Tag Archives: New Release Review 2020

Wedding Date (Dating 6) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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Wedding Date (Dating 6) by Monica Murphy-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2020

Kelsey Phillips is over the dating scene.

All that time and energy perfecting your profile and taking just the right picture and articulating exactly what you’re looking for, only to get the same sleazy propositions? No thanks. She’s doing just fine on her own, so there’s no point in a fruitless hunt for “the one” that doesn’t exist.

Besides, she already has the perfect man in her life. Theo is the type of friend who’s always there for a laugh, a hug, or a drink– and no propositions.

So when he somehow manages to agree to be a groomsman in his ex-fiancée’s wedding to his cousin, the least Kelsey can do is be his date.

But why stop at doing the least?

Pretending to be in a relationship is easy. They already know everything about each other. And it sure isn’t hard to fake attraction to a guy as gorgeous as Theo. Soon enough, the only pretense left is that they haven’t fallen for each other for real… and the very small matter of the secret Kelsey’s been keeping. Can a fake relationship survive this real revelation?

•••••••

REVIEW:WEDDING DATE is the sixth and final instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, adult erotic, romance DATING series focusing on a tight knit group of friends. This is thirty-three year old, investment manager Theo Crawford, and twenty-seven year old PA Kelsey Phillips’ story line. WEDDING DATE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Several characters from the previous instalments cross over for familiarity.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kelsey and Theo) WEDDING DATE follows the friends to lovers relationship between thirty-three year old, investment manager Theo Crawford, and twenty-seven year old PA Kelsey Phillips. Several months earlier, Theo and Kelsey were set up on blind dates only to have their respective matches fall in love with one another. Having just discovered his fiancé in bed with his cousin Craig, Theo struggled in the aftermath but found himself in a friendly relationship with our story line heroine. An invitation to his cousin Craig’s wedding to his former fiancé Jess, means Theo needs a plus one in an effort to prove he has moved on with someone else. Enter Kelsey Phillips, the woman with whom Theo will fall in love. What ensues is the fake boyfriend/girlfriend relationship between Kelsey and Theo that quickly turns into something more, and the potential fall-out as Kelsey has a secret that is about to be revealed.

Kelsey Phillips is a strong-willed, confident and sexy heroine who doesn’t do relationships and refuses to acknowledge the proverbial elephant in the room-her attraction to our hero Theo Crawford but when Theo struggles with the invite to his ex-fiance’s wedding, Kelsey steps up to make sure Theo has her support including the benefit of a girlfriend to his cousin’s wedding. Theo Crawford was quickly falling in love with Kelsey, and knew she was the woman that called to his heart but Kelsey was keeping a secret that was going to destroy any semblance of a happily ever after, and in this, Theo struggled with perceived betrayal, and the potential loss of the woman he loved.

The relationship between Kelsey and Theo is a friends to lovers, fake boyfriend /girlfriend relationship in which our couple are quick to fall in love. Kelsey is the one to push Theo into accepting his ex-fiance’s wedding invitation, and in this Kelsey is going to ensure Theo has moved beyond his heart break and pain. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters most of whom we have me in previous story lines. We are introduced to Theo’s siblings: Max, Mason, Camden and Ali, as well as their parents Patricia and Jim. I am hoping the author has plans for a Crawford siblings series.

WEDDING DATE is a story of friendships, relationships, family and love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is flirty and seductive; the characters are energetic and fun. I will add I thought the ending was rather abrupt-I am thinking there are more stories to tell !

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Save the Date
Fake Date
Holidate
Hate to Date you
Rate a Date

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she’s not writing, she’s reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She’s a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Justice for Liella by Deanndra Hall-Review Tour

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JUSTICE FOR LIELLA (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha) by Deanndra Hall-Review tour

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About the book: Release Date November 10, 2020

All he hears is the crackling of flames. All he wants to hear is her voice.

No one knows the value of family better than Breckin McDermott. He’s sure the pretty brunette he ran into at a Landon and Jerrica’s baby shower has a great family, since her brother is his coworker, and yet she seems sad and afraid. Once he learns of her past, he really wants to get to know her better.

With her successful treatment for PTSD completed, Liella Fox needs a career. Still uncomfortable in crowds, she embarks on an unconventional livelihood that’s perfect for her. Everyone thinks her family is wonderful, but she knows most of them will be critical and judgmental, so she’ll be alone in this adventure. At least her older brother, Landon, and his wife, Jerrica, are supportive.

At Landon’s suggestion, Breckin offers to help with Liella’s business plan. The idea of being alone with him makes her anxious and she’s reluctant to accept, but after his mother tells her Breckin’s story, her fears melt. Soon all she wants is to be near him. She’s trying to forge a new life, and she wants to share it with the tall, redhaired firefighter who makes her feel safe.

That’s if she gets the chance. Before she can get a foot up in the business, a surly, bitter competitor begins to stalk and threaten her. The guy despises her a little too much, maybe even enough to get her out of the way.

Forever.

But Breckin’s a man who’s waited his whole life for a woman to love. If anyone thinks they’ll take her away from him, they’ve seriously underestimated his determination when his heart is on the line.

••••••••

REVIEW: JUSTICE FOR LIELLA by Deanndra Hall is a contemporary, adult, romance story line found in the multi-authored POLICE AND FIRE: Operation Alpha series focusing on a number of characters created by author Susan Stoker. This is forty-one year old fire fighter Breckin McDermott, and thirty-three year old, farrier Liella Fox’s story line. JUSTICE FOR LIELLA can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines and series is revealed where necessary. Several characters from Deanndra Hall’s Bluegrass Dynasty cross-over for cohesion and familiarity. Liella Fox is Landon Fox’s(Shelter for Jerrica) sister.

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

Told from several third person perspectives including Breckin and Liella JUSTICE FOR LIELLA follows thirty-three year old, Liella Fox as she comes to a decision about her life and her future. Hoping to work as a farrier (forging iron and shoeing horses) Liella Fox embarks on a thirty-six week course that places her in a great position to be successful in her job. Needing a business plan to get started, Liella gets help from her brother’s co-worker and fellow fire fighter Breckin McDermott, the man with whom Liella will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Breckin and Liella, and the potential fall out as one of the few female farriers in the area, Liella has rankled the misogynistic attitudes of a desperate man.

Liella Fox suffers with issues of PTSD but is slowly battling her way back. Meeting Breckin McDermott gave Liella thoughts for a future, thoughts that are almost destroyed by her over protective and condescending family members who believe Liella could do so much better than the path she has chosen. Breckin McDermott knows of the horrific incidence that Liella struggles to hide but meeting Breckin’s mother puts everything into perspective for our story line heroine, letting her know she is not alone in a world that is only too willing to tear you down.

The relationship between Liella and Breckin is one of immediate attraction. Breckin was first introduced to Liella months earlier at a baby shower for his co-worker Landon and his wife Jerrica. Wanting to take their relationship to the next level, Breckin bides his time in an effort to allow Liella the ability to accept what he has to offer, allowing our heroine to take control of their growing love. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate but a little awkward.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Liella’s brother Landon and his wife Jerrica, as well as their parents Louella and Robert, and brother Brandon; Breckin’s mother Iris and his step-father Jason; several firefighters, local farriers, farm owners and friends from Deanndra Hall’s Bluegrass Dynasty series.

JUSTICE FOR LIELLA is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of recovery and acceptance; success and over coming the odds. The premise is engaging; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, colorful and a little bit broken.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of SHELTER FOR TANNA

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Deanndra Hall is a working author living in the far western end of the beautiful Bluegrass State with her husband of over 35 years and small menagerie of weird little dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s editing. When she’s doing neither of those two things, she’s having dinner with friends, spending time with family, kayaking, eating chocolate, drinking beer or moonshine, or looking for something that she put in the wrong place and can’t seem to find (which is pretty much everything she owns).

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Misadventures with a Sexpert by Elizabeth Hayley-Review tour

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Misadventures with a Sexpert by Elizabeth Hayley-Review tour

 

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Apple / Google Play / Paper/

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 21, 2020

Isla Scott seeks to enhance her sexual repertoire, and she’s using every available app to do so. But no matter what buttons she pushes, she isn’t having much luck during her frequent coffeehouse dating rendezvous. If she’s to eventually satisfy Mr. Right—and herself—in every way, she needs to gain some more experience. But so far she’s only encountered duds.

Grayson Hawkins’s marriage fell apart when he caught his wife with his best friend. Emotionally bankrupt, he’s left her and his high-pressure job to start over in a new town. A clean slate for the artist. A new coffeehouse to patronize. A fresh page on which he can draw his illustrations.

Grayson and Isla form an unconventional pact where he agrees to be her sex guru to help her gain the experience she seeks in trade for permission for him to sketch her comical dates for his newspaper’s Instagram page. But such a pact doesn’t come without pitfalls, and Isla must make a decision. Does she apply her newfound knowledge on one of her dates, or will she realize her Sexpert was always the one?

Misadventures is a romantic series of spicy standalone novels, each written or co-written by some of the best names in romance. The stories are scandalous, refreshing, and, of course, incredibly sexy. They’re the perfect bedside read, a ‘quick blush’ for the reader who loves a page-turning romance.

••••••••

REVIEW: Misadventures with a Sexpert begins with Grayson Hawkins at work having yet another unwanted conversation with his boss at the Daily Gazette. After leaving the meeting, in which he has been told he has to take over their social media accounts, he heads out and ends up at a local coffee shop, the Coffee Bean. He discovered the place when he’d moved out of the city several months ago after going through a divorce that left him hurt and angry. He has been trying to find his passion for drawing again, but not having much luck.

Isla Scott has promised her sister that she will go along with her plan to date more. Isla picked the Coffee Bean as the place to meet her prospective beaus. To say things didn’t go well was a bit of an understatement. For one reason or another, the ones coming in had been all wrong for her. Some of them hilariously wrong.

Grayson couldn’t help but notice Isla and wonder what she was up to. He found himself intrigued with Isla and her ‘experiment’. Once he figured out what she was actually doing, he made it his duty to be there every week when Isla was meeting up with her prospective dates. Eventually, Grayson approached Isla and told her she had made the right decision in letting her current prospect go. Isla had noticed Grayson before, but hadn’t given it much thought. Grayson then asked Isla if she’d like to join him. As she was about to decline the offer, she noticed his drawing of the prospect who had just left. After commenting on the drawing, she left.

The next week, Isla was at the Coffee Bean once again, waiting on the next one, only to be let down……again. Isla then approached Grayson and figured out that he had been sketching all of her encounters, which made her laugh. From there, the two of them form a friendship of sorts. However, once they start getting to know each other, Isla confesses that she’s not very experienced when it comes to men and makes an offer to Grayson: the two of them could be friends with benefits and he could teach her things about sex. Not that she was a virgin, but as stated before, she didn’t have much experience.

Grayson found himself stunned and excited at the same time. Isla had become his muse, of sorts, and he had found his passion for drawing again. So, why not? As the two of them get to know each other, two things are certain: their chemistry is off the charts and their friendship easy. However, when Isla finally meets a guy she’s interested in, why is Grayson at the forefront of her mind? And why does Grayson feel so confused about Isla finally meeting a good guy? After all, the both of them had been so sure of the ground rules they had put in place.

Misadventures with a Sexpert is a great addition to the Misadventures series. The characters are relatable and nicely written. The chemistry between Isla and Grayson is off the charts. I loved their interactions and found myself laughing out loud at times. If you’re a fan of the Misadventures series, and just romance in general, you’ll love the world Hayley has created in this installment. Well done, Elizabeth Hayley!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

Elizabeth Hayley is actually “Elizabeth” and “Hayley,” two friends who love reading romance novels to obsessive levels. This mutual love prompted them to put their English degrees to good use by penning their own. They learned a ton about each other through the process, like how they clearly share a brain and have a persistent need to text each other constantly. They live with their husbands and kids in a Philadelphia suburb. Thankfully, their children are still too young to read.

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethhayleyauthor/

Website: http://www.authorelizabethhayley.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorelizabethhayley/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EHayleyAuthor

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Absolute Trust (Absolute Power #2) by Jeana E Mann-Review Tour

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Absolute Trust (Absolute Power #2) by Jeana E Mann-Review Tour

ebook only 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 21, 2020

“Love cannot live where there is no trust.” — Edith Hamilton

I’m just a simple girl from a poor background, who loves with all her heart and has the best of intentions. Falling in love with Cash Delacorte was never a life goal. The former gang leader turned ruthless billionaire holds all of my power. He owns me—body, soul, and bank account.

The problem? I like it. I crave his touch in the dark of night. I long to hear his whispered dirty words in my ear when we make love. Most of all, I trust him to do what’s right for me. Because that’s what we do when we’re in love, right? We trust the wrong people. We make bad decisions. And we sacrifice our souls to make them happy.

Now, with the FBI breathing down our necks and a million dollars in stolen jewels on the line, the power rests in my hands. One word from me can bring Cash’s empire crashing down around him. Does he trust me enough to save us both or will his need for power ruin the only love I’ve ever known?

••••••••

REVIEW:Absolute Trust is the second in the Power series by Jeana E. Mann. This one picks up right where the killer cliffhanger left us in the last book; Absolute Power. I do highly recommend reading that book before reading this one, there is so much that happens that you will not really get if you don’t.

Normally I have a hard time reading stories that continue in more than one book, but with Jeana, her stories captivate your mind and they get better and better as you go. This one is just like that. Cash and Jagger are two halves of the same coin, better with each other, and hard to deny each other.

Absolute Trust is a fast paced, easy to read story that will have you flipping page after page to see what happens next. How will he evade the cops? The FBI? This story will keep you guessing until the very end. I think my favorite part about the badass, Alpha Cash is how he slowly starts to open up to Jagger. His walls come down just a little and we can see the person he truly is.
Five out of five stars for this thrilling read. As always Jeana writes a wicked awesome book!

Click HERE for Sarah’s review of book one ABSOLUTE POWER.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah L

Book one ABSOLUTE POWER only 99¢

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Jeana is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author from Indiana. She gave up a career in the corporate world to write about sexy billionaires and alpha bad boys. With over twenty books and several awards beneath her belt, she’s never regretted her choice to live out her dream. She’s a free spirit, a wanderer at heart, and loves animals with a passion. When she’s not tripping over random objects, you’ll find her walking in the sunshine with her rambunctious dogs and dreaming about true love. 

You can follow Jeana here:

Website:http://jeanaemann.net
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/JeanaEMann
Twitter:https://www.twitter.com/JeanaEMann
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/JeanaEMann
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Jeana-E.-Mann/e/B00HI4KQB4/ref
Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jeana-e-mann
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jeana.e.mann/

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Absolute Power by Jeana E Mann-Review & Giveaway Tour

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Absolute Power (Absolute Power #1) by Jeana E Mann-Review & Giveaway Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 30, 2020

The devil in my nightmares is the man of my dreams.

For the past three years, I’ve been running from a man I’ve never met. A man who carries a grudge. A man who specializes in revenge. I thought I had it all—a career and a new home in a sleepy small town. My world comes crashing down when a sexy gang member from the city arrives at my job, wrapped in tattoos and sinful smiles. Beneath his flirtatious facade beats the heart of an angry man. I’ve committed the one sin he can never forgive. I stole from him, and he won’t be satisfied until he’s repaid with the money or my life.

They say there are two kinds of power: power derived from fear and power obtained by acts of love. Cash Delacorte holds them both over my head. He’s everything I never wanted: dark, deceptive, and dedicated to a life of crime. He’s determined to pull me into the darkness with him, and the thing is—I want to go. Every kiss, every lie, every punishment propels me into a future I never dreamed possible.

••••••••••

REVIEW:Absolute Power by Jeana E Mann-Dark, intense, and hot! Absolute Power by Jeana E. Mann is the first in her new Absolute Power Duet Series and is sure to make any dark romance reader a happy camper.

Jagger Jones in hot water, her sister, Callie, has taken money from a man she should not have messed with. As a new manager to her own custom jewelry store, one where she can finally design her own jewelry, she must now find a way to make things right for her sister.

Cash our “hero” if you will, tracks down not only Callie, but Jagger as well, for she took something of his as well. Cash is an alpha man that is not meant to be crossed, a former gang member who now has his fingers in just about every business out there. Jagger took a ring, one she made a replica of and replaced it with the real, simply to see if it was good enough to pass as real. Now Cash wants revenge.

Now our man main Cash, he’s hotter than hot and he wants Jagger, but he wants her to also pay back the money her sister owes him. Now their relationship is one I had some trouble keeping up with, one second he is all hot and heavy with Jagger and the next he is one rude S.O.B. He threatens her with just about everything to make sure she pays back the money that her sister owes.

The cliffhanger is going to wreck you, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

Jeana is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author from Indiana. She gave up a career in the corporate world to write about sexy billionaires and alpha bad boys. With over twenty books and several awards beneath her belt, she’s never regretted her choice to live out her dream. She’s a free spirit, a wanderer at heart, and loves animals with a passion. When she’s not tripping over random objects, you’ll find her walking in the sunshine with her rambunctious dogs and dreaming about true love. 

You can follow Jeana here:

Website:http://jeanaemann.net
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/JeanaEMann
Twitter:https://www.twitter.com/JeanaEMann
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/JeanaEMann
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Jeana-E.-Mann/e/B00HI4KQB4/ref
Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jeana-e-mann
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jeana.e.mann/

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the author.

The author is giving away an EPIC giveaway of a Michael Kors purse, a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a signed set of Absolute Power and Absolute Trust. Stop by her page to enter! https://www.facebook.com/JeanaEMann/

Text Alerts:  Text the word “Jeana” without quotations to 21000

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BIG BEN (See No Evil Trilogy #1) by Nana Malone-a review

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BIG BEN (See No Evil Trilogy #1) by Nana Malone-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 21, 2020

It began with betrayal.
And ended in murder.

She was never supposed to cross my path.
She was never supposed to know about the Currency of Secrets or the Oaths of Blood.

But like a thief in the night, she stole my soul even if she wasn’t mine to possess.

As a member of the Elite, I live by simple tenets. A gentleman above all. Private matters stay private. Secrets whispered are never revealed. Enemies and friends are of the same coin. And power is king.

My so-called brothers killed my friend. I intend to make them pay. And before it’s over, I’ll bend all the rules of morality, decency and legality. I will borrow and steal to set the scales right. But begging–begging, you can forget about.

My name is Ben Covington and I know my sins.

••••••

REVIEW: BIG BEN is the first instalment in Nana Malone’s contemporary, adult SEE NO EVIL erotic, romantic suspense trilogy focusing on billionaire businessman Ben Covington, and operations director Olivia Ashong.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Ben and Olivia) BIG BEN follows several paths including the building relationship between billionaire businessman Ben Covington, and operations director Olivia Ashong.

Ben Covington is a member of the Elite, closely connected to the Uber rich and powerful of Eton Academy in London England, but the murder of his best friend Toby ten years earlier, finds Ben on the hunt for the men responsible but Ben never expected to find himself trapped in a closet with a woman trying to hide from someone she knows. Enter Olivia Ashong, the woman who would be pulled into a world of secret societies when Ben hid something of value with our leading heroine. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Olivia and Ben,and the fall-out as more than one person has targeted our couple in a game of cat and mouse.

Ben Covington, along with friends East Hale and Bridge Edgerton have been looking for proof to take down the men currently controlling the group known as the Elite but Ben goes to desperate measures to ensure the hierarchy no longer remains in the hands of the few but in doing so disrupts a nest of would-be vipers.

Olivia Ashong’s current relationship is spiralling out of control but when Ben Covington offers her the position of operations director at his company, London Lords, Olivia had no idea the direction her life was about to lead. Several attempts on her life; a possible stalker with designs on our heroine; and a soon to be ex-boyfriend who continues to guilt Olivia into standing by his side, force Olivia to seek refuge with the man she is currently calling boss.

The relationship between Olivia and Ben begins as a business arrangement when Olivia refuses to give Ben back an item she currently has in her possession. Desperate to keep Olivia close, Ben offers Olivia the position of operations director, and in doing so, keeps the woman that calls to his heart, close and protected from those trying to do harm. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

We are introduced to Ben’s friends and fellow Elite Eton brothers: East Hale and Bridge Edgerton: Olivia’s boyfriend Dexter, and his smarmy boss Fenton Mills; Olivia’s friend Telly, as well as Elite members Bram Van Linsted and his father Marcus.

BIG BEN is a story of secrets and lies; the powerful elite, the well-to-do and politically connected; murder, chaos, and control. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is a slow seduction with plenty of sexual tension; the characters are colorful and dynamic. BIG BEN ends on a cliff anger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones-dual review

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A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram #1) by Darynda Jones-dual review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date April 7, 2020

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o’ joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.

Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, its strong cups of coffee—and a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff–an election her adorably meddlesome parents entered her in–and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of it’s reminding Sunny why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that trouble at her daughter’s new school and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and Sunshine has her hands full.

Enter sexy almost-old-flame Levi Ravinder and a hunky US Marshall, both elevens on a scale of one to blazing inferno, and the normally savvy sheriff is quickly in over her head. Now it’s up to Sunshine to juggle a few good hunky men, a not-so-nice kidnapping miscreant, and Doug the ever-pesky flasher. And they said coming home would be drama-free.

•••••••

Sandy’s Review

A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE is the first instalment in Darynda Jones contemporary, adult SUNSHINE VICRAM mystery, suspense, somewhat humorous series focusing on Sheriff Sunshine Blaze Vicram and her daughter Aurora ‘Auri’.

Told from dual third person perspectives ( Sunshine and Auri) A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE follows Sunshine Blaze Vicram Freyr on her return to her home town of Del Sol, New Mexico following her questionable election win as the new sheriff. With her fourteen year old daughter Auri in tow, Sunshine’s return to Del Sol is met with derision, especially for Auri as she enters high school for the first time. A kidnapped teenager, a missing lieutenant, a decomposed body, an escaped fugitive, a flasher, a rooster named Puff Daddy, and demons from the past find Sunshine struggling within hours on her first day of the job, a job that will bring her up close and personal with Del Sol’s meanest, strangest and bad.

Sunshine Vicram has suffered like no one else, and with her return come the memories that are slowly revealing a forgotten connection to the town that almost destroyed her life. Our heroine, a passionate mother and daughter, finds herself facing down her demons when her daughter reveals a secret Sunshine had long thought buried.

A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE is reminiscent of Darynda Jones’ CHARLEY DAVIDSON series including an Easter egg or two referencing the aforementioned series. The premise is complex, detailed, gritty and real; the numerous characters are colorful, nosy, quirky and bad- the mean girls and bullies at the local high school are heart breaking and sad. We are introduced to Sunshine’s parents Cyrus and Elaine Freyr, her best friend and fellow law enforcement officer Chief Deputy Quincy Cooper; students Cruz De los Santos and his father Chris, Sybil St. Aubin and her parents Mari and Forest; the local ‘book babes’ who get together for drinking and gossip but every once in awhile, a basket of muffins foretells of darker things to come. The in-depth world building is full of possibilities. There is the hint of a romance for our leading heroine but life and past history may get in the way.

As per Darynda Jones’ style of writing, the humor is spot on. The back and forth between Sunshine and Auri is priceless, sassy and fun. Each chapter begins with a humorous window sign found at the local restaurants and shops. A BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE is the perfect vehicle to add a little ‘sunshine’ and humor into your life.

 

Barb’s Review:
A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones is the 1st book in her new Sunshine Vicram series.  I was excited to see what Darynda had in store for us in this new series, and I am happy to say I loved A Bad Day for Sunshine.

Sunshine (Sunny) Vicram, our heroine, returns to her home town of Del Sol, New Mexico, as the newly elected sheriff, which she suspects her parents meddled into getting her elected.  Sunny left town years before, at the age of 17; after she suffered a trauma, having been kidnapped and then pregnant, and now comes home as a seasoned successful career as a detective, with her 14 year old daughter, Auri.  Sunny is a tough, independent, smart, funny heroine, which you couldn’t help but love.  The relationship between Sunshine and Auri was wonderful, and I loved how close they were and their cute bantering back and forth throughout the book with each other, as we got to see the POV’s between them both.  

The story begins with Sunshine’s first day on the job as Sheriff, with her expecting the basic misdemeanors of a small town; but immediately there is a kidnapping case of a 14 year old schoolgirl, who had also befriended her daughter.  Sunny’s best friend, Deputy Quincy Cooper, is thrilled to have his friend back, and together they work with Zee, another new member (sniper) of the police team to find the missing girl.  They made a great team, and I enjoyed their camaraderie.  I must say, I absolutely loved Levi, whom Sunny always had a crush on, but he comes from a violent dangerous family, that does include Hailey (who have become secret friends, but must keep their friendship private). Levi was not only a hunk, but he was also a great tracker, and ends up helping Sunny and her team.  You can tell he cares about her, as well as Auri, but tries to be distant, in order for them to be safe. 

Auri also wants to help her mom find Sybil (the missing girl) and uses the internet, as well as school papers to find information; she shows her smarts, as she is her mother’s daughter as a budding detective.  School at first is difficult, with some mean girls at school treating her badly, especially since her mom is the sheriff.   Auri finds help and friendship from a boy, Cruz, who is considered the most popular boy in school, and their friendship helps her handle the brutal treatment from the girls.   

What follows is an exciting adventure to find the missing girl, which will bring in some surprises along the way.  There is also a mystery about Sunny’s kidnapping, as she remembers very little of what happened, and is still determined to find out who the culprit was. I also loved how Levi was like a father figure Auri, having helped her when she was a child. 

A Bad Day for Sunshine was not only an intense mystery, but was a lot of fun, as Sunny, Auri, Quincy, Zee, Cruz, and others were so great together, making us laugh quite a bit.   Darynda Jones once again gives us another fantastic heroine, with a wonderful daughter and great secondary characters.  I expect in future books we will see more romance, hopefully between Sunny and Levi.  I look forward to the next book in this series, as spending more time with Sheriff Sunshine Vicram is a must for me.  I suggest you jump on the bandwagon now, and start with A Bad Day for Sunshine by a fantastic author, Darynda Jones.

 Copies supplied by Netgalley

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Lethal Game (Ghostwalkers #16) by Christine Feehan-Review & Giveaway

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Lethal Game (Ghostwalkers #16) by Christine Feehan-Review , Excerpt & Giveaway

LETHAL GAME
Ghostwalkers #16
by Christine Feehan
Release Date: March 3, 2020
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romantic, paranormal, suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 3, 2020

When Malichai Fortunes attacks a problem, he does it full force–a habit that earns the GhostWalker a painful injury and a forced vacation in San Diego, California. With nothing but physical therapy on the horizon, Malichai is starting to get restless…until a striking blue-eyed blonde makes all his senses come alive.

Amaryllis is kind and warm and sees beyond Malichai’s rough exterior, but he can tell there’s something she’s hiding. Her innate healing abilities indicate she might be a GhostWalker–albeit an untrained one. Malichai doesn’t think their crossing paths is anything more than coincidence, but he can sense that one wrong word could send Amaryllis running.

When strange events at his temporary retreat put Malichai on high alert, he knows he won’t be able to deal with the threat and keep his woman safe in his weakened state. But calling in his brothers means telling Amaryllis what he really is, and revealing that he knows the truth about her too..

••••••••

REVIEW:LETHAL GAME is the sixteenth instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult GHOSTWALKERS erotic, paranormal romantic suspense series focusing on an elite group (4 teams) of enhanced men and women known as the Ghostwalkers (GW). These ‘super soldiers’ were once part of an unauthorized government experiment performed by Dr. Peter Whitney but several soldiers have, since, opted into the program on their own. This is US Air Force pararescue medic Malachai Fortunes, and B&B employee Amaryllis’ story line. LETHAL GAME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

Told from several third person perspectives including Malachai and Amaryllis LETHAL GAME follows in the aftermath of a rescue that went horribly wrong. Shot several times while trying to rescue a number of American soldiers injured and caught behind enemy lines in Afghanistan, Malachai Fortunes would use a second-generation ‘zenith’ patch to stop the bleeding before seeking medical help but Malachai would quickly discover that not all was going according to plan when a forced leave would reveal the continuing deterioration of his injured leg. Meeting Amaryllis, at a B&B in San Diego, California found our hero instantly attracted to a woman who was obviously part of Whitney’s orphan’s experiment. What ensues is the quick building relationship between Malachai and Amaryllis; the discovery of a home-grown terrorist plot; and the on-going breakdown of Malachai’s leg.

The relationship between Malachai and Amaryllis is one of immediate attraction but Amaryllis knows to reveal the truth could mean imminent death if anyone were to find out our heroine had enhanced, super powers. A psychic healer injected with several animal and insect DNA, Amaryllis knows it is only a matter of time before Dr. Peter Whitney discovers her whereabouts, and forces her into his breeding program. Malachai Fortunes knows Amaryllis is a Ghostwalker and his mate, and is immediately drawn to the feisty female but Amaryllis is reluctant to reveal her true powers, lest Malachai is a member of Whitney’s extraction team. The $ex scenes are limited but intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large familiar and colorful cast of secondary and supporting characters including several Ghostwalkers from the other three Teams. Ken and Jack Norton make a cameo appearance; most of Malachai’s team and their significant others (Diego Campo, Ezekiel Fortunes, Gino Mazza, Team leader Joe Spagnola and Mordichai Fortunes, Draden Freeman, Trap Dawkins, Rubin Campo and Wyatt Fontenot) join our couple to take down a government led home-grown terrorist attack, as well as the return of Dr. Trap Dawkins and his mate Cayenne. Christine Feehan continues to address Trap’s behaviour by way of Asperger’s syndrome, found on the high end of the autism spectrum, an address meant to assuage the character’s deplorable behaviour in Spider Game (book 12).

LETHAL GAME is a bit of a departure from Christine Feehan’s recent style of writing in that the detailed, graphic violence, or mention of abuse and torture, are limited especially as it pertains to women and children. Our hero is not a manipulative, controlling, oppressive alpha male like many of the author’s more recent leading male characters but he is desperate to protect the woman with whom he has fallen in love.

I would also like to address the similarities between the author’s Dark Carpathians and the Ghostwalkers as it pertains to the ‘healer’s in both of her series. From the ability to ‘see’ into the body, and heal by psychic energy, alongside one or more additional healers is very reminiscent of the Dark Series, and their ability to heal. The descriptions and graphic details regarding the psychic surgery are familiar and comparable, almost parallel to the earlier works in the Dark series.

LETHAL GAME is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of power and control; of fate and love. The premise is engaging, entertaining and intriguing; the characters are energetic, dynamic and courageous; the romance is emotional and captivating.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Malichai made his way to the dining room. A prickle of awareness crept down his spine and his gaze swept the nearly empty room. One other person sat by herself at a table in the corner. She was reading a book—a romance—and he smirked when he saw it. She was a gorgeous woman and he tried not to stare at her. She was a blonde, but her hair was so thick, he doubted if the color could be natural. Most blondes just had finer or thinner hair than that. He must have been looking too closely because she glanced up. He could tell that first glance was simple idle curiosity but then she stiffened, and her gaze wholly focused on him.
Her eyes were gorgeous, a startling blue, like jewels. So deep blue they were almost certainly contacts. She glanced back down at her book, but he could tell she wasn’t reading it anymore. He’d probably scared her. He wasn’t like some of his fellow GhostWalkers, who seemed to walk into a room and have half the female population enthralled—and that had nothing to do with their enhancements and everything to do with their good looks, charisma, or both, none of which he had.
The breakfast was set up buffet style with a long row of warmers laid out on a table. He would have his back to the room when he served himself food, but he seemed to be the last man to breakfast. The moment he’d walked in he became uneasy, but no one was there but the two of them—the blonde and him. Was the threat coming from her? Was it even a threat? He was on vacation. Didn’t that mean there was no threat? Hell if he knew.
He dished himself food, standing sideways to keep her in sight. Her gaze jumped to him and she lowered the book partway, both feet coming to the floor, when she’d been relaxed, one leg curled up under her. He sent her a cocky grin.
“See you’re readin’ my favorite book.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You have no idea what I’m reading.”
He was an enhanced GhostWalker with the very sharp eyes of an eagle. “It’s a romance titled Toxic Game.” He hoped he didn’t have to describe what the book was about because he didn’t have a clue.
She glanced down at the book as if she couldn’t believe he knew the title. When she looked back up at him, his heart went a little crazy. The sun hit her just right, turning her blond hair into a waterfall of ice and gold sparkles. The strands actually dazzled his eyes for a moment, so that he lost sight of her. Her image blurred. He could only see that amazing, overpowering shine.
He blinked to bring her into focus. When he managed to get her back in his sight, he found himself staring into her vivid jeweled eyes, eyes blazing blue flames at him.
“You do not read romance books.” Her chin went up. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to read about men who believe in monogamy. I doubt you’d know anything about that.”
He took a chair facing her and drank his coffee slowly, studying her furious little face. She was beautiful all riled up. His heart was going a little crazy and all at once he felt very much alive. Maybe this vacation thing wasn’t going to be so bad.
“What makes you think that? If I read romances, clearly I like happy endings and I prefer books where men and women are faithful to one another.” It was all about thinking fast on one’s feet. Any GhostWalker should be excellent at that.
“I think you’re so full of—” she broke off as a woman came into the doorway, clearly agitated, so much so that she seemed to completely miss that Malichai was even in the room.


 

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 is offering a paper copy of LETHAL GAME to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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