Ashes (Men of Ink:Heatwave 9) by Chelle Bliss-review tour

Ashes (Men of Ink:Heatwave 9) by Chelle Bliss-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date JANUARY 4, 2022

Dylan Walsh left his small town behind and vowed to never return. But when his brother needs help, Dylan steps back into the memories he tried so hard to forget. He thought there was nothing there for him anymore until a woman he knew as a little girl catches more than Dylan’s eye.

Rosie Gallo is known for her kind spirit, good-girl vibes, and her loyalty to the ones she loves. She’s spent her entire life avoiding the Walshes, knowing her father’s distaste for the family. But when Rosie’s ditched during a disastrous date, it’s a Walsh who puts a smile back on her face.

The attraction is easy, but the complications are many.

Can Dylan prove that he is more than his troubled past? Or is he as bad as the good girl next door always believed him to be?

•••••••

REVIEW:My dear, dear Chelle Bliss, how I wish I could pick your brain while you wrote this lovely little nugget. Ashes is the ninth book in the Men of Inked Heatwave series, and what a fabulous read it was. The book itself can be read as a standalone, but the series is such a good read, that it’s better to read together.

Chelle kicked off 2022 with a sizzling sweet story with Rosie and Dylan. Dylan returns home as a last resort, his brother needs his help. Leaving the service and returning back to his home town is the last thing he wants, but family is family. Rosie, as sweet as she comes off, is still a Gallo, thus she knows that her family and Dylan’s don’t mix. When Dylan comes to Rosie’s rescue after a horrible date, things change. Dylan is head over heels for Rosie, totally gone for her, all he has to do is convince her to give him a go. Rosie being Rosie however, headstrong and independent, isn’t one to be won over easy.

Here we go, 2022 first book of 2022 and it’s a winner! Ashes was a perfect title for Dylan and Rosie’s story, Dylan was almost rising from the ashes of his childhood, and determined to build a better life for himself. Rosie was his last puzzle piece, strong and wiley, always keeping him on his toes. I love the Men of Inked series and can’t wait to see what the rest of the series brings.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Flame
Burn
Wildfire
Blaze
Ignite
Spark
Ember
Singe

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

Haven’t started the series? Get FLAME book one FREE at the following ebook retailers:

Amazon.com Amazon.ca KOBO  /Google Play

 

USA Today bestselling author Chelle Bliss currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. She’s written over ten books and has two series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.

Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in History. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.

WEBSITE  FACEBOOK  NEWSLETTER  TWITTER  INSTAGRAM

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ASHES (Everyday Heroes World) by Gail Haris- a review

ASHES (Everyday Heroes World) by Gail Haris-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 14, 2021

All that remains are ashes…

Fighting fires is in his blood. It’s more than a job—it’s part of who Carter Collins is. Everything was going according to plan until one fateful night. With only his brothers at the Sunnyville Fire Department and his grandmother to answer to, Collins is content with life the way it is. His heart of ash isn’t capable of being in a relationship—but then she comes along.

Natalia Vasquez took a position at the Sunnyville Hospital to leave her old life behind with hopes to escape the permeant ache in her chest. When a fire her destroys her apartment, a strikingly handsome firefighter comes to her rescue.

With no choice but to move again, Natalia isn’t thrilled to find that the heroic ass is her new neighbor.

She is determined to find herself. He longs for peace from his inner demons.

Will the tension burning between them be enough to rekindle the ashes that smolder inside of them?

•••••••

REVIEW: ASHES by Gail Haris is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, romance story line found in K.Bromberg’s multi-authored Everyday Heroes World. This is firefighter Carter Collins, and ER nurse Natalia Vasquez’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Natalia and Carter) ASHES follows the acrimonious but building romance between firefighter Carter Collins, and ER nurse Natalia Vasquez. Two years earlier, Carter Collins life imploded when he lost the love of his life, and his brother on the same night.Fast forward to present day wherein Carter struggles to move on from the past, a past mired in betrayal and heart break.Meeting ER nurse Natalie Vasquez stirs something deep within our story line hero but Carter’s delicate hold on sanity is put to the test when he discovers that Natalia Vasquez, has moved in with his grandmother after the fire that nearly claimed our heroine’s life. What ensues is the tempestuous relationship between Natalia and Carter, as Carter battles between head and heart, and the overwhelming memories that threaten any semblance of happiness for our story line hero, including a possible rival for our heroine’s heart.

Nothing has gone right for Natalia Vasquez since moving to the small town of Sunnyvale California. An apartment fire finds Natalie accepting an offer from an elderly woman who is none other than Carter Collins’ feisty grandmother but Carter continues to battle the demons from the past,and his attraction to Natalie is offset by memories of betrayal and pain. Carter Collins is a broken man, a man who believes he is not worthy of love, and has issues of trust where it concerns his heart but Carter is about to discover that the woman with whom he is falling in love has been targeted for sins of the past.

The slow building relationship between Carter and Natalia begins as professional front line workers but Carter barely sees beyond the fog of betrayal. As Carter’s grandmother Lolly sets into motion a plan to force our couple together, Carter stubbornly refuses to move beyond the demons of his past. The lone $ex scene is passionate and seductive; the sexual attraction is palpable and hot.

The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters include Carter’s grandmother Lolly, as well as Natalia’s parents, several hospital personnel, and firefighters; Carter’s ex-girl friend Payton, and his brother Warren,and real estate agent Seth Bohnert.

ASHES is a story of family, friendships and relationships; betrayal and heart break; acceptance and love. The premise is impassioned; the romance struggles in the face of Carter’s inability to let go of the past; the characters are responsive and dynamic.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Ashes (Web of Desire #3) by Aleatha Romig -Review Tour

Ashes (Web of Desire #3) by Aleatha Romig -Review Tour

ASHES
Web of Desire #3
by Aleatha Romig
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Genre: adult,contemprary,erotic, romantic, suspsense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N / KOBO / Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date:

Patrick has awakened a fire I forgot existed.

Will this renewed desire warm my soul or consume my world?

Is it too late?

Will the life we yearn to have survive the ashes?

•••••••

REVIEW:ASHES is the third and final instalment in Aleatha Romig’s contemporary, adult WEB OF DESIRE erotic, dark, romantic suspense series focusing on billionaire Patrick Kelly, and Madeline Miller. ASHES and the Web of Desire series is set in the author’s Web of Sin, and Tangle Web worlds but you do not have to have read the previous series to follow or understand the current timeline. ASHES should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of book two FLAME.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Maddie and Patrick) using present day and memories from the past, ASHES picks up immediately after the events of book two FLAME wherein our heroine is once again a ‘prisoner in a gilded cage’. With her daughter Ruby safe and in the custody of the Sparrow households, Maddie struggles with the revelation that her future is now in the hands of new owner who is driven to possess someone else. A rescue by the man that she loves sets a plan into motion to ravage all of the people involved in the past, present and potential future destruction of our story line heroine. What ensues is the continued rebuilding relationship between Maddie and Patrick, and the potential fall-out as Maddie is determined to face the men who destroyed her life.

ASHES is a story of secrets and revelations, and betrayal and vengeance, a vengeance meant to take down and punish the people who continue to buy and sell women like commodities. Targets are exterminated; lives are destroyed but is retribution ever going to be enough?

Aleatha Romig pulls the reader into a dark, gritty and intense story; an emotional and passionate conclusion to another powerful series by a fantastic author.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Spark
Flame

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

NEWSLETTER | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | GOODREADS
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST

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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Reckoning (Ashes #2) by Kelly Cozy-a review

Reckoning (Ashes #2) by Kelly Cozy-a review

Reckoning

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 2013

Remorse…
All Sean Kincaid wanted was to use his Special Operative skills to bring a domestic terrorist to justice. But he left a trail of bodies in his wake: foes, colleagues – and an innocent woman. Now he’s pursued by enemies while desperately searching for a way to make amends.

Revenge…
Deirdre Monahan was expecting a happy afternoon with her cousin Anna. But she found a corpse abandoned like trash – and no one who could tell her why. Now Deirdre’s looking for answers and bent on giving whoever killed Anna the gift of knowing Deirdre’s pain.

In Ashes, Sean sacrificed everything. In this thrilling sequel, there will be… a Reckoning.

•••••••••••••••••

Reckoning by Kelly Cozy is the second book after Ashes. If you read my review of ASHES, you would know how much I loved that story. My review ended with me yelling at my e-reader because the story was over. I would’ve given anything to have more pages to read the way that story ended! I honestly didn’t think Reckoning could be as suspenseful and attention getting as the first book. I was so glad to be wrong about that. Reckoning was another roller coaster ride of suspense and intrigue, just like Ashes. There are more characters, more twists and turns to the plot, more action…..you name it, it’s in Reckoning.

Sean Kincaid did what he wanted to do, he brought a domestic terrorist to justice. But the trail of bodies he left behind had him feeling remorseful and determined to make amends. He had hurt innocent people in the process of the journey and all he wanted to do was make it right, if that was even possible. Deirdre Monahan was devastated to find her beloved cousin Anna dead. Who could do this and why? She was determined to find Anna’s killer and bring a little justice of her own. Sean and Deirdre are on a collision course to meet and change each other’s lives forever.

It’s so hard to write a review for this book and not give away too much of the story. I loved it. LOVED IT. I never knew what was going to happen next, the plot twists were amazing. Kelly Cozy brought in more characters and spun the story in such an intriguing way. I could not even try to predict what would happen next. How is it possible to feel sorrow and empathy for the killer that Sean Kincaid is? It’s possible when you have a storyteller that can weave such a magic web with words. I’ve always been a “romance” reader. Give me a guy, a girl, some action and a happy ever after and I’m content. Kelly’s books have greatly expanded what I want to read now. I would’ve never thought I would love reading “keep you on the edge of your seat” books, but these stories have changed that for me. Kelly Cozy’s writing gets a high five, two thumbs up and a huge fist bump from this reader. I will be a fan of Kelly Cozy forever.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Tricia

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Ashes by Kelly Cozy-A Review and Interview with the Author

Ashes by Kelly Cozy-A Review and Interview with the Author

Ashes

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Released March 2013

Anonymous. That was Jennifer’s life. But when she survived a domestic terrorist attack and her last-minute escape became the iconic image of the event, that life was over. Wanting only to disappear and become just another face in the crowd, she cashed in on her unwanted fame and moved to a small town, hidden away and safe.

Retired. That was Sean’s life. A former covert operative – the kind the government denies exists – he’d been pushed unwillingly into a life of suburban peace and quiet. But his retirement ended when he saw Jennifer’s rescue; from then on he only wanted to find those responsible for the attack, even if it meant turning rogue.

What Jennifer and Sean will both find is that nothing goes to plan, and their paths will cross in a way neither could have foreseen.

Ashes is the first in a two-book suspense series

•••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: HOLY SMOKES! Ashes by Kelly Cozy had me glued by the first few pages! This has been the most suspenseful story that I have read in a long time. The story begins with Jennifer Thomson going to work on a typical work day in Los Angeles, talking with her co-workers and making her way to the copy room to make copies. Then her building explodes. She has to fight her way through death, destruction and a collapsing building to get out. She walks past co-workers that she had just spoke with that are now dead. She was the only survivor in her department. Unbeknownst to her, the image of her being carried out by the firefighter was splashed across the nation, making her an instant hero.

All the way across the states in Florida, Sean Kincaid watched the catastrophe unfold as millions of Americans did that day. He was an early retiree, living in Florida, living a low key life, trying to blend in and not be noticed. He was a former covert operative, he performed secret missions and caused plenty of death and destruction of his own. Watching this news unfold wasn’t a big deal for him until he saw Jennifer emerge on the tv screen amidst all the dust and debris. This woman touched something inside of him and he had to help her.

Now, this is where I thought the story would be about how Sean travels to find Jennifer and help her heal and they fall madly in love…..you know, typical romance stuff. Nope. Not in this book. What unfolds is one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a while. Sean decides he must find the persons responsible for this attack and bring them to Jennifer so she can serve up her own type of revenge. Using his skills that he learned in his former job, he begins his journey of investigating and tracking down who committed this crime. Meanwhile Jennifer struggles with returning back to a normal existence. She decides to relocate to a small town where hopefully no one would know who she is and begin a new life. It takes her a very long time, but she begins to function and make a happy life for herself. But just when she begins realizing how happy she is, Sean barges into her life, declaring how he has captured the person responsible for the bombing and presents the person to Jennifer to seek her revenge.

Keep in mind, Jennifer never knew Sean or that he was going to do this, so she’s terrified, shocked, scared….. you name it, she’s feeling it. So here she is, looking at the bomber, the person who altered her life forever. Sean has given her a gun and tells her do whatever she wants. Oh what to do???? What to do????? She makes a choice. And guess what? That is where the book ends. NOOOOOOOOO! What happened? What did Jennifer do? I have no idea! OMG, it was the best cliffhanger EVER! I was reading this on my e-reader, I swear I turned the e-reader over, looking for more pages. The last sentence says “The story continues in Reckoning.” Well, I do believe I will be reading Reckoning very soon. People, read this book. I was very brief on my descriptions because I didn’t want to give too much away. There is so much that happens within those pages and my review would never do the book justice. READ IT!

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Tricia

Interview

TRC: Hi Kelly and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of your new novel ASHES.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Follow Kelly: Website / Goodreads / Twitter

Kelly CozyKelly: I’ve been in love with books literally since I was a baby. When I was a toddler I wouldn’t nap, so my Mom would put me in the crib with a few books, and I’d be perfectly happy for a good hour. I wrote my first short story when I was 9, and I’ve been writing ever since. Ashes is my second novel. My debut novel, The Day After Yesterday, is contemporary/women’s fiction.

I’m married with one child, and live in California. I love to cook, and my favorite time of year is the fall and winter holidays, when I can make big meals for my family and friends.

I’m also more than a bit of a nerd – I write movie reviews for the Horrorview.com site, and I’ll be at San Diego Comic-Con later this month.

TRC: ASHES is your March 2013 release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

AshesKelly: In the opening chapter a Los Angeles federal building is bombed, and Jennifer Thomson, a young woman who works as an admin, is the last person to make it out of the building before it collapses. The whole world is watching her last-minute escape, and this makes her into the icon of the event. Jennifer’s life is overturned not just by the trauma of the attack, but by survivor guilt and her unwelcome celebrity, so she moves to a small town in British Columbia to start life over.

One of the people watching her escape from the building is Sean Kincaid, a former covert government operative who’s been in unhappy retirement for the past few years. Jennifer’s plight moves him and, when his request to rejoin his agency is denied, he decides to go rogue and not just find those who perpetrated the bombing, but to bring them to Jennifer so she can mete out justice personally.

TRC: Are any of the characters or situations in the storyline based in reality or an amalgamation of your imagination and current headlines?

Kelly: The federal building attack had its inspiration in events like Oklahoma City and 9/11. I didn’t want to write about those incidents specifically, but about the effect an event like those (or any catastrophic event, like a natural disaster) could have on a survivor, particularly in this era when the media is so ever-present and intrusive.

TRC: There is a second storyline planned for ASHES and your leading characters. Would you like to tell us something about the premise?

Kelly: The second book is titled Reckoning. Without spoiling things for those who haven’t read Ashes yet, by the end of Ashes Sean has done some things he’s remorseful for. He’s looking to make amends, while other characters – some we’ve met in Ashes, and some new to the story – are bent on revenge, or on manipulating the situation to a personal agenda. It’s very much about the ripple effect of Sean’s actions in Ashes. For me, Reckoning is probably the most enjoyable of my books in terms of storytelling. I’m looking forward to publishing it this November (in print and ebook).

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Kelly: I usually start a book with the major characters and the basic storyline, including the ending, in mind. But as I write and develop the story, I also learn more about the characters. There ends up being a balance between me moving the characters into situations, and the characters telling me how they deal with those situations. If a character “tells” me that he or she wouldn’t react a certain way or do a particular action, I respect that. Above all, I believe in being true to the characters, and if a storyline would require a character to behave out-of-character, I change the storyline.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (historical, research, logistics) did you encounter writing this particular story/series?

Kelly: I don’t usually write outlines, but this book necessitated an outline because of the alternating chapters between Jennifer and Sean. I wanted their story and character arcs to parallel and mirror each other. I also had to ensure that the timeline of the story worked, as it was necessary for Jennifer to have reached a certain point in her life before Sean finally entered it.

In terms of research, because the group responsible for the attack is a domestic terrorist group, I had to do a fair amount of reading about these groups – their objectives, their structures, their goals. That was a bit unsettling, to say the least.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information with other authors or friends and family. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Kelly: I have a group of friends and fellow authors I refer to as my Constant Reader Brigade. They read my manuscripts and give me their feedback. What makes this group so invaluable is that each person brings their own perspective: one is very detail-oriented and finds little errors, another gives me feedback on how well the story flows. And they’re not afraid to tell me when something doesn’t work.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Kelly: How well a plot works is always very difficult for me to assess, because I know where it’s heading. I try to see the situation through my characters’ eyes, because that’s the perspective the reader will get. Also, I rely on my Constant Reader Brigade to tell me if the foreshadowing works, if something that was supposed to be a surprise is a surprise, and if it all works. If the majority of the Brigade members say, “I’m not buying that,” I go back and rewrite.

TRC: How do you handle the pressures and anxiety of deadlines while still having time to raise a family?

Kelly: Having a schedule helps. If I know that Monday is my evening to work on a current project, it helps me get into the zone. I also give myself time to just relax – the beauty of being a writer is that the work is fun, but it is still work. Oh, and having lots of coffee on hand helps, too.

TRC: What are your thoughts on book reviews-good or bad?

Kelly: Reviews can tell you what about your story works, and what doesn’t. Bad reviews can be difficult to read, but it’s important to read them and see if the criticisms can make your future writing stronger.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Kelly: In addition to getting the Ashes sequel ready for publication, I’m working on a book of movie reviews (mostly genre films). I’m also laying the groundwork on research for a historical novel.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Kelly: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about my work! And I hope people enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Seafood, especially shrimp

Favorite Dessert
Anything involving chocolate

Favorite TV Show
Tie between Castle and Game of Thrones

Last Movie You Saw
Monsters University

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark!

Favorite Flower
Rose

Last Vacation Destination
The Outer Banks in North Carolina

Pet Peeve
Staring at a shelf full of books and not finding anything I want to read

TRC: Thank you Kelly for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of ASHES and we wish you all the best.

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