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

Falling for Trouble (Dare to Fall #1)

Carly Phillips

Blurb:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Themes:  Contemporary, Second Generation

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Accidental Runaway Groom (Clover Lake #2)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

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

One problem: I wasn’t the bride.

And he didn’t mean to run away.

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

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

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

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

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

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

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

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

Skull (Serpents of Chaos MC #4)

Chantal Fernando

Blurb:

Skull is a walking red flag.

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

He has a newborn daughter with a messy ex.

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

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

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

And there's an X marked on my heart.

Themes:  Contemporary, MC

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

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

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

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

Release (Stingrays Hockey #4)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

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

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

McKenna Bailey never signed up for this.

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

But pretending to date him?

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

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

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

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

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

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

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

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

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

ARC Review: Legacy (Ashford Creek #1)

Legacy (Ashford Creek #1)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

With one scowl, I fell just that much harder for Callum Ashford—NFL star turned small town brewer. He’s not only older, but he’s my brother’s best friend. Two very important reasons I should stay away.

Only two years ago, after the worst night of my life, he kissed me and I can’t keep him off my mind.

When the only house available to rent in town happens to be the one across the street from him, the close proximity does its work.

We can’t keep our hands off each other. Yet as the heat rises, so do feelings. He might want me, but he wants peace more.

There’s a darkness within him I know he fights. Just as there are secrets his family needs to uncover. But when the danger comes full force, it won’t be from the obvious corner. No, we both have our pasts we chose to hide.

And our fears.

Yet when I break, he catches me.

And I hope I have the strength to do the same.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Before I begin my review of this all new series beginner by Carrie Ann Ryan, I want to offer my advice, advice that a lot of folks will ignore even though Carrie has given the same advice AND made it easy by including the book along with Legacy for free—Do NOT skip reading the free prequel offered.  If you skip Careless and jump right into reading Legacy you will regret it and Callum and Felicity’s full story will not be a rich or enjoyable for you.  Ok that’s all I’ll say form my soapbox, on to my review of Legacy…

I always love when a favorite author jumps into a new series, one filled with rich and loveable characters, even ones that we might have met in previous series and gotten to know a little bit. But even more enjoyable is when they decide to take their writing in a new direction by given us a new twist on their writing or letting us see a new side of their imaginations. Carrie Ann Ryan has written so many different types of stories over the years, be they paranormal, sensual erotica, simple sweet contemporary, or heartbreaking stories of redemption and second chance love, but with this new series she takes us into a world of suspense that is just that little bit twisted and scary from the very beginning—and I LOVED it. The Ashford Creek series revolves around a founding family that has fallen from grace with recent generations when mysterious deaths, dangerous members, and dark circumstances case a shadow over them. Despite that there are many in town that love and respect the youngest Ashfords and the Carter family is one of their biggest supporters, so its no surprise that love blossoms, however will love be enough to get them their HEA of will others try to come between them?

Felicity Carter has loved Callum Ashford for years, even if it was a different kind of love when she was a young woman, but now she’s back in town she has to face the truth that he never returned her heart. Callum rescued her two years ago and he’s never forgotten the feeling of having her in his arms, but the age difference and being her brother’s best friend isn’t the only thing keeping him away from her. The mysterious death and disappearances at his father’s hands make him wary of bringing a woman into his life, knowing it will put her in his father’s crosshairs. When Felicity ends up renting the house across the street from him, the pull to have her is too much and soon Felicity and Callum’s relationship grows beyond just friends with benefits and their hearts are so deeply involved that neither can deny it any  longer. But danger is stalking Felicity and Callum has to protect her at all costs because he couldn’t bear to lose her like he lost his mothers, but even more he couldn’t be the cause of her death because it would kill him too. Only by trusting one another implicitly and loving fully can they save one another and have the future they both so desperately want.

I loved finally getting to know more of Callum’s story and it was fun watching him try to handle the spicy and sweet Felicity, even though their story was at times heartbreaking and difficult. Callum is obviously and alpha male, used to being the hero for those around him and protecting especially the women in his life. When he was younger he watched his father abuse and destroy those around him and he learned early on that he would be a protector instead, so when he was unable to protect or felt that something he did would put those he loved in danger he spiraled quickly. He was sexy, witty, sweet, and loving and even when he was floundering as he tried to find a way to handle Felicity as she made him come to terms with their feelings for one another he never once utterly lost his patience or temper with her.  Felicity was my favorite kind of spicy and sweet young sunshiny character meant to drive her grumpy new lover insane. She is obviously very smart, ambitious, and brave as is obvious by the facts of her living her life on her terms, despite what others might think she should be doing and going after what she wants, in her professional and then her personal life. It was sad to watch as she dealt with a few things through this story, but her bravery, love, kindness, sassiness, and ultimately her caring of those around her showed that she was the perfect woman to stand beside Callum and give him the faith in himself he needed to finally let go of his past and live his life for himself and find his own happiness.

Legacy begins as a story about a man that is terrified of the inheritance he has received from his father and what he might be leaving behind for the next generation, but slowly he comes to see that with the right mentality and the love of the right woman he can choose what he leaves behind and make if something meaningful and wonderful.  Callum knows in his heart that he doesn’t deserve Felicity and certainly isn’t the right man for her, but once she forced him to confront his feelings for her, there is no way that he can resist that need, even when he fears what loving her will do to her present and future.  But loving her is exactly what Felicity needs and she knows that nothing Callum chooses to do or give her could ever be bad for her, but when dangers arise that threaten their happy world she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect their new love. The heat between these two lovers has bee burning for years and is enough to melt all the snow in the Colorado mountains and once they finally accept that resistance is futile, we can see that passion burning for the entirety of their hopefully long lives together. I loved every moment of their story, even when we had to watch them fighting for their HEA quite literally as they fought enemies, and one another for that chance to be together and love long into their old ages. I am dying to see more of these Ashfords as they find their match and hopefully even find healing from their painful pasts, and after that last chapter (damn you Carrie Ann, EVERY time!) we know the next story is going to a rough one. Whever this series leads us, whatever mysteries we solve, and whatever dangers lurk around new corners, Ms. Ryan has a lifelong fan in me for sure!

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

ARC Review: Just a Little Desire (Sterling Family Crossover #2)

Just a Little Desire (Sterling Family Crossover #2)

Carly Phillips, Erika Wilde

Blurb:

I wasn’t the type of woman who indulged in one night stands, but the irresistible Liam Powers managed
to charm me right into his bed. By morning, he was gone, leaving me to wonder if our night together had been nothing more than a dream. . . until he showed up at my office a few weeks later, a wealthy investor interested in infusing cash into our struggling family business.

Liam Powers might be the man I needed to save our company, but I wasn’t about to fall for his flirtatious charm a second time. Not when I had so much to lose . . . including my heart to a man who had no intentions of settling down.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

It’s always fun when  two authors come together to show off their nice and naughty sides so that we get to have a lot of fun reading an unexpected romance between two people that never saw one another coming. Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde always come together in an amazing way to bring us fabulous stories and this newest addition to the Sterling Crossover family is even more outstanding for us when a one-night stand turns into a life-changing relationship. Liam Powers gave up on relationships and happily-ever after a long time ago and when he escapes his brothers disgustingly happy wedding and finds himself at a bar, he has no problem deciding to pick up the sexy birthday girl for one night of outstanding sex. Morgan Starling woke alone after the night with Liam where she was afraid she’d almost lost her heart and despite being angry that he’d just disappeared she was determined to just move on. But neither of them is prepared when their lives crash together again because Liam has just signed a contract that makes them essentially business partners for the next year and they are going to be in one another’s pockets the entire time. Liam cannot resist the pull he feels toward Morgan, and despite not believing in relationships, he does believe in their chemistry and is determined to show her how good they can be together, even though it will open be temporary. Morgan feels the pull just as much, but the more time they spend together, the more she feels for Liam and wants to be more to him than just the woman he lusts after. Can they finally both let go of their past pain to find a chance at a future and what happens when a business secret threatens to come between their new budding relationship?

Reading this story was like watching an emotional roller coaster loaded with lust, fear, and chemistry between two people that had both been hurt previously and needed to let go of their pasts in order to move forward. Liam had been hurt by his previous fiancé and its obvious that he took far too much responsibility on his shoulders for her hurtful decisions. I would have loved to have seen him accept that he wasn’t the one to blame her choices and that he was worth being loved and having the devotion  of a genuinely loving partner. Morgan has similarly been hurt by previous lovers, but thankfully she knows her wroth and refuses to accept anything less from Liam than his utter devotion and full attention when they are together, even if she accepts that she won’t get to keep him long term. But when he finally accepts that they are meant to be together, losing his heart to Morgan to the point that he is almost willing to forfeit his company security to protect her. The passion and chemistry between these to is obviously from the beginning until the end, but the laughter and love they brought along with it made their romance even better. I am looking forward to more Crossover stories in this series so that we can see hints of this series and continue to meet more side characters that we might have missed in the original Sterling Series. Carly and Erika always make it a sexy adventure as they take us through the fun and games of new romances and I can’t wait for more.

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

ARC Review: Fate’s Design (Masters' Admiralty/Trinity Masters Finale)

Fate’s Design (Masters' Admiralty/Trinity Masters Finale) 

Lila Dubois

Blurb:

He vowed to never love again.

After the tragic death of both his wives and his sister, Eric knows that he’s cursed. Every woman he loves dies because he fails to protect them. That’s why, for years, he’s been fighting his feelings for Nikolett–the only person brave enough to stand up to him.

As leader of the dangerous secret society, Eric has the power to force Nikolett to marry someone else. He tried that, desperate to keep her safe, but circumstances, and Nikolett herself, conspired to upend that arranged marriage.

When a friend finally forces Eric to go to therapy, he realizes the past tragedies weren’t his fault, and that he has no desire to live without Nikolett. He arrives in Paris ready to woo the woman he loves…

But he’s too late. She’s on a date with another man.

Nikolett is planning to arrange her own marriage, even though she’s still helplessly in love with Eric. And a chance meeting with a sweet man in a coffee shop months ago might be the key to her future happiness.

Eric and Nikolett’s tangled love isn’t the only danger they face. An elusive enemy called the Spaniard is making plays against the Masters Admiralty, and the only way to catch him may be to use Nikolett as bait.

Themes:  Menage, Series Finale

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 How does one right a review of not just a fantastic love story that has been in the making for years, but a book that brings to a close two twisting series that began over a decade ago written by two of the most amazing authors I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading and reviewing for? Let me tell you it isn’t easy, but after reading this story I have thoughts that just have to be shared and doing so without giving away any of the spoilers is going to be tricky.

To begin I wanted to thank Lila for giving us an ending that finally brings together the two people that we have all been clamoring for even though it has been a complicated and messy relationship, we refused to let her end the series without giving us Eric and Nikolett. And of course, a second and bigger thank you to both Lila and Mari Carr for giving us over a decade of fabulous twisty and turny stories as they moved us through the Trinity Masters and Master’s Admiralty series leading up to this fabulous ending.  Eric and Nikolett have led one another on a merry chase through a bitter and often heartbreaking adventure as they dealt with their hangups and fears, but finally they have found their way in this amazing tale of trauma, healing and love.  But they have an insidious enemy that has finally decided that the endgame has arrived, and he is no longer going to stay in the shadows. The Spaniard is coming out of the darkness to enact the ultimate revenge against the Master’s Admiralty, Nikolett and most importantly Eric. After finally finding love and forgiveness, Nikki and Eric have to fight for their lives and the lives of their people as the Spaniard works even harder to end them all in a flaming mess of pain and degradation.

I loved every painful, beautiful and heart mending moment of this story.  From watching Nikolett open up about her past again and again, finally coming to terms with her past and allowing love to lead her to the truth of her own worth, to showing those she loves the vulnerable woman that requires help sometimes. Nikki is obviously a woman that knows her own mind and strength, but sometimes strong women need to be able to put down their swords and let others shield them as they rest. Eric also finally came to terms with his trauma, admitting his shortcomings and releasing his fears and erroneous beliefs that everything that has ever gone wrong in his life was his fault, allowing him to heal and give Nikki the love and faith she needed.  Once he was able to offer her a healed and whole heart, he became the man she needed and wanted to stand by her side and be the lover and husband that she deserved.  Together they were finally able to learn more about and understand their enemy, no longer confused by their complicated relationship and allowing them to think more clearly, and oh boy was that enemy a doozy.  The Spaniard was truly and interesting and multilayered enemy, one that had interesting and deep-seated issues, and I would have liked to see him overcome and maybe get a book of his own later as a hero, but all good things must come to and end.  The passion and fire of the chemistry between Nikki and Eric was definitely undeniable and powered their relationship through the painful moments until they got past in order to heal.

I honestly almost died at the end of the book (until the epilogue) but thank gods we got that epilogue, or I might have tracked Lila down and made her pay. (j/k, sorta) But we now have a proper ending to the series and hopefully someday Lila and/or Mari will come back and maybe we’ll get second generation Trinity Master’s stories, but if not, I’m thrilled with this ending and can’t wait for whatever these two authors give us next. I’m sad to watch it end, but it’s been a wild and amazing ride that I’ll never forget, so thanks Lila (and Mari) for an amazing ending and a series that changed my life for the better.

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