ARC Review: Knuckle Down (The Cursed Ravens MC #2)

Knuckle Down (The Cursed Ravens MC #2)

by Chantal Fernando 

Blurb:

As a single father of two girls and the sergeant at arms for the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club, Jack “Knuckles” Chester doesn’t have much free time. And having earned his road name from his reputation as a fighter, Knuckles isn’t one to back away from a challenge.

But what he'll never admit out loud is that his two daughters have changed him irrevocably, softened him even. And these two girls are the only women who will ever hold his heart forever. That is, until he meets the cousin of another biker’s old lady.

Celina is nothing like the women Knuckles used to date. She’s a journalist for the local newspaper, dresses well, and basically just has her life together. And the last thing she wants is to be involved with a Cursed Raven. But when the ripped, badass biker worms his way into her heart, she has trouble remembering all the reasons they would never work.

But when a scandal at her newspaper breaks the thin trust she has with Knuckles, will she walk away for good? Or will Knuckles fight to keep Celina in his life?

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

So continuing the story of a group of amazing men that have come together to make the most unusual family around, another woman is roped into the love of a wild man that she never saw coming.  I jumped at the chance to read this series when I saw how sexy the cover was and of course the comparison to one of my favorite authors wasn’t a bad thing, but I was still a little skeptical.  As this series moves forward I am enjoying it more and more, with Celina and Knuckles having their own unique brand of craziness to make them just so special. I was a little surprised by the direction the author took, but ok it all came together in the end, even if it moved even faster than the last story in the series.   Knuckles was a great guy, even though he had a moment of being an asshole, but of course he redeemed himself and proved that he deserved to be the man to earn Celina’s heart.  I liked getting to see more of him, but as with all fist person POV stories he is the character you get to know the least and it always takes the longest because you have to wait for all the hidden stuff to come out at the same time as Celina learning everything.  In the end, I found that I loved his sweetness, wildness, skill at fatherhood and obvious love for Celina in every moment of their lives together.  Celina was obviously a woman that had been hurt in the past, but I wish she hadn’t been quite so hard and mean in the beginning though, of course, Knuckles just rolls right over her objections. I loved seeing her being a kickass independent woman, but my favorite moments were when she lowered her shields and showed her softness and sweetness with Knuckles or his girls.  I will say that their relationship was so much, so fast, and that could have been excused, had we gotten to see them building their relationship in the quiet moments as their time together progressed. However once they got over their major conflict moments, it seemed like the rest of the story was just wrap up with lots of time and plot jumps to make sure that there were no lingering threads, with a few little twists then added to keep it from being boring.  I’m the kind of reader that loves the sexy stuff but loves the easy and soft moments just as much, so I would have loved to see more of that too. That being said I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to Rogue’s story coming next and cannot wait for that chance.  Knuckles and Celina burned up the sheets and just as much burned the back of my eyes with unshed tears, but I was thrilled to see them get their HEA and find a way build their lives together. For fans of crazy, sassy characters, hot and sexy couples, and of course drama to beat the band then you can’t go wrong with Knuckle Down, but I am also looking forward to Going Rogue! (giggle)

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

Review: Deadly Intent (I-Team #8)

Deadly Intent (I-Team #8)

by Pamela Clare

Blurb:

Secrets buried in the sand…

Former US Army Captain Mia Starr has built a new life for herself in Denver, far away from camel spiders and sand—and the terrible secrets of her first deployment to Iraq. She isn’t looking for a relationship, especially not with an intrusive photojournalist. Joaquin Ramirez might be sexy, but in her experience, photojournalists only want to make a buck off other people’s suffering. Still, the universe must have a sick sense of humor because it keeps throwing her together with Joaquin, making the desire she feels for him harder and harder to resist.

An undeniable attraction…

As a Pulitzer Prize-winning news photographer, Joaquin has everything a single straight guy could want—except the right woman. When he meets Mia while shooting a crime scene, he immediately sees beyond her cold exterior to the vulnerable woman beneath. Though the police consider her a suspect, he’s sure she’s innocent. Someone is killing soldiers—and trying to pin the blame on her. Unable to resist the pull between them, Joaquin stands by her only to find himself snared in the killer’s net as well.

A twisted soul hungry for revenge…

Mia can’t help it when the heat between her and Joaquin melts away her preconceptions. As their passion explodes, danger draws ever closer. When it becomes clear that Mia is the killer’s true target, she must trust Joaquin with a secret that could ruin her … or risk losing the love of a lifetime.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Ok wow! So I knew that at some point Pamela would have to return to her flagship series and give us a proper conclusion for Joaquin in order to keep her readers happy.  We have watched as he supported the other couples in previous novels as they struggled through their issues to find their HEA with their loves and now we finally get to see him find his own.  I was a little skeptical of the choice in heroine when I heard about it, but as always Clare proves that she has the magic touch and knows her characters better than even her beloved fans.  IF you are a fan of the series, I can guarantee you will enjoy this story and seeing the couples from previous stories woven throughout the fabric of the romance and adventure.  If you are new to the world, however, Pamela weaves a beautiful tale of two people with unique backgrounds and experiences and introduces you to characters that the other of us have come to know and love, certain to make you run right out and grab the entire series for yourself to read from the beginning.  Joaquin is the kind of sensual, sweet, and caring man that we all look for in a mate, going so far as to boost his lover’s self-esteem when she has problems and remind her that she is the sexiest woman alive.  I loved getting to meet his family and see what made him into the great man he is today, but his part of the story wasn’t all fun and games; when he wasn’t dealing with a crazed killer after his woman, he had to deal with issues of his conscience and right vs wrong when making decisions, looking deep within to decide on the right path.  I think that getting to see just how deep his faith in Mia went so quickly reminds us that sometimes those that come into our lives are just meant to change us forever, for better or worse, and how we handle those changes is what defines our characters.  Mia is a brave woman that has had to deal with a lot of shit just to find her place in the world and gave entirely too much of herself to our nation when she enlisted and was mistreated.  I was heartbroken hearing her story and can only imagine the kinds of women that it takes to deal with that in real life and come out stronger and better on the other side—because no way do I think Pamela made that kind of thing up.  I loved seeing Mia interacting with Joaquin’s friends and family, finding her own niche in the group and in the end making them love her as much as they do him.  The heat between Joaquin and Mia was palpable from the very beginning and I when they unleashed that heat on one another I was afraid they would burn each other alive.  Thankfully Joaquin knows how to treat a woman, even when he is in serious lust, and tempers his passion in order to show her how much he has come to care for her and how deeply those emotions run.   Joaquin and Mia so obviously complement each other to perfection that I couldn’t imagine another woman for him now that I have seen them together.  I think this might have been a true conclusion to this series, but I can honestly say that with this as the ending I am not sad, but can instead rejoice in knowing that my I-Team friends will always be there for me whenever I want to return (yay, binge re-reads!).  In the meantime I look forward to continue Pamela’s other project (Colorado High County) and cannot wait for whatever she gives me to read next.  A magical addition to a series that continues to pull at my heart and send my body into overdrive… way to go Pamela!

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

ARC Review: Dark Alpha's Hunger (Reaper #6) by

Dark Alpha's Hunger (Reaper #6)

by Donna Grant 

Blurb:

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

Where Death leads, I follow. Nothing will stop me from my duty – not even the darkness that claims me. It’s the music that leads me from the dark, returning me to my brethren and a new foe that has risen. Learning who hunts Thea could be the key to unraveling what we need to know to defeat our enemy. The Half-Fae’s music stirs a passion within me that I’ve never known. For her, I will break my vow of silence. For her…I will risk everything.

Themes: Paranormal, Fae

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Well that was surprising… and I didn’t realize how many times I would be having that thought in this rather short novel.  I have really enjoyed getting to know these Reapers and was sad that their series was going to be coming to an end, an inherent part of any series based around a character-set with a  certain number—there are always only seven reapers—so I was thrilled to know that wasn’t going to be the case after all. When Eoghan went missing there was a hole in his team and that loss was felt strongly, so when I realized this story was his return, I knew I was going to enjoy every second of seeing him fall in love. Thea was a real sweetheart, obviously the type of woman that has lived her life on her own terms, but has resided mostly in her own head and survived on her musical talent.  If you are just coming into this series, this book is a good one to jump in on, giving you plenty of back story and letting you fall in love with the characters while at the same time not leaving you longing for the subtle details you might have missed.  Eoghan was a man after my own heart, broken by his past for thousands of years, when he looks into the eyes of the woman who saved him from the Dark he knows immediately that Thea is different and his life will never be the same now that she is in it.  I loved seeing him overcoming his fear and his past in order to let Thea into his heart so that he could gift it to her.  Thea was a dangerous temptation to Eoghan without even trying to be, but her grounded nature and ability to remain humble even in the face of all the magic and danger around her shows her to be a truly unique individual.  I enjoyed watching her find her place in Eoghan’s world and when she stood up to the enemy that made herself known, I fell as madly in love with her as Eoghan had.  I loved every second of the passion between these two and I was sad to see the end of the story, but I know there will be more magic coming soon.  I am thrilled that the series will be continuing and loved learning more about the Dark world and the Dragon Kings series as well as the Reapers and cannot wait for the next book in the entire world and of course whatever comes next in the series.  If you love the Dark World books, jump on this one now, if you haven’t read her (crazy people) then I still suggest running out and grabbing the entire Reaper series and the Dark Kings series if nothing else.  Then you can spread your wings slowly!

P.S. Still no reveal on the secret of Rhi’s lover, though there was a bit of hinting!

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

Review: Vampire's Faith (Dark Protectors #8)

Vampire's Faith (Dark Protectors #8)

by Rebecca Zanetti

Blurb:

The Dark Protectors are Back!

Vampire King Ronan Kayrs wasn’t supposed to survive the savage sacrifice he willingly endured to rid the world of the ultimate evil. He wasn’t supposed to emerge in this time and place, and he sure as hell wasn’t supposed to finally touch the woman who’s haunted his dreams for centuries. Yet here he is, in an era where vampires are hidden, the enemy has grown stronger, and his mate has no idea of the power she holds.

Dr. Faith Cooper is flummoxed by irrefutable proof that not only do vampires exist . . . they’re hot blooded, able to walk in sunlight, and shockingly sexy. Faith has always depended on science, but the restlessness she feels around this predatory male defies reason. Especially when it grows into a hunger only he can satisfy—that is if they can survive the evil hunting them both.

Themes: Paranormal, Vampires, etc.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Wow that was something I never saw coming, but I enjoyed every single second of it. For fans of this series we have seen a lot of changes in recent installments, mainly a huge jump in time and now some of our favorite second generation vampires and demons are coming into their own and making their mark on the world.  Many of us were wondering who this Ronan character was and while I won’t totally spoil the surprised I will just say he is a distant relative of the ruling family and will become a very important link to some of our favorite folks as this series moves forward.  This story begins with a new story arc that takes us into a secret society within the vampire nation and introduces us to some seriously badass sexy alpha males.  Ronan and Faith’s story kicks off quickly when she is forced to face some hard truths and learns of the existence of the hidden world of the Realm first hand, not to mention a seemingly crazy vampire claiming she is his mate.  But danger is following her everywhere and he is definitely the lesser of two evils so she decides to give him some limited trust, for now.  Ronan is weak, but the sight of the mate he has dreamt of for a millennia is enough to power him through whatever is coming at them, whether it be finding his footing in this strange new world or keeping them both alive and safe long enough to actually complete the damn mating.  In the end only by building trust will they be able to find a way to truly defeat their enemies and share a life together, when trust is something neither of them gives easily.  I loved every second of this hair-raising story and even with previous novels there was way more action than I was expecting for what was essentially a new beginning in the series. The world of the Dark Protectors has changed on us again, with our perceptions being forced into all new directions and there was never really a dull moment to give us time to process it all.  Ronan was alternately endearingly sweet and frustratingly annoying in his interactions with Faith and amazingly deadly and terrifying in his skill for killing his enemies.  I never actually thought that Zanetti could make her males even more deadly and dangerous, but damn has she proven me wrong.  Getting to experience the world from his viewpoint and watch him learn his way in our world was entertaining and gave me a few laughs while at the same time reminding me that sometimes the technologies we take for granted can actually make life more complicated instead of easier. Faith was one of those women that you just knew was going to get herself killed;  her unwillingness to trust in her male, even when she’d make promises, led her to make stupid decisions putting not only herself but others in danger.  While I liked her fighting spirit and willingness to help, those kinds of choices, especially when you’re making them just to prove the point that you can is stupid when in a dangerous situation.  So that being said I had a love-hate relationship with Faith through most of the story, but thankfully came to like her in the end.  The intensity and passion Ronan sparks whenever he even thinks about Faith are enough to have any woman willing to strip naked and offer herself for him, and thankfully once Faith does just that the fire they build between them is mind-boggling.  I am already dying for whatever comes next in this series and know that Ms. Zanetti has just set her readers up for another long and amazing journey filled with magic, mayhem, intrigue, and love, and I for one am thrilled to be along for the ride.  If you are looking for a story filled with sexy male heroes and sensuality to melt the panties right off your body, you have come to the right place, so grab some ice or ice cold wine and lose yourself in the magic of Vampire’s Faith.

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

Review: More to Love (A Perfect Fit #3)

More to Love (A Perfect Fit #3)

by Alison Bliss 

Blurb:

Jessa Gibson may be new in the little town of Granite, Texas, but in no time at all her gourmet food truck business is booming. Soon she'll have enough money to open the restaurant of her dreams. But first, she'll have to appease the hot local health inspector, no matter how strange his "violations" sound to her. No pink plastic gloves? Really?

Max Hager isn't exactly who he says he is. Pretending to be a health inspector is a (mostly) innocent mistake. A mistake made way worse by Max's immediate, electrifying attraction to the curvy, sexy, redheaded chef. Throw in a whole lot of lust, and things in Jessa's little kitchen are about to really start heating up. But can Max find a way to come clean with Jessa before his little deception turns into a recipe for disaster?

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

So sometimes I have to wonder where an author is going when they embark on these types of series that seem to stem from a quest or goal, in this case the weight and body image issues society places on individuals and the problems it forces on relationships.  Sometimes it becomes all about “the message” and the author forgets that the important part of a romance is the characters and the love being developed between them, but I am comfortable saying that in this series Ms. Bliss has escaped that dreaded fate.  While the goal is to educate people that even though  someone doesn’t fit into a size 6 or fights with their insecurities about their weight, the people themselves and their mistakes and ultimate triumphs are what make her stories great.  This third story in the series took a different turn in that the hero was the one with the body image issues while the heroine was comfortable in her sensual and sexy plus-sized body.  I enjoyed this gender-bending bit of storytelling, though I was very upset with Max through the majority of the book because let’s face it he was a dickhead and even he knew it.  Jessa—Jess to her friends—was an amazing woman, full of laughter and fire, but with a warm heart and giving nature that made her the perfect woman and a great character to counter Max’s asshole mistakes.  Max had been a character that was mischievous but lovable throughout previous novels in the series, but getting to know him more we see the serious levels of insecurity he hides behind and that only the right woman will be able to bring him into the light and let him live a truly fulfilled and happy life.  He might be a sexy and alpha male, but his past has left too many scars and he needs to let them go quickly or he won’t be man enough for the woman he loves.  Jessa on the other hand was a strong and seriously kick ass woman, sure of herself and even willing to throw caution to the wind when she feels the universe offering her something almost too good to be true.  She has been burned in the past but doesn’t let it keep her from being who she is or offering her heart when Max comes into her life, even though she knows something with him isn’t entirely right.  I loved getting to know her and seeing her come even more out of her shell as she found her roots and when her past comes to light the full truth of her history was a plot twist I never saw coming. The heat and intensity between Max and Jess was there from the very beginning and I knew they would be combustible as soon as they allowed themselves to give in, but the passionate love that developed between them reminds me that sometimes even something that is most unexpected and definitely not conveniently timed can become the most important thing in our lives.  I enjoyed every moment of this story and though I am not sure if this is the end of the series, I will be keeping my eyes open for more by this author and hoping to get to see these sensual ladies and the sexy men that earned their big hearts in future.  Thanks for a wild and emotional ride, Alison.

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