Mini Review: The Bright Spot (Sunrise Cove #5)

The Bright Spot (Sunrise Cove #5)

Jill Shalvis

Blurb:

Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’t on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm.

With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets.

Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some help from her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:  4

Review:

More humor and romance come to us from Jill Shalvis in her amazing Sunrise Cove series as two unlikely frenemies are forced to come together to find a way to protect the only home either of them knows and the legacy of the one man, they both can honestly call a friend and father. I truly enjoy each new addition to this series, each able to be read completely independently, but that carry a connection of heart, laughter and healing for each character that reminds me why I first fell in love with Jill Shalvis’s right so long ago.  Luna Wright has found her family in the most unlikely of people, her coworkers and friends at the Apple Ridge Farm where she manages the café, but when the owner passes away suddenly, leaving her part owner of the business she never imagines that her life will change irrevocably.  Jameson Hayes now owns the other half of the, sadly, failing café and as a man of numbers he is determined to prove to Luna why they need to sell to interested parties while they still might be able to make a profit.  But a huge secret comes out for Luna and Jameson is keeping an even bigger one of his own, one that could change her world even more.  As these two continue to be at cross purposes, Luna tries to prove to Jameson that family and tradition mean more than a number on a page and Jameson soon finds himself family for the strange and enigmatic woman. I loved seeing Luna find a way to bring Jameson out of his shell, making him breathe for the first time in ages and find himself under the suit and tie he’s been hiding so he could open his heart and eyes to the love around him.  Jameson tried so hard not to succumb to the secrets that weighed him down, but the pain and fear didn’t stop him from falling in love with Luna and the world she shared with him.  The secondary love story between Luna’s bestie Willow and her estranged husband was also awesome and I just love how Shalvis continues to include that second love in all her Sunrise Cove stories.  I am looking forward to many more to come as Sunrise Cove continues to draw new folks in and broaden hearts of those already at home there.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: Ancient Magic (Magic For Hire #2)

Ancient Magic (Magic For Hire #2)

Alexandra Ivy

Blurb:

The Vampire Cabal meets only under the direst circumstances. But since Skye Claremont’s coven proved wild magic has returned, the cabal has gathered in New York City to decide the fate of the powerful mages.

Skye doubts her oracular powers can help. After ten years indentured to a demon gang, paying off her father’s gambling debts with visions, her freedom has come despite her weak abilities, not because of them. But when her father sends a text to demand a meeting, she doesn’t need to read the future to know trouble will follow.

The demons want her to kidnap Micha, the reclusive, fearsome leader of the New Orleans vampire cabal. As if a low-voltage witch like her could succeed. But when Skye looks into Micha’s eyes, she sees certain doom if she doesn’t take him to their stronghold after all. Spellbound more by beauty and intrigue than magic, the vampire follows her into the dark of a demon cell. When the door slams behind them, they’ll have to unravel the tangled threads of prophecy and politics that make the way forward immeasurably dangerous. But it’s desire that could undo them both . . .

Themes:  Paranormal, Witches, Vampires

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The series continues with the second witch finding her mate, but boy does she not expect everything coming her way in Alexandra Ivy’s new Ancient Magic.  I have been looking forward to his next story as I wanted to love this series, but I am definitely not feeling the investment I have in previous series.  I enjoy each book for the story and the character development, but I am not becoming devoted to the characters in the overarching series like I have in the past. Skye Claremont’s little coven has been under intense scrutiny lately and she is trying to fly under the radar, but when her powers as an Oracle lead her into trouble again, she is forced to accept help from a very unlikely source.  Micha, the New Orleans vampire cabal leader, is in NYC with other leaders in order to meet about her sister Peri’s new magic and he is instantly drawn to the sexy witch, but when he finds her outside his bedroom one night, along with several demons attempting to kidnap him, their lives are intimately entwined, and they must trust one another if they are going to survive the coming storm.  Micha and Skye are like to poles of a magnet, drawn together but neither of them understands why, and Skey knows that if she doesn’t stick to him, he could die so together they must defeat the demons out to destroy the world.  Together they can defeat the enemy, but the more they are together the harder it is to deny the attraction and chemistry that is leading to a much deeper connection and when the chips are down, they have to decide if their future is worth fighting for. Skye was a fun character to get to know with a deep and interesting past, she is courageous, clever, sassy, and sweet, and I loved her determination to protect Micha in order to keep the balance in the world. Micha was a scholar at heart, not really wanting to lead or fight, but knowing that if he didn’t others would be hurt, he is controlled, arrogant, and precise but he also knows that sometimes you have to take a chance to get what you need.  I loved the chemistry between these two and its obvious that they will be friends and lovers a long time.  I am looking forward to the conclusion of the series, but I’m hoping some of the plotline gaps and twisty plot threads are wrapped up for sure. Overall, the series is improving, but I hope there are no hanging threads at the end of book three.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: To Steal a Marquess (The Sisterhood of Independent Ladies #2)

To Steal a Marquess (The Sisterhood of Independent Ladies #2)

Maeve Greyson

Blurb:

She returned to England to put him in his place—not to put herself in his bed.

Alec Douglas, Duke of Lionwraith, a war hero betrayed on the home front while he was away at battle, trusts no one and prefers his solitude. But when his sister begs for help because she is ruined, he vows to make the man responsible pay. When the vile rakehell proves impossible to find, Alec isn’t swayed. He can just as easily destroy his enemy with a subtler attack. The Marquess of Ardsmere’s business provides the best wines and rarest imports to the finest houses in all the realm—but by the time Alec is finished, West Belgium International will cease to exist.

But the despicable marquess can’t be the ruination of Alec’s sister, because the man does not exist. However, Lady Francis, better known as Frannie and sometimes as the Marchioness of Ardsmere, is quite real. Born in Belgium after a terrible accident killed her father, Frannie was introduced to the world as the family’s ward rather than an Ardsmere daughter, and a fake Ardsmere son was fabricated for her to marry to keep the wealth, lands, and privileges of the title away from a heartless cousin. The ruse has served quite well, but now some quarrelsome duke threatens everything because his lightskirt sister tossed her reputation to the wind and ridiculously named the pretend marquess responsible.

Frannie is not about to lose her lucrative empire or expose herself as a fraud. There’s naught to be done but assume her usual role as the imaginary marquess’s wife and put the deplorable duke in his place. However, when she meets Alec’s sweet, trusting sister, she can’t bring herself to finish the poor girl off or take down her handsome brother. Cursing her soft-heartedness, Frannie agrees to help Alec. Not just because he’s a tempting challenge she can’t resist, but also because his sister is kindness itself.

While tracking down the real foe responsible, Alec and Frannie come together in a complicated dance that not only risks riches and reputations but also their hearts. Frannie’s life of lies has always provided everything she needs—except love. What’s she to do when the man who steals her heart despises anything that isn’t true?

What do a skillful liar and a man drowning in bitterness have in common? Loneliness and pent-up passion. An exciting combination until secrets are revealed and everything falls apart.

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The fun trilogy of women well before their time continues as one woman takes a stand to defend another that has been caught in the snare of a predator, because really, we should all stand up for one another.  Maeve Greyson’s next book in her politically forward Sisterhood of independent Ladies series truly hits so many beautiful points and at the same time we get to see a passionate and intriguing love story as two people embark on quest bring down a villain.  Lady Francis, Marchioness of Ardsmere, has been married since she was seventeen, and promised even before then, because she was the ward of her husband’s family—but the truth is that her husband doesn’t exist, and she is the sole power behind the marquessate. Francis has a big problem though, her business empire is under attack, and she is determined to confront the man that is trying to bring her down, in person no less.  But when she travels to the country estate of Alec Douglas, Duke of Lionwraith, she is surprised to learn that he is attacking her empire because he believes her husband ruined his younger sister and left her with child.  Now Frannie is just as determined as Alec to catch the imposter, but working together puts them together and the passion between them is not easily denied and Frannie and Alec find that neither of them want to deny it and soon embark on an affair that becomes so much more.  But can Frannie let go of the lie and get Alec to see the truth of her life, and if so, can the truth really set the free or will an enemy even closer to home put Frannie’s future in jeopardy before she even has a chance at a happiness with Alec?  I LOVED this story even more than the last one and Frannie and Alec were fabulous.   Frannie was a kick butt heroine, with all the wit, sass, empathy, sweetness and wisdom I have come to love and expect from Maeve’s writing, but also with the extra passion that surprised me and made me even more of a lover.  Alec was the perfect angry, anti-hero that become a wonderful loving, passionate, spirit lover, and protector for both Frannie and his sister.  The ending was crazy sauce for sure with all the twists and turns, but I couldn’t stop reading it.  I am dying for the finale in the trilogy and to find out where Maeve might be taking us next, but all in all I feel like Frannie and Alec might just be my favorite couple.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC mini Review: Fighting for Berlin (Redemption Harbor Security #5)

Fighting for Berlin  (Redemption Harbor Security #5)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

Her instinct has always been to fix things…

Berlin is no stranger to loss. After her parents died, it was just her and her younger sisters. Now that they’re all in college she’s been focusing on her new job with Redemption Harbor Security. But when one of her online VR buddies goes uncharacteristically radio silent, she gets worried and makes it her mission to find him. And quickly finds out that things are a lot more dangerous than she ever imagined.

But this time she might be in too deep…

Chance has gone undercover with a deadly crew to find out the truth about his brother. When he’s rescued from a sticky situation by his online friend, he’s surprised that she’s a woman—and a knockout. Wanting to keep Berlin safe, he tries to keep her at arm’s length for her own good, but the stubborn hacker refuses to walk away. With her skills, the deadly crew he’s infiltrated recruits her for an upcoming job. Now he’s got to maintain his cover while worrying she might be discovered too. It’s a race against the clock to find his brother, stay alive and not fall for the smartass woman who’s gotten under his skin—before they all die.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating

Review:

Who knew that two long-time virtual gamer friends would end up having such chemistry when they finally meet IRL and learn just how much they truly have in common? Katie Reus continues her action-packed series about sexy secret agents (sort of) in this latest installment of the Redemption Harbor security series when cyber geek Berlin meets her match in a sexy ex-special forces hottie on a mission to find his brother. I never quite know what to expect from a Reus novel beyond that I will be laughing as I enjoy every sensual moment of the story I lose myself in and this story is no less than I expected. Chance is undercover with a biker club looking for his missing younger brother when he suddenly finds himself being rescued by a sexy woman that he’s never seen before, but that he’s known for years. Berlin knew that when her gamer friend went quiet she needed to track him down, but she didn’t think she’d be going in hot to save him from a shootout and then find herself in the middle of a dangerous mission filled with drugs, deadly bikers, and all kinds of other dangers. But the more time she spends with Chance the more their chemistry leads to sensual encounters until finally neither of them can deny that they are perfect for one another. But they have to outsmart their enemies and find Chance’s bother before either of them can even consider a future together, and that’s if Chance can keep Berlin from running away from him.

Honestly, could this story have been more packed with twists and turns as Berlin, Chance and their friends worked through the layers of danger and idiocy that were surrounding them as they tried to get to Chance’s brother? Chance is such a strong, sweet, and deadly character, filled with everything that makes a hero fabulous without all the unnecessary macho BS that makes some men just need to be slapped down. It’s obvious he loves his brother and is willing to do just about anything to make sure he doesn’t get himself killed, but he wants to protect and convince Berlin that they are perfect for each other too. Berlin has always been the leader of her family, the one that everyone looked to in order to fix problems, support them and provide the love and stability they needed, so when she meets Chance, a man that just wants to offer her a shoulder to lean on and a man to offer her the support she’s never had she is ready to run for the hills even as she wants to keep him forever.  The love between these two is just as obvious as the heat that burns from the beginning, but fear can be a powerful deterrent even when what you’ve always wanted and needed is right in front of you. I was so glad that Berlin and Chance found a way to look past their hangups and fears and find their happy together, because they definitely earned it. Chance truly was Fighting for Berlin; from the moment she stormed into his life and change it forever. Needlessly to say I am on pins and needles for who’s story comes next and where this series is headed next.

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

ARC Review: Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family #4)

Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family #4)

Carly Phillips

Blurb:

He’s a grumpy single dad who's serious and uptight.

She’s a younger free spirit who's sunshine and light.

Fallon Sterling’s one experience with a rich, older man ended in heartbreak. So, when twin nine-year-old girls wind up in her gallery, followed by their oh-so-hot dad, she refuses to notice how sexy he is. And she will not let herself fall for his broody charms. Or his adorable daughters. That was her plan. Unfortunately, planning hasn't always been her strong suit…

Noah Powers needs a reliable nanny, not a romance with a much younger artist who his girls adore. The fact that he desires Fallon and the sunshine she brings into his drab world doesn't matter. His focus needs to be on his work and his daughters. Trouble is, he can never remember that when Fallon is in his arms.

Somewhere between a matchmaking family (his) and dangerous workplace drama (hers), Fallon and Noah realize they might have more in common than they thought. But is it enough for happily ever after?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

For long time fans of Carly Phillips, we all know she loves her Grumpy-Sunshine love stories, but every time we get a new couple falling under one another’s spell, she manages to give us a fresh twist and remind us why she remains at the top of her craft. I wasn’t positive that I would love this story, being that I’m not a huge fan of stories that revolve around children and/or single parents, but these kids were so precocious and mature that I actually enjoyed getting to know them and seeing them interacting with Fallon and Noah. If you enjoy a delightful read, filled with laughter, suspense, and romance, then Noah and Fallon will drag you right into their lives and you will not be able to set the book down until the very end. I am really looking forward to future stories because the more we get to know the Sterling family the more I fall in love with them and want happiness for them all. Carly’s imagination never ceases to amaze me and I can only wish that I had her skill and flair with the written word.

Noah Powers is overwhelmed being the primary caretaker to his precocious tree-teen twin daughters for the first time in their lives—with nannies quitting or failing left and right and the girls disappearing on him in the middle of the city. When he tracks them down to the small art gallery where they are being entertained by a beautiful young artist/employee, he doesn’t realize just how much she will come to mean to them all. Fallon Sterling has been hurt before by an older man and isn’t interested in starting anything with Noah, but he and his girls pull her right in and soon she is spending time with them and beginning to lose her heart. When Fallon and Noah finally accept that they cannot hide from their feelings anymore and decide to give their relationship a try, their love begins to blossom almost too quickly. But can too people that have such different plans for the future and trauma in their past find a way to heal and move forward together—before someone puts and end to their chances to be together finally?

Fallon is a character that I could truly see myself enjoying getting to know in real life; She is intelligent, creative, caring, and sassy and devoted to her family and all of those she takes into her heart. She has had real suffering in her past and I was afraid that she would allow it to keep her from finding happiness with Noah and the girls, but thankfully she was able to heal and move past her hurts. I also loved the way she looks out for those that she considers hers, especially the woman she considers her stand-in mom, when she begins to have problems. She faces every danger and problem that comes at her head on, refusing to let anything drag her down and instead deals with her pain in private so that others don’t see how much she is hurt. Noah was a great guy in many ways, though I definitely wanted to be able to kick him in the pants at one in the story because he almost allowed Fallon to slip through his fingers. He is sweet with his girls, loving and caring with Fallon, and strong enough to take on the problems of those around him without buckling under the pressure. I enjoyed watching the women in his life interacting with him, whether it was his mother, his girls, or Fallon, he is so respectful of women and always gives of himself to all. I would love to meet a man like him and claim him for myself for myself, but alas I think men like him only exist in the minds of my favorite authors.

Just One More Temptation truly stands up to its name, tempting readers to keep reading until the very end because we don’t want to miss a single moment. There is just so much emotion in this story as a Noah and Fallon find their way to healing one another and then deciding to put forth the effort to build a life together. Noah has so much going on but he never drops any of the most important balls in his life, mainly his girls or Fallon, and he finds a way to grow and be what they all need him to be without losing himself. Fallon has to let go of a lot of her own hangups in order to embrace a future with Noah and his girls, but once she finds love, and Noah proves he can change and grow with her, she will never allow herself to give up on him or the life they can have—even when she almost loses her life. The passion between these two is apparent as soon as their eyes meet, despite their young audience, and the more time they spend together the more obvious their love is. I loved seeing this little family form from two people that have been lost in their broken pasts for too long and two clever girls that finally get to see their dad truly completely happy with their new stepmom. I am really looking forward to whatever comes next for this series as more Sterling kids find love and drama as lives changes forever. Carly continues to always take us on a wild ride with each new story and I am never disappointed.

 

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

ARC Review: The Uncrowned King (The Bastard Duology #2)

The Uncrowned King (The Bastard Duology #2)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

I would burn the world for him…

My people have been hunted to extinction by dragons. I am the last of my kind. Forever running. Forever alone.

Then I met him. Dangerous. Carnal. Dragon And utterly magnetic. I had no defenses against the passion that claimed us. Each time his lips touched mine, each time his arms held me, I fell deeper.

And I fell hard.

My mortal enemy became my world. The very reason for my existence.

My one and only.

Until our forever was violently snatched away. Now, I’m hunted, once more.

But I’m not running this time. I’m fighting for love.

For him.

Themes:  Paranormal, Dragons, Fae

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The ending of this duology has been hanging on my mind ever since the ending of the first portion with its terror-inducing cliffhanger and I am thrilled to say that every second of the wait was worth it. Donna Grant returns with a bang as she takes us back to Zora to finally give us the HEA we needed for two characters that should never have met and fallen in love, but seem so perfect for one another in the end. Derek and Kora’s story has developed into one that I can see myself rereading many times, now that both parts of the duology are out, but I will definitely read them back-to-back since I hate cliffhangers and would read them as one long story. For those that don’t mind this kind of continuing story then the nature of the break in the story is certainly beautifully written and well handled in the plot, but I’m just to ADD and OCD to handle the split. That said I am dying for what comes next for these characters because with everything that happened in these two novels I can guarantee whatever comes next is going to be epic.

Derek has no memory his life and when he wakes in a dark mountain in his dragon form he has no idea of everything he has lost, so when he is told that his mate and children were brutally murdered his rage knowns no bounds and he will do anything to kill his enemy. Unfortunately, the truth is much different and the enemy he is set to kill is the woman that he loves and that lack of recognition might cost them both everything. Kora is determined to bring Derek’s memory back, even at the cost of her own life, so when the Kings offer their assistance in capturing him she is willing to work with her greatest feared enemies in order for them all to fight against the worse villain. Derek and Kora have to find their way back to one another because without their bond and the powers they can bring to the team, the Kings have no chance to defeating the Star People that are trying to bring their existence to an end.

I cried almost as much as I smiled while reading this story, honestly Derek and Kora’s story was so emotional. Kora never imagined that she would fall in love with a Dragon, much less the one that destroyed her family, but she learns that the greatest form of love is forgiveness and Derek is worth everything to her. She finds her bravery, strength, and a depth of love and caring that she never thought she would be able to find for another being after her family died. She’s lived such a lonely existence, always thinking she was the last of her kind and would be vilified if anyone discovered her secret, but when she finally comes out of the shadows she learns that her unique abilities are more than embraced with the family the kings have made. Derek is definitely lost for a good bit of the book, but even then we see his protective and dangerously loving nature as he tried to avenge his mate, but his unwillingness to listen to alternative views, instead only believing the first person to tell him something kinds pissed me off. Once he gets his memories back he’s the Derek we all know and love, caring, sweet, intelligent, courageous, and willing to do whatever it takes to protect those under his care. I only wish that he’d been willing to listen without the pain and trauma required to both him and Kora to knock some sense into him.

The Uncrowned King, combined with its predecessor The Bastard King, are stories of a male that has lived his long life in service to his people, even though he never knew that he was being manipulated and used, and unfortunately until the end his work was counter to that goal. Luckily when he meets a woman that challenges him to look deeper he is able to break free finally and his mission and labors are finally in line, leaving him able to move forward in life and find a balance and happiness hat has always been elusive. Derek has always been missing something, even though he could never put his finger on it, and meeting Kora shows him that what he was missing was a family and love, because his life was always just his mission before. Kora has lived her life in fear, but when she finally finds her courage and decides that she is ready to fight back, she meets the man that will truly allow her to succeed. These two lovers complete one another in more ways than they ever imagine they could be, challenging one another to think differently about everything they thought they knew and the chemistry between them is beautifully undeniable. I loved every second of their story, even though the wait between stories about killed me. Donna Grant truly out did herself in these stories of love, betrayal, and secrets and I am truly looking forward to whatever comes next,

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

Mini Review: Wild Magic (Magic For Hire #1)

Wild Magic (Magic For Hire #1)

Alexandra Ivy

Blurb:

There was a time when demons reigned. That was before they were forced to retreat to the shadows. Today, in hidden corners across the globe their evil blood still pools, and the authority of their new rulers—the Vampire Cabal—must never be challenged. Leave it to a Jersey girl to change ancient history . . .

 At sixteen, when Peri Sanguis’s wild magic first appeared, she was forced to flee her Wyoming ranch—and her suddenly murderous family—to save her own life. On the East Coast, tutored by mages who run the Witch’s Brew bookstore-cafe, Peri’s world seems magically tranquil—until her estranged mother and a coven of witches are slaughtered. Now, to solve the violent mysteries of her past, she must put her trust, body and soul, in a sensual immortal who is every woman’s darkest fantasy . . .

 The golden-eyed vampire, Valen, has never wanted more than to claim an untamed female like Peri. Lured into each other’s orbit, and working together against a resurrected evil brings them intimately closer—to danger, blood betrayals, all-consuming passion, and to sacrifices that must be made to save themselves and the world . . .

Themes:  Paranormal, Witches, Vampires

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 3.5

Review:

An all-new venture for Alexandra Ivy begins with the story of a woman who magic is blossoming and becoming something, she never imagined and the vampire who is drawn to her inexplicably. I have long been a fan of Alexandra Ivy, especially her paranormal works, but this newest foray into fantasy is a whole new world for me and I am reserving judgment until we get a little deeper into the series. Peri Sanguis is a witch with powers that are often hard to control or quantify, once forced to flee the commune where she was raised in order to stay alive, she has found family in the women that took her in and her mentor in NYC. When her mother and old coven are slaughtered Peri embarks on a journey to try to solve the mystery but finds herself saddled with the Vampire leader Valen as her shadow.  Valen never imagined that the mating instinct would rise for a woman like Peri, but he can’t deny that his protective and sensual needs are there from the very first moment he scents her.  The more time they’re together and the deeper their connection the less likely either of them are to ever give the other up, but the dangers around them make having a future together les likely if they can’t find a way to defeat their enemies. I enjoyed getting to know Peri and see her work through her past; she is intelligent, stubborn, impulsive, snarky and loves deeply. Valen is bossy, protective, powerful and independent but also giving and loving.  With suspense, sensuality, drama and a twisty plot, you’ll find yourself completely invested in the story until the very end.  There are a few plot holes that needed fleshing out, but I’m hoping that comes in the next books and I’m looking forward to the other ladies getting their novels. As I said, I am reserving judgment on the series overall, but I certainly think there is a lot of potential for this trilogy.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: Delighting Her Highland Devil (Time to Love a Highlander #7)

Delighting Her Highland Devil (Time to Love a Highlander #7)

Maeve Greyson

Blurb:

She tumbles back three centuries into the arms of a gruff Highlander and wins his heart—until she endangers everyone he’s ever protected.

Jovianna Jacobs, a history professor specializing in Scottish culture, is brilliant and students flock to sign up for her classes. Not because of her brilliance—but because of her foibles during her lectures. No matter how hard she tries not to be so clumsy, when she gets excited about a topic, her fumbling nearly destroys the room. Literally. After wrecking her third laptop in six months and completely embarrassing herself, a relaxing trek through Finnich Glen with her high-spirited mother is just the ticket to put things in perspective. There’s nothing like descending into the mystical gorge and visiting the infamous Devil’s Pulpit. But a rainstorm triggers a flash flood and while trying to retreat and manage the hazardous waters, dizzying nausea overpowers her and the raging current washes her away.

Tobias Risk, the ruthlessly fierce highwayman known as the Devil of the Highlands, has been fighting to keep his greedy brother, the Earl of Grampian, from replacing their people with sheep to make more money off their lands. Farming is all the crofters know, but they’re being evicted and burned out in the name of profit and progress. All that stands between them, and homelessness is the money that Tobias and his men steal from wealthy travelers to cover the ever-increasing rents. After one such robbery, while washing his face in the waters beside the Devil’s Pulpit, a beautiful and helpless Englishwoman washes up at his feet. Not only that, but her irritating mother is with her. And after saving the young beauty from drowning, he becomes hopelessly entranced with her. So much so that he claims her for his wife.

But treachery abounds and enemies both old and new threaten their newfound love. The two remain steadfast until Jovianna makes a grave error in judgment and endangers everyone Tobias has ever protected.

Tobias never learned the art of forgiveness. But Jovianna loves him with a fury and refuses to walk away. Somehow, she will reverse her mistake and win back her Devil of the Highlands.

Themes:  Time Travel, historical, Scotland

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 4

Review:

This series seems to have come to a conclusion and while I am sad to see that happen (if it’s a fact), I can say that this being the final novel in the series ends it with a real kick and I loved the finale.  Maeve Greyson has taken readers on amazing journeys through different times in the past and generations of the present as she has pulled women through time to have them land in new lives in the past so that they could make real differences in the world.  To that end, book seven sends back not just one, but two women so that they can find love and a second chance at an HEA, but I can honestly say that there were moments I didn’t think these characters were going to find their way to happiness right up until the ending. Jovianna Jacobs and her mother Amaranth are on a trek through the lowlands of Scotland, just enjoying scenery when they are suddenly washed away by rains and a flood, but they survive only to wake up on the feet of a band of men that change their lives forever.  Both historians Amaranth and Jovianna realize immediately that something odd has happened and the men are not 21^st century hikers like them, instead they have been flung back into the 18^th century highlands and they have to adapt quickly to their surroundings if they want to survive. Tobias Risk and his band of merry men are surprised to have two women wash up at their feet, but he unable to deny is attraction to her.  Tobias and Jovianna quickly form an attachment (as does Amarantha and one of his men) and when hearts are lost so quickly sometimes trust is slower to develop.  When Jovianna makes a mistake Tobias questions if he has fallen in love with a spy or traitor and pushes her away, but if he doesn’t come to terms with his heart and find a way to trust he might lose the woman he loves forever with no way to ever get her back… because his enemy will have killed her.  I loved this story truly, despite a few little issues, but the characters and plot were so wonderful that I was able to look past all of that easily. Jovianna was a hoot, and I loved her interactions with her mother, she was witty, sassy, and sweet, even when she was being adorably klutzy, but she was also clever and loving when she gave her heart and protective of those, she called her own.  Tobias was a bit of a jerk more often than not, refusing to look at both sides of a situation, and rigidi in his thinking, but he cares deeply about his people, loves with his whole heart, and is very protective.  I enjoyed the chemistry between these two from the first moment they clapped eyes on the other.  I am sad to see the series ending, but it was a good run, and I loved each installment and hope to see something similar from Maeve again in the future someday.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: Frostbitten (Deep Ops #6)

Frostbitten (Deep Ops #6)

Rebecca Zanetti

Blurb:

Enigmatic. With a wildly gifted mind, and an untamed head of hair to match, petite powerhouse Millicent Frost is brilliant when it comes to gadgets and electronics—less so with people. After an attempt to bust a bank scam goes awry, Millie is in hot water with Homeland Security and targeted by lethal enemies. In the midst of the trouble, she heads home to help out with the family hunting and fishing business. But when their rival competitor and Millie’s ex is murdered, she’s the number one suspect ...

Irresistible. Former Marine turned lawyer Scott Terentson devotes himself to getting his clients out of tricky binds. A loner, the last thing he wants is to belong to any team, yet the Deep Ops group considers him one of their own—and he pays the price by getting shot at by their enemies. Now Millie is seeking his help—just as he’s dealing with a brutal fail regarding a recent trial. Both are a headache, yet he’s drawn to Millie in spite of himself. They’re opposites, but maybe the old adage is true ...

Electric. Working together, Millie and Scott soon have more on their hands than they bargained for as the danger escalates—along with the sizzling heat between them. And when a disappearance is thrown into the mix, all bets are off ...

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

 

*ebook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: The Murder Club (Pike, Wisconsin #5)

The Murder Club (Pike, Wisconsin #5)
Alexandra Ivy

Blurb:

An online crime-solving group is just the kind of adventure Bailey Evans needs. She loves her nursing career and small-town life, but her days are predictable. Her confidence bolstered by having her sheriff cousin Zac nearby, Bailey’s up for some innocent fun and intrigue… Until she starts receiving unnerving warnings: Once the game begins, there’s no backing out of The Murder Club. Then the game gets real…

First, Bailey is shut out at work after an elderly patient dies and leaves her a shocking inheritance. Then a priceless necklace from an anonymous source arrives in her mail—along with a bone-chilling threat. Determined not to involve expectant father Zac, Bailey contacts an expert appraiser: the charming Las Vegas businessman who’s never left her mind…

Dom Lucier knows real gems—and Bailey is the most precious thing he’s seen since they met at her best friend’s wedding. Returning to Pike to trace the jewelry’s bloody history, Dom helps Bailey kick open a murderous cold case. But as death and disaster escalate, they’ll need a new strategy to escape a killer who won’t be satisfied until the streets of Pike are soaked in blood…

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 4

Review:

For a series that began as a lark for an author that was most well known for her paranormal romances, the Pike Wisconsin series by Alexandra Ivy has become one of my favorite romantic suspense series around lately. With each new installment the outlandish murders and mysteries to be found in this small town and to be uncovered from decades of secrets are more unbelievable than can be imagined. Bailey Evans is a nurse, one that loves her town and the residents in the nursing home she works for, but when things around her become complicated and she finds herself in the middle of a real-life murder mystery she looks for help in the oddest corner. Wealthy Las Vegas businessman, Dom Lucier ran across Bailey at their best friends’ wedding and there was a definite spark between them. Now he has returned to see if he has a chance with Bailey, but first he ahs to keep her safe from the weirdness around her soon they are in the middle of a mystery that could lead to their deaths if they don’t work together to thwart a pyscho who has decided not only that murder is a game, but that Bailey has signed up to play and there is no way to exit the gam expect by winning or dying.  I enjoyed seeing Bailey’s sweet and loving nature coming out with the residents of the home, even though she hated the owners, and she is obviously a kind soul, intelligent and loving, but her wit and sass made her a perfect match for Dom.  Dom was protective, loving, and clever enough to know to let Bailey lead the way as they worked together to not only build a relationship but also to bring down a killer and bring him to justice. The only issues I can say I had was that the story moved entirely too quickly for my liking in the romance department, but that is becoming increasingly common in romantic suspense novels as reader only want the suspense. I am looking forward to more in this series but would also understand if the series has played out, because honestly how much murder and mayhem can one small town handle.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: The Summer Escape (Sunrise Cove #6)

The Summer Escape (Sunrise Cove #6)

Jill Shalvis

Blurb:

Anna Moore didn’t just wake up one day and decide to go on a wild quest—especially since her life no longer lends itself to wild anything—so how in the world does she end up racing against the clock with Owen Harris, a sexy, enigmatic adventurist, to prove her beloved dad innocent of stealing a million-dollar necklace?

It’s all Wendy’s fault. Her older, bossy sister, who’s seven months pregnant and on bed rest in their small Lake Tahoe hometown, is desperate to clear their departed dad’s name. Owen, though, is convinced he’s guilty as hell and wants to return the jewelry back to its rightful owner—his elderly great aunt. Together Anna and Owen go on a scavenger hunt for clues to the past (with Wendy remotely along for the ride via an earbud, supplying a running wry commentary to boot). 

On opposing sides and suspicious of each other as they are, Anna and Owen still can’t deny the inexplicable and explosive chemistry between them on this heart-stopping adventure, the outcome of which will prove the necklace isn’t the only thing stolen—their hearts have been as well.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 4

Review:

The hilarity and romance continue as Jill Shalvis takes us back to Sunrise Cove and into an intriguing decade old mystery, along with two people so obviously sure they are in the right, but that slowly come to understand that sometime the truth lies in the middle between two sides of the story. This series continues to surprise me with bother the level of heart and romance, but I can honestly say that the mystery in this one was a whole different ball of wax than any of the others in the series. Anna Moore is an investigator just trying to get through each day, while supporting her slightly insane sister who is currently stuck on bedrest under, she gives birth to triplets, and she has no idea that when she makes a discovery it will change the landscape of her father’s past, her family’s present, and possibly her entire future. When she is confronted with her sister’s anger and a new opponent in the sexy Owen Harris, Anna has to decide if it will be worth it to dig into the past or to try to convince the others to let the past go. Owen is determined to convince Anna that, despite her faith in her father, she doesn’t know everything, and she needs to look into his past and help Owen to find a missing family heirloom for Owen’s great-aunt.    But the more time they spend together the more the passion between them leads to interesting encounters and deeper emotional connections, ones that could leave them both wondering if the true treasure at the end of their adventure might be a chance at an HEA.  I loved the romance between Owen and Anna as they both fought their feelings, each with so many hangups and fears, but such strong chemistry that they could stay away from one another. Owen was a snarky, sweet, and loving guy with an adventurous streak that more often than not scared the hell out of Anna, but in the end showed her the true meaning of safety.  Anna was a sassy, loving, protective, but terrified woman that needed to come to terms with her past in order to move forward and I loved watching her find healing in her faith in Owen.  Together, along with the sweet love story between Wendy and her husband, the old heartstrings were tugged constantly as Jill Shalvis took us on a wild ride all over the Tahoe area and into the high wilderness.  I cannot wait for the next story in this series to see what comes next.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: The Sweetheart List (Sunrise Cove #4)

The Sweetheart List (Sunrise Cove #4)

Jill Shalvis

Blurb:

What makes life sweet?

Freshly baked bread

A cool lake on a hot summer day

The comfort of a cozy bookstore

Second chances and new beginnings

When Harper Shaw’s life falls apart, she knows it’s time for a change. She removes everything that doesn’t spark joy—from her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making lists—and sets off for the last place she was happy, Lake Tahoe (who wouldn’t feel good there, right?) to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery.

With her Sugar Pine Bakery in between a tavern, owned by sexy, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, she feels a peace she’s never experienced since…well, forever.. Then she meets Ivy, a teenage runaway, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secrets…

When those secrets explode, it changes Harper’s new world, and she’ll learn, it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, it’s never too late to let yourself believe in love.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 3.5

Review:

The Sunrise Cove series continues with this new story of a woman unrooting her life and starting over in the one place she remembers truly being happy in her life, but forces are stacked against her, and she has to slog through some pretty series obstacles to get back on her path.  Jill Shalvis has a way of tugging on your heartstrings in her newest series, combining romance, humor, pain and the healing power of love as she brings together people badly in need of one another and reminding them that sometimes all we need is one another and the love we can share. Harper Shaw has decided that her life is in shambles and the best way to fix it is an all-new setting, including a new job, new town, and new home; she takes herself and her dog back to Sunrise Cove off Lake Tahoe in order to open her very own bakery, but her new home isn’t ready for her—in many ways.  Her new landlord definitely isn’t prepared for her and when Bodie Campbell tries to explain that its not safe for her to stay she is determined to go her own way.  Bodie tries not to care that Harper is placing herself in danger, but she pulls at him, and he finds himself drawn to her, especially when she offers sanctuary to a teenage runaway.  Soon they find themselves falling for one another, but Bodie is so damaged by his past and Harper is still fearful of making more mistakes, can they both look past all the barriers in their way in order to have a future? I loved both Bodie and Harper, but honestly Ivy and Ham were my favorite characters—who can beat a smartass and independent teenager with a tough streak and a kick ass pup? But that said Bodie was a grumpy but rightly so, damaged, guilt-ridden sweetheart just trying his best to get through each day and I felt for him as he found a way to forgive himself with Harper’s love and help.  Harper was the kind of woman I truly admire, determined to pick herself up and move on with her life, despite all the drama that she has faced as her life feel apart, and always doing her best to help others.  I truly enjoyed watching these two dance around each other and finally fall in love.  I look forward to many more stories in this series.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: Loving Her Lonely Highlander (Time to Love a Highlander #6)

Loving Her Lonely Highlander (Time to Love a Highlander #6)

Maeve Greyson

Blurb:

Her fit of anger becomes a leap back through time into the arms of a man she can never have.

21st century bookshop owner, Lorna Merriweather is known for her patience. Especially regarding her fiancé. Tonight, he’s promised to go to the cliffs to watch for the northern lights. He must have something special to share if he’s willing to treat her to the Aurora Borealis in the bitter cold that he hates. But when his something special turns out to be a cruel betrayal impossible to forgive, she throws his ring in his face and storms away, stumbling over the cliff straight into the arms of the most amazing northern lights show of her life. But she doesn’t fall to her death. When her head clears, it’s morning and she’s back on the hillside in the middle of a snowstorm. Where is the glow of the town’s colorful festival lights? And where is her terrible ex-fiancé? Everything looks familiar—but not. Thank goodness a strange woman and her family come along in an antique carriage and offer her a ride back to town. Or at least where town is supposed to be.

17th century Gunn Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness and chieftain of Clan Sinclair, has been widowed twice. He loved both wives and can’t stand the thought of going through that heartbreak again. But his beloved daughter Arabella needs a mother, and he needs an heir. The only solution is an arranged marriage to a woman he will never love. An amicable passionless union is what he seeks.

Young Arabella is not about to let her father marry a woman so cruel to her son and lady’s maid that they tremble when she is near. But she decides that the nice Mistress Lorna would do quite nicely for a new mama. And Mistress Lorna has seen how wicked Lady Murdina is, so Arabella knows she will help her get that she-devil out of Thursa Castle. They form a pact to stop the wedding and save the chieftain from the disastrous match.

But what Lorna doesn’t know is that Arabella isn’t planning on halting the ceremony, the wily nine-year-old merely wants to switch brides.

Themes:  Time Travel, historical, Scotland

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

Once again Maeve Greyson Sends us on a fanciful and interesting trip back into the past as one of the time-lost travel back from modern Scotland and into the 17^th century where they find love and everlasting happiness. This series grabbed my attention at book one and I have been a fan of each one for different reasons, even as each one has been unique and interesting in its own ways. In this story, 21^st Century bookseller and lover of history Lorna Merriweather is viewing the northern lights on the cliffs with her fiancé late one night when every goes wrong for her—first her shows himself for the bastard he is, then she finds herself falling from the cliff into a void of the lights and waking up in the middle of a deadly snowstorm.  When she manages to stumble onto a ride back into town it comes in the form of an antique carriage, but she suddenly finds herself in a whole different world, on run by the sexy but distant Laird Gunn Sinclair.  Gunn has already buried two wives and he has no intention of losing his heart again, but he knows he needs to marry again and has found a woman he thinks will fit the bill, but when she arrives with a strange woman in tow, he begins to question his decisions.  With the aid of his daughter Arabella, Lorna soon finds herself falling for Gunn and he for her, but can two people from such different backgrounds and with such disparate lies truly find a lasting match and is the love they are developing safe for either of them? I loved seeing Gunn and his friends and family slowly falling in love with Lorna and seeing her for the woman she was, the kind of woman that needed a real man to love her, not like the ass of a fiancé that treated her so shabbily.  Gunn was a protective, brave, intelligent, and dedicated leader but also a loving and generous father and friend, one that made a perfect match for Lorna.  Lorna obviously saw through the pain Gunna presented to the world and tried to hide behind after the losses he’d felt, but she never gave up on him and gave him the time to heal and accept their love and relationship without walking away. I enjoyed their story and with each new couple can imagine that Maeve could keep this series going forever with very little trouble.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini Review: To Steal a Duke (The Sisterhood of Independent Ladies #1)

To Steal a Duke (The Sisterhood of Independent Ladies #1)

Maeve Greyson

Blurb:

She didn’t steal. She simply took what was rightfully hers—including his heart.

Charles, Duke of Hasterton, admired and respected for his cunning business acumen both at home and abroad has an astounding secret. He is imaginary. But his brilliant twin sister Cecilia is quite real. She was born in Germany after her father died and taught to guard the title, wealth, and power like the rare stolen treasure that it is. After all, as a daughter, she could never inherit the dukedom legally.

Cecilia and her mother cultivate the ruse of the fictional duke quite nicely. Everybody who is anybody in London believes His Grace resides with them at their stunning residence in Germany. Their acquaintances in Germany believe the pretend peer is always in London or traveling the world over. But when Cecilia’s mother falls victim to a grave illness and begs to visit her beloved London one last time, even though it’s risky, Cecilia can’t refuse her. But her mother can’t travel alone, and Cecilia refuses to entertain superficial men pining for nothing more than her dowry. So, she poses as her mother’s companion to ensure their elaborate farce remains safe. While everyone is told Lady Cecilia remained in Germany because of frail health, Miss Celia Bening, companion to the dowager duchess, enjoys the freedom to handle whatever arises—or at least, she tries.

Lord Elias Raines might be the second son of a duke and the youngest solicitor in his law office, but he’s proven himself so capable and talented that when his mentor dies, he’s promoted to partner and assigned to the rich, influential clients cared for by the man who taught him everything he knows. Well, almost everything. His dearly departed advisor failed to mention some of the peculiarities in the Duke of Hasterton’s file. Elias’s requests for the duke to review the oddities have, so far, gone unanswered. Luckily enough, he discovers the duke’s mother is in London. While decorum demands he wait for answers from the duke, he can’t refrain from digging deeper when the dowager duchess requests he draw up her will with a suspiciously generous endowment for her companion, the lovely Miss Cecilia, an intriguing woman who drives him mad with desire.

Delightful, passionate, and at times heartbreaking, a merry chase is had by all until a lifetime of secrets explodes. Elias must make a choice—help Cecilia devise a plan to protect the world she and her mother so carefully crafted or end their illegal scheme and escort them both to the prison.

Only one can win: his profession or his heart—until a third option too terrible to imagine rears its ugly head and makes the choice for them both.

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

A new series begins by one of my favorite authors, one with an intriguing premise, but is just going to be a short trilogy revolving around three sisters-of-the-heart who have been brought together through the oddest of circumstances—in one way or another each of them have stolen a name and a title from the crown just by being born.  Maeve Greyson takes a unique stance of women’s rights as she touches on the ways that women were viewed in 19^th century England, and she finds a way for three ladies to thwart those laws.    Lord Charles Bening, Duke of Hasterton, doesn’t really exist, instead the brains and business acumen behind his entire existence is the woman that has lived as him her entire existence—his twin sister Cecilia.  But when her dying mother asks to return to her home in England one last time, she cannot refuse her, even if she has to go as plain old Miss Celia Bening in order to do so. However, she never thought she would come up against her new solicitor the young and handsome Lord Elias Raines, who is determined to understand the depth of the oddities surrounding the Hasterton estate and the secrets that his previous mentor kept.  But the more he is around Miss Celia the more he finds himself falling in love, no matter the dangerous secrets he learns, ones that could cost both Celia and her mother their very lives if the truth were to ever come out.  But with their love and future on the line, Elias and Celia are determined to find a way through to a happy ending, even if it takes a very act of parliament to get it done. I truly enjoyed this new series, with the intrigue, dangers, and mystery leading to some very interesting plot twists and the love and chemistry between the couple being much more intense than previous Greyson novels.  Celia was a great character, full of spunk, sass, and wit, she was way ahead of her time, as were her friends, and seeing her navigate through the world of business and dangerous secrets.  Elias was also a wonderful character, determined, intelligent, clever, and yet protective, it was obvious immediately that once he sunk his teeth into the mystery that only having his heart lost to Celia would make him give up his crusade for the truth.  I am very much looking forward to the rest of this trilogy as Celia’s friends each find love and have to come to terms with their secret lives and find a way to move out from under their pasts. Maeve has a rich and colorful new series for us here for sure.

*eBook provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.