Monthly Archives: May 2022

Nightwork by Nora Roberts – a Review

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Nightwork by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

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Description:
Harry Booth started stealing at nine to keep a roof over his ailing mother’s head, slipping into luxurious, empty homes at night to find items he could trade for precious cash. When his mother finally succumbed to cancer, he left Chicago—but kept up his nightwork.

Wandering from the Outer Banks to Savannah to New Orleans, he dons new identities and stays careful, observant, distant. He can’t afford to attract attention—or get attached. Still, he can’t help letting his guard down when he meets Miranda Emerson. But the powerful bond between them cannot last—because not all thieves follow Harry’s code of honor. Some pay others to take risks so they can hoard more treasures. Some are driven by a desire to own people the way they own paintings and jewels. And after Harry takes a lucrative job commissioned by Carter LaPorte, LaPorte sees a tool he can use, and decides he wants to own Harry.

The man is a predator more frightening than the alligators that haunt the bayou—and when he strongarms Harry into robbing a Baltimore museum, Harry abandons Miranda—cruelly, with no explanation—and disappears. But no matter what name he uses or where he goes, LaPorte casts a shadow over Harry’s life. To truly free himself, he must face down his enemy once and for all. Only then can he hope to possess something more valuable than anything he has ever stolen…

 

 

Review:

Nightwork by Nora Roberts is another one of her wonderful standalone novels.  We meet our hero, Harry Booth, who at the age of 9, began a career of being a thief.  Harry’s mother had cancer, and together with his aunt Mags, they struggled to help his mom, and be able to pay the bills, from doctors, hospital, treatment, as well as mortgage payments.  Harry started with pick pocketing to pay the bills, but that was only the beginning; as he migrated into slipping into wealthy people’s homes to steal valuable jewelry or paintings. 

After a number of years, his mother succumbed to cancer, and Harry left his home town of Chicago, and continued his ‘nightwork’, traveling to different countries, becoming the best thief in the world.  Harry always followed the rules, never hurt anyone, be non- threatening, and steal from the very rich. Over the years, it was great to watch Harry visit so many places during this journey; Europe, Outer Banks, Savannah, and New Orleans; always changing his identity.  In New Orleans, Harry met some wonderful people, and became close to Sebastian, and seeing his aunt Mags, who also travelled a lot. With Sebastian’s help, Harry takes a lucrative commission from a man (Carter LaPorte), which is successful, but LaPorte will become obsessed with owning Harry for himself.   Harry changes his name again and moves on to go to school, and meets Miranda Emerson, with both being very attracted to each other, but when LaPorte finds him, he knows he must run away again, leaving Miranda heartbroken.

What follows years later, Harry has managed to hide from LaPorte, as well become a chameleon working mostly in Europe, until he spots LaPorte’s enforcer.  This forces Harry to return to America, and take a job as a teacher, not doing any kind of nightwork.  Harry loves his job, working with the kids, and is happy.  Then one day, using another name, he comes face to face with Miranda, who has become a successful writer. I really loved Miranda and Harry (now called Booth) together, as well as his Aunt Mags, Sebastian and many of the secondary characters.  I was happy that slowly Miranda will begin to learn the truth about Harry’s life, and if they want a normal life, without danger, they must work together with him to find a way to defeat LaPorte. The last third of the book was intense and exciting climax

Nightwork was a wonderful amazing uplifting story that held my attention from beginning to end; as Harry’s life totally captivated me.  Nightwork had a bit of everything, romance, suspense, mystery, family, friendship, as well as the many exciting adventures along the way. Though he was a thief that started when he was a child helping his mother, Harry was always a good guy.  Nightwork was so very well written by Nora Roberts.  I wholly suggest you read this fantastic book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Etched in Honor (Aspen Pack 1) by Carrie Ann Ryan-Review tour

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Etched in Honor (Aspen Pack 1) by Carrie Ann Ryan-Review tour

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date

The betrayal that had nearly taken out the Aspen Pack has passed, but the ramifications of starting with a new hierarchy are taking their toll on Audrey Porter. Once traitor to the former leaders for trying to save their people, she’s now the Beta of the Pack and must try to hold their shattered remains together. Only she never expected the man from her past to awaken memories long since buried.

Gavin Powers is the new Tracker for the Aspen, yet it feels as though he’s always been part of the Pack, rather than a newcomer trying to heal a people long since thought forgotten. There are secrets within the den that could alter how the world sees shifters, and if Gavin isn’t careful, his attraction to Audrey could ruin everything.

There is a mysterious new enemy on the horizon, one long since vanquished into myth. As the darkness surrounding the Packs is unveiled, it will take a wolf and a lioness to unbury the past and fight for their future—or risk losing everything before it begins.

•••••••

REVIEW:Etched In Honor is the first book in a new shifter series by Carrie Ann Ryan, and what a treat it is. Aspen Pack book one is a story of messed up fate and redemption, plus no one does a shifter romance like C.A.R.

Audrey and Gavin start their relationship off rocky, their past littered with complications and mystery. Audrey has taken on the role as Beta for the pack, and Gavin follows as tracker, both trying to find their way and save their people. While this story does focus on the pair, you really get to see how the Aspen Pack is rebuilding after the loss they suffered and I think that has a lot to do with the struggle of both Audrey and Gavin and how much the new pack means to them.

Audrey wants to be strong for her Pack, and Gavin is trying to find a home, together they want to build something that will last. All the while they are trying to build something new with a sturdy foundation, they also have to deal with the most completed history I have read in a shifter book. I loved the vulnerability of Audrey and how much she comes to value Gavin and his insight on their new bond. As that bond grows, we get the spicy bits and who doesn’t love those.

-Laughs-

Through thick and thin, Gavin and Audrey learn to trust and love one another, but when that trust is tested by an unknown enemy after their Pack, who knows what will happen. This was such a kicker when you finally get the low-down of what the big bad is and dang, I didn’t see that coming. Here is hoping that we get more with the next books in the series.

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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Gravitate (NOLA Defiance MC 1) by KE Osborn-Review tour

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Gravitate (NOLA Defiance MC 1) by KE Osborn-Review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 19, 2022

I’m not a decent guy.
I don’t do commitment.
Women know the score before they land in my bed.

But there is something about this feisty tattoo artist. She makes my blood boil. But with that pure, unadulterated rage comes an ache deep inside I simply can’t ignore.
I despise her.
I shouldn’t want her.
The problem is—every part of me does.
And it’s a complication I can no longer ignore.

With threats against the club from our persistent rivals, it’s becoming clear we can’t be sure who to trust.
As the saying goes… keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
But without knowing, I’ve invited mine right in, and I’m falling for her hard.
And when we hit the ground, I know it’s gonna hurt!

•••••

REVIEW:GRAVITATE is the first instalment in KE Osborn’s contemporary, adult NOLA DEFIANCE MC dark, erotic, MC romance series-a spin off from the author’s Houston Defiance MC series. This is NOLA Defiance MC president Lynx ‘Hurricane’ Ladet, and tattoo artist Kaia Mahoe’s story line. The NOLA Defiance MC is first introduced in the author’s SURVIVE (Houston Defiance MC 8). Some of the events of GRAVITATE cross over with the events of SURVIVE.

NOTE: If you have not read SURVIVE (Houston Defiance MC 8) there may be spoilers in my review.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise including graphic violence and breath play (autoerotic asphyxiation), there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives including Hurricane and Kaia, following several intersection pathways, GRAVITATE focuses on the building relationship between NOLA Defiance MC president Lynx ‘Hurricane’ Ladet, and tattoo artist Kaia Mahoe, and the impending war between the NOLA Defiance MC, and the Novikov Russian Bratva. Weeks earlier NOLA Defiance MC president Lynx ‘Hurricane’ Ladet lost his best friend and club VP Razor during a battle with the Bayou Militia, a battle they were called in to help with the Houston Defiance MC. To honor his fallen friend, Hurricane commissions a memorial tattoo where he will meet tattoo artist Kaia Mahoe, the woman that will immediately get under his skin. From the outset, Kaia is ascerbic and condescending towards our story line hero but a communication mix-up finds Hurricane’s attitude and actions towards Kaia angry and antagonistic. Weeks will pass, and our couple will run into one another on numerous occasions including a tattoo convention in Vegas but their caustic meetings continue to be a prelude to future interactions. Meanwhile, the Russian Bratva is attempting to take over the drug territory from the NOLA Defiance MC, an attempt that is going to pull the MC into a deadly and dangerous war for control. What ensues is the building but antagonistic relationship between Hurricane and Kaia, and the potential fall-out when betrayal destroys the woman with whom Hurricane is falling in love.

NOLA Defiance MC needs a new VP, and Hurricane’s brother Bayou refuses to accept the position offered. To fill the vacant seat, Hurricane approaches the Los Angeles chapter of the Defiance MC, and requests the transfer of their sargent at arms City, a transfer that will alleviate City’s growing anxiety with the Los Angeles MC.

The relationship between Hurricane and Kaia begins when Hurricane commissions a tattoo from Kaia Mahoe but Kaia is a strong-willed, independent woman whose private life is about to cross over with the NOLA Defiance MC. Hurricane is unable to get past his attraction to Kaia but a perceived betrayal against the Defiance MC finds Kaia struggling to understand what has happened and why, as she faces the wrath of the Defiance MC. When the truth is revealed, Kaia is unable to forgive the man with whom she was falling in love, a man who is battling between head and heart knowing he destroyed the heart of the woman he loved. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense including scenes of breath play and autoerotic asphyxiation.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters as GRAVITATE introduces the members of the NOLA Defiance MC including new VP City, Felix, Raid, horticulturalist Maxxy, Bodhi, Omen,Ghoul, Hoodoo, Quarter, and club girl Frankie. We meet Kaia’s twenty-five year old sister Lani who struggles with a life-threatening disability, and their father Maka Mahoe; Hurricane’s brother Bayou, their step-mother Ingrid, and step siblings Novah and Nash Harrington; MC member Grudge and his son, aspiring boxer Cole; tattoo shop owner Jackson, receptionist Quinn, and boxing team member Yuri. The requisite evil has many faces. City’s story line is next in ISOLATE.

GRAVITATE is a complex and detailed story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, that introduces the back ground and players in the NOLA Defiance MC. The premise is dramatic, haunting, raw and gritty; the characters are edgy and intense; the romance is provocative and impassioned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

KE OSBORN

With a flair for all things creative, International Bestselling Author K E Osborn, is drawn to the written word. Exciting worlds and characters flow through her veins, coming to life on the page as she laughs, cries, and becomes enveloped in the storyline right along with you. She’s entirely at home when writing sassy heroines and alpha males that rise from the ashes of their pasts.

K E Osborn comforts herself with tea and Netflix, after all, who doesn’t love a good binge?

Turn lust into love at www.keosbornauthor.com

AUTHOR LINKS

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WITCHHUNTER (Witchhunter 1 & 2) by Quinn Blackbird- release

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WITCHHUNTER (Witchhunter 1 & 2) by Quinn Blackbird-release

WITCHHUNTER: Release Date: April 26, 2022

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MAGNIFIER: Release Date: May 20, 2022

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ABOUT THE BOOK: WITCHHUNTER

‘I want to hurt people, those awful, unspectacular humans. But the Hunters …? Oh, what I wouldn’t give to tear them limb from limb.’

The land is divided into two, split by the dangerous mountains that cut us into two: Home of the Hunters and the home of the Witches, forever at war.

Once, I belonged to the lands where people and Hunters live — until the Change came and my family whisked me away to the mountains, seeking safety for my rising witchery. They didn’t make it beyond the mountains and the Hunters that lurk there, ready to slaughter my kind and anyone who helps us.
I made it, though.
And I promised on the very day that I was orphaned, I will dedicate my life to the utter destruction of all Hunters across the land, even if it costs me the last breath in my body.

…that final breath seems to be inching closer when a mission to save Witches before the Change goes so terribly wrong, and I wind up a prisoner of a Hunter so beautiful that his face is just asking to be torn apart.
I doubt I’ll survive what wicked tortures he has in store for me. But he can bet his charming smile that when I go down, I’m taking him with me.
Even if it’s the last thing I do.

ABOUT THE BOOK: MAGNIFIER

The name Fox was given to me for a reason. I’m a sly, cunning witch—and I use it to my advantage.

My talents didn’t save my sisters when we found ourselves trapped in a small village that witchhunters were passing through.The battle was bloody, brutal and inevitable.
I should have died alongside my sisters.He should have been slaughtered alongside his brothers.Yet, Henrik and I were the last ones standing.And he took me captive…

I’m shackled, powerless, and chained to this brute as he travels me across the land to meet a not-so-mysterious fate.It’s not often witchhunters come across my kind of power: Magnifying.
I know what awaits me at the end of this journey. Torture, more torture, then death.

But a fox doesn’t go down without a fight. And I will fight until my heart gives its final beat.

Better yet, I’ll tear off that witchhunter’s pretty face as I fall down—When I get the damn chance, that is.And since his eyes always seem to be lingering on me, my chances are few are far between.

•••••

REVIEW:  Witches live on one side, Hunters live on the other with a huge mountain range dividing them. They use to be allies, but something happened to make them enemies……

Dark paranormal romance, trigger warnings, so please be advised before grabbing this book.

It’s a four part series, and each part ends on a cliffhanger, you can buy them separately, but I’m glad I got the Boxset. I read it in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down. It’s not overly long, but it’s packed with plenty of things going on…..

It’s definitely an enemies to lovers read. And the main characters have plenty of hate for one another. Pretty fast paced and lots of action. There are a few silly mistakes on the book, but it doesn’t take away from the main story. Witches and Hunters are bitter enemies, both have lost loved ones, so when they get the chance to fight one another they will.

So when a battle sees our two main characters come face to face you won’t know the outcome, both are eventually matched, so it could go either way…..But when she is taken hostage by the Hunters, she thinks it’s all over! But she won’t go without a fight.

There is torture, there is a few dark moments. But there is also a few light moments. It’s good to see that both the main characters don’t give in to an immediate attraction. In fact if you’ve read this authors work before, then you’ll know her hero’s are hero’s at all!

So can she trick the Hunter into letting her go? Or will this be the last sunrise she’ll ever see?

I don’t want to give anything away, so if you like your stories dark, then give it a go, but I’d recommend the Boxset rather than the individual stories ?

Own a copy

? Reviewed by Julie B

What kind of world ruler would you be?

Probably not a very good one. You might think that as a high school English teacher I’d be ideal. But unfortunately, classroom management isn’t my strong suit and that, of course, is what ruling the world is all about.

Ideally, a world ruler would be able to address all the anger and divisiveness plaguing the world today, and convince everyone to work together, regardless of differing opinions. I’d have to address the bad behavior of many so-called “leaders” by putting them on time out until they had time to think through their actions, and decide they wanted to do better. Unfortunately, detention could never last for that many years, er uh, decades. Even if we could pay for professionals to stay with them, there would probably be some kind of child endangerment laws or false imprisonment nonsense to worry about.

Then there’s the matter of dealing with everyone’s problems. Constant whining is the hardest part of teaching, and I can only imagine it would be worse on a global scale. With all the rich screaming about having to share their wealth and resources, and the poor complaining I’m not changing things fast enough, I’d get another one of my blinding headaches, slap someone and lose my job.

Oh, wait. That’s teachers who get fired for slapping someone who richly deserves it. That doesn’t seem to apply to the rich, the famous and the ones who run things. With that kind of protection, maybe I could do this job after all.

Or maybe I should stick to doing what I do best: imagining a better world, laying it out in fiction, which doesn’t argue with me (or at least, not enough to keep me from doing it) and sharing it with the world in the hopes that my readers will be inspired to get to work and fix the actual problems that I can’t.

It’s worth a try.

Quinn Blackbird loves an anti-hero.
All of her villains stay submerged in ‘dark’ so expect little redemption. She thinks them up over hot coffees and warm cups of tea on the porch.
When not writing, Quinn is either tackling a new face mask or snuggling with a book on the couch with her two pups.
After living in Scotland most of her life, Quinn then moved around the world writing for a few years, visiting distant family. Though she loved Australia the most–only in summer!–she has decided to put down some roots in Paris once everything has settled down.

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Between Bloode and Wolf by Marie Harte-a review

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Between Bloode and Wolf (Between the Shadows 4) by Marie Harte-a review

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What do a missing artifact, a lycan war, a sexy vampire in hot pursuit, and a sorcerer casting illegal death magic have in common?Just another day at the office for lycan berserker Riley Foster.

Berserker Riley Foster rescued her cousin from vampires chasing after her pack’s stolen artifact. Not long after, she’s forced to work alongside the powerful vamps to find said artifact—for their goddess?

Vampires don’t worship anything but themselves, but Kraft of the Night Bloode has been sent to recover a weird little wolf statue for his patron—the goddess, Hecate. Unfortunately, the lycans are playing games.

Kraft demands to work with their powerful berserker, who intrigues him to no end. She’s strong, beautiful, and lets no one push her around. Except her pack, who insists she mate before her hundredth birthday in just a few more weeks.

She’s on a deadline she doesn’t want to meet.

He’s falling for a “lesser being” who shouldn’t be anywhere on his radar.

When it comes to their common enemy, they’ve got even more problems. A rogue sorcerer is bent on creating something horrible with the artifact, and it’s up to Kraft and Riley to stop him before he brings forth monsters that even vampires and lycans dread. Riley will have to make a choice, between her future with her pack and her future with Kraft, a vampire who isn’t long for this world if she doesn’t make the right decision. Fast.

•••••

REVIEW:BETWEEN BLOODE AND WOLF is the fourth instalment in Marie Harte’s contemporary, adult BETWEEN THE SHADOWS paranormal, fantasy romance series. This is 100 years old Lycan/Beserker Riley Foster, and ninety-two year old Nachzehrer/wolf shifter vampire Kraft’s story line. BETWEEN BLOODE AND WOLF can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

SOME BACKGROUND: There are ten tribes of vampires each made up of individual clans, all male, and each tribe of vampire has a different gift. Tribes hate other tribes, and clans hate other clans, even within the same tribe. Six Bloode Stones, thought to be the tears of the Primus Ambrogio, the ancestor of the vampires, are missing, and the meeting of all six stones, will ‘cause’ peace to fall upon the vampire race, the Blood Empire will unite and rule the worlds by destroying and consuming every living beast including the human race. The goddess Hecate has gathered six of the most powerful vampires from six tribes, creating the Night Bloode family, a family that must battle to save the world.

Told from third person perspective BETWEEN BLOODE AND WOLF follows Nachzehrer vampire Kraft as he is tasked to retrieve an ancient artifact, an artificat stolen by a former Lycan prisoner. Thought to contain one of the mythical Bloode Stones, the artifact is now in the possession of a Lycan /direwolf Pack, a pack where Kraft is about to meet his fated mate. Enter lycan/beserker Riley Foster, and the woman with whom Kraft will fall in love. As Riley and Kraft begin their search for the missing artifact, which is now in the possession of someone else, our couple will have to face off against reanimated vampires, witches, magirs, several lycan packs hoping to destroy both Kraft and Riley, and a powerful warlock who practices the dark arts and sacrifice but the artifact isn’t the only thing target for possession and its’ power, as Riley and Kraft find themselves in a battle for the lives, a battle where not everyone will survive.

The relationship between Riley and Kraft is one of immediate attraction but neither Kraft or Riley is looking for a mate. Riley is expected to mate with one of her own kind but time spent together would reveal that Riley and Kraft are fated by love and DNA. 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 frenetic secondary and supporting characters including all of the members of the Night Bloode clan, as well as the goddess Hecate, Mormo, vampires Khent and Rolf, Orion’s kitten Shadow aka Paz, and the dark elf Onvyr. We are introduced to several members of Riley’s Crimson Claw pack including cousin Max and their alpha Jack, as well as several members of competing packs of wolves. The requisite evil has many faces -warlock Sebastian Castle, and alpha in waiting of the Wildridge Pack Julian Wildridge.

BETWEEN BLOODE AND WOLF is a fast paced, action packed story of family, relationships, power and control, death and destruction, mayhem and magic. The premise is edgy and tragic; the characters are animated and powerful; the romance is fated and spirited.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Between Bloode and Stone
Between Bloode and Craft
Between Bloode and Water

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Dirty Plays (Florida Devils 2) by Michelle A Valentine -a review

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DIRTY PLAYS (Florida Devils 2) by Michelle A Valentine-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 29, 2022

Zayn and I have been working hard to keep the relationship between us a secret. If we’re discovered after the Devil’s football organization forbid him to have any romantic relationships, he risks a possible suspension.

Zayn’s way of concealing our relationship is passing me off as his niece in order to explain why we’re together all of the time until the season is over. This crazy plan might just work if my ex, who is also Zayn’s nephew, stops trying to win me back and keeps his mouth shut.

••••••••••

REVIEW: DIRTY PLAYS is the second instalment in Michelle A Valentine’s contemporary, adult FLORIDA DEVILS erotic, romance serialized trilogy. This is the continuing story of thirty-four year old professional football player Zayn North, and twenty-four year old production assistant Vivi Honeycutt. DIRTY PLAYS should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the cliff hanger of book one DIRTY GAMES.

SOME BACKGROUND: Zayn North has been followed by scandal for the better part of a year, and the Florida Devils have ‘ordered’ our hero to stay out of the public eye including no relationships for the foreseeable future but the arrival of Vivi, his half-nephew’s ex-girlfriend, stirs something deep within Zayn North, something he struggles to keep contained in the face of living under the same roof.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Zayn and Vivi) DIRTY PLAYS picks up immediately after the events of book one DIRTY GAMES . Vivi’s ex-boyfriend has come to Florida hoping for a second chance but another scandal is about to rock Zayn North’s career, and to appease the people in charge, Zayn is forced to ‘date’ Gia Whitt, the team owner’s grand daughter and a reality star who has caused much strife in our heroine’s life but everything begins to spiral out of control as Zayn refuses to partake in the ruse, any longer, and must face the wrath of his brother’s son.

DIRTY PLAYS is a story of betrayal and vengeance, desperation and association, obsession and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is erotic and intense; the characters are desperate and determined. DIRTY PLAYS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one DIRTY GAMES

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Website / Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ Blog/

Michelle A. Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Rock the Heart. Wicked White is the first novel in her Wicked White romance series. She attended college as a drafting and design major, but her love of people soon persuaded her to join the nursing field. It wasn’t until after the birth of her son that she began her love affair with romance novels, and she hasn’t looked back since. When she’s not writing, she feeds her music addiction, dabbles in party planning, and expresses herself by working with arts and crafts. She currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, son, and two beloved dogs.

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The Rogue (The Intelligence Unit 4) by Kimberly Kincaid-a review

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The Rogue (The Intelligence Unit 4) by Kimberly Kincaid-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 10, 2022

The scars that cut deepest are the ones beneath the surface…

Detective Addison Hale is a survivor. The armor she uses to hide her scars keeps her safe on the job, and holding people at arm’s length is a small price to pay when there’s a stalker on the loose. Especially since he’s after the sister of impulsive firefighter Ryan Dempsey, who she had a scorching-hot fling with two months ago.

The fling she can’t forget, even though she knows how dangerous it is to get close. To feel.

Ryan will do anything to keep his sister safe, even if it means he has to play by Addison’s rules. But when the stalker sets his sights on the smart, sexy detective, Ryan finds he’ll do anything for her, including risk his life to fight at her side.

But this enemy is as cunning as he is deadly and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Addison and Ryan must outrun the shadows and outwit a killer.

No matter the cost.

•••••

REVIEW:  THE ROGUE is the fourth instalment in Kimberly Kincaid’s contemporary adult THE INTELLIGENCE UNIT erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women who work as first responders for the Remington Fire and Police. This is firefighter Ryan Dempsey, and Detective Addison Hale’s story line. THE ROGUE can  be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

 
Told from three third person perspectives THE ROGUE follows in the months after a one-night stand between our leading couple. Firefighter Ryan Dempsey’s younger sister Chloe believes she is being stalked, and Ryan is taking no chances with his sister’s safety. A call to the RPD finds Ryan facing his one-night stand, Detective Addison Hale, the woman who ghosted our hero the next morning. As Addison and the RPD begin an investigation into the alleged stalking, things begin to take an ominous turn when the RPD struggles to close on the deal. Meanwhile, Ryan and Addison continue to dance around their sexual attraction, an attraction that is quickly turning into something more. What ensues is the building relationship between Addison and Ryan, and the potential fall-out as Chloe’s stalker takes aim at someone else.
 
Detective Addison Hale doesn’t do relationships; never stays over night; refuses to give anyone a second chance but the wall around Addison’s heart is slowly crumbling as Ryan Dempsey continues to break down her barriers, one brick  and donut at a time. Ryan Dempsey has never forgotten about the one who got away but never expected to come face to face with Addison Hale when his sister’s life is threatened by a total stranger. Ryan doesn’t want to sit back and wait for something to happen, and in this, Ryan is about to place himself in the direct line of fire, in an effort to protect the sister he loves.
 
The relationship between Ryan and Addison is slow to burn as Addison walks away without looking back. Addison battles between head and heart having lived through a painful childhood and her parent’s brutal marriage, a marriage and brutality that has scarred Addison’s heart to her own happily ever after. Ryan Dempsey is determined to prove that Addison is worthy of love, as he slowly seduces our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and erotic, without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.
 
There is a large ensemble cast of energetic secondary and supporting characters many of whom we have met in previous instalments. We are introduced to Ryan’s sisters Chloe and Grace, as well as Addison’s sole source of support Master Ah-lam. 
 
THE ROGUE is a story of obsession and delusion, family and friendships, revelations and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is provocative and hot; the characters are passionate and intense.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Rookie
The Guardian
The Grifter

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet and hot and edgy romantic suspense. When she’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a USA Today best-selling author and a 2016 and 2015 RWA RITA® finalist and 2014 Bookseller’s Best nominee who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

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Website: https://kimberlykincaid.com

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Sand Dollar Lane (Moonlight Harbor 6) by Sheila Roberts-a review

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Sand Dollar Lane (Moonlight Harbor 6) by Sheila Roberts-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 26, 2022

Brody Green is finding it hard to recover after being dumped by his fiancée, Jenna Jones, then watching her walk down the aisle with someone else. Jenna is determined to make up for her love defection and find him the perfect woman, but Brody is done with love. First a divorce, then a broken engagement. From now on he’s keeping things light, no commitments. Luckily Brody’s business is booming. Beach Dreams Realty is the best real estate company in town. And the only one. Until…

Lucy Holmes needs a new start. In business, in love, in…everything. If ever there was a cliché, it was her life back in Seattle. She was a real estate broker working with her husband until she caught him trying out the walk-in shower in a luxury condo—with another agent. She’s always been the more successful of the two, and with him gone, she’s determined to build a business even bigger than what she had. Moonlight Harbor is a charming town and it has only one real estate agency. Surely there’s room for a little competition.

Or not. Looks like it’s going to be a hot market in Moonlight Harbor. And maybe these two competitors will make some heat of their own.

••••••

REVIEW:SAND DOLLAR LANE is the sixth instalment in Sheila Roberts’ contemporary, adult MOONLIGHT HARBOR romance series. This is real estate agents Brody Green, and Lucy Holmes’ story line. SAND DOLLAR LANE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

Told from third person perspective SAND DOLLAR LANE follows in the wake of forty- four year old Lucy Holmes discovering her husband is having an affair with his much younger assistant. Hoping for a fresh start, Lucy, along with her teenaged daughter Hannah, moves to the small town of Moonlight Harbor where Lucy will find she is not the only real estate agent in town. Enter single father Brody Green, and Moonlight Harbor’s only realtor. Lucy believes a little bit of competition is good for the soul but Lucy and Brody will butt heads, masking an barely veiled attraction between our leading couple. What ensues is the slow building but tempestuous relationship between Brody and Lucy, and the potential fall-out as Lucy’s ex comes back hoping for a second chance.

Meanwhile, Lucy’s daughter Hannah has fallen for Brody’s son Declan, and their parents’ petulant relationship begins to take its toll, threatening the growing happiness between H & D.

The slow building relationship between Lucy and Brody begins acrimoniously as Brody is all but threatened by Lucy’s success in a town that does not require another real estate agency. Pushing one another’s proverbial buttons, Lucy and Brody continue to dance around the ‘elephant in the room’, a dance that reveals Brody doesn’t do relationships, preferring to keep Lucy on the sidelines as a competitor and friend. There are no $ex scenes-any physical contact is limited to a singular, chaste kiss.

The secondary and supporting characters include Lucy’s daughter Hannah and Lucy’s ex-husband Evan, and her sister and brother in law Darla and Orren ; Brody’s son Declan; Brody’s ex Jenna and her husband Seth, handyman Carl, and a large assortment of townsfolk and friends.

SAND DOLLAR LANE is a well-written but slow moving story line exacerbated by the hero’s inability to commit or move forward; a relationship in which there is no discernible or palpable sexual attraction between our leading couple as Brody refuses to accept Lucy as a permanent fixture in his life. Continuously reminding our heroine that he has loved and loss, Brody refuses to go down that road, again. The premise is interesting; the romance, in my opinion, is lacking. Lucy is a true and determined heroine; Brody’s attitude and actions left me with mixed feelings about the overall story line.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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