A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristan Higgins – a Review

A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristan Higgins – a Review

 

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Description:
A kid walks into your bookstore and… Guess what? He’s your son. The one you put up for adoption eighteen years ago. The one you never told anyone about. Surprise!
 
And a huge surprise it is.
 
It’s a huge surprise to his adoptive mother, Monica, who thought she had a close relationship with Matthew, her nearly adult son. But apparently, he felt the need to secretly arrange a vacation to Cape Cod for the summer so he could meet his birth mother…without a word to either her or his dad.
 
It’s also a surprise— to say the least—to Harlow, the woman who secretly placed her baby for adoption so many years ago. She’s spent the years since then building a quiet life. She runs a bookstore with her grandfather, hangs out with her four younger siblings and is more or less happily single, though she can’t help gravitating toward Grady Byrne, her old friend from high school. He’s moved back to town, three-year-old daughter in tow, no wife in the picture. But she’s always figured her life had to be child-free, so that complicates things.
 
When Matthew walks into Harlow’s store, she faints. Monica panics. And all their assumptions—about what being a parent really means—explode. This summer will be full of more surprises as both their families are redefined…and as both women learn that for them, there’s no limit to a mother’s love.

 

 

Review:

A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristan Higgins is another one of her wonderful stand-alone novels. Harlow runs a bookstore in her home town of Cape Cod, close to all her family.  She is 35 years old, happily enjoying her quiet life, with friends and siblings; she does have a secret that only her bff knew about.  When she was 17 years old, a freshman in college, she was pregnant and secretly found a family who she thought would be the perfect couple to adopt. She never told anyone in her family.   Now 18 years later, when she sees a familiar face (the father who adopted her son) walk into the book store, with the boy she gave up (who is the spitting image of her younger brother). Harlow panics and faints, her life is about to change.

Monica, the adoptive mother, panics when she hears that her son, Matthew, manipulated them when planning a vacation in Cape Cod.  She always had a close relationship with Matthew, and was shocked when her husband told her Matthew walked into the book store to meet his birth mother. Sanjay (the husband) and Matthew had gone ahead to Cape Cod, with Monica and her daughter following a couple of weeks later; but with this news, Monica makes plans to leave immediately.

Harlow is happy to see her son, who hugs her and is close to his 18th birthday; Matthew wants to know more about his birth mother and her family.  Once she gets over the shock, Harlow knows she needs to face her family and tell them the truth; her bff Rosie flies to Cape Cod to be there for Harlow.  All hell breaks loose, as Harlow’s parents are upset, she never told them, as well as her siblings who were shocked.  Harlow will bring Matthew to visit her family, and shortly after, bring Monica, Sanjay and Meena (sister) to meet everyone.  Harlow is thrilled to spend time with her son, but Monica tries to be supportive, though she is concerned and apprehensive. Matthew is loving spending time with Harlow’s family, especially the brother Robbie.

What follows is an emotional and informative story showing both sides of adoption, with perspectives of the birth mother, the adopted mother and family. I loved how Harlow reacted so beautifully to Matthew, and his determination to learn everything about her and her family.  We also get to see Monica reactions to Matthew’s behavior and her fears. I also loved seeing all of Harlow’s family, how they opened their hearts to Matthew, as well and Monica, Sanjay and Meena. The secondary characters were very good, including Rosie, Harlow’s grandfather, Robbie were great.

Harlow slowly begins to have feelings for Grady Byrne, old friend from school, having moved back to Cape Cod, who is divorced and has a three-year-old daughter. Will she be able to become serious with Grady, being used to a child-free life? So say too much more wouldn’t be fair, as you really need to read this book from start to finish.  It is that good, as well as very emotional.

A Little Ray of Sunshine was a wonderful, heartwarming and emotional story, that was so very well written by Kristan Higgins. This story also gives you a look at the complex lives of family, adoption, life changing, healing and a few surprises.  I wholly suggest you read this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding- a Review

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding- a Review

 

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Description:
In this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen’s Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan’s modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don’t have to look any further than your own backyard.

Beautiful, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighborhood with very little to distress or vex her…that is, until her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister’s marriage—and subsequent move downtown. Now, with her sister gone and all her friends traveling abroad, Emma must start her final year of grad school grappling with an entirely new emotion: boredom. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio transplant with a heart of gold and drugstore blonde highlights to match, Emma not only sees a potential new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley would get out of her way.

Handsome, smart, and successful, the only thing that frustrates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. Whether it’s her shopping sprees between classes or her revolving door of ill-conceived hobbies, he is only too happy to lecture her on all the finer points of adulthood she’s so hell-bent on ignoring. But despite his gripes—and much to his own chagrin—Knightley can’t help but notice that the girl next door is a woman now…one who he suddenly can’t get out of his head.

As Emma’s best laid plans collide with everyone from hipster baristas to meddling family members to flaky playboy millionaires, these two friends slowly realize their need to always be right has been usurped by a new need entirely, and it’s not long before they discover that even the most familiar stories still have some surprises.

 

 

Review:

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her elite Upper East Side wealthy neighborhood, and is soon to graduate with honors from NYU.  She is determined to get her dream job on her own, without her father’s interference; Emma is very likeable, with a heart of gold, but she is also a bit spoiled.  With her sister now married, and friends aboard, she meets a new friend at school, Nadine.  Emma begins her new project in making over Nadine, convincing her to dump the boyfriend, and bringing her to the many balls/concerts, teaching her how to act and look.

George Knightley (Knightley) has been Emma’s best friend since childhood, but he is constantly giving her criticism, telling her she interferes in other people’s lives; he continually tells her she needs to grow up. Though Emma gets angry at him, they still remain as best friends, spending lot of time together, and Knightley always attending the Woodhouse Sunday family dinner.  

Emma’s sister, Margo, pushes her to date wealthy entrepreneur Montgomery Knox.  When she finally does meet Montgomery, he is attracted to her, but Emma knows he is not the one for her.  She realizes despite his being annoying at times, Emma knows she has feelings for Knightley.  Knightley begins to see Emma in a different light, knowing she is no longer his childhood friend, but a woman who he has strong feelings for; he refuses to approach Emma about his feelings.  Will Knightley come forward and tell Emma he loves her?  Will they only be best friends?

Emma of 83rd Street is an enemy to friends to lovers’ story, a retelling that takes place in Manhattan in modern times. Emma was sweet and charming, though a bit overboard at times.  I did like her friendship with Nadine, who turned out to be a good friend.  There were some very good secondary characters, that added to the fun.  Emma of 83rd Street was very well written by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding.  If you are a fan of Jane Austen’s books, you should be reading this book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Identity by Nora Roberts – a Review

Identity by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

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Description:
A new thriller about one man’s ice-cold malice, and one woman’s fight to reclaim her life.

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan’s job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who’d been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. “Luke” is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn’t his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan’s nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother’s home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn’t flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn’t forgotten the one who got away.

 

 

 

Review:

Identity by Nora Roberts is a standalone romance suspense thriller.  I love all of Nora Roberts books, being a big fan of her In Death/Eve Dallas series, as well as her wonderful trilogies; I thought Identity was one of the best romance suspense thrillers I have read, which kept me glued to my kindle from start to finish. 

Morgan Albright, our heroine, lives in Baltimore, working two jobs; hoping to save enough money to open her own place.  Nina is her roommate, who is like a sister to Morgan, helping share expenses of the mortgage payments.  At night, Morgan is a bartender, making fantastic drinks, and always friendly; one night she meets a charming man, who is in town for a short time.  After a few visits to the bar, Morgan invites him to a dinner with her friend Nina and her boyfriend. A couple of days later, when Nina is home sick, Morgan comes home to see her back doors smashed, her cash, jewelry and car missing and Nina dead in her office.

Morgan learns from the FBI that the man whom she just met, was a serial con artist and a murderer.  His real name is Gavin, and he targets women (similar to Morgan’s looks), steals their assets and identity, and ends up killing them.  She lost everything, and when the FBI agent explains that she was the real target, she decides to leave Baltimore and return home to Vermont, to try and restart her life.  The agent does warn her that since she is the first person who ever survived, Gavin may still have thoughts of finding her again, being the ‘the one that got away’.

When Morgan moves home to Vermont to live with her grandmother and mother, she is happy to be with them; though she still has nightmares thinking about Nina.  Soon, Morgan happily gets a new job, in a popular resort, with her taking over as the nightly bartender/manager in the fancy Apres Bar of the resort.  She gets to know the entire Jameson family, who run the resort; and they all know about what happened to her in Baltimore.  The resort has a top-notch security system, and they implement plans to make sure who does not leave at night without a guard.  In a short time, Miles Jameson stops by each night, and makes sure she is safe, which leads into a slow burn romance. 

I loved Morgan, who was a fantastic heroine, as well as very loyal and loving with her mother and grandmother; she was also a terrific bartender, with many different concoctions. Miles was a bit gruff early on, but in a short time, he began to have feelings for Morgan, as she did for him.  I adored Howl, the dog, who fell in love with Morgan.  The Jameson family were all amazing people, and they were all so wonderful; I enjoyed their family meetings.  I did get a kick out of Jen, the fitness instructor, who trained Morgan how to defend herself; something that would come handy later on.

Gavin, the evil thief/murderer, had a few POV’s as we saw him constantly find victims and kill them.  He still had Morgan as his target for one day in the future.  This escalated as we get closer to the last ¼ of the book, which was very intense and suspenseful.  I will not say more, as you really need to read this book from start to finish.  Identity was a fantastic read, with a bit of romance, family, love, and suspense.  Identity was so very well written by Nora Roberts.  This is a do not miss.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major – a Review

The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major – a Review

 

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Description:
They have nothing in common—except a need to start over…

The drawback to having a picture-perfect life is that there’s nowhere to go but down—and Annalise Haverford is falling fast. Once, she was the self-proclaimed queen bee of Magnolia, North Carolina. Now her husband has been arrested for fraud, and she’s become an outcast in the shallow circles she used to rule. There’s only one affordable rental in town, and it’s owned by the woman Annalise got fired from a lucrative job.

Much as single mother Shauna Myer would like to refuse Annalise, who treated her like dirt on the bottom of her red-soled shoe, she needs that rent money. But when Shauna’s first love arrives in town, unraveling secrets she’d hoped to keep, Annalise becomes her unlikely defender. Meghan Banks, an elementary school art teacher whose quiet existence suddenly descends into chaos, is thrown an unexpected lifeline by Annalise, too.

As spring ripens into a sultry summer, the three spur each other on to share their fears and dreams, face new challenges, and seize second chances. Because no matter how turbulent life may be, it’s much easier to navigate those choppy waters when you’re buoyed by true friendship…­ 

 

Review:

The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major is the 5th book in her wonderful Carolina Girls series. I have become a big fan of Michelle Major, having enjoyed her Magnolia Sisters, and now her Carolina Girls series. The Front Porch Club continues to take place in Magnolia, North Carolina; continuing the trend with a wonderful sweet story, with three fantastic ladies who formed a marvelous friendship. The three ladies were very different and unlikely to be friends, but over time their bond grew very strong. Let us meet our wonderful three ladies.

Annalise Haverford, spent years at the top of Magnolia’s society, but when her husband landed in jail due to fraud, with many people losing their money, Annalise is now an outcast in the circles she was a large part of.  She is divorced with two children, and is financially in bad shape.  She rents an affordable apartment from a woman who she treated badly.  Annalise manages to get a job as a housekeeper, and she begins to see how badly she treated those in lower class. 

Shauna Myer is a single mother of 5-year-old twins, who have never met their father. Shauna, who owns the building, agrees to rent to Annalise, whom she did not like, but she needed the rent payments.  Being a sweet person, she goes out of her way to treat Annalise nicely, introducing her two sons to Annalise’s daughter and son. Shauna also begins to see Annalise trying to change the way she was, and in a short time, the start of a friendship begins.

Meghan Banks, is other new tenant, who is an elementary school art teacher, having recently been told that she will lose her job at the end of the school year, due to budget cuts.  At first Meghan, steers clear of the other two ladies, but in a short time, she will join Annalise and Shauna in helping each other pick up the pieces of their lives. 

Annalise comes up with an idea to do a Fundraiser, to not only help get more funds for Meghan to keep her job, but also add more funds to the school.  I really loved the friendship that the trio built over time, overcoming many issues along the way, but always there for each other; as the bond of sisterhood formed.  I enjoyed seeing the ladies find their possible love interest.   Annalise, while working as a housekeeper finds her love in Jack, who manages the farm, owned by a famous singer, who now lives there.  Shauna is shocked that Flynn who abandoned her more than 5 years ago, returns and realizes her two sons are his; he is determined to win her back. Meghan finds herself falling hard for the singer, Walker, but with his career on hold, is their any hope for her to win him over?

What follows is a wonderful heartwarming romantic story with all three unlikely friends that slowly become a sisterhood, with each of them helping each other to find second chances and upcoming challenges.   I enjoyed returning to Magnolia and meeting a new group of friends, and secondary characters.   The Front Porch Club was written so very well by Michelle Major, with three great friends, hot men, and so many wonderful secondary characters.  The Front Porch Club was a very entertaining read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

Her Dark Grave by Carolyn Arnold – a Review

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

Review:

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

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

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

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

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 

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Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay – Review & Giveaway

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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

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

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

 

 

Review:

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

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

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

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

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

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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

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The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa – a Review

The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa – a Review

 

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Description:
After leaping through the portal to Evenfall, Meghan and her companions find themselves in a terrifying new world where Nightmares roam and glamour is nearly nonexistent. As their magic wanes and the creatures of Evenfall rise against them, the race to find the Nightmare King grows ever more desperate. But what they discover–about Evenfall, about the Nightmare King, about themselves–will shake everything they thought they knew to the core.

The Nightmare King stirs. A world hangs in the balance. And as twilight descends upon all the realms of Faery, Meghan and her allies must make one more impossible choice.

 

 

 

Review:

The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa is the 3rd and final book in her fantastic The Iron Fey: Evenfall trilogy. I loved that Kagawa started this book with a summary of the previous books in this trilogy, giving us a chance to remember everything.  I loved this series, as Julie Kagawa has been added to my list of authors I must read.

Meghan and her group are now in Evenfall, a dangerous world filled with darkness, nightmares, creatures, and their determination to find the Nightmare King.   With their magic slowly depleting, the danger escalates, as they are willing to risk everything to save the people of Evenfall, as well as Faery. It was great to see all of them (Meghan, Ash, Puck, Grim, Kieran and Nyx) again. Along the way, they face such terrifying attacks and though they survive, the battles have left them all bruised and beaten, with very little glamour left. With Evenfall slowly fading, Meghan is determined to find a way to break the curse done many years ago by the First Lady, and allow them to live again.  Can they stop The Nightmare King from destroying all of Nevernever and Faery.

What follows is a fantastic, exciting, wild, action-packed dangerous adventure that brings everyone (including the courts) together to fight the evil entity that threatens the end of the world. Even with the ultra-powerful group, Meghan, Ash, Puck, Grim, Nyx, Keirran, as well as Evenfall soldiers who join them, the battles are brutal, horrific and dynamic. I do not want to give spoilers, as you need to read this book from start to finish.  Fabulous finale. 

The Iron Vow was a fascinating conclusion to this trilogy, and I loved all of the wonderful characters Kagawa created, such as Meghan, Puck, Ash, Grimalkin, and so many others.  The Iron Vow was so well written by Julie Kagawa, with wonderful characters, fun humor, and a wild exciting, tense, action filled story.  The amazing ending had a number of surprises, including the courts who needed to help to save the world. Thank you, Julie Kagawa for giving us such a fascinating series and conclusion.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Loving the Wolf by Paige Tyler – a Review

Loving the Wolf by Paige Tyler – a Review

 

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Description:
When you find your fated mate, don’t let go, no matter what… The problem with Jenna Malone is that she’s SWAT werewolf Trevor McCall’s best buddy’s sister. Trevor suspects she’s The One, but how the heck can he make a move? When Jenna invites Trevor to visit her in Los Angeles, he figures he can withstand the temptation. But what’s hiding in LA is much more dangerous and complicated than any of the SWAT team could have guessed, and Jenna’s right in the middle of it…

 

 

Review:

Loving the Wolf by Paige Tyler is the 14th book in her fantastic SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team series. I have been a big fan of Paige Tyler’s books, as she always gives us wonderful, paranormal romance suspense stories, that are exciting, pulse pounding action filled, as well as great couples and hot alpha men (werewolves) that are part of the SWAT team.

Jenna Malone, our heroine, has returned home from visiting her brother, Connor (last book hero); and after trying to convince him that he needs to help find their missing sister, Hannah (kidnapped 10 years ago). Connor has always thought Jenna was hallucinating, with her seeing Hannah being taken by a creature, and she angrily leaves to go back to LA.

While in Dallas, she met Trevor McCall, another member of the SWAT team, and they spent time together, enjoying their company. Jenna invites Trevor to visit her in LA, and he makes plans to take a vacation, as he begins to feel she is the ‘One’.
Jenna takes Trevor around LA, and while sightseeing, they hear a scream, with both running to help save the woman being dragged by a creature. Trevor has never seen this type of creature, but manages to save the woman. He later learns from Jenna that the creature is the one who kidnapped Hannah all those years ago. Trevor calls Hale to get some backups to help discover about the creatures, and to tell Gage, not to bring Connor. That didn’t work out, as Hale, Mike and Connor are send to help. Connor is upset, as he is angry that Trevor is around his sister; despite Jenna saying Trevor is staying at her place.

Throughout, there were fights between Trevor and Connor (he was really annoying), but Trevor knew Jenna was his soulmate.
The mystery behind Hannah’s disappearance, was an enthralling non-stop action filled adventure. The SWAT members go underground to battle the creatures (Ghouls), and try to rescue the people kidnapped, as well as find Hannah. When Hannah is seen, Connor realizes the error of his ways, knowing Jenna was right, and he did nothing to try and find Hannah. The team will work with Hannah to help rescue others, as she worked with a group of Ghouls, who want peace and stop the others.

What follows is a suspenseful, exciting, intriguing, action filled mystery, that kept me unable to put the book down. I loved Jenna and Trevor, as they made a great couple; especially when they both know that they are soulmates. I also loved the pack members who were there, Madeline, Jenna’s friend, and other great secondary characters.

Loving the Wolf was a fantastic addition to this wonderful series, as well as very well written by Paige Tyler.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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