Monthly Archives: May 2023

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding- a Review

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Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding- a Review

 

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Description:
In this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen’s Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan’s modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don’t have to look any further than your own backyard.

Beautiful, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighborhood with very little to distress or vex her…that is, until her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister’s marriage—and subsequent move downtown. Now, with her sister gone and all her friends traveling abroad, Emma must start her final year of grad school grappling with an entirely new emotion: boredom. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio transplant with a heart of gold and drugstore blonde highlights to match, Emma not only sees a potential new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley would get out of her way.

Handsome, smart, and successful, the only thing that frustrates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. Whether it’s her shopping sprees between classes or her revolving door of ill-conceived hobbies, he is only too happy to lecture her on all the finer points of adulthood she’s so hell-bent on ignoring. But despite his gripes—and much to his own chagrin—Knightley can’t help but notice that the girl next door is a woman now…one who he suddenly can’t get out of his head.

As Emma’s best laid plans collide with everyone from hipster baristas to meddling family members to flaky playboy millionaires, these two friends slowly realize their need to always be right has been usurped by a new need entirely, and it’s not long before they discover that even the most familiar stories still have some surprises.

 

 

Review:

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her elite Upper East Side wealthy neighborhood, and is soon to graduate with honors from NYU.  She is determined to get her dream job on her own, without her father’s interference; Emma is very likeable, with a heart of gold, but she is also a bit spoiled.  With her sister now married, and friends aboard, she meets a new friend at school, Nadine.  Emma begins her new project in making over Nadine, convincing her to dump the boyfriend, and bringing her to the many balls/concerts, teaching her how to act and look.

George Knightley (Knightley) has been Emma’s best friend since childhood, but he is constantly giving her criticism, telling her she interferes in other people’s lives; he continually tells her she needs to grow up. Though Emma gets angry at him, they still remain as best friends, spending lot of time together, and Knightley always attending the Woodhouse Sunday family dinner.  

Emma’s sister, Margo, pushes her to date wealthy entrepreneur Montgomery Knox.  When she finally does meet Montgomery, he is attracted to her, but Emma knows he is not the one for her.  She realizes despite his being annoying at times, Emma knows she has feelings for Knightley.  Knightley begins to see Emma in a different light, knowing she is no longer his childhood friend, but a woman who he has strong feelings for; he refuses to approach Emma about his feelings.  Will Knightley come forward and tell Emma he loves her?  Will they only be best friends?

Emma of 83rd Street is an enemy to friends to lovers’ story, a retelling that takes place in Manhattan in modern times. Emma was sweet and charming, though a bit overboard at times.  I did like her friendship with Nadine, who turned out to be a good friend.  There were some very good secondary characters, that added to the fun.  Emma of 83rd Street was very well written by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding.  If you are a fan of Jane Austen’s books, you should be reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Identity by Nora Roberts – a Review

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Identity by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

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Description:
A new thriller about one man’s ice-cold malice, and one woman’s fight to reclaim her life.

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan’s job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who’d been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. “Luke” is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn’t his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan’s nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother’s home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn’t flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn’t forgotten the one who got away.

 

 

 

Review:

Identity by Nora Roberts is a standalone romance suspense thriller.  I love all of Nora Roberts books, being a big fan of her In Death/Eve Dallas series, as well as her wonderful trilogies; I thought Identity was one of the best romance suspense thrillers I have read, which kept me glued to my kindle from start to finish. 

Morgan Albright, our heroine, lives in Baltimore, working two jobs; hoping to save enough money to open her own place.  Nina is her roommate, who is like a sister to Morgan, helping share expenses of the mortgage payments.  At night, Morgan is a bartender, making fantastic drinks, and always friendly; one night she meets a charming man, who is in town for a short time.  After a few visits to the bar, Morgan invites him to a dinner with her friend Nina and her boyfriend. A couple of days later, when Nina is home sick, Morgan comes home to see her back doors smashed, her cash, jewelry and car missing and Nina dead in her office.

Morgan learns from the FBI that the man whom she just met, was a serial con artist and a murderer.  His real name is Gavin, and he targets women (similar to Morgan’s looks), steals their assets and identity, and ends up killing them.  She lost everything, and when the FBI agent explains that she was the real target, she decides to leave Baltimore and return home to Vermont, to try and restart her life.  The agent does warn her that since she is the first person who ever survived, Gavin may still have thoughts of finding her again, being the ‘the one that got away’.

When Morgan moves home to Vermont to live with her grandmother and mother, she is happy to be with them; though she still has nightmares thinking about Nina.  Soon, Morgan happily gets a new job, in a popular resort, with her taking over as the nightly bartender/manager in the fancy Apres Bar of the resort.  She gets to know the entire Jameson family, who run the resort; and they all know about what happened to her in Baltimore.  The resort has a top-notch security system, and they implement plans to make sure who does not leave at night without a guard.  In a short time, Miles Jameson stops by each night, and makes sure she is safe, which leads into a slow burn romance. 

I loved Morgan, who was a fantastic heroine, as well as very loyal and loving with her mother and grandmother; she was also a terrific bartender, with many different concoctions. Miles was a bit gruff early on, but in a short time, he began to have feelings for Morgan, as she did for him.  I adored Howl, the dog, who fell in love with Morgan.  The Jameson family were all amazing people, and they were all so wonderful; I enjoyed their family meetings.  I did get a kick out of Jen, the fitness instructor, who trained Morgan how to defend herself; something that would come handy later on.

Gavin, the evil thief/murderer, had a few POV’s as we saw him constantly find victims and kill them.  He still had Morgan as his target for one day in the future.  This escalated as we get closer to the last ¼ of the book, which was very intense and suspenseful.  I will not say more, as you really need to read this book from start to finish.  Identity was a fantastic read, with a bit of romance, family, love, and suspense.  Identity was so very well written by Nora Roberts.  This is a do not miss.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Harbored in Silence (Aspen Pack 4) by Carrie Ann Ryan-review tour

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Harbored in Silence (Aspen Pack 4) by Carrie Ann Ryan-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 22, 2023

A witch on the run who could save the world–or destroy it with one touch

I am who they fear.

The Harvester Death Witch.

The one who holds the power of their fate in my hands.

Or at least…that’s what they whisper.

The coven has fallen. The vampires are circling our den. And if we don’t find new allies, our Pack won’t be able to fight much longer.

On my Alpha’s orders, I must find others who hide beneath the shadows for not only our protection, but theirs as well.

Only I’m not alone on my mission.

I brought Cruz back from death once before, and though I know the goddess forbids it, I’d do it again.

Because he’s my mate.

And my ending.

••••••

REVIEW: Harbored In Silence is the fourth installment in the Aspen Pack series, by Carrie Ann Ryan. Like always, I recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of it. For readers that know a little backstory, Cruz and Dara’s book is here and it is everything and more than what you are hoping for.

Dara is the Harvester Death Witch. Cruz, the heir to the Aspen Pack. These two have some things happen in the previous books in the series, so when I finally got my hands on their story I was thrilled. Dara saved Cruz’s life, bringing him back from the dead, now we get the full story of that choice and them becoming mates. As always, C.A.R story’s are one of my most anticipated reads, her books always pull at the heartstrings, and Harbored holds true as well.

Dara is dying, before her death all she wants to do is save her pack, and set Cruz free of the bond that formed when she saved his life. Cruz on the other hand is ordered to keep her safe, with this task they both must fight the mating bond they are feeling. The longer they stay together, however, the stronger their feelings for one another get. Can the two find a future together? Can they save Dara from dying?

C.A.R knows how to write a good paranormal romance, that’s for sure. Cruz is grumpy, and loyal, and no matter who or what Dara is, he can’t help but want her. Dara is a strong woman with a vulnerable heart, she wants to save her pack more than anything else, but with Cruz, their connection sparks to life a passion for a life she knows she can never have. This was a heartwarming story of love, struggle and tragedy. If you are looking for a good paranormal romance, look no further than the Aspen Pack.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Etched in Honor
Hunted in Darkness
Mated in Chaos

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

 

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Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.

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The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major – a Review

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The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major – a Review

 

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Description:
They have nothing in common—except a need to start over…

The drawback to having a picture-perfect life is that there’s nowhere to go but down—and Annalise Haverford is falling fast. Once, she was the self-proclaimed queen bee of Magnolia, North Carolina. Now her husband has been arrested for fraud, and she’s become an outcast in the shallow circles she used to rule. There’s only one affordable rental in town, and it’s owned by the woman Annalise got fired from a lucrative job.

Much as single mother Shauna Myer would like to refuse Annalise, who treated her like dirt on the bottom of her red-soled shoe, she needs that rent money. But when Shauna’s first love arrives in town, unraveling secrets she’d hoped to keep, Annalise becomes her unlikely defender. Meghan Banks, an elementary school art teacher whose quiet existence suddenly descends into chaos, is thrown an unexpected lifeline by Annalise, too.

As spring ripens into a sultry summer, the three spur each other on to share their fears and dreams, face new challenges, and seize second chances. Because no matter how turbulent life may be, it’s much easier to navigate those choppy waters when you’re buoyed by true friendship…­ 

 

Review:

The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major is the 5th book in her wonderful Carolina Girls series. I have become a big fan of Michelle Major, having enjoyed her Magnolia Sisters, and now her Carolina Girls series. The Front Porch Club continues to take place in Magnolia, North Carolina; continuing the trend with a wonderful sweet story, with three fantastic ladies who formed a marvelous friendship. The three ladies were very different and unlikely to be friends, but over time their bond grew very strong. Let us meet our wonderful three ladies.

Annalise Haverford, spent years at the top of Magnolia’s society, but when her husband landed in jail due to fraud, with many people losing their money, Annalise is now an outcast in the circles she was a large part of.  She is divorced with two children, and is financially in bad shape.  She rents an affordable apartment from a woman who she treated badly.  Annalise manages to get a job as a housekeeper, and she begins to see how badly she treated those in lower class. 

Shauna Myer is a single mother of 5-year-old twins, who have never met their father. Shauna, who owns the building, agrees to rent to Annalise, whom she did not like, but she needed the rent payments.  Being a sweet person, she goes out of her way to treat Annalise nicely, introducing her two sons to Annalise’s daughter and son. Shauna also begins to see Annalise trying to change the way she was, and in a short time, the start of a friendship begins.

Meghan Banks, is other new tenant, who is an elementary school art teacher, having recently been told that she will lose her job at the end of the school year, due to budget cuts.  At first Meghan, steers clear of the other two ladies, but in a short time, she will join Annalise and Shauna in helping each other pick up the pieces of their lives. 

Annalise comes up with an idea to do a Fundraiser, to not only help get more funds for Meghan to keep her job, but also add more funds to the school.  I really loved the friendship that the trio built over time, overcoming many issues along the way, but always there for each other; as the bond of sisterhood formed.  I enjoyed seeing the ladies find their possible love interest.   Annalise, while working as a housekeeper finds her love in Jack, who manages the farm, owned by a famous singer, who now lives there.  Shauna is shocked that Flynn who abandoned her more than 5 years ago, returns and realizes her two sons are his; he is determined to win her back. Meghan finds herself falling hard for the singer, Walker, but with his career on hold, is their any hope for her to win him over?

What follows is a wonderful heartwarming romantic story with all three unlikely friends that slowly become a sisterhood, with each of them helping each other to find second chances and upcoming challenges.   I enjoyed returning to Magnolia and meeting a new group of friends, and secondary characters.   The Front Porch Club was written so very well by Michelle Major, with three great friends, hot men, and so many wonderful secondary characters.  The Front Porch Club was a very entertaining read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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OPAL (GEM #1) by Freya Barker-review tour

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OPAL (GEM #1) by Frey Barker-review tour

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Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 22, 2023

GEM: A PRIVATELY-FUNDED ORGANIZATION OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY IN THE SEARCH FOR—AND THE RESCUE AND RECOVERY OF—MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH, AT TIMES WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, GEM AIMS TO ENSURE THE VICTIMS RECEIVE JUSTICE…BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY.
____
GEM Operator Opal; multifaceted, versatile, a chameleon.

She hides in plain sight, adapts, and infiltrates.

When Opal goes undercover in a youth center several teenagers have disappeared from, she’s shocked to find a ghost of her own traumatic past at the helm. However, her worry for the missing kids is greater than her concern being recognized and she risks her own safety to discover the truth.

To complicate matters, a familiar FBI agent shows up conducting his own investigation and almost blows the whistle on her. It takes some doing to convince him to join forces with her but as it turns out, they work well together.

In the course of uncovering an organized group of child molesters, they find themselves falling—for each other.

••••••

REVIEW: OPAL is the first instalment in Freya Barker’s contemporary, adult GEM romantics suspense series focusing on three GEM agents and friends Opal, Pearl and Onyx. This is forty year old, marksmanship trainer for the US army, GEM Agent Katherine ‘Kate’ Jones aka Opal Berry, and FBI Agent Mitch Kenny’s story line.

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

GEM stands for Gather, Evaluate, Mobilize

Told from dual first person perspectives (Opal and Mitch) OPAL follows the search for several missing teens from a group home in the city of Lanark, Kentucky. Twenty years earlier, our heroine Kate, along with Janey and Raj, were abducted from a teen youth centre, held captive and abused by a madman who would eventually die in a fire at the same centre. Fast forward to present day wherein, several more teens would go missing, under similar circumstances to what happened years before, a similarity that brought with it ghosts from the past. Going undercover as part of the GEM investigation, Opal would come face to face with FBI Agent Mitch Kenny, a man determined to stop Opal before it’s too late but as the search turns dangerous, the investigation hits too close to home for the man with whom Opal is falling in love. What ensues is the search for, and rescue of the missing teens, and the potential fall-out the investigation becomes personal, pushing Opal out of Mitch’s life.

The relationship between Mitch and Opal begins when Mitch and Opal must work together in an effort to uncover the truth. A number of at risk teens are missing, pointing to a possible organized group of child molesters, a group of well connected and well known men in positions of power but as the names and faces are revealed, Opal finds herself facing down a ghost from the past. Mitch and Opal struggle in the face of work-place involvement but when the time comes to run, Mitch pushes Opal out of his life. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful , powerful and energetic secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Pearl aka Janey, Onxy aka Raj, their handler and GEM founder Jacob Branch, FBI Agent Matt Driver, as well as Mitch’s daughter Sawyer, his ex-wife Becky, and her new husband Chad Miller, as well as several teens and volunteers at the Youth Centre. The requisite evil has many faces.

OPAL is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, abuse and obsession, acceptance and love. The premise is gritty and captivating; the romance is subtle and seductive; the characters are desperate, determined and dynamic.

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
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PROPERTY OF AZRAEL (Mayhem Makers) by Avelyn Paige -dual review

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PROPERTY OF AZRAEL (Bastard Boilers MC 1 / Mayhem Makers) by Avelyn Paige -dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 20, 2023

Hallie Palmer was over the moon when was invited to sign books at the Motorcycles, Mobsters, and Mayhem event in Texas. A weekend away, showing off her books and hanging out with readers, models, and other authors. Best weekend ever, right? Then her klunker of a car dies on the side of the road in rural Arkansas. With no phone signal, her weekend plans are looking bleak until, just like in one of her own books, a group of hot guys on Harleys show up to help.

Azrael Huxton and his club, the Bastard Boilers MC, just wanted a long weekend away in Mexico. A couple of days with a beach, drinks, and beautiful women. Their plans go awry when they spot a damsel in distress. Dropping her off at her destination, he’s shocked to find an event filled with books about his own lifestyle, and Hallie writes them too. Curious to see what the hype is all about, he offers Hallie a deal.

Come with him to Mexico, and experience biker culture first hand. An entire week as his ol’ lady. Hallie jumps at the chance.

It’s research for her next book, right? What’s the harm in that?

•••••

Sandy’s REVIEW:

PROPERTY OF AZRAEL is the first instalment in Avelyn Paige’s contemporary, adult B*STARD BOILERS erotic, MC romance series, a part of the multi-authored Mayhem Makers series focusing on the fictional Motorcycles, Mobsters and Mayhem author’s book signing event  blending fact with fiction as many of the participating authors in the series have cameos and mentions, as names are dropped and their own series revealed.. This is romance writer Hallie Palmer, and the President of the B*astard Boilers MC Azrael Huxton’s story line. PROPERTY OF AZRAEL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

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

Told from three first person perspectives (Azrael, Hallie, Asher) PROPERTY OF AZRAEL follows in the wake of an opening at the Motorcycles, Mobsters and Mayhem author event in Texas. Hallie Palmer is an author who specializes in MC romances, and an opening allows Hallie the chance of a lifetime but Hallie’s limited funds force our heroine to drive across country where she will come face to face with Azrael Huxton when her car breaks down on the side of the road. With several members of the B*stard Boilers MC heading for a well-deserved vacation in Mexico, Azrael offers a ride to our story line heroine but an approaching storm forces the B*stard Boilers members, as well as Azrael and Hallie together in a hotel, where our couple will begin a relationship that will continue at the MMM signing but all does not go according to plan when a rival MC threatens our story line heroine, and memories from the past threaten the relationship between Azrael and Hallie. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Azrael and Hallie, and the potential fall-out as Hallie must come to terms with the life of the man with whom she is falling in love.

The relationship between Hallie and Azrael is one of immediate attraction. With Azrael by her side, Hallie finds herself enjoying her first author event, an event where Azrael is mistaken for a romance cover model but with several members of another MC in attendance, lives are threatened, somebody dies, and Hallie and Azrael run for their life. Not everyone is happy with new woman in Azrael’s life, and our heroine finds herself on the outside looking in as Azrael struggles to survive. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

We are introduced to several members of the B*stard Boilers MC: Azrael’s twin brother Asher, Fox, Van and Orion aka O, as well as Hallie’s fellow author Eden.

PROPERTY OF AZRAEL is a story of betrayal and loss, vengeance and murder, acceptance and love. The fast paced premise is exciting and entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, flirty and determined.

Copy supplied for review

______

Sarah’s REVIEW:

Property Of Azrael is the first installment in Avelyn Paige’s B*star* Boilers MC series. As a new reader to this author, I was intrigued when I saw that she was basing this off of a book signing. Motorcycles, Mobsters, and Mayhem. With a title signing like that, who wouldn’t be interested.

Hallie is beyond thrilled when she receives an invite to MMM (Motorcycles, Mobsters and Mayhem, it’s a dream come true and as a new author it will be her first signing. Excited to embark on this new momentous adventure, Hallie loads up her klunker of a car and heads to Texas. Little did she know she was in for more than just a signing….

The one thing a woman never wants to happen when she is traveling? A broken down car in the middle of BFE with a storm rolling in and no help in sight. Just when all hope is nearly lost a group of bikers roll up. Instantly nervous, Hallie is alert to the group of men. She does after all write MC romance, she knows how these guys think. Azrael and his brothers are on their way to Mexico for a much needed vacation when they stumble on the author stranded on the side of the road. The connection is intact and powerful. It has been a while since any woman has peaked his interests.

When the President agrees to drop Hallie at her signing, she is both relieved and somewhat upset. They might be total strangers, but the chemistry they have is something you only read about in books. Now that Azrael has found Hallie, he has to convince her to stick around a while longer.

I can’t wait to see what else this series has to offer. The book is filled with humor and hope, intrigue and danger, spicy moments and ones filled with a family of choice. The brothers are loyal, stern men, but with hearts of gold, they protect their own, and Hallie has become that. Hallie and Azrael and the Brothers are books well worth the read.

Avelyn Paige is a Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author of romantic suspense and motorcycle club romance. She lives in a small town in Indiana with her husband and four fuzzy kids.

When she’s not writing, Avelyn spends her days working as a cancer research scientist. Avelyn has been an avid reader her entire life, and it wasn’t until losing her father in 2015 that she started turning all those ideas in her head into stories. She hasn’t looked back since.

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2MP9tHD

Website: http://bit.ly/2Pedqrd

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Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2KQ8avl

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authoravelynpaige

Sign-up for Avelyn’s Newsletter: http://bit.ly/PaigeNewsletter

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Unsolicited /Equipoise by Crea Reitan -review tour

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Unsolicited /Equipoise (Brothers of Eschat 1) by Crea Reitan -review tour

UNSOLICITED
Brothers of Eschat 1
by Crea Reitan
Genre: adult, polyamorous, paranormal, romance
Release Date: September 15, 2022

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: It starts with an unsolicited d!ck pic that led me to the @rgy where I met five glorious men for a night of my life. Don’t worry, this doesn’t result in an accidental pregnancy. It’s a whole lot weirder than that.

By the next afternoon, I found some odd marks on my body. They’re very obviously not bruises. It starts with a red line spiraling around my left ankle that kinda looks like a snake. And then a gray-blue star on my hip. By the time the fourth mark shows up, I realize that each one is where one of them men had held me while we… you know.

I’m starting to feel like a freak show as they continue to cover my body as visible reminders of my salacious night. Now, I’m doing the unthinkable – tracking down my one night stand (all six of them) to figure out what the f*ck is going on.

All I can say is I’m not prepared for the world I’ve been marked into. But at least the men are hot and hung.

This is a polyamorous story with content not suitable for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

••••••

REVIEW:  Could you imagine that a d!ck pic sent to you by mistake, could result in a night of passion/tattoos and more ? than you should shake a stick at? No? Well that’s what happened too Lux…..

Lux is a photographer, she loves nothing more than capturing beauty in all its glory. So when a group of d!ck pics come her way, curiosity and appreciation for the male form has her conversing with total strangers (I do love the text parts of the book, did make me chuckle) and then an invitation to a party to meet up has Lux in a quandary, does she stay at home, or have a night to remember?

Let’s just say, there is a lot of spicy moments, and some may say maybe too much?! If it’s not your thing, then either skip over or don’t bother grabbing the book. It didn’t bother me, it became part of the story. In parts it did get a little monotonous, but it’s all part of this book.

I did enjoy the interactions between Lux and the men she was with when they weren’t all going at it ?

I also enjoyed trying to work out the dynamics within the “brotherhood”, don’t panic, they aren’t blood related, they just refer to themselves as brothers. And the tattoos I hear you ask, well, after her spending the night with them all, mysterious shapes begin to appear on Lux’s body! And she’s not happy, not happy at all! She goes in search of Sunny/Apo/Sham/Rage/Atar/Gedd and Doom to enquire what the hell the markings are about….

But they are nowhere to be found! And a search is in order for Lux to have her questions answered.

There are a few twists that I sort of saw coming. There were also a few twists I didn’t see until I got slapped with them. There are definitely questions left unanswered. There is also m/m in this book (it’s not all about Lux ?) I liked that Lux seemed more mature in age than usual FMC, I also liked her no nonsense attitude, her confidence and her brain (she didn’t become a doormat after being with the guys)

Sunny/Apo/Sham/Rage/Atar/Gedd and Doom are all great monsters/men, this is end of days (and as the author tells you in the front of the book, she created this world, her word is law) each has his own personality, i’d personally like to have seen a little more development. Apparently this was suppose to be a one off book, but I’ve seen that there is now a second book. ??‍♀️

I can see why we needed possibly a second book, as there was a few questions that needed answers, but to be honest I think the author could have left it at book one (my opinion)

Do they all have a happy ending? Well to find out you’ll have to read the book.

? Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

___________

EQUIPOISE
Brothers of Eschat 2
by Crea Reitan
Genre: adult, polyamorous, paranormal, romance
Release Date: May 4, 2023

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:  Fight or f*ck. That’s how the Eschats live.

What started with unsolicited d!ck pics that led to an @rgy has resulted in the end of the world. While I’m happy in my new life with the seven Brothers of Eschat, living in their underground world of Manaalanian, there are questions left unanswered. Questions that require a lot of d!ck-in time to contemplate, make plans, and decide to put forth an effort to solve.
But we don’t actually find the person responsible for setting the end in motion. He finds us. And he needs our help to set the world right because now there’s something else interfering in his endeavor to rebuild civilization by unaliving everything that is left.

I said it before and I’ll say it again; at least the men in this weird world are hot and hung. There are worse ways to spend my days. Like running from things that are set on killing me while my men fight for their very existence.
This is a polyamorous story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

•••••

REVIEW:Book two has us almost where book one left us. I’d recommend reading book one first, but that’s just me. (But this book will make more sense if you read book one)

And without giving too much away from book one….

Lux is still with her hot posse, they are discovering that “end of days” is still going to happen! And they are all linked to the end of days prophecy! They are still trying to correct the damage Kulki created! But there is also something else in the dark that’s trying to bring on the end of days….. and it’s harder to pin down….

Lux is still a strong character, but in parts she does become a little whiny! She also stops questioning things and lets her “guys” deal with issues! And I’ve also got issues with Sunny/Apo/Sham/Rage/Atar/Doom and Gedd, they’ve gone from wanting to save the world to almost “meh” ? whatever!!

Kulki has a few chapters to have his say in the book, and also a few chapters dedicated to “nothing” (this is a character that interests me immensely) who are these characters? well in order to find out, you’ll need to read the books ? #sorrynotsorry

Still plenty of smut and spice, still lots of m/m, m/f/m, in fact throw those two letters in any direction and there they are ? all still at it.

I did get the feeling that the author didn’t really want to write this book, don’t get me wrong, the descriptions are spot on, continuity is dead on. It just felt a little half hearted.

I love this authors work, I’ve read most of it, but I have to admit, this isn’t my favourite couple of books!

? Reviewed by Julie

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

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Filthy Sinner / Savage Prince by Kelsie Calloway -reviews

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FILTHY SINNER / SAVAGE PRINCE (Valenti Crime Family 3 & 4) by Kelsie Calloway

FILTHY SINNER
(Valenti Crime Family 3)
by Kelsie Calloway
GENRE: adult, contemporary, erotic, Mafia romance

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date April 25, 2023

“I can explain.” That’s what everyone says when they’re caught breaking the law.

City Council Commissioner Sloane Bishop is a murderer.
I don’t think she meant to kill her abusive ex.
But when I walk through the door, he’s breathing his last.
I was on my way to do the job myself; too bad she beat me to it .
Now the cops want to know what happened.
They’re sniffing around and asking questions.
Sloane has a choice: marry me or go to prison.
After all, they can’t make your husband testify against you…
We just have to find someone to take the fall.

•••••

REVIEW: FILTHY SINNER is the third instalment and novella in Kelsie Calloway’s contemporary, adult VALENTI CRIME FAMILY erotic, criminal underworld romance series. This is businessman and member of city council Luca Valenti, and city council commissioner Sloane Bishop’s story line.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Sloane and Luca) FILTHY SINNER follows in the aftermath of the murder of architect Daniel Prewitt. Daniel had been hired by the Valenti family to design a new home but Daniel sold the plans to the Valenti family rival, plans that would reveal secrets and more. Determined to take down Daniel Prewitt, Luca comes face to face with city councillor Sloane Bishop, who has just killed the man in question. To protect one another, Luca offers up his hand in marriage, a marriage Sloane is all too quick to agree to the terms. As the police investigation begins to target our story line couple, Sloane reconsiders her options going forward when a phone call from Luca has the potential to break our heroine’s heart. What ensues is the quick building relationship between Luca and Sloane, and the potential fall-out as a their marriage of convenience is not necessarily a marriage of love.

The relationship between Sloane and Luca is a marriage of convenience in the wake of the murder of architect Daniel Prewitt. Sloane was being blackmailed by the recently deceased, and her political career was about to take the hit. The Valenti family had been betrayed by Daniel Prewitt, and Luca was desperate to protect the woman that would steal his heart. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters included Luca’s brothers Raneiro and Mateo, as well as Sloane’s parents, and local law enforcement.

FILTHY SINNER is a quick read; a story of family, relationships, blackmail and desperation. The fast paced premise is entertaining; the romance is limited; the characters are determined and desperate.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Possessive Captor
Deviant Desires

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

_______

SAVAGE PRINCE
(Valenti Crime Family 4)
by Kelsie Calloway
GENRE: adult, contemporary, erotic, Mafia romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 23, 2023

She’s pregnant with my baby, now she’s on the run.

Nicolette was supposed to be a one night stand.
She’s the daughter of my brother’s sworn enemy .
But a few nights in a fancy hotel room changes everything.
I heard Nicolette left town, running from the man that knocked her up .
Except I’m the only man she’s ever been with .
If she’s going to be the mother of my child , she belongs to me.
I don’t care how long I have to hunt her or what it takes to keep her.
Nicolette Bellini will be mine .

Savage Prince is the fourth book in The Valenti Crime Family series, featuring a morally grey anti-hero that will do whatever it takes to be with the mother of his child —even if it means breaking the law. Each book is a standalone and the series can be read in any order.

•••••

REVIEW:   SAVAGE PRINCE is the fourth novella in Kelsie Calloway’s contemporary, adult VALENTI CRIME FAMILY focusing on the Valenti crime family. This is thirty three year old Stefan Valenti and nineteen year old, colleges student Nicolette Calvino’s story line. SAVAGE PRINCE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nicolette and Stefano) SAVAGE PRINCE follows nineteen year old Nicolette Calvino, daughter of Mafia boss Nick Calvino as she does her best to act out against her father’s wishes. Nicolette is an immature, spoiled Mafia princess who has been lost since the age of five when her beloved mother said good bye, leaving behind all of her children in the care of their Mafia connected father. Spending evenings in the bars, underaged Nicolette picked up Stefano Valenti for a bathroom quickie but once was not enough for our story line hero. Stefano Valenti wanted Nicolette but was unaware as to her true identity. Upon the discovery of her pregnancy, Nicolette left, looking for the mother she no longer knew, a mother who would explain what happened in the past. Desperate to find the woman with whom he was falling in love, Stefano went in search of the mother of his future child.

SAVAGE PRINCE is a fast paced, quick read focusing on obsession and desperation, heart break and love. The premise is entertaining; the romance is limited to $ex and $excapades in bathrooms and hotel rooms as the story line jumps seven months in which we are unaware of the developing relationship -I was hoping for a little bit more of their story; the characters are desperate and colorful.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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