Bah, Humbug by Heather Horrocks-a review

Bah, Humbug by Heather Horrocks-a review

BAH, HUMBUG (A Christmas Novella) by Heather Horrocks

BAH, HUMBUG is a romantic comedy novella featuring Lexi Anderson-the latest ‘Martha Stewart’ newcomer and novelist Kyle Miller.

Divorced mom Lexi and her two children have just moved into a new neighborhood only weeks before the Christmas holidays. With only seven days until Christmas Lexi is a whirlwind of holiday cheer and Christmas magic. But the morning she wakes up and discovers a stranger beheading the snowman in her front yard, Lexi needs to confront the Scrooge. And to Lexi’s shock, she will eventually learn that the man ‘murdering’ Frosty is none other than her neighbor-the famous author Kyle Miller.

Kyle is a New York Times best selling author and is on a writing deadline. When his extended family reminds him it is his turn to host the Christmas festivities, he must decline due to his work. Other people have jobs but Kyle believes his family sees his writing as nothing more than a hobby. But Kyle’s family has always had difficulty with the Christmas holidays due the death of their beloved mother on Christmas Eve, and Kyle isn’t willing to face the memories again.

Lexi is a ball of Christmas energy. With her need to spread Christmas cheer, Lexi will make it her mission to ensure that Kyle and his family celebrate the holidays together. As the Christmas countdown beings, Kyle and Lexi will discover that there is more to their relationship than a ‘Martha Stewart’ Christmas. Kyle has fallen in love and wants Lexi to be his wife.

BAH HUMBUG is a cute and humorous Christmas story with a HEA that is six days in the making. If you love quick, little romantic storylines, Bah, Humbug is for you. The writing is simple, the storyline is fast paced and the romance is clean and non-sexual.

ORDER NOW: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Reviewed by Sandy

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Wallbanger by Alice Clayton-a review

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton-a review

WALLBANGER by Alice Clayton

WALLBANGER is the November 27, 2012 adult contemporary release from Alice Clayton. Like the name implies WALLBANGER’s focus is on the nightly entertainment heard from the other side of the wall. Caroline “Pink Nightie” Reynolds is a designer and an excellent chef who has just sublet her boss’s apartment only to discover that her new neighbor entertains several women and, their hot and heavy sex can be heard through the walls. When a pink nightie clad Caroline finally confronts a sheet wearing, gorgeous Simon “Wallbanger” Parker in the wee hours of the morning, their attraction to one another can be cut with a knife.

Wallbanger is filled with one-liners, innuendo, many, many humorous moments, the ‘hunt for the missing O’, and plenty of sexual tension, sexual chemistry and sexual frustration. Anyone remember Kim Cattrall’s character in Porkys and how she got the nickname Lassie? Well Caroline has nicknamed of few of Simon’s conquests: Spanx, Purina and Giggler. Caroline and her two BFFs meet weekly to compare notes about what is happening in their lives and when Caroline finally confesses her attraction to the Wallbanger, the trio of friends cannot hide their amusement and curiosity especially when Caroline’s description about the ‘sounds’ and ‘sights’ from Simon the Wallbanger. And the storyline progresses as Simon’s buddies are attracted to and start hooking-up with Caroline’s friends. The only complication-Caroline and Simon’s thinly disguised attraction to one another is hampered by Simon’s past. Caroline is unable to forget the nightly parade of women and the wallbanging memories of moans, giggles and ‘meows’; and Simon confesses that he doesn’t do the girlfriend or dating scene. ‘Friends with benefits’ is more his style or ‘just friends’.

Alice Clayton draws the reader into the storyline as we read the ‘text messages’ and follow the lives of Simon and Caroline as they grow closer to one another without crossing the line from friendship to lovers.

Excerpt:

Simon: “I can’t believe this is the second time we’re cleaning flour and sugar off each other. What’s wrong with us?”

Caroline: “The sugar is good for exfoliation. Not sure what good the flour is doing us, though.”

Simon: “Exfoliation?”

Caroline: “Yeah, I figure every time we sex it up out there, all that sugar helps us remove dead skin cells.”

Simon: “Really, Caroline? Dead skin cells? That’s hardly sexy.”

Caroline: “You weren’t complaining earlier”

Simon: “Well no, how could I? You promised to bake me an apple pie. Don’t forget that part.”

Caroline: “I won’t forget, but I was somewhat under duress.”

Simon: “ You were under me, not under duress, under me.”

Oh, don’t get me wrong, they will eventually become more than lovers, but there are a few heartbreaking moments when Simon’s rejection of Caroline sends her into the arms of an ex-fiance with thoughts of rekindling the past.

WALLBANGER is a wonderful, enjoyable and humorous look at the frustrations of a successful twenty-something designer as she embarks on a seductive ride to discover herself and the man with whom she has fallen in love. This is my first Alice Clayton novel and I am looking forward to many more.

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble

NOTE:  WALLBANGER was originally a piece of fan-fiction, written by Alice Clayton, using the characters from the Twilight series.  Thanks to Carmen and her adept inner ‘everything Edward/Robert’ sixth sense, we have tracked down some of the original fan-fiction and the storyline is virtually identical-only the names have been changed. The author (and bloggers) have removed most of the fan-fiction from various sites, but there are a few bits and pieces of the original floating around.

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Marriage Mistake (Marriage to a Billionaire #3) by Jennifer Probst-a review

THE MARRIAGE MISTAKE (Marriage to a Billionaire #3) by Jennifer Probst

THE MARRIAGE MISTAKE is the third storyline (November 6, 2012 release) in Jennifer Probst’s Marriage to a Billionaire contemporary romance series. Although this storyline is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone with very little discomfort. This is Carina and Max’s story.

Carina Conte is a recent MBA grad with hopes of making a new life for herself in America. Coming from a strict family in Italy, Carina accepts her brother’s offer to work in the family bakery empire, but secretly hopes to get back to her first loves-painting and Maximus Gray. But Carina has not seen Max in several years, and hopes to prove to everyone that she has moved on with her life and her feelings. When Max broke her heart several years before, Carina swore she would never fall in love again, and was hoping to jump start her new life in America with a fling or a one night stand. What Carina did not count on was the sexual pull between she and Max. Hoping to discover Max’s true feelings, Carina played a dangerous game that would all fall apart following a one night stand with the man of her dreams.

Maximus Gray has always desired Carina, but as his best friend’s younger sister, Carina was strictly off-limits. Growing up like siblings, Max loved Carina and now that she a grown woman with curves to spare, Max felt the kick to his senses when he realized that maybe he had made a mistake with his hands-off policy. But a business trip to Vegas would find Carina and Max in a ‘compromising position’. To keep Mama Conte happy they reluctantly got married in the typical Vegas style and neither was very happy about the circumstances. Knowing that Max did not love her, Carina made the choice to walk away and try to discover what it was in life that she really wanted. And in the end-she wanted Max to love her with the same passion that she loved in return.

THE MARRIAGE MISTAKE is a contemporary romance with the usual drama of he loves me/he love me not and all of the angst that goes along with betrayal, rejection and the inability to admit you made a mistake. Maximus Gray is the typical alpha male with a bevy of females at his beck and call, but he secretly desires Carina with everything in his soul. Carina came to America to discover that she was still in love with Max, but was determined to push Max away because he would never be happy tied down with one woman. When they both realized they had made a mistake, it was too late. This storyline doesn’t top my all –time favorites, but for a quick read on a lazy Sunday afternoon-enjoy!!

Reviewed by Sandy

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If I Were You (Inside Out Trilogy #1) by Lisa Renee Jones-a review

IF I WERE YOU (Inside Out Trilogy #1) by Lisa Renee Jones

As we begin our feature with Lisa Renee Jones, we would like to re-post our review for her latest release:  IF I WERE YOU

IF I WERE YOU is the first storyline in Lisa Renee Jones new Inside Out Trilogy. There are bound to be comparisons to Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, Crossfire series by Sylvia Day and Beth Kery’s Because You are Mine as the premise focuses on two people whose lives have been haunted by pain and sorrow, and the measures to which they go to in order to dull that pain. The similarities are plenty right down to the BDSM, family secrets, art galleries and issues of control, but there is also an underlying storyline that first presents itself to the heroine as she searches for information about a missing woman who has written a very revealing journal about her personal life.

Sara McMillan is a 28year old high school English Teacher with a Master’s degree in Art. And when her best friend Ella discovers a series of personal journals in a storage unit, Sara’s life will change forever. Rebecca Mason, the author of the journals, has been missing for several months, and hidden within her writings are the clues as to what has happened. Discovering the woman was the marketing director for a prestigious art gallery, Sara finds herself at an exclusive showing with a personal invite from the owner to fill Rebecca’s position. But it is the erotic writings and personal entries that will force Sara to question who is behind Rebecca’s disappearance and why.

Mark Compton is the gallery owner. From wealth and prestige, Mark makes it his mission to train and educate Sara on the ins and outs of the Art business, including the hosting of gallery affairs. But Sara finds herself uncomfortable around Mark especially when the other employees drop hints that Mark likes to be in control and punish those who are disobedient. And Sara begins to suspect that Mark has played a major role in Rebecca’s journal entries.

35 year old Chris Merit is a local artist whose works were presently on display at the gallery where Sara was currently working and Chris is a man who rarely reveals anything about himself. During a recent showing, Chris will make a promise to himself to get to know Sara, but he will find himself revealing more information and developing feelings for a woman who had only crossed his path a few evenings before. His attraction to Sara is sexually charged, but there is an underlying need to protect the woman from a path that she may not realize she is heading. But Sara is no wallflower and knows what she wants in life.

Chris has a secret that both he and Mark share. Although not friends, they are acquaintances in business but their paths cross into a world that Sara is unable to comprehend. As troubled as Sara’s past has been and the secrets that she refuses to reveal, Chris’s revelations will confuse and add more sorrow to Sara’s life. Believing she was falling in love with Chris, Sara will begin to question what is behind the man to whom she is losing her heart.

IF I WERE YOU is a sexually seductive and erotic storyline that ends abruptly with many unanswered questions that beg to be addressed. But this is a trilogy after all, and with each successive novel, more will be revealed and questions will be answered. The secondary storyline intertwines itself throughout the novel, as Sara reads the entries from Rebecca’s journals and wonders who or what has caused the mysterious Rebecca so much pleasure and so much pain. Lisa Renee Jones does a wonderful job building up the suspense and the reader is pulled into the storyline right from the very first word in Rebecca’s journal.

LINKS TO ORDER
Amazon Kindle / Amazon Paper Books / B&N Nook

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Release Me by J. Kenner-a review

Release Me by J. Kenner – a review

 

RELEASE ME by J. Kenner

RELEASE ME is the first storyline (January 2013 release) in J. Kenner’s new erotic romance series featuring Damien Stark and Nichole (Nikki) Fairchild.  Like many of latest popular serial erotic romance storylines such as Fifty Shades of Grey and The Crossfire Trilogy by Sylvia Day, Nikki and Damien have secrets from their pasts, overcome insurmountable odds, and are pursued by the ghosts of painful childhood memories. But wait…before you say….”oh no, not another one.”..it will suck you in from the very start.


 
 A billionaire who knows what he wants- Damien Stark is our hero. Starting at four years of age Damien became the poster child for junior tennis but a manipulative father and a controlling coach destroyed Damien’s life leaving him with some issues of control.

 
Damien wants Nikki.  As the story progresses, we learn that Nikki and Damien had met six years previous and Nikki believes that Damien does not remember their meeting.  But like many of our stalkerish type heroes, Damien has kept up with Nikki’s life, so much so, that most of her adult life has been choreographed through Damien Stark. And with their latest ‘accidental’ meeting, Damien pursues Nikki to make her-his own. If you are a fan of Fifty Shades or Crossfire Trilogy you will like Release Me.

 
Damien likes his games of sex.  From phone sex to light BDSM, Damien is a man who gets what he wants, but he will not hurt Nikki knowing the horrific past she has had to endure.  But along with Nikki’s secrets Damien has a few of his own that he is reluctant to reveal.
 
Nikki Fairchild is our heroine.  Forced into the pageant circuit at a young age, Nikki and her sister became their mother’s ticket to fame and fortune. But pageant life and life at home were never easy for Nikki and her sister and in the end guilt will weighed heavily on Nikki Fairchild’s shoulders.


 
Release me follows a similar path as the other well-known and successful series written the same genre.  We have the requisite BFF, manipulative and vindictive boss and an ex-boyfriend who wants nothing more than to become something more.

 
I enjoyed RELEASE ME because there were some differences if only in the actual content and overall story outline. J. Kenner has written a sensually seductive storyline that catches your imagination and pulls you in because of its’ familiarity and recognizable premise.  Either way, a tortured and brooding hero is always high on my TBR list.

 

LINKS TO PRE ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Miami, Mistletoe and Murder (Red Stone Security #4) by Katie Reus

Miami, Mistletoe and Murder (Red Stone Security #4) by Katie Reus

MIAMI, MISTLETOE and MURDER (Red Stone Security #4) by Katie Reus

MIAMI, MISTLETOE and MURDER is the 4th storyline (October 31, 2012 release) in Katie Reus’s Red Stone Security contemporary romance mystery series focusing on the men who work for Red Stone Security in Miami Florida. This is Travis and Noel’s story.

Travis Sanchez is a former marine currently on paid vacation from Red Stone Security where he just completed a rough assignment. A quiet man, Travis hides behind the façade of several tattoos and body piercings. And Travis has only one woman on his mind-Noel Baskov. Noel is the owner of the local coffee house that Travis has frequented for over a year. And it has taken Travis some time to get up the nerve to ask Noel out. But on this day, Travis will find Noel worried about a young girl whose mother is being harassed by an ex-boyfriend.

When Travis and Noel arrive, they will soon discover that the ex-boyfriend is armed and to protect Alisa and her young daughter, Travis will have to make a split second decision to save innocent lives. But Noel and Travis will soon discover that not only was the ex-boyfriend looking for revenge, but someone else is now hoping to make trouble for Alisa and the man who saved her life. And to do that, he will go through Noel to exact his revenge.

Travis is the quiet hero who is reluctant to make waves or involve anyone in his private affairs. Two deployments overseas have forced Travis to take a long hard look at what he wants and he wants Noel. When the couple are finally able to have some time alone, Travis’s seduction of Noel on a park side bench is amazing. You could almost feel the electricity and stomach curling sensation. For any man to pull off that feat under the blanket (in public) all I can say is—swooooon much !!!

Most of the action takes place the week before Christmas, and like many novellas, the relationship is very quick to develop. Travis and Noel had been dancing around each other for close to a year and when Travis is ready to take the next step he will find himself both guardian and protector to the woman with whom he was falling in love.

MIAMI, MISTLETOE and MURDER is a fantastic storyline with some mystery, seduction and one hell of an amazing bedroom sequence where we discover the use of one particular body piercing for Travis and Noel. Everyone needs to find their own Travis Sanchez-even if for only one night !!!!!

READING ORDER and links to our reviews
1.   No One To Trust
2.   Danger Next Door
3.   Fatal Deception
4.   Miami, Mistletoe and Murder

LINKS TO ORDER:   Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO

Reviewed by Sandy

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Tigers and Devils/Tigerland by Sean Kennedy-2 reviews

Tigers and Devils/Tigerland by Sean Kennedy- 2 reviews

TIGERS AND DEVILS (Tigers and Devils #1) by Sean Kennedy

TIGERS AND DEVILS is the first storyline in Sean Kennedy’s contemporary M/M romance series featuring Declan Tyler and Simon Murray. First, let me start by saying, this is NOT an erotic look at an M/M storyline. The loves scenes are mostly implied and everything virtually fades to black. You know our heroes have sex, but there is nothing dirty, graphic or violent when it comes to Declan and Simon’s relationship. This story is about the difficulties that a closeted football (soccer for us in North America) star and his lover face, when he is outed by a vindictive journalist who has pictures of the couple in a loving embrace.

Simon Murray is a young independent film producer whose interests include movies, football and friends. When he reluctantly agrees to attend a house party with his friends Roger and Fran, Simon is shocked to discover that the AFL’s most popular and chronically injured football player Declan Tyler is a guest. But it is Simon’s defense of Declan that pushes Declan to want more from Simon.

Declan is the most popular and gifted player in the Australian Football League, but an injury that refuses to heal will find him on the sidelines too long and anxious to get back onto the field. But Declan has a secret that no one knows. He is gay and to keep the pressure off his career, his team and his family, Declan is unable to come out of the closet.

As the relationship between Declan and Simon deepens, so does their insecurity. Simon continues to protect Declan by never revealing their relationship, but as hard as that is, it is more difficult when friends and colleagues begin to pressure Simon about his secret life. Everyone knows that Simon is gay, but he feels obligated to keep his relationship quiet for fear that Declan’s career will be irrevocably harmed by the information. But is it only a matter of time before photographs of the couple are released showing Simon comforting Declan following the hospitalization of Declan’s father.

Here is where the ride gets difficult. Declan is a quiet, reluctant hero who only wants to play football and live his life with the man of his dreams. But the news media, the journalists and public opinion have a way of snowballing the information and eventually Declan feels obligated to defend his position. Simon and Declan’s personal life becomes fodder for the press and Declan’s own teammates make his on-field life a living hell. Both Declan and Simon have tempers and each is willing to defend and protect the other from emotional and physical harm.

Declan and Simon both have some major issues with insecurity and trust, and this becomes apparent when their relationship becomes headlines news. Declan has a habit of withdrawing and running away, and Simon refuses to talk when his world begins to collapse in on itself. Simon’s need to continuously protect Declan includes allowing Declan’s teammates, their spouses and the public to use Simon as a whipping boy and Simon will eventually withdraw only to explode in a shower of anger and pain when it all becomes too much.

There are some amazing secondary characters. Roger and Fran are Simon’s best friends and will eventually become closer to Declan. They are accepting of Simon’s homosexuality but Roger will have some difficulty accepting Declan as Simon’s lover. There is obviously some bromance jealousy as well with Roger’s protective nature coming through, and it will place a major wall and barrier between Simon and Roger. At times I wanted to smack them both upside the head and say ..”look, he wants to explain. Let him explain.”. It is Simon’s refusal to listen that amped up my stress, as well as Declan’s. Declan’s football teammate and best friend is Abe. Abe and his partner Lisa are so tight with Declan, that they have apartments in the same building and when Declan decides to move back to Melbourne, Abe and Lisa will follow shortly thereafter. Abe and Lisa are immediately enthralled with Simon, and to Simon’s surprise he is readily accepted into Declan’s very small circle of friends. But acceptance by family is another matter.

TIGERS and DEVILS is a wonderful story that focuses on the hardship of a professional athlete when he comes out of the closet at the height of his career. Whether the animosity and hatred would occur in reality, the struggles for a new couple are multiplied when they must live their lives on the front pages and headlines of every news media and gossip column hoping to cash in on the latest tabloid story. Sean Kennedy does an amazing job writing a story that shows how two people can love each other and overcome the odds, when the odds are very high-indeed. The character development is amazing. You are drawn into the storyline from the start and you feel the emotional sorrow and powerful love between two ultimately shy lovers.

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / KOBO

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TIGERLAND (Tigers and Devils #2) by Sean Kennedy

TIGERLAND is the second storyline (October 2012 release) in Sean Kennedy’s M/M contemporary romance series featuring Declan Tyler and Simon Murray. Tigerland continues approximately 3 years after Tigers and Devils.

Now in a committed relationship, the media hype surrounding Declan’s coming out has all but burned out for Declan and Simon. Their public personas are still very much in demand as Declan is now a sports commentator and Simon is the program developer for gay content at a local television station. But life is about to be turned upside down again, when Declan’s former love comes out on the same day as he retires and brings Declan’s private life back into the media frenzy.

Declan and Simon have had their ups and downs, but the lovers have now moved in together and their careers have taken different paths once again. But it is Declan’s previous love life that will take center stage when Greg Heyward announces that Simon was the reason for Declan and Greg’s breakup and subsequent loss of friendship. The fact that Simon was not around during Declan’s relationship with Greg didn’t matter, but selling books and making a name for himself wreaked of revenge and a jealous former lover. And to Simon’s dismay, another journalist with an axe to grind against Simon will be at the forefront of Heyward’s deceitful autobiography and subsequent media campaign.

There are a couple of secondary storylines. One involves Declan’s former teammate Abe and his partner Lisa. As the story begins we learn that Abe and Lisa are no longer together and Abe is a one-man wrecking crew as it involves his life and his friends. To be honest we are not privy to the problems that led to Abe and Lisa’s breakup but we are aware that Abe is having a difficult time with the loss of his partner and love.

Roger and Fran’s life will take on added stress when the couple try desperately for a baby, but when several attempts and thousands of dollars later there is no success, Declan and Simon will offer a little help, if only to pay the added costs. But it doesn’t help when Simon’s brother Tim’s wife continues to breed with like a rabbit in the woods.

Throughout both storylines, Tigers and Devils and Tigerland, like many of the characters, we begin to question Declan’s silence as it pertains to his private life and Simon’s love. Although he is fiercely protective of his lover, he is reticent to face the media other than to say a few pre-programmed words that rarely mollify the media journalists and rag reporters. Greg Heyward’s attempt to goad Declan at every opportunity will eventually results in a face to face physical confrontation but it will take Simon’s concern about Declan’s silence regarding Heyward’s accusations that force Declan to make a public statement defending his lover and telling the truth about what happened so many years ago.

TIGERLAND is another amazing story in Sean Kennedy’s Tiger and Devils series. With colorful characters, interesting storylines and the right amount of romance, Tigers and Devils is fast becoming one of my favorite series.

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble /

Reviewed by Sandy

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One Night With a Hero (The Hero #2) by Laura Kaye-a review

ONE NIGHT WITH A HERO (The Hero #2) by Laura Kaye- a review

ONE NIGHT WITH A HERO is the second storyline (October 2012 release) in Laura Kaye’s ‘Hero’ series. Written in the contemporary romance genre, ONWH focuses on Special Forces Sgt. Brady Scott and community centre director Joss Daniels.

Following a one-night stand that can only be described as the best night of her life, Joss (Jocelyn) Daniels realizes that she may have lost her heart to Army Special Forces Sargeant Brady Scott. Orphaned and left in the social services system as a child, Joss refuses to allow any man to get close enough to cause pain, and with that, she is willing to reluctantly walk away not knowing if there could have been a future. But life has a funny way a forcing two people together when she discovers that her new neighbor is Brady Scott.

Sgt. Scott is on leave from the Special Forces division. With a history of uncontrolled anger and rage, Brady is told to get his act together and forced into counseling. Growing up with an abusive and alcoholic father, Brady fears that the cycle of abuse will continue and he refuses to think about anything beyond the present. And discovering Joss Daniels is his new neighbor, Brady’s libido goes into over drive and the pair take advantage of their new-found friendship. But Brady isn’t looking for a permanent relationship and his rejection and attitude towards Joss will change when he realizes he is beginning to have feelings for his beautiful neighbor.

Feeling used and emotionally abused, Joss will begin to build barriers thinking the cycle of rejection is starting all over again. Brady’s continued cold shoulder and angry demeanor becomes almost unbearable and worsens with the revelation that Joss is pregnant. Brady’s immediate rejection and denial forces Joss to consider her options and life without a father, was not the future she would have planned for any child. Although Joss’s heart is broken and shattered, she knows that she will be the best parent any child could have-with or without Brady Scott.

ONE NIGHT WITH A HERO will bring back the protagonists from Her Forbidden Hero-Marco and Brady’s sister Alyssa. The interconnection between the storylines keeps the familiarity between the novels and allows the reader an opportunity to catch up with a previous hero. The storyline is fast paced, wonderfully written and the character development is perfect. The turmoil and angst is palpable and you are drawn into the roller coaster of emotions. Laura Kaye writes a dynamic story that will draw you in from the start.

Reviewed by Sandy

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