Tag Archives: romantic suspense

Holding Out for a Holiday Hero by Cynthia Eden-review

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Holding Out for a Holiday Hero by Cynthia Eden-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 26, 2024

A holiday romance with a dash of romantic suspense and a former military hero who is so not feeling the festive spirit…

Bah humbug. Bounty hunter Jake Hale hates Christmas. He doesn’t do twinkling lights, festive packages, and you definitely won’t ever catch him singing Christmas carols. What he will do? Track down the worst of the scum out there. The former special ops soldier makes merry by tossing the naughty into prison cells and getting a grand pay day. Ho, ho, ho.

Then a ghost from Christmas past walks through his door.

True Blakely is always at the top of the nice list. Beautiful, sweet, with an innocence that—yep, he might have been tempted to destroy once or twice—she’s there to hire him. There have been a string of dangerous accidents in her life, and True fears that someone is trying to kill her. Not at all the sort of case that Jake would usually take—he hunts down the criminals after they jump bail, not before they’ve even been arrested. But one look into True’s bedroom eyes, and he can’t refuse. Maybe he still is a bit too tempted by the girl who got away…and surely one nice act won’t kill him? For her, he can play the hero.

He’ll close the case and be home in time for Christmas dinner.

Except, on the first morning of his investigation, he finds a dead body. One waiting underneath True’s glittering Christmas tree. The attacks are real, and it’s clear that someone is gunning for True. But Jake is on the job now, and no one is going to hurt her. His protective instincts are in overdrive…and so is the desperate desire that he’s always felt for True. This time, he’s done fighting that desire. He’ll finally show True just how fantastic it can be when you aren’t nice. Welcome to his naughty list.

•••

REVIEW:HOLDING OUT FOR A HOLIDAY HERO by Cynthia Eden is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, romantic suspense story line focusing on former special ops soldier turned bounty hunter Jake Hale, and museum curator True Blakely.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (True and Jake) HOLDING OUT FOR A HOLIDAY HERO focuses on the protection of our story line heroine. Approximately one year earlier, museum curator True Blakely returned to her home town in the wake of her divorce. Fast forward to present day True believes she has a stalker, and local law enforcement refuse to investigate in the wake of no solid evidence and a perception of coincidence. With no other choice, True contacts a former high school acquaintance, a man who knows how to track people down. Enter bounty hunter Jake Hale, the man with whom True will fall in love. Jake struggles with his reaction to the woman in question, the woman who controls all his fantasies and dreams but when they find a dead body under True’s Christmas tree, all bets are off, when Jake becomes True’s guardian, protector and happily ever after. Jake doesn’t believe himself a hero but he is the only line of defense between True, and the person taking aim at our story line heroine.

The world building focuses on the protection of True Blakely, and the search for a killer. Strange incidents , all placing True in dangerous situations, forces Jake to claim our heroine as his own but with no potential suspects , everyone in True’s radar becomes a suspect until the killer is caught. Jake has never considerer himself a hero but as he story line progresses, more than one person is witness to his true acts of heroism.

The relationship between True and Jake is an opposites attract. Jake dislikes the Christmas holidays, a Grinch by observation, and True is all about the decorating and celebration. Unable to return home, Jake demands True remain by his side, including staying at his place for the foreseeable future. A lifelong confession by Jake finds our heroine falling for the man who has stolen her heart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include several co-workers and security at the local museum, as well as over extended and over worked Detective Harris Avery, True’s ex-husband Richard, and Jake’s intrepid and eager professional assistant Perry Cornwell.

HOLDING OUT FOR A HOLIDAY HERO is a story of betrayal and vengeance, friendships and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing, dramatic and captivating; the romance is passionate and seductive; the characters are desperate, charismatic and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Wild Bliss (Nights in Bliss Colorado 14)by Lexi Blake-review tour

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Wild Bliss (Nights in Bliss Colorado 14)by Lexi Blake-review tour

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Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3S7yWzS

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 12, 2024

Sabrina Leal moved to Bliss looking for a new start. She’s in charge of building a school system from scratch and is excited about the challenge. What she didn’t count on was the surliest bar owner she’s ever met. Sawyer Hathaway gets under her skin in the most annoying way. He’s arrogant and sometimes rude, and she can’t stop thinking about him. It’s easier to ignore him when it’s only Sawyer. But when she meets his best friend, Wyatt, he’s light to Sawyer’s darkness, and the combination calls to Sabrina in a way she might not be able to deny.

Sawyer likes things the way they are. Alone. No serious connections. Just him simmering in his own unresolved trauma. Like a real man should. But the new schoolteacher is making it hard. And the reappearance of Wyatt in his life isn’t helping. Years before, Sawyer had joined an outlaw MC when his brother had gotten in trouble. Wyatt had been a true friend, and when he needs a short-term place to stay, Sawyer can’t turn him out. Short term turns way longer, and the baddest man in Bliss has to admit it’s not terrible to have a friend. But there’s no way he’s getting involved with the sweetest thing he’s ever met.

Wyatt wants Sabrina the minute he sees her. He’s spent his whole life in the equivalent of a criminal, violent cult, and he wants some softness. He wants the white picket fence dream of Bliss. His best friend. Their wife. Throw in a super-cute rescue dog and a couple of kids and Wyatt would be in heaven. When his scheming gets all of them snowed in together, he knows he’s got his shot at making this work.

But the MC isn’t done with Wyatt or Sawyer, and Sabrina is exactly the bargaining chip they need…

••••

REVIEW:WILD BLISS is the fourteenth instalment in Lexi Blake’s contemporary adult NIGHTS IN BLISS, COLORADO erotic, revers harem romance series. This is elementary school teacher Sabrina Leal, bar owner Sawyer Hathaway, and bartender Wyatt Kemp’s story line. WILD BLISS 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 including a MFM menage sexual relationship , there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives WILD BLISS follows the building romance and relationship between elementary school teacher Sabrina Leal, bar owner Sawyer Hathaway, and bartender Wyatt Kemp. Approximately one year earlier, Sabrina Leal watched as Sawyer Hathaway all but ran from our story line heroine. Fast forward to present day Sabrina is the new elementary school teacher for the children of Bliss Colorado, but an electrical issue with her cabin finds Sabrina facing down Sawyer Hathaway and his roommate Wyatt Kemp. Wyatt knows immediately he wants Sabrina as his own but is willing to share with Sawyer Hathaway but Sawyer struggles with his ‘criminal past’, and Wyatt’s past with the Colorado Horde MC threatens the safety of everyone concerned and both men are willing to walk away to protect the woman he loves.

The world building focuses on several paths including Wyatt’s struggles to escape his past, a past that refuses to let go. From the outset, Sawyer believes himself unworthy and a fear of abandonment continue to threaten his sent of self-worth, and Sabrina has fallen to two men who believe she is unable to protect herself.

The relationship between Sabrina and Sawyer begins tempestuously due to Sawyer’s belief he is unworthy of love. As Sabrina and Wyatt’s relationship becomes something more, Sawyer reconsiders his future with the woman he loves. the $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar, entertaining and sassy characters most of whom we have met in the previous story lines.

WILD BLISS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, dysfunctional family values, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating, dramatic and gritty; the romance is provocative and impassioned; the characters are determined, broken and charismatic.

Previous Reviews

Pure Bliss
Up All Night in Bliss 6.5
Chasing Bliss
Once Upon a Time in Bliss
Back in Bliss
Sirens in Bliss
Happily Ever After in Bliss
Far From Bliss
Unexpected Bliss

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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MONTANA HEAT (Resting Warrior Ranch 9) by Josie Jade-review

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MONTANA HEAT (Resting Warrior Ranch 9) by Josie Jade- review

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 10, 2024

Growing up with addict parents and extreme neglect, Jensen Chambers learned early to only depend on himself.

A family was something he’d never thought he’d have, but the people at the Resting Warrior Ranch have become exactly that. Yeah, Garnet Bend is about as small as towns come, but big cities never did him any favors anyway.

So when Kenzie Hurst—with her manicured nails and stilettos that obviously don’t belong in Montana—shows up with trouble on her high heels, Jensen isn’t going to just sit by.

This is family. This is his town.

He’ll be dåmned if he’ll let outside danger destroy the peace they’ve worked so hard to build.

But when the mysterious beauty needs protection only Jensen can provide, he can’t turn her away. She may wear Prada, but her sweet smile and engaging laugh is drawing him in.

Making him want to keep her around permanently. High heels and all.

Someone wants Kenzie dead, but Jensen—and the Resting Warrior Ranch team—are about to show her that around here, they look out for their own.

And that includes her.

••••

REVIEW: MONTANA HEAT is the ninth instalment in Josie Jade’s contemporary, adult, RESTING WARRIOR RANCH romantic suspense series originally co-authored by Josie Jade and Janie Crouch. This is Denver Colorado realtor MacKenzie ‘Kenzie’ Hurst, and auto mechanic Jensen Chamber’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 (Jensen and Kenzie) MONTANA HEAT follows Kenzie Hurst’s arrival in Garnet Bend, Montana. Kenzie Hurst has a stalker, and the Denver Police suggest our heroine go into hiding, recommending Garnet Bend, Montana, where she will fall under the protection of the Resting Warrior Ranch members but all is not well upon Kenzie’s arrival in Garnet Bend, someone has tampered with her car, and the possibility of her stalker has followed her from home. Meeting and falling for mechanic Jensen Chambers was something Kenzie never thought possible having experienced heart break at the hands of a former lover. When the attacks against Kenzie become more dangerous and dark, Jensen and the men at the WRR find themselves on the hunt for Kenzie’s stalker.

The world building follows several paths including a look back at both Jensen and Kenzie’s pasts: Jensen’s life as the child of addicted parents; and Kenzie’s life in the face of an abusive ex.

The relationship between Kenzie and Jensen begins when Kenzie’s car breaks down upon her arrival in Garnet Bend. Jensen is determined to protect Kenzie from the darkness that follows but Kenzie finds herself facing the unknown, and a past that refuses to let go. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

We are introduced to Kenzie’s ormer boyfriend Alan Ard: Jada Moyer Banks; and the return of Jensen’s friend Lucas Everett (Montana Sanctuary) ; deputy Lachlan Callaway; police chief Charlie Garcia; and several characters from the Resting Warrior Ranch series.

MONTANA HEAT is a story of secrets and lies; power and control; betrayal and vengeance; obsession and madness; acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing, thrilling and dramatic; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and dynamic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Montana Sanctuary
Montana Danger
Montana Desire
Montana Mystery
Montana Storm
Montana Freedom
Montana Silence
Montana Rain

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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When He Protects (Protector & Defender 1) by Cynthia Eden-review

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When He Protects (Protector & Defender 1) by Cynthia Eden-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 29, 2024

He knew she was trouble from the moment they met.

Esme Laurent is a con artist. An accomplished liar. A world-class thief. And probably the most beautiful and intriguing woman that Tyler Barrett has ever met. Sure, he has to arrest her at their first meeting, and she absolutely hates him, but…well, he has a job to do. And Tyler always gets the job done.

Turns out, she is the new job.

The people in charge want to use Esme to bring down a very dangerous criminal operation. And in order to do that, Esme has to stay in the land of the living. She needs protection, she needs a new identity, and she needs to disappear, immediately. Because Esme has more than a bit of power, she makes her own deal…her protection needs to come in the ever-so-gorgeous, ever-so-dangerous, and ever-so-law-abiding form of U.S. Marshal Tyler Barrett.

They’ll disappear into Small Town, USA. And they’ll pretend to be newlyweds who just can’t keep their hands off each other.

No, absolutely, this cannot be happening. But no matter how much Tyler protests, the new job is, in fact, happening. He’s being sent to Asylum, Alabama, with the delectable Esme. He’s supposed to be her husband—a role that will give him twenty-four, seven access in order to protect her. He needs that access in order to make sure that Esme doesn’t run from the authorities and that she stays alive. But what Tyler doesn’t count on is the consuming desire he feels for a woman who should be off-limits.

She’ll test every limit that he has…

Esme doesn’t expect her attraction to the rule-following Tyler. He’s big, he’s buttoned-down, and he’s absolutely…delicious. She also suspects that he may be carefully controlling a wild side—one that she would love to see erupt. Oh, if only.

When danger comes calling, Tyler is more than ready to handle any threat. Who knew that falling for the good guy could be so tempting? And so very…heart-breaking. Because there was no way a guy like Tyler would want to stay around once they stop pretending. Everyone knows the bad girl never gets to keep the good guy, especially when she’s still working a very long con.

•••••

REVIEW: WHEN HE PROTECTS is the first instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary adult PROTECTOR AND DEFENDER erotic, romantic suspense series. This is former Marine turned US Marshall Tyler Barrett, and twenty-seven year old, professional thief Esme Laurent’s story line.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Esme and Tyler WHEN HE PROTECTS follows the building relationship between our story line couple. Tyler Barrett was working undercover at a high end party, a party where a suspected thief may have been targeting but Tyler will come face to face with an unlikely mark, a beautiful woman whose secrets run deadly and deep. Enter Esme Laurent. Esme is a professional thief but all is not as it appears to be. Esme has secrets that may be heart breaking for Tyler, secrets she does not necessarily want to reveal. A bounty on her head, Esme and Tyler embark on a fake marriage, going into hiding but Esme is willing to run to protect the man with whom she is falling in love.

The world building follows the building romance and relationship between our story line couple. In hiding, our couple find themselves the target of a powerful man but betrayal comes from within, from many sides, and from where they least expect it. No longer able to trust the people in charge, Esme and Tyler must try to make it on their own.

The relationship between Esme and Tyler begins as an assignment when Tyler is tasked to arresting our story line heroine but when Esme becomes the target, Tyler finds himself guardian and protector on orders from the top. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to several members of local and federal law enforcement and government agencies including Esme’s father Etienne Laurent; Sheriff Clay Banks; FBI Agent Grayson Stone; former Marine Kane Harte, and Agent Thaddeus Caldwell. The requisite evil has many faces.

WHEN HE PROTECTS is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The character driven, fasts paced premise is intriguing and captivating but the guilty party(s) was easily to deduce. The characters are charismatic and cheeky; the romance is seductive and fated. Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

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HIGH INTENSITY (High Mountain Trackers HMT 2G) by Freya Barker

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HIGH INTENSITY (High Mountain Trackers HMT 2G) by Freya Barker-review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 4, 2024

Dog trainer and handler, Jillian Lederman, is moving with her pack to Libby, Montana, a place where she has made friends and hopes to find a fresh start. It’s time. For years, she’s just been keeping her wounds fresh by staying in Missoula—where there were regular reminders of all she’s lost—while the rest of the world has continued to move forward.
Perhaps the new house, the beautiful mountains, and a certain pair of clear, blue eyes hold the promise of new beginnings.

Since changing careers years ago, former FBI agent Lucas Wolff has found a much better work-life balance as a member of High Mountain Trackers. Still able to serve his community, he has also been carving out a comfortable existence for himself and is not looking to make any changes to it anytime soon. Not even for a particular bold and ballsy redhead he’s been trying to avoid.

That turns out to be an impossible feat when a plane crash during a blizzard sets both of them on the trail of a young girl, all alone in the mountains. But it soon becomes evident they are not the only ones looking, and staying safe means sticking close together.

•••••

REVIEW: HIGH INTENSITY is the second instalment in Freya Barker’s contemporary, adult HIGH MOUNTAIN TRACKERS HMT 2G romantic suspense series, a spin off from, set in the author’s High Mountain Trackers. This is thirty-nine year old, dog trainer and handler Jillian Lederman, and former FBI Agent Lucas Wolff’s story line. HIGH INTENSITY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jillian and Wolff) HIGH INTENSITY follows in the wake of an airplane crash in the mountains of Libby Montana. As the team at HMT struggle with the accumulation of snow, Jillian offers the use of her dogs as the team searches for any survivors, one of whom is missing, an eleven year old girl. As the FBI and law enforcement try to piece together what has happened, our heroine is targeted by a criminal enterprise as they too hunt, for the missing child. Working together to keep the young girl safe, questions begin to arise about the possibility of someone working from the inside in an effort to take control.

The world building follows several paths including the search and rescue of the plane survivors, and several lost hikers but not everyone will make it out alive. As Wolff declares himself guardian and protector of Jillian, he finds himself falling for the child, and the woman he is hoping to claim as his own. We are up close and personal as Jillian reveals the heart break in her life, and her ability to move on from the past.

The relationship between Jillian and Wolff began on a previous search and recovery when Jillian’s dogs were once again need to help but the recent snow storm brought Wolff back into Jillian’s life when he needed to ensure she was safe, having stranded himself over night. Working together to locate and rescue the missing child, our couple find themselves acting on their attraction, with the hope of something more. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters, many of whom we met in the original series. We are introduced to eleven year old, Hayley Vallard, as well as several FBI agents, law enforcement, and Hayley’s uncle Grant Vallard. The requisite evil has many faces.

HIGH INTENSITY is a story of betrayal and greed, search and rescues, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is detailed, captivating and dramatic; the characters are animated and spirited ; the romance is spicy and tender.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one HIGH FREQUENCY

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Driven to make her books about ‘real’ people; she creates characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills in their lives.

Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We’ve Read All Year Award for “Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FreyaFacebook
Twitter: http://bit.ly/FreyaTwitter
Instagram: http://bit.ly/FreyaInstagram
Web: http://bit.ly/FreyaWeb
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/FreyaGoodreads
Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/Freya_Newsletter
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/FreyaBookBub

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RAVAGED HEARTS (Team Zulu 5) by Julie Weaver -review

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RAVAGED HEARTS (Team Zulu 5) by Julie Weaver -review

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:Release Date October 19, 2024

Vaughn

Protecting Hope is no longer a job; it’s an obsession. And God help the fool who tries to harm what’s mine.

Somehow, this incredible woman doesn’t see me as a monster, brutalized and broken. She makes me want to overcome the debilitating fear of touch that’s gripped me since my captivity. With Hope’s help, maybe I can.

Now, I’m consumed by a new terror: losing the woman I love.

As long as her father’s cartel continues to ravage Mexico, the risk of him finding Hope and dragging her back to his brutal world is a constant threat.

But to eliminate the most powerful man in Mexico, we may both need to face the horrors that plague our nightmares.

Hope

I never dreamed I’d find a man who could look beyond my facial scars and family name to see the real me. Not a victim, not a narco princess. Just a woman with hopes and dreams like any other.

Now that I have Vaughn, I’m never letting him go.

His team of mercenaries think they can take down my father’s cartel like they have all the others. But Carlos Espinoza is no ordinary target, and killing the man who’s made my life a misery will be far more dangerous than anything they’ve tackled before.

When cartel violence escalates and threatens the people I love, one thing is clear: to win this fight, I can’t hide from my father any longer.

But if the battle claims the life of the man who holds my heart, it’ll destroy me.

•••••••

REVIEW: RAVAGED HEARTS is the fifth instalment in Julie Weaver’s contemporary, adult TEAM ZULU erotic, romantic suspense series, and part two of Hope and Vaughn’s story. RAVAGED HEARTS should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book four SCARRED SOULS

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Vaughn and Hope) RAVAGED HEARTS continues to follow the building relationship between Hope ‘Elena Espinoza’ Lopez, and former US Navy SEAL Vaughn Decker, and the hunt for the head of the Pacific Coast Cartel headed by Hope’s estranged father Carlos Espinoza, a violent and sadistic man. As Team Zulu, Vaughn and Hope put a plan into action, our heroine goes off script, threatening the life of the man whom she loves. What ensues is the ongoing relationship between Hope and Vaughn, and the fall-out as the Cartel has plans for our story line couple.

The world building follows the continuing relationship between our story line couple, as well as the hunt for Carlos Espinoza but all is not well with the Mexican Cartel, and Hope is about to discover all is not as it appears to be.

The relationship between Hope and Vaughn struggles in the face of secrets and lies. Both Vaughn and Hope have experience horrific abuse at the hands of former captors, and in this, Vaughn battles between head and heart with his attraction to our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar and colorful secondary and supporting characters including several members of Team Zulu; Hope’s father Carlos Espinoza, and his second in command Jorge Ortega.

RAVAGE HEARTS is a story of betrayal, secrets and lies; power and control, murder and madness, acceptance, forgiveness and love. The premise is dramatic and dark; the romance is provocative; the characters are energetic and dynamic but our heroine is TSTL (Too stupid to live) having placed herself and Team Zulu in the direct line of fire with her actions and need to go it alone.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Hit
The Payback
The Heist
Scarred Souls

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Julie Weaver is a RWAus Emerald Award winner and author of spicy, action-packed romantic suspense novels.
Her Team Zulu series features morally gray, ex-elite military heroes and the feisty, kick-ass heroines who challenge them.
Get your free Team Zulu Christmas novella here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/hvreeguzny

Find me here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/juliewe…
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie.weave…
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieWeaverA…
Website: https://www.julieweaverbooks.com/

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HOUR OF DREAMS (The Unholy Angels 1) by Kat Le Veque-review

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HOUR OF DREAMS (The Unholy Angels 1) by Kat Le Veque

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au / B&N Paper/

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 24, 2024

A vibrant, intense story of good and evil, of a doomed love affair, and of the lengths a family will go to in order to protect – and discover – the harrowing truth.

1933 Pea Ridge, Mississippi – A black man is allegedly murdered for the unspeakable crime of loving a white woman. Six months after his death, a mixed-race baby is born but the child vanishes. The most feared family in town is involved in these two incidents, but they are mysteries no one will speak of. To mention such things can only bring trouble, or worse…

Present Day – Beau Meade, former CIA agent and now county sheriff, is back to civilian life after years of serving his country in the most dangerous way possible. On a chance meeting with Lucy Bondurant, daughter of an old family nemesis, Beau finds himself swept up in a mystery that Lucy’s family hoped would stay buried forever. As they race against time to put the pieces of the puzzle together, Beau and Lucy come face to face with a love story as beautiful and as enduring as time itself.

HOUR OF DREAMS is all things bittersweet, tragic, and triumphant.

•••

REVIEW: HOUR OF DREAMS is the first instalment in Kat Le Veque’s contemporary, adult THE UNHOLY ANGELS romantic suspense series focusing on three former CIA agents: Trace Rocklin, Reed McCoy, and Beau Meade, a deep ops undercover group known as the Unholy Angels. This is attorney Lucy Bondurant, and Pea Ridge Sheriff Beau Meade’s story line.

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

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Beau and Lucy), following three time lines HOUR OF DREAMS focuses on the search for the truth. In 1933, Pea Ridge Mississippi, a young woman fell in love with a black boy, and the ensuing spiral manifested in pregnancy murder, cover ups, and hate in a time when interracial relationships were illegal. Fast forward to present day attorney Lucy Bondurant returns to her home town of Pea Ridge in the wake of her great grandmother Victory Hembree Bondurant’s death but her grandmother’s journals and a letter for Lucy are about to reveal a decades long secret that she refused to take to her grave. With the help of Sheriff Beau Meade, a former CIA operative with close connections to the past, Lucy will slowly unravel the truth about what happened years before. Two families tied together by the sins of the past, and a town that refuses to acknowledge what happened and why.

The world building follows several times lines;1933, early 2000s, and present day. The story line flashes between the past, a time when racism, prejudice, discrimination, murder and a brush with slavery endured; when the murder of a black man was tossed to the side. Present day focuses on Lucy and Beau’s search for the truth: a journal with a haunting story of love and loss, a town that refuses to talk about what happened in the past; and a stalker who won’t leave Lucy alone.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, enthusiastic and determined secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Lucy’s extended family including her parents Bill and Mary, Aunt Dell and Cousin Clyde, as well as several townsfolk with long memories and even longer hate.

HOUR OF DREAMS is a story of secrets and lies, love and loss, power and control, family and relationships. The premise is dramatic, heart breaking and dark; the romance is subtle; the characters are charismatic, determined and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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HERO’S PRIZE (Linear Tactical:Oak Creek 3) by Janie Crouch-review

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HERO’S PRIZE (Linear Tactical: Oak Creek 3) by Janie Crouch-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 27, 2024

When a deadly accident leaves extreme sport superstar Colton Harrison questioning what his future holds, he decides to take a timeout in his hometown of Oak Creek.

He knows the mountains and wildness of Wyoming will help him heal.

But he has no idea how he’s known sweet Ella O’Conner all his life but is somehow only really seeing her for the first time now.

People in his world may say she doesn’t measure up, but this woman—and all her sexy curves—is downright beautiful to Colton.

Ella is who he wants. Who he needs. Who he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

Although convincing her of that will be tricky. All she’s ever wanted was a quiet existence, and life in the public eye can be brutal—no matter how much Colton vows to protect her.

Especially when a stalker is willing to do anything to keep Colton for themself.

•••••

REVIEW: HERO’S PRIZE is the third instalment in Janie Crouch’s contemporary, adult LINEAR TACTICAL; OAK CREEK romantic suspense series, a second-generation spin off from the author’s LINEAR TACTICAL series. This is thirty-two year old, extreme sports star Colton Harrison, and bakery owner Ella O’Conner’s story line. HERO’S PRIZE 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 omniscient third person perspectives (Colton and Ella) HERO’S PRIZE follows the friends to to lovers relationship between our story line couple. Colton Harrison has returned to his home town of Oak Creek, to film his latest extreme sport adventure. A friend’s wedding brings Colton up close and personal with Ella O’Conner where he will discover that Ella has crushed after our story line hero for as long as she could remember but one night together ends when Ella ghosts Colton the next morning, ghosting that left Colton wondering what happened or why but Colton’s adventure doesn’t go according to plan, and weeks will pass before our couple come face to face, again. Colton has a stalker; someone who is amping up the apparent ‘threats’ but our heroine is about to pay the price for Colton’s star power and popularity.

The world building focuses on Colton’s career; a possible career ending injury; the back and forth relationship between Colton and Ella, and the threats against our story line couple.

The relationship between Colton and Ella is a friends to lovers. Everyone in Oak Creek is aware of Ella’s attraction to our story line hero but Colton himself. Having followed Colton’s career, the town of Oak Creek will have to come together to protect one of their own. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar and charismatic secondary and supporting characters from both the Linear Tactical and the second generation Oak Creek series. We are introduced to videographer Rick, and Colton’s assistant Tony.

HERO’S PRIZE is a story of betrayal, obsession and jealousy; family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is intriguing and captivating; the romance is fated and heart breaking; the characters are strong-willed, struggling and determined.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Hero Unbound
Hero’s Flight

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the coveted RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.

Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband’s job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she’s not listening to the voices in her head (and even when she is), she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.

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