Monthly Archives: December 2023

Technically Yours by Denise Williams – Review & Giveaway

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Technically Yours by Denise Williams – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Seven years ago, he fell in love with a stranger he couldn’t have—today, she’s back in his life and the sparks between them threaten to set her career on fire.

Pearl Harris has learned the hard way to be careful in work and in love. When she is appointed acting director of OurCode, a nonprofit aimed at inspiring high schoolers to code, she has a chance to make lasting change for the organization, but a scandal has put their reputation at risk. Further complicating matters, Pearl didn’t expect the one man she hasn’t stopped thinking about in seven years to be the newest member of her board of directors.

Cord Matthews fell for Pearl when they met in an elevator seven years ago. She’s just his type: smart, capable, and makes him laugh, but when she broke his heart, he decided love wasn’t for him. After five years with no contact, their connection is immediate despite the many roadblocks in their way and Cord must consider breaking his ban on serious relationships. But going public with a romance between them might derail Pearl’s career and the progress she’s made at OurCode. 

Pearl and Cord both are hesitant to trust their feelings and take a risk as they grow closer, but it becomes impossible to keep ignoring the electricity between them. Cord is a skilled programmer, but a workplace romance might spell disaster for both of them, and love isn’t easily debugged.

 

 

 

Review:

Technically Yours by Denise Williams is another one of her wonderful romance stories. The main characters are Pearl Harris and Cord Matthews, who we got a glimpse at in a previous book (The Fastest Way to Fall), with Cord very much in love with Pearl.   But she broke his heart five years ago, when she walked out of Cord’s life for a job opportunity in California that she had been waiting for.

Now Pearl is back in Chicago, with a job she loves, and to her surprise, she discovers that Cord has just joined the board of Pearl’s company, OurCode; a nonprofit organization aimed at inspiring high schoolers to code.  Cord is happy to see her, and privately tells her he still has feelings for her. Pearl is determined to keep Cord at a distance, especially since her ex-boss was fired, due to having an affair with a board member, causing issues from members and the board.  Pearl did not want to mix relationships that are personal and professional; and now she was promoted to Executive Director at OurCode. A romance between them would cause severe damage to her career and the progress she’s made at OurCode. 

The POV’s between Cord and Pearl go between the flashbacks in the past, when they met and loved; and the present time.  Cord immediately told Pearl about his feelings, but in a short time she also gave into her feelings, as their chemistry was off the wall. Pearl tries to keep their relationship quiet, as she feared she would lose her job.  The secondary characters were all very good, as I did like her family and friends, as well as Cord’s friends.  Tye (15 years old) was great, with her working with Cord on the codes, and Cord’s cat, Peach was cute. 

What follows is a wonderful, fun, emotional and sexy romance, with a fantastic couple we loved.  Pearl was a fabulous heroine, who also had strong feelings for Cord. At the same time, Cord was determined to protect Pearl, especially with her concerns about her job and keeping her director position. Cord would do anything to help Pearl, even if she did not want his help. Technically Yours was an emotional ride, that was also delightful, fun and engaging.  Technically Yours was very well written by Denise Williams.    I fully suggest if you enjoy pure romances, that you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

BERKLEY ROMANCE is graciously offering a paper copy of TECHNICALLY YOURS to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.    

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8. Giveaway is open to USA only.

9. Giveaway runs from December 5 to December 9, 2023

 

 

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Snowbound by Freya Barker-review tour

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Snowbound by Freya Barker-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 4, 2023

Had she known ‘doing the right thing’ would land her jobless, homeless, and snowed in with a moody bear of a man guarding her, Bobbie Strada might’ve thought twice.

Last thing US Marshal Dag Toland needed was to get stuck protecting a witness as tempting as this one. Especially when forced to share a small mountain cabin in the middle of a snowstorm.

•••••

REVIEW:SNOWBOUND by Freya Barker is a stand alone, contemporary, adult novella of romantic suspense focusing on US Marshall Dag Toland, and chef Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Strada.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Dag and Bobbi) SNOWBOUND focuses on the protection of our story line heroine. Bobbi Strada witnessed a murder, and the Russian Bratva are aiming to kill. In protective custody as the prime witness, Bobbi finds herself, once again, a target when someone has discovered the place she has been hiding.. On the run with US Marshall Dag Toland, Bobbi is once again, dependant upon someone else, to save her life, not only from the Russian Bratva but also from mother nature, and the outside elements.

The relationship between Bobbi and Dag is slow to develop. For two months Bobbi has been trapped with one of four US Marshalls but Dag is the reluctant team member, a man Bobbi is unable to see beyond the façade. Trapped and facing the dangers of the weather and the mob, Dag finds himself facing the very people targeting our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

SNOWBOUND is a fast paced, quick read of suspense and mystery. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is predicated upon close proximity and desperation; the characters are determined and strong.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Driven to make her books about ‘real’ people; she creates characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills in their lives.

Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We’ve Read All Year Award for “Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FreyaFacebook
Twitter: http://bit.ly/FreyaTwitter
Instagram: http://bit.ly/FreyaInstagram
Web: http://bit.ly/FreyaWeb
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Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/Freya_Newsletter
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/FreyaBookBub

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Manner of Death by Robin Cook – a Review

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Manner of Death by Robin Cook – a Review

 

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Description:
In this new fast-paced medical mystery-thriller from the New York Times bestselling author Robin Cook, fan favorites Jack and Laurie must determine the manner of death after a pathology resident’s suspicious suicide.

Due to Jack Stapleton’s ongoing recovery from his near-death confrontation with a serial killer, his wife Laurie Montgomery, the NYC chief medical examiner, is carrying the load both at work and at home. When she insists an underperforming pathology resident named Ryan Sullivan assist her on a suicide autopsy, Laurie unknowingly provokes an emotional storm in the trainee.So, when Ryan himself appears on the medical examiner’s table days later, an apparent death by suicide, Laurie’s guilt compels her to try to understand why. Jack’s autopsy on the resident opens the disturbing possibility that the manner of death wasn’t suicide but instead a staged homicide. But staged by whom?Laurie ignores her own professional rules and responsibilities to investigate personally who might want Ryan dead…and for what reason. Thus begins a dangerous inquiry into a fraudulent but highly lucrative cancer diagnostics company, which might just cost Laurie her life.

 

 

Review:

Manner of Death by Robin Cook is a stand-alone mystery thriller. This is actually the 14th novel that features fan favorites, Laurie and Jack. Laurie Montgomery is the chief medical examiner in NYC; her husband Jack Stapleton is a pathologist, who is recovering from an attack by a serial killer (in previous book). Laurie decides to work with Ryan Sullivan, a pathologist, who is assigned to work for a month with the medical examiner team.   

Ryan comes across as unlikeable, as he is not happy about doing autopsies, especially since his experience with suicides as a child, as well as trying to take his own life in the past. Laurie takes him under her wing, to help him see a different look at how things are done.  When she explains about red flags on recent suicides, which are questionable, especially with 6 flags in a 6-month period. Are they truly suicides or homicide. Ryan requests Laurie to allow him to review these cases further, and she agrees to let him investigate.

Ryan will visit a number of medical legal investigators (MLI), asking questions regarding these suicides, and why they did not have enough information to look beyond a suicide. As Ryan gets deeper into the research, he finds that the deceases cases are linked to an oncology clinic, that gives early cancer testing results.  Both Laurie and Jack have warned Ryan are only to investigate within the department, but he makes a decision visit the company to make them aware of his findings

What follows is a wild and intense situation that will put a number of lives in danger.  When Ryan is found dead of an apparent suicide, Laurie steps up to find out why Ryan would kill himself.  She ignores her own rules of keeping things inside the office, and puts herself very much in danger, in her looking at Ryan’s paper work.

Manner in Death was a suspenseful, engrossing, intense and fast paced story that kept me glued to my kindle.  I could not put this down, as the last quarter of the book was so very exciting. Manner of Death is another wonderful thriller by Robin Cook, which was very well written.  If you enjoy medical mystery-thrillers, I suggest you read Manner of Death.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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My Darling Bride by Ilsa Madden-Mills-review

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My Darling Bride by Ilsa Madden-Mills-review

ebook only $1.99 Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N Paper /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 5, 2023

In a sizzling romance that sparkles with wit and depth, two wounded souls meet by chance in the desert and agree to get married, and their lives will never be the same.

On a normal day, Emmaline Darling isn’t a car thief. She’s just a simple girl who runs a bookstore and adores cats. But when she’s stranded in the desert and needs to get away from her dangerous ex-boyfriend, she picks her only option: swiping the keys to a famous football player’s Lamborghini and speeding away.

Football star Graham Harlan is in chaos. First he took a hit on the field that left him with a near-death experience, and now he’s promised his brother he’ll get married to secure the family inheritance. Trouble is he isn’t even seeing anyone.

Then a mystery woman steals his car. With his usual stubbornness, he tracks her all the way to Manhattan and gives her an ultimatum: marry me or I’ll press charges.

Her choice is obvious, only neither of them expect the sparks that ignite between them.

As the end of their arrangement looms, will Graham take a chance on love or let his darling walk away forever?

•••••

REVIEW: MY DARLING BRIDE by Ilsa Madden Mills is a stand alone, contemporary adult, story line focusing on twenty-nine year old football star, tight end Graham Harlan, and twenty-eight year old, book store manager Emmaline ‘Emma’ Darling.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Emma and Graham) MY DARLING BRIDE follows the fake marriage/marriage of convenience between our story line couple. Emma Darling is on the run from an abusive boyfriend, a professional football player who wanted control but Emma never expected to come face to face with another professional football player at the same dive motel where she was in hiding. Enter Graham Harlan, the man with whom Emma will fall in love but all does not go according to plan when Emma’s ex tracks her down, and her only recourse is to steal Graham’s Lamborghini, an action that is met with a lifetime of consequences. Graham needs a wife to appease the contents of his grandmother’s will, and Emma is ripe for the picking. What ensues is the building but fractured relationship between Emma and Graham, and the fall-out as Graham refuses to commit to a happily ever after.

Graham Harlan is desperate to help his brother but the dysfunctional family dynamics have pushed Graham to propose a fake marriage to a woman he doesn’t know. Having suffered a possible career ending head injury, Graham is struggling with his future and his career but one thing Graham doesn’t want is to fall in love-been there, done that, has the heart break to prove it. His relationship and marriage proposal to Emma is purely a business arrangement, an arrangement for a short period of time. Emma never saw herself falling for another football player but something about Graham pulled her like a moth to a flame, a flame that was going to hurt when she got too close. Emma knew the pain of physical abuse but the emotional trauma and rejection will hurt the most.

The relationship between Emma and Graham is a business arrangement with strict rules and guidelines to which Emma must adhere. Emma believes she is falling for a man with little emotions and a broken heart, a man who is about to destroy the woman whose own heart is in need of repair. As to the relationship, I felt little to no palpable sexual attraction between our story line couple until about 80-90% of the story, and most of this is to blame on Graham’s attitude and off-putting behavior. Graham wants nothing to do with love, believing himself still in love with a ghost from the past, and in this, Emma is often left alone including her wedding night, and when Graham is needed the most. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including family and friends, exes and teammates. Both Emma and Graham come from broken and dysfunctional families; there is a history of abuse, infidelity and abandonment from all sides.

MY DARLING BRIDE is a story of power and control, desperation and determination, mistrust and miscommunication, family and friendships, forgiveness and love. The slow building premise is heart breaking ; the characters are broken and stubborn; the romance is limited and disappointing. Not my favorite Madden-Mills story-I struggled with the hero’s mindset and perspective.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

 

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Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.

Fourteen of her Eighteen novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Not My Romeo #1; The Revenge Pact #1; Dear Ava, Fake Fiancée, I Dare You, and I Promise You #2; I Hate You #5; Not My Match, I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.

A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.

She’s addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females.

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Dragon Frost (Dragon Kings Novella) by Donna Grant-review

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Dragon Frost (Dragon Kings Novella) by Donna Grant-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 5, 2023

The holiday season is Rhi’s favorite time of year, which means Con loves it, too. Except they’re on Zora, where there are no traditions—and beginning one could be hazardous. Finding the lost dragons should’ve given everyone peace. Instead, they’re facing powerful enemies at every turn. Despite the danger, the King of Dragon Kings knows his mate longs to have their space dripping with holiday decorations and gifts piled under the tree, and he’s going to do his best to give it to her and make sure they have time to celebrate the season and their love.
And perhaps a surprise or two.

••••

REVIEW:DRAGON FROST is a stand alone, holiday novella in Donna Grant’s DRAGON KINGS paranormal, fantasy series, a part of the numerous interconnected Dark Kings series. This is the continuing story of Constantine, King of Dragon Kings, and his mate, Fae warrior and Queen Rhi. DRAGON FROST can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but for backstory I recommend reading the series in order or having knowledge of previous events.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Rhi and Con) DRAGON FROST focuses on the approach of the Christmas holidays. Con’s mate Rhi loves Christmas, her favorite human holiday but life in Zora is anything by happy for our story line couple. Ostracized by his own children, and the dragons he sent to another realm, Con struggles with his new direction and position but in an effort to make his mate happy, Con plans a holiday celebration for two, taking a trip to the Fae Realm, in spite of what happened months before.

Donna Grant pulls the reader into an emotional story of one man (dragon’s) emotional and powerful love for the woman he lost then found. Watching his mate’s childlike abandon meant more to Con than he could have ever imagined but their exchange of gifts is about change his life, in more ways than one.

DRAGON FROST is a sweet, tender and heart warming holiday short story focusing on Con and Rhi. The premise is captivating-there are no conflicts or pressing issues for our story line couple ; the romance is seductive ; the characters are familiar and fun.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Prequel-Ignite the Magic
Dragon Revealed
Dragon Mine
Dragon Unbound
Dragon Eternal
Dragon Lover

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.

She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.

Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | NEWSLETTER SIGNUP / TUMBLR / PINTEREST / GOODREADS

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Unbroken (Blood Brothers 6) by Samantha Wilde-a review

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Unbroken (Blood Brothers 6) by Samantha Wilde-a review

ebook ONLY 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 5, 2023

➞ Protective hero
➞ Mafia princess gone rogue
➞ Enemies to lovers
➞ Forced proximity

He only has to keep her alive for seven days . . .

When Savannah Carrington’s life is threatened, she refuses to be whisked to God knows where just to appease her father—the infamous leader of Sinners Syndicate. But when the owner of Backcountry Protection Services, Toth Holmes, is hired as her personal bodyguard, her choices are ripped away yet again. Her protector—make that captor—is anything but a saint. He looks at her like no other man dares, branding her with his gaze and promising to own her body if she’d let him. He’s hot and delicious but she’s not stupid enough to give into temptation. Doing so would sign his death certificate.

He said no to the job. More than once. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off the devastatingly beautiful mafia princess made refusing the contract offer a no-brainer. But when Savannah’s life is at stake, Toth knows he can’t turn a blind eye. Seven days is the length of his contract, the shortest one he’s ever signed, yet the most dangerous. If she’s killed on his watch, he’ll pay in blood. Same goes if he dares to touch one silky strand on her head.

As Toth battles with the desire riding between them, Savannah’s father’s enemies get closer. The more her father strikes back, the harder the villains come for his daughter. Toth might not be able to keep her alive forever, but he’ll die trying.

•••••

REVIEW:UNBROKEN is the sixth instalment in Samantha Wilde’s contemporary, adult. BLOOD BROTHERS romantic suspense series. This is former US Marine, and security specialist / owner of Backcountry Protection Services Toth Holmes, and Mafia princess / freelance web designer Savannah Carrington’s story line. UNBROKEN 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 omniscient third person perspectives (Savannah and Toth) UNBROKEN focuses on the protection and security of our story line heroine. Savannah’s father is a crime lord, and someone is targeting her for the sins of her father. Hired to protect Savannah Carrington went against Toth’s better judgement but in the face of several rejections by the brothers he never knew, Toth accepted the assignment only to discover that not all was as it appeared to be. At every move, someone else countered Toth’s attempts to protect the woman with whom he would fall in love, and with the help of some unlikely sources, Toth would discover several betrayals at the heart of the vengeance. What ensues is the building relationship between Toth and Savannah, and the potential fall-out as ghosts from the past return to take aim at our story line heroine.

The world building follows several paths including Toth’s introduction to the family he never knew- four brothers, their spouses, and the growing family, all kept secret by the demons from the past. Meanwhile, someone has targeted our heroine, and from the outset, it appears it may be someone she knows.As Toth struggles to protect the woman he loves, secrets reveal a staggering number of lies hiding the heart break of loss and revenge.

The relationship between Savannah and Toth begins as an assignment ,one in which neither one is happy with the other. Toth believes he has crossed the line working for a Mafia boss, and Savannah wants nothing to do with her over protective father’s need to hire someone else. On the run, Savannah and Toth’s fall victim to a possible mole, someone on the inside tracking them down. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, dangerous and captivating secondary and supporting characters. Along with the return of Toth’s brothers and their spouses, we are introduced to Savannah’s brother Lach, and their father Danny Carrington, and Toth’s business partner Rami. The requisite evil has many faces.

UNBROKEN is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The fast paced, action packed premise is intriguing, entertaining and fascinating; the characters are desperate, determined, and forceful; the romance is seductive and provocative. The author has left open the potential for a new series, a spin-off focusing on the Backcountry Protection Services.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Bound
Traced
Unchained
Extracted
Marked

Own a copy

Reviewed by Sandy

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Rocked (Tin Gods Rock Star 1) by Gillian Archer-review

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Rocked (Tin Gods Rock Star 1) by Gillian Archer-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 12, 2023

What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas. Not when you marry a rock star.

Shay

Las Vegas was a terrible idea. Why can’t I say no to my family? After a night out with my awful cousin for her bachelorette party, I wake up naked in a strange bed surrounded by scrawled notebook pages. Turns out I’d married a rock star last night. How am I ever going to explain this to my religious parents?

Chase

I went to Vegas to get married, only she married someone else, so why shouldn’t I do the same? It’s the best way to stop public speculation about the marriage-that-wasn’t. But even better, something about Shay has flipped a switch inside me—suddenly I can write music again. Only my new little wifey isn’t thrilled about our marriage.

She says drunken mistake. I say best night ever. Of course I’m right. And I’ll use everything I’ve got to convince her.

•••••

REVIEW:ROCKED is the first instalment in Gillian Archer’s contemporary, adult TIN GODS ROCK STAR erotic, rock romance series focusing on the members of Tin Gods. This is thirty-five year old singer/writer Chase Robinson, and twenty-five year old, engineer Shay Campbell’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Shay and Chase) ROCKED follows in the aftermath of the Vegas wedding between our story line couple. Shay Campbell was in Vegas for her cousin’s bachelorette party but Shay wasn’t welcome, and found herself on the outside looking in. Chase Robinson was in Vegas to marry his long-time but questionable girlfriend but discovered she had married somebody else. Both struggle with what to do next, Chase proposed married to our story line heroine, and in the aftermath everything began to spiral out of control. From petulant bandmates to screeching family, Chase and Shay would have to face the truth but together they were stronger than apart. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Shay and Chase, and the potential fall-out as Chase’s old ways threaten to destroy the growing love with our story line heroine.

The world building focuses on the Tin Gods rock band: their fame and fortune, their groupies and fans, their desperation to be accepted by the public at large but Chase has found his happily ever after in Shay Campbell, only to realize that his own betrayal will rip them apart.Shay Campbell is an innocent, having grown up with an uber-religious step-father, a man who believes in a strict moral code. Naïve to the point of child-like awe, Shay struggles Chase’s lifestyle, language and the people he knows.

The relationship between Shay and Chase begins as a Vegas marriage, a marriage to a man Shay does not remember, a man who is about to rock her world. But betrayal will come at a cost, threatening any sense of happiness, and Chase will have to grovel in an effort to win back the woman he loves. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to the band: Jesse Mala, Noah, Xander, Manager Tyler Worthington, and security specialist Walker, as well as Chase’s sister Ella,his mother Lori, and Shay’s angry and quick to judge parents. Jesse’s story is next

ROCKED is a familiar story of power and control, betrayal and forgiveness, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is entertaining, captivating and endearing although the plotline resonates with a familiarity too easily dismissed; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are determined, dynamic and charismatic

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Broken Romeo (Shattered Hearts 1) by Katana Collins-review tour

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Broken Romeo (Shattered Hearts 1) by Katana Collins-review & excerpt tour

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

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Add Broken Romeo to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3W2mCBK

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 30, 2023

I was looking for a job, not a Romeo… because everyone knows how that story ends.

I’ve got three hundred bucks left in my bank account, two jobs, and one final chance to make it as an actress in New York City.

After years of being a chorus girl, I arrive at my first Broadway audition for a leading role thinking I finally have a shot at making it…until I come face to face with the director, Holden James—the rich quarterback from college who broke my heart and stabbed me in the back three years ago.

But I’m not the same girl I was in college. And unlike three years ago, I now know just what—and who—I’m dealing with. This time, I know how to play the game. In this cutthroat business, I need to remember the truest theatrical lesson of all:

For never was a story of more woe… than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

Fans of Glee, Smash!, Ilsa Madden-Mills, and Max Monroe are binging this captivating new series that will leave you breathless!

••••••

REVIEW: Katana Collins is a new to me author, and I have to admit, I’ll be going back to see what else she has.

Kate is a girl down on her luck, even with the two jobs she works, she’s down to her last three hundred dollars! But that doesn’t stop her wanting her dream of becoming an actress…. And when she gets a chance to attend an audition to be a leading lady, Kate jumps at the chance….But it’s not going to be easy, the director of the show is non other than Holden James!

These two have a past together. (And apparently there is a prequel to this duet, I’ve not read it, but I think I’m going to go back and read it) and there is a messy breakup that broke Kate’s heart!

Kate is a great character, she’s strong and independent, and won’t let Holden destroy her like he did last time. And I have to admit I wanted her to make him grovel (a lot ?). Holden will frustrate you, have you rolling your eyes and then want him winning back Kate, (there are things from their past that will surprise you, and have you backing Holden to win back Kate.)

It has all the emotions in this book, it has heartbreak, angst, banter and a bucket load of chemistry. Their past is a complicated one, and you do have to wonder if Holden will actually win Kate back!

Cliffhanger ending, so be warned! But I want to know what happens, so I’ve made a note of when the next book is due out!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

 

 

My shoulders go rigid. I have thirteen missed calls.Thirteen.

Most days, I get one or two calls tops… and they’re usually spam.

Not only do I have thirteen missed calls, but I have thirteen new voice messages. All from the same 516 area code.

I press play and hold the phone up to my ear.

Holden’s voice filters from the speaker. “Kate, it’s me. Look, we need to talk. I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone—”

She wasn’t exactly memorable back then. The echo of his voice roils my stomach, and I pull the phone away from my ear to look at the phone number he called from.

The same number as the other twelve messages—Holden’s number.

Holden called me thirteen times.

My breath catches. I haven’t known his number for years. I haven’t known how to reach him, despite the multiple pissed off speeches I’ve memorized through the years. Speeches I thought he’d never hear because I never had a way to contact him…

Until now.

The power of that makes my heart patter against my ribcage with the speed of a hummingbird’s wings.

It’s a power I shouldn’t be trusted with.

I delete the messages and shove my phone back deep into my pocket as Jill gives me a questioning glance. “Who was that?”

My throat tightens. She’s the one person I can’t lie to. “It was him.”

Her eyes go wide, filling with hope. “Maybe—”

“No,” I cut her off.

“You don’t even know what I was going to say!”

Curt finishes taking an order and scribbles some initials onto a cup, then thrusts it at me to make the iced matcha latte. I bend, retrieving the green powder from its container, and toss a scoop in the bottom of the cup.

“Fine,” I concede, uncapping the almond milk.

“What were you going to say?”

“Maybe he’s calling to offer you the part—”

“No,” I answer again, shoving the ice scoop into the bin.

“But how do you know?”

“I just do.” I dump the ice into the tea shaker, then push the lid on top. Giving it a good shake, I speak over the clatter. “If you’re being offered a role, the director isn’t the one who calls you. The casting director calls your agent. Then your agent calls you with the contracts that you comb through before there’s any formal acceptance.”

I hate the deflated look on Jill’s face. In some ways, she’s taking this even harder than I am.

Or I’m just that good at shutting off my emotions.

Which is the exact reason I didn’t get the part. Because Holden knows me too well. He knows I have trouble connecting, exposing my vulnerable side. Especially with him.

“The only reason Holden would call me himself is if I didn’t get the part, and he thinks this somehow makes him the hero to tell me in person.” I stare into the frothy light green beverage and snap the lid on top, avoiding Jill’s pitying stare.

A deep voice speaks up, resonating over the ambient noise of the coffee shop. “Maybe if you returned my calls, you’d know what the hell I wanted.”

My breath stalls halfway out of my lungs, and I snap my gaze up.

Holden.

 


 

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Katana Collins is a USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels, novellas, and comic books in a variety of genres. She is most known for her sensual contemporary romances and her wildly popular comic book— Batman White Knight Presents: Harley Quinn with DC Comics.

When she was younger and stole her mother’s Harlequins to read beneath the covers with a flashlight, she wanted to read about the tough as nails heroine. The perfectly imperfect girl with quirks and attitude and sass. And the anti-heroes who were anything but “Prince Charming.” Forget the knight on a white horse … she wanted the bad boy on a motorcycle.

An avid animal lover, she lives in Portland, Maine with her kind of mean cat, derpy lab-pitt mix, mellow chihuahua, and very not mellow cairn terrier puppy. Oh, yeah… there’s a husband somewhere in that mix, too.

She can usually be found in a coffee shop with her nose buried in a laptop wearing fabulous (albeit sometimes impractical) shoes.

She loves connecting with book lovers like herself, and fellow sassy storytellers, so feel free to drop her an email, visit her on her website. She also loves connecting on Instagram, Facebook or in her reader group, Kat’s Kittens! 

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