Finale Review: Built to Last (Black Knights Inc. #12)

Built to Last (Black Knights Inc. #12)

by Julie Ann Walker

Blurb:

Masterful, mysterious, and completely ruthless, Jamin “Angel” Agassi joined the Black Knights Inc. after a mission-gone-wrong forced him to undergo extensive plastic surgery and change his name. He's going to bring down the world's worst crime syndicate, and hopefully keep Sonya Butler, a love from his past, from discovering who he really is...

When a dark-eyed stranger gets caught up in Sonya’s latest mission, she starts to question all her hard-won instincts. Something about Angel tells her he's more than he seems, and sometimes, when she least expects it, he reminds her of a man she used to know. As the bullets fly, she realizes that in love and war nothing is ever what it seems...

Themes: Contemporary, Series Finale

Rating: 4.75 stars

Heat Rating:

Review:

So we have known for a little while now that this finale was coming our way, but even still I found myself pushing off reading Angel’s story just to convince myself I could put off the end a little while longer. I have loved the Black Knights since the very beginning and I just grew to love them more and more as I got to know them, even as I knew that sooner or later the series might end.  Ms. Walker is an engaging author that keeps her readers on the edge of their seats wondering what mess her characters are going to find themselves in next just as much as we wonder if the couple will find their way into each other’s arm in the end.  We have watched each of the Knights fall in love, sometimes in the most unlikely of places and with the most unlikely of people, and finally getting to know more about Angel and seeing him fall as well made the wait worth every second.  Without giving too much away I will tell you that the twists and turns of Angel’s life could have made a lesser man fall apart at the seams, but for this man seemed to have only made him stronger, with only one exception—his greatest regret is losing the love of his life.  But now she's suspected of being a traitor and Angel is the only man that can find out the truth and help bring down the worst scum the Knights have faced through all their travails. Sonya’s latest mission has her working side-by-side with the scum of the earth and having to hide her true nature to keep her cover, but the moment she meets Angel she feels a pull she hasn’t felt since she the only man she ever loved was murdered.  Now she has to decide if she can trust the man and his actions, but when they find themselves on the run, trusting in one another might be their only path to safety and redemption.  Their passion leads them into one another’s arms and soon they are in much deeper than Sonya ever thought she could be again, but Angel refuses to lose Sonya a second time.  But when the truth comes to light can she forgive his past choices?  Sonya is the kind of woman I would love to be, but I am honest in saying I am way too big of a wuss to ever do half the crap she does in order to bring the Spider to justice.  Her innate goodness shines through even when she tries to hide it, her determination is incomparable and her passion for life, even after losing the love of her life, shows that sometimes all you need to keep you going is a goal. I loved seeing her arguing with Angel and it was obvious that, even though he tried to hide it, she brought out every protective instinct in his body. Angel has undergone so many identify changes that sometimes he forgets who he truly is, but once he sets eyes on Sonya again he lapses right back into the man he used to be and perhaps that is for the best.  He is a strong, sweet, sexy, and giving man, with a heart of gold and the skills to keep his woman safe from anything that might ever threaten her. I loved seeing Angel rediscover the man he was born to be and that Sonya first fell in love with, even as he maintained some of the traits that made him into such a badass BKI operative. Sonya and Angel were truly the perfect match and their love will last their entire lives as they are soul mates to be sure.  Although I am sad to see the series has come to an end, I continue to hope we might someday see these characters again in a continuation or spinoff series, but nevertheless thank you for a wild ride Ms. Walker.  This series truly was Built to Last.

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

Review: Hot Justice (Hostile Operations Team #14)

Hot Justice (Hostile Operations Team #14)

by Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

She's searching for justice. He's searching for peace.

What they need is each other. They just don't know it yet...

Dean "Wolf" Garner is the kind of guy who loves hard and leaves fast. From the moment he rescues reporter Haylee Jamison in the Guatemalan jungle, he can't stop thinking about the dark-haired beauty. His life is too complicated for romantic entanglements though--and not even a woman like Haylee can convince him otherwise. 

Haylee wasn't supposed to be in the drug cartel's compound, but she was captured while on a mission of her own: find the trail of fake opioids entering the US and halt the operation. Back home in DC, Haylee can't stop thinking about the gorgeous military operator who rocked her world for one steamy night before leaving. But when she uncovers a conspiracy and finds herself in danger, there's only one man she trusts to keep her safe.

It's easy for Wolf to risk his life to protect Haylee and give her the justice she desires. The hard part is taking a chance and admitting what's in his heart before it's too late.

Before he loses the best thing that's ever happened to him.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

Lynn Raye Harris continues to amaze and entrance readers with her HOT series as she gives us a glimpse into exotic locales and the seedy underground world of espionage, danger, and crimes that most of us generally forget on a day-to-day basis.  I love her ability to weave a tale of love into the danger and drama that seems to flow from her imagination with no trouble at all (which I’m sure isn’t the case, but it sure looks that way to us readers).  If you haven’t read any of the previous stories in the series, you will certainly have missed out on a bit of the subtext in the dynamics of the HOT team, but Haylee and Wolf’s story is wonderful on its own merits and should not be missed.  I enjoyed every second of it and wished it had been even longer.  Wolf and Haylee were both lovable characters with quirky senses of humor and interesting views on life in general that just seemed to mesh.   They reminded me of a song lyric I love about two people that each walk to their own drummers, but they just happen to hear the same beat.  I am looking forward to what comes next, hopefully Mal’s book, and seeing the rest of Echo squad and the SEAL team fall in love with their own amazing partners.  If you are looking for a group of amazing men and women that seamlessly come together to save the world and remind us that love is always what makes war worth fighting, you cannot go wrong with Harris’s HOT Series.

Dean “Wolf” Garner is on a mission with his team to rescue hostages in a godforsaken jungle in Guatemala when his world changes forever, in the form of a sexy and sassy woman bound and determined to get justice for her murdered friend. Haylee Jamison has traveled to the jungle to find a lead on the tainted drugs that killed her best friend and never imagined she would end up kidnapped and then rescued by an elite group of Special operatives sent by the American government to rescue the others she was held with.  During the rescue Wolf and Haylee are both instantly draw to one another and the spark is too strong to resist, and a moment of weakness leads them into each other’s arms.  But once they are back in the states Wolf pulls back and Haylee writes him off, until she needs his help again.  Thrown together in another life-or-death situation, Haylee and Wolf are pulled together constantly, but neither knows if the passion is enough for them to let go of their hang-ups and build a relationship.  Can they admit their feelings and find a way to be together, before it’s too late?

Wolf and Haylee are both hilarious characters and I am dying to know if Lynn based any of their traits on anyone she knows in person.  Haylee is super spunky, and I loved the smartass and sassy way she continuously teased Wolf, leading him on a merry chase until she stole his heart.  She has her own issues to work through like any person, but she knows that Wolf is the kind of man that is worth the effort and definitely worth losing her heart and soul to.  She is also determined and committed to making sure that she finds justice for her friend’s death, even if it puts her own life in danger, and I liked that quality in her because it made her fit right into the HOT team. Dean is the quintessential bachelor—with a few extra sweet qualities; his m.o. is one-night-stands and he is determined to never have a woman of his own.  But his reasons for keeping that distance and not devoting time in the beginning to building a relationship with Haylee are honorable instead of typical bachelor garbage.  His sexy swagger would draw just about any woman to him, but his innate sweetness, thoughtfulness, and willingness to do whatever it takes to keep a friend safe and to make his woman happy, show him for the truly perfect man he is (or as close as any person can be).  I loved getting to know more about his background and seeing Haylee bring him out of his shell and show him that his fears and hang-ups are unfounded if he finds the right kind of woman.

HOT Justice is the story of two people coming together not just in a shared passion, but also in a shared mission.  That mission leads them both into danger, but together and with the help of the HOT team they are able to bring the bad guys down and give one another a semblance of solace.  I loved watching Haylee and Wolf sparring together and playing together, because the sparks certainly flew, whether they were fighting or loving, and that passion will definitely last for a long, long time.  Haylee was a great character with just enough sassiness that she was able to stand up to Wolf’s stubbornness but enough compassion and love that she was able to give him the devotion and empathy he needed as well.  Wolf went into his interactions with Haylee again and again with assumptions and each time she proved him wrong he feel deeper under her spell.  He was a great guy to watch in action and to see him falling in love, even if he didn’t realize it for a while, was fun and cute. Their story was filled with passion and there was just enough drama to keep everything interesting, but the focus was definitely on them.  I cannot wait for Mal’s story because seeing him fall under the tires of the love bus will be beyond awesome.  Lynn you continue to astonish me, but I guarantee as long as you keep writing I will keep reading and sharing my love of your work with the world.

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

Review: Gone (Deadly Secrets #2)

Gone (Deadly Secrets #2)

by Elisabeth Naughton 

Blurb:

Three years ago, Alec McClane and Raegan Devereaux lived every parent’s worst nightmare: their one-year-old daughter, Emma, was abducted from a park when Alec turned his back for just a moment. Emma was never found, and presumed dead. The crushing trauma, plus Alec’s unbearable guilt, ended the couple’s marriage.

Now a four-year-old girl matching Emma’s profile is found wandering a local park. Alec and Raegan are heartbroken to discover she’s not their daughter but are newly motivated to find closure…and each secretly feels desperate to be in the other’s presence again.

Alec suspects his vengeful biological father is behind Emma’s disappearance. But as Raegan investigates other abductions in the area, she sees a pattern—and begins to wonder if Emma’s kidnapping is actually linked to something more sinister.

As Alec and Raegan race to uncover the truth, a long-burning spark rekindles into smoldering passion, and they realize they need each other now more than ever.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Wow I haven’t read a story with this much emotional turmoil and drama in a very long time and truly found myself in tears several times—you can literally feel this couple’s heartache as they each try to find a way to deal with the loss of not only their child but their marriage. This second installment of the Deadly Secrets series took an unexpected turn from the very beginning.  We knew from book one that Alec, Ethan’s brother (Repressed), was dealing with some serious shit and that he was having a very hard time coping, but we never imagined he was going through something this difficult.  Elisabeth has this terrifying skill of taking her readers deep into the psyche of her characters, both good and bad, and pulling the reader into their hearts and stories until you feel like you are living their lives along with them.  Despite the heart-wrenching emotions in this story, I enjoyed this novel thoroughly and I’m definitely looking forward to the next one in the series. Alec and Raegan are dealing with the kidnapping, and possible murder, of their daughter Emma, in the best way they know how, which for Alec meant pushing Raegan out of his life. But now that they are thrown together again Alec finds that he can’t resist her pull any longer, especially when Raegan is determined to follow a story she hopes will lead to their missing daughter and that he knows could cost her life.  Together they work to uncover the truth behind a string of mysterious kidnappings of local children and the more time they spend together, the harder they find it to resist the passion that still burns in both their bellies and the love that never died in their hearts.  I am always a huge proponent of second chances at love and this story has so many twists and turns incorporated that I couldn’t stop reading, even though I knew I needed sleep before going to work the next day! Alec was a good guy through and through, with a lot of past traumas and fears about his future because of his parentage, even though he tries to believe he was saved by the McClanes in time to nip the criminal instincts in the bud.  He never stopped loving his wife, but someone had to slap him hard enough to get him to understand that pushing Raegan away to keep her safe is never the best choice for anyone.  Raegan is one of those women that could be easily written off as shallow and TSTL, but truly she is just holding on to hope with the very tips of her fingers and trying to hold it together all on her own.  She lost the two most important people in her life, almost at the same time, and is still floundering as she tries to live long enough to at least get one of them back. She continues to believe she will get her daughter back, even if she thinks she has lost Alec forever, but she is also as determined as a bloodhound when she catches wind of a story that could lead her to Emma.  Once you dug past that shell she put around herself for protection, you see how great of a character she is and I found her to be the perfect match for Alec. The passion between these two is apparent even as they are fighting and trying to keep one another at a safe distance, and that obvious pull becomes more and more flagrant as they are forced into tense and life-threatening situations.  In the end I can honestly say these two earned every second of their HEA and I cannot wait to see more of it in future stories.  Excellent work Ms. Naughton.

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

Review: Dare Me Once (Angel Fire Falls #1)

Dare Me Once (Angel Fire Falls #1)

by Shelly Alexander

Blurb:

Love is a risk worth taking in this sizzling romance about secrets and second chances…

Scarlett Devereaux’s life on the Gulf Coast went from riches to rags so scandalously fast that she barely had time to kiss her Jimmy Choos goodbye. Now, with a new alias (Lily Barns), a new budget (tighter than a pair of Spanx), and a new job on the vacation island of Angel Fire Falls, she’s daring to reinvent herself.

Single dad Trace Remington is devoted first and foremost to raising his young son, who has Asperger’s. With flying his floatplane and salvaging his family’s island resort too, he has time for little else. His brothers think he needs a break from his all-work-no-play lifestyle, so they goad him into action. In response to their dare, Trace asks a sexy tourist for her number, only to discover afterward that she’s the resort’s brilliant new hospitality manager.

The sparks of flirtation soon ignite into a flame too hot to ignore. But Lily and Trace both have pasts that threaten to tear them apart. Now, they’ll need to admit their secrets to each other…or risk ending their relationship before it really begins.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Shelly Alexander begins a new series about a family of resort owners and a woman that comes into their lives with a secret and a mission to make their resort all it can be. I have enjoyed many of Shelly’s series in the past and when I read the synopsis of this story I was instantly drawn to it. Scarlett aka Lily has given up her life in New Orleans to travel to the Pacific Northwest to a small resort town in the hopes of escaping the stigma of her father’s crimes. When she arrives at her new job, she immediately knows she has her work cut out for her, and when she meets an attractive man she pushes him away, determined not to let a man distract her from her goals. Unluckily for her the man that she pushed away was her one of her new bosses.  Trace Remington is drawn to the beauty and sweetness that Lily exudes, but he has too much on his plate to deal with a relationship right now, especially with his newest employee. The more time they spend together, the closer they get and the harder it becomes to deny the passion that flares whenever they are in one another's company.  More importantly are the emotions that are being affected just as strongly as their hormones, especially as Lily has also fallen in love with Ben, Trace’s autistic son.  I enjoyed getting to see Trace and Lily circling each other and fighting the attraction to one another, but more I loved seeing them falling in love and letting go of their hang-ups.  Lily obviously has some serious issues and secrets that she needs to work on, ones that almost implode their young love, but as she comes to terms with her past, she will learn that her inner resolve and resilience are titanium strong.  She was a sweet woman, one that could have been a total bitch with her upbringing, but luckily she had some good influences that kept her from being too spoiled.  While I can’t say she didn’t make mistakes, she certainly did her best and tried to make amends for those mistakes and even mistakes that weren’t hers to own.  Trace is the type of guy that sometimes just drives me a little nutty; he had one bad relationship, granted it was really bad, but to let that color every woman and relationship to come in his eyes seemed a bit excessive to me.  So when he was such an ass to Lily in the beginning it made me hate him just a little, but overall he was a good guy, a great father, and a funny guy. I liked the side characters and the setting of the story and I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the series and seeing the types of women that grab the other Remington men by the balls.  The beginning of another good series to be sure.

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