Tag Archives: Rae B Lake

BREAKING PHOENIX (Underground Bruisers 2) by EC Land & Rae B Lake

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BREAKING PHOENIX (Underground Bruisers 2) by EC Land & Rae B Lake

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 18, 2023

Pain has always been my safe place. I understand hurt. I flourish in it. Phoenix Growing up in foster care I learned to roll with the punches and give as good as I got. I joined the Navy as soon as I could just to get away from the hell that was my life…of course the pain followed me there as well. Now I’m back home and all the years I’ve spent with my back against the wall fighting for my life has made me cold as ice. Impenetrable to the happiness and love others try to show me. Only Skyla, the popular girl from high school and the one woman who can break me with just a smile, can see through my mask. Too bad she doesn’t want me how I want her. Or so I thought. When a ghost from my past time in foster care shows back up in my life will I be able to survive the pain those memories bring or will this fight be the one to break me.

•••••

REVIEW: BREAKING PHOENIX is the second full-length instalment in the contemporary, adult UNDERGROUND BRUISERS erotic, dark, MMA/boxing romance series co-authored by EC Land and Rae B Lake. This is former US sailor turned fighter turned renovator Phoenix Seller, and masseuse Skyla Harrell’s story line. BREAKING PHOENIX can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

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

Told from dual omniscient first person perspectives (Skyla and Phoenix) BREAKING PHOENIX follows the building relationship between former US sailor turned fighter turned renovator Phoenix Seller, and masseuse Skyla Harrell. Phoenix Seller doesn’t do relationships, doesn’t date but his heart has been set on Skyla Harrell since they met in high school. Phoenix Seller grew up in the foster care system, a system that let him down too many times. Believing himself unworthy, Phoenix keeps his distance but Skyla tends to place herself in the direct line of fire, and Phoenix finds himself rescuing our heroine at every turn. Skyla is a serial dater but a woman who picks the wrong kind of man. Assaulted and attacked on more than one occasion, Skyla struggles with her attraction to Phoenix, a man she doesn’t trust, and he in return. What ensues is the building but tempestuous relationship between Skyla and Phoenix, and the potential fall-out as Skyla is targeted, and Phoenix finds himself facing the demons from his past.

The relationship between Skyla and Phoenix is a friends to lovers but a relationship in which both struggle with secrets and lies. Skyla has a stalker but is quick to accept dates from strangers, and keeps hidden the ‘gifts’ bequeathed by an unknown source. Phoenix believes he is unworthy of friendships and love, and in this, uses fighting to make himself numb from the pain but the only bright light in Phoenix’s life is the woman who battles between head and heart, a woman who is often a little bit TSTL (too stupid to live) finding herself in dangerous situations at every turn. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of the couples we have met in the previous story lines: Rhett and Christine, Kai and Marcella, Karter, Haven and Brooklyn. The requisite evil has many faces.

BREAKING PHOENIX is a story of betrayal and trust, power and abuse, acceptance, forgiveness and love. The fast paced premise is heart breaking and infuriating; the romance is intense; the characters are broken, desperate and struggling in their daily lives.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Caging Dyer
Facing Kai
Finding Reese

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Caging Dyer/Finding Reese by EC Land & Rae B Lake -reviews

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Caging Dyer/Finding Reese (underground Bruisers ) by EC Land & Rae B Lake -reviews

FINDING REESE
Underground Bruisers
by EC Land & Rae B Lake
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, MMA, romance

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 19, 2023

With one wrong move, I lost it all.
Reece
For years I worked to get where I am only to screw it all up. I lost my way along with what I love most. I’ll do anything to get back in the ring. But it comes at a cost of never being in the same light I once was.
I don’t know if I can do it. Or so I thought until she showed me differently. Finding who I am isn’t what I thought I’d find by her showing me the way. The lights might be different, but what do they say about having your cake and eating it too? I want both and I’ll fight like hell to keep it this time around.

•••••••

REVIEW: FINDING REESE is the first instalment in the contemporary, adult UNDERGROUND BRUISERS erotic, MMA romance series co-authored by EC Land and Rae B Lake. This is disgraced champion boxer Reece Dyer, and social worker Haven’s story line. FINDING REESE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. There are two prequel instalments CAGING DYER by EC Land, and FACING KAI by Rae B Lake.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Reese and Haven) FINDING REESE follows in the after of the take down of our story line hero. Reese Dyer has been set up to take a fall but when he refuses , punches are thrown, law enforcement is called, and a hearing finds Reese without his license to box. Looking for an outlet to work off his anger, Reese finds himself at the local gym where he will come face to face with his future in the guise of social worker Haven, who works at the local community centre with at risk children, a centre that is struggling to keep afloat. Desperate to keep the youth involved, Haven makes Reese an offer, an offer that pushes our couple together but Reese’s past refuses to let go, forcing haven to question where everything went wrong. As Reese and Haven’s relationship quickly becomes something more, the past demands a second chance, placing Reese in the direct line of fire. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Haven and Reese, and the potential fall-out as Haven struggles with Reese’s history, and the people that have come before.

The relationship between Haven and Reese is one of immediate attraction but Reese isn’t in a good place having lost his license to box, and his sense of purpose and self esteem. Meeting Haven gives Reese purpose especially as it pertains to the local community centre but Reese’s past continues to affect his present, and his future going forward. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate but I dislike the use of certain four-letter words in my romance story lines.

We are reintroduced to Reese’s brother Rhett and Christine (Caging Dyer), attorney and underground fighter Kai Yang (Facing Kai), as well as Reese’s sister Reyna, fighters Karter and Phoenix, community centre manager Lucas; at risk youth including Benny; boxer Niko, shady promoter Ezra as well as several other promoters and agents. Phoenix’s story line is next.

FINDING REESE is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, misunderstanding and forgiveness, acceptance and love. The fast paced premise is engaging and exciting; the romance is steamy and provocative; the characters are struggling, broken, determined and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

_______

CAGING DYER
(Underground Bruisers 1)
by EC Land
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, MMA, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 15, 2022

Fighting is my life. But so is she.

Rhett

The day my life changed was when I stepped into the ring. I followed my own path and do what I do best. Fighting is in my blood.

A fight is coming up and training is a must. That doesn’t mean I don’t take notice of her. I shouldn’t have. She’s off limits. Everyone knows it. But if not for her, I’m screwed. She’s my saving grace. I’ll fight for her as much as anything else.

••••••

REVIEW: CAGING DYER by EC Land is a contemporary, adult, MMA erotic, romance story line focusing on MMA fighter Rhett Dyer, and college student Christina Bright’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Christina and Rhett) CAGING DYER follows the friends to lovers relationship between  MMA fighter Rhett Dyer, and college student Christina Bright. Rhett Dyer knows his coach’s daughter Christina Bright is off limits but discovering Christina at the opening of a new nightclub pushes Rhett to break all of his rules but a night spent together is the perfect alibi when our hero is the prime suspect at his place of work. Christina must come clean to verify Rhett’s alibi but revealing the truth mean revealing her relationship with our story line hero.

We are introduced to Rhett’s coach Corey Bright, his son Travis, as well as Rhett’s brother Reese.

CAGING DYER is a very quick read; a fast paced story of insta-lust to love; an erotic and steamy forbidden romance with limited character development as the story line covers a few days in the life. The premise is entertaining; the characters are charismatic and fun.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Preston (Boys of Djinn MC 4) by Rae B Lake-Review & Excerpt Tour

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Preston (Boys of Djinn MC 4) by Rae B Lake-Review & Excerpt Tour

 

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date

I’m holding my brothers captive.
At least it’s better than killing them.
I’ve been an undercover FBI agent for years and as hard as it’s been being away from my family, I knew I was doing this to keep them safe.
So, how did they end up on a yacht with a bunch of killers and traffickers?
I have to get them back to freedom, but how do I do that without blowing my cover and getting all of us killed in the process?

•••••

REVIEW: PRESTON is the fourth instalment in Rae B Lake’s contemporary, adult BOYS OF DJINN MC dark, erotic, MC, FBI romance series-a spin off from the author’s Wings of Diablo MC series. This is undercover FBI agent Preston Djinn, and Yelena’s story line. PRESTON can be read as a stand-alone without any difficulty. But I recommend reading the series in order, for back story and cohesion.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Preston and Yelena) PRESTON focuses on the take down of a man wanted by the FBI. Approximately four years earlier, FBI Agent Preston Djinn agreed to go undercover in an operation that could change the man he once was. With one of his brothers facing a death sentence, Preston made a deal, a deal that would see our hero become someone he didn’t know. Working for Dean, a man involved with gun, drugs, human trafficking and nuclear arms, Preston became one of the ‘bad guy’s but struggled when he discovered his brothers were now part of Dean’s imprisoned spies. With the arrival of a young woman Yelena, a young woman once part of the cult known as the Children of Gaia, Preston would battle between head and heart knowing that to save the woman with whom he is quickly falling in love, he may have to sacrifice one of his own. With the FBI refusing to help, Preston quickly discovers there is more to the story than he could have imagined. What ensues is the quick building relationship between Preston and Yelena, and the potential fall-out when a web of destruction and betrayal is revealed at the top.

Yelena is a reluctant member of the Children of Gaia, and is expected to produce the next prophesized heir but Yelena served four years in a Canadian prison, and is hoping to stay one step ahead of the man in charge. Finding herself, once again, facing a lifetime with the Children of Gaia, Yelena discovers Preston is not the man he appears to be.

The relationship between Preston and Yelena is quick to develop; an affair of insta-lust to love in which Preston claims Yelena as his own but not all is well within the FBI, and neither one may be able to make it out on their own. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Preston’s blood brothers Wyatt, Cody, Spark and Devin Djinn. We are introduced to several traffickers including Dean and Yemen; head of the Children of Gaia Emerson, as well as several members of the Wings of Diablo MC, and several FBI agents. The requisite evil has many faces.

PRESTON is a fast paced, quick read that focuses on betrayal and vengeance, family and deception, power and control, acceptance and love. The premise is dark, raw and haunting; the characters are animated, charismatic, and edgy; the romance is energetic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Her hand traces up my forearm to my shoulder before she slides her feet out of my grasp. Pulling them under herself, she raises up to her knees and presses a soft kiss to my lips.
I’m shocked, frozen for a moment, and she does it again.
Finally, I reciprocate. I grab the back of her neck and deepen the kiss, my body hungry for hers in a way that lets me know that I’m starved for her particular connection. I want her, and she’s giving herself to me.
But for what in return?
“No.” I pull away, out of breath and get off the bed. “You don’t have to do that. I’m not… “I close my eyes tightly, trying to wait for some of the blood that’s already flowing down to my c*ck to go back to my brain, so I can think straight. “I’m not doing this, so I can f**k you, Yelena. I don’t want anything from you.”
“I know it. For the first time in close to a decade, I know that what happens is my decision. You are probably going to be in for some major life changes after this goes down, and I haven’t been with someone who hasn’t forced themselves on me since I was twenty. This may be the last time you get to experience normal, and could be the first time I get to experience it again. Momentous for both of us, really.” She smiles at me and gets off the bed, walking to where I am. She wraps her trembling arms around my neck and looks me deep in my eyes.
“I want us to take each other away from all of this, Preston. Even if it is just for a little while.” Her voice disables me in a way that I have never felt.
I know I shouldn’t. It’ll just be harder for me later. To have a taste of a life I could have had but ultimately had to give up. A life Wyatt, Spark and Cody have to look forward to when they go home.
Normalcy.
Desire.
Passion.
“Please… just…” She stutters, probably thinking I don’t want to continue, but I don’t think I have a choice in the matter any longer.
She’s right, this may be the last chance for me to experience this.
She’s granting my last wish. 


 

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Rae is a daydreamer, nurse, bookworm, nature enthusiast, wife, momma, animal activist and an optimist. She has lived her entire life in NYC and loves to travel with her family. She believes that sweets should have a larger piece of the nutritional pyramid and that Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of the best TV shows ever invented. When she is not working as a nurse in her community, she can either be found reading, writing, or taking a walk while listening to music. She has been writing books in her mind for as long as she can remember but decided that maybe there were others out in the world that would find joy in the words she would put down on the page.

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