Monthly Archives: May 2023

WICKED AS SECRETS (Matt & Madison Pt 1) by Shayla Black -review

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WICKED AS SECRETS (Matt and Madison Part 1) (Wicked Lovers: Soldiers for Hire 7) by Shayla Black-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 16, 2023

He’ll do anything to protect her from danger…but it will cost her everything.

Security specialist Matt Montgomery has never forgotten—or forgiven—Madison Archer for walking away and ripping out his heart. Three years later, she crashes back into his life, terrified that her wealthy husband is trying to kill her. Matt vows to protect Madison…but there’s a price. He’ll have revenge by making her submit to his every sexual demand.

Part of a powerful, ruthless political dynasty, Madison’s soon-to-be ex has deep, dark secrets. When uncovering them nearly proves fatal, she turns to the one man she knows can protect her—the lover she’s never been able to forget. Matt’s ultimatum is both shocking and intoxicating. But if she wants to keep herself and her ailing father alive, he’s her only option.

As the danger escalates, so do Madison and Matt’s feelings. But navigating their rocky past while trying to stay one step ahead of her deadly husband proves perilous. Will their forbidden love survive the danger and give them a second chance at happiness?

••••••••

REVIEW: WICKED AS SECRETS is the first instalment in Shayla Black’s contemporary adult WICKED LOVERS: SOLDIERS FOR HIRE erotic, romantic suspense duet focusing on thirty-three year old, security specialist Matt Montgomery, and twenty-seven year old, primary school teacher Madison Archer.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Madison and Matt) using present day and memories from the past, WICKED AS SECRETS follows in the aftermath of a murder Madison Archer witnessed her politically connected husband Todd Pershing, kill his cousin , and was now on the run for her life. Three years earlier, having met security specialist Matt Montgomery, thinking she had fallen in love, Madison’s heart was broken when our hero ghosted the woman he would never forget. Fast forward to present day, Madison battled between head and heart, knowing the only person who might be able to protect her was the man who had broken her heart. In hiding, Matt and Madison would have to remain one step ahead of the powerful Pershing family, a step that is about to close fast with conditions applied. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Madison and Matt, as our couple must come to terms with what happened in the past, and the terms present to our heroine in an effort to move on with her life.

The relationship between Matt and Madison is one of second chances. Matt broke Madison’s heart three years earlier, sending her into the arms of a man she could never love but nothing is as it appears to be, and Madison’s life is not the picture present to the American public. Matt was destroyed the day Madison married Todd Pershing, and has never forgotten about the woman who got away. In hiding, Matt begins to consider his Dominant side in respect to Madison’s submission, and begins to act on his need to control the woman with whom he is falling in love but the Dom/sub plot line comes out of left field, and feels awkward in contrast to their current situation. The $ex scenes are intimate, numerous and erotic.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many of whom we have met in the numerous Wicked Lovers instalments. Everyone is willing to help keep Madison Archer safe but they seem to take issue with Matt Montgomery’s involvement.

WICKED AS SECRETS is a story of betrayal, murder and vengeance; second chances and forgiveness. The fast paced premise is intriguing, engaging and suspenseful; the characters are determined and dynamic; the romance is seductive yet struggles in the face of history and hurt. WICKED AS SECRETS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Wicked as Sin
Wicked Ever After
Wicked as Lies
Wicked and True
Wicked as Seduction
Wicked and Forever

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and been published in a dozen languages.

Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past seven years.

Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her teenage daughter, and a very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

➣ Follow Shayla Black on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shayla-black

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Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

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Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

 

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Description:
Her eyes widen at her reflection in the steel blade as it comes closer, closer, closer…

Detective Madison Knight thought a midnight drive through the countryside would help clear her mind, but she thought wrong. Her car runs out of gas, stranding her in the middle of nowhere in pitch darkness. When she gets out to stretch her legs, the beam of her phone’s flashlight lands on a suitcase in the ditch. After she opens it, she’s sorry she did.

Tara Jackson was only twenty-one years old with her entire life ahead of her before she was stabbed to death and stuffed into a piece of luggage. Madison is determined to find her justice and soon uncovers that Tara was keeping secrets from those closest to her and suspects they may have gotten her killed. But while she’s exploring that lead, the body of another young woman is found in a sports equipment bag.

She looks just like Tara and is the same age, and Madison starts to wonder if the killer she’s after has killed before. Desperate, she turns to cold cases and missing person reports to see if she can dig up anything to further the investigation.

Madison finds eighteen-year-old Daphne Tucker, who was reported missing from the area three years ago. She’s a doppelganger to the other victims. Is the reason Daphne hasn’t been heard from because she’s dead too? And has her killer returned, hungry for more blood?

As Madison edges closer to the truth, someone is stalking her from the shadows, and she fears it just may be the twisted, demented killer she’s hunting. But can Madison outsmart him or her before she becomes the next victim?

 

 

 

Review:

Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold is the 12th book in her Detective Madison Knight series. As I have noted a number of times in previous reviews, Carolyn Arnold always gives us exciting suspenseful murder mysteries, led by Detective Madison Knight; and Arnold’s knowledge of police procedurals makes these investigations perfect.

Madison continues to fight her PTSD nightmares from her previous Russian case; she can’t sleep, and goes out in the middle of the night for drive to clear her mind.  When she runs out of gas, she awaits a tow truck to bring her gas, and decides to walk around in the dark. She spots a suitcase, and to her horror, she discovers the mutilated body of a young woman; the victim is identified as Tara Jackson, a 21 year old woman. Madison and Terry (her partner) take over the case, and interviewing some of her friends and those she knew at work. In a very short time, another mutilated body is discovered, who sort of looks a bit like Tara. Maddie and Terry try to find clues to see if both murders are somehow related, with them also looking into missing person and cold cases.  They bring a few suspects to be interrogated, but they have to let them go, due to not enough evidence. Madison becomes desperate when a  homeless women is now missing. Did the murderer kill her, after she interviewed the woman. 

What follows is an exciting, tense, action filled thriller with many suspects, as well as surprising developments with the help of Cynthia (Maddie’s police friend).  This is a very nasty case, with an evil murderer.  Maddie concentrates solely on the case, not spending time with her fiancée, Troy. She also discovers that Terry is hiding something he is planning, and the Sargent Winston, continues to be nasty to her.  I thought in this book, Maddie was very harsh and a bit abrasive, being very unlikeable throughout; at the end was the only time she seemed nice when she was with Troy.

Her Dark Grave was another fantastic, exciting, tense, riveting police procedural, so very well written by Carolyn Arnold.  Madison Knight is a great detective, though I as noted previously, more annoying in this book. I will say I love Detective Amanda Steel a lot better.   If you enjoy mysteries, police procedurals, a tough as nails cop, then you need to be reading this series, as Carolyn Arnold is one of the best in police procedure stories.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 

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Hostile Extraction (Tri-Star Securities) by Nicole James-review tour

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Hostile Extraction (Tri-Star Securities) by Nicole James-review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 16, 2023

I was going to be placed in a virgin auction.

That’s what the rescue team who came to “save me” told me.
I think they’ve lost their minds.

Nico, my new, rich fiance loves me. He told me so.
He would never put me in an auction. He couldn’t possibly be as vile as they claim.
I’ve finally found someone to take me away from my overbearing family and repressive life.
So, when Nico offered me a ring and a proposal of marriage, I jumped at the chance.

Why should I believe my brother’s best friend–Dusty Jones, the ex-Navy SEAL, and my first love when he says Nico is a bad guy. We haven’t seen each other since the day he walked out on me, leaving me heart-broken.

Now Dusty is back to ruin everything; him and his ex-military rescue team buddies.
He claims he’s rescuing me. I claim he’s abducting me. And now he’s keeping me in some safe house, determined to brainwash me with his nonsense until I “come to my senses.”

But being trapped alone together with the man who broke my heart?
Hell no! I’ll fight him at every turn, and I’ll never give in.
Nico will come for me.
I know he will.

Dusty–
That’s exactly what I’m afraid will happen.
Asia knows too much. I’m sure Nico will want to shut her up, and that means taking her out. Permanently.
Now all I have to do is keep Asia alive long enough to give us a second chance at our happily ever after.

•••••••

REVIEW: HOSTILE EXTRACTION is the third instalment in Nicole James’ contemporary, adult TRI STAR SECURITIES erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Tri Star Securities. This is former US Navy SEAL Dusty Jones, and twenty-four year old Asia Fox’s story lines. HOSTILE EXTRACTION 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 third person perspectives (Dusty and Asia) HOSTILE EXTRACTION focuses on the search and rescue of our story line heroine. Asia Fox is a naive, twenty-four year old virgin who fell in love with a billionaire but Asia was desperate to escape the confines of her over-protective parents, and fell for the first man who paid her any attention. All was not as it appeared to be when Dusty and his team at Tri Star Securities mounted a rescue, claiming she was part of a group of women heading to a virgin auction. Struggling to believe anything she saw or heard, Asia would remain troubled even in the face of the obvious red flags, demanding the team return and rescue any remaining women. What ensues is the second chance romance and relationship between Asia and Dusty, and the potential fall-out as Dusty finds himself trapped, with no way of escape.

Years earlier, Dusty Jones broke Asia Fox’s heart when he ended things to join the US Navy. As best friends with Asia’s brother Carter, Dusty didn’t want to cross the line of dating his best friend’s sister but Dusty never forgot about the woman he pushed away, a woman who was now in trouble and didn’t know. Asia Fox struggled to understand what the Tri Star Team was saying. She loved her fiance but quickly began to suspect there was something wrong. Naive until proven otherwise, Asia would fight Dusty at every turn, a fight that would place Dusty in the direct line of fire.

The relationship between Dusty and Asia is one of second chances: a rebuilding romance and relationship between two people torn apart by duty and friendship. Asia battled between head and heart knowing Dusty has the ability to destroy her heart, and Dusty knew that Asia would be the only woman he would ever love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are reintroduced to Dusty’s teammates including Team leader and owner of Tri Star Securities Chris Draper, Grady Steele, Stan, and Big AL, as well as Asia’s brother Carter. The requisite evil has many faces.

HOSTILE EXTRACTION is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, love and forgiveness, family and desperation. The fast paced premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are desperate, determined and strong.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Deadly Pursuit
High Value Target

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Nicole James is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who loves writing about hot alpha men who’ll do anything for the women they love! Her stories are filled with struggle, conflict and real human emotion. She is the author of the Evil Dead MC series, the Brothers Ink Tattoo series, The Devil Kings MC series, and more. Join her mailing list to be the first to receive cover reveals, release information, giveaways and more!

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Chapel Bend (Huckleberry Bay 3) by Kristen Proby-review tour

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Chapel Bend (Huckleberry Bay 3) by Kristen Proby-review tour

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Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3WKFVij

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 16, 2023

There’s a fine line between love and hate.

In Huckleberry Bay, Oregon, everyone knows that when it comes to Juniper “June” Snow – what you see is what you get. When you hire her construction company to do a job, it’s done right, on time, and on budget. When she’s your friend, she’s a ride-or-die who will support you no matter what. And when you’re her enemy…well, she can hold a grudge.

And she’s never forgotten how the tall, dark, and delicious Apollo Winchester hurt her so many years ago.

In a small town, it’s impossible to ignore someone who greets you with a death glare every time you meet. Apollo can’t recall why June hates him, but it doesn’t stop him from stirring her up every chance he gets. There’s something about her stubborn, “don’t mess with me” attitude that keeps him coming back for more. But June is his sister’s best friend and permanently on the “off-limits” list.

June puts aside her war with Apollo and hires him to work on her most important project, the renovation of a chapel into her dream home. She wants the best…and Apollo is the best . . . on the job site and in her bed. He won’t turn down the chance to spend more time with June, especially when it’s clear that she wants him as much as she hates him. Proximity leads to opportunity, and opportunity leads to steamy times between the sheets.

But a mystery threatens June and Apollo will protect her and their growing connection, no matter the cost.

••••••

REVIEW: CHAPEL BEND is the third instalment in Kristen Proby’s contemporary, adult. HUCKLEBERRY BAY erotic, slightly paranormal, romance series. This is electrician Apollo Winchester, and thirty-six year old, builder/ renovator Juniper ‘June’ Snow’s story line. CHAPEL BEND can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary/.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Apollo’s and Juniper), and journal entries from our story line heroine, CHAPEL BEND follows the enemies to lovers/ best friend’s brother’s romance and relationship between electrician Apollo Winchester, and builder/renovator Juniper Snow. Juniper Snow and Apollo Winchester have butted heads most of their lives but Juniper remembers her teenage years somewhat different than out story line hero. With the hopes of renovating a small chapel to call her home, Juniper discovers she must hire electrician Apollo Winchester, the bane of her existence, and the man she has worked hard to avoid but all is not well in Huckleberry Bay, Oregon when a developer begins making demands of our story line heroine. What ensues is the building romance and secret relationship between Apollo and Juniper, and the potential fall-out as mischief and property soon escalate to lives threatened and physical assault.

Juniper struggles to forgive Apollo for sins of the past. As a young girl, abandoned by her mother,Juniper wants to be accepted for who she is but Apollo was cruel, leaving Juniper’s self esteem shattered and broke but Juniper’s best friend was Apollo’s younger sister, and Juniper struggled to avoid the man that now controls her heart.

The relationship between Juniper and Apollo is an enemies to lovers; a secret romance of which Juniper wants to keep their affair secret from family and friends but Apollo no longer wants to be Juniper’s dirty little secret. As Juniper and Apollo’s relationship quickly turns into something more, Juniper continues to plead with Apollo to everything on the down low. 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 secondary and supporting characters, many of whom we have met in the previous instalments including ghost Rose. The requisite evil has many faces.

CHAPEL BEND is a story of betrayal and vengeance, madness and obsession, family and love. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are dynamic and determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Lighthouse Way
Fernhill Lane

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen lives in Montana with her husband and their four pets, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

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Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay – Review & Giveaway

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Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
For Samantha Gale, a summer on Martha’s Vineyard at her family’s tiny cottage was supposed to be about resurrecting her career as a chef, until she’s tasked with chaperoning her half-brother, Tyler. The teenage brainiac is spending his summer at the local library in a robotics competition, and there’s no place Sam, who’s dyslexic, likes less than the library. And because the universe hates her, the library’s interim director turns out to be the hot-reader guy whose book she accidentally destroyed on the ferry ride to the island.

Bennett Reynolds is on a quest to find his father, whose identity he’s never known. He’s taken the temporary job on the island to research the summer his mother spent there when she got pregnant with him. Ben tells himself he isn’t interested in a relationship right now. Yet as soon as Sam knocks his book into the ocean, he can’t stop thinking about her.

An irresistible attraction blossoms when Ben inspires Sam to create the cookbook she’s always dreamed about and she jumps all in on helping him find his father, and soon they realize their summer fling may heat up into a happily ever after.

 

 

Review:

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay is a standalone novel. We meet Samantha (Sam) Gale, our heroine, who is returning home to Martha’s Vineyard, to spend the summer at her family’s cottage to chaperone her half-brother, Tyler.  Her parents are going away to Europe on vacation for most of the summer, and since she quit her job (passed over on a promotion) as a chef in a well-known restaurant, she agrees to come home. Tyler (who is 14) and Sam aren’t that close, since she rarely visits, and he is enrolled in spending his summer at the local library in a robotics competition.  Sam, who has struggled all her life with dyslexia, is happy she doesn’t have to be around his class, keeping her dyslexia a secret.

While on the ferry home, she meets a handsome stranger, who she accidently destroyed the book he was reading.  Bennett (Ben) Reynolds, our hero, has taken a job as the director at the library for the summer, as he is also trying to search for the father he never knew.   When Sam visits her friend in the library, she is shocked to see the handsome stranger now working there.  In a short time, a slow built romance begins, with Ben finding himself very attracted to Sam, and will help him try to find his father.  Sam also gets a job at a new restaurant to handle Friday Night appetizers, which she will make her own recipes, which turns out to be very successful.

The relationship between Ben and Sam was wonderful to watch, as he learned about Sam’s dyslexia, and would read the book out loud for her to enjoy the story; he was so sweet, endearing and supportive for Sam. He also convinced Sam that she should write a cookbook, since she had so many wonderful recipes.   Sam worried, as she knew she was falling for him, and she did not plan on staying past the summer.  Will Sam and Ben find a way to stay together?

Most of all I loved the bonding between Tyler and Sam, as in a short time he totally opened up to Sam, and they were so much fun together. I adored Tyler teasing Sam about her relationship with Ben, as well as Sam teaching him how to dance, and meet his girlfriend.  It was so warm and loving to watch them become so close.

Summer Reading was a sweet, heartwarming story, with a wonderful sibling relationship, a great couple, and fun likeable characters throughout. We learn a lot about dyslexia, as well as the book is written in a dyslexia friendly font. There were also some great food recipes. Summer Reading was a delightful read, written so very well by Jenn McKinley.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Jenn McKinlay’s publisher, Berkley Romance is offering a paper copy of SUMMER READING to ONE (1) 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).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please follow Jenn McKinlay on Facebook.

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE The Reading Cafe on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please follow The Reading Cafe on Tumblr

7. Giveaway is open to  US only.

8. Giveaway runs from May 16th to 20th, 2023

 

 

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Limited Edition Husband by Lauren Blakely-a review

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LIMITED EDITION HUSBAND (Winner Takes All 4) by Lauren Blakely

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 4, 2023

One weekend with no strings was supposed to be the plan.

After barely escaping my last train wreck of a romance, I’ve got a new dating goal—play it cool.

I stick to that strategy when I meet a hunky Brit at a fundraiser and ask him to grab a drink. But he’s newly out and eager for all the things he’s never done, so he ups the ante with the wild suggestion that we jet off to the city of sin for a weekend, then say goodbye.

But instead, thanks to blackjack, a bet and some bourbon, we’re saying I do.

And in the morning I’m asking myself what the hell have I done? I can’t risk being the football player who’s also a playa. We’ll just undo the holy matrimony right this stinking second.

Except, the pics of our nuptials are splashed all over the Internet, and my agent says we need to stay Mister and Mister until the brouhaha blows over.

Thirty days as fake husbands with the charming Brit who’s determined to prove that he’s nothing like my ex?

My bruised heart can handle that as long as I don’t fall for my husband.

And I won’t. When we split for real, he’ll be an ocean away.

•••••••

REVIEW: LIMITED EDITION HUSBAND is the fourth instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary, adult WINNER TAKES ALL erotic, LGBTQ, MM romance series. This is twenty-nine year old, American football player Nate Chandler, and twenty-four year old, British documentary production assistant Hunter Colburn’s story line. LIMITED EDITION HUSBAND can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary . Nate and Chandler first appeared in the novella TOP NOTCH BOYFRIEND but the characters and backgrounds have been totally reimagined.

NOTE: LIMITED EDITION HUSBAND is an LGBTQ story line with a same sex couple.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nate and Hunter) LIMITED EDITION HUSBAND follows the building romance and relationship between American football player Nate Chandler, and British documentary production assistant Hunter Colburn. Nate Chandler and his team had travelled to England for a series of demonstration games for the European public but Nate never expected to meet his future with documentary production assistant Hunter Colburn, a man who was struggling with his sexual identity. A few days together ended when Nate had to return to America but an opportunity to travel found Hunter following the man with whom he would fall in love. A drunken night of poker in Las Vegas, and a winner takes all bet found Nate and Hunter married, and what happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas when paparazzi, tourists and fans have their own agenda and video records. A lack of communication, misunderstanding and the belief that their marriage will end in a matter of weeks, Nate and Hunter find themselves struggling to keep their relationship together when one or both may always be somewhere else in the world. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Hunter and Nate, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes with an expected expiry date that neither one is willing to accept.

The relationship between Nate and Hunter begins as a meet-cute when Hunter spies Nate at a local UK carnival, a carnival in which Nate is the target of several pies at a pie throwing dunk tank. Hunter wants his chance at Nate, a chance for something more than tossing a cherry pie. Hunter is a gay-relationship virgin, and he is about to encounter a man who has loved and lost, burned by someone who was in love with somebody else. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters: Jason and Beck (The Boyfriend Comeback 1), Zane and Maddox (Turn Me On 2), Lue and Tanner (Manhandled 5), as well as agents, players, family and friends.

LIMITED EDITION HUSBAND is a story of family and friendships, relationships and love, misunderstanding and miscommunication, forgiveness and acceptance. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is provocative; the characters are fun, flirty and charismatic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Blood Ties (La Famiglia De Luca-Alessio) by Kristine Allen-review tour

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❤️Blood Ties (La Famiglia De Luca -Alessio 3/ Mayhem Makers) by Kristine Allen-review tour❤️

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 15, 2023

Once upon a time, there was a young man who ran away for a chance at a different life. Then I f*cked up and went back. Turns out I like the darkness too much.

But now that darkness haunts me.

As the notorious hit man, The Huntsman, I kill without remorse. Feelings are not an option. After all, my family’s legacy taught me that the world is cold—and now, so am I.

Until I have her in my sights and I can’t pull the trigger.

Like a fool, I went and fell for her. Now The Huntsman has become the hunted and I have to keep her safe from the killers on our tail.

A poisonous cauldron of lies is drowning us, and no one is who they seem. My family is poised on the brink of war and I’m a target because of my last name.

She needs to trust me. But if she finds out I was supposed to kill her, I’ll lose her. Not happening.

I’ll find a way. Because I. Never. Back. Down.

•••••

REVIEW:BLOOD TIES: ALESSIO is the third instalment in Kristine Allen’s contemporary, adult LA FAMIGLIA DE LUCA erotic, Mafia romance series, a part of the multi-authored MAYHEM MAKERS series. This is Alessio ‘The Huntsman’ De Luca, and metal sculptor Nivea Bulgari’s story line. BLOOD TIES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. There is a slight cross-over with the multi-authored RBMC series.

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

Told from three first person perspectives (Alessio, Nivea, Jade) BLOOD TIES follows the attempted assassination of Nivea Bulgari. Nivea is the adopted daughter of Matthew and Charlotte Bulgari, and our heroine had recently discovered she was the biological daughter of billionaire businessman Justin Santino. Justin’s sudden death, and the subsequent attempt on our heroine’s life aroused too many questions for the hired gunman. Enter Alessio ‘The Huntsman’ De Luca, and the man with whom Nivea will fall in love. What ensues is the quick building relationship between Nivea and Alessio, and the potential fall-out when Nivea discovers that Alessio was hired to take her down.

Alessio De Luca is an assassin for hire but something about his latest contract didn’t make sense. Nivea Bulgari is a quiet, stay at home, artist whose history doesn’t read like a vengeful killer, but Alessio was charged with taking her down. Nivea Bulgari never knew her biological parents but approximately one year earlier she would discover the man she knew nothing about. In the wake of Justin’s death, Nivea would become the target of jealousy and betrayal, a target that had no idea the truth would reveal a twisted tale.

The relationship between Nivea and Alessio begins as an assignment in which Alessio has been hired to kill our story line heroine. From the outset, nothing added up, and another gunman was taking aim at the woman with whom he would fall in love. Nivea Bulgari knows a thing or two about the darkness that surrounds men in her life, and with it, the lies but Alessio’s lies are about to break her heart, a heart she was quickly surrendering to our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.

The secondary and supporting characters include Nivea’s adopted parents Matthew and Charlotte Bulgari, and her biological father Justin Santino; Justin’s wife Jade, and his PA Carl. We are also reintroduced to Alessio’s brothers Vittorio and Gabriel, and several members of the RBMC Ankeny, Iowa.

BLOOD TIES is a story of murder, betrayal and vengeance, greed and jealousy, family, relationships, friendships and love. The fast paced premise is intriguing and a little twisty; the romance is provocative; the characters are desperate and determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Blood Lust
Blood Money

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Kristine Allen lives in beautiful Central Texas with her adoring husband. They have four brilliant, wacky and wonderful children. She is surrounded by twenty six acres, where her seven horses, six dogs and three cats run the place. Kristine realized her dream of becoming a contemporary romance author after years of reading books like they were going out of style and having her own stories running rampant through her head. She works as a nurse, but in stolen moments, taps out ideas and storylines until they culminate in characters and plots that pull her readers in and keep them entranced for hours.

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ROYAL CALEVA GABRIEL (Royal Caleva 1) by Nancy Herkness-review

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ROYAL CALEVA GABRIEL (Royal Caleva 1) by Nancy Herkness-a review

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About the book: Release Date April 25, 2023

Honor, passion, danger. A modern-day duke and an American computer hacker must confront all three.

Honor. Gabriel, Duke of Bencalor, allows himself to be kidnapped to save his cousin, the Prince of Caleva. He pays a price—a mutilation that damages his brilliant career as a Flamenco guitarist—yet he would not hesitate to do it again.

Passion. Quinn Pierson is hired to track down Gabriel’s abductors. As she follows the trail, she and the sexy duke spend more and more time together until a spark ignites between them. Quinn fights her feelings every inch of the way because she knows there can be no future between a royal duke and an American commoner with an ugly past.

Danger. The criminal mastermind who carried out Gabriel’s abduction travels to Caleva to threaten Quinn. Yet even he is less dangerous than the mysterious figure who set the kidnapping in motion.

Opposites attract in Caleva, where the royals are hot and the criminals are twisted.

••••••

REVIEW: ROYAL CALEVA GABRIEL is the first instalment in Nancy Herkness’ contemporary, adult ROYAL CALEVA erotic, romance series focusing on the royal family of the fictional island country of Caleva. This is twenty-nine year old, musician/ Gabriel Medina, Duke of Bencalor, and thirty-one year old, American profiler/computer wizard Quinn Pierson’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Gabriel and Quinn) ROYAL CALEVA GABRIEL follows in the aftermath of the abduction and torture of our story line hero. A few years earlier,the Duke of Bencalor Gabriel Medina was mistaken for his cousin Raul, second in line to the throne, and found himself at the mercy of an unknown enemy who thought he was the King’s son. A classically trained musician, Gabriel would discover that the injuries he sustained no longer allowed him to perform the music the way he once did. Desperate to locate the people responsible, the King called in a private investigator who contracted American born Quinn Pierson to help profile the guilty party. From the outset Gabriel and Quinn’s palpable sexual attraction is apparent to everyone but the couple involved, and will quickly escalate when neither is able to hold back their growing love. A trip abroad brings another attempted assassination, and the deeper Quinn researches, the more she believes the person responsible is someone close. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Gabriel and Quinn, and the potential fall-out as Gabriel continues to be the target of a desperate mind.

Quinn Pierson’s past has been kept a secret from our story line hero. As their relationship begins to unfold, Quinn knows that once the truth is revealed, she no longer will be welcomed by the Royal family. From her father and uncle’s questionable pasts, Quinn has been dragged into more family drama and activities than she is ready to admit. Duke Gabriel Medina has only ever wanted to play the guitar; to be a professional musician but the abduction and torture left Gabriel a shell of his former self. With the help of Quinn, Gabriel slowly climbs out of the depths of despair, into a working Royal who is about to discover where his talents lie.

The relationship between Gabriel and Quinn begins as an assignment when Quinn is contracted to profile a possible killer. Several people were involved in the abduction of our story line hero, and Quinn must begin to place the puzzle pieces together in an effort to take down the person responsible. Gabriel doesn’t want a babysitter or extra security; he sacrificed himself for the family he loves but a sacrifice that came at a cost. Struggling to move on from the past, Gabriel, with the help of our story line heroine, will come to terms with what was, and what will be. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters: King Luis, and his son Prince Raul: Gabriel’s parents Duke Lorenzo and his mother Helene; CEO Odette Fontaine of the Royal Family owned Archambeau Cosmetics; Quinn’s boss Mikel; her ‘uncle’ Pete Gleeson, and her father Brendan Pierson. The requisite evil has many faces.

ROYAL CALEVA GABRIEL is a story of power and control, family and relationships, royalty and greed, relationships and love. The premise is captivating and detailed but I struggled with the inordinate amount of world building, some of which read like a red herring, and nothing ever came to fruition (Iowa?) ; the romance is seductive; the characters are dynamic and determined.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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