Don’t Breathe a Word by Christie Craig-Review and Giveaway

Don’t Breathe a Word (Texas Justice #2)  by Christie Craig-Review and Giveaway

DON’T BREATHE A WORD
Texas Justice #2
by Christie Craig
Release Date : November 5, 2019
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 5, 2091

Police detective Juan Acosta doesn’t only carry scars on the outside. He’s filled with guilt and anger ever since his undercover job led to the murder of those he loved the most. Now he’s living for one thing: revenge. That is, until Juan meets his beautiful new neighbor.

Vicki Holloway prides herself on being capable and independent, but her life is turned upside down when her sister Sara is killed by an abusive ex. Fearing for the safety of her niece, Vicki and the little girl go into hiding…resurfacing in Texas with new identities.

Juan finds his once-frozen heart thawing around Vicki, but he knows she’s hiding something. Juan needs answers, but Vicki isn’t talking. She has to keep her secrets if she wants to keep Bell safe, which means resisting her growing feelings for the sexy, scarred man next door. But when Juan’s quest for justice brings danger to her door, divulging the truth might be the only thing that keeps her alive.

••••••••

REVIEW: Don’t Breathe a Word begins with Detective Juan Acosta losing everything in the blink of an eye. One moment, he and his sweet pregnant wife are sharing a poignant moment together and the next moment, his life changed forever. Scarred, inside and out, from the explosion that killed his burgeoning family, Juan works the cold cases day in and day out. He is only merely existing and hanging on by his need for revenge.

One night, he sees an intruder trying to break into his new neighbor’s back door and goes to investigate. When the intruder throws a bbq grill at him, his vision is compromised as another attacker engages him. As he wrestles with the newest threat, he is stunned to see that not only is it a woman, but it is his neighbor who has mistaken him for the intruder who is long gone now. Once all of the confusion is sorted out, he knows one thing for sure about his new neighbor: “Nicki” is scared…………

Vicki, aka Nicki, is scared that the one she ran from, along with her niece, have found them once again. She swore to keep her safe, and if she has to run again, she’ll do it. However, once she and her niece get to know Juan, it doesn’t take either of them long to surmise that not only is he a good guy, but he will do whatever he needs to to keep them safe.

Don’t Breathe a Word is a nicely written story with great characters. Vicki is strong and independent, but she’s also wary and tired. She doesn’t trust easily, which causes a few misunderstandings along the way. You fall in love with Juan immediately. His grief is palpable, but so are his growing feelings for Vicki and her niece. The secondary characters are well written and engaging. The world Craig has built is one of family and second chances and leaves you wanting more and holding your breath until the very end. This is the first I’ve ready by this author but look so forward to reading more. Well done, Christie Craig! Very well done!

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Vickie K

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Photojournalist, Author and Speaker

Christie Craig, AKA C.C. Hunter, a New York Times Bestseller, is an Alabama native, a multi-published writer, motivational speaker, and writing teacher. She currently hangs her hat in Texas and when she’s not writing her romantic suspense novels or her humorous romantic suspense novels, she’s working on her heart tugging young adult novels under the pen name C.C. Hunter.

A lover of good wine, good books and long walks with her dog, Lady, she considers herself extremely lucky to make a living doing what she loves. Learn more at www.CCHunterBooks.com or www.christie-craig.com.

Click here to see a video of Christie on the Houston Chronicle.com about her overcoming the difficulties of being dyslexic.

 

Christie’s publisher FOREVER ROMANCE is offering a paper copy of DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES and a paper copy of DON’T BREATHE A WORD to TWO (2) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe.

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Robby (Cooper Construction #3) by Jen Davis-Review & Giveaway

ROBBY (Cooper Construction #3) by Jen Davis-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

ROBBY
Cooper Construction #3
by Jen Davis
Release Date : June 4, 2019
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, M/M, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2019

No one knows me–not the true me shaped by my sordid past. I cover the scars on my soul as well as I hide the ones on my skin.

I’m living proof that only the strongest survive on these streets. But I paid a heavy price for my survival.

Now I’m ready to move on, to forget my past. In my dreams, I do it with Matt. I’ve had my eye on him ever since he joined Cooper Construction. Like me, he keeps his true self hidden, locked inside a shy and silent shell.

Somehow, I break through. Touch the untouchable. But when love strips us both naked, the truths we reveal may end up tearing us apart.

•••••••••

REVIEW: ROBBY is the third instalment in Jen Davis’ contemporary, adult COOPER CONSTRUCTION erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women who work for Cooper Construction. This is foreman’s assistant Robby Jordan, and construction worker /architect student / single father Matt York’s story line. ROBBY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: ROBBY contains scenes of M/M sexual situations, as well as reference to abuse, drugs, alcohol and self-harm that may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Robby and Matt) ROBBY follows the building relationship between co-workers foreman’s assistant Robby Jordan, and construction worker /architect student / single father Matt York. Robby Jordan has been attracted to his co-worker for close to a year but single father Matt York is oblivious to Robby’s attraction, as well as his own tempered sexuality. Having always considered himself asexual, but desperate to prove otherwise, Matt’s one and only sexual experience resulted in his now one year old son. Lonely and needing a friend, Matt accepts Robby’s offer for online gaming, an offer that brings the two co-workers closer together. What ensues is the building relationship, romance and love between Matt and Robby, and the potential fall-out as Robby’s past conflicts with potential custody arrangements between Matt and the mother of his child.

Robby’s past is mired in abuse and rejection; alcohol and drugs but our hero has struggled to move on with his life including helping those who are unable or unwilling to help themselves. Matt battles his direction in life including his attraction to a man when he, himself, had never considered himself bisexual or gay. Using their work relationship as a conduit towards friendship and love, Robby begins a slow seduction of the man he has lusted after for over a year.

The relationship between Robby and Matt is one of immediate attraction but Matt struggles with who he is, and what he wants. Robby’s past is dangerous and dark, but a past that continues to haunt him both day and night. The $ex sense are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Brick and Olivia , Kane and Amanda; Matt’s friend and mother of his child Patty, and their son Jimmy, as well as a number of gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered youth who struggle for a place to live, and feel protected from life. The requisite evil has many faces.

ROBBY is a story of family, friendship, rejection and love; of finding where you belong no matter the path or choices that lie ahead. The premise is heart breaking, emotional and engaging; the romance is sensitive and provocative; the characters are broken, wounded but energetic and spirited.

Reading order and previous reviews
Brick
Kane
Robby

 

Pick up a FREE ebook copy of KANE: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Thanks so much, Sandy, for hosting me today. I’m beyond excited to be here in support of my new release, Robby. This book is my first male/male romance and I had an amazing time writing it. As a longtime romance reader, I enjoy almost all subgenres and I’ve always held a special place in my heart for male-male romance. I loved, loved, loved the Cut & Run series by Abigail Roux, and some other early favorites for me included Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville and Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley. (What can I say? I have a type.)

It never occurred to me not to have LGBTQ characters in the Cooper Construction series, though the first two installments were m-f. Robby was such an important part of the first book, Brick, because he was a soft, gentle spirit who contrasted so sharply with the title character, who was this big badass who beat people up and killed folks for a crime lord. Robby saw the human side of Brick when few others did and they built a deep friendship which included Kane, the title character of book two.

Once I got through Brick and Kane’s stories, I knew Robby needed an HEA. But there was so much we didn’t know about him. His book is about how he came to be the man Brick and Kane befriended in the earlier novels. He is gentle and kind, but he’s been through fire. And I feel like that history is what led these men to connect. They all lived through hell and came out the other side so very different.

Another fun thing to explore was finding the perfect match for this character I love so much. Matt is a demisexual single father who doesn’t really understand himself or see the possibility of love in his life. He’s always struggled to find his place and to make interpersonal connections. With Robby, he finds a beloved friendship and a romance that takes everyone by surprise.

I hope deeply that readers of the m-f books in this series will follow these characters over to a male-male love story. I know many readers like only straight or LGBTQ content exclusively. But love is love is love is love. And what grows between Matt and Robby is just beautiful. (If you haven’t read the other two books, don’t worry. These all hold up as standalones. You can follow along just fine.)

A word of warning, though, if you’re new to my work, the content is dark. Trigger warnings for references to abuse, drug use, and self-harm. But this book also includes themes of self-acceptance, found family, and happy ever after.

Tell me. If you enjoy LGBTQ romance, which authors were among your early favorites? Or which series have you enjoyed which include both straight and LGBTQ romances?

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Jen started her love affair with romance novels, first as a reader, then as a reviewer and blogger. She launched the Red Hot Books blog in 2010 and jumped into Book Twitter shortly after.

She wrote her first books, a YA/NA trilogy under another name back in 2016. But Brick is her first foray into Adult Contemporary Romance.

Jen is happily married to her high school sweetheart. Together, they’re raising two kids, a cat, and a dog who is afraid of his own shadow.

She spends her days working as television journalist and her nights curled up with a good book.

Jen Davis is graciously offering an ebook copy of any ONE book in her COOPER CONSTRUCTION series to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Highland Defender (Renegade Scots #2) by Julie Johnstone-Review & Giveaway

Highland Defender (Renegade Scots #2) by Julie Johnstone-Review & Giveaway

HIGHLAND DEFENDER
Renegade Scots #2
by Julie Johnstone
Release Date: December 26, 2018
Genre: adult, historical, Highlander, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 26, 2018

To protect herself, she’ll deny her powers. To save her, he’ll break every rule he’s vowed to live by.

Lillianna de Burgh knows all about the legend surrounding the women in her family—that true love awakens the gift of sight within them. But given the horrific betrayals the power has brought her ancestors, she wants no part in true love or the supposed gift. Avoiding her fate seems simple enough since men have proven time and again that they wish to use her, not cherish her, even her own kin. Thankfully, when she flees England to escape her evil uncle, she finds herself in the company of a seemingly hard-hearted Highlander who thinks the legend nothing more than a myth. As they travel together, she comes to discover that behind his cold facade lies a fierce and honorable protector, whose mere touch ignites the passion within her. Yet, the more she tries to resist it, the more she seems to fall.

Renowned Highland warrior Angus MacLorh lives by three principles: put country above self, protect family at all cost, and never become entangled with a lass—not again. So when his future king needs him to accompany the far-too-lovely Lillianna to safety, Angus agrees, confident he can keep her at a distance, as he does all women. Yet the gentle, fiercely determined lady intrigues and tempts him at every turn, and when his greatest enemy captures her, he finds himself breaking all his rules to save her.

As the fight for the Scottish throne embroils Lillianna and Angus deep in danger, enemies near and far hunt them threatening their very lives. When the truth of the legend finally comes to light, can a lady determined to escape her destiny and a Highlander bent on facing his future alone overcome the barriers they’ve created and trust in their hearts to lay claim to the most glorious of love?

••••••••

REVIEW: Highland Defender is the second book in this new series by author Julie Johnstone, and what a series it’s becoming. Well written, imaginative, and twisty! I loved the first book Outlaw King and this one is a wonderful continuation of it.

This is the story of Lilliana de Burgh and Angus MacLorh. Lilliana is the cousin of Elizabeth de Burgh, wife to Robert the Bruce. Angus is Laird to his own clan and friend and follower of Robert. Robert and Angus are pretending to be loyal to Edward, King of England, while organizing the Scots to rebellion.

Angus has sworn never to fall in love again. He doesn’t mind a roll in the hay, but only with a woman who expects nothing else. He was distracted by a scheming woman once, and his father died as a result. His mother followed her husband in death soon after. The woman betrayed him, and her father attacked his castle and killed his father while he rode to protect her. He swore never to let his focus fade from his duty ever again and for years has kept that oath.

Lilliana is the legendary daughter of the seer of the MacLeod clan. She’s the focus of a legend that has men trying to use her powers or win her heart to get those powers. She has sworn never to fall in love or marry for that matter. Her father and uncle have tried to use her to get her powers and are still trying. To do so, they must find the amulet of legend that will awaken those powers or make her fall in love to awaken them.

Robert has asked Angus to take a message to his men in Ettrick Forest, that the King’s men are coming. He also tasked Angus with escorting Lilliana to Scotland and the Macleod clan. They must travel together for a long time to do this. The wonderful experience of learning about each other along with the denied, but mutual attraction makes this trip intriguing and fun. It is, however, also dangerous.

That’s the basic setup. Author Julie Johnstone has written another thrilling tale of the highlands that will entice you into this world. It’s a wonderful and exciting read that I loved! It’s full of danger, sensual and growing love, and even a bit of magic. I urge you to begin and continue this series…quite a ride!

Click HERE to read Georgie / Julie’s dual review of book on OUTLAW KING.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna S

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Author Julie Johnstone first fell in love with romance fifteen years ago when she picked up her first romance novel in an airport gift shop on the way to Conroe, Texas for a family reunion and spent her whole weekend reading rather than water skiing, which up until then was one of her favorite things to do.

Julie is staying up way too late and typing furiously on her keyboard to finish her next book or blog with her fellow authors at Ladyscribes. Julie is married to an amazing lawyer and when she is not running her two precocious children to one activity or another she is trying to seek out some time to stay in shape and see her dearest friends.

Julie Johstone is graciously offering an ebook copy of HIGHLAND DEFENDER to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

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Outlaw King (Renegade Scots #1) by Julie Johnstone-Dual Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Outlaw King (Renegade Scots #1) by Julie Johnstone-Dual Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

OUTLAW KING
Renegade Scots #1)
by Julie Johnstone
Release Date: August 31, 2018
Genre: adult, historical, medieval, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2018

She’s the weapon intended to destroy him. He’s the key to her freedom.

Dark days have come to medieval Scotland, and fierce warrior Robert the Bruce would do anything to release his country from English rule—and not just because he’s the rightful heir to the Scottish throne. As the bloody war rages on, enemies on both sides of the fight surround him, and Robert must dance a dangerous line between truth and deception. One misstep could topple his nation and cost him his life, yet one woman tempts him—and threatens his mission—as no other ever has.

Elizabeth de Burgh longs for freedom in a time when women have none. So when she finds herself ordered by her ruthless father and her godfather, the King of England, to seduce the leader of the Scottish rebellion and reveal his secrets, she yearns to fight back against their cruel plot. But they threaten to kill her beloved cousin, leaving her no choice but to comply. As she grows close to Robert and the mask that hides the man who would be king is peeled away, she cannot imagine aiding in the destruction of the noble Scot bent on liberating his people.

Bound by duty and honor but ensnared by passion, Robert and Elizabeth must determine if they are each other’s biggest threat or greatest source of strength. And moreover, they must decide how much they are willing to risk for the one thing neither ever imagined they’d find with the other—extraordinary, boundless love.

••••••••

Georgianna’s REVIEW:Outlaw King is book one of the new Renegade Scots Series by Julie Johnstone. It’s a historical romance that relies on historical research and a bit of literary license by the author to make the story flow and engaging to the reader.
This is the story of Robert the Bruce and Elizabeth de Burgh.

It begins in 1296 AD in Northern Scotland. This is a complicated story of not doing what you want, but what you must do to survive. Robert the Bruce’s father is old and probably soon to die. Bruce, the elder is basically a coward and refuses to fight the English. As his son, Robert is required to serve the man his father is allied with, so he’s in the process of helping the King take strongholds in Scotland. During this battle, Robert decides he is on the wrong side of the fight. It’s during this battle that Elizabeth de Burgh, disguised as a squire, helps to save many Scots from being burned alive by her father’s order. She must then return with her father and face his wrath, but first thanked Robert for aiding her… and that began their story.

How they managed to actually fall in love, despite the circumstances was a remarkable story. The writing is excellent, the history interesting, the romance and love scenes hot, the action not too brutal.

I loved this story and look forward to the next in this series. For me there’s no high as outstanding as a highlander renegade Scot.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna

––––––––––––––––

Julie’s REVIEW: Books that are based in fact are always tricky. Do you believe everything you read ? Or do you just go in and read it for what it is ?

Robert the Bruce was an actual character in history as was Elizabeth, so with bated breath I opened my kindle …..

Beautifully written and very descriptive, I could imagine roaming the hills.

Elizabeth has a job to do …..seduce “the Bruce” and finds out all she can about his army and intention’s towards England.

But Elizabeth isn’t happy with that deal, she is ordered by both the king of England and her father to do her duty (you have to remember that women had NO SAY in what they did in those days) all she wants is a quiet life, and when they threaten her beloved cousins life, Elizabeth sees no other choice but to do ask they demand.

But the legend is nothing like the man, and Elizabeth must make a choice …. the man or her family ??

Robert wants his Scotland free from the tyranny of England, and soon a bloody war erupts, so he has enough on his plate with war and feuding clans, the last thing he needs is Elizabeth ruining his concentration, but she does that, and soon Robert will need to reveal to Elizabeth his plans …. can he trust her, or will she betray him ? And will he use her to fool the English, ensuring she hates him forever ??

Reviewed by Julie B

 

How much do you really want to know?

As a writer of historical romance when I’m developing my story I often have to ask myself how important is historical accuracy. You may be surprised to learn that is not such an easy question to answer for every aspect of the story. Sometimes, I feel like a circus tight rope walker balancing precariously on a very thin cord. To my left sit readers who think they want complete accuracy in their historical fiction novels, but to my right fall the readers who want a dab of accuracy here and there. I’ve learned this through 22 published historical romance novels.

So just how important is accuracy in historical fiction when you are trying to please two different mindsets of people? For me, accuracy is very important because I want readers to get a true picture of what was really happening in the time my book pertains to. However, I’m very aware that I cannot be totally accurate with every single aspect of history.

Take for example my Medieval books. If I wrote the books in Gaelic, as the Scots spoke in Medieval times, the modern day reader would not even understand the book. The same holds true for my Regency books. If I used all of the words that they did in the Regency period many of them have gone completely out of use. The modern reader would not grasp the meaning of my sentences. I have to pick and choose the words I use in my historical books very carefully. I like to pepper in actual words that were used during the time for authenticity without sacrificing accuracy.

On the flip side of using words no longer in existence, I have to be very careful not to use words that seem too modern and would pull the reader out of the time period of the story. I actually have a word bank that my editor and I have developed which contains thousands of words and expressions that were not in use in the Medieval and Regency period. We spent countless hours finding substitutes for these words so that my stories would be as historically accurate as possible while not causing the reader to stumble over a word.
Sometimes the historical accuracy of what I know about certain words as a researcher can come into direct conflict with the history that I realize many readers think they know of a term. For example, I would never use the word ‘claymore’ to speak of a sword in my Scottish Medieval books because the word was not used in reference to swords until the 18 century, yet many readers believe that all swords should be called claymores. Thanks, Hollywood. ☺

I have to make decisions all the time about whether to go with what I know to be the absolute truth or what I know to be reader expectation. I make these decisions on a case by case basis. Another example is bathing. Most people do not want to hear in stories that your character has not bathed in quite a while, so I chose to bend historical accuracy in this instance and make all of my character hygienic. Now, you will not find a laird in a modern day bubble bath day after day, but he will take a dip in a loch more than once a month. See how niftily accuracy can be bent just a tad while maintaining as much historical integrity as possible and delivering a wonderful reader experience.

Another fun example is clothing. I always put my characters in historically accurate clothing, but when it comes time for the steamy love scenes, those many layers of clothes are going to come off a lot quicker than they would in real life. If stayed completely accurate with how long it really took to disrobe, I fear my readers would get bored. However, a caveat to this statement is that I have often taken off layers of clothing on characters while working in a kiss here, a caress there or even turned the disrobing into a game of seduction where each layer removed increased the tension in the room. But sometimes this is not possible, and the clothes just have to go quickly!
As far as dates and actual events that take place, I like to stick to the facts and not change these things. I will never put a historical battle at a time or place that it wasn’t, but I will certainly make up characters that didn’t exist and put them there. However, the characters I create from my imagination could have existed, and that makes all the difference.
Whenever I use events or places that existed, I put in hours of countless research to make sure I am historically accurate because I feel there should be no bending on this type of thing. But sometimes, I have been known to make up a castle or an event, which is why what I write is called fiction. ☺

In my newest book, OUTLAW KING, RENEGADE SCOTS, Book 1, I like to say it is a marriage of historical accuracy meets author imagination. I hope you will consider reading it! I could go on about historical accuracy forever, but I have to go write my next book! How important is historical accuracy to you as a reader? One commenter will win a digital copy of OUTLAW KING.

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Author Julie Johnstone first fell in love with romance fifteen years ago when she picked up her first romance novel in an airport gift shop on the way to Conroe, Texas for a family reunion and spent her whole weekend reading rather than water skiing, which up until then was one of her favorite things to do.

Julie is staying up way too late and typing furiously on her keyboard to finish her next book or blog with her fellow authors at Ladyscribes. Julie is married to an amazing lawyer and when she is not running her two precocious children to one activity or another she is trying to seek out some time to stay in shape and see her dearest friends.

Julie Johstone is graciously offering an ebook copy of OUTLAW KING to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Follow Julie Johnstone on Facebook.

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

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9. Giveaway runs from September 8-12, 2018

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Dark Sentinel (Carpathian / Dark Series #28) by Christine Feehan-Dual Review & Giveaway

DARK SENTINEL (Carpathians / Dark Series #28) by Christine Feehan-Dual Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

DARK SENTINEL
Carpathian / Dark Series #28
by Christine Feehan
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: adult, paranormal, erotic, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 4,2018

After the devastating loss of her entire family, Lorraine Peters heads to the woods searching for peace of mind and anything to quell the anger in her soul. Instead, she stumbles upon a scene of horrific violence, as one man lies helpless in the face of three attackers.

Andor Katona’s existence has been a harsh one, living for centuries as a monk in the Carpathian Mountains. Unable to find his lifemate, he almost welcomes his release from a colorless and unfeeling world at the hands of the vampire hunters who have mistaken him for their prey. That is, until a whirling ball of fury bursts onto the scene, determined to save him.

In one glimpse, in one breath, Andor recognizes Lorraine as his lifemate, but it will take more than their telepathic connection to convince her of their immortal bond. Lorraine is a lethal combination of cunning and courage. So much so that she captures the attention of a master vampire, one who has already lost what was once irreplaceable to him. One who will strike with deadly precision at Andor and his ancient Carpathian comrades in a war to end all wars.

•••••••••

Sandy’s REVIEW: DARK SENTINEL is the twenty-eighth instalment in Christine Feehan’s CARPATHIANS/DARK erotic, paranormal, romance series. This is ancient warrior Andor Katona, and Lorraine Peters’ story line. DARK SENTINEL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although there is an ongoing series arc that continues in Dark Sentinel. Several of the previous story line characters play secondary and supporting roles including a number of warriors, from a Carpathian monastery, who have yet to find their lifemates.

SOME BACKGROUND: All Carpathian males must find their lifemates before they turn vampire or greet the dawn. Without a lifemate, the males no longer see in color, feel pain or experience emotions. A lifemate is the light to their dark. She is the keeper of his heart and the keeper of his soul. As the unmated Carpathian male ages, the darkness begins to envelope his soul.

 Told from dual third person perspectives (Andor and Lorraine) DARK SENTINEL continues to focus on a group of ancient Carpathian warriors, nearing the end of their search for a lifemate, who had previously locked themselves away from the world in a monastery high in the Carpathian mountains. A call to help their fellow warriors in America found our hero Andor Katona fighting the evil that had once been a proud Carpathian male. Close to death, Andor would face his future in the guise of human female Lorraine Peters, a woman willing to risk her life to protect a stranger who was telepathically announcing the end of his life. With just a few spoken words from our story line heroine, Andor knew that the brave but stubborn female was his fated lifemate. What ensues is Lorraine’s effort to help heal the man with whom she is falling in love, as a powerful vampire resurfaces in an effort to find his own fated mate.

DARK SENTINEL follows the building relationship between ancient warrior Andor Katona, and Lorraine Peters. Lorraine easily accepts the existence of vampires and the Carpathian species but struggles with the ‘fated lifemate’ aspect of their lives. As a human female with strong psychic capabilities Lorraine soon finds herself traversing between ‘planes of existence’ as the Carpathian healers battle to save Andor’s life but our heroine remains hesitant to give up control of her human life.

Andor Katona gave up all hope of finding the light to his dark; his other half knowing to hide away in a mountainous monastery would in effect hide the warriors from any potential mate. Moving to America to aid in the war against the growing army of vampires, Andor knows that Lorraine is his salvation but convincing the woman, is a task on its own. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

DARK SENTINEL follows all the hallmarks of Christine Feehan’s CARPATHIAN/ DARK series including the stubborn heroine, and a Carpathian male who is duty bound to protect the woman he loves. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including the reappearance of infamous healer Gary Daratrazanoff, as well as a number of former Carpathian monastery warriors. Details continue to emerge regarding the Malinov brothers and their decision to turn vampire, including new information not previously revealed. The vampires have acquired the ability to formulate plans, something else that is slowly changing the series arc. The premise is entertaining and revealing but bogs down with too much repetition; the characters are bold and colorful; the romance is fated and spicy. DARK SENTINEL is an intriguing and detailed story , one that will be enjoyed by die-hard Feehan fans.

 

Barb’s Review: Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan is the 28th book in her fantastic Dark/Carpathian series.  I must say that I am thrilled that Christine Feehan has returned to what made the Dark series so successful.  After a number of books where the Carpathian men were very abusive, I had thought perhaps the time had come to move on, but that has happily changed.

Andor Katona, our hero, is one of the men who spent years in the monastery living as a monk, and is now living with Tariq’s group in their compound in the US. After a major battle where he killed a few vampires, Andor is attacked by humans who have become puppets by a master vampire, and he lays badly injured; he decides that perhaps now is the time to end his life.  But out of nowhere comes a woman swinging a saucepan at the three men to protect Andor.  To his shock her voice reaches him and he begins to see color; finally after centuries, he has found his lifemate.

Lorraine Peters, our heroine, loves the peace and quiet of the woods, and while camping she discovers the badly beaten man being attacked, and instincts push her to help save him. Of course, Lorraine doesn’t believe in vampires, and in a short time, she will learn that there is a different life out there.   Lorraine tries to protect Andor, whom she feels some attraction to, from being attacked further.  A few of Andor’s friends come to his rescue and to Lorraine, when she is attacked.  One of our favorites, Gary, plays a big part in this story, as he is the healer who will save Andor, along with two other Carpathians. 

What follows is a wonderful story, where Andor and Lorraine, work with Gary, Sandu and Ferro to destroy the puppets, and quickly return to Tariq Asenguard’s home, to prepare for whatever Sergei Malinov is planning against them. When Lorraine was attacked, they feared Malinov implanted something in her, but nothing was found.  In the previous book, we learned that Sergei is trying to take Elisabeta, who is underground healing. I expect we will learn more about her in the next book.

I loved Andor and Lorraine together.  She was a great heroine, a tough fighter, who willingly accepted Andor’s and Carpathian’s lifestyle.  Andor was so wonderful & patient with Lorraine, such a welcome change. Their romance heated up quickly, but though very sexual, Andor was so good with Lorraine.  It was also nice to spend time with Tariq, Charlotte, Genevieve, Emeline, Dragomire, and the children we got to know in the previous two books. 

In Dark Sentinel, so much happens to keep us glued to our seats, and I could not put the book down.  The exciting storyline plots; the return of Sergei Malinov;  a strong wonderful  heroine and a hero who not only worshipped his life mate, but treated her  like a queen, and the great recurring characters in Tariq’s compound. I loved Dark Sentinel.

Dark Sentinel was a fantastic, exciting, non-stop pulse pounding story, with a wonderful couple we rooted for from the beginning. The story does end somewhat abrupt with knowing that we still have more with the Malinovs still around, I can’t wait to see where Christine will be taking us in the next book.

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

“Are you comfortable?” Andor kept his gaze fixed on Lorraine’s face. She clearly had no idea how beautiful she was, or what danger she was in. She was confident in her skills to protect herself, and he understood why. She had training. She was far better than average when it came to defending herself, man or woman. The problem was, she was dealing with a Carpathian, not a human and he had no intentions of letting her get away.
“Yes. I should ask you the same thing.” She turned her head to look down at him.
She had finished covering him up to his neck in rich, dark soil. Already he could feel the healing properties working on his wounds. He wasn’t out of the woods, so to speak. He needed more blood and a good healer. He had sent out the call to his brethren, using their common path, not the one used by most Carpathians. Vampires would have been able to hear that one as well.
“I am as comfortable as possible.” He was, as much as he could be under the circumstances, but he needed to shut down his heart and lungs, to keep from losing any more blood. He had definitely slowed the leaks, but until he could get a healer there to help him, he was still in trouble.
He sent her a small smile. “You’re indulging me.”
She turned on her side and propped her head up with one hand. “Yes. I figure if you’re right, and the soil helps, it’s all to the good. If you’re wrong and you get some raging infection, at least I granted your last wish before you died.”
“I have decided I want to live.”
“The great debate you had going earlier. It didn’t make sense until I saw all those wounds on your body. You really were in a battle before the three stooges showed up.”
He picked up from her mind that the reference to “three stooges” was from a long-ago television show. Her natural shields were lowered because she’d started to grow comfortable with him. He knew he would have to work on that with her. They could never take the chance that a vampire nearby might read her thoughts, or creep into her mind.
“I was in a battle. I know I look like I didn’t do very well against them, but in my defense, there were several of them. I managed to defeat them, and while I was trying to heal the wounds, the band of assassins showed up.” There was just the slightest bit of ego in telling her the truth. He didn’t want her to think her lifemate couldn’t take care of her.
“I wondered how they managed to sneak up on you and do so much damage.”
“To heal a body, one has to shed their own body and become pure spirit. I didn’t have anyone guarding the empty shell I left behind. That gave them their opportunity.”
Her eyes widened. “Could you do that now? I could guard you. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” Her tone was skeptical but hopeful.
He nearly groaned. He wasn’t making a good showing as a potential husband or mate. “I’m too weak.”
“I’ll give you more blood.”
It was a generous offer considering she didn’t like anything to do with blood and she would have to remove the shields completely from her mind as she’d done before. “Thank you, sívamet. I appreciate your offer and certainly will take you up on it later, but at the moment, I wish to hear your voice. It soothes me and keeps the pain at bay.”


 

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 70 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, Ghostwalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series and Torpedo Ink. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.

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The Reading Cafe and Christine’s Feehan’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of DARK SENTINEL to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Dagger’s Edge (Brute Force #2) by Lora Leigh-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

DAGGER’S EDGE (Brute Force #2) by Lora Leigh -Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

DAGGER’S EDGE
Brute Force #2
by Lora Leigh
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 28, 2018

Ivan Resnova wants nothing more than to escape his hard, brutal past. Starting over is not so easy once you’ve been a powerful crime boss but now, instead of being punished for his alleged crimes, Ivan fears that the one woman he can’t forget is in danger of paying the price.

Crimsyn “Syn” Delaney thought the danger she’d faced was over, and that she could resume her life. She never imagined it would return with a vengeance and throw her back into Ivan’s world. But when an attempt is made on her life, she needs Ivan more than ever to keep her safe–even if she is in danger of falling deeply and dangerously in love.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: DAGGER’S EDGE is the second instalment in Lora Leigh’s contemporary, adult BRUTE FORCE erotic, romantic suspense series – a spin off from the author’s Elite Ops series. This is thirty-nine year old, Russian businessman and mob boss Ivan Resnova, and twenty-six year old Crimsyn ‘Syn’ Delaney aka Journey Taite’s story line. DAGGER’S EDGE can be read as a stand alone but some of the backstory was previously revealed in the Elite Ops series. I also recommend reading Collision Point (Brute Force #1) as it concerns Ivan’s relationship with his daughter Amara-a relationship that directly affects his relationship with Journey.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Ivan and Journey) DAGGER’S EDGE follows the forbidden relationship between thirty-nine year old, Russian businessman and mob boss Ivan Resnova, and twenty-six year old Crimsyn ‘Syn’ Delaney aka Journey Taite. Four years earlier, Journey Taite, along with her cousin Tehya, was imprisoned and held hostage by someone close to our story line heroine. Rescued by the group calling themselves Elite Ops, but now on the run, Journey finds herself a virtual prisoner of Russian mob boss Ivan Resnova, a man who has starred in her fantasies and dreams for close to a decade. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Ivan and Journey, and the potential fall-out as the people from her past, are determined to finish the job started years before.

Ivan Resnova knows betrayal and disappointment including the betrayal by the people who should have loved him the most but growing up as part of the Russian crime world Ivan forged ahead into a powerful, alpha male willing to do anything to protect the woman he loves. Crimsyn ‘Syn’ Delaney aka Journey Taite never felt more hurt than to discover the truth about the depth of betrayal perpetrated by her own family. Trusting her father’s number one enemy meant placing her heart and her life into the hands of a man who could easily kill Journey without a second thought. With most of the men who instigated her abduction in prison for trafficking a child sex ring, Journey intends to set out on her own but someone is desperate to end our heroine’s life.

The relationship between Ivan and Journey is one of forbidden love between warring factions of the US, British and Russian mobs. Journey’s attraction to Ivan began years before when a then sixteen year old Journey felt the palpable sexual need of a young woman just blossoming into her own but a woman ‘sold’ to one of her father’s business partners in return for fealty and power. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate, as per Lora Leigh’s usual style of romance writing.

The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters include Ivan’s right-hand man Ilya; Jordan and Tehya Malone (Live Wire / Elite Ops 6.5); as well as Journey’s former fiancé Beauregard Grant, a man with secrets of his own. The requisite evil has many faces but read like caricatures of cartoon villains.

DAGGER’S EDGE is an entertaining and intriguing story line but there are some questionable and cringe-worthy bits of information and plot points that seem almost incomprehensible –cue the eye rolling. The premise is engaging but primarily focuses on the sexual nature of Ivan and Journey’s relationship; the romance is steamy and hot. I will admit, I have not read the Elite Ops series, and thusly some confusion as to the history was not unexpected.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one COLLISION POINT.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

NOTE: Excerpt intended for mature readers 18+ due to strong language and content

Journey came awake gagging, the horrible taste in her mouth so vile she could barely stand it. As she fought to bring her stomach under control, she remembered the moment she’d realized the danger she was in, along with her friend Teylor. They’d been in the garden talking. She’d needed help, needed someone to help her escape the engagement she was being forced into when everything had gone dark.
Gregor. She remembered the voice of Gregor Ascarti, one of the men who worked for her father, telling her she’d been warned to keep her bitch mouth shut. And she had been warned. Beau had told her when she’d overheard his conversation with Gregor not to speak of it.
Fear strangled her now. She struggled to make sense of where she was, to understand how she’d come to find herself in a dimly lit metal room.
Sitting up on the thin mattress, she forced her head up, forced her eyes to adjust to the dimly lit room. As she did, she could see her friend Teylor, struggling to sit up on the makeshift bed across from her.
“Teylor?” she whispered, her voice shaky. “Oh God, what happened?”
She blamed herself for this. In her desperation to be free she’d endangered her friend. Her only friend.
A broken sob escaped her as she fought back her tears. Tears. They wouldn’t help. They never had in the past.
“We’ve been kidnapped,” Teylor answered her, sounding far more lucid than Journey felt.
The battery-powered lights were dim, but Journey could see enough to be assured her friend was okay.
Teylor pushed her dark red hair back from her face and stared around the metal-enclosed room they were in.
“Where are we?” she asked, terror racing through her.
Teylor met her gaze, her expression almost resigned.
“It’s a shipping crate,” she stated. “The type they use for overseas shipping.”
A shipping crate? Journey fisted her hands in the long skirt of her ball gown and fought to hold back her screams.
“Teylor, what’s happening?” she whispered, trying to make sense of the danger she sensed they were in, and her uncertainty in the face of it.
Before Teylor could answer, the sound of metal scraping against metal drew her gaze to the end of the crate where the door was slowly swinging open to reveal Ascarti and several other men Journey had seen meeting with her father, her grandfather, and Beau.
Other than Ascarti, she wasn’t certain who they were, and she had a feeling she didn’t want to know.
“Let’s go,” Gregor Ascarti ordered, his voice as rough and ugly as his face, as the other two pointed their weapons toward her and Teylor.
“You were supposed to be dead,” she heard Teylor tell Ascarti softly as they passed him.
He grunted at the statement. “If you’d had your way, I would be. Fortunately for me, I think I might have actually survived. Unfortunately for you, perhaps. Now let’s go.” He waved a handgun indicating both of them should step into the darkness outside the shipping crate.
“How did you get into the gardens?” Teylor asked him.
“A little inside help,” he answered her, amused. “Now be a good girl and let’s finish our business. Then I can go about recouping my money from that little hit your friends made against my stash.”
“What hit?” Teylor asked as Journey fought to figure out what the hell they were even talking about.
Ascarti laughed. “Let’s go, Ms. Fitzhugh. Someone is very interested in talking to you.”
Journey stiffened as Teylor pulled her closer to her, the name tugging at her memory and filling her with a sudden dread.
She’d heard the name Fitzhugh several times in the past, and if she remembered correctly, it was one tied to a very violent and depraved person. As well as a much beloved family member and missing cousin.
They were led across a wide-open space to a brightly lit office, the doors thrown wide, and as Journey stepped inside, all she could see was the three men she’d always believed would protect her. Her grandfather Stephen, her father, Craig, and her fiancé, Beauregard Grant.
She heard her own cry, the denial that slipped from her lips, and felt her world being destroyed one second at a time.
“Father.” She would have raced to him, would have fought the truth, if she were given the chance. Instead, rough hands gripped her shoulders, pulling her back and throwing her onto a tattered leather couch along with Teylor.
Her grandfather and father and Beau stood watching them silently. Grandpa Stephen was propped against the edge of an old desk, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression hard and cold. Her father grimaced in disgust as she whispered his name again, a plea that this not be true filling her voice. Only Beau remained aloof, unaffected as he stared at her.
Her grandpa was watching Teylor rather than her though, an amused, faintly condescending smile on his face.
“I remember that look,” he told Teylor. “The same look your dear mother had when we caught up with her in Nicaragua. I believe she may have actually cried, though.” The pleasure in his voice was terrifying to Journey. “And I would have thought by now you would have explained who you are. The daughter of our dear, departed Francine. Tehya Fitzhugh.”
“That’s not true,” Journey cried out, shocked, certain her grandfather had to be mistaken.
Teylor wouldn’t have hidden that from her. It was the same as a lie and she knew how Journey felt about lies.
“It’s true,” Teylor, or rather Tehya, stated softly. “And they’re the reason Mother died.”
It couldn’t be true. They had to be playing one of their elaborate games like they played with their children. They couldn’t kill. They wouldn’t have. But they had. She saw in their faces, in the cruel, vicious smirks on their faces.
She turned to her grandfather, her father, enraged. “What are you doing? Father? Grandfather? Have you lost your minds?”
The look her grandfather flashed her was one so hard she could only stare back at him, terror flashing through her.
“If she opens her stupid mouth again, gag her,” her father ordered the men standing behind her.
Gag her? She stared at the two men she had always loved. She hadn’t been close to them—they were very standoffish, even on a good day—but they’d always looked out for her, hadn’t they? She’d believed they’d loved her, despite their often harsh demands. At that thought, vague memories of when she was younger, of conversations that had made little sense to her, began to swirl within her mind.
Conversations that had frightened her, made her distrust them before the fear had forced her to forget the words.
As she stared at them furiously, she was aware of Beau unfolding his crossed arms and allowing them to hang carefully at his sides.
“You killed my mother,” Tehya said then, the words sinking into Journey’s soul with slashing horror.
Her grandfather chuckled then. “She thought we were there to help her. That her father had sent us after she contacted him.” He smiled with satisfaction. “She was rather upset to learn that wasn’t the case.” He turned to her father then. “We did enjoy our last hours with her though, didn’t we?”
Journey stared at them, uncomprehending. Her aunt had been found in the jungle, tortured and raped to death. She lifted her gaze to Beau, praying she’d somehow heard wrong. The gleams of regret and compassion in his gaze, the pity, sliced at her soul. And in that moment, she hated him. She hated him because he knew, he knew what they were, and he still stood with them.
Journey was afraid she was going to be sick now. This was her family. They weren’t exactly loving. But this . . . this was beyond cruel. They were monsters.
“Now, my dear, it’s like this.” Her grandfather’s expression became harder, something evil glowing in his gaze. “If you want to ensure your dear cousin Journey has a reasonably content life from here on out, you’ll answer my question and do so without a fuss. Refuse me, dare to attempt to lie to me, and she’ll die with you.”
They wanted to use her now? Use her against her cousin? Just as they’d sold her to Beau and used her against him over the years?
“I’d rather die,” Journey cried out, enraged now as she surged to her feet in an attempt to run, to escape what was happening.
Hard hands caught her, the two men behind her attempting to hold her still as they struggled to restrain her. She fought with everything she had, desperation, fear, and a rage unlike anything she’d known racing through her. They struggled to hold her still until Beau stepped to them, grabbed her arms, and jerked them behind her, enabling one of the men to tape her lips securely.
She glared up at the man they’d forced her to accept as her fiancé. The man they thought they could force her into marrying and she hated him. He’d been a friend once, long ago. When she’d been a child. He’d never been someone she’d dreamed of being with or marrying. That fantasy was reserved for someone far darker than this man. Someone far more dangerous.
Hatred and fury spilled from her as tears of rage ran down her cheeks. She kicked out, her foot connecting with Beau’s leg, though there was no reaction, not even a wince to give her a measure of satisfaction.
“Now that we’ve taken care of that,” her grandfather sighed before turning back to Tehya. “Did you understand the rules for her continued safety? Or do you have questions? Or do you want to be as stupid as your mother?”
Tehya’s mother. This couldn’t be real. It had to be a nightmare. As they continued to threaten Tehya, demanded a code that accessed her inheritance, Journey could only sob. Impotent rage raced through her, pulling a haze of red before her eyes, making the conversation seem distant, almost slurred.
It was all about money, she realized. Her aunt Francine’s inheritance as well as Tehya’s. Money that should have never belonged to her grandfather and father to begin with. They had been behind her aunt’s kidnapping, her death, all to steal control of the Taite fortune, and now they wanted what had been put back for Tehya and her mother as well.
Journey couldn’t stop crying. She heard every word, but processing it was another matter. How was she supposed to process this? Make sense of it?
She stared at Tehya, daring the woman she knew was her cousin to give them anything. She’d rather die. She’d rather face hell than let them have what they wanted because she knew they were going to die anyway.
For a moment, she wished she’d gone to Ivan Resnova for help, rather than Tehya. Tall, dark, powerful, he’d been at the party as well, and she’d seen him watching her. She should have asked him for help. Ascarti would have never attempted to kidnap them had he faced Resnova rather than Tehya.
As she watched, her grandfather’s fist clenched when Tehya wouldn’t give him what he wanted and he stared at Journey. She saw the intent in his eyes and hated him for it.
Just before he would have struck her, Beau stepped in front of Tehya.
“Journey’s mine,” he stated. “I won’t have what I want from her affected by your treatment of this one.”
At that demand a hard knock sounded on the door, and moments later more of her father’s men entered the room, tossing two who appeared unconscious to the floor. And within moments, hell began erupting around her.
Lights went out, throwing the room into darkness. Gunfire swept through the room as she felt Beau throw her to the floor, and when it was over, finally over, black-clad masked men had her father and grandfather, along with Beau, in handcuffs.
Journey felt numb, defeated. Her hands were released, the tape removed from her lips gently, and she was pulled quickly from the warehouse to a van outside. As she entered the vehicle and turned back, she saw him.
Ivan.
He strode through the night, black hair surrounding his face, his dark blue eyes finding her, holding her gaze as he paused. The world narrowed down to that one moment, that connection as his gaze held hers. Like an invisible line pulling at them, reaching out from her, needing him to take her away. Just for a little while.
A frown pulled at his brow as he watched her, his lips forced her name, like a whisper that only her soul heard. His fists clenched, his expression hardened, and then he took a step toward her.
The door to the van quickly closed.
“Everything’s going to be okay, ma’am,” a gentle female voice assured her from behind the dark mask. “You’re safe now.”
But she wasn’t safe, Journey thought. She’d never be safe again and she knew it. Nothing in her world would ever seem safe again.
Ivan watched the van door slide closed and paused in the instinctive move to rush to the young woman inside the vehicle. She was like a siren calling to him. She had been for years. And this time, the impulse to go to her was nearly impossible to refuse.
He wanted to rescue her.
Shoving his hands in the pockets of his slacks, he lowered his head, drew in a deep breath, and forced himself to turn away from her. She belonged to another man. Not that the bastard deserved her, but she wore his ring, had promised herself to him. He had no business interfering in that.
Besides, she was the daughter of the men revealed as the enemy he’d searched for for over twenty years. The two men responsible for the vicious murder of his mother, his aunt’s rapists, the men who had struck at his daughter and attempted to destroy her. She was their daughter. Granddaughter.
And he wanted to fuck her so bad it was like a hunger, he admitted to himself. A hunger he wasn’t entirely comfortable with.
“Looks like you have a little obsession going on there, boss.” Ilya, more friend than assistant, stepped from the shadows, the dragon tattooed over the side of his face flexing dangerously.
“Those eyes of hers.” He grimaced. Green, gem bright. Those eyes pulled at him.
“Hungry eyes,” Ilya murmured, moving into step with him as he headed for the warehouse. Hungry eyes.
Desperate eyes.
Eyes he saw in his fucking dreams . . .

Copyright © 2018 by Lora Leigh in Dagger’s Edge and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Paperbacks.


 

#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

Author Blog / Facebook / Twitter– @LoraLeigh_1

Lora Leigh’s publisher (St. Martin’s Press)  is graciously offering a paper copy of DAGGER’S EDGE to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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THREAT OF DANGER (Mission Recovery #2) by Dana Marton-Review and Giveaway

THREAT OF DANGER (Mission Recovery #2) by Dana Marton-Review and Giveaway

THREAT OF DANGER
Mission Recovery #2
by Dana Marton
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.au / Amazon.uk /B&N / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 5, 2018

Jess Taylor and Derek Daley were in the throes of first love in a small Vermont town when they were kidnapped by a serial killer. They escaped his clutches—but not the trauma of the unsolved crime. With their lives changed forever and their romance cut short, they went their separate ways to exorcise their fears.

Jess is living on the edge as Hollywood’s hottest stuntwoman. It’s no longer terror thrumming through her veins. It’s adrenaline. Derek is a former Navy SEAL spinning his ordeals into heart-pounding bestselling thrillers. But when Jess is called home on a family emergency, she must face the past—and face the man she left behind, who is just as haunted and, like her, still so much in love.

Now, as an old flame reignites, Jess and Derek are taking advantage of second chances and putting their bad memories behind them. But here, in the quiet town of Taylorville, a killer is getting a second chance as well.

•••••••••••

REVIEW:  THREAT OF DANGER is the second instalment in Dana Marton’s contemporary, adult MISSION RECOVERY romantic, suspense series. This is former Navy SEAL and best selling crime author Derek Daley, and Hollywood stunt woman Jess Taylor’s story line. THREAT OF DANGER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information form the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the story line content there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several third person points of view including Derek and Jess, THREAT OF DANGER follows the rekindling friendship and romance between former Navy SEAL and best selling crime author Derek Daley, and Hollywood stunt woman Jess Taylor. Ten years earlier, home from college for summer break, Derek and Jess were about to embark on a long-awaited romance when a serial killer kidnapped and tortured our leading couple. Barely escaping with their lives, Jess and Derek became the focus of rumor and innuendo, paparazzi and national news, so much so that our heroine moved across country in search of peace and quiet. Fast forward to present day wherein Jess will have to return to her home town to help her ailing mother and the family owned maple sugar business, a town she had hoped to forget with all of her heart. Coming face to face with the man she silently blames for three days of torture and rape Jess is unable to forgive or accept Derek, a man just as innocent and damaged as she. When another local high school girl goes missing, crime novelist Derek Daley begins to piece together a similar profile of missing girls going back ten years, to the present. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and friendship between Derek and Jess, and the fall-out as Jess is once again targeted by a sick and twisted mind- a man everyone believed to be dead and gone.

THREAT OF DANGER covers but a few weeks in the life of Derek Daley and Jess Taylor but weeks packed with betrayal, grief, illness and loss. Jess must return to the small Vermont town when her aging mother falls and requires months of hospital and home care but a small town that comes with remembrances of a time where innocence was lost. Too many bad memories as well as the usual town gossip find our heroine struggling to leave behind her life in Hollywood, and a man she was hoping to call her own. Derek Daley is a crime writer who writes what he knows best-truth life crime and none more so than the events of his past. Never thinking to reconnect with the woman he once loved Derek will have to face the wrath that is Jess Taylor, and all of her glorious anger and refusal to accept Derek and the love he has to offer.

The relationship between Jess and Derek is a second chance romance but a romance that struggles with the horrors of the past, and Jess’ inability to let go. Derek has never forgotten about the woman that stole his heart; and Jess wants to forget about everything that reminds her of a time long ago. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic, language and text.

The large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters include close and extended family, friends, law enforcement and newspaper reporters. The world building brings the reader up close and personal with an horrific crime against our leading couple, and the on-going struggles to make sense of it all.

THREAT OF DANGER is a character driven, startling and thrilling story line of romance, mystery and suspense. The premise is sensational, spirited and dramatic; the characters are dynamic and intense; the romance is tender and consuming. THREAT OF DANGER is an impassioned, inventive and intelligent tale from the pen of Dana Marton.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one SILENT THREAT

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Dana Marton has thrilled and entertained millions of readers around the globe with her fast-paced stories about strong women and honorable men who fight side by side for justice and survival.

Kirkus Reviews calls her writing “compelling and honest.” RT Book Review Magazine said, “Marton knows what makes a hero…her characters are sure to become reader favorites.” Her writing has been acclaimed by critics, called, “gripping,” “intense and chilling,” “full of action,” “a thrilling adventure,” and wholeheartedly recommended to readers. Dana is the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, the Readers’ Choice Award, and Best Intrigue, among other awards. Her book, TALL, DARK, AND LETHAL was nominated for the prestigious Rita Award. DEATHSCAPE reached the #1 spot on Amazon’s Romantic Suspense Bestseller list.

Dana has a Master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction, and is continuously studying the art and craft of writing, attending several workshops, seminars and conferences each year. Her number one goal is to bring the best books she possibly can to her readers.

Keeping in touch with readers is Dana’s favorite part of being an author. Please connect with her via her web site (www.danamarton.com) or her Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/danamarton).

Having lived around the world, Dana currently creates her compelling stories in a small and lovely little town in Pennsylvania. The fictional town of her bestselling Broslin Creek series is based on her real life home where she fights her addictions to reading, garage sales, coffee and chocolate. If you know a good twelve-step program to help her with any of that, she’d be interested in hearing about it! 🙂

Website: https://danamarton.com/   sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE novella!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanaMarton
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Dana Marton is graciously offering a Tote bag (US/Canada only) or an ebook copy of any one of her ‘back list’ books (International) to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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When a Warrior Woos a Lass (Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts 6) by Julie Johnstone-Review & Giveaway

When a Warrior Woos a Lass (Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts #6) by Julie Johnstone-Review and Giveaway

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WHEN A WARRIOR WOOS A LASS
Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts #6
by Julie Johnstone
Release Date: December 18, 2017
Genre: adult, historical, Highlander, romance

When A Warrior Woos a Lass

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 18,2017

The past haunts them. Treachery awaits them. Love will save them.

A shattered lass…

Scarred by the cruel whims of her late husband, Lena MacLeod lives in fear of men and marriage. So when the king’s edict obliges her to wed Scottish warrior Alex MacLean, she never expects to feel safe, let alone happy. But behind Alex’s fierce exterior lies a gentle, gallant highlander who renews her soul, emboldens her, and offers her the one thing she never thought she would possess—true love. Now that Alex has her whole heart, she’ll settle for nothing less than all of his.

A tortured highlander…

Haunted by violent nightmares of his dark past, Alex MacLean has put off getting married for as long as possible. But now he finds himself the husband of the fragile, beautiful Lena, and he’s drawn to her as he has never been to another. He vows to protect and heal her, and as she grows stronger, so does his love for her. Yet, his horrible memories and a treacherous task are preventing him from giving himself to her entirely, and the secrets he harbors threaten to destroy their life together.

A union…

When Lena uncovers a dangerous scheme involving Alex, she embarks on a desperate journey to save the man she loves. But Alex still hasn’t let her in, and he runs the risk of losing her—and his life—unless he can accept that his once delicate wife is now an ally strong enough to light his way.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: 

This is part of a series (book 6) and I found it pretty easy to follow, so I’d say you could read it happily as a stand alone. 

Leana MacLeod has suffered a lot in her young life and it has left her with physical and mental scars, she’s afraid of both marriage and men, and with good reason. 
Kidnapped as a child, abused in adulthood, by her husband, Lena wants nothing more than to be left alone and try for a normal life. An impossible task what with brothers and well  meaning sisters in law all trying to protect and smother her. 

So when the King dictates that she weds she is filled with horror. Until she is made aware of her her new husband is to be, she knows Alex MacLean, so she hopes it will be a better marriage than her first, but who really knows what goes on behind closed doors. 

The characters are well developed, Lena begins this book a frightened and defeated woman, but she grows into a strong, and very much determined woman. 

Alex was made Laird of his clan at only fifteen years old after the death of his father. He has always done his best to be a fearless leader and a strong warrior that his father would have been proud of.

Alex is seen as a hard warrior but he’s kind and caring, and is willing to lay down his life for those he loves. He is a fierce protector. 

However Alex is haunted by violent nightmares of his dark past. And those secrets could destroy the fragile bonds of trust that both Alex and Lena are trying to forge. 

The pace of the book is very good, we have intrigue and a few secrets which all add to a good read, I found it hard to put down in places. 

Reviewed by Julie ?

Copy supplied for review

 

hpb- giveaway

Julie Johnstone is graciously offering a paper copy or ebook (winner’s choice) of WHEN A WARRIOR WOOS A LASS to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

 NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

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8. Giveaway open internationally

9.. Giveaway runs from December 21 to 26, 2017

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