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Sunday, November 27, 2022

ARC Review: Just One Taste (Dirty Dare Series #3)

Just One Taste (Dirty Dare Series #3)

Carly Phillips

Blurb:

One grumpy billionaire.

One sassy-sweet​​​​​​​ supermodel.

Add in a tropical private island paradise.

What could go wrong?

As owner and CEO of Dirty Dare Spirits, thirty-three year old, Asher Dare has it all. Money. Power. Women whenever he wants. A private island retreat when he doesn’t. People he trusts? He can count those on one hand. When one of his best friends asks a favor—hide his twenty-one year old, supermodel sister, on the island until a scandal blows over—Asher can’t say no. But he doesn’t have to like it.

The daughter of a Senator and a Presidential candidate, Nicolette Bettencourt always acts with decorum. Yet through no fault of her own, scandal seems to follow her every move. When nude photos surface, the uproar puts her father’s campaign at risk. And forces her into hiding with Asher, the hottest—and grumpiest—billionaire she’s ever met.

Under soothing tropical breezes, Asher discovers that Nicolette is nothing like the spoiled brat portrayed in the tabloids. She’s warm, sexy, and a temptation Asher must resist at all costs—or he risks betraying his closest fr

iend, bringing a powerful political dynasty to its knees… and losing the woman he loves.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The next Dirty Dare has finally met his match and finds love in the most unexpected of women in the new installments of Carly Phillips’s amazing Dare World. I loved this story and found myself anxious, crying, and smiling alongside the characters as they found their way from casual acquaintances forced together into true lovers. Nikki Bettencourt is rudely awoken to a scandal that forces her to flee her condo and the city in order to find some peace and the safest place for her, according to her protective older brother, is one a private island in the Caribbean where no one can find her.  But she isn’t going to the island alone; Nikki’s brother has asked his best friend Asher Dare to escort her to the island and keep her company as she hides out, but as soon as he lays eyes on her the challenge becomes keeping his hands off her.  With the sparks between them, Asher has to work to resist Nikki, until she convinces him that he doesn’t need to resist.  As their time on the island comes to a close, the question becomes with the feelings that have developed between them last and bloom into so much more or will it be just one more missed opportunity for both of them.  This story was filled with laughs, two people overcoming personal roadblocks, and learning to open their heart to others to find love and I enjoyed each moment of it.  Nikki has had a very difficult life, not in that she’s missed out on anything material, but that she has never had the love and support of her parents, or anyone else except her brother, leaving her wary or others, emotionally vulnerable but with a hidden strength that keeps her going despite it all.  It was wonderful watching her reaching for what she wanted with Asher and forcing him to accept the connection between them so they would have a chance for happiness even for a limited time.   Asher was another matter entirely, while I understood his hang-ups about women, given his past, it certainly angered me that he kept denying his true feelings for Nikki until it was almost too late.  Like so many men he put his feelings into a hard shell and whenever he feels threatened he pulls back into himself.  The passion between these two is off the charts from the very beginning and there is no denying they are made for one another.  I am dying for the next (two) stories that are coming our way in this world and the little surprise announcement we got at the end of this book made me cheer.  Carly Phillips wins again and this series just gets better and better!

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

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Review: A Scot of Her Own (Once Upon a Scot #1)

A Scot of Her Own (Once Upon a Scot #1)

Maeve Greyson

Blurb:

Fire and ice. Powerful forces on their own. Combined? Invincible passion.

When mighty Thorburn MacDougall, commander of the Lord of Argyll’s warriors, overpowers the canniest Norwegian he’s ever battled, he rips off the man’s helm to savor the look of horror right before delivering the killing blow. But the canny Norwegian isn’t a man at all. She’s a blue-eyed beauty with fire in her eyes and fury in her soul.

Adellis Bjørnsdóttir weighed the risks and found them worth it. Freedom. At any cost. The only other escape is death, and she’s not ready to give up yet. But the Gallóglaigh warrior, the fearsome Scottish bear she allows to capture her, isn’t the cruel tyrant she thought to endure long enough to secure safe passage to Scotland. He’s protective. Considerate. Stubborn as an ox. And entirely too tempting.

Honor. Chivalry. Outwitting traitors, murderers, and old enemies? All easy enough. But trusting? Finding the courage to love? Therein lies the challenge.



Themes:  Historical

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

A new fun trilogy begins by one of my favorite authors, set in medieval Scotland and revolving around a group of fearsome warriors, led by three sexy and amazing brothers-in-arms.  Maeve Greyson never ceases to entertain when she puts words to paper, and I always know I’m in for an adventure when I pick up one of her novels.  This new series begins with the sexy Thor roaring into battle again a band of Norwegian warriors hellbent of an easy defat so he can return home.  But when he goes to deliver the killing blow against their leader, he is amazed –and terrified—to discover that he almost killed a beautiful young lass.  Adellis is willing to do anything to get to Scotland, even leading a band of warriors against the terrifying Gallóglaigh warriors, and when she is captured in battle instead of killed, she has no expectation of safety or succor.  But the huge Scot that is her capture is not only gentle, he quickly steals her heart as she gets to know him.  With her enemy on their frontlines determined to reclaim her for their nefarious schemes, she has to decide if she can truly trust the Scottish leader or she might end up losing the bit of safety she’s found in his arms. I really enjoyed this short story, with Thor and Adellis’s instant and intense chemistry and their emotional connection running deep.  Thor is dangerous and deadly warrior, but Adellis brings out his softer and sweeter side and he is able to just be still around her.  Adellis has her own fighting nature and inability to fall in line after the dangerous life she has led, but trusting in Thor to keep her safe and offer her the love she needs gives her the chance to breathe for the first time in her life.  They were so obviously made for one another and their passionate natures made for a sizzling romance.  I am looking forward to the rest of the trilogy as Thor’s lieutenants fall in love as well and come to understand why he was willing to sacrifice so much for the woman that stole his heart.  

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

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Review: Vanishing Hour

Vanishing Hour

Laura Griffin

Blurb:

Corporate lawyer Ava Burch has had enough of the big city and the daily grind. She grew up with her father, who raised search-and-rescue dogs, in rural Texas and has moved to the small town of Cuervo to spend time in the dry, rugged wilderness near Big Bend National Park. When she and her dog, Huck, discover an abandoned campsite on a volunteer search-and-rescue mission, she's perplexed, but she carefully photographs it all the same.

All Grant Wycoff can see when he looks at Ava is a city slicker--with her designer jeans and shiny car--who has no business on a serious team made of seasoned outdoorsmen and retired cops. But when she tells him of her findings on the trail, he sees there's more to her than meets the eye.

Ava's discovery reminds Grant of the unsolved case of a young woman who went missing two years ago. As they look into the campsite further, another woman disappears under odd circumstances. With time running out, Ava and Grant must work against the brutal heat from both the Texas sun and their own electric chemistry to solve the case.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Sometimes a change of career and pace is what we all need in life to truly find our happy, and for this new novel by Laura Griffin we get exactly that with our heroine.  Laura Griffin is the type of author that manages to always make her romance novels suspenseful and scary with just enough police procedure and real-life drama thrown in, without losing any of the romance.  Lawyer Ava Burch ahs had enough of the rat race and decides to team up with man’s best friend, Huck, to become one of the foremost search-and-rescue teams in rural Texas.  When on a volunteer search and rescue mission, she stumbles across a suspiciously abandons campsite, documenting and reporting it after the rescue is completed, she can’t seem to let it go. Deputy Grant Wycoff doesn’t have time to deal with a city girl who thinks she knows it all and insists that they investigate some trashed and abandoned campsite, but when more information begins to come in, he soon can no longer deny that Ava might be on to something.  Together they begin to investigate and another woman disappears under suspicious circumstances, they fear their time is running out.  Working together gives them both more insight into one another and maybe their first impressions were wrong and they could have a chance to be friends and maybe even something more. Ava was an interesting character, one of those women with confidence but no ego, who just quietly gets the job done instead of bragging about it. She is smart, driven, and intelligent but never lets anyone tell her what she can and cannot do in life. She’s missed out on a lot in her family but is determined to move forward and find her happy without allowing anyone to lead her astray. Grant is kind of an ass in the beginning, basically typecasting Ava without ever getting to know her, instead of giving her a chance, and then not standing up for her even when he came to respect and believe in her and his superiors tried to set her down and dismiss her.  However, he definitely has his good moments and when they were in private together, he was great to both her and Huck, sweet, kind, and giving after letting go of his preconceived notions.  I enjoyed seeing him as he worked to investigate and locate the kidnapper, and when Ava was ultimately in danger there was nothing that would have stopped him from being the killer down, showing his true level of determination.  The passion between these two was a slow build mostly staying in the background until the trust and friendship was established, but once that foundation was there the relationship blossomed organically and naturally.  I am looking forward to whatever come next from Ms. Griffin and kind of hope we get to see more from these characters, even though we’ve not been told officially this book is part of a series. Another masterpiece Laura!

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

Monday, November 7, 2022

ARC Review: Rage (Kindred: The Fated #1)

Rage (Kindred: The Fated #1)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

Elin feels as if she’s been in the fight of her life forever. She lost her mother to prejudice and misunderstanding and her sister to the Coven, not to mention her home and the freedom to use her magic without consequence. But she finally feels as if she has found a place to at least rest—that is if she can remain hidden.

When a mysterious illness befalls his clan, taking many lives, Rob Mackenzie finally goes to check on the person squatting in the cottage on his family’s land. He hopes to find help. He doesn’t expect the most enchanting and enigmatic woman he’s ever seen or the way she makes him feel—the passions she rouses. But it’s clear she has secrets, and earning her trust may be the toughest battle of his life.

When the truth comes to light that a witch has been targeting the Mackenzie clan, Elin can’t remain sequestered. She knows she can help, and some things are more important—especially when they include saving the man she has quickly come to love. But it means revealing her secret to him and those who have hunted her kind for eons. Those who see anything they don’t understand as evil. Still, Elin hasn’t been able to safeguard those she’s loved in the past. She has to at least try to save Rob and his family.

Even if it means her end.

Themes:  Paranormal, Historical

Rating:  4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

To be perfectly honest I went into this story knowing I would enjoy but not really recalling the characters or their connection to the original Kindred storyline because the previous series ended so long ago (in reading years). I knew I would love it simply because I rarely don’t enjoy one of Donna’s stories and I especially enjoyed the Kindred series, but it wasn’t until the second of third chapter that I really started to recall who Elin was and her connection to the previous series finale. That said I loved how Donna wove this new spinoff from the original series and I am really looking forward to finally getting some closure on a few of the characters I was sad never got their HEA. Elin has not had an easy life, always being hunted and feeling separate from those around her, but she has never given up on the hope of finding a home for herself and the acceptance she craves. She has made a solitary home for herself in a beautiful glen, far away from others, but when her solitude is broken by the brother of the local laird, she knows she won’t be able to stick around much longer. Rob Mackenzie stumbles across the enchanting young woman living alone in the glen and knows she is a flight risk, but he is determined to find someone that can help with the terrible sickness that has covered his kin and clan.  As Rob and Elin begin to spend more and more time together their feelings blossom from friendship into something much deeper, but there are dark forces building against them.  Can Rob offer his faith and trust in Elin and find a way to protect her while she confronts the darkness haunting his Clan  or will Rob forsake her like so many in her past have and leave her in the cold alone again? 

Honestly I loved the story from beginning to end.  The characters were each so unique with their layers of vulnerabilities and fears to their strengths and assets, balancing one another perfectly.  It is obvious that only by working together and fully trusting will they get through the coming battle with the evil and finding a way to move forward in their future.  Elin has a lot to atone for in her mind, but at the same time she knows she can’t offer her trust to others without risking her life.  There have been too many times in her past when she was burned and there is no way she could ever risk it again without fully trusting the one she is with.  I loved seeing her find faith and trust in Rob and offering her heart to him. Rob is obviously beyond his experience and understanding when he first meets Elin, thinking her only a helpless young woman, but he quickly begins to see how powerful and strong she is and begins to trust in her abilities and her willingness to do whatever it takes to keep herself and those she loves safe.  I enjoyed watching him standup for her and show his love against all those that tried to tear her down, even herself. The passion between Rob and Elin was subtle in the beginning but one friendship blossomed into trust the passion had an outlet and there was no denying the heat.  I am dying for the next book in this series as I suspect I know who the couple with be and if so I can only hold back my inner squealing fan-girl so long while I wait.  Once again Donna Grant gives us a spin-off series that is looking at being even better than the original and I cannot wait for it to develop.

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