Monthly Archives: December 2024

The Highlander Burns for Vengeance by Julie Johnstone-review

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The Highlander Burns for Vengeance (Return of the Highlanders) by Julie Johnstone-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 30, 2024

Divided by treachery, bound by an edict, they must decide their to love or to hate.

After years of captivity, Graeme Stewart has returned home with a burning desire for vengeance, and it’s all directed at the Campbell clan. They attacked his home, killed his parents, and imprisoned him for eighteen long years. So when the king demands Graeme handfast with his enemy’s sister to end the warring of their clans, he intends to use her to get the revenge he yearns for. But Maisie’s courage and character surprise him at every turn, conjuring admiration and stirring desire. Now, with revenge within his grasp, he must make a choice before it’s too either cling to the malice that kept him alive or release it for the chance at love.

The vengeful and unreasonable Highlander intends to destroy her family, and Maisie Campbell is bound to him for a year and a day. She hates everything about Graeme, except the way he kisses, which is a force that nearly brings her to her knees. But lust does not a marriage make, and the man is hell-bent on proving her brother a traitor and herself treacherous, so she sets out to prove otherwise. Yet, as questions of her brother’s character arise in her own mind and Graeme displays an honorable, fiercely protective nature, Maisie faces a seek a truth that will doom the brother she adores or remain blindly loyal to those she’s always held dear and lose the man she has come to love with all her heart.

••••

REVIEW: Revenge/passion/deceit and loyalty all in one book? sign me up.

Graeme Stewart returns home after being held captive for many years! He’s seeking revenge against the ones who held him! But fate has a different plan…..

Being commanded by the King to marry (handfast) his bitter enemies sister to retain peace between his clan and the Campbell’s has Graeme firstly refusing, then realising he can access the clan through his bride, he can use to her get his revenge. Bitterly he agrees…..

Maisie has no option but to tie herself to the bully Graeme Stewart, thank goodness it’s not forever. It’s going to be a hellish year, but Maisie is a Scot of her word. But if he’s expecting a meek and mild woman, he’s surely mistaken.

Both are extremely hostile towards one another, distrust is easier to maintain than trust. Both are seeking the truth, but what happens when Graeme’s truth muddies Maisie’s? She’s sure her brother is a just and good man, he’s the leader of their clan. But doubts begin to creep in…..

I love this series. I’ve read the previous two books (but not necessary to enjoy this book.) The characters are brought to life with this author, as is her descriptions of the scenery and feelings these two have towards one another. I really like how fact and fiction are woven together to create something so compelling, that I didn’t stop reading until the last page was done.

This book’s full of intrigue and mystery, and a few twists. We see Graeme’s love for his nursemaid/nanny (she was captured with him) we learn of his distrust and immense dislike for the Campbell clan. And we begin to put pieces together of what really happened on the day Graeme was taken prisoner….

Maisie is a great character, she’s no wallflower, she knows her own mind and speaks it. But she’s only a woman, and they were used to broker deals, and form alliances.

Graeme is part of a clan that as children were separated to keep them safe. Their parents were murdered and the children were scattered to keep them safe. So technically Graeme doesn’t know his clan, it’s only what his beloved Eppie has told him through the years. But he’s loyal and he will have his revenge!

Other characters we see are added to the story, and there are a few you need to keep your eyes on 🤐

As time passes distrust turns to trust, and the characters begin to like one another, love isn’t far away, but how can they put aside their differences and doubts to be with one another? Can Graeme really trust a Campbell? And if Maisie finds out her clan had something to do with her husband’s imprisonment, can she turn her back on them?

Another fantastic story from this author. I’m not going to spoil the rest of the book.

But I think you’re going to love this book if you’re a fan of historical romance. If you like your book full of action and suspense then this one I highly recommend.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Secrets of a Highlander’s Heart
Tangled Up with the Highlander

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

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Author Julie Johnstone first fell in love with romance fifteen years ago when she picked up her first romance novel in an airport gift shop on the way to Conroe, Texas for a family reunion and spent her whole weekend reading rather than water skiing, which up until then was one of her favorite things to do.

Julie is staying up way too late and typing furiously on her keyboard to finish her next book or blog with her fellow authors at Ladyscribes. Julie is married to an amazing lawyer and when she is not running her two precocious children to one activity or another she is trying to seek out some time to stay in shape and see her dearest friends.

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VAMPIRE KING’S CONSORT by MJ Sweets-a review

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VAMPIRE KING’S CONSORT by MJ Sweets-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 17, 2024

With loved ones exiled to memory, the three species were left with strained relations and an ever-growing hatred. For over a century, Humans, Vampires, and Lycans remained isolated from one another. Only the occasional meeting of the three leaders brought any sort of interaction between the species. That was, until one night…

With the horrors of her past descending upon her, Livia finds herself face-to-face with the castle of the vampire king, Orion. Despite the king’s desire to rid his castle of this human intruder, something compels him to keep her close, no matter what. Unfortunately, whereas fate can bring two souls together, it can also force them apart, but a forbidden love will not be broken so easily.

••••••

REVIEW: VAMPIRE KING’S CONSORT is the first instalment in MJ Sweets’ adult, paranormal, fantasy series focusing on the three kingdoms- Humans, Vampires, and Lycan. This is vampire King Orion, and human Livia’s story line.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Orion and Livia) VAMPIRE KING’S CONSORT follows the building relationship between our story line couple as Livia struggles to survive as human in a world dominated by lycans and vampires. Livia lived most of her life within the lycan compound but was forced to run to save her own life. Tossed between the vampire kingdom and the human kingdom. On the run from the lycans who have targeted our story line heroine, Livia found herself the consort to the vampire king, the soulmate of a man who spent most of his time staving off war and the advancement of his enemies.

The relationship between Orion and Livia is one of fated mated. Livia is a human living in a world of the supernatural but a world in which she grew. Orion knows immediately that Livia is his soulmate but Orion takes his time claiming the woman with whom he will fall in love. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are numerous including vampires, lycans, humans, elves,fairies and pixies. From royalty (King Reon, , Crown Prince Cesteil, Prince William, King Darian) to merchants, security and specialities ( Caelestis the healer), and the mundane, everyone becomes suspect in the wake of the number of threats and attempts against our heroine’s life.

VAMPIRE KING’S CONSORT is a slow building story, with a few familiar plot-points similar to a now famous trilogy made into a four-part movie series. There is some redundancy; and some aspects that I have questioned including whether or not the worlds had experienced an industrial revolution; there is a mention of only one motor vehicle on the road, and a clock, yet everyone else rides horses, in carriages, carry swords and daggers etc. There is no worldly reference to any other automation or timeframe. The villages and towns have no names other then the kingdom of lycans, kingdom of vampires, yet the human kingdom where the Elves have now laid claim to land, were once filled with electronics and technology, yet no history is revealed as to the loss of available automation and machinery.

VAMPIRE KING’S CONSORT is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, racism and speciesism, acceptance and love. The premise is detailed and dramatic but did suffer with some issues; the romance struggles with time spent apart; the characters are determined and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Her Wicked Highwayman by Lauren Smith -a Review

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Her Wicked Highwayman by Lauren Smith -a Review

 

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Description:
Rafe Lennox:

Notorious highwayman…

Infamous rake…

Adopter of orphans…

If there’s one thing about Rafe Lennox that the women of London know…it’s that his heart cannot be tamed, except perhaps by the little Scottish orphan he has claimed as a daughter. That doesn’t stop every eligible woman in London from trying to convince the outrageous flirt to put a ring on their finger after they tumble into his bed.

But Rafe has never been tempted by love to marry, until he robs a coach one night and he steals a necklace from a brave and beautiful woman. Rafe wants nothing more than to seduce the young lady into his bed, but another highwayman is encroaching on his territory, robbing the rich before he can get to them, and until he can stop this his competitor he has no time to woo. When he discovers the other thief is a woman…the infamous rogue’s heart is stolen forever. 

Has the black sheep of the Lennox family finally met his match and perhaps his end?

 

 

Review 

Her Wicked Highwayman by Lauren Smith is the 19th book in her wonderful The League of Rogues series.

Notorious Highway man, rake and womaniser, Rafe Lennox is all that and more, but what most people don’t know is that he adopted a young girl and calls her “daughter”.  He’s sworn never to love or marry…..

But all that changes when he holds a coach up and meets Diana, young, brave and beautiful. He’s instantly smitten and has plans to woo this young creature. But there is a fly in the ointment! Another highwayman is also robbing stage coaches! Does he ignore this fact, or does he plan to uncover this new rival and set him up to take the fall in both his and this new highwayman’s misdeeds? 

What happens when he uncovers the mystery man’s identity and finds out it’s a woman?! (Sort of guessed that one almost immediately 😉) 

Diana is now mistress of the manor, but it’s failing fast! She needs an income before the creditors come and take it away from her. Marriage is an option, but Diana wants to marry for love and that doesn’t look like it, so another avenue needs to be found and fast! 

This one has been my favourite in the series so far. We’ve met Rafe throughout the series, and I was thrilled to finally read his story. And for a few questions to be finally answered. Their first meeting might have been by chance, but Rafe wants to know more, and will do anything to make that happen….

The main characters are really likeable. And i absolutely loved how they found one another. Both have sad pasts, and that is yet another connection between the characters. Additional characters (especially Rafe’s daughter Isla, who was absolutely adorable) are never added for filler sake. And catching up with his brother and sister was a nice surprise (Ashton “Wicked Rivals” book 4 in the series, and Joanna’s book “Never Kiss a Scot” is book 10) 

And the villain of our story? Well, you’ll need to read the book in order to find out. 

Heartwarming and sad at the same time, angst filled and with loads of adventure, (all the things I’ve come to expect and love about this author). You’ll be rooting for the highwayman and booing at the “supposedly” good guy 😉 

I’m hoping Rafe’s friends will get books soon 🤞

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommended this book and the whole series (which you can dip in and out of, no need to really read in order.) 

🦋 Julie 

 

 

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Avenging Angel / Back in The Saddle by Kristen Ashley-reviews

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Avenging Angel / Back in The Saddle (Avenging Angels 1 & 2) by Kristen Ashley-reviews

AVENGING ANGEL
Avenging Angels #1
by Kristen Ashley
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

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Release Date: April 2, 2024

Rachel Armstrong has a burning need to right the world’s wrongs. Thus, she becomes the Avenging Angel.

And maybe she’s a bit too cocky about it.

While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien “Cap” Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he’s a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch.

It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye’s the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap.

As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world.

But there’s a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they’ve become very interested.

Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren’t taking it seriously.

Raye believes someone should.

So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue.

••••••

REVIEW:AVENGING ANGEL is the first instalment in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary, adult AVENGING ANGEL erotic, romantic suspense series. This is former US army solider turned PI Julien ‘Cap’ Jackson, and bartender Rachel ‘Raye’ Armstrong’s story line. The AVENGING ANGEL series is a companion to the author’s ROCK CHICK series. Several characters cross over for cohesion and familiarity.

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

SOME BACKGROUND: There is a small group of enterprising women who call themselves the Avenging Angels. With the help of a mentor, as well as Nightingale Investigations and Security, these wormen go in search of those unable to help themselves including the missing, the abused and the lost.

Told from first person perspective (Raye) AVENGING ANGEL follows in the aftermath of the search and rescue of a missing child. Along with her best friend Luna, Rachel ‘Raye’ Armstrong works part time search for missing people and children. Her latest assignment finds our heroine face to face with PI Julien ‘Cap’ Jackson, and several members of Nightingale Investigations and Security, searching for the same missing child. Pulled towards our story line heroine, Cap Jackson begins an investigation of his own, only to discover there is more to Rachel Armstrong then he could have ever imagined. Several ‘working’ women are missing in the Phoenix area; NIghtingale Investigations is on the hunt, Raye must come to terms with her past; and a number of familiar faces take time to assist in the search for the missing women.

The world building is detailed as our couple reveal their own heart breaking pasts. Raye has felt shunned since a devastating loss that destroyed her family; Julien Jackson’s chosen family including his ‘mama’ Shirleen (Rock Chick Reborn), open up to Luna and Raye, and in doing so, forge an alliance, a friendship and family based on respect and love.

The relationship between Cap and Raye begins acrimoniously but quickly turns into something more. Cap will come guardian and protector of the woman with whom he is falling in love, a woman who can be a little TSTL, but often in the face of finding the missing women, and in defiance of being told what to do. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar, colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters , many of whom we met in the original Rock Chick series. We are introduced to Luna Nelson, and her sisters Dream; Luna’s parents Charlie and Deb Armstrong; the tight knit group of tenants of Raye’s apartment complex, as well as the security team at Nightingale Investigations, and the women of the Avenging Angles.

AVENGING ANGEL is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, madness and vengeance, determination and obsession, family and friendships, relationships and love. The slow building premise is dramatic and gritty; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are desperate, determined and dynamic

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________

BACK IN THE SADDLE
Avenging Angel #2
by Kristen Ashley
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 3, 2024

Jessie Wylde is on a secret mission. She’s trying to find her brother. She hasn’t told her friends; this is about family.

She doesn’t think it’s dangerous.

Eric Turner disagrees.

Eric is a member of the Nightingale Investigations and Security team. Therefore, Eric knows what he’s talking about.

Eric isn’t only badass, he’s also a seriously gorgeous guy, and Jessie has a huge crush on him. She doesn’t think he knows she exists…until now.

Eric steps in, and so do Jessie’s besties, the Avenging Angels. Soon, the Angels and the Hottie Squad are on the case to find Jessie’s missing sibling.

There’s more happening when it comes to Eric, though. Jessie’s so worried about her brother, she’s not paying attention. Eric sets about changing that, and just like all the Hot Bunch before him, when he finds his one, he doesn’t mess around.

However, something is afoot in Phoenix. And as the Angels uncover the sinister workings behind people going missing, and Eric and Jessie unpack their emotional baggage, the Angels dive deeper into the dark underbelly of the city…

Finding heroes, more hot guys, lots of hijinks…and heart.

••••••

REVIEW: BACK IN THE SADDLE is the second instalment in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary, adult AVENGING ANGELS erotic, romantic suspense series, a spin off, set in the author’s ROCK CHICK worlds. This is forty-three year old, former FBI agent and member of the Nightingale Investigations and Security team Eric Turner, and Avenging Angel Jessie Wylde’s story line. BACK IN THE SADDLE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

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

SOME BACKGROUND: There is a small group of enterprising women who call themselves the Avenging Angels. With the help of a mentor named Arthur, as well as Nightingale Investigations and Security (Rock Chick #1), the women go in search of those unable to help themselves including the missing, the abused and the lost.

Told from first person perspective (Jessie) BACK IN THE SADDLE picks up a few months after the events of book one AVENGING ANGELS, and follows Jessie Wylde as she goes in search of her missing brother, a young man who struggles with mental illness. Stalking the homeless encampments at night, Jessie battles between head and heart knowing that if her brother is found, he may not be the brother she remembers. Enter former FBI agent Eric Turner, a member of the Nightingale Investigations, and the man with whom Jessie will fall in love. The search for Jessie’s brother Jeff reveals a continuing list of missing people, people who may have fallen victim to drug dealers and abusers, as well as a crew of well-intentioned vigilantes who may or may not be giving Nightingale Investigations a run for their money.

The world building follows several intersecting pathways including the search for missing and vulnerable people:the ill, the addicted, the abused and the lost. As Jessie and Eric’s relationship quickly builds into something more, the Angels and Nightingale Investigations will team together to help those unable to help themselves.

The relationship between Jessie and Eric is one of immediate attraction. For Eric is appears to be a relationship predicated upon insta-lust to love; for Jessie, our heroine is falling for a man who is determined to protect the woman he loves, even from herself. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, familiar and energetic secondary and supporting characters including the return of bar owner Tito, Luna Nelson, and her sister Dream; Angel Harlow, Nightingale Security specialists and Rock Chick husbands/ mates: Mace ,Roam, Liam, Knox, Gabe and Brady, as well as Cap and Raye; Moses and Shirleen; Jessica’s brother Jeff Wylde aka Easy: Javiar Montoya aka Mountain; Homer aka The General; Eric’s ex girlfriend Savannah; Titus, and Chief Alvarez. The camaraderie, and the back and forth between characters is frenetic and fast.

BACK IN THE SADDLE is a story of mental illness and struggle, secrets and lies, obsession and determination, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is detailed, dramatic and captivating; the romance is seductive and impassioned; the characters are determined, dynamic and desperate.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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I Do With You (Maple Creek 1) by Lauren Landish-review

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I Do With You (Maple Creek 1) by Lauren Landish-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 12, 2024

Hope Barlowe is a vow away from a lakeside wedding to her high school sweetheart. Next, check off her follow-up two kids, a dog, a home, and a happy ever after. But suddenly, ever after seems like a very long time. Instead of saying I do, Hope thinks I can’t and bolts for the woods—right into the unpredictable life of a handsome tattooed hiker.

Days into a three-week getaway, struggling musician Ben Taylor is in search of inspiration. He never thought he’d find a bride stumbling through the bramble. Right away her sweet baby blues, confounding dilemma, and spirited independence strike a chord. Ben has found his muse, and he’s falling fast. Hope is finding something just as important—herself.

Soon enough Hope and Ben have all of Maple Creek talking—and divided. Where do they go from here? If Hope has learned anything, it’s that happiness is more than a checklist, and dreams can change in a heartbeat.

••••

REVIEW:I DO WITH YOU is the first instalment in Lauren Landish’s contemporary, adult MAPLE CREEK erotic, romance series. This is Dental hygienist Hope Barlowe, and musician Ben Taylor’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Hope and Ben) I DO WITH YOU follows in the wake of the wedding that never was. Hope Barlowe was struggling in the weeks before saying her ‘I do’s’ but never expected to turn around at the altar, running into the woods beside the lake. Enter Ben Taylor, a struggling musician, hoping to find his muse, a man with secrets that will threaten his future with our story line heroine. Staying clear of her ex-fiance means having to face the people of Maple Creek, a town of busybodies and law enforcement all connected to the man Hope pushed away. As Ben and Hope begin a dance around one another, someone else is about to destroy the small bit of happiness for our story line couple.

The world building focuses on the building romance as Hope battles with the townsfolk of Maple Creek but Hope has supporters, many of whom believe she should have walked away years before. Ben Taylor has a secret, a secret he is not allowed to reveal, a secret that is about to push Hope out of his life.

The relationship between Ben and Hope is one of immediate attraction but meeting Hope within minutes of her disappearance from the lakeside wedding means Ben will become the focus of those struggling with what happened and why. Falling for Hope was easy but breaking her heart was not what he wanted to do. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters including Hope’s extended family: sister Joy, brother Shephard, and their parents; Hope’s ex fiancé Roy Laurier, and Ben’s childhood friend Sean.

I DO WITH YOU is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and jealousy, family and friendships, relationships and love The premise is inviting and imaginative; the characters are quirky and animated; the romance is sensitive and seductive.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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AGENT VS ASSASSIN (Lilah Love 10) by LR Jones -review

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AGENT VS ASSASSIN (Lilah Love 10) by LR Jones-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 27, 2024

Lilah’s enemies love to taunt her. For some reason, they don’t seem to understand how much such things amuse her.

For the first time, she faces an opponent just as cold, and highly calculated.

Lilah. Ghost. A battle between killers.

•••

REVIEW: AGENT VS ASSASSIN is the tenth instalment in LR Jones aka Lisa Renee Jones’s contemporary, adult LILAH LOVE romantic, suspense series focusing on foul-mouthed, aggressive, contentious and prickly FBI agent Lilah Love-Mendez, and her husband, businessman /Cartel heir Kane Mendez. AGENT VS ASSASSIN should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book nine THE GHOST ASSASSIN. If you have not read the previous instalments, there may be spoilers in my review.

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

SOME BACKGROUND: Throughout the series, Lilah Love has been looking into an organization known as The Society, a powerful group that controls many of the politicians, law enforcement personnel, and the rich and famous, and it is this group that may or may not be targeting the people at the top, one of which is her estranged father, a man running for Governor, a man with connections to the people in control.

Told from first person perspective (Lilah) AGENT VS ASSASSIN picks up shortly after the events of THE GHOST ASSASSIN. Lilah has been struggling with the memories from her past, yet the assassin known as Ghost has offered to take down the ghosts that continue to haunt her dreams but there is more than one assassin on the horizon, and Lilah may be the target of both. With her father running for governor, and her brother working alongside, Lilah begins to focus on the who, how and why, as another high profile murder grabs the attention of FBI agent Lilah Love-Mendez.

The world building continues to follow Lilah as she battles the incompetent yet determined law enforcement, and her team of rag tag specialists with the ability to uncover other people’s secrets and lies. As Kane must come to terms with the reappearance of a man long thought dead, Lilah will come face to face an interesting foe.

There is another large ensemble of secondary and supporting characters including Lilah’s bodyguard Jay, Kane’s bodyguard Kit; Lilah’s brother Andrew; hacker Lucas Davenport; and Lilah’s IT guru Jeff ‘TicTac’ Landers, most of whom are the hunter/gatherers of Lilah’s investigations. We are introduced to an assassin who goes by Ghost, who is always one step ahead of our story line heroine; and the return of someone long thought buried and gone, a return that barely merits a few paragraphs of text.

AGENT VS ASSASSIN is a story of power and control, betrayal and obsession, dysfunctional family dynamics, relationships and love. The premise is detailed and dramatic yet barely advances the story line but a couple of days; the characters are charismatic yet guarded. AGENT VS ASSASSIN ends on a cliff hanger, you have been warned.

READING ORDER and Previous Reviews
Murder Notes
Murder Girl
Love Me Dead
Love Kills
Bloody Vows
Bloody Love
Happy Death Day
The Party is Over
The Ghost Assassin

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Haven’t read book one MURDER NOTES? It’s currently FREE

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Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series.

In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is also the author of the bestselling the bestselling DIRTY MONEY and WHITE LIES series. And will be publishing the first book in her Lilah Love suspense series with Amazon Publishing in March 2018.

Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.

 

 

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LORD APPLEBY’S GORGEOUS IMPOSTER by Cerise Deland-review

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LORD APPLEBY’S GORGEOUS IMPOSTER (Scarlett Affairs 3) by Cerise Deland-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 27,2024

He’s the last man Viv wants to see.
Vivienne de Massé goes to Paris impersonating her oldest sister, the infamous Drury Lane actress, Charmaine Massey. Viv has a reason…and a plan to avenge the capture and death of their other sister during the Terror. Only one man can stop her.

Tate Cantrell is the only man who sees right through her.
Tate Cantrell bursts into her dressing room one night in Paris and calls Viv’s bluff. He reminds Viv she plays a role—and a dangerous game she cannot win alone.

He declares she needs him. She always has. Indeed, he’s spent the last decade helping the émigré Massé family—and falling in love with charming Viv. Now the Earl of Appleby, Tate works as a spy for Scarlett Hawthorne’s network on the Continent. He alone has the means and the connections to help her….if she’ll let him.

Haunted by their past, they’re desperate to save their future together… If they can survive those who would destroy them.

•••••

REVIEW:Book three in this series. I’ve read and loved the previous books. There is a connection (the men this the last two books are known by Tate.) But it doesn’t mean you have to read them in order.

This book takes place at the end of the French Revolution, but at the beginning of Napoleon’s renewed war on Britain! It’s dangerous time being in France, families lose lives and loved ones in this period.

The prologue was gripping, this was set just a little earlier (in the French Revolution period!)

Tate has known this family for a long time, he helped Vivienne’s family escape, and took them to his home in England. With Vivienne he definitely wore his heart on his sleeve, and was absolutely terrified and scared that something would happen to her, so he takes it upon himself to find and bring her back!

Vivienne was born in France, but fled to England to escape the terror. Now she’s back to get her revenge! Vivienne, I felt was really tenacious in her search for the truth of that horrible night. And I admired her spirit and courage when she decides to return to France and find her sister.

This book was well written and really well researched, it has a few discrepancies (but that’s the authors take on it and has to write a few things differently.)

Both Tate and Vivienne have feelings for one another, but circumstances have kept them apart. But now he’s got her in his sights, there is nothing stopping him from claiming her, well, except for her! She is consumed with finding justice for her sister.

It’s a fast paced adventure, with lots of intrigue and suspense.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Lord Ashley’s Beautiful Alibi
Lord Ramsay’s Redheaded Ruin

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie 🦋

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DEVIL’S THIRST (Moretti Men 1) by Jill Ramsower -review tour

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DEVIL’S THIRST (Moretti Men 1) by Jill Ramsower -review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 27, 2024

A new neighbor with a secret identity and a deadly obsession…

Amelie

I knew I shouldn’t have asked him for a ride.

My new neighbor is a study in contradictions—covered in tattoos and dripping intensity.
He’s alluring yet aloof, and his every calculated move is dangerously seductive.

Little did I know, he’s been systematically inserting himself into every part of my life.
Creeping beneath my protective armor.
Trapping me like a fly in his web before revealing his true identity.

Now, he’s standing before our families calling me his future wife.

He doesn’t understand that my life isn’t that simple.
I have secrets of my own, and his obsession with claiming me might just get me killed.

••••••

REVIEW: DEVIL’S THIRST is the first instalment in Jill Ramsower’s contemporary adult MORETTI MEN dark, erotic, Mafia romance series, a spin off, set in the author’s Byrne Brothers and Five Families worlds. This is Sante Mancini and Amelie Brooks’ story line. Sante was first introduced in Silent Vows (Byrne Brothers 1).

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Amelie and Sante) DEVIL’S THIRST focuses on the building relationship between our story line couple. Several years earlier Amelie’s life spiralled out of control, with memory loss and the ultimate betrayal. Fast forward to present day Amelie is a prima ballerina but a ballerina with a stalker. Enter Amelie’s new neighbor Sante “Isaac’ Mancini, Amelie’s new protector but a man who knows more about Amelie than she could have ever imagined. Sante is determined to claims Amelie as his own but Amelie’s past refuses to let go, targeting our heroine at every opportunity.

The world building follows several paths including Sante’s return to New York, in the wake of his estrangement from his extended family but Sante’s return is predicated upon his need for a woman he met years before, a woman who is hoping to forget the past.

The relationship between Sante and Amelie is one of second chances, of a sorts. Amelie is determined to prove she is worthy of the principle role at the National Ballet Theatre but someone is stalking our heroine, pushing Amelie into the arms of our story line hero. Sante Mancini is a bit of a black sheep in his family but reconnecting with his sister Noemi gives Sante hopes for a new beginning. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, familiar and charismatic secondary and supporting characters including Connor and Noemi (Silent Vows 1), Oran and Lina (Vicious Seduction 4), Renzo and Shae (Craving Chaos 5), and Sante’s cousin Tommy aka Tommaso Donati. The requisite evil is a familiar face. Tommaso’s story is next.

DEVIL’S THIRSTS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is dark, dramatic and detailed; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate, determined, broken but struggling to move on.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she’s a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.

With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.

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