Monthly Archives: August 2022

When Sparks Fly by Jo McNally – a Review

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When Sparks Fly by Jo McNally – a Review

 

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Description:
Between her business, her recent divorce and her teenage daughter who needs her right now, Zoey Hartford has her hands full. Thank goodness she has her best friend, Mike McKinnon, to keep her laughing. Zoey and Mike have gone through everything together—from chemistry class to heartbreak. They would never risk their friendship…until one unexpected but sizzling night changes everything.

Mike is torn. Funny, down-to-earth Zoey in her flannel shirts and messy ponytail always seems so in control…until she melts into his arms. But he won’t come between Zoey and her daughter. They’ll just keep it casual. No drama. No feelings. No messiness. What could go wrong?

But the meddling, matchmaking book club won’t be denied. They may not have set them up, but they recognize a perfect match when they see one. And they’re determined to help Zoey see what’s been right in front of her for so long…

In Lost in Love, single mom Andrea will do anything to make the fall festival a success…even ask the town bad boy for his help.

Rendezvous Falls:
Book 1: Slow Dancing at Sunrise
Book 2: Stealing Kisses in the Snow
Book 3: Barefoot on a Starlit Night
Book 4: Love Blooms

 

Review:

When Sparks Fly by Jo McNally is a friends to lovers story set in the town of Rendezvous Falls. 

Zoey is a busy woman. Running a business,  surviving a divorce and taking care of her daughter, so Zoey doesn’t have time for anything else! Thank goodness her best friend is there to keep her sane! She honestly wouldn’t be able to cope without Mike. Mike lost his wife (she died) so he immersed himself in his job, but always had time for Zoey and her daughter.

Best friends since children, they’ve helped one another through thick and thin. But what happens to a friendship when a one night stand threatens all they hold dear? 

They decide to try a friends with benefits relationship. Can that really work? Can they keep emotions out of the equation? Will this strengthen or ruin their friendship? Both think they can handle the emotions that this new side of their friendship brings, but when doubts 

There are quiet a few funny moments, I loved the book club they did make me smile. Zoey’s daughter was a great character, bringing to this book insights that only a teenager can bring. I really liked both Mike and Zoey, they’ve been friends for such a long time, could they cross that line and become more? The texts they send to one another did have me smiling and chuckling. His twin sister Mary is a great character, she had a sense of humour that would make us friends in the real world. 

There is also a side story (maybe should have been a novella?) it was cute, but it did distract me from the main story a little (just my opinion.) 

So if you like your romance small town full of great moments, then this is definitely the book for you. No need to read the previous books as this story stands on its own. I’d read book 3 in this series and really enjoyed it. There is a bonus story that was a nice surprise at the end of the book (Andrea and Zayne which is also a quick but fun read.) 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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True North (North Brothers 3)by JB Salsbury-Review & excerpt tour

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True North (North Brothers 3) by JB Salsbury-Review & Excerpt tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 9, 2022

The North name is a heavy burden. Two things I learned young—the best way to keep my head on is to keep my head down, and… never fall in love.
But I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress.

Lillian came into my life swinging. Mistaking me for my abusive twin brother, she greets me with a swift kick to the balls and a busted lip. Then she really shakes up my world.

She needs her job, but she needs a break just as much. And nothing silences my demons as efficiently as playing the hero.

To protect her from my jerk twin—her boss—I take her on a business trip and quickly learn that she’s different. Blunt. Honest. Intriguingly strange. I’m transfixed, so when she unknowingly sinks a multimillion-dollar deal, I don’t speak up. Something my family won’t forgive.

Now, I have a choice to make. I can go against my own blood and burn the North legacy to the ground, or play it safe, commit to my self-imposed rules and predestined future. Choosing her would ruin my life as I know it, but I’m starting to wonder if a life without her is worth living.

•••••

REVIEW:TRUE NORTH is the third instalment in JB Salsbury’s contemporary, adult THE NORTH BROTHERS erotic, romance series focusing on the North brothers: Alexander, Kingston and twins Hudson and Hayes. This is thirty-two year old, billionaire businessman Hudson North, and PA Lillian Gillingham’s story line. TRUE NORTH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Hudson and Lillian) TRUE NORTH follows the forbidden relationship between thirty-two year old, billionaire businessman Hudson North, and PA Lillian Gillingham. Lillian Gillingham is Hayes North’s personal assistant but his treatment of Lillian borders on abusive and feral. With Hudson’s assistant on maternity leave, our hero hires Lillian as his assistant for a series of weekend meetings, meetings in which Lillian will offer her opinion in the face of shock and and potential loss. Truthfully blunt, and often without thinking, Lillian is always on the verge of a potential breakdown until the man in charge sends our heroine packing but not before Hudson finds himself falling for the woman that calls to his heart. As Lillian and Hudson’s relationship goes from professional to personal, Hudson discovers a betrayal at the top, a betrayal against the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Hudson and Lillian, and the potential fall-out as Lillian struggles with issues of trust, believing she is Hudson’s latest project, not the woman he loves.

Lillian Gillingham is a bit of a mess. With no official diagnosis, Lillian often finds herself stretched to the limits, honest to the point of blunt and rude, and a little scattered in her every day life. Living with her brother in New York, Lillian battles between head and heart believing she is not worthy of another’s love. Hudson North doesn’t do long term relationships, in fact, it has been several years since anyone has seen our hero with someone else. Lillian is, and was, an employee of the North family, and in this, their relationship is scrutinized by the man at the top. Refusing to walk away, Hudson threatens to bring down the top when secrets are revealed, betraying the woman he loves.

The relationship between Hudson and Lillian is one of immediate attraction but Hayes presents Lillian as a lost cause; a mess, an incompetent, and a nobody who is nothing but a waste of oxygen. Refusing to accept his brother’s description of our story line heroine, Hudson, who has a bit of a savior complex, offers Lillian everything and more, an offer that threatens his position within North Industries. The $ex scenes are erotic, passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Lillian’s brother Aaron and his friend Dirk, and via the phone Lillian’s mother. We are reintroduced to Hudson’s siblings: twin brother Hayes, Alexander and Jordan, Kingston and Gabriella, as well as their father August; Hudson’s driver Carina, and escort Ellie.

TRUE NORTH is a story of dysfunctional family relationships, friendships and love; power and control; acceptance and understanding. The premise is intriguing, captivating and emotional; the romance is seductive and impassioned; the characters are charismatic and determined. TRUE NORTH ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

HudsonWe stroll down the street, taking turns with the fried bread and looking at each booth that offers some variation of Native American cuisine. Lillian finds a way to strike up a conversation with everyone. The woman likes to talk. And I’m getting an unexpected level of enjoyment watching her.
“Let’s head to the arts section.” She tugs on my jacket sleeve. “I want to get a souvenir—oh, look! A bouncy house!” She hooks her hand into the crook of my elbow.
I startle a little at the contact, even though, so lost in her excitement, she doesn’t seem to notice she’s even touching me.
“We have to jump in the bouncy house!”
“Why? We’re not six years old.”
She drags me closer to the jungle-themed contraption, complete with inflated palm trees, monkeys, and bananas decorating the entrance. “Because it’ll be fun.” She whirls around, her pale blue eyes dancing. “You do remember what fun is, don’t you?”
“My idea of fun isn’t making a fool out of myself in front of a bunch of kids.”
“Why not?” She toes off her shoes. “Kids don’t care if you look like an idiot.”
“You go ahead.”
“You’re missing out,” she calls as she ducks through the strips of green plastic made to look like hanging vines.
Within one minute, she’s laughing with the kids, jumping in a blur of black, with her golden hair flying in every direction. I don’t mean to stare, so I pull out my phone, sure that there’s an email I can attend to, but her laughter keeps my eyes from the screen. I’ve never heard a sound so authentic, free from the constraint of social expectation or acceptance. Have I ever met a person who gets this much joy from something so simple and childish? Lillian balks at a three-Michelin-star meal and finds a contagious kind of joy from a bouncy house.
She’s breathing hard as she has an in-depth discussion with the kids about what she dressed up as for Halloween and who would win in a fight between Sophia the First and someone named Doc McStuffins. A little girl asks her where Lillian’s mom is and if she wants to have a playdate tomorrow.
“See that guy there?” Lillian points me out to her new friends. “He’s afraid of bouncy houses.”
The group of littles reply in multiple forms of shock.
An evil smirk tilts her lips. “I think he might feel brave enough to try if you guys go talk to him.”
“Oh, come on…” I grumble.
Three kids who I wouldn’t guess to be older than five come barreling toward me.
“Don’t be scared!”
“My little sister isn’t even afraid!”
“You can hold my hand.” A small hand slips into mine and holds on. The little girl with bright brown eyes and black hair tilts her head back to look up at me, and something warm seeps into my chest. “Just hold on, okay?”
Only an asshole would say no to that face.
I kick off my shoes and let her drag me to the bouncy house. The kids are still shouting their encouragement while Lillian dissolves into a fit of laughter.
“Don’t be a wussy!” one of the boys calls out while jumping furiously.
I release the little girl’s hand and walk straight into Lillian’s space. Her laughter dies, and I watch her throat bob with a hard swallow.
“I’m going to pay you back for this,” I say low so the kids don’t hear, which makes my voice rumble.
A spark fires in her eyes. “You’ll have to catch me first.”

 

Read more here>>> https://bit.ly/3oFoTD6

J.B. Salsbury is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids.

Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance propelled her career as an author.

She spends the majority of her day behind the computer where a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious and begs to be released to the page.

Website: http://www.jbsalsbury.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JBSalsburybooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBSalsbury
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jbsalsbury/

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Deserving Alaska (The Refuge 1) by Susan Stoker-review tour

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Deserving Alaska (The Refuge 1) by Susan Stoker-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo (paper) / Apple / / Google /

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3up8XqX

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release August 9, 2022

The Refuge is a place to heal. Where those who have experienced traumatic events can go to heal. It’s run by seven former military men who’ve seen more than their fair share of the ugliness in the world.

Friend-zoned since childhood by the most amazing man she’s ever known, that doesn’t stop Alaska Stein from doing whatever’s necessary—including lying to the military—to be by his side when Drake ends up in a German hospital after a mission gone wrong. The broken man in the bed is not the boy she once knew. Despite that, and despite years apart, when Drake turns his gaze to Alaska, he sees her. Looks beyond the plain-Jane exterior to his childhood friend beneath. He may never be anything more than a friend, but putting her needs aside to see him whole is a sacrifice she’s willing to make.

Drake “Brick” Vandine walks away from the SEALs after his recovery, building a life around helping others struggling with PTSD. But he can’t walk away from Alaska. She was there for him in his darkest moment and her spine of steel saw him through one of the biggest challenges of his career. And now, although she lives half a world away, she’s still his anchor, his daily dose of support as he and several friends build The Refuge. A place of peace, a place of healing. But, for Drake, also a place of loneliness.

When the unthinkable befalls Alaska during a trip to Russia, it’s Drake’s turn to drop everything and race to her aid. Safely back at The Refuge, he just as quickly realizes what he’s failed to see for two decades—his oldest, dearest friend is the love of his life.

A revelation that may be too little, too late. Because Drake’s brought the enemy right to their door.

**Deserving Alaska is the 1st book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.

••••••••

REVIEW:DESERVING ALASKA is the first instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult THE REFUGE erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on seven former military soldiers. This is forty-year old, former US Navy SEAL Drake ‘Brick’ Vandine, and thirty-nine year old, administrative assistant Alaska Stein’s story line.

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

SOME BACKGROUND : Upon his release from the US Navy, Drake ‘Brick’ Vandine, and six other former members of the military (Stone, Owl, Pipe, Tiny, Spike and Tonka) banded together to buy land in the mountains of New Mexico where they would build and create The Refuge, a place of peace and recovery for people struggling with PTSD.

Told from third person perspective DESERVING ALASKA follows the childhood friends to lovers relationship between forty-year old, former US Navy SEAL Drake ‘Brick’ Vandine, and thirty-nine year old, administrative assistant Alaska Stein.

From the time she turned fourteen years old, Alaska Stein has had a crush on her neighbor, friend, and schoolmate Drake Vandine but Drake was going places without our story line heroine-Drake wanted to be a US Navy SEAL, and Alaska was destroyed when he left without saying goodbye. As the years passed, Alaska kept in touch with Drake’s mother but our heroine needed to escape the trailer park in which she was raised, opting to travel and work in Europe as an administrative assistant. The day would come when Alaska got a call from Drake’s mother saying that her son had been injured while on a secret mission as a Navy SEAL, and Alaska knew the only place she wanted to be was by Drake’s side. Four more years would pass before Drake would once again hear from Alaska, this time, Drake would be the one rescuing our story line heroine when she is abducted while touring alone through Russia, and held captive by a human trafficking ring, preparing to ship Alaska overseas. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship, and romance between Drake and Alaska, and the potential fall-out when the $ex trafficker comes looking for the property he owns.

Alaska Stein considers herself plain and unattractive, having felt like the ugly duckling all of her life. With issues of low self esteem, Alaska struggled in the wake of her abduction and capture for a human trafficking ring, a capture wherein she found herself targeted as an American citizen. Drake never expected to receive a call from our story line heroine, a coded call letting him know she was in trouble and needed his help. With the assistance of the men who own and operate The Refuge, Drake would rescue our heroine, and begin a slow seduction of the woman with whom he would fall in love.

The relationship between Drake and Alaska is a friends to lovers relationship in which Alaska struggles with issues of low self esteem, believing she is unworthy of Drake’s attention and love. Having been targeted for who she is, and what she represents, Alaska can’t believe the intended abuser continues to want what he paid for in full. Watching Alaska bloom at The Refuge means protecting our heroine when the past demands her return, a demand Drake is hoping never comes to fruition. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Brick’s fellow owners at The Refuge: Stone, Owl, Pipe, Tiny, Spike and Tonka, as well as therapist Henley McClure, and in house chef Robert. There may be something developing between Henley and Tonka. The requisite evil has many faces.

DESERVING ALASKA is a story of obsession, power and control; betrayal and vengeance; family, friendships, relationships and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing, engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are broken, struggling but trying to heal.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

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Storm Echo by Nalini Singh – Review & Excerpt

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Storm Echo by Nalini Singh – Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
Silence has fallen. The Psy are free to feel emotion. Free to love. But Silence was never a prison for Ivan Mercant. The biggest threat to his future lies dormant in his brain—a psychic monster that wants only to feed. And now, the brutal leash he’s kept on that monster is slipping. He prepared for this day, for the end of Ivan Mercant . . . but that was before he met Lei.

As primal as she is human, this wild changeling brings color into his life, laughter to his soul. Then the dream shatters in a rain of blood, in silent bodies in the snow. Lei is gone. Vanished without a trace . . . until he meets strangely familiar eyes across a busy San Francisco street.

Soleil Bijoux Garcia is a healer who has lost everything. She exists in a world of desolate aloneness . . . till the day she finds herself face-to-face with a lethal stranger. The animal who is her other half knows this man, but her memories are tattered fragments. Sorrow and a need for vengeance are all that drive her. Her mission? To kill the alpha of the DarkRiver leopard pack.

But fate has other plans. Soon, a deadly soldier who believes himself a monster and a broken healer might be all that stand between life and death for the entire Psy race.

 

 

Review:

Storm Echo by Nalini Singh is the 6th book in her wonderful Psy-Changeling Trinity series.  Nalini Singh continues to be one of my must read go to authors, always loving her Pys-Changeling and Guild Hunter series.  She never fails to give us fantastic stories, great couples and fabulous secondary characters; not to mention her amazing ability to make sure her continued world building is totally flawless.

Ivan Mercant, our hero, is the Mercant family security expert. Ivan considers himself dangerous, with an abnormal brain, able to go deep into the PsyNet with fears of losing control. When Ivan attends training sessions, he meets a young woman, who gives him strange vibes that he has never experienced.

Soleil Bijoux Garcia (Lei), our heroine & a healer, accidently runs into Ivan in the woods, and they both enjoy each other’s company. Lei is an ocelot, whose shifting side recognizes Ivan as their mate.  Even though it has been a short time they have known each other, Ivan finds himself becoming obsessed with Lei. When she doesn’t show up one day, he begins a search and finds a massacre at her pack, and Ivan tries to save her life, but the healers and medics arrive.  He uses all his powers to find Lei, but gives up after time; until one day almost a year later, he recognizes her.

Lei doesn’t remember Ivan, as she is hell bent on visiting Dark River (Leopard pack) to kill Lucas, since she felt he murdered her pack.  Slowly, her Ocelot recognizes Ivan, and she starts to remember some of her memories.  Ivan immediately goes into protector mode, and our wonderful Dark River healer, Tamsyn will help Lei, who will learn quickly that Lucas did not murder her pack, instead he saved most of the survivors, making them members of their pack.  At first Dark River, was not happy to have Ivan with Lei within their territory, but Lucas can see a bond, and in a short time, their relationship will heat up.  Lucas allows her to become a member of Dark River, knowing Ivan will stay with her. 

The bond between Lei and Ivan was wonderful to watch, especially the ocelot side, who was demanding.  Slowly, Lei and Ivan will succumb to their feelings, with her helping Ivan deal with the unknown physical intimacy; fully trusting her. I really loved them both together. 

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing and action-packed story that kept me glued to my kindle, unable to put the book down. Storm Echo was an emotional love story of two damaged people, with a bond that will bring them totally together.  Ivan was able to use his ability to go deep into the PsyNet, with Lei able to monitor him, as he discovers how everything is falling apart, due to the Scarab Queen. Will Ivan be able to survive? Can he find a way to stop the evil Scarab Queen?. 

I also loved seeing many of our previous heroes, such as Lucas, Kaleb, Ena, Tamsyn, Nate, Mercy, Canto, Arden, etc.   Storm Echo was so very well written by Nalini Singh, which has always been the norm. She never fails to captivate me with her engaging creative stories, fantastic plots, and seamless world building; wonderful couples in each and every story; super secondary characters and fantastic world-building.   I loved every moment of Storm Echo.  As I have noted many times, if you have not read Nalini Singh, you are missing a gem of an author.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 


                                Chapter 1

The child has severe attachment issues. It is not Silence. He is simply psychologically damaged to the extent that he may never be able to form an attachment to another on any level. As such, his loyalty to the family cannot be guaranteed. He is a risk.

-Private PsyMed report on Ivan Mercant, age 8 (20 June 2059)

3 May 2083

In terms of age, Ivan fell in the older cadre of Ena’s grandchildren. Younger than Canto, older than Silver and Arwen. He’d also always been the one who gave the family the least trouble-no trouble at all really. Canto was as stubborn as a bull and Silver had a steely spine, and neither ever bent for Ena unless they wished to do so.

As for Arwen, gentle, empathic Arwen could be obstinate in his own way. Like water running over stone. Slow and persistent until the edges of the rock were no longer so sharp and the water had carved a new channel without the rock ever being aware of the change.

Ivan, in contrast, was more wont to say yes than no. Ask any of the other three and they’d never use the words “obstinate” or “stubborn” in relation to Ivan. One of the teenage members of the family had used the term “chill” to describe Ivan, and when Ena had looked up what that term meant when used in that context, she’d had to agree.

Ivan flowed through life, willing to bend, never opposing Ena . . . and still doing exactly what he wanted and nothing else. It had taken a long time for Ena to realize that the least openly stubborn of her grandchildren was also the most relentless in his quiet will. It was Ivan, after all, who’d never studied at the tertiary level, despite Ena’s strong desire that he do so; and it was Ivan who’d chosen to walk a path she’d initially forbidden him from pursuing.

Ivan did as he pleased . . . but he did have one vulnerability.

“Ivan?” she said now, as she watched him pack the final items for his journey to San Francisco. She rarely intruded in the suite he kept at the family compound, but with him leaving today, it was well past time to have this conversation. “Is all well?”

“Of course, Grandmother.” He unzipped a side pocket of his holdall, then reached for a small and flat black bag that could contain either his toothbrush and soap-or a weapon.

There was no way to know when it came to Ivan.

“Are you certain?” She remained in the doorway, for she would not push into the private area of his bedroom-though she knew Ivan wouldn’t rebuff her. That was the problem, and why she asked so little from him. Because Ivan would give it to her. He went his own way when it came to his life and the choices he made, but should Ena ever request he do a task, he’d do so without hesitation.

Whether it was to put a bullet in someone’s head or to allow her in his space.

That was Ivan’s only vulnerability.

From STORM ECHO published by arrangement with Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2022 by Nalini Singh.


 

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Waiting on Forever (McKinney/Walker 4) by Claudia Connor-a review

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Waiting on Forever (McKinney/Walker Brothers 4) by Claudia Connor-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 9, 2022

Dallas Walker is haunted. He won’t ever forget the horrors he witnessed while working undercover to bust a human trafficking ring, but he has a plan to start a new life. Coming home to his family is step one. Getting to know his alluring new neighbor could be step two. If only she’d give him a chance…

Maggie Ellis just wants to be left alone. She’d rather spend her days spinning clay into art and feel nothing than open herself up to another devastating loss. But her sexy new neighbor with a lonely look in his eyes isn’t giving up. And he makes her question everything…

Together, Dallas and Maggie might have a shot at happily ever after. But only if they can let go of the past and hold on to each other when it matters most.

••••••

REVIEW:WAITING ON FOREVER is the fourth instalment in Claudia Connor’s contemporary, adult MCKINNEY/WALKER BROTHERS cross over romance series. This is former police detective now high school teacher Dallas Walker, and pottery maker Maggie Ellis’ story line. WAITING ON FOREVER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines / series is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Dallas and Maggie) WAITING ON FOREVER follows the building romance and relationship between new neighbors former police detective now high school teacher Dallas Walker, and pottery maker Maggie Ellis. Seven years earlier Maggie Ellis lost everyone she loved, and has intentionally isolated herself from everyone else. Fast forward to present day wherein Maggie will meet her new neighbor, Dallas Walker, a man who was often facing struggles of his own but a man who stirred something deep within our story line heroine. As the relationship between Dallas and Maggie begins to unfold, a name from the past throws Dallas’ life into a spiral, a spiral of which Maggie wants nothing to do. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Maggie and Dallas, and the potential fall-out as the past catches up with our story line hero, and Maggie continues to struggle with her ghosts that refuse to let go.

Maggie Ellis sells chicken eggs, and makes pottery, and prefers to keep to herself in light of the Walker/McKinney family determination bring her out. Maggie keeps secret the details of her devastating past, a past that continues to control our story line heroine. Dallas Walker has lived and experienced the dark side of law enforcement, and changing careers is probably the best thing he could do but meeting Maggie Ellis pushes Dallas into wanting something more, something Maggie reveals she cannot and will not be able to give.

The relationship between Dallas and Maggie is a neighbors to friends to lovers that struggles in the face of demons from the past. Maggie is unable to face or acknowledge what happened and why, further pushing away our story line hero. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters-all of whom are past of Dallas’ large extended family: Nick and Mia: Nora and Zach; Hannah and Stephen, Ava and Luke. We are introduced to Gatlin Walker.

WAITING ON FOREVER is another story of family, friendships and relationships, denial and acceptance, revelations and love. The premise is emotional and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are struggling but healing, and hoping to move on.

Reading Order and Previous reviews

Worth The Wait
Waiting For You
Waiting on the Rain

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Claudia Connor is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The McKinney Brothers.

Claudia writes, warm, heartfelt contemporary romances with a bit of steam, a lot of family and always a happily ever after. Claudia attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. When she’s not writing, she enjoys movies, reading, and travel, with a heavy dose of daydreaming during all three. Claudia lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.

You can find out more about Claudia’s books at http://claudiaconnor.com

or stop by and say hello on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaConnor.

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High Ground (High Mountain Trackers) by Freya Barker-review tour

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High Ground (High Mountain Trackers 3) by Freya Barker-review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 8, 2022

Not much has gone according to plan for mechanic, Pippa Freling, recently. With lots of bridges burned behind her, she decides to stick close to her sister and give Montana a try.

Things are looking up when she joins a local group of animal activists, buys an auto shop for a steal, and even tries her luck with the opposite sex. But it doesn’t take long before her hopeful new future is derailed once again.
This time permanently.

Maintaining tight control is the stronghold in Sully Eckhart’s life. It served him well during his years in special forces and has kept him out of trouble since. But his self-restraint stretches only so far whenever he finds himself faced with the one woman who has the ability to shake his determination. A woman he’s tried to avoid for months—since the first time she shook his resolve—but who now finds herself in the middle of a serial murder case.

However, when she not only ends up a person of interest to the FBI, but firmly in the crosshairs of a killer, he has no other option but to stick close. And give up all control.

••••••

REVIEWHIGH GROUND is the third instalment in Freya Barker’s contemporary, adult HIGH MOUNTAIN TRACKERS, erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on a group of former US Special Forces soldiers who own and work for High Mountain Trackers in Libby, Montana. This is forty-four year old former Special Forces soldier Sullivan ‘Sully’ Eckhart, and forty year old, mechanic/environmentalist Fillippa ‘Pippa’ Freling’s story line. HIGH GROUND can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Pippa is Nella Freling’s sister (High Stakes #2).

Told from dual first person perspectives (Sully and Pippa) HIGH GROUND follows months after a one-night stand between forty-four year old former Special Forces soldier Sullivan ‘Sully’ Eckhart, and forty year old, mechanic/environmentalist Fillippa ‘Pippa’ Freling, the morning after in which Sully ghosted our story line heroine. A number of bodies, each shot with a rifle, have been found in and around the area in which Pippa has parked her trailer, making Pippa the prime suspect for the murders as she is an active member with Fair Game Alliance. Someone is targeting our story line heroine, ensuring all clues and information point to Pippa F, and with it, Sully is determined to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love. All does not go according to plan when one of their own goes missing, and an emotional and tired Pippa is still considered the prime suspect. What ensues is the building relationship between Sully and Pippa, and the potential fall-out as a killer’s need for vengeance places suspicion on our story line heroine.

The relationship between Sully and Pippa begins as a one-night stand in which Sully keeps his distance in the following months. The fall-out forces Pippa to reconsider everything she does, including living too close to the man who ultimately broke her heart. Pippa had fallen hard for our story line hero but the heart wants something more than Sully is willing to give. As a Canadian citizen, Pippa is unable to work, and finds herself dependant upon others to help her out. 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 ranch and High Mountain Trackers owner Jonas Harvey and his wife Alexandra Hart; Fletch Boone and Nella Freling: Jonas’ teammates James Watike and his wife Ama, Bo, Sully Eckhart, as well as Jonas’ father Thomas Harvey, Sully’s twenty-one year old niece Sloane, and his sister Isobel; FBI Agents Power and Wolff, real-estate agent Marcie, mechanic Ira Nelson, conservationist Cade Jackson, and Sheriff Ewing. The requisite evil has many faces.Lucy and Bo’s story is next in HIGH IMPACT.

HIGH GROUND is a story of perceived betrayal and vengeance, obsession and murder, second chances and surprises, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic, intriguing and engaging; the romance is impassioned; the characters are energetic, determined and dynamic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
High Meadow
High Stakes

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Driven to make her books about ‘real’ people; she creates characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills in their lives.

Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We’ve Read All Year Award for “Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FreyaFacebook
Twitter: http://bit.ly/FreyaTwitter
Instagram: http://bit.ly/FreyaInstagram
Web: http://bit.ly/FreyaWeb
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/FreyaGoodreads
Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/Freya_Newsletter
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/FreyaBookBub

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Hellfire & Pride (From Hell 1) by Nadine Nightingale-Review Tour

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? Hellfire & Pride (From Hell #1) by Nadine Nightingale-Review Tour ?

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 27, 2022

These days it’s hard enough to be a witch, but being born a hellfire witch? That’s something else entirely and no one knows that better than Melissani. Half witch, half demon she’s one of the most powerful creatures in existence. The fire in her soul could kill Lucifer himself. Shame that thanks to her mother said soul now belongs to Leviathan, Crown Prince of Hell. Once upon a time the two had a thing. Yes, she fell for the demon prince who bought her soul, and despite her better judgment she trusted the bastard. But, of course, he had to mess it up. A broken heart, shattered dreams and, to cap it all off, a missing sister dragged to hell. Well, what is it they say? Hell has no fury like a hellfire witch betrayed. So buckle up little prince. Hellfire is coming for you.

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REVIEW: With a blurb that grabbed my attention, I couldn’t wait to start…..

Melissani is not your usual witch, she’s a pretty powerful one (a combination of demon and witch) and when I first started reading about her, I wasn’t too keen, she gave off bad guy vibes. But the further you go into the book, the more Mel changes (and you’ll see why she changes.)

Leviathan is a snarky and sarcastic character, and his comments in this book had me chuckling. His internal dialogue had me rolling my eyes more than once. Charismatic and a way with him that’s different from other authors depictions. He comes across as

These two just brought the story to life. The banter/chemistry the characters had just made me read the book in almost one sitting. Both Mel and Lev had previously known (dated) one another, and it didn’t end well, so can they make a go of it this time round? I didn’t think so, as she wanted Lev dead! And again without giving too much away it’s to do with her meddling mother.

I really liked Leviathan’s siblings (especially Berith and Verin) I chuckled at the Prince of Hell conducting his business via zoom calls ?

Another new author that I’d not read before and I’m adding her to my reading list. Really well written, the story comes to life with descriptions and witty one liners. Characters are added that complement not detract from the storyline. Plenty of action and drama, and don’t forget the cliffhanger.

Cliffhanger? Yes there is, and it’s one I sort of saw coming, but not who or why.

So if you like a witch who starts off with vengeance in her and ends up being a pretty nice person at the end. Then this book (and hopefully the next book) is one I’d recommend.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

Nadine aka Dini is a traveler at heart. She considers the world her home and practically lives out of her suitcases. When she’s not glaring at a blank page or abusing her poor keyboard, she spends her time reading, watching movies (preferably horror), pretends to work out, and hangs out with friends and family. Poor girl also suffers from a serious Marvel superhero addiction. So, if you run into her at night, wearing black, know she’s secretly dreaming of being the infamous Black Widow.

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Bratva Sweetheart (Ivankov Brotherhood) by Sabine Barclay-review

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Bratva Sweetheart (Ivankov Brotherhood 2) by Sabine Barclay-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 9, 2022

She thought it was only for one night…

I’ve never let anyone into my life.

At least not like her. Not until her.

She sees a side of me that isn’t the bratva monster everyone else believes.

Now that she knows, she’s mine.

Mine to keep and protect. Mine to please. In return, it’s her love I crave. She’s my soulmate.

Every kiss, every touch will take her to her limits, and I’ll be the one to catch her.

Bratva Sweetheart is an interconnecting, standalone Dark Mafia Romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains extra-steamy scenes that will make your toes curl and your granny blush. This is book two in The Ivankov Brotherhood, a six-book series that’ll keep you warm at night.

••••

REVIEW: BRATVA SWEETHEART is the second instalment in Sabine Barclay’s contemporary, adult THE IVANKOV BROTHERHOOD erotic, dark, Bratva romance series. This is twenty-seven year old, Russian Bratva businessman, Bogdan Kutsenko, and building inspector/architect Christina ‘Tina’ MacNally’s story line. BRATVA SWEETHEART can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise including ‘daddy kink’, r@pe fantasy, bondage, discipline as well as graphic violence, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Bodgan and Tina) BRATVA SWEETHEART follows the building relationship between twenty-seven year old, Russian businessman, Bratva Bogdan Kutsenko, and building inspector/architect Christina ‘Tina’ MacNally’. A one night stand between Russian businessman Bogdan Kutsenko, and Christina MacNally ends when the next morning, our heroine ghosts our story line hero. Christina MacNally works as a building inspector for the city of Manhattan but never expected to come face to face with her one night stand when she is tasked with inspecting a new build at one of the Kutsenko constructions sites but all is not well when our heroine discovers a number of irregularities, irregularities that may or may not be attributed to the man in charge. Afraid of losing her job, Christina offers to back away knowing their relationship may be used as potential fodder should something go wrong but Bogdan Kutsenko knows that to never see Christina would mean breaking his heart. What ensues is the building and highly sexual relationship between Christina and Bogdan, and the potential fall-out as a war between the Russian Bratva, the Irish and Italian Mafia and the Cartel is about to pull Christina into a world she knows little about.

Christina MacNally is about to be thrown head first into the criminal world of bribery and corruption, murder and vengeance, betrayal and power. Bogdan is desperate to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love but there is always someone or something waiting to take them down. Bogdan Kutsenko has loved and lost, and our hero refuses to place himself in a position to lose someone he loves but as the battle for control hits too close to home, Bogdan is willing to walk away to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love.

The relationship between Bogdan and Christina is one of daddy-kink and baby girl with the added bonus of bondage and discipline when Christina refuses to obey. From the outset Bogdan claims he is not a Dominant nor a daddy-wanna be; and Christine says she is not a submissive, nor a ‘little’, and does not like to be treated as a child yet Bogdan demands submission, the calling of ‘daddy’ or sir, and often places our heroine in his lap, or over his knee. A bit of a conundrum; some confusion as to the who, what and why the denial of the obvious but in the end the ‘daddy-kink’ is strong, intense, and not relegated to only the bedroom. The $ex scenes are erotic, intense, and vivid.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and powerful secondary and supporting characters including Bogdan’s brothers: Maksim and Laura (Bratva Darling 1), Nikolai and Aleksei, and their mother Galina Kutsenko, as well as their cousins Anton, Sergei and Michail; Christina’s parents Liam and Catriona MacNally, and her brothers Tristan and Danny. The requisite evil includes the Irish Mafia, the Italian mob, the Mexican Cartel, and several people getting paid to look the other way.

BRATVA SWEETHEART is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The slow building premise is detailed and dramatic; the romance is erotic and highly sexual; the characters are captivating.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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