Tag Archives: Tawna Fenske

Ask Me (Cherry Blossom Lake 4) by Tawna Fenske-review

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Ask Me (Cherry Blossom Lake 4) by Tawna Fenske-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 6, 2024

Ask anyone in town for the best guy to rev your engine and they’ll point to me.
Ask anyone who’s read a book or watched TV, or hell…
Any human with a pulse knows Brooke Braham is America’s top advice guru.
I don’t need a PhD to see I shouldn’t fall for the famous shrink.
It’s not like an auto shop owner can’t run with the rich and beautiful, but guess what?
Turns out the good doc and I share more than scorching chemistry.
She lost her sister in the worst way, and I—
Well, let’s just say it messes with a guy to learn his dead addict mom isn’t.
Dead, I mean. Who knew?
Not my big pack of rowdy brothers.
My sister might’ve sensed it, but I had a different take.
One I’ve never told anyone.
There’s stuff I should take to the grave, but Brooke’s got me all up in my feelings.
Turns out they aren’t just below the belt.
She’s funny and smart and loves my big, doofy dog.
But we can’t get involved.
It says so right there in her book.
Love’s not for folks facing major life messes, which is us in a nutshell.
So much for sexy sand sledding lessons that can’t lead to more.
Ditto for using my childhood tire swing in ways that would make a mechanic blush.
I can’t fall for Brooke, no matter what my busted-up heart believes.
I’m a guy with a rep for fixing anything.
Almost anything. Let’s not dwell.
The last thing Brooke needs is me rescuing her like she’s some damsel in distress.
But what if we’re meant to save each other?

•••••

REVIEW:ASK ME is the fourth instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary adult CHERRY BLOSSOM LAKE erotic, romance series. This is mechanic Kaleb Spencer-King, and author/influencer / media psychologist Brooke Braham’s story line. ASK ME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Kaleb and Brooke) ASK ME follows Brooke Braham’s visit to Cherry Blossom Lake, the site of a tremendous loss but meeting Kaleb Spencer-King felt like meeting a kindred spirit, a man who knows loss first hand. As their relationship begins to develop, Brooke is pulled into the dysfunctional Spencer-King family, a family where she feels at home but Brooke’s time in Cherry Blossom Lake comes with an expiry date, and our couple are refusing to acknowledge the proverbial elephant in the room.

The world building focuses on love and loss, grief and guilt. The Spencer-King family has struggled with lies, loss, betrayal and guilt .Unable to get past the betrayal of someone close, Kaleb battles between head and heart, struggling with issues of trust but Kaleb’s mistrust is equaled by Brooke’s inability to let go for the grief and guilt of her own loss.

The relationship between Brooke and Kaleb is one of immediate attraction and commiseration over similar yet different losses. Kaleb continues to struggle with a former betrayal, and Brooke abides by her own rules regarding grief and loss. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Kaleb’s siblings, as well as their struggling mother; Brooke’s assistant Maxine.

ASK ME is a story of secrets and lies, loss and grief, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The premise is riveting and enthralling; the characters are broken and struggling; the romance is seductive and passionate.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Try Me
Charm Me
Hold Me

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Show Off (Juniper Ridge 6) by Tawna Fenske -review

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Show Off (Juniper Ridge 6) by Tawna Fenske -review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 7, 2024

I wish I didn’t know how one heartbreak can smash your world to bits.
And really I wish I didn’t suspect it’s why there’s an edge to Lana’s sunshine smile.
Hell, I wish I didn’t think of Lana at all.
I’m busy busting ass to be the best—and yeah, grumpiest—chef around.
There’s a reason I keep people at a distance.
My evenings blur with butter and basil and helping my brother.
Trying to forget how he wound up in a wheelchair.
We’ve got our routine, and there’s no room for sweet smiles or blue eyes or…why is it so damn hot in here?
The thing is, Lana spins stories as a PR goddess.
I’m all for icing cookies, but sugarcoating the truth? Never.
Directness is best, even if it means awkward dessert dates that are definitely not dates, and embarrassing chats with my dog.
But one truth I’m terrified to face?
I’m nuts for Lana.
And the fallout could blow up our lives like a mug cake microwaved in a tin cup.

•••••

REVIEW:SHOW OFF is the sixth and final instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult JUNIPER RIDGE erotic, romance series. This is chef Dal Yang, and twenty-seven year old, PR director Lana Judson’s story line. SHOW OFF can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Juniper Ridge is a cross over from the author’s Ponderosa Resort Series.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lana and Dal) SHOW OFF follows the building but struggling relationship between our story line couple. Dal Yang is a professional chef who prefers to keep his private life private but when a reality show is filmed at Juniper Ridge, Dal finds himself front and center of a PR nightmare, and pulls away from everyone concerned. Lana Judson’s family owns land in Juniper Ridge, and the reality show is part of the family’s lifestyle but a memoir is about to reveal secrets from the past, forcing Lana’s parents to address that which nobody knew. Meanwhile, Lana’s attraction to Dal is met with some resistance from our story line hero, and his need to protect Lana from the Hollywood gossip, threatens the growing love between our story line couple. What ensues is the building relationship between Lana and Dal, and the potential fall-out as Lana struggles with secrets from the past, and Dal’s need to step in and defend the woman he loves.

The world building follows several paths including secrets from the past for both Lana and Dal. Dal lost his parents in a car accident that paralyzed his older brother Ji-Hoon. Having always blamed himself for what happened, Dal struggles to move forward, accepting that guilt comes at a cost. Lana’s own secrets are about to reveal a family struggling in the face of Hollywood gossip and paparazzi nightmares.

The relationship between Lana and Dal is one of unrequited love. Dal doesn’t like the business of ‘spin doctors’ or media influencers that change the narrative to meet their client’s demands, and in this Dal struggles with Lana’s job, a job that is necessary in the family to which she belongs. As Lana and Dal’s relationship begins to grow, Dal is about to destroy any hope of his own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including most of the previous story line couples. We are introduced to Dal’s brother Ji-Hoon, as well as their uncle Korain.

SHOW OFF is a story of family and relationships, secrets and lies, acceptance and love. The premise is entertaining and emotional; the romance is suggestive; the characters are dynamic, charismatic and desperate.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of SHOW TIME

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Hold Me (Cherry Blossom Lake 3) by Tawna Fenske-review

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Hold Me (Cherry Blossom Lake 3) by Tawna Fenske-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: March 8, 2024

Romeo. Boy Toy. Player. I’ve heard what they call me, and never gave it much thought.
Then Zoe walks in with her library smarts and innocent eyes and one helluva dirty idea.
I guess living in hospitals for two decades didn’t leave much time for dating.
Or any kind of fun, really.
Zoe’s a virgin with a bucket list, and guess who’s on it?
No way am I satisfying her desires.
She’s my boss’s little sister-in-law, and besides.
I’m maxed out with my sick dad and a secret I’m not ready to share.
I’ll help with the unsexy things on Zoe’s list.
Problem is, everything from a foul-mouthed pinball machine to my dopey dog keep conspiring to push us together.
Even cooking class and an oddly sexy oil change lead straight to temptation.
Girls like Zoe don’t end up with guys like me.
It’s basic math even this high school dropout can do.
So how come I can’t stay away?

•••••••

REVIEW:HOLD ME is the third instalment Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult CHERRY BLOSSOM LAKE erotic, romance series. This is twenty-four year olds, fisherman / crabber Cal Cornish, and library worker Zoe Brooks’ story line. HOLD ME 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 (Zoe and Cal) HOLD ME follows the building romance and relationship between our story line couple. Zoe Brooks has struggled all of her life with severe medical issues but a clean bill of health finds our heroine working on a bucket list of things to do. Meeting fisherman and town manwh*re pushes Zoe to make an offer Cal can’t refuse, an offer to help fulfill her list of sexual needs. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Zoe and Cal, and the potential fall-out as Cal struggles with the demons from his past, pushing Zoe away when he needs her the most.

The world building focuses on the Zoe’s need for independence, and her ability to say what needs to be said. Cal is a man struggling with a severe case of low self-esteem, exacerbated by a father with his own demons. As Zoe continues to move forward and out, Cal’s reputation and his poor opinion of himself, threaten a future for our story line couple.

The relationship between Zoe and Cal begins as friends, and quickly develops into something more. A friends with benefits arrangement in the hopes of ‘teaching’ Zoe about life and everything it has to offer but an arrangement in which Cal is hoping for something more.Cal’s reputation with the ladies precedes his introduction to our story line heroine but Zoe is willing to look beyond the ‘mistakes’ of his past. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive.

The secondary and supporting characters includes Zoe’s sister Cassidy Brooks (Try Me), their mother Ruby, and Cassidy’s other half Jake; Lucy and Peter (Charm Me), as well as Mason, Parker, and Cal’s long-suffering father Edgar Cornish.

HOLD ME is a story of struggle and acceptance, family and friendships,relationships and love. The character driven premise is thought-provoking and honest; the romance is spicy and provocative; the characters are determined and sassy.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Try Me
Charm Me

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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TRY ME (Cherry Blossom Lake 1) by Tawna Fenske-a review

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TRY ME (Cherry Blossom Lake 1) by Tawna Fenske-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 14, 2023

If money talks, it’s telling me to steer clear of Cassidy Brooks.
Too bad my heart’s got the sense of a jellyfish.
The rest of me knows I’m reckless craving a woman wrapped up with wealthy outsiders.
Rich pricks like Cassidy’s boss, slapping glitzy mansions on the old gravel pit they’ve dubbed “Luxury, lakefront Oregon Coast land.”
Land that’s been in my family for decades, but not now. Not anymore.
Blame my shady uncle and a cast of cash-flush, toxic ass-crabs for that.
I want to blame Cassidy, but really? I just want her .
Cassidy and her smart mouth and sunshine eyes and rich lady shoes that make her legs look––
No. Not going there. It’s all I can do to keep my fishing fleet afloat while watching over a boatload of wild brothers and one bossy sister.
And Cassidy’s got her own troubles. A sick sister and a mom with chronic bad taste in men.
We should keep our distance, right?
But this town’s so small we’re crossing paths over sexy trivia night, hermit crab hijinks, and a wardrobe malfunction that lands me up close and clumsily personal with Cassidy’s mom.
I just want my town back. My family’s land.
Land Cassidy’s crew has their eye on.
There’s no way this ends well.
So why can’t we keep our hands off each other?

••••

REVIEW: TRY ME is the first instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult CHERRY BLOSSOM LAKE erotic, romance series focusing on the Spencer-King siblings. This is bait shop owner/crabber Jake Spencer-King, and PA Cassidy Brooks’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jake and Cassidy) TRY ME follows the building romance and relationship between bait shop owner/crabber Jake Spencer-King, and PA Cassidy Brooks. Cassidy is the professional assistant and planner to the uber rich Judson family, and as such is issued perks that are often misinterpreted by others. The day before a large party, Cassidy’s mother and sister are no where to be found, and Cassidy finds herself in need of help. Enter Jake Spencer-King, who upon delivering a generator is mistaken for the hired help. Offering to help, Jake has no idea as to the secrets of Cassidy’s life, a life that is somewhat similar to his own. The sins of the parents and the past have forced each child upon a different path in life, and it is these paths that will push our story line couple together. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Cassidy and Jake, and the potential fall-out when a history of betrayal and lies, resurfaces pulling Cassidy into the middle of the fray.

The world building introduces the Spencer-King siblings, and some of the back story and secrets about a town once controlled by the Spencer-Kings. All is not well; the family dynamic between generations has been fractured, and the Spencer-King siblings are paying the price for someone else’s greed and powers.

We are introduced the colorful and determined Spencer-King siblings: Kaleb, Lucy, her twin Mason, and Parker, and their father; their uncle Owen Spencer; Cassidy’s sister Zoe, and their mother Ruby Brooks, as well as Cassidy’s employers Shirleen and Laurence Judson.

The relationship between Cassidy and Jake begins acrimoniously. Jake is quick to misjudge Cassidy, believing she is part of the local aristocracy aka rich; and Cassidy believes Jake is part of the hired help, amusement to entertain the local snobs. As Jake and Cassidy begin circling one another, someone else is threatening the plans of the Spencer-King siblings. The $ex scenes are intimate, provocative and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

TRY ME is a story of family and relationships, secrets and lies, greed and power, misunderstanding, forgiveness and love. The premise is heartwarming and animated ; the romance is spicy and passionate-the sexual tension is palpable; the characters are dynamic and inspiring.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

FOLLOW: GOODREADS / Website / Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ YouTube/ Amazon Author Page

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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Killer Smile (Assassins in Love 3) by Tawna Fenske-a review

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Killer Smile (Assassins in Love 3) by Tawna Fenske-a review

 

 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 9, 2022.

He’s a covert operator. A killer built by the U.S. Army. He’s tasked with taking out his dream girl—and not on a date.

Targeting Nicole should be simple, since she hates his guts. Sebastian The Dentist—yes, a real freakin’ dentist, don’t make it scary—has wanted Nic since they first locked horns. He’s not sure why they’re enemies, but he knows there’s more to the sweet daycare owner than crayons and cardigans. But discovering her secrets lands them both in danger they’ll dodge only by working together.

Between awkward wedding dates and puppies with no personal space, Sebastian and Nic get closer. They’re also close to discovering if Nic’s dead associate may not be so dead.

If Sebastian can stop her from hating him long enough to eliminate the threat, they might just fall in love. But only Nic can stop him from hating himself.

••••••

REVIEW:KILLER SMILE is the third and final instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS IN LOVE romantic, suspense series focusing on the Bello siblings. This is dentist and assassin for hire Dr. Sebastian LaDouceur, and day care worker Nicole Bello’s story line. KILLER SMILE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Sebastian and Nicole) KILLER SMILE follows Sebastian as he is contracted to take down an operative known as the Rogue but a certain familiarity about Sebastian’s target. The Rogue has a high number of kills amassing against the fellow operative but the kills are in response to history of kills and abuse. Meanwhile, Nicole Bello’s family still struggles in the wake of their parents’ murder, and the death of their beloved grandmother but the past has resurfaced targeting our story line heroine in its’ wake. When Sebastian refuses to walk away from the woman who has stolen his heart, our couple find themselves in the midst of a battle to finish what was started years before.

The relationship between Sebastian and Nicole has been building throughout the series. Sebastian’s ongoing flirtatious attitude and slow seductive on our story line heroine pushes all of Nicole Bello’s buttons but Nicole struggles with a past mired in darkness, and Sebastian may be the man to bring her into the light. 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 Dante Goodman and twenty-six year old, vintner Jennifer Bello (Killer Instincts 1),Jennifer and Matteo (Killer Moves 2),as well as Sebastian’s grandmother Terri.

KILLER SMILE is a fitting conclusion to the Assassins for Hire romance series. All three siblings have found love and their own happily ever after but secrets remain hidden, and not everyone is aware of the true nature of the beast. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is sweet and spicy; the characters are energetic .

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Killer Looks
Killer Instincts
Killer Moves

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

FOLLOW: GOODREADS / Website / Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ YouTube/ Amazon Author Page

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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Killer Moves (Assassins in Love 2) by Tawna Fenske-review

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Killer Moves (Assassins in Love 2) by Tawna Fenske-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 12, 2022

He’s a hacker. A high-tech hitman. And now…a daddy?

When Matteo skips prison with a clean record, his conscience is anything but. Guilt hits him like a sack of marbles when he spots the woman he jilted. The clincher? A child who looks like him.

Renee’s son may have Matteo’s eyes, but she won’t say who fathered AJ. She’s also mum on what sent her into hiding or why guys with guns are after her. But when Matteo blocks an attack, he persuades Renee to appoint him their protector.

Keeping them safe means faking they’re a normal family road tripping with s’mores and snuggles and possibly a sniper rifle. Toss in a potty-training toddler and temptation from the woman he still craves, and it’s officially Matteo’s toughest mission.

But with danger nipping their heels, the only way to save his family may be to leave their lives for good.

•••••

REVIEW:KILLER MOVES is the second full length instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary adult ASSASSINS IN LOVE romantic suspense series . This is Matteo Bello, and Renee Lorenson’s story line. KILLER MOVES can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: For fans of Tawna Fenske, there is a slight cross over with the author’s PONDEROSA RESORT series. Like the previous instalments, I do NOT consider the series a rom-com…there is nothing funny or humorous in the premise. Some of the retailers have marked the story as a romantic comedy, I am guessing because of the author’s history of writing the rom-com genre.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Matteo and Renee) KILLER MOVES follows in the wake of the reappearance of Matteo Bello who walked out of Renee’s life years before only to be targeted by a dirty cop, and sent to prison for a crime he did not commit but with his return Matteo discovers that all is not well in Renee’s life, as the woman he once called his own, is now on the run, with a young boy who looks exactly like our story line hero. Desperate to protect the family he never knew he had, Matteo becomes guardian and protector as the threesome find themselves desperate to stay one step ahead of an unknown predator. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Matteo and Renee, and the potential fall-out as the past demands information, information Renee knows nothing about.

Renee Lorenson grew up in the foster care system as her father spent most of his time in and out of jail. On her own, Renee never expected to become a single mother but AJ is a reminder of what she can never have. Seeing Matteo Bello brought back too many memories from the past, memories of abandonment and mistrust, love and loss. Matteo Bello never intended to walk out of Renee’s life but life as a ‘hitman’ means never falling in love, and never pulling someone else into a lifestyle that is dangerous and dark.

The relationship between Renee and Matteo is one of second chances but Renee struggles to trust a man who walked out and never came back, a man whose history she never really knew. As Matteo slowly seduces the woman with whom he had fallen in love, our couple find themselves on a cross country journey where the bad guy is constantly just around the corner. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

The familiar secondary and supporting characters include Dante Goodman and twenty-six year old, vintner Jennifer Bello (Killer Instincts 1),Jennifer and Matteo’s sister Nicole, Renee’s son AJ, as well as Dr. Sebastian LaDouceur-Dante and Matteo’s comrade in arms. The requisite evil has many faces.

KILLER MOVES is a story of family and relationships, secrets and lies, greed and power. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is seductive and captivating; the characters are dynamic and energetic. My only complaint about the series, is the limited back story for the series characters.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Killer Looks
Killer Instincts

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

FOLLOW: GOODREADS / Website / Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ YouTube/ Amazon Author Page

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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Killer Instincts (Assassins in Love 1)by Tawna Fenske-Review Tour

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Killer Looks / Killer Instincts (Assassins in Love .5 & 1) by Tawna Fenske-Review Tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 7 2022.

He’s a hired gun. A hardened killer. So how’d he end up bottle-feeding lambs for his best friend’s sister?

Dante didn’t set out to deceive. His favor for a pal in prison got him this farmhand job, and Jen needs help guarding more than her blueberries. Someone’s set on hurting her, and he’ll make damn sure they don’t. She can’t know who sent him or why he’s handier with a handgun than a hoe. But none of that matters more than keeping Jen safe.

To save the girl, he’ll have to pair old skills with new. A princess tea party and an old-fashioned gunfight? Why not. Grape stomping and grenades? Sign him up.

But as the enemy closes in, there’s one skill Dante finds he doesn’t have: The strength to walk away when the job is done.

••••••

REVIEW:KILLER INSTINCTS is the first instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS IN LOVE erotic, romantic suspense series. This is assassin for hire Dante Goodman and twenty-six year old, vintner Jennifer Bello’s story line.

NOTE: For fans of Tawna Fenske, there is a slight cross over with the author’s PONDEROSA RESORT series.This is NOT a rom-com…there is nothing funny or humorous in the premise. Some of the retailers have titled this story as a rom-com.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Dante and Jen) KILLER INSTINCTS follows the building romance and relationship between assassin for hire Dante Goodman and twenty-six year old, vintner Jennifer Bello. Jennifer Bello needs to hire a handyman, a farmhand to help with the upkeep at the family owned winery but her ex-fiance is demanding his share of the profits and the business. Enter Dante Goodman, a mysterious stranger whom our heroine believes is her new employee but the man with whom Jennifer will fall in love. Unaware of Dante’s real reasons for working on the farm, Jennifer finds herself on the defensive when she is targeted by three potential enemies including a hotel chain hoping Jennifer sells. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Jennifer and Dante, and the potential fall-out as the threats against our heroine become personal, and the truth about Dante’s identity is revealed.

Dante Goodman is an assassin for hire but our hero also works security and safety. As a favor to Matteo Bello, currently in prison for a crime he did not commit, Dante agrees to ‘keep an eye’ on Matteo’s sister, knowing that to cross the invisible line could be the end of a possible friendship. Jennifer Bello is struggling to make ends meet, and the threats from her former fiance are only adding fuel to the fire. With the help of Dante Goodman, Jennifer puts a plan into place to help save the winery never realizing the real enemy is but a smile away.

The relationship between Dante and Jen is one of immediate attraction; a forced proximity/forbidden relationship in which Dante wants what he cannot have, and Jennifer struggles in the face of secrets and lies. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced, via phone, to Jennifer’s brother and Dante’s friend Matteo, their sister Nicole, as well as Dr. Sebastian LaDouceur-Dante and Matteo’s comrade in arms; and Jennifer’s ex Johnny and his fiance Penelope.

KILLER INSTINCTS is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, money and power, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating and intriguing; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, charismatic and strong.

NOTE: There is a FREE prequel novella KILLER LOOKS (see below) : Amazon / Amazon CA / B&N / KOBO. / Google Play

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed By Sandy

_____

KILLER LOOKS
(Assassins in Love .5)
by Tawna Fenske

FREE-– Amazon / Amazon CA / B&N / KOBO. / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 14, 2022

They’re hitmen. Trained assassins. If they nail this job, there’s a payoff. Possibly cookies.

But first, the bad stuff. Dante’s done with hitman life, but there’s one last job to do. A favor to the Duke of Dovlano targeting brutal gun runners. Dante calls on comrades, Matteo—brilliant, brooding, lethal—and charming Sebastian “The Dentist” LaDouceur. Each has skills he’s honed to take out threats at all costs. They’ve also got soft spots for family, lost loves, baby farm animals, and iambic pentameter.

But when the job falls apart, their carefully laid plans go up in smoke. Can three killers with a conscience stick together, or is it every man for himself?

••••••••

REVIEW: KILLER LOOKS is the prequel novella in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult ASSASSINS IN LOVE romantic suspense series. KILLER LOOKS introduces three black op assassins-Dante, Dr. Sebastian LaDouceur, and Matteo Bello.

NOTE: This is NOT a rom-com…there is nothing funny or humorous in the premise. Some of the retailers have titled this story as a rom-com.

Told from three first person perspectives (Dante, Sebastian and Matteo) KILLER LOOKS follows our trio in Seattle, as they work together to take down a a group of gun runners but a dirty cop, and a rogue agent threaten the success of their mission. A call from Sebastian’s father sends Dr. LaCouceur back home; a cop on the take sets up Matteo for a take down; and Dante is asked to protect Matteo’s sisters Jennifer and Nicole.

KILLER LOOKS is a fast paced, quick look that introduces the ‘heroes’ and villains in Tawna Fenske’s ASSASSINS IN LOVE series. The author reveals some of the background and history of each character, setting up a suspenseful story and their own happily ever after. The premise is intriguing and swift; the characters are energetic and strong. KILLER LOOKS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Own a copy

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When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.”

Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com.

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The Best Kept Secret (Smokejumper 3) by Tawna Fenske-a review

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The Best Kept Secret (Smokejumper 3) by Tawna Fenske-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 22, 2022.

Nurse Nyla Franklin knows three things to be true. Taking care of others brings more joy than a basket full of kittens. A triple-fudge sundae can cure just about anything. And no good ever comes from keeping a secret… So when her best friend spills his biggest one ever, Nyla knows she’s not just holding a secret. She’s holding a ticking time bomb.

Mr. Always Does the Right Thing Leo Sayre knows three things to be true. Piloting smokejumpers over burning forests is the best job in the world. His best friend Nyla is the smartest, funniest, and okay, sexiest woman ever. And pain meds are apparently his truth serum. Now his post-surgery confession has everything flipped upside down and turned inside out… including his relationship with Nyla.

Secrets have a way of piling up, and it’s just a matter of time before someone lights a match. Because while the truth can set you free, it can also burn completely out of control

••••••

REVIEW:THE BEST KEPT SECRET is the third instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult SMOKEJUMPER romance series. This is nurse Nyla Franklin, and pilot/firefighter Leo Sayre’s story line. THE BEST KEPT SECRET can be read as a stand alone without difficulty. Any important information from the previous storylines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Not wanting to give away too many spoilers, I am going to have to be as vague as possible in my review.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Nyla and Leo) follows the building romance and relationship between nurse Nyla Franklin and pilot/firefighter Leo Sayre. Leo and Nyla have danced around their attraction to one another for as long as they can remember but when the side affects of pain medication find Leo revealing a shocking secret that leads to the potential for more heart breaking news. Nyla is caught in the middle of a potential family fall-out, a fall-out that leads to more secrets of her own…but Nyla has a bigger issue…she is unable to keep a secret, and her inability to withhold the truth is about to backfire when her sister Mandi, and her best friend Leo ply our heroine with lots of booze. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Nyla and Leo, and the potential fall-out when secrets are revealed, possibly breaking the hearts of everyone they love.

Nyla Franklin struggles with secrets. She cannot tell a lie, and withholding the truth is like a volcano waiting to explode but not only does she battle between head and heart with someone else’s secrets but with secrets of her own.Falling for Leo was never in the cards-a betrayal of sorts to someone else-but her love for Leo is matched equally by Leo’s love for our story line heroine.Leo Sayre is a single father; a divorcee who has big plans for his future including a solo cross country motorcycle trip, but once again, more secrets are revealed , making Leo question everything about his life going forward.

The relationship between Nyla and Leo is a best friends to lovers; a secret affair kept from family and friends but a relationship predicated on friendship and love. As Nyla and Leo’s relationship turns into something more, our couple must navigate a possible betrayal, and their own future going forward. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced Nyla’s sister Mandi who plays a major role in our couple’s life; their parents Ted and Laurel; Leo’s mother and her husband Bob, and Leo’s son Seth. I hope the author has plans for Mandi’s story.

THE BEST KEPT SECRET is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of secrets and betrayal, revelations and acceptance; of understanding and love. The character driven premise is captivating and entertaining; the romance is seductive; the characters are energetic, charismatic and real. The ‘smokejumper’ aspect of the story is minimal, only mentioned or alluded to on a couple of occasions.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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