Review: A Sure Thing (The Donnigans #1)

A Sure Thing (The Donnigans #1)

by Marie Harte

Blurb:

 Meet the Donnigans

With the eldest Donnigan brothers adjusting to civilian life, their younger sister constantly in trouble, and their little brother clueless about life in general, falling in love is the last thing on anyone's mind...

Can this Bossy Badass Marine...

The Marine Corps was everything Landon Donnigan ever wanted in life...until a bullet sent him home with a medical discharge. Teaching a self-defense class at the gym is old-hat for a marine, but when he meets sexy Ava Rosenthal, his combat skills are useless for protecting his heart.

Be her Mr. Right?

Ava can take care of herself and likes quiet, bookish men-not muscular warriors who think women need to be coddled. But Landon is more than he seems, and when they come together, the results are explosive.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

The time has come for the Donnigans to have their very own tales of love and woe.  This series spins off another  favorite Marie Harte series I’m caught up in, and I was sad to discover that the order of them is interwoven, so though they are certainly independent stories, reading them in the proper release order can make a difference to those of us that have a small OCD problem about reading series out of order (and of course assuming you are reading both series).  Landon and Ava spark off one another from the very beginning, their anger, sarcasm and passion are all interconnected and make them a truly fiery couple from the get-go. Ava is the kind of professional woman that thinks her intellect is where she needs the focus of her mate to come from, completely disregarding the role that chemistry plays in as well as the importance of the heart getting its way, but once she begins to understand the importance of that true connection she has to trust in the change that comes over her.  Desire drives Ava as much as anyone else when Landon is around and though she fights it, the draw to Landon is irresistible and will lead her down a crazy path.  Landon has always lived by his gut, which kept him alive in dangerous situations in the military, but he doesn't really understand his draw to the snippy, somewhat snotty and totally sexy Ava, but he’s not one to deny the draw she presents.  As they circle one another and come to terms with the attraction and emotions that develop, Ava and Landon are obviously made for one another and experiencing them learning the true value and purpose of love was fun and exciting.  While I am certainly a fan of any of Marie’s work I find myself becoming invested in the men and women of this small town and all the interlocking relationships and family connections. If you like sexy alpha men with hearts of gold and sassy and sexy women then you will enjoy this series, as well as the Bad Boy Mechanics series, and I can promise that you won’t regret a moment of getting to know this folks.  I am looking forward to the next story in this family and seeing Landon’s brothers find their mates and their very own HEAs.  

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

Lethal Lies (Blood Brothers #2)

Lethal Lies (Blood Brothers #2)

by Rebecca Zanetti

Blurb:

 A deadly secret can't stay buried forever . . .

Revenge. It's the only thing that will help Anya Best sleep at night. The serial killer who murdered her sister is on the loose, and Anya will stop at nothing to put him behind bars-even use herself as bait to lure him out of hiding. But she can't do this alone.

Private investigator Heath Jones's job is to bring bastards to justice. This time it's personal. He knew the Copper Killer's latest victim so when her sister asks for his help, he's all in. But when Anya uses the media to taunt the killer, she exposes Heath's identity, putting them both in jeopardy. Now, secrets buried long ago are coming to light and the forces determined to destroy him are watching Heath's every move, waiting to exact their own revenge. And they'll use anything and anyone to get to Heath.

Themes: Paranormal 

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Wow the depravity of the villains in this series continue to astound me and make me wonder how many people there might be out in the world like this. This story is the second story in a spinoff of the Sin Brothers series that equally amazed and terrified me and when I found out to series would be coming I was the first in line to beg for an ARC. Heather brother, Ryker, was the first to find love and pull his woman into their world, But Heather story is no less amazing and certainly led to some interesting discoveries and adventures. The story begins with the unfortunate murder of Anya’s sister, an FYI agent looking into the serial kidnapper and killer that seems to have latched onto Anya. Anya never imagined when she asked her sister for help that it would come at such a steep price, or drag her into the world of not only a despicable serial killer, but would land her right in the limelight of two life-long psychos that have been experimenting of kids and destroying lives for close to thirty years. Heath has made it his mission to catch this killer and bring him to justice, but when an impulsive announcement by Anya brings them into Very close quarters his ability to resist her is demolished. Heath and his brothers have always known that bringing a woman into their world, no matter how much they desire or even love them, would be putting them right in the way of a deadly snake and he’s always refused to let that happen.  Now he has no choice but to keep Anya close, in order to keep her alive, but resisting her is impossible and soon the sexy redhead steal his heart and captures his soul. Even though there were definitely moment that made me very angry at Heath, all-in-all he turns out to be just as enigmatic and sexy as his brothers , both by blood and through heart.  I loved seeing Heath having to come to terms with the fact that Anya wasn’t going to let him get away with any macho bullshit or get away from her.  She stood her groun, demanding her due as his lover, and ultimately that is what showed him that she was the woman for him.  Once he accepts that there is no way he will be able to resist her, he quickly begins to change, from a distant and deadly killer into the sensual, sweet and unexpectedly loving man that we always knew was buried deep beneath his fears.  I liked Anya, in the moments she was using her brain instead of simply reacting to circumstances , though there were certainly moments… Anya is the kind of woman that will never let anything keep her from her goals , even if it means resisting the psychos of a serial killer just to save herself.  The ending of this story was beyond imaginative and I loved seeing the brothers get a little bit of payback.  I am dying to find out what happens next and can only imagine just the kind of woman that will round out this trio of woman that have captured the hearts of these brothers that have never had a loving hand offered to them.  Like stray dogs, resisting the comfort and safety of a new home, these brothers retain their badass tendencies, but have certainly found a way to open their hearts and minds to the love and goodness that can be found in the world if they look for it.

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

x

It's Me Again, Baby (O'Connor Family #3)

It's Me Again, Baby (O'Connor Family #3)

by Katie Reus

Blurb:

 She lost him once…

Years ago Samantha made a mistake and lost a chance at something real with Maguire O’Connor. Now that she’s living in Holly again, she knows seeing him is inevitable. But the last thing she ever expected was to take him on as a client.

Now they have a second chance…

Maguire never got over Sam. Thanks to a meddling family member, he mistakenly hires Sam as his real estate agent. With her in his sights again, he’s not letting her go. But someone from her past followed her back to Holly with a sinister intent. Now Maguire will do whatever it takes to protect the woman he intends to claim as his forever.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4  stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

One of my favorite authors has returned to the sweet and enchanting town of Holly, NC where the joy and emotion of Christmas is carried year round.  I thought for sure when I started reading these stories that I would get tired of this tourist trap town and it’s residents quickly, but in fact I find myself loving them more and more and the O’Connor family is beyond interesting. This newest story brings back together two lovers that had a chance at love stolen from them years earlier, and boy are these two hot whenever they are breathing the same air. Thankfully their story goes far beyond the physical though with emotional hang-ups and fears driving their interactions and affecting more than just their chemistry together. Samantha and Maguire  were both enjoyable characters to get to know and I loved seeing them get their second chance at a lasting relationship. While the length of their story is deceptively short, as always Katie manages to pack a lot of heart and heat into every moment between these two. There were some laughs, tears, and plenty of passion as Maguire and Sam found their way back into one another so arms, but much more importantly into one another’s hearts and lives. Maguire was a sweet, funny, and passionate man and I enjoyed seeing him share his life and dreams with Sam and find a way to forgive and forget past mistakes so quickly.  Samantha was the kind of independent, fiery, and sensual woman I wish I could be, even though she was a little bit naïve when it came to the danger stalking her. Once again proving her ability to capture her readers and keep us hooked, Katie takes us on a fast and furious trip through the courtship of two people that let their fears keep them apart before but are detained to overcome and find a way to get their HEA this time.  I loved returning to Holly and the O’Connell and look forward to continuing this series.

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

x

Thirst (The Energy Vampires #1)

Thirst (The Energy Vampires #1)

by Jacquelyn Frank 

Blurb:

A hidden society of vampires—and the humans they love—are at the heart of this opening novel in a biting, all-original series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightwalkers saga.

Rafe DaSilva is an energy vampire, soaking up nourishment from the sun—and, only when necessary, drawing sweet sustenance from humans who are pure in body and spirit. As the right-hand man to his queen, Rafe is a key player at a historic peace summit in New York City, which will unite the vampire nations against a common threat: the sycophants, who feed on humanity and kill indiscriminately. But Rafe’s fascination with a beautiful blond police detective may put everything at risk.

Detective Renee Holden has never worked a homicide quite like this. The victim has twin puncture wounds on his neck, and the only eyewitness swears she saw a vampire. Now’s definitely not the time to get distracted by a seductive stranger. But the suave, darkly austere, exotically handsome Rafe DaSilva is a hard man to deny, and as Renee falls under his spell, she also falls prey to his enemies. Desperate to protect her, Rafe lifts the veil on a shadow realm she can only visit—a world of intoxicating power, terrifying dangers, and forbidden pleasures.

Themes:  Paranormal

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Another all new world from the amazing imagination of Jackie Frank has arrived and taken me into an alternative view of the world around me and given me another way to escape. I have been a fan of Ms. Frank’s ever since either stumbled onto her Nightwalkers series and only very rarely have I even felt let down by one of her stories, and this was definitely not one of those times. While I am generally wary of beginning a new series (mainly since I already have so many going as is) I knew there was no way I’d miss anything Jackie released.  Rafe and his fellow enemy vamps are an all new take on the traditional view of the paranormal and I was fascinated as I learned more and more. That being said, while I certainly enjoyed the story, it is fair to say that like all first stories in a series like this, there were a few times that it seemed to drag just the slightest bit.  Once you overcome those parts though the story is wonderful.  Rafe was an odd duck to be sure but I enjoyed seeing him and Renee interact with one another.  He is obviously enamored with her, even though he initially resists the draw.  Renee is like an human suddenly pulled into a fantastical world with no compass for surviving that world. Renee clings to Rafe as much as an independent woman would, but she is also a strong female lead character and able to stand on her own.  Once things heat up between them it becomes obvious they are meant to be together, but Rafe knows there relationship is destined to have an end date…unless Renee turns out to be even more special than he originally thought. Renee and Rafe are certainly explosive and the heat between them is easily felt by anyone they cross paths with.  I enjoyed this story and can see my self really enjoying the series, as long as those lull times are few and far between –which is usually the case once the series gets fully underway. I am looking forward to the next in the series and whatever stories Ms. Frank might send our way.  

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

x

Maybe This Time (Colorado Ice #1)

Maybe This Time (Colorado Ice #1)

by Jennifer Snow 

Blurb:

Starting over means a second chance . . .

Abigail Jansen is done with hockey . . . and hockey players. After leaving her two-timing NHL-star husband, Abby decides to start over in her hometown of Glenwood Falls, Colorado. There she doesn't have to deal with people gossiping behind her back or hear the word "hockey"---until her daughter tries out for the junior hockey team. Now Abby has to face her fears . . . and coach Jackson Westmore. He's tall, dark, handsome---and happens to hate her.

All through high school, talented hockey player Jackson Westmore had a crush on Abby, but he would never make a move on his best friend's girl. He gave her the cold shoulder out of self-preservation and worked out his frustrations on the ice. So when Abby returns, newly divorced and still sexy as hell, Jackson knows he's in trouble. Now even the best defensive skills might not keep him from losing his heart.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating:  3.75 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 I was initially drawn to this series because of the lovely covers along with the interesting blurbs for the prequel novella and then this first full length novel.  I am always looking for fun new series and authors to read, mostly because I’m a little bit of an addiction (no 12-step programs for book addicts yet! ;) ).  This first novel in the series was an interesting one and I am looking forward to exploring more of this authors work for sure.  Abigail has returned to her hometown, young daughter in tow, after the abysmally trite ending of her marriage to the town superstar and hockey fanatic.  She has soon off the game and wants nothing to do with Hockey or hockey players, much less the childhood best friend of her soon-to-be ex-husband.  But when her daughter finally shows a spark in their new lives and decides to join the new gender-equal youth hockey team, there’s no way to avoid Jackson, seeing as he is the team’s coach. Jackson is beyond willing to put distance between them, out of loyalty to his friend, but he finds it more and more difficult as he is reminded why he always had a crush on Abigail as a young boy.  When circumstances continuously throw them together Abby and Jackson have to decide if the attraction they share is enough to overcome their rocking history, past relationships, and the truly terrifying chance of finding love after all these years.  I loved Jackson once I got to know him and understood his reasons for being a jerk to Abigail had everything to do with protecting his heart.  He is the kind of solid, cariing, and sexy guy that Abby should have been with all along, and he is also the perfect guy to step in and fill the void in her young daughter’s life left by her absentee father.  Abigail has had a lot of knocks lately, but she is working to overcome each of them, independently and find a path to a better life for her and her daughter.  This story came with a lot of laughter, some tears, and ultimately the understanding that sometimes to get what we really need we have to give up what we always thought we wanted.  The chemistry between Abby and Jackson was there from the first moment they laid eye on one another again, leaving the pages burning up when they finally give into that passion.  I throughly enjoyed getting to know both of these characters and seeing them fall in love, and cannot wait to see what’s in store next for these two and this town of hockey fanatics.  Keep up the great work Ms. Snow.

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

Her True Match (X-Ops #6)

Her True Match (X-Ops #6)

by Paige Tyler

Blurb:

 After a long game of cat-and-mouse

Feline shifter Dreya Clark picks the wrong penthouse to rob and ends up arrested by sexy detective Braden Hayes. But Braden isn’t the only one who’s been watching the cat burglar. Agents from the Department of Covert Operations swoop in to offer her a deal. If she wants to stay out of jail, she’ll have to work with them—and pair up with the hot cop. Great.

Danger throws this unlikely pair together

Braden isn’t thrilled about the DCO meddling in his investigation. He’s been chasing Dreya for years. Thrown together on a dangerous covert mission, fur flies and temperatures flare. But when danger closes in on them, their game of cat and mouse turns deadly-serious, and they’ll have to rely on each other to make it out alive.

Themes: Paranormal

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 This story marks a huge turning point in a series that has had its up and downs for me, but overall the Swiss just gets better, and Dreya’s story is one that will obviously be leading the way for a new direction for the DCO. Up to this point the series has generally been about one or the other of the main characters =, who is already a DCO operative, joining forces with a new member in order to form the perfect team.  Each of these couples has their own little quirks of course, but I did not see this direction coming until it was already too late.  Dreya and Braden have been circling one another for a long time, apparently their special form of foreplay, but when the shit hit the fan they were thrown together into a world that niether of them truly understood.  Braden had no idea just what Dreya was, though to be fair she didn’t know everything herself, but the draw between them has always been undeniable.  I enjoyed seeing them interacting both before and after they became teammates.  Ultimately it comes down to whether they made a good team, and I can honestly say they turned out to be truly meant to be.  I enjoyed getting to know Braden, who is obviously the kind of white Knight that never has trouble finding someone in need of rescue and certainly never turns their back when they find someone in need.  It was hilarious seeing him reacting to Dreyfus special skills and the side of her that he never imagined existed, but in the end it is the woman that draws his heart in and hooks him for life. Dreya on the other hand was a vulnerable woman that has had to harden her heart when it comes to most people simply because she was so different and didn’t know how to share her secret.  She has led an interesting life for sure, but even though you might think it a problem, her past shenanigans helped her immensely in her new job with the DCO.  I loved the way this story wrapped up a few of the previous stories in the series and even though there was a lot of sadness, the ending was well-written and certainly attention grabbing.   I am Dying to find out what happens next and see where Paige takes us on the journey of these amazing shifters. Combining romantic suspense and paranormal romances in the best of ways, the X-Ops series by Paige Tyler is certainly a favorite of mine and with all the world building and changes that have happened already in such a short time, I can see this series remaining in my TBR pile for many many years to come.  With passion, heart, action and a true flair, these characters leap to life of the pages and remind readers that just because you’ve never experienced something doesn’t mean it should be discounted or denied—after all just a couple decades ago it was considered science fiction to imagine traveling through space of living there for long periods of time. Open minds can lead us to the most amazing of experiences and discoveries!

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