obstacles that prepared me to overcome. That journey didn’t sugar-coat the world; it opened my eyes to the true qualities of green—greed, illness, and envy. After all, even Disney surrounds their villains in green smoke. That green hue created the realization that there is always more, always better, and never enough.

I saw, I coveted, I took, and I conquered.

I made enemies.

Even with Julia by my side, my quest for more isn’t satisfied. There are people I want to see suffer. It seems that revenge isn’t a one-way street.

Will Julia pay the price for my sins?

•••••••

REVIEW:GREEN ENVY is the second full-length instalment in Aleatha Romig’s contemporary, adult SIN erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on forty-one year old, billionaire businessman Donavan Sherman, and twenty-four year old, pharmaceutical heiress Julia McGrath. GREEN ENVY should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of book two RED SIN.

NOTE: There is a prequel novella -WHITE RIBBON -that was first released as part of the I HAVE LIVED, AND I HAVE LOVED anthology. Depending upon your copy of RED SIN, it may or may not contain the introductory story line.

SOME BACKGROUND: Weeks before her wedding to childhood friend Skylar Butler, Julia would discover a double betrayal from her fiance and her best friend. Leaving Chicago, and heading to the deep country of Wisconsin, Julia embarked on the next phase of her life, a life that included Donavan Sherman.

Told from dual first person perspectives (DonAvan and Julia) using present day and memories from the past GREEN ENVY picks up immediately after the events of RED SIN wherein little bits about Donavan’s past are slowly revealed but Julia’s family owned company Wade Pharmaceuticals is struggling to stay ahead of a ballooning bank payment, and our couple are about to uncover the people and players behind another betrayal in Julia’s life. As Julia and Donavan prepare to do battle with the shareholders and the Board of Directors, our couple come to the realization that even family cannot be trusted, and the people believed to be in control are merely puppets controlled by someone else. What ensues is the ongoing relationship and romance between Julia and Donavan, and the potential fall-out as family secrets scream of more betrayal, and Donavan’s past is determined to destroy them all.

GREEN ENVY is a complex and detailed story of family and betrayal, secrets and lies, vengeance and retaliation, envy and greed. The secondary and supporting characters begin to reveal a sordid history for a number of families, families now interconnected by power and control. The fast paced and character driven premise is dramatic and edgy; the romance is provocative and intense; the characters are spirited, charismatic and animated. GREEN ENVY ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

White Ribbon
Red Sin

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

NEWSLETTER | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | GOODREADS
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. 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, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America.  She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

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.

​

Share

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne-dual review

Posted on by
13

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne-dual review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 18, 2022

Violet Townsend has always been a people pleaser. Raised in the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan, she always says the right things, wears the right clothes, and never rocks the boat. Violet would do anything for the people closest to her, especially her beloved grandmother. So when she asks Violet to teach the newly-discovered grandson of her friend how to fit in with New York City’s elite, Violet immediately agrees. Her goal? To get Cain Stone ready to take his place as heir to his family company…but to say he’s not exactly an eager student is an understatement.

Born and raised in rural Louisiana and now making his own way in New Orleans, Cain Stone is only playing along for the paycheck at the end. He has no use for the grandmother he didn’t know existed and no patience for the uppity Violet’s attempts to turn him into a suit-wearing, museum-attending gentleman.

But somewhere amidst antagonistic dinner parties and tortured tux fittings, Cain and Violet come to a begrudging understanding—and the uptight Violet realizes she’s not the only one doing the teaching. As she and Cain begin to find mutual respect for one another (and maybe even something more), Violet learns that blindly following society’s rules doesn’t lead to happiness…and that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.

••••••••

Sandy’s Review: MADE IN MANHATTAN by Lauren Layne is a contemporary, adult, stand alone romance story line focusing on Manhattan socialite Violet Townsend, and New Orleans’ businessman Cain Stone.

Told from third person perspective (Violet) MADE IN MANHATTAN focuses on Violet Townsend’s assignment to turn New Orleans businessman Cain Stone into a civilized and respectable Manhattan heir. With the death of the father he never knew, Cain Stone discovered he was the sole heir apparent to the billion dollar Rhodes Industry, a company currently controlled by Edith Rhodes, the grandmother he never met but Cain has not been raised in the finer points of society’s upper crust, and Violet Townsend, Cain’s grandmother’s ‘helper’ has been tasked with ensuring Cain is presentable to the Board in control. Constantly at odds with one another, their barely veiled, palpable sexual attraction finds Violet reconsidering her own future, a future that may or may not include the man with whom she is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Violet and Cain, and the potential fall-out as Violet wants something more than Cain is willing to give.

Cain Stone never knew his father, in fact, he never met the family that now wants our hero to take control but Cain’s lack of refinement, and rugged appearance does not bode well for his future prospects. Violet Townsend is a socialite, a snob who is used to the finer things in life but a woman who has suffered many losses along the way. Struggling to remain neutral in the face of her attraction to her mentor’s grandson, Violet will find herself falling for a man whose future may not include our story line heroine.

The relationship between Violet and Cain begins as a reverse ‘My Fair Lady’ in which Violet has been tasked with making Cain Stone presentable to the rich and powerful of Manhattan society. Already in a committed but lacklustre relationship, Violet must come to terms with what she wants, and whose heart she is willing to break along the way. Cain Stone never wanted to take control of his absentee father’s business but learning the ins and outs of Rhodes Industry finds Cain reevaluating and reassessing his long term goals. Keeping his distance from our story line heroine proves to be more difficult than Cain could have imagined but falling in love was never in the cards. The lone $ex scene is passionate but mostly implied.

We are introduced to Cain’s grandmother Edith Rhodes, as well as Violet’s boyfriend Keith, and Violet’s friend Ashley Shores.

MADE IN MANHATTAN is a story of family and relationships, perception and love. The premise is charming and engaging; the slow building romance is seductive; the characters are determined, desperate and dynamic.

Barb’s Review:
Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne is another one of her wonderful romances. We meet our heroine, Violet Townsend, who grew up living a privileged life in the Upper East Side of Manhattan; her parents died when she was a child, and lived with her grandmother, who passed away when she was an adult.  Violet loved the life she lived, always wearing the right clothes, shoes, as well as being well liked by everyone.  Violet worked closely with Edith, her grandmother’s best friend, who treats her like her own granddaughter; Edith owns a multibillion-dollar business, The Rhodes Company.  To Violet’s surprise, Edith gives her an impossible task: to train Edith’s newly discovered grandson (who lived in Louisiana, and doesn’t want to be here), how to fit in with the elite of New York and eventually take his place as heir.  Needless to say, Violet has her hands full.

Cain Stone, our hero, was also surprised to find out about being Edith’s grandson, and is he was a bit grumpy early on, not eager to listen to either lady; especially since he was happy in New Orleans, but he knew he couldn’t ignore the possibility of becoming a billionaire.  Violet goes above and beyond to teach Cain how to act, as well as how to dress to make a good appearance, since he will need to eventually interview with the Rhodes Board of Directors. They clashed often, with Cain acting resentful, impatient, rough around the edges, and wanting to do things his way.

The more time they spend together, each begins to learn more about each other, and find common grounds; respecting each other, leading to slow burn opposites attract romance.  I really liked Violet, and despite his smugness and complaints, she began to find him more charming each passing day, not to mention hot. I did not care too much for Cain in the beginning, but he too started falling for Violet, as well as listen more to his grandmother, by the last half I really started liking him.  Layne gives us some great secondary characters, with Edith, Avery, Alvin and of course Violet cute adorable dog (who Cain kept calling ‘Toto’)

What follows is a sweet slow build romance between two unlikely people.  Made in Manhattan was a fun, enjoyable, uplifting, fast paced story that was very well written by Lauren Layne. I absolutely loved the wonderful epilogue which left me smiling.  I have enjoyed everything I have read by Layne, as she writes such wonderful fun pure romances.  If you enjoy pure romances, great couples, and secondary characters, you should read this story.  If you have not read Lauren Layne, you need to start now.

 

Copies supplied for review

Share

London Bridge (Speak No Evil 1) by Nana Malone-review tour

Posted on by
12

London Bridge (Speak No Evil 1) by Nana Malone-review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 18, 2022.

Halfway around the world wasn’t far enough away to keep my best mate’s sister safe from our enemies… or my touch. I will have her. Even though she’s the beauty and I’m the beast.

Emma Varma remembers me as the black hearted prince of Eton prep… but the hardened man I’ve become won’t be so easily burned.

Her return to London has nothing to do with me and everything to do with retribution.

Gone is the wild child I remember and in her place a striking beauty, tempting me with a second chance to break all the rules that I missed the first time… before I was man enough to make her mine.

••••••

REVIEW:LONDON BRIDGE is the first full-length instalment in Nana Malone’s contemporary, adult SPEAK NO EVIL erotic romance series focusing on twenty-six year old crisis manager Emma Varma, and twenty-nine year old, billionaire businessman Bridge Edgerton. SPEAK NO EVIL is a spin off from, and interconnected with the author’s SEE NO EVIL and HEAR NO EVIL trilogies, as well as crossing over with several of the author’s previous series.

SOME BACKGROUND: Approximately eleven years earlier, during their initiation into the group known as The Elite, Ben Covington, Easton Hale, and Bridge Edgerton lost their best friend and fellow Elite pledge Tobias ‘Toby’ Varma when things quickly spiralled out of control, and the people in charge refused to intercede. Seeking revenge against the people and families they hold responsible for Toby’s death, Ben, East and Bridge walk a fine line between right and wrong in an effort to take down everyone involved.

NOTE: For more backstory on Bridge and Emma’s earlier relationship, the author has released a prequel novella BRIDGE OF LOVE that takes place prior to Toby’s death, over eleven years earlier.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Bridge and Emma) LONDON BRIDGE follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-six near old crisis manager/fixer Emma Varma, and twenty-nine year old, billionaire businessman Bridge Edgerton. Bridge, along with his best friends and business partners Ben Covington and Easton Hale, are biding their time in an effort to take down the final man/family responsible for the death of their friend Toby Varma but Bridge never expected to be caught in a scandal that threatened an upcoming, lucrative financial deal. In an effort to prove /sway the investor that he is not what the paparazzi see, Bridge claims to be getting married with no solid prospects on the horizon. Meanwhile, Emma Varma is disheartened about the lack of progress on taking down her brother’s killers, and begins an investigation of her own, placing herself in the direct line of fire. Having loved Bridge Edgerton since she was ten years old, Emma reluctantly agrees to play fiancee and wife to our story line hero, a position that is about to place a bigger target on her back than anyone could have every imagined but as Bridge and Emma begin life as a married couple, the ‘team’ discover that Emma has a stalker, and Bridge’s past is about to destroy the heart of the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Bridge and Emma, and the potential fall-out as obsession, betrayal and vengeance take aim at our story line couple.

The relationship between Emma and Bridge is a marriage of convenience, a best friend’s little sister relationship that reveals years of unrequited love between our story line couple. Emma has pined after her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember, having watched from the sidelines as Bridge’s $ex life began to implode. Six weeks earlier, Bridge had sent Emma and her mother to America, to protect our heroine from the fall-out of the ongoing investigation and vengeance into Toby Varma’s death, but with her return to England, Emma is determined to stay involved, even if it means risking her life, and her relationship with the man that she loves. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.

The secondary and supporting characters include Ben Covington and Olivia Ashong (See No Evil Trilogy), Easton Hale and Nyla Kincaid (Hear No Evil Trilogy). We are introduced to Francis Middleton, the final target of Ben, Easton and Bridge, as well as Bridge’s mother, his father Lord Edmond Edgerton, Bridge’s ex Mina, and Emma’s mother Pamma.

LONDON BRIDGE is a story of obsession, betrayal and vengeance; family, friendships, relationship and love. The premise is dramatic, captivating and intriguing; the romance is spicy and energetic; the characters are colorful, charismatic, and powerful…but…I do have a couple of issues.

Emma Varma is a strong willed heroine but her actions prove she is a little TSTL (too stupid to live). Warned against getting personally involved with the investigation, Emma has not only made herself a target but has placed herself up close and personal with the people involved, and the fall-out is beginning to unravel. Also, the amount of repetition in the text is off the charts including the use of ‘oh my God’ fifty-five (55) times (mostly during the $ex scenes) , and ‘oh God ‘ twenty-four times. I went back into a few of the previous instalments in the interconnected series, and the author’s use of ‘oh my God’ is overwhelming- twenty-five, twenty-nine and thirty-six times (in just three of the previous books) but fifty-five is over the top. I believe the author’s editors and proof readers should or could suggest other alternatives , or perhaps the author can find another way to relay excitement, shock and sexual pleasure. LONDON BRIDGE ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of the prequel novella BRIDGE OF LOVE

FREE prequel ebook –BRIDGE OF LOVE 

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

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today bestseller Nana Malone’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she “borrowed” from her cousin.

It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.

While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion, and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.

Website: http://nanamaloneromance.net/

Facebook: http://bit.ly/NanaMaloneFB

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/NanaMaloneGR

Twitter: http://bit.ly/NanaMaloneTwitter

Apple Books: http://bit.ly/NanaMaloneAB

Instagram: http://bit.ly/NanaMaloneIG

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Wwz3t9

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/NanaMaloneBB

Share

MAKE ME WHOLE (Oil Barrons 1) by Marie Johnston-Review Tour

Posted on by
10

MAKE ME WHOLE (Oil Barrons 1) by Marie Johnston-Review Tour

 

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 18, 2022

I had a perfect life. Schoolteacher. Married to my high school sweetheart. Little starter house that we called charming but was really just old. All I needed was the two-point-five kids and I’d be living my perfect dream. Then my husband died.

After the funeral, I had a breakdown that lasted for a month…or twelve. But now I’m reemerging, healing, finding my way. It’s time to learn who I am now, and whether or not I can fix a leaky sink. And by my side, the entire time, is my husband’s best friend, Liam. The single dad knows a thing or two about personal struggles, and about how to replace faucets.

With Liam, I feel alive again. Confident. Capable. Liam has become my best friend too. Except if my parents, my in-laws, and the rest of the town had any say, I’d stay far away from him and his bad boy reputation.

How do I admit to them what’s so hard to admit to myself? That I’m starting to look at him like he’s more than a friend. That the heat in his eyes when he looks at me is far beyond friendly. That like it or not, Liam makes me feel whole again.

••••••••••

REVIEW: I throughly enjoyed the author’s King’s Series, and when I found out that she’d done a spin off I couldn’t wait to read it.

Kennedy is a widow, she’s still mourning the loss of her husband. It’s only been a year and a half, but slowly she returning to the land of the living. And she owes that mainly to her husbands best friend/cousin Liam. He checks up on her regularly, and she feels like the only one who really understands (Derek’s parents are still grieving and expect her to remain the same way.)

Liam is a single parent (a relationship that ended badly) he dotes on his boys, but wants a better life for hiss kids away from the town he grew up in.
Liam is the illegitimate child of the local oil/farming baron, he’s never been made to feel welcome, in fact if his father had his way the whole town would be against Liam and he’s be forced to move away!

This is a friends to lovers trope, and the author has done a great job of dealing with both the grief that both characters feel and the animosity that Liam faces living in the town he doesn’t feel like he belong too.

Liam has always fancied Kennedy, but when his cousin/best friend made a move on Kennedy, Liam was relegated to the friend zone! But ha’d rather have her as a friend than not in his life at all. After losing Derek, looking after Kennedy seemed second nature.
Kennedy begins to look at Liam in more than just a friend way, she notices how he cares and how he looks, that then makes her feel guilty at betraying her dead husbands memory.

And when they finally admit how they feel about each other, they have to face the gauntlet of emotions and the backlash from other people!

I’m hoping it’s the start of a new series. We get to meet some of Liam’s siblings in this book, so there is plenty to write about.

Really well thought out and written in a way that you connect with the characters.

So can Liam and Kennedy really be happy in Coal Haven? Or would it be easier to move away and start somewhere fresh?

? Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

 

 

 

Blinking to adjust to the dimmer light, it wasn’t hard to find Liam. Sparks flew from the far corner, where the light from the open door had the hardest time penetrating.
The torch Liam held went dark. He flipped his face shield up so it rested on top of his head. “Hey. That time already? The afternoon got away from me.”
He set his equipment on the work bench by the hunk of metal he’d been working on. He slapped his thick gloves down and took the face shield off. Then he shrugged out of his well-worn leather apron.
I blinked again, but it had nothing to do with lighting. His long-sleeved blue T-shirt with the logo of a bar and grill in Williston was plastered to his chest and back. A smattering of singe holes gathered around the collar and a few tiny ones on the sleeves where the apron didn’t reach. Liam adjusted his shoulders like he was trying to dislodge the fabric from his skin, but all the move did was make his muscles ripple.
I’d known Liam wasn’t the same lanky kid from high school, but I’d never had proof like this.
He ran a hand through his hair—same effect. Biceps bulging and rippling muscle.
My brain snapped a picture, like someday I might need to reference the type of man that could get my libido going again.
Which I wasn’t looking for. Dating wasn’t on my radar, much less…activities beyond that.
Although recently I’d been thinking… I gave myself a mental shake. My therapist said there was nothing wrong with thinking about dating someday. Nothing wrong with dating itself. Nothing wrong with not being ready. Nothing wrong with dating while still not feeling ready. I hadn’t reached that point yet. And I didn’t have to think about it at Liam’s.

 

FOLLOW: Goodreads/Website/Facebook/Twitter/Instagram / Bookbub/ Pinterest

Marie Johnston is a RITA® Finalist, and a best-selling and award-winning writer of paranormal and contemporary romance – and an avid reader of them both.

Several years ago, when kids started outnumbering adults in the house, Marie Johnston left her job as a public health microbiologist to stay at home. Settling into working part-time and shuttling kids around gave Marie the opportunity to think about what she wanted to be when she grew up. A die-hard science geek, she explored her previously thought to be non-existent creative side after much time spent making snowman crafts and coloring princesses. Having entertained thoughts of writing a book one day then subsequently deciding it would be too hard, she finally put the figurative pen to paper and began to type – and fell in love with storytelling.

The Sigma Menace is the first series by Marie with Fever Claim being her first book EVER. She is humbled by the fact that people are willing to read to her books and looks forward to keeping readers entertained for many years.

Marie lives with her husband and four kids in the Upper Midwest where the summers are gorgeous, the winters are brutal, and spring and fall are luxuries.

Share

Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz – Review & Giveaway

Posted on by
22

Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz – Review & Guveaway

 

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Olivia LeClair’s experiment with speed dating is not going well. First there was the nasty encounter with the date from hell who tried to murder her and now the mysterious Harlan Rancourt—long believed dead—sits down at her table and tells her she’s the only one who can help him locate the legendary Vortex lab.

This is not what Olivia had in mind when she signed up for the Four Event Success Guaranteed package offered by the dating agency. She doesn’t have much choice, though, because her psychic investigation firm works for the mysterious Foundation and Victor Arganbright, the director, is adamant that she assist Harlan. There’s just one problem—no one knows Harlan’s real agenda. His father once ran the Foundation like a mob organization, and Harlan was destined to be his heir. There’s a real possibility Harlan has returned to claim his inheritance.

For now, however, it’s a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend because others are after the secrets of the long-lost lab. Unfortunately for Olivia, the one thing friend and foe have in common is that everyone is convinced she is the key. Her unique psychic talent is required to defuse the ticking time bomb that is Vortex.

Neither trusts the other but Olivia and Harlan soon realize they must work together to survive and unlock the Bluestone Project’s most dangerous secrets before more innocent people die.

 

 

Review:

Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz is the 3rd and final book in her wonderful Fogg Lake series.  Refresher: 40 years ago, in the small town of Fogg Lake, an explosion caused various paranormal effects on many of the residents; such as visions, auras and other unique abilities.  The community kept to itself, not revealing anything about those strange effects; leaving the town bare of updated mechanics, such as Wi-Fi, computers, cell phones, as the dense fog blocked those signals.

Olivia LeClair, our heroine, is a private investigator with her best friend, Catalina; they both lived in Fogg Lake when they were younger; she has a psychic gift of reading aura’s.  Olivia takes part of a speed dating, which originally failed when the person tried to kill her; but now she attends the event, and asks a weird question to each person she meets “If I disappeared tomorrow would you walk into to hell to find me?  Only one person answered back correctly, saying he would walk into hell, because he has been there.

Harlan Rancourt, our hero, has been presumed dead, until he shows up years later, at The Foundation run by Victor Arganbright and Lucas Pine.   After his father (the original founders of the Foundation) died in the explosion years ago, Harlan now returns to convince the Foundation to help him find an oracle, whom he feels will lead to discovering where the legendary Vortex Lab is.  Arganbright agrees to work with him and suggests to use Olivia, who is one of the best.  She is not sure that she can trust Harland, but agrees to work together, especially since he assures her that he will find her mother’s killer. They are both powerful talents in the psychic world, with her seeing his aura and knowing how dangerous it was, even with his ability to hide it, and she also being an excellent private investigator.

I loved Olivia, her smarts, savvy, confidence, fearlessness, as she made a fantastic heroine.  I also like Harlan, and in a short time, we can see the chemistry between them heat up.  I really got a kick out of the car scene, which was very funny.

What follows is an exciting, intense, action filled adventure, with some twists and turns. From start to finish, the story keeps us unable to put the book down, in this journey filled with romance, suspense and danger.   Olivia and Harlan were a wonderful couple and made a great team; there were some excellent secondary characters, as well as evil villains.  To tell too much more would be spoilers.

Lightning in a Mirror is an exciting, intense, suspenseful thriller, with supernatural elements.    Jayne Ann Krentz gives us a wonderful conclusion to this series.  If you enjoy suspense mysteries, great couple and a dose of supernatural, you should be reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Jayne Ann’s Publisher, Berkley is offering a hardcover copy of LIGHTNING IN A MIRROR  to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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

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

3. Follow Jayne Ann Krentz on Facebook.

4. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

5. Please FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from January 18-22, 2022

 

 

Share

Playing Dirty in Alaska by Samanthe Beck-Review Tour

Posted on by
9

Playing Dirty in Alaska (Captivity Alaska 2) by Samanthe Beck-Review Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 17, 2022.

Bush pilot Bridget Shanahan runs from responsibility like a child runs from a dentist appointment, but when her brother leaves the family’s airfield in her hands, she knows it’s time to step up and behave like a Responsible Adult ™. So of course that’s when Archer Ellison III blows into her tiny town of Captivity, Alaska, every inch the hot-as-hell mistake that most definitely belongs in her past. Been there, done that, and didn’t even get to keep the commemorative sweatshirt

Archer has only ever had two goals. Now that he’s built his own empire outside his father’s company, he can move on to goal #2—winning back the one who got away by whatever means necessary. He knows it won’t be easy. Bridget Shanahan is older, wiser, more self-assured, and jaw-droppingly stunning…and doing everything she can to pretend the scorching chemistry between them doesn’t exist.

But fate is on his side. After an impulsive bet that would have sent Archer packing goes awry, Bridget is officially stuck with him. Which is really inconvenient, since falling for Archer again is the least responsible thing she could do.

••••••••

REVIEW: PLAYING DIRTY IN ALASKA is the second instalment in Samanthe Beck’s contemporary, adult CAPTIVITY ALASKA erotic, romance series. This is twenty-five year old, pilot Bridget Shanahan, and twenty-nine year old businessman/pilot Archer Ellison’s story line. PLAYING DIRTY IN ALASKA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary. There is a slight paranormal element to the story line.

SOME BACKGROUND: Several months earlier Bridget Shanahan’s twin brother Shay died when his plane slammed into the side of a mountain. In the ensuing months, LA business and investment firm Ellison Enterprises has struggled to purchase the family owned Shanahan Captivity Air, a struggle that brings former lovers Bridget Shanahan and Archer Ellison back together,

Told from third person perspective PLAYING DIRTY IN ALASKA follows businessman and pilot Archer Ellison as he attempts to win back the woman he loves. Four year earlier, Archer was forced out of our heroine’s life but has never stopped loving the woman whose heart he broke. With his arrival in Captivity, Alaska, Archer Ellison begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine but Bridget has built a wall around her heart, a wall that Archer is determined to tear down, one brick at a time. A bet between our couple finds Bridget injured and unable to fly, and Archer offers up his services in an effort to win back the woman he loves. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Bridget and Archer, and the potential fall-out as Bridget continues to struggle with issues of trust that are about to push our couple apart.

Meanwhile Bridget is unable to let go of the guilt about her brother’s death. In times of stress, Bridget’s brother’s ‘ghost’ returns to talk to his sister, trying relieve our heroine of her broken heart.

The relationship between Bridget and Archer is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between two people torn apart by power and control, money and deception, family and duty. Bridget never knew the truth about Archer’s disappearance, and in the ensuing years, the anger continued to build until Bridget felt there was nothing and no one to tame her heart. Archer had never stopped loving our story line heroine, and was determined to make amends for sins of the past but proving he was worthy of a second chance meant breaking down barriers Bridget placed around her heart. 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 colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Bridget’s brother and co-owner of Captivity Air Trace and his soon to be wife Izzy (Wild in Captivity 1) , Inn owner Rose Iquat, and her daughter Lilah; bar owner/ former Army special forces Ford Langley; pilots Wyatt ‘Wingnut’ Jensen and Maddox ‘Mad Dog’ Douglas. We are introduced to Archer’s sister Ainsley, and their father Archer Ellison II.

PLAYING DIRTY IN ALASKA is a story of grief and loss, family and relationships, friendships, secrets, power and control, second chances and love. The premise is emotional, tragic and compelling; the romance is spirited and fated; the characters are sassy, broken, and energetic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one WILD IN CAPTIVITY

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Wine lover, sleep fanatic, and USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy contemporary romance novels, Samanthe Beck lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her long-suffering husband, Charles, and their turbo-son, Hud. Throw in a furry ninja assassin named Gander, a few hundred Nerf blasters, one electric guitar, (with amp!), and…well…you get the picture.

When not dreaming up fun, fan-your-cheeks ways to get her characters to happy-ever-after, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with ASMR podcasts.

Share

One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner – a Review

Posted on by
11

One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Frankie Elkin, who readers first met in Before She Disappeared, learns of a young man who has gone missing in a national forest. Law enforcement has abandoned the search, but a crew of people led by the young man’s father are still looking. Sensing a father’s desperation, Frankie agrees to help–but soon sees that a missing person isn’t all that’s wrong here. And when more people start to vanish, Frankie realizes she’s up against something very dark–and she’s running out of time.

 

 

Review:

One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner is the 2nd book in her Frankie Elkin series.  I have read a few series by Gardner, and I think she is one of the best authors who write suspense thrillers, as I have loved all her books. 

Frankie Elkin, our heroine, is the star of this series; she is a recovering alcoholic, who devotes all of her time to find missing people that are cold cases. Over the years she has found 15 people, with the majority not found alive.  When she reads about a woman who is dying, and wants to be buried next to her presumed dead son, Tim, who disappeared 5 years ago; she learns that a group is planning to do another search, and Frankie decides to join them.  The experienced group consists of the missing boy’s father, the four boys who went camping together 5 years ago, a woman and her cadaver dog, the local wilderness expert, and a bigfoot expert.   When Frankie approaches them, at first, they do not want her, even if one tells them she does find missing people; but one of the boys gets sick, they allow Frankie to become part of the search.

The difficult trek into the woods has them all exhausted, but Martin, the father, pushes them to keep going.  In a short time, things change, as overnight they are being sabotaged (food stolen, camp in disarray, etc.); and they realized that someone is out to stop them from continuing the journey. The story was set in the Shoshone National Forest, which became creepy each passing day, especially after they learn many more people were missing over the years. 

I loved Daisy, who was the perfect search and rescue dog, and her handler, Luciana; with Frankie becoming closer to them.  Frankie is a great heroine, as she is tough, street savvy, smart and tenacious. She makes sure to talk and question all the other members of the group, to get her feel of what really happened, as well as being concerned by who is now hunting them.   

The last half of the book was a tense, scary, exciting thriller that kept me glued to my kindle, especially with everyone fighting for survival, and the danger escalates as slowly one by one they fall.  Who will survive?  Who is the villain?

What follows is an amazing, action-packed, exciting & intense thriller, where Frankie finds herself in some dangerous situations, as she desperately tries to survive in the wilderness. As we get closer to the end, there are a number of surprises and twists, which had me on the edge of my seat.  

Once again, Lisa Gardner gives us a fabulous intense exciting story, that was very well written. As noted previously, you can never go wrong reading Lisa Gardner, who always writes fantastic suspense psychological thrillers.  I suggest you read One Step Too Far, which was a fantastic story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan -a Review

Posted on by
10

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan -a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

 

 

Review:

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is the first book in her The Celestial Kingdom Duology. Xingyin, our heroine, has lived all her life on the Moon with her mother, the Moon Goddess (Chang’e), who was exiled many years ago, after stealing her husband’s elixir of immortality; Chang’e had taken the elixir in order to save her unborn child’s (Xingyin) life.  Xingyin was hidden, as the Celestial Kingdom Emperor has no idea of a child living on the Moon. 

When the Celestial Empress comes to visit Chang’e, and promises to visit more often, the Moon Goddess forces her daughter to leave or she will be killed.  Xingyin travels alone and ends up in the Celestial Kingdom, and eventually meets a young man who befriends her.  In a short time, she learns that Liwei, is in fact the crown prince and to her surprise, a friendship builds with him helping her become a companion and training her how to fight with swords and archery.  Xingyin and Liwei slowly fall in love, but he is forced into a betrothal by his family, and Xingyin knows she has no future with him. Xingyin becomes a master with a bow, and receives and accepts the offer to join the army, where she excels becoming the First Archer.

What follows is Xingyin stepping up to rise up as one of the most important members of the Celestial army, as she continually faces perilous and dangerous quests, which include wild creatures and enemies, that she manages to defeat, making her reputation legendary.  Xingyin is an amazing heroine, who is strong, smart, savvy and fearless.  She starts working closely with Wenzhi, a decorated officer who is a Military leader for the Celestial Kingdom; slowly she begins to care about him, though she still loves Liwei. Though she knows he will marry someone else, but he is always still there to help her, as well as give her support. With two love interests, we watch has she tries to follow her true destination; Will she allow herself to move forward with Wenzhi, and leave Liwei to his expected marriage of convenience.

Xingyin will face some dangerous quests, which will have her facing the Celestial Emperor to bargain for a past that was done so wrong. Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a fantastic high fantasy that was set in Asian mythology, with a wonderful heroine, and great secondary characters, villains, excellent world building and action-packed adventures. 

Sue Lynn Tan wrote a magnificent, intriguing, captivating story, especially in her debut novel, which was so very well written.  I look forward to the next book in this duology.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Share