ARC Review: Motorcycle Man

Motorcycle Man (Dream Man #4)

by Kristen Ashley

Blurb:

Get ready to ride . . .

Tyra Masters has had enough drama to last a lifetime. Now, she's back on track and looking forward to her new, quiet life. Until she meets the man of her dreams. The tattooed, muscled biker plies her with tequila-and the best sex of her life. She knows it isn't the tequila and hot sex talking. He's the kind of man she's always wanted. Unfortunately, he's also her new boss . . .

Kane "Tack" Allen has a rule. He doesn't employ someone he's slept with. So when he learns he spent last night in bed with his new office manager, he quickly fires Tyra. Yet when Tyra stands up to him and fights for her job, Tack is intrigued. He tells her she can keep her job on one condition: no more sex. Ever. But as things heat up between them, Tack finds that he'll be the one breaking all the rules...

Themes: Bikers, Suspense

Rating: 4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Ok so normally this is where I would give you a whole set up for the review including a quick review of the synopsis and some more details about the story, but I think I’m going a different direction this time. Instead I’m just going to express to you the greatness of this novel! If you have read any of the stories in this series you are a bit familiar with Kane “Tack” Allen, being the president of the Chaos Motorcycle Club and a serious badass in his own right.   This novel is the story of his fall from bachelorhood and into the love of a good woman.  Tyra is certainly not the type of woman that you would imagine with a badass like Tack, but they seem to mesh in the end, no matter how strangely. 

When Tyra began her new job by attending a party at the Chaos Compound, she falls instantly into lust with Tack and into his bed, but the next morning he proves to be a real asshat. After all that, she has to face him on her first day of work as his new office manager, no matter how resistant Tack is to the idea.  When she stands up to him, demanding her right to keep her job, she immediately becomes more interesting to the very jaded and terrifying biker.  After a few days of work, Tack decides it’s time for him to put the moves on Tyra and show her that she belongs as his woman.  Through a strange series of events including kidnapping, attempted murder, psychotic ex-wives and trouble teens, Tack and Tyra find that if they can overcome their personal issues and find a way to really communicate, the love that can form between a calm and rational woman and her sexy badass biker is one that can overcome any obstacle and last forever.

Being a novel by Kristen Ashley, Motorcycle Man is full of crazy antics, intense passion, and a strange bond that forms between two very disparate individuals.  I found myself sighing a lot at Tack’s actions, confused and a bit scared just as Tyra is, until finally in a heart wrenching outpouring of his feelings Tack finally explains why he is the way he is.  That scene was one of the most heartbreaking I’ve ever read and having to understand his feelings through Tyra’s POV makes it even more complicated and sad.  I also found myself laughing a hell of a lot at Tack and Tyra’s arguments, the back and forth between them is just too hilarious especially the scenes where their fights turn into passionate loving. When it comes to the love scenes, the heat that explodes between Tyra and Tack is so intense that I found myself running out into the freezing night air just so I could cool off enough to finish reading. Tack’s passionate nature shows through all facets of his life, his MC, his family, and his love life; that passionate nature has led him to make some good decisions and some bad ones in his life, but this time he knows that Tyra is the right choice for all the roles she will fill and is determined not to let her get away, no matter how many times he has to fight her to keep her.

This entire series is full of completely sexy, scarily alpha, and dangerous men, from all walks of life.  Being a president of a Motorcycle club, Tack comes with some built in issues and a very intense lifestyle.  Tyra is one of those women that has lived a mostly sheltered life, living in her own little sphere, but when she steps out, she steps into a completely different life that involves danger, passion and changes to her personality that ultimately make her a stronger woman.  Seeing Tyra grow as she interacts with and ultimately falls in love with Tack was an eye-opening experience to say the least. Tack is one of those guys that sometimes I just wanna beat, but in the end he is a good guy, if a bit set in his ways and determined to try to force Tyra into the box he thinks she should fit into.  In the end I have to say that I loved this story more than any of the others I have read but Kristen Ashley, and though I still have an aversion to the first person POV she uses, I will be continuing to read any story that has to do with these sexy men and the Chaos MC.  In conclusion I will just repeat that last thought that I had as I finished the novel… SQUEEE!!!

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

ARC Review: Shoreline Drive

Shoreline Drive (Sanctuary Island #2)

by Lily Everett 

Blurb:

Dr. Ben Faulkner is a veterinarian on warm, welcoming Sanctuary Island, a tiny refuge for wild horses tucked off the Atlantic coast. Though he’s dedicated his life to healing animals and rescuing the ones no one wants, Ben is nursing deep wounds of his own. After tragedy tore his family apart, he gave up his dreams of finding happiness long ago…until Merry Preston arrives on the island. Vivacious, friendly, and instantly loveable, Merry is everything Ben is not. She’s also nine months pregnant and attempting to carve out a new life for herself and her unborn child.

Though Ben tries to keep his distance, when a raging storm cuts them off from the mainland, he’s forced to help bring her new baby into the world. It’s a harrowing experience that leaves him with one great certainty: I want these two to be my family. Seeing his opportunity, he makes a dramatic proposal to the young mother: a marriage of convenience. If Merry marries him, he’ll draw up a contract naming her son as his heir and promising to provide for them both. But as they’ll learn, love is more than a business proposition…and it’ll take all the magic hidden in Sanctuary Island to turn Ben’s proposal into something real and lasting.

Themes: contemporary

Rating: 3.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Lily Everett returns to the small island town of Sanctuary Island in her second novel, Shoreline Drive.  The story of an emotionally repressed man meeting the first woman to ever touch his heart, a new mom who has given light to his dark world and reminds him that he isn't as cold-hearted as he tries to be.  This series has taken a different direction than most series, with two short novella trilogies preceding each full length novel, though they aren't actually connected, just occurring on the same island.  This second full length novel in the series is the story of the sister of the female lead in book one and actually overlaps a bit in time, with the birth of Merry’s son in both stories.  Everett’s novels are full of emotion, family, and character growth, delves more into the sentimental side of romances and less into the passionate, which is in opposition of her writing as Louisa Edwards. If you haven’t read the first book in this series, Sanctuary Island, you will be missing out on a lot of the deeper emotional issues with Merry and her family, but Everett provides enough details you won’t be lost in the overall plot. 

The story of Ben and Merry’s whirlwind romance begins with the birth of her son, Alex, who was helped into the world by Ben, the former big city doctor turned small time country veterinarian.  This moment is the turning point for Ben, showing him the one thing he needs in his life, a family, and he wants that family to be Merry and Alex.  Fast forward several months and Ben is still trying to figure out how to get what he wants, his own nature getting in his way and making it harder to get close to Merry.  Being the sensible and practical guy he is he comes up with the perfect solution: a marriage of convenience, giving Alex a father and Merry the support she needs.  His ulterior motive of course is having a chance to make her fall in love with him.   And his plan seems to be working as he and Merry grow closer and closer, forming a family with little Alex and providing Ben the settled and loving life he’s always wanted.  But when his cold and calculating parents try to drive a wedge between them, Ben’s fears and insecurities flare and he finds that losing his dream will be even more painful than never having had it at all.  Will Merry be able to convince him that he is worth her love and make them a family or will their HEA be forever lost?

Merry is a woman on the verge, to be clichéd for a minute.  She has made a lot of changes in her life as motherhood approached and her life is altered drastically when Alex is added to the already complicated familial issues she is dealing with as she meets her mother again for the first time as an adult and attempts to have a relationship with her. She is struggling to maintain her usual happy façade as she deals with her mom and the new feelings she developed about that relationship after she became a mom herself.  When Ben, whom she has lusted after for ages, but she believed hated her, offers her an odd but welcome opportunity to change her circumstances, she is determined to embrace this opportunity for what it is—a simple business arrangement.  But her feelings for Ben are confusing to say the least and soon she can no longer deny that Ben is just the man to give her heart and her son to.  She is a woman who understands emotion and the labyrinth of feelings involved in all the relationships she is juggling.  I found myself liking her more and more as she finds her footing with Ben, Alex, and even her mom.  Watching her fight to keep her new family intact, reminded me of a momma wolf protecting her mate and cub, nothing more beautiful than that.

Ben on the other hand is an enigma.  He has had a life of emotional neglect, devastation, and sadness that has led him to make the decision to lock his heart away behind an impenetrable wall.  But his walls are no match for Merry and especially Alex.  From the moment he assists with bringing Alex into the world, his heart tells him that his life is meant to include them both.  His plan to achieve his goals are interesting to be sure, but I can see the appeal in that plan, giving Merry the chance to see past his cantankerousness and his resistance to emotional connections to the broken and bleeding man beneath.  When he finally opens up to Merry and shows his vulnerabilities to her, I fell a little bit in love with him myself.  I wish we had gotten to explore more the connection formed between him and Merry, but seeing him interact with Alex showed me the young boy that was neglected by his own parents and the man’s abilities to overcome his loveless upbringing to become an open hearted and extremely loving man who is determined to give Alex and Merry the love they need to thrive.  And in giving that love and making that family, the hole in his heart will begin to heal over and make the pain he’s be mired in lessen enough to give him the chance to grow.

As a side note, there is a continuing story of Taylor, Merry and Ella’s sort-of younger step-sister, and the changes she is going through in her teenage years.  There are issues with her jealousy over Merry and Ella’s return to their mother’s life, Taylor’s problems with troublemaking, and even boy issues.  Seeing Taylor deal with her teenage angst, as well as watching her grow a bit here and there, shows me that someday she will be a wonderful young woman, and I’m hoping we will get to see her find romance in the future.

Shoreline Drive was a good read, a story with lots of heart, family, and the love that can form in the most unexpected of places.  Merry is a woman that is pulled in many directions, but providing a safe and secure home for her son, one that will allow him to thrive is the most important thing to her now.  Ben is a bit of an ass to those around him, but the angry front he shows the world is just to keep him from forming attachments and getting hurt.  His decision to escape his old life and close himself off from those who would befriend him, has left him without the skills to woo the woman he is coming to love.  The plan he hatches is hilarious and simple in its design, but when dealing with life and love, nothing is ever as clear-cut as we’d like.  As Merry and Ben, especially, worked through their issues and find their love together, I found myself drawn to the story more and more, and in the end when their family is assured and their lives bound together irrecoverably, I knew that they would find their way together to an HEA. I will say that I was surprised by how short this novel was in terms of their relationship and I would have loved a more in depth look at their lives individually, not just as Alex’s parents.  Maybe a few nights of them being together without having the baby around and being the focus, would have bumped the story up another level, but I liked it all the same.  I’m looking forward to whatever’s next in the series and getting a chance to see more of the residents of Sanctuary Island.

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

Mini-Review: Protecting His Witness

Protecting His Witness (Red Stone Security #7)

by Katie Reus 

Blurb:

Seven years ago she broke his heart…

Leaving Vincent was the hardest thing Jordan Alvarado ever had to do, but she had no choice. Now she’s back and looking for forgiveness so she can move on with her life. She doesn’t expect the smoldering attraction between them to still be there, burning hotter than ever. After the way she hurt him she knows things will never be the same again and that in the end, she’s the one who will get her heart broken when he walks away.

He’s not letting her go again…

Former SEAL Vincent Hansen never got over Jordan and the way she up and left him without a trace. After she suddenly reappears and explains what happened, he’s even more furious. He doesn’t know what he wants from her, but when she’s targeted in a series of potentially deadly attacks, he realizes he can’t give her up again. He won’t. Now he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and convince her that she was always meant to be his.

Themes: contemporary, security

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

This series has gotten only more and more interesting as it progressed.  I have followed since the beginning and have been dying for Vincent’s story all along.  Finally getting to read his story was a great opportunity for me. Katie Reus writes several different series, but this was the first one that caught my eye and I have been happy to get a chance to read and review them.  Red Stone is a great company that I would love to be able to visit in person so that I could find a hot guy of my own, but sadly they are probably unfindable. If you haven’t read any of the other stories in this series, you will still enjoy Vincent’s story, but I still say you should go ahead and read the whole series, because many of the characters will be found in the upcoming spin-off series, Serafina.

Vincent never expected to see the love of his life again, after she disappeared without a trace almost a decade ago, so when he finds her parked outside his house one day, he is beyond stunned to see her and even more stunned by the fact that his desire for her flares just as high. Jordan is finally allowed to resume the life she had to escape from so long ago, but her first step is to track down the only man she has ever loved, so she can beg for his forgiveness and find a bit of closure.  She never imagined the chance to pick up where they left off and have a chance at happiness again.  But things get even more complicated when she is suddenly under attack again. Vincent is unable to turn his back on her and determines to use his skills to keep her safe while he takes the time to woo and bring her back into his life.

Vincent is a very strong male lead, one that is a playboy but when he meets the one—both times—there is no one else that will suffice. No matter his anger at the situation, he is unwilling to lose the chance to find happiness with the woman of his dreams, so he will do anything it takes to keep her safe. Seeing him in action was very sigh-inducing because he is so obviously a serious badass, but in the more tender moments with Jordan we get to see the real man under the badass exterior he presents the world. Jordan is a good woman, all in all, making a heartbreaking decision in order to do the right then and put a sicko behind bars. And though that choice cost her everything, she needs to make sure that Vincent knows she never stopped loving him and leaving him was the hardest thing she ever did. When they both finally overcome the past hurts and decided to be together, the passion is undeniable and the heat between them burns so hot that even those around them can see that nothing will ever again tear them apart.

This latest edition of the Red Stone Security saga has left me reeling with the depths of love, passion, and understanding that the H/H shared; the interesting plot twists, unexpected action, and impressive love keep the story moving so quickly that you never see the end coming until the last turn of the page. Vincent’s strong, understanding and sexy nature serves as a perfect counterpoint for Jordan, who is in her own right fierce, loving, and fiery. The love between them in a deep and long lasting love, one that hasn't faded even after years of being separated and even though neither ever thought they would have a chance to be together again.  I am happy to see the series branch off with the spin off, but I am sad to know that we won’t get to see more of these sexy security guys and learn more about the main players at Red Stone.  Maybe Katie will get the chance to return to Miami in the future and give us more of the RSS team. I can guarantee I will be the first in line to read the stories if she does. 

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

Mini-Review: Miami, Mistletoe & Murder

Miami, Mistletoe & Murder (Red Stone Security #4)

by Katie Reus 

Blurb:

Fierce and sexy, former Marine Travis Sanchez has always held himself back from the rest of the world, using his tattoos and piercings as armor. But when the woman he’s wanted for months is threatened, he knows it's time to strip away the bad boy image and show her just how much he wants to be with her. As one of Red Stone Security’s best contractors, Travis is trained for almost any situation. But nothing prepares him for the most dangerous threat of all: the one to his heart.

Kind-hearted Noel Baskov’s only wish for the holidays is that her Miami coffee shop has a successful Christmas season. But her focus on work is interrupted when the family of the young girl she mentors is threatened, and the man she’s been lusting after for months steps in to handle it. Unfortunately the danger is far from over. Can this sexy and mysterious warrior protect Noel, or will he be the one to shatter her heart?

Themes:  contemporary, Holiday

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Reus strikes again with her latest installment of the Red Stone Security Series, bringing Travis and Noel’s story to life and giving us another view into the lives of these intriguing security professionals.  Being only a short holiday novella, this story is still full of action, sensuality, and fun.  I loved Travis the moment I met him in the previous stories , with his scary sexy tattoos, piercings, and even his green Mohawk (which I missed a bit in his story), but getting to learn more about him and see him fall in love was a wonderful experience. Even if you haven’t read any of the previous stories in this series, you will enjoy reading about Travis and getting to meet the other security guys and gals who will soon fall under the spells of their mate.

Travis has been slowly falling for Noel, the woman who runs the local coffee shop and café, but only getting to see her when he stops in for his morning coffee is not longer enough for him.  He has finally decided that it’s time to take the next step and ask her out, but when he finds her suddenly in need of his help and protection their relationship is forced to the next level even more quickly.  Working together to keep her safe and uncover the danger surrounding her, Travis and Noel quickly find that their emotions are reciprocal and they have both started to fall in love.  But will the rush of lust fade when the immediate danger passes, or can Travis convince her to take a chance on their future?

I love seeing Travis and Noel fall in love.  They are both protective of each other and their friends.  Travis looks so intimidating, but under that façade he is sweet, sexy and determined to make Noel happy no matter what it takes.  Getting to see him in action, saving Noel’s friend and then keeping her safe reminds me that even the most deadly of men can also be loving and protective of their mates.  Noel is a woman that never lets her gender get in the way of taking care of business.  She is strong, never gives up in the face of adversity, and even though it drives Travis crazy is determined to protect herself from danger. Together they were combustible and the fireworks were beautiful to watch.  And the little secret that Travis shares with Noel when they finally become passionate was too good to forget.

Travis and Noel’s story is a great beginning to the second volume of the series, leading into the set of stories about the Red Stone guys/gals. I enjoy these types of stories, set around similar types of companies, but the Red Stone Security company certainly has their own little twists to handling security issues.  I’m looking forward to continuing the series and learning more about Vincent and Kell in their stories coming next, not to mention scary but sexy Iris.  Though set around Christmas time, I will say that the season served only as a backdrop to Travis and Noel’s story, instead of playing a huge part like many holiday stories do.  Who can beat a story about a sexy but strong guy and the sweet and sensual woman who captures his heart? Well written and a beautiful addition to an interesting series, Miami, Mistletoe, & Murder is a great read to keep you warm on a cold winter’s night.

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

ARC Mini-Review: Lantern Lake

Lantern Lake (The Billionaire Bachelors #3)

by Lily Everett

Blurb:

They’re single, they’re rich, and now these billionaire bachelors are heading to Sanctuary Island in a new e-original novella series from Lily Everett! Fall in love with the heartwarming island’s latest catch.

Leo, Zane, and Cooper made a pact to stay bachelors and enjoy the single life forever, and when they receive an invitation to their friend Miles’ wedding, they head down to Sanctuary Island determined to talk some sense into the errant groom before he makes a life-changing mistake. But Miles knows his own mind, and he makes a vow of his own: before he walks down the aisle, he’ll have Leo, Zane, and Cooper changing their tune about matrimony. Because Miles knows, better than anyone, that all it takes is a little Sanctuary Island magic to turn romantic cynics into true believers.

Cooper Haynes can’t believe how easily his friends have all succumbed to the lure of romance. Luckily, he knows he’s safe, since the one woman he ever loved is lost to him forever. But when he gets a look at the wedding program and sees the list of bridesmaids, Cooper knows he’s in trouble, because there she is: Vivian Banks. After her shattering break-up with Cooper, Vivian never wanted to see him again, but when Greta asks her to be a bridesmaid, Vivian can’t refuse…even knowing it’ll bring her face to face with the man who broke her heart and stomped on the pieces. But Sanctuary Island has a way of reminding people of what really matters, and teaching them the power of the human heart to forgive, heal, and fall in love all over again.

Themes: Contemporary, Beach, Wedding

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The final story in the Billionaire Bachelors series is a bit different than the other in the trilogy, but nothing less than greatness. We have followed the story of these three bachelors as they helped with the wedding of their friend as he joins his life to the woman who stole his heart.  And as they attempt to win a bet to keep their hearts intact and win a prized helicopter out from under the newly married friend.  The other two bachelors have lost the bet, so it has come down to the last minutes and only Cooper is left. I enjoyed watching this trilogy unfold and seeing each of these men find love with a woman that had the courage to look past their billions to the men they are underneath.  I was sad to see the series end, but I enjoyed all three stories and am looking forward to what’s next for the residents of Sanctuary Island.

Cooper has made it all the way to the wedding day, with his heart intact and fulfilling his mission of planning the perfect honeymoon for Miles and Greta.  Though his friend have both succumbed to their hearts and the women that captured them, Cooper has no such problem—until his former fiancé walks down the aisle toward him.  Vivian arrives on the island just in time to serve as one of Greta’s bridesmaids, but she never imagined her arrival would be a surprise to Cooper, but Miles has tried his hand at matchmaking and is determined that Cooper not have any forewarning about her arrival. When Cooper sees Vivian, the woman he once loved more than anything else, the woman who trampled his heart to dust over a decade earlier, he decides that now is a good time to get his own form of revenge, while having just one last night of passion with her.  But after the fires of that passion cool, he finds himself unable to walk away from her.  As they learn more about their lives in the intervening time apart, and the truth of their past comes to light, Cooper finds himself falling in love with the woman Viv is now, while understanding the mistakes they both made so long ago.   But will the new Cooper and Viv be able to look forward or will their pasts keep them from having a chance at true happiness…together?

Cooper and Viv are both passionate individuals, determined to live their lives exactly as they choose, on their own terms.  Both of their lives have heartache and though they loved deeply in the past, Cooper can’t let go of his anger enough to see that sometimes the choices we make in the heat of the moment and the idiocy of our youth, can have lasting and terrifying consequences. While it was obvious that under all his anger Cooper was still in love with Viv, more than once I was ready to reach out and smack some sense into him.  Though he has changed a lot, not necessarily for the better, it is obvious he hasn’t actually matured in the time they have been apart.  Vivian has had some very unfortunate experiences in the past, mostly consequences of her fear and cowardice, but she has grown up and is unwilling to settle for anything less than everything with Cooper.  Finally coming clean with Cooper, clears her soul and gives her the chance to show him that even though she knows she did, she never meant to hurt Cooper, just couldn’t stand up for herself.  When Cooper did finally come to his senses I could tell that taking the chance on love was the best choice they each ever made.

Lantern Lake is one of the sadder stories in this whole series, with the heartaches of the past, misunderstandings of the present, and the fears of the future.  Cooper has shaped his life around his anger with Vivian after she left him shortly before their chance at marriage, but though he has enjoyed many adventures around the world he has never forgotten the woman who shattered his heart. Vivian on the other hand has spent every moment since she lost Cooper doing penance for losing the love of her life, living a life of sadness and unable to find the courage to escape it.  Finally able to move on, she has come to Miles’s wedding as a favor to him and to hopefully get one last chance to see Cooper, though she never imagines she’ll get another chance at their relationship.   Full of heart, passion, and redemption, Lantern Lake is the story of two people who finally come back together and have a chance to live the life they were always meant to live, together in love forever. If you have missed the other two in the trilogy of novellas, I will warn you that you will be missing a lot, so you should go read those first for sure, but I will admit Cooper’s story is my favorite of the three by far.  I love Lily Everett, and of course her other pen name as well, and I hope you will enjoy her stories too.

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

Review: Heart of Stone

Heart of Stone (Gargoyles #1)

by Christine Warren

Blurb:

Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift-shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people—and her powers in check—while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. But how on earth is she supposed to act normal when a thousand-year-old statue on the museum's terrace suddenly comes to life?

Not your ordinary gargoyle, Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him from his slumber. Kees isn't a vision; he's a bat-winged Guardian created to protect the world from the seven demons of the Dark. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world isn't carved in stone…yet.

Themes: demons, shapeshifters, magick

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Starting a new series by a favorite author has always been a favorite part of reading for me. Though it always hurts to have to see a series end, you have that little bit of happiness in the back of your mind that the end of that series will mean an all new start.  The beginning of Christine Warren’s new Gargoyles series is another happy new beginning for me. This first story was more complicated than most because it veered into all new territory for this author with completely different mythology and all new characters.  While a new beginning always requires a bit of world building, a well written first novel will drag you in and make you anxious to find out just where the series will lead you. If you’re familiar with Warren’s Others series you should enjoy the new Gargoyle series as well as she carries through all the wit, imagination, and heart that you’d be looking for, but in an all new world with a new spin on reality.

Ella has been hiding her true nature for a long time, keeping a tight lid on the power inside her, just trying to live a quite life working in a museum and finding a connection with only a beautifully grotesque statue that has always haunted her days.  But one night when the statue she’s always loved comes to life right before her, she really has no idea what to think.  When that statue-come-to-life, Kees, demands she take him home so he can protect her while they try to find out why he has awakened, she is not only terrified of where her life is heading but she is also feeling way too much of a connection with  the huge and sexy Guardian.  After a huge breakthrough for Ella, Kees refuses to acknowledge that he might have feelings for Ella or feelings at all, leaving Ella aching for the connection she feels every time they touch.  Discovering the danger surrounding Kees and especially Ella, they have to work together to keep them both alive and try to find a way to keep evil from finding a foothold on earth.  When the connection becomes too much for Kees to continue to deny, will he be able to believe that his emotions are real or will he embrace his heart of stone?

Ella and Kees are both characters that have a lot of issues and problems that have to be addressed before they have any chance of finding a future, together or apart.   Ella’s tragic past has pushed her to hide her inner power, her fear of her own magic coming between any attachments she can form with those around her.  Her connection to Kees seems to be predestined, one that they couldn’t deny from the very beginning, and she is determined to find out just where that connection could take them both.  I loved the moments when she stood up for herself against Kees, but even more I loved seeing her find her power and use it against the evil stalking them both. The truth of her power and what it means for the bigger picture and her future with Kees, leads her from a scared little girl into a strong powerful woman who stands up for herself and to protect the man she has fallen for.  Once Ella deals with her past, with Kees's help of course, I begin to see a much stronger woman and like her even more than before. Kees is a different story; his arrogance from the moment he awakes is a bit of a turn off, though his strength and determination are assets as they fight against the demons.  As he slowly accepts that he’s not nearly as hard as he thought, letting his emotions flow more freely, he begins to accept that fighting evil might not be the only thing in his life anymore.  Ella has made a huge impact on him and his love for her can only make him a better man.

Though the action in the story is the driving force for the plot, the romance between Kees and Ella is not to be denied.  They both fight the connection, for different reasons, determined that their time together will only be a partnership for the good of mankind.  Passion and emotion have no place in the world of a Guardian after all.  Kees works to teach Ella how to survive, but more and more he knows that if something were to ever happen to her, he would lose it, not because she is crucial to the battle he fights, just because having a world without her in it is unacceptable to him.  Ella’s feelings for the stubborn jackass are all wrapped up in the fact that he is a Guardian, determined to protect not just her but mankind as well.  Helping her through the issues that have shaped her life, Kees begins to accept that emotion is not the weakness he’s always believed and being with Ella is the greatest chance at happiness he will ever find. Sadly most of the relationship was built in the background, with Kees and Ella each dealing with the growth of their feelings separately until finally the buildup becomes too much for either of them to deny the need to be together any longer.  Finally accepting the love between them gives both Kees and Ella the power to battle the demons after them and kick their assess.

All in all, Heart of Stone was a strangely intriguing beginning to a new series and introduction to a dark and terrifying new world.  Gargoyles and magic users, demons and minions, lead this series in a direction of upcoming battles between the ultimate evil and the Guardians and mortals determined not to let their darkness spread. Kees, begin a gargoyle, is of course stubborn and stoic by nature, but seeing the softer more thoughtful side of him around Ella reminds us that sometimes the true nature of a being is complete different than the outer façade shown to the world.  Ella seems to be a bit of a chicken, hiding from herself and her life, but the truth is that her tragic past has forced her to internalize her angst, self disgust and guilt.  These two are complimentary in so many ways, strengths and vulnerabilities, that when they finally both just accept their emotional connection, the love that develops between them is strong and pure.  The evil that they are facing, in this book and hinted at for future novels, was well planned and imaginative, with demons, minions, and dichotomous magicks, I am looking forward to developments in that sense as well.   I am imagining that the series will probably consist of 7 novels, each with one of the Guardians waking and finding their perfect mate, but that’s just a guess. And if that is the way the series unfolds I am looking forward to seeing more of the stoic and sexy Guardians and the powerful women destined to bring them out of their sleep. Warren opens up this new world with beauty, sensuality, sweetness, and a connection between the first H/H that is strong and lasting, and I enjoyed every second of this introduction. I hope you will join along with me in exploring this new series, one by an amazing author who has kept me spellbound for many years and will continue to do so for many more.

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

ARC Mini-review: Bonfire Beach

Bonfire Beach (The Billionaire Bachelors #2)

by Lily Everett

Blurb:

They’re single, they’re rich, and now these billionaire bachelors are heading to Sanctuary Island in a new e-original novella series from Lily Everett! Fall in love with the island’s latest catch.

Leo, Zane, and Cooper made a pact to stay bachelors and enjoy the single life forever, and when they receive an invitation to their friend Miles’ wedding, they head down to Sanctuary Island determined to talk some sense into the errant groom before he makes a life-changing mistake. But Miles knows his own mind, and he makes a vow of his own: before he walks down the aisle, he’ll have Leo, Zane, and Cooper changing their tune about matrimony. Because Miles knows, better than anyone, that all it takes is a little Sanctuary Island magic to turn romantic cynics into true believers.

Zane Bishop has always been the life of the party, the guy who makes sure everyone is having a blast, and he turned his experiences as a college DJ into a multi-billion-dollar entertainment company. He can’t wait to take control of the bachelor party, but Zane’s plans for an all-night rager come up against wedding consultant Felicity Carlson’s ideas about getting Miles to the church on time and sober.  While Zane works overtime tempting Felicity into having fun, she discovers that there’s more to the party boy than meets the eye—but can a woman who makes her living planning other people’s perfect romances ever find true love of her own?

Themes:  contemporary, beach, wedding

Rating: 3 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Being that this  trilogy of novellas is kin of short, I decided to follow the same line and keep my review short too… I liked it a lot and it was sweet and romantic. While I always expect a happy ending in a romance novel, and was certainly not let down, this series is sadly short.  The premise of the series is wonderful, after all what could beat a bet on love made by a sexy billionaire and his sexy billionaire friends?  Bonfire Beach is book two in this trilogy of novellas, set around the wedding of Miles Harrington, who had his own short love story in the previous set of stories. Zane’s story runs parallel to the first in this set, and I understand book three will as well, which makes sense since the bet requires them all to fall in love before Miles’s wedding.

Zane has met his complete opposite in sexy, serious, and fun hating Felicity. Both Felicity and Zane have experienced tragedy in their pasts, but they didn’t cope in the same way; Zane decided to live life to the fullest and never let emotion or attachment bog him down, while Felicity went the other direction, building her life around responsibility, dependability, and accountability. While forced to work together on the wedding and reception for Miles and Greta, Felicity must learn to have a bit more fun while Zane has to come to terms with the need to grow up. Time together brings the passion between them closer to the surface and becomes irresistible, and when they give into the heat, they both begin to develop deeper feelings, though they try to deny it. Will they be able to bridge the gap between their personalities enough to embrace the chance at love?

Zane and Felicity fall into lust and then love very quickly.  The romance between them is subtle, as they work together and find themselves enjoying their time together more and more.  Laughter, arguments, loving, and fighting, Zane and Felicity fall and fall hard.  When things become a bit too deep driving a wedge between them, Felicity runs from Zane, afraid he could never feel for her the way she does for him.  But losing her brings Zane to some surprising conclusions.  Deciding it is time to give up his fears, Zane sets out to win her back and show her just how romantic a billionaire playboy can be.  I loved seeing Zane and Felicity grow and change in the short time they were together, finding a balance in themselves and each other.  The romance was sweet and endearing with just enough spice to keep things interesting.

Bonfire Beach, hits all the right notes in a romance—laughs, emotions, growth, and a HEA.  Zane and Felicity were both great characters, each with their own hang-ups and drawbacks, but when the time comes for them they each step up and make the decision to have each other.  Zane was a sexy hunk, fun, and sweet, and let’s not discount his ability to sweep a woman off her feet, while Felicity is a woman that has learned from her mistakes and is willing to give up her issues just to keep the man she loves with her. I have loved reading the first two in this series, and am seriously looking forward to the final book in this trilogy and am just plain dying to read the next full-length novel by Lily Everett. Come with me to Sanctuary Island and enjoy the love that seems to float in the ocean waters and blow across the hills filled with wild horses.

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

Review: Law Man

Law Man (Dream Man #3)

by Kristen Ashley 

Blurb:

Four years ago, Mitch Lawson moved across the breezeway from Mara Hanover and she fell in love with the tall, good-looking police detective who had an uncanny ability to dress well even though he’s single. It was not a stalker kind of love; she knows she has no hope since Mitch is way out of her league. That doesn’t change the fact that he’s her dream man.

Then one day Mara’s faucet won’t turn off and she knows nothing about plumbing. Being a good guy, Mitch offers to help then he invites himself over for pizza. Mara gives it a go but finds herself running away from him (literally) on their first date, standing him up their second and then she runs into him (again literally) on her way to save her ne’er do well, criminal cousin’s kids who’d just run away from their ne’er do well, criminal Dad.

Suddenly, Mara finds she has on her hands the guardianship of two kids and a gorgeous police detective who’s willing to do anything to help out… including giving fabulous foot rubs.

But Mara knows who she is and where she came from and she knows Detective Mitch Lawson is better than her. Hot law man Mitch disagrees and his challenge is to convince Mara to let go of her past and he sets about building a family at the same time he finds he also needs to protect them all against known and unknown adversaries that would tear them apart.

Themes: Bikers, Police

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Once again all my expectations are blown away by a very emotionally charged, sexy, and dramatic story.  Author Kristen Ashley is relatively new to me, this only being her second novel on my reading list. Though I seem to have read the stories a bit out of order, I nonetheless have been enjoying each one of its individual merits and the facts that I have gotten glimpses of the characters in their futures.  Ashley’s novels are so full of wit, intelligence, and heart that I always find myself drawn in, even sometimes against my will, because the stories are just too good to resist.  I normally don’t care all that much for novels that are written in the first person, because I always miss feeling the emotions and getting inside the heads of the other characters, but Ashley does it with such aplomb that I never find myself missing a thing. If you haven’t read any of Ashley’s novels, I recommend you start with this series, because it rocks, and I myself am dying to go back and read the first two stories in the series, before I get around to reading the spin-off series, Chaos, however if you can’t do that you have to read at least this story.

Mara is one of those women that has always been put down in her life, by her mother and family, the people in her town, and eventually her own inner voice. Though she doesn't understand her own lack of confidence, she lives her life knowing she is below a lot of people in both looks and her appeal to the opposite sex. But a girl can always dream can’t she? And dream she does, mainly about her gorgeous, sexy, and just plain awesome neighbor Mitch.  Admiring Mitch from afar, while simultaneously avoiding him as often as possible, has become a common past-time for Mara. But when a small emergency in her apartment draws Mitch’s attention, her life is completely knocked off the tracks when he comes to her rescue. Unbeknownst to Mara, Mitch has had a thing for her for a long time and has decided to grab his chance to get to know her better.  When a family crisis puts Mara in a sticky situation, a guardian to her two young cousins, and wrapped up in a dangerous plot, Mitch pushes himself into her life, forcing her to accept his help, however reluctantly. The unplanned side-effect of accepting his help is that she can’t get away from him, he crowds her at every turn and she begins to depend on him, and slowly falls in love with him. But when she is attacked and the kids kidnapped, Mitch is the only one who can get them all safely out of danger, providing them a chance for a future.

Mara is one of those woman that I really get irritated with.  She’s beautiful, sexy, sweet and genuinely a good person, but lives so much in her head, denying her greatness and telling herself and everyone else only about her faults.   Her fears and lack of self-confidence lead her to live her life in a little cocoon, only coming out when forced to and always retreating back into it. When Mitch focuses on her, complexly shredding her safe little cocoon, her brightness begins to shine and she slowly accepts his belief that she is as great as she really is. Mitch is just the type of man that I want for myself.  Strong, sweet, sexy of course, with a strong sense of ethics, a need to help his friends and the ability to brings those he loves to a higher level.   He watched Mara for a long time, but he can’t seem to find a way past her shell to get his foot in the door, until a golden opportunity presents itself.  While he slowly forces her to accept his help, he finds himself falling in love with her, despite all her insecurities and the fact that she fights him at every turn.  Mitch has always been determined to get what he wants, but what he needs to make his life complete is Mara and the life they can build together and no one and nothing is going to get in the way of that.  Even if he has to compromise a bit in the end, saving his new family and keeping them safe is worth the consequences.

The best part about this novel, for me at least, was the fights between Mara and Mitch.  From the very beginning Mitch attempts to assert his alpha tendencies on Mara, but she always seem take things the wrong way, causing a huge blow-up.  The arguments are passion filled, and so hilarious to read that I laughed so hard sometimes that I had to put the book down to wipe the tears away.  The wit and sarcasm that carry through the novel, whether they are fighting or loving, is one of the trademarks I've found in this author’s books.  The men are always on the rougher side, but they love fiercely and when they find their mate, it becomes not an if, but a when they will win their hearts. When Mara finally gives into Mitch’s seduction there is no measuring the passion that flares between them and the heat of their love-making is enough to fog up the room as you read.  Mitch’s tendency to take over Mara’s life could have been a big turn off for me, but it is done so well, and with the love shining through, it is obvious that Mitch is determined to bring Mara out of her shell and force her to accept the chance they could have a long and happy future together.

Law Man is one of those stories that gets its claws into you and never let’s go.  Mitch and Mara’s relationship is one that causes a visceral tug in your soul, proving that even the most unlikely of couples can find love, if they just allow themselves to share themselves and embrace that love. With the underlying dangers working to break up their family, Mitch and Mara have to find their equilibrium while coming to terms with the changes in their lives and themselves. The fears, worries, and misconceptions that have shaped their interactions to this point, are thrown out the window, giving them the chance to come to terms with the truth of whom they are and who they could be with one another. Though I had my issues with Mara in the beginning, when she finally explains where her misconceptions about herself have come from I see why she is like that, and come to like her more.  With burning passion, witty arguments, terrifying danger, and the emotional connection of a new kind of family, Law Man is an unforgettable read that is not to be missed.  This is a great series, and I am looking forward to reading the rest, but Mitch and Mara’s story will always hold a special place in my heart and on my shelves.  Kristen Ashley is definitely an author to anticipate and I’m looking forward to exploring more of her work.   The Dream Man series is intriguing with sexy alpha males, interesting heroines, and all the emotion to be found in modern romance. 

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

2014 Most Anticipated New Releases

Happy January Romance readers,

2014 is going to be a very exciting year for Romance Novel releases. Both series and individual stories, by a lot of popular authors.  Personally this year will be a busy year for me, but I wanted to share with you some of my most anticipated reads for 2014.  Lists, of course, subject to change when future release dates appear, but this is what I’m dying for so far:

Paranormal
Release Date	Author	Title
7-Jan	Feehan, Christine	Dark Wolf
21-Jan	Kenyon, Sherrilyn	Dark Bites
28-Jan	Galenorn, Yasmine	Crimson Veil
28-Jan	Rush, Jaime	Magic Possessed
28-Jan	Frost, Jeaniene	Up From the Grave
28-Jan	Palmer, Pamela	Wulfe Untamed
1-Feb	Harrison, Thea	Falling Light
4-Feb	Reus, Katie	Avenger's Heat
25-Feb	Adrian, Lara	Crave the Night
25-Feb	Rush, Jaime	Angel Seduced
25-Feb	Chapman, Janet	Highlander Next Door
4-Mar	Tyler, J.D.	Cole's Redemption
4-Mar	Spear, Terry	Silence of the Wolf
6-Mar	Sands, Lynsay	Vampire Most Wanted
25-Mar	Ward, J.R.	The King
25-Mar	Laurenston, Shelly	Bite Me
29-Apr	Showalter, Gena	Burning Dawn
29-Apr	Roberts, Nora	Shadow Spell
29-Apr	Frank, Jacquelyn	Forged
30-Apr	Grant, Donna	Darkest Flame
6-May	Zanetti, Rebecca	Blind Faith
27-May	Feehan, Christine	Air Bound
1-Jun	Kenyon, Sherrilyn	Born of Fury
1-Jun	Singh, Naline	Shield of Winter
1-Jun	Spear, Terry	Jaguar Hunt
1-Jul	Galenorn, Yasmine	Night's End
1-Jul	Humphreys, Sara	Vampire Trouble
5-Aug	Spear, Terry	Hero of a Highland Wolf
1-Sep	Feehan, Christine	Dark Blood
2-Sep	Kenyon, Sherrilyn	Son of No One
1-Oct	Galenorn, Yasmine	Priestess Dreaming
7-Oct	Spear, Terry	Highland Wolf Christmas
1-Dec	Aiken, G.A.	To Kiss A Dragon
1-Feb	Galenorn, Yasmine	Panther Prowling
1-Oct	Galenorn, Yasmine	Darkness Raging

  

Contemporary
Release Date	Author	Title
7-Jan	Krentz, Jayne Ann	River Road
28-Jan	Everett, Lily	Shoreline Drive
4-Feb	Arend, Vivian	High Seduction
4-Feb	Phillips, Carly	Prefect Together
18-Feb	Shalvis, jill	Once in a Lifetime
25-Mar	Lane, Katie	A Match Made in Texas
25-Mar	Foster, Lori	Dash of Peril
1-Apr	Kennedy, Elle	Midnight Pursuits
1-Apr	Stone, Juliana	The Day He Kissed Her
6-May	Morgan, Alexis	A Reason To Love
6-May	James, Julie	It Happened One Wedding
1-Jul	Walker, Julie	Hell for Leather
1-Jul	Shalvis, Jill	Then there Was You
5-Aug	James, Lorelei	Hillbilly Rockstar

Historical
Release Date	Author	Title
7-Jan	Austin, Lori	The Lone Warrior
25-Feb	Scott, Amanda	The Warrior's Bride
25-Feb	McCarty, Monica	The Raider
22-Apr	Quick, Amanda	Otherwise Engaged
29-Apr	Welfonder, Sue-Ellen	To Love A Highlander
26-Nov	McCarty, Sarah	Ace's Wild

I know you’re anticipating some of these releases yourself and I am looking forward to discussing these topics with you and learning what you think of the stories after we get to read them. I’m always looking for recommendation so if you see something not listed here and think I might enjoy it please leave me a comment, I love to hear from fellow romance readers.

Happy Reading, 

Michelle

The Romance Witch