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

Just a Little Crush (Sterling Family Crossover #1)

Carly Phillips, Erika Wilde

Blurb:

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

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

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

Easy, right?

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

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

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fighting for Mari  (Redemption Harbor Security #6)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

He’s her brother’s best friend…

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

And she’s hated him since she was sixteen…

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

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Accidentally Forever (Montgomery Ink Legacy #8)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

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

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

And she refuses to let herself love Crew McTavish.

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

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

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

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

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

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

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

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

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

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

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

ARC Review: Dragon Marked (Dragon Kings #9)

Dragon Marked (Dragon Kings #9)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

I would sell my dragon soul to possess her…

From the moment I saw her, she held me enthralled. It was more than her beauty. It was in the very way she looked at the world.

The way she looked at me.

She saw me as no one ever had. The scars I tried to bury, the wounds no one else knew about. She saw the worst parts of me—and she didn’t look away.

Together we pursue a shared nemesis. While a terrifying foe stalks us at every turn.

Whatever enemy dares to get close, I will slay. Whatever path she walks, I will be beside her.

For I am hers. Utterly. Completely.

She’s my greatest temptation. The other half of my soul.

My mate.

Themes:  Paranormal, Dragon Shifters, Druids

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The story we have all been waiting for is finally here… we get to see Merrill finally fall in love. But to say his story is an easy one would be a lie.  I honestly cried more reading this story than any other story I have ever read and truly I doubted they would get their HEA right up to the very end so be prepared with a lot of tissues and whatever support snacks (I recommend chocolate) will keep you from sobbing uncontrollably! Donna Grant takes us on a wild ride all over the world of Zora as Merrill and his future mate Katla fight against their enemies and try to bring an end to their greatest foe. Merrill has finally decided that he is done with Stonemore and he is going to return to the fold of the Kings, but he finds himself drawn to follow the enchanting druid Katla and when he finds her protecting three children he is determined to be by her side as enemies are around every corner.  Katla has done things she can never forgive herself for, but she will give her all to protect her young charges and once they are safe she is determined to avenge her bad decisions by defeating Villette, the Star Person that took centuries from her. When Katla and Merrill team up to defeat their enemy, their attraction to one another becomes harder and harder to resist, but when it becomes clear they have a bigger challenge on the horizon, they have to trust one another implicitly if they hope to survive—and have a chance at a future together.

In a story of enemies becoming friends and friends becoming deadly enemies, Katla and Merrill quickly learn that the kind of trust they have developed is much more than just friends, but is their mate bond strong enough to overcome everything thrown at them? I loved getting to see Katla find her way back from the darkness that she lived for so long after Villette led her to make the wrong choices.  She doesn’t make excuses for the bad deeds she has done, owning up to the lives she has destroyed and remorseful for all the lives she’s taken, but she also knows that she can’t atone for those mistakes but doing nothing or just giving up.  She is brave, sweet, smart, and loving for those that she offers her heart to, but she is also wary of trusting again.  When she opened her heart to Merrill they both became the fullhearted beings they were always meant to be, dropping walls and finally accepting their destiny. Before he accepts his love for Katla, Merrill doubts his own worth way too much, due to his recent actions and the pain that he is finally no longer able to keep leashed after millennia of hiding it.   He has always been a strong, caring, and loving alpha male, but now he no longer has the touchstone he has depended on to keep him level and without it he is unable to keep his balance, but luckily Katla offers his a newer even stronger focus.  The love between these two is undeniable and beautiful, though painful at times, to watch develop and I was caught up in every moment of their action-packed story.  I am dying for the next in this series where alliances seem to shift with each new installment and we learn about new heroes and new villains with each introduction.  Where else will Donna take us on this adventure through Zora?

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

ARC Review: War (Serpents of Chaos MC #1)

War (Serpents of Chaos MC #1)

Chantal Fernando

Blurb:

A biker Vice President. A sweet baker with a secret.

And a one night stand that changed everything.

I didn’t know he was the VP of the Serpents of Chaos MC.

No one knew I was the club president's daughter.

And when the truth comes out, it changes everything.

As a club princess, I should have been off limits to the men.

But War has already claimed me as his.

And now he’s going to have to fight to keep me.

After all, all is fair in love and War.

Themes:  Contemporary, MC

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

One never knows what they are going to get when they begin a new series, even one from a favorite author and that is a favorite trope, but I gotta tell you this story is one for I seriously loved. Chantal Fernando has returned to my favorite of her writing styles with this new MC series and the first in the series was filled with twists and turns and plenty of passion and drama that will keep you on your toes.  Ora never imagined that that sexy and gorgeous man that blew her mind one crazy night after approaching her at a club and taking her to his hotel room would change her life forever.  When she gave herself to the sexy beast that tempted her to be naughty, she could never have guessed that her was the VP of the local MC, the MC that her she happens to be fully aware of because her biological father is the president—even though he has no idea she exists. War saw Ora across the dance floor and couldn’t resist her, but when she was gone the next morning he went crazy looking for her and never imagined he would find her when he and some of his club brothers are escorting a club girl to the local bakery.  Now that he has her back in his life and she can’t escape from him again there is no way that he will allow another man to get near her, he’s laid a claim on her and will do whatever it takes to make her his—even when his world is thrown upside down by the truth of her parentage.  Can they get past all the secrets of their past and the outside dangers they face in order to have a future together or will they be torn apart before they truly have a chance to have a future together?

War and Ora’s story was fabulous and I loved getting to see these two falling in love.  Ora has a lot of pain in her past and even though she has also had a lot of personal and professional happiness.  She’s come to her new town looking for something, a connection to her past, but she never imagined that she would meet the man of her dreams and get all wrapped up in the MC life. She is sassy, smart, loving, and sweet and I enjoyed getting to watch her interacting with her friends, War and her father too, but even when she was smarting off to her enemies she never failed to amaze me. War was a bit harder to get to know mainly because he was so contained, but when he opened up and let himself show his soft underbelly, in order to fight for the woman that he loves, we finally see the depths of his soul.  His strength, dedication, protectiveness, and loving nature all had a darker edge, but his intelligence and determination made him a perfect match for Ora’s stubbornness.  Together their passion soared and I loved seeing how their love developed and grew the more time they were together.  I am looking forward to seeing Ora and War in the next story in the series (Haze) and as the series continues to develop because I can see this one become another long running series that will turn readers into loyal followers.  Gimme more, Chantal!

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

ARC Review: Seth (Ghost Ops #3)

Seth (Ghost Ops #3)

Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Dead to their pasts. Ghosts. No family ties. No connections.

Six men with a top-secret mission move to a small town where they have to navigate local life, protect their secret, and, above all, stay single.

Software engineer Caroline Crowell is a dead woman walking. When the top-secret lab she’s working in goes up in flames and she barely makes it out alive, she knows her time is up. If she wants to stay alive and protect the only family she has left, she has to disappear.

But first she needs help. Someone to watch her back and make sure her enemy doesn’t get any closer while she plans her escape.

Seth “Phantom” King trusts no one but his team. He knows what people are capable of, and he knows how far a person can be pushed before they break. And what he sees when Callie shows up at One Shot Tactical looking for help is a woman about to reach the point of no return.

He doesn’t want to be drawn in by her fear, doesn’t want to believe she’s anything but a potential suspect in his mission. But his teammates have proven that you can’t stop feeling something for a woman even when you know you aren’t supposed to. Denying it only makes it worse.

When the danger Callie fears comes to town, Seth has a choice. Fight for the future he needs. For the woman he needs.

Or watch everything go up in smoke.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The truth will finally come out as two  people that have both lost the ability to trust have to find a way to believe in one another if they want to survive and prevent a disaster that could potentially cause a worldwide catastrophe.  Lynn Raye Harris takes us to a small town in Alabama, one that you would never think to look twice at, but that is currently the center of a dangerous experiment that puts it right in the crosshairs for spies, killers, and all kinds of danger.  In order to prevent secrets from getting out and dangerous national enemies from gaining possession of information they shouldn’t have; the Ghost Ops team has laid their lives and futures on the line.  Seth has suspicions about the beautiful computer programmer that is a member of the secret experimental team he is protecting, but when she is almost killed and comes to him for help his life is suddenly very complicated.  I loved every second of the story and I am dying for the next in the series for sure but I cannot wait to see if these boys will be able to get back to HOT in the end or if they will be staying in their new hometown.

Caroline “Callie” Crowell has been trying to find a way out of the mess her life has become, with attempted blackmail, suspicious code on her top-secret project, and high stress in her personal life, but she never imagined someone would try to kill her.  When she almost dies in a fire at her top-secret lab, she knows it is no accident and goes to the only people she can think of for help.  Seth “Phantom” King is stunned when Callie shows up at One Shot Tactical looking for help, claiming someone is trying to kill her because she refused to give into their blackmail attempts. Seth suspects that she is lying, that she is really a spy on the project and cannot be trusted, but at the same time he feels a pull toward her stronger than he has ever felt for another woman.  The more time they spend together, with Seth and Callie both slowly coming to trust and opening up, both of them come to learn that their future can only be free if they face the issues of their past.  But as the danger gets higher around Callie, Seth has to decide if he truly trusts her or if his own fears and hangups are worth losing the first woman that has ever touched his heart. Because there is danger around every corner and if they can’t fully trust one another they have no hope of surviving the danger.

Seth is the quintessential hero that has been broken in his past and has never come to terms with those issues.  I enjoyed getting to know him and seeing him at work as he accepted that his trust issues and his past were holding him back, but only when he finally opened his heart did I truly love him.  His past was definitely painful, filled with heartbreak all the way back to his early childhood, and only when he accepted that not everyone was going to reject, abuse, and mistreat him did he learn how much he was being held back by those past hurts.  Sharing his revelations with both Callie and his guys showed him that he could count on people to support him unconditionally and offer him love, but he had to be open to it.  His intelligence and strength were matched only by his dedication to caring for those under his wing. He really was a wonderful character to get to know. Callie obviously had her own fears to work through as she’d so recently gone through trauma after trauma, but the way that she opened herself to Seth showed that she wanted to be able to love him with all her heart.  The love she had for her sister also shows how big her heart can be even though she fears the loss and trauma that she’s already experienced. Callie might be scared of everything happening around her because she is out of her wheelhouse with all the top-secret danger, but she is obviously intelligent and dedicated to work and goals she believes she is working for.  I loved seeing the way she offered her help to the team and her heart to Seth, instead of hiding when she could have easy cowered in a corner like many would have, showing us her inner strength was a core of titanium. In the end she might have had her fears, but she was more than willing to fight past them to get what she felt could have been a beautiful future.

As the Ghost Ops series continues to develop, each of our heroes seems to be setting down roots in their small town in Alabama, leaving us with the feeling that their HOT lives truly have ended.  That said they are still kickass operators and there is no doubt that they are serving their country and protecting the citizens in need around them.  Seth’s story continues that as the beautiful but suspect computer programmer they have been monitoring suddenly arrives on their doorstep claiming someone is trying to kill her because she is refusing to help them get access to the top-secret project.  Seth is a beautifully damaged hero that needs the right motivation to finally get over his horrific past, and it looks like Callie is just what the doctor ordered.  Callie is determined to survive this latest threat, even if she has to take her sister and go on the run, but Seth is just as determined to help her and keep her around.  Together they are combustible and the more time they spend together the more the passion and potency of their connection leads them both to open their minds and hearts to an unexpected future they could have together.  I loved seeing them as they sparked off one another—arguing, working together, or simply finding their way through the morass of emotional pain—until they finally found a way to their peaceful and emotional balance.  I am really looking forward to the rest of the series and I suspect I know what will be coming in the next book, but will enjoy it no matter what as the series continues to its inevitable conclusion once all the guys have their stories.  Ms.  Harris certainly found her footing with this latest spin-off and didn’t let readers down when she decided to send Ghost off with his group of men on a mission like no other.

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

ARC Mini-Review: Always a Fake Bridesmaid (Clover Lake #1)

Always a Fake Bridesmaid (Clover Lake #1)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

The moment Ewan McBride entered my life, my world tilted on its axis.

When we part, I promise him I owe him anything for saving my daughter’s life.

What I didn’t expect?

Being his fake date to a wedding—in two days.

It was only supposed to be a favor, but we can’t deny the attraction.

Only he lives a state away and my life is in Colorado with my daughter and the Montgomerys.

This can only be one night that feels all too real.

Yet I know walking away will be the hardest thing I ever do.

Themes:  Novella, Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:   

Review:

I always love a good novella, especially one written by one of my favorite authors, because you know that the best of a long story is going to be packed into a quick read so that you get all the lust, heat, love and sweetness without too the story dragging too long. The new Clover Lake series by Carrie Ann Ryan promises to be a whole set of stories to fulfill just that need for us as she lets us get sneak peaks of our favorite Montgomerys and introduces a whole new family at the same time. Livvy
Montgomery meets Ewan McBride by chance when he saves her daughter from disaster and suddenly her life is completely changed. Ewan was instantly drawn to Livvy and when he learns she is a Montgomery, one of the family that he is acquainted with (at least several of the guys) he knows that he has his work cut out for him if he wants a chance to embrace their attraction.  But he is need of a date to an upcoming wedding that is putting him right in the crosshairs of some scary ladies and Livvy seems to be the perfect solution.  But their attraction is soon all too real and giving into their passion leads to very real feeling. Can Ewan and Livvy find a way through the obstacles in their path and have a future together or will they be forced to walk away from one another once their fake relationship has to end?  I loved every second of this story because the connection between Ewan and Livvy was palpable from the very beginning, even when Ewan was simply being a daring rescuer.  Livvy was obviously scared to make another mistake jumping in with a man that might break her heart, but when he learns to be open and trust her instincts, she finds that loving Ewan could never be wrong for her or her daughter.  Ewan knows that he wants Livvy, but he is smart and brave enough to understand that her fear can never be overcome by forcing her into a relationship she isn’t ready for, giving her the time she needs to come to the conclusion that they are perfect together.  It’s obvious I am going to love his family and seeing them each find and fall in love will make for another great series for Carrie Ann and I cannot wait for what is next (Accidental Runaway Groom).  Another great beginning to a series we are all going to be anticipating for many months to come.

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