ARC Review: Double Dog Dare (The Dogfather #6)

Double Dog Dare (The Dogfather #6)

by Roxanne St. Claire

Blurb:

The Dogfather has one more child to marry off…but Darcy Kilcannon has no interest in her father’s matchmaking shenanigans. The youngest Kilcannon is seeking one thing only, and it’s not a husband. Darcy is ready to launch her own business in town, move into her own apartment, and become her own woman. But when she walks into the gorgeous brownstone that her father just “happened” to help her find, Darcy takes one look at the hot landlord and she knows the Dogfather has been up to his old tricks. Sure he’s a hunk and a half, but his “no pets” policy is a huge turnoff to a dog groomer who won’t dream of living without her beloved Kookie.

Joshua Ranier moved to Bitter Bark to get out of the shadow of his overbearing stepfamily and keep his shattered heart securely on ice. His only focus is his construction business, and the brownstone he’s renting and renovating…until he meets the sexy, sassy blonde tenant sneaking a fuzzy white dog even though he’s banned them because of construction dangers. Then Josh starts thinking about things he shouldn’t. And it isn’t when the rent’s due.

But when a blind dog lands on Josh’s doorstep, he needs Darcy’s help. As they race to restore little Stella’s vision and solve a mystery that’s tearing his family apart, Josh and Darcy begin to see the light, too. It will take one double dog dare, two precious puppers, and the full power of the Kilcannon clan for this couple to find their happy ever after.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 So the time has come to find out if the final Kilcannon child will surrender her heart to love or decide to devote her time and energy to building a career and making her life about more than a man.  I have been looking forward to Darcy’s story a long time now, primarily because she is such a free spirit and seems to have no true direction in life in the previous novels, but we gets hints that she might be growing up, though the others in her family—with very few exceptions—don’t seem to be acknowledging it.  The ultimate premise of this series is one that I supported from the very beginning and new I would love every moment of, mostly because I am a huge dog lover that has trained for years in dog behavior, training, veterinary studies, and am a big proponent of pet adoption groups.  But the important thing to keep in mind is that the main idea of this story is a family of people coming together, in love and a common goal, in a time when they lost a vital member, in order to support one another, which is the most vital purpose of any family.  I LOVE THIS IDEA!  Though this is the final of the original kids, we have been told numerous times the series isn’t over, with extended family coming in to find love as well, so I am looking forward to seeing more of Darcy and Josh as they grow and learn to love even more from each other and the Kilcannon family. If you are looking for a deep dark suspenseful novel or darkly erotic story full on angst this might not be your cup of tea, but if you need a sexy but emotional story of love leading two people off the ledge of loss and fear and into one another’s arm, then you won’t go wrong with Double Dog Dare on your physical or digital bookshelf.

Josh Rainier has had his broken in the worst way imaginable and to say he has trust issues now is an understatement, but he is finally in the small town he has wanted to call home for years and doing the one thing with his life he has always wanted. He thought luck was finally on his side when a tenant rented the open unit in his property, giving him the chance to continue his renovations, but as soon as he meets her he knows she is TROUBLE, and so is the little dog she’s trying to sneak past his no pets policy. Darcy thought she’d gotten lucky too, but when she discovers too late that the monster of a landlord is going to try to separate her form her beloved baby girl, aka her pupper Kookie, there is no way she will let it stand.  Soon the tide changes and Darcy and Josh find themselves working together to try to save a little one of his one’s vision and as they get closer the feelings and chemistry becomes harder to resist, despite each of them having very good reasons not to begin a relationship or trust in another lover. But in the end that love will be the only thing that will save them… and of course the heroics of a few little rascally puppers!

Josh’s tale kicked off right away with some serious kicks not only to his heart, but to his ego, ability to trust, and willingness to believe in love and the goodness of others.  That is a lot for any person to overcome, and in the beginning we don’t really believe that Josh is willing to even try.  I enjoyed getting to see Josh’s resistance—however futile—to the love and magic that was the Kilcannon’s and Waterford Farms.  It was obvious that he NEEDED to find that kind of relationship and family connection o fully become the man he was always meant to become, however his intense fear of being hurt again made him fight, if not the actual feelings, then the depth and truth of those feelings for Darcy AND her family. Josh was understandably putty in the paws of both of the main puppers in this story, but I really liked seeing him get excited and emotional whenever any of the animals was around, showing he was truly a perfect match for Darcy is all of the most important ways. Darcy has decided that the only way she can convince those she loves that she is ready to grow up is to move into her own place, finally open her own grooming business and assert her full independence.  I can see the logic of this type of move, but I think had things not worked out so well for her in the end, that these choices might have come back to bite her in the butt, despite the thinking them through so thoroughly, because they are meant to made with the heart note the head in the end. I did enjoy that Darcy stood up for not just herself and her family, bust Joh and his family when anyone outside of her core group attacked, even though they were all fooled in the end with a couple of those folks. Ultimately Darcy found that she could grow and branch out, but respect and return to her roots without losing any of her independence, a lesson we all struggle with as we hit a certain age.

In the end, Double Dog Dare was a fun read for any occasion, but I loved seeing Darcy and Josh as they came together in a time of crisis to solve problems, and also in down times to just be together in calm. The true test of workability for a relationship might be working well together under pressure, but I think the stamina of a relationship can only be shown by how a couple functions when they are simply two people, alone together with nothing to do. Darcy has finally found her niche in life and luckily has the support of her family in order to build it right there close by, giving her that strongest of root systems.  But with those strong roots she has the chance to grow to outrageous heights and widths.  Josh too has found his forever home, including the family he wants to claim as his, and the woman to make his life full and completed, and he will not let anything from his past jeopardize that chance.  I loved every minute of this story, even the few tears and moments where I was on the edge of my seat, and I was thrilled with the glimpses into the Dogfather’s past success and his present challenge of keeping his children out of HIS personal life.  The chemistry and connection between Darcy and Josh is apparent from moment one and those two, though putting up a good fight, were always destined to fall under Cupid’s arrows. I loved this story and cannot wait for whoever’s story comes next, including the rumors of a Christmas novella about the family which I would not snub my nose at personally.  Another masterpiece Rocki, thanks for the chance to get my hands on it a little early!

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

ARC Review: HOT SEAL Target (HOT SEAL Team #6)

HOT SEAL Target (HOT SEAL Team #6)

by Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Navy SEAL Adam “Blade” Garrison’s assignment to infiltrate a tech billionaire’s criminal operations just got complicated. His cover: bodyguard for the man’s wife. His problem: Blade knows Quinn Halliday far too well. A sophisticated version of the chubby, shy girl Blade once knew, Quinn brings out all his protective instincts—as well as a few carnal ones that surprise him.

Quinn’s pride in having improved herself has turned bitter. She’s trapped in a relationship with a brutal man who views her as nothing more than a possession. Blade’s unexpected arrival makes her hope for more than a barren existence in a gilded prison. Until tragedy strikes, and Quinn realizes she’s next on the hit list.

Blade will do anything to shield Quinn from danger and keep her safe. But as they draw closer, an enemy works to flush them out. If he succeeds, he’ll put an end to Blade and Quinn’s budding happiness.

Unless Blade and his SEAL Team strike first…

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The HOT shots are back!

The amazing men and women that are protecting the world behind the scenes, never getting recognition for their amazing work, have always interested many of us, especially the personal lives that they have to fight so hard in order to have. Love and softness is not something that they often get a chance to experience, but Lynn Raye Harris gives us a small peak into their lives and loves in her amazing stories of the HOT squad.  The series has grown exponentially from the first story that grabbed my attention and the more I get to know these characters the more I come to love them, even as Lynn brings in more characters as eh expands the squads.  I love the way she weaves in the adventure and the drama without taking the focus away from the true purpose of the story, the love between the H/h, and makes the relationship the most important part. While the drama can sometimes overwhelms the story, Ms. Harris always finds a way back to the lovers.  The only part of her stories that are sometimes a bit much is the speed at which the lovers fall, mostly due to the adrenaline of the circumstances and the pace of the book, since the book sometimes only lasts less than a week in real-time.  I am definitely dying to find out what happens next, since as always Lynn snuck in a sexy epilogue and a bit of info about a possible next relationship, but either way I know I will love whatever comes next.

Adam “Blade” Garrison has been given a mission that he has no idea how to handle, not because of the danger, the intrigue or the possible loss of life, but because it puts him directly into the path of his childhood best friend, a woman that has changed immensely and now makes his heart race and his body burn. Quinn changed her whole life by changing her body, but she never knew that the attention it would bring her would leave her trapped in a dangerous marriage to an abusive maniac.  When she finds herself face-to-face with Adam after all these years her first instinct is to protect the precious knowledge that she knows him, in order to keep him safe from her husband, but she never imagined he would be the man to save her from the life she finds herself in or be the man to show her what love truly is.  In the end their lives are forever changed by the simple fact that together they can accomplish anything and that their love is strong enough to save themselves and the world, with the help of a few of Blade’s HOT friends.

Blade has been one of those peripheral characters we have gotten to know just a little bit about here and there in the previous novels in the series, but I very much enjoyed getting to know him now.  His strength and vulnerability made him an equally balanced man that was a perfect hero to swoop in and not just rescue Quinn, but show her the inner strength she possessed to save herself. He is as alpha as the rest of the HOT men of course, but his sweetness and thoughtfulness in the face of Quinn’s fears and insecurities make me melt and want to his big teddy bear self.  When he is in action, he is totally kick ass, using his skills from being a naughty kid on the streets of Honk Kong and the skills Uncle Sam taught him in equal proportion. Quinn has fought for many years to overcome what she sees as flaws in her body and her insecurities with her body image have left her vulnerable in a lot of ways.  I felt an emotional connection to her, mostly due to my own issues with weight problems and body image concerns, but I was sad to see her husband tearing her down, even though in the end Blade was able to build her back up.  Quinn’s inner goddess took a few hits, but she shined through again and again and was able to make a comeback in a big way as she helped Blade and the HOT teams bring down a madman.

I am always a little hesitant going into one of these stories, where the lovers knew each other long ago and have to come to terms with old feelings and the changes to their feelings and in each other, before the ever have a chance at a new relationship.  Baggage is never fun to deal with, even in just reading about it, but thankfully Ms. Harris manages it with great aplomb and we are able to enjoy these two rediscovering their friendship and their love.  Adam comes to terms with his need for a woman to complete his life and realizes that just maybe Quinn was the missing piece of his heart all along, while Quinn discovers that her feelings for Adam were truly love and not just the innocent hero worship she believed it was when she was a young girl.  Adam is amazing in so many ways, not the least of which is his ability to understand at any moment just what Quinn needs to build herself up when someone has torn her down. Quinn has to find a way to get out from under the boulder her marriage has buried her under, but once she does she is free to embrace the intense connection she still feels with Blade and there is no way she can deny either of them the need to be together.  I loved every second of these two together, even when the intensity of their fear cause my own heart to race and palms to sweat, but I never doubted the HOT boys would prevail in the end. The passion between Adam and Quinn is undeniable, even when they are both fighting it, but the low hum of deeper emotions is just as obvious and intense, letting readers know that this isn’t just a hot fire that will burn itself out quickly.  IF you are looking for a story with action, drama, sensuality, and a deep emotional bond between two friends turned lovers; HOT SEAL Target will hit every target and offer so much more as well. Way to go Lynn!

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

ARC Review: Knuckle Down (The Cursed Ravens MC #2)

Knuckle Down (The Cursed Ravens MC #2)

by Chantal Fernando 

Blurb:

As a single father of two girls and the sergeant at arms for the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club, Jack “Knuckles” Chester doesn’t have much free time. And having earned his road name from his reputation as a fighter, Knuckles isn’t one to back away from a challenge.

But what he'll never admit out loud is that his two daughters have changed him irrevocably, softened him even. And these two girls are the only women who will ever hold his heart forever. That is, until he meets the cousin of another biker’s old lady.

Celina is nothing like the women Knuckles used to date. She’s a journalist for the local newspaper, dresses well, and basically just has her life together. And the last thing she wants is to be involved with a Cursed Raven. But when the ripped, badass biker worms his way into her heart, she has trouble remembering all the reasons they would never work.

But when a scandal at her newspaper breaks the thin trust she has with Knuckles, will she walk away for good? Or will Knuckles fight to keep Celina in his life?

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

So continuing the story of a group of amazing men that have come together to make the most unusual family around, another woman is roped into the love of a wild man that she never saw coming.  I jumped at the chance to read this series when I saw how sexy the cover was and of course the comparison to one of my favorite authors wasn’t a bad thing, but I was still a little skeptical.  As this series moves forward I am enjoying it more and more, with Celina and Knuckles having their own unique brand of craziness to make them just so special. I was a little surprised by the direction the author took, but ok it all came together in the end, even if it moved even faster than the last story in the series.   Knuckles was a great guy, even though he had a moment of being an asshole, but of course he redeemed himself and proved that he deserved to be the man to earn Celina’s heart.  I liked getting to see more of him, but as with all fist person POV stories he is the character you get to know the least and it always takes the longest because you have to wait for all the hidden stuff to come out at the same time as Celina learning everything.  In the end, I found that I loved his sweetness, wildness, skill at fatherhood and obvious love for Celina in every moment of their lives together.  Celina was obviously a woman that had been hurt in the past, but I wish she hadn’t been quite so hard and mean in the beginning though, of course, Knuckles just rolls right over her objections. I loved seeing her being a kickass independent woman, but my favorite moments were when she lowered her shields and showed her softness and sweetness with Knuckles or his girls.  I will say that their relationship was so much, so fast, and that could have been excused, had we gotten to see them building their relationship in the quiet moments as their time together progressed. However once they got over their major conflict moments, it seemed like the rest of the story was just wrap up with lots of time and plot jumps to make sure that there were no lingering threads, with a few little twists then added to keep it from being boring.  I’m the kind of reader that loves the sexy stuff but loves the easy and soft moments just as much, so I would have loved to see more of that too. That being said I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to Rogue’s story coming next and cannot wait for that chance.  Knuckles and Celina burned up the sheets and just as much burned the back of my eyes with unshed tears, but I was thrilled to see them get their HEA and find a way build their lives together. For fans of crazy, sassy characters, hot and sexy couples, and of course drama to beat the band then you can’t go wrong with Knuckle Down, but I am also looking forward to Going Rogue! (giggle)

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

Review: Deadly Intent (I-Team #8)

Deadly Intent (I-Team #8)

by Pamela Clare

Blurb:

Secrets buried in the sand…

Former US Army Captain Mia Starr has built a new life for herself in Denver, far away from camel spiders and sand—and the terrible secrets of her first deployment to Iraq. She isn’t looking for a relationship, especially not with an intrusive photojournalist. Joaquin Ramirez might be sexy, but in her experience, photojournalists only want to make a buck off other people’s suffering. Still, the universe must have a sick sense of humor because it keeps throwing her together with Joaquin, making the desire she feels for him harder and harder to resist.

An undeniable attraction…

As a Pulitzer Prize-winning news photographer, Joaquin has everything a single straight guy could want—except the right woman. When he meets Mia while shooting a crime scene, he immediately sees beyond her cold exterior to the vulnerable woman beneath. Though the police consider her a suspect, he’s sure she’s innocent. Someone is killing soldiers—and trying to pin the blame on her. Unable to resist the pull between them, Joaquin stands by her only to find himself snared in the killer’s net as well.

A twisted soul hungry for revenge…

Mia can’t help it when the heat between her and Joaquin melts away her preconceptions. As their passion explodes, danger draws ever closer. When it becomes clear that Mia is the killer’s true target, she must trust Joaquin with a secret that could ruin her … or risk losing the love of a lifetime.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Ok wow! So I knew that at some point Pamela would have to return to her flagship series and give us a proper conclusion for Joaquin in order to keep her readers happy.  We have watched as he supported the other couples in previous novels as they struggled through their issues to find their HEA with their loves and now we finally get to see him find his own.  I was a little skeptical of the choice in heroine when I heard about it, but as always Clare proves that she has the magic touch and knows her characters better than even her beloved fans.  IF you are a fan of the series, I can guarantee you will enjoy this story and seeing the couples from previous stories woven throughout the fabric of the romance and adventure.  If you are new to the world, however, Pamela weaves a beautiful tale of two people with unique backgrounds and experiences and introduces you to characters that the other of us have come to know and love, certain to make you run right out and grab the entire series for yourself to read from the beginning.  Joaquin is the kind of sensual, sweet, and caring man that we all look for in a mate, going so far as to boost his lover’s self-esteem when she has problems and remind her that she is the sexiest woman alive.  I loved getting to meet his family and see what made him into the great man he is today, but his part of the story wasn’t all fun and games; when he wasn’t dealing with a crazed killer after his woman, he had to deal with issues of his conscience and right vs wrong when making decisions, looking deep within to decide on the right path.  I think that getting to see just how deep his faith in Mia went so quickly reminds us that sometimes those that come into our lives are just meant to change us forever, for better or worse, and how we handle those changes is what defines our characters.  Mia is a brave woman that has had to deal with a lot of shit just to find her place in the world and gave entirely too much of herself to our nation when she enlisted and was mistreated.  I was heartbroken hearing her story and can only imagine the kinds of women that it takes to deal with that in real life and come out stronger and better on the other side—because no way do I think Pamela made that kind of thing up.  I loved seeing Mia interacting with Joaquin’s friends and family, finding her own niche in the group and in the end making them love her as much as they do him.  The heat between Joaquin and Mia was palpable from the very beginning and I when they unleashed that heat on one another I was afraid they would burn each other alive.  Thankfully Joaquin knows how to treat a woman, even when he is in serious lust, and tempers his passion in order to show her how much he has come to care for her and how deeply those emotions run.   Joaquin and Mia so obviously complement each other to perfection that I couldn’t imagine another woman for him now that I have seen them together.  I think this might have been a true conclusion to this series, but I can honestly say that with this as the ending I am not sad, but can instead rejoice in knowing that my I-Team friends will always be there for me whenever I want to return (yay, binge re-reads!).  In the meantime I look forward to continue Pamela’s other project (Colorado High County) and cannot wait for whatever she gives me to read next.  A magical addition to a series that continues to pull at my heart and send my body into overdrive… way to go Pamela!

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

ARC Review: Dark Alpha's Hunger (Reaper #6) by

Dark Alpha's Hunger (Reaper #6)

by Donna Grant 

Blurb:

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

Where Death leads, I follow. Nothing will stop me from my duty – not even the darkness that claims me. It’s the music that leads me from the dark, returning me to my brethren and a new foe that has risen. Learning who hunts Thea could be the key to unraveling what we need to know to defeat our enemy. The Half-Fae’s music stirs a passion within me that I’ve never known. For her, I will break my vow of silence. For her…I will risk everything.

Themes: Paranormal, Fae

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Well that was surprising… and I didn’t realize how many times I would be having that thought in this rather short novel.  I have really enjoyed getting to know these Reapers and was sad that their series was going to be coming to an end, an inherent part of any series based around a character-set with a  certain number—there are always only seven reapers—so I was thrilled to know that wasn’t going to be the case after all. When Eoghan went missing there was a hole in his team and that loss was felt strongly, so when I realized this story was his return, I knew I was going to enjoy every second of seeing him fall in love. Thea was a real sweetheart, obviously the type of woman that has lived her life on her own terms, but has resided mostly in her own head and survived on her musical talent.  If you are just coming into this series, this book is a good one to jump in on, giving you plenty of back story and letting you fall in love with the characters while at the same time not leaving you longing for the subtle details you might have missed.  Eoghan was a man after my own heart, broken by his past for thousands of years, when he looks into the eyes of the woman who saved him from the Dark he knows immediately that Thea is different and his life will never be the same now that she is in it.  I loved seeing him overcoming his fear and his past in order to let Thea into his heart so that he could gift it to her.  Thea was a dangerous temptation to Eoghan without even trying to be, but her grounded nature and ability to remain humble even in the face of all the magic and danger around her shows her to be a truly unique individual.  I enjoyed watching her find her place in Eoghan’s world and when she stood up to the enemy that made herself known, I fell as madly in love with her as Eoghan had.  I loved every second of the passion between these two and I was sad to see the end of the story, but I know there will be more magic coming soon.  I am thrilled that the series will be continuing and loved learning more about the Dark world and the Dragon Kings series as well as the Reapers and cannot wait for the next book in the entire world and of course whatever comes next in the series.  If you love the Dark World books, jump on this one now, if you haven’t read her (crazy people) then I still suggest running out and grabbing the entire Reaper series and the Dark Kings series if nothing else.  Then you can spread your wings slowly!

P.S. Still no reveal on the secret of Rhi’s lover, though there was a bit of hinting!

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

Review: Vampire's Faith (Dark Protectors #8)

Vampire's Faith (Dark Protectors #8)

by Rebecca Zanetti

Blurb:

The Dark Protectors are Back!

Vampire King Ronan Kayrs wasn’t supposed to survive the savage sacrifice he willingly endured to rid the world of the ultimate evil. He wasn’t supposed to emerge in this time and place, and he sure as hell wasn’t supposed to finally touch the woman who’s haunted his dreams for centuries. Yet here he is, in an era where vampires are hidden, the enemy has grown stronger, and his mate has no idea of the power she holds.

Dr. Faith Cooper is flummoxed by irrefutable proof that not only do vampires exist . . . they’re hot blooded, able to walk in sunlight, and shockingly sexy. Faith has always depended on science, but the restlessness she feels around this predatory male defies reason. Especially when it grows into a hunger only he can satisfy—that is if they can survive the evil hunting them both.

Themes: Paranormal, Vampires, etc.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Wow that was something I never saw coming, but I enjoyed every single second of it. For fans of this series we have seen a lot of changes in recent installments, mainly a huge jump in time and now some of our favorite second generation vampires and demons are coming into their own and making their mark on the world.  Many of us were wondering who this Ronan character was and while I won’t totally spoil the surprised I will just say he is a distant relative of the ruling family and will become a very important link to some of our favorite folks as this series moves forward.  This story begins with a new story arc that takes us into a secret society within the vampire nation and introduces us to some seriously badass sexy alpha males.  Ronan and Faith’s story kicks off quickly when she is forced to face some hard truths and learns of the existence of the hidden world of the Realm first hand, not to mention a seemingly crazy vampire claiming she is his mate.  But danger is following her everywhere and he is definitely the lesser of two evils so she decides to give him some limited trust, for now.  Ronan is weak, but the sight of the mate he has dreamt of for a millennia is enough to power him through whatever is coming at them, whether it be finding his footing in this strange new world or keeping them both alive and safe long enough to actually complete the damn mating.  In the end only by building trust will they be able to find a way to truly defeat their enemies and share a life together, when trust is something neither of them gives easily.  I loved every second of this hair-raising story and even with previous novels there was way more action than I was expecting for what was essentially a new beginning in the series. The world of the Dark Protectors has changed on us again, with our perceptions being forced into all new directions and there was never really a dull moment to give us time to process it all.  Ronan was alternately endearingly sweet and frustratingly annoying in his interactions with Faith and amazingly deadly and terrifying in his skill for killing his enemies.  I never actually thought that Zanetti could make her males even more deadly and dangerous, but damn has she proven me wrong.  Getting to experience the world from his viewpoint and watch him learn his way in our world was entertaining and gave me a few laughs while at the same time reminding me that sometimes the technologies we take for granted can actually make life more complicated instead of easier. Faith was one of those women that you just knew was going to get herself killed;  her unwillingness to trust in her male, even when she’d make promises, led her to make stupid decisions putting not only herself but others in danger.  While I liked her fighting spirit and willingness to help, those kinds of choices, especially when you’re making them just to prove the point that you can is stupid when in a dangerous situation.  So that being said I had a love-hate relationship with Faith through most of the story, but thankfully came to like her in the end.  The intensity and passion Ronan sparks whenever he even thinks about Faith are enough to have any woman willing to strip naked and offer herself for him, and thankfully once Faith does just that the fire they build between them is mind-boggling.  I am already dying for whatever comes next in this series and know that Ms. Zanetti has just set her readers up for another long and amazing journey filled with magic, mayhem, intrigue, and love, and I for one am thrilled to be along for the ride.  If you are looking for a story filled with sexy male heroes and sensuality to melt the panties right off your body, you have come to the right place, so grab some ice or ice cold wine and lose yourself in the magic of Vampire’s Faith.

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

Review: More to Love (A Perfect Fit #3)

More to Love (A Perfect Fit #3)

by Alison Bliss 

Blurb:

Jessa Gibson may be new in the little town of Granite, Texas, but in no time at all her gourmet food truck business is booming. Soon she'll have enough money to open the restaurant of her dreams. But first, she'll have to appease the hot local health inspector, no matter how strange his "violations" sound to her. No pink plastic gloves? Really?

Max Hager isn't exactly who he says he is. Pretending to be a health inspector is a (mostly) innocent mistake. A mistake made way worse by Max's immediate, electrifying attraction to the curvy, sexy, redheaded chef. Throw in a whole lot of lust, and things in Jessa's little kitchen are about to really start heating up. But can Max find a way to come clean with Jessa before his little deception turns into a recipe for disaster?

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

So sometimes I have to wonder where an author is going when they embark on these types of series that seem to stem from a quest or goal, in this case the weight and body image issues society places on individuals and the problems it forces on relationships.  Sometimes it becomes all about “the message” and the author forgets that the important part of a romance is the characters and the love being developed between them, but I am comfortable saying that in this series Ms. Bliss has escaped that dreaded fate.  While the goal is to educate people that even though  someone doesn’t fit into a size 6 or fights with their insecurities about their weight, the people themselves and their mistakes and ultimate triumphs are what make her stories great.  This third story in the series took a different turn in that the hero was the one with the body image issues while the heroine was comfortable in her sensual and sexy plus-sized body.  I enjoyed this gender-bending bit of storytelling, though I was very upset with Max through the majority of the book because let’s face it he was a dickhead and even he knew it.  Jessa—Jess to her friends—was an amazing woman, full of laughter and fire, but with a warm heart and giving nature that made her the perfect woman and a great character to counter Max’s asshole mistakes.  Max had been a character that was mischievous but lovable throughout previous novels in the series, but getting to know him more we see the serious levels of insecurity he hides behind and that only the right woman will be able to bring him into the light and let him live a truly fulfilled and happy life.  He might be a sexy and alpha male, but his past has left too many scars and he needs to let them go quickly or he won’t be man enough for the woman he loves.  Jessa on the other hand was a strong and seriously kick ass woman, sure of herself and even willing to throw caution to the wind when she feels the universe offering her something almost too good to be true.  She has been burned in the past but doesn’t let it keep her from being who she is or offering her heart when Max comes into her life, even though she knows something with him isn’t entirely right.  I loved getting to know her and seeing her come even more out of her shell as she found her roots and when her past comes to light the full truth of her history was a plot twist I never saw coming. The heat and intensity between Max and Jess was there from the very beginning and I knew they would be combustible as soon as they allowed themselves to give in, but the passionate love that developed between them reminds me that sometimes even something that is most unexpected and definitely not conveniently timed can become the most important thing in our lives.  I enjoyed every moment of this story and though I am not sure if this is the end of the series, I will be keeping my eyes open for more by this author and hoping to get to see these sensual ladies and the sexy men that earned their big hearts in future.  Thanks for a wild and emotional ride, Alison.

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