Review: Undercover Wolf (STAT: Special Threat Assessment Team #2)

Undercover Wolf (STAT: Special Threat Assessment Team #2)

by Paige Tyler

Blurb:

An unexpected partnership leads two wolves to reconsider everything they know...

Alpha werewolf Harley Grant isn't exactly comfortable with her inner wolf. Even though she's on a STAT Team where she can use her abilities because her teammates know about her, she refuses to do so, putting herself and sometimes them at risk.

Alpha werewolf Sawyer Bishop would give anything for his M16 Team to know about his inner wolf, but his teammates are mistrustful of anyone or anything with inhuman abilities. When he meets Harley on an overlapping case and realizes she's a fellow wolf, he's more than a little intrigued.

Now that STAT and MI6 have to team up to stop a crew of supernatural bad guys intent on causing a nuclear meltdown, Harley can no longer deny her wolf and Sawyer can no longer hide his. As they grow closer to resolving the case and grow closer to each other, they discover things aren't what they seem and revenge could cost them their lives.

Themes:  Paranormal, Wolf-Shifters

Rating:  4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Shifter…special agents… danger… passion… honestly what more could you ask for?  Paige Tyler’s new spinoff series of wolf-shifters that are learning they aren’t the only thing that goes bump in the night continues with a story of two wolves that are finding their way in their own skins and in the world together.  I have been a big fan of Paige Tyler for many years, enjoying first her SWAT series and not this new one as she takes her wolves on all new adventures. Harley and Sawyer’s story is one of danger, drama, pain and fear but in the end their connection and love is one for the record books as they sacrificed for one another right until the very end.  Harley has been stuck as wolf for many years, but she has never really connected with the inner wolf enough to really feel like one, even though she has found a place in the STAT pack and on their missions.  Now she finds herself on a surveillance mission when she is confronted by a sexy and enigmatic Sawyer Bishop, a wolf with serious skills and who seems to be hiding his nature from the humans on his MI6 team.  Sawyer and his team are on the trail of the same kidnappers as STAT and soon it becomes a joint mission to protect and recover the victims of a deadly and dangerous kidnapping ring, led by some serious bad ass paranormals.  Sawyer has hidden his wolf from his team for years, but being around STAT and Harley makes it harder to hide and reminds him that he isn’t really a lone wolf.   Harley and Sawyer are more than attracted to one another, but how can a wolf hiding his nature and one that hasn’t tapped into hers find a way to be together as mates? And can they make a decision about their feelings before the psychos they are chasing take their decisions away from them? I loved every moment of the story between Harley and Sawyer, from the angst they both dealt with, to the pull between them, and the danger they faced together.  Sawyer has obviously hidden himself entirely too long, but when he begins to peel back his layers and show himself I really enjoyed getting to know him.  He was smart, tough, charming, and kind, showing Harley that she was more than enough even if she had some issues with her inner wolf. The sacrifices he made to protect his friends and Harley especially showed his determination to do whatever it takes for his loved ones, and I loved seeing him win in the end. Harley has a lot of growing up and accepting to do for herself before she was able to find her own inner happiness and when her mate was in danger she stopped fighting herself and embraced her own inner badass to do whatever it took to protect her man.   Getting to know her was a little harder because she fought so hard to keep herself back, but ultimately she was a strong, dedicated, and compassionate alpha female that found her perfect match. The passion between them was there from the beginning until the very end and you can tell that won’t be waning anytime soon.  I enjoyed every moment of this story even though I had to shed a few tears along the way.  I am dying to know what comes next for STAT and what kinds of bad guys they will vanquish next and who will find their mate next.   

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

ARC Review: Dream Spinner (Dream Team #3)

Dream Spinner (Dream Team #3)

by Kristen Ashley

Blurb:

In this steamy and emotional contemporary romance from a New York Times bestselling author, two

damaged souls must overcome the pain of their pasts to have the love they've always dreamed of.

Hattie Yates has finally met the man of her dreams. Yet years of abuse from her demanding father have left her petrified of disappointment. She’s already failed to reach her goal of becoming a professional ballerina—she can’t handle the terrible consequences of another dream becoming a nightmare. But when a stalker sets their sights on Hattie, there’s only one man she dares to hope can help . . .

Axl Pantera knows Hattie is the only woman for him. Yet despite the attraction burning between them, Hattie refuses to let him in. The former soldier is determined to woo her into letting down her walls. And when danger comes calling, he’s up against more than her wary and bruised heart. Axl will do anything to prove to Hattie that they’re meant to be, but first, he’ll need to keep her safe.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.75 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 It’s finally here! The story so many of us have been dying for has finally arrived and I can tell you that I loved this story despite so many tears. This series is the newest spinoff of the original Rock Chick series, Kristen Ashley’s most popular and beloved series, but this Dream Team continues to overlap and bring together many of our favorite characters from all her Denver based series. This story has been building for several stories now, but we knew it was going to come to a head in a big way and it definitely did in the very first chapter.  Hattie and Axl have been circling one another, with Hattie refusing to really give him a chance to seal her heart, long enough that he has almost given up on her, but she continues to give him glimpses of herself that makes giving up impossible.  But he has finally hit his limit and confronts Hattie, calling her on her shit, Axl knows that he has made a mistake but unsure how to come back from it.  When he finds out that she is in danger though there is no way that he will ever leave her protection to another man and as he pulls her under his protection she finally gives him a chance at her.  But though they begin to work through their emotional and relationship issues, outside dangers and sources continue to try to tear them apart and make their lives more complicated, making them have to fight one another and them together against others.  Axl was an ass in the beginning of this story, though I can understand his frustration with Hattie, but it was a little harsh the way he spoke to her and treated her in the beginning taking out that frustration on her.  Once he got his shit together he returned to being an amazing and sweet man, showing her the kind of man he would be supporting her and giving her the love and strength she’d been lacking from others in her life.  He was slow seriously an ass kicker for those he loved and I loved how sexy he was while kicking ass and taking names. Hattie has been emotionally and sometimes physically abused by the most important man in her life for almost her entire life, so embracing a relationship with a man like Axl is truly terrifying for her, but when she finally comes to terms with the fact that she need to get it together or risk losing him even as a friend she finds her titanium backbone and proves she is the perfect match for Axl.  I loved seeing her navigate her way through dealing with not only her problems but the problems that crop up in Axl’s personal life as well as they begin to build a truly lasting relationship together.  She found her self-confidence personally and professionally and proved to herself and others that she was much more than just a beaten woman.  Obviously as with all of these novels, the passion between Axl and Hattie was so far off the charts there no longer was a chart, but the sweetness between them in the few quiet moments they fund was my favorite part of their love story. This story came with a crazy as hell epilogue that will lead right into the next novel (Dream Keeper) that broke my heart and made me scream and I am dying that we have to wait so long for that novel now, but I know that it will be a finale to beat all.  Our Queen kicked ass once again!

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

ARC Review: Make Me Burn (Turn Up the Heat #1)

Make Me Burn (Turn Up the Heat #1)

by Marie Harte

Blurb:

These sizzling Seattle firefighters are melting hearts...

Reporter Avery Dearborn hasn't had the best day. She was filmed fending off a lovesick dog before being rescued from falling flat on her face by none other than her arch nemesis. Seattle firefighter Brad Battle hasn't changed at all in the five years since she last saw him. He's still handsome, hot, and charming―to everyone but her.

Brad can't believe his bad luck to run into Avery, of all people. But to make matters worse, their shared chemistry on screen goes viral. Soon he's forced to work with her on live TV. The spot will help the local animal charity and make the fire department look good, so who is he to disobey a direct order to cooperate?

Trust takes time, but as Avery and Brad come to realize they are different people than when they first met, anger turns to irresistible attraction, and hard feelings into hot sex. But letting the past stay in the past isn't as easy as it sounds. And if they're not careful, they'll both get burned.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Harte’s newest series is going to make you burn!

Marie Harte has begun a new series revolving around sexy firefighters in Seattle, WA, and I am thrilled with the way this series is shaping up. I have been a fan of this author for a long time and when the chance came to read a new series, one revolving around one of my favorite types of heroes, I didn’t hesitate to jump at the opportunity.  The story kicks off with all kinds of laughter and then the quirky and intense romance builds between these two former enemies who slowly begin to appreciate that there are truly always two sides to every story and sometimes you never get the full truth. Both Avery and Brad have a lot of emotional issues to work through in order to be fully present in their relationship, but together they find a way to bring out the best in one another, beginning with a truly unexpected friendship.  Brad has a lot of loss in his life and one particular one that has left him unable —or unwilling truly—to connect with another woman ever again, but he finds himself unable to resist the draw he feels whenever he is around Avery.  Avery has finally allowed herself to have a measure of peace, professionally and personally, though the two seem to conflict again and again.  When she is forced into close confines again working with Brad their passionate arguments soon lead them into an unexpected but truly fulfilling relationship.  But when some long-hidden secrets are uncovered, Brad has to decide if he is willing to fight for what they have been building or if his emotional pain is too much to overcome. 

I loved getting to know these two characters and being along for the ride as they worked their way through the growing pains of their relationship and personal issues.  Avery has had a lot of problems with her father because of her desire to go her own way and his unwillingness to accept her for who and what she is, but with Brad’s help she finally begins to see how wonderful she is and that she doesn’t need to change for her father.  It was awesome to see her stand up for herself with Brad too when he stepped over the line and I loved that she refused to back down anymore.  It was obvious that the relationship with Brad was just what she needed in order to find her inner strength and accept that she was ready to stand for herself. Brad on the other hand had different emotional concerns but they were no less intense.  The trauma in his past left him wanting to hide from emotional connections, but the closer he got to Avery the harder it was for him until it all came tumbling down and he tried to pull away despite it hurting them both so much.  Once he learned some hard truths and was forced to face the way his behavior hurt and affected those around him, he finally became the fully realized hero he was always meant to be.  In the end they were both wonderful characters that made me cry, laugh, smile, and gave me goosebumps as their emotional rollercoaster unfolded. The passion never faltered and in the end they found a way to their HEA and I was thrilled for them.  Not to be neglected, the side characters in this story made it even more interesting, family and friends supporting and enriching Avery and Brad’s story immensely.  I am dying for the next story and cannot wait for it because this series is definitely shaping up to be awesome.

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

ARC Mini-Review: Dark Alpha's Obsession (Reaper #11)

Dark Alpha's Obsession (Reaper #11)

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…

When Erith directs me to infiltrate the enemy and topple them from within, I immediately accept the challenge. I figure it’ll be easy until a stunning warrior goddess crosses my path and diverts my attention. The problem? She’s in league with those I was sent to take down. However, I soon discover there is more to her than meets the eye and quickly find my mission divided: disband this new group of Fae Others and save the gorgeous Light from her family—and herself. All it takes is one look, one conversation to know that she’s mine, and I will chance Death’s displeasure to make it so. But the risks are great. Because when you fall in love with the enemy, more than your heart is on the line

Themes:  Paranormal, Fae

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 
Review:

The saga continues and boy do the lies just keep piling up as the plot gets thicker and thicker for these Reapers and their allies.  The Reapers have become more and more integral to the storyline of the Dragon Kings and the battles they have fought over the years, but they certainly have specific purposes in the latest battles and are almost their own offshoot of the overall army led by their own commander—Death, aka Erith, in this case.  I have loved these guys since we started getting to know them and as their world and group has expanded I have become more and more intrigued.  This latest story is about Rordan’s mission to infiltrate a new group of Fae that are recruiting members for a new Others to challenge the safety of the world.  He is on a small island in Ireland attending meetings undercover when he meets the most intriguing and sensual Fae he’s ever encountered, who sadly also seems to be one of the enemies.  Fianna has served as head of security for her brother and father, protecting them as they worked to recruit members to their new way leading the Fae, without asking too many questions, to show her gratitude and loyalty for protecting and saving her in the distant past.  When Rordan and Fianna being to spend time together, the delicate web that has kept her complaint for so many years begins to unwind, and when they find their way into each other’s arms the spell is broken for good.  Fianna can no longer hide behind the lies and fear her brother and father have kept her hostage with and she is determined to break free, but not before making sure that Rordan is safe on his mission.  Will they be able to defeat their many enemies, even with the help of the other Reapers and Death, or will one of them be left behind while the other is truly defeated?  This story was captivating and I was unable to put it down until the very last moment of the story.  I am really looking forward to what comes next, not just in the Reapers story, but also in the overall ARC that they play a role in.

I loved getting to know Rordan more, seeing him as he dealt with a lot of pain from his past and helped Fianna come to terms with the truth of her own pain and past as well. It was obvious that he was a badass warrior, but under that he also seems to be a sweetheart looking for someone to share his life and love with and I enjoyed seeing him find that in Fianna.  Fianna has lived with the lies and fear from her past for a long time, but slowly, with Rordan’s help, she is able to truly accept who she is and find a path to happiness and being her whole self.  I enjoyed seeing her come out from behind the curtain she’d hidden her light behind and shining for herself once again.  Her brother and father were obviously selfish assholes that never deserved her devotion, but sometimes we can’t help our family.  On the other hand it was nice to see the surprises that Rordan got when he dealt with his own family and found a way to come to terms with them.  Overall these two were the perfect puzzle pieces to complete one another and give one another the love and devotion they needed all their lives.  The passion between them sparked from the first moment on the page and didn’t die through the entire story, even when they were just sparing verbally or physically, but once they unleashed the fire it was almost too much to handle.  I cried, I laughed, and I loved right along with Rordan and Fianna as they found their way through the sticky mess of politics, intrigue, lies, and fanaticism to the only truth that matters—love. I can’t wait for more and am dying for a few specific stories, but I won’t mention them so I don’t get my own hopes up.   This one burns right off the pages, Donna, keep up the good work.

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

ARC Review: Black Knight (Black's Bandits #4)

Black Knight (Black's Bandits #4)

by Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

She doesn’t know who she is… or why someone’s trying to kill her.

When hardened mercenary Jared Fraser finds a woman bleeding in the snow outside his remote cabin, he takes her in and patches her up, intending to get her back to her life and out of his as quickly as possible.

But Liberty King is a special case. She shows signs of recent abuse, and she can’t remember who she is - the only hint is a necklace with a name engraved on it.

When three men track her down with hunting dogs, Jared will do whatever it takes to protect her. Then he’ll move mountains to find out what’s locked away inside her head. What he won’t do is fall for her, no matter how much her innocent eyes and sweet smile make him want more.

But when a new danger strikes, Jared realizes that some choices were never his to make…

She needs a knight in shining armor. He is one.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 
Review:

We have been looking forward to this one a long time ladies, and neither Lynn nor Jared let us down with this one! I have loved this series since it sprouted from the amazing imaginative original series (HOT) and it revolves around the men and women that make up the slightly shady but awesome group led by none other than Ian Black.  This story goes so far beyond the usual level of hotness that I expect from a LRH novel and hits the heart of every lonely girl that has ever hoped to find her inner heroine and the love of her life on an amazing adventure.  Those of us that have been hanging on the edge of our seats waiting for Jared to get to tell his story are in no way disappointed as we see the man that has his own share of dark secrets finally let someone in, and it leads to them both healing from the pain of the past and finding the path to a future neither ever imagined possible.  The ending surprised me and I loved to see Libby find her inner badass as she worked with the team to bring the villains to their end, though I was sad for the entire trauma she had to go through.  I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next in this series, especially with that crazy epilogue that Lynn threw at us and OMG I really hope that is the next book (Team Ian). In the meantime if you are looking for a face paced, thrilling, sensual and sweet story of two people coming together in the most dangerous of circumstances and finding true love, look no further than Black Knight.

Jared Fraser (psst shoutout to the last name!) has finally decided to take some time for himself, traveling to a mountain-top in the middle of nowhere for the solitude and chance to decompress from all the dangers and drama of his life.  But his plans are blown to hell when he drives up to the cabin to find a terrified and injured woman with no memory of who she is or what happened to her, but he can’t just leave her on her own.  The only clue they have to her identity is a necklace with the name Libby, but soon her memories slowly start to trickle back, as does the killer that is stalking her.  The connection between Libby and Jared is magnetic, but neither believes it is the best circumstances, until their attraction becomes truly undeniable.  When the truth of Liberty King’s identity and the danger she is in comes to light, Jared and Black’s Bandits are on the case, and will not let her come to more harm.  With her help they will bring down a dangerous enemy of their nation and his partners, if only they can do it without Libby’s life being forfeit in the process.

Jared has always been one of my favorite characters in previous novels, quietly intense, and sweet as can be, but totally likeable.  It’s obvious he had dedicated his life to protecting the underdog and those that cannot protect themselves, and Libby is no exception.  But the pain and hurt he hides is a whole other issue that Libby has to get past in order to prove to him that they can have a life together. I loved seeing how he dedicated himself to seeing to every need that Libby had, not just physically, as she recovered from her amnesia and other injuries, showing how sweet he can be and that he will do anything to protect her, not to mention proving he is still a badass. Libby was a character that we really got to watch evolve.  She has so many insecurities in the beginning mainly because she doesn’t even have her own identity to back her thoughts, but she slowly find herself again and proves that she is the perfect match for Jared.  She is smart, sweet, loving, and strong even though many have ignored or overlooked that strength in the past.  I loved seeing her working with Jared and the team to bring down the bad guys, even though she was badly hurt in the process, because she was determined to do the right thing no matter what.  There is such chemistry between Jared and Libby from the first moment that there is no denying they will be passionate together, but the way their hearts connected was the best part of their love story to me. 

Jared and Libby’s story was fast-paced, thrilling, and packed full of danger even as they found quiet and sweet moments to build a love for one another that was surprising.  Jared was the perfect alpha male as he found and protected the lost woman that instantly stole his attention, but slowly the truth emerges and he begins to understand that perhaps fate has brought them together for a bigger reason.  The love between Jared and Libby makes them both better people and reminds us that sometimes that connection is what we need to find our drive in life to do and be better.  Libby has such an inner strength and light without being obnoxious about it that I found I really enjoyed getting to know her because she felt totally real to me, like someone I would like to know in person and be friends with.  I am looking forward to seeing more of them in future stories, but I am really dying for the next one now after that epilogue between Ian and Natasha (totally cruel Lynn)! This series just gets better and better with the adventure and drama of the dark world of mercenaries and the mates that steal their hearts.

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

Review: Saving Sienna (MacArthur Family #3)

Saving Sienna (MacArthur Family #3)

by Katie Reus

Blurb:

He likes law and order…

Detective Carson Irish follows the rules. But somehow he’s fallen for a sexy PI who likes to break all of them. When she gets in over her head, he’ll do anything and everything to keep her safe. But she refuses to stay on the sidelines, safe and protected. And when her life is threatened, he won’t hesitate to stand between her and the man who wants her dead.

She’s never met a rule she didn’t want to break…

Private Investigator Sienna MacArthur may have questionable methods in her work, but she gets the job done. While working a case, she unwittingly finds herself the target of an unknown threat. So she reaches out to the sexy man she’s been keeping her distance from—Carson Irish. They might be polar opposites, but she trusts him to keep her safe, and when people around her start dying, she has no choice but to put her life in his hands.

Themes:  Contemporary, Novella

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The MacArthur Family Trilogy ends with a bang. Katie Reus is amazing at giving us stories that revolve around characters that are interesting and always leave us wanting to meet them in person.  I have been looking forward to this story since the first in the series when we got hints that Carson and Sienna were setting sparks off one another.  Sienna attracts trouble as a PI sometimes, but she loves her job and is unwilling to give it up even in order to have a relationship with a man that pulls her in every way.  Carson has wanted Sienna since the first time he set eyes on her and while he let he put up walls between them after their first attempt at a relationship, now that she’s back on his radar there is no way he is letting continue.  Sienna’s home has been broken into and her clients are dropping dead around her so Carson is going to protect her at all costs, but the more time they spend together the harder resisting him is.  Can Sienna overcome her fears and have a chance with the man she is falling in love with or will the choice be out of their hands thanks to a killer?  Carson is such a sexy alpha male, but at the same time he is sweet and loving making him perfectly balanced as a hero to balance the chaotic nature of Sienna.  He is strong and doesn’t need to control or put down a woman in order to feel better about himself, instead lifting her up and making her feel complete. Sienna seems to have a few hang-ups, though we never get the full reasoning of why, and she doesn’t want to take a chance on Carson at first, but the more time they are forced to spend together the less it matters as she gets to know him.  She was strong, frenzied, and intelligent but there are definitely some vulnerabilities that she hides behind until she just can’t anymore.   The heat between Carson and Sienna is undeniable at any moment, but when they let themselves go to embrace it almost burns them (and readers)  up to enjoy it.  I was sad to see the series end and wish their story had been longer but look forward to whatever comes next from Katie Reus for sure.  Your throne as a Queen of Romance is safe with this one, Katie.

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