ARC Mini RevieW: Kiss Me Forever (Montgomery Ink Legacy #10)

Kiss Me Forever (Montgomery Ink Legacy #10)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

Falling for your enemy is bad. Falling for the man you only call your enemy is worse.

Reece Fox is a decade older than me but I’m his boss. And if the man growls at me one more time, he’s going to learn the true meaning of the Montgomery temper. Yet I can’t stop thinking of him.

After losing my fiancé, I’ve sworn off men, but when Reece does the one thing I never thought he’d do—ask for help—I can’t walk away.

Brooklyn Montgomery is too young for me. She’s not only my boss, but my friend’s family. The definition of forbidden. We both know this. But I can’t keep my hands off of her. When we finally give into the heat between us, there’s no going back.

Only when a little girl shows up to our work, she changes our world completely with one word:

Dad.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 I do not understand why I keep letting Carrie tear my heart out… then calling it fun, but she never fails to do it when she writes these stories that break our hearts and then allow her readers to experience the healing and recovery that opening your heart again can provide.  I knew that this one was going to be rough since we have gotten glimpses in past stories, but I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to let go of the heartbreak and heal with Brooklyn as she let go the man she thought was the love of her life.  When she finally looks up from her grief and sees the man that has been in front of her all along it’s beautiful to see the sensual and soulful bond that develops.  Poor Reece obviously has his hands full as he is tossed into the deep in of SINGLE fatherhood with a preteen daughter, one who has just lost her mother, and he is trying his hardest to prove to her that she is wanted and no one will ever mistreat her again. Brooklyn and Bella are immediate friends, and she finds herself becoming part of their family unit as Reece leans on her for support with his daughter, but it also opens his eyes to the beautiful woman that has healed from her heartbreak and just might be ready for him to steal her heart for his own. When Brooklyn’s past bites back, Reece is right there to stand at her side and remind her she is strong enough to handle anyone that tries to tear her down and that just makes her love him more.  The passion and chemistry between these two have always been explosive, but used to be expressed in arguments and anger, now they finally get to show one another a much better use for that heat. I loved every moment of this story and seeing this small family form and cannot wait to see more of them in later stories in the series.  I am looking forward to the next story where we will get to see Aly and Dash see the errors of their ways and learn that feelings and passion are not always so easy to keep separate. Another hit Ms. Ryan.

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

ARC Mini Review: Ghost (Serpents of Chaos MC #5)

Ghost (Serpents of Chaos MC #5)
Chantal Fernando

Blurb:

Everyone warned me away from Ghost, but I saw something in him that they didn't.

Or so I thought.

When I surprise him at the Serpents of Chaos Clubhouse, the fairy tale I'd created in my head disappears in front of my eyes.

I learn the hard way that the club always comes first.

But when his past collides with his present, I'm the one caught in the crossfire.

Ghost is the most feared, unhinged man in the MC.

And I'm the one that has him on his knees.

Themes: Bikers, Redemption

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Well, we finally get to learn the whole story, and it’s an explosive one.  In book four, we got glimpses of Ghost and Xanthe’s story and knew that it was going to be a rollercoaster, but I didn’t think I would enjoy it quite this much. Chantal Fernando is one of those authors I stumbled across years ago and I have loved her MC stories and really everything I’ve read by her ever since, but this new series is certainly heading in interesting directions. Between one-night stands, childhood reunions, babies and long-lost loves, this MC just keeps getting more and more interesting. I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy Ghost’s story because honestly, he seems so dark and intense in previous novels, but the more we learned about the past that created that darkness the more I came to understand and love him—even when he was way overboard with his protectiveness of Xanthe.  Watching him find the courage to bear his heart and allow her to see that darkness was kind of painful, but once he began to understand that she wouldn’t run for the hills at every little spook, he started to trust her enough to offer his love.   Xanthe was a wonderful dichotomy of sweet and spicy, hiding her own mysterious side from her friends and only letting down her hair (so to speak) in the arms of the man she trusted with her secrets.  The moments when they both made mistakes, causing miscommunications and separations, were hard to take, but I was ever hopeful their love and passion would allow them to overcome their own stupidity. I was thrilled they found a way to build their bridges and come together to build their lives.  I am looking forward to seeing them in future stories as more of Ghost’s brothers fall to cupid and lose their hearts and souls, probably most unexpectedly, to women that will challenge and question them at every turn to make them earn their way into their hearts.

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

ARC Mini-Review: Burning Sea (Elven Kingdom #5)

Burning Sea (Elven Kingdom #5)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

Desire runs deeper than the ocean . . .

I was never meant to descend into the world beneath the waves—never meant to fall into the orbit of a Sea Elf whose power could shatter oceans.

He is danger wrapped in control. Cold. Commanding. Untouchable. His city is beauty honed into a weapon. His restraint is legendary. And yet the way his gaze lingers tells me he wants me as much as he fears what I awaken in him.

I don't belong in his realm of tides and shadows, where ancient magic stirs and secrets are buried deep. But every step closer pulls me under—desire tightening, temptation burning hotter than the sea itself. The truth I uncover could ignite a war. Loving him could destroy us both. Leaving may already be impossible.

Because when the ocean begins to rise and everything he's sworn to protect is threatened, I understand one dangerous truth—The sea isn't the only thing capable of burning. And I'm done resisting the fire between us.

Themes: Paranormal, Elves, Magick

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

This series just keeps getting more intense, dark, and twisty as Donna Grant takes us deeper into the lives of the elves and the humans that control their portion of the alternate reality first introduced to us in the Dragon Kings series. The dangers abound for both humans and Elves alike, with the common denominator being powerlessness and our inability to protect ourselves from those stronger than us. As we learn through each new installment, there is never a shortage of those willing to stand up for the greater good, but only by standing together against those that are seeking power can there truly be a balance of power and end to those determined to take evil advantage of others. I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this story, but the more we got to know Kalyani and Varum I saw that they were a great team and they were going to be a wonderful addition to the team of fighters. While I can see that the more stories are added to this series, the more the team battling against this evil rounds out and because more unstoppable, I still miss the more romantic and relationship focused stories that were so common when I first became a huge Donna Grant fan.  Don’t get me wrong, I will keep reading them, but I’m going into them with a reclassification, knowing in my mind that these are Romantasy stories and not Paranormal Romance.  Doing that allows me to realign my expectations and enjoy the plot and world building, the drama and action, and then the short and sometimes sudden romances that form the relationship aspect between Kalyani and Varum.  I look forward to the next episode of the series, but I do hope that we get to see the good guys win a few battles soon, because seeing them lose so much is a bit disheartening. Read with an open mind and willingness to have an overall plot cliffhanger, even if the relationship gets a happy ending, and you’ll love the new Elven Kingdoms addition Burning Sea by Donna Grant.

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

ARC Review: Reclaim (Stingrays Hockey Book #5)

Reclaim (Stingrays Hockey Book #5)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

He can block every shot on the ice…except the one straight to his heart.

Victor Reed has crushed opponents on the ice for over a decade—but nothing knocks the grumpy, foul-mouthed defenseman off his game like being forced to share his off-season home with his four-year-old whirlwind niece, Pip…and her maddeningly cheerful nanny.

Belle is all sunshine and sparkles, the kind of woman who hums while she folds laundry and believes every problem can be solved with kindness. Victor’s convinced she was sent to torment him—until she downloads a dating app and starts lining up dates with men who are absolutely wrong for her.

He’s not jealous. Definitely not.

He’s just…protective. And if he “accidentally” scares off a few of her suitors? Well, someone has to keep her safe.

But when Belle’s big heart starts drifting out of his orbit, Victor is forced to face the truth: the Baltimore Stingrays’ resident beast has fallen for his beauty. And if he doesn’t change his game fast, he might lose the only woman who’s ever made his house—and his life—feel like home.

Themes: Contemporary, Sports

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Sexy, grumpy beast meets his match in a sweet, sparkly princess of a woman when two longtime friendly acquaintances are forced into VERY close quarters and have to find a way to cope with their new feelings. Mari Carr is one of my favorite authors and when she takes on a trope like grumpy-sunshine or beauty and beast you can bet it will be written to perfection, especially when she throws them together, and adds a sprinkle of a couple of others just for spice. In this latest story in the Stingrays Hockey Series, Carr reminds us that sometimes your perfect match has been right in front of your eyes all along, even to the point that others knew you belonged together when you didn’t. I loved watching Belle and Victor stumble around one another, specially making mistakes and learning that their attraction went much deeper than either of them were prepared for as they came to terms with the truth.  And of course, there was the other little person in the story that led to way too many laughs and I can honestly say I have never read a better written child character than Pip, because I actually liked her character and didn’t find myself skipping over the scenes with her in them.  I am very much looking forward to the next story and HOPE that it is Vivian’s turn to fall in love with a hot hockey god, even if it brings out the beast in Victor all over again! Bring on book #6 Mari.

Victor Reed has always been the kind of guy that leads any group in cursing and grumpiness, but when he is now one of the two main caregivers for his beloved niece for a summer, he has to clean up his act.  His niece also comes with a woman that drives him insane, her nanny the innocent and distracting Belle, and the more time he is around the woman the more he questions his ability to keep her at arm’s length.  Belle has had a crush on Victor for a while and the longer she is around him the more she is determined to put herself out there, leading her to throw herself into the dating game.  Victor knows he should leave “the nanny” alone, Belle soon becomes so much more and when he loses control and kisses her there is no going back—for either one of them. As their summer comes to a close, they both have to decide if what they have been building is a lasting relationship or they will go back to just being friends now that Victor’s sister is returning, because once a Beast claims his woman, she will never Reclaim her heart.

I loved every moment of this hilarious, sensual, sweet, and romantic story, filled with emotional angst, two characters that have too long denied their emotions, and a little girl that unknowingly brings them together. Victor was the perfect combination of sweet and grumpy as we see him showing his love for the woman in his world, but more importantly he never fails to be there for the people that count on him.  He is the kind of guy that will stand up against the world when you need him to stand by your side and I loved that he was that for his friends and family, showing us that he is meant to be the perfect match for Belle. Belle herself is a little bit timid in the beginning, using the app dating as a way to try to convince herself that her feelings for Victor weren’t as serious as they were, but the obvious chemistry between them when they finally have their first kiss shows us that was a total laugh. I loved the connection between them and watching it grow was even more fun, but the best thing was watching them interacting with Pip and Vivian, showing that they truly were a loving family all the way through.

Reclaim was the perfect combination of a romantic love story, a family connection, and reminder that friends are sometimes just as much family as our blood.  Victor and Vivian’s bond was beautiful to see, and you could see that they had enveloped Belle in their familial bond, long before Victor started to fall for her (and WELL before he ever admitted his feelings), showing Pip that love comes in all forms and expressions. Victor is the kind of man you want to always have at your side, stealing your heart, and definitely in your bed, because he can master any role and do it with strength and honor. Belle has her own ability to always show those around her kindness and love, even when they are making her angry, that we should all strive to offer to others.  She has had a hard road to travel in life, but never gave up, and never quit striving for more in life and when she finally found the family where she was destined to be she continued to work to always be grateful and thankful for her luck. The passion and heat between Bell and her beast (sorry couldn’t help it just once more) was undeniable once they both admitted their feelings and came to terms with their needs for one another.  I am dying to see more of them in the next book, which I hope to be Vivian’s as she maybe gets to find love with her own hot hockey player, giving us something fun to watch when Victor loses his mind. If you are looking for a sexy, sweet, and fabulous book to occupy a rainy May weekend, I highly suggest Reclaim (and you know the WHOLE series) by Mari Carr.

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

Mini-ARC Review: Falling for Real (Dare to Fall #2)

Falling for Real (Dare to Fall #2)
Carly Phillips

Blurb:

One canceled date.

One overbooked hotel.

One fake boyfriend who feels way too real.

 

I arrive at a family wedding expecting maid-of-honor chaos—not to share a room with Tristan Hayes, the devastatingly charming nightclub owner I’ve crushed on for too long.

 

When the hotel runs out of rooms, Tristan gives his to an elderly couple without hesitation, and I see the kind of man he is.

So, I offer to share my king-sized bed.

 

Just for the weekend. It’s totally innocent.

Until my ex shows up with a date.

 

Suddenly Tristan’s hand is on my waist, his smile lethal, and he becomes my fake boyfriend. It's temporary and perfect.

Except the chemistry isn’t fake.

And wedding weekends don’t 

last.

 

Themes: Contemporary, Second Generation

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I just love a good fake date trope especially when you add in one bed accident and two people that have never admitted they were attracted to one another. Carly Phillips gives us a sweet and sensual novella between two friends of friends that are suddenly thrown together due to unforeseen circumstances and find that their feelings for one another are much more explosive than they ever realized.  Kaylee Martin and Tristan Hayes have been in the same friend circles for ages, but they’ve never let their chemistry move into dangerous waters, until they find themselves at a wedding in Key West and sharing a hotel room with only one large bed.  Then Tristan goes a step further pretending to be her boyfriend to save her from an awkward situation with her egotistical, rude ex when he is trying to embarrass Kaylee, which just pushes Tristan over the edge.  The more time that Tristan spends with Kaylee the more he comes to respect and admire the sweet and sensual party planner that has always been in the background of his life, but can he convince her to give their relationship a real chance once the wedding is over, or will their unexpected fling end when they head back home? I enjoyed every page of this short read, gobbling up all the amazing romantic and gratifying interactions between Kaylee and Tristan, but also the way they both worked through their fears and had to come to terms with their pasts and present in order to accept that their “wedding fling” was so much more and they were meant for one another.  Tristan was loving, sexy, noble and just the kind of guy I would like at my side, even just pretending to be my boyfriend; but ultimately the fact that he was so self-aware and knew immediately that Kaylee was different, that she was the woman the finally convince him to enjoy a relationship, made him perfect in my mind. Kaylee was a great character, admitting her flaws to herself, as well as those around her, but not letting them stop her from getting things done, or being there for those she loved, and of course she knows how to go for the things she wants, even if she sometimes overthinks things when she lets fear rule her. The chemistry that sparked between these two was apparent from the first moment they allowed themselves to open their eyes to one another, and I cannot wait to see more of them in future novels in the series.  Carly’s style and grace for bringing characters to life and knowing the way to readers’ hearts is mystifying but she never fails to hit every note and proves to me why I’ve been a fan for decades.

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

Mini-ARC Review: Crossroads (Ashford Creek #2)

Crossroads (Ashford Creek #2)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

When Kiera West needs a place to hide from the media and her ex, she never thought

Bodhi Ashford—the man the small town of Ashford Creek once thought a murderer—would be her salvation.

The reclusive, bearded, mountain man has secrets of his own and with one growl, she knew she’d be safe. Sure, he might only talk to her to ask who hurt her, but at least the quiet will let her heal.

When the elusive drummer from one of the biggest rock bands in the world shows up on Bodhi’s doorstep, he needs her to leave yesterday. As soon as he sees the bruises, he knows she needs to stay.

A fire took everything from him once, and the town he thought he could trust turned on him before he could grieve. Falling for a woman in the spotlight is the last thing he needs.

Yet it might be the one thing that could save them both when the darkness of their pasts finally catches up with them.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

What’s not to love about two broken characters finding that together they heal and reshape all the pieces of one another into a beautiful new design? The second installment in the Ashford Creek series is a story that will rip out your heart and then heal you without you even understanding that you needed to be healed.  Carrie Ann Ryan has the special ability to remind us that we all deserve to find love, even when we’ve lost it and feel that our chance at happiness was stolen from us. Kiera West has certainly had her share of bad luck when it comes to men in her life, so when she meets the grumpy and brooding Bohdi Ashford, she never imagines that he will steal her heart and make her fall for him so deeply. Bodhi is the town recluse and hides from those that have whispered—or yelled—about him ever since his family died in a tragic fire, leaving him not only scared physically but mentally and emotionally as well. When the two find themselves thrown together after Kiera tries to escape a dangerous element in her life, Bodhi finds himself unable to resist the sweet and obviously troubled woman that pulls at his heartstrings.  The more they spend time together, just experiencing life again, the closer they get to finding a healing that they never would have let themselves experience before.  But the dangers surrounding Bodhi and Kiera are not willing to just let them enjoy their newly blossoming love and they have to work together in order to overcome the fear and mistrust if they are ever going to get their second chances at true love.

I enjoyed immensely getting to watch Bodhi and Keiera as they both found a way to heal through the traumas that continued to follow them as together, they found a way to begin living their lives again.  Bodhi is obviously a man that has always protected those he loves and not being able to save his family broken his spirit; finding a way to accept his past, love his present, and embrace a future allowed his true character to develop and shine through.  His alpha and sweet nature left us wanting so much more from him when he was being grumpy and it was only when he finally decided to embrace life and love again that we really fell in love with him right alongside Kiera.  Kiera herself was a perfect example of a woman that has been kicked repeatedly but refuses to stay down, the ideal match for a character like Bodhi who needed someone to stand by his side and defend him against the world.  She has a lot of insecurities in her life, but she also knows that she is the kind of person that will find her place in the world if she stops letting others bring her down. Once they stopped letting the world dictate how they lived their lives, Bodhi and Kiera found their joy and love again for one another and for living life and getting to experience it right alongside them was a fabulous experience.  The passion between these two from the very first moment was palpable and hot and I cannot wait to see more of them in coming books in the series.  Carrie Ann always manages to blow me away with her stories of redemption, danger, drama, and love, but she really outdid herself this time with Crossroads.

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

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

Riding Out the Storm (Perfect Storm #3)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

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

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

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

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

Ella never meant to break Maverick’s heart.

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

So, she walked away…and stayed gone.

Until now.

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

He’s harder. Rougher. Dominant.

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

Themes:  Contemporary, Second Chance

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

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

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

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