PERFECT FIT (Serendipity’s Finest 1) by Carly Phillips-review tour

Posted on August 5, 2023 by Sandy

PERFECT FIT (Serendipity’s Finest 1) by Carly Phillips

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-Release Date August 4, 2023

She’s a small-town girl.
He’s got a restless spirit.
Can their hearts bridge the gap?

Michael Marsden’s adoptive parents gave him a family, but Serendipity never felt like home so he fled to Manhattan, where he’s an undercover cop with a reputation for skirting the rules. But when his police chief father steps down to fight a serious illness, Mike returns home to fill his dad’s by-the-book shoes.

Serendipity hasn’t changed much but there’s one familiar face from the past that he never expected to see—Officer Cara Hartley. She’s the only woman that ever made him consider giving up his lone-wolf ways.

Cara is determined to keep a professional distance from her new boss, the one night stand she never forgot. But hearing Mike’s deep, sexy voice ignites memories of how he set her body on fire. It isn’t long before their red-hot chemistry tempts them to cross a dangerous line both personally and professionally, leaving Cara hoping for a future where she can have it all.

But when Mike’s long-absent biological father returns, the fragile bonds that could have kept him in Serendipity threaten to snap. And Mike must face his past if he and Cara are to have any kind of future.

Will Mike realize he fits perfectly in Serendipity with Cara, or will he choose to walk away?

•••••

REVIEW: PERFECT FIT is the first instalment in Carly Phillips’ contemporary, adult SERENDIPITY’S FINEST erotic, romance series focusing on the small town of Serendipity, New York-a spin off from the author’s Serendipity series, This is Serendipity police officer Cara Hartley, and Manhattan police officer Michael Marsden’s story line.

NOTE: PERFECT FIT is a re-release of the author’s original book with the same name.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Cara and Mike) PERFECT FIT follows the building romance and relationship between Serendipity police officer Cara Hartley, and Manhattan police officer Michael Marsden. Years earlier, Michael Marsden left his heart break and anger in Serendipity, New York for a job with the Manhattan police force but his adopted father is fighting a battle with cancer, and Michael has returned to Serendipity to fill in as the chief of police until his father is better. Michael never expected to come face to face with Cara Hartley, the woman who stirs something deep within our story line hero but Mike is honest and upfront with Cara, that his time in Serendipity is temporary,and so too, will be any relationship between our story line couple but all is not well in Serendipity, as Michael and Cara are asked to look into a cold case with deep and ominous ties to our story line hero. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Cara and Mike, and the potential fall-out as Michael’s time in Serendipity comes to a close, and Cara is target for doing her job.

The world building focuses on the Marsden family including Michael’s adopted father Simon, and his mother Ella; his siblings Erin and Sam; Mike’s questionable birth father Rex, as well as Cara’s embattled parents. PERFECT FIT looks at spousal abuse, dirty cops, crime and punishment, forgiveness and love, as well as a long hidden secrets buried deep within a cold case file.

The relationship between Cara and Michael is one of immediate attraction. Cara and Michael knew one another years before but Michael is honest about his lack of commitment having been burned in the past, refusing to experience anything again. As Cara and Michael’s relationship turns into something more for our story line heroine, Michael refuses to accept that there is anything more than a sexual relationship between our story line couple. The $ex scenes are numerous, intimate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

PERFECT FIT is a story of family and relationships, secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, forgiveness and love. The premise is heart breaking, emotional and dramatic; the romance is passionate; the characters are desperate and dynamic

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Carly Phillips:

Carly Phillips is the N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of over 50 sexy contemporary romance novels featuring hot men, strong women and the emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. Carly’s career spans over a decade and a half with various New York publishing houses, and she is now an Indie author who runs her own business and loves every exciting minute of her publishing journey. Carly is happily married to her college sweetheart, the mother of two nearly adult daughters and three crazy dogs (two wheaten terriers and one mutant Havanese) who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. Carly loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers.

To learn more about Carly Phillips & her books, visit here!

Website: www.carlyphillips.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlyphillips
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlyPhillipsFanPage
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carly-Phillips/e/B001I9W0MS

CAMDEN (Pittsburgh Titans 8) by Sawyer Bennett -review tour

Posted on August 4, 2023 by Sandy

CAMDEN (Pittsburgh Titans 8) by Sawyer Bennett -review tour

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 1, 2023

Camden Poe is the last of The Lucky Three, the surviving Pittsburgh Titans who weren’t on the team plane the night it went down. By all outward appearances, he’s adjusted to post-crash life well but inside he’s wrestling with the guilt of living.

The catastrophe that killed the Pittsburgh Titans changed my entire world. My teammates were more than my friends—they were my brothers. I mourned their loss with the rest of the nation but then I did as I’ve been taught… I moved on. I focused on returning to the ice with the newly rebuilt team and put the tragedy behind me. Considering the circumstances, I adjusted well. Or so I thought. Now I’m plagued by nightmares of the crash and my play has suffered as a result. Facing the possibility of losing my place on the team, I need to pull myself together and fast.

My buddy and linemate, Mitch Brandt died in the crash, leaving his wife Danica and son Travis behind to pick up the pieces of their shattered family. After reconnecting with Danica at a support group meeting, I find myself inexplicably drawn to helping her and her son move forward. What starts as two friends finding solace in one another following a tragedy becomes something more, leaving us both wondering if we deserve this chance.

I feel as if I’m walking a precarious line between a man falling for an incredible woman and a man moving in on his dead friend’s wife. But one thing is crystal clear—I’ve found a peace with Danica that I wasn’t sure I’d ever have again. Now I need to find the confidence within myself to push past the insecurities and make sure she knows how important she is to me because if I don’t, I’ll lose the one thing that makes me truly complete.

•••••••••

REVIEW: CAMDEN Is the eighth instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult PITTSBURGH TITANS erotic, hockey romance series. This is twenty-six year old, Pittsburgh Titans player, Camden Poe, and twenty-nine year old, widow/single mother/ director of Titan’s charity foundation Danica Brandt’s story line. CAMDEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Camden Po is one of the three original team members not on the doomed flight.

SOME BACKGROUND: Approximately ten months earlier, a devastating plane crashed claimed all but three members of the Pittsburgh Titans hockey team including owners, coaches and staff. Rebuilding the team, owner Brienne Norcross, offered positions to one-time professional and semi-pro players.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Camden and Danica) CAMDEN follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-six year old, Pittsburgh Titans player, Camden Poe, and twenty-nine year old, widow/single mother/ director of Titan’s charity foundation Danica Brandt. Camden Poe is one of the three surviving original members of the Pittsburgh Titan’s hockey team, and as such, is struggling with nightmares and PTSD. A team meeting of survivors and team members finds Camden Poe up close and personal with Danica Brandt, widow of Camden’s late teammate Mitch Brandt but throughout their growing relationship including Camden’s relationship with Danica’s nine year old son Travis, Camden struggles with issues of guilt, that will affect Danica’s growing love for our story line hero.What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Danica and Camden, and the potential fall-out as Camden battles between head and heart, and the team he is desperate to protect.

The world building continues to focus on the loss and plane crash that killed the Pittsburgh Titans. As the team rebuilds each member will find peace and happiness with someone they love.

The relationship between Danica and Camden is an acquaintance to friends to lovers in which Danica is looking forward to moving on from the past but Camden is hoping to keep everything on the down low. As Danica begins to fall in love, Camden begins to pull away, leaving Danica heart broken and alone. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, and passionate without the use of the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include several of the previous story line couples, including team owner Brienne Norcross, and Danica’s nine year old son Travis.

CAMDEN is a story of loss and grief, guilt and forgiveness, heart break, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating, engaging, and riveting; the romance is emotional and fated; the characters are broken but healing and strong.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Baden
Stone
Gage
Coen
Drake
Cannon
Hendrix

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Animal by Barbara Meyers – a Review

Posted on August 4, 2023 by Barb

Animal by Barbara Meyers – a Review

Amazon / Kobo / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

Description:
Sometimes he’s a beast. Can Bree tame him?

After animal sanctuary director Bree is mysteriously attacked, she becomes obsessed with her rescuer, the enigmatic Griffin Lancaster.

Bree’s cooperation is key to preserving Griff’s family legacy, and his skills are necessary to maintain the sanctuary’s viability.

While Griff lives on borrowed time, he must fight an internal battle between his desire for Bree, and his determination to protect her from the evil that’s a part of him.

Their attraction to each other becomes irresistible as their paths continue to cross. To save Bree, Griff cruelly rejects her advances.

Bree nearly destroys herself before Griff rescues her once again, only this time she won’t let him escape. Bree must find a way to change Griff’s destiny because losing him again is unthinkable.

Bree discovers the truth Griff doesn’t want her to know: Saving him is possible. If she’s willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.

There’s no way either can survive without the other.

Or is there?

Review:

Animal by Barbara Meyers is a slow burn shifter romance that is always a tick for me. But this is really slow, and I didn’t really gel with the main characters. It’s a really good read, but I was left feeling a little deflated afterwards. The spice scenes go from red hot chilly to somewhat nondescript and fade out!! A curse that turns you into another creature is bad enough, but when the curse also shortens your life span! No wonder Griff is always looking to be alone!

Bree works in an animal sanctuary, she loves her job, what she’s not expecting is to be attacked one evening!

Griff just wants it all to be over! He’s had enough of waking up and not remembering the previous night. He’s also aware that his lifespan is shorter than normal! He’s a good guy, so why was he cursed? Yes the key to breaking the curse is pretty predictable, and I’m sure most of you will guess it pretty quick.

Griff and Bree spend a lot of the book dancing around one another. He doesn’t want to fall in love, he doesn’t want to find Bree mutilated the next morning, and have no idea how it happened!

I personally feel there should have been a warning about the death (especially Griff thinking of taking his own life! Personal opinion). And although fascinating, the folklore and legends did take up a big chunk of the book! I did like the idea of a single shifter living on their own, rather than the pack we usually read. It did stop rather abruptly, and I would have liked a chapter so see their future.

So a pretty good book with lots of potential. A good story, but with an abrupt ending. And characters that were ok.

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for Review

RIGHT GUY, WRONG WORD by Jewel E Ann -review tour

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Sandy

RIGHT GUY, WRONG WORD by Jewel E Ann -review tour

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 3, 2023

Do books have souls?

Anna Black has the perfect novel choice for her book club. She also has a sexy new neighbor who jumps at the opportunity to join fellow bookworms in discussing her pick for their summer read.

It’s lust at first sight and the marriage of two literary souls.

The charismatic owner of a new T-shirt store in Des Moines’s East Village, Eric Steinmann, has a confident air and an irresistible “mating dance.” He’s almost perfect … until he says the wrong word.

Will Anna and Eric write their own story? Or will their chemistry die when fiction turns into reality?

**Right Guy, Wrong Word was originally written as a short story, The Last Person. It’s been revised with significant changes to the original content and extended into a full-length novel.

•••••••

REVIEW: RIGHT GUY, WRONG WORD by Jewel E Ann is a contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on Anna Black, and Eric Steinmann.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Anna and Eric) RIGHT GUY, WRONG WORD follows the building but contemptuous relationship between Anna Black and Eric Steinmann. Eric Steinmann is Anna Black’s new neighbor, and as such, Anna invites Eric to her weekly book club discussion but Eric’s one-word criticism of Anna’s favorite book throws our heroine off of her game, and in the ensuing aftermath, Anna’s immature behavior and attitude towards Eric is questionable at best. Several nights together, several weeks of getting to know one another end when Eric, once again, reiterates his criticisms of the book Anna loves, and our couple are forced to go their separate ways. Three years will pass, Anna has moved but an accident will result in Eric’s return to her life, a return that struggles in the face of Anna’s inability to let go.

The world building focuses on the encroaching war between our story line couple. Anna is so upset about Eric’s criticism of her favorite book, that no amount of grovelling will help Eric’s case. Anna’s behavior towards Eric is childish; immature and caustic, and as such, Eric must walk away before Anna implodes. Three years will pass, as Anna comes to terms with what happened and why. Secrets will reveal the basis for Anna’s unwarranted anger but Eric may not be the only person who dislikes the book that Anna loves.

The relationship between Eric and Anna begins as neighbors, a relationship that will deteriorate quickly over a short period of time. Anna’s attitude leaves much to be desired by our story line hero but Eric keeps persisting, insisting it is his right to criticize, like or dislike any book that he reads. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include several members of Anna’s book club, as well as Eric’s embittered and embattled father, Anna’s parents, and Anna’s roommate Shaun.

RIGHT GUY, WRONG WORD is a story of secrets and lies, anger and immaturity, growth and understanding, happiness and love but I struggled with the heroine’s attitude and behavior throughout most of the story-her immature actions affected my overall enjoyment of the story line premise. As to the hero’s insistence upon his right to critique, like or dislike a book, it is something that many ‘reviewers’ and ‘readers’ encounter at one time or another- the backlash is often quite unexpected. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but sometimes the opinion is not what they wanted to hear.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

TWISTED HEARTS (Dark Hearts 4) by Jagger Cole-review tour

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Sandy

TWISTED HEARTS (Dark Hearts 4) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Nf92b6

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 3, 2023

He saw what I did. Now he owns me.

Brutal, formidably gorgeous, and head of a vicious Bratva organization.
They call Gavan Tsarenko the bastard king. I call him a tyrant.
But now, the man with the gun-metal gray eyes and scarred past has come to conquer me.
You see, I screwed up. I traded my good-girl status for a bad grad-school prank that went horribly wrong.
And now, for six months, I’m Gavan’s.
My enemy.
My monster.
My dark fantasy.
The savagely beautiful villain holds my debt and my fate in his hands.
And what does the man who can have anything want with me?
Everything.
But he’ll never take my heart.

••••••

REVIEW: TWISTED HEARTS is the fourth instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult DARK HEARTS dark, erotic, crime world romance series set in the author’s KINGS AND VILLAINS world. This is head of the Bratva organization Gavan Tsarenko, and Irish Mob heiress Eilish Kildare’s story line. TWISTED HEARTS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story. Eilish is the sister of the head of the Kildare Irish Mob Cillian Kildare.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Gavan and Eilish) TWISTED HEARTS follows in the aftermath of a college sorority hazing that set up our heroine to take the fall. Owing six months of her life to Gavan Tsarenko, Eilish finds herself caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place when Gavan reveals a secret Eilish has been keeping from her mob affiliated family but everything does not go according to plan when the Bratva High Council is at odds when an outsider wants a chance at the throne. What ensues is the building but acrimonious relationship between Gavan and Eilish, and the potential fall-out as our couple find themselves target by more than one unknown adversary.

The world building continues to focus on the fight for control. The Bratva Council, including the leaders of the seven most powerful families has been brought to the brink of war, and someone else may be pulling the strings but as Eilish struggles with her ‘payment’ to Gavan Tsarenko, she will discover that she may be payment for a debt, someone else owes.

The relationship between Eilish and Gavan begins tempestuously when Eilish finds herself as the mercy of our story line hero. Eilish took from Gavan what cannot be returned, and Gavan was determined to take everything from Eilish including her freedom and person autonomy. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic, provocative and intense, and not without some scenes of questionable consent.

Once again, there Is a large ensemble cast of powerful, energetic and determined secondary and supporting characters many of whom we met in previous story lines. The requisite evil has many faces but not everyone is the monster they claim to be.

TWISTED HEARTS is another graphic story of violence, abuse, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, jealousy and greed, family and relationships, forgiveness, loss and love. The fast paced premise is dark, dramatic and intense; the romance dramatic and defiant; the characters are troubled, desperate and impassioned.

Reading Order and Previous reviews

Deviant Hearts
Vicious Hearts
Sinful Hearts

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd

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Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London-a Review

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Barb

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London-a Review

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

Description:
“A swoon-tastic rom-com that readers will love from beginning to end.” —Romance by the Book on The Dachshund Wears Prada

Can you ever really forget the one who got away?

August Merriweather has always been good with animals. In fact, she’s known as Manhattan’s Dog Whisperer. Men, on the other hand? Not so much. She’s been falling for the wrong guys ever since her regrettable crush on Keaton Sax, older brother of her best friend, Leah, and the biggest jerkface this side of the Hudson.

Now an emotionally closed off widower, Keaton has become one of the most formidable men on Wall Street, but August knows his secret. He’s not driven by sales targets and bonus checks—Keaton just wants to give his family the security they never had. So when Leah asks Keaton to wrangle her over-the-top, dramatic husky at a weekend talent competition, Keaton says yes…and begs August to help him win the event for Leah.

Between obstacle courses, Molly’s husky temper tantrums and a cabin with just one bed, August is having a blast. Away from the pressure to have a “perfect life” with the “right guy,” she finds herself relaxing and getting to see the softer side of the man she once loved. Is this just a temporary truce? Or could Keaton finally be the right guy at the right time?

Paws in the City Series:
Book 1: The Dachshund Wears Prada
Book 2: Pets of Park Avenue
Book 3: Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen

Review:

Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen by Stefanie London is the third book in her fun Paws in the City series. Having read and loved “The Dachshund Wears Prada” and “Pets of Park Avenue” I couldn’t wait to see where we would be going with this book.

I know August Merriweather, she’s the only one who had any faith in Isla and Scout (MFC’s in previous books) and the pet talent agency they wanted to start. She’s a great character, an owner of a dog grooming business, full of opinions, and a zest for life, but the one thing she really wants most in life, is to share her life with a partner (and not a business one either!) but after one too many disappointments August has given up, it’s best just to keep running her business…..

Keaton is a widower, and the last thing he promised his late wife was to become a partner in the firm he works for. And now that’s all his life consists of, work/work/work! I found it hard to like Keaton at first, his attitude towards August did need a smack about the head! But I had to admire both his dedication to his family and to want to make more of himself. His teen years weren’t the best, but through hard work and determination he makes his family proud.

I also liked the fact that the previous main characters of books one and two (Isla/Theo/Scout and Lane) make appearances throughout the book, it’s great when characters continue to visit.

And don’t forget the dramatic Molly (who’s a husky by the way) for me she was the star of the book. I want a puppy just like her, so full of character, she loves August, but can’t stand Keaton (feeling is mutual) so how can Molly bring these two people together?

A talent competition is the answer, and a tiny room with only one bed ?. Working together to win the competition for Molly’s owner Leah( who is August’s best friend and sister to Keaton)

Can a puppy really bring these two together? Or will Keaton pull away from August and continue to hide his heart behind that icy wall?

There is no need to read the previous books as each book stands on its own, but it does show how the three women are friends through the books. It’s a slow burn romance, but with great moments outside the bedroom it wasn’t really noticed. Hilarious moments with Molly will have you laughing out loud.

A highly entertaining and recommended read from me.

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher

The Princess by Wendy Holden – a Review

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Barb

The Princess by Wendy Holden – a Review

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

Description:
Britain, 1961: A bouncing blond baby is born to Viscount Althorp, heir to the Spencer earldom, and his wife Frances. Diana grows up amid the fallout of her parents’ messy divorce. She struggles at school. Moving to London, she takes menial jobs as a cleaner and nanny. Her refuge throughout is romantic novels. She dreams of falling in love and being rescued by a handsome prince.

In royal circles, there is concern about the Prince of Wales. Nearly 30, Charles remains unmarried; the right girl needs to be found, and fast. She must be young, aristocratic and come to the royal family without any past liaisons.

The eighteen-year-old Diana Spencer is just about the only candidate. Her desperation to be loved dovetails perfectly with royal desperation for a bride. But as the ruthless Palace machine starts up, there are challenges for Diana to face plus mysteries she can’t fathom, from the strangeness of life within the palace walls to a certain Mrs. Parker Bowles. Can her romantic dream survive the forces that shape her into a global icon?

Review:

The Princess by Wendy Holden is the 3^rd book in her Royal Outsiders series. I have not read the previous two books, but wanted to read about Princess Diana during her early years until she married Prince Charles. This was a very good historical fiction of Diana Spencer’s life at a private school, being lonely, and a lover of romance novels; which will eventually lead as she gets older, to being recruited to become the wife of Prince Charles.

We meet Diana who attends a boarding school, and connects with Sandy, a quiet and underprivileged girl, who has no friends. In a short time, Diana and Sandy will become best friends, and Diana brings Sandy (who is an orphan) to her home during the holidays. With her parents being divorced, Diana is lonely, and it is Sandy (early on), as well as other friends at a private school, who she makes feel important. Her older friends tease her, as she is totally a romantic, always dreaming of falling in love with a handsome prince.

The Royal family is determined for Prince Charles to marry soon, as he as now 30 years old, and they need to find the right girl for him; the girl has to be young, aristocratic, with no previous liaisons. Charles is not interested in anyone, other than Camilla Parker Bowles (his mistress), but the royal family wants a sweet innocent young lady. The Queen Mother and Prince Phillip, with help from Stephen Barry (Charles Valet) to work together to arrange Diana Spencer (18 years old), who comes across as a perfect candidate.

Once Diana met Charles, she immediately fell in love with him, since she always believed in love. But, on occasion, she will be invited to events and fall all over Charles, who was really not interested; especially since he was 30, and Diana was only 18. Though Diana spends time with the royal family, especially the Queen Mother, she still felt her love for Charles; ignoring his constant travelling and being away a lot, not to mention his indifference, and eventually his relationship with Camilla Parker-Bowles.

In 1992, years after her marriage to Prince Charles, Diana sees her old friend Sandy, and together she discusses her life as the Princess of Wales; and how the royal family was truly behind pushing Charles to marry Diana, and how her life was not what she thought it would be.

The Princess was very well written by Wendy Holden, giving us historical look at how Diana came to be The Princess of Wales. This was destined to be an ill-fated marriage, filled with our knowledge, sadness and sympathy for Diana. Early on, Diana was very naïve, as she always dreamed of a fairy tale with a Prince. Holden gave us a beautiful and sympathetic portrait of everyone’s memory of the People’s Princess. I really enjoyed this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

HERO UNBOUND (Linear Tactical:Oak Creek 1) by Janie Crouch-review

Posted on August 1, 2023 by Sandy

HERO UNBOUND (Linear Tactical: Oak Creek 1) by Janie Crouch-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N paper/ Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

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

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3qAu23b

ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date August 1, 2023

Eva Dempsey is out of options.

She’s made it to Oak Creek, Wyoming with two traumatized dogs, twenty dollars, and a fear of damned near everything.

Things that didn’t make it with her? Her self-esteem, confidence, or any way of supporting herself.

Theo Lindstrom knows how to survive. He proved it as a child when he had to keep himself and sister alive in the wilderness. Now he runs Linear Tactical, the company his adoptive father helped create, and teaches survival skills to others.

So he recognizes the desperation in the eyes of the petite beauty who’s pulled into town, and knows there’s more to her story than she’s letting on.

He normally keeps to himself—for very good reasons—but he can’t this time. Something about Eva draws him in a way he can’t resist, even knowing she’s got secrets. The deadly kind.

When the danger she’s running from shows up, Theo’s not going to let her fight it alone.

This is his town.
This is his woman.

And he’ll protect both to his last breath.

••••••

REVIEW: HERO UNBOUND is the first instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL: OAK CREEK romantic suspense series-a second generation spin off from the author’s LINEAR TACTICAL series. This is vet tech Eve Dempsey (daughter of Noah and Marilyn: STORM #10), and Theo Lindstrom (son of Dorian and Grace : GHOST #5). HERO UNBOUND can be read as a stand alone, you do not have to have read the original series to understand or enjoy.

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

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Eve and Theo) HERO UNBOUND follows in the wake of the arrival of our story line heroine to Oak Creek, Wyoming. Eve is on the run: broke, broken, with little money and only her two dogs to keep her safe but Eve is desperate and comes full circle working as a vet tech at Linear Tactical’s training farm but all is not well in Eve Dempsey’s life, and the demons from her past have followed her to Oak Creek, Wyoming. Theo Lindstrom is hoping to get up close and personal with our story line heroine but Theo suspects Eve may be lying, and her secrets are about to threaten the people she has grown to love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Eve and Theo, and the potential fall-out as the past returns, claiming Eve as his own.

The world building focuses on Eve’s struggles to prove she is worthy of trust and love but at every move something goes wrong, and her already low self-esteem is about to get lower when she is suspected of lying and making things worse. Working with the animals at Linear Tactical places Eve in the direct line of fire as her past threatens to destroy everything she has worked so hard to achieve.

The relationship between Eve and Theo begins as a prior friendship but Theo suspects something is wrong. Eve has missing memories, and black holes where she is unable to remember, and as such she is beginning to suspect that everything she had been told, to be true. As Eve and Theo’s relationship turns into something more, Eve continues to mistrust her own instincts, and falters at every step of the way. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

The familiar secondary and supporting characters include several characters introduced in the original LINEAR TACTICAL series. We are introduced to Eve’s brother Sam Dempsey, Derek Bollinger, and Becky McKay.

HERO UNBOUND is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, mental illness and abuse, obsession and love. The premise is edgy, dramatic, captivating and heart breaking; the romance is subtle and tender; the characters are desperate, broken, spirited and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the coveted RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.

Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband’s job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she’s not listening to the voices in her head (and even when she is), she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.

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