ARC Review: Riding Out the Storm (Perfect Storm #3)

Riding Out the Storm (Perfect Storm #3)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

You can’t outrun a storm…or the fire it sparks.

There’s a legend surrounding the Storm one touch, and they’re bound to the love of their life – forever.

But Maverick Storm stopped believing in legends the day Ella Decker disappeared.

Once the girl who claimed his heart, Ella vanished after a summer of stolen kisses, whispered secrets, and first love. She left behind only a cold, cruel letter – one that shattered him in ways he refuses to admit. Now he hides behind a bad-boy reputation, runs his family’s small-town winery with his brother, and drowns everything else in one-night stands. Love? That’s for fools.

Ella never meant to break Maverick’s heart.

But under her father’s brutal rule, survival always came first.

So, she walked away…and stayed gone.

Until now.

With her past buried behind a pen name and bestselling romance novels, Ella returns to Gracemont for one reason: to face the boy she once loved—and maybe, just maybe, rewrite the ending that was stolen from them. But Maverick is no longer the sweet, loyal boy who used to kiss her in the shadows. He’s the legend now. The one who doesn’t call. The one who doesn’t stay.

He’s harder. Rougher. Dominant.

The kind of alpha who takes control – and doesn’t let go.

Themes:  Contemporary, Second Chance

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Normally I am full of words and have so much to say when it comes to my reviews so I have to apologize in advance to my fellow readers and of course Mari Carr, because my review is going to be much briefer today. My life recently has become a crazy whirlwind with work exploding, an all-new  adventure of house hunting, packing, and planning a move that all has to go down in less than a month, and the general anxiety, emotional stress, and physical pain that comes will all of that when you are single, lacking support, physically disabled, and ADD and OCD.  So, all that said, here is the best I can currently do to share my opinions…

We finally get Maverick’s story and I am so thrilled to have been one of the lucky ones to read why he is such a wild Storm (sorry couldn’t help myself) but mostly I am sad to see that he has been living almost half his life without the other half of his soul.  Mari Carr returns with a bang in the latest Storm story as she brings back together two lovers, ripped apart at a young age and finally getting a second chance at a love they both never realized was quite so integral to their lives until recently.  I am a huge fan of this series and was so thrilled to know that Maverick was going to get a second chance at love, because I was very afraid his story might have been darker and perhaps more permanent or something.  Maverick Storm fell hard and fast for Ella Decker when he was just a teenager, but when she disappeared into the night, never to return he thought for sure that what he’d felt couldn’t have truly been the Storm Gift (or Curse) of true love striking.  But now that she has returned to Gracemont, Maverick is conflicted emotionally, but definitely not physically because she still pulls him and every time they touch the chemistry and passion is only stronger.  Ella loved Maverick, but she was terrified of his certainty of their future at such a young age and when they were forced apart she wasn’t brave enough to run back to him.  Now she is determined to prove to him that she will stick and as their relationship gets deeper the love that blossoms right back to life, like a plant that has just been dormant under the winter snow, she is determined that nothing will ever come between them again.  I loved the way we got to see glimpses of the love story between Maverick and Ella in their teens as we also got to see them in the present becoming friends again and navigating their new friendship and slowly the relationship that they chose to rebuild.  Maverick is obviously a passionate, strong, loving, determined and alpha man that is willing to put in the time, effort and affection needed to prove to Ella that he is going to be there for her in every stage of their lives and to stand beside her in any battle she needs to wage.  Ella has a lot to face in this novel, not only her past in Gracemont, but her grief, and the trauma that has ruled her life from an abusive and neglectful family, and watching her finally be able to grow from that and have the faith in herself and her future in order to move on was beautiful.  I really needed this story at this time in my life and the strength Ella found, along with the passion and love Maverick and all of the Storms shared with her gave me hope for my own rocky future, so thank you very much Mari.  I always love your stories, but this one was really needed and welcomed right now and I am dying for what comes next for the Storms and the folks that always seem to not only steal their hearts but enrich their family and add to the greatness that is their ever-growing clan. Bring on the Storms!

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

ARC Mini-Review: Alex (Ghost Ops #6)

Alex (Ghost Ops #6)

Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Dead to their pasts. Ghosts. No family ties. No connections. Six men with a top-secret mission move to a small town where they have to navigate local life, protect their secret, and, above all, stay single.

Alex "Ghost" Bishop doesn't let people in. Not after a childhood spent isolated and alone, forced to survive on his own terms. Trust is a weapon that can be turned against you, and love is a distraction he can't afford. His team is everything. Everyone else is a risk.

So when FBI agent Diana Corbin pushes her way into his operation, he resents every moment of it—even when he can't stop thinking about her.

Diana learned the hard way that trust is dangerous. The people you believe will protect you can destroy you instead. She's built her life on proving herself, on never needing anyone, on keeping the world at a careful distance. She doesn't have time for a man who makes her want things she can't have.

But when they find each other undercover in an operation neither should be running, something shifts. Working together becomes inevitable. The denial becomes harder to maintain. And the pull between them—electric, indisputable, terrifying—won't be ignored.

As the mission spirals into danger and their secrets threaten to unravel everything, Alex and Diana discover that sometimes the only person you can trust is the one person you swore you never would. And that love isn't a weakness—it's the only thing that might save them.

Themes:  Contemporary, Finale

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Normally I am full of words and have so much to say when it comes to my reviews so I have to apologize in advance to my fellow readers and of course Lynn Raye Harris, because my review is going to be much briefer today. My life recently has become a crazy whirlwind with work exploding, an all-new  adventure of house hunting, packing, and planning a move that all has to go down in less than a month, and the general anxiety, emotional stress, and physical pain that comes will all of that when you are single, lacking support, physically disabled, and ADD and OCD.  So, all that said, here is the best I can currently do to share my opinions…

The finale of the Ghost ops series is one that is not to be missed for readers of this or any other romance suspense series. Lynn Raye Harris has gone above and beyond with drama, sensuality, and passion as she brings together two people that on paper should never work but ultimately are the perfect lovers.  Alex “Ghost” Bishop has been leading his men on their final mission, trying to keep them all on task, but they’ve each slowly lost their minds and hearts to the women in their new hometown and he won’t risk them losing their new future. Diana Corbin has been a thorn in his side from the moment she arrives flashing her badge, but she has her own agenda and when they continue to cross paths, Diana and Alex are forced to work together on their missions if they hope to succeed. But the more time they spend together as “lovers” the more they find resisting the need and chemistry between them impossible, and soon they are not only burning up the sheets, but also losing their hearts to one another. I loved seeing Ghost finally accepting Diana’s help and seeing her for the partner and mate that she wanted to be from the beginning, even if she thought Alex was an arrogant prick in the beginning. Diana was such a complex and beautiful character to get to know and see her come to trust and lean on Alex and his friends, trusting them implicitly and never losing faith in him. I must say I was not expecting this ending at ALL, but I loved it and I am very much looking forward to the coming spin-off and seeing more of all of the Ghost-Ops team as they settle into their new lives and marry their lovers. Harris never let me down and being able to read her story and have that calm in the storm right now was extremely welcome.

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

ARC Review: Knight’s Storm (Sanctuary Falls #1)

Knight’s Storm (Sanctuary Falls #1)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

Someone is trying to frame her for murder.

When Berkley Knight wakes up in a dead man’s house with no memory of how she got there, she runs. Given her checkered past, she doesn’t trust the cops, so she calls her brother for help. They retrace her steps, trying to figure out who could have dumped her there and why. But when they start digging, they wind up with even more questions—and in more danger.

He’ll do whatever it takes to clear her name.

Unfortunately, the same thing happens again, only this time Berkley wakes up in her murdered ex-husband’s house. Now she’s the prime suspect and soon realizes that whoever is terrorizing her, is attempting to systematically destroy her life. The one thing she never imagined was turning to her enemy for help, but Nick Storm is exactly who she needs to fight the maniac who’s terrorizing her. It turns out the danger is much closer than either of them realize. And the only way they will both survive is to trust each other.

Themes: Contemporary, Suspense

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I always love starting a new series, especially when it comes from one of my favorite authors, and this new one set in Sanctuary Falls, by Katie Reus, is looking to be one of my favorites. Combining interesting family dynamics, suspense, murder and mayhem, along with passion and love, Katie takes us on a journey through the mind of a killer as they are setting up our heroine to take the fall for their crimes but not succeeding thankfully. With the help of her friends, family, and a very unlikely hero, Berkley Knight manages to stay one step ahead of the killer until the very end when her world is rocked by the truth and she is forced to fight for her life and the lives of those she loves. Filled with action, suspense, laughter, and love, Knight’s Storm is one of those stories that sticks with you long after reading it and leads you to want to keep coming back into the world of these characters again and again.  I’m dying for what comes next in this small town, knowing that Micah and Clover’s story will be just as intriguing, and then this series will only continue to get better.  Katie has another hit on her hands, guaranteed!

Berkley Knight, reformed troublemaker, has no idea why someone is out to get her, but when she wakes up in a stranger’s home, a dead man at that, she knows nothing good can come of being found there—and when it happens a second time, and the dead man is her degenerate ex-husband things only get more dangerous.  Nick Storm once thought that Berkley was just the type of woman he wanted to get to know but then he was misled into believing that she was more of a woman to run from.  But now he is getting to know her and learns that she is sweet and spicy in equal measures and when she is in need of assistance he can’t resist being the hero to stand beside her.  Willing to do just about anything to protect her, Nick pushes into her life and they are soon spending every moment together, and the more time they spend together the more they come to like one another.  Soon the heat that was always riding under their antagonism veers into another kind of passion and Nick and Berkley come to find that they mean much more to one another than they ever planned.  Now they have to trust one another explicitly because her enemy has decided to stop hiding in the shadows, and without that trust one or the other of them just might not survive the coming battle.

I loved getting to meet a whole new roster of characters, but my favorite had to be the Knight siblings of course—who wouldn’t love five crazy siblings all with their own weird personalities. Berkley is one of those women that knows she screwed up in her youth, making far too many dumb decisions, but she has worked hard to pull herself out of the mire and is proud of that fact.  Now she works hard, plays very little, and doesn’t let people treat her as less than, but when she needs help in her current predicament she fights for herself just as much as allowing others to fight for her.  She was just the right amount of sarcasm, intelligence, passion, and determination to soldier through, and as she developed feelings for Nick, she also showed him the softness and vulnerability she’d so often hid from others. Nick was a bit of a jerk in the beginning, listening to the wrong person about Berkley, instead of forming his own opinion, but when he is called out for his behavior, he truly gives her a chance and goes to bat for her repeatedly. He is strong, sweet, and obviously protective of those he feels strongly for, so watching him fall in love with Berkley was remarkable because he was obviously unprepared for the depth of his emotions.  It was also fabulous to watch him dealing with the others in her life trying to protect her, because he wasn’t willing to step aside and let others step in between them.

Aptly named Knight’s Storm is the kind of story where two people that had no idea they were perfectly made for one another finally get the chance to find out that passion, danger and fear can all lead them to their love story even in the least likely of places. Berkley and Nick’s chance at love could easily have been stolen from them by a vengeful comment from one scumbag, but circumstances lead them right where they were always meant to be. The danger Berkley finds herself suddenly wrapped up in puts her and all her family and friends right in the crosshairs of a deadly game that she never knew she was part of.  When she tries to protect those she loves, she ends up putting herself into more danger, but in the end the love and trust that she has found in the arms of the least likely person allows them both to survive the sociopath stalking them.  Nick had no idea that when he finally found a way to apologize to Berkley for his idiot assumptions it would be in the form of protection from a killer, but he’s more than willing to do whatever it takes.  And spending time with her, proving to her that they can have a future and are good together, is certainly no hardship for him either.  The passion between these two was accompanied by self-deprecating laughter, sweet tenderness, and of course the acerbic family connection that only a member of a big family can appreciate. I am very much looking forward to the next story (Knight’s Obsession) where we will see another Knight sibling get his chance to convince a stubborn woman they are meant to be together. Ms. Reus definitely has another kicked off another great series that I can see keeping our attention for many years to come.

 

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

ARC Mini-Review: Kiss of Skye (Skye Druids #8)

Kiss of Skye (Skye Druids #8)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

He’s a secret wrapped in sin—power in every step, temptation in every breath.

He moves through danger like it belongs to him. I should be afraid.

Instead, I ache.

Everything around us is a threat, but the moment he touches me, the fear disappears.

His mouth is a promise. His body a weapon.

And I don’t know which one will break me first.

I tell myself this is survival—that the heat between us is just adrenaline, a temporary madness.

But when he looks at me like I’m the only thing that matters, the truth cuts deep. This isn’t madness.

It’s obsession.

Need.

And it’s already too late to stop.

He’s my temptation.

The mistake I’ll make again and again.

Themes: Paranormal, Druids, Magick

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

We are finally going to get the story behind Mason’s defection and learn if he truly turned against Ferne and Carlyle or if something much deeper has been going on all along. The Druids of Skye have been fighting enemies around every corner, but the closer they get to their final battle and the deeper into their troubles, the more we learn about plans that have been laid for decades in some cases.  The majesty of Donna Grant’s ingenuity and the way she pulls us into each storyline, grabbing our hearts and minds, but even more our imaginations never ceases to amaze me. I knew that I was going to love this story, but getting to experience it, falling into danger, action, and fear as Mason and Rowen fought their way through to Skye and then worked with the others to solve the mysteries coming at them was fascinating.  If you are looking for a straightforward romance with two people finding one another and getting their HEA after a simple meet-cute, look elsewhere, but if you want a gritty story filled with magic, danger, tangible passion, and palpable conflicts then you’ll love this latest addition to the Skye Druids series by Donna Grant.

Mason Crawford has spent years, estranged from the only family he still has, hunting the truth behind the death of his parents, and now that he is finally close to the truth he finds out that his enemy knows too much and he can no longer run.  Rowen Thornevale has traveled to London, from the Salish Druids, at the request of her leader to find out if they should align themselves with London and the truth behind recent rumors spreading throughout the Druid communities.  She is immediately suspicious and unnerved with the London Druids and decides to slip out early, only to come across a Druid slipping out a hidden door and covered in blood.  She knows she probably shouldn’t get involved, but if he’s trying to escape these distressing Druids—covered in blood no less—then she can’t leave him to his death.  Rowen soon finds herself embroiled in a battle and escaping with Mason to the Isle of Skye only to become even deeper in the battle.  Mason and the Skye Druids have their work cut out for them with all the enemies on their doorstep, but the more she comes to know them the more she comes to care for them, something she swore she’d never let herself do.

Mason has been a villain for a long time, pushing his sister and the brother of his heart away, but protecting Ferne and Carlyle meant more to him than keeping them happy with him.  Now that his investigation into the London Druids is over, in fantastic fashion, with an attack that almost left him dead, there is no more reason to be away from them, so he is ready to go to them on Skye.  He never imagined that he would need the help of a sexy American Druid to get them both there safely though and while he doesn’t fully trust her right away, the more she cares for him and proves to him that her heart is pure, there is no denying that he wants her.  Mason must give up his investigation into the London Druids, but when he joins those on Skye, he knows that the battles will only be fiercer but fighting for what is right and those he loves are ingrained in him.  Rowen knew the moment she arrived in London that something wasn’t right, but seeing a man fleeing the Druid meeting house, covered in blood, and close to death told her a lot about the people she was dealing with.  Keeping Mason alive and getting them out of the hands of the London faction was difficult enough, but when they arrive on Skye and things become even stranger with voices in her head, mysterious witches approaching her, and finally a centuries old secret coming to light.  Rowen doesn’t believe in love, because everybody leaves, but the more she comes to care for Mason and his friends the harder it is to deny that she is falling for him and wants to be with him.  Her fears are pushing her to leave the Isle, but she knows if she does that, she will lose everything she has ever wanted for herself, so can she overcome those doubts to reach for the one thing she needs to be happy or will she forever lose that piece of herself?

I loved every minute of this story, even if there was less action than previous stories, mostly because we got to see more time where Rowen and Mason were together, learning about one another and getting to build their friendship.  Often in a story as complex and interwoven as this series, we miss out on that character and relationship growth, so I was thrilled to get that in Kiss of Skye. Rowen is just the type of woman that you love to see find her power and her ability to trust in love as she learns not only about Mason and the Skye Druids, but her own past and future. Only when they both come to accept that their fears can be easily overcome with the right person at their side, do they begin to open their hearts, and accept that love is right in front of them. The passion between Rowen and Mason was evident from the moment their eyes connected, even when Mason was close to death, and the trust that lead to their love was beautiful as well.  I am looking forward to seeing these two kicking butt together and with the rest of the team in coming stories, but the closer we get to the end of this series the more I wonder just how much more complicated the story can get without my losing the threads of everything, because honestly there is so much going on half the time I lose track.  The love and connection between Mason and Rowen make this story unforgettable, but the truth of the matter is that a Skye Druids novel is never to be missed and if you’ve missed one already, I suggest you go back to the beginning and get started on this amazing series ASAP. 

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

ARC Review: One Quick Obsession (Cage Family #4)

One Quick Obsession (Cage Family #4)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

“Who Hurt You?”

When Hudson Cage asked those words, I shut him out just as I did the rest of those who cared for me. It’s been a year since I made one of the worst choices of my life but now I am stronger and following the path I’ve carved myself.

As manager of the Cage Resor
t, I want to bring the company into a new era and show the larger than life family that I worth so much more than what my father and ex said I was.

Only to do that, I have to deal with Hudson. The man I can’t get off my mind.

And my neighbor in this small town of ours.

We fight more than we speak to one another, and his over protectiveness is starting to become far too attractive. He holds secrets within those stormy eyes and the part of me that knows it’s a mistake wants to dive deep and know more.

When one lack of control turns to another, there’s no turning back from what we could have. Yet the darkness on each of our paths are closing in.

I don’t want to love Hudson Cage, but if we don’t give in and learn to trust, we both could risk losing it all before we even have a chance.

Themes: Contemporary, (Trigger warning- Abuse)

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I have been really looking forward to the love story that was going to come for Hudson since we were first introduces to him, because really who doesn’t love watching the grumpy gorgeous broken guy find a woman that steals and heal his heart in equal measure?  Carrie Ann Ryan always has a way of bringing together characters that have broken edges in their souls but when those edges come together, they match so beautifully that the puzzle is complete for them. The story of the Cages is heartbreaking but the more we get to know them and watch them rise above the idiot mistakes of their parents, the more we can see that sometimes the next generation is the one meant to show society that the family can make a positive mark on the world.  Ever since the very first story where we watched Aston find love through tragedy and pain, I’ve known that this series was going to be awesome.  Scarlett is also one of those characters that has so much pain in her past that we know she is going to have to overcome not only her ingrained fears but also her physical reactions to ever trust any man with her body and soul, much less her heart. These two are the perfect combination to give us a story to fill our hearts with hope for two broken heart healing together and finding love out of the darkness of their past.

Hudson Cage has given up on love, he tried it once and failed miserably when the woman he loved cheated on him and he refuses to lose himself to another woman, no matter how often he thinks about the beautiful and captivating Scarlett. Scarlett is finally moving forward in life, with a job she excels at managing the Cage Resort and she’s got rid of the boyfriend that was less than ideal, but every time she runs into Hudson she seems to be in her weakest moments. There is definitely heat between them and now that they are forced to spend more time together, they are beginning to realize that maybe that draw is reciprocated.  Neither of them is interested in a relationship, but what should stop them from embracing passion and having some fun? Only there is danger on the horizon, and they must decide if they trust one another to take the next step in their situation and admit their feelings have become much more than just friends and passion.

One Quick Obsession is truly a story of two people who have always assumed their interaction was just anger and heat finding that sometimes the best relationships stem from that passion. Hudson is the type of guy to always step in to protect those that he knows are in danger or being taken advantage of, so there is no way that he would ever let Scarlett be threatened but getting to know her and seeing how strong and passionate she is he is unable to resist falling for her. Scarlett never thought she would fall in love with a man like Hudson, one so strong and protective, but one that would never hurt her, so when she finds herself falling fast, she resists him as long as she can.  Two people on opposite sides of violence in their past must come to understand one another and accept that sometimes violence to protect those you love has a place in the world. I loved how Hudson and Scarlett found a way to share their fears and pasts with one another, until they were finally able to allow themselves to begin to heal and share their hearts.  As usual Carrie gave us a glimpse of coming attractions in the next book and I must warn you that this time it was brutal and almost made me cry and stop reading as it was so painful to read. I am dying to find out what happens in that next story (Pretend it’s Forever) because I just know it will have be balling and need to take breaks.  This series continues to tear me up and make me wish I could find me a man like these Cage guys (or the men the Cage women find) for my own, but until that happens, I will continue to let Carrie Ann entertain me with her extraordinary stories of love, loss, and healing.

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

ARC Review: Falling for Trouble (Dare to Fall #1)

Falling for Trouble (Dare to Fall #1)

Carly Phillips

Blurb:

He’s the bad boy my family warned me about—and the one man I can’t have.

I just landed the job of my dreams—planning the Miami Thunder football team’s anniversary celebration—and I can’t afford distractions. Especially not tattooed billionaire and reformed troublemaker Lucas Carras. He exudes alpha-hero intensity, but he’s been off limits for as long as I’ve known him.

But the kickoff party is happening at the nightclub he co-owns with my brother… and with my sibling out of town, I’m stuck working with Lucas.

Forced proximity ignites the desire we’ve both been pretending doesn’t exist. From bedrooms to storage rooms, the scorching tension causes us to cross every line we swore we wouldn’t. On paper, we’re complete opposites. In reality, the chemistry is undeniable.

This party is everything I’ve worked for—my moment to prove myself. Until the sabotage starts.

Orders vanish. Vendors back out. Someone is determined to ruin the anniversary… and my reputation along with it.

Suddenly Lucas isn’t just a distraction. He’s my protector, my anchor, and the only man I trust to stand by my side.

But when my brother finds out about us, family drama explodes. And I’m torn between being the good girl who plays by the rules... and falling for trouble.

Themes:  Contemporary, Second Generation

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

When Carly Phillips started mentioning a secret project to me and other members of her reader group we were all intrigued but most of us don’t much care what is coming at us, if its from Carly we’re going to read it (full honesty).  So, when I started reading this is hadn’t even read the blurb, so when I started recognizing names and realized we were getting the second generation of Ian and Riley Dare I was beyond thrilled.  I love a good second generation continuation of a series but realizing the Dare’s were continuing this way made my heart almost beat out of chest because I have followed this series religiously from the very beginning (heck I created the first published Dare family tree!). I can only say I enjoyed every moment of not only Rainey and Lucas’s love story, but seeing all the “old” couples that first grabbed my heart when they found love through adversity and getting to see that their HEA really did last through all the crap life throws at people as they age together. Carly truly gave us a gift as she continued the Dares into Gen2 and I hope she does this for all the Dare groups up and down the eastern seaboard (wink, wink; nudge, nudge Carly).

Rainey Dare has finally gotten her chance to prove to not only her family but also others in the business community that she can be successful not because of her connections to the famous Dare fortune, but despite them.  She and her partner have won a huge contract that could make of break their business, but she needs the help of the one man that makes her heart beat and her body melt, and the one man that “friend-zoned” her ages ago.  Lucas Carras has always known that Rainey Dare was a temptation to sin that he would have to resist not just because her brother is his best friend and business partner, but because her parents will never accept a relationship between them.  But the more they spent time together planning the big party, working through mysterious catastrophes that seem to sabotage Rainey, the closer they get and soon the thought of resisting their need is no longer something either of them is willing to entertain.  Sadly, a secret affair can only remain secret for so long and once their feelings are involved an affair, one that is explosively public is not something either of them wants, because they both want so much more. Can they figure out who is after Rainey and also find a way to be together without tearing apart their other relationships, or will they forever have to choose between those they need and what they want?

I truly loved this story, not just because I was instantly obsessed with getting to know Rainey as adult, but because watching her and Lucas both coming to terms with their fears and desires was a true story of growth and discovery.  True chemistry is undeniable and sometimes comes in the most unexpected of places, but when you also have a base of friendship, trust, and years of knowing a man understanding that chemistry adds up to so much more once you allow it free rein in your heart.  Rainey spent so many years fighting for her place in her family, never allowing anyone to write her off as simply another vapid little rich girl and has built a thriving and enriched life and business.  The one thing she has never found is a love like the one she witnessed between her parents and the others of their generation, filled with deep respect, love and understanding, and she will settle for nothing else for herself. Watching her try to settle for less in order to explore the passion with Lucas was hilarious, because we all knew that simply saying they were going to have an affair was going to blow up in their faces. Lucas has fought tooth and nail to be a better man than he was and then he could have turned out to be. His business with his two best friends is successful and his pride and joy, but he doesn’t do relationships so he won’t allow himself to reach for the one woman he has always wanted.  Rainey has always pulled him in and having her in his arms finally releases so much emotion that he has to work through before he can be the man she truly deserves and needs.  It was fabulous to watch the explosive chemistry they shared as it slowly settled into a simmer that was very familiar and I can’t wait to see them in future stories as their love is another one that looks to last for the rest of their lives.

Carly gave us the best second generation beginning and I am dying for more so I hope others enjoy it as much as tell her all about it so that she keeps the stories coming.  Rainey and Lucas are fabulous characters as are their friends and cousins so I am dying to get to see them all falling in love and their own brand of trouble.  The passion and chemistry, wit and conflict, and beautiful writing is classic Carly, so I am thrilled I was given the (surprise) chance to venture into the lives of these all grown-up kids as this continuation of a love that we witnessed so long ago.  If you are new to the series, and haven’t read Ian and Riley’s story (Dare to Love), I highly recommend you start way back and the beginning after you read Falling for Trouble,  so you can see where it all began and then you will be just as hooked as the rest of us on the Dare World of love.

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

ARC Mini Review: Accidental Runaway Groom (Clover Lake #2)

Accidental Runaway Groom (Clover Lake #2)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

I picked up a groom on the side of the road on the way to a wedding.

One problem: I wasn’t the bride.

And he didn’t mean to run away.

Sometimes things happen for a reason and six months later, I’m back in Clover Lake and Sharp McBride is single, not-so-heartbroken, and my new best friend.

Only neither one of us wants to be ju
st friends.

I don’t know where his heart belongs, and I don’t want to be the person to break what’s left. Yet I’m only in town for a short time and I’m not sure I’m made for small time life.

And if we’re not careful, this time I might have to be the one who runs away.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

I have to say I am really enjoying the short interlude novellas that we are getting as we wait for the next full length stories in the world of the Montgomery clan.  Clover Lake being so far away makes it sad to see the couple of Montgomerys being separated from their CO family but in the end it seems they will at least have their own little family group close by. Carrie Ann Ryan usually has so much depth and trauma that she is working through in her writing, but these stories are just fun and romantic to enjoy. Each of the McBride family has had their little disaster and a Montgomery has ridden in to save the day in one way or another and then stolen their hearts. In this story a mistake/plot leads Sharp McBride to the best thing in his life when Jamie Montgomery comes to his rescue and then gives her his heart as their friendship quickly becomes a deeper love than either of them ever realize they needed in their lives.  I loved getting to know Sharp and seeing him finally come to terms with the fact that his first engagement was a terrible mistake that he was lucky to escape and he deserved the love he had finally discovered with Jamie. Jamie never wanted to leave her family beyond a visit to her cousin’s new home in Wyoming, but her feelings for Sharp are complicated and the more she falls for him the more she wants to stay so its not surprising when she comes to the conclusion that where isn’t home, but home is who is taken space in your heart.  I loved every moment of this light-hearted but sensual novella and I am looking forward to the conclusion in book three (His Practically Fake Proposal).  Carrie Ann never lets us down so I know that the last McBride is going to blow us away with their shenanigans and the person they fall in love with (another Montgomery perhaps?) will be just as awesome. Party on!

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

ARC Mini Review: Skull (Serpents of Chaos MC #4)

Skull (Serpents of Chaos MC #4)

Chantal Fernando

Blurb:

Skull is a walking red flag.

He's an enforcer for the Serpent of Chaos Motorcycle Club.

He has a newborn daughter with a messy ex.

And he comes as a package with his identical twin brother Bones.

But what can I say? I'm a nurse. I like fixing people.

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

And there's an X marked on my heart.

Themes:  Contemporary, MC

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

When we learned just what was coming for Skull, and by extension his twin brother Bones, at the end of the previous story, I was unsure if I was going to enjoy this story, being very much not a baby person at all. But I am thrilled to say that while obviously the new single father-abandoned baby trope was crucial to the plot, it was not the written in such a way that you were bogged down in reading it and left feeling preached to about the greatness of babies. Chantal Fernando certainly brings her humor, sexiness, and naughtiness to her characters, plot line and dialogue in this story and I enjoyed it immensely even as I was blown away with the way she managed to incorporate the relationship between the twins and make sure that Bones and Isla found a peace and love of their own. Skull has just learned that he and his twin are fathers and that the club girl who gave birth to their beautiful daughter has abandoned her, so he never imagined that the love of his life would walk into his daughter’s hospital room and blow his heart away. Isla is doing her rounds in the NICU and the sweet baby girl that was left by her mother has already captured her heart, but her sexy biker father is going to be trouble for sure. When he kisses her out of nowhere one night, both of them losing their minds, Isla runs away and does her best to forget the heat that he generates, especially when she learns he has a twin—in a very unconventional  and embarrassing way. But Skull is determined to have Isla in his and his baby’s lives, even though it is causing all kinds of confusion because for the first time ever he isn’t willing to share. Can Skull and Bones come to a peaceful understanding, and will Isla truly give him a chance to earn her love or is she too scared because of past mistakes? Skull’s story was definitely one of the type of heartbreaking need for love and connection that makes you understand why some people never find love and fulfillment in a conventional sense, I loved watching as he slowly came to accept that Isla was it for him and while he loved his twin he couldn’t share his woman with his twin.  His sexy troublemaking behavior and the way he fights for what he wants and then charms his way out of trouble made him the perfect hot biker daddy and I can’t wait to see more of him in future stories and seeing how long it takes before he’s got Isla knocked up (haha). Isla is obviously a quintessential caretaker, being a nurse, but she was by no means a pushover, fighting and pushing back when Skull and any of the other bikers were being aa$$holes. She is sweet and loving, to Skull, the baby and even to Bones once she understands the true bond the twins share, but she also stands up for herself, her needs, and what she will and won’t accept in the relationship and future she wants to build with them. I am really looking forward to the next in this series, and I hope that Ghost isn’t a heartbreaker before he gets his happy ending because I can already tell that is going to a truly rough read.  Not sure how Chantal manages it repeatedly, but she always manages to build a story around the most unlikely of characters but in the end they find common ground and a love that bridges the gaps.

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

ARC Mini-Review: Release (Stingrays Hockey #4)

Release (Stingrays Hockey #4)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

He’s her PR nightmare. She’s his forbidden fantasy. Falling in love was never part of the game.

Tank Phillips scores big – on the ice and everywhere else. But when a wild night with two puck bunnies explodes across social media, the team’s golden boy becomes a PR disaster. Benched, blasted, and one headline away from tanking his career, he’s handed one last chance: Fix your image…with a wholesome fake girlfriend.

McKenna Bailey never signed up for this.

She’s the Stingrays’ brand-new social media manager – more comfortable with analytics dashboards than athletes – and now she’s stuck babysitting the team’s most notorious bad boy. Tank calls her mouse, forgets her name, and grins like he’s allergic to consequences.

But pretending to date him?

That’s a level of chaos even her spreadsheets can’t save her from.

Yet the closer they fake it, the harder it gets to deny the spark snapping to life between them. Tank’s charm isn’t supposed to work on a good girl…especially a good girl who’s never taken a risk like this before.

McKenna has her own secret – one that could blow everything up: she’s the estranged daughter of Coach Fields.

When the truth comes out, Coach delivers Tank a stern warning – stay away from my daughter.

Too bad Tank’s always been better at breaking rules than following them--especially when the one thing he wants most is finally within reach.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Is there anything better than a reformed playboy falling in love with the nerdy romance-reading introvert girl? I love when a story hits me right in the feels and I can honestly say that Tank and McKenna were one of my favorite couples so far in this series.   Mari Carr has been one of my favorite authors for a long time now and each new series that she creates makes me more and more happy that I stumbled across her years ago. I love the characters she creates and even more the trouble she manages to get them into before she gives them their HEA.  This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites as Mari introduces us to more and more sexy and interesting hockey players and the women that are going to bring them to their knees, but have to say I did not anticipate the way she worked in the surprise for poor tank at the end, and he better be careful he never makes his new woman mad or he’ll be in more than one doghouse.  This story begins with Tank Phillips in hot water because his antics are becoming too public and too outrageous for the team and their sponsors to allow him to slide anymore, even if he is one of their star players.  Enter the lovely and introverted McKenna Bailey, the Sting Rays’ new social media manager, who is tasked with cleaning up Tank’s image and keeping him corralled for the next few months. But the more time they spend together the more they begin to like and respect one another, especially with Tank behaving himself and not dipping his wick in every available space. Then the task becomes even more involved when they are cast in the role of a fake couple, even though Tank would very much like it to be real, and the connection between them is no longer one they can deny.  Can Tank convince McKenna to give into their chemistry while they are forced to play at being a couple? And when the emotions get to be all too real can they overcome their fears and hangups in order to have a real relationship or will McKenna run from the truest love she’s ever found?

Release is one of those stories where you can see the beauty of a chemistry and connection between two people long before the couple themselves can, mostly because they have some kind of block or blinder on.  But as they get deeper into their time together both Tank and McKenna come to understand that the other shows only a small piece of their personality to the world, and the core of them is hidden and only given to a select few.  McKenna has been hurt by some many of the men in her life, all the way back to her father and she has never really gotten over the pain, but when she finally starts to see that she can’t hold those hurts against Tank, allowing him into her heart is easier.  Tank has always had his course in life charted and women have come easy to him, but now he sees that they were easy because he didn’t truly care if he won or lost with previous conquests, but with McKenna he can’t lose her.  He will do whatever it takes to change and prove to her that he is the kind of man she can be proud to call her own and have by her side, one that will support and protect her, even from himself and his own stupid mistakes.  When these two finally allowing their passions and emotional bond free rein and show one another their vulnerable underbellies, their hearts connect in a way that makes any reader just sigh and reach for the tissues. The passion between them is more subtle, though both are attracted to one another from the beginning, the resistance to that need is what makes the final Release of that heat so combustible.  I loved every sweet, sad, sexy, and sweet moment of Tank and McKenna’s story and loved that they finally found a way to understanding and an HEA that will guide them through a lot of ups and downs, holding strong.  I am dying for the next story because I can already tell that it will be amazing, and Victor is in for a heck of a ride when he loses his heart. Mari Carr scores a serious hat trick with this new entry into the world of sexy hockey player romances and if you havent read the previous novels yet, I suggest a day off work to binge all four!

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