Author Archives: Sandy

Rogue’s Reckoning (Saint’s Outlaws MC: Boston 1)by Brooke Summers

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Rogue’s Reckoning (Saint’s Outlaws MC: Boston 1) by Brooke Summers-review tour

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GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210673105-rogue-s-reckoning

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 27, 2025

Their love was wild—raw, untamed, unforgettable. His betrayal devastating, and their second chance is uncertain.

Rogue is the enforcer for the Saint’s Outlaws MC.

Willow is the woman he could never let himself love completely.

He was meant to protect her, but he stood by and did nothing when she needed him most.

She fled to save herself to heal—carrying a piece of him he never knew about.

Now she’s back, but Willow isn’t sure if she can or wants to trust him again.

He hurt her, broke her, and betrayed her.

Why does he deserve a second chance?

But Rogue is ready for the fight of his life. He’ll fight for her for the future they could have together. He’ll rectify the mistakes of the past.

But someone out there isn’t willing to let them be happy—and this time, the threat might destroy them both.

••••••

REVIEW:ROGUE’S RECKONING is the first instalment in Brooke Summers’ contemporary adult SAINT’S OUTLAWS MC: BOSTON erotic, MC romance series, a spin off from the author’s SAINTS OUTLAWS MC. This is Saints Outlaw MC member Rogue aka Ezra, and teacher Willow Bennett’s story line.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Rogue and Willow) following two timelines, ROGUE’S RECKONING focuses on the friends to lovers to enemies to frenemies relationship between Rogue and Willow. Approximately five years earlier, Rogue fell in love with Willow Bennett but a perceived betrayal was met with heart break and destruction, violently pushing Willow out of his life. Fast forward to present day, Willow will come face to face with the man who destroyed her life, a man who knows nothing about the daughter he left behind. Rogue and the Saints Outlaws MC broke and betrayed the woman with whom Rogue had fallen in love but an ongoing war with the Shadow Hawks MC threatens our story line heroine, and Willow will discover the life from which she ran has followed her back home.

The world building focuses on several acts of betrayal, betrayals in which Willow paid the price for someone else’s sins. Heart broken and devastated, Willow struggles to trust .Meanwhile, the ongoing war with the Shadow Hawks MC becomes deadly and dangerous for the Saints Outlaws MC, and our heroine will become a pawn in a battle for control.

The relationship between Rogue and Willow is one of second chances. Five years earlier, life took a tragic turn for Willow Bennett, a turn predicated upon misunderstanding and lies but life would never be the same, and Willow will must come to terms with the past, and the men who destroyed her heart. Hoping to reconnect, Rogue knows he broke the only woman he would ever love, a woman who is struggling to move on from the past. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense.

We are introduced to several members of the Saints Outlaws MC including Ghost, Storm, Savage and Hades, as well as Willow’s best friend Natalie: sister Ivy, and Ivy’s man Lochlann. The requisite evil has many faces.

ROGUE’S RECKONING is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, heart break and mistrust, acceptance and love. The premise is emotional, dramatic and dark; the characters are dynamic and determined ; the anguish-filled romance is destructive, raw and tragic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today Bestselling Author Brooke Summers is a Mafia Romance author and is best known for her Made Series.

Brooke was born and raised in South London.   She lives with her daughter and hubby. Brooke has been an avid reader for many years.She’s a huge fan of Colleen Hoover and Kristen Ashley.

Brooke has been dreaming of writing for such a long time. When she was little, she would make up stories just for fun. Seems as though she was destined to become an author.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: https://www.brookesummersbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrookeSummersAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_brookesummers
Newsletter: https://www.brookesummersbooks.com/newsletter
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/brookesummers
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brooke-summers
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookesummersauthor

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Beckett’s Fate / Flint’s Fate by Delta James-reviews

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Beckett’s Fate / Flint’s Fate (Silver Falls Shifters 2 & 3) by Delta James-reviews

BECKETT’S FATE
(Silver Falls Shifters 2)
by Delta James
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, paranormal, romance

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release January 2, 2025

She sought independence… but fate had other plans. Can she risk her heart to embrace love?
Irene Blakiston arrives in Silver Falls pretending to be a hiker, her true purpose hidden: to find a legendary silver treasure that could secure a future for her pack. The last thing she expects is to cross paths with Beckett Grey, the town’s enigmatic sheriff and alpha wolf-shifter whose piercing gaze sees right through her façade.
Beckett senses something unusual about the captivating newcomer. His protective instincts awaken, and she stirs feelings he thought he’d never experience. Recognizing her as his fated mate, he’s determined to uncover her secrets.
When Irene is attacked while hunting for the treasure, Beckett refuses to let her face the dangers alone. Forced to trust each other, they journey deep into the wilderness, uncovering not only the hidden treasure but also secrets that bind their pasts. As they navigate the treacherous quest, their connection intensifies, igniting a passion neither can resist.
With hunters closing in, Irene must choose between her duty to her pack and the profound bond she shares with Beckett. Can they protect their people and embrace the love that destiny has woven, or will their secrets destroy their chance at happiness?

••••••

REVIEW: BECKETT’S FATE is the second instalment in Delta James’ contemporary, adult SILVER FALLS SHIFTERS erotic, paranormal, romance series focusing on the shifters of Silver Falls. This is alpha Sheriff Beckett ‘Beck’ Grey, and wolf shifter/archeologist Irene Blakiston’s story line. BECKETT’S FATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

SOME BACKGROUND: There is a story, a myth surrounding Silver Falls , a town of shifters protecting a missing treasure of silver. Humans cannot be trusted, and outside shifters are usually looking for trouble. The treasure is connected to the original shifters, and Beck Grey is determined to protect the town at all costs.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Beck and Irene) BECKETT’S FATE follows in the wake of the arrival of our story line heroine. Irene Blakiston is a wolf shifter and an archeologist but a woman with a secret. Hunting for the mythological missing treasure of silver, Irene finds herself facing down not only a group of human hunters but the Sheriff and alpha of the Silver Falls Pack. Enter Beck Grey, Irene Blakiston’s fated mated, and the man who is desperate to protect the woman he loves. Irene is a bit of a hot head; refuses to stand down, and is struggling to trust any man, including the man that calls to her wolf.

The world building focuses on the search for buried treasure, and the human hunters stalking our story line couple. Irene and her ‘pack’ tend to keep to themselves, and in this, Irene is determined to lay claim to the treasure in Silver Falls.

The relationship between Irene and Beck begins when Irene goes on the hunt in Silver Falls. Armed with a map,determined to protect the people she left behind, Irene will come face to face with her future, her fated mate in the guise of Sheriff Beckett Grey. Fighting together to protect the town’s secrets as well as their own, Irene quickly discovers it is better to work together than to work alone. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are re-introduced to Ruby and Knox (Knox’s Fate 1) as well as housekeeper Delilah.

BECKETT’S FATE is a story of magic and mystery, secrets and lies, power and control, greed and mistrust. The fast paced premise is enchanting and dramatic; the romance is fast and furious; the characters are determined and charismatic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one KNOX’S FATE

_________

FLINT’S FATE
(Silver Falls Shifters 3)
by Delta James
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, paranormal, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 28, 2025

A storm, a secret, and a chance at love…
Jenna Hartford never planned on returning to Silver Falls, but when her beloved Aunt Maribel dies under mysterious circumstances, she inherits Cold Creek Orchards, a land rich with history, secrets, and danger. From the moment she arrives, eerie warnings, sabotage, and shadowy threats make one thing clear: someone wants her gone.
Flint Mercer, a brooding ex-lawyer turned rugged cider maker, knows trouble when he sees it. And Jenna is surrounded by it. As a mountain lion shifter, his instincts scream that she’s his mate, but she’s also in the crosshairs of an enemy willing to destroy everything to erase the orchard’s past. Flint swears to protect her, even when she refuses to accept his help.
As the tension between Jenna and Flint ignites into an undeniable passion, so does the fight for survival. The truth about her past, and her future, will change everything. But if they don’t uncover the final secret in time, Jenna may not live long enough to claim her fate.
A thrilling, fated-mates, paranormal romance packed with sizzling tension, small-town intrigue, and heart-pounding danger. Welcome to Silver Falls, where the past is never truly buried, and love is worth the fight.

•••••••

REVIEW: FLINT’S FATE is the third instalment in Delta James’ contemporary, adult SILVER FALLS SHIFTERS erotic, paranormal, romance series focusing on the shifter town of Silver Falls. This is mountain lion shifters Jenna Harford, and Alpha Flint Mercer’s story line. FLINT’S FATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Flint and Jenna) FLINT’S FATE follows in the mysterious death of Jenna Hartford’s aunt Maribel, in the wake of threats that are now directed at our story line heroine. Maribel owned Cold Creek Orchards, a large apple orchard, prime real estate land that someone is determined to claim as their own. As Jenna tries to uncover the truth, the threats become more dangerous and deadly.

The relationship between Jenna and Flint is one of fated mated but Flint doesn’t believe in fate, and Jenna is determined to do everything alone.

The world building focuses on Legends that are told about the indigenous lands, missing treasure, and about the who and what are the rightful owners. Someone has been buying up the land around Cold Creek Orchards, and Jenna’s aunt Marabel may have paid with her life. As Jenna and Flint begin a search for the truth, the reality has been set in stone for hundreds of years.

The relationship between Flint and Jenna is one of fated mates but Jenna is slow to accept Flint’s claiming, preferring her independence over control by a man. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top,sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to a number of shifters including Flint’s siblings Wes and Sybil, librarian Marian , Orchard owners Marty and Ellen, Developer Connor McVey, bobcat Mayor Thomas Calloway, Sheriff Beckett Grey, firefighter Ridge Lawson, and his sister Ember, aa group of lynx shifters known as The Ghost Walkers, and surprise…dragons!.

FLINT’S FATE is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, betrayal and obsession , acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is fated and seductive; the characters are desperate and dynamic.

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy

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Pretend We Are Us (The Timberbridge Brothers 1) by Claudia Burgoa

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Pretend We Are Us (The Timberbridge Brothers Book 1) by Claudia Burgoa-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 26, 2025

I never expected to inherit a sprawling estate in a small town I’d never even heard of.

To claim it, I have to outmaneuver my scheming cousin and fulfill one impossible condition:

Find a groom.

Enter Ledger Timberbridge—the infuriatingly charming stranger I crossed paths with on my solo (read: canceled) honeymoon.

Now, he’s here in Birchwood Springs, fighting to save his family’s struggling logging company.

And somehow, he’s probably my only shot at keeping my inheritance.

A marriage of convenience between us seems like the perfect solution.

But between small-town secrets, high-stakes family drama, and the undeniable spark between us, nothing about this arrangement feels simple.

As the lines between convenience and something real begin to blur, I have to decide:

Can I trust Ledger with my heart, or will this small town end up costing me everything?

•••••

REVIEW:A new series! Yay! Pretend We Are Us is the first installment of Ms. Claudia’s newest series The Timberbridge Brothers. As the first in the series, it can of course be read as a standalone, this is a small town, found family, grumpy sunshine, marriage of convenience romance. No major trigger warnings either. This book is filled with angst, giggles and spicy banter that is sure to entertain its reader.

Galeana aka ” Gale” is a college professor, strong and independent, she is not your typical woman, but non the less she thought she found the one man she was meant to spend her life with. Turns out she was wrong. After being left at the altar by her fiance, Gale takes her all paid honeymoon by herself leading her to Ledger. These two meet at a rough patch in each of their lives, but they find a little comfort in each other when an oopsie happens with their hotel rooms. After a quick trice filled with passion, Gale leaves Ledger behind. (This made me a little sad, it I get the point for the story)

Years have passed and Gale has just found she has inherited an estate in Birchwood Springs, aka Ledger’s home town, not that she knows this. There’s a catch though, because why not, the last few years haven’t been tough enough. That catch? She has to be married to claim her inheritance. When she runs into Ledger, a hometown native, an idea pops into her head. Could she ask him for a marriage of convenience? Would he even be OK with something like that?

Ledger has returned home to Birchwood Springs in hopes of helping his brothers save their family’s logging business. His brothers are Lind, dysfunctional and all around a pain in the butt, but they are family, and family helps family. When he meets Gale again, it’s like lightning hits him. He didn’t want her to go before and even more so now, he will do anything to make her stay.

Wowzer! Ledger and Gale are fire together, their banter and chemistry are off the charts and make for some good reading. For a little while there Ledger was a bit of a butthead, but when he finally managed to pool his head out, the fun really got started. Overall the story was fun and engaging, the plot was easy to keep up with and the spice was good as well. This was a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

FOLLOW:Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Amazon Author / Instagram

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. 

She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breaths away. Her books are the perfect blend of steamy and heartfelt, filled with emotional characters and explosive chemistry. Her writing takes readers to new heights, providing a variety of tears, laughs, and shocking moments that leave fans on the edge of their seats.

She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, her youngest two children, and three fluffy dogs.

When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At nights, she likes to binge watch shows or movies with her equally geeky husband.

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ORIGINAL SINNER (Original Sinners 1) by Kait Ballenger-review

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ORIGINAL SINNER (Original Sinners 1) by Kait Ballenger-review

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 25, 2025

Seven deadly—and ultrarich—sins rule NYC, and though she came here to escape her past, one woman’s true path to freedom might be the devil’s bonds.

The seven deadly sins keep high profiles in the Big Apple: Lust runs brothels, Sloth’s a media streamer…you get the picture. Pride, though, he’s more mysterious. You might know him as Lucifer—temptation irresistibly embodied. The paparazzi are dying for some burning-hot gossip. So when someone publishes my scathing but private rant about him, they eat it up. And now my job is on the line. After all, he is my boss.

With his vicious siblings vying for his power, Lucifer needs to distract the press, so he reframes my tirade as a lovers’ spat, demanding I play the devil’s fiancée. I need to be a good girl, smile for the cameras, nothing more.
But cocky and cruel as he is, his darkness awakens something wicked in me. Sexy and in control, he might just be the cure—an extra dose of sin to heal me from a lifetime of shame and subservience.
And I like it.

••••••

REVIEW:ORIGINAL SINNER is the first instalment in Kait Ballenger’s contemporary, adult ORIGINAL SINNERS dark, erotic, urban fantasy, romance series focusing on twenty-three year old, preacher’s daughter and PA Charlotte Bellefleur, and the prince of darkness Lucifer Apollyon.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers, as well as some expected religious overtones.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Charlotte and Lucifer) ORIGINAL SINNER follows the building but tempestuous relationship between PA Charlotte Bellefleur, and the prince of darkness Lucifer Apollyon. Charlotte is wholly aware of the Lucifer’s reputation as a billionaire CEO in New York City. In an effort to get up close and personal with Lucifer, Charlotte finds herself applying for a job at Apollyon Inc, where she will become Lucifer’s personal assistant, a position that comes with certain perks of the job but someone is stalking our story line heroine, and an anonymous social media post finds Charlotte bowing to the man with whom she will fall in love. All is not well in the world of the fallen angels, someone else is taking aim at our story line couple.

The world building focuses on several intersecting pathways including the dysfunctional family dynamics of Lucifer’s unheavenly and heavenly family; the jealousy and fight for control, dividing the seven original sinners, and our heroine’s past who refuses to let go. Charlotte has many secrets, secrets that push her into the direct line of fire, and her own decaying family kinetics.

The relationship between Charlotte and Lucifer begins when our heroine integrates herself into the world of the fallen angels but Charlotte is out of her element, and finds herself answering to the prince of darkness. Lucifer doesn’t do relationships, and rarely goes out in public, and in this, Charlotte is determined to change Lucifer’s image but the results will backfire, and our couple must come to terms with what is happening and why. The $ex scenes are aggressive and provocative.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and interested secondary and supporting characters including Lucifer’s assistant Imani, Charlotte’s best friend Jax, original sinners Astarath, Asmodeus, Mammon, Belphgor, Satan, Leviathan, Beelzebub: Gabriel and Michael. The requisite evil has many faces.

ORIGINAL SINNER is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, faith and trust, family and dysfunction, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic, dark and edgy; the romance tense and sensational; the characters are determined, charismatic and controversial. ORIGINAL SINNER ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

BIO: Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, bellydancer, graduate student, and soon-to-be-professor. She is the multi-published, award-winning author of the Execution Underground paranormal romance series. With a B.A in English from Stetson University, Kait is currently earning an M.F.A in Writing. Kait believes anything is possible with hard work and dedication. One day, she hopes to be a bestseller and to see her novels on the big screen. Look for the next two books in her page-turning Execution Underground series: Twilight Hunter, book one (August 2013) and Immortal Hunter, book two (January 2014). For more information, please visit www.kaitballenger.com or follow her on Twitter @kait_ballenger.

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BLACK MOON RISING (BKI: Reloaded 4) by Julie Ann Walker-review

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BLACK MOON RISING (Black Knights Inc: Reloaded 4) by Julie Ann Walker-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 25, 2025

He’s an adrenaline junkie who doesn’t know when to quit. She’s an FBI agent who does everything by the book. Are they destined for disaster…or love?
The Black Knights are back and better than ever!
Britt Rollins navigates a perilous world of covert missions and hidden truths. He loves the intrigue, adventure, and adrenaline that comes with a life lived in the shadows. But when his ex-con brother arrives on his doorstep with a smart, sexy fed hot on his heels, Britt’s murky world is in danger of being dragged into the light.
Julia O’Toole is good at two things: being a crackerjack FBI agent and dreaming about the brooding, blue-eyed hottie she met on a previous case. However, when the hunt for a runaway felon leads her to Black Knights Inc, she begins to suspect the reality of Britt Rollins is far more dangerous than any of her late-night fantasies.
Finding a way to clear his brother’s name is tough enough. But throw in staying one step ahead of Julia, and it’s safe to say Britt is facing his toughest challenge yet. Giving in to his desire for her feels inevitable. But keeping his brother alive is not-especially when he discovers the true danger to them both might be Julia herself…

••••

REVIEW: BLACK MOON RISING is the fourth instalment in Julie Ann Walker’s contemporary, adult BLACK KNIGHT INC: RELOADED erotic , romantic suspense series, a spin off from the author’s BLACK KNIGHT INC, focusing on an elite group of former military personnel, headquartered and fronted by a custom motorcycle shop in Chicago known as Black Knight Inc. This is former US Army Ranger turned motorcycle mechanic Sargent Britt Rollins, and FBI Agent Julia O’Toole’s story line. BLACK MOON RISING 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 reads.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Britt and Julia, BLACK MOON RISING follows Agent Julia O’Toole as she searches for Britt’s brother Knox, a suspect in the murder of another paid informant but all is not as it appears to be, as the agents at Black Knight Inc, provided protection and shelter for a man who may or may not be innocent of a crime. Someone is not whom they claim to be, and Britt begins to suspect a mole on the inside of the FBI. On the run, Britt finds himself facing down the woman with whom he will fall in love, a woman who is willing to listen when no one else will.

Meanwhile, chopper pilot and Black Knight Inc Agent Hewitt Birch finds himself guardian and protector of Cooper’s sister Sabrina Greenlee, a young woman who has suffered in order to protect her brother.

The relationship between Britt and Julia is one of mutual attraction but Britt doesn’t do relationships, believing his is not worthy of love . Britt’s need for Julia finds our hero walking away fearing a life together would end in tragedy, a life together that had barely begun. The $ex scenes are provocative and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including several of the previous story line characters: Eliza Meadows, Fisher Wakefield as well as Hunter Jackson (Back in Black 1): Black Knight leader Frank “Boss” Knight and his wife motorcycle mechanic Becky, IT hacker Ozzie Sykes, US Army Nightstalker Chief Hewitt Birch: as well as the introduction of FBI Agent Ryan Keplar, Agent Maddox, and Julia’s partner Agent Dillan Douglas; Sabrina Greenlee, and Britt’s brother Knox Rollins.

BLACK MOON RISING is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, deceit and treason, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The fast paced premise is thought provoking, twisted and edgy; the romance is passionate ; the characters are determined, charismatic and compelling.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Back in Black
Black Hearted
Man in Black

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

FOLLOW Julie: Facebook / Goodreads / Website /   Bookbub | Instagram | Newsletter

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julie grew up in a house full of women – she has three older sisters. As you can imagine, there was no lack of drama… or romance. Her mother enrolled her in a book club as soon as she began to read and it was the small spark that ignited her voracious appetite for the written word.

Because of Julie’s early immersion in literature, she found writing came quite naturally. In high school, she won multiple writing contests and was the proud senior editor of The Tiger’s Tale – her school newspaper.

During her college years, however, she longed for a challenge. “Reading and writing felt like second nature to me, so I looked for a way to flex my mental muscles,” she recalls. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, Julie began teaching advanced high school mathematics.
“I loved working with the students and facing the challenges of the classroom, but I longed for the occasional snow day when I could race to the local book store, buy two or three new novels, and curl up in front of the fire to read.”

It wasn’t until a fortuitous move to Chicago that Julie once more returned to her first passion.

Now Julie loves to travel the world looking for views to compete with her deadlines. When she’s not writing, she enjoys camping, hiking, cycling, cooking, petting every dog that walks by her, and… reading, of course

Be sure to sign up for Julie’s occasional newsletter at: http://julieannwalker.com

 

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Craving You (The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge 5) by Samantha Chase

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Craving You (The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge 5) by Samantha Chase-Review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March

A sexy weekend fling at a wedding.
That’s all it was supposed to be.
And it was, until two little pink lines appeared.

Hailey Donovan was never impulsive. Well, until that weekend at her cousin’s wedding when she met the most attractive man she’d ever seen. They danced, they flirted, and at the end of the night, she threw caution to the wind and agreed to spend the weekend with him. It was never supposed to be more than that—it made no sense to keep in touch when they lived a thousand miles apart. A positive pregnancy test and a mild panic attack later, she kind of wishes they’d stayed in touch. As if that wasn’t enough, turns out her baby-daddy-to-be is her cousin’s new brother-in-law. Things are about to get extremely complicated.

Everything in Max Calloway’s life is coming up roses. Sort of. He was currently living above his brother’s garage, but the expansion of his cybersecurity business and investing in the family bar was going to help change that. And if that wasn’t enough, he’d had the most exciting weekend of his life with a beautiful woman. It’s just too bad he hadn’t been able to convince her to stay in touch. But his luck must really be turning because Hailey’s coming back to Sweetbriar Ridge for a visit, and he’s determined to get her to give them a chance.

Then she tells him he’s going to be a father.

They may be doing things a little out of order, but Max doesn’t let that stand in his way. He’s determined to prove to her that what they have is real. But first Hailey needs to learn to trust that what’s happening between them is more than just a craving.

••••

REVIEW:CRAVING YOU is the fifth instalment in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult THE DONOVANS: SWEETBRIAR RIDGE romance series, a spin off from the author’s THE DONOVANS. This is nutritionist and yoga instructor Hailey Donovan, and cybersecurity expect and bartender Max Calloway’s story line. CRAVING YOU can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Max and Hailey) CRAVING YOU follows in the wake of a one-night stand between nutritionist and yoga instructor Hailey Donovan, and cybersecurity expect and bartender Max Calloway. A one night stand with the groom’s brother at her cousin’s wedding resulted in an unexpected pregnancy for our story line heroine. Hoping for a smooth reveal, Hailey drove five hours to confront the man with whom she would fall in love. Max Calloway is at a crossroads. Having recently sold his house to move to Sweetbriar Ridge to help his ailing father John, Max is living above his brother’s garage, rethinking his plans for the future until the arrival of Hailey Donovan pulls Max in another direction, potential husband and father.

The world building follows the rekindling relationship between Max and Hailey, as Hailey struggles with not only with her pregnancy but a new start with our story line hero. Max is all in; is hoping for marriage and family but Hailey is mistrusting in the face of a prior betrayal.

The relationship between Hailey and Max is one of second chances-of a sort. A one-night stand quickly turns into something more, and Max is determined to prove they are worthy of their own happily ever after. There are no $ex scenes, everything is implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of pushy but well meaning secondary and supporting characters, most of whom we have met in the previous story lines. We are reintroduced to Marcus and Billie (Seeing You), Hailey’s sister Sloane, and their high-handed, in your face yet over protective parents Bridget and Kevin Donovan, Billie’s siblings Jade, Ashly and Chloe, and Max’s father John. I was struggling to like Bridget and Kevin, because of their verbal and emotional attack against our story line heroine.

CRAVING YOU is a story of family and friendships, acceptance and mistrust, relationships and love. The premise is engaging and captivating but the Donovan family dynamics can be overwhelming. The characters are energetic; the romance is fated and seductive.

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Loving You
Teasing You
Wanting You
Seeing You

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that’s hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than seventy titles under her belt – including THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017! She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 30 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

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To Have & To Hold (Brutal Vows 5) by Aleatha Romig-review tour

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❤️🧡To Have & To Hold (Brutal Vows 5) by Aleatha Romig-review tour❤️🧡

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 24, 2025

The Roríguez cartel is spinning out of control, tragedy putting the alliance and our future in question.

I’m Emiliano Ruiz and throughout the last few years, I’ve witnessed my sisters being doled out to members of the Luciano Mafia. The cartel has also taken famiglia women. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Luciano famiglia’s turn to take a bride.
My mind is set—it’s my turn.

I never imagined marrying a young bride until I caught sight of Isabella Luciano. She’s only eighteen, and with her long yellow hair and big brown eyes, she’s a vision to behold. She sees me, however, through the tinted lens of her father’s hatred.

Carmine Luciano’s disdain of the cartel and the alliance isn’t a secret. His opinion won’t stop me. I’ll prove to Isabella that even bad men can be good husbands.

No matter what her father says or what happens in our war, Isabella will be mine.

•••••

REVIEW:TO HAVE AND TO HOLD is the fifth and final? Instalment in Aleatha Romig’s contemporary , adult BRUTAL VOWS erotic, Mafia romance series. This is twenty-nine year old, Roriguez Cartel lieutenant Emiliano ‘Em’ Ruiz, and eighteen year old, Luciano Mafia princess Isabella Luciano’s story line. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Em and Isabella) TO HAVE AND TO HOLD follows in the wake of Isabella Luciano’s arrival in San Diego, California where she is tasked with helping her cousin Dario’s sister Mia, in the wake of the birth of her child but Isabella believes she is being tested, in the hopes of crawling home with her proverbial tail tucked between her legs . As a princess in the Luciano Mafia, Isabella has been ordered to keep her distance from the Mexican Cartel but two of Isabella’s cousins have married into the Roriguez Cartel, and our heroine is about to lose her heart to their newest Lieutenant. Emiliano ‘Em’ Ruiz is a high ranking member of the Roriguez Cartel, and our hero has fallen for a woman who has been raised to fear, wholly unaware of the workings of the Mafia and Cartel. As Em begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine, the Cartel is pulled into war the Russian Bratva.

The world building follows several paths including the dysfunctional dynamics of the Luciano family. Isabella is nothing more than a naïve pawn for her father’s rise to power but our heroine refuses to stand down when her father demands her return and more. As the Cartel battles for control, Isabella quickly learns about the dangers threatening the man that she loves.

The relationship between Isabella and Em is an age-gap, forbidden love, Romeo and Juliet-esque story of insta-love. Emiliano knows immediately that Isabella is the woman he is hoping to claim as his own but Isabella struggles with the pre-conceived notion that all Cartel members are dangerous killers. Naive and young, raised in a proverbial gilded cage, Isabella quickly settles into life with the Roriguez Cartel, falling for a man who will lay claim to her heart. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble of colorful, powerful and energetic secondary and supporting characters, most of whom we met in the previous story lines including Isabella’s new friend Liliana. We are introduced to Isabella’s father Carmine Luciano, and her siblings Noemi and Tony, and her guards Horace and Silas.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD is a story of power and control, family and restriction, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is engaging and compelling; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and charismatic.The Brutal Vows series is not as dark or dramatic as some of the other Mafia romance story lines-the quick conflict resolution is subdued but there is plenty of sl&t shaming, which is addressed and condemned..

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Now and Forever
Til Death Do Us Part
Bound By A Promise
Queens and Monsters

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America.  She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Sign up today to receive her monthly newsletter  and /or text message alerts stay informed.

And if you’re new to ALEATHA, check out her FREE books.

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IMMORTAL SUN (Dark Olympus 1) by Rachel Van Dyken-review tour

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IMMORTAL SUN (Dark Olympus 1) by Rachel Van Dyken-review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 25, 2025

There isn’t a lore that doesn’t exist around Mt. Olympus, and nobody is safe from the wrath of the immortals who watch.

My only goal: Beat him at his own game. His: Save the world and himself.

Thousands of people have disappeared from this world by way of his hand and the universe breathes for only one more drop of blood–mine. He promised he would help me find my brother.
He lied.

I don’t know why I immediately trusted Cyrus. He was stunningly gorgeous, nice, and so accommodating that maybe I felt too safe—maybe that was the first red flag. The second was that he always said my missing twin was fine, that he’d come back when he was done traveling and that I should stay put until his return. Looks are deceiving. And I forgot.

Now I’m completely screwed. I’m trapped here until the eclipse and the great Sun God says I’m the last sacrifice he has to make in order to ascend to Olympus. I have so many questions about the mixed mythology and each answer that crawls out of Seattle has me more terrified and confused than the first.
I’m surrounded by fallen angels, demons–basically every terrifying yet perfectly normal looking creature on the planet and working at a bar called Styx, counting the days until two of the very coins I take on a daily basis will be used to cover my travel.

Anubis seems nice enough but I don’t want to die. There has to be a way and I’m hellbent on finding it even if it means I join the other side.

••••

REVIEW: IMMORTAL SUN is the first instalment in Rachel Van Dyken’s contemporary, adult DARK OLYMPUS dark, erotic, mythology series focusing on Cleo, and Cyrus, the Sun god Ra.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cleo and Cyrus) IMMORTAL SUN follows Cleo as she searches for her twin brother Jake, an archeologist who was last seen near Mt Olympus, Seattle, Washington but all is not as it appears to be, and Cleo will discover she and her brother are the last surviving descendants of Chaos, and her death will free our story line hero. Cyrus, the Sun god Ra, is the god of creation and light, and in order to ascend to the heavens, he is tasked with destroying the human descendants of Chaos, including the woman with whom he will fall in love but Cleo is unlike anyone he and the other gods could have ever imagined, and in this, Cleo’s death threatens the stability of all who survive.

The world building is detailed, complicated, complex and cryptic. Nothing and no one is who they appear to be. Alliances are made, line are drawn, the gods prepare for war as Cyrus goes in search of the woman who controls his heart.

The relationship between Cyrus and Cleo is unique. Cyrus owns the nightclub Styx, and Cleo is working for the man she believes can lead to her brother but Cyrus is determined to ascend to Olympus, and Cleo is the only human standing in his way. Cyrus finds himself falling for the woman he must destroy, a fall his is unable to comprehend or deny. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of powerful, questionable and charismatic gods and goddesses including the gods who are task with preparing Cleo for her death. We are introduced Tyrell, Daggon, Apep, Inti, as well as Bast, Rat , Cow and Anubis.

IMMORTAL SUN is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, mythology and lore, acceptance and love. The slow building premise is elaborate, dramatic and edgy; the characters are dynamic, hypnotic and larger than life. IMMORTAL SUN ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

My only complaint / concern is the blurb. It is a bit misleading, and only by mention, there is very little effort or exposure to vampires, werewolves, fae etc.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

To learn more about Rachel & her books, visit here!

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!To learn more about Rachel & her books, visit here!

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Follow: Website / Facebooks / Goodreads / Twitter /  Instagram

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