Darius (Blackdagger Brotherhood-Prequel) by JR Ward-review

Darius (Blackdagger Brotherhood) by JR Ward-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 5, 2023

Darius, son of Marklon, isn’t looking for love the night destiny comes to claim him. He’s also not interested in crashing his new car. But when a human woman runs out into the road and he must swerve to avoid killing her…everything goes off course.

Disillusioned by his King’s lack of leadership and the losses in the war against the Lessening Society, Darius finds purpose in protecting a woman he cannot make his own. Love finds a way, however—until the truth of what he is comes out and she leaves him in horror.

Unbeknownst to them both, Anne is carrying his young, a female who is destined to be Queen—and after a tragic reunion, he vows to protect their daughter. Resigned to perpetual sadness, he is determined to serve the memory of his beloved no matter the cost…unless by some miracle, fate sees fit to once again bring them together.

••••••••

REVIEW:DARIUS is the prequel storyline in JR Ward’s contemporary, adult BLACKDAGGER BROTHERHOOD paranormal romance series focusing on a group of warrior vampires known as the Blackdagger Brotherhood. This is the story of Darius and Anne, Beth’s parents. DARIUS can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion, I recommend reading or having some knowledge of book one DARK LOVER.

DARIUS was first released in audio format in July 2022.

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

Told from first person (Darius), and third person perspective DARIUS  follows the short lived relationship between Beth’s parents Darius and Anne, and the resulting birth of the vampire’s Queen.

ON the night they met, Darius, son of Marklon, rescued and saved the woman with whom he would fall in love but as a member of the vampire species, and the Blackdagger Brotherhood, Darius is unable to reveal the truth, or claim the woman who would give birth to his only young. As Darius and Anne’s relationship began to grow, Anne’s past would seek vengeance, revealing the truth about the who and what of the man with whom she was falling in love. Twenty years would pass before Anne would once again come face to face with Darius, twenty years in which Darius watched from afar as his daughter grew into the woman who would control the King’s heart.

Several of the series characters make cameo appearances: Fritz, Vishous, Zsadist, Phury, Havers, Xhex and JM, Beth and Wrath.

DARIUS is a revealing, emotional, action packed and heart breaking story of love, betrayal, acceptance and loss. The premise is edgy, haunting and tragic; the romance is tender and fated ; the characters are animated but doomed.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

FOLLOW: Facebook Twitter Goodreads / Website/

J.R. Ward is the author of over thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood. There are more than 15 million copies of Ward’s novels in print worldwide and they have been published in 25 different countries around the world.

After graduating from law school, Ward began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot.

Visit the JRWard Facebook Page

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WITCHES GET STUFF DONE (Starfall Point 1) by Molly Harper-review

WITCHES GET STUFF DONE (Starfall Point 1) by Molly Harper

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 5, 2023

Juggling newfound witchy powers, a house full of ghosts, and verbal battles with the handsome local librarian is almost too much for a new witch to manage. A new witch with a coven, however, can get so much more done…

From the moment Riley Everett set foot in Starfall Point, magic bubbled inside of her. But with only her late aunt’s journals and a cantankerous live-in ghost butler to instruct her on all things witchy—including her newly inherited Victorian haunted house—Riley seeks out a coven for sisterhood and support. The last person she expects to be drawn to is the town’s frustrating, yet ridiculously attractive head librarian.

Edison Held knows almost everything there is to know about Starfall Point, but Shaddow House was always off-limits, thanks to its elusive owner. If he can convince the new owner, Riley, to let him take a peek inside, there’s so much he could learn. But as he gets closer to Riley, he’s fascinated by her dazzling wit and fiery spirit. Edison will do whatever he can to help Riley keep her family legacy alive, especially if it means spending more time with the captivating new witch in town.

•••••••

REVIEW: WITCHES GET STUFF DONE is the first instalment in Molly Harper’s contemporary, adult STARFALL POINT paranormal, mystery/suspense series focusing on Riley Everett, librarian Edison Held, and the newly formed witch’s coven of Starfall Point.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Riley and Edison) WITCHES GET STUFF DONE sets the tone for the Starfall Point Series. An invite from her aunt Nora, sends Riley Everett to the Upper Peninsula in Northern Michigan where our heroine will discover her aunt has passed, and she is the sole heir to a haunted mansion known as Shaddow House. Riley Everett will learn she comes from a long line of powerful witches, and each successive generation is tasked with housing/collecting and locking down an assortment of items attached or possessed by its’ late user but Riley is unaware of her heritage, and is about to be thrown to the proverbial wolves as she encounters a house full of objects, each with an attachment to someone dead and gone. Meanwhile, a chance and sickly encounter on the ferry to Starfall Point with a stranger is the beginning of a new relationship when said stranger is the man with whom Riley will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Riley and Edison; the introduction of Shaddow House ghost butler and Riley’s mentor Plover; Riley’s new coven members- Caroline, Natalie and Alice; and the potential fall-out as someone is targeting Riley, and the house in which she will come to love.

The world building reveals some of the background of Shaddow House: its’ purpose, its’ inhabitants; and Riley’s job to oversee the attachment objects and the ghosts to which each belongs, and to free the ghosts who wish to move on. As the story unfolds, Riley will be tasked with locating nine ‘locks’, locks that someone else is desperate to find.

The relationship between Riley and Edison begins acrimoniously. Riley struggled with severe motion sickness, and the ferry ride to Starfall Point leaves much to be desired but someone else has occupied the lone bathroom stall, and Riley is about to come face to face with her future in the guise of Edison Held. Edison has loved and lost but struggles to move forward from the ghost of his own past. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Riley’s coven: Caroline and Alice; ghost mentor and house butler Plover; ghost Natalie; library employees Margaret and Kyle; attorney Clark, and an assortment of townies and ghosts who come in and out of Riley’s life.

WITCHES GET STUFF DONE is a story of ghosts and magic, secrets and revelations; obsession, determination, greed and power. The slow building premise is intriguing, entertaining and engaging but dragged in spots as the author set the stage for future story lines; the characters are energetic, sassy, determined and interesting; the romance is a bit of an issue. I didn’t feel any palpable attraction, sexual or otherwise. There was no longing, yearning or desirous actions-the relationship went from zero to ten at the turn of the page. WITCHES GET STUFF DONE ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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FOREVER BY MORNING (Brothers Three Orchard) by Taryn Quinn-review

FOREVER BY MORNING (Brothers Three Orchard 4) by Taryn Quinn

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2023

She was the storm I never saw coming…

Rescuing a runaway guest from my cousin’s wedding reception on my horse was never in my plans.

Nor was falling for her from the first glance.

It was just supposed to be one night between strangers.

She’s a rich socialite from Manhattan who stopped believing in forever.

I’m the head of my family orchard in a rural small town who carefully plans and plants and is all about growing roots.

On paper, we don’t make sense.

But in real life, she’s my everything. And I’m hers.

The time has come for her to fight for her forever…and us.

••••

REVIEW: FOREVER BY MORNING is the fourth instalment in Taryn Quinn’s contemporary, adult BROTHERS THREE ORCHARD erotic, romance series, set in the author’s Crescent Cove world-a spin off /companion to the author’s Found In Oblivion/Lost in Oblivion/ Rock Revenge series. This is Beckett Manning and socialite/ event planner Helena Danbury’s story line. FOREVER BY MORNING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Beckett is Zoe Manning’s brother (Rock Revenge 1-3)

NOTE: Brothers Three Orchard series is the formerly titled Happy Acres series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Beckett and Helena) FOREVER BY MORNING follows in the wake of Beckett Manning’s cousin’s wedding. Helena Danbury is a ‘stand in’ bridesmaid for her ex-boyfriend’s new bride, a position that comes with all of the humiliation it rightly requires but add in the disaster of a plus one who picks a fight with another guest, Helena finds herself whisked away on horseback by the bride’s gorgeous cousin. Enter Beckett Manning, co-owner of Brothers Three Orchard and the man with whom Helena will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Helena and Beckett, and the potential fall-out when Beckett sees red, and pushes Helena out of his life.

The relationship between Beckett and Helena begins as a ‘wedding rescue’. Helena didn’t want to be at the wedding let alone a stand in for a missing bridesmaid but as the days events began to turn ugly, Helena knew it was time to leave, never expecting to be rescued by Beckett Manning. Beckett didn’t offer forever, in fact he offered Helena only one night, but the heart wanted something more than it was willing to risk. The $ex scenes are passionate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and familiar secondary and supporting characters from both the current series and the author’s Crescent Cove series, as well as mentions from the author’s interconnected series. We are introduce to Brothers Three Orchard new party planner Belinda, as well as the chef Kain. Belinda and Kain’s story is next.

FOREVER BY MORNING is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; misunderstanding and forgiveness, acceptance and love. The premise is spicy and intimate; the characters are flirty and sassy; the romance is seductive and swoony.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Brewing Sunshine
Fiance by Christmas
Bodyguard by Night

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Silent Comrade (Project Morpheus 3) by Jillian David-review tour

Silent Comrade (Project Morpheus 3) by Jillian David-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 23, 2023

The Project Morpheus series: Military romance, steamy passion, and heart-stopping suspense.

The Morpheus Squad: Ultimate soldiers who hide in plain sight, fierce protectors risking their existence for those they love … and virally-altered, ticking time bombs.

****
A military dude who thinks ‘haute’ is a temperature setting must help a flighty fashionista create the fashion show of the decade … before it becomes the world’s most explosive catwalk!

Ex-Special Forces soldier, Alfred “Red” Newman, never met a mission he couldn’t execute—with or without enhanced abilities. But protecting whirling dervish fashion student, Britt McNeill? The tough veteran will need combat pay and Excedrin. If he can’t shield her from Beau Lequire, a power-hungry CFO whose need for revenge has no limits, then Britt won’t be a pawn in Lequire’s sick game. She’ll be dead.

After battling anxiety and devastating losses in her personal life, Britt longs to make her family proud and accomplish her dream of becoming a fashion designer. Enter Red, a transfer student who can’t tell the difference between plaid and paisley, but whose unnaturally-quick reflexes … and scorching kisses … knock her off stride. When Red demands that she ditch her senior project to go into hiding? No way. The show must go on.

••••

REVIEW:Book three in this author’s Project Morpheus series, it’s not necessary to read the previous books, but it does have an ongoing story, so reading in order will give you the full picture.

Red (Alfred) Newman is part of a group of soldiers that were given a secret drug to enhance their abilities. Red is a former special forces tracker, so he’s ideal to track the latest pawn in Beau’s revenge on the Morpheus team! The downside to the drug, that the team were given was the fact Red can’t turn down his ability (making him a grumpy soldier)

Britt is an aspiring fashion designer, college is just the way of making her parents proud, but it’s fashion that’s her passion. She’s a smart cookie as well, she can’t put her finger on what’s not right with the new student in her fashion class, but she’s going to find out….

And we can’t forget Beau, he’s our villain in this story. I won’t give anything else away, but he’s ramping his game up to repay the group of super soldiers!

The story moves at a reasonably fast pace, Red trying to convince Britt it’s not safe at college, but he can’t tell her why! Well not until her life is on jeopardy, then all bets are off! He needs her to trust him….

There is a spark between the two main characters, and it is a slow spark. But once it’s lit, then Red sees Britt as his own, his to protect, even if she is a little stubborn at first.

A few twists and turns will keep you glued to the pages until the end.

A slow burn romance with a touch of paranormal. (It does remind me a little of Christine Feehan’s Ghost Walker series)

Highly recommended read ??

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Fallen Comrade
Hidden Comrade

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie ?B

Award-winning and bestselling author Jillian David quickly writes then slowly edits paranormal, suspense and adventure romances. She loves to use medical situations and characters to drive drama in her books. Her favorite cell is the platelet and her least-favorite organ is the pancreas. She fully believes that curse words, when appropriately deployed during surgery, are hemostatic. Which also explains why no book of hers will ever bleed out…

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 

 

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How to Fake Date a Vampire by Linsey Hall-review tour

HOW TO FAKE DATE A VAMPIRE (Charming Cove 2) by Linsey Hall-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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2023

Faking it with a vampire duke should be simple, right?
I’ve got one chance to prove to my coven that I’m worth my wand. But to do it, I’m going to have to make a deal with a vampire duke. I get to use his gorgeous estate in Cornwall to host the Beltane Ball–and in exchange, I’ll pretend to be his girlfriend. But it’s all a show for his grandmother.
The rules of our fake relationship are simple:
No flirting. No emotion. No sex. Simple, right?

Except I can’t seem to ignore the allure of the infuriating and devastatingly sexy vampire. Falling for a duke isn’t an option, though. I would lose the anonymity that protects me and my coven, and that would ruin my life. And the lives of those in my coven.

So yeah, totally simple, right?

•••••

REVIEW: Messy, disorganised and a total calamity meets, cool, calm and sophisticated, what could go wrong?

New to the area Emma (well if your not born there, you’re still new!) is a witch (not really a good one at that!) who is given the task of organising a main event. Eager to do her best, she decides on trying to get the owner of the large estate to let her use his home, except the Duke doesn’t like his home being invaded!

First encounter doesn’t go too well either! Emma has given up all hope of hosting the Beltane Ball, that is until Alaric suggests a deal… be his fake girlfriend and she can use his estate! Simple…. Well no actually all it does is complicate matters, chaos and mayhem ensues! Will the Ball ever get off the ground?

This is a lighthearted story, it will have you chuckling one moment, and then face palming the next as both Emma and her Duke blunder through romantic moments and you wonder how these two will ever get it together!

Main characters Alaric and Emma are just great. I liked they are opposites, I liked the fact it’s a slow burn, not your usual fated mates or destined to be together genre.

The writing is fast paced and really well put together, I finished it in one day, couldn’t put it down. And although it’s the second book in the Charming Cove series, it’s not required to read book one first, I haven’t read book one yet, so I didn’t feel like I’d missed anything. Although I’ll definitely pop back and read that one at some point.

So for a lighthearted vampire/witch romance, I’d highly suggest you grab this one.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

Author Bio:
Before becoming a writer, Linsey was an archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). After a decade of tromping around in search of old bits of stuff, she settled down to start penning her own adventure novels and is freaking delighted that people seem to like them. Since life is better with a little (or a lot of) magic, she writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

Author Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DLQHh5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8588556.Linsey_Hall
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linseyhallauthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LinseyHallAuthor
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/648041092023853
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linsey-hall
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HiLinseyHall/
Newsletter: http://linseyhall.com/subscribe
Website: http://linseyhall.com/

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Reaper (RBMC: Jacksonville MC 2) by Kathleen Kelly-review

Reaper (RBMC: Jacksonville MC 2) by Kathleen Kelly-review

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 August 29, 2023

Reaper, VP in the Royal Bastards MC, Jacksonville, Florida is deadly and has no time for love or anything remotely romantic.
Lucy tests his patience and pushes his buttons like no other female would ever dare.

When her past comes looking for her, Reaper pretends he doesn’t care.
When Lucy looks to him for help, he turns the other way.
But when she begs him to save her, something in him breaks.

If Reaper were to help Lucy, those who would wish him harm would see her as a way to get back at him. They would use her to hurt him.
And Reaper’s heart isn’t like everyone else’s—it no longer beats for love but for violence.

Lucy is going to test his strength, ability to protect his club, and maybe, just maybe, have his heart beat to a different tune.

•••••••

REVIEW: REAPER is the second instalment in Kathleen Kelly’s contemporary, adult RBMC: Jacksonville FL erotic, MC romance series-set in the multi-authored RBMC world. This is club VP Reaper, and Celeste ‘Lucy’ Fullerton’s story line. REAPER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line 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 (Reaper, Lucy, Creed) REAPER follows the acrimonious relationship between RBMC Jacksonville FL vice president Reaper, and Celeste ‘Lucy’ Fullerton. Reaper doesn’t do relationships, and he knows Lucy is hoping for something more. At every opportunity Reaper is pushing our heroine away, even though he wants Lucy more than he will admit but jealousy, misunderstanding and the demons from her past are about to place everyone in the direct line of fire, and Reaper refuses to be caught up in Lucy’s drama. When the past comes calling, Reaper is sees red but another misunderstanding forces Reaper to push Lucy out of his life, and into the arms of the Devil himself. What ensues is the building but contemptuous relationship between Lucy and Reaper, and the potential fall-out as Lucy becomes a pawn in a game of winner take all.

The world building continues to focus on the potential war with the Locos, a gang who has dealings with the RBMC in Los Angeles, a gang whose leader wants Lucy to pay for sins of the past. Not only do the RBMC: Jacksonville struggle with the thoughts of working with LOCOS but the Russians have returned wanting a part of the score.

The relationship between Lucy and Reaper is one of frenemies to lovers. Lucy has fallen in love with a man whose past has destroyed all sense of normality, but Lucy’s own past is about to take down our story line heroine. Reaper only wants Lucy for one thing, and Lucy refuses to service the man who refuses to love in return-Reaper is cruel and demeaning towards our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and dangerous secondary and supporting characters including Creed and Devil (Creed 1), as well as Highway, Fingers, Feral and Justice. The requisite evil has many faces. We are introduced to Lucy’s brother Gage Walker; her sister Gwen, and their father Dr.Fullerton. Highway’s story line is next.

REAPER is a story of betrayal and heart break, pain and misunderstanding, power and control, vengeance and acceptance. The fast paced, character driven premise is tragic and intriguing; the romance is dramatic and edgy; the characters are broken, determined and desperate.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one CREED

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Social Media: Goodreads / Amazon Author Page/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ TikTok/

Kathleen Kelly is a USA Today Best Selling Author and was born in Penrith, NSW, Australia. When she was four her family moved to Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Although born in NSW she considers herself a QUEENSLANDER!!
She married her childhood sweetheart and they live in Toowoomba. Kathleen enjoys writing contemporary, romance novels with a little bit of steam. She draws her inspiration from family, friends and the people around her. She can often be found in cafes writing and observing the locals.

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The Bonds We Break (Iron Outlaws MC 4) by S. Cole-review tour

The Bonds We Break (Iron Outlaws MC 4) by S. 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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2023

Rae
When Uther “King” Hills, president of the Iron Outlaws MC, shows up at my home, I know it’s for one thing.
Revenge.
My life for my brother’s, a traitor to the club.
My sacrifice to ensure his loyalty.
But I know a thing or two about tragic kings.
They never win.
What I didn’t know was how they can steal your heart in the process of trying.

King
Rae Miller is my enemy’s little sister.
And I intend to ruin her before I toss her back at her brother’s feet.
Even as my actions tear my club apart.
Except this Shakespeare-quoting fire-cracker has me seeing ghosts.
I don’t scare her. She outwits me at every turn and has a body I can’t get enough of.
The fact I want to kill every person who ever hurt her is irrelevant.

Only, when she’s at risk because of me, I pray the bonds I’ve broken can mend themselves. Because without my club, we don’t have a hope of surviving.

TW: References to past self-harm (cutting) and abuse (not sexual), dubious consent, issues with food preparation (not eating disorders), praise kink.

•••••

REVIEW:THE BONDS WE BREAK is the fourth instalment in S. Cole’s contemporary, adult IRON OUTLAWS MC dark,erotic, MC romance series. This is club president Uther ‘King’ Hills, and therapist Rae Miller’s story line. THE BONDS WE BREAK can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion I recommend reading book three THE LIES WE TELL. Rae is Ryker ‘Saint’ Miller’s sister.

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

IMPORTANT: If you have not read THE LIES WE TELL there may be spoilers in my review.

Told from dual first person perspectives (King and Rae) THE BONDS WE BREAK picks up after /crosses over with some of the events of THE LIES WE TELL. Ryker ‘Saint’ Miller has been labelled a betrayer, a traitor to the Iron Outlaws MC, and he is about suffer for who he was, and what he did but King is not satisfied with the outcome, the vote by his brothers, and his inability to get the revenge he so desperately needs so he sets his sights on Saint’s sister Rae Miller, the woman with whom King will fall in love. All does not go according to plan when Rae, with her ability to reason with and understand the mind of a broken man, acquiesces to King’s demands, demands that push our couple together but King does not want to pull Rae into the life of the club, and walks away from the woman he loves. What ensues is the building but contemptuous relationship between King and Rae, and the potential fall-out when the club is targeted, and King is caught in the line of fire.

The world building continues to focus on the impending war between the Iron Outlaws MC and the Righteous Brotherhood, a group who have been targeting the club ol’ ladies, and the president of the Iron Outlaws MC. King, along with several members of the MC, want their proverbial pound of flesh but a vote against sends King into a spiral, demanding his vengeance from our story line heroine.

The relationship between King and Rae begins acrimoniously when King kidnaps Rae with the intent of blackmail and revenge. King wants to hurt Saint by using his sister but King quickly is outfoxed and emotionally overpowered by our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including the previous story line couples: Saint and Briar, Gwen and Clutch, Iris and Spark; established couple Tessa And Track, as well as Nico, Halo and Switch. Not everyone is happy with the decision to ‘save’ Ryker Miller, and allegiances will be divided amongst the once-tight brothers. Nico’s story line is next.

THE BONDS WE BREAK is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, obsession and anger, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is heart breaking, dark, and tragic; the romance is twisted and dramatic; the characters are broken, desperate and edgy.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

The Sins We Hide
The Games We Play
The Lies We Tell

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada where I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.

I am represented by Beth Phelan at The Bent Agency, NY.

Connect with Scarlett Cole:

Website: http://www.scarlettcole.com/
Newsletter: http://www.scarlettcole.com/contact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsscarlettcole/
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2QlE6f2
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3xwjykG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarlettcole/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ItsScarlettCole
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/scarlett-cole

 

 

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My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine-review & excerpt

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine-review & excerpt

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 29, 2023

True love is at stake in this charming, debut romantic comedy.

Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.

Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean…

Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.

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REVIEW:MY ROOMMATE IS A VAMPIRE by Jenna Levine is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, paranormal romance story line focusing on three hundred year old vampire Frederick J Fitzwilliam, and artist Cassie Greenberg.

Told from first person perspective (Cassie) and journal entries /letters from Frederick, MY ROOMMATE IS A VAMPIRE follows the building relationship between Frederick and Cassie. Cassie needs a place to stay: she is being evicted and is surprised when a room in a well to do Chicago neighborhood is available at a very low price. Meeting her potential roommate and landlord Frederick J Fitzwilliam, Cassie knows immediately that something is different as the man seems to be living in a different era but Cassie is unaware that her new roommate’s idiosyncrasies are part and parcel of what and who he is. Frederick Fitzwilliam has awoken in a time and place he knows nothing about, and his only friend has suggested advertising for a roommate, someone to help Frederick acclimate into the twenty-first century but all is not well in Frederick’s life when the past demands more than he is willing to deliver. What ensues is the building relationship between Frederick and Cassie, and the potential fall-out as Frederick finds himself a victim of the old ways, and the people he thought he left behind.

The world building focuses on Frederick’s desperate need to fit in. Cassie is the woman with whom Frederick will fall in love but Cassie had been kept in the dark, unaware that she was to become Frederick’s teacher, companion and friend. As Cassie struggles to come to terms with the who and what of Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, Frederick must come to terms with a world that is nothing like the one he left behind.

The relationship between Cassie and Frederick begins as roommates but Frederick struggled to reveal his true nature and what he was. Cassie will discover Frederick’s secrets but Frederick has already fallen for the woman who will set him free in the modern world. Frederick Fitzwilliam is slightly awkward, stilted and confused but his love for Cassie is what keeps him alive. The lone $ex scene is passionate.

We are introduced to Frederick’s questionable friend and twenty-first century guide Reginald, as well as Cassie’s best friends Sam and Scott.

MY ROOMMATE IS A VAMPIRE is an engaging and quirky story line. The characters are flirty, spirited and animated but we needed Frederick’s first person perspective to completely understand his struggles and fears; the romance is fated, intimate and tender. I am hoping the author has plans for Cassie and Frederick’s continuing story-MY ROOMMATE IS A VAMPIRE ends on a happily ever after-for now.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

 

OneRoommate Wanted to Share Spacious Third-Floor Brownstone Apartment in Lincoln Park

Hello. I seek a roommate with whom to share my apartment. It is a spacious unit by modern standards with two large bedrooms, an open sitting area, and a semiprofessional eat-in kitchen. Large windows flank the eastern side of the apartment and provide a striking view of the lake. The unit is fully furnished in a tasteful, classical style. I am seldom home after sundown, so if you work a traditional schedule, you will usually have the apartment to yourself.

Rent: $200 per month. No pets, please. Kindly direct all serious inquiries to fjfitzwilliam@gmail.com.

“There has to be something wrong with this place.”

“Cassie, listen, this is a really good deal-”

“Forget it, Sam.” That last part came out more forcefully than I’d intended-though not by much. Even though I needed his help, my embarrassment over being in this situation in the first place made accepting that help difficult. Sam meant well, but his insistence on involving himself in every part of my current situation was getting on my very last nerve.

To his credit, Sam-my oldest friend, who’d long ago acclimated to how snippy I sometimes got when I was stressed-said nothing. He simply folded his arms across his chest, waiting for me to be ready to say more.

I only needed a few moments to pull myself together and start feeling badly for snapping at him. “Sorry,” I muttered under my breath. “I know you’re only trying to help.”

“It’s all right,” he said, sympathetic. “You have a lot going on. But it’s okay to believe that things can get better.”

I had no reason to believe that things could get better, but now wasn’t the time to get into it. I simply sighed and turned my attention back to the Craigslist ad on my laptop.

“Anything that sounds too good to be true usually is.”

Sam peered over my shoulder at my screen. “Not always. And you have to admit this apartment sounds great.”

It did sound great. He was right about that. But . . .

“It’s only two hundred a month, Sam.”

 


 

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By day, Jenna Levine works to increase access to affordable housing in the American South. By night, she writes romance novels where ridiculous things happen to beautiful people. When Jenna isn’t writing she can usually be found crying over k-dramas, starting knitting projects she won’t finish, or spending time with her family and small army of cats.

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