Tag Archives: new release reviews 2025

Born to Trouble (The Clan Donald Saga 4) by Regan Walker-review

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Born to Trouble (The Clan Donald Saga 4) by Regan Walker-review

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In the turbulent landscape of 15th-century Scotland, Alexander of Islay, Lord of the Isles and heir to the earldom of Ross, welcomes King James home after a long captivity in England. Yet behind the façade of royal approval lies a web of treachery. Alexander’s father triumphed at the Battle of Harlaw, securing for his son the title Earl of Ross, but Alexander must navigate a perilous court where loyalty is a fleeting shadow if he is to keep it.

The nobles defeated at Harlaw, threatened by Alexander’s growing power, whisper in the king’s ear, urging him to curb the formidable Lord of the Isles. Once an ally, King James turns against Alexander, imprisoning him in the grim confines of Tantallon Castle. Yet Alexander holds the unwavering loyalty of the Highlanders and Islesmen, who will rise in rebellion for the wrongs done to their beloved lord.

In a life fraught with conflict and trouble, Alexander captures the attentions of three women—each vying for his affection. But only one truly holds his heart. As alliances shift and passions ignite, can Alexander claim his rightful title and the woman he loves while navigating the treachery surrounding him?

••••••

REVIEW:I have to admit I haven’t read the previous books, and I’m almost certain you don’t need to read them to appreciate this one. But after reading this one, I’m definitely going back at some point to read them.

Set in 15th century Scotland, it’s a story that mixes facts with fiction. Intrigue, tension, betrayal and plenty of suspense will have you thinking about this book long after you’ve finished reading it.

The characters were written so well that I had no problem conjuring them up. The attention to detail, the surroundings and all the extra characters are given that extra attention make this book one of my favourites this year.

Alexander is getting ready to welcome the King. But, the king had been held captive for many years and so it’s impacted on many around him including Alexander! Noblemen that don’t like him seek to take advantage and make trouble for Alexander.

It is a love story, and our main character has three to choose from! But do the ladies that seek his favour want him, or the position he holds?

The story unfolds, and we see poor Alexander being imprisoned! And at some point I did wonder if he would remain there!

For those who like historical figures and stories, I’d highly recommend this read.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Summer Warrior
Bound by Honor
The Strongest Heart

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

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Award-winning, bestselling author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval romantic historical fiction. Also an avid reader/reviewer of historical love stories set in the 19th century or earlier. Author website: www.reganwalkerauthor.com. Historical Romance Review blog: reganromancereview.blogspot.com.

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Ruthless God by JM Stoneback-review tour

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🧡Ruthless God (the Gods of North Haven University 1) by JM Stoneback-review tour🧡

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 24, 2024

I’m forced to marry the man who wants to destroy me… And I know exactly why.

Our marriage was arranged when we were children. Over the years, Snow Williams fell in love with me and worshipped the ground I walked on. Until one fatal night changed both our lives forever.

He learned I was responsible for his sister’s death. Now he’s out for blood. He’ll become the villain I never saw coming.

He will dedicate his life to ruining mine. No matter what, he will never forgive me.

And I’m in for a world of pain from the moment he slides the ring on my finger… to my last, dying breath.

•••••••

REVIEW:Perfect title for this book. Ruthless God is dark academia, arranged marriage, morally dark romance. Check your trigger warnings before reading, this is heavy and dark.

Snow is someone who I would describe as being an absolute loose cannon in the worst way possible, but oddly enough he seems to relish that. Lyrical is his sister’s best friend and he has always had the most unhinged crush on her, but one that after their parents agree to marry them to each other changes. He grows distant with her, but always watchful, always protecting her from afar. When tragedy strikes, he does too. Snow doesn’t want to protect her now, oh no, the very opposite of that, in fact he has made it his life mission that Lyrical doesn’t have a moment of peace or happiness ever again. Throughout the next half of the storyline, Snow and Lyrical torture each other with some of the most messed up things, but feeding off each other’s hatred.

To say their relationship was toxic with all the red flags would be an understatement, but it worked for the characters.

Snow and Lyrical’s story kept me engaged, even if it was just to see what crazy thing they would do to the other next. Through trauma, death, betrayal and pain, Snow and Lyrical managed to find a world that they fit together, and fit together they do. Snow is full of possessive alpha, he just has a level of crazy that I don’t think I have read before and that is saying something because I have read A LOT of books.

As a first time reader to this author, it was a smack in the face, but in a good way. Vivid scenes, engaging characters, crazy storylines and a level of crazy I haven’t experienced before. I would recommend it to my dark romance readers for sure.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

I am an indie author. I write contemporary romance and dark mafia l romance. Love to read and write, enjoy playing video games and watch anime.

My book Heartless Boss is free if you sign up for my newsletter.
Gunner is one of my favorite alphas heroes I ever written.
If your into 🧁Broken Alphahole 🧁Office Romance
🧁A quiry heroine 🧁Angsty
Then this book for you.
#jmstoneback #contemporaryromance #freebies

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Chasing Forever (Second Hope 4) by Jessica Prince-review

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Chasing Forever (Second Hope 4) by Jessica Prince-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 23, 2025

I’ve never been the kind of man to give much thought to the future. When I pictured what forever looked like, I didn’t see a picket fence, a wife or a bunch of little rugrats running around. I had the dog, and that was good enough for me.

Or it had been, until a woman with dark, silky hair and sad eyes stumbled into my life and shook everything up.

The shadows that haunted Merritt Bell tugged at something deep inside me, bringing to life a primal instinct to protect that was stronger than anything I experienced before. The second I laid eyes on her, I wanted to slay all her demons. Be the knight in shining armor who could bring a smile to her beautiful face.

But before that could happen, I had to earn her trust.

When a family emergency brings her back to town and directly into the path of her estranged, abusive husband, I don’t hesitate to put myself in the middle, even if it means placing a target on my back that my badge can’t protect me from.

Now she and her nephew are living under my roof, and there isn’t anything I won’t do to keep them safe. I might be one of the good guys, but when it comes to protecting the woman who’s stolen my heart and the boy I’ve grown to adore, I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.

I finally know what my forever looks like, and there isn’t anything that can stop me from chasing it down and holding on tight.

•••••••

REVIEW:🧡 Back to Second Hope we go! 🧡

I say this is almost every review for a Jessica Prince book, I need more! Chasing Forever is the next installment in the Second Hope Valley series by the ever amazing Jessica Prince. Each book can be read as a standalone, but I strongly recommend reading the series in order. Check your trigger warnings for domestic violence scenes and conversation before reading.

Merritt is finally free from her husband, the one who took nearly a decade from her life, after getting away from him with the help of Blythe and others, she has finally settled into a new life away from Hope Valley. Nothing could bring her back to the place where her husband still is, nothing but her nephew Levi. The one good thing her junkie brother ever did. When she learns that if she doesn’t claim him as his guardian he will be put into foster care, she drops everything and returns to Hope Valley.

Tristan has had Merritt stuck in his head since the moment he laid eyes on her, it’s almost an obsession. Her pale green eyes keep him awake at night. When she leaves HV after the incident with husband, he thinks he will never see her again, but that all changes after his latest case. When he sees her again, that same feeling overtakes him, the need to protect, to care, to do everything he can to make sure she has whatever she needs. This leads him to offering up his house for a place for her and her nephew to stay.

Merritt is normally slow to trust, and even more so that way when it comes to police or officials, but with Tristan, it comes so easy. He is easy going, gentle and has a connection to Levi that makes the little boy light up from the inside out. He wants to take care of her, and while that should frighten her, it doesn;t. It makes her long for more.

Merritt, Tristan and little Levi are a kick in the pants to read, and don’t go forgetting about Doc either. Tris is the best dog dad and I simply love him for it. Merritt slowly starts to find her inner strength with the help of her loved ones and of course Tristan. Merritt, Tristan and Levi come to form their own little family that works so well for them and they all come to get what they need, Love and family. The book progressive well, towards the end we get a bit of the aftermath and poor Levi is struggling, but as life goes, the family steps up and they help him through it. So of course they get their HEA. I could say so much more, but I won’t spoil it for you, trust me and read it for yourself.

Favorite quote: Merritt internal thought “he’s built like a pot roast”. I nearly giggled myself silly with that one!

Previous reviews and reading order
The Little Things
Tangled Up with You
Twice in a LIfetime

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

Born and raised around Houston Texas, Jessica spent most of her life complaining about the heat, humidity, and all around pain in the ass weather. It was only as an adult that she quickly realized the cost of living in Houston made up for not being able to breathe when she stepped outside. That’s why God created central air, after all.

Jessica is the mother of a perfect little boy–she refuses to accept that he inherited her attitude and sarcastic nature no matter what her husband says.

In addition to being a wife and mom, she’s also a wino, a coffee addict, and an avid lover of all types of books–romances still being her all time favs. Her husband likes to claim that reading is her obsession but she just says it’s a passion…there’s a difference. Not that she’d expect a boy to understand.

Jessica has been writing since she was a little girl, but thankfully grew out of drawing her own pictures for her stories before ever publishing her first book. Because an artist she is not.

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PRIDE (Seven Deadly Sins #1) by Nikki J Summers-review tour

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💜PRIDE (Seven Deadly Sins #1) by Nikki J Summers-review tour💜

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 27, 2025

One man wants her.The other wants her dead.

When Emma Belmont is invited to attend an exclusive gallery event to represent her newspaper, she sees it as an opportunity to achieve the promotion she’s always dreamed of. She doesn’t realise that a night bound for success will result in total and utter devastation.

A damning newspaper article.A tortured artist who hides his identity.And a British aristocrat who is following her every move.

Her words start a chain of events that she’s powerless to stop.

She doesn’t know who to trust or where to turn.But she knows one thing…The pen is mightier than the sword.Because after reading her article, he wants her dead.And he’ll stop at nothing to make her the next victim on his extensive kill list.

A stalker And a saviour.

A beast And a billionaire.

But which one is which?And will Emma survive long enough to find out the truth?

She shattered his pride, now she must face the fallout…Because the devil is on the prowl.And he wants his pound of flesh.

••••••

REVIEW: If you were expecting a book along the lines of “The Soldiers of Anarchy” or even “The Rebels of Sandland” then you’re going to be disappointed. If you thought our “hero” would be like Damien from “Firethorne” then you’re going to sad.

This my friends is sooooooo much more. Darker than anything I’ve read from this author so far. But so much more.

Please read any triggers that are given. It will have you on the edge of your seat.

Me… I took it out on my day off as I couldn’t put it down!

Emma is a news reporter, well she’s aiming to become one. Getting there is proving harder than she thought! But one night changes not only her chances of becoming that writer, but also her chances of survival!

Then we have our “stalker” he has no moral’s whatsoever! Everyone is fair game.

And lastly we have the “saviour”, but is he really?!

Alex Kingston is 7th Duke of Sunford. But he never uses the title (we find out why.) Gorgeous, tattooed, and extremely wealthy, and a collector of beautiful and thought provoking art work.

Emma, S.K.A.M and Alex all meet at an art exhibition. Emma is blown away by the live performance and writes a great story for the paper….

Alex is entranced by Emma, he wants to know more about her….

But S.K.A.M is enraged! How dare she write such a trashy and scathing article! (Her boss decides to “jazz” it up and write a horrible review, and no matter how much Emma tries to explain via email, the damage is done!)

This book moves at a good pace. Nothing is filler, descriptions are on point. And the spice is just right. The background story about his family given to us by Alex is heartbreaking.

I’d highly recommend this book if you like your book with a twist.

And if you’re routing for the hero…. Keep reading 🤐😜

And the anagram of S.K.A.M ….is revealed at the end, along with a twist I did not see coming!

This book is part of a series by different authors. So I’m not expecting them to follow on from one another. Seven deadly sins written by seven different authors. (I’ve read books by most of the authors in this series)

A highly recommended read from me.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B 🦋

About Nikki J. Summers:

Nikki J. Summers is a romance addict who loves to write about strong, feisty heroines and dark, brooding alphas.

When she isn’t locked away in her writing cave, she’s teaching primary school children, or lost in her kindle. She currently lives in Staffordshire in the U.K with her husband and two children.

Connect with Nikki:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkijsummersauthor
Facebook group: https://bit.ly/2J1Hbwy
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TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeJ7DdMQ/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooksSummers
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nikki-j-summers

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STOLEN VOWS (Avalon Falls 3) by Penelope Black-review tour

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STOLEN VOWS (Avalon Falls 3) by Penelope Black-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 27, 2025

Graham Carter: ethical hacker, resident grump of Avalon Falls, and the man who’s about to make me his wife. For convenience, of course.

I need an escape plan—fast. My family expects me to marry a man I can’t stand, and Graham needs a wife to secure his inheritance. A simple deal, no emotions involved. Just one year of marriage, and we both walk away with exactly what we want.

But living with Graham isn’t easy. He’s infuriatingly perceptive, impossible to ignore, and fiercely protective in ways I never expected. Every touch feels too real. Every glance lingers too long. And every threat from the man I left behind pulls me closer to the one I secretly wished for all along.

This was never supposed to be more than a transaction. But the longer we pretend, the harder it is to remember what’s real. And the most dangerous thing about Graham Carter?

I think he might want me, too.

•••••

REVIEW: STOLEN VOWS is the third instalment in Penelope Black’s contemporary, adult AVALON FALLS erotic, romance series. This is cybersecurity specialist Graham Carter, and book store owner Francesca Ashburn’s story line. Graham is Beau Carter’s brother (Forsaken Oath 2).STOLEN VOWS 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 (Graham and Francesca) STOLEN VOWS follows the building romance and relationship between Graham Carter and Francesca Ashburn. Approximately ten years earlier, Graham Carter met Francesca Ashburn as a college party but their interaction was limited because of Francesca’s twin sister’s interference, and our coupe would meet again not once but twice every five years. Fast forward to present day, Francesca Ashburn has moved to Avalon Falls following the death of her beloved aunt, a death from which Francesca inherited a small and independent book store but Francesca never thought she would come face to face with the man who stole her heart all those years before. Enter Graham Carter. Graham is a cybersecurity specialist, and has been searching for our story line heroine but Francesca has a secret, and Graham is determined to claim Francesca as his own. A mutual agreement to a marriage of convenience, a marriage that will poke at the proverbial bee hive, threatening our story line coupe in the process.

The world building follows the growing relationship and love between our story line couple; Graham’s work as he struggles to diffuse a series of security threats including one of his own; and the dysfunctional family dynamic that threaten Francesca Ashburn, and the battle to take down the people in charge.

The relationship between Graham and Francesca is one of acquaintances to friends to lovers in which both will benefit from a marriage of convenience but Graham is transfixed with the woman with whom he will fall in love, a woman whose family refuses to let go. The $ex scenes are numerous, provocative and erotic.

The energetic secondary and supporting characters include Francesca’s twin sister Florence, and their controlling parents, as well as the reintroduction and return of Graham’s brother Beau, their sister Cora, and parents Hazel and Lucas. The requisite evil has many faces.

STOLEN VOWS is a story of power and control; betrayal and vengeance; secrets and lies, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic, captivating and engaging but the conflict resolution was too quick and mostly behind the scenes-the guilty party is easily deduced; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and desperate.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Broken Pact
Forsaken Oath

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Penelope Black is a romance author who is obsessed with collecting book boyfriends and the women who bring them to their knees.

With a loving husband, two kids, and a mischievous Labradoodle by her side, she
resides in the heartland. Fueling her creativity, she revels in over-the-top action movies
and indulges in iced chai lattes often. Her sunny backyard serves as a sanctuary for
reading and writing, where she immerses herself in fictional worlds that feel real.
Known for her electrifying narratives, Penelope weaves vibrant prose, unforgettable characters, and heart-pounding twists.

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Facebook / Facebook Group / Instagram / Amazon Author Page /

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BEAST (MC Fables 1) by Penny Dee -review tour

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BEAST (MC Fables 1) by Penny Dee-review tour

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 27, 2025

“There is nowhere for you to run, little one…”

Beast
I am the president of The Knights of St. Bon Motorcycle Club.
A seven-foot mountain of muscle and bone in a pair of motorcycle boots and a leather cut.
Cursed with demons and darkness and secrets that run deep.
To the people of St. Bon, I am a monster.
To my club brothers, I am a fearless leader.
To her, I am a nightmare.

Belle
He comes out of the shadows and turns my world upside down.
He forces me to marry him to pay off my uncle’s debt to the motorcycle club.
The stakes are high. I must be convincing as his old lady or there will be consequences for the both of us.
But I could never imagine the real reason he wants to marry me.
Or the secrets he is guarding in the forbidden room.

•••••

REVIEW: BEAST is the first instalment in Penny Dee’s contemporary, adult MC FABLES dark, erotic, MC romance series focusing on The Knights of St. Bon MC. This is club president, thirty-one year old Adam ‘ Beast’ Vale, and former nanny twenty-nine year old, Belle Rose’s story line.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Beast and Belle) BEAST follows the building relationship and forced marriage between our story line couple. Belle’s uncle Maurice is in debt with the local MC, and in an effort to pay off her uncle’s debts, Belle is forced to marry the new president of The Knights of St. Bon MC, Adam ‘Beast’ Vale but all is not as is appears to be, someone is circulating a deadly drug on the streets, and the MC has been targeted for who they are, and sins of the past.

The world building follows several interconnected pathways including The Knights of St. Bon’s search for the people distributing a deadly new street drug; the potential war with the Unhinged Psychos MC; a grudge held by the town mayor, and the secrets that may push Belle out of Beast’s life.

The relationship between Beast and Belle is a forced marriage but a marriage that quickly turns into something more. Beast has many secrets, that if revealed , will destroy any chance of a happily ever after with the woman he love, and Belle is determined to prove our hero is worthy of his own relationship and love. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative

We are introduced to a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including all of the member of The Knights of St. Bon MC; Beat’s brother Gaston; Belle’s uncle Maurice; Sheriff Coulter, and Mayor Boney. The requisite evil has many faces.

BEAST is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, madness and obsession, forgiveness and love. The premise is dark, dramatic and edgy; the romance is fated and flawed; the characters are desperate and charismatic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Penny Dee writes contemporary romance about rockstars, bikers, hockey players and everyone in-between.She believes true love never runs smoothly, and her characters realize this too, with a boatload of drama and a whole lot of steam.

She found her happily ever after in Australia where she lives with her husband, daughter and a dog named Bindi.

You can connect with Penny Dee : Goodreads / Facebook / Amazon Author Page / Website / Instagram

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DELAY OF GAME (Game Time 4) by Tam DeRudder Jackson-review tour

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DELAY OF GAME (Game Time 4) by Tam DeRudder Jackson-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 29, 2025

Danny Chambers is back.

I lost my heart to Danny Chambers in high school, even though he parked me in the friend zone five minutes after we met. It’s taken years to stop thinking about him at least once every hour. It helped when he enlisted in the Air Force. But he’s back, and he’s walking onto the football team. He could go to college anywhere, so why does it have to be Mountain State?

Even best friends keep secrets from each other.

When Danny earns a spot playing receiver for the Wildcats, I’m in the clear. I can admire him from the stands and go back to my boring life of finishing my undergrad and resigning myself to being married to my career. After what went down with my one-and-only boyfriend last semester, well, I need to stop dreaming about happily-ever-after. Which makes the head games Danny is playing with me so painful. Why is he acting like he wants something more with me?

Five years ago, I made a colossal mistake.

I need a second chance. Growing up a military brat, the one constant in my life was playing football. Though I met all kinds of people while switching schools on the regular, one look at Taryn Hamilton and she’s my girl. Yet after we met, I discovered quick she was off-limits if I wanted to catch passes on Friday nights. I paid a big price for my bad choice. Now after giving Uncle Sam four years so I could attend college, I’m at Mountain State where I’m taking every opportunity to show Taryn how I truly feel—how I have always felt about her. She is so much more than my best friend.

Football was my first love. Now I’m playing for my only love.

Game Time.

••••••••

REVIEW: DELAY OF GAME is the fourth instalment in Tam DeRudder Jackson’s contemporary, new adult GAME TIME erotic, football romance series. This is former US Air Force member Danny Chambers, and Taryn Hamilton’s story line. DELAY OF GAME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty, any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The events of DELAY OF GAME run parallel to and cross over with all of the previous instalments.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Danny and Taryn) DELAY OF GAME follows the childhood friends to lovers relationship between former US Air Force member Danny Chambers, and Taryn Hamilton. Years earlier, while still in high school, Danny Chambers reluctantly placed his best friend Taryn Hamilton in the friend zone, and Taryn has never forgiven or forgotten about the humiliation. Fast forward to present day, having served his time in US Air Force, Danny has returned and enrolled in the same college as our story line heroine, and was granted a walk on position with the football team. Starting a slow seduction of Taryn Hamilton, Danny is met with trepidation and apprehension, and struggles to uncover the reasons why. Determined to keep her distance, Taryn finds herself distressing about the past, and a former relationship that refuses to let go.

The world building follows several paths including Danny’s growing friendships with his teammates; his need and love for the woman who’s heart he broke; and the determination of Taryn Hamilton to make it on her own.

The relationship between Danny and Taryn is a childhood best friends to lovers relationship that struggles with the demons from the past. Taryn’s humiliation, and the constant reminder of her previous relationship failures continue to beat at our heroine’s ego but Danny Chambers is determined to claim Taryn as his own in the face of her need to push Danny away. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive.

The second and supporting characters include Danny’s sassy teammates and roommates Callahan O’Reilly and Jamaica Winslow, Wyatt ‘Bax’ Baxter, Finn McCabe, Tarvarius Johnson, Tamatoa Hall, as well the introduction of Taryn’s siblings and parents, friend Zoe Lampee, co-worker Hailey, and hometown bully Derek Watson. There may be something developing between Tarvarius and Zoe.

DELAY OF GAME is a story of harassment and vengeance, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is edgy, inviting and engaging; the characters are animated and spirited; the romance is tender and heart warming.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Finding the End Zone
Out of Bounds
Offsides

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Instagram/ Bookbub / Amazon

Tam DeRudder Jackson is the author of the paranormal romance Talisman Series and the contemporary romance Balefire Series. Her favorite “room” in her house is her back patio where she dreams up stories of romance and risk. When she’s not writing her latest paranormal or contemporary romance, you can usually find her driving around with the top down in her convertible or carving turns on the slopes of the local ski hill. The mom of two grown sons, Tam likes to travel, attend rock concerts, watch football and soccer, and visit old car shows with her husband. She lives in the mountains of northwest Wyoming where she spends most of her free time trying to read all the books. Her TBR piles are threatening to take over her office, and she’s fine with that.

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

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!


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JUST TROUBLE (Carpe Diem Cafe 1) by Deborah Cooke -review

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JUST TROUBLE (Carpe Diem Cafe 1) by Deborah Cooke -review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 18, 2025

If I recognize trouble when I see it, it’s because I grew up with a huge crush on my best friend’s older brother, Luke Jones. Born with sinful good looks and enough charm to talk himself out of almost any situation, he’s always been a rebel with attitude to spare—as well as gorgeous, reckless and dangerous for good girls like me to know. Though he’s found fame, fortune and all the fan-girls with his band, Luke remains the star of all my secret fantasies.

But now, he’s back—one sizzling look is enough to set my world on fire— and he wants a favor. (From me!) Time to make the world a better place, Luke says, but I recognize half a story when I hear one. Does it really matter? I need to ditch this crush before it’s too late for me to fall in love for real and find my own happy ending. Luke doesn’t need to know that it’ll be more than a favour for me. He also won’t linger in the sleepy little town of Empire, and when Luke leaves this time, he’ll be gone forever.

The problem is that the other half of the story is the kind of revelation that hooks me hard. Luke’s on a quest to right old wrongs, and making the world a better place is pretty much my theme song. Am I crazy to hope for more from the man who has only ever committed to his music? By the time I learn the whole truth, will my heart be lost forever? For once, though, I’m not going to play it safe. Win or lose, my time to seize the moment is now.

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REVIEW: JUST TROUBLE is the first instalment in Deborah Cooke’s contemporary, adult CARPE DIEM CAFE romance series. This is rock star Luke Jones and attorney Daphne Bradshaw’s story line.

Told from three first person perspectives (Luke, Daphne, Sylvia) JUST TROUBLE focuses on the return of rock star Luke Jones to his home town of Empire, Ontario. After the death of his band mate Taylor Tate, Luke lost his way, lost his muse and struggled going forward with the grief and guilt of his best friend’s demise but his return to Empire comes with a series of requests, and acts of contrition, in an effort to help the people he wronged along the way. Luke’s first stop is to attorney Daphne Bradshaw, with the hope of setting into motion the purchase of several properties and pieces of land, properties and land owned by someone who is refusing to sell. With the help of our story line heroine, Luke begins a slow revival of a town destroyed by one man’s greed, and in doing so, Luke is hoping to prove he is a changed man, a man worthy of his own happily ever after.

The world building follows several paths including Luke’s need to make amends for sins of the past; his need to prove he is much more then the blood that flows through his veins; and his growing love for a woman who has been burned in the past.

The relationship between Luke and Daphne is a friends to frenemies to lovers relationship in which Daphne struggles with Luke’s rock star reputation, and the fact that he is only in Empire for a limited time. Battling between head and heart, Daphne refuses to lose her heart to a man whose lifestyle is unlike her own but a man who is slowly breaking down her walls. The $ex scenes are passionate but often fades to black or are mostly implied.

The secondary and supporting characters are energetic and dynamic. We are introduced to Daphne’s father and fellow attorney Richard Bradshaw; Luke’s brother Mike, and their father Patrick Cavendish; Chef Sylvia Kincaid and her daughter Sierra; and new restaurateur Merrie.

JUST TROUBLE is a story of grief and loss, power and control, secrets and lies, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating and engaging; the romance seductive and impassioned; the characters are charismatic and charming.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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