Tag Archives: New Adult

Mercy Academy 1-3 by L.A. Hart-a series review

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Mercy Academy 1-3 by L.A. Hart-a series  review

Have Mercy
(Mercy Academy #3)
by L.A. Hart
Genre: new adult,contemporary, romance

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 28, 2020

My relationship with Royal Fitzpatrick has always been complicated and messy. At times, it’s even been incredibly painful.

When I finally decide to stand up to him our senior year, unable to take another second of his bullying, Royal does the last thing I expected – he promises to change his evil ways.

But I’ve been hurt by him for too long. He’s a lost cause.

We are a lost cause.

At least that’s what I tell myself for months until I see him actually become the good, kind man I knew he could be.

Unfortunately, Royal still has secrets, ones he’s intentionally kept from me and his best friends.

So while I was stupidly planning our future together, Royal was just trying to make amends before he says a final goodbye.

••••••

REVIEW:HAVE MERCY is the third and final? Instalment in L.A. Hart’s contemporary, young adult to new adult MERCY ACADEMY romance series. This is Royal Fitzpatrick, ,and Hannah Morgan’s story line. HAVE MERCY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Some of the events of HAVE MERCY run parallel to, and over lap with the events of Beg for Mercy #1, and Crave Your Mercy #2.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Hannah and Royal) following two timelines ( and six years) HAVE MERCY focuses on the acrimonious relationship between high school frenemies Royal Fitzpatrick, ,and Hannah Morgan. At sixteen years of age, Royal Fitzpatrick was struggling with a direction in life, and found himself ‘volunteering’ at the local church camp where he would face several classmates including Hannah Morgan but Royal’s life was no bed of roses, and his surly attitude and growing anger made life miserable for our story line heroine. A summer romance ended when the requisite mean girls and jealous friends ensured Hannah and Royal never spoke to one another, again. Fast forward two years, to graduation wherein Royal’s life continues to spiral out of control but his love/hate for Hannah continues to burn. What ensues is the ongoing caustic and acerbic relationship between Hannah and Royal as they prepare for their post-secondary futures.

HAVE MERCY has all of the hallmarks of a young adult story line including mean girls, jealousy, a love triangle, abusive / oblivious adults, and the requisite heart break for our leading couple. Royal Fitzpatrick is the ultimate bad boy but a bad boy whose home life is battered and bruised. Hannah Morgan struggles with her attraction to a young man whose reputation is further destroyed by the actions of others resulting in Royal’s decision to walk away from it all. The premise is heart breaking and emotional; the romance is full of teenaged angst and misgivings; the characters are broken, energetic and lost.

_________

BEG FOR MERCY : High School Bully Romance
(Mercy Academy #1)
by Lane Hart /L.A. Hart
Genre: New Adult, contemporary, bully romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 18, 2019

Aric Prince is an All-American high school football star with a body built like a Greek god and hair so beautiful he could sell shampoo by the boatloads.

The only problem is that Aric’s also a rich, arrogant, and gigantic prick. Nothing but filth and insults come out of his smirking mouth, constantly reminding me that poor trailer park trash girls like myself don’t belong in his pretentious academy.

Aric and his best friends all think they’re untouchable.

But the cocky bastard is finally going down this year.

I’ve hit the motherload of blackmail on the jerk, pun intended, and I can’t wait to give him exactly what he deserves.

Aric Prince’s reign at the academy is coming to an end.

Before I’m done with him, he’ll be on his knees, begging for mercy.

••••••••

REVIEW: BEG FOR MERCY is the first instalment in Lane Hart’s (writing as L.A. Hart) contemporary, young adult MERCY ACADEMY erotic, romance series. This is high school football star Aric Prince, and Maddie Collins’ story line.

NOTE: BEG FOR MERCY focuses on the exploits of eighteen year old high school seniors but reads more like a new adult to adult story line due to the language and sexual content.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Aric and Maddie) BEG FOR MERCY follows the acrimonious relationship between eighteen year old high school football star Aric Prince, and Maddie Collins. Maddie Collins is from the wrong side of the proverbial tracks; a scholarship student at Mercy Academy, Maddie is treated with disdain and disrespect by the school’s all-star quarterback, a young man with whom Maddie will fall in love. Two years earlier, Maddie discovered Aric’s dark and dangerous secret, and our heroine blackmails Aric Prince in return for keeping quiet, and agreeing not to reveal the disturbing videos she has in her possession. What ensues is the back and forth antagonistic relationship and friendship between Maddie and Aric, and the fall-out when secrets are revealed and Maddie is caught in the cross-fire.

Eighteen year old Maddie Collins struggles to house, feed and clothe her much younger siblings. Having been left on their own for more years that she can remember, Maddie is desperate to keep a roof over their heads, staying under the radar of the local family and childrens services. An opportunity to blackmail Aric Prince eases our heroine’s struggles but not everything goes according to plan when Aric begins to develop feelings for our story line heroine.

BEG FOR MERCY is a story of bullying at an elite, California high school academy but our heroine gives as good as she gets. There is a fine line between who is the bully and who is bullied, and in this Maddie Collins is as guilty as the smug, spoiled rich kids she despises the most. From the requisite controlling, oblivious, drunken and immoral parents, to the mean boys/girls at the high school level, BEG FOR MERCY has all of the features of a YA story line but the lines between YA and NA are completely blurred with the graphic language and questionable behavior and ethics of some of the characters including the not-so responsible adults. The premise is entertaining; the characters are spirited, energetic and dramatic; the romance is provocative.

Copy supplied for review

__________

CRAVE YOUR MERCY
(Mercy Academy #2)
by L.A. Hart
Genre: new adult, contemporary,romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 31, 2020.

Blake Sullivan’s perfect life is imploding. His father threw his mother out of the house, and now they’re going through a nasty divorce while the whole town watches.

Since I’ve been away at college, I had no idea that my brother Aric was the one responsible for destroying Blake’s family.

Or that Blake would stop at nothing to get back at Aric.

And I never thought that I would be used as a pawn in Blake’s revenge, not until it’s too late.

Now I have to make an impossible decision, one that will change everything.

I’ll never forget what Blake did to me; and no matter how much he begs, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive him.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: CRAVE YOUR MERCY is the second instalment in L.A. Hart’s contemporary young adult to new adult Mercy Academy erotic, romance series. This is high school senior Blake Sullivan, and first year college student Caroline Prince’s story line. CRAVE YOUR MERCY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary. The events of CRAVE YOUR MERCY cross over with, and run parallel to the events of book one BEG FOR MERCY.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Blake and Caroline) CRAVE YOUR MERCY focuses in the aftermath of a scandal wherein two families are destroyed by the affair of a woman and her son’s best friend. Struggling in the first few weeks of college Caroline Prince returns home, embarking on a weekend affair with her brother’s best friend, only to discover weeks later that her life is about to change forever. The Christmas holidays prove a complicated time for both the Prince and Sullivan families but none more so than Caroline Prince when she announces she is failing school, and is taking time off to deal with other matters. While no one is happy, Blake is determined to stay in touch with the girl he has loved from afar, the girl who is about to break his heart. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship and friendship between Blake and Caroline, and the fall-out as Caroline must consider her plans for the future.

Caroline Prince is an immature young woman; a privileged girl whose life is about to implode not only on a personal level but with the revelation of her brother’s illicit affair. Blake Sullivan’s family has been destroyed leaving Blake to survive, mostly on his own while his father drinks himself into a stupor, landing in any available bed.

From the absentee and judgemental parents, to the immature attitudes and troubling behaviour, CRAVE YOUR MERCY has all the familiar characteristics of a young adult story line with a new adult to adult story line premise. Caroline Prince’s initial behavior and attitude is questionable; her treatment of others is rude, as is the behavior of most of the story line parents and adults. The premise is captivating but I struggled to like or forgive a number of the story line characters.

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy

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The Truths We Told (Secrets & Truths) by E.K. Blair -Review Tour

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The Truths We Told (Secrets & Truths) by E.K. Blair -Review Tour

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 12, 2020

When Kate finds her world crumbling around her, she does everything possible not to crumble with it by building castle-strong walls to hide behind.

A person can only hide for so long.

Thrust back into the life she’s been running from, she’s forced to confront the damage she left in her wake. Working to repair fractured relationships, she discovers one that just might save her from all the wreckage.

The only one who can save her is herself.

Realizing she might be on a broken path to healing, Kate must make a choice—a choice that could be her defining moment.

••••••••

REVIEW:THE TRUTHS WE TOLD is the second instalment in E. K.Blair’s contemporary, new adult SECRETS AND TRUTH romance story line focusing on University of Miami college students Kate Murphy, and Trent. THE TRUTHS WE TOLD should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up approximately one year after the events and cliff-hanger of book one The Secrets We Held. SECRETS AND TRUTHS duet is a spin-off from the author’s Crave Duet but you do not have to have read the previous series to follow the current time line.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Trent and Kate) THE TRUTHS WE TOLD focuses on recovery and moving forward. In the aftermath of the events leading up to the final blow, Kate heads home to South Beach where she struggles to move forward all the while continually looking back. Having left her friends behind, Kate continues her education from home but a year of loneliness and obsession forces Kate to begin anew. Returning to the University of Miami, Kate must face the fears and memories that continue to control her life but most of all Kate battles between head and heart as it pertains to the one boy, one man, who is desperate to help Kate make everything right. What ensues is the rekindling friendship, and building romance and relationship between Kate and Trent, and the fall-out as Kate is unable to let go of the past, a past that is constantly controlling her present.

We are re- introduced to Trent’s friends Micah, Brody, and Kate’s roommate Ady: Kate’s father Steven , her mother, and her sister Audrina, as well as Trent’s mother Laura, and his brother Garrett.

THE TRUTHS WE TOLD is a familiar story of betrayal and abuse; a one young woman’s insecurities, recovery and acceptance; of believing it was all her fault; and of one young man’s desperate attempts to save the woman with whom he has fallen in love. A difficult and emotional journey THE TRUTHS WE TOLD is a heart breaking, frustrating and dramatic story from the creative mind of E.K. Blair.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one THE SECRETS WE HELD

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

E.K. Blair, takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her dynamic and intense writing style. Noted for her ability to create fleshed-out characters that will evoke a realm of reactions, you can be assured that her stories will linger with you far beyond the last word.

A former first grade teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything dark and moody. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and spending time with her friends. She’s a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and everything in between.

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Just One Year by Penelope Ward-Review tour

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Just One Year by Penelope Ward-Review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date February 24, 2020

The beginning of my sophomore year in college was off to a rough start.
On the first day of orientation, I had an altercation with an infuriating British dude in a campus bathroom.
(The ladies’ room was out of order. So, I used the men’s room. Don’t judge.)
I got home later that night and realized that the foreign student we were expecting to rent a room in my parents’ house was allergic to our cat.
So, the spare room went to someone else: Caleb—the British guy from the men’s room.
And so it began…my love-hate story with Caleb Yates. Or was it hate-love in that order?

The guy knew how to push every one of my buttons.
Sometimes I’d email him to express my aggravation and disdain.
He’d actually rewrite my own words and send them back to me.
That was the type of infuriating person Caleb was.
So frustrating.
And…
Sometimes incredibly funny and endearingly sweet.
And hot.

He eventually grew on me, and Caleb soon became one of my best friends that year.
Too bad he was headed back to England soon, so nothing could happen between us—for so many reasons.
I definitely couldn’t fall in love with him, especially since all we had was just one year.

•••••••

REVIEW:  JUST ONE YEAR by Penelope Ward is a contemporary, new adult, stand alone romance story line focusing on nineteen year old Teagan Carroll, and twenty-two year old, British exchange student Caleb Yates.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Teagan and Caleb) JUST ONE YEAR follows the building friendship, relationship and love between nineteen year old Teagan Carroll, and twenty-two year old, British exchange student Caleb Yates. Caleb Yates is older than most college freshmen but a year in Boston meant a year running from his problems back home. Finding himself a temporary member of the Carroll household brought Caleb up close and personal with the woman with whom he would fall in love. What ensues is the back and forth, yin and yang, up and down building romance and relationship between Teagan and Caleb, and the potential fall-out as Caleb’s time in America comes to an end.

Caleb Yates struggles with the demons from his past but for a short time he is able to push the demons aside as he navigates college life in America. Boarding at the Carroll home, Caleb feels like part of the family, a family wherein his attraction to Teagan is hidden behind friendship and sisterly-love. Teagan Carroll has always felt like she never belonged having never known her mother, a woman with a questionable reputation. Hiding in plain site only made matters worse when her attraction to Caleb felt one-sided and wrong.

The relationship between Caleb and Teagan begins acrimoniously when Teagan finds herself in the men’s washroom, only to come face to face with Caleb Yates. From that moment on, the push and pull between Teagan and Caleb is often offset by Teagan’s jealousy, and Caleb’s friendship with other girls. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

JUST ONE YEAR is a story of family, friendships, and relationships; a story of secrets and heart break; of regrets and love. The premise is heart warming and engaging; the characters are real and unforced; the romance is flirty and tender.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.

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Keep Me Wanting by Angela Addams – a Review

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Keep Me Wanting by Angela Addams – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play

 

Description:
All I’ve ever tried to do is keep the people in my life safe. That’s gotten me into hot water more times than I can count. Hell, the last time got me four years behind bars.

So when my favorite barista tells her mom that I’m her boyfriend to stop the woman’s endless criticism, I can’t stop myself from helping her out. But she’s too innocent and I’m too damaged for this to ever be the real deal.

I can’t allow myself to touch her, not when making her mine will drag her into my world and drown her in my messed up life. What I really need to do is stay away.

Except every touch and every accidental kiss breaks my control. I want her.

Then I find out her dad is the detective who put me away…and he’s trying to take down my family.

I don’t blame him. The secrets I’m keeping are big enough to destroy everything.

 

Review:

Maggie Chandler is a barista at the local coffee shop, and her life just isn’t quite going as she had planned. Recently graduating from college with a marketing degree, she can’t compare with her successful lawyer older sisters. Her mother isn’t happy that she works small jobs to make ends meet, while interviewing for a marketing position. 

With her judgemental mother coming to town to meet her made up on a whim boyfriend. Maggie has no choice but to ask her crush customer Liam if he would pretend to be her boyfriend for a few minutes. But Liam has had a secret crush on Maggie since the moment he saw her, and while at first he balks at the idea of helping her, he quickly changes his mind and pretends to be her boyfriend for her mother’s sake.  But things then take a turn. 

Liam isn’t exactly who he says he is. He is actually Liam Doyle and he comes from a family that has done some shady things.  But what makes things even more complicated – Liam soon finds out that Maggie’s dad is the detective that put him away for four years – on a charge that should have put Liam’s older brother Shawn away, but he took the fall for the family.  After meeting her mother, Liam decides that he will attend a family reunion with Maggie, because if anyone in his family is going to keep an eye on the Chandlers – it’s going to be him. 

Maggie Chandler was a completely relatable character. Working several small jobs while interviewing for her dream marketing job. She has had a crush on her coffee shop customer for quite some time. She takes a leap of faith and asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend. I love Maggie’s vulnerability in asking Liam to help her. But what will happen when she finds out the truth of Liam’s past? Will she still feel the same way about him or will her feelings change?

Liam Doyle has lied to his barista crush. 

The moment he agreed to help Maggie with her mother he realized that Maggie was a Chandler. The detective that is gunning for his family and put Liam in prison for four years on a charge meant for Liam’s brother Shawn is Maggie’s dad.  In trying to keep his brother Shawn out of trouble with the law, Liam decides its best for him to keep an eye on the Chandler family while helping Maggie fulfill proving to her mom that she has a boyfriend!  

The chemistry between Liam and Maggie is explosive, but they both try to keep things cool and slow at the get go.  But both of them soon find out that it is easier said than done! But will Liam’s past ruin their future? And will Liam do what he needs to against his brother Shawn to protect what he needs to? 

Keep Me Wanting by Angela Addams was a great story, look forward to reading more! 


Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by Publisher

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Julian (Trinity Academy #4) by Michelle Heard-Review tour

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Julian (Trinity Academy #4) by Michelle Heard-Review tour

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 27, 2020

A couple of drinks.
A random stranger.
It was only supposed to be one night.

Turns out, the stranger is Julian Reyes.
Formidable businessman.
And my brother-in-law’s new business partner.
Chairman of Trinity Academy.
Where I’ve just enrolled as a student.
Coldhearted jerk.
Who also happens to be ridiculously hot.

Whenever we meet, it doesn’t help I’m reminded of how amazing his

••••••••

REVIEW:Julian by Michelle Heard is book four in The Trinity Academy Series.

Julian Reyes is Chairman of CRC Holdings and Trinity Academy. After stepping out of his comfort zone and having a one night stand with a mysterious young woman named Jamie, he is shocked to find out that she is actually the sister in law of his new business partner and she is set to attend Trinity Academy.
No problem, he just sets his sights on avoiding her for both their sakes.

But avoiding Jamie isn’t as easy as he thought it would be! After Jamie starts at Trinity Academy things start to get weird. She finds out someone has been watching her and their intentions are not good.

After being drugged and ending up in the hospital twice, Julian can no longer avoid being around Jamie. In fact he has come to feel very protective of her.
But finding out who is out to hurt her, soon becomes his number one priority!

Will he be able to protect Jamie and keep her safe! Or will Jamie be forced to return to New York where her family can protect her?

Julian wasn’t one of my favorite characters in the first couple of books, but he has slowly come around! I was actually excited for him to get his story. After concentrating on nothing but work the last few years, he slowly starts to open himself to his family and friends again!

And he truly cares and had concern for Jamie and I just love how their relationship evolved!

Jamie is a strong willed, smart and is a match made in heaven for Julian. Their strong wills are perfect for each other.

I was so excited for The Trinity Academy series to continue and this book did not disappoint!

I loved how the story continued right on from the previous books and kept you in the loop of with all of my favorite characters. I am also extremely excited that these books crossover (but can also stand alone) with the Enemies To Lovers book series which I will now be reading because the characters from that series are just amazing!

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Falcon
Mason
Lake

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Erin K

Michelle Heard is a Bestselling Romance Author who loves creating stories her readers can get lost in. She might have a slight obsession with alpha heroes who are not afraid to fight for their women.

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Enemies by Tijan-Review & Excerpt Tour

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ENEMIES by Tijan-Review & Excerpt Tour

 

 

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

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2rjDSbk

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 2, 2019

Stone Reeves was my neighbor, and I’ve hated him since sixth grade.

Gorgeous and charismatic, he became the town’s football god, while I became the town’s invisible girl.

He went to a Division 1 school for football, while my father was fired by his father.
His team won the National Championship, while my mother died the same day.

He was a first round pick for the NFL …… while I made the worst decision in my life.

Now I’m in Texas trying to pick up the pieces of my life.
But, Stone is here. Stone is everywhere.

It doesn’t matter that disaster has struck my life again.
It doesn’t matter that he’s the one trying to console me.
It doesn’t matter that he’s the nation’s newest football obsession.

Because for me, he always has been and always will be my enemy.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: ENEMIES by Tijan is a contemporary, new adult, romance focusing on professional football player Stone Reeves, and college student Dusty Gray.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Stone and Dusty) ENEMIES focuses on the childhood friends to enemies to frenemies to lovers story line between professional football player Stone Reeves, and college student Dusty Gray. Nine years earlier Stone Reeves pushed his best friend Dusty Gray out of his life-walked away leaving a heart broken Dusty in his wake but things went from bad to worse when Dusty’s family suffered loss after loss forcing the family into poverty, obscurity, and struggling to survive. Fast forward to present day wherein Dusty has enrolled at the college, in the same town where Stone Reeves plays professional football, a town that worships the ground upon which Stones Reeves walks. Hoping to avoid any confrontation, Dusty soon discovers that things can definitely get worse, especially when Stone is the bearer of more bad news, bad news that sends Dusty spiralling out of control. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and relationship between Dusty and Stone, and the potential fall-out as Dusty is unable to come to terms with what happened, and a future that no longer includes the people she loves.

Stone Reeves had no idea the secrets and lies that made enemies between the Reeves and the Grays. From power and greed to accusations, manipulation, sickness and death, the Gray family founds themselves on the outside looking in including a young girl who would lose her best friend to powers out of her control.

The relationship between Stone and Dusty is a second chance friendship, a friendship destroyed by vendetta and deception, circumstance and vengeance. Dusty struggles with her attraction to a man she wants to hate, an attraction that grows every time Stone comes to the rescue as Dusty’s life continues on a downward descent. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including the mean girls and b*tches, sport jocks and students, friends and extended family.

ENEMIES is a heart breaking and emotional story. Tijan pulls the reader into an angst-filled, impassioned, raw and gritty tale of love, loss, grief and acceptance. The premise is strong, sensitive and profound; the characters are dynamic and sassy; the romance is spicy, seductive and edgy.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

“Do not think I won’t pick you up and throw you in my truck, head first and everything. I’m two seconds away.”
I stopped and stared at him.
Shit. He meant business. He was glaring at me with eyes that said, “Do not fucking fuck with me, you fucking twit.”
Well. Then.
I sighed. I’ll try reasoning instead. “You’re going to drive me to your house, and then I’ll pack whatever I need and call a cab to take me all the way back to where I’m paying rent. It’s not worth it. Just let me grab a cab now.”
A savage curse bit out, and then his eyes flashed.
His singular warning had been when he told me he was two seconds away. In a flash, he grabbed me, and I was airborne, right into the back of his truck. But he wasn’t done. He leapt up, grabbing the seatbelt over me, and pulled it around me, clicking it in place. He had the door shut, locked, and he was already going around the front before I could even push myself upright and then start to reach for my seatbelt.
By then, he was inside, the engine on, and he shoved off into traffic.
“This is stupid.”
“You’re right. You’re being stupid.” Cursing, he ducked down as a car sped past us. They knew he was driving because they came up on his driver’s side, their phones up and ready to go. It was a car full of teenage girls. “Dammit.”
“Where do you live?”
He opened his mouth, then caught himself. His eyes narrowed in the rearview mirror. “Why?”
I just smiled. “No reason.”
He continued to study me in between still watching the road, and with a soft growl, he shook his head. “I’m not buying it. What? You’re going to tell those girls who are trying to get a picture of me?”
“What’s the difference? I’ll know when you take me to your house. What’s stopping me from posting it on Twitter, or even posting your phone number?”
A litany of curses spewed from him, and the back of his neck was getting red. I was having a heyday with this. It was more fun than I could remember having in a long time.
Until he announced it, “I liked your mom.”
“What?”
“Your mom.” He moved into the far lane, settling back.
I was thinking we had a bit of drive from here, and he settled an arm back on the passenger seat headrest.
“I always liked her. She made me cookies and muffins. And I remember when she tried to teach us to bake cakes from scratch. You were horrible and your cakes tasted terrible, but we’d lie to you. Both of us.”
“You did not—” But I was remembering, and even I hadn’t wanted to taste my cakes.
A tug at my mouth. “She’d wear that ugly yellow apron. She hated that apron.”
“What? I loved that apron. Always felt like it was sunshine. Made me feel warm, even in the winter.”
I noted softly, “That’s why she wore it. For you.”
His eyes lifted to the rearview mirror, holding mine a second again. He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Yeah.” His voice came out raspy. “She was a good woman, and a good mom. She was a good wife. I could always tell.”
I snorted. “Why? Because she wasn’t wasting away like yours?” Then, I winced. That sounded even bitchier to my own ears, more than I thought it would be. “Shit. I’m sorr—”
“Because you guys laughed.” He kept on talking about my family, ignoring what I’d so blatantly pointed out about his own, his face hard. “My parents laughed when they were drunk, and only when they had a party. When there were other people there to laugh with, never the two of them, never the three of us. I was their only kid. I wouldn’t have known better except I half grew up in your home, too, and what I remember the most about growing up was that you guys laughed.”
My throat burned.
“Yeah, we did.” I looked out the window. A hollow feeling starting to dig in my chest. “Until she died. We didn’t laugh much after that.”
“You laughed until then?”
I nodded. I felt the chinks in my armor widening.
I remembered how he did adore my mom. The two acted as if they were conspiring together during our baking lessons, and any time he was in the house. He congregated around her. She congregated closer to him.
“You’re the son she never had.” Then, feeling bad about my shot at his mom, “Your mom cooked for us. I remember that one time she tried to teach us to make lasagna.”
He cracked a grin, barking a laugh. “You sucked at that, too. I never knew lasagna noodles could come out hard like rocks until yours.”
Fuck him, but I was grinning. I couldn’t help myself.
Those were good times, good memories before the shit ones came. And they came soon after that lasagna disaster.
He quieted. “It wasn’t the same. My mom versus yours. We had baking lessons at your house once a month, every first Sunday. My mom tried to teach us how to make Caesar salad, the only second cooking session she gave us, and that one we all got fine. It’s hard to screw up.”
“Says you. You’re perfect at everything.”
He didn’t reply.
I didn’t expect him to. It was true. He knew it. I knew it. The entire nation knew it.
Then from him, “Not at being a friend.”
My stomach kicked.
Hell no. No way. He wasn’t getting back in. No fucking way.
“Oh. God.” I groaned, throwing a hand up to hit my forehead. “Can we not? Can we save the dramatics until I’m able to call a cab to take me back to my place? For real. Enough bonding or whatever it is we were just doing.”
He growled, “You are such a goddamn bitch.”
I retorted, “And you are such a goddamn prick. Drop me the fuck off!”
“With fucking pleasure!”
He gunned the engine, shooting forward in traffic, and weaving until we were nearing my exit. When he took it, I relaxed. The rest of the way was tense and silent, and I knew both of us couldn’t wait to be rid of the other. Then he pulled over to the curb. He didn’t make a move, his only action just unlocking the door.
His head was turned halfway to me, his jaw clenching over and over again.
Fine.
I shoved forward, my head only swimming a little bit as I climbed out of his truck. Once I shut the door and turned around, he’d already hit the engine, tearing away from the curb.
I only had the clothes on my back, on the side of the street, but I’d never been so fucking grateful to be away from him.
Now, turning to the house I wasn’t sure I was still invited to live in, I saw that all the lights were off. Lovely.


 

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new YA series along with so many more from north Minnesota where she lives with a man she couldn’t be without and an English Cocker she adores. 

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Saving Daylight by Shannon K. Butcher – Dual Review

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Saving Daylight by Shannon K. Butcher – Dual Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository / Apple

 

Description:
After being locked away in isolation for two-hundred years, Serena Brinn returns home to find nothing left of her old life. Many of her loved ones are dead. Life has moved on without her. Even her betrothed is now bound irrevocably to another woman.

In an effort to create a new life for herself, she leaves the safety of her home and sets out alone. But the world has changed. Customs are different. Technology has advanced beyond her comprehension. Even the tide of war has shifted. Their ancient enemy, the Synestryn, are winning. She is needed in battle, but is it worth losing her freedom?

Morgan Valens, charmer of women everywhere, has been tasked with bringing home the willful beauty, Serena, no matter what it takes. More than one man has tried and all have failed. He will not.

What Morgan doesn’t expect is the swift, intense desire he feels for Serena or the buried memories those feelings unearth.

When an ominous prediction warns them of a new threat to their people, Serena and Morgan must find a way to overcome their past and work together. Because if they fail, not only will they lose each other, their people will lose the safety found in daylight, forever….

Barb’s Review:

Saving Daylight by Shannon K. Butcher is the 11th book in her wonderful The Sentinel Wars series. I am a big fan of this series and Butcher’s writing, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book.  Brief refresher: The Sentinel Wars series revolves around immortal warriors that protect the humans from the evil demons, Synestryn.  The Sanquinars are healers, who need blood to survive, and they are dwindling; and the Theronai, who are elite protectors, who need to find their life mates to survive. The Synestryns are determined to kill all the Theronai woman and children, in order to destroy the Theronai warriors; as they continue to lose the leaves that will eventually kill them without a mate.

We meet our hero, Morgan Valens, a Theronai warrior, who has been assigned to find one of the women whom they need to help them in their battle against the Synestryn demons.  Things are looking bleak for everyone living at the stronghold, Dabyr, as the enemy is starting to win the war.  Morgan finally manages to find the woman he needs to bring back to Dabyr.

Serena Brinn, our heroine and a powerful woman in her own right, is determined to destroy all the demons on her own, and does not want help from Morgan or any Theronai.  Serena was locked up in isolation by her mother for two hundred years, and now she will do anything to never again allow herself to not be free. Morgan does his best to convince her she is needed to work together with the other Theronai in order to defeat the enemy, but he gets nowhere.  The demons have found a way to create daylight demons by the thousands, and no matter how fast those in Dabyr or Morgan and Serena together kill them, more continue to arise:  the desperation escalates; Serena has been told to find the source of the creation of those daylight demons before they all die.

What follows is an exciting, action packed adventure, where Morgan and Serena find themselves in disastrous situations often, which each needing help from the Sanquinar healers to bring them back to health. Despite neither of them wanting to act on their growing attraction to each other, the chemistry between them is hot.  Serena wants her freedom, fearing Morgan will take that away from her; Morgan lost his wife years ago, and feels he is betraying her memory.  Will they both find a way to bond together, making both of them even more powerful?

Whereas, in previous books, the story mostly revolves around the lead couple, in Saving Daylight, we did get a number of other POV’s of the pregnant woman in Dabyr who are using their power to help fight off the enemy.  At times, I felt it was a bit confusing, but since this was a major battle of survival, it was needed to keep the flow going.  As we raced to the finish, this was a wild crazy battle with so many of our old and new favorites in a fight to death; keeping us on the edge of our seats

Saving Daylight was a wonderful addition to TheSentinel Wars, and Shannon Butcher once again gives us a great exciting story, a great couple, and wonderful secondary and recurring characters.  If you enjoy paranormal fantasy, with lots of action and romance, then you should start reading this series.

 

Sandy’s Review

SAVING DAYLIGHT is the eleventh instalment in Shannon K. Butcher’s contemporary, adult SENTINEL WARS paranormal, fantasy romance series. This is Theronai warrior Morgan Valens, and Serena Brinn’s story line. SAVING DAYLIGHT can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and back story I recommend reading the series in order as many of the storylines overlap and continue in each successive instalment. Shannon is an author who builds up future storylines in many of the previous novels.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Sentinels are three races descended from an ancient race of guardians known as the Athanasians, who defend and protect mankind from the demons at the door. The Theronai are the protectors whose Theronai lifemark-The Tree of Life-begins to lose its’ leaves if a Theronai warrior does not find his mate. The lifemark is a visual gage of a soul’s health, and all of the warriors suffering with the pain are running out of time. The Synestryn have killed most of the female Theronai and the warriors are in need of women whose DNA and heritage will match with their own: the Sanguinar are the healers (as well as blood feeders) and the Synestryn are the demons whose humanity has been lost for centuries.

Told from several third person perspectives including Morgan and Serena SAVING DAYLIGHT follows Morgan and Serena as they fight for their lives, as well as the lives of everyone they know. Morgan Valens has been tasked with retrieving one of the few remaining female Theronai but Serena Brinn wants nothing to do with another captivity having lived two hundred years in a prison of her mother’s making. Refusing to go from one jailer to another Serena battles both head and heart as she fights to destroy the demon-like Synestryn, all on her own but Morgan isn’t willing to face the future without her, having realized Serena is one of the few compatible females to save his Theoronai lifemark. As the battle continues to rage on at the Theronai compound, another battle begins to tear down the walls of Serena’s heart when Morgan is left fighting for his life alongside another warrior who is close to losing the last of his leaves. What ensues is the acrimonious relationship and détente between Serena and Morgan, and the potential fall-out as both believe they are not worthy of love or finding their own happily ever after.

Serena found the price of freedom meant battling the demons that were destroying her world. As the Theronai warrior slowly succumbs to losing his soul, others will find themselves facing an enemy that is much more than anyone could have imagined.

The relationship between Serena and Morgan begins acrimoniously when Serena refuses to return to the Theronai compound. As one of the few known remaining Theronai females in existence Serena has no desire to become someone’s mate, let alone become subservient to a man who only wants control. Knowing Serena is reluctant to tie herself down to eternity, Morgan is willing to sacrifice himself in order to give Serena her freedom, no matter the cost. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Meanwhile, the Theronai compound is still under attack, and their defenses are slowly falling to the maurading hoards. Somehow, a new breed of Synestryn have developed the ability to move about in daylight, time when the Theronai could have taken the advantage. Lives will be threatened, babies will be born, unmated females will soon discover there are others looking to guard and protect.

SAVING DAYLIGHT is a story of survival and war; of fated mates, power and working together. The premise is startling, wonderful and gripping; the characters are feisty, dynamic and spirited; the romance is tender, encouraging and sensual. Shannon K Butcher invites the reader into a dramatic and intense instalment in the Sentinel Wars paranormal, fantasy series.

Copies supplied for review

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Hated You Then (Love Hurts Duet #1) by M.Robinson-Review Tour

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Hated You Then (Love Hurts Duet #1) by M.Robinson-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 17, 2019

A coming of age, enemies to lovers, contemporary romance filled with angst and all the feels.

I couldn’t remember a time before her… Harley Jameson.

Before she owned me.
Hated Me.
Needed me.

Before I hated her…

Things were simple.
We had an understanding.

Bully. Fight. Hate. It’s what we did.

Mind. Body. Soul. It’s how we loved.

I thought nothing would ever change that, until everything did.

She was mine.
Always had been.
Always would be.
Nothing altered that.

Not how much I hated her.
Not how much she hated me.

Especially, not how much I hated…

That I LOVED her.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: HATED YOU THEN is the first instalment in M. Robinson’s adult, contemporary, coming of age LOVE HURTS DUET focusing on Harley Jameson and Jackson Pierce-the next generation in the author’s Good Ol’ Boys series, and a prequel of sorts, that runs parallel to the Pierced Hearts Duet. You do not have to have read the previous series/duets but for some HATED YOU THEN reveals some missing information.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Harley and Jackson) covering approximately nine years in the life HATED YOU THEN is a retrospective of events in the life of Harley Jameson and Jackson Pierce. From the age of six to fifteen , Harley Jameson had a love hate-relationship with Jackson Pierce, the young boy who lived to torment and tease our story line heroine but Jackson’s life was slowly being destroyed as events at home were spiraling out of control. What ensues is the back and forth, acrimonious and tempestuous relationship between Jackson and Harley, as our duo struggle with family, friendships, school and growing up.

From the outset, the relationship between Jackson and Harley is caustic and petulant. Immature and emotional outbursts are rife with nine years of continuous verbal and physical assaults. Harley gives as good as she gets, whenever Jackson spews vitriol and cutting insults. Their parents’ best friend relationship constantly places Jackson and Harley into one another’s orbits that exacerbates their already contemptuous relationship.

Told from the perspective of young children and teens, the story line manifests in an adult voice. The language, text and comprehension is that of a mature man and woman including preteen boys obsessed with the sexuality of the female form. Over sexualization of children and pre-adolescents may be disturbing for some readers.

HATED YOU THEN is an emotional and heartbreaking story of family, friendship, loss and grief. M. Robinson pulls the reader into an angst filled tale of mutual attraction and antagonism; hostility and love between two people whose lives will be changed over night.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Wall Street Journal & USA Bestselling Author M. Robinson loves to read. She favors anything that has angst, romance, triangles, cheating, love, and of course sex! She has been reading since the Babysitters Club and R.L. Stein.

She was born in New Jersey but was raised in Tampa Fl. She was pursuing her Ph.D in psychology, with two years left. However, she dropped out of school and became a fulltime writer.

She is married to an amazing man who she loves to pieces. They have two German Shepherd mixes, Kobe and trooper, a Wheaten Terrier, Teddy and a Tabby cat, Gio.

She feels blessed to be living her dream.

Website:www.authormrobinson.com
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