The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey – a Review

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The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey – a Review

 

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Description:
Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves in the process in this moving new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil and the Peachtree Bluff series.

Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything for, and begins to realize how much she has used the camp to avoid facing difficulties in her life.

June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, during a fateful summer at camp. They’ve all helped each other through hard things, from heartbreak and loss to substance abuse and unplanned pregnancy, and the three are inseparable even in their thirties. But when attorney Daphne is confronted with a relationship from her past—and a confidential issue at work becomes personal—she is faced with an impossible choice.

Lanier, meanwhile, is struggling with tough decisions of her own. After a run-in with an old flame, she is torn between the commitment she made to her fiancé and the one she made to her first love. And when a big secret comes to light, she finds herself at odds with her best friend…and risks losing the person she loves most.

But in spite of their personal problems, nothing is more important to these songbirds than Camp Holly Springs. When the women learn their childhood oasis is in danger of closing, they band together to save it, sending them on a journey that promises to open the next chapters in their lives.

From an author whose “writing coats your soul with heart” ( E! Online ), The Summer of Songbirds is a lyrical and unforgettable celebration of female friendship, summertime freedom, and enduring sisterhood—and a love letter to the places and people that make us who we are.

 

 

Review:

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey is another one of her wonderful novels.  This story has multiple (3) POV’s, Daphne, Lanier and June, with the third close friend, Mary Stuart. 30 years ago, June, decided to buy Camp Holly Springs, turning it into a successful and thriving summer haven for girls. At that time, June enrolled her 6-year-old niece Daphne to the camp, and there she met Lanier and Mary Stuart, who became inseparable BFF for all those 30 years.  Now in the present time, June realizes her financial situation may force her to close the camp.  When the girls learn that June has financial problems, which will possibly close the camp; together all three gather together to help with fundraisers, projects to find a way to save the camp.

Daphne is a successful attorney, with a 4-year-old adorable son, Henry.  Steven is the Henry’s father, and despite they never married, and not together, they remain close friends, with Steven and Daphne co-parenting.  Daphne has always loved Huf, who is Lanier’s brother, and he has always loved her; but Lanier forced them to break up, because of Daphne’s past issues.  But now, Huf and Daphne are determined to find a way to be together, despite Lanier’s determination to stop them. Will this ruin the friendship between Lanier and Daphne?

Lanier is getting married in a few months, and neither Daphne and Mary Stuart like her fiancée; but they try to support their friend.  Mary Stuart is actually getting married soon, and her friends are always supportive.  When Daphne learns some bad news about Lanier’s fiancée, she wants to tell Lanier the truth, but is threatened to keep quiet or lose her job.  Daphne and Mary Stuart try to tempt an old flame of Lanier’s in hope she will stop her upcoming marriage.  Lanier finds herself torn between her fiancée and the man who was her first love. 

What follows is a wonderful heartwarming story about three friends, who were always there for each, through thick and thin.  Daphne, Lanier and Mary Stuart were great, even in difficult times, their bond was always strong.  I loved Huf and Daphne together, as their love for each other was amazing. Lanier would learn the secrets about her fiancée, and open her heart to her real love.

The Summer of Songbirds was a delightful story, friendship, memories, love, summer camp, and sisterhood.  Kristy Woodson Harvey once again gives us a sensational moving storyline that is not to be missed.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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The Poisoner’s Ring (A Rip Through Time 2) by Kelley Armstrong-review

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The Poisoner’s Ring (A Rip Through Time 2) by Kelley Armstrong-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 23, 2023

A modern-day homicide detective is working as an undertaker’s assistant in Victorian Scotland when a serial poisoner attacks the men of Edinburgh and leaves their widows under suspicion.

Edinburgh, 1869: Modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson is adjusting to her new life in Victorian Scotland. Her employers know she’s not housemaid Catriona Mitchell—even though Mallory is in Catriona’s body—and Mallory is now officially an undertaker’s assistant. Dr. Duncan Gray moonlights as a medical examiner, and their latest case hits close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs point to the grieving widows… the latest of which is Gray’s oldest sister.

Poison is said to be a woman’s weapon, though Mallory has to wonder if it’s as simple as that. But she must tread carefully. Every move the household makes is being watched, and who knows where the investigation will lead.

•••••

REVIEW:THE POISONER’S RING is the second instalment in Kelley Armstrong’s adult A RIP THROUGH TIME time travel, mystery series focusing on thirty year old, Vancouver, Canada Police Detective Mallory Atkinson, and undertaker/investigator Dr. Duncan Gray. THE POISONER’S RING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading book one for back story and cohesion.

NOTE: If you have not read book one A RIP THROUGH TIME there may be spoilers in my review.

SOME BACKGROUND: In the spring of 2019 while visiting her ailing grandmother in Edinburgh Scotland, thirty year old, Vancouver British Columbia, Canada police detective Mallory Atkinson is attacked in an alley only to wake up as a nineteen year old housemaid in the year 1869, a housemaid who was also attacked and left for dead in the same alley where Mallory was found. Not only has our heroine time travelled back one-hundred and fifty years but she is no longer physically the same woman she was just minutes before. Working as a housemaid for Dr. Duncan Gray and his sister Isla, realizing life as she knew it was no longer under her control, Mallory must assume the position of nineteen year old Catriona Mitchell, a young woman whose history is questionable and dark.

Told from first person perspective (Mallory) THE POISONER’S RING follows in the wake of the death and suspected poisoning of a several men including Dr. Duncan Gray’s brother-in-law Lord Leslie. Believing there may be a ‘ring’ of women trying to ‘off’ their husbands, Duncan and Mallory go searching for the truth, using Mallory’s twenty-first century expertise, and nineteenth century clues but all is not as it appears to be as Duncan and Mallory become suspicious when the dead are connected by a common thread.

THE POISONER’S RING is another story of murder, mystery and suspense wherein Detective Mallory Atkinson, under the guise of nineteen year old Catriona Mitchell, is able to do what she does best. Duncan, his sister Isla, and Detective McCreadie are well aware of Mallory’s predicament, having barely questioned the reality of what is, and take the opportunity to learn how to ply their trade with the help of our heroine. The premise is detailed,puzzling and thought-provoking; the characters are dynamic and determined. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and questionable secondary and supporting characters, some of whom we have met in the introductory story line. Once again, there is no romance between the leading characters- Duncan and Mallory know that Mallory’s life is no longer her own.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one A RIP THROUGH TIME

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Goodreads / Website/ Twitter/ Facebook/ Amazon Author Page/

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers’ dismay. All efforts to make her produce “normal” stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She’s the author of the NYT-bestselling “Women of the Otherworld” paranormal suspense series and “Darkest Powers” young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

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BARBARIAN’S MATE (Special Edition 6) by Ruby Dixon-review

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BARBARIAN’S MATE (Ice Planet Barbarians 6/ Special Edition ) by Ruby Dixon -review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release July 11, 2023

Josie has always dreamed of finding The One, but the hunter chosen for her is nothing like what she expected (or wanted)—but he might be exactly what she needs.

“Resonance” is supposed to be a dream—that’s when your soulmate is chosen for you. And every woman on the ice planet has hooked up with a big, hunky soulmate of their own—except me. So do I want a mate? Heck yeah. More than anything, all I’ve ever wanted is to be loved by someone.

But the soulmate chosen for me? My least favorite person on the darn ice planet. Haeden’s the most cranky, disapproving, unpleasant, overbearing male alien . . . so why is it that my body sings when he gets close? Why is he working so hard to prove to me that he’s not as awful as I think he is?

I hate him . . . don’t I?

•••••••

REVIEW: BARBARIAN’S MATE is the sixth instalment in Ruby Dixon’s adult ICE PLANET BARBARIANS erotic, sci-fi, romance series focusing on a group of aliens known as the sa-khui, and their human female mates. This is sa-khui Haeden, and Josie’s story line. BARBARIAN’S MATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Ruby Dixon previously released BARBARIAN’S MATE as an independent author but the paper back rights to the series has since been picked up and re-published by Berkley Romance. The author/publisher has included a short story -ICE PLANET HONEYMOON: Haeden and Josie.

SOME BACKGROUND: Several months earlier a group of human females were abducted from Earth but mechanical trouble onboard the spaceship meant dropping the females on the nearest inhabitable planet, leaving the women behind where they would meet the nearly all male group of the sa-khui.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Haeden and Josie) BARBARIAN’S MATE follows the building romance and relationship between sa-khui Kaeden, and human female Josie. From the outset, upon their first meeting, Kaeden and Josie’s relationship has been tempestuous at best with both believing they hated one another . Kaeden wants a mate and a family, Josie wants to find love but the ‘resonance’ that rings when one’s soulmate is near rings for the least likely couple-Josie and Kaeden. Refusing to accept Kaeden as her mate, Josie goes in search for a ‘cure’, placing herself in danger at every turn. What ensues is the hunt for, and rescue of the our story line heroine, as Josie continues to struggle with the possibility of never finding love.

The relationship between Josie and Kaeden is one of fated mates brought on by the ‘resonance’ but Josie’s dislike of Kaeden is exacerbated by the perception that Kaeden’s dislikes Josie in return, a perception that is about to be disqualified when the truth is revealed. As Josie and Kaeden begin to re-evaluate their fate together, our couple must overcome the hardships of a planet that is dangerous and cruel. The $ex scenes are intimate and erotic.

The world building continues to focus on the search for a mate. The sa-khui know their mate is near when the ‘resonance’ rings in their chest, a ring that makes everyone aware of their perspective mates. The planet upon which the sa-khui and women live is hard, cold and unforgivable but the women must learn to accept they are ‘no longer in Kansas’, and their lives are about to change.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters, most of whom were introduced or had their stories told in previous instalments. The matings are producing offspring, expanding families, and finding love for the men who believed there was no hope of ever finding their own happily ever afters.

BARBARIAN’S MATE is a story of discovery and acceptance, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is emotional and heart breaking; the romance is fated yet struggles in the face of ignorance and stubbornness; the characters are desperate and determined-at times, Josie’s head strong and turbulent attitude is frustrating, and places the couple in perilous danger.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Dancing Struggles/ Burning Tears / Brass’s Surrender by EC Land

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DANCING STRUGGLES / BURNING TEARS / BRASS’S SURRENDER by EC Land-reviews

DANCING STRUGGLES
(Sons of Norhill Tops 2)
by EC Land
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic,romantic suspense

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 14, 2023

There’s something about moving to a small town. I never thought of myself as a country girl, but I’m taking to it easily. It helps that my best friend’s from the area and has embraced living out here in the middle of nowhere. Moving to Norhill Tops was the best decision I ever made.

The only problem is I constantly run into the one man I never thought I’d see again. Every time, I have to bite my lip to keep from doing something else entirely. We were together for only a weekend, but it was enough to leave a lasting mark. He ruined me for anyone else and he doesn’t even know it because he doesn’t remember. It’s in the way he looks at me . . . well, more like through me.

Or so I thought.

The dance between us is a constant struggle, especially when we get thrown together. Talk about déjà vu all over again.

••••

REVIEW: DANCING STRUGGLES is the second instalment in EC Land’s contemporary, adult SONS OF NORHILL TOPS erotic, romance series. This is thirty-something attorney Leland Conley, and twenty-seven year old Sarah King’s story line. DANCING STRUGGLES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

SOME BACKGROUND: Dakota Downs inherited a large portion of land and a rundown lodge in Norhill Tops, but everyone including big business and other members of her family want what Dakota owns. Dakota’s best friend Sarah King is helping get the lodge ready for business but another group is hoping to take control.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Leland and Sarah) DANCING STRUGGLES follows in the wake of a one-night stand. Four years earlier, Sarah King spent one glorious night with Leland Conley but woke to an empty bed, and twenty dollars on the side table. Fast forward to present day wherein Sarah will come face to face with the man who destroyed her heart, a man who cannot remember our story line heroine. As Leland struggled to convince Sarah to give him a chance, Sarah battle between head and heart knowing Leland had the power to break her soul. Meanwhile, Sarah’s past demands her return, expecting to take control of the newly open lodge. What ensues is the building but contemptuous relationship between Leland and Sarah, and the fall-out as Sarah struggles to trust Leland once the truth is revealed.

The relationship between Leland and Sarah begins as a one-night stand that all but destroyed Sarah’s faith in love but made worse when Leland could not remember our story line heroine. From the outset, Sarah’s attitude towards Leland’s is distant and cold but Leland had no idea what had happened to earn Sarah’s wrath. Sarah struggled to accept that Leland had no memory of their night together but Sarah is not the same woman she was years before. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Dakota Downs and Sheriff Lawson Burns, Lawson’s twin Mack; Sarah’s ex William King, as well as town bad girl Willa.

DANCING STRUGGLES is a story of heart break and betrayal, misunderstanding and forgiveness, family and relationships, friendships and love. The premise is emotional and engaging; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are determined and dynamic.

_____________

BURNING TEARS
(Sons of Norhill Tops 3)
by EC. Land
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic,romantic suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 25, 2023

Through the flames, life will thrive, or it will die. It’s a saying I’ve always been raised on. I never understood it. I see it every day in those around me, but never truly got it. That is until through the flames he rescued me.

Stranded in the middle of nowhere, I’m left wondering where to go from here. My life’s a mess and now it’s even more so. I dare not call home, it’ll only cause problems.

When I keep running into my savior, I can’t help but feel the burns that aren’t truly there. Because of him, I’m alive, but am I really? The quote I was raised on always pops in my head when he’s around and I can’t help but wonder why.

Could he be the reason I never understood it? Maybe he’s flames that decide whether or not I live or die.

•••••

REVIEW: BURNING TEARS is the third instalment in EC Land’s contemporary, adult SONS OF NORHILL TOPS erotic, romantic suspense series. This is thirty-six year old, mechanic/firefighter Mack Burns, and twenty-nine year old, Sidney Novak’s story line. BURNING TEARS 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 first person perspectives (Mack and Sidney) BURNING TEARS follows in the wake of Sidney Novak’s accidental arrival in Norhill Tops. Sidney Novak is a bit of a spoiled princess but our heroine witnessed something she should not have seen, and is on the run, for the sake of her life. Not only is her mother desperate to set her up with a ‘proper’ husband, but her father struggles with his daughter’s direction in life. An accident during a rain storm, and the encroaching fires near Norhill Tops, finds Sidney in need of rescuing. Enter mechanic/firefighter Mack Burns, and the man with whom Sidney will fall in love. As Mack struggles to navigate the who, what and why of our story line heroine, Sidney is keeping secrets that may endanger everyone she has met.

Sidney Novak is an independent woman who wants nothing to do with an arranged marriage for the good of the family but a woman who is on the run from New York, having witnessed a possible crime. Meeting Mack Burns means keeping her secrets for as long as possible but Mack suspects there is more to Sidney’s story than a woman setting out on her own. Mack Burns wants the same thing his brother has-a wife, a family, and someone to love, and Sidney seems to fit the bill but something is wrong, and Sidney is about to bring a truck load of trouble to the small town of Norhill Tops.

The relationship between Sidney and Mack begins as a rescue but Sidney’s attitude is acrimonious as best. She wants nothing to do with Mack, with the people or the town of Norhill Tops, she is hot tempered, determined and refuses to volunteer any information about who she is, and where she is going. Getting past the icy demeanor is a work in progress but Mack is about to meet his match when Sidney discovers some little lies from Mack. The $ex scenes are erotic and provocative but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word in my romance story lines

The secondary and supporting characters include Mack’s identical twin Sheriff Lawson Burns and his wife Dakota Downs (Inheriting Trouble 1); their sister Rose; attorney Leland Conley and Sarah King (Dancing Struggles 2), several townsfolk from Norhill Tops including firefighters Forrest and Isaac, as well as the introduction of Sidney’s feisty grandmother Victoria ‘Vic’ Thompson. The requisite evil has many faces including Sidney’s controlling parents.

BURNING TEARS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and power, family and relationships, friendships and trust. The fast paced premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate and determined.

_____________

BRASS’S SURRENDER
(Devil’s Riot MC 11)
by EC Land
Genre: adult, contemporary, dark, erotic,MC, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 7, 2023

The past always finds a way back.
Brass
Everything around the club is changing. Faster than any of us are ready for. There’s a storm brewing and it’s not gonna be easy to ride out.
When she comes into our lives it’s not easy seeing her. She’s a blast from the past, but there’s more to it. But what that is I’ve yet to figure out.
One thing I do know for sure is she’s here and history always has a way of repeating itself.

•••••

REVIEW: BRASS’S SURRENDER is the eleventh instalment in EC Land’s contemporary, adult DEVIL’S RIOT MC dark, erotic, MC romance series. This is Jesse aka Brass, and Athena aka Karma’s story line. BRASS’S SURRENDER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines are revealed where necessary

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Brass and Athena) BRASS’S SURRENDER follows Athena aka Karma as she seeks vengeance against those who harm other people. Athena and Jesse were raised in the foster care system but when Jesse aged out, Athena disappeared, and years later they would come face to face when Jesse discovers Athena working at the MC’s new strip club. All is not as it appears to be when Athena, now known as Karma, refuses to reveal the true nature of what happened years before. Karma is a woman on a mission, an assassin of sorts, who takes down the lowest of the low, and along with her adopted father and brother Lark aka Lucifer, and Reaper, the trio ensure vengeance doesn’t come easy to those who deserve it. What ensues is the quick rebuilding relationship between Athena and Brass, and the potential fall-out as Athena aka Karma must finish the job she set out to do.

The relationship between Brass and Athena is a second chance, of sorts. Jesse was eighteen when he aged out, leaving a then fourteen year old Athena unprotected. On the run, Athena would find a home and a family with Lucifer and Reaper, a family who helped with her need for revenge. Jesse never forgave himself for leaving Athena behind, struggling for years to find the young girl now woman he wanted to save. Athena’s return brings a new hope for our story line hero but Athena does not come alone, her life is a little more complicated than anyone expected. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense, with some scenes of light spanking.

The secondary and supporting characters include many of the previous story line couples including Horse, Tracker, Thorn, Twister and Rage, and their significant others. We are introduced to Lucifer and Reaper, whose need for vengeance is greater than most. The requisite evil has many faces.

BRASS’S SURRENDER is a story of betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, forgiveness and acceptance. The fast paced premise is gritty and raw; the romance is provocative; the characters are desperate, determined and dynamic; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate and determined.

Copies supplied by Booksprout

Reviews by Sandy

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Omegas of Chaingate by Crea Reitan-review tour

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Omegas of Chaingate (Knotty & Sweet Omegaverse) by Crea Reitan-review tour

OMEGAS OF CHAINGATE
Knotty & Sweet Omegaverse 3
by Crea Reitain
Genre: adult, erotic, paranormal, LGBTQ+

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 6, 2023

Possessions. Toys. Breeders.

That’s how omegas and betas are kept in the city of Chaingate. Alphas rule the city, owning the other designations as if they were play things instead of people. Alphas are raised cruel, bloodthirsty, and harsh.

Alpha Nicolai tried to be like the others. He was accepted into one of the biggest alpha packs, one that owned twelve omegas. The alpha pack that ran the city. But try as he may, Nicolai couldn’t bring himself to possess an omega or mistreat a beta.

Having reached his limit trying to live up to the expectations placed on him, Nicolai ran in the middle of the night, taking two omegas with him – the omega that claims his heart and the one his omega loves. He knows that it’ll be a life on the road for them but he vowed to keep them safe. To fight for their freedom. It wasn’t long before they saw that the rest of the world wasn’t like Chaingate. And neither were other alphas.

But that doesn’t mean they’ve seen the last of the city they fled. Betas may disappear from Chaingate from time to time, but no one was going to look the other way when two omegas vanish in the night.

•••••

REVIEW:Ok, the first thing I’ve got to say is that, this is a hard hitting book. Trigger warnings for the first part of the book. This has to be one of the authors books that I’m glad I read the warnings.

But it’s also my second favourite book she’s written. Although I didn’t really connect with the three main characters!

An alpha who runs off with two omegas…..

Alpha Nicolai loves Ayri (who is an omega) but has had enough of the way he’s treated in the pack (chaingate treat their beta/omegas like property) he’s uncomfortable with the treatment of the omegas, so he’s had enough, he wants to leave with Ayri, but he knows that his omega has feelings for another omega Paradise, so he has to run away with both! It’s going to be risky, if caught it will be the omegas that will get punished!

It’s not necessary to read the previous books, it’s stands on its own without any problems.

I really liked how the suspense was kept up. They thought they would be discovered and returned at any moment…. I enjoyed how slowly Ayri and Paradise began to relax and trust (Paradise took longer) Nicolai.

And when they meet Leith, Briar and Sutton, it’s almost love at first sight for the trio. They see how damaged Nicolai, Ayri and Paradise are (Nicolai had been emotionally damaged whereas Ayri and Paradise had been emotionally and physically damaged!) so it’s a slow process to get them to trust Leith/Briar and Sutton, but these alphas are nothing but kind, gentle and persistent.

Does Nicolai’s old pack come looking for them? You’ll have to read and and find out ?

It does end on a HFN (happy for now) for this new pack, it’s going to take time for Ayri and Paradise to truly feel safe and loved.

If you like your books dark and a tad uncomfortable, then give this book a go. It’s really well written, and will take you on a journey that’s going to need tissues.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Alpha Hunted
Knot Interested

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie ?

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous – meaning it’s not just all the men for one woman. There’s also some M/M action going on. When she can’t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center – and utterly swoon-worthy! Don’t ask her how many book boyfriends she has…

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don’t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

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Foolish Dreams (Seaforth Billionaires) by Jeana Mann-review tour

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Foolish Dreams (Seaforth Billionaires) by Jeana Mann-review tour

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

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 6, 2023

Vanessa Seaforth was the love of my life. She broke my heart a thousand different ways when she married someone else, but I’ve never forgotten her. I focused the pain of our breakup on building an empire.

A decade later, Vanessa is the CEO of my biggest competitor and out to destroy my company. If she thinks I’ll let her ruin my hard work, she’s got another thing coming. I’m no longer the poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks. I’m rich and powerful. I can have any woman I want, and I want her.

The question is—how far will I go to get her?

*This book was formerly released as Pretty Broken Dreams.

•••••

REVIEW:Foolish Dreams is an enemies to lovers, second chance romance filled with heartbreak, angst and forgiveness. Jeana E. Mann put heart and soul into this book, and you can really feel the emotions her characters are experiencing.

Vanessa has returned home to ensure her family’s company doesn’t go down the tubes. After nearly a decade away from this life, she comes face to face with the one person she had never hoped to see again. Or maybe one she has yearned for in secret.

Cameron.

When Vanessa takes over the job that Cam feels should have been his, he is hit with a wave of nostalgia. Neither of them wants to deal with the other, but as they come face to face now, they can’t avoid it. Both Cam and Vanessa are still torn from the way their relationship ended all those years ago, each experiences it a different way. They are both still aggressive towards one another from the past, and neither of them are willing to budge on what they think happened. One of them however has a secret, a secret that will change everything.

As the pair embark on their journey of tolerance, they are brought back to why they loved each other in the first place. Cam and Vanessa have more than just blistering hot chemistry together, they have a destiny together that even they can’t control.

Foolish Dreams is a faced paced work-place romance told in both first person and flashback. The author bounces the reader back and forth between the past and the present, showing how Cam and Vanessa first met and how their story originally started. Kudos to the author for delivering an enjoyable read filled with angst, love, hate, forgiveness and enough emotional trauma to send any normal person running for the comfort of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

Jeana is a USA Today bestselling author from Indiana. She gave up a career in the corporate world to write about sexy billionaires and alpha bad boys. With over twenty books, three series, and several awards beneath her belt, she’s never regretted her choice to live out her dream. She’s a free-spirit, a wanderer, and loves animals with a passion. When she’s not tripping over random objects, you’ll find her walking in the sunshine with her rambunctious dogs and dreaming about true love.

Keep up with Jeana Mann and subscribe to her newsletter  -> HERE

You can follow Jeana here:

Website:http://jeanaemann.net
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The Satyr’s Guilt ( Blood Coven 3) by TM Smith-review

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The Satyr’s Guilt ( Blood Coven 3) by TM Smith-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 7, 2023

Denim Quinn is scarred…
She’s human, ex-military, ex-police, and now an ex-Alliance agent who has a bad history with men, most notably an abusive ex-husband whose brutal blows left her marked by visible and invisible scars. She’s not in the market for another man.

Ramirez is weighed down by guilt…
The satyr Firebrand warrior from Scath with spectacular looks, a bigger-than-life ego, and uber sex appeal is not in the market for a human female. His past taught him they’re fragile.

But when they meet…
Sparks fly and the action heats up. Ram and Denim partner to square off against Humans First, a paramilitary group bent on exposing the other realm’s Aeternals to the American army. If he survives being their target, maybe they can put their pasts to rest.

••••

REVIEW:THE SATYR’S GUILT is the third instalment in TM Smith’s contemporary, adult THE BLOOD COVEN erotic, paranormal/fantasy series. This is human, ex-military, ex-police, and now an ex-Alliance agent Denim Quinn, and satyr Firebrand Ramirez aka Ram’s story line. THE SATYR’S GUILT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

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

SOME BACKGROUND: Thousands of years earlier, a powerful group of witches and warlocks, in an effort to protect the human race, divided the world creating three realms: Earth, Scath and Darque. The Blood Coven series focuses on the fight to keep the worlds physically separated in the face of some powerful people hoping to control one or all. The Aeternals are the overarching collection of breeds and supernatural species that inhabit the Scath and Darque realms, and the Alliance are the group of humans that monitor all supernatural activity on Earth.

Told from third person perspective, following several paths, and a recitation of journal entries, THE SATYR’S GUILT follows in the wake of a new designer drug on the streets, a drug that is making its’ user stronger, faster and seemingly immortal but as the Firebrands continue their search for the descendants of the original members of the Blood Coven, Denim Quinn will find herself pulled into Scath, where her attraction to the satyr Firebrand Ram will manifest her powers as one of the descendants of the original Coven. All is not well during the Mardi Gras celebrations in NOLA, as the paramilitary group Humans First hunt those with supernatural powers, and Arisen Dawn begin to amass an army of humans addicted to the new designer drug. As Denim and Ram’s relationship crosses over to something more, the Firebrands find themselves at a disadvantage when one of their own is struggling to survive.

The relationship between Ram and Denim is one of palpable sexual attraction but like all of the Firebrand males, Ram is an alpha, and fears for the life of the woman with whom he is falling in love. Denim is an experienced solider, a former police officer and Alliance agent, and as such, struggles with Ram’s need to protect our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are erotic, passionate and intense.

The world building continues to be complex and detailed as the Firebrands proceed with their search for the Blood Coven descendants but the Firebrands are not the only group looking for anyone with Blood Coven Lineage as someone else is hoping to cross the thresholds between Scath and Earth.The back story about the creation of the three worlds is revealed through the reading of historical journals, journals that begin to take on a life of their own.

THE SATYR’S GUILT is a slow building, comprehensive and character driven story line of discrimination and speciesism; power and control, vengeance and determination, acceptance and love. The secondary and supporting characters are numerous, powerful, magical and dynamic-the author includes an index of characters, names, species and positions as well as terms and places at the beginning of the story. The premise is detailed, action packed and intriguing; the romance is fated and provocative.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Firebrand
The Demon’s Fire

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Social Media: Website/ Facebook/ Instagram/ Amazon Author/

A master’s degree in English and a doctorate in administration led me to education. After retiring from my career as a teacher and principal, I settled in to write something more creative than lesson plans on split infinitives and inner-school memos on noise in the hallway.

My first novel was the romantic mystery comedy romp Affection for Crime. My plans were to make this Maggie Hall book the first in a series about a quirky columnist and her friends and lovers. That may still happen, but interest in a different genre has changed my direction.

I am now living with vampires, demons, ylves, mages, and other magical beings who keep me awake at night with their tales of love and adventure. Taking great interest in their lives, I began a paranormal romance series with alpha males who aren’t always nice and females who have no problem keeping them in line.

I have learned much about the difference between writing a series and writing a stand-alone book. First, get a fantastic writing software program. Second, keep great notes. And third, do not think book one is complete until you have finished book five. These have been hard-learned lessons, but I am a hardheaded author.

Here are more orts, scraps, and fragments from my life. (Thank you, Virginia Woolf and Shakespeare.) I moved from sunny Las Vegas to the less-than-sunny Pacific Northwest. Here I have adventures with my daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters who also moved to the area. I also enjoy my membership at Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN), a local organization that supports the arts and offers classes and events with eleven different studios where a welcoming community of artists praise each other’s efforts. It was at BARN where my critique group began. With equal time given to in-depth comments on each other’s works, snarky remarks, and laughter, we have now been together over five years. (from the Author’s website)

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Gone Too Soon/Gone Forever by Kate Gable-review

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Gone Too Soon/Gone Forever by Kate Gable-review

GONE TOO SOON
(Detective Kaitlyn Carr 6)
by Kate Gable
Genre: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 31, 2023

A letter throws Detective Kaitlyn Carr’s life into turmoil…
Settling into a new routine, Kaitlyn believes that her troubles are behind her. But then she receives a letter from a retired FBI agent, which states that everything she knows about her father’s death is a lie.
The FBI agent says that her father was murdered and promises to tell her what really happened, but only if she helps him first.
To find out the truth, Kaitlyn must travel to a place with a near-constant cover of clouds and rain and investigate a series of cold cases that the FBI agent believes are connected to the same illusive serial killer.
Here, the foliage is thick. The rains wash away evidence. It’s the perfect place to bury bodies, or to leave them somewhere no one will find them.
The FBI agent might be a conspiracy theorist and Kaitlyn isn’t sure if she believes any of it until she finds a young woman’s bodyand wonders if her murder is also linked to the serial killer.
Deep in the pines and gloom of the Pacific Northwest, Kaitlyn hunts the serial killer, but what she does not yet know is that she might be the one who is being hunted….

•••

REVIEW: GONE TOO SOON is the sixth instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult DETECTIVE KAITLYN CARR mystery/suspense series focusing on LAPD Detective Kaitlyn Carr. GONE TOO SOON can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but for back story I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise throughout concerning the Detective’s late father.

NOTE: If you have not read any of the previous instalments there may be spoilers in my review.

Told from first person perspective (Kaitlyn Carr) GONE TOO SOON follows several paths that may or may not be connected. Kaitlyn Carr’s father is a former police detective, a dirty cop, who is believed to have taken his own life but Kaitlyn never believed the stories, and a letter from one of her father’s former partners, retired FBI Agent Donald Clark, claims someone else may be responsible for the death of her father. As Kaitlyn goes in search of the truth, she must first look into a series of unsolved murders for the man holding hostage all of the answers to her father’s death, including the recent murder of a single mother Kaitlyn found on the trails near Olympia Washington. As Kaitlyn begins an investigation of her own, a teenage boy asks for help, when his father refuses to accept that anything is wrong.

Kaitlyn’s journey, along with her boyfriend, FBI Agent Luke Galvinson, takes our heroine from California, to Washington, to Oregon as she goes in search of answers to her father’s death but finds herself racing to a three unsolved murders that Agent Clark refuses to let go. As Kaitlyn begins to unravel the clues, she will quickly discover that Agent Clark wasn’t too far off the mark.

GONE TOO SOON is a story of madness and murder, power and control, desperation and obsession, acceptance and revelations. The premise is intriguing and captivating; the characters are desperate, determined and dynamic. GONE TOO SOON ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Girl Hidden
Girl Missing
Girl Lost
Girl Found
Girl Forgotten

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

_______

GONE FOREVER
(Detective Kaitlyn Carr 7)
by Kate Gable
Genre: adult, contemporary, mystery, suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 30, 2023

Kaitlyn Carr’s hunt for the serial killer continues as she delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding her father’s death. After receiving a letter from a retired FBI agent, Kaitlyn’s world is turned upside down once again. The letter claims that her father’s death was not an accident, but a murder. In order to uncover the truth, Kaitlyn and her boyfriend, FBI Agent Luke Galvinson, must help the agent solve a series of cold cases that he believes are connected to the same illusive serial killer.

As Kaitlyn investigates the cold cases, she finds herself in a secluded cabin in the woods where her life is endangered. This is the perfect place for the killer to hide their victims. Kaitlyn wonders if she is getting closer to the killer or if it’s the other way around. She finds herself questioning everything, from her own investigation to the people she thought she could trust.

In this seventh installment of the Girl Missing series, Kaitlyn’s hunt for the serial killer takes her to the Pacific Northwest, a place with a near-constant cover of clouds and rain. It’s a place where the beauty of nature is juxtaposed with the darkness of the killer’s deeds. Kaitlyn finds herself facing a killer who is always one step ahead of her and who seems to know her every move. With twists and turns at every corner, Gone Forever will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end

••••••••

REVIEW: GONE FOREVER is the seventh instalment in Kate Gable’s contemporary, adult DETECTIVE KAITLYN CARR mystery , suspense series focusing on LAPD Detective Kaitlyn Carr. GONE FOREVER should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of book six GONE TOO SOON.

NOTE: If you have not read any of the previous instalments, there may be spoilers in my review.

Told from first person perspective (Kaitlyn Carr), and several omniscient third person perspectives GONE FOREVER continues to focus on the search for a serial killer near Olympia, Washington. Kaitlyn and her boyfriend Luke had been on vacation when our heroine stumbled across a body, that may or may not be connected to a serial killer. Kaitlyn with the help of boyfriend Luke, begin looking at the possibility of a serial killer in Olympia Washington, with the information provided by former FBI Agent Donald Clarke, a man obsessed with closing the cold case from years before. As Kaitlyn, Luke and Donald close in, several more bodies, and a fragile victim reveal that Donald Clarke may have been right, all along.

GONE FOREVER is a multi-layered story of secrets and lies, madness and murder, law enforcement and struggles, determination and retribution. The clues and information are slowly peeled away, revealing a decades long obsession with unravelling the truth. GONE FOREVER also looks at the ongoing relationship between Kaitlyn and Luke, and the possibility of future plans. The premise is captivating and intriguing; the characters are strong-willed and tenacious.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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