ARC REVIEW High Tide at Harvest Moon by Taryn Black

Taryn Blackthorne has me hooked. I haven't read a book like or felt like this about a book since I first found out about Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. This is the start of the Fundy Bay Pack series, this first book is centered on Lexi Coolen and Kerr MacDonald. They each have their own set of problems, pasts that they are trying to move on from. In Kerr's case losing his wife and his brother; in his grieving he stopped doing his duties as Beta and became a drunk living in a college town and it was easy to find a willing body to share the night with. Lexi's past is a painful one, that has resulted in her having trust issues. She left home as soon as she could and never wanted to look back again, she wants nothing to do with shifters. I love what Lexi is, she is intelligent, strong willed and fiercely independent; and when faced with something that scares her she digs in her heels, lifts her chin up and gets mad. Kerr is a very promising book boyfriend, kind of a hound dog (yes pun intended) at the beginning of the book but he's really a very devoted and sexy guy with a sense of humor. I love the Alpha, Forbes. I look forward to his book.

Lexi is working on yet another Master's Degree and working as a Teacher's Aid, for the last year and a half she has been living in this quaint college town restoring an old two story Victorian house. She takes in roommates to help make ends meet but this last one takes the cake. Pulled out of bed in the middle of night to pick up her drunk eighteen year old roommate and the notorious Kerr MacDonald. She never expected Kerr to start going furry on her, trying to remain as calm as possible Lexi is forced to call her mother so she can contact the local Alpha. Kerr is surprised that not only was Lexi able to keep him from shifting until he was in the safety of his alpha but his wolf claimed her as his mate.

Forbes, the Alpha for the Fundy Bay Pack is taken back that Lexi has managed to hid herself from the pack for as long as she did, but it's only because her powers have just recently started to emerge. But now that he knows she's there he knows the dangers that are there for her if not claimed by a pack and soon. Using the pack rules Forbes makes a deal with Lexi that Kerr moves in with her for a brief period of time and determines if she a threat to the pack. Lexi has dealt with shifters since she was twelve, she hasn't told anyone about shifters. She kept the secret after what they did to her and after they kicked her out but she plays along with Forbes and Kerr because she doesn't want any trouble, but she has rules of her own and these rule further prove to Kerr that something very bad has happened to her at the hands of shifters and more than ever needs him to protect her and prove her wrong that not all shifters are like those of her old pack. The tide is high in Fundy Bay and with it comes trouble in many forms.

Overall, this was a great book. I look forward to reading more especially if Forbes is next for a book. Taryn Blackthorne has a great narrative, her active setting is very good, the book sucked me in and I inhaled the book in one sitting. I see promise in the series. And I can't wait to meet Lexi's best friend Hannah.          

ARC REVIEW Willing Target by Kathleen Mix

Kathleen Mix's Willing Target is a really good read. It was a little slow for me to get into but it picked up pretty quickly and hooked me. It takes place in the topical Virgin Islands where two bodyguards/covert-ops who work for the Brisbin Rangers are working together to help protect a billionaire's younger sister, Karli, and ferret out who is behind the death threats. Andrea Carnegie isn't even a full fledged Ranger she still is technically a trainee but she is almost identical to Karli. Andrea is hoping that if all goes well with this assignment she will become a full Ranger. Mitch Weaver is still grieving the death of his partner, he's not ready to be assigned a new partner but he doesn't have a choice when he gets assigned the lead in this protection duty. The Rangers are going to send Andrea in as a stand in while Karli goes into hiding until they can track down who is trying to kill her. Andrea is going stir crazy and wants to go on the offensive, But Mitch is just worried about keeping her safe. But there is something strange going on with the attacks on Karli's life and Andrea is going to help figure it out.

Andrea and Mitch were a great couple to read. Mitch is hesitant to get attached to anyone because of the job he has and especially since his partner left behind a widow and kids. Andrea grew up not the pampered only girl of the family but the opposite. Her older brothers and even her father picked on her, tormented her. She grew up listening to their sexual exploits and just way to information for a little sister to hear. As a result she is hesitant to get into any relationship for fear that the boyfriend will tell everyone what they do or that they are just trying to get close to her so they can get close to her football star brother's and famous coach father. But once they let each other in it all falls into place.

Overall, this was a good read and very exciting, a little predictable as soon as the character was mentioned I called it I almost hoped it was a red herring but ehhh, it was still good.      

ARC REVIEW Skin Deep by Kimberly Kincaid

Book One of Kimberly Kincaid's Station Seventeen series. Wow if the rest of the series is this hot it's a good thing they are all firemen they can put themselves out. The beginning was a little slow, (I was easily distracted) but it quickly picked up and got intense. Isabella and Kellen are a great team, and really know how to steam up my glasses. Just about all the characters were previously introduced in Deep Trouble. I would suggest reading it, I missed out on it (it sounds really good and it's about Kellen's sister who witnessed a murder, I may go back and read it)  and a lot of the animosity between Kellen and Isabella roots from that book, and while they have the past issues going on at first they clear them up pretty quickly and let their attraction for each other come out.

Ex-Army Ranger sniper Kellen Walker had enough with killing people and now concentrates on saving people now as a firefighter. Kellen finds something suspicious after clearing a house after a fire and the chief calls in the PD. Isabella was instrumental in Kellen's sister's case and he blames her for her almost getting killed. Kellen also is seriously attracted to her. Isabella tries not to let the fact that Kellen doesn't like her bother her but she hide it well, if only he wasn't sex on a stick. Isabella was one of the detectives called in with Kellen's find, she has a bad feeling about it but the higher ups don't think they have enough to go on to build a case. Isabella decides that it's up to her to find enough to build a case but she needs help. Kellen was only suppose to walk her through the house incase they missed anything but now that he knows where she's going with this he's not going to let her dig around in the underbelly of the city alone badge or not. Isabella's CI gives her some information to go on and from there she thinks she got it handled but no, Kellen is there. It's a good thing too because once the guy behind it all finds out she's a cop is out to see that she suffers. The only person standing in the way between Isabella and her death is Kellen.

Overall, it was a great read. I love the internal struggle that Isabella deals with and how it drives her and how it took her love for Kellen to change all that.

ARC REVIEW Her Wicked HIghlander by Jennifer Haymore

Her Wicked Highlander was originally published in the anthology Captured by a Celtic Warrior. It is the novella that fits in between Highland Awaking and Highland Temptation but can be read as a stand alone. It is very well paced and entertaining quick read. This one centers around Maxwell White one of the newer Highlander Knights and a lonely Scottish Lass Aila MacKerrick.    

Aila is the only one in her family left she struggling to make it. But one cold night she's kidnapped and taken to a castle. Max and the other Highland Knights are trying to stop a lunatic from starting a Scottish uprising. The madman believes if he has the King Richard Dagger that he can lead Scotland to freedom, if he can find it. Unfortunately Aila is the only one who knows where, as it's rightful owner and her only family heirloom worth anything. Max's job is to protect Aila from a the man willing to kill to get the dagger in his hands. Thankfully Aila has common sense and as soon as Max explains everything she stops trying to escape. The attraction between Aila and Max is something and Aila wants to explore it but Max tries to do the right thing, he doesn't last too long. Sadly the illusion of safety doesn't last much longer than that.

Overall, as quick as this book was to read it was perfect the way it was. The romance was instant but I like that. Aila found what she wanted and she worked to win Max over.

BLOG TOUR Love Restored by Carrie Ann Ryan

ABOUT LOVE RESTORED:

In the first of a Montgomery Ink spin-off series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan, a broken man uncovers the truth of what it means to take a second chance with the most unexpected woman…

Graham Gallagher has seen it all. And when tragedy struck, lost it all. He’s been the backbone of his brothers, the one they all rely on in their lives and business. And when it comes to falling in love and creating a life, he knows what it’s like to have it all and watch it crumble. He’s done with looking for another person to warm his bed, but apparently he didn’t learn his lesson because the new piercer at Montgomery Ink tempts him like no other.

Blake Brennen may have been born a trust fund baby, but she’s created a whole new life for herself in the world of ink, piercings, and freedom. Only the ties she’d thought she’d cut long ago aren’t as severed as she’d believed. When she finds Graham constantly in her path, she knows from first glance that he’s the wrong kind of guy for her. Except that Blake excels at making the wrong choice and Graham might be the ultimate temptation for the bad girl she’d thought long buried.

So Carrie Ann Ryan sent out Postcards for this book like she does with just about all of them signed with a little catch phrase, this book's being " Grab a Gallagher". Well I definitely want to grab a Gallagher! The Gallaghers were introduced in the last book Montgomery Ink book, Ink Enduring, when delving into the past history between Jake, Maya, and Border. Now we see the Gallagher brothers older wiser, more tortured. They each have something in their past that has shaped them into the men they are now. Graham has his own demons he deals with, the loss of his parents and then shortly after that something that shattered his heart. Blake has had her own share of trauma, her family disowned her, not that it matters much now her parents are both dead and she was left as executor of the estate which means the monstrosity of a house she grew up in and vowed never to return. Blake keeps to herself for her own reasons but when she keeps running into the sexy bearded Graham who for some reason she still finds attractive after he was a bit of an ass to her the first two time they met. But Blakes secret just might be the one thing Graham can not handle. So why is she willing to risk her heart again for a man she might not even be able to keep?

Add LOVE RESTORED to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26496433-love-restored

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About Carrie Ann Ryan
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

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ARC REVIEW Her Rogue Alpha by Paige Tyler

Paige Tyler's Book Five in her X-Ops series. Another great book for the series, like the others it had action, adventure, love. In the other books we met Jayson and Layla well they finally have a book of their own. Layla loving Jayson for exactly who he is and Jayson wanting to be a better man a worthy man for Layla.

When we last saw them, Jayson had just been offered a job as Quartermaster for the DCO and as promised Layla has started to train for field work. Jayson is in more and more pain every day and much to Layla's dismay he has befriended Dr. Dick. Dick has offered Jayson the chance to cure his pain by taking a new and improved Hybrid formula.

Now the Hybrid formula if you are not familiar with the story, started when the crazy scientist tried to make their own shifters, what they got were crazed, wild, and uncontrollable, until they stole some of Ivy's DNA (Ivy is Layla's older sister) and managed to make them less feral and more easily manipulated. But we learned from Tanner that the hybrids could control their feral. Now Dr. Dick is telling Jayson that they managed to create a formula that will give him all the benefits of shifters without any of the added aggression or sharp teeth and claws. Layla freaks when Jayson tells her he's thinking about it and they get in an argument. Layla gets a call that send her on her first mission and she has to leave Jayson. Dr. Dick also promised Jayson he could be Layla's partner so with that promise Jayson agrees. It it wasn't for the quick thinking of Dr. Zarina Jayson would be dead. Zarina is brilliant but unfortunately Dr. Dick has already sent him out on his first mission with a complete douche. When Layla gets back from her mission she quickly goes after him. Layla and Jayson are stuck in a war ridden Ukraine trying to rescue a diplomat's son and his girlfriend. Layla and Jayson finally have the heart to heart they needed to have all along and get their feelings out there.

Meanwhile stateside, Ivy and Landon are still trying to figure out what's going on with Thorn. Also the introduction to a new shifter a cat burgler, Dreya, who stole some very vital information right out from Thorn's personal safe. Thorn has his men killing any known thief that could have pulled this off which lands Dreya right at the feet of Ivy and Landon. Dreya's book is next and I am really looking forward to it.

Overall this was another winner for the X-Ops series. Love Jayson and Layla.

ARC REVIEW Jack-in-the-Box by William W. Johnstone

Twenty years ago William W. Johnstone released Jack-in-the-Box. Kensington has re-released them through Lyrical Underground. I have never read Johnstone before and unfortunately I don't think I'll be reading anymore. I think through years of watching horror movies and reading scary books I've become desensitized. I was unimpressed and it was cheesy and toward the end the violence was just gratuitous, and coming from me that says a lot one of my favorite zombie movies is Dead Alive (Which is said to be the bloodiest movie ever made by the amount of fake blood used). It started out okay, like something I would see in a Masters of Horror but it quickly turned into something B rated. It's a mix of the Exorcist, Satanic Nazis, a female Damien, and Puppetmaster (I know it came out after this book was published in 1989, but it was so much better). The jack-in-the-box is such a small part in the story it almost seems like the book should be named something else. The writing was very dry and predictable, parts of it were very interesting but those parts were outnumbered by the parts I had to push through. I talked myself into finishing the book and I wish I hadn't. The ending was disappointing, even the characters were disappointed with how it ended. I couldn't even bring myself to like the main characters.

Phillip is a lawyer married with two kids, it would be the ideal life but his daughter is a pathological liar, she acts vindictively and then lies about her action. Nora has her mother wrapped around her little finger and has her mom believing that Phillip hates Nora. On an impulse Phillip buys a horrific antique jack-in-the-box that Nora falls in love with, and the horror begins. Nora is an incarnation of evil, she has the power to manipulate people with her mind and turns everyone against her father. Phillip recruits the help of a priest Joe, a private eye Paul, a child psychiatrist Sheela, and his best friend Sam to help him defeat his satanic daughter. The jack-in-the-box has ties to Nazi Germany, it's previous owner was a Satanic worshiping Nazi who escaped at the end of the war and is living in New York now trying to have another Nazi uprising. With every death Nora causes she gains more and more power. Phillip's family has a huge secret and everything comes out the more powerful Nora becomes.

Overall, it was disappointing. I was hoping for more.        

ARC REVIEW Unthinkable by Nina Croft

First off, cliffhanger I warn you now, so if you hate cliffhangers do not read. I am torn between liking this book and being utterly confused by it. It jumps you into the story, I was a little confused I had to check to make sure this was actually book one in the series. I really liked the plot, I liked the concept. It's one of those big twisted, nothing is what it seems, no one is what they seem kind of stories. Their is deep history with many of the characters and it's kind of summarized but I still felt that so much was left out. I know it will probably revealed in the later books but it left me wanting more like a prequel explaining everything before the point where this book started. The characters are all very interesting and even the "bad guys" you want to know more about their story.

Jake is the leader of The Tribe a group of people with special abilities they were until recently under control of the government, but one of them died and Jake went in search of what happened and was disturbed by what he saw and it lead him and the others to escape. Now that they are free from the confines of the government and their ability repressing drugs The Tribe is discovering a whole new set of talents they never knew they had. They had only a few months of freedom before their former boss raided their safe house and kidnapped several of their people. To get them back Jake sinks to their level and kidnaps the one thing his former boss hold dear, his daughter.

Christa Winters is completely oblivious of her father's activities. Christa is so strongly attracted to her kidnapper she has convinced herself that she's suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. She can't stop thinking about him, and since Jake is telepathic he can read her thoughts he finds her absolutely fascinating. Jake has been drawn to Christa since he first saw her weeks before he kidnaped her. The fact that she is the daughter of the man he wants to kill should keep him from getting too attached but he finds peace when he's with her and when the events unfold and they must run they become closer. Jake tells Christa everything, about The Tribe her father and their supposed origins. Christa is a scientist specializing in DNA and she tries to help find out if the origins they think is the truth is really the truth.

There are so many twists I don't want to say too much and reveal what really happens, it really is a captivating story once you get into it and their are so many surprises it keeps you guessing what going to happen next. Overall, it was a good read once you get into it it's really non stop. I enjoyed the good guys forced to do bad things in order to protect their own.    

ARC REVIEW Twilight Dreams by Amanda Ashley

Twilight Dreams is book two of the Twilight series, for me it's okay to read without reading the first one first. I really didn't care for it. The characters were just okay I really didn't feel a connection with them; the story was okay but it seemed a little never ending half way through I'm just rolling my eyes thinking this isn't over yet. There was too much build up for how bad it's going to be and then it's over in a couple of paragraphs. It was anticlimactic and the romance between them was ehhh. When it comes to vampires I don't really care for the "I'm died and came back to life a vampire I love you let's have sex" kind of vampires it's a little too close to necrophilia for me; unless the vampire is evil like the traditional Dracula, or Nosferatu, then them being dead is okay I prefer them that way. I found Holly kind of annoying she was too wishy washy back and forth. Micah I kind of liked I liked his big family more they were the best part of the story.

Micah lost the "love" of his life, she didn't love him enough to change into a vampire for him and died peacefully in her sleep of old age. Micah vowed never to fall in love again unless she was already a vampire. So of course a year later he meets Holly. Holly mistakes him for her client and is so swept away with his good looks and charm she quickly falls for him. But as much as Micah tries he can't stay away from her. Unfortunately Micah is in the wrong place at the wrong time and a vampire who has a vendetta against Rylan, Micah's mentor and good friend, finds out Micah's connection to Rylan. Micha knows he's in danger know and fearing for Holly's life Micah kidnaps her and takes her to the ghost town that Rylan turned into a haven for vampires. Rylan uses his special vampire magic to put up a protection ward around the town. Way too much time was used up trying to convince Holly they weren't evil and bloodthirsty and Holly spent way too much time changing her mind back and forth automatically thinking the worst about them before hearing the whole story.

Overall, the story just went on and on and was kind of redundant. Micah's huge friendly family was the best part of the story.      

ARC REVIEW Mad for the Plaid by Karen Hawkins

I have been waiting for Nikolai's story from the very beginning. I was not let down you get to see the many facets of Nik from his Prince Nikolai Romanovian of Oxenburg to just Nik. I love books that start of with letters between the two main characters. Nik and Ailsa are both headstrong and stubborn, Nik however is use to knowing when to argue his point and when to drop it for later. Ailsa is use to being in charge, her father gave her the job of manager of the house and grounds and she has excelled at it. Ailsa and Nik are alike in many ways. Alisa is constantly pushing Nik's buttons to see how far she can push him. Nik has had years of court experience behind him the little Scottish woman shouldn't be able to push his buttons yet something about her just sets them all off.

Tata Natasha has gone off to visit an old friend while on this visit she disappears, not like she did the last time but kidnapped, along with a local landowner. Ailsa does her duty by informing HRH Nikolai explaining she has it handled. Nik not trusting an inexperienced person and not wanting this information to get out for fear someone might exploit the opportunity. So Nik and two of his most trusted friends and guards sneak off to help find and return Tata. Ailsa is worried that Nik might take charge and just run roughshod over her but he doesn't and even though she tries her best to do the rescue without him he's not a fool and is able to keep up with her and her men. Ailsa received a ransom note and to get to the rendezvous point in plenty of time the take the quickest but more dangerous route their. Along the way Nik and Ailsa argue over whether or not they should pay the ransom and it turns out there is a traitor in their midst. Nik and Ailsa are trying to keep from falling in each other's arms but the attraction is too strong and when they get separated from the group they admit their lust and spend what time they have together and what come after they rescue Tata will be dealt with later. Ailsa doesn't want to leave her home and Nik doesn't want the corruption of court to taint the sweet and naive Ailsa. But never fear Tata knows best.

Overall, I really liked this one, it's not my favorite of the series but it was perfect for Nik.          

ARC REVIEW Hard to Handle by Raven Scott

Hard to Handle is Fortis book three, sigh Sam, I've been waiting for this scottish hunk since book one. Raven Scott does it again this is an action packed suspenseful romance that goes deep into corrupt politicians and re-kindling a once forbidden romance between Sam and his business partner's fiancee, Mikayla. I loved this one, I'm not usually one for political drama, but the chemistry and the drama between Sam and Kaylee is worth it especially since it involves car bombs, death threats  and some really hot sex.

 Several years after their brief one time affair Mikayla is deep in trouble and knows the only person who will help without telling her ex-fiance is Sam. Sam is still mad at Kaylee for lying to him all those years ago but still deep down he has feelings for her. It was an instant attraction and one thing led to another and they ended up in bed together it wasn't until the next day that Sam found out who she really was and ended it and has been avoiding her ever since. Mikayla needs Sam's help but she doesn't want him to involve the rest of the team, so Sam agrees but he's technically on vacation and working on his own dime therefore her rules don't apply. Sam does digging of his own because her story doesn't add up. What was just supposed to be competitor blocking any opposition using threats and blackmail turns out to be so much more and it's personal for Mikayla and her family.

The relationship is complicated between Sam and Kaylee especially since part of the story she tells him is that she's currently the mistress the the owner of the company she works for and is his secretary. It's even more on the rocks when Sam finally admits to Evan what happened right before the engagement got called off. I love Sam he's the strong type, very loyal, and whole-heartedly in love. He's going to get down to the bottom of what's happening and keep Kaylee safe. Kaylee knows she dug herself in deep she only hopes that Sam can forgive her for lying.

Overall, this was a great read. I really am enjoying this series and look forward to more. Hopefully a certain British Fortis employee will get her own story soon??    

ARC REVIEW The Bear Who Loved Me by Kathy Lyons

My first Kathy Lyons book and will definitely not be my last. I have read her alter ego Jade Lee who writes historical romance, I was very surprised I liked this more than her historicals. The Bear Who Loved Me is the first of her new series Grizzlies Gone Wild, really not as cheesy as it sounds. I love the play on the James Bond movie title. It was a great introduction to the clan. It did jump into it the book kind of weirdly, but it all smooths out and really picks up and all very exciting and erotic.

Carl the Alpha "Max" shifter of the clan, wow! he's dealing with what the clan needs and wants but what they are used to and expect. They are use to domination and violence and what Carl is trying to change is the dominance without the constant threat of violence and death. The clan has short memories they have forgotten how horrible it was before Carl was the Max, they are judging him too harshly. Becca has had it rough but nothing she couldn't handle she started working as soon as she could legally work she worked her way through college and took over her Aunt's bakery. She then took care of her mother as she was dying of cancer and within the same year she lost both her mother and her sister and now she's left raising her teenage nephew. Theo, alone.

Carl keeps an eye on the possible shifters, it's his job as Max; one such possible is Theo. Spring is a busy time it's a time for taking a mate and for the teenagers to go through a transition. Becca is worried when Theo goes missing and when the Owner of the camp Theo goes to every year shows up with some astonishing news about who he is and who Theo is about to become. Carl has had his eye on more that just Theo, Becca has caught his eye and Theo's transition is the right time to bring her into his world. But something goes wrong Theo goes missing and armed men try to kidnap the other young bear going through his transition. Luckily Carl and Becca thwart the attack, Carl feels to blame for not stopping the men he was distracted making out with Becca. Along with the outside threat to the shifter community Carl is facing insubordination in his own clan and Becca comes face to face with how gritty the shifters can be. Becca is quickly falling in love with Carl but she's unsure if this is all because the stress and adrenaline of the situation that is pulling them together or if what they are feeling is real. Carl is worried that Becca has been scared off by the nature of the beast.

Overall, this was a great read. I really enjoyed it I look forward to the rest of the series. Kathy Lyons really hooked me with the underlying conflict with the missing shifters and a mad scientist.      

ARC REVIEW Shadow Falling by Rebecca Zanetti

This is the second book of Rebecca Zanetti's Scorpius Syndrome and while I enjoyed it I felt like something was missing. I loved the prequel novella and I was so excited for the series, but the first one was a little disappointing and I really didn't like Jax (I thought he was a bit of an ass). This one I enjoyed the story, the romance and conflict between Raze and Vivienne; I also liked Raze so much more than Jax. I guess I wish it was all a little bit more science fiction than just dystopian/post apocalyptic action, that's just my preference the prequel was more sci-fi and I really enjoyed that one. One thing and really I'm nitpicking but it is a pet peeve, "bazooka", nope sorry I cringed it pulled me out of the story and just, nope. I really don't like that stupid name. Unless it's an M1, M9, M18, or M20 rocket launcher, or another variance of those, it wouldn't be called a bazooka. (sorry, it's just me) There were some, I think, unnecessary parts in the story that just made me question why was this happening? How is this important to the overall story? I hope it all comes together in the later books.

What I did like, Raze and Vivienne, Vivienne especially. She was previously infected early in the outbreak, and as the FBI's best profiler she was used to track down the survivors who turned into sociopaths. Her instinct and determination is what lead the crazy president to think she was psychic, so he kidnapped her and tortured her injecting her will all manner of drugs. This lead to her current state of semi-crazy, she sees her dead step mother who tries to convince her that she can read minds. The drugs also disintegrated the filter between her brain and her mouth and she says some of the most embarrassing things and she can make fun of herself for it; she has become more open, more relatable to the people around her. She never gave up. Raze has a secret and as much as he trusts Jax and the other Vanguards he feels like he has to do this himself. He's very independant and alpha but a big softy when it comes to Vivienne. He's protective but knows when to give in he knows her strengths and lets her do her thing. Raze is very loyal and what he is being forced to do is torturing him inside. The relationship between Raze and Vivienne is strained at first, the sexual tension is there and they would both act on it but Raze is uninfected. After Jax gets done being an asshole it all changes and then there is no separating the two. Until Vivienne discovers the reason Raze is secretive, but even then it doesn't last long.

Overall, aside from the few things that I didn't like, this had some great action and suspense a very caring alpha male, Raze. It gave some clues as to what happened with the prequel couple Nora, Deacon and their psycho, but not near enough! I am desperate to find out what happened with them.      

ARC REVIEW Beauty and the Geek by Sidney Bristol

OMG! So I am a complete sucker for geeky books and I have complete faith in Sidney Bristol in everything she writes, she hasn't let me down yet with her fabulous writing and lustable characters. I also love retellings of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Beauty and the Geek was a quick read for me mostly because I couldn't put it down. Tamara Roh is a woman after my own heart I would love to have her as a friend, not just to hang out and play videogames with (when I'm not reading I'm on the PS4) but hell she cool! That group of friends they are amazing and I can't wait for each of their stories. Steven Kipper is the beast of the story he's grew up being told he was hideous and a monster, people freak when they see him, he has almost gotten use to it. But something deep inside has him longing for an intimate connection with someone. That put him in a chatroom connecting with Tamara.

Right off the bat, Sidney starts kinky, wow. (wish my hubby was a robotics genius) Steven and Tamara start a virtual relationship doing everything but reveal who they are and anything about what they do. But being internet savvy Tamara finds out who he is and isn't scared off by his appearance. Steven has dubbed the woman he has fallen in love with as Pam and as much as he respects her privacy he really wants to start a real-life relationship, he thinks he knows who she is. But one Facebook message to the wrong woman spurs Tamara into an in-person meeting with Steven. The first met went as expected they were both a little hesitant and nervous but the sexual chemistry between the two soon overpowers any nervousness and they quickly change their online-only to a real-life relationship.

They each have their own problems, Tamara was fired from her last job because she wouldn't sleep with her co-star and in the past she shook up the gaming community by going to to cops after being raped at a con. Steven has had bad experiences with girlfriends in the past he's unsure if Tamara is going to be like them or if she is sincere about her actions.

Overall this book was great, I really enjoyed it. I love all the characters and it made me cry and laugh it really was a great story.

ARC REVIEW Highland Temptation by Jennifer Haymore

More sweet,sweet highland spies. Book three of Jennifer Haymore's Highland Knights books greets us with a beaten and desperate Emilia Featherstone. We meet her in the last book, the daughter of the repugnant Lord Featherstone whom the Knights were charged with protecting even though there was something very suspicious about him. Now with Emilia at their doorstep they have proof that he is up to no good. Colin Sterling is a tormented soul and thanks to Waterloo he can't sleep at night without waking up from night terrors. The only thing that seems to soothe him is Emilia.

To get the information they need they need Emilia to be safe, the one person she truly trust is Colin. Everyone is aware of Colin's feelings for Emilia and it the obvious he the only one for the job of protecting her. While the rest of the Knights are taking care of Featherstone and his cronies Colin is taking her somewhere safe. But taking her up to Scotland isn't as easy as they thought especially since they are trying to keep their hands off of each other. Featherstone isn't going to give up easily, he knows it was his daughter who betrayed him and now he wants her back so he can suitably punish her. Colin will stop at nothing to keep her safe.

Overall, this was a good read. I love this series and I am really enjoying seeing each of the Scottish war heroes get a HEA. All though I did miss an in between novella, I'm upset I didn't know about it. I really did like Colin and Emilia they seemed to be perfect for each other, and their romance was unconventional but very nice.

ARC REVIEW Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean

First off I love the play on words for the title; the classic Peter Sellers' movie A Shot in the Dark (love Inspector Clouseau). Normally with Sarah MacLean books I always seem to catch the first book in the series and miss the others, except in this case I missed the first not that it matters it's a stand alone story. This was good read.

 "...he avoided London, believing that as long as England ignored him, he could ignore England. And England did ignore him, right up until it didn't."

Alec didn't want to be a Duke, he hates all things English,  he inherited it only after the seventeen people in line before him died all with in two weeks of each other. Alec did his duty only going to London when absolutely necessary and never staying long and for five years he kept to himself and only did as much as required, until he discovered that along with the households of the previous seventeen Duke's he also inherited a ward. Now Alec must go to London and try to repair her reputation.

Lillian Hargrove always felt invisible, a tradesman daughter who became the ward to one of the seventeen Dukes of Warnick that died, now she's never even met her current guardian. She resides in one of the houses lost somewhere in between not quite a house guest and not a servant she's just there, until one day her shy beauty catches the eye of an artist and he turns her world upside down. Thinking herself in love she posed nude for him believing it was just for his eyes only but then she finds out rather publicly that he plans on displaying her nude portrait at the Royal Academy Exhibition of Contemporary Art. The bastard played her and then made it seem like she was a willing participant, that this was something she wanted. Lily was left hiding in her house ashamed and determined that once she come into her inheritance in a few weeks time she could escape it.

Alec didn't even know he had a ward until the solicitor told him just a few weeks before. (On a side note when they say Alec is huge, at 6'5 that is a full foot taller than the average height for men back then) Alec knew Lily would be beautiful, what he didn't expect was her attitude. She wasn't the swooning, weak temperament he was expecting instead she stood up to him right from the start and didn't shy away from his large and imposing stature. Alec is determined to find her a husband before the big reveal of the portrait, but his own feelings keep getting in the way. Alec's stubborn and demanding ways is enough to give Lily the back bone she needs to take charge of the situation.

Overall, this was quite the entertaining read. Lily and Alec exchanging insults and occasionally crossing the line from fun to hurtful but all in all it was a fun read and the heartache and misery Lily has to go through makes good reading.    

ARC REVIEW Wanting it All by Christi Barth

Follow up book to Risking it All, part of the Naked Men series about a group of men who survived a tragedy in their youth and formed an unbreakable bond, even now their friendship and bond is making them famous with their Naked Men podcast. Knox was a disappointment, sexy yes, a nerd yes and normally I like that but not when he leads woman on. He dates them until they are comfortable enough to have sex with him then he never calls them again; calling second dates leftovers. Or when he has a sex map, marking off the different states the woman he's slept with come from. He's like Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother except he's not funny. Madison on the other hand is great, she knows what she wants and she doesn't stop until she gets it. She moved to D.C. from Alaska with three goals: dream job at the Library of Congress, check; find husband, working on it; and three the main one connect with the half brother she never knew she had until a couple of months ago, so far he hasn't answered her email.

Madison was luckily enough to met Knox right off the back, he introduces her to some great people and shows her a good time. Knox can't seem to move on passed Madison, even after she is upfront with him about husband hunting. They decided that they would date until they tire of each other or in Madison's case finds a suitable husband. Madison is opening Knox's eyes to a new way of thinking and it pisses him off, only because he knows she just maybe right. I warmed up to Knox only after he realized he was in for the long haul, that his life was better with her in it, and it pissed me off that his best friends his brothers were so negative when it came to him having a long lasting relationship with Madison. The long lost brother was predictable, as soon as it was mentioned I called it so no surprise there.

Overall, the story was okay, Knox was disappointing, but I loved Madison.      

ARC REVIEW With Every Breath by Maya Banks

I have to say I have never read Maya Banks before and as this is book four in the Slow Burn series I must remedy that and I will definitely keep track of the next books in this series. I did feel like I didn't get to know Eliza and Wade as much as I could because so much of their personal background is in the previous books. I really liked Eliza, she's strong and loyal so much to the point she's willing to risk her own life to protect those she loves, even the one she doesn't want to admit she loves. Wade, sexy! He was a bit of a mystery for me, I don't know if it revealed it in the previous books what he really does but it drove me crazy that I never found out.

I love serial killer thrillers throw in the paranormal/psychic aspect and wooo, yeas!I kind of wanted more serial killer in the book as it is there is a lot of talking and sorting out emotions and preparing for the big show down. I loved how Eliza's past helped shape how she is, her need to help the victim and a strong sense of justice. I really enjoy hate/love books. It's that thin line between love and hate where the emotions are so strong you think it's one but really it's the other. In Eliza's case she thinks Wade hates her but she can't see the difference she's never felt love that strong before that she doesn't know it when she sees it.

Ten years ago Eliza was an orphaned teenager with no one. She believed the words of love spoken to her by an older man. It's something she regrets now and she blames herself for the lives that were lost because of his obssession. She moved on and tried to put her old life her old name  behind her safe with the knowledge that he was serving his prison sentence far away, until she gets the call that he's being released. Eliza has three weeks to say goodbye to her friends who have become the family she always wanted and to form the perfect plan to keep him off the street and from killing again, even if it means sacrificing her own freedom or life.

"He was drawn to her like a magnet, not wanting to be caught in her web but not having any damn choice in the matter."

Wade is tired of pushing Eliza away, something is going on with her and he aims to find out what. When Eliza's partner, Dane, calls him and asks a favor of keeping an eye on Eliza during her "vacation" he knows she's up to something. It doesn't take much to track her down and when she finally admits the truth he's determined that nothing is ever going to take her away from him, not even Eliza. Eliza kept everything from her friends because she didn't want to risk their lives, but as close as everyone is they are willing to risk it for her whether she wants them too or not, especially Wade. Because now that they are involved he's in even greater risk than before.

Overall, this was a great story. I really need to get the previous books and with the introduction of more characters I hope there are many more books to come.