Tag Archives: New Release reviews 2022

Frozen in Ice/Falling for the Ice Queen by Cynthia Eden-reviews

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Frozen In Ice /Falling for the Ice Queen (Ice Breakers Cold Case 1) by Cynthia Eden

Frozen In Ice
Ice Breakers Cold Case #1
by Cynthia Eden
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 5, 2022

Is he a drop dead gorgeous…killer?

Delilah “Lila” Darrow doesn’t belong in the world of the rich and famous, but for one night, she’s going to wear the fanciest dress she can find and pretend that she does. Her plan—get close to reclusive billionaire Archer Radcliffe and find out…is he a murderer?

She knows exactly what Archer likes. She knows how to slip beneath his guard. She knows how to make him fall for her. With the right tools, Delilah believes she can finally make Archer pay for the crime he committed so long ago.

Payback is calling…and she’s wearing a dress made for sin.

Delilah is part of a group of crime solvers called the Ice Breakers—an online team made up of individuals who have the goal of solving cold cases. Five years ago, Delilah’s sister disappeared without a trace. Since then, Delilah has made it her mission to close as many unsolved cases as possible. Archer Radcliffe will be the latest target in her quest.

Except…Archer turns the tables on her. He sees through her lies. Tries to seduce her. And, he also swears his innocence.

Can she trust him? Or is he playing her?

•••••••

REVIEW: FROZEN IN ICE is the first instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary adult ICE BREAKERS COLD CASE romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Ice Breakers, an online team of crime solvers whose goal is to solve cold cases. This is billionaire businessman Archer Radcliffe, and Ice Breaker/research journalist Delilah Darrow’s story line.

Told from third person perspectives FROZEN IN ICE follows the search for the truth. Delilah Darrow believes billionaire Archer Radcliffe is guilty in the disappearance of his former fiance Vanessa Byron, and our heroine is determined to prove Archer’s guilt but in an effort to ferret out a possible lead, Delilah agrees to a fake relationship with Archer Radcliffe that will quickly turn into something more. With each public appearance Delilah Darrow is targeted, and a near fatal fire forces Delilah’s fellow Ice Breaker to take charge. As Delilah and Archer begin a search for the person responsible, a ghost from the past resurfaces, forcing Delilah and Archer on a cross country journey searching for the truth. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Delilah and Archer, and the potential fall out as Delilah is targeted in the name of betrayal and revenge.

The relationship between Delilah and Archer begins acrimoniously as Delilah is determined to prove Archer killed his missing fiance. Vanessa’s sister Tiffany is determined to point fingers at our story line hero but Delilah quickly realizes that there is more to the story than a missing fiance. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Delilah’s fellow Ice Breaker and former bounty hunter Memphis Camden, Ice Breakers Dr. Antonia Rossi, and Elijah; Archer’s half brother Harrison Walker; attorney Oz Whitlock, and Tiffany Byron. Memphis Camden’s story is next.

FROZEN IN ICE is a story of betrayal, jealousy, obsession and love.The premise is engaging and interesting; the romance is seductive and impassioned; the characters are dynamic and determined.

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Reviewed by Sandy

______

FALLING FOR THE ICE QUEEN
(Ice Breaker: Cold Case 2)
by Cynthia Eden
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic suspense

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 14, 2022

He’s more than a little rough around the edges…

Memphis Camden isn’t a nice guy. He’s big, dangerous, and has an extremely low tolerance for BS. A former bounty hunter, Memphis now has a deadly new target…a serial killer. Memphis has been tracking the guy for months, and he may just have found the way to drag the monster into the light. In order to accomplish his mission, he’s going to need help from an unlikely ally…

She’s elegant, poised, and a beautiful society queen.

Eliza Robinson doesn’t talk about her past. She tried going to the cops—long ago—but they never caught the man responsible for her abduction, and her powerful family made sure to bury every detail about that night. Now, she spends her days dodging the stiff guards her family keeps sending her way. Until someone very unusual steps into her path.

He’s not like the others. He’s fierce, ruggedly sexy, and more than a little uncivilized…

••••••

REVIEW: FALLING FOR THE ICE QUEEN is the second instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary, adult ICE BREAKER COLD CASE romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Ice Breakers, an online team of crime solvers whose goal is to solve cold cases. This is former bounty hunter turned tracker / Ice Breaker Memphis Camden, and Eliza Robinson’s story line. FALLING FOR THE ICE QUEEN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from third person perspective FALLING FOR THE ICE QUEEN focuses on the hunt for a potential serial killer. Several years earlier Eliza Robinson was abducted from a local bar, held captive near a sunflower farm, and in her escape has no recollection of what happened or how. Fast forward to present day wherein Eliza, now followed by her father’s hired security team comes face to face with Memphis Camden, a member of the Ice Breakers Cold Case crime solvers, and the man with whom Eliza will fall in love. With the help of Memphis, Eliza begins to retrace every step and every action in the days leading up to, during and following her escape, a retracing that points a finger at too many suspects. Every year on the anniversary of her abduction, our heroine receives a bouquet of sunflowers, and another woman goes missing and is never found. As Memphis and Eliza begin to unravel the clues and lies, our couple will find themselves falling for one another. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Eliza and Memphis, and the potential fall-out as our couple are targeted by a killer who refuses to walk away.

The relationship between Eliza and Memphis is one of immediate attraction but Eliza believes Memphis is part of her father’s security team, then believes he is a possible stalker. Keeping Eliza safe becomes paramount for our story line hero, as her life is a constant state of secrets and lies. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including Eliza’s brother Benjamin, their father Prescott, and his wife Kathleen; Eliza’s best friend Bethany Bancroft, as well as Detective Daniel Jones, Body guard Alec Davis, and Ice Breaker investigator Delilah Darrow, and her husband Archer Radcliffe, and Memphis’ half-brother Saint. The requisite evil has many faces.

FALLING FOR THE ICE QUEEN is a story of betrayal, vengeance, jealousy and madness. The fast paced premise is exciting and intriguing; the romance is provocative; the characters are energetic and charismatic.

I want to add that there are many similarities between the first and second books including secret half-siblings, and guilt-ridden full-siblings, I am thinking the author could be using more originality in her story line premises.

Own a copy

Reviewed by Sandy

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ON SHATTERED WINGS (The Forbidden Duet 1) by SK Graves-a review

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ON SHATTERED WINGS (The Forbidden Duet 1) by SK Graves

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au Barnes & Noble paper

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 24, 2022

Butterfly

Seven days.

One hundred and sixty-eight hours.

Ten thousand and eighty minutes.

It seems like no time at all, it’ll be gone in the blink of an eye and then my life will change forever.
The gilded cage I live in is nothing more than an illusion. The men hide behind masks, obscuring the monsters and demons within them.

I was destined for one thing, to be sold. To be used, abused, and then thrown away. What I didn’t expect was him.

Was them.

Archer

I’ve never known love but now I’ve had a taste, nothing will stand in my way of claiming it.

He was the unexpected inevitable.

She was everything I never saw coming.

Dash

Everything in our world hangs in the balance, our work, our love, our lives.

He made living possible, I could finally breathe.

She was the flame that kept our love alight.

Until the flame went out.

••••••••

REVIEW: ON SHATTERED WINGS is the first instalment in SK Graves’ contemporary, adult THE FORBIDDEN dark, erotic, duet focusing on Butterfly, Archer, Dash and Hunter.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers including graphic violence, rape and sexual assault

Told from four first person perspectives (Butterfly, Archer, Dash and Hunter) ON SHATTERED WINGS focuses on human trafficking, abuse, assault and murder. Butterfly was born into the world of human sex trafficking, and knew nothing of kindness or a mother’s love. With the approach of her eighteenth birthday, Butterfly will be ‘prepared’ for the inevitable, an auction where she would be the ultimate prize. Often drugged and abused at the hands of her captors, Butterfly retreats into her mind where the reality is often blended with nightmares and terror.

Meanwhile, Archer Davenport, head of cyber security at Davenport Industries is about to discover just how depraved is his brother Hunter, a depravity that will have Archer coming face to face with a young woman sold to the highest bidder. His best friend Tarquin ‘Dash’ Spencer is about to lose contact with the man that he loves, contact from which he unable to locate his best friend when Archer finds himself pulled into a world he knows nothing about, a world of debauchery and debasement at the hands of the people in charge. As Archer struggles to free himself and the young woman he knows as Butterfly, he no longer recognizes the brother who is out of control.

ON SHATTERED WINGS is a story of power and control, rape and abuse, trafficking and drugs, obsession and madness. SK Graves pulls the reader in a dark, gritty, raw and haunting story; a tragic and dramatic tale of jealousy, betrayal and the ultimate power over body and mind-there is no reprieve from the violence-it is all encompassing graphic and detailed. The relationship between Dash and Archer crosses the line from friendship to love, a relationship for which both men were punished, years before. ON SHATTERED WINGS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

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Reviewed by Sandy

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HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY by AJ Pine-a review

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HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY (The Murphys of Meadow Valley 1) by AJ Pine-a review

 

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 29, 2022

Second chances at success―and at love.
Childhood sweethearts who broke each other’s hearts and are now determined to be friends. Not so easy.
Finding out how to do whatever it takes to live the life you want.
Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy had a bright future together until tragedy tore them apart. Now, more than a decade later, the beauty school dropout runs Meadow Valley’s family tavern and steers clear of the boy who once stole her heart―no small feat in such a small town. When Casey’s car breaks down on the way to an important interview, she’s rescued by none other than Boone himself―on what was supposed to be his wedding day…

Boone Murphy was finally going to put Meadow Valley in his rearview mirror, even if that meant selling his business and leaving his family’s horse ranch behind. It also meant leaving Casey Walsh. Except when it came time to say “goodbye” to his hometown and “I do” to his new life, he couldn’t do it. Now he’s back home and his only dream is winning back the girl he’s always loved…

•••••

REVIEW: HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY is the first instalment in AJ Pine’s contemporary adult THE MURPHYS OF MEADOW VALLEY romance series-a spin off from the author’s Meadow Valley series. This is thirty year olds, rancher/mechanic Boone Murphy, and Casey Walsh’s second chance story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Casey and Boone) HOLDING OUR FOR A COWBOY follows the rekindling romance and relationship between former childhood sweethearts turned lovers turned enemies Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy. Approximately twelve years earlier Casey Walsh and Boone Murphy’s lives imploded pulling apart our story line couple. Fast forward to present day wherein Boone Murphy, having waited his entire life to rekindle what was, forged a new path towards a future, a future he knew wasn’t for him. An accident, an stranded motorist, and a flash back to the past finds Boone facing the woman he still loved, the woman who never knew the truth about what happened or why. Hoping to rekindle their love, Boone begins a slow seduction of our story line heroine, a woman who continues to move forward, refusing to look back. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Boone and Casey, and the potential fall-out as Boone and Casey continue to struggle with what as and what will never be.

Boone Murphy has some issues of mental health that often affect his day to day life but a required regimen and therapy aids in our hero’s fight towards gaining control but sometimes life throws Boone a curve and a hook, and Boone struggles to keep moving forward. Casey Walsh refuses to dwell on the past, so much so, she is unable to talk about what happened or why. With her head buried in the proverbial sand, Casey keeps her eye on the prize, often forgetting their was more than herself affected by the heart ache and pain.

The relationship between Casey and Boone is one of second chances; a rekindling romance and relationship destroy by by secrets, misunderstanding, grief and loss. Working together towards of new future, Casey continues to have issues of trust, especially as it pertains to the man she once loved. The limited and low heat level $ex scenes are passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include many of whom we met in the original MEADOW VALLEY series including Casey’s best friend Ivy and Carter (Cowboy to the Rescue ), Delaney and Sam (My One and Only Cowboy ), Charlotte and Ben (Make Mine a Cowboy), Jenna and Colt (Only a Cowboy Will Do), as well as Casey’s parents, Boone’s brother Eli; Boone’s ex Elizabeth.

HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY is a story of love and loss, grief and misunderstanding, second chances and fate. A ‘Gift of the Magi’ kind of scenario where each will sacrifice for the person they love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are broken yet determined-the heroine’s inability to address the past is the cause of the most of the story line conflict.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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THE WINTER BIKER (RBMC: National Chapter 6) by Crimson Syn-review

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THE WINTER BIKER (RBMC: National Chapter Prequel 6) by Crimson Syn-review tour

 

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 28, 2022

Paul Bulldog Jameson has lived a rough life.
Betrayed by his best friend and thrown in prison,
He fought to survive.
When he got out, all he wanted was to rebuild his life.
Creating the RBMC brings him a sense of freedom,
but his past still haunts him,
and when a murder occurs on his property, all eyes are on him.
Including the beautiful Detective whom one night walks into his bar.

Detective Aiyana Locklear has set her eyes on Paul Jameson,
the President of the Royal Bastards MC.
He’s dangerous, cunning, and has a devious past that has been kept hidden until now.
One night is all it takes for Aiyana to fall for Bulldog’s charms.
One night for him to become completely obsessed with the pretty detective.
One lie that could break them in two or make them stronger.
Will love conquer all between this detective and her felon?

•••••••••

REVIEW: THE WINTER BIKER is the sixth instalment in Crimson Syn’s adult RBMC: National Chapter Prequel) erotic, MC romance series. This is founding RBMC President Paul ‘Bulldog’ Jameson, and Detective Aiyana Locklear’s story line.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers including a theme of daddy-kink.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Paul and Aiyana) THE WINTER BIKER follows several timelines including the beginning of the breakdown of the friendship between Bulldog and his former friend Brewer.As the founding president of the RBMC Paul ‘Bulldog’ Jameson has found himself on law enforcements radar in the wake of a prior conviction for murder, and the discovery of a number of young girls found battered and dead. With Bulldog and the RBMC the prime suspects, Detective Aiyana Locklear takes aim at our story line hero, quickly falling into bed with a possible killer. What ensues is the building relationship between Aiyana and Bulldog, and the potential fall-out as the past takes aim, threatening the lives of our story line couple.

 Aiyana Locklear’s has targeted our story line hero, believing the RBMC responsible for a series of abductions and murders of underage girls but Bulldog Jameson begins to suspect something more sinister at work, including the involvement of the Russian mob, and a onetime friend from the past.

We are introduced to several of the original founding members of the RBMC including the leader of the Bloody Scorpions Louis ‘Brewer’ D’Elena.

The age-gap relationship between Bulldog and Aiyana is one of immediate attraction but Bulldog is a suspect, and Aiyana knows to get involved could be the end of her career. Unable to stay apart, Aiyana finds herself falling for Bulldog, a man who sees betrayal when the truth is revealed. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense with a daddy-kink theme, throughout.

THE WINTER BIKER is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, acceptance and love. the premise is captivating and entertaining; the romance is provocative; the characters are charismatic, struggling but determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Inked in Vengeance
Scarred by Pain
Afflicted with Desire
Wrecked From Malice
Belle Macabre

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

✔ Website/Series Links: https://www.royalbastardsmc.com/

✔  Follow the Royal Bastards MC here:  https://www.facebook.com/royalbastardsmcbooks/

 

My name is Crimson Syn, not really, but what fun is it to use my real name. Instead I’ll use my inner goddess’ name, it’s much more fun that way. I grew up in New York City where I had a wonderful education, loving parents and awesome friends. What more could a girl ask for?

I started writing at the age of sixteen. The first romance I read was Stephanie Laurens’ Devil’s Bride. Since then I have been influenced by dozens of flourishing romance authors and even more dashing and daring rogues. I must say it, but Fifty Shades was not my first erotic romance, nor did it influence me to start writing them. If you’ve never read Mary Balogh, Elizabeth Hoyt, Lisa Kleypas, Bertrice Small or A.N. Roquelaure’s Sleeping Beauty trilogy, then you’re missing out. Those were my sweet introductions to erotic romance, and boy were they hot.

So here I am, after reading so many wonderful stories, I have too many sinful tales of my own not to share. I like my alphas rough and possessive, and I have no shame in saying it or writing it. I had delightfully wicked teachers growing up, their books took me to new worlds and brought me new loves. So, I want to do the same for you. I want to indulge my readers in those steamy reads that will send them into the arms of dangerous alphas and deliciously sexy rogues, without leaving the confines of their nice warm bed. If I am able to entice your inner goddesses, then I have done my job and I am satisfied.

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Marked (Blood Brothers 5) by Samantha Wilde-a review

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Marked (Blood Brothers 5) by Samantha Wilde-a review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 27, 2022

She’s made a deal with the devil himself . . .

Detective Sophia Aldridge is on a man-hunt for contract killer Cole Holmes. Ever since the arrests of Lionsgate Kinship, the elusive assassin has dodged the police. Aside from one grainy image of him, no one speaks about the man deadlier than the grim reaper himself. Winding up face-to-face in an alley with him steals her breath. She’s caught him red-handed in a murder, and despite their tousle where he should have killed her, he walked away, leaving her unarmed and pissed off. But the feeling of his large, deadly body up against hers is embossed in her mind.

Getting Sophia underneath him would be a slice of heaven that Cole is too smart to taste. He gave her a warning: stay the hell of his tail if she wants to live. That’s why finding her outside his apartment days later has him seeing red. He makes one final visit to her home, and makes a devastating discovery: hot cop is a mom.

She might be scared of Cole, but she’s not stupid. She swore to protect and she won’t stop until Cole is punished for his crimes. But then her world is shaken . . . her baby girl is kidnapped. Immediately, Sophia assumes Cole is responsible, but when she ambushes his apartment, she realizes she’s wrong. Time is running out, and she needs to bring her daughter home before it’s too late. Cole swears to help, but he has one condition. She needs to let him get away with his lucrative career intact. Sophia will do anything to save her little girl, even break her oath. One thing she can’t guarantee is if she can keep her hands off the dangerous killer who should have her running for the hills.

••••••

REVIEW MARKED is the fifth instalment in Samantha Wilde’s contemporary, adult BLOOD BROTHERS erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on the Holmes brothers-Nash, Cole, Dallas and Dare. This is assassin for hire Cole Holmes, and detective Sophia Aldridge’s story line. MARKED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

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

Told from dual third person perspectives (Cole and Sophia), covering a few days in the life, MARKED follows the search for a killer. Detective Sophia Aldridge has been searching for assassin Cole Holmes believing he is someone connected to a child-trafficking ring aka Lionsgate Kinship. Walking into a murder scene, Sophia finds herself facing down our story line hero, but Sophia’s life is about to spiral when the people at Lionsgate Kinship set their sights on our story line heroine. With the authorities following the rules, Sophia needs someone to cross the lines when her only child is abducted, and the police have few if no leads to follow. As Cole and his brothers begin a search for the child, secrets reveal a connection to Lionsgate and our story line heroine. What ensues is the quick building romance and relationship between Cole and Sophia, and the potential fall-out as a search and rescue turns deadly, leaving Sophia wondering where everything went wrong.

The relationship between Cole and Sophia is forbidden as Cole is a wanted man, and Sophia has been charged with taking him down but Cole only kills those deserving to die, and Sophia is caught between head and heart knowing to get involved could mean the end of her career. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include Sophia’s boss, and police chief Kenneth; Sophia’s ex Bart, and their daughter Bella. We are reintroduced to Cole’s brothers and their other halves: Nash and Lexi (Bound 1), Dare and Tessa (Traced 2), Dallas and Gemma (Extracted 4).

MARKED is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and relationships. The fast paced premise is intriguing and engaging; the romance is seductive and intense; the characters are broken, desperate and determined.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Bound
Traced
Unchained
Extracted

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Villain’s Obsession (Savage Legacy 2)by Faith Summers-review tour

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Villain’s Obsession (Savage Legacy 2)by Faith Summers-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 December 28, 2022

He’s my enemy, my nightmare, and my forbidden solace.
In a world full of monsters who control the secret society and the Bratva, I made the fatal mistake of falling for the worst one of them all.

My brother’s best friend—Zakh Volkova.

He was one of the most powerful men in Boston, and we were off-limits to each other.

Until he crossed the line for me.

We saw each other in secret, and I gave myself to him.

Even when my father promised me to another devil.

Then things changed when Zakh was framed for murder.

He left, shattering my heart into a million pieces.

He’s been on the run for over a year.

Every day that’s passed sees me trying to get over him.

But now he’s back weeks before my wedding and prepared to start a war.

The only other thing he wants, apart from proving his innocence, is me.

•••••••

REVIEW: VILLAIN’S OBSESSION is the second instalment in Faith Summers’ contemporary, adult SAVAGE LEGACY dark, erotic, Bratva romance series. This is twenty-eight year old, Zakh Volkova, and twenty year old, Lorelai Novak’s story line. VILLAIN’S OBSESSION can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as the events of VILLAIN’S OBSESSION are as of a direct result of some of the events in book one DEVIL’S KISS.

NOTE: Some of the events of the current story line cross over with some of the events of Devil’s Kiss.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Zakh and Lorelai) VILLAIN’S OBSESSION focuses on the search for the truth. Lorelai Novak and Zakh Volkova have been in love with one another for as long as they can remember but their families respective positions with the Bratva, and the Brotherhood of Knights would not have allowed the two to get married. At eighteen years of age, Lorelai’s heart was destroyed when Zakh pushed the woman he loved out of his life but a few days later Zakh would be implicated in the murder of his uncle Leif, and for eighteen months our hero found himself on the run, staying one step ahead of those hunting him down. Having to remain in hiding, Zakh’s return home was greeted with the knowledge that Lorelai’s life was no longer in her control, and Zakh will vow to reclaim everything he lost. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Zakh and Lorelai, and the fall-out as Zakh hunts for the evidence that will exonerate him from the death of his uncle.

Zakh Volkova is a wanted man, and most of his family refuse to see anything beyond the accusations and lies purported to be the truth. Zakh needs to prove his innocence in order to claim the woman he loves but without the help of family or friends, Zakh is placing himself in the direct line of fire. Lorelai Novak lost her heart the day Zakh walked away but having been bartered by her father to the son of a Russian businessman meant Lorelai was no longer in control of her life, a life she knew would be dangerous and deadly. Zakh’s return meant the possibility of second chances but no one else was willing to give Zakh the benefit of the doubt. With her own life on the line, Lorelai knows the time she has left may be the only time she has with the man that she loves. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Lorelai’s brother Leo, and their parents Julian and Irina Novak, as well as Zakh’s brothers Malik, Desmier and Anastasia (Devil’s Kiss); Lorelai’s intended Dmitri Konstantin, and his father Virgil; Zakh’s friend Garrett. The requisite evil has many faces.

VILLAIN’S OBSESSION is a story of power and control, obsession and madness; secrets and lies; betrayal and vengeance, love and acceptance. The fast paced premise is energetic, emotional and intriguing; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate, determined and dynamic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one DEVIL’S KISS.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Faith Summers is the Dark Contemporary Romance pen name of USA Today Bestselling Author, Khardine Gray.

Warning !! Expect wild romance stories of the scorching hot variety and deliciously dark romance with the kind of alpha male bad boys best reserved for your fantasies.

Dive in and enjoy her naughty page-turners.

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Stolen From the Demon Prince by Lauren Crowne-review tour

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Stolen From the Demon Prince (Sins of the Blood War 2) by Lauren Crowne-review tour

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 27, 2022

The demon prince is possessive, jealous, and determined to protect what is his.

Can the prince ever see me, a former fae slave, as his equal?Or will he always see me as only a possession to protect?

The longer Leo and I are in the demon kingdom, the more obvious it becomes to both of us that it’s not safe for me to stay there with him. Demons want to take me from him at every turn, and rival factions are eager to use me as a pawn to hurt the prince.

When it seems impossible for us to be together, will the prince abandon his title, throne, and kingdom for me?
Or should I seek out the fae city and find a new home with my own kind?

Despite all of the forces working against us, deep down I know that the only home I’ve ever wanted was with him.

Unfortunately for me, there are demons who will refuse to let that happen.

•••••

REVIEW: Book two had me gripped from almost the first page! You really do need to read book one before reading this one. And be prepared for the cliffhanger in this one! It took me by surprise ?

Leo is the prince/captor/saviour and definitely Vera’s tormentor, he’s a genius with an affinity for tinkering and making new inventions. He’s addicted to his newest obsession, he can’t get enough of Vera. 

Vera is just a fae slave, held for her blood and anything else that her owner wishes to do with her….But she’s blossoming under Leo’s protection. She was pretty sassy beforehand, but she had to watch her tone, with Leo she can just be herself. 

Being together has Vera’s powers coming into its own, but she doesn’t know when or what her powers are! It’s frustrating, is it being with Leo releasing her powers? Or was she just a late bloomer?Being together feels right. But how can they be together, when both know it’s only a matter of time before something or someone tries to split the pair up! 

So what path will she choose? Let’s hope we don’t have to wait to long to find out…. 

The characters are evolving and taking me by surprise in places. We get to meet daddy dearest (and he’s really not a nice fellow!) and watch as factions of demons make a play for Leo’s kingdom! He needs to keep an eye out as they are after Vera (that’s his biggest weak spot!) 

I do like this trilogy, it’s a little slow in places, and I wouldn’t really call it a dark romance, but it is good, and I would happily recommend this book and the previous one. 

Click HERE for Julie’s review of SOLD TO THE DEMON PRINCE

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

Lauren Crowne writes sexy, funny, action-packed fantasy and paranormal romance, transporting readers into a world of fae, demons, wolf shifters, and more. You’ll want to root for her bold heroines and hot heroes, neither of which are afraid to fight for the ones they love. Sold to the Demon Prince is the first book in the Sins of the Blood War trilogy, with all three books following the same couple as they try to hold on to their passion for each other even when the world seems against them. When she isn’t writing, Lauren is addicted to drinking iced coffee, forcing her husband to watch funny TikToks, and traveling with her husband and three kids.

 

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Drama King (Three Kings 2) by Penny Reid-Review tour

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Drama King (Three Kings 2) by Penny Reid-Review tour

 

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 15, 2022

Stuck with her off-limits, taciturn, hunky movie star client during a sudden snowstorm on Christmas Eve, an extremely capable and highly professional bodyguard must keep him alive and warm without letting the tension building between them get too hot.

Bathsheba (Beth) Ryan can’t thank her best friend enough for helping her land the job of her dreams. After being relegated to second-string security for politicians in DC, being hired as an undercover personal security specialist by a giant Hollywood studio is exactly the kind of action she’s always wanted.

Until she meets her first assignment.

Cyrus Malcom can’t thank his agent enough for arranging a blind date with seemingly the woman of his dreams. After spending the past several years playing all the parts and climbing all the ladders, the lonely mega movie star finds himself actually enjoying a night on the town for the first time in ages when he meets the gorgeous, funny, and genuine Ryaine O’Rourke.

Until she shows up at his studio meeting the next day with a completely different name.

A world-wide press tour and too many late-night parties later, Beth simply needs to get through a short, one-day visit during the Christmas holiday, and then she’ll be free of Cyrus Malcom’s confusing hot looks and cold shoulders for good.

But just as they leave the airport, it starts to snow . . .

•••••

REVIEW: DRAMA KING is the second instalment in Penny Reid’s contemporary, adult THREE KINGS romance series. This is twenty-nine year old, actor Cyrus Malcom, and body guard/ security specialist Bathsheba (Beth) Ryan’s story line. DRAMA KING can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Beth and Cyrus) DRAMA KING follows the building romance and relationship between twenty-nine year old, actor Cyrus Malcom, and body guard/ security specialist Bathsheba (Beth) Ryan. Beth Ryan is best friends with Hollywood actress Ryaine O’Rourke, and they look almost identical which is part of Beth Ryan’s ability to be her body double, and intervene with Ryaine’s assortment of serial dates but Beth was about to meet her match in movie star Cyrus Malcom, one of Ryaine’s potential suitors, the man with whom Beth would fall in love. Her first personal security assignment, as part of an all-female security force, found Beth face to face with Cyrus Malcom, and our heroine’s battle between head and heart eventually forced Beth to walk away citing potential conflict and sexual attraction. A call back , a freak snow storm, and an abandoned farm house would place Beth back in the orbit of our story line hero but one night together found Beth struggling with their relationship going forward. What ensues is the building relationship between Beth and Cyrus, and the potential fall-out as Beth’s fierce need for independence and autonomy pushed Cyrus out of her life.

Cyrus Malcom is a famous actor. The studio has received threats against our story line hero, and in the wake, has hired WWS Security to protect their star with twenty-four hour security, security in the guise of women who could pass as arm candy, friends or one-night stands. Cyrus was unaware as to the extent of the threats, and working with Beth meant working with the woman that had stolen his heart.

The relationship between Cyrus and Beth begins as a lie, a date in which Cyrus is unaware of Beth’s true identity. Cyrus fell immediately for our story line heroine but Beth struggled with remaining professional in the face of her attraction to our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Beth’s boss Wren St. James, as well as several members of the security team, as well as the return of Rex TW McMurtry (Homecoming King 1).

DRAMA KING is a story of friendships, relationships and love. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance is seductive; the characters are impassioned. The conflict is limited to the back and forth between our leading couple-the threats against Cyrus are behind the scenes and virtually non-existent.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one HOMECOMING KING

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

“Do you want to listen to music?” I asked softly. “Or talk radio?”
“No, thank you,” he said shortly, shifting in his seat again while he kept on staring and frowning out the window. “You’ll need to take a right when you get to Old Whiskey Road.”
“You don’t want to go through downtown Alenbach?”
“No. I’ve seen it before.” His response was uncharacteristically irritable.
Fighting a bout of nerves, I considered my next question, or whether I should ask a question.
One popped in my head and I wondered if it was too personal. But you know what? I decided, to heck with it. I wouldn’t see Cyrus again after today, not in any meaningful way. If he clammed up, so be it. I had nothing to lose.
I waited another mile or so, then asked, “Do you miss it?”
—at the exact same time he demanded, “Why did you pick me up?”
Stiffening at the hostility in his tone, I redoubled my efforts to focus on the road and responded calmly, “I was already here and the studio asked.”
I got the sense he was waiting for me to continue. When I didn’t, he asked, “That’s it? There’s no other reason?”
Chewing on my bottom lip, my thoughts drifted to the watch in my pocket. “What other reason would there be?” I hedged, testing the wiper controls to see if it had a higher setting. It didn’t. I felt like we were creeping along at this point and we’d be lucky to make it before nightfall.
His eyes still on me, he grumbled something I missed, then asked, “Do I miss what?”
I considered saying, Nothing, forget it, but my reasoning for asking the question was still sound.
“Do you miss Texas? Do you miss being close to your momma and all these wide-open spaces? The culture out here?” I went back to chewing my bottom lip, feeling unaccountably nervous. Carefully, I slowed the car and turned onto Old Whiskey Road. This was the bypass road for Alenbach, which was still some thirty miles ahead.
The snow seemed to thicken while I waited for him to answer. We traveled another mile and I glanced at Cyrus, our eyes connecting for the first time since he’d arrived at the Austin airport.
I absorbed the shock of it, breathed through it. Meanwhile, he stared at me, some combination of puzzled and stunned.
Braving another quick look, I asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I believe that’s the first time you’ve asked me a personal question directly.”
Gripping the steering wheel tighter, I struggled with how to respond, and eventually blurted, “That can’t be true.”
“It is. What do you know about me?” The question sounded like an accusation. “We worked together for four months and not once—not once—did you make any effort to know me. Why is that?”
A hot, spiky feeling pressed uncomfortably outward against my skin. The truth was, I knew more than I wanted to admit. “I—I know plenty.”
“Really? How? Are you a mind reader? What am I thinking right now?”
My breath wanted to hitch. I wouldn’t let it. I tried to focus on my irritation, not this strange sense that I’d let him down.
“Go ahead,” he demanded. “Tell me what I’m thinking.”
Glancing at him, I saw a deeply furrowed brow, glinting narrowed eyes, mouth tugged down at the corners, jaw set. Cyrus looked more like his character Asmodeus than himself—a beautiful, surly, smoldering fallen angel instead of a happy-go-lucky sweetheart with too much energy and charisma.
“Well?” Cyrus pushed.
“Well, obviously you’re angry with me.”
“That’s right, I’m angry.”
“Fine. Be angry then!” I yelled.
“I don’t want to be angry with you!” he shouted back. “I want to be the opposite of—oh shit”—he braced his arm against the dash—“Stop!”
I saw the deer right before Cyrus did. It was huge. Despite my frazzled state of mind and his insistence that I do so, I did not stop. I didn’t swerve either, though every instinct screamed at me to yank the wheel to the right.
Did you know deer kill more people than any other animal? Snakes and sharks have nothing on Bambi. Some people think they’re cute, I blame Disney for that. They’re not cute, they’re dumb. If you’re unfortunate enough to see them in the road, stop only if it’s convenient and you spot them from a distance and it’s not a winter hellscape outside.
But since this one appeared like a serial killer in a snowy slasher flick, I didn’t stop. I pressed gently on the brakes, slowed, and braced for impact. It came with a forceful, bone-shaking boom. Airbags deployed, filling my face and vision. The jolt of it caused my foot to press harder on the brake—rookie mistake, I should’ve removed my foot—and that’s when the shit hit the fan. 

 

Penny Reid is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Please feel free to drop her a line. She’d be happy to hijack your thoughts! You can find her on her blog or email her: pennreid at gmail dot com

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