Tag Archives: Sandy’s Reviews

Forever the Highlands (The Highlands 6) by Samantha Young-review

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💜Forever the Highlands (The Highlands 6) by Samantha Young-review💜

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ABOUT THE BOOK: December 5, 2024

He’s her brother’s best friend. She’s totally off-limits. But when life takes an unexpected turn, she’s the only one he wants at his side…

Fyfe Moray raised himself. His only real family is his best friend, Lewis Adair. For that reason, Lewis’s sister Eilidh is totally off-limits. Fyfe is in deep denial about their intense attraction. Thankfully, Eilidh is a famous actor living in London while he runs his cyber security company from the Highlands. They’re worlds apart. Until one day, Eilidh reaches out asking for a lifeline and Fyfe can’t bring himself to turn her away.

Acting isn’t what Eilidh Adair expected. As a kid, she wanted to be just like her famous uncles. But the double-edged sword of fame cuts deeper than expected. Afraid to admit she’s made a mistake, Eilidh is spiraling. The only person who knows the truth is Fyfe, but her childhood crush has developed into a love he won’t return. Yet when she comes home intent on starting over, Fyfe can’t seem to stay away. His confused feelings might just be the end of them. Until a woman from Fyfe’s past abandons the baby daughter he never knew he had.

Now a single father, Fyfe needs support. He just never expected Eilidh to be the one he needed most. Fyfe can’t believe how quickly he falls for his child and how rapidly his world view changes. He’s ready to admit the truth: he’s madly in love with his best friend’s sister. And Fyfe’s done wasting time.

But someone else believes Eilidh belongs to them. Someone who has been watching her far longer than she realizes. Just when she thinks she might have everything she wants, Eilidh finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a person intent on destroying everything she holds dear.

•••••

REVIEW:FOREVER THE HIGHLANDS is the sixth instalment (and final?) instalment in Samantha Young’s contemporary, adult THE HIGHLANDS erotic, romance series-a spin off from the author’s ADAIR FAMILY series. This is actress Eilidh Adair, and cyber security specialist Fyfe Moray’s story line. FOREVER THE HIGHLANDS 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 first person perspectives (Eilidh and Fyfe) following several timelines, and several pathways, FOREVER THE HIGHLANDS focuses on the best friend’s sister/ forbidden relationship between actress Eilidh Adair, and cyber security specialist Fyfe Moray. From an early age, Fyfe Moray has never felt good enough, or wanted by the people in his life except for his friendship with Lewis, and his sister Eilidh. Throughout the years, Fyfe’s attraction to Eilidh has been hindered by his promise to Lewis, a promise he never intends to break but Eilidh’s life is about to spiral out of control, and her return to Ardnoch comes with the memories and rejection of the man she still loves. As Eilidh struggles to move on from the past, our heroine will become the target of several crazed people, and Fyfe must come to terms with his new life going forward.

The world building is complex, detailed and follows several scenarios as Eilidh must come to terms with her career; threats from three unlikely sources, and the unrequited love for a man who is unable to love in return. Fyfe Moray believes he is unworthy of every finding his own happily ever after. His inability to trust threatens any hope for a future with the woman he loves but Fyfe’s life is about to change, and he will need the love and support of everyone in his life.

The relationship between Fyfe and Eilidh is one of unrequited love; a best friend’s younger sister relationship in which Eilidh is willing to walk away of the man that she loves in an effort to find her own happiness going forward but Fyfe’s world is about to come crashing down, and Eilidh will be there to pick up the pieces. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate but limited.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, familiar and energetic secondary and supporting characters, many of whom we met in the previous instalments and the original ADAIR FAMILY series. We are introduced to Fyfe’s estranged mother, as well as the requisite evil that takes aim at our story line couple.

FOREVER THE HIGHLANDS is a story of betrayal ,madness and obsession; family , friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is dramatic, elaborate and multi-layered; the romance is fated and seductive; the characters are determined, dynamic and charismatic but lost. FOREVER THE HIGHLANDS ends on an extended epilogue where the reader is up close and personal with several previous story line couples

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Samantha Young is the New York Times,  USA Today  and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows.  Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us was published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook & hardback June 2017. Play On is an adult contemporary romance and the first in a brand new series set in Scotland. Villain is a companion novella to the New York Times bestselling romance HERO.

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

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Emperor of Lust (Memento Mori 3) by Jagger Cole-review tour

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💜Emperor of Lust (Memento Mori 3) by Jagger Cole-review tour💜

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

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Goodreads: https://bit.ly/40gP6f8

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 5, 2024

To protect everything I love, I’m forced to marry a monster.
I made a huge mistake, and caught the attention of a lethally beautiful villain.
Damian Nikolayev is brutality incarnate. A psychopath wrapped in tattooed muscle and tailored charm.

Heir to a Bratva empire built on blood and control.
And now, I’m his. His fiancée. His plaything. His obsession.
He owns my darkest secret.
And he’ll keep it, for a price:

All of me.

Now, Damian has me bound to him, in more ways than one.
The harder I fight, the tighter his ropes ensnare me.
But his games are getting darker.
The line between lust and darkness is blurring.
And I’m starting to realize, there’s only one thing more dangerous than fake marrying a monster:
Really falling for one.

•••

REVIEW:EMPEROR OF LUST is the third instalment in Jagger Cole’s contemporary, adult MEMENTO MORI dark, erotic, crime world romance series set in the author’s Venomous Gods world. This is heir to the Bratva throne Damian Nikolayev, and corporate CEO and Yakuza daughter Hana Mori’s story line. EMPEROR OF LUST 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 backstory and cohesion as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

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

Told from three first person perspectives (Damian, Hana, Takeshi) EMPEROR OF LUST follows the building but acrimonious relationship between our story line couple. IN an effort to keep peace between the Bratva and the Yakuza in Tokyo, Hana is forced into a relationship with Bratva heir Damian Nikolayev, a man who knows more about Hana than anyone else. Hana has secrets, dark secrets that are controlling her life, and when Damian discovers Hana’s extracurricular activities, our hero blackmail’s Hana into being his wife but all is not well in the criminal underworld, and our couple will be targeted for sins of the past.

Like the previous instalment, the world building is multi-layered, complex, and intricate with many of the characters crossing over between timelines and stories. Hana’s secrets, once revealed, play a pivotal role in the encroaching war between the Yakuza and the Bratva in Japan.

The relationship between Hana and Damian begins tempestuously when Damian uncovers Hana’s secrets, secrets layered such that, the lives of the people she loves are threatened because of the sins of the past. Damian doesn’t want a relationship but life is about to become much more complicated when he loses his heart to the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative with some scenes of Japanese shibari rope play. Once again, as the series progresses, the heroes’ aggression and anger towards the heroines, are not without some controversy and dubious consent and behavior.

There is another large ensemble cast of powerful and questionable secondary and supporting characters including the return of IT hacker Freya Holm (Emperor of Rage) ; Annika and Yakuza heir Kenzo (Emperor of Wrath), and his head of security Kai; their father-figure and head of the Nikolayev Bratva Kir Nikolayev, and his second in command Isaak; and Hana’s brother Takeshi. Not everyone can be trusted, the need for power is dark and controversial. The requisite evil has many faces.

EMPEROR OF LUST is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is melodramatic, tense and startling; the romance is challenging and seductive; the characters are desperate, determined and purposeful.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Emperor of Wrath
Emperor of Rage

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

A reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.

Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.

When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside–rain or shine.

You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com

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Beautiful Broken Love by Shanora Williams-review & giveaway

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Beautiful Broken Love by Shanora Williams-review & giveaway

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 December 3, 2024

It’s been months since her dreams of forever were brutally shattered. Seven long months since her husband and soulmate, Lew, died in her arms, leaving her to carry on. Alone. And Davina Klein-Roberts still isn’t sure how to move forward.

To escape her anguish, Davina throws everything into work, pushing Golden Oil Co., her self-built skincare line, to become a viral success. Now she’s poised to clinch a major endorsement deal too. But it’s bittersweet without Lew by her side.

A meeting with Deke Bishop, the hot NBA star she’s courting for her brand, leaves Davina flustered. With his dimpled smile and warm handshake, Deke’s a natural pitchman. And he’s clearly interested—not only in her lotions.

Davina soon discovers that Deke’s more than just another player and carries his own pain. But as her feelings for him grow, so does her guilt. Will the pain of a future already lost keep her from embracing hope for a new one?

••••

REVIEW:BEAUTIFUL BROKEN LOVE by Shanora Williams is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, romance story line focusing on professional basketball player Declan ‘Deke’ Bishop, and thirty-one year old, skin care designer/ widow Davina Klein-Roberts.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Deke and Davina) BEAUTIFUL BROKEN LOVE focuses on the building romance and relationship between professional basketball player DEclan ‘Deke’ Bishop, and skin care designer / widow Davina Klein-Roberts. Davina Klein-Roberts is the CEO of Golden-Oil Co, a designer skin care manufacturer, and she is hoping basketball player Deke Bishop will become the new spokesperson for her latest line but Davina goes into their introduction and meeting with a set of preconceived notions, and the her attraction to Deke is offset by her guilt in the wake of her late husband’s death. Several months earlier, Davina’s husband passed away, and our heroine had not desire to move on from the past. Deke Bishop fell immediately for Davina Roberts but Davina continued to struggle with her guilt and grief. Unable to compete with a ghost, a broken-hearted Deke walks away, leaving the woman he loves behind.

The world building focuses on the the growing relationship in the face of Davina’s overwhelming guilt and grief. Unable to let go of the past, Davina struggles with her attraction to the man with whom she will fall in love but Deke is determined to bide his time but there is no end in sight for Davina’s grief. Meanwhile, with the approach of the Thanksgiving holiday, Deke’s embattled family want our hero to make amends with the man he blames for destroying their lives.

The relationship between Deke and Davina is one of immediate attraction but Deke is a client, and Davina is refusing to cross a line. In the wake of her husband’s death,Davina struggles to move forward, and her feelings for Deke add guilt to her ongoing grief. As their relationship grows, Deke’s past takes aim, targeting our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top , sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include family, friends, co-workers and teammates. We are introduced to Deke’s teammate and single father Javier Valdez , and Davina’s sister Octavia, a nanny who may be a prospect for Deke’s daughter. I am hoping the author has plans for a series.

BEAUTIFUL BROKEN LOVE is a story of grief and sorrow, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is emotional and often heart breaking; the romance is passionate; the characters are determined and charismatic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Shanora Williams currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina and is the mother of three boys, has a fiercely devoted and supportive husband, and is a sister to eleven.
When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her family, binge reading, or running marathons on TV streaming services.

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The Reading Cafe and Montlake are graciously offering a copy of BEAUTIFUL BROKEN LOVE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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My Christmas Biker(Saints Outlaws MC) by Nikki Landis-review tour

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My Christmas Biker (Thirteen Bikers for Christmas/ Saints Outlaws MC) by Nikki Landis-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 3, 2024

Ginger(snap):
Stranded in an airport on Christmas Eve, I have zero options and no available flights to reach home.
The weather decides to dump a snowstorm on my holiday plans when the layover leaves me stuck in Denver, Colorado.
In tears, exhausted, and losing hope, I never expected to receive an offer I couldn’t refuse.
A tattooed, bearded hunk of a man promises to get me home and swears he’s not a creep.
His striking blue eyes sparkle with honesty, and his beard, peppered with gray, gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
A kiss under the mistletoe, a Harley ride bundled against my leather hero, and a hot cocoa later, I’m wondering if Santa is delivering my Christmas present early.
Until he kidnaps me, and all the questions left unanswered from my childhood become crucial to my survival.

Brick:
When one of my brothers in the club needs a ride to the airport on Christmas Eve, I don’t hesitate to help him out.
On the way out, I spot a gorgeous redhead with familiar features I can’t quite place.
Before I can stop myself, I’m offering her a ride.
She’ll have to trust a stranger if she wants to reach home in time for Christmas.
But things turn dangerous and deadly when an old enemy follows us.
I end up kidnapping her and heading toward a safe house to keep her protected.
No amount of Christmas cheer can wipe away my secrets or mistakes, but I want to try for her.
I have to get this sweet girl home and drop her off before my past ruins her holiday.
All I want this Christmas is to make everything right and give my Gingersnap a present she’ll never forget.

A Saint’s Outlaws MC: Las Vegas, NV Prequel Novella. Part of Thirteen Bikers for Christmas.

••••

REVIEW:MY CHRISTMAS BIKER by Nikki Landis is the contemporary adult novella set in the multi-authored SAINTS OUTLAWS MC erotic romance world. This is twenty-seven year old Ginger Bedford, and forty year old, Saints Outlaws MC Las Vegas SAA Brick Mayfield’s introductory story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Brick and Ginger) MY CHRISTMAS BIKER follows in the wake of a snow storm in Denver Colorado on Christmas Eve. Ginger Bedford needs to get home to Las Vegas, but all of the flights have been cancelled. With the help of two Saints Outlaws members Ginger finds herself on the road but all is not well when Ginger and Brick are targeted by an unknown assailant. Desperate to protect the woman with whom he will fall in love, Brick and Ginger go into hiding, in an effort to stay ahead of the demons from the past.

The world building focuses on the reconnection between Ginger and Brick. Brick, and Ginger’s father Hesh were once best friends but the death of Ginger’s father, comes with too many memories from the past. When the enemy sets their sights on our story line couple, Brick declares himself guardian and protector of our story line heroine.

The relationship between Brick and Ginger is one of immediate attraction between two ‘former friends’. Ginger had a crush on Brick years earlier but the death of her father pulled our hero out of her life. Fifteen years since they last saw one another, culminates in a declaration of forever for our story line couple. The $ex scenes are passionate.

We are introduced to fellow MC members President Judge; treasurer Midas; Dagger ; and Brick’s mother Nancy.

MY CHRISTMAS BIKER is a fast paced, quick read focusing on family, friendships, vengeance, protection and love. The premise is engaging and captivating; the characters are desperate and dynamic. MY CHRISTMAS BIKER ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Nikki Landis is the USA Today & International Bestselling, Multi-Award-Winning Author of over 50 romance novels in the MC, reverse harem, paranormal, dystopian, and science fiction genres. Her books feature deadly reapers, dark alpha heroes, protective shifters, and seductive vampires along with the feisty, independent women they love. There’s heart-throbbing action on every page as well as fated mates and soul bonds deep enough to fulfill every desire.

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Keep Me In Your Heart by Monica Murphy-review tour

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Keep Me In Your Heart (Lancaster Prep: Next Generation 2) by Monica Murphy-review tour

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 December 3, 2024

This was supposed to be the best year of Rowan Lancaster’s life. Instead, thanks to a massive linebacker, his ankle is broken and his last football season at Lancaster Prep is done. Just like that. Now his days are dull and gray. Boring.

Except for the days that include Arabella Hartley Thomas.

She’s the girl everyone wants to be friends with. Beautiful but approachable. Stylish. Quirky. Yet she gets under Rowan’s skin like no other, and he doesn’t understand why. Sure, they flirt and banter and give each other grief. But now she invades his dreams and makes his heart pound so hard he’s sure she can see it.

Until suddenly, not only does Arabella see every part that he wishes he could hide, he realizes if he let himself, he could fall―hard.

Which is the same day he learns she might be leaving…for good.

••••

REVIEW: KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART is the second instalment in Monica Murphy’s contemporary, young / new adult LANCASTER PREP: NEXT GENERATION erotic, romance series set in the author’s LANCASTER PREP world, which is a spin off from the author’s ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND and THE CALLAHANS series. This is eighteen year old, Rowan Lancaster (son of Wren and Crew Lancaster) and soon to be eighteen year old, Arabella Thomas’s story line. KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART 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 (Rowan and Arabella) KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART follows the enemies to lovers relationship between eighteen year old, Rowan Lancaster (son of Wren and Crew Lancaster) and soon to be eighteen year old, Arabella Thomas. For several years Rowan and Arabella have made snarky and snide comments to one another but forced to work together on a number of school projects , they quickly discover their tempestuous actions hide a palpable attraction to one another. With the approach of the holidays, Arabella plans to spend her time alone but Rowan isn’t willing to let Arabella spend her vacation at school. Time spent together shows Arabella the true meaning of family and holiday celebrations.

The world building focuses on Rowan Lancaster , and Arabella Thomas’ future choices. Their final year at Lancaster Prep sees a change for Rowan, and the possibility of Arabella walking out of Rowan’s life. We are up close and personal with Arabella’s dysfunctional family dynamics, and the loving, large extended Lancaster clan.

The relationship between Arabella and Rowan begins acrimoniously ; their back and forth hides a barely veiled attraction that everyone sees, but our couple refuses to admit. Working together, and spending time with one another reveals drama from the past, drama that is continuing into the present and future. The sexual tension is palpable; the $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and familiar secondary and supporting characters including characters from the author’s original LANCASTER PREP series including Wren and Crew (A MILLION KISSES IN YOUR LIFETIME): Willow Lancaster, and Rhett Bennett (ALL MY KISSES FOR YOU) We are introduced to Callahan Bennett, and the requisite mean girls who push at our story line heroine.

KEEP ME IN YOUR HEART is an emotional story of secrets and lies, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is dramatic and engrossing; the romance is spicy and flirty; the characters are broken, determined and animated.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one ALL MY KISSES FOR YOU

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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

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

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Risky Vows (Chicago Mafia Bosses 1) by Carmen Falcone-review

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Risky Vows (Chicago Mafia Bosses 1) by Carmen Falcone-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 2, 2024

Amara
Marrying the mafia boss is the last thing I want. But, like everything else in my life, I have no choice.
So I’m forced to marry a hot, dangerous man to save my family’s business. He’s moody, ruthless, and stubborn, all wrapped into one tempting, tattooed package.
We need Massimo Gallo and his family.
Little do I know—I need him too. I can’t resist the intense chemistry between us.
The problem is, if he finds out the secret I’ve been keeping, he’ll get rid of me for good.

Massimo
As the head of an influential mafia family, I must fulfill my duty. I’ll marry Amara.
Do I want to? No. But she’s a means to an end, even if I don’t trust her fully—or her family.
But the sexy, curvy brunette has a lot to offer, even if she doesn’t know it yet.
I vow to make this sinful marriage work… by any means necessary.

••••

REVIEW:RISKY VOWS is the first instalment in Carmen Falcone’s contemporary, adult CHICAGO MAFIA BOSSES erotic, Mafia romance series. This is forty-one year old, Mafia boss Massimo Gallo, and twenty-three year old Mafia princess Amara Montefiore’s storyline.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Massimo and Amara) RISKY VOWS follows the arranged/forced marriage between forty-one year old, Mafia boss Massimo Gallo, and twenty-three year old Mafia princess Amara Montefiore. In the wake of the head of the Montefiore family’s health struggles, and their plummeting business ventures, their only daughter Amara has been offered up in marriage to Gallo Mafia boss Mossimo Gallo but Amara has previously loved and lost, and a forced marriage to Gallo means a loveless union for our story line heroine. Mossimo Gallo is only doing his duty as the head of the Gallo Family but something about Amara pulls Mossimo in like a moth to a flame, a moth that will be burned when the truth is revealed.

The world building follows the growing relationship between our story line couple as Mossimo struggles with his attraction to a woman he does not trust. Calling her ‘rat’ at every opportunity, the lack of respect for our heroine does nothing to prove his actions have changed but secrets revealed prove Massimo is willing to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love, defending her against the people who should have loved her the most.

The relationship between Massimo and Amara begins as an age-gap, forced marriage in which both families are to benefit from the questionable arrangement but the Montefiore family has secrets, and Amara may pay the price for the sins of the family. The $ex scenes are provocative and intense.

We are introduced to Massimo’s brothers Dante, Nico and Rocco; Dante’s girlfriend Andie, as well as their father Aldo Gallo; Amara’s parents Enzo and Vittoria, her brother Alonzo, their questionable security guard Ugo, and Massimo’s friend with benefits Daphne.

RISKY VOWS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic and intense but not as dark as some other Mafia story lines-there was more telling than showing . The characters are determined and desperate; the romance is impassioned but I did not feel any palpable sexual attraction-there was more $ex than passion, more hostility than chemistry.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Thorns of Blood (Thorns of Omerta 6) by Eva Winners-review tour

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Thorns of Blood (Thorns of Omerta 6) by Eva Winners-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 2, 2024

I had spent my life trapped in a gilded cage, surrounded by villains.

The cruel man I was forced to marry saw me as a lesson to be taught, stripping away every piece of my spirit until all that remained was my shadow. He left me in darkness, alone, except for the one flicker of light in my miserable existence: my adoptive daughter.

Then they took her away from me too.

It didn’t kill me, but something deep inside me died that day.

Or so I thought.

Giovanni Agosti kidnapped me to “save” me, or so he claimed.

But I was done being a pawn in anyone’s game. I would show this captor, with his smoldering gaze and dangerous allure, that no one touched Liana Volkov without consequences.

Not even the man I found myself wanting.

••••

REVIEW:THORNS OF THE BLOOD is the sixth instalment in Eva Winner’s contemporary, adult THORNS OF OMERTA dark, erotic, Mafia romance series-a spin off from the author’s KINGPINS OF THE SYNDICATE. This is Giovanni Agosti, and twenty-six year old Liana Volkov’s story line. THORNS OF BLOOD 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 WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Giovanni and Liana) using present day and memories from the past THORNS OF BLOOD focuses on the search and rescue of our story line heroine. Approximately eight years earlier, in an effort to save her twin sister Louisa, Liana Volkov sacrificed herself, and spent several years at the mercy of a violent man, and a woman only known as the Mistress. Fast forward to present day, Giovanni Agosti, having located the missing daughter of Emory and Killian ( RAVENOUS KINGPIN: Kingpins of the Syndicate 4), Giovanni Agosti takes off for places unknown where he will find our story line heroine. Forced into marriage with Giovanni to protect her life, Liana struggles with issues of trust, nightmares and the loss of a child that wasn’t her own. As Liana and Giovanni’s relationship develops, there is someone else taking aim at our story line heroine.

The world building is dark and gritty. Liana’s past is filled with torture and abuse, loss and abandonment, betrayal and intent. Giovanni Agosti knows the betrayal by family, and in this, the ultimate deception ends with a dramatic flourish.

The relationship between Giovanni and Liana begins acrimoniously in the wake of Giovanni’s ‘rescue’ and ‘abduction’ of our story line heroine. Liana has never known love, and the loss of everyone she has every loved is amplified when as Giovanni’s rescue hides a heartbreaking truth. The $ex scenes are intimate and impassioned.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and familiar secondary and supporting characters from the author’s interconnected series and story lines. The duplicitousness of the family blood lines wreaks havoc for everyone involved.

THORNS OF BLOOD is a story of betrayal and vengeance, abuse and madness, power and control, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is dark, dramatic and intense; the characters are broken, tragic yet determined; the romance is unavoidable yet provocative and passionate.

Previous Reviews and Reading Order
Thorns of Lust
Thorns of Love
Thorns of Death
Thorns of Silence
Thorns of Desire

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Eva Winners released her first novel Second Chance At Love in 2020 and has been writing feverishly ever since. She writes about everlasting romance for every century focusing on characters emotional development and always guarantees an HEA.

She loves yoga, wine and her kiddos. In her spare time, she seeks adventures either hiking through trails, yoga or exploring the beaches.

Writing books has always been her passion and she brings real life to the forefront in everything she writes about.

Deeply passionate characters and stories will draw you in and you’ll never want to leave.

Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!

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The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan-review

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The Broken Places by Mia Sheridan-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2024

In this twisted journey into the shadows of the Golden Gate, an inspector and an FBI agent must track down the source of an unknown drug, but their attraction and their own secrets keep getting in the way.

The streets of San Francisco aren’t as sunny as the city pretends they are. Inspector Lennon Gray has learned this the hard way, and it’s starting to wear on her. When a new case plunges her into the depths of the transient community, Lennon must once again face ugly truths about humanity.

Her new partner makes things a little easier, though.

Agent Ambrose Mars is charming—innocent, somehow, despite his own hard years in the field. The combination leaves Lennon fascinated and disturbed at the same time, and she’s even more drawn to him for it.

As they investigate the hallucinogenic drug that’s forcing homeless citizens into bizarre and dangerous role-plays, Lennon and Ambrose find their relationship intensified with every new twist. But when these revelations begin to uncover secrets she wasn’t prepared to know, Lennon will have to decide how much more she can take…before something important is taken from her.

•••••

REVIEW:THE BROKEN PLACES by Mia Sheridan is a stand alone, contemporary,suspense thriller focusing on SFPD Inspector Lennon Gray, and Agent Ambrose Mars.

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

Told from omniscient third person perspective using present day and memories from the past, THE BROKEN PLACES follows in the wake of several murders and deaths possibility connected to a new designer drug in San Francisco. Inspector Lennon Gray has been assigned to investigate the latest series of murders but something about the killings doesn’t add up. As the body count increases, the FBI sends in one of their own, who may or may not have some knowledge about the ‘little blue pill’. Enter Ambrose Mars. Ambrose Mars has been temporarily assigned to search for the truth but Ambrose has a secret, a secret that will change the direction of the police investigation, a change that threatens Lennon’s future with the SFPD. As the case unfolds, Ambrose finds himself pulled back into the past, when his own life experiences gave way to a spiral out of control.

The world building is complex and intricate as the many of the victims have heart breaking stories of betrayal, abuse and loss. When the past comes full circle, Ambrose recognizes the how and the why, but it is Lennon Gray who may have come face to face with a possible killer.

The relationship between Lennon and Ambrose begins acrimoniously as Lennon struggles with a new partner, especially one from the FBI but all is not as it appears to be, and Lennon finds herself wondering where it all went wrong. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate

There is a large ensemble cast of law enforcements, homeless, addicts and victims. Throw in a podcaster, several family members, and the ghosts from the past, pushing our couple to reconsider the direction of their current line of thinking.

THE BROKEN PLACES is a story of betrayal and vengeance, addiction and abuse, retribution and obsession, forgiveness and love. The thought-provoking premise is dark and dramatic; the characters are desperate, determined and driven; the romance is subtle and fated. The epilogue fast forwards the story line approximately twenty-seven years, wherein we see a glimpse into the future for everyone concerned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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