ARC Review: Rematch (Stingrays Hockey #3)

Rematch (Stingrays Hockey #3)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

One night, one kiss, and a spark hot enough to melt the ice.

Preston’s all in on his hockey career as a Stingray, and Chelsea’s just about to start a new adventure in Paris—until an unforgettable night at an Ugly Christmas Sweater party changes everything. A few drinks, some dirty jokes, and a kiss under the mistletoe leads to a night of toe-curling, name-forgetting, no-strings-attached fun.

They part ways in the morning, no regrets—just a sizzling memory they both assume will fade.

A year later, Chelsea’s in Baltimore, launching her dream bakery—and navigating life with a baby she never saw coming. The father? Mystery man from that one unforgettable night. What she really didn’t expect? Him walking through her door, very real, very sexy... and very much still capable of making her forget how to breathe.

Preston hasn’t been able to get her out of his head. Now that he knows the truth, he’s not going anywhere. The question is—can they turn one accidental night into a real shot at forever?

Themes:  Contemporary, Surprise Baby

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I am so happy that we finally got to have the whole story of why sweet and sexy Preston lost his heart—an apparently his mojo—for so long as we watched his friends fall in love in the previous novels in this series.  Mari Carr returns to her sexy and strong hockey players in this latest installment of the Stingrays series, and I am happy to say that I was captured from the very beginning of this series to the last word.   Mari has a way of pulling us into her worlds and showing us the beauty and passion of not only the men that star in our dreams but also the women that manage to steal their hearts and convince them to give up their playboy lifestyles once and for all. The story begins with a hot night of passion as two people that have both come looking for an escape at a holiday party find themselves drawn together and they are unable to deny the attraction.  But when the sun rises the next morning, they walk away and think that is the end of it, never realizing that their paths were always meant to stay forever connected and with cross again months later.  Can the chemistry of that night, the gift they created together, and the slim chance at a beautiful future together be enough to convince them both to give up their preconceived notions and go all in on a relationship that will give them everything they’ve ever wanted in life? I am so blessed to have had a chance to read this story, and I am dying for the story coming next because I can already tell that Tank is going to be a serious troublemaker and I am going to LOVE watching him lose his heart and head.

Preston Jacobson has always been the kind of man that only needed one woman in his life, despite being a hockey star always surrounded by woman after his attention, earning him the nickname “Romeo” from his teammates.  His interest in women has led him to look for love in the wrong place once or twice, but he continues to believe that the right woman is out there for him—and he just might have found her at a holiday party. Chelsea Murphy is attending the holiday party in Philadelphia with her friend just to show that she is over the heartbreak of being left at the altar, but she never imagined she would meet the sexiest man she’s ever seen.  Chelsea and Preston are both drawn to one another and the chemistry and connection is undeniable, leading them to agree to one unforgettable night together.  But a year later Preston finds his dream woman, finally, while wandering the streets of his hometown of Baltimore and he is determined to make her his once and for all.  Chelsea is beyond surprised to see Preston walk into her new Bakery as if they havent been separated by a year, but nothing prepares her for having to introduce him to the son they created on that long ago night of passion. Now Chelsea and Preston have to navigate this new world of co-parenting and getting to know one another, but Preston wants so much more, possibly more than she can give.  Were they really always meant to be together or is their future one of friends and co-parents only? Preston is determined to have his family and will do whatever it takes to get both his son and the love of his life, and nobody understands the work it takes to win like a veteran hockey star.

I was thrilled to get to see this story finally get its full release, both because we’d gotten glimpses of Preston’s sadness during their separation in previous stories, and because I’d read the short story that was its previous iteration, and I wanted so bad to see it fleshed out. Some characters are just made to have a chance to tell their story so that you can fall in love with them and Preston is one of those.  He is sweet, strong, loving, brave, and just genuinely a good guy.  When he sees something that he wants he goes after it and works hard to earn it, instead of just thinking that it is his by right or force.  We get to see him show his love and desire to be a good father and that he is willing to work hard to show Chelsea that he will always be there both for their son and for her.  But at the same time, he takes steps to prove to her that he wants her for the love and passion that she will bring to his life, not just because she is the mother of his son. So often with this trope you don’t see that connection, only suspecting that the heroine is only wanted because she birthed the hero’s child, but definitely we see here that is not the case at all. Preston is a great guy, and I look forward to seeing him in future stories as he stays friends with the other Stingrays and I’m betting Chelsea’s bakery becomes a fun gathering spot. Chelsea has had a rough go of it, with her fiancée leaving her at the altar, leaving everyone she knows behind to travel to Paris to escape, finding out she’s pregnant, then losing the other grandparent archetype in her life.  But now that she is home, her baby is happy and healthy and she and her bestie are finally opening their dream bakery things are definitely looking up for her, so having Preston come back into her life is truly just the icing on the cake. She might have her doubts, mostly put there by others whispering in her ear, but she is smart, sassy, and loving as she interacts with Preston, their son, and her friends.  Its easy to see why it was so easy for Preston to fall in love with her and why she was such a perfect match for “Romeo”, because she is definitely the quintessential princess in need of rescuing, until she realizes she has her own strength and rescues herself. I loved seeing her finally come to trust her instincts and Preston by extension as they found a way to build their family and the love that was sparked by the fire, they started the first moment they met.

Sometimes you come across that one story that really makes you believe in love again… perhaps you’ve lost hope for yourself, or been hurt one time too many, or maybe your own relationship has lost its old spark… but reading that story reminds you that true love can truly begin with one word, one look, or one touch. Rematch was a perfect reminder that love, true love, can take less than a second to spark in your heart, but we have to trust in it, recognize it, and give it the oxygen and fuel it needs to flourish. Preston and Chelsea fed their spark for one night, both agreeing that would be the end of it, though neither of them wanted it to end. One year later, Preston is still pining for the girl of his dreams when he sees her from a distance and he cannot resist going to her, praying that he has a chance to prove to her that they were made to be together—be she has a secret that will change their lives and future forever.  Chelsea walked away from their one night with a treasure that she has cherished and loved, a son that she now has to share with Preston despite her fears and all the terrifying scenarios that others are whispering in her ears. But the more time they spend together, with their son and alone, the more Preston and Chelsea realize that their love never truly got a chance to flourish and while they obviously need to be careful, for the sake of their son, there is every chance that they could have a future together.  The passion and love between these two is beautiful to watch, as is the sweetness as we watch Preston fall instantly in love with his son (and I’m by no means a baby person so if I’m saying that you can trust me that it was WELL done), but when Chelsea finally admits how much she still wants Preston, that fire is truly unleashed.  I am so glad that these two allowed themselves to have the future they deserved so their little family could blossom into a connection even more profound and meaningful than ever anticipated.  I am dying for the next in the series (Release) where we will see Tank finally get his heart (and maybe another piece of his anatomy) handed to him because he finds himself chasing the one woman that doesn’t want him. This series is hot enough to melt the entire hockey ring, but who can resist an entire team of sexy players as they fall in love?

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Endlessly Yours (Wilder Brothers #10)

Endlessly Yours (Wilder Brothers #10)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

Four years ago, I promised my dying wife that I’d do one thing: I’d move on.

And I knew as I took that oath, I would break it.

Then I saw Rory. The woman I’d met on one of my darkest nights, and the woman I can’t ignore. Our one night is a secret we swore we’d never tell.

When I see her, I see a glimpse of what could be in the fire in her eyes.

When she sees me, she sees the grumpy, annoying Wilder brother who could shatter her dreams and her heart.

With one stolen kiss, we both know we have a choice: to keep running or finally give in.

Only when she suddenly finds herself the guardian to her two nieces, the world crumbles around us once again. She needs to protect her family, and I know I can’t let her do it alone.

The pull between us refuses to go away, but now I’ll have to choose which promise to break. And if I’m strong enough to be the final Wilder to fall.

Themes:  Contemporary, Series Finale

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Bittersweet doesn’t even begin to explain my feelings on the ending of this series as we finally get to see Brooks get his chance at another HEA after losing this first love of his life. We often throw that phrase out there, “love of [his/her] life”, without understanding that just because that person has the capacity to love and be loved for our entire lives, if they are taken from us, we can live again and love again if we are VERY lucky. Carrie Ann Ryan is one of the few authors that truly understands and embraces this concept in her writing, and I love that she always gives her characters the capacity to open their hearts again and remind us that the human heart has the beautiful ability to grow and expand to include any amount of love if given freely. This story has been a long time coming, ever since we first met this group of Wilders and fell in love with them, feeling Brooks’s pain and hoping that his heart would heal enough in order to embrace love again.  For long time reader, Brooks and Rory will break our hearts as they work through their pain and fear and find a way to make a family and forgive not only themselves but those that are gone so that they can move forward together. I am sad to see the series ending, but hoping to see more of these characters in the new spinoff series (Ashford Creek) involving Callum and the other Ashfords.

Brooks Wilder thought that he had found his happily-ever-after and the woman that would be by his side until the end of his days when he was just a teenager, then fate stole her from him, and he his heart has healed, nor has he truly moved on.  But he made her a promise as she died that haunts him still—to move on and try to find love again. He knew when he made the promise he was lying to her, but Rory Thompson makes him feel alive unlike any woman since his wife and it terrifies him.  Rory moved to be near her best friend when she married a Wilder, but running into the gorgeous one-night stand she never forgot wasn’t part of her plan and now she and Brooks have to pretend and fight their attraction at ever turn because he wants nothing to do with her or a relationship.  When her life is thrown into a tailspin once again by the death of her sister, leaving her the guardian of her two young nieces, she leans on the Wilders and especially Brooks even though she knows she shouldn’t.  Unable to deny his feelings any longer, Brooks is all in and soon cannot see his life without Rory, or the girls, but are either of them truly prepared for the future as a family that they are getting themselves into or will they have to step back and accept that some pain is too strong to overcome?

Brooks is the epitome of a tortured hero, the brooding, broken hearted, confused alpha male that has to come to terms with his past, even as his heart is leading him to make choices and take actions that show others the feelings, he is denying to himself.  His love for his first wife remains a shining beacon in his heart, leaving him tangled up about his growing emotions for Rory, but he always acts instinctively like a man in love, protecting and providing for Rory and the girls, even if his brain doesnt understand why. He is brave, strong, sweet, and sexy but the most compelling characteristic Brooks portrays is his determination to heal the hurts of others (specifically two broken little girls) even though he doesn’t acknowledge his own need to heal half the time. That selflessness and need to give to others make him the most loveable and endearing of all the Wilder brothers.  Rory hasn’t had an easy time of it lately, but despite that she is determined to make her way in the world and even though she wants Brooks, she won’t settle for the shabby way he’s treated her since she came back into his life.  Rory knows that the loss of his wife left him damaged, but she wants so badly to love him and have his love in return because she understands how wonderful of a man he is.  The shift in her life to full time caregiver requires Rory to makes some major changes in her life, but through it all she flows with the changes with dignity and despite the constant fear of failure and disappointment she refuses to give up.  She is smart, dedicated, loving, and sassy especially when she is dealing with Brooks’s bad behaviors, but when she is struggling, we can see her determination to never fail those she loves. Rory truly is the type of woman that will give everything, including her life to protect those she loves, and she shows that again and again, even though others aren’t always treating her nicely in return.

Endlessly Yours in one of those “second love” stories that will require a box of tissues along with a decent glass of wine (or whisky for those like me), but in the end you will be glad that you went through the trauma and joy of experiencing it.  I knew going in that I would be heartbroken for Brooks as he was forced to finally come to terms with the lose of his wife and accept that even though she was gone, he was still here and that taking a second chance at love wouldn’t diminish how much he loved his wife.  Brooks has finally come to a point where the pain of losing his wife has dulled enough that it doesn’t fill his chest and burn through him every moment of the day, but moving on like he promised her still seems like a betrayal, even though every time he sees or touches Rory, he wants her.  When her life is changed irrevocably, Brooks cannot fight the need to be there for her and help her through the changes, but he also needs her in his arms and the more he is with her his heart slowly heals enough to allow her in as well. Rory never imagined her life would shift into becoming a guardian with two little girls she barely knows and a man suddenly living in one big happy family, and she doesn’t trust the change.  She wants Brooks and knows that she has fallen for him but trusting that he has finally moved forward and will give his heart is another matter and only a true act of love can show her just how deeply he has fallen, so that they can have a future together.   Obviously, the passion between these two is combustible every time their eyes meet, much less when they touch or allow themselves to slip the chain of their control, but the moments when their love shines through heat (even when they both still deny the feeling) are my favorites.  Ending this series was difficult, even knowing we’d get to see more of them in coming spin-offs, because we have been with the Wilders for years now and come to love them as much as we did the Montgomerys.  If you are a Wilder Brothers, fan I will tell you this story will be everything you hoped and more, but for those just coming into the world, I beg of you PLEASE at least go back to the beginning of the cousins (Moments for You) and start there before you dive into this story.  Endings truly are never sad because they only make room for new and beautiful beginnings—and I know Carrie Ann Ryan will give us beauty.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Ancient Warlord (Ancients Rising #10)

Ancient Warlord (Ancients Rising #10)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

She’s making a new life for herself in a realm full of dragon shifters…

Mia knew about the things that go bump in the night long before the world fell into chaos. As a human artist living in a world full of dragons, she should feel out of place. But she’s never felt more at home here—until an obnoxious, bossy dragon shifter makes it clear she doesn’t belong. His cruel words dredge up memories she’s determined to forget.

And turned his world upside down.

As a former warlord turned assassin, dragon shifter Tiber has never been great with women—and the moment he meets his mate, he sticks his foot in his mouth in the worst way. Now she hates him, and he has no idea how to make things right—especially since every time he opens his mouth, he makes things worse. But when it’s clear that someone wants to get rid of his feisty human, he dedicates his life to keeping her safe. If anyone wants to get to her, they’ll have to go through him—and he’s made a living out of destroying his enemies. Whether Mia likes it or not, she’s his to protect and this grumpy dragon will do whatever it takes to prove they’re fated to be together.

Themes:  Dragons, Vampires, Paranormal

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a Dragon puts his foot in his mouth, wonder no more. Katie Reus takes us into the fabulous and new world filled with Dragons in this new addition to her Ancients Rising series as she shows us that even men that have lived for literally millennia still don’t understand how to handle women. I am a huge fan of this ever-evolving series, one that began with her other shifter series and has flowed organically into this amazing series filled with Dragons, shifters, vampires and humans all trying to exist in a world that is changed and continues to shift every day. One of these big changes is that the Dragons have opened their home world to select visitors, and our heroine has escaped there to get away from an ex that was making her life hell. As she navigates her new home, dealing with dragons that hate humans, even though she is undeniably attracted to one grumpy dragon male, and trying to succeed in her career. I am looking forward to the next book and hopefully will get to see more of Tiber’s guard members because they are definitely characters, but whatever comes next will definitely be entertaining and engaging as always.

Mia is settling nicely into her life in Nova, the realm of the Dragons, even if there are some of them that think that humans are useless and don’t belong in the realm. She is happy creating her art and making friends with the Dragons that embrace her presence and treat her as a friend, even though every time she sees the warrior Tiber her emotions and body spark and she wants him as much as she dislikes him.  Tiber never meant to insult Mia—and he certainly never meant to hurt her feelings—and discovering she was his mate makes it even more imperative that he figure a way to make things right between them.  When danger begins to stalk her, he immediately steps in to protect her and as they spend time together in close quarters, he is finally able to convince her that not only is he sorry for hurting her, but he wants her for his own.  Can she forgive him and find a way to allow him into her heart or will this millennia old warrior be destined to lose the one woman meant to complete his life? Or even worse will her enemies take her away from him before he ever even has a chance to prove his love?

Mia and Tiber were hilarious together, each of them continuously either saying the wrong thing or misunderstanding the others’ words or actions, leading to confusions and squabbles that only built the passion and heat between them until they finally hit combustion point.  Mia is coming off a bad relationship, one that sent her running to Nova where the Dragons are just allowing special visitors, in the hopes of being able to relax and work on her art in peace. When her past comes back to haunt her, she decides to run again, but she doesn’t realize that the grumpy dragon she’s attracted is going to attach himself to her and she won’t be running alone ever again. Mia is smart, sweet, beautiful, and funny but she truly is a lovely soul, offering forgiveness, love and ease to Tiber and his friends and giving them a chance to see what a human, not interested in taking advantage of the dragons could add to their lives. Tiber is a grumpy asshole in the beginning, letting age-old prejudices almost cost him his mate, and taking far too long to come to terms with the fact that Mia is his mate. Once he finally begins listening to his inner dragon, recognizing that Mia is meant to be his, and that protecting her at all costs is the only thing he can do, his strength and determination is undeniable. He is also shrewd, caring, strong, and fearless when it comes to most things, but when it comes to understanding his own emotions, it definitely took him way to long to embrace his love and admit to Mia that she was his.

Ancient Warlord is one of those stories where you are constantly shifting from one emotion to the next, laughing at the idiocy of males one second, tearing up at the hurts of the heroine the next, and then on the edge of your seat in suspense the next.  In the end you learn a lot about Nova and the Dragons that call the realm home, but most importantly you learn that love can overcome the oldest of ingrained hatreds if you listen to your instincts and open your heart. Mia is an artist with an open heart, but how can she fight the pull she feels to the one dragon that so badly insulted her, even if he is one of the hottest males she’s ever seen.  Now that her ex has found his way to Nova and is making her life hell again, its time for Mia to move on and she doesn’t mind if the hot dragon tags along, especially now that he’s showing a different side of himself—one she might just be able to fall in love with.  Tiber hates that he hurt Mia’s feelings with his careless words, but now that her lie is in danger there is no other, he will trust her safety too, and if he has to basically kidnap her to keep her safe, well who is going to stop him? Tiber will put everything on the life for the woman that will be his mate, the most precious treasure to his dragon and the only woman that can complete his life, and he will do anything to earn her forgiveness. The fire and sparks between these two were fabulous as they argued, fought one another, and ultimately found their balance as lovers but through every moment their passion was blatant and unquestionable.  I am looking forward to the next book, hoping we might have gotten a glimpse of the couple in this story (*wink wink, nudge nudge, Katie*) but whatever comes next, I know I will be first in line to sign up for a copy. Nothing beats Katie Resu’s ability to drag you into a story filled with dragons, vampires, magic, danger, passion, and love from page one to “The End” and I guarantee you’ll love ever minute.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Dragon Forged (Dragon Kings #10)

Dragon Forged (Dragon Kings #10)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

He is fire and fury. I am forbidden to want him. But some fates refuse to be denied.

I have seen the war that will tear our realm apart. As a seer, it is my duty to stop it, and the path to peace is clear—until him.

The Dragon King is dominance and destruction, a force of nature my gift didn’t foretell… and one I cannot escape.

He is dangerous—untamed, possessive. And the one man I cannot afford to want.

Yet every glance, every searing touch, threatens to unravel the future I’m fighting to protect.

Loving him could mean my ruin.

Wanting him could mean the end of everything.

But when betrayals rise and destiny shifts, one truth becomes clear: I saw the war. I never saw him.

And now, I don’t know if I can stop what’s coming… or if I even want to.

Themes:  Dragon Shifters, Paranormal

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Time to return to Zora and the never boring saga of the Dragon Kings in the newest installment of Donna Grant’s fascinating Dragon Kings series. Here we find ourselves in a new area of Zora filled with intrigue, danger, and drama that leads one of our favorite Kings not only to the woman that steals his heart but also into the middle of a political trap that none of the group ever saw coming. I have been looking forward to Hector’s story and I was not disappointed as his innate curiosity and arrogance led him into trouble and he had to trust in his friends and family to help him save not only himself but his mate and ultimately everyone around him. When Hector is helping one of his fellow Kings explore a new area of Iron hall he finds himself inexplicably drawn to what turns out to be a portal to an area of Zora that none of the Kings, and possibly not the twins, ever even knew existed. Upon his arrival he meets a beautiful but sneaky woman and soon finds himself sent somewhere else entirely, sending him on a quest to find his way back, not only to that strange land, but to the woman that tricked him for some answers. Emilia hates to trick the Dragon King but she knows she cannot let him stay when she intercepts his arrival on her island home; she is a seer and her visions show her that the arrival of the Kings will bring about nothing but devastation and she is determined to prevent it at all costs. But when Hector returns, tracking her down and forcing her to explain a few things, she knows that she might just be too late to prevent disaster, especially when others intercede and Hector becomes a prisoner to the island. Now Hector and Emilia are caught in a dangerous political web and have to work together if they have any hope of either of them escaping much less preventing war.

I genuinely enjoyed every moment of this fast-paced, twisty, and interesting story as Hector and Emilia learned more about one another and came to find love in the most unexpected of circumstances.  Hector has an adventurous, but reckless spirit that leads him into believing himself to always be the strongest in any situation, but he finds out quickly that even he can be beaten and he isn’t always the baddest in a given fight. He is sweet and caring, forgiving and understanding, and he is one of the bravest of the Kings I think, sacrificing himself to protect his friends, family, even just innocents around him. I enjoyed finally getting to see him in action, flexing his muscles and finding his place in this new world and accepting his mate. Emilia has lived her life in fear, melting into the background and letting those around her always shine and sadly someone manipulated her she thought she loved for far too long. Once the scales fell from her eyes, she sees those around her for who they truly are and takes a stand, knowing that she is the only one that can protect the innocent and keep those hungry for power from abusing Hector’s power themselves. She is smart, brave, intelligent, and once she allows herself to trust the right people finds her true power and takes a stand that shows her to be a great hero.

Looking back on this story I wonder if the title might mean something different to different people, but for people I see it as a description of Emilia as she developed and grew in this story—her power and faith in herself truly was forged by her love in her Dragon King. Hector has to go through his own growing pains, but mostly he finds himself being humbled and learning that he needs help from time to time in order to defeat his enemies, he cannot always stand alone. Emilia though has to come to terms with the fact that her past was all a  lie, and everything she thought she knew about herself and her power was wrong, until finally she finds her footing and is able to save not only Hector and herself, but all the innocents that have been put in danger by a power-hungry despot. I loved the friendship that developed between Hector and Emilia and eventually blossomed into a passion and love that showed them both the power of love that would sustain them for millennia as mates, no matter who tried to break their bond. It was also interesting to see the way the magic in this story was introduced in a unique way, giving us a new idea of how life on Zora might move forward. I am looking forward to this next story in the series so that we can learn more about the Kings and life on Zora and see more mates bring new perspectives and adventures to the Kings. This vastly expansive world of magic, conspiracy, and devotion only continues to get better with each new story of danger and love.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Kane (Ghost Ops #4)

Kane (Ghost Ops #4)

Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Dead to their pasts. Ghosts. No family ties. No connections.

Six men with a top-secret mission move to a small town where they have to navigate local life, protect their secret, and, above all, stay single.

Notorious charmer Kane “Demon” Fox learned the hard way that love is a liability. Since losing his wife, he's built walls no one can breach—keeping his focus on the mission and his team. Feelings are a risk he can't afford to take ever again.

Until a stranded beauty with haunted eyes makes him question everything.

Daphne Bryant thought Sutton's Creek was far enough to outrun her past. With forged papers and a fabricated history, she's desperate for a fresh start in a small town where people are decent and life is uncomplicated. She’s joined a book club, found friends, and landed a job working for six gorgeous men who run the local gun range.

She’s safe and thriving—until someone breaks into her apartment and leaves a calling card she recognizes all too well.

Trusting the wrong person could be fatal, but Daphne’s running out of time—and Kane is a friend, even if she wants him to be more. As danger circles closer, the attraction between them becomes impossible to deny. Vows break, hearts and bodies tangle, and secrets implode.

If Kane’s going to save the woman he desperately doesn’t want to love, he’ll have to realize that the past doesn’t control the future. Because some ghosts aren't meant to stay buried. And some hearts are worth fighting for.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Ok so I did NOT see that one coming… and I loved it! So let’s be honest we all knew that Kane and Daphne’s story was going to be explosive, because the passion between these two was just undeniable in every previous interaction, but I could not have imagined just where Ms. Harris was going to take this story or the paces she was going to be putting these lovers through before she finally let them have their fun. For any long-time fans of this series and its connected HOT series, I think you can agree with me that Ms. Harris always finds a new and interesting way to blow our minds when she sends us a new story, but sometimes even I am amazed with where she comes up with this stuff. We have all wondered about Daphne’s true past and what led her to the small town of Sutton’s Creek and the dire circumstances the Ghost Ops guys found her in, but the truth is truly stranger than fiction. When her past rears its ugly head, Daphne is in danger and while she knows she should run for safety, Kane and the guys might truly be the only ones that can protect her and keep her alive. I am dying for the next story in this series, because of course Lynn gave us just enough of a hint to blow our minds and now Ethan will have his chance to blow our minds and we have to wonder if he has met his match in a quiet and secretive librarian named Paisley that has arrived in their little town with a young daughter and a past inexplicably linked to Ethan’s in some way.  The wild adventure of the Ghost Ops team is only beginning I think and with two books still to go I predict we are in for a crazy ride.

Kane “Demon” Fox has a reputation as a womanizer of the first order, but his past and mad him leery of relationship and love, he refuses to allow himself to open his heart again. But the sweet receptionist for their gun range certainly pulls all the heartstrings he forgot he had, and the more he is around her the harder it is to deny that he wants her, despite the roadblocks he erects. Daphne Bryant is on the run from a past that not only shames her, it puts her life in danger ever moment she lives. She gave up her past in order to escape the truth of families dark business and when she landed in Sutton’s Creek she never meant to stay as long as she did, much less to make the connections she has. Now she has not only friends she loves, she has lost her heart to a man that doesn’t want it or her, but her past has come back to haunt her in a big way and she has to protect her new friends. When Kane learns she is in danger he immediately tried to protect her, despite her wanting to run, but she fears her past will be too much for him and will take away any chance she has to convince him to open his heart. Now Kane and the guys have to keep her alive because she holds the key to their latest investigation, but she also has to convince Kane and herself that their relationship is real and worth giving a chance so they might have a future—if they can survive the killers out to end her life.

I loved the intensity of both of these characters, each of them dealing with their own fears and baggage from their pasts that shaped their ability to love and connection with one another. Kane’s past is dark and painful, his marriage having ended in tragedy and treachery has left him unable and unwilling to open himself to the possibility of love, even when he feels deeply for Daphne. His protectiveness, intensity, passion, and determination all mixed together to confuse him more than once, pushing him to say and do hurtful things until he finally pulled his head out of his ass and admit how much he cared for Daphne. It was obvious to everyone else how different he was with Daphne, especially when she was in danger, but he continuously tried to keep her at arm’s length to protect his heart until she finally forced him to get over himself. Only once she finally came clean, offering up her past, her vulnerabilities, and her fears did he finally accept that she was the only woman he could ever love again and truly open his heart making him the hero we always knew he could be. Daphne was a fabulous character, brave, smart, sweet, and bold (as any good Irish redhead should be). She might have had a sketchy past, but she knew when she hit her own moral line that she needed to get the hell away from her family and build a new future for herself. Landing in Sutton’s Creek, with the One Shot guys, she knows she is safe and finally lets herself start to believe in a chance at life again. Her brash and take-charge ability to show the guys that she can run with the big dogs was powerful and I loved watching her show them that they underestimate her at their own risk more than once. It is easy to see that she plays for keeps, especially when it comes to her fight for her future and Kane’s heart, and once she is in the fight she won’t give up until she wins. Even when she is terrified she never loses her head and always stand up for the innocent, making it clear that no one is going to bring her low without a serious fight on their hands.

Kane is a story of two people that have lived through fire and find their way to one another, even as they fight their need for each other and try to deny their feelings. Kane’s past has led him to keep his heart encased in steel, refusing to allow another woman too close and get his heart broken. But Daphne has pulled at him from the very beginning, despite all the walls he’s tried to throw between them and when she is in trouble he will pull out all the stops to keep her safe, even if it means he loses his heart to the sassy redhead. Daphne never imagined she’d find her best friend, much less the love of her life while on the run from her past, having landed in a small town in rural Alabama. She is determined to protect that love, especially from the psychopathic monsters in her past when they come after her, but Kane is just as determined to protect her, so maybe the answer is that they need one another to survive. I loved the way both Kane and Daphne had push and pull moments with one another, the intensity of their chemistry moving between fighting and *ahem* loving equally as they came to terms with their needs. That fire they found for each other is once in a lifetime and once they accepted that, it made it so much easier for them to give into their hearts’ desires. I am dying for Ethan because that story is bound to be even more crazy as he and Paisley (re)connect and we hopefully get to see more of Ghost and Diana before their book as well. I truly don’t know how she does it, but once again Lynn Raye Harris has dazzled me and I am thrilled I got to read this story.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Haze (Serpents of Chaos MC #2)

Haze (Serpents of Chaos MC #2)

Chantal Fernando

Blurb:

Running into my childhood crush after thirteen years and accidentally hitting on him isn't my finest moment.

But Hayden isn’t how I remember him.

Now he's Haze, the resident playboy of the Serpents of Chaos MC.

And the worst part?

I'm stuck with him protecting me.

I should distance myself before I get in too deep. Before I get hurt.

Hayden already broke my heart once, but Haze?

He just might ruin me.

Themes:  MC, Erotica

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Everyone loves a good secondar chance at love and we all know that sometimes the path to an HEA is rocky, but man this story was a rough one, filled with pain, drama and two people that didn’t seem to be able to get out of their own way in order to just admit they were in love with one another.  Chantal Fernando has a skill with her MC characters that makes her stories unforgettable and unmissable, and her new Serpents of Chaos MC is shaping up to be almost as awesome (I'm withholding my full love) as her other MCs. This second in the series picks up right at the ending of War and we even get a lovely bit of overlap so that we get to enjoy seeing Haze making an ass of himself as he tanks his chances at love again with his childhood dream girl. I felt so deeply the connection between Lu and Haze as we got to see their story develop and flashbacks to their past together, but I would have loved even more time for them to grow and change together.  I am dying for Lore’s story and can already tell that one is going to be explosive as hell because we just know that Lore’s manwhore ways are really going to bite him in the backside when he tries to settle down and find love. Chantal has another emerging masterpiece on her hands with the Serpents, even as she takes us into some dark and terrifying sides of humanity and never hides from the truth when she makes her couples confront life-changing topics.

Luella is currently trapped in the last place she wants to be, the Serpents of Chaos MC clubhouse, because one of their enemies has burned down her Bakery and her life is danger.  Unfortunately, this puts her directly into the path of the only man to ever tear her heart out and Hayden/Haze is determined to drive her insane.  Haze was surprised when Luella reappeared in his life and didn’t handle it well at all, but now that she is back, he is determined to make her his woman, if only life wasn’t so complicated, and she wasn’t so stubborn.  With their past between them and others trying to keep them apart, Lu and Haze have to decide if their chemistry and connection is worth the drama and possible pain in order to have a future together.  And then once they do find their way into a relationship, they have to decide in they trust one another enough to have a future together or if their past mistakes will tear them apart again.  Can two stubborn people that seemingly want different things, really find a happy future together, or are they destined to lose their second chance at love?

When you imagine two characters made for one another your brain probably doesn’t jump to a sweet bakery owner and a sexy biker/musician, but from the beginning it’s obvious that Lu and Haze are made for one another.  Haze has spent his entire life looking after and protecting those he loves, including sacrificing his own happiness, but being with Lu is the one thing that truly makes his heart whole. His protectiveness, caring, love, and determination to care for those he loves, show how willing he is to give his all to Luella and prove to her that she is the most important person in his life.  He has made so many mistakes when it comes to Lu but the one thing we never doubt is how much he wants her and how much she means to him, even when life and those mistakes are against him. Luella has never been able to give her heart to another man, once Hayden broke her as a teenager, and when he comes back into her life, she isn’t sure she can risk the pain again.  She never stopped loving Haze, but he has changed so much and he is not continues to break her in little ways each day, but she is strong enough to stand up for herself, knowing that the only way she will ever be able to look herself in the mirror is if she demands everything from him. She is sweet, strong, courageous, and knows that if she ever gives into Haze and he breaks her trust or heart she will not recover, but if you don’t take a chance, you will never be able to move forward.  Together Haze and Lu could have the most beautiful life, but only if they each come to terms with their past and their fears and accept that despite their mistakes, they were always meant to be together.

Haze is one of those stories that is so filled with heat, passion, chemistry and sensuality that you might be tempted to skip past the heart, emotion and love that develops between these two but if you look past the eroticism of their physical reconnection you will understand just why these two were destined. Luella has had a lot of let-downs in her life, from crappy parents, to losing those she loved and being abandoned by friends and lovers, but she has finally found her place in life with her girl-squad and the MC that has taken her in.  Now she just needs to accept that the man she never forgot is back in her life and determined to claim her, no matter what he has to do to earn her forgiveness and what hurdle she makes him jump to reach her heart again.  Haze never forgot the girl that captured his heart at sixteen, but when she roars back into his life, he has to work to prove to her that nothing and no one will ever be more important than her in his life. With forces around them trying to keep them apart, mistakes and misunderstandings leading to fights, and passionate drama leading to explosive encounters, neither Luella nor Haze are truly prepared for the changes coming to their lives.  The fire and chemistry between them are undeniable and despite the fighting (or maybe because of it) their sensuality is at peak almost every moment they are together. I loved their story, even the sad moments because i was positive they would find their way into an HEA and a future filled with love and laughter.  I cannot wait for Lore’s story because the little glimpse we got tells me that it's going to be just as crazy explosive and filled with mystery as Haze’s was, and i can only hope Chantal gets it too us quickly.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Shelter from the Storm (Perfect Storm #2)

Shelter from the Storm (Perfect Storm #2)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

A storm never felt so safe.

Desperate for a new life, Gretchen escapes her abusive ex and finds refuge in the small town of Gracemont. Her plan is lay low. But when she meets Theo Storm, her sexy new boss, everything changes. Drawn into the warmth of his world, Gretchen discovers the possibility of happiness, love, and family—things she thought were out of her reach.

For Theo, it’s love at first touch. From the moment he takes Gretchen’s trembling hand, he knows he’s found someone worth fighting for. Though he senses she’s hiding something, he’s determined to help her overcome her painful past.

When old demons come knocking, Theo calls on his family to help protect the woman who’s quickly claimed his heart. The Storms are a force of nature, and they quickly step up, ready to defend their own at any cost.

Will they succeed in keeping Gretchen safe, or will her dangerous past tear her and Theo apart?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I always love to read a story of a woman finally getting a chance to take back her independence and find her freedom, even if she has to do it the tiniest bit at a time and with the help of many new friends—and with luck the love of a good man. Mari Carr takes us on the heartbreaking journey of a woman that has lived through hell and is finally taking a chance on life again as she clutches her freedom in a fragile grip and taking a chance on a new life.  I have been looking forward to Theo’s story ever since we first met him, knowing he was going to be a sweet heartbreaker, he just seemed to be one of those heroes that was going to grab your heart and not let you go, and I was correct in my assessment.  Gretchen and Theo’s story might be difficult for a lot of people to read, either because they have lived through something similar or because they cannot understand the depths of pain Gretchen had to dig through in order to escape her past because they havent had to live through it, but either way I hope they can appreciate the beauty of their love and the skill with which their story is written.  I cannot wait for more of this series, and I really look forward to whatever Mari does next with this series because I imagine it is only going to get so much better as each of the Storms find love and loss in their own unique adventure.

Gretchen Banks is starting over, leaving behind the past and hopefully the abuse of the relationship that has left her a ghost in her own life, but the fear is never-ending, even as she looks for to the future as Storm Farms. Theo Storm was drawn to the beautiful and vulnerable Gretchen from the moment he saw her picture, but from the first moment they touch he knows she is his future.  The woman is in no way ready for the passion she ignites in him, not to mention she is his employee, but Theo cannot resist spending time with her and becoming her friend, protector, and ultimately learning everything he can about his new employee.  But soon the attraction between them becomes too much for either of them to resist and Theo and Gretchen have to take a chance on their connection and chemistry. But Gretchen’s past is not ready to let her go, soon coming back to try to steal her from her new life, leaving Theo and the Storms having to step up to protect the newest member of their family.  Can this once broken woman have finally found her place safe from the storms of life or will the danger stalking her take her from her new beautiful life?

For those that have never dealt with a narcissistic personality, one that can completely rearrange your thinking about yourself over the years, it might be difficult to understand how a strong woman like Gretchen accepted the abuse from her first “husband” for so long, but to be perfectly honest I understand perfectly.   The emotional and mental abuse, training you to look at yourself as less than them, is much more damaging and long-lasting that any physical abuse anyone, especially someone that is supposed to love you, could ever inflict.  Gretchen finally takes a stand and takes the smartest steps to get away from her abuser, knowing that sooner or later she might have to face him again, but thankfully when that happens, she has her new friends—family really—at her back, because the Storms have pulled her into their clan.  She is smart, sweet, resourceful, calm under fire, and brave as she takes back her autonomy and when she finds love with Theo, she doesn’t allow her past to keep her from claiming her man.  Theo is a protector at heart, so knowing that Gretchen is scared and in trouble obviously hurts him, but he knows that being her friend is an important first step, so he gives her exactly what she needs, and that giving nature is what makes him such a great character.  He is strong, loving, intelligent, crafty, and passionate, but most importantly his love of family and faith in them always being at his back give him the foundation needed to love Gretchen the way she needed.  At any point Theo could have given up, deciding that Gretchen was too much work or too broken, to have a relationship, but instead he is patient and gives her the love and friendship she needs to trust him and understand he will never hurt her, never left her down, and never abuse her.  Then when the chips are down, she has that foundation of love and faith to standup to her abuser knowing that Theo and the Storms are at her back.

Sometimes when life kicks us repeatedly, all we need is the love of a good man in order to find true Shelter from the Storm and Gretchen learns that better than most when she falls in love with Theo Storm.  Mari Carr takes us back to the hills of northern Virginia and Stormy Farms as we watch a woman that has lived through hell escape her hell and find a peace and happiness in the arms of a protector and loving hero.  Gretchen has lived through a past that no woman should ever have to face, but she is finally free and is determined to stay that way as she begins her new life. However, she never imagined that starting that new life would mean she found the love of an amazing man that wants to begin a life with her, and she is determined to show him that she moves beyond her past and be the woman he needs and deserves.  Theo fell in love with Gretchen the first time he touched her, and he is determined that she will be his, even if he has to take things slowly by becoming her friend and confidant first.  But soon he cannot resist his feelings and has to make her his, even though there is danger around them and her fears have to be overcome slowly, nothing stops a Storm from claiming the love of their life.  I loved the passion between Gretchen and Theo, even though it began as a slow burn as they became friends, but once they unleashed themselves that fire burned hot enough to light their mountain on fire.  This story was one that reminds us that even though we often have a lot of trauma and pain to overcome, with the right partner and patience, love can always overcome anything in our past and lead us to a happiness that changes our worlds.  I am looking forward to the next story in the series (Caught in a Storm)and cannot wait to see what trouble the rest of these Storms find themselves getting up to, because I have no doubt that Mari is going to be up to her tricks soon!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.