Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis – a Review

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Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis – a Review

 

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Description:
When Olive Porter’s off-the-grid parents go missing, she reluctantly seeks out Noah Turner, her ex and the only person she both trusts implicitly and not at all.

As a special investigative agent for the National Park Service, Noah’s used to living under intense pressure. Or he was until he got injured on the job. Now unhappily recuperating at home while being smothered by his loving but nosy family, he’d love nothing more than a good distraction.

So when Olive shows up looking like a million bucks, he has to do a gut and heart check. Because nope, no matter what, he can’t fall for her again, the woman who once blew up his entire life and never looked back. How ironic then that his own personal hell (Olive) is also his ticket out of town. The question is, will the risk be worth the reward?

 

 

Review:

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis is the 7th book in her wonderful Sunrise Cove series. The story revolves around Olive Porter and Noah Turner, who were former teenage flames many years ago. Olive returns home to Sunrise Cove to help her best friend, Katie, as her husband, Joe, was injured in accident, still unconscious. Olive sees her first love Noah, who is Katie’s brother, with both not having seen each other in decades.  Noah also works with Joe, who is also recuperating, but totally concerned about his friend. Noah is a special investigative agent for the National Park Service, where Joe also works. With Olive staying at Katie house, Noah sees her after all these years, looking gorgeous and as well as being very successful.

At first both Noah and Olive continue to ignore each other, but when Olive parents seem to be missing, and not responding to her emails. She seeks Noah to help her find her parents.  Noah agrees to help her, but he is determined to not allow himself to fall for Olive, who he felt broke his heart.  As they began to be friends again, the memories of the past were raw still, but they navigated their feels into the present; with both dealing with the pain of those emotions and find their way to back to each other.

I loved Katie, who did her best to try and bring Noah and Olive together. She was a fantastic friend and brother, and her young son was a riot.  I also love Olive, who you couldn’t help liking her and hoping for her to fall in love with Noah again. Olive was smart, strong, successful and still held back to not getting hurt again, even though she knew how much she began to care for Noah. He was always amusing and wonderful helping his sister and Joey, while Joe was still in the hospital.     Of course, due to the past, Noah was a bit infuriating at times, still determined not to allow himself to have a second chance with Olive.

Finally, Joe began to wake up, and eventually back home with Katie and Joey. His closeness to Noah was also his push to try and reconnect with Olive.  Joe decided to quit his job, be home a lot more.  Olive and Noah succumb to their feelings, with great chemistry.  Olive decides to move to Sunrise Cove, where she can be near Katie, and her family; as she can continue her successful business from there.

Better Than Friends was a wonderful, charming, second chance, enemies- to- lovers, small-town love story, surrounded by family and friendship. I was happy that Noah and Olive found their way back.  Better Than Friends was very well written by Jill Shalvis.   

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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BREAK FREE (Ribbon Ridge 6) by Darcy Burke-a review

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BREAK FREE (Ribbon Ridge 6) by Darcy Burke-review

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Re-release Date January 21, 2025

Denver real estate mogul, Liam Archer, has always been a thrill-seeker, and the loss of his identical twin brother has only intensified his reckless behavior. Sky diving, heli-skiing, motorcycle riding…he’s tried everything once. Except falling in love. Liam doesn’t do relationships, but a no-strings fling with Aubrey Tallinger—the smart, gorgeous lawyer handling his brother’s estate—is totally his speed.

At first, hooking up with Liam whenever he’s in Ribbon Ridge is perfect; but Aubrey fears she could fall hard for the sexy daredevil, if he’d only stop refusing to acknowledge the demons he’s trying to outrun. To protect herself from heartbreak, Aubrey ends their affair. But this time, Liam isn’t leaving town and instead of seduction, he wants to be…friends.

The white hot attraction between them still sizzles but Liam knows that winning Aubrey back won’t happen in his bed. He’ll have to convince her that he’s more than the careless, adrenaline junkie she believes him to be. Because when they kiss, Liam feels whole again… and he isn’t ready to give her up without a fight.

••••••

REVIEW: BREAK FREE is the sixth instalment in Darcy Burke’s contemporary, adult RIBBON RIDGE erotic, romance series focusing on the Archer family sextuplets (Evan, Sara, Alex, Tori, Kyle & Liam) of Ribbon Ridge, Oregon; their younger brother Hayden, and foster son Derek. This is real estate mogul and extreme sports enthusiast Liam Archer, and attorney Aubrey Tallinger’s storyline. BREAK FREE can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and cohesion, as each timeline follows on the events of the previous book.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Archer family owns several successful breweries and pubs, and most of the siblings currently play a role in the daily business operations at the request of Alex Archer, who took his own life after suffering years of physical and emotional disabilities. The Archer’s are a close knit family but due to the inherent and potential issues with multiple births-and in this case 6 babies at once-the now adult sextuplets are not without some emotional, mental and physical problems including OCD, Asperger’s syndrome, SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), chronic lung disease, addiction, depression and suicide.

NOTE: BREAK FREE was originally released as WHEN WE KISS. Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Liam and Aubrey) BREAK FREE picks up after the events of book five in which the family continues to struggle with the death of one of their own. Approximately fifteen months earlier, Liam and the Archer family buried Liam’s twin brother Alex, and in the ensuing time Liam’s need for the high of the ultimate challenge is beginning to worry the family. Having moved away years before, Liam’s return coincides with the family’s fight to open their newly renovated hotel and restaurant gifted by their brother Alex but someone is taking legal action, and the family has hired attorney Aubrey Tallinger to defend them in court. Aubrey and Liam have a history together, a history that most of the family are completely unaware but in this Liam only wants a friends with benefits relationship, while Aubrey is hoping for something more. As Aubrey prepares to take a stand with Archer Enterprises, Liam continues to struggle with his place in the family, and his place in the life of our story line heroine.

The world building focuses on loss and grief-the inability to accept and understand the how and why of death; and one man’s struggle to move on from the past. Liam’s grief is complicated by the guilt of his twin’s death, a death with which he has yet to come to terms. As the family continues to learn to cope with the loss, Liam is burying his guilt in risky situations .

The relationship between Liam and Aubrey is a friends with benefits relationship but Liam refuses to settle down. Aubrey wants a family, a home, someone to love and call her own but Liam doesn’t do relationships, and pushes our heroine at every turn. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

All of the previous story line couples return as well as their parents Emily and Rob; Aubrey’s uncle Dave and aunt Cyndi, and Liam’s ex Whitney.

BREAK FREE is another story of grief and loss, guilt and turmoil, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The premise is detailed, heart breaking and emotional; the romance is a back and forth pull of rejection and acceptance; the characters are broken, determined and dynamic.

Reading Order and previous reviews (& new title)
Where The Heart Is (Let Go)
Only In My Dreams (Get Lucky)
Yours To Hold (Sparks Fly)
When Love Happens(Fall Hard)
The Idea of You (Can’t Stop)

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Haven’t started the series? Book one LET GO is currently FREE at Amazon
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Schemes and Scandals(Rip Through Time) by Kelley Armstrong-review

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Schemes and Scandals (A Rip Through Time 3.5) by Kelley Armstrong-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2024

It’s Mallory Atkinson’s first Christmas in Scotland. Victorian Scotland, that is. Also, as the twenty-first-century detective learns, Christmas really isn’t a thing in Victorian Scotland. It’s all about Hogmanay. But her boss, Dr. Duncan Gray, treats her to an early gift of tickets to the event of the season: a Charles Dickens reading. There, they bump into Lady Inglis—the lovely widow who has sent Gray sexy letters trying to entice him back to her bed.

Lady Inglis introduces Mallory to Dickens—the meeting of a lifetime—but in return she wants their help. She’s being blackmailed. Someone stole letters she wrote to another lover and is threatening to publish them.

Mallory isn’t sure what to make of Lady Inglis, but no woman deserves that, so she insists on taking the case with or without Gray’s help. Growing tension between them soon tells Mallory that Gray is hiding a secret of his own. She has until Hogmanay to uncover the blackmailer…and, hopefully, to put things right with Gray so they can enjoy the holiday together.

•••••••

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

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 Scotland, 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. Working alongside Dr. Gray and Detective McCreadie, Mallory uses her abilities as a detective to help.

Told from first person perspective (Mallory) SCHEMES AND SCANDALS focuses on the days before the traditional Christmas holidays but Scotland did not celebrate Christmas in 1869 therefore the tradition of Hogmanay (the arrival of the New Year) was fast approaching, and Mallory and Duncan were about to find themselves involved in another investigation, the theft of some very private and scandalous letters written by a widow to her secret lover. As Mallory and Duncan begin to interview a number of possible suspects, our heroine will employ the use some of the 21st century simple technology in an effort to determined the person responsible.

We are introduced to Lady Patricia Ingles, Lord Charles Simpson, and his brother Arthur, and several local inhabitants of 1869, as well as the return of Dr. Duncan Gray, his sister Isla, housemaid ‘Jack’, housekeeper Mrs. Wallace, and Detective Hugh McCreadie.

SCHEMES AND SCANDALS is a quick read; a fascinating and intriguing tale of ‘whodunit?’. The premise is captivating; the characters are determined and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
A Rip Through Time
The Poisoner’s Ring
2.5 Cocktails & Chloroform
Disturbing the Dead

Copy supplied for review

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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Malcolm (The Sunburst Pack 1) by Margo Bond Collins-review

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Malcolm (The Sunburst Pack 1) by Margo Bond Collins-review

KOBO / Chapters/Indigo /

NOTE: MALCOLM is a KOBO Original, and is currently only available at KOBO and its’ affiliates.

If you do not own a KOBO, download the FREE app HERE

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 21 2025

Malcolm and Larissa have been rivals all their lives—but this time, it’s winner take all… and control over the pack is the prize.

Since they were children, Malcolm and Larissa have been locked in a fierce competition. Growing up in the Sunburst Pack, they vied for every accolade—best student, best hunter, best fighter. Malcolm’s raw strength and Larissa’s cunning strategy made them formidable opponents, but it was their undeniable chemistry that set the pack abuzz.

When a devastating crisis threatened to tear their pack apart, Malcolm and Larissa called a truce. Together, they fought side by side, their combined prowess saving the lives of those they held dear. But with the pack now on the mend, the time has come to choose a new alpha.

Both Malcolm and Larissa are determined to claim the title, even if it means facing off in a brutal contest that could destroy them both. As they clash, their rivalry reignites with a ferocity that threatens to consume them. Yet, beneath the surface, a deeper connection simmers—one that neither is willing to acknowledge.

In a world where strength and strategy are everything, Malcolm and Larissa must confront their true feelings and decide what matters more: victory or the bond they share. Will they tear each other apart in their quest for power, or will they discover that their greatest strength lies in their unity?

••••

REVIEW:MALCOLM is the first instalment in Margo Bond Collins’ contemporary, adult THE SUNBURST PACK paranormal, romance series- a KOBO original. This is wolf shifter Malcolm Crawford and Larissa Ortega’s storyline.

NOTE: MALCOLM and the Sunburst Pack series is a spin off from the author’s MOONSTONE PACK-only available at KOBO.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Malcolm and Larissa MALCOLM follows in the aftermath of a battle for control of the Sunburst Pack. Prodigal son Nick Reagan, along with several members of the Moonstone pack fought to free the members of the Sunburst Pack against a brutal leader but in doing so opened up the position of alpha. Believing he would be the only candidate, Malcolm is blindsided when his childhood nemesis Larissa Ortega enters her name into the alpha challenge. A side by side competition pits our couple against one another but the past refuses to go down without a fight ensuring the breakdown and division of the entire pack using discontent and discord to bring animosity.

The world building focuses on the battle for alpha between Malcolm and Larissa, lifelong frenemies that hide a burning need and secret desire. Larissa is the strategist, while Malcolm is the warrior, and together they will reminisce and recollect their years together and apart. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to temporary alpha and prodigal son Nick Reagan and his mate Sarah (Moonstone Series), as well as pack members Anders, Conall, Quinton, Hannah, and Gregory. The requisite evil has many faces. Anders’ story is next.

MALCOLM is a story of fated mates: betrayal and vengeance, power and control, relationships and acceptance. The premise is intriguing and dramatic; the characters are determined and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Noaz (Van Doren 2) by Crea Reitan -review tour

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Noaz (Van Doren 2) by Crea Reitan -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 January 16, 2025

Sometimes stars grant you wishes that come covered in blood.

I’ve wanted one thing for as long as I can remember – someone to love, a family, and a happily ever after. I finally found it with the least likely person across the street. Our life together has been dipped in espresso and given a massive jolt forward, but we couldn’t be happier.

That is, until someone threatens that happiness and I’m forced to respond in order to protect my family that’s barely begun. I didn’t mean for this relationship to begin bathed in blood but I will do anything to protect the love I’ve waited decades for.

••••••

REVIEW: Now, I absolutely loved the first book in this series “Loren”, and I mistakenly thought Noaz was a brother to Loren. He’s not, he’s an uncle! But with that mistake sorted I inhaled this book. It was totally worth reading past my bedtime.

Characters were just so adorable, catching up with previous characters and finding out that this world is connected to the “For Puck’s Sake series” is an added bonus, it makes me want to reread that series to see if I can spot any Van Doren’s 😉 I know of one.

Noaz Van Doren is an uncle, they control New York City with their crew. But lately they’ve been feeling that they need to step back and begin their next phase/journey. Noaz isn’t your typical contract killer, they answer to either he/she/they, all depends on how they are feeling that day. They also dress accordingly.

Briar is friends with a group of people that moved recently. (Due to one of the characters in these books.) They are all the best of friends, which makes relationships a little tricky. But Briar is not sure where his life is taking him! He’s non committal about his job and he’s in between relationships at the moment, and he’s in no hurry to change either status!

What Briar secretly yearns for is a family of his own!

You don’t need to read this series in order. Other characters do crop up, but as they are family and apparently they will all get involved with the Van Doren’s at some point! and I love this series already, so I’m looking forward to seeing more of them.

It is a slow burn romance, and for one I’m glad. We needed to see how Briar, who has only ever dated girls copes with Noaz. And I loved how he just accepted them. All the shows of affection were just so sweet.

Their relationship goes from 0 to 100 in a matter of weeks…. Noaz had always planned to have a family, and adoption was really the only option (they didn’t want a surrogate, just a baby to love.)

And when the opportunity arises, Noaz is faced with a dilemma! Do they go ahead and possibly lose the love of their life? Or can Noaz have both Briar and a baby?

Things don’t go smoothly though! And Noaz is left with choices, return to being the cold killer they were, and loosing their unborn baby, or ignoring the baby’s plight to keep Briar!

What happens next? 🤫 I can’t tell you, you’ll have to read the book to find out 😉

The only problem I now have…. I have to wait for the next book. 😜

Click HERE for Julie’s review of book one LOREN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

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:

Facebook Group / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Website /

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Undercover Desire by Ada Bridget-review

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Undercover Desire by Ada Bridget-review

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 December 22, 2024

Even under the veil of desire, Aurora still wants justice to triumph…

Taking down one of the most powerful families in the country is not a simple task. As an FBI agent, my reputation as a femme fatale precedes me. But falling for a prime suspect wasn’t in my plans.

Jackson DuPont is an infamous corporate predator. But does that mean he is a dangerous criminal too? One thing’s for certain: Jackson always gets what he wants, one way or another. Especially if he wants someone in his bed. He’s my only solid lead in the investigation, but I find myself captivated by Jackson’s potent aura and masculine charm and risking everything by getting dangerously close.

Will I stay on course in my pursuit of justice, or will I get lost in a labyrinthine plot of secrets and forbidden romance?

I must confront my past if I want my mission to succeed.

•••••

REVIEW:A new author for me, and I think this might be the first book this author has published 🤔

FBI agent Aurora Jones, is good at her job. Being known as a femme fatale doesn’t bother her in the slightest, she uses whatever she can to collect evidence and put powerful/corrupt people away.

And her newest target from the FBI..….. Jackson DuPont, although his brother is the main target, Jackson must know what goes on in the company, and is possibly involved. Only one way to find out….. Spy/stalk, then seduce the target. Only Aurora doesn’t bank on falling for the seductive rogue.

This is a thriller with a great plot. Characters really come to life and the action is intense and nonstop. It’s also got a little light BDSM, Jackson hates to be touched, so there is the threat of punishment if Aurora touches him!

What starts out as information gathering, soon ends up being a passionate and thrilling ride, but with the real danger of being caught, has Aurora bitten off more than she can chew?

It’s in the FMC POV, now that’s not always my favourite way to read, but this book needed I think to be told that way. It’s her story. She’s a great character, although at the beginning it did feel rather stilted and jerky. But once you’re use to the style of writing, the story then just seems to flow.

It took a little while to like/appreciate Jackson. He seemed really arrogant (not the dark and brooding arrogance.)

But at the end of the day, can Aurora really turn in Jackson? Is he really a bad person, or is someone manipulating things in the background? Only one way to find out…. read the book 😉

Definitely interested in reading this author again when she publishes. And a highly recommended read if you like thrillers/mystery all with a bit of spice 😉

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

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Cillian (The Boston Syndicate 4) by Kate Randall-review tour

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Cillian (The Boston Syndicate 4) by Kate Randall-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

GOODREADS: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218043332-cillian

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 16, 2025

I never imagined that an alluring thief would turn my carefully constructed world upside down. Or that I would like it.

Nova
I’m no thief with a heart of gold. I steal from the rich and give to myself to make ends meet. One day I’ll have enough to get the hell out of New Orleans to start fresh, away from the memories of everything I’ve lost.

I should have known the first time I laid eyes on the dark-haired man in a custom suit, he was more than just another mark. But I didn’t. I should have walked away that night and never thought about him again. But I didn’t. When I discovered he has ties to the one person I hate for taking everything from me, maybe I shouldn’t have run.
But I did.

Cillian

Our enemies are six feet under, and Boston is ours. At least that’s what we thought.

A rival organization has decided to pick up where they left off, and I refuse to watch it happen again. They think our rules don’t apply to them. They’re dead wrong. Now, I’m in New Orleans to find them, and cut them off at the knees.

Everything is going according to plan. Until I stumble into a stunning pickpocket whose smart mouth and quick wit charms me from the moment she opens her red-painted lips. I should have left that night and never given her a second thought. But I didn’t. I should have put her captivating green eyes out of my mind and focused on taking down another deadly criminal organization. But I didn’t.

Then she ran, and I told myself I’d never see her again. But I did. When she crashes back into my life, I should walk away. But I can’t. They found her. They know who she is.

And now they’ll pay for ever thinking they can touch what’s mine.

••••

REVIEW:Cillian is the fourth and last (I believe) installment in The Boston Syndicate series by Kate Randall. It is most definitely recommended to read the series in order before meeting Cillian, there are too many characters in previous books that play a big part to walk in without having read. Check the trigger warnings as well; this is a mafia style romance and we all know what that can bring.

First and foremost; the dirty talk in the book is top shelf, chefs 💋, mawa! We have met Cillian in previous books, and the little we did get, I’m not surprised at the man. Walking sexy time on two legs that is for sure. 😏

Nova is a wild child, and a thief to boot, she doesn’t let anything stop her from getting what she wants. The rich have too much, and she doesn’t so what does a little pickpocketing hurt? When one wallet changes everything and brings Cillian to her door, little does she know that her life is never going to be the same.

To say this book was wild and spicy would not do it justice! Cillian going along with the wild ride that is Nova was pure genius. They complement each other so well and the spicy bits *fans myself a little* Whew! They were fantastic! Cillian is top notch at his little kinky thing. Now don’t get it wrong, all this is true, but there are still plenty of hardcore moments that had me stopping for a moment. Mafia is mafia, and mafia is intense.

Kudos to Ms. Kate, Cillian was a great way to kick off 2025 and I really look forward to seeing what comes next.

Click HERE for Sarah’s review of book three EOGHAN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

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

Kate is a lover of all things books. It doesn’t matter what genre, as long as there’s a HEA, she’s in. She started reading romance in high school and would hide novels in textbooks to read during class. Becoming an author was always a dream she had and finally decided to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) and write what she loves. She grew up in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan then became a West Coast girl where she lives with her amazing husband and hilarious son. She would love to hear from readers so check out all her socials and sign up for her newsletter so she can keep you up to date on her books and whatever other ramblings come to mind.

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HIS DARK POSSESSION (Bloodlines and Betrayal 1)by Kelsie Calloway

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HIS DARK POSSESSION (Bloodlines and Betrayal 1) by Kelsie Calloway-review

ebook only 99¢ USDAmazon.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 January 10, 2025

My first husband died under mysterious circumstances. Some might call it bad luck. I call it survival. Now, I’m arranged to marry Antonio Bianchi, heir to a mafia empire and a man who could destroy me if he learns the truth.

Antonio is everything I ruthless, unrelenting, and dangerously irresistible. When I crash his bachelor party to uncover what kind of man he truly is, I think I’m a step ahead. But he catches me. And instead of punishing me, he stakes his claim in ways that leave me breathless.

He says I belong to him. That he’ll strip me bare until I have no secrets left. But what will he do when he learns the truth? Because I’ve buried one husband before… and I’m not afraid to do it again.

A fiery dark mafia romance filled with suspense, passion, and a heroine determined to protect her secrets—even from the man who’s sworn to possess her.

••••••

REVIEW:  HIS DARK POSSESSION is the first novella in Kelsie Calloways’ contemporary adult BLOODLINES AND BETRAYAL erotic, Mafia romance series. This is widow Gabriella Andretti-Scott, and Las Vegas businessman Antonio Bianchi’s story line.

NOTE: HIS DARK POSSESSION is the re-release with new content, name changes etc of the author’s MARRIED TO THE BOSS

Told from dual first person perspectives (Gabriella and Antonio) HIS DARK POSSESSION follows the arranged marriage between widow Gabriella Andretti-Scott, and thirty-seven year old, Las Vegas businessman Antonio Bianchi. Months earlier Gabriella Andretti-Scott’s first husband died under mysterious circumstances, and in the ensuing time, Gabriella was considered the Black Widow of Las Vegas. With another impending marriage to crime boss Antonio Bianchi, Gabriella struggles with the possibility of going from the proverbial frying pan into the fire. Antonio’s reputation for violence precedes his introduction to our story line heroine, and Gabriella refuses to spend the rest of her life fearing the man to whom she is married.

The world building focuses on Gabriella’s first marriage and the demise of her husband; as well as Antonio’s desire to start a family with our story line heroine but a potential war with the Irish mob is a bit of a red herring, as nothing comes to fruition within the pages of the book.

The relationship between Gabriella and Antonio is one of an arranged marriage. Antonio has never met his intended bride but when she sneaks into his bachelor party, all bets are off, and Antonio is willing to claim our heroine before they walk down the aisle. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

We are introduced to Gabriella’s brother Ben, and his girlfriend Carina, as well as Antonio’s brother Rafael.

HIS DARK POSSESSION is a fast paced, quick read of power and control, suspicion and vengeance, family and friendships. The premise is entertaining and captivating but the rush to the finish was disappointing-a three year jump leaves too many unanswered questions; the romance is limited ; the characters are determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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