ARC Review: Trusted & True (Men of Haven #7)

Trusted & True (Men of Haven #7)

by Rhenna Morgan

Blurb:

The last person Callie Moore is prepared to see when she shows up for a job interview is Danny Parker, the guy who witnessed her at her worst and gave her an ultimatum: get clean or don’t ever ask for help again. It’s been years since then, and Callie’s been through hell, but she’s finally doing the work to change her life. That doesn’t mean she couldn’t use the job. And it doesn’t mean her troubled past is completely behind her, either.

When his best friend’s sister-in-law walks in looking for a job and a second—or is it third—chance, Danny isn’t so sure he’s willing to risk it. Even if he does desperately need the help at his custom car shop.

Letting Callie back into his life opens Danny’s eyes, and heart, to the woman she is now—and the man he wants to become. If anyone has a problem with that, too bad. Including his skeptical Haven brothers. But when a dangerous part of the life Callie’s left behind comes to town, seeking revenge, the family will have to join together to save her—as well as the innocent Haven life caught in the cross fire.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

To be honest I went into this story a little bit leery, not because I doubted the story would be remarkable, but because it had been so long since I read the previous novels and I was afraid I wouldn’t recall the storylines and would be lost.  But like an old friend as soon as I was half a chapter in everything came back to me and I was right back in the world of Haven and knew I was settling in for a great read that would last in my mind for years to come just as the others in the series had.  Rhenna Morgan caught my attention with her Haven series in the most random way when I was cruising amazon one day and I was thrilled I took the chance because I have read everything she printed since and was thrilled to get the chance to read Danny and Callie’s story.  I really hope the series continues with at least one more novel, but if not this one brings us back full circle and gives us an HEA that will keep me happy and ready for whatever story she send my way next.  Callie has finally started to get her life in order after years of addiction and bad choices, but she knows that returning to the town where she hurt so many and facing her sister and friends will be the hardest challenge to her sobriety yet.  When she follows a lead on a job to get her started she never expects to run into Danny, her sisters brother-in-law and a man who she burned so many bridges with she has no hope of redemption.  Dann never imagined he would see Callie finally getting her shit together, but the woman standing in front of him asking for work not only seems healthy and on the straight-and-narrow, but the attraction he feels to her is astonishing. As Danny and Callie work together and try to become friends, and maybe more, they both make mistakes, leading them to understand neither are perfect, but they might just be perfect one another.  Just as they are finding their happiness a dangerous enemy from Callie’s past comes back and threatens all they are building, risking Callie’s life, and leaving Danny to wonder if he’s lost the chance to have the woman he has come to love in his life  before ever coming clean about his feelings to her. Danny was such an interesting character in this story, his past and issues subtle and not the ones you think would be causing issues, but truly sometimes those that seem the most together truly aren’t.  He has severe issues with trust and belief in those that are trying to turn their lives around, leading him to make some stupid decisions in the beginning, but thankfully he comes to understand that Callie is different and she is doing everything in her power to make healthy choices.  He is protective, loving, sweet, and strong, and once he pulls his head out of his butt he is obviously the perfect mate for Callie as she finds her footing in her return to her family, supporting and championing her in the most unexpected of ways. Watching him fall and come to terms with that was truly one off the best reader experiences I’ve had in ages.   Callie has had a lot of issues in the past, but she is moving forward the best she can, working hard to overcome her bad decisions and trying to make amends to those she loves and hurt.  Her addiction is truly a disease that was perpetuated in the worst of ways from a young age and she never much had a chance to succeed until hitting that rock bottom and coming to terms with what it would take to make herself healthy again.  I loved watching her interacting with her friends, coworkers, and family, but the way she offers support to all those around her and gives her all to others shows how great of a person she truly was all these years buried under the substances.  She is smart, dedicates, brave, and loyal but the best trait she has is her willingness to do whatever is needed to protect those she loves, if at the expense of her own feelings or life.  She and Danny were so well matched it was ridiculous and it makes you wonder if she had been sober when they first met how explosive their relationship would have been all those years ago. The attraction and heat these two enjoyed was sweet and subtle, but no less intense for that as they slowly explored their new relationship and built a friendship before becoming lovers to support one another’s needs and healthy choices.  I truly loved these entire story, laughing, crying, and falling in love right along with the characters and hope for more, but if this is the end I feel comfortable in saying Ms. Morgan gave us an ending to rock the world and worth every second of the wait for it.  Brava Ms. Morgan!

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

ARC Review: That Cowboy of Mine

That Cowboy of Mine

by Donna Grant 

Blurb:

Is he an enemy?

Dillon Young is proud that she inherited her aunt’s ranch. The problem: someone is trying to run her off and is willing to do whatever it takes. Strange, dangerous things keep happening. Dillion suspects her no-good neighbor and fellow wealthy rancher Hank Stephens. Never a man to get his hands dirty, he sends others to get the job done. So, when the irresistible Cal Bennett is found passed out drunk on her property, Dillion is on high alert. Until someone takes a shot at her and Cal springs to her rescue. When the hard-bodied, no-nonsense-talking cowboy points out that she may need some help, Dillion is inclined to reluctantly agree.

Or a lover?

Waking up on a stranger’s property with a shotgun in his face is not Cal Bennett’s idea of a good time. Never mind that the woman on the other end of the barrel is one of the most fiercely beautiful women he has ever seen. Things get more interesting when he finds himself shielding her from flying bullets. It’s clear that this smart, savvy woman could use a hand and he is all too happy to lend any part of his body she requires. His proposal: pose as lovers until they find out who is after her ranch. As the danger rises and secrets are revealed, the passion explodes between them. There is no turning back.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I must admit that after the last cowboy release from Donna Grant I went into this story with exceptionally high hopes and expectations, and though I overall enjoyed the story, I have to say this one didn’t rise to my expectations as much as I would have hoped. Obviously I have never read a Grant novel I hated or wouldn’t read again, but this story was not up to the normal level of awesome.  Grant’s cowboy novels are always amazing and this story was filled with everything that I would want in a great read, intrigue, betrayal, and romance, but there seemed to have lacked the usual depth and emotional connection between Dillon and Cal for me.  Dillon has had a lot of problems in her past with people disappointing her and she doesn’t trust easily, so when she meets the mysterious and confusing Cal she can’t understand why she almost immediately trusts him with her life.  Cal wakes up with a gun in his face and no idea how he ended up on the land of the sexy rancher that is holding the gun, but he is drawn to her snarky, sassy self and when he discovers her life is in danger, jumps right in to offer his –somewhat meager—services as a bodyguard. The more they spend time together the more they both come to believe that there is much more going on around them they than initially believed, but there is some missing piece that neither can seem to find.  Together they dig through layers of deceit and mistruths, but the connection between them draws them together in passion and there is no denying the need they feel for one another.  When Dillon learns something that makes it nearly impossible for her to continue to trust in Cal, he has to work harder to find the full story and protect the woman that has stolen his heart and soul, or it might just cost both their lives.

While I enjoyed the overall storyline, the mystery and the connections that were uncovered gradually, there was just something lacking in this one for me and I couldn’t connect like I usually can to any Grant story.  I liked Dillon well enough though she let her mistrust and fear leave her in the darkness entirely too much, walling off her heart and doubting her instincts instead of trusting in the one person she always should—herself.  Had she looked deeper into her own life and what led to her fears it was entirely possible she wouldn’t have had half the problems she did and maybe that was why she wasn’t one of my favorite characters.  Cal is the epitome of a loose and carefree cowboy that has hit rock bottom, and I enjoyed getting to see him find his own way out of that stereotype.  It was obvious he was over living his selfish life and wanted to find a place for himself, and when Dillon captured his heart right away he is determined to offer himself up to her 100%.  I will say that there was no lack of passion or sensual connection between these two, even if the emotional connection was hard to find due to Dillon’ trust issues.  Maybe I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind at the time of read this one, and I will certainly give it a reread later on and see how I feel then, because Donna Grant’s books never have left me wanting before.  That said, if you are looking for a fun romantic-suspense with sexy cowboys and creepy villains this story will give you everything you want.  I’m looking forward to whatever comes next on the contemporary shelf for Ms. Grant and hope I’m in the right frame of mind to love it as I have previous stories.

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

Review: Shadow Fallen (Dream-Hunters #6)

Shadow Fallen (Dream-Hunters #6)

by Sherrilyn Kenyon 

Blurb:

For centuries, Ariel has fought the forces of evil. Her task was to protect the souls of innocent mortals when they die. Captured by a powerful sorceress, she is transformed into a human who has no memory of her real life or calling.

And is plunked into the middle of the Norman invasion of England.

Cursed the moment he was born with a "demonic deformity," Valteri wants nothing of this earth except to depart it and will do his duty to his king until then. When a strange noblewoman is brought before him, Valteri realizes he has met her before…in his dreams. When others come for her, bringing with them preternatural predators, he is faced with a destiny he had no idea was waiting. One he wants no part of.

The truth is that Valteri isn’t just a knight of William the Conqueror. He is the son of one of the deadliest powers in existence, and if he doesn’t restore Ariel to her place, she is not the only one who will be in peril. The world itself hangs in the balance, and he is the necessary key to hold back the powers of evil. But only if he can find a way to work with the woman who stands for everything in the universe he hates.

Themes:  Paranormal, Historical

Rating:  4.75 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

Soooooo… I can honestly say I was expecting the setting on this one. I was thrilled to be able to jump back into the Dark-hunter series, after having been on a forced-sabbatical so long due to Sherrilyn’s personal battles, but I was kind of expecting this story to take place in the current timeline. That being said, once I got into the groove and understood just what I was reading I really loved this story and getting to see that pasts of so many of the characters we have come to know and love in the present of the dark-hunters series.  It was interesting as hell to see how Sherrilyn wove her characters and storylines together and brought so many answers to my questions in the end.  It is a little bit tricky to give details on this one without giving a lot away, but I will try my best.  Ariel is a battle angel and has been captured by an evil sorceress and turned human, leaving her with no memory of who she is and in the path of a deadly foe that she should never have come into contact with.  Valteri is a savage warlord who has fought for every scrap of freedom and respect he gets in life, but his loneliness from being seen as demonic spawn due to a birth defect has left him leery of others, and women in particular.  When the beautiful and innocent Ariel is thrown into his life, Valteri fears a trap, but he find himself unable to resist the sweet and oddly brave woman that embraces him and offers him a chance to have happiness for the first time in his shitty life  But when the truth of her past and identity is discovered and the full implications of their actions come to light, Ariel and Valteri have to find a way to come to terms with their new relationship and all the danger they now find themselves in, before their enemy kills them both and starts a war between the forces of heaven and hell that could end the world.  Wow I have to say I have never met to characters that are so seemingly mismatched that turn out to be so perfect together in the end.  I loved seeing Ariel find her humanity and come to terms with her present as she learned to live as a human for the first time. She obviously had to deal with some issues as she experienced true emotions for the first time and learned to do things for herself as a human for the first time in eternity.  Seeing her trust in Valteri and how she showed him love and gentleness from the beginning showed that she could see the goodness in him that he himself denied.  It was rough seeing her dealing with the pain she faced throughout the book, but in the end I felt she grew and changed beautifully into a character that I could recognize as one of Sherrilyn’s bad-ass heroines.  Valteri was a piece of work through a lot of this story, showing only his darkness to everyone but Ariel as a way to protect himself from pain and rejection, but we get glimpses of the vulnerability and softness that he has had to hide for so long in order to survive.  It’s obvious that he is looking for someone to love him and give him their love, but he doesn’t know whom to trust and only when he learn to offer his heart and faith to Ariel unconditionally does he become the strong and vibrant hero he is always meant to be. The passionate pull between these two is there from the very first time they set eyes on one another and only grow more intense as they come to know the heart of one another.   Am dying to read the next in the series of course, though I have no clue where Sherrilyn might be heading in the series, but there were certainly some CRAZY revelations in this story that will make this world interesting. The Queen is back in a big way!

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

Review: Loving Her Highland Thief (Time to Love a Highlander #1)

Loving Her Highland Thief (Time to Love a Highlander #1) 

by Maeve Greyson 

Blurb:

Stay? Lose all she’s ever known. Go? Lose the love of a lifetime.

As a struggling, 21st century farmer, Kenzie MacMartin knows if she doesn’t recover that registered ram that cost her a bundle, her dog won’t be the only one howling in the Highlands. And to make matters worse, when she chases that fool sheep through a cave, she discovers a troupe of trespassing re-enactors mucking up her land with some kind of clan skirmish complete with realistic weapons, monstrous warhorses, and a restless herd of Highland cows. The only upside is their strikingly handsome leader—until he kidnaps her.

Mathias Stronach questions his sanity in laying claim to the strangely dressed woman and her vicious wee dog. Perhaps he should have let the MacPhersons take her prisoner. Then, she would’ve distracted them instead of him. Such daring and fire in this feisty lass. He’d bet his best dagger; her passions burn just as fiercely. And that fine round backside of hers nestled between his thighs as they ride. Makes a man think twice about choices he’s made. Like promising to marry a woman he’s never loved so he can be the next chieftain of Clan Stronach.

When Kenzie realizes she’s barged into the thirteenth century, her priority is getting back to that cave and hoping if she retraces her steps, she’ll find her way back home. But vengeful clans, a medieval sociopath, and the mesmerizing warrior who draws her in like a bee to sweet clover thwarts that priority at every turn. Her head knows better. Her heart refuses to listen.

Themes:  Historical, Time-travel

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 So we all are familiar with the hugely successful story of Outlander, and know that there have been many other time travel romance set in Scotland written both before and since that success, but I can honestly say that of all of them I have read I haven’t enjoyed any as much as I did this new first-in-a-series.  I was thrilled to have the chance to jump into a new series by one of my favorite historical romance authors after the ending of the Highlander heroes series by Maeve Greyson and this first story makes me think I will be roped in for a while as she takes us on a journey with their women out of time and the sexy men that capture their hearts.  Kenzie MacMartin just wanted to get back the ornery ram that escaped his pen again, but when she ventures into a cave system she’s never seen before and finds herself in unknown territory she, her beloved border collie, and the crazy ram are in for a terrifying adventure.  Mathias Stronach never imagined when he and his men were returning to their keep with reeved cattle they would stumble across a confused and oddly-dressed lass wandering the land with her faithful dog and strangely protective ram.  When he determines to take her back to his keep, for her own safety, the fight she puts up only makes her more desirable, which he definitely doesn’t need as he is promised to another.  The fire between these two only continues to grow as Kenzie fight for a way to return to her time even as she develops emotional ties to Mathias and his people, but can a woman out of time really find happiness in medieval Scotland? Kenzie was a wonderful character to get to know and watch grow as she found her footing in her new world, though it was obvious she fought her circumstances every step of the way.  She doesn’t quite know how to deal with the fact that while she wants to return home, she is falling in love with this crazy and somewhat terrifying medieval warrior that can  be sweet at the most unexpected of times.  I loved seeing her deal with those dichotomies and embrace her new circumstances.  Of course her interactions with her dog, the ram, and Matthias’s men were a laugh riot and brought me to tears laughing several times.  Mathias is a man of his time to be sure, but at the same time he understands that women are to be treasured and he gives himself to the women in his life in a way many men of his time never would have.  I enjoyed watching him interacting with his men, his friends and family, and of course with Kenzie as he found a way to untangle himself from his betrothal and give his heart to Kenzie without losing the respect of his clan or his place as their protector.  The best times of the story was the quiet moments between Kenzie and Mathias when they were finding a way to share their hearts and bodies, that passion and sweetness was wonderful to experience.  I am loving this series already and cannot wait for more; the wit, passion, and intelligence of the characters and the plot line will be keeping me coming back for many more installments for sure, Ms. Greyson. 

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

ARC Review: Just One Dare (The Kingston Family #5)

Just One Dare (The Kingston Family #5)

by Carly Phillips

Blurb:

A one night stand with no names exchanged.

Six years later, she comes face to face with her baby’s father again.

Aurora Michaels isn’t the same girl she was that spring night. No longer homeless and living in the back room of a diner where she worked, she’s now a member of the wealthy Kingston family. She has her daughter, a career and has adjusted to her new normal.

Billionaire Nick Dare is a man who takes charge. He runs the hotel arm of the family empire and his life revolves around business and travel. A quick stop at his brother's movie premier has him doing a double take.

The woman who haunts his dreams is there. He’s been given a second chance and is determined to make the most of it.

When he learns about their daughter, Nick becomes a man on a mission. Aurora and their child are his. Even if he has to knock down Aurora’s emotional walls to prove it.

Themes:  Contemporary, Second Chance

Rating:  4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Fans have been waiting for this one for the last six stories and it was worth every second of the wait. I cannot express how much I was looking forward to reading Nick and Aurora’s story. This series is a continuation/spin-off of the Dare series, which is one of the longest running Carly Phillips’s series and one off my favorite by far, and I am thrilled that her imagination seems to be able to continue to stretch and give us more and more Dares to love. Carly is truly one of the masters at her craft but I just cannot understand how she manages to continue to create these amazing and interesting stories and make it seem so easy. Aurora and Nick’s story actually began 6 years earlier for them when they had one magical night and created a beautiful little girl from their passion, but they never exchanged last names so Aurora was never able to share their daughter with Nick.  When she looks across a crowded movie premiere and her past slams into her in the form of Nick standing with an acquaintance of her new family, Aurora has a moment of panic and runs for it.  Nick is beyond surprised but instantly thrilled to see the girl he’s never forgotten and he determines to chase after her, never imagining just how much his life is about to change.  Sharing her daughter with the man who helped create Leah is going to be difficult for Aurora, but Nick is determined to be more than just a father to his daughter.  Fighting to overcome the walls and fears that Aurora’s past have erected around her heart and find  a chance for him to create a family with her is the ultimate battle for Nick, but he is up to the fight.  They have to both get over past hurts and accept the love being offered in order to have the family they all want, but sometimes it just isn’t that easy even if it worth it.  Can Nick convince Aurora he is the man for her and the perfect mate or will he forever be connected but apart from the woman he has lost his heart to?

I loved every single second of this story, no lie, and I was not able to stop reading, even when I went hours past my bedtime on a work night (which is a miracle for me!). Aurora has had a truly tragic and heartbreaking life, but she has never lost the loving and sweet nature that attract people to her; the love she spreads to those around her keeps them pushing against the walls she tried to put up.  She knows that Nick is back in her life for good now that he knows about Leah, but letting him into her heart fully and offering herself to him challenges her on a whole different level and leaves her terrified.  Her vulnerabilities and strengths made her such a real character, one that despite the outrageous recent changes she has gone through keeps her a truly believable woman that I know I could be friends with.  I loved getting to know more about the woman she has grown into now that she is secure in the arms of her new family and seeing how she became such a loving and devoted mother despite not having a role model as such.  Nick is the perfect model of a freewheeling bachelor on the surface, but he’s obviously never forgotten Aurora and once he learns about Leah he steps up and his personality locks down into dad-in-training.  Seeing him begin to grow up and find his niche as a father and mate was painful as he dealt with some fears and insecurities, but he never lost his temper or his cool and became an ass as I have seen in so many similar situations (both real and fictional).  I loved seeing him interacting with his big family and cannot wait to get all their stories (loved how you introduced such a great new set of stories for us, Carly) and know that these Dirty Dares and, hopefully their younger siblings in the future, will be awesome reads.  The passion and fire between these two has been hinted at since the beginning, when Aurora described Leah’s conception, but it becomes much more obvious the minute these two are back in one another’s sphere and once they begin to give into the heat there is no stopping that magnetic pull, which made them combustible.  I am so glad that these two finally got their chance to build a family and find love with their obviously destined match.  I am dying to read the next story in the Dirty Dare’s Series (Just One Kiss) and, whatever comes next, I know that Carly will astound and surprise along the way.  Keep up the fantastic work Carly and I can promise you’ll continue to have more and more lifelong fans like me filling their shelves with your work.

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

ARC Review: Black Mail (Black's Bandits #6)

Black Mail (Black's Bandits #6)

by Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Shy Cassie Dixon was never the girl most likely to succeed. Then she moved to the big city, landed a job she’s good at, and started her own YouTube channel for plus-sized girls like her.

When her channel attracts unwanted attention, the threats quickly turn personal—and vicious. But nobody takes the danger seriously. Not even the police.

BDI operative Tyler Scott agrees to check on Cassie when his favorite cousin insists her bestie’s in danger.

The decorated former Marine doesn’t remember Cassie from high school, but one look into her pretty green eyes and he’s got a feeling he’s hooked.

Before he can fight for her heart, he’ll have to fight for her life—and his.

Because someone wants Cassie dead. And they’ve got a foolproof plan to make it happen.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

There is always a point in a series where an author decides that they need to introduce a new heroine that has a body type that most would not consider ideal, most commonly being a “big girl”, and I have to tell you that is usually when I begin to lose interest in a series.  Being a bigger girl myself currently, but one that has gotten considerably smaller, I have to tell you it bothers me a lot when authors decide to try to “Tackle body image” because most of them do not do it well especially if they don’t live that issue themselves every day.  I am thrilled and proud to say that this did NOT happen with Lynn’s newest story when she decided her awesome female lead was going to be a curvy girl, one with body image issues herself, but that is working hard to make other ladies learn to accept themselves for the beautiful women we are no matter what we look like.  I have loved all of the stories in this spin-off series and this newest story was no exception for sure.  Tyler and Cassie were sensual, sweet and inspiring as they found a way through all their issues and into a future together.  Tyler had his work cut out for him to sure, breaking down Cassie’s walls, but he is the perfect man for the task and succeeded beautifully. I cannot wait for more from this series and with the hints we got it sounds like the next story might be even hotter, which might not seem possible, but each time I think that I am pleasantly surprised.

Cassie Dixon is on a mission to prove that even a curvy girl can be beautiful and find a way to enhance the gifts she has, but that mission seems to have put her in the crosshairs off a stalker.  Tyler Scott, a serious badass and cousin to Cassie’s best friend, barely remembers the young woman from his childhood and what he remembers is just a quiet and shy shadow, but when his cousin calls in a favor he is bound to look into Cassie’s issue.  When he sets eyes on her again for the first time as an adult, Ty is blown away and finds himself instantly drawn to and attracted by the sexy curvy woman that Cassie has become.  Cassie doesn’t think this is that big of a deal, but when Ty forces his way into her life it’s not worth fighting to push the deliciously sexy male that she loved from afar as a child away.  Soon Ty and Cassie as getting closer and closer as the danger to Cassie becomes more deadly and when they begin to explore the passion between them it becomes apparent there is more to them than just two old friends forced together.  Will they admit to their true feelings for one another before a madman makes his move or will they be forever left wondering what could have been?

Cassie was a great character to get to know, beautifully written and more complex than even a lot of my favorite heroines She was such a dichotomy of confidence and vulnerability that you never knew what she might project in any given situation, but the best part was as she grew and spent more time with Ty she accepted more and assimilated the two sides of herself into one complex picture instead.  She was raised in an environment that left her reaching to better herself and get away from her past, with only a few people kept close to her heart, but she stayed a down-to-earth and sweet woman even as she embraced the truth that even as a curvy girl she was beautiful and could present herself well.  Being a bigger girl myself, one that also didn’t get a lot of support in the confidence department growing up, I could really appreciate that she was working to uplift other women and show them the support she lacked.  Once Ty showed her that he truly found her sexy and was attracted to her body, mind, and soul, I think she become even more confidently sensual and there was just no way that he was going to resist losing his heart and soul to her.  Ty was the typical guy, one we have gotten to know well enough in previous stories, that we knew he wouldn’t be mean to Cassie in the beginning but it was obvious from the start that he saw more in her that just her surface layers of “big girl” and into her sweet and stunning soul. He is the quintessential sweet, alpha badass, but his patience, subtlety and willingness to give Cassie all the time she needed to accept the changes in their friendship were a bit surprising to be honest.  The heat he generated any time he thought about or clapped eyes on Cassie were undeniable, and I give him mucho brownie points for being gentle with her and giving her what she needed to blossom and find her footing in their love lives.  I have to say I loved Ty almost as much (though not quite) as I did Ian and I can’t wait to see more of him in future stories as he and Cassie continue their love story far into the future.

Black Mail is one of the best stories I have read in ages, filling me with a true level of contentment in the loving HEA while still giving me a suspenseful story with action and sensuality.  Ty is a man that is after my own heart for sure, giving his all for the woman that has captured not only his interest but his heart in her gentle hands and he refuses to allow her to push him away no matter how hard she resists. Cassie is pretty much 90% me and I loved seeing her bloom in her assurance and strength, giving me hope that maybe someday with the right supportive mate I might be able to do the same.  She was sweet, passionate, loving, and determined to never let another person bring her down which made me love her.  The heat between Cassie and Ty was an undercurrent from the very beginning, with both of them denying and/or fighting the pull, until the explosion was inevitable then there was no denying they both reveled in the change in their relationship.  I am dying for the next story that Lynn is going to give us, especially if it is what was hinted at because I expect the usual heat, humor, sweetness and love that makes Ms. Harris one of my favorite authors and definitely one that I never miss a release from.  If you are looking for a sensual read to while away a hot spring day, I highly recommend Black Mail, along with a full pitcher of ice cold water!

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