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.

ARC Review: An Unexpected Everything (The Cage Family #2)

An Unexpected Everything (The Cage Family #2)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

He left me with a note.

Weston Caldwell and I had two months together. Two months of intense heat and plans for our future. Then one day he left me sleeping with a note and never turned back. I closed off my heart and my dreams after he left and promised to take care of my family, never trusting love again.

So when I am forced to head to my family’s small town for protection, I never expect to turn around and see the man I loved.

I want to walk away and never look back, but when I find out he left for a heartbreaking reason, I’m not sure what to think. The chemistry between us hasn’t gone away—if anything it burns even brighter.

But my life is in the city and his is in this small town that draws me. Between his siblings, the town itself, and my new found family, walking away might break me.

Only Weston isn’t the only secret from my past. And it turns out, if Weston and I aren’t careful, we could lose everything before we find our second chance.

An Unexpected Everything is a second chance, right person, wrong time, single “dad,” contemporary romantic suspense in the Cage Family series featuring Weston and Isabella. Each book can be read as a complete standalone. An HEA is guaranteed!**

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Everybody loves a good second chance romance, even when you think there is no way that the lovers are going to be able to get past their anger and find a way to find love together again. As always Carrie Ann Ryan kicks off her story with a heart wrenching and terrifying reunion between two former lovers, two people that obviously once meant everything to one another but lost their way. This one was a journey through pain and loss as both Weston and Isabella have to face changes in their lives and learn a lot about both their pasts and their present in order to find a way into the future. I loved the drama and growth that Ryan led us through as she reminded these lovers that while sometimes you are forced to make terrifying decisions, love and honesty is always the best decision you can make to have a truly fulfilled and happy life. I am looking forward to more of the Cages and seeing when Ryan takes this crazy large and dysfunctional family as she teaches them how to love and depend on one another while healing from the pain their parents inflicted on them.

Weston Caldwell was just looking for a break from his life when he went on a walk along Cage Lake, he never thought that he would find himself pulling a woman from the crumbling ledge of the hill—much less that it would be the woman he once left behind. Isabella Cage Dixon never wanted to travel to the small town her “new” brothers own, and she certainly never though the town would try to kill her, but when she is rescued by the man that left her heart shattered a decade earlier she is done. Thrown together in the small town, full of well-meaning busy-bodies, Isabella soon learns the hard truth of Weston’s defection and her heart is even more conflicted, especially when he keeps putting himself in her path as her protector. Soon they are unable to resist rekindling their relationship, even though neither of them truly believes they have a chance at a future, but the draw is too much to resist. But if they aren’t careful the danger stalking Isabella will ensure they never have a chance to find out if they ever could have gotten past their fears, because someone wants her gone for good, and if Weston doesn’t keep her safe he’ll utterly lose her this time.

I cried so much with this story, seeing Isabella coming to learn why she lost the man she loved a decade ago and having to accept that, while she doesn’t agree with his decisions, she understands why he felt he had to make them. She understands the love he has for his siblings, and the responsibility he felt when their parents passed, meaning he needed to step up and care for them, giving up his dreams. When she finally begins to accept the past, she opens her heart again, beginning to love again and become the woman that she once was before she closed off her heart to the pain. She is sweet, intelligent, caring, sassy and brave, but most of all she understands the way that Weston cares for his siblings, becoming a defacto single father has changed him and loves him despite those changes. Weston made the terrible decision to give up not only his dreams for freedom, but the love of his life when he returned to Cage Lake to become guardian to his siblings, but he never forgot the woman that held his heart. He is strong, loving, enthusiastic, fearless, and willing to do whatever he needs to when it comes to giving those he loves a chance to grow and thrive. Getting a second chance with Isabella was never something he imagined, but when she is in his arms again he cannot let her escape again. I loved that he had the strength to demand that she give him a chance, even though he feared it would be a disaster and he was determined to keep her safe. The love he has for his family and for Isabella is extraordinary, and the obvious affection he has for his friends and annoying neighbors is sweet as well.

The love between two people that were once ripped apart but are now given a second chance truly is An Unexpected Everything, guaranteed to redeem your faith in love and reconcile your belief in forgiveness. Isabella Cage Dixon has had her entire foundation rocked repeatedly recently, with secret family becoming known, a  stalker after her, and now the only man she ever loved –who left her high and dry—is back and everything is changing again. There is only so much a girl can fight when the man she’s never stopped loving pushed back into her life, heart, and bed, and truly why shouldn’t she give herself a second chance to be happy, especially when a killer is out to end her life before she ever gets to enjoy it. Isabella is strong enough to fight for what she wants, but is she strong enough to fight against the pain and fear of losing Weston again? Weston changed his entire life a decade ago, giving up Bella in order to come home and care for his siblings, but now that she is back and in danger, nothing will stop him from being there for her, and if she is going to give him another chance he’ll grab it with both hands. But the fear of losing her again and giving up the life he has made for himself in order to be with Bella is very real, can he find a way for them to be together, and can he protect her from the danger  stalking her? The passion that sparks between Isabella and Weston is there in every second of the tension and pain these two throw at one another, but once they finally accept their past and embrace their present, the heat is  blazing for sure. I loved seeing these two work through their past and present in order to come to terms with their lives and find a way to overcome their differences and have a future together, not to mention the way they kicked ass when faced with a psycho. I am looking forward to the rest of the series, though I can’t lie, book #4 is the one that I know is REALLY going to be my favorite, but I will be patient and enjoy Dorian and Harper’s story first (If You Were Mine). This series is shaping up to be as fascinating as the Montgomerys, though obviously it’ll never be as LARGE and I am proud to say I was here from the very beginning. Kick-ass, as usual Carrie Ann!

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

ARC Review: Control's Undoing (Trinity Masters #14)

Control's Undoing (Trinity Masters #14)

Mari Carr, Lila Dubois

Blurb:

Love was never part of the plan.

Since his sister’s brutal murder, Colum O’Connor found refuge in his work as archivist for the Masters’ Admiralty. Haunted by grief and regret, he prefers books to people, solitude to companionship.

But when a dangerous enemy discovers part of a secret manuscript by one of the Masters’ Admiralty’s most scandalous members, Colum is forced to leave the safety of the archive. With the help of enigmatic Xavier Allard and Annie Ward–a woman who is more than what she seems–Colum races to find the missing pieces of Oscar Wilde’s tell-all book.

The closer they get to solving the mystery, the more undeniable their attraction becomes. Worse, Colum realizes he might be falling in love with Xavier and Annie.

There’s just one problem. Colum is already married.

Themes:  Menage, Erotica

Rating:  4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

We are always sad to see that our favorite series are coming to and end, even knowing that it will be bittersweet to finally get that one (or sometimes two) final story to bring the series to a real conclusion. The Trinity Masters/Master’s Admiralty series is one of those great series that has run long enough that you just felt it would be there forever, always bringing you another dose of joy, but alas it to is coming to a finale and we are left with all the tears, laughter, fear, and love that Mari Carr and Lila Dubois have brought us but will not be given any more.  That said we are being given the stories for the characters that we have fallen in love with and will hopefully get to see them find their HEA before that one last “The End” in the series is written. IF you are a longtime fan of the series like myself and so many others, you have been waiting for Colum to find his way out of the grief of losing his sister and come back to life and hopefully find love, but we knew his story would be a difficult one after having been placed into a marriage that would leave him lonely and alone because his spouses were never meant to be his.  Now the time has come for two strangers to come into his life and change everything for  him, not only reminding him how to live again, but showing him out to love and that he is capable of sharing his life with the right people. I’m melancholy to say the least after reading this one, because I know have a bit of a wait for the next book, the final in the series, and the one that we have truly all been dying for and that will tear us all to shred’s before hopefully giving us the HEA we need to survive the ending.  But whatever happened in the end I know that I have enjoyed this crazy, passionate, loving, and fun ride with Mari and Lila and couldn’t thank them enough for giving us a glimpse into the secret world of the Trinities.

Colum O’Connor has been simply existing since his sister was brutally murdered, only living for his work as the archivist for the Master’s Admiralty, but his world is changing—now that he’s been placed into an impossible marriage that will never be realized. He is investigating the newest threat to their society and has been assigned two of the most unlikely partners in his task—Annie Ward and Xavier Allard—but he is not prepared for the impact they have on him or the way they look at him either. Annie Ward has been sent from the Trinity Masters, their American sister organization, to assist Colum in researching and tracking down a piece of a shocking unpublished manuscript written by trinity member Oscar Wilde, however she has her own hidden talents. Xavier is a Wilde expert and jumps at the chance to assist Colum, but his darkly sensual magnetism is causing extremely uncomfortable feelings in Colum and leading to very interesting interactions between all three of them.  Soon they are embroiled in a continuing mystery, sending them jetting back and forth across the Atlantic and having adventures Colum is not equipped for, but as they get to know one another better is become harder to deny the pull they feel to each other. The heat and passion they are all feeling is irresistible, even though Colum knows he should resist, but when Annie and Xavier break past all of his walls, they all give into their needs and there is no stopping their hearts from being lost. Can they find a way through the hopelessness of their situation to be together or are they forever doomed to be separated and forced to give up a love they never saw coming for them?

How does one truly get over the grief and pain of losing a sibling, one that has been your best friend and support system your entire life? Colum has struggled with this for a while, trying to bury his grief in drink, in work, and in hiding from the world, but even that has never allowed him to forget the pain. But in pushing away the pain he has also been pushing away the beauty, not allowing himself to remember the happy moments with Josephine and embrace the love he shared with his sister. One of the most beautiful parts of Colum’s growth in this story was the way that Xavier and Annie finally helped him to process his loss so that he was able to get back those happy memories and have a chance to find himself again instead of being the shell he was after his sister’s loss. He is such a sweet, quirky, introverted but brilliant character that I knew I would love getting to see him be the star of the story, but I never imagined how darkly sexy he would be when he found that level of confidence with his partners. Honestly, Colum is crazy hot and I want me one of him! Annie is a great character as well, one hell of a badass, but at the same time a sunny, sweet, and loving character that is there to bring out the best of both her men. She has a dark past, one that she has tried to move past, looking for the light in the darkness instead of being sucked down all the time, but she also will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves or considers her responsibility. She is witty, sassy, and empathic, giving Colum the shoulder he needs to talk through his pain, but also knowing when to push him to come out of his shell to give them all the passion they need. I want to be her when I grow up. Xavier is the perfect, snotty, artiste with a dark and sensual side—the perfect third to round out this trinity. He is sometimes just that little bit haughty and French in a way that you just know he is sneering at you in his head, but then the next moment he is reciting darkly sensual poetry as he seduces you right out of your clothes. He also has a streak of crazy that you just know will keep life interesting as he slowly takes over your life and punishes you (in the most fun of ways), but is protective and caring of those he loves. Together the sweetly introverted Colum, dangerous but sunny Annie, and sensually audacious Xavier make a perfectly balanced Trinity.

Control’s Undoing is one of those stories that we just devour and then have to go back to reread slowly so we can savor every moment. A story of one trinity developing quite by accident between three people that were brought together to complete a task, but never meant to be lovers, as they investigated the tragic demise of a man that lost his own Trinity and lost faith in the society that should have back and protected him. Colum has not ever had an easy life, introverted and unable to easily move through society, he has always had to lean on someone to function in social situations or around people that don’t know him well. He is completely unprepared for the love that smacks him and brings out a side of himself he never knew was there, leading him into a whole new adventure of loving two people that he is willing to sacrifice everything for. Annie has finally found a way to live with her trouble past, moving forward in a positive direction so when he arrived in Dublin on a new assignment she has no idea her destiny await in the form of two sexy men that should be totally wrong for her. They turn her world upside down and remind her that even if her past has darkness, the skills she acquired can be used for good as she protects her men and helps to bring down the enemy confronting their Trinity societies. Xavier has been asked to offer his expertise on Wilde, giving him a new adventure and chance to learn more about his favorite subject, meeting the loves of his life was never in the plan though. Now he has to help to find the manuscript, seduce the sexy archivist and gorgeous American, and then devise a way to keep them all together in the end, but he will do whatever it takes to keep them with him forever. I loved every moment of this story, getting to watch each of these lovers find new pieces of themselves with the help of their soulmates, and of course seeing them working together to overcome every obstacle in their path to happiness and lasting love. Together Colum, Annie, and Xavier were a force to be reckoned with and one that no one and nothing was able to defeat or stop, making them one of my favorite trios in all of the series combined. While I know it will be bittersweet, I am DYING for the last story (Fate’s Design) which will give us the much await conclusion to the all-important Eric and Nikolett’s story, though we haven’t been told yet if they might have a third. Knowing the series is ending is truly bittersweet, but I’ve enjoyed every second of the crazy ride and look forward to new and amazing adventures from both of these remarkable writers in the future.

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

ARC Review: Just One More Affair (Sterling Family #5)

Just One More Affair (Sterling Family #5)

Carly Phillips

Blurb:

A one-night stand with a billionaire.

A surprise pregnancy.

Can she trust his love?

Or is it the baby tying them together?

Charlotte Kendall never expected history to repeat itself after a one-night stand at a wedding. Especially since a past encounter left her co-parenting twin daughters she adores. Except this time, her baby daddy is a man she can’t resist.

Billionaire Jared Sterling always gets what he wants—and he wants Charlotte Kendall. When he learns she’s pregnant, he’s all in. But Charlotte’s past has taught this independent, single mom to guard her heart. She doubts Jared’s motives and believes he’s only invested for the baby.

Their chemistry is undeniable and Jared will do anything to convince Charlotte she’s his endgame. But her life is complicated and when her brother’s recklessness puts Charlotte in danger, Jared takes over, proving he’s offering the love and stability she has always craved.

Now Charlotte must decide—will she keep running from the man who’s offering her everything, or take a chance on love?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, there are very few authors that manage the “surprise pregnancy” trope well enough that I will bother reading the story, but luckily one of those authors is Carly Phillips, and her latest release is just another example of why I believe that. I was incredibly surprised when I realized who this story was going to be about, but I’m thrilled that Noah’s parenting partner Charlie will be pulled further into the Sterling family and get her very own sexy Billionaire for an HEA. Charlotte and Jared were beautiful together, even when they were having issues coming to grips with the changes in their lives and understanding one another. I cannot wait for the next release and to see which Sterling sibling falls in love next, though I have my suspicions but of course the best part will be seeing this little family continuing to grow and change as well.

Charlotte Kendall has already done the “oops surprise” baby thing once before and got crazy lucky with the father of her twins (Noah), because although they never had a romantic relationship after their one-night stand ended in a lifetime commitment of co-parenting their friendship and partnership is strong. She is incredibly careful now about her encounters, but the magnetism and chemistry she feels for Jared Sterling are undeniable and when they finally give in at Noah and Fallon’s (Jared’s Sister) wedding she never imagined she’d get unluckily twice. Six weeks later there is no denying the truth to herself, but now she has to find a way to explain to Jared that he is about to become a father and decide how involved they will be. Jared never imagined he would be gaining an instant family, but Charlotte is the first woman to really captivate him and he isn’t going to let her deny that they are perfect together, even if her has to get a little help from her twins to convince her they could be a perfect family. But Jared isn’t quite as willing as Noah was to be just a friend and father to her child, he wants more and that more will lead to a lot of changes in both Charlie and Jared’s life. Convincing Charlie that their unconventional family unit can last and that he isn’t just willing to stay with her because of that baby is going to be a challenge, but a Sterling never gives up when he finds something that he wants.

Jared and Charlotte both have remarkably interesting relationship hangups that kept them from jumping into the deep end and made their relationship hit a few bumps along the way. Jared knows that Charlotte is special and when she returns to his life with the news he is going to be a father, his heart, and goals for the future change immediately. He has a lot on his plate, working to keep his dad from pushing himself into an early grave and now he has to find a way to make more time for his growing family, but he is willing to put the time in for the important things—namely Charlie. Jared is intelligent, strong, alpha, and protective, even if he doesn’t always know the best way to go about asking for things, instead making demands, but Charlotte is just the girl to teach him that. Charlie has worked her butt off to get where she is in life, professionally and personally, and she refuses to take handouts, sadly leaving her with a bit of a chip on her shoulder about taking help from others. She is smart, loving, a good mother, steadfast, and sweet, not to mention supportive of those she loves, making sure that everyone around her has what they need to grow and succeed. As she spent more time truly getting to know Jared she was able to help him overcome some of his issues and they grew closer together and were able to truly become a family, even when her own family never offered her that same support. Together they will be fabulous parents, not only to their child, but her twins.

I truly loved this entire story as Carly found a way to bring a story that could have easily just revolved around the surprise baby to life, making it instead about two people that are taking a chance on a relationship that they might not have taken before. Just One More Affair was a great title because Jared and Charlotte had no idea they were taking that last fling and finding their Happily Ever After when fate stepped in. Charlie wonders if she might be the unluckiest woman alive when her second ever one-night stand ends in a second pregnancy, but thankfully she begins to understand that fate had her hand in Charlie’s life all along, leading her once again to the Sterling family, because Jared was meant to be her future all along.  Jared had no idea his life would change quite so drastically when he took Charlotte to bed, but even after their one night together, he hoped to have a chance at a relationship with her, so their child is just the chance he needed and he gives it his all to convince her they are made for each other.  I loved the way these two interacted with one another, the twins, and even Noah and Fallon, altogether making an odd little family of six (with more to come of course), and I can only imagine the parenting conversations to come. The love and passion between Jared and Charlotte almost shimmers off the pages and you cannot stop reading for fear of missing a single moment of their heat and sweetness. I am thrilled with the direction this series and the family has been going and I cannot wait to see where it heads next, but I know wherever that is that I will enjoy the ride immensely. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I highly recommend you start it ASAP (at the beginning of course) because its only getting better and better and Carly doesn’t seem to be letting up on the gas of this crazy train anytime soon!

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

Mini ARC Review: Storm Wood (Elven Kingdom #3)

Storm Wood (Elven Kingdom #3)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

Deepest loyalty. Fiercest defiance.

I never wanted to fall in love. My sister’s disappearance damaged me for such things. I’ve devoted my life finding her—no matter where that leads me.

I could never have imagined it would bring me to him. A human with haunting celadon eyes and a determination that rivals my own. He’s strong, brash, and gorgeous.

Maybe that’s why I was caught off guard when he acknowledged that I was a covert agent. It’s a secret few know, and if word gets out, I’m as good as dead.

Too much rides on my identity remaining hidden. I have no choice but to help him navigate the perilous depths of the Below—and all who reside there.

But the lines that were once so vivid between us slowly begin to blur. We have only each other to survive and trusting him with my life is one thing. With my heart…that’s something I can’t even consider.

Yet, I can’t stop wondering what his lips would feel like against mine. I can’t help the ache I feel to be near him. And I can lie to him, but not myself. I crave his hard body next to me.

I never wanted to fall in love…but he stole my heart before I had a chance to safeguard it.

Now fate is pulling us apart, but I intend to fight for him. For us.

Even if it means my death.

Themes: Elves, Magick, Fae
 

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

So, I have to tell you I am more and more surprised by this series and being a hard-core romance reader I have mixed feelings about it. I can’t truly say that I would categorize this series as being romance, though each one revolves around a new couple on some grand adventure and they do ultimately find some way to form a relationship that turns out to be love. That said their relationship is way off the radar as being the main plot driver and is often what I would feel is just an after-thought.  The third installment is even more so this way in my opinion, with the couple, Farah and Rohan being mistrustful and enemies through the first portion of the book, then becoming reluctant partners and finally friends later on as they come depend on one another for their safety, but it’s not until almost the very end that they come to show any kind of romantic interest beyond a few random statements about sexual attraction that they both stringently deny even to themselves and fight hard against.  Farah is a wood elf that has been undercover in the darkest and most depraved environment looking for her missing sister for years, but now her entire mission and her very life is at stake thanks to the human male that has ruined it all.  Rohan has become the defacto leader of his entire tribe of humanity since his father’s death and with the abductions thinning his settlement, and more importantly the kidnapping of his sister, he is willing to do whatever it takes to save and stop the evil.  Now Roan and Farah are forced to work together and find a way to trust one another if they want to stay alive as they try to get back Rohan’s people and both of their sisters.  But that level of evil is never that simple or easy, and soon when dark truths are uncovered, Farah and Rohan along with a few old friends will have to come to terms with the truth and defeat their enemies even if it means giving up their missions in the more deadly of ways.  This story was filled with twist, turns, and lots of darkness, but I am enjoying the way Donna is giving us a glimpse of the darkness of humanity, politics, and commerce and why we should always fight for our freedom, stand up for what’s right, and never give up the goodness inside us for an easy life.  While I would say if you were looking for a simple romance or something that is along the lines of one of Donna’s other romance series, this isn’t going to be your cup of tea, as it is much more a Dark Fantasy with a romantic twist here and there.  But if you are willing to look into that darkness in our society and souls and fight against it as she parallels it in this world of Elves and magic, grab your copy of this series and dig right in.

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

ARC Review: Just a Little Crush (Sterling Family Crossover #1)

Just a Little Crush (Sterling Family Crossover #1)

Carly Phillips, Erika Wilde

Blurb:

It’s just a little crush. What could possibly go wrong?

I’ve had more than enough relationship drama to last a lifetime, so romance with Stevie Palmer, the gorgeous server I had a hot one-night stand with, isn’t in the cards. However, she would make the perfect fake girlfriend to help me win my custody battle.

When I offer her an obscene amount of money to play along, she agrees. I insist this arrangement is strictly business. No feelings. No complications.

Easy, right?

Except nothing about Stevie is easy. She’s unexpected softness, stubborn as hell, and impossible to ignore. I tell myself I can keep my hands off of her. That I can ignore the way she makes me feel. Then one kiss turns into another. One night into more. And suddenly, our perfect little arrangement is anything but simple or straightforward.

With so much at stake, can I turn our fake relationship into a real happily ever after?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

An all-new series begins, linked to one of our favorite families that is making a splash in NYC as they each find their own loves, and now we get to see some of their friends find love as well. Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde team up again for a crossover series that gives us glimpses of not only the crazy sexy Sterling Family, but also the awesome Dares and Kingstons in this first in a series as we see Raven Sterling née Kane watch her best friend and brother fall madly in love. I have been a fan of this ever evolving series from the very beginning and with each new introduction of an H/h I find myself falling more and more in love with the world that Carly (and Erika) show me as we get to see NY socialites in an all new light, not as vapid and money hungry women and men obsessed only with their beauty and status but with hearts and souls that they are looking to share with someone that truly sees and loves them, just like the rest of us. I am really looking forward to this new crossover series and cannot wait for more of the Sterling friends to find their mates and loves.

Caleb Kane’s life is complicated right now and he has no time for women, but he can’t deny that there is one woman that draws his eyes and interest repeatedly. Stevie Palmer, his sister’s best friend and the server at her bar draws Caleb like no other woman ever, but she is also so much more. Stevie has flirted with Caleb, harmlessly for a year, but when they finally give into their lust and have a single night together life becomes complicated once again. Now they have to pretend to be in a relationship in order for Caleb to keep custody of his son, but Stevie is stubborn as hell and isn’t a fan of being a kept woman. The longer their situationship lasts the deeper their connection and the harder it is to deny their feelings. Caleb wanted their relationship to continue after their “fake” arrangement ends, but can he convince Stevie to stay with him, despite all her hangups and fears. And then there are all the others that are working against them having a  chance at an HEA, but then again stubbornness is Stevie’s superpower, so will she fight for what she really wants?

I was thrilled when I learned that this story was about Caleb, because I have to say I fell in love with him, and his boy Owen, in Raven’s story and I really hoped he would get his own love story. He is such a great character, a loving brother—giving Raven his love and support when his own twin is a pyscho, a model father, and an all around sexy alpha male that has what Stevie’s sister labels perfectly as BDE (Big Dick Energy) in all the best ways. His confidence, intelligence, swagger, and sexiness exude from him, but he isn’t arrogant in the way that make him annoying or toxically masculine. He’s just the perfect kind of protective and sweet male that is just what Stevie needs after the crappy males she has dealt with in her life. Stevie is obvious guarded after not only her upbringings, but her sister’s recent abusive relationship, but she also knows that Caleb is a good man and she slowly opens her heart to him and I love seeing her find her way to him. She is smart, sweet, sarcastic, witty, strong, and determined to protect those she loves no matter the drama that comes into their lives. Despite everything that has come at her she hasn’t lost her love of life or her ability to find fun where she can and she knows that when she grabs onto Caleb that not only is he going to steal her heart and she will be the one to bring fun into his life again. They match and balance one another perfectly and bring to each other the missing pieces of their hearts and you can easily see they were meant to be.

While Caleb and Stevie’s story might have started as Just a Little Crush they both quickly lose their hearts and souls and the deeply abiding love that develops is undeniable. I loved getting to experience the sensual and heartfelt journey these two went through as they found a way through the drama of a situationship, dangerous exes, and family drama, but through it all they had one another’s back. Stevie is the kind of woman that stands by her friends and when her one night with Caleb puts custody of his son in jeopardy, she is willing to help him, but the more time she spend with them the more her heart is invested and soon she knows that she wants to make their relationship real.  Caleb uses whatever he has to in order to get what he wants, but he never really sees their arrangement as a fake relationship. Caleb has claimed Stevie and once he convinces her of the truth of that claim he will finally have everything he has ever wanted in life, because she stole his heart from him long ago. I loved seeing these two trying so hard to deny their feelings for one another while they were both so deep, but in the end there was no denying the passionate fire that they share or the love that will lead to a marriage and life for two people that need family more than anything. I am dying for the rest of this series and seeing it weave in with the continuing Sterling series. The magic between Erika Wilde and Carly Phillips never fails to blow me away and they definitely have another hit on their hands!

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

ARC Review: Fighting for Mari (Redemption Harbor Security #6)

Fighting for Mari  (Redemption Harbor Security #6)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

He’s her brother’s best friend…

Corporate pilot Mari had a crush on Colin when she was a teenager, but that ended abruptly when she heard him say something awful about her. She’s ignored him ever since. Now that he’s out of the military and started a company similar to hers, they’re rivals and he’s trying to ruin her latest business deal—so she steals one of his biggest clients.

And she’s hated him since she was sixteen…

When Colin goes to confront Mari about blowing up his biggest deal, he ends up saving her from a murderer. For some reason she seems to hate him and he’s never understood why—especially since she’s his walking, talking fantasy and their families are friends. With a smart mouth and lean curves, the badass woman is everything he’s ever wanted. When it’s clear someone wants her dead, he refuses to let her out of his sight—and they wind up stranded in the middle of nowhere with a plane that’s been sabotaged and a killer hunting them. If they can’t put the past behind them and find a way to work together… they’ll die together.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Katie Reus is back with the next in her Redemption Harbor Security series with the story of a firecracker pilot that finds herself in trouble when one of her clients turns on her. Katie had taken us on some amazing adventures with her crew as this series has progressed but with each new chapter we learn more about the team and get glimpses into the craziness and I for one love it. This latest installment is about the firecracker pilot that is friends with many of the ladies that make up the RHS crew and has had a small part in a few of the previous novels. Mari finds herself not only caught in the web of a dangerous killer, but also in the arms of a sexy rival pilot that has been the bane of her existence and her biggest crush since her teens. All the drama unfolds beautifully and with such speed that you find yourself wondering if Colin and Mari are going to get out of their predicament more than once, but you never question that their feelings are developing at mach speed. I am really looking forward to the next story which Katie hinted at a few times and if I am correct will be a crazy one.

Mari Kim has always lived her life in fast forward, reaching for the highest goal and refusing to back down from any challenge, even when her biggest crush broke her young heart. Colin Lockhart has been best friends with Mari’s brother since childhood and has watched her grow into a gorgeous and remarkable woman, but for years she has treated him like an enemy and he has no idea why. With the latest battle, Mari has stolen a client from his company and bought a parcel of land right from under him and when she comes to rub his nose in it Colin is forced to accept that she will not ever tell him what he’s done wrong. When he goes to confront her again, he inadvertently saves her from an attempted murder and they find themselves forced into close quarters as the RHS team look into the attempt and try to find out who is after Mari. But the more time they spend together, even when their plane goes down in the middle of nowhere, the harder it is for Mari and Colin to deny the attraction they feel and soon their feelings are out of control. Once the danger passes can they build a true relationship or will old fears and habits keep them apart even as their love soars—and what if the danger isn’t as over as they think?

I have been dying to get to know more about Mari as we have seen so many little quirks in her attitude and behavior in previous novels I knew she was going to be an awesome character to get to know. She is sarcastic, smart, brave, and sweet when she wants to be, but she definitely isn’t sappy or a pushover in any way. She has a tough outer shell that she uses to keep her softer nature protected and rarely shows that softness to anyone outside her very tight inner circle. When she finally forgave Colin and allowed him back into her heart, the sweetness and connection they formed was one that showed us how great of a partner she will be for him and how important their love will be. She had the kind of bravery that I could only aspire to, embracing her life full speed ahead and determined to live every moment her way. Colin is a perfect match for Mari, even if she didn’t know it for far too long; he is the kind of protector that will be right beside her was she embraces her adventurous spirit, helping her spread her wings but being there as her safe spot to land. Colin is intelligent, brave, sweet, loving, and dedicated to protecting those he cares for, which definitely include Mari, even when she was being a little bit bitchy to him. He knows himself and his limits and he will never leave a friend behind or allow anyone to be hurt when he can step  in to offer protection. That bravery is not something that can be taught, it’s a natural reaction that one either has or doesn’t have in their hearts. I loved getting to see Colin lose his head and heart to Mari and vice versa.

Sometimes you come across a story that will truly stick with you forever and Fighting for Mari is one of those books because there is no way I will be forgetting Colin and Mari’s story anytime soon. Mari is one of the bravest and most stubborn women that you’ll meet, but she is determined to live life on her terms and won’t let any struggle keep her down, even though the guy she’s never stopped lusting after continues to make her crazy. Her bravery and grit are all she needs to pull her through any danger, along with the help of her friends at RHS and maybe the sexy guy she finally decides to forgive and accept into her heart. Colin is a badass and he will use every ounce of his skills if it means keeping Mari safe from the killer that are one their tails. His determination in the face of deadly challenges prove that nothing will stop him when he has his heart set on the one woman he has always lusted after and has finally decided he wants for his own. The passion between these two is apparent from the very beginning, even when they are just squabbling, but when they finally allow themselves to embrace the heat the fire burns out of control. I am dying for the next in the series (Fighting for Hope) because we will finally get to see Bradford get his HEA hopefully and I can already tell that story is going to be a serious journey. Katie has done it again with the magic of two pilot losing their hearts in a big way.

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

ARC Review: Accidentally Forever (Montgomery Ink Legacy #8)

Accidentally Forever (Montgomery Ink Legacy #8)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

In the world of romance, Aria Montgomery knows two things for sure:

She’s not in love with the man everyone thinks she is.

And she refuses to let herself love Crew McTavish.

Her former best friend is spiraling, and her photography career seems to be standing in her father’s shadow. Aria knows she needs to find her way out of the darkness. Yet she’s afraid if she allows Crew inside, he’ll not only take over—but he’ll get hurt in the process.

Crew McTavish enjoys being the mysterious friend of the Montgomerys. They may joke that he’s dating his way into their family one-by-one, but in the end, it’s only one Montgomery he wants: Aria.

Their pull to one another is inevitable and once a line is crossed, the heat between them ignites.

Only his family’s dark secrets threaten to pull him down and when Aria is threatened, Crew will stop at nothing to protect her.

Even if it means watching the world he’s built burn.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Once again, we find ourselves caught up in the crazy, sexy, and loving world of the Montgomery’s and to nobody’s surprise the drama and emotional stress is there right to the very end of the story.  Carrie Ann Ryan has been thrilling us for so long now with this series that you might think you’ve seen it all, but I am here to tell you that she never ceases to find something to break our hearts and remind us of the power of love. We’ve been hoping for this story for a long time, wanting both Crew and Aria to find their HEA, not knowing that they would be meant for one another from the very beginning. This is a story of two people that have circled one another for years, always seeming to tear one another down, but have finally found their time and now they are determined to give their hearts to one another. I am dying for the next story after that last chapter because I can already tell it is going to be traumatic and filled with pain before Carrie Ann brings us another fabulous HEA.

Crew McTavish has been a friend of the Montgomery family for decades and he has always hated his own family for the pain and suffering they caused him. Aria Montgomery has always been far beyond his reach, despite the fact that he slowly feels in love with her from afar and that they have given into their lust multiple times.  Now Aria and Crew have decided that they are going to give their relationship a real try, even with the other Montgomerys breathing down their necks. But there is a shadow hanging over their new relationship in the form of Aria’s childhood friend, Travis, and the more she pulls away from him the more daring and dangerous he becomes to Aria.  With family drama coming from both sides,  danger around every corner, and their own issues to work through, can Aria and Crew find a way to have a future together or will they loose their chance at a forever?

The connection between Aria and Crew was there from the very beginning and undeniable but they were at their best when they finally admitted that they were meant to be together all along instead of hiding their feelings. Crew is the type of self-made man that becomes a good and loving friend and partner despite instead of because of his parents and upbringing. HE was abused and mistreated as a child and the only time her was shown love was when he was with the Montgomery family but he used their example to become a good man instead of being an awful human like his parents.  He is strong, smart, loving, sweet, and sexy in the way he shows his love to Aria and his friends.  It was sad to see how he had to continue to deal with his abusers, but when he finally found his strength to let them go thanks to Aria, it was a proud moment. Aria is the perfect cross of her mom and dad, determined to be there for those she loves and considers her friends, determined not to give up those that have even given up on themselves.  She is a calm in the storm, intelligent, loveable, brave, and self-sacrificing but she also knew when to stand up for herself and fight back. That strength and determination showed that she knew her worth and was going to demand that her partner acknowledge her importance of their relationship. Together they were a perfect balance for one another issues and hang-ups and you see they will be perfect together long into the future.

Crew and Aria’s story takes us through two people that learning what it takes to accept the love they are both deserving of and accept that they were always meant to be together Accidentally Forever. Crew has had a very difficult life, with an abusive childhood, an adulthood filled with a distinct lack of connection outside the Montgomery’s, and falling in love from afar with a woman he thought he’d never be good enough for.  He never could have hoped that he would actually one day find her not only in his bed, but in his heart, and finally being able to call Aria his love has changed his outlook forever and made him into a better man. Aria has lived her life in the shadows for years, trying to find her way in there art without being shadowed by her dad, trying to help her friend, but being beat down for it, and never being able to find the man that would earn her heart. When she finally allows herself to admit her feelings for Crew her world just opens up and she is free, her heart expanding and her fears finally releasing her.  The passion between these two is apparent from the very moment they enter one another’s hemisphere and when they finally stop hiding their relationship from others the heat explodes like an atom bomb.  As always Carrie Ann added a sneak peak of the next book as the last chapter and I can already tell that poor Lexington is going to have a hell of a time finding his own HEA, and I cannot wait to go a long for the ride.  The wait is going to kill me, Ms. Ryan, but I suspect that was your evil plan.

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