tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90650315505796576812024-03-17T22:42:53.890-04:00Romance Witch's ReviewsMichelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.comBlogger942125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-67990327319057593262024-03-17T09:30:00.017-04:002024-03-17T22:19:14.572-04:00ARC Review: Fighting for Reese (Redemption Harbor Security #2)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Fighting for Reese (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/370880-redemption-harbor-security"><b>Redemption
Harbor Security #2</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1563059.Katie_Reus" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Katie Reus</b></a></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She’s a grumpy
security expert…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZBQ47b5Q2IWpAToCqSoEGjgVXr9vX9aF9Yr85YVvVuWWCKM8ckmkSlMYB2IQPDDuGx40OdXZDL0HEUGbEAThXBcBOkPC1p-MwHqXHXdK-cWsZPB8YOrWpoUC0Q8HnXTUzmyk78xRRN-NrpR56xIEwQ1imGBn8mLfg4v_gqC6pmWhwSA8V4yryajECKiw/s500/FFR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZBQ47b5Q2IWpAToCqSoEGjgVXr9vX9aF9Yr85YVvVuWWCKM8ckmkSlMYB2IQPDDuGx40OdXZDL0HEUGbEAThXBcBOkPC1p-MwHqXHXdK-cWsZPB8YOrWpoUC0Q8HnXTUzmyk78xRRN-NrpR56xIEwQ1imGBn8mLfg4v_gqC6pmWhwSA8V4yryajECKiw/s320/FFR.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reese doesn’t do
relationships. Especially not with tall, sexy men with golden retriever energy.
Nope, she prefers her men brooding and silent—with no strings attached. So when
she hooks up with her gorgeous coworker after their friends’ wedding, she does
what any sane woman would do. She runs.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s a sunshine
badass…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately for
her, they’ve got to go undercover at a couples’ retreat which means one room,
one bed, and a simmering heat neither of them can deny. Constantine—aka Cash to
his friends—has been burned before because of his wealth. But Reese wants nothing
to do with his money, which only intrigues him even more. Now that they’re
sharing a room, his hot-and-cold vixen isn’t getting away from him again. But
he’s got to keep them alive long enough to show that what they shared is more
than a one-time thing. Something that proves more difficult when people around
them start dying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Contemporary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcevMiuTozopkMW9uP7N6L37QYXcr12NwTlqgN_3UbkibqwARb6qc-sTV4yOlL8k71weX1c6afSQV2OdcCae60x48TRov8jC7KL-asKwNAvsChExoHZFG2d4remjpt2JCddFkHP6C3dDfcLNNAKl08DpYsoPdEmqVnjleOKO0KRlCsxBO3_Ssyw2Uw632/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcevMiuTozopkMW9uP7N6L37QYXcr12NwTlqgN_3UbkibqwARb6qc-sTV4yOlL8k71weX1c6afSQV2OdcCae60x48TRov8jC7KL-asKwNAvsChExoHZFG2d4remjpt2JCddFkHP6C3dDfcLNNAKl08DpYsoPdEmqVnjleOKO0KRlCsxBO3_Ssyw2Uw632/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Usually
when we talk about a grumpy/sunshine romance we kind of know what to expect,
but Katie Reus manages as always to turn everything on its head in this new
story of two people so obviously made for one another even if one of them is
resisting it every step of the way. I have been really looking forward to this
novel, ever since the characters first met in the previous novel and we watched
sparks flying, and I enjoyed every moment of their story as it developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Redemption Harbor Security Team is quickly
becoming one of my favorite new series and I am really looking forward to the
third installment coming soon, but in the meantime I just might reread Reese
and Cash’s love story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For anyone
looking for the type of fast-paced and suspenseful romance, filled with twists
that will leave you wondering if the main characters are going to make it in
the end, I present to you the majesty of Fighting for Reese and welcome you to
the world of Redemption Harbor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Constantine
Pierce, aka Cash, has started a new adventure along with his foster sister and
her long time love in North Carolina, and one of the biggest draws to his new
life is the sexy and irritable Reese Sinclair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has sparked his interest from the first time they matched wits when
they worked together trying to rescue his kidnapped foster brother, and he has
never given up hope that he would get a chance to prove to her they were meant
to be together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese can’t believe she
gave into her weakness and slept with the golden boy charmer Cash, but now she
has to find a way to work with him as his fiancée undercover in a very high
stakes case. But the deeper they dig into the case, the more questions arise
and the higher the threat level seems to be going, leaving Reese, Cash, and
their partners right in the crosshairs of too many enemies for them to not have
total trust in one another, even if they are fighting the passion and emotional
pull they are feeling. They have to let go of their fears and emotional hang-ups
in order to survive the dangers all around them, but if they survive, can they
then find a way to build a life together or will Reese push Cash away once and
for all? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Man
where to even start with all the emotional trauma these two lovers had to
overcome in order to accept one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Reese has lived a golden life, when you look at it from the outside,
having grown up with a silver spoon and being given every leg up in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the truth is that she lived her childhood
without the one thing she needed the most, the love and mutual respect of her
parents, which made her push them and their lifestyle away so that she could
live her own life, even though she still loves them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has determined to make her own choices
and not let their wants and desires for her future affect her, but that has
also left her making choices that keep her from making emotional
connections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IT wasn’t until she finally
allowed herself to admit that Cash had come to mean much more to her than even
she expected that she opened her heart and allowed him to get his foot in the
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she did that it didn’t take
much for the love to blossom and she became a whole new woman emotionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cash on the other hand made his own family
with his foster siblings as a kid, then became his own man, always jumping from
life goal to goal looking for the own thing in life that would keep him engaged
fully, until he met Reese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that
meeting Reese he finally found the connection and goal that will keep in
grounded and in place permanently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
he has always been strong, dedicated and loving, he needed someone to shower
all his love and passion on, not just a job to devote himself to, but a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">person</i> that he could give his
whole heart to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These two obviously were
the missing piece of one another and once they began to realize and accept that
their lives and their love became beautiful to experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The storyline
that backed Reese and Cash’s love story was scary suspenseful and full of so
many plot twists that I also most got lost more than once, and not going to lie
there were several times I found myself asking “did I really just read
that?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reese is an expert behind the
computer, but being out in the field she has to count on her teammate to not
only keep them all alive, but also to help her work through all the craziness
they encounter, and the emotions that she and Reese are hiding from as they
slowly fall in love certainly aren’t helping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cash is determined to do whatever it takes to keep Reese and the others
safe, but that protectiveness puts him right in the line of fire more than
once; he is obviously the brawn and the badass for their team and I loved
seeming taking names and defeating enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The passion these two share is never far from the frontlines, whether
they are fighting, teasing, or loving, and the am so glad they found their HEA
and look forward to seeing more of them in coming novels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nest novel is going to be even more
sparky because no one does enemies to lovers better than Katie and Adalyn is
going to make Rowan seriously work for it (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171812076-fighting-for-adalyn">Fighting
for Adalyn</a></i>). A supreme pleasure diving into this read as always, Ms.
Reus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-33550238958837863312024-03-10T15:00:00.017-04:002024-03-11T22:09:27.302-04:00ARC Review: Just One More Moment (The Sterling Family #1)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>Just One
More Moment (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/386335-the-sterling-family"><b>The
Sterling Family #1</b></a><b>)<br /></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips">Carly
Phillips</a></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62GKShWruXOdKTbQvVf4cqmUsQ1DUFdOvEqHsysM1o_8sj-DIxCsROb3I30VIItXkO8usxhOR-AZPILtxPpJxJ2LP-RGEbY957O0hwRrmje-kblbuLYY_9kNTo9CNP5vaTfkjRawUXqN8nfcZiUepL_VTS47bWFIafRimq2PqWMGRw7uEd5EFeQ8wK-ZY/s522/JOMM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62GKShWruXOdKTbQvVf4cqmUsQ1DUFdOvEqHsysM1o_8sj-DIxCsROb3I30VIItXkO8usxhOR-AZPILtxPpJxJ2LP-RGEbY957O0hwRrmje-kblbuLYY_9kNTo9CNP5vaTfkjRawUXqN8nfcZiUepL_VTS47bWFIafRimq2PqWMGRw7uEd5EFeQ8wK-ZY/s320/JOMM.jpg" width="194" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">She
thinks happily ever after only happens in romance novels.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">He
can’t wait to prove her wrong…<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Falling
in love is not on Raven Walsh’s agenda. Running from her past keeps her way too
busy for that. She can, however, handle a friends-with-benefits scenario with
the hot billionaire who co-owns The Back Door bar. But trusting him with her
heart? Not a chance…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remington
Sterling has had his eye on the smart and sexy Raven since she started
waitressing at his bar. He knows she’s gun-shy where relationships are
concerned. But he’s ready to do whatever it takes to convince her he’s worth
the risk…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When
Raven’s secrets catch up to her in a big way, she must decide if the potential
cost of trusting Remy is more than she’s willing to pay—and Remy will need to
figure out how far he’s willing to go for love…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Contemporary</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OkA-6lPSeHpblDPlhcrcLnvHNQ8360in_-myYdOR28JEtFgLkKU9A8KO1erq6_aSVcRxbPtuSBKVB3pmFViqDdNZZd2KPyZwUxyqc6w66iun5Qd1aY0UwNczLbJXAp2sxEB6fhPEant3Vs_8dHGA-jAG9LobwhpZDtmPU-9kLoTc6nqPa3pCMai2uFm3/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OkA-6lPSeHpblDPlhcrcLnvHNQ8360in_-myYdOR28JEtFgLkKU9A8KO1erq6_aSVcRxbPtuSBKVB3pmFViqDdNZZd2KPyZwUxyqc6w66iun5Qd1aY0UwNczLbJXAp2sxEB6fhPEant3Vs_8dHGA-jAG9LobwhpZDtmPU-9kLoTc6nqPa3pCMai2uFm3/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a></p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
have been looking forward to this new direction from favorite author Carly
Phillips since I learned the inside scoop months ago and I am proud to say that
she has managed to segue beautifully from a long-running and beloved series
into this new and exciting family that I am looking forward to learning all
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For fans of the Dare World, we
recently got to know Remy Sterling very well as he intermingled with Zach Dare
and his siblings, being Zach’s best friend and business partner, but a
dangerous individual from an affluent family in his own right. It has been
fascinating to learn about his family and see where this series will be taking
as we come to understand that even though they have always had money, they
haven't had it any easier than the rest of us, dealing with loss, fear, and
pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am dying to find out more about
everyone in his family and see how they cope with the coming changes in their
lives, finding love, and finally learning to forgive others and themselves for
their pasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next in the series,
Remy’s adopted brother Dex is going to be very interesting and I can already
tell will be a killer as we get to reunite with a favorite character from the
Dare world and see them find love together, hopefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carly truly never ceases to amaze me as she
digs into her heart and imagination to bring these characters to life and make
them seem so tangible in our hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remy
Sterling has had his eye on Raven Walsh since she began managing his bar and
grill and he knows that there could be something special between them, if only
she would stop putting up walls between them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Raven knows that being with Remy would be a danger to him and all those
he loves, despite the fact that she wants so badly to be with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he catches her at a week moment she
finds it impossible to resist him, but she has her rules and she is determined
to keep him at arm’s length.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then her it
begins to look like her past is catching up with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The danger she has been hiding from has found
her and is taunting and threatening her mentally and physically and there is no
way that Remy is going to stand for that. But as the danger escalates so do the
emotions for Remy and Raven, until it becomes clear that they are more than
just friends with benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now they
just need to survive long enough to have a chance at a future together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Raven
is one of those women that you just know you can be friends with if she would
allow herself to relax her guard long enough in order to make friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been living on the edge for so long,
trying to protect those around her from going through what a past friend did
that she hasn’t been able to have anyone in her corner or anyone to lean on
beyond her brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved that she
finally found a way to release those walls with Remy and that she came to trust
him enough to not only protect her but end her torment once and for all. She is
a passionate, clever, sweet, and loving sister, aunt, friend, and lover when
she is finally given the chance to let go of her fears and seeing her get that
chance once she and Remy defeated her tormentor was beautiful. Remy is such a
strong, smart, dedicated and loving character, one that I can honestly say I
wouldn’t mind having in my life or my bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was obvious from the very beginning that he was going to be a life
changing force of good for Raven, but I don’t think she realized just how much
he was going to be changing her life when she agreed to a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">friends with benefits</i> arrangement with a the dominant but sexy man
who had become her friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remy is not
going to let any danger come to Raven and he is not going to let her pull away
from him now that he finally has a chance to prove to her that they can have a
happy life together. There was no denying that he had his own ideas of how to
get his way, but he didn’t walk over anyone and he cared deeply for not just
his family, but his friends and employees, not the least of which was Raven who
had stolen his heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Just One More Moment</i>
is one of those stories that grabs you by the heart strings from the very first
words, then tunnels in and refuses to release you until the very end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was transfixed as I watched Remy and Raven
navigated this sometimes rocky and terrifying relationship as they found a way
out of the darkness they’d been living in and into a world where they could
openly live together in the light. Raven has lived so long in the shadows of
her past, a past that scarred her and left her with very few allies in life and
a fear for letting anyone close every again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Remy has his own darkness in his past, but he has worked hard to atone
and move forward, even though it sometimes still colors his relationship
choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together they can conquer their
problems and defeats the enemy that is out to prevent them from ever having
their HEA, but the trust that they have to share is one that neither of them
have ever had in a partner and it has to come quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passion is there and the friendship is
slowly growing, but the love is one that takes a bit of time and when is
finally flourishes we know that no evil will ever stop it or knock it down. I
loved every moment of this story and cannot wait for Dex’s story (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205171452-just-one-more-dare" target="_blank"><i>Just One MoreDare</i></a>) because I know that one is going to be explosive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carly has truly outdone herself with this new
series and she is just starting! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-67232011550830150592024-03-09T09:30:00.001-05:002024-03-09T14:40:57.446-05:00Cover Reveal: Forewarned by Chantal Fernando<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">🖤 𝒞𝒪𝒱𝐸𝑅 𝑅𝐸𝒱𝐸𝒜𝐿 🖤</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-47db385c-7fff-0d97-2cd6-09035b5f0311"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjhOfYcUs_Fm5E83wOXIMpSXbb5SVKAirvvO9tEo_ChoJvtUzJM0fKrPPj184zTA7oL1U1NEJiMhlibrZgS8QptAP4PsU7HJYjpMxdU9cWjEavShUkrKZ9eYoRdmJlO3gYg0Lf_E2aTzho1qmMZXCZFhoK884Bw1vXU9-GN5IneJaXVB-gL4asXbNXUke/s1080/Untitled%20(Your%20Story)%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjhOfYcUs_Fm5E83wOXIMpSXbb5SVKAirvvO9tEo_ChoJvtUzJM0fKrPPj184zTA7oL1U1NEJiMhlibrZgS8QptAP4PsU7HJYjpMxdU9cWjEavShUkrKZ9eYoRdmJlO3gYg0Lf_E2aTzho1qmMZXCZFhoK884Bw1vXU9-GN5IneJaXVB-gL4asXbNXUke/s320/Untitled%20(Your%20Story)%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m so excited to finally be able to share with you the cover of my upcoming #ROMANTASY book 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓮𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓭 which is due out on March 26th. I’m so in love with these characters and this world. 😍</span></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I step aside from my normal MC genre I hope you take a chance on me and check this book out. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s currently available for pre-order on all platforms however on release day it will be removed on all other platforms and go exclusively into #KindleUnlimited so if you read on any other platform than Amazon - pre-order now to secure. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Romance Fantasy </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">👉 Fates Mates</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">🖤 Enemies To Loves </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">👉 Opposites Attract </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">🖤 Touch her and die </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">👉 He falls first </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">🖤 Shadow Daddy </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐑𝐁:</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fae spend their entire lives searching for their true mate. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But me? I know w</span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space-collapse: preserve;">ho my mine is. </span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I don't want him.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My name is Astrid. I'm a fae, a seer and a healer.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not much scares me. But him? </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That's the darkness I'm never going to let catch me.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pre-order is available now on all platforms however this will go into Kindle Unlimited on release day. </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">𝐏𝐑𝐄-𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄:</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">https://books2read.com/u/mBApBp</span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Goodreads: Coming Soon </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">#coverreveal #chantalfernando #fantasyromance #preorder #chantalfernandobooks #comingsoon </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-90541229497122867092024-03-05T18:00:00.000-05:002024-03-07T18:11:16.862-05:00ARC Review: Brutal Capo (Syndicate Rules #5)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Brutal Capo (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/375626-syndicate-rules"><b>Syndicate
Rules #5</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22369.Lucy_Monroe"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lucy Monroe</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtT-qUkDUArn_True3oq_a59Bw2sczOGoTz_NgBbFHOIjtAdUZQD91V5NFoAmtb0JQnvW-5si84d6WtjahzoHHkYBEKFO65ifQxqxS7_0GQwJcgbG_DamJiesd9q-0znq7QXIhfB63_CUvV2cXPKQgbbtNzMnvYfEU2-wqCOxib-hNr1PwnHicWJ2utw34/s2250/BC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtT-qUkDUArn_True3oq_a59Bw2sczOGoTz_NgBbFHOIjtAdUZQD91V5NFoAmtb0JQnvW-5si84d6WtjahzoHHkYBEKFO65ifQxqxS7_0GQwJcgbG_DamJiesd9q-0znq7QXIhfB63_CUvV2cXPKQgbbtNzMnvYfEU2-wqCOxib-hNr1PwnHicWJ2utw34/s320/BC.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BIANCA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm hiding in
plain sight from the mafia. But when the don finds out who I am, he demands I
marry the capo who broke my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">SALVATORE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She betrayed me.
Or so I think until that fateful day when my don gives me a choice. Make it
right and marry her. Or death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Contemporary, Mafia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating:</span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0sQD5Dy30ZNSRky-H9N7rv6rFGuMXPLRi1-e760ImnPZaXvmNVp-02nC6rUdkXNmtyCy-1I9R1m9yXmbWbTll3oNDSU_JWVqdalDEEvKSvsNuC4erk8t-UofYD9qcnjq4o-Rhg4D2KcmsOFJf8rJeKgfEnPLqeAyq3Xz6Ck6uY0FnfXA7vgCJ5rHjKB5/s146/4.5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="146" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0sQD5Dy30ZNSRky-H9N7rv6rFGuMXPLRi1-e760ImnPZaXvmNVp-02nC6rUdkXNmtyCy-1I9R1m9yXmbWbTll3oNDSU_JWVqdalDEEvKSvsNuC4erk8t-UofYD9qcnjq4o-Rhg4D2KcmsOFJf8rJeKgfEnPLqeAyq3Xz6Ck6uY0FnfXA7vgCJ5rHjKB5/s1600/4.5%20flames.jpg" width="146" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
are returning to New York, where it all began, in this latest installment of
the Syndicate Rules series by Lucy Monroe as we get to see the story of a lost
Mafia princess and the intense and sometimes terrifying Capo that steals her
heart and never lets her go. I have been a huge fan of Lucy’s for years now,
but I have to tell you that I was more than a little bit leery of her new foray
into this world of Mafia romances, but I gave it a try when she released the
first story and I was instantly hooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each new story has been interesting, darkly romantic, and filler with so
many fascinating charters in a world I have no experience with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bikers, military, cowboys, all of these
tropes I can relate to because I have lived those lives and dated those men, but
learning about Mafia men and the women that find their place beside them
without losing themselves has been an intriguing experience to say the
least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very much looking forward to
the next story, Miceli’s book, and getting to return to the New York mafia and
see some of my favorite characters again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you haven’t tried your hand at this dark sub-genre of romance, I
highly recommend scooping up the Syndicate rules and enjoy the ride. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bianca
Gemelli has been in hiding for almost a decade, right under the nose of those
she ran from for the past few years, and now she is ready to move on to a new
job, but she lands herself even closer to the mafia she ran from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salvatore De Luca is beyond taken with sexy
new waitress in his club and is determined to have her, but she resists him at every
turn, fighting him despite seeming to understand just how powerful in his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when she is almost killed in an attack,
there is no way that he is going to let her get away from him and he installs
her in his home, determined to nurse her back to health and then make her his
in every way that she can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bianca
knows that being with the dangerous Capo could put her right into the
crosshairs of her enemies, but despite knowing intellectually she has to get
away from him, she can’t bring herself to leave him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As their bond grows overtime, Bianca and
Salvatore each find their emotions and passions running away from them and
there is no denying them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the truth
of Bianca’s past comes to light they have to fight for the chance neither of
them realized they wanted for a future together and the happiness they can have
together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bianca
has had a seriously crappy life and I feel terrible for the parents she was
stuck with, and that means a lot with the mother I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is doing everything she can to survive,
but also to improve herself and find a way to grow into a woman that will have
a better life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While she hasn’t lived
the most glamourous life the last decade, she has worked hard and is proud of
what she has accomplished despite the obstacles she has faced and the traumas
she has dealt with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With only a single
real friend to give her a step up, Bianca doesn’t trust easily, but she comes
to understand that even in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">la famiglia</i>
there are good people that will support and protect her, not the least of which
is Salvatore that will kill or die to protect even the smallest hair on her
head, even when he doesn’t understand his own feelings for her. Salvatore on
the other hand comes across in the beginning as an arrogant twat with a
dominant streak who refuses to accept the word now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than once there were times I was sure I
would never warm up to liking Salvatore and almost wished he wasn’t the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hero</i> of the story, but he slowly grew on
me as he did Bianca and I came to understand that he was just so closed off
that he could understand his own need to push and punish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Bianca gained his trust –even though
there was a blip that almost cost them everything—Salvatore opened his home and
heart to her and the emotions that he began to show beneath his gruff exterior
made him more likable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say
while he wasn’t my favorite of the Syndicate men, I came to understand him and
am glad that he found a way to open up to Bianca. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes
you come across one of those stories that you never understood would be so
impactful to a series, but I have to tell you that this one seems to have been
a real game changer for the whole series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bianca and Salvatore’s story was wrapped up in so many changes for the
syndicates that the whole crime world might soon be changes for these boys and
their love might have prevented disaster in a few ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bianca is one of those women that is a pure
survivor, living her life and finding a way to thrive despite everything that
is thrown at her, and finding love in the most unexpected of places and
men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salvatore was raised in the
harshest of ways, knowing he would grow to be a fierce Capo, ruling beside his
cousin, and he has to learn many lessons in life, but when he finally finds
Bianca he learns that sometimes maintaining humanity and giving love can keep
you can crossing the line over into becoming truly dark. The passion between
these two is palpable from the very first moment and there is no way they were
not going to end up together, but the love that develops was surprisingly sweet
and reminds us that even the hardest of hearts can meet their match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am dying for the next book and hope there
are more to come after that as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lucy has struck a nerve for me with this series and she manages to keep
is exciting, enlightening, and passionate, but be warned mafia romances are
always going to have a dark edged, so don’t dive in if you can’t handle a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brutal Capo</i> or two. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the purpose
of an honest and unbiased review. No
compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-25154690134013504532024-03-02T09:00:00.011-05:002024-03-02T09:00:00.137-05:00ARC Review: Endless Skye (Skye Druids #4)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Endless Skye (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/351759-skye-druids"><b>Skye Druids #4</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Donna Grant</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Passion comes
with a price…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwlRXpiWLi2mH5siXtt0SSnfBRsd43gfjyZfF10i4-D8U3duM27FpGEMm0piiR7iZ14q08dQ2WTbbdDq5QmAIqC4T60GxDDv26EFlNVQmUIHynAotO42YsbOQiyhGiRGc7xwP8BzhAT-Dxwt1EBG2P_aePFQUFyX8LcQgcJJ2oSYsFrqYqBbnku39kNYr/s1260/ES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwlRXpiWLi2mH5siXtt0SSnfBRsd43gfjyZfF10i4-D8U3duM27FpGEMm0piiR7iZ14q08dQ2WTbbdDq5QmAIqC4T60GxDDv26EFlNVQmUIHynAotO42YsbOQiyhGiRGc7xwP8BzhAT-Dxwt1EBG2P_aePFQUFyX8LcQgcJJ2oSYsFrqYqBbnku39kNYr/s320/ES.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For Willa Ryan,
family is everything. So, when her brother asks her to locate a book of
unparalleled power, she doesn’t hesitate. Except she does more than find it.
She attempts to steal it, and in the process, ends up running for her
life—straight into the arms of a man waiting to rescue her. Jasper is unlike
anyone she’s ever met, and she’s helpless to resist the undeniable passion
between them. But desire always comes at a cost.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jasper McCabe is
a master of disguise and deception, and he uses both ruthlessly. Yet nothing
can prepare him when he comes face-to-face with the breathtaking women he’s
supposed to use for his ruse. Every instinct screams for him to run as far from
Willa as he can. But there’s no escape from the captivating Druid and the
feelings she awakens. With his darkest enemies closing in, Jasper is forced to
choose with his heart, or lose the woman who is his one chance at salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Paranormal, Magick, Druids<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI82dHbKs-xf6Xu7_SUT6OERGHKaveOY7QZY4M7IclYZt8RUGnzW7b2LCDjqmZT_AsqxY_JkJk9M8DjOl7t4Z8nJewkkCKR6RfVNAfOSfF-3dsg8B0UPqGmwYd7XmQ68jHlVMwBLqI6TprGmOtBlRWDvyFM-wynvQsAJ0jUKb3brB4JXE22vILZkeTBVNp/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI82dHbKs-xf6Xu7_SUT6OERGHKaveOY7QZY4M7IclYZt8RUGnzW7b2LCDjqmZT_AsqxY_JkJk9M8DjOl7t4Z8nJewkkCKR6RfVNAfOSfF-3dsg8B0UPqGmwYd7XmQ68jHlVMwBLqI6TprGmOtBlRWDvyFM-wynvQsAJ0jUKb3brB4JXE22vILZkeTBVNp/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
series continues to get more and more complicated as the plot twists and turns
through each of the books in the series. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donna Grant has a unique way of intertwining
series, characters, and plots to make one epic and fantastic experience. I have
followed Donna through the entire Dark World series for year now and am a huge
fan and the deeper the arcs get the more interested I find myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this latest installment in the Skye
Druids series, Donna takes us into the story of two people on opposite sides of
the war that suddenly find themselves drawn together and having to come
together to find the real enemies out to bring down those out to end all Druids
and their allies. Willa Ryan is running for her life after taking a stupid
risk, but one she’d hoped would pay off in the fight against the enemy, and now
she is not sure she will survive long enough to make it to Skye and the safety
of the Druids and her brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
arrives on the island, but she is barely conscious and is discovered by Jasper
McCabe, but he is much more than an innocent bystander.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jasper is on the island on a mission, one
that puts Willa right in his sights and he will use his considerable skills of
deception and seduction in order to find his way into the Skye Druid’s inner circle
through Willa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jasper soon comes to
understand that he is on the wrong side and that the connection he feels for
Willa is very real and he is risking everything fighting a battle not his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working with Willa and the Skye Druids might
be the only way to redeem himself, but the enemy is determined to make sure
that he doesn’t live long enough to make a difference, and Willa has to risk it
all to save the man she is coming to understand that she is falling for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can these two enemies turned lovers find a
way through the darkness or will they lose their one chance at a love greater
than they ever imagined? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
was thrilled that we would get to meet Willa, Scott’s sister, and she would bet
getting her own HEA, but I was very surprised that she would be faced with the challenges
she was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a strong character, but
once she was hurt she allowed the anger and betrayal to hide the hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was obvious that she feel hard for Jasper
and that he almost broke her when he betrayed her, but I wish she had been more
willing to listen and forgive as it was obvious he’s had a difficult and lonely
life while she was always loved and cared for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it was great to see her finally learn to stand up for herself, with
the help of some of the other Skye Druid ladies, and demand her place on the
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jasper was an enigma for sure, but
it was also obvious that he’s had a lot of time in his life that he was alone,
especially once you learn the truth of his original and his youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is true that he lied to Willa and
the others from the beginning, he didn’t do it maliciously or without a
logically reason –in his mind—so I think he deserved more grace than he was
offered by most of the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved to
see how he turned up and proved himself, fighting hard to show that he was a
good, man, but we should always be given some benefit of the doubt and not have
to almost kill ourselves to prove our goodness to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was obviously chemistry and a
connection between Willa and Jasper from the beginning and I enjoyed seeing
that become love, even if it did seem very fast. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
overreaching plot within this story became super complicated as the couple of
plot lines we were dealing with before seemed to have multiplied as the story
concluded, instead of any one of them wrapping up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand that keeping plots open to
extend the series is a good thing, but I would have loved <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">something</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>to have a
conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest it is becoming
harder and harder to write the reviews on this series because it’s nearly
impossible to do so without giving something away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said I loved the story and am looking
forward to reading the next in the series, though I continue to hope we get
back to the older format where the romance and the emotional growth of the
couple gets more page time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever
comes next for the series, which I get the impression might be Carlyle’s story,
I can tell you I am dying to see what happens will all of these individual plot
lines and the overall weave of everything together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donna’s dexterity with a complex narrative is
comparative to a master weaver with a beautiful tapestry and I cannot wait for
the final masterpiece. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-88140312981297210622024-02-25T17:00:00.002-05:002024-02-25T17:00:00.134-05:00ARC Review: Last First Kiss (Montgomery Ink Legacy #5)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Last First Kiss (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/334473-montgomery-ink-legacy"><b>Montgomery
Ink Legacy #5</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5360266.Carrie_Ann_Ryan"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carrie Ann Ryan</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQjeOqRI_JHl0_WhQcN9IXyMFPxRlBs6YjJAk3NGwDWcSJNoxMq2a0bmb8-nQJ0u5O3qYHydqR9HTtY9yI9n7gY1mheRiloQQODNw3SaP-57Fbhhee8Y9ttQ-4JVaRYn_At-DdLpf6ezTy51CU1MIk_uNPEe4WNJblbxAhS-Q6xn3v1SunGK3F4ebLjCW/s2700/LFK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQjeOqRI_JHl0_WhQcN9IXyMFPxRlBs6YjJAk3NGwDWcSJNoxMq2a0bmb8-nQJ0u5O3qYHydqR9HTtY9yI9n7gY1mheRiloQQODNw3SaP-57Fbhhee8Y9ttQ-4JVaRYn_At-DdLpf6ezTy51CU1MIk_uNPEe4WNJblbxAhS-Q6xn3v1SunGK3F4ebLjCW/s320/LFK.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The
Montgomery Ink Legacy series continues with a workplace fling romance that
starts off with a literal bang. Daisy Montgomery Knight is about to meet her
match when it comes to Hugh Hendrix.<o:p></o:p></i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">One
look across the aisle at a wedding and I fell in lust.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s
on the bride’s side. I’m on the groom’s.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But
by the end of the night, we’re against a wall, over a table…and in bed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m
prepared never to see him again except in my memories.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only
the next week things become awkward: I’m his new boss.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
it turns out he’s just as demanding outside of the sheets as beneath them.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
need to stay away from each other—he has his demons, as well as an adorable
little girl, and I’m trying to heal after a job gone wrong.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
know I need to walk away…even if neither one of us wants to.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Erotica<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjddOjY2HKYPxVtHQdATCPsDSiz7CVuikkxbaBde5fLNk0phH-lCnazufYw8S-hkhLhL8lG_lnlF8mfxcDJtwZbEjSlikSkiO2PjhVFauF5y4ozMykoQ5-UT04ubV8Z1kPKWMVoSjS1CMSyMpIccpcugobRP7kvnfFcmQXJizH6XP2ALpm81HvOa4MIn7/s146/4.5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="146" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjddOjY2HKYPxVtHQdATCPsDSiz7CVuikkxbaBde5fLNk0phH-lCnazufYw8S-hkhLhL8lG_lnlF8mfxcDJtwZbEjSlikSkiO2PjhVFauF5y4ozMykoQ5-UT04ubV8Z1kPKWMVoSjS1CMSyMpIccpcugobRP7kvnfFcmQXJizH6XP2ALpm81HvOa4MIn7/s1600/4.5%20flames.jpg" width="146" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
have been wondering just what kind of man was going to be matched with our sweet<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daisy Montgomery Knight for a while now, but
to be honest I never saw this one coming, and as ever Carrie Ann manages to
give her readers and fun and engaging experiences without tearing us up too
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daisy’s story is really a bit of a
continuation from the previous story, where she was injured when a warehouse
she was inspecting exploded, leaving the whole Montgomery Security team on edge
and over-protective while leaving Daisy less than he usual badass self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she is struggling to get back to her
normal routine and when she goes toa<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>friend’s wedding, she is struck by an unexpected and intense desire for
the sexy brit that is in attendance as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hugh Hendrix is finally finding his footing in Colorado for daughter and
himself, but when family obligation lands him at a wedding of a childhood
friend he never imagines he’ll spent a passionate and unforgettable night with
a beautiful woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Daisy and Hugh
determine to leave their one night and that, not sharing anything else about
themselves, but it backfires no them in a big way when they learn that Hugh is
the newest hire at Montgomery Security and Daisy is now his defacto boss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are determined to not allow their
passionate night to disrupt their working relationship or allow the others to
know the truth, but son they are just as determined to learn if their
passionate night could be something more and start dating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their relationship develops quickly, with
Daisy and Hugh’s young daughter Lucy fostering an emotional connection and Lucy
being enfolded into the Montgomery bubble, but they are both reticent<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by the speed and depth of their
connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it becomes clear that
Daisy is being targeted by an enemy, the Montgomery’s begin to circle the
wagons and Hugh has to find a way to show Daisy that he supports her without
overwhelming her, but can their evolving love and trust withstand the challenges
they are facing or will it be too late for them? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
absolutely loved this story, the connection between Daisy and her family or
course was unbeatable, but that’s never missing from any of Carrie Ann’s story,
but the way that Hugh loved his girl and stepped in the fill the voids that
other’s left in her life was just beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Daisy has had to struggle to find her place in the group of big and
tough Montgomery men, but she is a strong and independent woman that is willing
to fight for herself and those she loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I enjoyed watching her with Hugh and Lucy as she found a way to share
her softer emotions with a little girl that needed a mother and the love a
woman in her life, much like Lucy had as a girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The parallels that Ryan presented in the two
females was not overdone, but just beautifully alluded to and showed Hugh that
once her shared his daughter with Daisy she would understand that gift and
never take it for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hugh was an
enigma a bit, a man that had given up so much in his life for his daughter, but
didn’t seem to understand that his closed heart would ultimately be a bad
example for his daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is obvious
to me, as a daughter of divorce, that the best thing for him was to find a true
love and open his heart so that he could show Lucy so that love truly does
exist and it does stick, and when he finally did that with Daisy in the end it
was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the passion that
was there between Daisy and Hugh from the beginning and that they allowed it to
settle into a simmer when they needed to build something more substantial
later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love between these two that
comes from a one-night stand truly proves that sometimes we truly don’t
appreciate the significance when we share that <i>Last First Kiss</i>. As
always Carrie Ann kills us in that last chapter with a glimpse of what is
coming next for the Montgomery brood and now I am dying for the next book (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195428435-his-second-chance">His
Second Chance</a>), but in the meantime I now that the
love between Daisy and Hugh will keep me warm and bring me happy dreams. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-64741351932449541912024-02-10T13:00:00.013-05:002024-02-10T13:00:00.138-05:00ARC Mini-Review: Happily Ever Maybe (Montgomery Ink Legacy #4.5)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>Happily Ever Maybe (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/334473-montgomery-ink-legacy"><b>Montgomery
Ink Legacy #4.5</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5360266.Carrie_Ann_Ryan">Carrie Ann
Ryan</a></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmuufij8h5aUEisY7d1grahVCEzAWHRVwfT81vwn3rBn93AxxKnRyQDF1nGjjCgk9c6fbxiRTw3LlLwF-HQOVffR3fKVOnKkNHr9xLKyzYCzbrWH1YldvhqaufNJNys3wHRETbx7FQCLdDmhLTub_T3P23C4B3s88iIqlFWdrmxwFwXHrAw1dtkm0FF38/s2700/HEM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmuufij8h5aUEisY7d1grahVCEzAWHRVwfT81vwn3rBn93AxxKnRyQDF1nGjjCgk9c6fbxiRTw3LlLwF-HQOVffR3fKVOnKkNHr9xLKyzYCzbrWH1YldvhqaufNJNys3wHRETbx7FQCLdDmhLTub_T3P23C4B3s88iIqlFWdrmxwFwXHrAw1dtkm0FF38/s320/HEM.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I<span style="font-family: inherit;">t
was only supposed to be one job.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
know the rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get
in. Get out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Protect
the girl, then move on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only
it never works out the way it should.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now
Jennifer and I work with each other and there’s no going back to normal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then
it turned into something more.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gus
isn’t for me. I know that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only
the chemistry that burns between us won’t fade away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
promise it will only be one night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then
another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But
when our actions have consequences that could mean the end of our future, we’ll
have to figure out exactly what we want.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even
if it means walking away broken before it begins.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Erotica<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBn1cIM9CxSIVsPpofS44fgQsJ3-1o2NMc0gf7pR2Jc5gVK8p2rYFPQ5wCmeZYMU7Eqbz7jLT6LyE8sBTF71dHzqidth1L54HwORtjTAbZp4Wz4__BZDdk4kCg_LC60sIV8iBDZ6vfu3XS3W1sAS3F46PtQ6tAX1kAyA3WRVBd-wZM9_II6YUdmTS0V1M/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBn1cIM9CxSIVsPpofS44fgQsJ3-1o2NMc0gf7pR2Jc5gVK8p2rYFPQ5wCmeZYMU7Eqbz7jLT6LyE8sBTF71dHzqidth1L54HwORtjTAbZp4Wz4__BZDdk4kCg_LC60sIV8iBDZ6vfu3XS3W1sAS3F46PtQ6tAX1kAyA3WRVBd-wZM9_II6YUdmTS0V1M/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m
not sure if it is the air in those Colorado mountains or just sharing space
with those Montgomery’s, but I want whatever it is that creates just a
combustible atmosphere and brings lovers together! Carrie Ann Ryan strikes
again in a story about two of the Montgomery friends finding love, through
lust, and their story is not only fast past, intense, and sensual, but
emotionally confusing and just so packed with all the things, I’m not sure how
she managed it all in such a short story. Jennifer and Gus have been circling
one another for a while now, ever since they became coworker in the Montgomery
security company, but when the temptation can no longer be resisted they give
in to the attraction in a big way, promising one another it will only be one
night. But now they are both feeling so much more than before and there are
even more consequences that they have to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can two partners and best friends find a way
to admit that their feelings have become much deeper, and can they do it before
they lose something beautiful? I positively loved this story, even though I would
have loved it to be so much longer, but sometimes needs must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a short interlude between Montgomery main
reads, Jen and Gus were perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jen has
such a hard shell around her that you wonder what it will take for Gus to break
through and get to the soft center of her heart, but once he finally manages
it, the emotional connection between them is obvious. Gus is such a protective,
sweet, and loving guy that there is no doubt he will do everything for his
woman, even if it means fighting her or stepping back when it kills him to do
so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the way these two pushed and
pulled one another but ultimately found the balance to have the perfect
relationship for them, even though it might not have looked perfect to others.
The passion and connection between them were more than obvious every moment
they were even thinking about one another and I cannot wait to see more of them
in future Montgomery stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carrie Ann
Ryan sure knows how to hook her readers and pull us in, even with only a few
short and intriguing chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All hail
the Queen of Colorado Hotties! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-86393302649274594352024-02-04T12:45:00.011-05:002024-02-06T12:44:47.464-05:00ARC Review: The Wrath (Rise of the Warlords #4)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Wrath (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/295817-rise-of-the-warlords"><b>Rise of
the Warlords #4</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/48192.Gena_Showalter"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gena Showalter</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMj_U5VwiHjuT38u7hnSdwQnTSNuY7eEkyoPemo5SluHWaYgYqhkEa_zVAarJpJQAYQygdrG_bODhc3AgLlVuFIfNScq1vA8yAQMnsy6NRfdfMGBlRZsFObfGd_A7CwpUUnkVX4bz5KTZHLW4XNX1-wGooJ-DV7kU2DQS16MwWsYhr9xpOGLTi9lkAC79a/s2775/tW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="1828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMj_U5VwiHjuT38u7hnSdwQnTSNuY7eEkyoPemo5SluHWaYgYqhkEa_zVAarJpJQAYQygdrG_bODhc3AgLlVuFIfNScq1vA8yAQMnsy6NRfdfMGBlRZsFObfGd_A7CwpUUnkVX4bz5KTZHLW4XNX1-wGooJ-DV7kU2DQS16MwWsYhr9xpOGLTi9lkAC79a/s320/tW.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For centuries,
Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has existed for one recovering the enchanted
bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. He’s never been closer to
success. But a new enemy has risen. A band of deadly war gods who have thirty
days to destroy her or suffer the consequences. With time running out, Rathbone
hires a maddening harpy-oracle, unaware she has an agenda of her own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Neeka the
Unwanted is a fierce warrior on a stop Rathbone<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the gods. She’s seen the
future if either is victorious, and it’s horrifying. She’ll do whatever proves
necessary to forge a new path, even seduce the ruthless royal from his purpose.
What she can’t predict? How the intense male will shatter her hard-won defenses
along the way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Rathbone
battles unexpected betrayals, cunning foes and the wild temptress he craves
with every fiber of his being, he knows he must hold on to a cold dream or
embrace a new flame.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b>Paranormal<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R71R_SAgkjg4LciGHI5jCOOGJLwqnD8LtA7iRmhrNSbNy1VKUEywHv7-gP0qilqr9fd-0iwdHigTrS8W6BmAZ3jeU7uXa7nsHY6sGrZsH4ahiIntWMuWJwyz5IamHxK1bHJJ8eyLu6dI6azbzpUvURs8h8Imz2ryU5ZLgYlj6lp-7zKZK_ahr_CQuQTF/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R71R_SAgkjg4LciGHI5jCOOGJLwqnD8LtA7iRmhrNSbNy1VKUEywHv7-gP0qilqr9fd-0iwdHigTrS8W6BmAZ3jeU7uXa7nsHY6sGrZsH4ahiIntWMuWJwyz5IamHxK1bHJJ8eyLu6dI6azbzpUvURs8h8Imz2ryU5ZLgYlj6lp-7zKZK_ahr_CQuQTF/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a></span></b></p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well,
that was completely unexpected in the best of ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we first learned the names of the characters
to be featured in this story I knew right away it was going to be amazing because
Neeka is a crazy harpy with so many sides to her and so much going on in that
brain of hers that there was no way it couldn’t be hilarious, but I had no clue
just what I was in for. The combination of Rathbone and Neeka’s personalities
was combustible and even when they were on opposite sides and not seemingly
fighting for the same goals you were left wondering how they were not seeing
that they were so obviously made for one another. As usual Gena’s twisty and
twiny storyline keeps you wondering what the heck is going on and just how they
are going to pull out a win for the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lovers right up to the very last moment, but I
never doubted that Rathbone and Neeka would kick butt and find a way to have
the love to defeat all enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really
look forward to what could be coming next because every book seems impossible
to top, but Gena manages to do it every time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rathbone
has spent centuries attempting to resurrect his late wife, and he is very close
to succeeding, but now he has to defeat one of the Astra in order to reach his
goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking for a leg-up in his quest,
he enlists the assistance of the slightly off-balance Harpy oracle Neeka the
Unwanted, but she has her own goals in the war with the Astra and
Rathbone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neeka has seen so many
possible futures and forgotten too much information, but she knows that is she
allows Rathbone to succeed in his quest it will mean the death of all those she
loves and she refuses to allow that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Working with him, while at the same time thwarting him in small ways,
she slowly begins to feel more for him than just intense desire and it is
proving not to be one-sided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the
first time in centuries, Rathbone is questioning his future and his feelings
for his bride, but when a betrayal he never sees coming almost costs him the
harpy he is coming to love, he has to decide how much he is willing to lose and
what he really wants from his future. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
truly loved every moment of this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was filled with so many revelations for both Neeka and Rathbone as
they found themselves changing and growing together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rathbone has spent far too long stuck on the
idea of his perfect woman, but the more he desires and comes to care for Neeka
the more his eyes are opened to the truths around him and the facts he has
overlooked for so long. He has kept his head buried in the sand for so long, hiding
behind hurt and feelings of abandonment, but when Neeka finally shows him that
someone can care for him just the way he is, with no restrictions or need to
change, he learns the true meaning of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His strength, determination, subtle sweetness, and willingness to
support the woman he loves man him an interesting character once you dug
through the badass King of the Underworld persona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neeka was an <i>interesting </i>harpy for
sure; with her own mommy issues, fears of inadequacy, and worries about not
succeeding in her goals, she is constantly on the move in her attempts to prevent
the futures she sees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed her
wackiness and her ability to just let it fly when something comes out of her
mouth, but the best part of her personality was the way she always sacrificed
and battled for those she loved, even at the cost of herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is truly no greater hero in my opinion
than those that will do anything, even give up their own lives and happiness,
if it protects those that they consider theirs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While
I assumed that this story was going to revolve around the next Astra finding
his mate, it was really only loosely connected to that series in my opinion, in
the fact that it was centered around the next Astra challenge, which was a new
idea for a connected series. The main core of the story is the connection and
love that developed between Rathbone and Neeka as they worked together, which
at many times seemed to have been working against the Astra. I enjoyed getting
to delve into the winding and somewhat mazelike psyche of Neeka and see her
find her way not only to a future where she saves those she loves, but also
where she gets her HEA with Rathbone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has had a trying life to this point to say the least and getting to
see her find some happiness was rewarding. Rathbone was a jerk for a large
portion of the book, making me wish I had the option to reach out and kick him
right in the nuts, but as that is not possible, I am glad that more than once
he got his butt handed to him. Luckily he pulled his head out of his ass and found
a way to open his heart to Neeka.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chemistry
between Neeka and Rathbone is undeniable and when they spend more and more time
together it becomes and powder keg ready to ignite more than once, and when it
finally does it blows sky high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really
loved that Gena gave us a hint of what will be coming next and I am now looking
forward to that even more, but the wait is certainly going to be torturous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gena never fails to prove that some people
are just made to be writers and some of us are made to be their fangirls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-28248263886901874742024-02-01T06:28:00.009-05:002024-02-01T12:55:40.098-05:00Through the Glen Release today! <p><br /></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><img class="CToWUd" crossorigin="" data-bit="iit" height="646" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/ca2Ie37yx6YsWXE3XtERZTmbFkubDFfB4TThAsWMIt1iB1kGQg2n6zSdymLeRO7vzTfTQ2P-Ie5hCsCRtimRSXPG0qlbIyf2MuBbWC5z3El5aHaS93G2MgIi66-95lRiHLgXl_ZkjeN9h-fULl5YMnw" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-top: 0px;" width="430.6665266841644" /><br /></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Through the Glen by Samantha Young is now live! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">He’s a cynical, world-weary Londoner. She’s a shy Scot. They might seem like opposites, but a few weeks in the Highlands will bring them together in ways they can’t imagine…</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Theo Cavendish is the second son of a British viscount, and he’s spent years running from the aristocratic world he grew up in. Betrayal and loss taught him lessons he’s not quick to forget. As an award-winning screenwriter and creator, Theo prefers to throw himself into the world of film and television. He moves from one project to another, never really letting anyone truly know him.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">As a housekeeper at the exclusive Ardnoch Estate, shy Sarah McCulloch feels invisible most days. No one really knows her, and they definitely don’t know she’s a bestselling crime writer. She dreams of seeing her series on screen and believes only one person can develop it for television. On the day she quits the estate for good, she shares her secret with club member, Theo, and asks him to consider her books.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Sarah never expected him to say yes or to show up on her doorstep ready to write with her. Or that weeks spent locked up in her cottage would lead them to form an intense but undeniable connection. A bond that Theo is not sure he’s ready to accept, even though he can’t bear to be without her.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">However, when they finally venture out of their bubble, Theo finds he’ll have to battle more than his own demons to protect Sarah from hurt. For he has another fan, one intent on bringing the darkest elements of his most famous script to life. And unless he can figure out this real-life antagonist’s next move, Theo could be in danger of losing Sarah forever.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;"> Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Amazon: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bit.ly/3LpelDC&source=gmail&ust=1706872956188000&usg=AOvVaw0jCxrTj0jNtm0EnZeFRnWn" href="https://bit.ly/3LpelDC" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://bit.ly/3LpelDC</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Amazon Worldwide: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mybook.to/ThroughtheGlen&source=gmail&ust=1706872956188000&usg=AOvVaw0wQoSPY41ahxYPVxKj60xC" href="https://mybook.to/ThroughtheGlen" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://mybook.to/<wbr></wbr>ThroughtheGlen</span></a></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Add to Goodreads: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bit.ly/3LoYogU&source=gmail&ust=1706872956188000&usg=AOvVaw2aQmUV5tn4bmWQEOxqyb5U" href="https://bit.ly/3LoYogU" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://bit.ly/3LoYogU</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRItg4MSmqo8ibDdae817YpGAMsbqNyKItoiLahQMq92gApijIm8NqzYFRL2Z3MVDyvMfAeXOT-tDJBBJBf96S980RXQIrSRj6sL1jKe0LfeBYyHOoCnoGKadkv8iY957Uirh3W2QMl5P4FLjTci60JXv020sxqFJXEf45w_kS0_xwJtmm4d2Iln054J1/s1080/Through%20the%20Glen%20AN%20-%20IG%20Flatlay%20.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRItg4MSmqo8ibDdae817YpGAMsbqNyKItoiLahQMq92gApijIm8NqzYFRL2Z3MVDyvMfAeXOT-tDJBBJBf96S980RXQIrSRj6sL1jKe0LfeBYyHOoCnoGKadkv8iY957Uirh3W2QMl5P4FLjTci60JXv020sxqFJXEf45w_kS0_xwJtmm4d2Iln054J1/s320/Through%20the%20Glen%20AN%20-%20IG%20Flatlay%20.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div><br /></div>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-42194350852629050192024-01-28T18:30:00.001-05:002024-02-01T12:57:14.468-05:00ARC Review: Through the Glen (The Highlands #3)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Through the Glen (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/349222-the-highlands"><b>The Highlands
#3</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4167378.Samantha_Young"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Samantha Young</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zmo2nEjaNnIj0aSQA8lWs9nTEsSO-0QHMbMTPPSt9R7pzuKITIGBVi_1K3BWR7AmjVgkcHRkF6Zt4yjAj8otPyj6GZCBShHw6Pc3j6Z2Zn-WCJMyiMJ95zOvAxwUnA_OLtYECriI1V9UWcMAfelZlLH3i-0hG_I8I1NGlXLnz9RsqKHpcVr67e8_R_7y/s1260/tTg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zmo2nEjaNnIj0aSQA8lWs9nTEsSO-0QHMbMTPPSt9R7pzuKITIGBVi_1K3BWR7AmjVgkcHRkF6Zt4yjAj8otPyj6GZCBShHw6Pc3j6Z2Zn-WCJMyiMJ95zOvAxwUnA_OLtYECriI1V9UWcMAfelZlLH3i-0hG_I8I1NGlXLnz9RsqKHpcVr67e8_R_7y/s320/tTg.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s a cynical,
world-weary Londoner. She’s a shy Scot. They might seem like opposites, but a
few weeks in the Highlands will bring them together in ways they can’t imagine…<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Theo Cavendish is
the second son of a British viscount, and he’s spent years running from the
aristocratic world he grew up in. Betrayal and loss taught him lessons he’s not
quick to forget. As an award-winning screenwriter and creator, Theo prefers to
throw himself into the world of film and television. He moves from one project
to another, never really letting anyone truly know him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a housekeeper
at the exclusive Ardnoch Estate, shy Sarah McCulloch feels invisible most days.
No one really knows her, and they definitely don’t know she’s a bestselling
crime writer. She dreams of seeing her series on screen and believes only one
person can develop it for television. On the day she quits the estate for good,
she shares her secret with club member, Theo, and asks him to consider her
books.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sarah never
expected him to say yes or to show up on her doorstep ready to write with her.
Or that weeks spent locked up in her cottage would lead them to form an intense
but undeniable connection. A bond that Theo is not sure he’s ready to accept,
even though he can’t bear to be without her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, when
they finally venture out of their bubble, Theo finds he’ll have to battle more
than his own demons to protect Sarah from hurt. For he has another fan, one
intent on bringing the darkest elements of his most famous script to life. And
unless he can figure out this real-life antagonist’s next move, Theo could be
in danger of losing Sarah forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Contemporary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8TjyUTzhvF_9-pDSLMl5lcc08R5yjJ7w-VCLyabzP_TT8bC1imdI170OywavR_izmZsNxsycR4fg93bO05yfe-2tK3QRXQ32sn9JR3I8qB6WE0SywRWsAXUYX5ddHyZIzxWL_xJxFIyWFEJJrImO-5ZUmCTYsMmlje_Cb06Lcv1NTiDAfnDYyBteTfSo/s146/4.5%20flames.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="146" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8TjyUTzhvF_9-pDSLMl5lcc08R5yjJ7w-VCLyabzP_TT8bC1imdI170OywavR_izmZsNxsycR4fg93bO05yfe-2tK3QRXQ32sn9JR3I8qB6WE0SywRWsAXUYX5ddHyZIzxWL_xJxFIyWFEJJrImO-5ZUmCTYsMmlje_Cb06Lcv1NTiDAfnDYyBteTfSo/s1600/4.5%20flames.jpg" width="146" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ok
let’s be honest, none of us thought that we would love Theo because he was a
huge prat in North and Aria’s novel, despite the glimpses of goodness we
peeked. But I have to tell you I think that Theo is my favorite despicable,
wounded, and bastard of a hero in any novel I have read in a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Samantha Young has such a beautiful ability
to pull readers into the lives of her characters, their backstories and the
emotional trauma that has shaped them into the broken individuals they are that
you can’t help but fall into the story and never want to crawl out. This story
is filled with pain, passion, exploration, and laughter right along with the
chance for two people to truly heal one another and find their way out of the
darkness that has kept them both back from living full and fulfilled lives for
far too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This series continues to
amaze and thrill me and with each new story I find myself wanting to jump on a
plane and fly to Scotland (again) so that I can find out myself if the beauty
of the Highlands might present me with a new and amazing chance at love and
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot wait for the next book
and I know I will devour it just as quickly as I have the last three stories in
this series—and not to mention the original Ardnoch series, which cannot be
discounted and really shouldn’t be missed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sarah
McCulloch has finally made the difficult decision to come out of her shell and
move on from her day job as a housekeeper at the esteemed Ardnoch Estate, to
continue pursuing her shining career as a bestselling author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But before she does she has one last task—to
ask the gorgeous and award-winning screenwriter Theo Cavendish if he will team
up with her to write the screenplay for her books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theo can’t believe his ears when Sarah admits
her secret, but despite his writer’s block, he always works alone and turns her
down; but when he is forced to reconsider its decision he finds himself chasing
her instead to ask her to allow him to work with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spending time together at Sarah’s secluded
beach-side cottage, they begin to grow close and their friendship evolves into
something more, leading to a passionate relationship neither of them is
prepared for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they leave their
privacy, they are forced to face challenges and truths neither of them are
ready for and they have to come to terms with their differences quickly or they
will lose the emotional connection they have developed. Can an emotionally
stunted former playboy and an innocent but brave woman find a way to grow
together and find love or will they be forever separated by their vast
differences? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
loved getting to know these two and seeing them get to know one another,
because let’s be honest the secrets they have been keeping from everyone around
them, with only a few exceptions, have made them both island in a sea with no
way to cross to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah’s shyness,
fears, and insecurities from her youth, before moving to Ardnoch with her
grandfather, left a deep and abiding stamp on her, preventing her from moving
forward and becoming the woman that she was always meant to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is passionate, smart, witty, and sweet,
but she has so many fears and anxieties that she truly fears venturing out into
the world and so many experiences bring up painful memories for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the beautiful dichotomy of her is that
when her friends, family, or lover are having their own issues with past pains
or insecurities she is soft and loving enough to be there for them, forgiving
them and allowing them into or back into her heart when so many others might
hold grudges. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved her playfulness
with Theo, even when he was at his darkest, giving him that respite and showing
him that life is not always meant to be so serious. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theo was a dark soul, his ability to hold a
grudge and willingness to wallow in his own darkness a little bit worrying, but
on the other side of the coin he was always there for his friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He feels so deeply especially the pain of
loss and betrayal from those that should have loved him the most that he has
never recovered, never let go of the anger that shaped him in to the prick he
presents to everyone except Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
Sarah he is willing to be softer, to be a better man and forgive those that have
tried to break him, but with her love he will prove they failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved his sweetness under the gruff
exterior, his mischievousness and his willingness to play with Sarah even if he
rarely lost his edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passion he
shared with her as he brought her out of her share allowed him to find his own
softness and her gentleness smoothed out the hasher edges of his personality,
allowing the puzzle pieces of their hearts to fit together perfectly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is
there ever a better story than the edgy asshole falling in love with the
innocent lass, getting his heart handed to him, and finding himself tamed once
and for all? I cannot tell you just how much I enjoyed this story, but just to
say I think I only moved three times during the entire time I was reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah is the type of woman that you just love
to watch blossom as she heals from her loss and finds her way past her shyness,
but the best part is as she finds her footing as a passionate and loving woman
with the help of the man that is slowly stealing her heart, even before he
captures her body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can’t resist the
sweetness that Theo only seems to show when he is around her and begins to see
the true man buried under the pain and hatred he has hidden behind for years,
and her determination to bring out that true loving man shows that despite her
misgivings she will fight for her love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Theo is one of those characters that you love to hate, but in the end
you are rooting for because you feel his pain right alongside him. He was so betrayed
and never got over it, but the healing and support he gets from Sarah allows
him to embrace the man he truly has always been underneath the angry shell he
shows to the world and instead be the caring, giving, and loving man he
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the teasing, and sometimes
naughty banter that these two shared continuously, but the passion that they
shared was evident even when they fought it in the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However once they unleashed that heat, there
was no hiding that they were compatible physically and the chemistry would always
be an underlying part of their relationship. I am dying for the next book,
which I understand will be between Sarah’s cousin, Jared, and Aria’s sister,
Allegra, because from the scenes in this book that one is going to be another
explosive and emotional rollercoaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ms. Young is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to authors and you
can surely bet I am spreading the word far and wide, because no one should miss
the greatness that is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Through the Glen</i>,
and into <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/349222-the-highlands">The Highlands</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-34134507910347723582024-01-24T17:30:00.014-05:002024-01-27T14:57:07.452-05:00ARC Review: Fighting for Hailey (Redemption Harbor Security #1)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Fighting for Hailey (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/370880-redemption-harbor-security"><b>Redemption
Harbor Security #1</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1563059.Katie_Reus"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Katie Reus</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h6tYC1i1SJTdqgIt4CZgt5gj8ztaVXLtJZxs5Nxq-1hRsYARyb_oO22T1Mx7YBXRzTLDij1Wu-gunPtpaK5YJPCuTKbu7BE7lvKYXk_WlgQW7ih53l-PHl4kksJiooqnqoO7mPwPv7YVYAYIYOxNNT5KCRhAvsQxRjt-Q03NuubZOo_FM5pDBItUFJ7W/s2560/FFH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h6tYC1i1SJTdqgIt4CZgt5gj8ztaVXLtJZxs5Nxq-1hRsYARyb_oO22T1Mx7YBXRzTLDij1Wu-gunPtpaK5YJPCuTKbu7BE7lvKYXk_WlgQW7ih53l-PHl4kksJiooqnqoO7mPwPv7YVYAYIYOxNNT5KCRhAvsQxRjt-Q03NuubZOo_FM5pDBItUFJ7W/s320/FFH.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">She’s the one who
got away…<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They grew up
together, dated for years—but when Lennox had a chance at a college scholarship
and a new life, Hailey abruptly ended things. She wanted him to have the life
he deserved, and with her track record knew she’d just bring him down. Now
they’re both grown and she runs the new branch of Redemption Harbor Consulting,
heading up their security division. But her past is about to collide with her
present in a big way, and she can’t outrun her demons any longer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This time, he’s
playing for keeps…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Years ago Hailey
joined the military and ruthlessly cut all her foster siblings out her life.
Now that one of them is in danger she’s back—and Lennox isn’t letting her push
him away ever again. One of their own has been kidnapped and with the clock
ticking, they have no choice but to work together to find him before it’s too late.
But the threat is much worse than they imagined. It will take all their
combined skills—and breaking through Hailey’s walls— to unravel the clues in
time to save him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Contemporary, Second Chance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5n4LhP0xYgUuhSKYtbVFNmajYRrPjOZEOvv41kGjokcHsJoEFx6iFMeJ7ZuW0KOtMAfRz7_SxPdvP60_3G8mAqknfA2vUu6Y56oNdw93xKbYOwUql2J4tNTQKg5BFEYzGachuIntal-_slJJ7JLQKBVC4VjKGn41gYUj6IwHRfFGPsernUjCAd_AiBDZ/s146/4.5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="146" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5n4LhP0xYgUuhSKYtbVFNmajYRrPjOZEOvv41kGjokcHsJoEFx6iFMeJ7ZuW0KOtMAfRz7_SxPdvP60_3G8mAqknfA2vUu6Y56oNdw93xKbYOwUql2J4tNTQKg5BFEYzGachuIntal-_slJJ7JLQKBVC4VjKGn41gYUj6IwHRfFGPsernUjCAd_AiBDZ/s1600/4.5%20flames.jpg" width="146" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
I was truly surprised when I started this book because I’m going to be totally
honest with you, when I hear Katie Reus is releasing a new book, I don’t bother
reading too much about it, I just assume I’m going to want it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said based on the design of the cover I
thought this<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was another book in the Red
Stone Security series or one of the connected ones, so I was so thrilled to
learn it was a spinoff of one of my favorite of her past series and that I
would be getting to see some of my favorite characters again! So, all of that
meant that I enjoyed this new addition to the Redemption Harbor series with
their new group of folks and their quirky way of looking at the world in shades
of gray and I cannot wait for more in the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katie’s ability to take characters with
tragic and sometimes terrifyingly backstories and make them into such strong
and heroic individuals is beyond amazing and a skill that never ceases to amaze
me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hailey
West gave up her found family when she ran from them as a young woman though
she never stopped loving them and when one of her brothers is kidnapped right
off the street she will do anything to get him back safely, but she knows it
will bring her face-to-face with the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesse Lennox never imagined that when he went looking for his kidnapped
brother he’d find the love of his life—the woman that walked out on all of them
years ago and seemed to have never looked back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But now that he has her in his hands, Jesse is not going to let Hailey
out of his sight ever again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
working with the authorities and her team to find their brother, Jesse and
Hailey quickly come to realize that their feelings have never died and the
passion between them still burns brightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But can they get over not only the heartbreak of Hailey leaving but also
the reasons that she left in the first place in order for Jesse to finally
claim the woman who stole his heart at sixteen and never gave it back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will take ever thing they have to save
their brother and get over their hang-ups but Jesse will do whatever it takes
and he will never stop <i>Fighting for Hailey. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These
two are one of those odd couples that you can see why they were pulled
together, because opposites truly do attract sometimes and Jesse’s solemn
nature and Hailey’s irreverence are just made to mesh together like puzzle
pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved getting to know Hailey,
not only seeing her with the brothers of her youth and Jesse as they found
their groove together again, but also with her new Redemption Harbor family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has so many issues from her past, but
while she obviously allowed them to stop her in her relationships she didn’t
let it stop her from becoming a serious badass wit ha little bit of a crazy
streak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is sassy, outlandish,
loving, strong, plucky, and determined and willing to do anything in order to get
her brother back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is also willing to
do just about anything to protect the man she loves, even stupid things that
hurt her, if she thinks they are in his best interests. I could see myself
really enjoying having Hailey as a drinking bud, as long as I didn’t let her
lead me into too many crazy escapades. Jesse on the other hand has spent the
majority of his life trying to find calm in the chaos and he only seems to
truly find it when he is protecting and caring for those he loves, including
the woman that actually creates the most chaos for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He devotes so much of his time, money, and
skill to helping those that can benefit from all three because he understands
what it means to be in need of help and that makes him a truly great man in my
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is sweet, loving, smart,
courageous, funny, and strong and obviously the strength of their found
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved seeing him as he found
so hard to make Hailey see that she belonged with him and should never have
left, but more I loved seeing him allow her to come to terms with her mistakes
and how he helped her see the flaws in her reasoning. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Fighting
for Hailey </i>is one of those books that will stick with me
for a long time simply because it has it all, humor, passion, action, love, and
intrigue all wrapped up beautifully in a storyline that is totally believable
in the evil of today’s society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so
happy to get to see these two lovers get their second chance at love and family
and look forward to seeing more of them in the rest of the series, especially
the nest novel which looks to be a doozy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hailey is one of those women that truly flies by the seat of her pants
and manages to come of smelling like daisies more often than not and I envy
that about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has loved and lost,
but she knows that when she gets a second chance with Jesse she can’t pass it
up, especially when he doesn’t really give her the chance to walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesse is the kind of guy that will give up
the shirt off his back for someone in need, but the ones thing he is unwilling
to give up again is Hailey and I loved watching him give his all for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As these two work through their issues,
building trust again and reestablishing their deep love, they managed to kick
butt and take down a huge criminal ring and still rescue their brother so
really what more can you ask for in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The passion between these two former lovers explodes off the screen from
the very first second these two enter one another’s orbit again, like a
firebomb being fed oxygen and I don’t see that dying anytime soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am dying for the next story because the
heat and interest between Cash and Reese was palpable through their every
interaction and I cannot wait to see what finally pushes that to the breaking
point in their book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katie manages to
always find the heart and heat we all want to have in our own lives and allow
us to enjoy a small piece for ourselves through her writing and <i>Fighting for
Hailey</i> is just one more example of that flair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-3075382530277096052024-01-21T21:00:00.003-05:002024-01-21T21:00:00.155-05:00ARC Review: Just a Little Promise (Dare Crossover Series #3)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Just a Little Promise (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/365374-dare-crossover-series"><b>Dare
Crossover Series #3</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carly Phillips</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5357264.Erika_Wilde"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Erika Wilde</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpEVbaj4ko8cqLdr-1xLY0VqMJF268Wc3mQlgeOKA7OIhSsLQit6U6KV_65z6e1tvn68kIDaAngahSj30od1IH87b6CqpsXRA0imUAqyehhQwLHnLsGBjiotCHWHoE13RHtEPS74XvywPKJ1oqNi2KsfSVchykcDhDVZTY2OiWPRQHORpEx1Tu88TvMoR/s2475/JaLP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpEVbaj4ko8cqLdr-1xLY0VqMJF268Wc3mQlgeOKA7OIhSsLQit6U6KV_65z6e1tvn68kIDaAngahSj30od1IH87b6CqpsXRA0imUAqyehhQwLHnLsGBjiotCHWHoE13RHtEPS74XvywPKJ1oqNi2KsfSVchykcDhDVZTY2OiWPRQHORpEx1Tu88TvMoR/s320/JaLP.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s
the one she’s never forgotten.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She’s
the one he regrets letting go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now they have a
second chance to get it right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Skye Tremont
runs into her sexy former flame, Tripp Daniels, she’s reminded of the baby pact
they’d made years ago… If she was single and childless by the age of thirty,
he’d step in and be her baby daddy and fulfill her dream of having a child.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, after a
bitter divorce that has left her guarding her heart, and wanting only one
thing, Skye is ready to take Tripp up on his promise. When he’s one of the
bachelors up for bid at a charity auction, it’s the perfect opportunity to have
him all to herself for a weekend of baby making fun, as long as he agrees to
her terms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tripp is on board
to fulfill the promise he made to Skye. If he’s going to have a baby with
anyone, it’s going to be the one woman he’d foolishly let slip through his
fingers. But not this time because he’s all in. Skye is even more beautiful
than he remembers, and the chemistry between them is hotter than ever, but
while she gives him free rein with her body, she’s made it clear her heart is
off limits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, with a
second chance within his grasp, Tripp is prepared to do whatever it takes to
win the woman he loves and give them both the family they’ve always craved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b>Contemporary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr0uZgcJhmW9aXUe9VoW4X2rz15E_6_NWxDF3hupIsSY1gS7biARpjXlQv5sujIcSdWDhZeF1D5pAY11v5kDQD1tn5WzTTZZ6cksObRHjCC9V78A1LjX-gccIIbyVDoyiUMIh999igf7Orzora6Z1oVDEyYBAjZeuOx1X-q13YK28s9EAZ75nyTSeAiQX/s146/4.5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="146" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr0uZgcJhmW9aXUe9VoW4X2rz15E_6_NWxDF3hupIsSY1gS7biARpjXlQv5sujIcSdWDhZeF1D5pAY11v5kDQD1tn5WzTTZZ6cksObRHjCC9V78A1LjX-gccIIbyVDoyiUMIh999igf7Orzora6Z1oVDEyYBAjZeuOx1X-q13YK28s9EAZ75nyTSeAiQX/s1600/4.5%20flames.jpg" width="146" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nothing
is better than a story of two people both getting a second chance at the one
this they both want more than anything else in the world—even if they don’t
agree one just what they are getting. This fun crossover series written in the
world of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/114500-dare-to-love">Dare</a>/<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/310375-the-kingston-family">Kingston</a>
family by Carly Phillips in conjunction with Erika Wilde is one that continues
to thrill me as each new book shapes up. Each story begins around the Bachelor Auction
for charity hosted by Chloe Kingston and with each story we get a new POV and a
new see a new bachelor find himself falling in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this the timelines overlap and
each of the storylines interweave together and we get glimpses of just who
might be falling next. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this latest
installment former lovers are brought back together in big way and the auction
is just the excuse they need to rekindle their past and fulfill a pact from
long ago. I am enjoying reach of these fun stories and can’t wait for the next one
because I suspect who it might be about and if I’m correct it will be beyond fascinating
to experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Skye
Tremont is finally free from her ex and living a life that she is content with,
except for the one thing she has always wanted—a baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is enjoying her new job and freedom when
she runs into the one man from her past who can shatter the delicate balance of
her fairytale, the one man that she never stopped loving but that broke her heart
irrevocably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tripp Daniels is amazed to
look across his favorite bar one night and see the face of the woman he left a
decade ago but he can’t deny he still wants and loves her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Determined to prove there is still something
real between them, Tripp<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sets out to
remind Skye why they were so good together but she had built walls high and strong
around her heart, leaving only one small allowance for him to get through. She
will allow him to be the father of her baby, but she won’t let him have her
heart—unless he can break through once and for all and prove they should have been
together all along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that he has a
small opening, Tripp will do whatever it takes to get through to Skye, but he
needs to protect her from her abusive ex-husband first or they might not ever
have a chance at have the life together they so badly deserve. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
truly enjoyed every moment of this story, even as I watch Skye struggle with
her issues of self-confidence and self-worth after her bastard ex-husband’s
treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skye was obviously a bright
light that her ex tried so badly to steal for himself and when he wasn’t able
to really earn her heart, he tried to snuff out her light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was sweet, loving, caring, strong, brave
and I could totally see her being one of my girlfriends if I met her in real
life. I felt badly for all the challenges she was forced to face, but between
the love of her family and the love that she found with Tripp she had the
support she finally needed to stand up once and for all and bring down her ex.
Tripp is a good guy that made a dumb decision in his youth, leaving a good
woman behind because he thought it was the right thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will say that while that pissed me off, he definitely
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>got smarter as he got older, because the
moment he set eyes on Skye again he knew there was no way he was letting her go
again. He is smart, resilient, kind, adoring, and sweet as he tried to convince
Skye that he is the man she needs for her partner in all aspects of her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was thrilled to see him finding small ways
to give her exactly what she asked for and needed, instead of just bulldozing
over her as so many males do, but at the same time he showed her she could
trust him to always be there for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can easily see these two are meant to be and will make a beautiful couple and
even more beautiful family when the time comes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Just
a Little Promise</i> is a story of two people, separated
by decades, but brought back together by fate and a time in their lives when
they can offer one another exactly what they need. Even as Skye resists the truth,
that Tripp is offering her so much more than just his “baby making” presence in
her life, she is also coming to trust and believe in him, caring for him again
in the way she did in her youth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
she still has hangups from her previous relationship, we watch her slowly open
herself up to Trip and give him more and more of herself to Tripp as he shows
her the man he is today and how much he loves her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tripp is a man that knows what he lost and
what he needs to do to prove that he will never again give up on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His willingness to do whatever it takes to prove
he is there for the long haul shows his moral character and the strength of his
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching these two circle and dance
together as they fall back in love was beautiful and passionate, but of course I
expected nothing less from these two authors as they team up for this series. I
am looking forward to seeing more couples from this bachelor auction as they
fall in lust and ultimately find love, because let’s be real, what could be sexier
that billionaire bachelors being auctioned off for charity and then falling
love with the women that win them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
a dream come true that would be!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But until
that happens for me, I will just keep enjoying reading about it happening for
these ladies. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-24587138432081952052024-01-17T14:00:00.012-05:002024-01-20T14:13:51.065-05:00ARC Mini-Review: Just One Summer (The Kingston Family #9.5)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Just One Summer (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/310375-the-kingston-family"><b>The
Kingston Family #9.5</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carly Phillips</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvaxKlRZkXPcEM5HatdyiBv3fnRWeY1C7y8asZ_G93t_A3H1KlwTuyTPoLkYm7E4Uhoj0Oqy5jZr2uTqkS0ZrNJYakIy0bA6THcYBdMdE7Aqs_DK6t9aNULtLBSqycU4Up27liSuRAr5LWNcvTDwI7qzs7BiU3uHR9-zmooHPbrGKMhTmgfYiYGRwOa_A/s2560/JOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvaxKlRZkXPcEM5HatdyiBv3fnRWeY1C7y8asZ_G93t_A3H1KlwTuyTPoLkYm7E4Uhoj0Oqy5jZr2uTqkS0ZrNJYakIy0bA6THcYBdMdE7Aqs_DK6t9aNULtLBSqycU4Up27liSuRAr5LWNcvTDwI7qzs7BiU3uHR9-zmooHPbrGKMhTmgfYiYGRwOa_A/s320/JOS.jpg" width="213" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gabriella
Davenport is a gorgeous, twenty-two-year-old virgin with a trust fund, vacationing
in the Hamptons for the summer and running from family pressure to marry
someone she doesn’t like, let alone love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maddox James is a
sexy bar manager, older than Gabby by a decade. Though he made his fortune on
Wall Street, he has returned to his working-class roots with a healthy distrust
of wealthy women.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Contemporary, Novella<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaCkj_fKe0AY83sXHgiHZE5O_7-4K3xaEayqYd0_KthJ4WFucST_1zX6tJUwgk12LMih887NfLsjOa0m_fiGcyAseA_G6d_1crRMZx-zuw8zZZRKKcddD202K0cUfXbGwd-J_R8lo_QjY-HWRaadvtE49rkrz6aF15rrpw7R_HRj89JcZJ2NuQMFKduYh/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaCkj_fKe0AY83sXHgiHZE5O_7-4K3xaEayqYd0_KthJ4WFucST_1zX6tJUwgk12LMih887NfLsjOa0m_fiGcyAseA_G6d_1crRMZx-zuw8zZZRKKcddD202K0cUfXbGwd-J_R8lo_QjY-HWRaadvtE49rkrz6aF15rrpw7R_HRj89JcZJ2NuQMFKduYh/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
was kind of surprised when I learned this book was coming, because despite
having met Maddox in Zach’s story I didn’t realize he’d get his own HEA and I was
thrilled by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carly Phillip’s long
running and twisty Dare/Kingston series has just earned another branch as she
introduces the Sterling family with Remy and this little crossover giving us a
bit of a taste with Maddox was a treat until we get Remy’s novel in a few
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maddox James was a bright and
shining star on the rise in the world of wall street until he realized he was
losing himself in the darkness of that world and moved to the Hamptons to live
a simpler life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That life includes
managing The Back Door, a bar and grille owned by Zach Dare and Remy Sterling,
a job that gives him a way to live a simple life and still feel productive, but
he still knows money and trouble when she sits her gorgeous ass down at his bar
one night. Gabriella Davenport is so over the fake and pretentious life she is
forced to live with her parents and decides that a night out drowning her
sorrows at the fun bar in the Hamptons is just what she needs, but when she wakes
the next morning, having been given a safe scape from her family by the sexy
bar manager, she is willing to beg and plead to get him to give her safe haven
while she finds a way to escape her life. The more time Gabby is in Mad’s home
the more she shows him that not all women are cut from the same cloth and she
just might be the sweet and loving woman that she appears to be, even if she
does come from the kind of background that creates the worst kinds of women. Can
he open his heart and move on from past heartbreak in order to open himself to
the love that Gabby offers or will those looking to tear her from his arms come
between them before either of them get the chance to truly find their long-term
love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly enjoyed this short love
story, both of the characters interesting, with rich backstories and the kinds
of moral strength that make Carly’s characters so perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gabby seems in the beginning like she is just
the poor little rich girl running away from home, but its obvious she was never
made to live in that world and when she finds a champion to give her a haven to
live her life the way she needs to she finds not only her backbone, but finally
begins to thrive like a flower finally coming out form under the choking shade
of weed-filled garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maddox has a lot
of hangups about his past, and though he is grumpy and surly most of the time,
he is obviously a good man and when he opens his eyes and sees what a good
woman Gabby is, he grabs her with both hands and refuses to let her go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pull between them is evident from the very
moment they are in one another’s presences despite the obstacle they put in
their path, but when they finally come to accept their needs, boy watch out for
that wildfire. I am dying to see more of them in the coming Sterling series
(Just One More Moment) where we will get to watch Remy fall under some woman’s
spell and meet the rest of his siblings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Carly Phillip’s ability to captivate reader’s, even in a short story
like Just One Summer, shows her skill with words and love, and her mastery of
the romance genre and I for one will never miss a release. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-53055353670221095832024-01-07T06:00:00.013-05:002024-01-09T11:01:28.653-05:00ARC Mini-Review: Dragon Kiss (Dragon Kings #7)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Dragon
Kiss (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/306776-dragon-kings"><b>Dragon
Kings #7</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Donna Grant</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IenRHKhplVXejhAohuwdsu1bVU1uzZqFB1owJGowS97ujcnOhaa3H-lj_Aw-JKCzKLPmXcO1YeraxfyA4W-iuhdk8_sSjnTNCK2Kq7t7VNAx_-lXAo8-4UijZ1yXGcv51yKYY9OUzxGtuQMIWOl_aezWBO0L5U-iqDNlifo3FVL-tQQTT01cIPTWIvfX/s2560/DK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IenRHKhplVXejhAohuwdsu1bVU1uzZqFB1owJGowS97ujcnOhaa3H-lj_Aw-JKCzKLPmXcO1YeraxfyA4W-iuhdk8_sSjnTNCK2Kq7t7VNAx_-lXAo8-4UijZ1yXGcv51yKYY9OUzxGtuQMIWOl_aezWBO0L5U-iqDNlifo3FVL-tQQTT01cIPTWIvfX/s320/DK.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">New York Times
and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant’s latest installment picks up where
Dragon Arisen leaves off. Alasdair and Lotti return to face the biggest foe the
Dragon Kings have met yet—and the stakes have never been higher.<o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lotti has come a
long way since finding love with Alasdair and uncovering her true origins as a
Star Person. She has embraced the magic she once shunned—as well as the label
of Destroyer by her own. And it has made her powerful. But will it be enough to
stand against her family as they target the Dragon Kings?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alasdair has
faced many adversaries who rose up against the Dragon Kings. But nothing could
prepare him for the Star People and the discovery that they once enslaved his
kind. It’s more than his life on the line this time. It’s the very existence of
all dragons. It will take Alasdair and Lotti, together, to defeat their enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Paranormal,
Dragons, Magick<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWnuwb1sDXDjBsz2siEBzZUXGtiyMLfDMGlAo7cXUr92YVDPABwgdmok6gNHCjIEHPVGP6cJrn0xNVkXZOxScJ_GD9g4JyClsKgR1Loq0C9323lyKG6_Mwje6-bo2_HR4tpBVmPsjQACC57pc7ccSUE0RMI7hrFDTCaTu_fmawH0LWnbMZ91wYwIkG-J-/s114/3.5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="114" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWnuwb1sDXDjBsz2siEBzZUXGtiyMLfDMGlAo7cXUr92YVDPABwgdmok6gNHCjIEHPVGP6cJrn0xNVkXZOxScJ_GD9g4JyClsKgR1Loq0C9323lyKG6_Mwje6-bo2_HR4tpBVmPsjQACC57pc7ccSUE0RMI7hrFDTCaTu_fmawH0LWnbMZ91wYwIkG-J-/s1600/3.5%20flames.jpg" width="114" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always love it when an author revisits a
couple to show us more of their love story, letting us see glimpses into their
lives as they grow together and learn more about themselves as individuals and
as a couple—and Donna Grant is one of the best authors for that. Alasdair and
Lotti came together and earned their hard-won HEA in a previous novel (--) and
now that their enemies have continued to multiply we get a glimpse of how they
will work together to defeat them. Alasdair saved Lotti by disposing of the
Messerine stone in the safest place he could in the heat of the moment, but now
they and their allies need to retrieve it so they have a chance of defeating
their enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lotti is no longer as
terrified of hurting others with her powers, but she worries daily that she
isn’t strong enough or learning her powers fast enough to defeat their ultimate
enemy. With the help of their friends, Lotti and Alasdair embark on a mission
to retrieve the stone, fraught with dangers and with very little chance of
success, but both are determined to do everything in their power to protect one
another and their friends. But their enemies now they are coming and sometimes
the will and determination to defeat darkness aren’t enough when faced with an
evil that is nearly indefatigable in their attacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only by working together to outsmart and
outlast them can Lotti, Alasdair and their allies stand a chance at returning
from their mission safely—win or lose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have to say that I loved this story, even though there was more than once I was
afraid Donna was going to do us dirty and actually have evil win for once, but
thankfully our heroes found a way to come out in the end. That said I am dying
to find out where this storyline is heading in so many of the subplots, because
Donna is killing me with everything happening in this world and the world of
the Dragon Kings. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lotti
has learned a lot about her origins since she met Alasdair, but simply learning
that she is a Star Person isn’t enough, she needs to learn what that means for
herself, what her powers are, and what that will mean in the battle for Zora
and the dragons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is determined to do
everything she can to help Alasdair, the Kings, and the innocents that have
been attacked and corrupted by their enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love her spunk, resolve, compassion, and love, but mostly I love her
unwillingness to ever give up protecting those she loves. Alasdair has always
been the strongest being around, magically and physically, and knowing that his
mate might just be more powerful than him is a lot to take in, but he can’t
seem to stop worrying that he will lose her, and knowing that he has to watch
her go into battle after battle isn’t helping things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is just as determined to protect her from
her enemies, but the unseen enemy that is targeting Dragon Kings is putting her
in more danger, leaving him divided as to how to protect his mate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hated seeing his hurt on this, but thankfully
he finds his balance and they are able to understand how great they are as a
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passion between Lotti and
Alasdair continues to burn brightly and I don’t see it waning anytime soon as
there love continues to grow and deepen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am dying for the next story as we should finally get some closure on
Merrick and get to see him break away from the evil that has been holding him
away from his family for far too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Dragon Kings are one of my favorite groups to read about and the
more of them we meet, the deeper we go into their world, the more I wish I had
a King of my own to claim me and make me his mate, because what could be hotter
than a sexy millennia old Dragon shifter with a Sots accent to die for? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-30003967948257316872024-01-03T12:30:00.007-05:002024-01-06T14:41:48.074-05:00ARC Review: Tempted and Taken (Italian Stallions #6)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Tempted
and Taken (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/324736-italian-stallions"><b>Italian
Stallions #6</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1365301.Mari_Carr"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mari Carr</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzPvxy-7TYqTqaIiJvi9bLqmTZ2Myoy-5FCW50OpGNh9yEWSsBr2DMJ_Nil8ARJ1Leug4jkOmf6nP3UKQ-Fhy4in7xoIlTACq6GX_xzFdkzhBOTeRGfW5ptNnTCDFjKNV07OQ8gikFPv82CN1zdeEtEU6g4gmfR_iV9uxaqB3WcgTE4sSavex-N9CHCyk/s2700/TaT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzPvxy-7TYqTqaIiJvi9bLqmTZ2Myoy-5FCW50OpGNh9yEWSsBr2DMJ_Nil8ARJ1Leug4jkOmf6nP3UKQ-Fhy4in7xoIlTACq6GX_xzFdkzhBOTeRGfW5ptNnTCDFjKNV07OQ8gikFPv82CN1zdeEtEU6g4gmfR_iV9uxaqB3WcgTE4sSavex-N9CHCyk/s320/TaT.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some mistakes are
worth repeating.<o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liza knows that
cocky billionaire Matt Russo is the wrong man for her. She could make a long
list of reasons why she’d be smart to stay away, including his tenacious
ex-girlfriend, the fact he’s trying to destroy her family, and, oh yeah, did
she mention he’s a cold, distant bastard? However, after their tempestuous one-night
stand, she’s finding it hard to hang on to their well-established nemesis
routine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt is the
master of control—of his life, his emotions, his future. Except, of course, for
that night he slipped up…with Liza Moretti. Reassuming his grip on the reins,
he’s determined it won’t happen again. Unfortunately, doing the right thing in
regard to the tempting woman fails because doing the wrong things with her— to
her —are too alluring to resist.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An impromptu
invitation to share his private plane leads to an unexpected break from reality
and some very steamy nights in Hawaii. Until real life comes knocking and Matt
is forced to face the mistakes of his past. Mistakes that could destroy the one
thing he can’t control, and the one thing he can no longer live without—Liza.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Erotica</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.75 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZvaVvZBiw_vI6tHDj19hkHgk5tfAAtpcd_sS56EEXh_G2EY3NOAP7sABMAVFFNBUrfluihslozOL-8lUju6YZUXzOSnyWXYGHhYJiFUXrF-4JrdblgON7EqK9smtfirF8p0vq1RFJqCbjqObtaLWsNLIbe9PHvbcgk53-AleIBSXcGyJc2hNTpzbAwYN/s162/5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="162" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZvaVvZBiw_vI6tHDj19hkHgk5tfAAtpcd_sS56EEXh_G2EY3NOAP7sABMAVFFNBUrfluihslozOL-8lUju6YZUXzOSnyWXYGHhYJiFUXrF-4JrdblgON7EqK9smtfirF8p0vq1RFJqCbjqObtaLWsNLIbe9PHvbcgk53-AleIBSXcGyJc2hNTpzbAwYN/s1600/5%20flames.jpg" width="162" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Review:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The continuation of the sensual and sensation love
story between two of our favorite sexy Italians has finally arrived. Mari Carr
fans have been wondering about this story for a long time, waiting to find how
just how this one was going to turn out, and I think I can speak for all of us
in saying that it was beyond perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mari Carr is one of those authors that manages
in the span of a single short novel to take us to the highest peak of passion,
drop us into the lowest despair and finally to bring the perfect happily ever
to her characters and we get to experience it all with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m never quite sure what I’m signing up for
when I begin one of her books but I know the adventure is going to be emotional
and is going to leave me wrung out and exhausted by ultimately thrilled that I the
lovers managed to work through all of their obstacles and get their HEA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this latest installment we are actually
getting a continuation of a beautifully passionate night that we enjoyed in the
short novella <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/96174959-naughty-and-nice">Naughty
and Nice</a></i>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where Liza and Matt first
began to understand that the feelings they’d been fighting for one another
might be a losing battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved every
moment of this book and am just dying now for the next in the series, because
as always the epilogue led us in an intriguing and new direction for the next couple
(throuple?) and I couldn’t help reading—even though I keep telling myself that
way lay danger. If you are looking for an emotional, beautiful, passionate, and
ultimately amazing story of two lovers finding their perfect match, I can’t recommend
a better story than <i>Tempted and Taken</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Matt
Russo is trying to move forward with his daily life, but despite the craziness
of the holidays he can’t stop thinking about his one night with a woman he should
never have taken to his bed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old grudges,
family lines, and supposed dislike should have been enough of a deterrent, but
Liza Moretti draws Matt like no other woman ever has, and after spending one
night with her in his bed, he’s not sure he can turn off the need to have her.
Liza keeps trying to ignore the need she feels for Matt, the dark desires he awoke
in her, but even though she knows he will ultimately likely break her heart,
she can’t seem to keep away from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When they find themselves away from their families, headed to Hawaii for
a wedding, the temptation becomes to irresistible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But can they make their way through the
minefields of obstacles in their way to find a happy ending, or is there just
too much pain and danger between them to have any chance at a happy
future?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liza knows she could easy love
Matt, if he allows it, but she won’t give herself and her future to a man that
won’t open himself to her and offer her the world—Can Matt give her what she
needs or will they be torn apart? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There
was so much going on for both Matt and Liza in this story, requiring them to seek
help and advice from those they love more than once, but ultimately they needed
to come together in love in order to grow and find their way to happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liza has lived her entire adult life guiding
her career and her life, so giving into the dominance and need that Matt requires
is a challenge to her, but at the same time it is exactly what she has always
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That submission is just what she
needed in order to feel cherished and loved and she finds it perfectly in Matt’s
arms, allowing her sassy, sweet, loving, kind, smart, and witty nature free
rein but giving her the chance to destress and relax more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt has gone through a lot, as we slowly
learn, in his life, leaving him jaded about a lot of things, especially love,
but he knows immediately that Liza is different than every other woman that has
ever been in his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has to work
through a lot before he manages to fully open himself to the love she is offering
him, stopping himself from pushing her away finally, which is painful to
experience with him, but I was glad that his brothers supported him and that he
managed to come out the other side of that a whole man and able to offer his
huge heart finally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is strong, smart,
brave, caring, loving, sexy, and just about the perfect man once he learns to
open up more to the woman he loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
dying to see him in future stories as he embraces his family more and he and
Liza begin their lives together even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Together these two of perfectly matches puzzle pieces always meant to
come together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
story is one that hits on a lot of subjects that are painful for many readers, life
events that are painful and traumatizing that are often glossed over in stories
because of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Mari jumps right
into the deep end, touching on the subject of cheating, childhood mental and
emotional abuse, and suicide all to show that these things can affect a person
and their choices, even if you think you have dealt with this long into adulthood
and even in the most subtle of ways. It was a truly moving moment to watch Matt’s
brothers supporting him as he relived the night of his mother’s death, working through
his emotions with him and making him understand that he couldn’t let his
feeling about that stop him from moving forward in life and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was crying for a while after that scene not
to mention the chapters before and after it, so I warn you to be prepared with
plenty of tissues—or hell so for the hankie—when you dive into this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt is the perfect sexy, alpha, dominate billionaire
that, once he decides on a course, sticks to it until someone knocks some sense
into him and shows him that it’s time to change course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liza is a beautiful character, inside and
out, and is the perfect match to Matt’s stubbornness and stands up to him so
that he understands that her submission is a gift and not a way for him to take
advantage of her loving nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat
between them has been there from the first argument we witnessed, flared out of
control on their “one-night stand”, and finally carried them through all the
traumas that tried to keep them apart in order to keep them together and allow
their love to bloom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t dislike a
single moment of this entire reading experience, even when I was crying so hard
I couldn’t see the words on the page and had to take a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot WAIT for the next story and I warn
you now, if you read that damn epilogue you’ll be torture for the next 4 months
right along with me, so be wary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mari,
not sure how you manage it, but as always you have blown my mind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-9692709326782290872023-12-23T21:30:00.001-05:002023-12-26T10:04:43.098-05:00ARC Mini- Review: An Inconvenient Earl (A Royal Match #4)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>An Inconvenient Earl (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/317011-a-royal-match"><b>A Royal Match
#4</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49377.Julia_London">Julia London</a></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bold. Beautiful.
Beguiling.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiH3-aBthWFaEx_3vGqF6VfFceu38LSPDpMwOgWkTAOs17zZX9hqcBh1wgUOsng1-10Xzz4Z_QDn-2bTQu497kcmMU16aYPWzECqjzd1jFYG8yFeySCLYlubIpHzmdqWF-AIIV6LiUQUwA5zXwbXy0Mn8XHjiuDh4OseOur0cNJqAloxoVVuBJWOK8Rhm/s400/aIE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="254" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiH3-aBthWFaEx_3vGqF6VfFceu38LSPDpMwOgWkTAOs17zZX9hqcBh1wgUOsng1-10Xzz4Z_QDn-2bTQu497kcmMU16aYPWzECqjzd1jFYG8yFeySCLYlubIpHzmdqWF-AIIV6LiUQUwA5zXwbXy0Mn8XHjiuDh4OseOur0cNJqAloxoVVuBJWOK8Rhm/s320/aIE.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s been over a
year since Emma Clark’s no-good husband left on an expedition. The Countess of
Dearborn has played the abandoned wife, but people are beginning to presume the
earl is dead, which doesn't suit Emma at all. Emma likes being head of household
in Albert’s absence and does her best to keep his family believing he is alive
and well. She’s thirty years old and finally having some fun. If the earl is in
fact dead, his family is waiting in the wings to swoop in and throw Emma out,
leaving her destitute.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then along comes
Luka Olivien, the Weslorian Earl of Marlaine. He’s traveled all the way from
Egypt, duty bound to return to the countess her deceased husband’s precious
pocket watch—only to discover she doesn’t know he’s dead… Or does she? It’s
hard to tell. Luka catches glimpses of the desperate vulnerability beneath the
party girl exterior and can’t help being drawn into the beguiling countess’s
ruse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Historical<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 3.5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWrySvqHaAV2p0fkMfRyJwKU5dPSfAHDvs8YdMvK-igS5INsJg3wNZOeN-MfD716RpYhG0SVBHvmHGC-AYBHhJ66qEBOtaJbHXHSmztG7rE2Itjf-WzUBXxaaAbzNkd7WsFuachd0T3btJK4G1-RSNu0iM3OL0R-Ef70OqZRBa3W61JzLKirJ5sZESqi2/s114/3.5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="114" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWrySvqHaAV2p0fkMfRyJwKU5dPSfAHDvs8YdMvK-igS5INsJg3wNZOeN-MfD716RpYhG0SVBHvmHGC-AYBHhJ66qEBOtaJbHXHSmztG7rE2Itjf-WzUBXxaaAbzNkd7WsFuachd0T3btJK4G1-RSNu0iM3OL0R-Ef70OqZRBa3W61JzLKirJ5sZESqi2/s1600/3.5%20flames.jpg" width="114" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
have to preface this review by saying that I have been a devoted fan of all of
Julia London’s historical romance novels since the very first one that I picked
up years ago and I despite not being a fan of her contemporary novels I have
never let them color my devotion to her historical work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said I really just could not get into
this story until about the last five chapters and I was very sad about that. Emma
Clark’s ass of a husband has finally done her the favor of dropping dead while
on expedition in Egypt and she is able to live her life freely and enjoy
herself for once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when the handsome
Luke Olivien, Earl of Marlaine in Wesloria, arrives intent on sharing the news
of her husband’s death and passing on an heirloom before returning onto his
travels, Emma is just as determined to put him off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon the two of them are involved in a long
(and drawn out) game of cat-and-mouse that soon turns to something much more as
they spend time together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the couple
begin to develop feeling for one another, their game begins to have much
further-reaching consequences as Emma and Luka both realize they can’t live in
their bubble forever and time must go forward, and they might not be able to do
so together. While the premise of this story is one that could have made for an
interesting novella, the length of the story just made the story entirely too
drawn out and boring in the middle for my tastes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked Luka very much, despite him being a
bit too led by his intrigue with Emma at times, but otherwise he was a strong,
sweet, and interesting character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma
was another story; I understand she had it hard with her husband in the
beginning and needed to live it up a little bit, but honestly she began to be a
little bit too frivolous and vapid for me during the middle of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to push her to just grow the hell up
and realize there were more important things in the world she should be
focusing on, so I was glad that she finally did that in the last 5 or 6
chapters when she was forced out of her little world of insignificant to face
the challenges so many others have to face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think I could have really enjoyed this story had it been about 10-15 chapters
shorter with those removed from the middle, but other than that, Luka was a
great character, it was nice to see so many of the previous couples that are
from the interwoven series that le to this one, and when Emma finally came to
her senses she was a pretty decent character too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure if this series is to continue
but hopefully if it does, the next couple will either have a shorter story, or
one with a deeper more developed plot line. I hope others find more
entertainment with the story, but it definitely wasn’t for me. Still well written
and enjoyable, but not up to my usual expectations of a London historical
romance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author (via
NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-13555262792270554242023-12-17T09:29:00.012-05:002023-12-26T09:42:19.284-05:00ARC Review: Love Grudge <h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Love
Grudge </span></b></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056719.Chantal_Fernando"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chantal Fernando</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOvifnawff0MNYgey2OuVqG6tSHZzjV_dZFnptYgecVs0WhJVxJeDQA6hbZ4uzIoCzi55pziLM5PqkTOyC37TetWeJ5cdo3lGIX1tlqPJXgNs-MfP66Z7cY6NzNs4XJyE7rvJGzSYuxSN/s1500/LG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="953" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOvifnawff0MNYgey2OuVqG6tSHZzjV_dZFnptYgecVs0WhJVxJeDQA6hbZ4uzIoCzi55pziLM5PqkTOyC37TetWeJ5cdo3lGIX1tlqPJXgNs-MfP66Z7cY6NzNs4XJyE7rvJGzSYuxSN/s320/LG.jpg" width="203" /></a></span></i></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Their love will ignite a war in this Romeo and Juliet retelling
from gripping New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando.<o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Romeo<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was born to
rule the Devils MC. Every decision, every move I made was to further that
goal—until I met Julianna. Falling in love with the granddaughter of the man
who ripped our club apart was not in the cards, especially not now, when it’s
finally time for me to take over as president. Duty to the MC comes first, but
that battle cry feels empty when it means giving up the woman I love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Julianna<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My greatest sin
was being born a woman. I’ve proven my worthiness in spades, but my father
still won’t let me lead the Angels MC on my own. I’m nothing but his pawn, to
be sold off to the successor of his choice. He wants me to fall in line, give
up Romeo and keep the peace, but my loyalty comes with a price. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ll fight for
what I want, even if it means going to war.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b>Contemporary, MC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e2sj6YyBRvLQpkiFiHC0xzlIYHRs3VYCHzD6i-XlhNaEzCy0TEypy8BSC6SbDtoIsERHUUm3Z8sWEoQ2d81VJ5qA1pefqeOldwGKZe95UPHC062ryLpj6uWM1EhnXkyCgoZywnhyphenhyphenX7haX8buPAdJwQef_H5ta6xyFPgrM-wBdvpIuWTlY1QrRjgZcWuG/s146/4.5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="146" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e2sj6YyBRvLQpkiFiHC0xzlIYHRs3VYCHzD6i-XlhNaEzCy0TEypy8BSC6SbDtoIsERHUUm3Z8sWEoQ2d81VJ5qA1pefqeOldwGKZe95UPHC062ryLpj6uWM1EhnXkyCgoZywnhyphenhyphenX7haX8buPAdJwQef_H5ta6xyFPgrM-wBdvpIuWTlY1QrRjgZcWuG/s1600/4.5%20flames.jpg" width="146" /></a></span></b></p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I
have been a fan of Chantal Fernando and her sexy and intense MC series for a while
now, going back and forth catching up as I came into the series later into later
in their inception, but when I found out there was a new story coming I couldn’t
wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t realize that it wasn’t
connected to any of the existing series at first, but that didn’t stop me from
wanting to dive right in and experience something new with Chantal. This story
is a remaking of the classic Romeo and Juliet, but with a much more satisfying
ending and a much more sensual storyline that will keep you interested and glued
to your seat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romeo is the crowned Prince of the Devils MC,
born to the lead the club and ready to ascend to the thrown any day now when his
father steps down, but he never realized that the greatest challenge to his
rule would be his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julianna is the
crowned Princess of the Angels MC, once members of the Devils but forced to
split from them and now dangerous rivals, and while she has been trained to
rule the Angels, she is forced to submit to the men of her club, but when she meets
Romeo her world changes forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite
the fact they know they are playing a dangerous game Romeo and Julianna are
unable to resist the pull to one another and soon they find there is nothing in
this world more important that finding a way to be together and the love they
have found with one another. But enemies are determined to keep them apart if
they can’t find allies and overcome the danger lurking around every corner
determined to end their epic love story once and for all. I truly loved this
story from beginning to ending, never quite knowing how Chantal was going to find
a way for her lovers to pull their HEA out of the mess they’d made for themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julianna was an interesting, strong, sassy,
and amazing character; she was obviously made to be a queen, one that rules her
people, not just one that sits by her man’s side as he ruled, and she was not going
to let anything stop her from taking the reins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At every turn someone was trying to thwart her and put her into “her
place” but she never let that stop her from fighting to do what needed to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romeo was also a wonderful character, sweet and
loving to his woman, deadly and badass to his enemies, and strong and stubborn
when he needed to lead his men into war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So many times, I was afraid he would give up and walk away like so many
men today would have, but he should the true strength of his love and backbone
by standing up for his woman and finding a way to give her not only what she
needed to survive but to thrive and for them to have their lives together. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passion between these two was off the
charts from the very beginning and even when they were simply fighting never
failed to spark, and I can see that being a backbone of heir relationship for
the rest of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to
see more in this world in the future for sure, but overall, this was a great
story and definitely a fun and interesting take on Shakespeare famous love
story by Chantal Fernando that every MC lover should pick up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-51748552034785245052023-12-10T10:18:00.006-05:002023-12-10T10:18:56.676-05:00ARC Review: Finding the Road to Us (The Wilder Brothers #6)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Finding
the Road to Us (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/330428-the-wilder-brothers"><b>The
Wilder Brothers #6</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5360266.Carrie_Ann_Ryan">Carrie Ann
Ryan</a></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD-Ewe0Hv__86pOuySjQ0UA4IjRPvLeim4R2AWl7MfTNhyphenhyphenVrTgU93csyzHGH07Q_FdRuxMbi8rO_Q4-7g-s7ao-yB-Sk3_hbt593qIXDhC0r6_HaPwYah1qn6IvEVMoX63KY076_7EOOFVqjpNnBskjs4neQgDVBvYPZfmOl7TpfdQgf3t2iPnV7tWIWi/s2700/FtRtU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD-Ewe0Hv__86pOuySjQ0UA4IjRPvLeim4R2AWl7MfTNhyphenhyphenVrTgU93csyzHGH07Q_FdRuxMbi8rO_Q4-7g-s7ao-yB-Sk3_hbt593qIXDhC0r6_HaPwYah1qn6IvEVMoX63KY076_7EOOFVqjpNnBskjs4neQgDVBvYPZfmOl7TpfdQgf3t2iPnV7tWIWi/s320/FtRtU.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was ready to
say, ‘I do’, then my fiancé left me at the altar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Broken and
embarrassed, Trace and Elliot helped me run away—ditching my wedding dress in
the process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I come back
to the Wilder Retreat to show the world I’m no longer hurting, I know I must
ignore my traitorous needs when it comes to these two men.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because my body
wants them both.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And my soul
craves them just as much.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know I can’t
choose, and part of me asks why I should.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only when we
decide to take that chance and share everything, the danger from our pasts
refuses to let our choice stand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With one kiss,
one dance into temptation, we could lose everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Including our
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Menage, Contemporary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF4zSSjLOUcpoxwyNuLHkLdeoK1MyxCFzyCelc9v9h30g-4EpZYzP-lg5XCICQ-Vw1EUT9sqGDCXRaBY93tQSdIxGKbRGXUWRAx1Kzi_NfBOIHVJAnO43F1SHT-0L4xjj02p8RYHRSG9j0-AB0a4Jc-shu2-JbS8Dk37bb-HDKDT2vgMdYfcSahLkM-OP/s146/4.5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="146" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF4zSSjLOUcpoxwyNuLHkLdeoK1MyxCFzyCelc9v9h30g-4EpZYzP-lg5XCICQ-Vw1EUT9sqGDCXRaBY93tQSdIxGKbRGXUWRAx1Kzi_NfBOIHVJAnO43F1SHT-0L4xjj02p8RYHRSG9j0-AB0a4Jc-shu2-JbS8Dk37bb-HDKDT2vgMdYfcSahLkM-OP/s1600/4.5%20flames.jpg" width="146" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
last of the main Wilder siblings have found their loves in this beautiful story
of healing and second chances by Carrie Ann Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been a fan of this series and looked
forward to it since we first met the Wilders when Eliza<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilder fell in love with one of the crazy Montgomery
bunch. This series has truly been one the most painful to watch as each of the
traumatized and broken Wilder men has had to work through their issues in order
to allow their hearts to open to the women that came into their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was dying for this final story as the
youngest Wilder, Elliot, has always seemed the most broken despite the cheerful
face he puts on for his family. The story kicks off immediately with a story of
heartbreak for Sidney and you wonder just how these three lovers are going to find
their way into a loving triad and their HEA, but as always Carrie Ann finds a
way and shows us that love truly can overcome anything and will lead to healing
and happiness. I am looking forward to the spinoff series as the Wilder cousins
finds their own versions of happiness and healing and join their cousins on the
Wilder Winery and Retreat, rebuilding and making their family stronger and better.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trace
Pritchett has become one of the Wilder team since his client and friend Bethany
brought him into the fold by marrying one of the wilder men, but the more time
he spends with the youngest wilder, Elliot, the more he questions his ability to
just remain his friend. Elliot wants Trace, but he doesn’t believe Trace looks
at him that way, despite their connection and the moments they share, especially
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after Trace literally saves his
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they work together to help jilted-bride
Sidney Flowers to escape the trauma of her marriage, keeping her sanity intact,
neither man imagined that kindness would forever change the path of their
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when Sidney comes back into
their world a year later, neither man is willing to give up the chance to have
in their lives, or their beds, so they embark on the crazy plan to have a
relationship between the three of them—if they can convince the sexy florist to
join them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sidney is ready to completely
change her life, but being with two gorgeous men and developing feelings might
just be more than she planned for. Can love to develop between three broken and
battered souls in order to heal their hearts, of will their pasts and fears
tear them apart? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
really enjoyed finally getting to know Trace and Elliot, learning their
backstories, and of course meeting Sidney, but I would have love it to be a bit
longer so we could enjoy more relationship building between them, as it seemed
a bit abrupt at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That said, Elliot’s
story was truly heartbreaking, learning about what he dealt with in the
military and why he finally decided it was time to get out when he did, shows
why despite always seeming so cheerful it was sometimes obvious that he was
unhappy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was such a strong character despite
his fears and I was glad that he was able to work through he past so that he
could open his heart and enjoy the chance at love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we forget that the blush of first
love isn’t always meant to be the lasting love with think when it is ripped
from us with no closure, leaving us with a gilded view of it and no way to
recognize the real thing when it comes around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trace on the other hand was a much older and wiser man and when he
finally decided to stop trying to please others with dumb choices, he knew he
wanted Elliot and went for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved
seeing him leading the charge and making sure Elliot and Sidney had all the
emotional support they needed as they began their relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the backbone of their love and despite
having his own issues, got the strength he needed from being their core.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was brave, sweet, loving, and always just
want they need to be stronger together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sidney was the type of woman that sometimes makes me crazy; in the
beginning it seemed she was settling, taking a husband that wasn’t really good
enough for her and caving again and again to pressure from her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as she learned to stand on her own,
finding her strength and no longer letting others’ opinions lead her choices, I
began to really like her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was the
perfect third for Trace and Elliot—sweet, loving, support, kind, and sassy when
need be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together the three of them
really were the perfect recipe for a lasting and strong love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
story was one I had been looking forward to a while and Find the Road to Us is one
of those stories that will stick with you for a while. Trace, Elliot, and
Sidney are all character in need of something in order to take their battered
hearts and put them back together, and each of them has something crucial to
bring to their relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trace was
the titanium core of power that will hold the three of them together through
anything that comes at them, even as he needs the love and sweetness of the
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sidney is the sassy sweetness to
remind them their lives aren’t always about fighting for their place in the
world, but can sometimes just be about being together and finding time to enjoy
their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elliot is the glue that
binds them together, giving them strength and staying intensity so they never
lose one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their passion and
connection are undeniable whether it is all three of them together, or they are
split off into couples, and it is amazing to witness from the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved this story from beginning to end, and
really my only gripe was I wish it had been a bit longer so we could have
enjoyed more of seeing them building their relationship and living day-to-day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am looking forward to the next story in the
series, when Ridge and the Wilder Cousins will be joining the scene and getting
their own stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carrie Ann Ryan has
never once let me down as she gives us amazing stories of loss, love, salvation,
and passion, and this story is just another example of her mastery of the written
word. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-45947080980109974022023-12-03T19:30:00.012-05:002023-12-04T19:36:09.687-05:00ARC Mini-Review: Dragon Frost (Dragon Kings #6.5)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Dragon
Frost (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/306776-dragon-kings"><b>Dragon
Kings #6.5</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant">Donna Grant</a></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4eLQUNkx_jYg3KuKbX0Deshb1Xte0zWVy56heN6kW5LzJhRDH5uEPW4pftWk51VAH1PWrBxZU5Ux6azCzyeJnSQ-2j3Pm3EUjdpBtihvsSBCFY2sFhjOhT7z38J0o2cCiDBY7UIoWR7OFPhOZ3VMXdWbMkOLktAgmnNhs44o_eWUcPnqGGczrCZcR3W9/s1260/DF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4eLQUNkx_jYg3KuKbX0Deshb1Xte0zWVy56heN6kW5LzJhRDH5uEPW4pftWk51VAH1PWrBxZU5Ux6azCzyeJnSQ-2j3Pm3EUjdpBtihvsSBCFY2sFhjOhT7z38J0o2cCiDBY7UIoWR7OFPhOZ3VMXdWbMkOLktAgmnNhs44o_eWUcPnqGGczrCZcR3W9/s320/DF.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The holiday
season is Rhi’s favorite time of year, which means Con loves it, too. Except
they’re on Zora, where there are no traditions—and beginning one could be
hazardous. Finding the lost dragons should’ve given everyone peace. Instead,
they’re facing powerful enemies at every turn. Despite the danger, the King of
Dragon Kings knows his mate longs to have their space dripping with holiday
decorations and gifts piled under the tree, and he’s going to do his best to
give it to her and make sure they have time to celebrate the season and their
love.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And perhaps a
surprise or two.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Holiday Novella,
Paranormal<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5Ydb6WuUSARVJdp60ruulo1tjvboUUAXHZGSAmKgUDRG5iG23GP7D8tdpDRzvRJN7Cy70Awdi9VI_LfJkJOj1c4SGHv2JAva0vB8W_46I46m5Onvz4QsaeMztED0iHQnXDFTwTJ0dPaHZDxrM7rANbkqPyvZcyhrpT7MTJDzXjnETVZ327NfxVKsXsa8/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5Ydb6WuUSARVJdp60ruulo1tjvboUUAXHZGSAmKgUDRG5iG23GP7D8tdpDRzvRJN7Cy70Awdi9VI_LfJkJOj1c4SGHv2JAva0vB8W_46I46m5Onvz4QsaeMztED0iHQnXDFTwTJ0dPaHZDxrM7rANbkqPyvZcyhrpT7MTJDzXjnETVZ327NfxVKsXsa8/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our
favorite couple returns for a quick and sweetly romantic holiday novella in
Donna Grant’s outstanding Dragon King’s series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For longtime fans, this is a small gift from one of our favorite authors
and a chance to reconnect with our beloved Rhi and Constantine as they take a
romantic holiday getaway and a much needed reset on their relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know that sometimes the rigors of life
and the stress of just living such a demanding can put stressors on a
relationship and taking the time to remind ourselves of the love and devotion
of our partnership is crucial to a happy relationship. This year so much has been
going on for Rhi and Con, ever since they learned of their adult twins’
existence, the continuation of the dragons, and the trouble on their home world
of Zora, but their love continues to shine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This year Con wants to give his mate something she really needs, a break
to celebrate the beauty of the winter season and a chance for them to just
breathe and be together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A trip away
from all their worries, to just be together is just what they both need and the
beauty of recommitting their love couldn’t be more perfect for Rhi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rhi knows that Con has never stopped loving
her, but the strength of his worries has been weighing on her as well, so the
chance to just enjoy her mate and relax is the most beautiful gift he could
give her this year, but she has an even more beautiful gift for him, one that
will give them both the greatest job they could ever experience together, one
they were robbed of before and will cherish forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved every moment of this sweet, sexy, and
loving holiday filled story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rhi and Con
are always so beauftil together that is could bring you to tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There love is truly epic, but the moment when
they are just quiet together you could forget that they are millennia old
beings filled with magic and see them truly as just lovers indulging in time
together to be one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love how Donna
Grant reminds us that no matter how powerful a being is, the strongest power in
the universe will always be love and nothing beats it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t wait for the next story in the series
and to see more of Rhi and Con and their beautiful family. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by the publisher (via
NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-41889822805513653022023-11-15T12:00:00.000-05:002023-11-15T22:06:43.065-05:00ARC Review: Just One Tease (The Dirty Dares #5)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Just One
Tease (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/349591-dirty-dares"><b>The
Dirty Dares #5</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carly Phillips</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k5JZ5QE9hESvXX9hzmPw8tWAdw-hmnoiagFyZUF9UsYrkwV6OiqDYl2ZT320OaI92-lunopjy8LL-8XzO4WwQcnZaCAsOyLPZgk2N2uHdrvXeCqGdTmhpS93wl3BZDbbEF2wGyyv3UbPPjY823FHi6MvOQ1Txvo_V9ro18fIg15p2WIk9z0N1nSvCqsn/s2475/JOT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k5JZ5QE9hESvXX9hzmPw8tWAdw-hmnoiagFyZUF9UsYrkwV6OiqDYl2ZT320OaI92-lunopjy8LL-8XzO4WwQcnZaCAsOyLPZgk2N2uHdrvXeCqGdTmhpS93wl3BZDbbEF2wGyyv3UbPPjY823FHi6MvOQ1Txvo_V9ro18fIg15p2WIk9z0N1nSvCqsn/s320/JOT.jpg" width="194" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s the last single Dare sibling
standing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She’s his lost love who disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now she’s back, bringing secrets and danger.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hadley Stevens is
on the run with her younger sister—again—but this time, she’s in control. Zach
Dare might hate her, but she knows he’d never turn away someone in need. He’s
the only man she trusts. The man she’s never gotten over. Even if she left him
without a word.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zach never
expected the girl he once loved to walk into his bar. The last time he saw her,
he’d dropped her off after school and promised to pick her up for prom. Except
she disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, she’s back
with a new name, but the same doe eyes and pouty lips, and she’s asking for the
help he would have gladly given her all those years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zach agrees to
protect them, but he refuses to fall for Hadley again. But late nights working
side by side give them a tempting glimpse at the life they could have had…and
all the reasons he loved her come flooding back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’ll have to
keep her safe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before he can
convince her to stay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Contemporary,
Series Finale<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbM21hc35qcbpcg5Xpz25zr2U2Gf-7-wYEEFGYOfEtiEQZ0o4GsIe5E34zs8cw8IAZ7Vifn6UZY_6BxwamoBtF2eb1UVv5BzdCZSAdizUXfWVR9x-OFGdhgYeT2kcpjd41MCcUGvSj2ztRnWXcUmG2bRxLk_IbYqrfqwsYuJbnEV9xmqbfKwko4aQAKiW/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbM21hc35qcbpcg5Xpz25zr2U2Gf-7-wYEEFGYOfEtiEQZ0o4GsIe5E34zs8cw8IAZ7Vifn6UZY_6BxwamoBtF2eb1UVv5BzdCZSAdizUXfWVR9x-OFGdhgYeT2kcpjd41MCcUGvSj2ztRnWXcUmG2bRxLk_IbYqrfqwsYuJbnEV9xmqbfKwko4aQAKiW/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /><br /></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
final Dirty Dare sibling has finally found their love and mate in this finale
by Carly Phillips, but don’t worry we have more coming in this amazing family
and a fun spinoff as Zach’s sexy partner Remy and his family get their own
series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carly’s Dare family has
intrigued readers for many years now, but we are looking forward to the
Sterling family for sure while the last set of Dare siblings has a chance to
grow up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This story is one that we have
really looked forward to, getting hints from Zach as he watched his siblings
find and fall in love and learned bits and pieces of his story, but we never
realized just how heart-wrenching it was going to be for him and his girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed this story, the emotional turmoil,
the family connections, the drama, and the second chance at love for two people
who so badly deserved to find one another again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are looking for a romantic and stormy
tale of two people who have been hurt and lost in their lives but finally find
each other again, Carly’s Just One Tease, will fulfill every need and give you
the HEA you need on a cold November night. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hadley
Stevens is once again running for her life, this time with her teenage sister
in tow, and she finds herself heading into the arms of the one man she never
imagined she would ever see again, but who can offer her the safety and
security they both need so badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zach
Dare once loved Hadley—who he knew as Mia—with all his heart, but when she
disappeared from his life suddenly, leaving him with a hole in his heart, he built
a wall around himself and having her back asking for help only makes him want
to reinforce those walls. While his friends and family seem more than willing
to embrace both Hadley and her sister, Zach is more resistant to letting her
back into his life, despite knowing she is in danger and needing to protect
her, but he could never turn away a damsel in distress, much less one that once
meant the world to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more time
they spend together, the more they both remember the love and passion that once
made them everything to one another, and the deeper their hearts become
connected again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both know that
even if Hadley and her sister find a way out of the danger surrounding them,
Hadley has to return to her life, but Zach is determined that he will fight for
her and them, even if it means losing everything again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hadley
was a wonderful character, one that tugged at your heart from the very
beginning and you could see being your best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was witty and smart, always having a
backup plan and knowing that she had to be prepared to protect her sister in
case her idiot father messed up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She has worked hard to make something of herself and make sure that her
sister has a chance at a normal life, even though it cost her the love of hers,
and she is determined to do whatever it takes for her sister to continue to
have that normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gives her all in
everything she does, be it in her profession, caring for her sister, or giving
her heart and body to the man she loves again, showing him that she never
really stopped wanting or loving him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hadley’s life has been tragic, but she won’t let it stop her from
grabbing any happiness she can when she has the chance to have it and embracing
any chance with Zach that he will let her have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Zach was a little bit of an ass, spoiling for a fight, at the beginning
of their story, but once he finally released the chip on his shoulder and
allowed Hadley to tell her side of their story, his true loving and caring
nature had a chance to come out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
such a good guy, sweet, and loving while still being strong and alpha, that you
just want to grab him and never let him go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is obviously smart as all get out, compassionate, thoughtful, and
tender with his family (especially the women) as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I especially loved seeing him interacting
with his sisters-in-law and nieces, but his whole family obviously means the
world to him and he will be a great father and I can’t wait to see him in
future novels as he and Hadley grow their own family. Once he opened his heart
again, he truly was the perfect man and he gave Hadley exactly the love and
forgiveness she needed to remind her why they are the perfect couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Just One Tease</i>
might be the ending to the Dirty Dares, but it is just the beginning for Hadley
and Zach, offering them the forgiveness and second chance at love that they
always deserved and the chance for a life they should have had from the
beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zach is the Dare sibling who
has been the most mysterious and canny, but we finally learn all of his past
and get to see that he has more layers than we ever imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is sexy, smart, caring, tender, and
passionate and truly the perfect match for Hadley once he learns to let go of
the pain of their shared past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hadley
has had so many heartbreaks but has stood strong against the pain and
heartbreak and finally takes a chance on the man she loved and lost when she
needs help for her sister and herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her pain is nothing compared to the need she feels for Zach and the need
to protect her sister, but she never imagined he would truly give her the forgiveness
she wanted or the chance to have him in her heart again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the passion and fire between these
two and it truly was spectacular to see these two fall into one another and
find their way back to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am dying
for the next series Carly plans to release, revolving around Remy
Sterling—Zach’s partner—and his large and crazy family, and I imagine that
series will be just as awesome as all the Dare series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carly, as always, finds a way to end a series
with a bang and shows us that two people truly can be made for one another,
even if they are separated by year, miles, and circumstances, because nothing
can truly keep love apart if it is meant to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well played Carly, well played. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-52826904892418283272023-11-11T18:00:00.001-05:002023-11-12T18:16:18.405-05:00ARC Mini Review: Naughty and Nice (Italian Stallions #5.5)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Naughty
and Nice (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/324736-italian-stallions"><b>Italian
Stallions #5.5</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1365301.Mari_Carr"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mari Carr</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LvYuHGbqAVj5VIzdoLgXooenoJ-4JBvxLvyix25liUr5SByDUmVhp1KLYDq2hKbQt7Z6mRFnqpjLdLsT4y7bz9hI1OhNhu46rrolEWIMIyvlGhrPahPOna_W5rM-EdKJtsMKi31bmqBnWC7pbU_q3F_SVfRlezhjRKAstYdZnZfZQHsznvywtYh2cSq_/s2700/NaN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LvYuHGbqAVj5VIzdoLgXooenoJ-4JBvxLvyix25liUr5SByDUmVhp1KLYDq2hKbQt7Z6mRFnqpjLdLsT4y7bz9hI1OhNhu46rrolEWIMIyvlGhrPahPOna_W5rM-EdKJtsMKi31bmqBnWC7pbU_q3F_SVfRlezhjRKAstYdZnZfZQHsznvywtYh2cSq_/s320/NaN.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">If there’s one
thing Liza excels at it’s making bad decisions. Which is why she knew it was
stupid to</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> invite the guy she’d just started dating to the gala she was hosting.
When he gets overly familiar, she asks him to leave. He refuses…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until sinfully
sexy billionaire, Matt Russo, intervenes, leading to Liza’s worst decision
ever. Because a holiday hook-up with Matt, her family’s enemy, would definitely
land her on the naughty list for life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If Matt’s past
has taught him anything, it’s that true love doesn’t exist. Then he spies
Liza—the only threat to his simple existence—across the hotel ballroom. A slow
dance leads to a heated embrace that ends in his hotel room. And for the first
time ever, he imagines a very different future for himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately,
it’s one he can never have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Erotica, Holiday<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwK42K9JbgB5PD4WepP7B0-Ub-8szNgQCNqv446o9aGg_DfnziiDqqvY91dd6tR8t28KgOfLp5w1P1RCRH5IBiXa7r63iyAeXGo86WX_3hhQo48eld0dadr7SiZ9d8CgSHNUriVf8d7PbX1flkatOc04o_87xwZSE_kLH5ogMKaZ-RA98dHGSRiRvJxnIe/s162/5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="162" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwK42K9JbgB5PD4WepP7B0-Ub-8szNgQCNqv446o9aGg_DfnziiDqqvY91dd6tR8t28KgOfLp5w1P1RCRH5IBiXa7r63iyAeXGo86WX_3hhQo48eld0dadr7SiZ9d8CgSHNUriVf8d7PbX1flkatOc04o_87xwZSE_kLH5ogMKaZ-RA98dHGSRiRvJxnIe/s1600/5%20flames.jpg" width="162" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love a good erotic holiday romance, and what
makes it even better is when the heat has been building between the characters
for several novels and we know that the fire is about to explode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mari Carr has been giving us glimpses of the
fireworks to come between Matt Russo and Liza Moretti for a long time now, and
we get just a little glimpse into this sexy holiday romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Naughty
and Nice</i> is the story of Matt and Liza finally giving into the tension and
need they’ve been fighting in a big way with one night of passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither of these two think it is a good idea
to give in, but neither of them can resist the other any longer and finding the
connection to one another is more than they can fight anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Losing themselves in one another for one
heated, sexy, and fantastic night is just what the doctor ordered to allow them
to get over the pull they’ve been fighting, but when they unleash their hidden
desires, they quickly understand they’ve made a big mistake and they are in way
over their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt has never allowed
his lust and dark needs free reign with another woman the way he does with Liza
and she gives him everything he needs, meeting him and his needs every step of
the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liza never saw herself as a
submissive woman, but Matt’s stormy eyes and sexy voice show her that she can
let herself go and give over her needs and he will give her everything she
needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the light of day, can they
accept the ties they have forged and give the bond between them a chance even
with everything that stands between them? Or will they have to find a way to
resist one another again and walk away forever? I am dying to find out in their
full-length novel coming soon (Tempted and Taken) and I know that Mari will
make every moment of that way worth every moment of the angst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A true sexy and sensual romantic liaison
between two people who are going to blow your minds and leave you breathless
for their love story and the HEA we can only hope they find soon. Mari, you
truly are evil in only the best of ways!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-54128301481448803832023-11-05T09:30:00.006-05:002023-11-07T06:01:47.910-05:00ARC Review: Reign (Kindred: The Fated #3)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Reign (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/351760-kindred-the-fated"><b>Kindred:
The Fated #3</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1141209.Donna_Grant"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Donna Grant</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sY_rxSwv6OiI2d9GRbEPNSlOiOfspDn1ksXDlSI2TKDS7MrJL64CPDjjV64FQM6I4kluSIAFyPLLNF47OgZX2yyXIYLy2MjvPjMcQ7sFQ2CqZUqZd_Mejw995QlqJwyfsLGqTQN_wiETPNpksglRroPNPXrequi6i782LbxqNqBfT1qNUWLYhVI2wvlg/s382/Reign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sY_rxSwv6OiI2d9GRbEPNSlOiOfspDn1ksXDlSI2TKDS7MrJL64CPDjjV64FQM6I4kluSIAFyPLLNF47OgZX2yyXIYLy2MjvPjMcQ7sFQ2CqZUqZd_Mejw995QlqJwyfsLGqTQN_wiETPNpksglRroPNPXrequi6i782LbxqNqBfT1qNUWLYhVI2wvlg/s320/Reign.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Magic holds both
beauty and danger…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Lady of the
Varroki, Malene was powerful and revered. But after a battle, she awakens in
Norway as Dagny, a witch with no memories of her past. Her identity fragmented,
Dagny finds herself entangled in a life far removed from the path she once trod
and seduced by the lure of power. Until that need shifts to passion for the one
who has imprisoned her, hoping to make her remember.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a warrior and
the Lady’s right hand, Armir will not stop searching for Malene. When he does,
she’s not the woman he remembers. Driven by an undying love that transcends the
boundaries of time and space, Armir risks everything for her. But enemies lurk
in the shadows, waiting to strike. Will he and Malene overcome their pasts to
find a future together?</span></p></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b>Magick,
Paranormal<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNfZAWg0tyi1QQBbHxqz33lgBLguuw7vQLWcM2vXEsAc6od1fcrVmv9Vypw_Us_lznxyTXfD86p7gTxQaj_4rEzFPEQRcXa0XIVM8e2gZ0wLhbt79Fk4tio_RDiTzGhRavTDmFF0dznisKD1OLUTZKAbInBkzpcmt5QSSGkWgmIo6yMWtzNuPmAVTMydd/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNfZAWg0tyi1QQBbHxqz33lgBLguuw7vQLWcM2vXEsAc6od1fcrVmv9Vypw_Us_lznxyTXfD86p7gTxQaj_4rEzFPEQRcXa0XIVM8e2gZ0wLhbt79Fk4tio_RDiTzGhRavTDmFF0dznisKD1OLUTZKAbInBkzpcmt5QSSGkWgmIo6yMWtzNuPmAVTMydd/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
grand finale has finally arrived in our hot little hands, and boy was it worth
the long wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of us who have
shared this long journey with the magical Donna Grant and her witches, the
ending of the battles for the Kindred and their allies seemed like it would be
bittersweet, but we needed to experience it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Malene and Armir first began to fall in love, we feared that their
future would be a dark one, knowing they had obstacles in their way that might
just be insurmountable, however, we never gave up hope for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Donna’s imagination and heart continue to
surprise me and keep me on my toes as she led us through this last bit of
darkness and back into the light of love and happiness for the last couple to
find their hearts together. We have been given our long happily ever after for
these Kindred and know that the war has finally come to an end, but I continue
to hope that Donna might give us a spinoff in the future and let us back into
her world for more greatness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Armir
finally has the love of his life back in his arms, after being told she was
dead, despite not believing it himself, but she is not the same and doesn’t
have any memory of who she was before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is living as a conquering witch by the name of Dagny, determined to
conquer and take over, but when Armir kidnaps her from her latest battle she
finds herself facing her greatest challenge ever. Now Armir and Dagny are
trapped together, without their magic, until she regains her memories, because
if she is set free as the witch Dagny, unable to tap into the conscience of
Malene in her heart, the world could just fall into darkness. However, the more
time they spend together the more Dagny feels for the sexy Varroki warrior and
the deeper their emotions run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When an
enemy from the past comes to take Armir, Dagny has to dig deep to defeat not
only their enemy but the blocks in her own mind to protect the man she has
quickly fallen for, or they could both die. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Armir
and Dagny/Malene were both interesting characters because we saw sides of these
characters that we haven’t been able to see in previous novels. Armir has
always been so calm, collected, and buttoned-up in previous novels because he
had to project this demeanor as a leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But now we see him as the broken man who has lost—and now found—the love
of his life and he is dealing with all the emotional upheaval of seeing the
changes in Malene as she lives as Dagny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is still strong, determined, brave, and a singular fighter, but his
love and devotion to her make you want to cry as he falls apart. Once he
finally accepts that Malene might be forever gone, leaving behind only Dagny,
and he allows himself to embrace her for what he needs, we see a new side of
the selfless warrior and instead just see him take something for himself for
once. Malene/Dagny was such a well-written character because she was truly two
different characters as she was lost and then found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Malene was once such a sweet, loving, and
self-conscious character, but living as Dagny she never doubted herself and her
decisions, even if we cringed as some of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She lived her life to the fullest, doing what she thought was best and
forging ahead no matter what others thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was strong, smart, fearless, and bold as she moved forward with her
plans for world domination, but when she does finally understand that perhaps
that might be a happy medium she carries those traits with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she regains her true self, Malene can
incorporate Dagny’s strengths into her true personality to be the full Lady of
the Varroki she was always meant to be, proving that he time as Dagny was not
truly wasted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Donna
Grant teaches us a valuable lesson that sometimes the parts of our personality
that others find the least desirable, can in the long run be the most important
for us to learn from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we all
believed that Malene was gone, that she had given her life for the cause to
keep the Coven from killing innocents for their cause, despite Armir’s
conviction she lived, we were heartbroken. Learning she had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">turned</i> to the dark side and was herself
now trying to conquer others and force them to her will was even harder to deal
with, but having to watch Armir come to accept the loss of his love a second
time was almost too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Armir is such
a stalwart and loving warrior, one who never seems to give up on those he loves
or the causes he believes in, that seeing him defeated was demoralizing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he finally moved on and learned to live
in the moment, we accepted along with him that maybe his future was on a
different but no less noble and loving path with a new partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Malene’s path, even her time as Dagny, was
complicated and led through some interesting changes for the powerful Lady of
the Varroki, but in the end she found her strength and her power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her ability to become the leader and lover
needed to effect change for her people and the man she loved, while finding
herself in the end showed her inner core of goodness and strength could be
buried but never was lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the
passion between these two from the very beginning of their love story in
previous novels, through their time trapped together and into the future as
they live their HEA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I truly do hope
that Grant gives us another series in the world of the Kindred, but if she
doesn’t I can honestly say that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reign</i>
is the perfect ending to a series that began with skepticism for a world of
witches and wonder and became one of my favorite of her series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grant’s magic with the keyboard never fails
and I am forever spellbound. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by the author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-83581285179453167842023-10-29T07:30:00.001-04:002023-10-29T14:30:57.794-04:00ARC Review: Best Friend Temptation (Montgomery Ink Legacy #4)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Best
Friend Temptation (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/334473-montgomery-ink-legacy"><b>Montgomery
Ink Legacy #4</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5360266.Carrie_Ann_Ryan"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carrie Ann Ryan</b></a></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjxhEtkvFGBEcZy_PoWbSzemytzRGozA1Hn3uozWVSt-b9GgjC4iL63q5Rt2-NfSRLpNR_scVpY_Hm3UVawaoPZK1D-JSVCnu2JRAEbmuBruN4T2tZjUHh8jnD3-ZdhB2avsMZ-vDF8a8OL9yW8hh252e30esiJB0Ww82t1Savbl2nmy8ohpoOHAfE2Qr/s900/BFT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjxhEtkvFGBEcZy_PoWbSzemytzRGozA1Hn3uozWVSt-b9GgjC4iL63q5Rt2-NfSRLpNR_scVpY_Hm3UVawaoPZK1D-JSVCnu2JRAEbmuBruN4T2tZjUHh8jnD3-ZdhB2avsMZ-vDF8a8OL9yW8hh252e30esiJB0Ww82t1Savbl2nmy8ohpoOHAfE2Qr/s320/BFT.jpg" width="213" /></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Montgomery
Ink Legacy series continues with a forbidden romance between two best friends
and</span></i><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> the woman they both crave. Ford, Noah, and Greer aren’t ready for what
happens next.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I fell for my
best friend long before I knew what that meant. Only I know he’ll never love me
back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s stuck in his
head and his past demons and can’t see what is right in front of him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But when Greer
loses her home and needs a place to stay, both Noah and I know the only place
she belongs is with us—in every way possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now I’m falling
for both of my roommates and trying to keep the people I protect safe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Only someone is
coming for them, and I can’t stop the inevitable fall.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I just have to
hope that we made the right choices and that one day soon Noah and Greer will
finally see who we can be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before we lose it
all…or I finally walk away for good.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Ménage<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4.5 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPHPAaJuY_jaiWyey0GjrB5H4qFZ926w1U15gQceeDIR8oXDUSp2eVMieWd3HANUczK4OI62bt4PNrtWMg96WeTG90Mg39DsPDak3vm7zVUWD2Gk-OBxOYmkl9YFYQcLaggPN_4WaDiZ0h4VkglvwXezO0jX65oBWO2UIjW-Sg7iKWXmO-4_oTZnArIb2/s162/5%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="162" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPHPAaJuY_jaiWyey0GjrB5H4qFZ926w1U15gQceeDIR8oXDUSp2eVMieWd3HANUczK4OI62bt4PNrtWMg96WeTG90Mg39DsPDak3vm7zVUWD2Gk-OBxOYmkl9YFYQcLaggPN_4WaDiZ0h4VkglvwXezO0jX65oBWO2UIjW-Sg7iKWXmO-4_oTZnArIb2/s1600/5%20flames.jpg" width="162" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
have been looking forward to this story ever since Greer blew into the world of
this younger generation of Montgomerys, blowing the minds of the two sexy roommates
and best friends that never saw her coming to change their lives forever. The
long line of Montgomerys has always been one that collects friends and lovers
as they build their businesses and friendships, despite all the hardships they
face as they find love, but this latest story is one that was filled with
emotional angst and the pain that can sometimes come from ones own feelings of
inadequacy and lack of self-confidence. I loved the way that Carrie Ann Ryan
found a way to bring three so very different characters together in such a tumultuous
but ultimately perfect match and one that I can’t wait to enjoy more and more
as they build their lives together and we see them in later stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am really looking forward to the next in
series and seeing what kind of trouble the Montgomerys get themselves into –and
hopefully out of—as they lose their hearts and minds over their lovers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ford
Cage and Noah Montgomery have been best friend most of their lives, roommates
and business partners for years, and lovers sometimes when the pressure become
undeniable, but they both refuse to accept it can ever be more than that. Too
bad they are both lusting after their new friend Greer, because while Noah
believes that Ford and she should try for a relationship, Ford has something much
more <i>inclusive</i> and permanent in mind for the three of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When tragedy strikes, leaving Greer in need
of a place to live, the boys naturally offer their spare bedroom, neither of
them really understanding the torture that resisting their sexy new roommate
will be, and when they are caught in a bit of a private clinch, the three of
them have to finally admit the truth of their feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Agreeing to give a relationship together a try
is a difficult enough sell, but Ford is highly persuasive and determined to get
his way, and once has his two sexy lovers in his arms there is no way he will
let them go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there are strange
things happening in their lives, unexplainable accidents, small mishaps, and it
just might be that someone is out to separate the lovers permanently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ford and Noah have to get to the bottom of
the mystery and protect the woman they love, or risk losing her forever to and
unseen enemy, before they ever really have a chance to build a life together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
cannot say enough how much I loved these three and am so thrilled I got the
chance to get to know them. While Noah is the Montgomery of the story, I have
to say that Ford is the character that was the one that seemed to me to be the
bravest in terms of reaching for the relationship he wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ford comes from a huge family (all hot men,
oh my) and he definitely knows how to stand up for and go after what he wants,
but he has resisted pushing too hard with Noah until he found just the right
element he needed, which in this case of their perfect third, Greer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though they were obviously hurt in the past,
Ford is determined to have the poly love he needs with the man he loves, and
finding Greer just makes him more determined to get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is sexy, smart, alpha, strong, sweet, and I
loved getting to see more of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
hilarious with his brothers as well, and I enjoyed seeing them all together.
Noah has a very sensitive heart, one that has been clobbered in the past, and
he knows from watching his parents, the problems he would face in a poly
relationship, but I was very angry that he kept trying to keep himself emotional
apart from Greer and Ford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know he was
smarter and braver than that, he just needed a real kick in the ass, which is
finally got when he almost lost both of the people he loved, and after that his
true alpha personality can right to the forefront and he decided it was finally
time to fight for what he wanted and needed all along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s obviously a genius, sweet, passionate, and
funny, like most of the Montgomery brood, but I wish he’d been more confident
in himself and able to show his lovers and openness and dedication mush
sooner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greer is a sweet girl, but one
that has some ridiculous notions of her own worth thanks to the treatment of
her parents all her life, and BOY OH BOY can I relate to that crap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Why is it that women are so screwed up by
our parents as kids, but so many men escape unscathed? Ahem, anyway…) She obviously
badly wants the two sexy security guys that have been lusting for her from the
beginning, but she won’t put herself in between them because she thinks they
are together and perfect for one another, and she’s partially correct. Once she
is given the chance to experience the greatness of the three of them together,
there is no turning back for her, though she believes it will be temporary for
her, and she knows she will lose her heart quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is kind, loving, caring, smart, sassy,
and ultimately the bravest of them all as she offers them her heart openly believing
they are destined to turn her away anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greer is one of my favorite Montgomery
heroines for sure and I know she’ll make a great addition to the family. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
story truly is about the ultimate temptation of falling in love with not one
but two of your best friends, but sometimes giving into that temptations can
lead to the deepest and most profound love of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ford has loved and lusted after his best
friend for years and recently added to that torture when Greer entered his
life, but he hasn’t yet figured out hos to bring the two people he needs into
his arms and bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Noah wants so badly to
have Ford and Greer in his life, but he doesn’t believe he is good for them,
but when she needs a safe place to land he will be whatever she needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greer never imagined that Ford and Greer
would be her knights in shining armor, but she can’t resist their help or their
passion when faced with the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
they finally admit to one another their desires and decide to defy all the
obstacles and have a relationship, the love that quickly blossoms is beautiful
to watch grow, but with an enemy out to stop their love they have to watch one another’s
backs even as they fall deeper in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The passion between these three has been evident from the beginning of Greer’s
appearance on the pages of Raven and Sebastian’s book, when Noah and Ford found
it impossible to deny their feelings and she began daydreaming about both men,
but the more time they spend together the hotter the fires of their needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved every moment of these three deepening
their friendship and finally admitting that they were meant to be together,
even the trauma of an enemy trying to keep them apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am dying for more in the series and Carrie
even sneakily brought in two new sexy families of hot alpha men (Greer’s and Ford’s
brothers) who I understand will be getting their own sexy series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan never fails to make me sweat in all the
best ways as her lovers thrill and fascinate me, and <i>Best Friend Temptation</i>
is a prime example of her magic touch with a story. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-75420933272224497792023-10-22T20:30:00.012-04:002023-10-26T20:36:51.872-04:00ARV Review: HOT Honor (Hostile Operations Team: Strike Team 2 #8)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>HOT Honor (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/327397-hostile-operations-team-strike-team-2"><b>Hostile
Operations Team: Strike Team 2 #8</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2973925.Lynn_Raye_Harris">Lynn Raye
Harris</a></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2_GjUZagZ_svW-Xb3xfqFUskSd5cbeHk4Vftr3zln6LxgD1MVvAZOhn047kAA01qsZ1YhMMWnGv1KmTf9ncVNRVfPxj_e29wBXyiDrAdW6g9NEFZ5Tgq8vzTzi2wnVoLCs0z3ENU6wTWhfhYmCrt04fGzw5kWXEPPWR6q4qVx9aWeMBQSEFpCHemWc8s/s500/HH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2_GjUZagZ_svW-Xb3xfqFUskSd5cbeHk4Vftr3zln6LxgD1MVvAZOhn047kAA01qsZ1YhMMWnGv1KmTf9ncVNRVfPxj_e29wBXyiDrAdW6g9NEFZ5Tgq8vzTzi2wnVoLCs0z3ENU6wTWhfhYmCrt04fGzw5kWXEPPWR6q4qVx9aWeMBQSEFpCHemWc8s/s320/HH.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Waking up with a
wife is not how black ops soldier Zane “Zany” Scott pictured his first trip to
Las Vegas ending. Forever isn’t in his vocabulary anymore. So why did he marry
a woman he just met?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nerdy Eden Hall
isn’t the kind of girl people notice. She’s always lived in her twin’s shadow,
always been plain and sensible compared to her sister’s big personality. But
when her sister gets engaged to the man Eden secretly loves, it’s inevitable
she’ll drink too much at the bachelorette party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s not
inevitable that she’ll impulsively marry the hottest guy she’s ever laid eyes
on, though. Of course they’re going to divorce, but it takes more time to do
that than it did to get married. Time in which they’ll discover they’ve got
more in common than simply burning up the sheets together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just when they
think they might have something worth keeping, it all goes wrong and Eden
becomes the target of a killer. Zane will have to risk everything to save his
wife. Because if he doesn’t, he could lose the woman who, against all odds,
kickstarted his heart into beating again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes:</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Contemporary<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.25 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRqHrTxIgFiKenR_X2_x672cyFWGp8R0nk-IRM1VpyBtloGHWneDM-0ZuDD-nfae3FSAJ_pzGesdnfCqJKhe3_0LRdDSB-A70hIwSJFJZJ9ijz-MxciLePRm7v47sd2Bvv_LaKqjzDlf9-wMiqMgIdx_D5SoiHvPRejLsfaH7okhqgQFe3sHFQO7Op1Zc/s130/4%20flames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="130" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRqHrTxIgFiKenR_X2_x672cyFWGp8R0nk-IRM1VpyBtloGHWneDM-0ZuDD-nfae3FSAJ_pzGesdnfCqJKhe3_0LRdDSB-A70hIwSJFJZJ9ijz-MxciLePRm7v47sd2Bvv_LaKqjzDlf9-wMiqMgIdx_D5SoiHvPRejLsfaH7okhqgQFe3sHFQO7Op1Zc/s1600/4%20flames.jpg" width="130" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
final member of the original HOT team has finally fallen in this story of crazy
mistakes turning into lifelong love. II have been looking forward to this story
for a while now, knowing that Zany was going to be true to his name in the way
that he found his mate and the woman that he selected –even if by accident—to
share his life. Lynn Raye Harris has a skill with her characters and a magic
with her plotting that the rest of us could only hope to aspire to. As these
operators have slowly widened their circle, both with lover, wives, friends,
and allies, we have found ourselves in foreign countries, unimaginable
experiences, and the fear and desperation of loved ones in danger, but through
it all Harris manages to bring the most unlikely of lovers together and give
them the HEA we all hope to find and a future filled with happiness. While Zany
and Eden’s tory was certain rocky and filled with misunderstanding,
miscommunications, and danger, in the end these two discover that the passion
that originally brought them together is more than enough to build a foundation
to structure their love and lives on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am dying for more in this series, and perhaps a fun spinoff that was hinted at,
and of course hopefully we get to see more of the Black’s Bandits guys, but all
in all whatever Lynn Raye Harris gives us I know I will devours it gladly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Zane
“Zany” Scott is in Vegas to celebrate his little sisters Twenty-First birthday,
nothing more, and he is determined not to do anything stupid, but he never
imagined getting knocked off his feet by the sexy and shy woman he connects
eyes with across the bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eden Hall has
never been able to shine with her beautiful sister around and now that her
sister is marrying the man she is in love with Eden is willing to drown her pain
when the sexy Zane offers her a shoulder and some drinks. But things are
seriously complicated when they wake up in bed together after a long night of
passion, with rings on their fingers and a license in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now they are stuck dealing with the consequences—and
one another—but as they spend time together, they come to appreciate and like
one another and maybe even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
tragedy strikes, placing Eden and those around her in danger, Zane is
determined to keep her safe, pulling in the rest of HOT, but the more time they
spend together, the more Eden comes to care for Zane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conflicting feelings, confusing
miscommunications, and two stubborn people that can’t seem to express
themselves might be the least of their worries if they can’t figure out who is
after Eden and her sister in time, because Sane might just find himself a widow
instead of needing a divorce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he
definitely won’t have a chance at a happily ever after with the woman he might
just be falling in love with if he doesn’t admit his feelings and find a way to
save her life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
really enjoyed finally getting to know Zane and see more of him, but I was a
bit surprised by him a few times in that I wanted to slap him for his treatment
of Eden and his hard line take of some issues. It is obvious that his past
relationship, truly screwed him up for any chance at building a loving
connection with anyone, and while I mostly blame the bitch that treated him so
badly, he never really worked through his issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zane was such a sweet guy in the general
scheme of things, rescuing damsels in distress, caring for his family, always
jumping in to help his HOT family, that the way he treated Eden when he got his
feelings hurt. Other than those moments he was awesome, strong, sweet, loving,
brave, kickass and intelligent he is the ultimate hero, showing Eden that she
is sexy and lovable, even when she doesn’t think she is any of those things.
Eden on the other hand is the kind of woman I can fully understand; she has
real issues with self-confidence that mostly began with her mother, always
being compared to her sister and coming up short, and it has carried into her
adult life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She believes that she is in
love with her boss, who is now her sister’s fiancé, and it colors all her
choices even after she meets Zane, but he slowly manages to change her mind and
heart as he shows her who he is and the kind of life and family they can have
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is witty, charming, thoughtful,
and stronger than she knows, and protective of those she loves, but even when
she was in danger she never gave up and never stopped believing that Zane would
come for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite all that she
faced, it was obvious that when Eden <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i>
gave her heart, she did it entirely and nothing would ever change her decision,
no danger, pain, threat, or fear, and I was thrilled to see that the same was
true ultimately for Zane. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Honor
bespeaks worth’ is one of my favorite quotes, and it goes well with this story,
because truly the honor that Zane shows as he handles what begins as a mistake
and because a treasured moment shows his worth. I loved every moment, even the
ones where I screamed and cried, as I read Zane and Eden’s story of lust,
missed opportunities, danger, and ultimately a love that changed them both for
the better. Zane has been broken for so long, he doesn’t know how to love, but
Eden has pulled at him from the first moment their eyes connected, and the more
they are together the harder it is to deny that she might just be the one woman
he can’t live without.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eden knows that
she isn’t a beauty queen, but Zane makes her feel like the most beautiful woman
in the world, and there is no denying that she is falling deeper and deeper for
the big, protective, sexy man that has swept her off her feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together they will do everything in their
power, along with Zane’s HOT family, to protect Eden and her sister against and
unknown enemy, but they don’t have a lot of time before that enemy makes his
move and ultimately decides their fates for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passion and heat between these two was
explosive and I was almost sad that we didn’t get to see more of their wedding night
in action with them, instead of just in flashbacks, but oh well, and I know
that the heat between them won’t be fading any time soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am dying to see more of Zany and his Eden
in future stories as Harris has hinted at the possibility of a new spinoff
series and of course there is at least one more HOT member that needs his own
story and the Black Bandits are still out there running around the world as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harris never ceases to keep me
entertained and on the edge of my seat as she creates characters and plots that
are impossible to predict and that I’m helpless to put down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9065031550579657681.post-10105986695912277482023-10-15T08:30:00.003-04:002023-10-24T10:10:59.555-04:00ARC Mini Review: How the Hitman Stole Christmas (Holiday with a Hitman #1)<h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>How the Hitman Stole Christmas (</b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/377266-holiday-with-a-hitman"><b>Holiday
with a Hitman #1</b></a><b>)</b></span></h1><h1 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1563059.Katie_Reus">Katie Reus</a></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blurb:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDbqU3vyPUpO-fgcVvag-UzgIHM54-aNG2IGvz3dD66-2aSLWxHIuH3y27QuMOB5yyvcUdOw4VvC3i5RRo60mI3EET_k9i1Pobd430KhpP-Q1oP-G5S5sFaGfLy1XY1h1rNueh4zLXaS_JUVLF9R_RHxOyt6SmgA95J_fwJzqKgoKz46e0tNQlW86MSKZ/s2560/HtHSC.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDbqU3vyPUpO-fgcVvag-UzgIHM54-aNG2IGvz3dD66-2aSLWxHIuH3y27QuMOB5yyvcUdOw4VvC3i5RRo60mI3EET_k9i1Pobd430KhpP-Q1oP-G5S5sFaGfLy1XY1h1rNueh4zLXaS_JUVLF9R_RHxOyt6SmgA95J_fwJzqKgoKz46e0tNQlW86MSKZ/s320/HtHSC.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Tis the season
for a grumpy-sunshine romance with a side of murder and mayhem!<o:p></o:p></span></i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She hates
Christmas and everything that goes with it…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Explosives expert
Elliana hates Christmas—and the only good thing about this holiday season is
that her gorgeous neighbor seems allergic to shirts and clothes in general. She
knows because she’s been watching him for months with her drone. She’s never
stalked anyone before, but he not only doesn’t seem to mind, he puts on nightly
strip shows just for her. When she finally works up the courage to talk to him,
she stumbles right into a murder—that he’s committed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But this holiday
is one she’ll never forget…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to him,
the whole murder thing is no big deal—the dead guy needed killing. And while
her hot neighbor wants her, protecting her is his main priority. So, when she’s
targeted, this cinnamon roll hitman kidnaps her for her own good. With a deadly
threat hunting them and a hot hitman who keeps handcuffing her to him “for her
own protection”, Elliana is starting to reconsider her grinchy stance on the
holidays. And when everything finally comes to a head, the results are bound to
be…explosive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Themes: </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Holiday<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Rating: 4 stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heat Rating: </span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdl84jhSvQuOOj_9xek4u3NUMQG-8A_rmV3H1vQB5C_aiPhLW6FNL4q5vL71_6FkmBvzCiMgeN40errix5rIt0aPC9FSeskstV4pn1VCqJ591p0OGhbBEtb9RbSV3XeaxEJ0LkQM-2Dm8WunL5QJwVZElbT_s10tX7tH4lP5GBuFcSHGu6VtWsDm1hQrFf/s146/4.5%20flames.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="146" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdl84jhSvQuOOj_9xek4u3NUMQG-8A_rmV3H1vQB5C_aiPhLW6FNL4q5vL71_6FkmBvzCiMgeN40errix5rIt0aPC9FSeskstV4pn1VCqJ591p0OGhbBEtb9RbSV3XeaxEJ0LkQM-2Dm8WunL5QJwVZElbT_s10tX7tH4lP5GBuFcSHGu6VtWsDm1hQrFf/s1600/4.5%20flames.jpg" width="146" /></a></span></b></p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Review:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
what happens when a grinchy but sexy security specialist finally meets the gorgeous Christmas obsessed
hitman next door? Well, nothing short of chaos ensuing in this hilarious
holiday short romance by Katie Reus in her new Holidays with a Hitman series. I
have to tell you I was a little bit surprised when I read the blurb for this
one, but I knew that I was going to love it and be laughing even as I fell in
love right alongside the characters as they finally got to know one
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katie Reus has a way of making
you forget the ridiculousness of a hitman and an explosives expert hacker
falling in lust through voyeurism and then falling in love through kidnapping
and just reminds you that there is a perfect someone made for everyone out
there. In the Case of Elliana, her perfect someone turned out to the be sexy
man she’s been perving on for almost a year, but little did she know when she
finally went to introduce herself that she was putting herself into a seriously
confusing situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theo Contos has
been obsessed with Elliana since he first found her watching him, but being a
hitman, he knows introducing her to his life is going to be tricky, until she
stumbles right into the middle of ones of his jobs and things become
complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now she’s got a hit out on
her and he will do anything to protect her, even kidnap her and make she that
she is safe long enough to make sure she understands that he intends to make
her his. Theo and Elliana each have their own ideas of how their relationship
will be progressing—or not as the case may be—but soon the heated chemistry
between them is too much to resist and they can’t keep their hands of one
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But will that be enough to
overcome their hangups and find a way to trust and work together to defeat the
asshole after Elliana and build a future together? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
have to say I was really surprised by the turn of events in this story, but I loved
every moment of it, whether I was laughing, crying, or gasping for breath as the
dangerous action unfolded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theo and his
family were hilarious, because why not have such a loving, sweet family of hit
people that are determined to run their son’s life, but it was obvious they
were supportive and wonderful people, despite their chosen profession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theo himself was a sweetheart and despite being
a vigilante style hitman I loved him I loved getting to know him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was strong, solid, loving, brave,
humorous, and cheerful, which you just really don’t expect in a hitman, but he
was also just alpha enough to keep Elliana from running all over him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elliana is a serious badass, smart, sassy, down
to earth, and just plain cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved
watching her stand up to Theo in the beginning and then stand up for herself as
their relationship progressed, even as she fell in love with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s obvious these two lost souls were meant
to connect with one another, the perfect match of light to darkness and I can
see them being together long years in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am hoping to see more of them in the coming
installments in the series, and I have an inkling of who the next book might be
about, but I will keep my guesses to myself for now and just keep my fingers
crossed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always, the holidays aspect
of this story, serves more as a background foil for the storyline and character
development as opposed to being the main focus of the story which makes me even
happier because then it can be truly read any time of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another classic Katie masterwork!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review.
No compensation was provided.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Michelle the Romance Witchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693615941866079838noreply@blogger.com0