ARC REVIEW To the Duke, With Love by Amelia Grey

The second book of the Rakes of St. James series, To the Duke, With Love, is a great second story that could be read as a stand-alone. It wasn't as good as the first one but it was still good. Aside from me just not liking Sloane as a boys name, blame Ferris Bueller for that, I liked this book.The few books of Amelia Grey's that I have read I have enjoyed. This one was amusing and entertaining and if I hadn't gotten sick while reading it and a sleep most the time I probably would have finished this book in one day. 

The Rakes of St. James earned their name after a youthful drunken bet almost ruined a handful of girls, and now that their younger sister's are coming out there has been rumors going around that it's their sister's turn to be ruined. The Rakes have no idea who is at the root of this rumor but so far one sister is safety married. Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, is determined to marry his sister off before the season starts or at least have her engaged. Hawk has gone through all the young men of the ton and finally found one he thinks is best suited for his sister. Loretta Quick and her younger brother, Paxton, were raised by their uncle. When the time was right he arranged a marriage for Loretta, right before the wedding she changed her mind. He uncle furious sent her and her brother away to live in the isolated Mammoth House and forbid her to ever go into society again. 

On a cold and wet night Hawk shows up at Mammoth House to talk with Paxton about arranging the marriage between his sister, Adele, and Paxton. What he finds is the stunning Loretta, and no Paxton. Instead of going on his way like a gentleman should the rain and the cold keep him there alone with Loretta, except the few servants. Hawks is fascinated with Loretta, she has him wanting things he's never wanted before and even though as a gentleman he shouldn't he kisses her anyways. Loretta is against this arranged marriage and plans to make it difficult for Hawk to talk Paxton into it, but as Hawk says it is ultimately her brother's decision. When he leaves he promises to return to see her brother, and see her too. They end up making a deal that Paxton and Adele will meet beforehand and decide if the arrangement is suitable or not. Paxton and Loretta will visit Hawk's country house and give everybody a chance to get to know one another, especially Hawk and Loretta. Hawk is willing to forget about his earlier determination never to marry as long as it is to Loretta. Loretta, however, has vowed never to marry and she takes that vow very seriously and Hawk will try his damnedest to get her to change her mind.

Overall, the romance between Hawks and Loretta is just that romantic and hot, the chemistry is there along with some great sexual tension. The secondary story of Loretta trying to save the street rat was nice and it helped move the story along. Grey's writing brought these two characters to life for me and very much enjoyed this and look forward to the next book.

ARC REVIEW Cowboy Stole My Heart by Soraya Lane

New author for the New Year and it left me underwhelmed. What I liked about the book I liked that for a change the main characters weren't typical Texas type characters, I liked that Sam was a "horse whisperer" instead of just another rodeo cowboy or ranch hand and that Mia was professional show jumper and despite being the King ranch heiress she worked hard for everything she has. I enjoyed the over all story and how sexy it was, but, and this is just personal preference, I didn't care for  the writing style how some of it was written, the way it was worded, just didn't do it for me and really editors catch those words that are different inside the states, in the states it's flashlight not torch and it's spelled yogurt not yoghurt (I know it's that way in England, NZ, and Australia and many other other places but it's really annoying that a TEXAS cowboy uses torch I really don't think Sam is that much of an anglophile to use that word. Nitpicking I know but it bugged me. Unless it was fixed for actual publication than just ignore me). I also think Sam is kind of a dick, especially to his family and the ending was eye roll worthy, it disappointed me that she went with that path. It had such a great beginning it just went downhill from there.

Mia King bought a horse, a stallion that can't be handled. She has a sentimental attachment to Tex and isn't willing to put him down no matter what. So her Father calls in the famous horse whisperer Sam Mendes. Sam just got done with a tour and was looking forward to time off with his dog, his sister and her twin girls, his best friend and finally some time on his own ranch, but one call from the tycoon Walter King about a stallion has him intrigued and since it's not far from his own ranch he decides to take a look. Once he sees Tex he knows he has to work with this horse, even if he did start off on the wrong foot with his owner Mia.

Sam made assumptions about Mia and it caused her to instantly dislike him, but she set him straight and after seeing her ride and actually getting to know her he realized just how wrong he was about her. Once they get that sorted it doesn't take them long before they kiss and wind up in bed with each other. Sam needs to keep his heart separate from Mia and their relationship a past hurt keeps him from realizing just how perfect it is. Even though Mia agreed to keep their feeling separate she couldn't help falling in love with him.

Overall, I loved the issue with Tex and how that played out and I loved the beginning but Sam wasn't very desirable, he kind of ruined the book for me. I know it seems like this is a bad review but it wasn't horrible, there are just certain aspects of it that bugged me, but you decide if you want to read it, you may end up liking it.  

ARC REVIEW Whiskey Secrets by Carrie Ann Ryan

Yay! Starting the New Year off with a five star read from Carrie Ann Ryan. Whiskey Secrets is the first book of her brand new series (a spin-off of the Montgomery Ink series. If you haven't started Montgomery series it is perfectly okay to read this as a stand-alone) Whiskey and Lies. The Collins Family first introduced in Ink Exposed when they ran to Tabby's rescue. The brothers, Dare, Loch, and Fox, I knew instantly would get their own series after reading that book, and the wait has been worth it. As always Carrie Ann Ryan's writing pulls at your heartstrings, the characters are so well written they are deep and flawed and they real do end up feeling like they are my friends. 

Dare never thought he would end up a bartender, ok so he's more than a bartender he runs not only the family bar but the restaurant too, Old Whiskey Restaurant and Bar, it's essentially two seperate places not to mention all the stuff he does for the Old Whiskey Inn attached. But Dare really doesn't mind because it keeps him busy and not thinking about the son he only gets to see one weekend a month. 

Kenize Owens was eager to start her new job as the innkeeper at the Old Whiskey Inn. It is her way of starting over in a new place away from all the people who she knew and all their pitying looks. After years of dealing with verbal abuse from her husband getting away from everything was exactly what she needed. Being a big city girl moving to the small touristy town of Whiskey is going to take some getting use to.

Dare and Kenzie didn't start off on the right foot but after making up and Dare apologizing they start getting along, more than getting along they soon fall head over heels for each other but with Kenzie's past she's hesitant to let herself be in that vulnerable to another person again, and Dare is worried about keeping custody of his son he doesn't want to start something and then it be held against him. Kenzie is also afraid of her ex-husband who keeps trying to contact her and is obsessed with her not to mention her own idiot of a brother who causes her nothing but grief.

Overall, I loved everything about this book. The family dynamics are different than the Montgomery clan and that's good because not every family is the same but it isn't a drastic difference, they are still a very loving family, and they are for each other when they need it, they pick on each other, and get into each other's business but you can tell the differences when you read it. Kenzie and Dare are a great couple and Dare is so oblivious, I do love oblivious heroes. This was a great start for the series it gives a little look at the other two brothers and their lives, like Loch and his daughter and the fun easy going Fox (which means he's going to be the exact opposite in his book, which is the next book.)               

ARC REVIEW Into the Night by Cynthia Eden

Book three of Cynthia Eden's Killer Instinct series. It a fantastic series about a department inside the the FBI that tracks down serial killers, each agent involved has had an up close and personal encounter with one. The lead in this group Samantha Dark was dating one, another member's brother was one, in this book Macey Night was the lone survivor of serial killer who was a colleague and friend. Even though she gave him a life threatening wound and the authorities presumed him dead Macey never stopped believing that he survived and never stopped looking for him; and now she thinks she found him. Bowen Murphy is Macey's partner and has since the beginning loved her, he has managed to keep his desires at bay because of her past and because they are partners but this cases pushes him to his breaking point and everything comes out, even his own torrid past. 

The premise of this one is very similar to that of one of her other book where the serial killer is focusing on other serial killers, but that is where the similarities end.  The "Profiler" has manipulated everything from the beginning with an ultimate goal, Bowen and Macey are trying to get to the bottom of it before he kills again. But it's not easy when they come across red herrings and plenty of twists and turns along the way. 

I love Cynthia Eden's characters they are all so wonderfully flawed and relatable it is easy to empathize and connect with them. The suspense is exactly how I like it fast paced, dark, and keeps you on edge the entire time. I was enjoying the story so much I forgot to make a prediction as to who the bad guy was. The romance is hot and heavy and Bowen is wooo, definitely one of my favorites from Cynthia Eden. Overall, it's another winner for me.  

ARC REVIEW The Duke of Her Desire by Sophie Barnes

Duke of Her Desire is book two of Sophie Barnes' Diamonds in the Rough series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The only thing you need to know for this book that happened in the previous book was what and where they were before Raphe Matthews inherited a title, which can be explained in about a sentence. Rafe and his new wife need some time alone so they arrange it where Coventry will be his sister's escort to all their social functions with the help of Coventry's mother and the girl's eccentric aunt.   

Amelia Matthews has no luck when it comes to deportment whenever she is around Coventry, she always finds herself in a situation that doesn't show her at her best. He is seemingly perfect and that alone makes her nervous and always manages to mess up around him and the fact that he manages to point it out as well is even more disconcerting. Amelia is willing to go along with the matchmaking her aunt and Coventry's mother have planned but Amelia has plans of her own. Now that she is in a place to help the children of St. Giles she will not be stopped, she's going to start a school and already has the property. When Coventry finds out about Amelia's plan he is proud of her endeavor and is willing to help, but when it turns out that someone doesn't want Amelia there he will protect her and not just because he promised her brother he would. 

Coventry alway thought that Amelia was the prettier of the two sisters but now that he's spending more time with her he finds that he actually wants to spend time with her even if they do end up arguing most of the time anyways. He has convinced himself he is not in the right place to court and eventually get married he has other obligations, but his feelings for Amelia make him want to rethink his stance on that. 

Overall, it was a good read. Coventry and Amelia had a nice romance both of their hard headedness and their inability to communicate with each other and not to mention jumping to conclusions (Amelia) get in the way of them finding their HEA much sooner. I love Sophie Barnes writing style, she has a great narrative going on switching the third person POV of Amelia and Coventry it gives great insight into the characters. The mystery was really good, I wish there was a little more to the romance. I liked the little tidbit letting us know what the third book is going to be about.      

ARC REVIEW Jake by J.S. Striker

Jake is book 10 in the Clan Legacy series by J.S. Striker. Jake was a secondary character in the last book Simon, TBH I really didn't like him in that book so I a little apprehensive about this one, but oh my, my perception of Jake really change after digging in to this book. Some years have past since the events of  Simon, the last book, Jake is now a seasoned pro at his job. He loves his life just the way it is an exciting job, love 'em and leave 'em with the ladies until his latest assignment the dreaded bodyguard duty of some stuck up heiress who tends to get kidnapped, a lot, just what he needed in his life (insert sarcasm) another stuck up self centered princess especailly one related to the last one he let into his life, who proceeded to stomp on his heart after she tired of him. Gabby isn't your typical heiress, oh sure she fashion savvy and knows all the right people but she has a secret, a dark secret she's only ever told one other person about. Up until a few months ago and her latest botched kidnapping attempt she realized it wasn't because of her family that she was being kidnapped but because of her, now if only she can figure Who? and Why? Her only course of action is to let them kidnap her again, but her new bodyguard might have something to say about that.

Jake and Gabby start off with an extreme hate-on for each other but the sexual chemistry is still very much evident and it doesn't take long before they are going at each other. When Jake finds out her secret he's not phased he is still willing to risk his life to protect her. All they have to do is figure out who's behind the kidnapping and a way to fix Gabby, if there is a cure at all. I liked the chemistry between the two of them it was very hot. This one is well paced and very exciting to read. I kind of hope Raz gets his own story eventually. Overall, a very enjoyable story with great action and hot romance.

ARC REVIEW DC Universe Rebirth Suicide Squad vol 4 Earthlings on Fire

Suicide Squad

vol 4 Earthlings on Fire

DC Universe Rebirth

issues 16-20

by Rob Williams

art by: Tony S. Daniels, Sandu Florea, Neil Edwards, Stjepan Sejic, Tomeu Morey (colorist)

Story: Amanda Waller has really bit off more than she could chew when she acquires exactly what she wants, lucky for her Lex Luthor knows a lot more than she thinks he does. Waller thinks she can control Zod but he proves no one controls Zod. She just needs one mission to go right the one mission to finally take out The People and their own Suicide Squad, The Annihilation Brigade, and to lay a trap for the trader in her own ranks. Shortly after Waller thinks everything has gone well Zod breaks loose and starts reeking havoc in Belle Reve. The Suicide Squad barely contained him the first time and without the help of Hack they alone can not take him out.  

Art: The art was visually pleasing. I love the covers, especially Otto Schmidt's cover for Managing People, and there were quite a few individual panels I quite liked. "Alone" was probably the one I liked the least it didn't seem like it stayed consistent with the others it almost seemed like more time was spent on Zod, Eradicator, and Cyborg Superman then the rest of the characters.

Review:  Overall, it was a good story. I'll admit I did get teary eyed there. "Alone" while probably my least favorite art-wise was my favorite story-wise. In "Managing People" you discover that Waller knows what Boomarang did and I'm am just waiting for  the day Harley discovers it and tears him a new one. I love the unlikely romance between June and Waylon (still a better romance than Twilight as my son would say). And I'm still crossing my fingers that what happened isn't a permanent thing.