mini-Review: Total Control (Alpha Crew #4)

Total Control (Alpha Crew #4)

by Laura Griffin

Blurb:

Navy SEAL Jake Heath has his eyes on Alexa Mays. The FBI Agent is whip smart and hot as hell, but she won’t give him the time of day. So, when she calls him out of blue, he thinks his luck has changed.

But instead of meeting up for a romantic dinner, Alexa needs Jake for a very different reason. Her counterterrorism team is hot on the heels of the extremist that Jake’s task force has been tracking for months, and now he’s on American soil. The only way she can take him down is with Jake’s help.

Alexa knows Jake is tough and relentless...and that the chemistry between them is electric. Although she’s risking her heart—and maybe even her career—by bringing him onto the mission, she doesn’t have another choice. Together, they’re an unstoppable and powerful team.

As the hours tick by and a lethal enemy gets closer to launching an unimaginable attack, Alexa and Jake need to fight fire with fire before the clock runs out. The only question is: will their own flames get in the way?

Themes: Contemporary  

Rating: 3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 This short story seems to be the conclusion to a series of shorter novels that revolved around a bunch of sexy and super badass Navy SEALs.  I am a huge fan of Laura Griffin, but I must admit that this series has left me a little bit wanting, mostly with the length of the story and trying to shove too much into the action happening in the short time the story is going.  That being said if you take the story at face value there is a lot to enjoy.  Jake has been interested in Alexa for a long time, but she has resisted him for reasons that were never made clear until she finally needed his help.  Alexa is sure that she is after a dangerous terrorist and needs Jake’s help to catch him, even if she has to go through back channels asking for the favor.  When the danger becomes all too real, Jake is determined to protect Alexa with everything he’s got, even if she fights him along the way.  As they spend more time together they overcome the issues in their way and their chemistry has a chance to bring together a connection.  The fire between them made Alexa and Jake’s love story enjoyable and getting to know them was wonderful.  Jake was the ultimate alpha male, protective and kick-ass, willing to sacrifice himself for others, but also determined to make the bad guy pay, and the sweet moments he shared with Alexa rounded his character out nicely.  Alexa was a little bit prickly until she softened toward Jake enough to let him in, and then I really started to like her, but there was obviously a few issues for her to work through first.  In the end I enjoyed this ending to a series that falls a little short of typical Griffin magic, but in the end was worth the read and provided some quality entertainment. 

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

ARC Review: Lost (Powertools: The Shields #2)

Lost (Powertools: The Shields #2)

by Jayne Rylon

Blurb:

A medic who’s used to treating bullet wounds discovers an undercover agent, or two, who want to heal her heart.

As a medic for a team of do-gooder assassins, Kennedy usually patches up her partners after they’ve taken out some of humanity’s trash.

This assignment is totally different. She’s required to risk both body and soul to seduce her ex, Knox, and convince him to double-cross the cartel he’s worked for since he left her without a backward glance.

Marcus has been addicted to Kennedy since they became partners at Shields. He can’t turn away, even if it means watching her over their comms with the jerk who broke her heart and made her swear off relationships, including one with him.

When Marcus and Knox form an unlikely alliance, to keep a new superdrug from ruining more lives—like they destroyed Knox’s—Kennedy is forced to make a decision: continue to resist the potent chemistry they have together to protect herself or be brave enough to make up for the time all three of them have lost.

Themes:  Erotica, Polyamory

Rating: 4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Never let it be said that a an erotic story that involves three people is simply porn, because as usual Jayne Rylon proves that the emotional trauma and pain she can inflict while bringing these triads to their perfect happy ending can tear your heart out. Fans of this long running “super-series” have been looking forward to this story for a little while now, since we first experienced the sexual tension between Kennedy and Marcus, but I personally never imagined just how deep their story would get. While it can never be said that I enjoy seeing characters get torn up and forced to deal with pain, it certainly gives them a deeper appreciation for their happiness earned in the end, and allows the reader to understand their need for redemption and the actions they take fully.  I enjoyed very much seeing Kennedy find her way back into Knox’s arms and heart and helping him see the way out of the darkness he has been mired in, offering him a different path and a way to live in the light with both her and Marcus.  The obvious way that the three of them connected made the problems they had, and truly will have to continue to, work through made them more human and connectable for readers.  I am dying to read the next story and see if there is a way for Rylon to bring happiness again to two such different people, ones that we can obviously see want one another, but that both continue to live in denial.  Rylon certainly proves once again that she is a master of eroticism and a queen of romance.

Kennedy has been hiding from her past for more than a decade, leaving her also running from a future, the love and connection she fears she could have with Marcus, even though she knows he is a good man. When their new mission forces her past right into her present, Kennedy has to find a way to accept the trauma in order to succeed and keep her Team members safe.  Knox knows that his days are numbered after turning on his cartel, but having Kennedy back in his life, not to mention the new temptation of Marcus leaves him floundering and doubting his own instincts.  Marcus has wanted Kennedy from the very beginning and never realized just how deep her pain went and that he never really had a chance to attain her heart as she’d given it away long ago and never gotten it back.  When the three of them connect on a level they never imagined, it becomes clear that they might have a chance to be together as a triad, but outside forces continue to put obstacles in their path.  Can their newly found love stand the test of time or will they crumble under the immense pressures and be forced apart forever because of suspicion and fears?

I loved finally getting the full picture of Kennedy’s past that kept her from embracing Marcus, because really in previous stories we just wanted to scream at her to jump him already.  She portrays herself as such a strong and confident woman, but honestly she has never gotten over the suffering of losing the love of her life.  Finally getting the chance to confront him, she never imagined how much it would change her life, but being able to hear his side of the story and see the pain it caused him losing her too changed her views of the past decade of her life.  Embracing that forgiveness and faith in her lover and in the love that the three of them were building was difficult for her, but she was finally able to understand that their time together in the past wasn’t ever going to be right, because they needed their rock.  Enter Marcus, the rock that both Knox and Kennedy needed to lean on in their own ways.  He is passionate, alpha, sweet and caring, but he has his own issues and needs.  His outward strength hides the need for love and caring that Knox and Kennedy are easily able to see and are more than willing to offer him.  Being strong for them in the face of danger and trouble is easy when he knows that in their private times they are there to meet his every need and give him what he wants more than anything.  Knox is broken in a lot of ways, though he hides it behind a sarcastic and caustic personality, but when he is offered the first chance to come out of the darkness and reach for something good in life, he knows he has to take the hand up.  Having Kennedy back in his life –and certainly back in his bed—is more than he ever imagined he would have, but the bonus of having a second partner like Marcus as well sends him to heaven.  If only he has the confidence that he can stay in the light and not drag his new lovers into the dark with him, but he has a lot to work through and only by understanding his own inner strength will he be able to find that confidence.  Together they are the perfect combination needed to support one another through the troubles coming and to allow them to have a future together.

This story was one that hit on a lot of painful issues that many authors might shy away from, including drug addiction, inadequate law enforcement, and dangerous drug distribution groups, but Jayne has never been one to shy from any topic. Kennedy finally found her way through the issues that kept her from being able to embrace a future with the men that had always held her heart.  Marcus discovered that not only did he need Kennedy to complete him, but the snarky and sexy Knox was missing from his life as well.  And the almost-too-far-gone Knox found a way back to the side of good, continuing to fight for his future, in the arms of two people he will always be able to count on and offered them his heart and soul in exchange for their loving support. Together the three of them made this story worth every second of pain and sorrow to read and I loved getting to experience the changes they went through right along with them.  The passion was needless to say a big part of this story, between Kennedy and Marcus, Kennedy and Knox, Knox and Marcus, and of course between all three of them, but the love that bloomed between them was just as essential to read and enjoy.  I cannot wait for Sola and Aarav’s story and to find out whom their third turns out to be of course, in the next story Brazen.  Rylon strikes again with a blistering story of three people fighting to have a future together no matter what obstacle is thrown in their path.

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

Review: All Night Long with a Cowboy (Kittredge Ranch #2)

All Night Long with a Cowboy (Kittredge Ranch #2)

by Caitlin Crews 

Blurb:

If you play with fire...

One of the most notorious cowboys in Cold River, Jensen Kittredge always has willing women with sweet smiles vying for a place in his bed. So when the prissy high school librarian sidles up to him in the most disreputable bar in town with a scowl on her face, he has no idea what to make of it. Much less the attraction he feels toward the bespectacled creature who wants something from him... but not that.

Yet.

Someone gets burned...

Harriett Barnett doesn't care for dens of iniquity-- or the insolent cowboy she certainly shouldn't find attractive. But one of her students needs her help, and if she needs to corral the infamous Jensen to save him, she will. Trouble is, the town's favorite Kittredge brother is a lot more than she bargained for. Harriett's happy little life is orderly and neat, just how she likes it--until Jensen blows it all apart with his particular brand of addictive passion. Can a modern-day schoolmarm really tame the wildest cowboy in town? Or is Harriet headed for a terrible fall?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4  stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 Yeah, so I didn’t see that one coming at all. When I first found this series I thought it would be an interesting chance to find me a new author that sets her stories around hot cowboys and the women that keep them roped in, but boy was I way off base.  The first story in the series was so heart-wrenching I almost couldn’t get through it, and this one had so much going on that it was near to impossible to handle too.  The Kittredge boys definitely have a lot of emotional baggage to work through when they begin new relationships, even the always fun-loving and easy going Jensen, but it takes the sweet and loving, but strong and sultry Harriett to tackle him.  Harriett moved to the small town of Cold River in order to begin her life as a librarian and has no intention of getting caught up in the silliness of a relationship, definitely not with the town lothario.  She simply needs his help with getting through to her trouble students, one of the most troubled in particular, and if she has to push him to his limits to get that help she will.  Jensen is stuck in his home town for the first summer in years and he doesn’t like it one bit, but he is determined to prove to his family that he can pull his weight.  When Harriett start poking him, demanding his assistance with her students, and then continuing to turn up in his life, she quickly becomes an obsession, but there is no way he can go there, because he is not relationship material.  He is a one night only man and there is no way a sexy but weird little librarian could ever change him.  Until the feeling between them just become too much for him to deny anymore, but will his realization come too late to keep her? Harriett was definitely an odd ducky, but her quirks made her all the more interesting to get to know and I found myself enjoying seeing her interacting not only with Jensen but with his friends and family as well.  She is sensitive, loving, and sweet to those she cares about, but when they are threatened or making stupid choice, look out because she is definitely a scary mama bear.  Jensen has so many issues from his past, a trauma that changed him as a young man that he has never really gotten over, and it is obvious that only by healing from that pain does he have a chance at happiness with Harriett.  He is a hero, despite his contradicting that, a loving guy, a sweetheart, and a badass all rolled into one sexy package, but Harriett calms him and rounds out the rough edges perfectly.  Together these two strangely complimented one another and made for a perfectly pairing.  The heat that they each incited with one another was subtle as they hid it so well at first, but once it became undeniable the inferno was easily seen by everyone in town—which was surprising to most.  I loved this story of a quiet, sometimes odd woman finding her love in a wounded but heroic cowboy and each of them finding the strength to go after what they wanted together.  I am dying to see what comes next in the Kittredge family and the larger Cold River community.  Definitely one of my new go-to authors.

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

Review: Paws and Prejudice (Hearts of Alaska #2)

Paws and Prejudice (Hearts of Alaska #2)

by Alanna Martin

Blurb:

It's up to a trio of adorable rescue huskies to make two lonely hearts in a coastal Alaskan town realize

that true love is worth too much to turn tail and run.

Glaciers have nothing on Kelsey Porter when she decides to freeze someone out. After getting burned once, she's not about to let it happen again. And right now all that icy contempt is focused on one annoyingly attractive and entitled interloper: Ian Roth. Not only is he looking to take advantage of her quaint, coastal community, tainting the small-town charm of Helen, Alaska, but he has committed the one crime she can never forgive—he doesn't like her dogs.

Unlike what Kelsey believes, Ian loves Helen's charms as much as she does. That's partly why he's determined to open a brewery there, and he's not about to let anything or anyone stop his dream from coming true. But he didn't count on the beautiful, prickly woman getting under his skin. Or having to be within hand-biting proximity of her three huge huskies.

When Kelsey's family conscripts her into helping Ian get his brewery off the ground, she finds herself caught between a rock and a hard . . . muscular . . . man who has a fear of dogs. But the longer they work together, the more she can feel herself begin to thaw. Now she'll have to choose: let sleeping dogs lie to protect her heart, or mush head-on toward love.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

This story about two people that are very different but that come together in a spark and flash is one that was interesting and enjoyable from beginning to end even during tearful moments.  I was looking forward to this story at the end of book one for sure when we saw hints that the story between Ian and Kelsey would be much more complicated than just a  simple meet and insta-love. Set in small town Alaska, where a long-standing family feud has the split down the middle between the families, this series just keeps getting more and more interesting.  Kelsey is the only girl on the Porter side of the family this generation and seems to be the family hope for keeping the feud and the family legacy going, but she has a very different plan for her future.  Keeping secrets from her family is second nature to Kelsey, but when she is conscripted by her father to assist the new brewery owner with publicity for the opening of his business she begins to doubt why she really is hiding.  Ian moved to this small town in Alaska, as far from his family as possible in the continental US, in order to make a fresh start and prove himself, but things are not shaping up like planned.  The brewery is having issue after issue that threatens their success and when Kelsey comes into his life he just assumes she’ll be another problem, but soon they are spending time together and becoming friends.  As she helps him to get over his fear of dogs and he helps her accept that she has no reason to hide, their feelings for one another son become much more than just friends and confidants.  But the hard-earned trust of a woman like Kelsey is easily lost, and when Ian begins to doubt himself it might be too much for either of them.  I enjoyed getting to know more about Kelsey and learn that despite her VERY hard shell she is really just a sweet and fluffy marshmallow inside.  Her love of her dogs and family doesn’t stop there and when she finally gives her trust her love is not something to sneeze at for sure.  For those she loves she will give all of herself to make sure that they have everything they need and want, even at her own expense.  I want to be Kelsey when I grow up. Ian definitely has a lot of issue, not even accounting his fear of dogs (so sad), but the biggest one was his lack of confidence in himself and his abilities.   I liked him overall, especially the fact that he could bake, seemed so devoted to his friends and family, and so wanted to find his place in his new community. But despite him never realizing it, what he really needed all along was Kelsey to even him out and give him the confidence to just be himself and he would succeed.  The passion between these two sparked from the beginning, though for a while it was just intense antagonism, but as their friendship blossomed that heat definitely turned a lot more friendly and interesting.  I am looking forward to the next story (last one?) in the series for sure where the Porter and Lipin feud will definitely come to a fiery crescendo in Love and Let Bark. Just to say the huskies that are so prevalent in this little town, and especially the Porter family, are definitely and important part of this story too and great character to get to know too.  Another sweet and loving Alaskan adventure from a fun author to enjoy in the heat of summer.

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

Review: Rebel's Karma (Dark Protectors #13)

Rebel's Karma (Dark Protectors #13)

by Rebecca Zanetti 

Blurb:

There’s no denying destiny . . .

For too long, Benjamin Reese has masked his deadly skills and temper with loyalty and humor. A vampire-demon hybrid, he fiercely protects his family, guards his brothers, and destroys the enemy without mercy. But when he discovers one fragile, beautiful blonde—a woman once mated to a Kurjan, no less—every primal instinct he has buried for centuries roars to life. With the mating mark she roused on his hand entwining their fates, no one will prevent him from keeping her safe and making her his, forever . . .

Or desire . . .

Karma wishes she could remember her last name. Or if she even had one. All she has in this confusing new world is a desperate duty to save the innocent. That means destroying the dark, dangerous, and desirable Benjamin Reese and everything he loves—an impossible task even before his touch arouses a passionate hunger she can’t afford. She’s certain a deadly enemy watches her every move, but it’s not until Benny kisses her that she tastes true danger…

Themes:  Paranormal, Vampires, Demons, and Fae (oh My!)

Rating: 4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The book I have been waiting for finally dropped and I couldn’t wait to read Benny and Karma’s story, but man I couldn’t even have imagined just where this one would take me!  The Dark Protector Series has evolved a lot over the years since the beginning and has lasted a very long time (story time) but each new story is so packed with drama and danger that you just don’t want it to end.  Benny’s story has been on my radar since I first met him because he just such an intensely lovable idiot and crazy at the best of times and in the best of ways.  Benny has spent the last three years staging battles and situations to get him closer to the woman he met for only moments in the heat of a battle, but she’s with the bad guys—even though she’s been chosen by fate as his true mate. Karma is intrigued and terrified of the big crazy hybrid that has supposedly been after her for years, but when she comes face to face with him again she has no idea how strong the pull to him will be, or just what he has in store for her.  Escaping with his mate is no easy feat, but Benny is no ordinary hybrid and he will stop at nothing to get her to safety. But can two people that have lived on different sides of a deadly battle for centuries find a happy life and love together when there are obstacles being thrown at them left and right and the final battle is bearing down on them.  Benny truly is the perfect amount of crazy to make any woman wonder if he takes that crazy to the bedroom, but other than that he is a total badass, sweet and cute at the oddest of moments. I have liked him from the beginning of this new story arc, but seeing him as he fell in love with Karma and worked to convince her to be his brought out the best parts of him in my opinion, making him even more dangerously protective and even when he thought Karma was his enemy he was unable to truly be mean to her or resist her.  Just the way he brought her comfort and protected her from the dangers she never imagined she would be facing, with a lightness and laughter that kept the world from truly being too much for Karma shows the depths of Benny’s greatness.  Karma was a weird one to get to know in the beginning; we knew something wasn’t quite right with her, though we wanted to like and trust her because she was Benny’s woman and he deserved his mate, and then it became apparent that her life truly wasn’t her own.  The love she showed for those she protected and then for Benny and his friends was deep and was what drove her every decision, not caring about her own life and making her the perfect mate for Benny.  She was sweet and naïve in many ways, but in so many others was world weary.  I enjoyed seeing her truly find her way out of the clutches of the Kurjans and then return to danger in order to keep not just those she loved safe but also to provide protection for the team and the Realm against their enemies.  In the end she truly showed that she would be trusted with Benny’s heart and would be a great member of the team.  The passion between Benny and Karma was interesting to watch develop because though there was attraction from the beginning they were truly on different sides of the war and the obstacles between them seemed insurmountable. Once they overcame all that stood between them, the passion, love and laughter was almost too perfect to bear and I loved every moment of it that we got to witness.  I am dying for Sam’s book (immortal’s Honor) which is coming next and then of course I think that only leaves one (maybe two) left in this overall arc before the Eight and their enemies will have to meet in the ultimate battle.  Where the series goes from there I couldn’t begin to guess, but I know I will definitely be along for whatever wild ride Rebecca decides to take us and her characters on next.

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

Review: A Pinch of Passion (A Recipe for Love #2)

 A Pinch of Passion (A Recipe for Love #2)

by Kelly Collins 

Blurb:

She leads a privileged life. He has a chip on his shoulder. Can the very thing that divides them be what draws them together?

Allie Parks lives life in the fast lane—literally. As a partner in Luxe Resorts, she’s learned that if her money won’t open a door, her looks will. So when she’s pulled over for speeding, Allie’s shocked to discover neither her charm nor her cash will work on Officer Marco Rossi. She winds up in court where she’s handed down thirty hours of community service, on top of running her resort and renovating her new condo. She wants to despise the man who put her in this position, but the chemistry between them is impossible to ignore.

Since the death of his parents, Marco Rossi has resented the entitled, wealthy residents of Aspen who race their way through the streets, believing they’re above the law. He’s dedicated his life to helping the less fortunate and protecting a community that rarely appreciates his efforts. When Allie speeds into his life, he’s sure he has her all figured out. But when she’s ordered to perform community service at his soup kitchen, he can’t help but see her sweet side. He falls for the wrong woman, for all the right reasons.

Will mixing two opposites be the perfect recipe for love or will they end up getting burned?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Once again we are reminded that not everything is as it seems and we should never judge a  book by its cover or a person by first impressions.  I found this series by chance and have enjoyed the first two stories immensely for their sweetness and the way they tackle some deeper issues that often plague a relationship.  Ms. Collins is able to handle the drama in her hero and heroines love story with loving aplomb and bring them through the pain and heartbreak to their HEA beautifully.  Allie is having a really bad week: ticketed, facing losing her license, then forced into community service with the cop that ticketed her and judge her lacking on first sight.  She doesn’t want to be attracted to him but Marco Rossi pulls her like no man she has ever met, despite his grumpy and often nasty –to her at least—demeanor. Marco knows too many people like Allie, rich and entitled, and he doesn’t want to deal with her and certainly doesn’t want to like her, but the more he gets to know her the more he begins to questions his opinion.  As they spend time together and work to improve the Community center he runs, Marco and Allie’s relationship begins to bloom into something way deeper than either of them could have imagined and soon the undeniable attraction turns into an irresistible love.  Marco was definitely the most loveable grumpy bear character I have read in a while, with the way he offered his time and devotion to so many in his community and cared for them, and eventually did the same for Allie.  He is sweet, caring, strong, and determined to make a difference in his little corner of the world and I loved him for it.  Allie has her hang ups for sure, but as she begins to see others around her in a different light, she begins to understand the difference she could also make in the world.  While she has never set out to be a bad person, she is enlightened to her own neglect of her fellow man making her into a better person.  I enjoyed seeing her grow in this way, even though it came with some pain and loss  until Marco finally stepped up. The passion between them was certainly there from the first time their eyes met and sparked and it only deepend as they got to know one another.  I am really looking forward to the next story in the series for sure as these characters continue to intrigue me.  Just might have me a new author for my “favorites” shelf.  

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

ARC Review: Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings #2)

Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings #2)

by Donna Grant

Blurb:

I am hers, and she is mine…

Vaughn has spent eons searching for the woman who captured his heart, only to be disappointed time and again. Sure, he sees her in his dreams. May get to touch and hold her. But it’s not the same. As the emptiness inside him grows, he jumps at the chance for a distraction. Setting his eyes on the dragons again in Zora is a balm, but it can’t compare to once again coming face-to-face with the gorgeous beauty who holds a piece of his soul.

With responsibilities comes sacrifice...

Eurwen has never known anything but the burden and joy of ruling the dragons. But unlike her twin, she’s always been curious about Earth and the Kings and felt as if something were missing from her life. When her reunion with her parents brings an unexpected surprise, she can’t help but give in to the pleasure that Vaughn offers. Still, her loyalty lies with her realm, and the hurdles in their way to happiness seem insurmountable—especially with a new and unknown foe seeking to destroy them.

Trust doesn’t come easily, but love conquers all. And no amount of time or space can keep those who belong together apart.

Themes: Paranormal, Dragon-Shifters, Fe  

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The newest Dark World Series spinoff by Donna Grant continues with this story rich in love, heartache, forgiveness, and acceptance.  For long-time fans of this series, like myself, Grant has been building up to this latest round of novels a long time, leading us through the world of the Dragon Kings, meeting their mates, defeating horrendous evils, and finally reuniting the King of Kings with his mate.  Now it is the time for their children to come back into the fold and Dragon Mine accomplishes that in a mammoth way. The story has so many unexpected twists and turns, introducing new enemies, bringin families together at long last, and reuniting the Kings with their dragons in a display of ultimate love and unity that makes Grant the Queen of paranormal fiction she is.  The story leads both the primary characters on journeys through their hearts and minds to find their true destiny, but it also brings the Kings together to fight to help their brethren and bring new life into the world.  I wondered how Grant would handle Con’s reaction to his daughter mating with one of the Kings, but it was handled so beautifully and seamlessly that you almost imagine he never threatened to kick Vaughn’s immortal ass if he hurt his girl, but I kind of assume it was implied anyway.  I am dying to see where the series takes us next with the new challenges this extended family will face in their now much more closely joined realms and seeing which of the previously unmated Kings will fall under love’s spell.  Grant remains a force of nature and her stories continue to steal our hearts and minds away from reality and into the Dark World of her Dragon Kings and their mates.

Vaughn, the King of the Teals, has been searching the world for millennia for his mate, ever since they had one beautiful, blissful night together before she disappeared from his life.  From that day he has only been ever to find her in his dreams, but the longer they are apart the hazier she is in his mind.  When Rhi and Con decide to finally head to Zora to meet their children, Vaughn feels a compelling drive to join them there, his entire being focused on just one possibility, though he can’t believe it could really be true.  Eurwen has ruled Zora with her twin since they arrived to save the dragons from annihilating themselves and is determined they will protect them from any threat, but she wants to get to know her parents.  Arriving on Zora, Vaughn sets his eyes on Eurwen and he knows immediately she is the woman he spent that night with so long ago and lost right after—his mate. Eurwen can’t believe her eyes when Vaughn arrives in Zora with her parents and her world is thrown for a loop, not only are her emotions all over the place when it comes to her parents, but the attraction between her and Vaughn is too much to resist.  As they spend more time together, in both worlds, Vaughn and Eruwen’s connection only seems to deepen, despite Eurwen fighting the truth of their relationship.  Then an all new evil threatens to take away any chance they have at happiness if they can’t find a way to overcome and protect their love.

These characters were both so intensely rich with life and drama that it was almost as if we were in their minds as they worked through their relationship problems and found a way to lead with their hearts.  Vaughn has been hiding the truth from his friends for so long, but the missing piece of his soul, the mate he knows is out there but he just cannot find, is slowly driving him mad.  I loved seeing him stand up for his love, expressing his surety in the fact that Eurwen was his mate, and fighting for her until the very end.  His strength has always been in his dedication and determination, but what really makes him unique is his silver tongue and ability to change people’s minds and hearts.  It was heartbreaking to see him in a few moments when we almost thought he would give up, but with the little push from friends, he got right back on track and proved he was a man filled with forgiveness, a huge capacity for love, and the willingness to give his all for his mate.  Eurwen kind of pissed me off a good bit of this story, I have to say;  while she seemed, in the beginning, to be openly ready to reach out to her parents, it was clear that she carried a whole hell of a lot of resentment and bitterness.  Her views of their choices and belief that she could have done and made better choices, without knowing the full story or emotional toil the choices took, made me feel she was just that little bit immature still. Once she opened her eyes, and grew up a little with the help of Vaughn and some new friends, I began to like her a lot more. Her ability to forgive needed some work, but in the end she proved she is as much her parents’ daughter as anything and opened her heart in a big way, allowing not just her parents, the other Kings and their mates into her circle, but finally giving her all to the love that her mate offered her so many centuries before. Her bond with her brother showed she always had the capability for love, but I think part of the issue is that they never had anyone to truly show them any differently, right or wrong, so the final bit of maturing they needed to do, had to happen quickly.  I also loved the small moments that Eurwen allowed herself to just be a woman, with both her new friends and her mother, as it’s something she never before got to experience and no matter how antisocial we are, every one of us needs her pack of females at her side at some point in our lives.

The love between two individuals truly can shape the world(s), and Grant proved it in this latest installment of the Dragon Kings series, Dragon Mine. Vaughn has spent eons on the hunt for the woman that he knows is his mate, despite the logic that tells him to give up, and when he finally gets a chance to make her his, nothing will stand in his way, not even her stubbornness. Eurwen has fought so long for the peace she shares in their world, that she never thought about how small-minded and hardhearted it might have made her and her brother.  When she finally has to face some hard truths, the fact is that nothing is as important as having her mate by her side as she rules the Dragons with compassion, caring, and authority.   Finally allowing herself to love opens both Eurwen and her world up to so many new experiences and allies, with her brother’s begrudging acceptance, and there is no way that with the whole team aligned for one cause, the Dragon Kings and Queens, and their mates could lose against any enemy.  The passion shared between Vaughn and Eurwen has been stirring for thousands of years so it’s safe to say, that when they finally meet again in person there is no denying that even we could feel the heat there.  I loved seeing these two find their way through the obstacles in their own hearts and minds, the ones places in their way by others, and ultimately overcoming the complications fate has thrust into their lives.  I cannot wait for the next in their series, obviously dying to know what happens next in Zora, who the new big bad is, and what happens with the Kings.  In the meantime I will survive with the next Reapers story, Dark Alpha’s Need, and hope that we get to see some of the Kings and their friends make cameos there.  The magic of Donna Grant and her Kings never ceases of amaze and delight me.

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

Release Day! Just One Scandal by Carly Phillips

 

JUST ONE SCANDAL

Carly Phillips
Release Date: July 6

 

A jilted bride. Her brother’s ex-buddy. An affair would be crazy…right?

 

Chloe Kingston’s life is exactly how she needs it: safe and stable. Right up until her reliable, low-risk fiancé jilts her on their fairy-tale wedding day. As she works her way through the reception champagne—and wonders where she’s going to live—she stumbles into her brother Linc’s ex-best friend.

If only Beckett Daniels were hideous. But he’s not. He’s everything her erstwhile groom was not. Hot. Sexy. Dangerous. And she’s just buzzed enough to want all that Greek-god gorgeousness to show her the kind of fun she’s been missing.

Beck thrives on calculated risks, but taking advantage of Linc’s little sister isn’t one of them. What he can do is haul her tipsy, tulle-clad, tempting little butt to the bridal suite to sleep it off. Then move her into his spare room—which has the satisfying side effect of driving her brother crazy.

They can’t remain platonic roommates for long. Not when the sexual attraction sizzles out of control. But when tragedy threatens Beck, pain from his past reminds them both that life doesn’t come without risks…and this time, they’re gambling with their hearts.

 

Buy Links:

Kindle:  https://smarturl.it/OneScandalKindle

Nook:  https://smarturl.it/OneScandalNook

Apple:  https://smarturl.it/OneScandalApple

Kobo:  https://smarturl.it/OneScandalKobo

Google Play:  https://smarturl.it/OneScandalGoogle

Amazon Print:  https://smarturl.it/OneScandalAmzPrint

Audible:  https://smarturl.it/OneScandalAudible

Amazon Audio:  https://smarturl.it/OneScandalAmzAudi

Meet Carly Phillips:

NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire. She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram. The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer. Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub. Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers. Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.

Connect with Carly Phillips:

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carly-phillips

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10000.Carly_Phillips

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlyphillips/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlyphillips

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlyphillipsfanpage

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Carly-Phillips/e/B001I9W0MS

ARC Mini Review: The Adversary (Chronicles of Rhyacia #2)

The Adversary (Chronicles of Rhyacia #2)

by Thea Harrison

Blurb:

From NYT bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the explosive conclusion to The Unseen!

When Dragos and Pia move to the Other land of Rhyacia, they hope starting a new life will bring safety and freedom to their family, especially their young baby, Niall. And at first their new home seems perfect… but looks are deceiving.

Beneath Rhyacia’s idyllic façade an ancient, malevolent force lurks, waiting for the right opportunity to break free of its cage. When that opportunity comes, it strikes with devastating accuracy.

While Dragos has never backed down from a fight, he’s also never encountered an enemy like this one before. How can he fight a foe who doesn’t have a body? A foe who can invade and turn his own mind against him?

How can Dragos protect his family, when at any moment one of them may become the enemy?

As Dragos and Pia race against time to fight this unseen menace, they must also acknowledge a terrifying truth—when anyone can become the enemy, no one can be trusted.

An adversary who can trap the dragon poses a threat to everyone in Rhyacia, and that means no one is safe…

Themes:  Paranormal, Shifters, Dragons

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Finally we have the conclusion of the drama that threatened to take Pia’s mate from her forever that begin with their move to the Otherworld they planned to make home. This series began long ago with Pia and Dragos finding love in their surprising mating and we have gotten glimpses of their lives together as they mated, ruled their Demesne, and birthed and raised their children.  This spin-off is just the short story of the new drama in their new Otherworld home.  In the previous book (The Unseen) they arrived and begin their settlement, but something strange was happening, which led them to investigations until suddenly a ruin was found directly under their settlement.  When Pia and Dragos ventured into the settlement, a being took over Dragos body and only Pia realized it and the danger is presented.  Now the story picks up right after Pia and the gang have subdued the possessed Dragos and her son Liam has arrived with the other Sentinels to assist.  While Pia and the team work externally to try to understand the enemy, Dragos struggles internally to push the hijacker out of his own body.   But even when Dragos is free, are the rest of the inhabitants of the new world safe or is the danger just beginning? Dragos, Pia and team must fight and hurry to protect the world from this psycho before someone they love is stolen from them permanently and the world as they know it ends.  While it was safe to say this story was packed, it certainly didn’t focus much on Pia and Dragos’s relationship, despite us getting moments of passion and affection. Pia has always been much stronger than she believed herself to be, but in this story I think she truly found her footing as a leader and one willing to do just about anything required of her to protect her mate, children and people.  She was hilarious, brave, smart, and clever by turns but maintained her loving and sweet nature in the end.  Dragos was of course a serious badass, but I think he found his softer side in this one as he faced a loss and decision unlike any he ever imagined before finding his mate and having children.  It was great to see these two and their family as they all came together to overcome evil and protect their own.  I am hoping to see more of these characters later on down the line because I always love losing myself in their adventures, but if not, this story was a fitting ending all the same.  Pia and Dragos at their best for sure.

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