ARC REVIEW Justified by Jay Crownover

 Loveless Texas #1, The first full length story, if you haven't read the prequel novella that's fine it's not required. Case Lawton was the golden boy in high school, but then his mother died, he got injured, lost his scholarship, and his girlfriend got pregnant. He joined the military and when he came back he became a Sheriff's Deputy and everyone just assumed he would follow in his father's footsteps. But everyone was wrong working under his abusive, prejudice, I-going-to-use-the-law-in-my-favor father gave Case the ammunition he needed to get his father out of the Sheriff's office and get elected himself and then he cleaned house.

Aspen Barlow always felt like she was the outsider, not having been born in Loveless and being different made her even more of an outcast. Only one person made her feel special in school, Case, he made a point to welcome her and include her in events she ended up falling in love with him. She watched as his life derailed but she never lost faith that he was a better man than his father. In order to protect Case and his son she made an enemy out of the man she once love and represented his wife in the divorce. Eight years later he is still holding a grudge but when he gets called to a break in at her office everything changes.

I loved this book! Being so new to Jay Crownover I haven't read any of the other books in which Case ties into but that's fine I really wasn't missing anything, except now I want to go and read more of her books. Told in duel first person POV you get both sides of the story and that really makes you want to smack Case at different points in the book because he basically made Aspen his scapegoat and when she finally calls him on it you want to pump your fist in the air and cheer her on. I got very attached to the characters, they felt so real and I am really looking forward to Kody's book!! I loved the pacing of the book and it was well balanced of emotional and suspense with just a smidge of humor, usually Kody. Overall, this book has definitely won me over, I am now a fan of Jay Crownover and I can't wait for my next fix.

ARC REVIEW Alpha's Promise by Rebecca Zanetti

Dark Protectors #10, I enjoyed this one for the most part. I'm excited for the direction this is going, The Seven working with the Demon Nation and The Realm to stop the big bad from being released and destroying everything they hold dear. I like the side story with little Hope Kylwood and her friends. What I didn't like was the romance, not romance sex, I like Ivar and I like Promise I just didn't like them together or I should say when they got it on. I guess I'm just over the whole dominance thing, ya know been there done that now it just triggers me. But the actual story was great.

Dr. Promise Williams is just the scientist they have been looking for and she's an enhanced. She's someone who can figure out how the transporting works and figure out a way to bring home safely their missing brother. Ivar Kjeidsen demon vampire hybrid survived jumping through countless hell worlds before finally finding his way home and it just made him all the more determined to bring back his brother, Quade, before his world collapses, literally not figuratively, in fact the prison world they trapped their big bad on is colliding with Quade's world. It's crunch time and the Kurjans aren't helping matter because it's their religious figure they are trying to release so they will stop at nothing to prevent the Seven from completing their tasks.

I liked Promise, she's logical and everything is math and very analytical. Half the time I figured she was a high functioning autistic with how she was around other people but with the parents she had it's no wonder she's that way. She was rational and listened when it came to her own protection she is Sooo not the TSTL heroine, that is probably what I liked the most. I'm however getting bored with Grace and Adare's bickering I wish their book was next but no it's not, frustrated sigh. Overall, it was a good read. Not really meant to be a stand alone I would suggest at least starting at Vampire's Faith for this story arc.   

ARC REVIEW Say No To The Duke by Eloisa James

The Wildes of Lidow Castle #4, A fun Historical Romance by Eloisa James. Boadicea "Betsy" Wilde has spent the last few years trying not to give anyone the impression that she takes after her mother, a mother who abandoned her children when she ran off with another man. Betsy's first year at a school taught her the rumors and whispers that were about her mother, her sister, and herself. Betsy was determined that not only was she nothing like her mother but she would prove the other girls wrong at school by getting more offers for marriage then any of them, and she did but she accepted no one.

Lord Jeremy Roden is a hero, but he doesn't feel like one. He charged his men into battle and lost every single one of his men. It was the fault of another cowardly man but Jeremy is blaming himself. To society, because he was the lone survivor, he's the coward but all the important people know the truth and he has the Wildes on his side. He's had a hard time coming home he thinks of himself as a failure. The only bright spot in his self inflicted misery is Betsy. He enjoys arguing with her and refusing to play billiards with her it isn't until the son of a Duke offers for her that Jeremy realizes he doesn't want to lose her.

Betsy decides she wants and adventure before she finally accepts this last marriage proposal but she needs someone's help,  she convinces Jeremy to finally play a game of billiards with her and if she wins he has to escort her, while she's dressed as a man, to some place where only men are allowed to go. After she wins he manages to talk her down from a five day drive to London to go to Whites to go to the nearby town to an auction but only with a chaperone. A whole group ends up going along with Betsy and Jeremy, and surprisingly enough not only does her aunt want to join her in dressing like a man so does her maybe future mother-in-law.

I loved the relationship between Betsy and Jeremy how they started as friends bickering back and forth and Betsy who never realized how much he likes her kept brushing off certain comments that is until he kissed her to prove he desired her. But because her feeling about her mother she never wanted to feel desire like that, that would prove she was just like her mother. Once Jeremy realizes just how deep his own feelings go he keeps asking Betsy to say no to the duke.

Overall, it was a fun and enjoyable read with minimal drama and angst and what little there is is dealt with easily. I loved that Jeremy nicknamed Betsy, Queen Bess, saying it was far more appropriate for her than Betsy. Eloisa James is one of my absolute favorite historical romance writers, her characters are so real and the situations they find themselves in are always wonderful to read she's brilliant at what she does. I really can't wait for more Wildes to find their HEAs.   

ARC REVIEW Cowboy in Wolf's Clothing by Kait Ballenger

Seven Range Shifters #2, I liked this book about as much as I liked the first book, which really wasn't all that much. Once again I couldn't connect to the main character, Colt, even with his in depth backstory I ended up just pushing myself to the second half of the book. Belle was fine she was a little wimpy for my tastes, she's a born rogue and steers clear of packs, because packs hate rogues, and she got mixed up with the Wild Eight Pack due to her own insecurities and yet life by herself on her own and she can't defend herself, ehhhh, but she does have a backbone. I did believe the chemistry between them the strong physical attraction mixed with all their pheromones and them not wanting to act on it because of current circumstances but taking the risk anyways, well at least for one night because Colt's past and the secret he has kept from everyone in the pack.

I liked the second half of the book better, the first half aside from one or two fight scenes was really slow but the action and the suspense picked up a bit and the story has a better pace and kind of flows easier. The secondary characters I liked them, I think they were written better in this book than the first. This can be read as a stand alone, all the stuff you need to know is given. Overall, the story was good, even if it took a bit to get there. I always like it when the vampires are the bad guys. If the next book is going to be about who I think it going to be about, which Ballenger kinda teased, I'm looking forward to that one. 

BLOG TOUR Satisfaction Delivered by Marie Harte

Today we are celebrating the release of SATISFACTION DELIVERED by Marie Harte. SATISFACTION DELIVERED is a romantic suspense title, and it is the third, and final, book in the Triggerman, Inc. series!

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Satisfaction Delivered by Marie Harte

Triggerman, Inc. #3 | Available Now!

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Book Blurb:

The conclusion to TRIGGERMAN INC, a romantic suspense series about sexy assassins and a baby from New York Times bestseller Marie Harte.

Three assassins and a baby...are up against a cold-blooded murderer.

Hammer won't rest until he finds the woman who betrayed the team, who betrayed him. From the first, he hadn't welcomed his feelings for the supposed nurse. After what she did to the team, he feels both foolish and angry, falling for a pretty face. The need for revenge is all consuming—he’s not known as the Destroyer for nothing. But with so much danger on the horizon, his sexy prey will have to wait.

The conspiracy behind a baby found on his friend's doorstep is narrowing, and answers are coming fast and furious. Assassins have targeted Hammer and the organization he works for, and no one is safe.

To Hammer's shock, at the center of it all is the woman he can’t stop thinking about. But can he trust her when it's more than just his love and life on the line?

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 The conclusion of the Triggerman Inc. series, it's sad to see the end of a series especially one as enjoyable to read as this one has been. Three assassins and a baby get all the questions answered and their respective HEA's. I would recommend reading the previous books just to get the full extent of what has happened up until this point. Hammer has been tracking down Violet for her supposed betrayal and to find out everything she knows about what's been happening but after he finds her it becomes evident that she's being targeted too. A twisty and turny mystery follows with action, deceit, and plenty of Hammer and Violet gettin' horizontal, and boy did they get hot and heavy.

Overall, it was a great read. I love Marie Harte's contemporary romances, and I love romantic suspense so it's no surprise that I loved her romantic suspense. The book really did satisfy, fantastic suspense, smokin hot romance and plenty of action.    

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

 
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.

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RELEASE DAY BLITZ The Librarian's Vampire Assistant Book 3 by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

The Librarian's Vampire Assistant, book #3

Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

 

  Synopsis:

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes an uncomfortably hilarious Mystery with a heaping help of sexual frustration, THE LIBRARIAN’S VAMPIRE ASSISTANT, Book Three. (Yep! It’s a STAND-ALONE. But why not read them all because…fun!)

  FALLING IN LOVE WITH A LIBRARIAN JUST CAN’T GET MORE AWKWARD…
Michael Vanderhorst is not your usual vampire. For starters, he works in a library, is in love with Miriam, his hot nerdy human boss who has no clue what he is, and he looks like a college student.

In reality, Michael is an ancient deadly vampire, an ex-assassin, and is currently the de facto king of his kind ever since their ruling party disappeared. To where? He doesn’t know, but if he wants his life back, he’ll have to find out. (Mystery!) Especially because a civil war is brewing, and being king makes his librarian a mark for his enemies. She is, after all, his biggest weakness.

With a global uprising about to explode, Michael must give her the protection of his army. Only one problem: She must become his queen first. But every attempt he makes to tell her the truth is met with extreme hostility. “Vampires aren’t real. That’s crazy talk, Michael!”

Clearly, the topic frightens her. With time running out and her life on the line, Michael is left with one option: Marry her. Without her knowing.

Can he pull it off? And what will happen when the fight comes to their door?

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Book three jumps right in where book two left off. For newcomers they might be a little lost when they first start the book but Michael's narration plays well and he recaps in his own way while trying to figure out the mystery plot. It's not a true cliffhanger at the end either, the big mystery is solved but she leaves it wide open for another book (one she must write as quickly as possible!!!!)

Mimi continues to write comical and zanie hijinks for Michael and the moment we have all been waiting for has finally happened. Mr. Nice is his usual 80's goth band vampire self only this time he has developed a fascination with Miriam. Micheal not knowing who to trust has started to make unpredictable decision but it doesn't seem to matter where ever he goes there are traders in the shadows.

Overall, Mimi once again takes us on quite a ride as the story continues and doesn't seem to lose it's momentum, from start to finish it's non-stop vampire hijinks, double dealings, and incomprehensible lisping. Twists and turns, red herrings and misdirection make this vampire mystery one I didn't even bother trying to guess because I knew I would be wrong. A fantastically funny and mysterious read, I loved it.      

About the Author

MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling romance author with over a million books sold worldwide. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dream. Mimi lives with her Latin Lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and the rat terrier duo, Snowflake and Mini Me, in Arizona. She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.

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THE LIBRARIAN'S VAMPIRE ASSISTANT, 2

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ARC REVIEW Texas Trouble by Gerry Bartlett

Lone Star Suspense #2, It was nice to pick up on Scarlett's story, it's not imperative that you read the first book to be able to enjoy this one it explains enough of the first one you get all the pertinent information for this story's, mainly just Scarlett's, backstory but then again I've read the first one and really enjoyed it so I would recommend reading it anyways. Ethan's backstory seems pretty massive too and that's probably because he was a secondary character from Gerry's other Romantic Suspense series Texas Heat, which I have not read and still was able to keep up with his story. The other series spills off into this one in the form of Ethan's crazy mother. Similar to recent Catherine Coulter books Gerry has two storylines going in this book that have nothing to do with each other except to give some look as to the characters motivations and "Ah-ha" moment.

Scarlett's story, the main storyline. Scarlett is trying to get over her fear, after her kidnapping and torture at the hands of a madman she has become pretty paranoid. The first step is to remove any and all physical reminders of what he did to her ie. getting a tattoo to cover up the initials carved into her butt. Her progress takes a step backward when she learns the mad man, Leroy Simms, escaped police custody during transit. Scarlett initiates step two to take back her life she accepts a new challenging job, helping open Ethan Calhoun's new bar. Ethan's story which he tries to keep everyone out of is that his crazy momma escaped the looney bin with the help of another completely psychotic patient and now they are bullying him into giving them money and new passports. Ethan think he can get her back to the hospital before the police find her.

Scarlett and Ethan's relationship starts off as friends, the lust is there the attraction is apparent but as she works for him they get to know each other better before taking the next step. I enjoyed the romance side of this story and even though all the men are way overprotective of Scarlett all she wants to do is take charge of her life again even if it means facing Leroy Simms.

Overall, it was a good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked Scarlett's brother and hope he gets a book in the future. The book was nicely paced and even with the two storylines I didn't have any issues following along it was pretty streamlined on the events.   

ARC REVIEW The Summer House by Jenny Hale

A great summer romance from Jenny Hale. This is a light read, I read in about a day and it made me long for the beach. Callie and Olivia both needed a change so when the opportunity came up for them to buy the old bed and breakfast they have dreamed of buying since they were little girls they went all in. Callie has a hard time letting anyone in, after her father left and died before he could explain to her why and her Mother distancing herself away from Callie her best friend, Olivia, and Olivia's grandmother, Gladys, are the only two people she truly trusts. Running into the tabloid's favorite local playboy has her weary. Luke Sullivan has a different work style than his father which causes them to bump heads on more than one occasion he's determined to prove to his father that just because he'll run the company differently from him doesn't mean he won't be making money. Meeting Callie was like a breath of fresh air, he liked being with her and knew she liked him for who he was not what he could give her. But when Callie discovers a buried secret in the bed and breakfast everything changes.

Overall, this was such a good read, I didn't want to put it down. I loved all the characters, especially Gladys. The descriptive narrative really made me long for the beach, minus the hurricane. It's a slow burn romance with no explicit details and it get a bit emotional at parts but it really is a great summer read.     

BLOG TOUR The Defender by Donna Grant

We are so excited to celebrate the release of THE DEFENDER by Donna Grant with you today! THE DEFENDER is the fourth book in Donna's Sons of Texas series and it is now available on all platforms.

Links to purchase your copy can be found below.

 

THE DEFENDER by Donna Grant

Sons of Texas #4 | Available Now

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About THE DEFENDER:

Their love knows no borders.

A loner who exudes danger, Lev Ivanski has spent his life in service to one man, someone he loves and respects. But things are changing. Rapidly. Lev and his boss have allies and friends and a new mission more important their than business, all because of the Saints. This clandestine organization needs to be taken down, and Lev has the skills to help. What he doesn’t expect is to be at the mercy of a woman who makes him crave more than he ever thought possible.

Determined and dedicated, Reyna Harris is used to danger and living on the edge. An ex-CIA operative, she’s been embedded with the Saints for years, trying to take them down from the inside. When her cover is blown, she is forced to trust a man she just met, fighting their way out of one battle after another. But there’s something about Lev that Reyna knows she can trust. And love. She needs Lev – and not just to take a swipe at the Saints. Together they’re an unstoppable force. And with their friends, they just might succeed in their mission.

   

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Book four of the series and I jump right in, smart move on my part but it was okay it gave enough information and the happening up until this book that I felt caught up even if I still wish I had read the previous books prior to this one. Donna Grant does an excellent job blending together the excitement of running for your life and two people falling in love. It was an exciting read, Lev and Reyna running from the Saints fighting for their lives falling in love and realizing they both now have one more reason to take down the Saints.

I love Donna Grant's writing she's engaging and hooks you in right from the start. I know that when I find the other books in the series in the store I will be buying them and reading them. Overall, another great read from Donna Grant.

 

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About DONNA GRANT:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas.


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ARC REVIEW Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

Debut novel from the multi-talented Abby Jimenez, Wow. This was an incredibly awesome book. The characters are hysterical, Kristen is a filterless crazy best friend with a heart of gold, the kind of best friend who sends you a glitter bomb and TP's your house but will also defend you tooth and nail. Kristen's best friend, Sloan, is getting married to a fireman named Brandon, Brandon's best friend, Josh, just moved to Cali from South Dakota after breaking up with his girlfriend after he realized she would never change her mind about not wanting kids.

When we first meet Kristen she is already in a long distance relationship with a marine, Tyler. As much as Josh likes Kristen is content to being her friend because that's what they become thick as thieves friends almost as close as her and Sloan and him with Brandon, they get along great he understands her and she would settle for no less than that. They laugh at the same things they have little inside jokes. He finds her irresistible even when she's trying her hardest to not look attractive because once he met her all other women pale in comparison in his eyes. But they have one thing looming over their heads a secret that Kristen hasn't told Josh it's the main reason they could never be a couple even after her and Tyler break up, Josh wants a big family and that's the one thing she can't given him.   

Overall, this book was so good. It was as funny as it was heart wrenching. I think I cried the last quarter of the book. I couldn't put it down I finished it in practically one sitting. Excellent writing, the characters seemed so real to me, I can't wait for the next book.

ARC REVIEW Cowboy Rebel by Carolyn Brown

Longhorn Canyon #4, I am so glad the series has extended beyond the initial characters, the introduction to Emily's brothers in the last book and cousins in this book has the hopes of at least three more books after this one. This does well as a stand alone Nikki and Tag's relationship between the wedding where they met and the start of this book was basically Tag flirting and Nikki turning him down. The beginning of this book Tag shows Nikki how serious he is about starting a relationship with her and as usual the more time they spend together the more they like each other. Pretty early in the relationship Tag is exposed the Nikki's crazy mama and Nikki is faced with just how wild Tag's past was when an old friend of his tries to hold her for ransom. Thankfully the guy's an idiot. That all happens in the first half of the book the second half is more of their internal struggle dealing with their personal demons and facing a committed relationship.

Overall, it was a good read. If you are not familiar with Carolyn Brown she leans more to the explicit free, leave it up to the reader's imagination sex. The one thing that kind of bugged me, and she's been doing this quite a bit, all the country songs mentioned most of the time I don't mind because so many people can relate to music especially Tag's fascination with the song 'Live Like You Were Dying' however it seemed that every song on the radio was pertinent to that exact situation at that exact moment. Otherwise this was a really good book I love reading Carolyn Brown and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.