Review: Pivot (Deep Ops #2.5)

Pivot (Deep Ops #2.5)

by Kat Martin , Alexandra Ivy, Rebecca Zanetti 

Blurb:

As girls, they bonded over broken homes and growing up in foster care.
As women, they’re fighting for their lives, and loves, once more . . .

MERI (Against the Heart)
When Meriwether Jones takes her young daughter and runs from trouble in L.A., that trouble follows.

By the time Meri reaches Spokane, she’s out of gas, money, and ideas. Luckily, ex-cop Ian Brodie hires her to help him with his father’s farmhouse, and they seem like the answer to each other’s prayers. But Meri is keeping a dangerous secret—and Ian is in danger of losing his heart . . .

MELANIE (Echoes of the Past)
That secret explodes when Melanie Cassidy spots two men trying to kidnap a young boy she tutors and responds by ramming them with her car. The last thing she expects is for the man she once loved, Detective Gray Hawkins, to appear and rescue them both. Now she has no choice but to trust him as they investigate the truth about a conspiracy of dirty, drug trafficking cops—and the truth about their relationship . . .

MICHELLE (Shaken)
After a rough youth, Michelle Peach was finally content in Portland—until two men broke into her home, threatened her, and sent her mentally unstable mom on a blackmail spree that Michelle has to stop. The last person Michelle wants to see is her ex, Evan Boldon, a former marine turned sheriff. But Evan misses the woman who walked away instead of letting him help years ago. This time he’s not asking permission; he’s going to put a stop to the trouble stalking Michelle and her friends—and win her heart for good. 

Themes:  Anthology, Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

It’s always much more difficult to review an anthology of stories written multiple authors because you either end up with an overly long-winded review or not enough to actually explain the stories themselves.  This anthology was very different and makes reviewing a little easier though in that the stories were actually connected and overlapped a little bit in the timelines and story conflicts, making it more fun and interesting.  Of course even better was that two of the three were favorite authors for me so I loved every moment of reading the stories. 

Book 1(Against the Heart) was about single mother Meri and her young daughter Lily, who are on the run from Lily’s father, a serious asshat that is determined to put their lives in danger to try to get money that he thinks Meri has. Along her journey to safety Meri seeks shelter with Ian, who is staying at the family homestead to try to get it back in shape since his father has let things go for a while now.  Meri and Ian’s connection is instant and seriously sweet. Ian is a true protector at heart, a former cop and current investigator, making it easy for him to spot that Meri and Lily are in trouble and making him determined to help.  Meri has had a rough life but she is determined to do right by Lily and resists the pull she feels for Ian as much as possible but soon the love is undeniable.  I loved these two together and they were so perfectly matched that there was no way they couldn’t have their HEA in the end. Book 2 (Echoes of the Past) was about Meri’s friend Melanie, whom she was trying to reach when she ran across Ian, who finds herself in need of assistance from her ex, Gray, who happens to be a friend of Ian’s.  Melanie works in a youth center and one of her kids is in danger she immediately intervenes in order to save him from thugs trying to abduct him, placing herself square in the middle of Gray, an undercover police officer’s investigation into dirty cops.  Together they have to go into hiding and try to solve the save, but being cooped up with the man that broke her heart years ago is not on Melanie’s agenda to be sure. Melanie and Gray had a lot of issues to work through in order to find their way back together and to love, but seeing them together was a fun and passionate experience.  They were both opinionated and strong characters and obviously knew that being around the other was going to challenge a lot of their preconceived notions about life and themselves.  Melanie was a sassy and sweet woman that made her opinions known, but she was also smart enough to know that she needed Gray to keep her safe, despite knowing he was dangerous to her heart.  Gray has worked a long time to get his mind and soul ready to go back for the one person that he never meant to lose and now that she is with him there is no way he will let her get away.  Mel and Gray were beyond ideally matched and seeing them coming back together was a magical second chance love that reminds me why I love this author.  Book 3 (Shaken) revolves around Michelle and her own second chance with and ex that broke her when he left her for a different life, but having Evan back in her life is extremely painful for her.  Evan went off to war years ago and refused to ask Michelle to wait for him, knowing that if by chance he did come back, he wouldn’t be the same man, but now that he life is in danger there is no way he can leave her behind.  He has settled into his new life as a small town sheriff and, despite Michelle’s crack to the contrary, has been content in his calm life, but he could never be happy without her in his life.  Now that he has a chance to show her how much he has changed and perhaps bring her into his life too, there is nothing he won’t do to give them that chance. I loved Michelle (not just because she has the best name EVER either *giggle*) because she is just a smartass and full of bravado even when the world is crumbling around her.  She has had a difficult path in life and only her crappy mother remains except for her foster mother and siblings, but she is determined to make it on her own despite those beginnings.  She fights so hard to not let herself fall back into love with Evan, but there was just no way she could resist once she saw how much he has changed and that she needs him to completely be happy as always. Evan is determined to protect Michelle and to show her that he has changed so that he can have a chance to give them the future they both deserve.  I loved his sexy and sweet alpha tendencies but the way he cared for Michelle and showed her his love and humor again and again made him my favorite of the three guys for sure.  The fire and emotion that these two shared from the beginning shows us how strong their love was always meant to be and I loved seeing them happy in the end.

All three of these stories were beautifully interwoven and overlapped together, but each had the distinct and wonderful style of the author to keep things interesting.  It was also fun that each of the stories were actually novellas to larger linked Series for those authors, so they make a good intro to readers that aren’t familiar with those series and recommend them highly.  I loved everything about this book and would live to see move of this type of anthology in the future as very few are truly interconnected in such a tight and intriguing way.  Way to go each of you ladies, keep the magic coming! 

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

ARC Review: Immortal Angel (Argeneau #31)

Immortal Angel (Argeneau #31)

by Lynsay Sands

Blurb:

For almost a century, Ildaria Garcia has been on the run, a trouble magnet with a knack for taking down bad guys. Lately, her vigilante tendencies have drawn unwelcome attention to her fellow Immortals. Forced to relocate, Ildaria is supposed to lay low in a new town. Instead, she quickly entangles herself with six and a half feet of muscular, tattooed trouble.

Joshua James Simpson Guiscard, aka G.G., knows a lot about Immortals—enough to make him wary. Yet from the moment Ildaria walks into his club, he feels desire stronger than anything he’s known. Accepting the fact that they might be life mates is disconcerting. But when her past catches up to them, G.G. faces a choice—confront his demons at last, or lose a passion that’s hot as hell.

Themes:  Paranormal, Vampires

Rating:  4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Sands strikes again with a story of a centuries long (wo)man hunt, crazy heroine, and mortal lover that has issues with a chance at forever that could really put a crimp in a girl’s chance at and HEA when she really will live forever.  I have loved this series since the beginning when I stumbled across book four in a used bookstore and went back and started at the beginning, and I have been along for the ride ever since, not regretting a single moment of it.  Sands has a way of taking the most boring or taboo of subject and running head first into it, allowing her characters to seem truly real to us, despite them sometimes being centuries or millennia old.  Ildaria has comes to the Aegeneau’s because she has made a few mistakes since she became immortal, mainly because she refuses to let any woman become a victim when she can stop it.  She fights back when she sees injustice and it has landed her in the hot seat with Lucien, but now she has a new place to lie low in the Night Club working for the much beloved mortal owner, G.G., as both accountant and dog sitter.  But it soon becomes apparent he will be much more integral to her life than just as her boss because G.G. is her life mate and she has no clue what to do about it. G.G. is no stranger to immortal, with immortal parents, friends and clients, but when he meets Ildaria his heart about stops.  Not only is she the answers to his professional needs, she soon becomes his personal obsession as he lusts after her to the point of insanity, until she finally shares that they are life mates and she wants him for her own.  They both have a lot of issues to work through before they can embrace a physical relationship, but spending time together and building their friendship is important, until Ildaria’s past comes back to haunt her, putting them both in danger.  G.G. needs to decide if he can get past his fears of becoming and immortal and give Ildaria the life mate she deserves or she may forsake him for another, despite their explosive connection and the love he feels for her. Ildaria was a badass; let’s put that right out there. Not only does she manage to kick ass again and again when she comes under attack, but she is also smart, sweet and loving, showing G.G. all the sides of her and giving him sweetness very few see.  Deeply buried under all that though is a pain and trauma that she has hidden for almost two centuries, one that has driven almost every rash and deadly choice she has ever made and that has made her wary of physical relationships and any type of emotional connections, including friendships, not to mention she knows to never rely on anyone but herself.  Seeing her opening her heart and mind to her new friends and of course G.G. was awesome and I loved her having so much support after so many years without it.  G.G. has some big issues too, despite not wanting to admit to them, with trauma in his childhood and fears for the future he didn’t want anyone to point out to him.  I loved seeing him take control of the relationship and share his expertise with women with Ildaria and prove to her that he was the perfect man for her, not to mention he had the perfect dog to share with her.  Once he finally found a way to get past his hang-ups –yay G.G.’s mom, nice work—and prove to Ildaria that he truly believes in their love and a future together I knew that they would have a true HEA and be together forever.  I loved this story, despite a few tears along the way and having to break once or twice to catch my breath for the heartbreak, but the heartbreak and passion counter each other beautifully and there is enough lightheartedness with side characters that the story doesn’t stay too dark for too long.  I loved the passion between G.G. and Ildaria, though it was more subtle in the beginning, but that is truly what Ildaria needed as she came to terms with her future with her life mate.  I am truly looking forward to the next story in the series and seeing where Marguerite works her magic next.

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

Review: Sassy Blonde (Three Chicks Brewery #1)

Sassy Blonde (Three Chicks Brewery #1)

by Stacey Kennedy 

Blurb:

One truck, one off-limits cowboy, one road trip she'll never forget...

Maisie Carter has always been a free spirit. An artist by nature, she has no idea what she's doing as co-owner of Three Chicks Brewery. But she's determined to prove to her older sisters that she can be an asset to their grandfather's beer legacy. The best way to do that? Make the rounds at Colorado's craft brewery festivals and turn Foxy Diva, their top beer, into an award winner. Unfortunately, after more than one "beer mishap," it becomes clear that she's going to need some help.

Hayes Taylor knows he has a chip on his shoulder, but he has no interest in working through his traumatic past. He just wants to work on his horse farm, alone. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman, especially his dead wife's best friend, the sweet-as-pie Maisie Carter. But she's always brought out his protective instincts, and he can hardly say 'no' when she asks for his help...

As the two embark on the festival tour, beer filled days turn into lust filled nights, and neither Maisie nor Hayes can deny their growing attraction. But Hayes knows love leads to heartbreak.... Can Maisie show him that their love is worth the risk?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Sexy and sweet Maisie is mostly bumbling her way through life at this point and it is time for her to prove to her family that she can contribute to their business, but life goes awry for her as usual.  This new series is a loosely connected spinoff series where we get to learn more about the Carter sisters and their new brewery business, whom we met in a past series through a character that owed a bar.  Maisie is the youngest Carter sister and has dreams of opening her own art gallery, but she has always been out of step and felt like the odd woman out in her family.  She lost the sister of her heart in the worst way imaginable when she was murdered a few years before, but she is slowly coming back to life and has to help her sisters make their brewery work if she is going to prove to them she has grown up.  Hayes has become friends with his late wife’s best friend over the last few years while they depended on one another to recover from her death, but despite the changing feelings they both seem to have he can’t go there because he has been keeping a terrible secret from Maisie.  When Maisie needs his help on her road trip in order to make a success of the family brewery, how can he say no to the woman that is slowly beginning to steal his heart, but as their connection becomes deeper and turns physical, the trip is blown to bits and they have to return home and decide if their relationship will withstand being back in their homes town or it was just a fling.  And Hayes has to determine if he can return to his old life and keep Maisie without having to divulge the secret he has kept for years from the woman he is coming to love.  I really enjoyed this story, filled with laughs, friends-to-lovers romance, and family dynamics that could make the head swim, but so well-written that you don’t even realize just how much has gone on in such a short story when it is over.  Maisie is the kind of free spirit with a focus on her art that her trying to make herself into something she isn’t makes her miserable and it is obvious to those she loves and causes more trouble for herself than she ever realized.  Once she finally comes to terms with the best way she can contribute to her family business she truly blossoms and of course the love of her man giving her that confidence is not to be denied.  I loved her verve for life, ability to make those around her smile, and unwillingness to let the darkness of the world hold her down. Hayes on the other hand is stuck in the darkness and the only time he see light is when he is with Maisie, and he won’t let himself come out of that darkness, believing it to be his punishment for past mistakes.  I was sad to see him stuck in the past and fighting his love for Maisie so hard, sometimes to the point he actually hurt her and almost to the point that he broke her heart, but thankfully he came to understand that his darkness would smother her light if her didn’t allow himself to let it go.  I loved seeing him pull himself up and find his way back to life and love despite a few setbacks and finally come to terms with both his past and his future with Maisie. The heat between Hayes and Maisie is palpable every moment they are in contact with one another and let me tell you it is HOTT.  I am dying to read the next story where we will finally get to meet and learn all about the oldest sister and her son’s father, a story bound to be filled with heartache and craziness!  Keep the spice and sass coming, Stacey.

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

Review: Daring and the Duke (The Bareknuckle Bastards #3)

 Daring and the Duke (The Bareknuckle Bastards #3)

by Sarah MacLean 

Blurb:

Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best...until the man she once loved returns.

Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back…and make her his duchess.

Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she's built, the life she's claimed…and the heart she swore he'd never steal again.

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 The long anticipated finale of one of my favorite series hits with a bit of bittersweet ending. While I have enjoyed this series immensely and am sad to see it ending, the have been dying to find out where Ms. MacLean would take her characters and how she would bring back these two star-crossed lovers and give them the HEA that they both so badly deserved.  The series took us on a long and heart wrenching story through the pasts of four children that were emotional abused and pitted against one another by the monster that was their father and separated by circumstances and manipulation when their father realized they were banding together against him.  Grace, the only girl of the group, held a special place in their hearts, different for each boy, but she always loved Ewan as much more than her brother.  When he turned on them, for the power and greed of their father’s offer, she took her brothers and ran for the only haven she ever imagined, becoming Queen of London’s darkest streets and taking her place in the world by force and her wits alone.  Returning after a long separation from the only woman he ever loved, Ewan was convinced he’d lost her before ever getting the chance to prove himself to her, but now has a second chance to show her that they have a chance if only she’ll allow him back into her heart.  The battle between and for them both will be dark and filled with obstacles, but once the full truth of their shared past comes to light, they will both have to decide to set aside their fears and old grudges in order to find a path to happiness, or they will never have a third chance to be together. Grace was a woman to be reckoned with and I loved her wit, sass, and strength.  She is the type of heroine that I love to see in these historical novels, because they are so often overlooked in the truth of history, but under all her bravado there was so much pain and heartbreak I wanted to cry for her often.  Once she decided she would give up her chance at love in favor of doing what she feels she should for herself, I feared for her sanity and future, but thankfully it all worked out in the end.  Ewan was an enigma and such a well-written hero that we have to shift our minds from the way we have known him in the past two novels to full appreciate his greatness and importance to Grace.  In the previous novels he was truly a dark and evil bastard, but learning more and coming to understand his full motivations, while not being forgivable, we can understand why he made his mistakes and appreciate that he feels the pain and anguish he caused his brothers and people.  I loved seeing him making amends and trying to prove himself to the people and his brothers and make a place for himself in the Bastard’s world so that he could prove himself to Grace.  He is strength and sexiness personified to be sure, despite being everything that Grace despises in the beginning and how much he changed over the course of the story was a true turnaround and I enjoyed reading about him maturing into the perfect mate for Grace.  The passion between Grace and Ewan begins more as anger for one and anguish for the other, but after they come back together the obvious emotional connection and sensual connection burns off the pages and you can immediately see how perfectly matched they are for one another in every way.  I loved every sad, sweet, entertaining, and high-spirited moment of this story, not to mention getting to see how settled the boys became with their women as time passed and they mellowed.  I cannot wait for whatever fabulous series comes our way from Sarah MacLean next and can guarantee I will be first in line begging for a chance to read it.

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

Review: Temper (Knights of Fury #3)

Temper (Knights of Fury #3)

by Chantal Fernando

Blurb:

Every year, the hot, tatted biker comes into Abbie’s bar, orders whiskey and asks her out. Every year, Abbie turns him down. After all, dating a man that goes by Temper seems like a really bad idea, no matter how attracted she is to him.

But this year is different. Abbie’s different. Older, wiser and tired of being stuck behind the bar in a sleepy town. This year, she’s ready for whatever adventure the sexy but sweet biker has in store for her.

Or so she thinks…until an elegant candlelit dinner ends with a dead body.

Now Abbie finds herself on the ride of her life, whisked away to the big city in Temper’s protective custody. She should be scared, but—despite his nickname—it’s clear the last thing Temper would ever do is hurt a hair on her head. And when danger catches up with them, Abbie soon realizes that holding tight to her man while straddling a Harley may be the safest place of all.

Themes:  Contemporary, MC

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

OMG the king has found his queen to rule by his side. I have fallen in love with Chantal Fernando’s MC series and I cannot get enough of them, but this new series just gets better and better.  Temper travels through the small town where Abbie’s family far is located each year a few times on his way to rallies, and he has been captivated by the lovely and sweet Abbie since he saw her.  She keeps turning him down when he asks her out though so he has very little hope of grabbing her. Abbie has a lot on her plate dealing with her family and their business, and she doesn’t have time for dating, despite being drawn to the sexy biker like no other man before.  When she finally decides to let herself have a little fun and go out with him, the night begins like a dream and quickly turns into her worst nightmare.  Temper takes Abbie to their compound for her own safety, but at the same time he wants her more than any woman he’s ever met, so he has determined that he will do whatever it takes to make her is.  As he shows her his world and slowly they build their connection, Abbie and Temper begin to fall for one another and have to decide if they are willing to make huge changes in their lives to make room for one another.  But first the danger stalking the MC has to be taken care of or there is no chance they will ever have any chance at any type of future.  Abbie is such a sweet and sheltered girl, but her inner sass and smartassness comes out at just the right times. I loved seeing her standing up for herself and making sure that everyone understood her displeasure with her situation. At the same time she was vulnerable and sweet with Temper and gave him just the balance he needed for the darkness in his life and the troubles he was facing as president of the MC. She is the perfect mate for the president of the club, caring, loving, and willing to kick ass when need be for the ones that she loves and considers her own, which includes pretty much the entire club once she decides she wants to keep Temper.  I would love to grow up to be Abbie. Temper has some serious issues in his story, the darkness in his past and the issues he is dealing with for the club are weighing heavily on his soul, but Abbie is the light he needs and happiness that he has been looking for. He is sexy as all get out and I love seeing the sweetness he hides come out when he is alone with Abbie in their private moments.  While he has handled so much in his past, he knows that having her in his life will make his future more beautiful and give him solace at the end of his long days running the club.  Heat and passion are beyond crazy between Abbie and Temper and their passions run high no matter what is going on, though when they are in the bedroom (or wherever they land) its off the charts hott.  I am dying to find out which of the men find their mates next and seeing what mischief those women to get up to in order to make their men nuts as they chase their hearts.  I LOVE all of Chantal’s stories, but the Knights of Fury are quickly shaping up to be my favs. 

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

ARC Review: You Lucky Dog

You Lucky Dog

by Julia London

Blurb:

An accidental dog swap unleashes an unexpected love match in this new romantic comedy from New

York Times bestselling author Julia London.

Carly Kennedy's life is in a spiral. She is drowning in work, her divorced parents are going through their midlife crises, and somehow Carly's sister convinces her to foster Baxter--a basset hound rescue with a bad case of the blues. When Carly comes home late from work one day to discover that the dog walker has accidentally switched out Baxter for another perkier, friendlier basset hound, she has reached the end of her leash.

When Max Sheffington finds a depressed male basset hound in place of his cheerful Hazel, he is bewildered. But when cute, fiery Carly arrives on his doorstep, he is intrigued. He was expecting the dog walker, not a pretty woman with firm ideas about dog discipline. And Carly was not expecting a handsome, bespectacled man to be feeding her dog mac and cheese. Baxter is besotted with Hazel, and Carly realizes she may have found the key to her puppy’s happiness. For his sake, she starts to spend more time with Hazel and Max, until she begins to understand the appeal of falling for your polar opposite.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 3.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Well that was ummmm… interesting to say the least.  This story was one that I really found hard to say I liked it per se, but it was definitely compelling enough that I also found it nearly impossible to put down.  I am a huge fan of the historical writing of Ms. Julia London, but I always find it much harder to get into her contemporary stories, though I am not sure why as they are always written well and interesting, but this story was one where I didn’t much care for the female lead and also didn’t much feel the emotional or romantic connection between the characters until nearly the end of the story.  Carly has been kicked a lot lately and she is beyond down, but when she arrives home from the mother of long days to find that the dog walker has mixed up her basset hound with another much different dog, she doesn’t realize how much it will change her life.  Conversely Max Sheffington doesn’t realize the issue with his own beloved basset immediately but once he does, he is livid and confused, but determined to care for the animal until his own sweet Hazel comes back to him.  When Carly and Max’s worlds collide as they attempt to trade back their dogs, they strike up a strange and reluctant friendship, though neither truly understands one another.  Carly’s life continues to unravel in the strangest ways and Max has his own issues, but leaning on one another for emotional support they are able to build a believable friendship, but soon it becomes something more and they find themselves depending on the other and dating.  Then the shit just hits the fan and their lives go off the rails, making them wonder if they even have a chance at a future relationship.  So I have to admit I still don’t actually like Carly, despite her becoming a little bit more likeable in the end of the story.  She is opinionated, but the opinions are not her own, controlling in the weirdest ways, and strict about the dumbest things.  Maybe it was just something about the way she behaved with the dogs in the beginning or the way she let people walk on her too much, but she seems like a characters that would not be someone I can be friends with, and that has always been how I rate characters.  She did slowly learn to stand up for herself, make herself heard and let others’ shit not affect her so much so that she could deal with her own shit.  Don’t get me wrong, we all have those times where the world just seems to be conspiring against us, but there was so much whining and not enough proactive doing from her, that I found myself not a fan.  And compounding bad decisions with more just because she felt she needed to do something was just not cool when it left so many people including herself unhappy.  Max was a weird guy to get to know, very much in his head most of the time, but he was overall a decent guy and one of those people that just seemed to move along in life letting things happen around him and not dealing with the hard stuff until he was forced to. At the same time he handles catastrophe much better and knows what he wants out of life and goes for it in a way that made me like him much more, despite his confusion over why he was actually attracted to the strange and outrageous Carly.  I loved both the Bassets in the story and they were obviously both perfect for their masters and the perfect outlet for them to come together again and again, giving them a high rating for sidekick characters in my book.  While the laughter and weirdness of the relationship between Carly and Max kept things interesting, it was hard to truly point out passion or emotional connection unless they were directly pointing it out themselves.  There were a few really great moments as they comforted one another through hard times, but other than that, everything seemed very superficial until the end.  I also just have to put out there that I hated Carly’s entire family and hope that she is able to leave them to live their own lives for the most part as they were dragging her down through 90% of this story.  If you are into quirky, compelling and interesting rom-com meet-cute stories this one will hit every button, though there was plenty of serious and dark moments, but in the end there wasn’t a lot of sensuality if you’re looking for those types of moments.  I look forward greatly to the next London release in her historical series and will guarantee it will be amazing, but I continue to feel her contemporaries just aren’t my cup of tea, sadly.

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

Review: Wolf Under Fire (STAT: Special Threat Assessment Team #1)

Wolf Under Fire (STAT: Special Threat Assessment Team #1)

by Paige Tyler 

Blurb:

For the cases no one else can solve, they send in the Special Threat Assessment Team

Supernatural creatures are no longer keeping their existence secret from humans, causing panic around the globe. To investigate, monitor, and ― when necessary ― take down dangerous supernatural offenders, an international task force was established: The Special Threat Assessment Team.

STAT agent Jestina Ridley is in London with her team investigating a suspicious kidnapping. Over her radio, Jes hears her teammates being savagely attacked. She runs to help, but she's too late. The only survivor, Jes calls for backup and gets former Navy SEAL and alpha werewolf Jake Huang and his new pack. Convinced that the creature who butchered her teammates was a werewolf, Jes doesn't trust them. But if they're going to uncover the facts and make it back home alive, she'll need Jake's help. And with everything on the line, Jes will have to accept Jake for who he is, or lose the partner she never expected to find ...

Themes:  Paranormal, Werewolves, Demons

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 An all new series begins with a new take on the world of the Alpha wolves and their friends, with Paige Tyler’s new STAT series.  For long-time readers of the SWAT series, we were introduced to the secret FBI team that investigates the truly unknown in the last book of that series and this story picks up right where that one left off. I am really looking forward to this new branch off of the original series and seeing where Tyler’s imagination takes us with new creatures and new couples on the scene.  Jake is on his first assignment for the new STAT team of the FBI and he never imagined he’d be traveling to England to be paired with an anti-supernatural partner—that just might be his mate. Jestina has just listened to a creature tear apart her teammates and now has to deal with a new team that includes werewolves.  She doesn’t understand her attraction to Jake, but it quickly becomes obvious that he is one of the good guys and soon they are pairing off in more than just the business sense. When what they are truly up against comes to light, Jake and Jestina have to give one another their absolute trust in order to defeat their enemies and survive the coming battle. Jake is such a sweet and hot, alpha and sexy wolf that I found myself drooling right alongside Jestina, but it was also apparent that he didn’t yet entirely trust his relationship instincts in the beginning.  Once he began to earn Jestina’s trust and overcome her walls there was no time at all before he was showing us all how wonderful he was. I also loved seeing him interacting with his new pack and finding his way as a leader.  Jestina on the other hand was a bitch for the first third of the story and made me really dislike her in the beginning but after she finally accepted that her new team was trustworthy, she became a woman we could all like.  I loved seeing her kicking ass and taking names, but the best part was when she showed her vulnerable side with Jake and finally accepted it was ok to fall in love with a supernatural.  The passion between Jake and Jestina was off the charts from the minute they clapped eyes on one another and only banked at times, but in the end that fire will burn and keep their relationship alive til the end.  I am dying to read the next story and see who pairs off next in their team.  Another hit, Paige!

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

Review: Ruthless Bastard (Dangerous Love #3)

Ruthless Bastard (Dangerous Love #3)

by Stacey Kennedy

Blurb:

He has what it takes to protect her from everyone . . . except himself.

Bar owner Kinsley Knight knows exactly what she wants: Rhett West. How could she resist over six feet of hard, trained physical perfection? Never mind that she's been in love with the guy since high school, or that she's the "kid sister" of his best friend. Never mind that one unforgettably intense and heated night they shared-and the unexpected consequences. Because Kinsley's determined to have Rhett . . . and she'll do anything to prove they're meant to be.

But Rhett can't afford to get distracted by the mind-blowingly hot night he spent with Kinsley, or the insatiable hunger he still feels for her. She's off-limits. Especially now that Rhett's been investigating the members of a vicious biker gang who have invaded his town, and they're intent on putting Kinsley out of business-permanently. Suddenly, all of Rhett's protective instincts have taken over. Because no one threatens Kinsley on his watch. Not now. Not ever. And Rhett's ruthless enough to protect Kinsley no matter the cost. Even if it means risking his heart . . .

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

Another series ends for Stacey Kennedy and as usual she saves the craziest and most intriguing story for the end.  Stacey Kennedy has taken us for another wild ride through a small town and the close personal relationships of six friends and lovers, all intertwined and bonded by love—whatever type of love it might be.  The story picks up directly during the epilogue of the previous story, with Kinsey and Rhett falling into one another’s arms at the island wedding of their friends then continues through their own dangerous and sensual journey to and HEA.  I loved their story despite a somewhat overdone troupe being the lead-in, but I guess it is a cliché because it works. Kinsey finds herself with a little surprise leftover from their one night together and when the secret is finally revealed their lives are changed forever. But now that Kinsey is the center of Rhett’s personal focus, he has enemies after him for his work and they have latched onto Kinsey, putting their new future into serious danger of never having a chance.  Together they might be able to find a way to happiness, but are they both willing to put in the required work and find a way to get over their pasts and truly be happy together for themselves and their new child? I loved Kinsey from the very beginning, but seeing her dealing with all the shit that happened to her in this story, losing her cool and finding a way to come back to balance was awesome. Kinsey maintained her sweetness and sass even as she came to terms with her new life path and the changes she would have to make in the future as she became a mother.  She never actually gave up on a chance of having a relationship Rhett, but she didn’t let his fears and refusal to accept her define her or her baby’s future and was determined to go it alone if she had to.  She is the kind of woman that I know I could be friends with easily.  Rhett was an ass… sorry let’s call an apple an apple.  While he was sweet in moments, he had his head so far up his butt as he denied his feelings and refused to accept that I didn’t like him much until about halfway through the story.  Yes I get that we all have trauma and he had a lot more in his past that many, but sometimes you have to accept help from those around you in order to heal, and Kinsey was always there trying to give him what he needed but he refused to see her.  Once he came to terms with his own needs for the woman he pushed away for so long, I began to forgive and love Rhett and see what Kinsey saw in him for so long.  I am glad that Kinsey found a way to heal Rhett’s heart because the passion between them was something to experience and a once in a lifetime love is not something to deny.  I was sad to see this series ending, but I enjoyed reading their stories and look forward to whatever comes next from Stacey Kennedy and her skill with bringing together broken lovers and the passionate fires that can heal them.  

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