Monthly Archives: April 2023

The Devil’s Den (De Kysa Mafia 1) by Penny Dee-review tour

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The Devil’s Den (De Kysa Mafia 1) by Penny Dee-review tour

 

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 26, 2023

Nico De Kysa.
Cold. Detached. Ruthless.
And my new husband.

I didn’t want to marry the despicable mafia don.
But my father made a deal with the devil and lucky me, I’m the currency.

If I leave…
He’ll destroy my father’s fortune.

But if I stay…
He’ll obliterate my heart.

Because in this union, the lines between love and hate are blurred.
So blurred.

He’s a cold-blooded monster with ice in his veins and frost in his heart.
But in bed, Nico De Kysa burns like wildfire.
And in the heat of the night, I begin to forget why I hate the mobster.

I’m trapped in a world I despise.
With a man too wicked to fall for.
Yet, I can’t leave.

Maybe if I knew what was coming it would be easier to run.

•••••••

REVIEW:THE DEVIL’S DEN is the first instalment in Penny Dee’s contemporary, adult DE KYSA MAFIA dark, erotic, romance series. This is don Domenico ‘Nico’ De Kysa, and artist and art curator Bella Isle Ciccula’s story line.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nico and Bella) THE DEVIL’S DEN follows the second chance relationship between don Domenico ‘Nico’ De Kysa, and artist and art curator Bella Isle Ciccula. Nico De Kysa and Bella Isle Ciccula were childhood friends turned lovers. Their parents were best friends: Nico’s dad was the don of the De Kysa Mafia, and Bella’s father was his right hand man but ten years earlier, an affair and subsequent murder pulled our couple apart leaving a heart broken sixteen year old Bella struggling to survive. Fast forward to present day wherein Domenico ‘Nico’ De Kysa, the dark and powerful don of the De Kysa Mafia is about to reap revenge using the woman he once loved as collateral. Nico wants vengeance against the man he blames for his mother’s death targeting Bella Isle Ciccula in the process. An arranged marriage, forced proximity relationship ensues, a relationship in which Bella is looking for anyway out. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Bella and Nico, and the fall-out as another family fights for control in New York City, taking aim at our story line couple.

The relationship between Nico and Bella is one of second chances. Bella and Nico were high school sweethearts, having grown up together since they were children but betrayal came at a cost, and our couple were torn apart by the sins of the fathers. Reconnecting years later, the love between one another had turned to hate, each one blaming the other for everything that went wrong. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.

We are introduced to Bella’s father Vincent Isle Ciccula; Nico’s brother Massimo, their sister Arianna, and their father Gio De Kysa; Nico’s PA Anastacia, and Nico’s ex Amelie La Trobe.

THE DEVIL’S DEN is a familiar story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, love and loss, forgiveness and acceptance. The fast paced premise is dark, gritty and dramatic- the world building is detailed; the romance is provocative; the characters are powerful, broken and determined.

 

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Penny Dee writes contemporary romance about rockstars, bikers, hockey players and everyone in-between.She believes true love never runs smoothly, and her characters realize this too, with a boatload of drama and a whole lot of steam.

She found her happily ever after in Australia where she lives with her husband, daughter and a dog named Bindi.

You can connect with Penny Dee : Goodreads / Facebook / Amazon Author Page / Website / Instagram

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Wicked Reign (Kingdom of Monsters) by Harper A Brooks-review tour

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Wicked Reign (Kingdom of Monsters 1-3) by Harper A Brooks-review tour

 

 

 

 

CRUEL SHADOWS
Kingdom of Monsters 1
by Harper A Brooks
Genre: adult, paranormal, fantasy, reverse harem romance

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Release Date: November 17, 2022

I’m caught in the shadows…
…and the shadows want to play.

I thought I’d dreamed up the shadow realm and the place I called Dark Castle. But it’s very real. And he’s still here.

My prince, my savior, my captor… The monster in my bed. But this time, he’s not alone.

I must escape, but first, my prince and his shadow men want me to fulfill their demands. All of them.

The longer I stay, the harder it is to resist their dark promises, their insatiable hunger. Because, while these monsters’ smiles are cruel, their touches are the most delicious torture. But they aren’t the only threat in this world. The darkness that wanted me before has found me again, and like my Shadow Prince, it’s ready to claim me as its own…forever.

•••••

REVIEW:*trigger warnings are given, so I do advise you to read the warning before starting the book.

What Stella thinks is a dream world, is in fact a reality! As a child it was her favourite place to visit, a safe space where she could leave her worries at the door and play with the boy she met there….. But why has she started to dream about it again? Because her world is a lonely place, she needs a friend. But the last time she dreamed of her castle, it had ended with her being told to leave that world and never return!

Airic has become darker and more sinister with time! He is both elated and terrified that Stella is back in his world and his life. But it’s dangerous for her to be here, being human and being in this realm is forbidden, the consequences are lethal. But the more time he spends with his childhood friend, the harder it gets to send her home….

Wels is a shapeshifter with an agenda! He knows his prince/friend is hiding something, he just has to figure what, and how this will benefit him!

Reis is Airic’s best friend and captain of his guard. A knight with a code of honour, but one look at Stella and Reis is contemplating disobeying his friend and prince to be with Stella!

The story does start out a little slow, but I’m happy gathering all the details about this new world, I don’t mind a slow pace at first, but I do want it to pick up speed as we get further in the storyline, and I’m happy to say it does.

I did like how Wels started out as a bit of a douche! Self cantered and pretty arrogant, but almost immediately he wanted to care and protect Stella, even if he didn’t know why!

Airic just needs to see Stella is there for him, but his fear of Stella getting found in his realm and getting hurt has him pushing her away far too many times! And Reis is becoming Stella’s protector and knight and disobeying his prince more and more!

There is a fair amount of spice in this book (there is also more than one love interest for Stella ?) But it’s M/F at the moment, there is only Stella with I’ve guy at a time. The jealousy they show to Stella when one of the others is around does make me wonder how this book will turn out!

And the twists and turns in this book will keep you wondering who to trust and who to stay clear of! The push/pull dynamic between Airic and Stella does get a little monotonous, either commit or leave her to choose either Wels or Reis! And when she’s finally told why she was banished from this realm, how will Stella react?

Cliffhanger approaching… And it’s a pretty good one, will will have you reaching for the next book in this trilogy.

Off to grab the next book….

______

NECESSARY EVIL
Kingdom of Monsters 2
by Harper A Brooks
Genre: adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, reverse harem

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

Release Date: January 26, 2023

A great evil waits for me… And it won’t stop until it swallows me whole.

I’ve been ripped from Dark Castle, thrown back into the mortal world where I don’t belong. Here, they think I’m crazy. They’ve locked me up and forced pills down my throat, telling me I’ve lost my mind.

And maybe I have…

I’ve fallen for three monsters after all. Prince Airic, Knight Reis, and shapeshifter Wels—they are the sinister men of my nightmares and my deepest fantasies. I can still feel their touches, hear their voices in my head, but they’re in danger.

I have to get back to them because if the shadows close in, I can lose everything.

The kingdom. My monsters. And ultimately, myself.

•••••

REVIEW:We pick up right where we left off in book one. You could probably read book two without reading book one, but I’d feel you’d be missing background information.

Poor Stella, one minute she’s sort of living her best life with three men/monsters. And the next, she’s being carted off to a mental institution because she’s screaming about going back to a dark castle and using portals! Being back in the human realm is hard for Stella, watching her men battle Malachi and his dark forces (this is the guy who wants Stella and the Dark Castle and the realm for himself.) then being sucked into a portal without knowing if Airic/Reis/Wels are alive or dead! But an ally helps Stella escape and she has a stone hidden in her home that will help Stella hopefully return to her the sides of her men.

Wels answers her her call for help. Unable to believe he has her back in his arms. He’s aware she’s been with both Airic and Reis the last time she was here, but he’s not worried, in fact with the four of them, they should be able to finally banish Malachi from this realm forever.

Airic was gravelly injured in the last book, but by the time he and Stella are reunited he’s up and as grumpy as ever! I tell ya, he gave me whiplash with his “I need you, but I can’t be with you” vibes, I’m hoping by book three he’s pulled his head out of his a$$ and told Stella how he really feels about her.

Reis (my favourite character) is still the soft hearted one of the group, he takes the guilt about not defending his prince well enough, he feels guilty that he couldn’t stop Malachi from storming the castle and even feels guilty about the feelings he has for Stella! But he is determined to keep his prince alive and keep Stella alive long enough to banish the usurper Malachi.

The story is gathering momentum, the battle lines are being drawn up, can Stella figure out how to use her magic, or will she just be a power source for Airic/Reis and Wels to use to enhance their powers? Alliances are being formed, but there is also beings in this realm who would sell them out in an instant, so they all need to be wary.

Most of the book is dedicated to the foursome trudging through forests and avoiding Malachi’s army (there is a bounty on each head)

And Malachi? Well he’s crowned himself the dark Prince of the realm, a power absolute! But if he can get his hands on Stella…. Well his power will hold no bounds and he’ll be able to conquer the world he truly desires! And when Stella is injured, the three men in her life are at a loss. What do they do? Will they lose her?

This book also ends on a cliffhanger…. Now I need to wait for the last book…..

________

WICKED REIGN
Kingdom of Monsters 3
by Harper A Brooks
Genre: adult, paranormal, fantasy, monster, reverse harem, romance

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

Release Date: April 27,2023

The darkness is closing in…And I’m the only one who can stop it.

They say I’m the key. The Chosen One. They say I have the power needed to restore Prince Airic to the throne and save the Dark Castle.

If only I knew how to use it.

My monsters are helping me learn, but it’s their bodies that I crave the most. They are the spark that always sets me ablaze… and my magic too. I just need to figure out how to harness our bond and tap into the power within. Somehow. But time isn’t on our side. There are enemies everywhere, danger lurking around every shadowed corner, and a bloody war looming on the horizon.

Controlling the chaotic magic inside me is the only way to take back the kingdom and free its people from Malachi’s wicked reign.

Otherwise, the darkness will devour everything. And this world, along with the monsters I love, will be lost to me forever.

•••••••

REVIEW:Last book in this trilogy. It also starts where the last book ends, so I’d advise reading book one and two before this one.

Wels/Airic and Stella are looking for Reis. (You’ll have to read the last book to find out why he’s missing) with the help of an ally (who betrayed them first) they begin their search.

Stella finally gets all of her questions answered in this book, but not before they find Reis, try to Malachi and save Airic’s realm! She needs to return to her world to find clues, but upon returning, her world no longer looks the same! It looks like to save both worlds Stella needs to solve the prophecy and quick!

We get to read from all the main characters points of view (which I personally like) We get to read Airic and Wels’s sides, to witness them putting aside their differences and being there for one another, for Stella and to bringing home Reis.

Taking on Malachi is a daunting battle, but one they hope to achieve and survive if they all want to be together. He’s not going to be easy to defeat as he grows stronger with each day!

That was a great read. Lots of action and emotion through the book. I really liked how they thought only Stella is the saviour of all worlds, when in fact that’s not the case. It also took a while for Airic to accept both Reis and Wels in Stella’s life, and that’s a different view from all the other #whychoose stories I’ve read, usually the characters are either established in their group and someone comes along and joins them, or they all come together and accept one another straight away. There is also no m/m action, it’s all about Stella ?

I’m hoping we return to this world at some point, but as there wasn’t really anyone else we gathered along the way, it’s highly unlikely.

It’s a great book and a great trilogy, I’d highly recommend it.

*on a personal note, I didn’t feel Airic/Reis/Wels were really monsters. One shifted, one gathered shadows to him, I’ve read other stories with actual monsters, and this one I felt wasn’t a true monster story.

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Julie B

 

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Harper A. Brooks may be a Jersey girl at heart, but now she likes to hideout in the mountains of Virginia with bigfoot and all his little woodland friends. Even though classic authors have always filled her bookshelves, she finds her writing muse drawn to the dark, magical, and romantic. When she isn’t creating entire worlds with sexy shifters or legendary love stories, you can find her either with a good cup of coffee in hand or at home snuggling with her furry, four-legged son, Sammy.

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Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas – a Review

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Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas – a Review

 

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Description:
Starri Knight is a big believer in fate. How else to explain the compelling connection she feels to the stranger she pulls out of a wrecked car on the very same road where her parents died twenty years earlier? Alongside Auntie Ona-May, the only mother she’s ever known, Starri saves Rusty O’Sullivan’s life—just as Ona-May once did when Starri was an orphaned babe. But convincing Rusty he has something to live for is going to take all of Starri’s faith in miracles . . .

Like a wish he hadn’t even known to make, Starri landed in Rusty’s life, filling him with a longing for a family . . . Then Jackson Landry, a new lawyer, turns up to present a surprise that will change the direction of his life: An inheritance from the father Rusty never knew—and the promise of the family he’d never had. It’s a lot for the hard-bitten loner to accept as love rushes into his life . . .

A sense of duty has Rusty heading to Honey Creek to deal with his father’s estate—and find his lost siblings. But having family is one thing, learning to love them is another. Good thing new friends are by his side to help him along the way.

 

 

Review:

Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas was a nice sweet heartwarming story in her new Someday Valley series. We meet Rusty O’Sullivan from the start, when he is travelling home in a major storm, in which he is in a terrible accident during a mudslide.  Starri Knight, who lives with her aunt, sees the accident and together with her aunt, they manage to rescue Rusty; the aunt helps as much as she can, but he has serious damage, and is taken to the hospital for a recovery period.

Starri herself was involved in a similar car accident almost 20 years ago, where her parents were killed, and her aunt took care of her.  Starri is a sweet and gentle soul, who believes in fate, and she makes it her business to watch over Rusty, as he is now a friend.  While Rusty is recovering in the hospital, he meets Jackson Landry, who is a lawyer, and tells Rusty that the father he never knew, left a will giving him and three other unknown brothers all of his money.  Rusty, not having known about his father for 32 years, declines the inheritance.  Jackson will continue to look for the other brothers, but him and Rusty do become friends. As Jackson finds a young brother, Zach, he and Rusty automatically hit it off, as Rusty is thrilled knowing that he has half siblings (a family he never had). There is an evil uncle, who comes forth to try and take Zach away; but it was nice that the town stood up to protect Zach.

There are quite a few main characters who have their own story lines, as we watch them find their true future paths and love.   Jackson has taken over his father’s law firm, and everyone seems to like him, which makes him happy to be back in Honey Creek.  Slowly, he finds that Sharri always is able to predict things and calm him, helping him succeed; though he is 10 years older, this will turn into a slow burn romance.  Rusty’s stay at the hospitable was lengthy, with the doctor, (Amber) being the one who took care of him.  Amber was a workaholic, working long hours, and she would fall asleep, with both of them finding solace. Though she was tough, slowly Amber began to enjoy Rusty’s comfort, and by closer to the end, theirs will also be a slow burn romance. There was also a mature romance between nurse, Emma, who spent her free time, watching and constantly talking to Heath, who was in a coma; not expected to live.  Heath slowly comes out of his comatose state, and together they will find true love.

Strawberry Lane was a sweet, heartwarming, entertaining story of love, friendship and new found family. There were many wonderful main characters, with unexpected romances, that we really liked.  Strawberry Lane was well written by Jodi Thomas.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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Deep Tide by Laura Griffin – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Deep Tide by Laura Griffin – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
An undercover FBI agent and an independent coffee shop owner must team up when a local barista is found dead and danger circles their coastal Texas town.

With two brothers on the police force, Leyla Breda is well aware of the rising crime in her small beach town, but she never expected it to show up on her doorstep. When Leyla finds one of her employees murdered in the alley behind her coffee shop, she’s deeply shaken, and as a new law enforcement officer in town begins to circle her place of business, her instincts only sharpen.

Sean Moran is on an undercover mission: The seaside community of Lost Beach may look like a picturesque postcard, but his team suspects it’s a point of intersection for several crime syndicates that the FBI has been investigating for years. Even so, when the brash and beautiful Leyla Breda starts bossing him around, he’s immediately intrigued. He knows her brothers want him to back off, but every time he sees her, he feels more of a spark.

Leyla’s connections in the local community and Sean’s skills allow them to go deeper into the case together than they would be able to go alone. But when a single crime spirals into something much darker, Sean’s carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn.

 

Review:

Deep Tide by Laura Griffin is the 4th book in her wonderful The Texas Murder Files series.  I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, as she is one of the best at murder suspenseful mysteries, police procedurals and a bit of romance.  We meet our heroine, Leyla Breda, who runs two shops in Lost Beach, The Island Beanery, a popular coffee and pastry shop on the island, and The Windjammer. Leyla is catering the wedding of her brother, Joel and Miranda (previous heroes), with help from her assistant, Sienna; and meets Sean Moran, an old friend of Joel.  The following morning, with the happy couple away, she enters her coffee shop and to her dismay, finds the dead body of one of her employees. 

Sean, our hero, is an FBI agent, who is also in town on a secret mission; though he finds himself very attracted to Leyla; who tries her best to not allow herself to fall for the handsome hunk. Leyla knows what its like to have two brothers on the police force, and even when she questions him, she gets no answers. 

Nicole is a detective on the police force, and she is assigned to take the lead on the case of the murder at the coffee shop; especially with Joel away on his honeymoon, and Owen (previous hero with Macey), and neither of the brothers are allowed to participate in the murder mystery. Nicole does a good job in trying to find clues, and with help from her co-worker, Emmett, they manage to discover that the murder could very well be part of the secret mission Sean is on.

Sean knows there is an enemy in Long Beach, and he worries that Leyla during her catering, will put herself in danger. Leyla accepts a catering job for a wealthy Tech millionaire, and decides when she has a moment, to take a peek in his office, and snaps a picture of a map.  Though, Sean was happy to have that information, her meddling was too dangerous; and Leyla continued to learn more about the victim possibly dating the millionaire. Sean’s skills allowed him to take Leyla’s information to dig further in this case.    

In a short time, Sean and Leyla succumb to their feelings, with great chemistry between them.   I also loved Nicole, who was doing an excellent job of getting clues, as she learns more during her investigations. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge throughout, especially as we raced to the climax. The last half of the book was extremely tense, I could not put the book down.  I do not want to give spoilers, so you need to read this book to discover what happens.

Deep Tide was another excellent mystery in this series, which to no surprise, was very well written by Laura Griffin. The last third of the book was very exciting, as Leyla finds herself in danger, and Sean, with help from the brothers, needs to find a way to save her.  

Laura Griffin once again, gives us a fantastic exciting suspenseful mystery, with a great romantic couple and wonderful secondary characters. If you enjoy murder mysteries, police procedurals, lots of intense action, suspense, with a touch of romance, you should read this book.  If you have never read Laura Griffin, it’s time to start now, as she is an amazing writer for romance suspense.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

DEEP TIDE by Laura Griffin
Berkley Romance | On sale April 25, 2023

                                Excerpt

Sean Moran slipped away from the party. The bride and groom had left under a shower of rice, but people were still milling around beneath swags of white lights, drinking the couple’s booze and enjoying the breeze off the water. Sean would have liked another drink, but he needed to get back to his condo. As he crossed the wooden bridge spanning the sand dunes, he spied a woman on the beach with a champagne flute in hand.

Leyla Breda.

Her formfitting dress looked silver in the moonlight, and it shimmered against her body as she strolled toward the surf. Nearing a piece of driftwood, she dropped her shoes to the sand and sat down. She nestled the flute at her feet, then lifted her arms and twisted her dark hair into a knot at the top of her head.

Sean stopped at the end of the bridge. He had about a hundred things left to do tonight, including contacting his boss.

Instead, he walked over to Leyla.

“How’s the champagne?”

She jumped and turned around. Recognition flickered across her face, and her shoulders relaxed.

“It’s good.” She held up her glass. “You didn’t have any?”

“Nope. Can I get you a refill?”

She smiled. “What, are you a waiter now, too?”

He stepped closer. “I’m Sean Moran, by the way.” He held out his hand. “We never actually met.”

“Leyla Breda.” Her handshake was brisk and businesslike, but the warm look in her eyes gave him hope.

“Joel’s little sister,” he said.

“That’s me.”

He turned toward the water so he wouldn’t be tempted to stare down the front of her dress.

“I didn’t get a chance to thank you earlier,” she said. “Things got really hectic.”

“Looked like you had your hands full.”

“So, are you here for Joel or Miranda?”

He looked at her. “Joel.”

She tipped her head to the side as she gazed up at him. “And you know him from . . . ?”

“Work.”

She frowned. “Here?”

“No. We go way back. We were in the same academy class in Houston, spent some time at HPD together.”

“Oh. That was a while ago.”

“Yeah.”

“So . . . the vice squad, then?”

“Yeah. Mind if I sit down?”

“Not at all.”

Sean lowered himself onto the other end of the sandy log. He didn’t like the direction the conversation had taken so he steered it back to her.

“So, how long have you been a caterer?” he asked.

“Hmm . . . let’s see. I guess it’s been about three weeks now.” She turned and smiled at him, and he felt a hot jolt of attraction. “Why? Can you tell?”

“Not at all.”

“Right.”

“Well, the timing seemed a little bumpy.”

“Just a little.” She rolled her eyes. “We had several staffers no-show. It happens a lot in this business. People are flaky. Despite all my planning, you could say we were a bit rushed.”

Rushed was right. No woman had ever clapped at him before. He’d discovered it was a turn-on.

Excerpted from Deep Tide by Laura Griffin Copyright © 2023 by Laura Griffin. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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ROYAL PAIN (RBMC:Nashville TN 8) by Morgan Jane Mitchell -review

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?ROYAL PAIN (RBMC:Nashville TN 8) by Morgan Jane Mitchell?

 

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date April 25, 2023

Biker Prince of the Smokey Rollers MC, Riff was born bad. A biker rat, he was set to inherit the Presidency. But after his father’s motorcycle club disbanded, his prospects of ruling one day all but disappeared. That was until he found the Royal Bastards MC in Nashville and quickly became Road Captain. Dead set on taking over for Kingpin one day, Riff has become a Royal Pain around the club. All that changes once Mary arrives.

Finally free of her childhood prison, Mary knows nothing of the outside world, let alone the biker lifestyle at Royal Road. After choosing to leave her Amish family, being offered a job as a live-in nurse seems like a dream come true. She quickly finds out how different things are at Royal Road. Not only different but depraved. The more she learns the more she questions leaving her Godly home.

Thankfully there’s a hot biker around, more than willing to show her the ropes.
Can Riff convince her it’s not all bad when the outlaw biker life is all he’s ever known?
Riff having something he wants more than becoming President of an MC couldn’t come at a worse time as Kingpin’s disaster comes to a head. Will his focus on not only showing Mary around but also protecting her from the evils of the club make him miss the perfect opportunity to take the reins from his President?

Pushing Mary away puts her in unknown danger.

Can she ever forgive him? Can he forgive himself? More importantly to Riff, will she stay at Royal Road?

••••••••

REVIEW:  ROYAL PAIN is the eighth instalment in Morgan Jane Mitchell’s contemporary, adult RBMC: Nashville TN erotic, MC romance series, a part of the multi-authored RBMC series. This is RBMC road captain Raef ‘Riff’ Reynolds, and Mary Stutzman’s story line. ROYAL PAIN can be read as a stand-alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as the events of ROYAL PAIN over lap with, and run parallel to many of the events of the the entire RBMC: Nashville TN series.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives(Riff and Mary) with a final chapter by Kingpin ROYAL PAIN focuses on the building relationship between RBMC road captain Riff, and Mary Stutzman. Cece Green (Pagan’s sister) is blind, and is in need of a new in-house assistant in the wake of betrayal from her former aide. Mary Stutzman was raised in the Amish Community, and as such struggled with her future in the wake of an arranged marriage with a much older and powerful man. Looking for an exit, Mary applies for, and is hired as Cece’s assistant, where she will come face to face with her future in the guise of RBMC member Raef ‘Riff’ Reynolds.Riff is the embattled road captain of the RBMC: NashvilleTN chapter, and is struggling with his place in the club.The current club president Kingpin, fears a violent takeover and coup from his road captain but Riff is biding his time as Kingpin’s life is quickly imploding. Finding himself attracted to Cece’s new assistant, Riff begins a slow albeit platonic seduction of Mary Stutzman, a young woman with little to no experience in the ways of the world.

The slow building relationship between Mary and Riff struggles in the face of Mary’s inexperience, fears, devout religious beliefs, and biblical views on marriage and family. Riff believes Mary is his future but convincing Mary means to break down her barriers both emotional and physical but all is not well within the clubhouse, and the war with the Asphalt Gods MC becomes deadly and personal, leaving Mary alone for far too long. Believing she made a very big mistake, Mary walks away, and into a future with another man. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters as the story line covers several months, several books, and several previously revealed situations, scenarios and plot lines.

ROYAL PAIN revisits most of the conflicts addressed in the previous story lines, and as such the interactions between Mary and Riff are stilted, limited and often felt secondary to the premise. In this, I didn’t feel the attraction between our leading couple; the palpable sexual need was pushed down due to Mary’s innocence and adamant refusal for physical contact prior to marriage, and her back and forth between wanting and refusing got old. Riff would disappear for days at a time and little information about his whereabouts or what he was doing was brought into question, hence the need to read the series in order in an effort to know what was happening and why.

ROYAL PAIN is not the typical MC story line in that it felt more like an ‘Amish’ love story about first experiences and innocence.Saying that, there was more telling than showing-I was never pulled into the story line premise-I never felt connected to Mary and Riff’s relationship. ROYAL PAIN is an interesting read in which all of the previous story line conflicts are reviewed and resolved-feels like the end of this particular arc of the series; the romance is subtle ; the characters are numerous, desperate and determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Hallow’s Eve
Kissing Irish
Royal Road
Royal Surprise
Catchin’ Levi
Pagan’s Xmas
Valentine’s Eve

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

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USA Today Bestselling Author Morgan Jane Mitchell spent years blogging politics and health trends before she rediscovered her love of writing fiction. Trading politicians for bloodsuckers of another kind, she’s now the author of bestselling post-apocalyptic fantasy novel, Sanguis City. Her action packed series of vampires, witches, demons and zombies is paranormal romance, dystopia, urban fantasy and erotica in one bite. When Morgan Jane is not creating the city of blood or conjuring up other supernatural tales, she’s dreaming up erotic and dark romances, like her bestselling Biker Romance series, Asphalt Gods’ MC.

Despite her ever changing hair and her love of adventure, fine food and art, she spends most of her time enjoying the simple life with her free range chickens and ducks, 3 sons and the love of her life who happens to be the best assistant ever.

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Seven Girls Gone by Allison Brennan – a Review

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Seven Girls Gone by Allison Brennan – a Review

 

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Description:
For three years, women have been disappearing—and eventually turning up dead in the small bayou town of St. Augustine, Louisiana. Police detective Beau Hebert is the only one who seems to care, but with every witness quickly silenced and a corrupt police department set on keeping the cases unsolved, Beau’s investigation stalls at every turn.

With nobody else to trust, Beau calls in a favor from his friend on the FBI’s Mobile Response Team. While LAPD detective Kara Quinn works undercover to dig into the women’s murders and team leader Matt Costa officially investigates the in-custody death of a witness, Beau might finally have a chance at solving the case.

But in a town where everyone knows everyone, talking gets you killed and secrets stay buried, it’s going to take the entire team working around the clock to unravel the truth. Especially when they discover that the deep-seated corruption and the deadly drug-trafficking ring at the center of it all extends far beyond the small-town borders.

 

 

Review:

Seven Girls Gone by Allison Brennan is the 4th book in her fantastic Quinn and Costa series.  I am a big fan of Allison Brennan, who always gives us sensational mystery thrillers; and Seven Girls Gone was a fabulous addition to this series.

Beau Hebert, is a police detective in a small town, St. Augustine, Louisiana, and he is very frustrated. During the last three years, five women have been murdered, one is still missing, with no one in his department caring, as his leads continually gets squashed; and Beau suspects the police department, mayor are all corrupt. He reaches out to an old friend who works for the FBI Mobile Response Team for help. Special Agent Matt Costa and Detective Kara Quinn, as well as all of the FBI Mobile Response team are called in to help Beau.

Kara and Michael arrive first, with Kara, who is a great detective, having lots of experience working undercover.  She makes it her business to visit Magnolia Inn, where many of the victims who worked there ended up being killed. Kara uses her disguise to meet many of the police and people working at the Inn.  Michael goes with Beau to search the swamp for the missing girl, Lily. Matt arrives with the rest of his team, which includes Jim and Ryder.  Matt (the leader of the mobile team) visits the police chief to explain that they are investigating these deaths, and no one from the department is happy about their being here, especially Officer Guidry, who already angered Kara, as well as Beau’s grandmother. In a short time, the seventh girl is found dead, and Kara is concerned that Winnie will be next; she is determined to get Winnie to work with them, in order to save her.

The relationship between Kara and Matt is still on the border line, as Kara isn’t sure she wants to stay with the mobile team, or go back to being a Los Angeles Detective (she on loan, and her job in LA is in jeopardy). Matt finds himself falling hard for Kara, and though she is very much attracted, she isn’t sure if she can become permanent with Matt. Kara also became close to Beau’s grandmother, and very protective.  The danger escalates, as Mat, Kara, Michael, Jim (forensics expert) finds themselves under attack.  To say to much more would be spoilers, as you  need to read this book from start to finish.

What follows is an intense, pulse pounding thriller, with many twists and turns. Who was truly behind the corruption and murders? As we got closer to the tense climax, the danger escalated in this heart stopping thriller, with so many people involved.  I could not put the book down, as the suspense was amazing.  Seven Girls Gone was so very well written by Allison Brennan, that I fully recommend you read this fantastic exciting edge of your seat thriller.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Flight Risk (Risk Trilogy 1) by Amelia Wilde-review tour

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Flight Risk (Risk Trilogy 1) by Amelia Wilde-review tour

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 25, 2023

When love takes you hostage, what’s the correct fight or flight? Jameson Hill has been a walking crime scene ever since he lost both parents as a teenager. Since then, his life has been one big run-in with the justice system — not that Jameson has ever had any faith in the law. In fact, all he’s ever wanted is to wipe the smile off the face of the thieving judge who stole his family’s inheritance. So when Jameson gets the chance to seize the most powerful bargaining chip of all, he goes all in.

Law student Lily Hayes is following determinedly in her grandfather’s footsteps — anything to make sure she doesn’t end up like her flaky, “free-spirited” mother. But when she finds herself the captive of a hot, spontaneous, billionaire with a revenge wish, Lily’s good girl intentions go up in flames. All Jameson has ever wanted was retribution, but every night with this sweetly vulnerable woman is bringing him closer to redemption. And that’s something he just can’t risk, if he’s ever going to set the record straight…

•••••

REVIEW:FLIGHT RISK is the first instalment in Amelia Wilde’s contemporary, adult RISK dark, erotic, romance trilogy focusing on businessman Jameson Hill, and law student Lily Hayes. FLIGHT RISK is a spin off from, and set in the author’s POWER PLAY, and WEALTH Trilogy worlds. For back story, I recommend reading the aforementioned WEALTH Trilogy, as all of the story line are interconnected.

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

SOME BACKGROUND: Approximately fifteen years earlier Jameson, along with his siblings Mason, Gabriel and Remy lost everything the night their parents were murdered in a fire, and the brothers are determined to seek revenge against the people they believe are responsible for their deaths. A group of elite and questionable businessman, known as the Consortium, a group in which his father was a member, targeted Jameson’s parents, and Jameson has set his sights on one of the corrupt members of the society of law, Judge Beaufort Hayes, by targeting his granddaughter Lily.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jameson and Lily) FLIGHT RISK focuses on betrayal and revenge. Jameson Hill continues to struggle in the years since his parent’s murder, a struggle that has landed him on the wrong side of the law, on numerous occasions. A violent attack against his sister finds Jameson acting on his need for revenge when he discovers his sister’s attacker has a lengthy record but has never been convicted for any of his crimes. The judge in question is the same person Jameson believes is responsible for sending his siblings into abject poverty, and Jameson is about to take his revenge on the judge’s granddaughter. An abandoned bird, an abduction, and forced proximity with acts of questionable consent end with our hero battling his demons, and our heroine falling hard for the man who was about to destroy her life. What ensues is the building relationship between Lily and Jameson, and the fall-out as Jameson must choose between vengeance, madness, or a broken heart.

The relationship between Lily and Jameson begins as an abduction in which Jameson will hold Lily hostage for several days. Lily is unaware of the who, how or why but Jameson is about to reveal that Lily’s past and her grandfather may not necessarily be who or what they claim to be. Jameson needs to prove he is in control of his captive by pushing the boundaries of consent, consent that is dubious from an unwilling participant. The $ex scenes are aggressive and intense.

All of Jameson’s siblings return but the majority of the story line focuses on Lily and Jameson,who are hiding in seclusion at Jameson’s cottage. Jameson’s siblings are desperate for his return but our hero continues to struggle with life, going forward.

FLIGHT RISK is a story of betrayal, retribution and vengeance, power and control, greed and money, acceptance and determination. The premise is dark, dramatic and intense; the characters are broken and desperate; the romance is limited as Jameson’s need for revenge questions his actions towards Lily Hayes. FLIGHT RISK ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

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Amelia Wilde is a USA TODAY and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of steamy contemporary romance and loves it a little too much. She lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters. She spends most of her time typing furiously on an iPad and appreciating the natural splendor of her home state from where she likes it best: inside.

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A Cruel Arrangement (Kings of New York 2) by Tijan-a review

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A Cruel Arrangement (Kings of New York 2) by Tijan-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 25, 2023

This was my place. My business. Easter Lanes.Then a guy comes in, trying to rob me, daring to take it away from me.

My home. My life.Hell no. I won’t let my livelihood be threatened.

No one knows what I’ve done to build this life for myself.Except he might.

Ashton Walden, a man I remember from when we were kids.Even back then I could tell how dangerous he would be one day.

He’s now the head of the Walden mafia family, and my father is so in debt to them that they practically own him.

My dad and I are estranged and I want nothing to do with him or his debt, but the day after the attempted robbery, I don’t wake up in the hospital.

I wake up in Ashton Walden’s home. And he drops a bomb on me.If I want my livelihood back, I need to earn it back.

And thus begins our cruel arrangement.

•••••

REVIEW:A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT is the second instalment in Tijan’s contemporary, adult KINGS OF NEW YORK dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is crime lord Ashton Walden, and business woman Molly Easter’s story line. A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT should not be read as a stand alone. For back story and cohesion I recommend reading book one A DIRTY BUSINESS.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. If you have not read book one, there may be spoilers in my review

SOME BACKGROUND: Molly and her friend Jess’s friends have been murdered, and no one was currently in custody, or charged with the crime. One of the deceased is the brother of one of the detectives in the organized crime unit, and said detective wants answers. Using any means necessary, Ashton Walden forces Molly to call in a favor, a favor in exchange for some heart breaking truths.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ashton and Molly) A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT follows in the aftermath of an attempted robbery at the local bowling centre owned by Molly Easter. Molly and the bowling center were under the protection of crime boss Ashton Walden but Molly would soon discover that all was not as it would appear to have been. There is a war brewing between the various factions of the local mobs, a war that places Molly Easter, up front and center, pitting her against family, friends, and the man with whom Molly will fall in love. Ashton Walden doesn’t do relationships but his attraction to Molly started several years earlier. There is a lifelong connection between our leading couple, a connection that is about to reveal the secrets and lies Ashton has been hiding for a number of years. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ashton and Molly, and the potential fall-out as betrayal, vengeance and the local mob come hunting for our story line couple.

Ashton Walden is desperate to find the person responsible for killing his best friend’s girlfriend’s friend (say that three times). Everyone is suspect; the crime bosses are refusing to cooperate; the local riff raff has been anointed to look deeper into the possible connections. Molly Easter is struggling with the revelations that everything she knew about her family and her life, has been a lie, a lie to protect the identity of someone else. Desperate to find the killer, Molly is often TSTL (too stupid too live) placing herself in the direct line of fire but Ashton has one more secret, a secret that could threaten the growing love between our story line couple.

The relationship between Molly and Ashton is a frenemies to friends to lovers. Ashton has named himself guardian and protector of our story line heroine but as the various factions of the criminal underworld begin to circle, Ashton will claim Molly as his own. Molly never thought she would fall in love with the powerful ‘captor’ but falling in love means exposing her heart to potential heart break and loss. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and energetic secondary and supporting characters. We are reintroduced to former parole officer and Molly’s friend Jess Montell, and heir to the West Mafia Tristan ‘Trace’ West (A Dirty Business 1); Ashton’s right hand man Elijah; Molly’s dad Marcus ‘Shorty’ Easter; her friends and co-workers Sophie and Pialto; foster ‘cousin’ Glen; Dr.Nea Sandquist; Nurse Sloane; Detective Worthing, crime lord Nicolai Worthing; Trace’s sister Remmi West, and Ashton’s cousin Marco. The requisite evil has many faces.

A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT is a fast paced, haunting and animated story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, acceptance, forgiveness and love. The premise is intriguing, engaging an d captivating: the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are desperate, dynamic and determined.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one A DIRTY BUSINESS

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores. 

Connect with Tijan

Facebook/ Twitter / Reader Group / Goodreads/ Bookbub/ Website/ Amazon Author Page

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