Monthly Archives: January 2023

Beautiful Corruption by BB Hamel-a review

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Beautiful Corruption by BB Hamel-a review


ebook only 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January

My family sold me to a gangster.

And all he wants to do is corrupt me.

The first time we met, Carmine rubbed my face in the dirt.

The second time, I found out my family was selling me to him.

And the third time, he promised to drag me down to his filthy level and expected me to like it.

Carmine is a gorgeous billionaire with dark mob ties and wickedly twisted taste, and my family is horrible financial trouble. They’re desperate enough to take his money in exchange For my life.

Now I’m stuck engaged to a man that represents everything I hate. A man that wants to smear me with mud for his own sick pleasure. A man that thinks I’m too clean—and wants to make me dirty.

I’m nothing but a pawn to my family and a toy to Carmine.

But I have my own goals and I refuse to let my future husband ruin me.

I won’t survive to see my wedding night. But neither will Carmine.

••••••

REVIEW:BEAUTIFUL CORRUPTION is the first instalment in BB Hamel’s new stand alone contemporary, adult, erotic, Mafia dark, romance series. This is Mafia don Carmine Scavo, and oil heiress Brice Rowe’s story line.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Carmine and Brice) BEAUTIFUL CORRUPTION follows the arranged marriage between Mafia don Carmine Scavo, and oil heiress Brice Rowe. Seven years earlier, while attending the prestigious Blackwood College, Brice Rowe would be the victim of Carmine Scavo’s bullying, for no apparent reason than she was the daughter of a very wealthy man. Fast forward to present day wherein Rowe Oil is nearly bankrupt, and Brice’s father has been arrested for theft and fraud. With only one possibility to save the family business, Brice is sold to the highest bidder, Mafia don Carmine Scavo, the man who has haunted our heroine for as long as she can remember. With a promise to help save Rowe Oil, Brice is ‘gifted’ to Carmine Scavo, a gift that comes with a price but all is not well with the Rowe family dynamics, and Brice quickly discovers she is a pawn in a much larger game. What ensues is the tumultuous but building romance and relationship between Carmine and Brice, and the potential fall-out when the truth is revealed, forcing Brice to make a choice between family and love.

The relationship between Carmine and Brice begins as a business deal. Brice is a pawn; fodder in a much larger game, a game in which her father has chosen to sacrifice his only daughter. Carmine Scavo, now the new head of the Scavo family finds himself focusing on saving the woman that has starred in all of his fantasies and dreams but Brice struggles with her attraction to a man who has caused her so much heartache and pain; and Carmine knows it is only a matter of time before Brice discovers not all is at it appears to be. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.

The secondary and supporting characters include Brice’s father Perry , and grandfather Graham Rowe; Greek mobster Stephen Panagos; Brice’s best friends Robyn, Sara and Cassidy, as well as several members of the Scavo Mafia family.

BEAUTIFUL CORRUPTION is a story of family, relationships, betrayal and vengeance; acceptance and forgiveness; love and happily ever after. The fast paced premise is twisted and tragic but not as dark as some other Mafia romances; the romance is provocative; the characters are determined, dynamic and animated.

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

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Ancient Sentinel (Ancients Rising 7) by Katie Reus-a review

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Ancient Sentinel (Ancients Rising 7) by Katie Reus-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 24, 2023

He never expected her…

Jaguar shifter Ren never thought he’d fall for anyone again—not after the last woman he opened his heart to tried to cut it out. Literally. But the moment he met Grace he fell hard and fast for the sweet human. Except she’s made it clear she’s only looking for friendship, and he wants it all.

But he’ll do anything to claim her heart.

Grace officially has a crush on her friend—a quiet jaguar shifter with kind eyes and deadly skills. However, he hasn’t given any indication he wants more than friendship. So she vows to move on—until they’re given an assignment by their Alpha. When they’re stuck together under the same roof, sharing one bed, it becomes impossible to hide her attraction. But then an unknown threat surfaces, putting Grace’s life in danger, and Ren will stop at nothing to protect the woman he knows is his mate.

•••••

REVIEW:ANCIENT SENTINEL is the seventh instalment in Katie Reus’ contemporary, adult ANCIENTS RISING erotic, paranormal, romance series. This is jaguar shifter Ren, and plant geneticist Grace O’Connor’s story line. ANCIENT SENTINEL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Months earlier, several dragons rose from their sleep, and in the aftermath destroyed much of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, in an apocalyptic showdown known as The Fall, but in doing so revealed the existence of the supernatural world to humankind. Ancients Rising focuses on the recovery of the city, and the group of supernaturals and dragons who have come to call New Orleans their home.

Told from third person perspective ANCIENT SENTINEL follows the building relationship between jaguar shifter Ren, and plant geneticist Grace O’Connor. Ren knows that the human female Grace is his mate but he may be too late, having bided his time in his approach to our heroine. His latest mission finds Ren and Grace on a cross country trip to check out a new territory for their alpha King. Grace is to help with the planting and harvesting of food, and Ren is asked to help investigate a series of thefts and damage to the local food supply. A surprise, a dangerous and deadly threat, and the claiming of our heroine find our couple on a month long assignment, only to return with a few more surprises for everybody back home.

The relationship between Grace and Ren has been developing for several month but Ren was taking his time in the face of their human/shifter difference. Everybody knows that Ren has eyes for our story line heroine but Grace may have move on with someone else. 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 both supernatural and human secondary and supporting characters including Grandmother Josephine, Grace’s sister Luna, Hyacinth, Griffin, Juniper, Logan, King and Aurora, and Hunter the pet dragonling.

ANCIENT SENTINEL is a story of friendships and family, recovery and rescue, acceptance and love. The fast paced premise is engaging, intriguing and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Ancient Protector
Ancient Enemy
Ancient Enforcer
Ancient Vendetta
Ancient Retribution
Ancient Vengeance

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Katie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, and IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.

However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. Her book Avenger’s Heat recently won the Georgia RWA Maggie Award for Excellence in the fantasy/paranormal category.

Connect with Katie:

Facebook | Blog| Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Website

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THE FIREBRAND (The Blood Coven 1) by TM Smith-a review

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THE FIREBRAND (The Blood Coven 1) by TM Smith-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 13, 2023

Rein, a Vampire mixed breed, plunged into the abyss of bludfrenzy. With icy resolve, he crawled out to become a Firebrand. He doesn’t make rash decisions.
Until…
Braelyn takes a shortcut through an alley musing about what she can’t have. A new job. Adventure. A cancer-free brain. Instead, she writes for a paranormal tabloid. No, she doesn’t believe such nonsense, but she’s heading to Cleveland on assignment. Oh, and her tumor is back.
Then…
Rein kidnaps her and takes her to his realm, igniting a fiery romance.
Meanwhile…
An ancient threat hunts for descendants of the Blood Coven who divided the world into three realms fifteen hundred years ago to protect humans from savage Aeternals. Then, they scattered across Earth, marrying, raising children, dying, burying their secrets in time. Generations grew, unaware of their legacy.
But…
Braelyn is squarely in the hunter’s sights, and Rein is her best chance to survive.

••••••••

REVIEW: THE FIREBRAND is the first instalment in TM Smith’s contemporary, adult THE BLOOD COVEN erotic, paranormal/fantasy series. This is human Braelyn James and vampire/incubus/Warlock hybrid Rein’s story line.

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

SOME BACKGROUND: Thousands of years earlier, a powerful group of witches and warlocks, in an effort to protect the human race, divided the world creating three realms: Earth, Scath and Darque. The Blood Coven series focuses on the fight to keep the worlds separated in the face of some powerful people hoping to destroy the people of earth.

Told from third person perspective THE FIREBRAND follows the building relationship between human Braelyn James’ and vampire/incubus/Warlock hybrid Rein. Braelyn James is a reporter for the online paranormal tabloid Strange But True, and as such our heroine is about to witness that which she has been hired to investigate. Rein is a vampire/incubus/Warlock hybrid, trained as one of the realms Firebrand Warriors, and as such is hunting one of the many Breeds that has crossed onto Earth, using an illegal portal jumper but Rein never expected his actions to be witnessed, and his inability to wipe the mind of the human witness, forces Rein to bring her back to his realm. Braelyn James quickly realizes the world as she knows it, is something more, something more dangerous, powerful and confusing, a world in which she will come face to face with her destiny. At every turn, every move and every opportunity, Braelyn is targeted, by a Scath controlled human trafficking ring that is focusing on some of the people of Earth, a focus that is centering on history and blood. What ensues is the building relationship between Rein and Braelyn, and the potential fall-out as Braelyn is a valuable prize in a war between the worlds.

The relationship between Braelyn and Rein is one of fated mates but Rein refuses to accept the woman with whom he will fall in love as the mating ritual of a Firebrand Vampire is dangerous, dark and deadly. Braelyn is a human whose life expectancy may be shorter than most but Braelyn’s blood holds a secret, and the longer she remains on Scath, the more valuable and important she will become. Braelyn is determined to prove Rein is worthy of her love but Rein fears destroying the woman that calls to his blood. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, aggressive and intense.

There is an enormous ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters of creatures and breeds: vampires, harpies, nymphs, Amazons, witches, warlocks, shifters, beserkers, demons, satyrs and djinn. The Aeternals are the overarching collection of breeds and supernatural species that inhabit the Scath realm, and the Alliance are the group of humans that monitor all supernatural activity on Earth. We are introduced to Rein’s parents Alarik and Castia, andhis sister Elisabeta;Braelyn’s father George: Firebrands Chay, Dax, Brak, Logan, Kole, Bounty, Ram, Tyr, Sabine, Jezzi and Galena, as well as Rein’s Aunt Indigo, a powerful witch who is able to read the ‘signs’. The requisite evil has many faces.

THE FIREBRAND is a complex, detailed and compounded story line that follows several pathways between the present and the past, good vs evil, Earth, Scath and Darque. The premise is comprehensive and meticulous; the characters are numerous, energetic, powerful and strong; the romance is contentious, quarrelsome and fated. THE FIREBRAND ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Crush Me Tenderly / Hold Me Wickedly by Kira James-reviews

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Crush Me Tenderly / Hold Me Wickedly by Kira James-reviews

CRUSH ME TENDERLY
(Dark Alliance prequel 4.5)
by Kira James
Genre: adult, paranormal, romance

CRUSH ME TENDERLY is FREE here: https://BookHip.com/RFJZWCZ

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When my brother is captured by a vile werewolf, I’ll do anything to free him. The full moon is approaching, and along with it the threat that he will soon become one of the monsters that secreted him away by night.

When a charismatic and dangerous hunter offers his aid, I eagerly accept. Our deadly quest brings us impossibly close, and I soon find myself falling under his spell. Hunting by day and surrendering to our passion by night, I have no doubt that Tiberius is the other half of my soul.

But when it’s time to make our daring rescue, I learn that the shifters who stole my brother aren’t the only monsters drawing close…

•••••

REVIEW:  CRUSH ME TENDERLY is a prequel novella found in Kira James’ adult DARK ALLIANCES erotic paranormal romance series. CRUSH ME TENDERLY focuses on the back story and beginning of vampire Tiberius and Carissa’s history and love. Tiberius and Caris story continues in HOLD ME WICKEDLY(see below).

NOTE: CRUSH ME TENDERLY is  bonus content found at Kira James’ website and can be downloaded for FREE here: https://BookHip.com/RFJZWCZ

Told from dual third person perspectives (Tiberius and Caris) CRUSH ME TENDERLY focuses on the search and rescue of Caris’ young brother Antonio, taken by Baluch Di Fioro, the Alpha Werewolf, a payment for a debt. Tiberius is an ancient vampire, indebted to protect the descendants of the man that had saved his life centuries before, a debt he will honor to his dying breath but Tiberius never expected to fall in love with Carissa, the daughter of the man  whose son is now missing. As Tiberius and Carissa go in search of Antonio, something more sinister awaits our couple back home.

CRUSH ME TENDERLY is a fast paced, engaging and entertaining ‘Romeo and Juliet’ style love story of betrayal, honor and death; the backstory of how and why, to be continued in HOLD ME WICKEDLY.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Crave Me Roughly .5
Embrace Me Darkly
Torture Me Gently
Tempt Me Deadly

If you haven’t started the series, the introductory novella  CRAVE ME ROUGHLY is FREE  at Bookfunnel

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy

 

_______

HOLD ME WICKEDLY
Dark Alliance 5
by Kira James
Release Date January 19, 2023
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, paranormal, romance,

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: n this life, there’s one thing I know for certain: I’ve got to look out for myself, because nobody else is going to do it.

I learned that the hard way when my mate Tiberius cast me aside, leaving me to walk the lonely shadows of exile.

Now the vampires and werewolves are at war, and I have the power to pick the winning side—or to ensure they both lose. The fanged ones think I’m a traitor, while the shifters refuse to trust me or my intentions.

Only the one I loved so long ago—only Tiberius—believes I can save our world from a violent end. But this irresistibly sexy alpha vampire could be even more dangerous than the encroaching apocalypse… especially when it comes to my heart.

This book features Tiberius and Caris

••••••

REVIEW:HOLD ME WICKEDLY is the fourth full-length instalment in Kira James’ contemporary, adult DARK ALLIANCE paranormal romance series. This is the continuing story of vampire/werewolf hybrid Caris de Soranzo, and ancient vampire Tiberius’ story line. HOLD ME WICKEDLY should not be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading the couple’s prequel short story CRUSH ME TENDERLY (available through Bookfunnel) for back story and cohesion

NOTE: Originally published as the Shadowkeepers series this paranormal romance series has been extensively revised.

Told from third person perspective HOLD ME WICKEDLY follows thirty years after Tiberius pushed his mate, Caris de Soranzo out of his life. Caris is a danger to the world; an experiment that could destroy every living creature, and Tiberius did not want the responsibility or guilt to end anyone’s life including his mate’s. Fast forward to present day, Weren Cyrus Reinholt is asking for help from ancient vampire Tiberius to locate his missing daughter but Reinholt doesn’t survive to see her release. Caris is the prime suspect in Reinholt’s murder, and The PEC (Preternatural Enforcement Commission), a Division of Homeland Security is searching for the supernatural responsible for the death. Meeting up with the man that broke her heart means facing the truth about what happened years before but both Caris and Tiberius are determined to find the young woman, a woman who may be more dangerous than Caris, herself. What ensues is rebuilding relationship between Caris and Tiberius, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes to a close.

Caris de Soranzo was first and foremost an obligation. Tiberius had pledged his life to take care of the deSoranzo family but falling in love with Caris was never supposed to happen. Caris is searching for the man that destroyed her life, the man that tortured and experimented on our story line heroine, a man to whom she owed no allegiance. Tiberius had claimed Caris as his mate but centuries later, death and madness would push Caris out of his life. Caris never forgave Tiberius for breaking her heart but she knows that she is a danger to all living creatures, and the PEC had only one plan if they caught our story line heroine.

The relationship between Caris and Tiberius begins as a bond made between Tiberius and the family that saved Tiberius’ life (Crush Me Tenderly). An attack against his mate forced Tiberius to walk away, destroying both of their hearts in the process but Tiberius needed Caris’ help to locate a young woman who could end the world, a young woman with similar abilities as the woman he still loved. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of supernatural and human secondary and supporting characters (Weren, demons, ogres, Fairy, hellhound, trolls, vampires, including members who work for the PEC, the Alliance , and Division 15 Violent crimes. The requisite evil has many faces.

HOLD ME WICKEDLY is a story of love and loss, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and understanding. The fast paced premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is limited but affectionate; the characters are powerful, deadly and dangerous.

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

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A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett – Review & Giveaway

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A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
You couldn’t design a better hero than the very eligible and extremely charming Earl Grantham. Unless, of course, you are Margaret Gault, who wants nothing to do with the man who broke her youthful heart.

Widowed and determined, Margaret Gault has returned to Athena’s Retreat and the welcoming arms of her fellow secret scientists with an ambitious plan in mind: to establish England’s first woman-owned engineering firm. But from the moment she sets foot in London her plans are threatened by greedy investors and–at literally every turn–the irritatingly attractive Earl Grantham, a man she can never forgive.

George Willis, the Earl Grantham, is thrilled that the woman he has loved since childhood has returned to London. Not as thrilling, however, is her decision to undertake an engineering commission from his political archnemesis. When Margaret’s future and Grantham’s parliamentary reforms come into conflict, Grantham must use every ounce of charm he possesses–along with his stunning good looks and flawless physique, of course–to win Margaret over to his cause.

Facing obstacles seemingly too large to dismantle, will Grantham and Margaret remain forever disconnected or can they find a way to bridge their differences, rekindle the passion of their youth, and construct a love built to last?

 

 

Review:

A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett is the 3rd book in her The Secret Scientists of London series. Refresher: Athena’s Retreat is a women’s club for female scientists, who are smart, savvy, independent, intelligent, women who work on their own time to practice and learn how to create scientific things. They all support one another, and fight against the injustices that women should stay home and let men do the work. The feminism vibes in this series reflects on these wonderful women that are truly inspiring.

We meet our heroine, Margaret (Maggie) Gault, who has always been independent and determined to succeed in a man’s world.  Margaret is now widowed, and returns to Athena’s Retreat, welcomed by her follow scientists and friends; she also plans on establishing the first woman owned engineering firm. She is extremely talented and savvy, as well as a force to be reckoned with; willing to stand up to anyone.  With little support from other firms, Margaret is hired by a company to create a challenging project, with a secret donator, Victor Armitage, who is part of Guardians of Domesticity; who want to close Athena’s Retreat.  However, Maggie is surprised to see her old childhood flame, who is now a very powerful and wealthy man; and who broke her heart all those years ago.

George Willis, the Earl of Grantham, is thrilled to see Maggie again, and is determined to win her over. But can Maggie forgive his betrayal? George is very supportive of the women’s movement, and as the Earl of Grantham, he wants to stop Victor Armitage, and get his own parliamentary reforms supported.  Grantham uses his charm, not to mention his good looks and physique to work on winning Maggie over to his cause. 

The slow burn second chance romance pulled on our heartstrings, rooting hard for them to open their hearts.  I did love George and Maggie together; as they really made a great couple. The banter between them was fun, as the sexual tension between them grew; with their chemistry off the wall.  I really enjoyed the other secondary characters, especially Violet and Arthur, and the banter between Grantham and Arthur.

What follows is Margaret realizing that those who offered her this job, were not true to her plan.  She needed to face her friends and work with George to save everything. George was instrumental in finding a way to stop the Guardians of Domesticity and Victor Armitage.  A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett was well written, and a fun read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of A LOVE BY DESIGN 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.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

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8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from January 20th to 23rd, 2023

 

 

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Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews – a Review

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Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews – a Review

 

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Description:
Kate, Curran and their son, Conlan have left Atlanta, vowing to keep a low profile, and are settling into a new city and new house…but some things never change! Magical mayhem is about to erupt when Kate undertakes the rescue of a kidnapped youth, while Curran guards the homefront.

It should be a simple retrieval, but with monsters on land and sea, Kate’s got her work cut out for her. Still, she’s never let her blade dull or her purpose falter. And that low profile? It’s about to wash away with the raging tides!

 

 

Review:

Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews is the first book (long novella) in her Kate Daniels: Wilmington Years (World of Kate Daniels 12.5) series.  I was thrilled to find out about the return of our favorite heroine, Kate Daniels, and with more to come. 

Kate and Curran, and their son, Conlan are now living in Wilmington, having left Atlanta to keep a low profile and privacy.  Conlan is now 8 years old, but he is big for his age, and becoming very strong, as will be like his father. When his friend tells him about his brother being kidnapped, Conlan tells his mom; who will then with the boy’s father, plan to rescue the boy.  Though Kate and Curran have kept things quiet in this new town, but when Kate knows a child is being used for trafficking, nothing will keep her from saving them.

When Kate leaves with the father, Curran learns where she went from Conlan, and knows they now need to set up protection, around their land, and also bring the kidnapped boy’s family to their home, to be safe.  Especially, since once Kate stops the criminal activity, the bad guys will come for revenge attack.

Kate is always up to the challenge, as she manages to defeat the group kidnapping children.  It was so wonderful to see Kate at her magnificent self, defeating anyone who stands in her way.  Once she gets past the first stop, Kate will continue on to find out where the boy is, which will include meeting with the vampires, and then to the more difficult and intense final stop.  She must defeat a so-called sea god entity, who does terrible horrors to the children.  Kate has to use all her magic, in order to survive and save the children.

Magic Tides was a fantastic, exciting, intense story, with lots of action and magic.  I have continued to hope we would get more Kate and Curran, as well as see more of young Conlan; and my wishes have come true.  I can’t wait for more, and also get a glimpse at Hugh’s eventual return.  Magic Tides was so very well written by Ilona Andrews.  I have read every single series by Andrews, and have absolutely loved them all. If you have not read this illustrious duo (Ilona and Gordon Andrews), you need to start reading them now. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review.

 

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INDECENT PROPOSAL (Indecent #1) by Erika Wilde -review tour

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INDECENT PROPOSAL (Indecent #1) by Erika Wilde -review tour

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: January 19, 2023

It wasn’t every day that I was shot at by a sniper. But this was now my life, being hunted by someone my (dead) ex-fiancé had crossed. They thought I had something he’d taken, and they weren’t going to stop until they had what they wanted.

I went to the best security company around, but what I ended up with was a bodyguard who was as hot and tempting as he was grumpy and annoyingly bossy. Vaughn reluctantly took me on as a client, despite my inability to pay, and put me in his own personal safehouse with a set of rules to follow.

But a few of those rules? Yeah, I broke them just because I knew it would provoke him. What I didn’t anticipate was the kind of punishment he decided to dole out . . . and it wasn’t long before we went from enemies, to lovers, and an indecent proposal was struck between us.

We both swore it was all temporary, but the closer Vaughn gets to finding out who is after me and why, I realize walking away from this man might be much harder than I’d ever imagined.

••••••••

REVIEW: INDECENT PROPOSAL is the first instalment in Erika Wilde’s contemporary, adult INDECENT erotic, romantic suspense series. This is security specialist Vaughn Hughes, and Claire Turner’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Claire and Vaughn) INDECENT PROPOSAL follows in the wake of the supposed suicide of Claire Turner’s fiancé Richard, a man who worked in finance for Hardman Holdings but within days of his death, Claire has a stalker; someone is targeting our story line heroine, and her last recourse is the team at EPC-Elite Protection and Consulting. On the run, with no money or possessions, Claire finds herself at EPC where a sniper takes aim at our story line heroine. Enter security specialist Vaughn Hughes, a grumpy but determined protector who makes it his mission to uncover the truth. What ensues is the building relationship between Claire and Vaughn, as Vaughn continues to search for the people responsible.

Claire Turner has no idea why she has been targeted but often left alone, at Vaughn’s secluded cabin, means plenty of time by herself. As Vaughn works between the cabin and the city, Claire is determined to push all of our hero’s buttons. Vaughn Hughes is a dominant by nature, and Claire’s inability or refusal to ‘obey’ his rules, forces Vaughn to take action including using discipline and domination to control our story line heroine.

The relationship between Vaughn and Claire begins as an assignment. Claire is unable to pay for Vaughn’s services but Vaughn is willing to take payment in trade. Vaughn’s need to dominate is exacerbated by Claire’s refusal to take her protection seriously, refusal that results in punishment (spanking, withholding), bondage and a highly sexual lockdown assignment. The $ex scenes are erotic, provocative and intense.

We are introduced to Vaughn’s partners at ECP: Bryce and Seth, and PA/receptionist Lisa.

INDECENT PROPOSAL is a story of power and control, betrayal and obsession, determination and acceptance. The premise is intriguing but for all intents and purposes, the conflict resolution is underwhelming, and wraps up too easily. The romance is aggressive; the characters are energetic and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Erika Wilde is a New York Times Bestselling author. She is best known for her super sexy Marriage Diaries series and The Players Club series, and has also co-written the Dirty Sexy Series and the Book Boyfriend Series with Carly Phillips, her best friend and writing buddy for the past twenty years. She lives in Oregon with her husband and two daughters, and when she’s not writing you can find her exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. For more information on her upcoming releases, please visit her website at www.erikawilde.com and sign up for her mailing list for updates and news! .

Website / Goodreads /  Author Fan Page /   Amazon Author Page / Bookbub

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Broken (Billion Heirs) by Helen Hardt & Vanessa Vale -review tour

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Broken (Billion Heirs 3) by Helen Hardt & Vanessa Vale -review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 17, 2023

Two lost souls. A past that collides with the present. And secrets. So many secrets…
Unlike his two half brothers, Chance Bridger was raised on the family ranch with the father who left them billions. Still, he hated the man. He’s tried to escape his past, but that’s impossible, especially when it comes back to haunt him in the form of his first and only love.

Special Agent Avery Marsh left Bayfield at eighteen and never looked back, until a field assignment lands her back in her hometown fifteen years later. She’s taken care not to look into Chance Bridger, or even think about him. It would only lead to more heartache, and she’s had enough of that for one lifetime.

When the two former lovers cross paths, time melts away and their passion is still as intense as ever. But one is a murder suspect, and the other has a secret that could change everything.

The thrilling conclusion of The Billion Heirs!

•••••

REVIEW:The Billion Heirs series has returned with Broken, the final installment in this gripping series. As always I recommend reading a series in order, this one included, while Broken can be read as a standalone, the series in total makes much more sense.

Chance, Miles and Austin are strangers to one another until they find out they share a father in Jonathan Briger. After he dies, the new brothers learn that to inherit they must live together in Montana for a period of a year. Each brother has their own reasons for staying, and each book gives us their story. We’ve watched as Austin and Miles found what they were looking for, now it’s time for Chance.

Chance is the youngest of the brothers, and was also no stranger to Jonathan Briger. He technically was raised by the man, if what he did could be called child rearing. Their relationship was rocky at best. The only thing that got Chance through life was Avery Marsh. Or at least she was before she up and left him.

Broken is a second chance (no pun intended) romance filled with love, lies and secrets. When Avery returns to Bayfield for the first time in fifteen years, it’s not for fun, she’s here as a FBI agent investigating a death on Chance’s property. But being back is bringing long buried feelings to the surface, feelings that Chance can never know about. Things that Chance can never know about. As Avery digs into the case and secrets become known, the chemistry between the pair flair back to life. Can they let go of the past and move on to a better future? What happens when the case is over, will Avery stay and rebuild or run again?

These authors never disappoint! Broken was the perfect ending to an amazing series. Chance and Avery are a lovely pair that bring mystery and love to life. The brothers become just that through the series, brothers and family.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Scarred
Flawed

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

About Helen Hardt

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#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic fiction, she’s a mother, an attorney, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.

About Vanessa Vale

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Who doesn’t love the romance of the old West? USA Today Bestselling author Vanessa Vale takes the sensual appeal of rugged cowboys a step further with her bestselling books set in the Montana Territory. They are much more than just sexy historical westerns. They’re deliciously naughty reads that sometimes push the boundaries of fantasy. It’s pure escapism with quite a few very hot, very alpha cowboys. When she’s not writing, Vanessa savors the insanity of raising two boys, is figuring out how many meals she can make with a pressure cooker, and teaches a pretty mean karate class. She considers herself to be remarkably normal, exceedingly introverted and fairly vanilla, which does not explain her steamy stories and her fascination with cowboys, preferably more than one at a time. She lives in the Wild Wild West where there’s an endless source of ‘research’ material.

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