ARC REVIEW The Intended Victim by Alexandra Ivy

The Agency #4, A standalone, the main characters in this one is brother to the main character in the previous book but that is where the connection ends. Ash Marcel was a Chicago PD Detective until his partner mysteriously disappeared, with the amount of blood left at the scene they all assumed he was dead, and his relationship to his partner's daughter/fiancee ended, now he's a professor. Five years ago Chicago was plagued by a serial killer the press named The Butcher, but after an unsuccessful attack on Remi Walsh and the disappearance/death of her father the murders stopped. Remi was never the same after that. Now, five years later Ash's brother Chicago PD Detective Jax Marcel walks into this classroom telling him The Butcher is back and Remi is dead, only it's not Remi she just looks almost identical to her.

Ash knows it's only a matter of time before The Butcher goes after Remi again and figures he's the best person to protect her. Not just because she's in danger and she's the daughter of his old partner but because he still loves her. Remi still loves Ash also but she's worried things won't go back to the way they were. As Ash and Remi dig into the old files and try to figure out what they missed all those years ago Jax investigates the recent murders.

Overall, it was a great read. It was an intense and interesting read with a good mystery and a nice second chance romance. I really liked Ash and Remi they are a good pair. I do hope Jax is next to get his own story.     

ARC REVIEW His Work of Art by Shannyn Schroeder

Hot & Nerdy book four by Shannyn Schroeder does not feel like book four, I read it without reading the others so it's fine as a stand alone. This book is so adorable, I love it, it's light and what I consider fluff; it is short not so sweet (wink wink) but it's fun to read and it made me go ahhhhhhhhh. I would definitely go back and read others from this series. I really enjoyed reading about comic book geeks fall in love. I love reading comics but it's a recent development for me and like Reese I am a DC girl, but there are some points of Marvel that I prefer and the teasing flirting with their argument over DC vserus Marvel. When Adam brings up that there weren't enough people of color in comic books and then Reese started to name off some, there are also which she for got Marvel has one way more cooler than Black Panther and DC Green Lantern and Cyborg; like Blade and probably one of my favorites from Image, McFarlane's Spawn. I bring it up because it is the one major issue that comes between Adam and Reese.

Reese has the idea for an awesome female superhero, and as part of her final project for one of her college senior classes is to write, create and publish her comic. Reese asks Adam to illustrate, her story. Adam's dream job is to work for Marvel so when the cute comic book junkie Reese shoots him her idea he agrees for the sheer fact that it would look good on his resume. Adam is soon pulled into Reese's story and together they restructure the story and even add in Adam's hero he has been trying to create. Reese is able to create a backstory and make him the perfect mentor for her superhero. Thank to the help from Julie, the publisher and marketer and the crowd source campaign fund the comic kicks off even before the first book is released.
Reese has had a crush on Adam but her subtle flirting isn't working, so she thinks he is either oblivious or not interested. One night they are working together they kiss. it's everything Reese thought it would be and more. But Adam does the stupid boy thing and apologises. Reese has no idea where she stands with Adam so when she gets invited to his New Year's Eve party she borrows a dress from her sophisticated best friend. Adam isn't able to keep his eyes or his hands off of her but after one night together Adam says something stupid, again, and Reese suddenly feels self conscious and unsure. Adam then informs Reese they can't get into a relationship because she's white. Flabbergasted Reese doesn't know what to do to convince him otherwise. Adam grew up believing that his father left because he couldn't stand peoples racist remarks about his white mother and his black father's relationship and Adam swore he couldn't put someone he loved through that. Adam's mom, who is awesome I love that woman, informs Adam otherwise. Now Adam must grovel to Reese and show her he can get past his fear.

Overall, I really enjoyed everything about this book.    
 

ARC REVIEW Starry Knight by Nina Mason

Starry Knight is the first book to Nina Mason's Knights of Avalon series. I really wanted to like this one unfortunately it wasn't what I expected. The blurb was just vague enough that it wasn't how I thought it would play out. I pictured a brooding recluse in a Scottish Highlands Castle and a reluctant socialite trying to start a career as a paranormal investigator. But what it doesn't tell you is that the recluse is a well known author and a string puller for the Scottish Parliament. The socialite is going to work for a vampire hunter in in New Orleans. I figured most of the story would be centered on Callum hiding the truth about who he is and Vanessa trying to figure it out as they fall more and more in love. That kinda happened, the first half-ish of the story and then the rest was annoying filler. The only really interesting is the Avalon aspect and their wasn't near enough of that in the book. I can see the potential of Avalon in the other books, but this one wasn't even a very good intro for that.

Callum died on the battlefield and was returned to the living by Queen Morgan Le Fay and used as breeding drone. After 200 years Callum was sentenced to death for only siring male children. He was aided in escape learned how to change his form. When he returned home it was all different. Hiding from the Queen he stayed in hiding and survived another couple of centuries.

Vanessa doesn't want to be a disappointment to her parents but as political family she finds no joy in it what they want for her. She wants to study the paranormal and has recently taken a job as an assistant to a Paranormal investigator in New Orleans but first she wants to uncover the vampire living in Castle Barrogill. She never expected to fall into lust so quickly with the owner. She also found the ghost that has been haunting the castle for 500 years who told her the truth about everything. Now with the information she was seeking and her newfound love for Callum she struggles with what to do.

Overall, I what I did enjoy was a couple of chapters out of the whole book. I am curious about the books to come because that has piqued my interest. This book just didn't do it for me.            

ARC REVIEW The Unleashing by Shelly Laurenston

Nothing calls to me like saying a Norse Mythology inspired PNR. But this first book in Shelly Lauenston's newest series Call of Crows was just ok, don't get me wrong I want more I will read the next books in the series it's just some of the characters rubbed me the wrong way. I think that's what influenced my opinion; throughout the book they did things that irked me, by the end of the book it was better. I loved the the storyline it was nice as Kera was discovering everything about her new life the more you learned as well. I like where the story is going this book ended but the story arc is open for more books, and I'm hoping that when the character I don't like gets her book it sheds a different light on her and I end up liking her.

Kera Watson died, she survived over seas fighting a war in the middle east only to die in an alley by some thug beating his girlfriend. Next thing she knows she's naked in a strange house fighting so weird berserker guys with an obscene amount of strength and an abnormal amount of strength herself. Unfortunately her new life isn't self explanatory and neither are her new "sisters". The only one forthcoming about any information at all is Vig. The strong Viking, follower of Odin, one of his Ravens; Vig has had a crush on Kera ever since he first saw her at the coffee shop and when he saw her dying in the alley he called on the only one who could help. Now he is the only one helping her figure things out and she just may be the whole changes everything for the Crows.

Overall it was good, the beginning is confusing because none of the other Crows are very confiding it takes awhile for Kera and you to figure things out but it almost pays off in the end. I love Vig and I love the concept I am eager to find out where this goes.

EARLY ARC REVIEW Every Move She Makes by Jannine Gallant

I love a romantic suspense book where the heroine is being stalked by a psychopath.

I loved Rachel she is a single mom struggling with three kids one a rebellious teenager who is on the road to being a troublemaker. To get her daughter away from bad influences and to spend some family time together she plans a camping trip. She recently met a handsome man, a San Francisco police officer on vacation who mentioned his brothers business, a campground up in the mountains. Kane Lafferty is on the verge of being burned out he decides to take some time to himself to sort out if he wants to continue being a police officer. Spending the time at his brother campground helping out is the thing he needs, and when the gorgeous woman he met in San Francisco shows up with her girls in tow she is a pleasant distraction. It's an instant attraction that they are willing to find out where it could lead.

After Rachel and her girls leave Rachel is attacked and it turns out this person has been stalking her for a long time. He keeps referring to her by the name of a character she played when she was a soap actress years ago. Scared for Rachel, Kane rushes to her to protect her. Working with her small town Sheriff Kane helps try and track down the stalker all the while winning over Rachel's daughters.

This book had everything I ask for in a romantic suspense; great romance, great suspense and just the right amount of action to keep me turning the page until the end. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next book in the series.  

ARC REVIEW Snowed In by Sarah Title

Sarah Title's book three in her Southern Comfort series is save to be read as a stand alone. This is a really cute and quick novella to read. It's nice for when you are stuck in the house snuggling up with a nice hot drink because the characters are stuck inside too snuggling with each other. A short and not so sweet story about a woman who just got dumped by her boyfriend meeting the perfect guy in the freezer section of the supermarket.

Maureen just got dumped by her boyfriend and she finds herself crying over the ice cream in the freezer section in the grocery store when a gorgeous stranger makes her feel better with a kiss hot enough to melt the ice cream. Now Maureen is determined not to feel sorry for herself she leaves mister gorgeous dumbfounded and wondering who she is. Gavin is confounded by the crying beauty whose kiss has been burned in his memory, he has gone back to the store trying to find her again but to no avail. Finally two weeks later Maureen is still not over her ex and Gavin is helping out his eccentric elderly neighbor they run into each other again. Maureen after getting some unsolicited advice from a kooky old lady she agrees to Gavin when he asks her for a date. Their date goes very well the chemistry between them is outstanding and even though it's not something she does she agrees that him driving him her to his home would be safer with the snow storm blowing in faster than they thought. Soon they are trapped under the snow and only each other to keep each other warm. But this never go as planned and things happen but can Maureen and Gavin work things out so they can get their HEA?    

REVIEW Cinderella and the Ghost by Marina Myles

Cinderella isn't one of my favorite fairy tales but this one intrigued me and it paid off. Cinderella and the Ghost was a fresh take on an old classic. This is book four in the series The Cursed Princes, and a stand alone story. I was not expecting the story line to go as it did. I think that is why I enjoyed as much as I did, it wants predictable and it was a very pleasant surprise.

Jean-Daniel Girard died and it was rumored that it was either murder or suicide. His ghost was trapped in the painting his mother commissioned for him free raine of his old castle after the strike of midnight. He has been biding his time waiting for a woman gathering things together for when she finally arrives; four hundred years of waiting and she has finally arrived.

Ella Benoit lost her mother at an early age her father remarried a woman with two daughters of her own. Years later her father dies and her stepmother and stepsisters use her make a maid out of her and when her stepmother becomes sick Ella becomes a nursemaid. When her stepmother finally dies and leaves nothing but debt Ella was expecting it what she didn't expect was that her father left her a trust and a castle in France. Ella moves to France excited to be starting over and with high expectations of the castle. What she finds is a castle that needs more work than she thought and with a spooky reputation. Ella starts renovation on the castle but it also stirs up more activity. The painting of the original owner in the Georgian garb and the intense blue eyes starts to haunt Ella's dreams. Jean-Daniel knows he has found his Ella and will do anything to get her back.

I loved the story and where it went it makes me want to find the other books in the series just to see what she did with the other fairy tales.

REVIEW An Oath Taken by Diana Cosby

Wow this book was everything I hoped for and more. A woman dressed as a man, sabotage and double dealings, and a strong Scottish woman meeting her match in an English nobleman how could it go wrong...it doesn't it's great!

.... Oops sorry I got distracted by the hunk on the cover.

Lady Elizabeth Armstrong needs to rescue her father and her brother from the dungeon of Ravenmoore Castle. They were captured and by the English castellan a cruel man who fortunately was killed and replaced with another. Elizabeth sees her opportunity to get into the castle when the new castellan catches her trying to rob him and thinking Elizabeth is a young man Sir Nicholas Beringar offers her a position as his squire. Against the wishes of her guardian she accepts, she will do whatever it takes to save her brother and father.

Lady Elizabeth is hesitant to believe Nicholas is a good and fair man, but with his actions everyday it shows her he is a man of his word and nothing like the last castellan. He even goes as far as helping prove the man was lying to the King and smuggling goods out of the country for his own gain. Soon even when questioned by her brother she admits he is a good man and trusts him to keep his word. An instant attraction is followed slowly by more deeper feelings, which at times is a little awkward for Nicholas. 

The entire book is amusing and entertaining and toward the end I was at the edge of my seat. I would recommend this book for any lover of historical romance.