ARC Review: Fate’s Design (Masters' Admiralty/Trinity Masters Finale)

Fate’s Design (Masters' Admiralty/Trinity Masters Finale) 

Lila Dubois

Blurb:

He vowed to never love again.

After the tragic death of both his wives and his sister, Eric knows that he’s cursed. Every woman he loves dies because he fails to protect them. That’s why, for years, he’s been fighting his feelings for Nikolett–the only person brave enough to stand up to him.

As leader of the dangerous secret society, Eric has the power to force Nikolett to marry someone else. He tried that, desperate to keep her safe, but circumstances, and Nikolett herself, conspired to upend that arranged marriage.

When a friend finally forces Eric to go to therapy, he realizes the past tragedies weren’t his fault, and that he has no desire to live without Nikolett. He arrives in Paris ready to woo the woman he loves…

But he’s too late. She’s on a date with another man.

Nikolett is planning to arrange her own marriage, even though she’s still helplessly in love with Eric. And a chance meeting with a sweet man in a coffee shop months ago might be the key to her future happiness.

Eric and Nikolett’s tangled love isn’t the only danger they face. An elusive enemy called the Spaniard is making plays against the Masters Admiralty, and the only way to catch him may be to use Nikolett as bait.

Themes:  Menage, Series Finale

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 How does one right a review of not just a fantastic love story that has been in the making for years, but a book that brings to a close two twisting series that began over a decade ago written by two of the most amazing authors I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading and reviewing for? Let me tell you it isn’t easy, but after reading this story I have thoughts that just have to be shared and doing so without giving away any of the spoilers is going to be tricky.

To begin I wanted to thank Lila for giving us an ending that finally brings together the two people that we have all been clamoring for even though it has been a complicated and messy relationship, we refused to let her end the series without giving us Eric and Nikolett. And of course, a second and bigger thank you to both Lila and Mari Carr for giving us over a decade of fabulous twisty and turny stories as they moved us through the Trinity Masters and Master’s Admiralty series leading up to this fabulous ending.  Eric and Nikolett have led one another on a merry chase through a bitter and often heartbreaking adventure as they dealt with their hangups and fears, but finally they have found their way in this amazing tale of trauma, healing and love.  But they have an insidious enemy that has finally decided that the endgame has arrived, and he is no longer going to stay in the shadows. The Spaniard is coming out of the darkness to enact the ultimate revenge against the Master’s Admiralty, Nikolett and most importantly Eric. After finally finding love and forgiveness, Nikki and Eric have to fight for their lives and the lives of their people as the Spaniard works even harder to end them all in a flaming mess of pain and degradation.

I loved every painful, beautiful and heart mending moment of this story.  From watching Nikolett open up about her past again and again, finally coming to terms with her past and allowing love to lead her to the truth of her own worth, to showing those she loves the vulnerable woman that requires help sometimes. Nikki is obviously a woman that knows her own mind and strength, but sometimes strong women need to be able to put down their swords and let others shield them as they rest. Eric also finally came to terms with his trauma, admitting his shortcomings and releasing his fears and erroneous beliefs that everything that has ever gone wrong in his life was his fault, allowing him to heal and give Nikki the love and faith she needed.  Once he was able to offer her a healed and whole heart, he became the man she needed and wanted to stand by her side and be the lover and husband that she deserved.  Together they were finally able to learn more about and understand their enemy, no longer confused by their complicated relationship and allowing them to think more clearly, and oh boy was that enemy a doozy.  The Spaniard was truly and interesting and multilayered enemy, one that had interesting and deep-seated issues, and I would have liked to see him overcome and maybe get a book of his own later as a hero, but all good things must come to and end.  The passion and fire of the chemistry between Nikki and Eric was definitely undeniable and powered their relationship through the painful moments until they got past in order to heal.

I honestly almost died at the end of the book (until the epilogue) but thank gods we got that epilogue, or I might have tracked Lila down and made her pay. (j/k, sorta) But we now have a proper ending to the series and hopefully someday Lila and/or Mari will come back and maybe we’ll get second generation Trinity Master’s stories, but if not, I’m thrilled with this ending and can’t wait for whatever these two authors give us next. I’m sad to watch it end, but it’s been a wild and amazing ride that I’ll never forget, so thanks Lila (and Mari) for an amazing ending and a series that changed my life for the better.

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

Mini ARC Review: Snowed in with My Best Friend (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9.5)

Holiday Friend Zones: Snowed in with My Best Friend (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9.5)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

Imagine spending the holidays alone. Now imagine spending the holidays in the friend zone. Not a chance.


One bed. Snowed in. One look at your best friend across the eggnog.

This holiday season, take a risk on love.

Get out of the friend zone with ALL NEW holiday novellas from some of your favorite romance authors!

Themes:  Holiday Novella

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I loved a good holiday short story, especially one that brings in some of our favorite characters from previous stories and allows us to get glimpses of others that we never got to learn more about. Carrie Ann Ryans gives us a great holiday novella where we get to see Cullen, the long-time master plumber for the Montgomery Builders, finally gets his chance to show his best friend the true depth of his feelings when they find themselves stranded in a snowstorm. Posy never imagined that traveling to her parents for Christmas with her best friend would find them stranded together in a blinding snowstorm and finally confronting their chemistry. Cullen and Posy have both been resisting the pull they’ve felt but now that they’ve given in to their needs, they have to decide if their relationship is worth taking a risk on, or is their one night is all it will ever be. I loved watching these two come to terms with their feelings and admit that they have both been slowly falling in love with one another, even as they admitted their love and desire for one another. It was great to watch them both fumble their way, sometime awkwardly through their emotions and finally admit their needs and wants, until in the end they realized they’d both finally wanted the same things all along. I loved the passion and sweetness that they shared and seeing them interacting with their Montgomery friends was amazing and I hope to see them in future stories. The holidays are never more fun than with a room full of  Montgomerys and a bunch of cheese to kick the party off right, and Carrie Ann knows that truth to her bones.

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

Mini ARC Review: All I Want for Christmas is a Hitman

All I Want for Christmas is a Hitman (Holiday With a Hitman #3)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

She’s just trying to keep her farm running and her llamas out of trouble…

Scout isn’t sure what to do with the stranger who showed up on her farm carrying a bag of cash and weapons—so she orders her llama to knock him out. But when her nasty neighbor shows up trying to cause trouble, the stranger takes over and keeps her safe so she figures she can trust him enough. If only he wasn’t so sexy and distracting…

He’s a hitman looking for redemption…

The last thing Hudson remembers is being on a job. Then he wakes up in a strange bed with a lump on his head, wearing llama pajama pants that are just a little too tight. And oh yeah, there’s an angry-looking llama watching him through an open window. As a lethal hitman, he immediately starts calculating how to get out of his current situation—until the most gorgeous woman he’s ever seen walks through the door. The idea of sticking around suddenly doesn’t seem so bad. And when it’s clear someone wants to hurt her, he decides that they’ll have to go through him—if only he can convince her to trust him. After that, he’s going to convince her to spend forever with him. And that’s going to take a Christmas miracle.

Themes:  Holiday, Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The long awaited (by me at least) third installment of the Holiday with a Hitman series had finally dropped for this holiday season so that we can get more of this crazy group of hitmen and their friends as they fall in love and lose their hearts to the most unlikely of individuals. Katie Reus started the adventure with us two Christmases ago when she introduced her first hitman and we watched the antics and learned just how weird a hitman falling in love at Christmas could be. With each new story and couple, we get to meet new characters and have all new adventure as Reus finds the most unlikely of storylines to lead her characters through the holidays and to the HEA they’ve earned. Hudson wakes up to find himself tied to a bed with the strangest of jailers—a llama that is spitting mad and her sexy owner that is a mystery and intrigue to Hudson. Scout is not prepared for the sexy man that arrived on her ranch with a bag of cash and weapons, but when he steps up and protect her from two threatening individuals, she is willing to give him a chance when he asks for a job. Hudson knows nothing about working as a ranch hand—he’s a hitman for heaven’s sakes—but he knows when a woman is in need of protection and he is determined to keep Scout safe, even if her llamas seem to have a personal vendetta again him. As Scout and Hudson, along with a few friends, work to get the ranch ready for the Christmas festival, their friendship begins to blossom into something much deeper and their chemistry is undeniable. But there is a real enemy out to harm, Scout, one that could endanger both their lives if they don’t proceed with extreme caution. Can they figure out who is threatening Scout and trying to take her ranch from her in time to keep them both safe, or will they end up on the losing end of the fight this Christmas? Seeing Scout and Hudson as they found love in this story was fabulous, but I have to say I loved meeting the llamas just as much. Scout is a sweet, loving, caring, and interesting woman to be sure and you can easily see that she is obviously the perfect match to Hudson’s taciturn and quiet ways. Hudson has lived in the dark for a long time, but he’d never truly been a bad man, being careful about the jobs he takes and always making sure that the people that he takes out are truly worth the hit. When Scout learns the truth of Hudson’s life and career she not only accepts it, she embraces his friends and family wholeheartedly, never letting him think she looks down on them. Overall, this story was heartwarming, sweet, joyful, and filled with the love and laughter you always want in a holiday romance, but with the edge of a Katie Reus novel filled with hitmen and drama. I am dying for next year’s story and cannot wait to find out who it will be next.

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

ARC review: Running with the Werewolf (Darkaway Island # 1)

Running with the Werewolf (Darkaway Island # 1)

Laurie London

Blurb:

Daphne Dupree needed to get out of town after things at work got a little…complicated. The last thing she expected when she filled out a silly online quiz was winning a singles trip to paradise. Too good to be true? Probably.

Turns out, Darkaway Island is more than a little strange. People in costumes. Large dogs running around unleashed. But the weirdest of all is that she seems to be part of a…dating contest.

The prize: a smoking-hot cowboy with an unhealthy fixation on the moon.

Travis Monroe wasn’t planning to stay long on the island. As the grumpy werewolf star of a supernatural soap opera, all he wants is to give his newly-inherited ranch to his sister then fly back to the set on his private plane.

Trouble is, if he isn’t mated by the White Wolf Moon, the ranch reverts to a half-brother he just met, and his sister loses everything.

Solution: Find a mate, sign over the property, break up.

Falling in love isn’t in the script.

As Travis and Daphne spend time together on group dates and one-on-ones, his feelings for her grow, extending far beyond duty to his family.

And she learns he’s more—much more—than just fangs and fur.

But a rival pack is stirring up trouble, and Daphne is hiding a secret of her own.

Do Travis and Daphne find love in paradise only to lose it in the end?

Themes:  Paranormal, Shifters, magick

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

An all-new adventure begins from an author that has been quiet for a while but has decide to return with a series that is looking to be filled with humor, passion, and excitement. Laurie London, author of the Sweetblood Vampire series, brings us to a hidden island off the coast of Washington State, where magical beings rule and the weather is as tropical as it gets, but humans are only welcome under strict circumstances and with conditions. Daphne Dupree accidentally makes it through the careful vetting and lands an all expenses paid trip to the island for a month, just when she needs an escape from her life in Atlanta, and though she has concerns she is not in a position to ask too many questions.  When she passes through a strange fog on the ferry from Seattle and finds herself on a beautiful tropical island her mind starts to spin even more and when she ends up in the hospital with the man who saved her from being hit by a car—with his bare HANDS—things begin to get even more terrifying. Travis Monroe is the new alpha of his pack, but only if he finds a mate before the next White Wolf Moon, in just 8 weeks, and he never imagined the human woman he saved from certain death would play such an important role in his future. Sucked into a dating game, a la The Bachelor, Daphne and Travis are spending more and more time together and soon their feelings are entirely too real, but Daphne has a secret and an enemy after her while Travis has his own potential problems that could come between them. Can a human with just a touch of magick in her life and an alpha werewolf that lives his life in the limelight really find love in the tropical sand under the scrutiny of an entire town of people, or will they be pulled apart by forces darker than they imagined? I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this new series, but I was thrilled to find myself laughing and really becoming invested in the story as Daphnes found herself learning all about the supernatural world that she never imagined existed around her. Travis was a hoot as he navigated the dating game as and dealt with all the changes in his life, he was sweet and caring with his family and pack, protective and growly with Daphne but definitely loved her assertive side as well, showing he loved a strong woman. Daphne was stronger than she realized, caring and empathic, friendly and valiant when standing up for her friends, and I loved it when she finally admitted her feelings to herself and Travis and decided that she’d found her place and people in this new world.  The chemistry between Daphne and Travis was explosive from the very beginning and you could tell from the first moment that they were meant to be, and the heat was enough to singe everyone around them. I am really looking forward to however gets a story next in this series between the others we met along the way to Travis and Daphne’s HEA were truly characters and I can’t wait to read more about them. This series is going to be one that keeps my interest for a while for sure.

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

ARC Review: Just One More Date (Just One More Date #7)

Just One More Date (Just One More Date #7)

Carly Phillips

Blurb:

Leo Watson needs a pretend girlfriend for a business Christmas party.

Could the cute barista who serves his favorite coffee drink play the part?

Camille Hendricks is willing… for a price—an interview at his sister’s PR company.

The game seems easy, but their attraction is all too real.

When sexy lines are crossed, both Leo and Cammie stand to lose something more important than business.

They risk losing each other.

Themes:  Holiday Novella

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

My favorite part of the holidays coming is all the authors getting into the spirit by sending us short holiday novellas tied to some of our favorite series, and we get one of the best from Carly Phillips this year. I was thrilled to see this story though I didn’t recognize the name of the character that tied to the Sterling series immediately, but we quickly learn the connection as Leo explains himself and we see him interacting with friends and family. Leo Watson, good friend to Charlotte “Charlie” Sterling is in need of a fake girlfriend to impress the bigwigs at his company Christmas party this year and he goes out on a limb and asks the sexy-cute barista at his favorite coffee spot to fill the spot.  Camille “Cammie” Hendricks is struggling to make it through the holidays and when Leo offers her a chance interview with his sister’s prestigious PR firm in exchange for being his data at the party she jumps at the chance, especially since she’d have said yes to the date anyway since he’s gorgeous. As they spend time getting to know one another, you know to make the “girlfriend” thing more realistic at the party, Cammie and Leo quickly begin to develop feelings for one another and their relationship becomes less a fake situation and much more of the real thing, but can two such different people find love before Christmas, or will the Grinch win again this year? I loved this story from start to finish; filled with humor, sweetness, loving gestures and the bravery of two people that have both been hurt in the past and are stepping out on a limb in order to find a chance together, Carly takes on a trip through love and healing. Cammie is the perfect Christmas elf, filled with love, determination, hope and happiness, even when she is kicked, let-down, and the darkness seems to be all around her. Leo has always been the kind of guy that lets the holidays happen around him instead of participating, but with Cammie he begins to really see the beauty of the season and experience the love and joy of the holidays in an all-new way.  The passion between them was burning from start to finish and even when they were just teasing one another was obviously perfect.  I am sad to see this series end, but in the same vein it was such a wonderful journey I can easily see myself returning to this family again and again.

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

ARC Mini Review: Mountain Fire (Elven Kingdoms #4)

Mountain Fire (Elven Kingdoms #4)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

He’s the fire I crave—and the danger I can’t escape .

I entered a hidden city of power and secrets, only to find myself consumed by him. Body and soul.

Strong, unyielding, and impossible to resist, he commands everything around him—including me. Every movement, every word, every heated glance pulls me deeper into his orbit.

His touch scorches, his gaze dragging me closer to the edge where passion and danger collide.

Darkness lurks around every corner, but desire is the deadliest temptation. I never meant to surrender my heart.

But some flames are impossible to fight.

And in this world of shadows and lies, I must face what’s burning between us before it destroys us both.

Themes:  Paranormal, Elves, Dragons

Rating: 4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The Elven Kingdom series continues to twist and turn and now we get to know more about the Mountain elves and most importantly we see Manu in his natural habitat. Donna Grant has always been one of those authors that can take one series and then branch it into so many more that if you don’t take copious notes you will become lost wandering around her worlds. For those of us following along, we are now venturing deep into the mountains of Shecrish where the Mountain Elves’ leader Manu is currently hiding refugee children from the Masters—slavers that he and several others are working to bring down, and we are about to find out if his heart and powers of observation will keep him alive.  Inej is a human that has always tried to stay off the radar of the elves that surround her because they are so much more powerful and dangerous than her, but when the only person that she –reluctantly—calls a friend becomes a victim of the kidnappings, she is set on a path she never imagined.  Now she is trying to assassinate the leader of the group kidnapping human and elves—Manu—and she is slowing earning his trust and coming to know the elf. But the more time Inej spends with Manu the more she comes to question his identity as the mastermind behind the slavery and kidnapping of so many individuals because it just doesn’t seem to be in his nature or actions. As they begin to fall in love both Manu and Inej question their feelings for one another and the paths that led them together, but can two people that came together trough a lie truly finds love and happiness together or are they destined to forever have a wall between them? And even more will outside enemies decide that their time together is up permanently. I enjoyed this story greatly, even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the double agent trope, Inej took entirely too long to begin questioning everything she’d been told and start thinking for herself. She is obviously a smart and resourceful woman, but she let her prejudices and hurts lead her down a dark and dangerous path for too long and it almost cost her not just her life but also Manu. Manu on the other hand was too trusting and should have asked more questions of those around him, not just Inej because he was far too easily almost defeated because he was complacent. I wonder where this world will lead next and what kind of mischief Gita will get up to next, but I look forward to seeing more of the elves and their world in coming stories. Grant always manages to snare my attention and leave me dying for more so I don’t doubt that other reader will back me up in saying Mountain Fire was a fabulous ride.

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

ARC Review: Ethan (Ghost Ops #5)

Ethan (Ghost Ops #5)

Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Dead to their pasts. Ghosts. No family ties. No connections. Six men with a top-secret mission move to a small town where they have to navigate local life, protect their secret, and, above all, stay single.

Ethan "Dragon" Snow has spent five years trying to forget the woman who got away. When Paisley Allen walks into Sutton's Creek as the new head librarian, he's stunned—and even more shocked when he meets her four-year-old daughter. He could be wrong, but does the little girl have his eyes?

Paisley fled Florida to escape her abusive husband, a disgraced former Hostile Operations Team soldier with a dangerous obsession. She’s found the perfect place to start a new life far from her ex—until she runs into a ghost from her past.

The last thing she wants is help from Ethan, the man who walked away without a word when she needed him most. But when her ex tracks them to Sutton's Creek, she has no choice.

Ethan isn't supposed to get involved. His cover, his team, his mission—everything depends on staying away from Paisley. But how can he walk away from the woman he never forgot and the daughter who might be his?

First, he'll have to convince Paisley to trust him—and prove he won't abandon her ever again. Because he finally has a chance to be the man he’s always wanted to be—and to claim the family that should have been his.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Who doesn’t love a good second chance love story, especially one where the villain that caused the separation of the lovers finally gets defeated? Well Lynn Raye Harris gives that too us in a big way in her fifth installment of the Ghost Ops series as Ethan learns the truth of his past and is reunited with the love of his life. I have been looking forward to this story, getting to learn what happened between Ethan and Paisley and hoping they would find their way back to love. As always these lovers have to go through a love of drama, both in their present and digging through their past hurts, in order to earn their HEA, but that only makes it so much richer when the eventually have their family, happiness, and safety. The series continues to amaze us as each of these solitary operators finds themselves learning more about their need for love and losing their hearts to women that not only keep butt, they offer the safe space they need to land when their jobs get crazy. I am dying for the finale of this series where Alex “Ghost” Bishop will be brought down by a woman, and I like so many others have a suspicion which woman it will be, and the team will finally finish their mission and decide what their futures will look like. Harris knows how to drag you right into the lives of her characters and leave you instead and rooting for the love and happiness of her heroes, but really she’s reminding us that we all just need to find that perfect match and sometimes fate puts them right into our path.

Ethan “Dragon” Snow never imagined that he would look across the room in small town Alabama and see the woman that shattered his heart years ago, but when Paisely Allen walks in with his friends’ women his life is immediately turned upside down—again. Paisely is just as stunned to see Ethan, but when he pretends they’ve never met she lies as well, even though he is the one that broke her heart which led to the darkest years of her life. She and her daughter are just finding some semblance of normality and safety and she fears that adding Ethan into the mix will just upend all of that. But the more time they spend in one another orbit, the more truths of their past come to light and soon both Ethan and Paisely are unable to deny their chemistry and connection has never lessened.  When Paisley and her daughter are suddenly facing danger, Ethan is determined to keep them safe and in his life, because the new life he is building with his girls is the most important thing to him, and no one will take his family away from him.

This story was a difficult one, learning all that Paisely was put through and the trauma of her past was painful to read for sure. Paisely has a strength that has been forged in the fires of hell, the years since she lost Ethan, trapped with a narcissistic, possibly sociopathic, now ex-husband that has more than once caused physical and emotional harm. She kept her inner light, even if it was dimmed by her ex, and when she is with her friends, her daughter Violet, or Ethan she is able to shine her light. She is smart and sassy and will stand up to a bully and refuses to continue to be a victim, but my favorite characteristic was that Paisely was forgiving. Ethan was such an idiot in the beginning,  pretending that Paisely was a stranger and being rude to her without even giving her a chance to speak, making me want to kick his butt. It wasn’t until he finally manned up and opened his ears to learn about their shared past, so they could both learn the truth of the end of their relationship that I started to like him again. He is brave, sweet, protective, and caring, especially with Violet—even before he learns the truth of her parentage. He is sexy and playful, reminding Paisely that there is more to a relationship that just work and danger, and of course his passions were easy to appreciate as he made up for lost time with the woman he lost.

Ethan’s story is one of miscommunication, second chances, and deceptions that remind us that some of the most dangerous people hide behind a perfectly unassuming mask. Paisely and Ethan trusted the wrong person and it changed the course of their lives, leaving them both suffering and picking up their lives instead of happy together. Now they have a chance to rewrite their story and together they will succeed only if they decide to have faith in one another. Paisely is a woman determined to turn the chapter on her story and start over for herself and her daughter, but offering her heart again was not in her plan, until she ran into Ethan again; now she has to decide if letting him back into her heart is the only way to go forward and have that happy next path in life or if it will be another mistake.  Ethan has no intention of settling down in Podunk Alabama like his buddies have, but is plans are FUBAR when Paisely walks into the bar one night and changes everything, bringing not just his heart back to life but giving him a chance at a family he never knew he’d lost and he will do whatever it takes to keep it. The passion between these two was a roller coaster ride, obviously they never stopped wanting one another so as soon as they got over their past fears and pain, it was unleashed in a big way. I cannot wait for Alex and once that series finale is done I know that whatever Ms. Harris send out into the world it’ll be just as amazing as this series spin-off has been. I never fail to enjoy myself when reading a Harris story and you can’t go wrong with a hot special ops alpha male losing his heart in a big way.

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

ARC Review: If You Were Mine (The Cage Family # 3)

If You Were Mine (The Cage Family # 3)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

The last words I said to my best friend were “I trust you”. Then the world went dark, and I nearly lost everything.

While my best friend’s little sister lost even more.

I promised him that I’d take care of her—but if he knew my current thoughts when it came to Harper, he’d have never trusted me.

She’s too young for me. Too bright to my shadows. And too tempting.

Now I’m stuck in our small town, and I can’t escape her. I’d rather hide in my cabin, restoring what was once lost. Only Harper won’t let me.

I’ve already held onto more secrets than my family knows. I don’t know if I can keep what I feel about her secret too.

She sees beyond my scars and anger, and I know she hides her own just as tightly.

When one kiss changes everything, there’s no going back—even if it shatters everything in our wake.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

Carrie Ann Ryan never fails to rip out your heart in order to set up her characters for a journey through the pain of loss and growth in order to heal and accept the love that they’ve been denying.  This latest edition in the Cage Family series is one that I have been looking forward to as much as I have been dreading it, knowing I’d be in tears as much as I would be falling in love.  Harper and Dorian’s story began years ago despite them both denying or hiding from their feelings but when horrible tragedy changes their lives forever, they both begin to accept that some things can never go back to the way they were before, and maybe they shouldn’t. I enjoyed every moment of their story and while I was terrified that they wouldn’t find a way through their pain and sadness to happiness, I hoped that with the support of their friends and family they could accept one another and the future they deserved.  Dorian’s life changed forever on the day that his best friend was lost, but he has worked hard to get his independence and freedom back and he is determined that hiding out in the small town his family owns wont force him to back slide.  Harper lost not just her brother, the only family she had left, that day but also the man that she’d always secretly loved, because Dorian has pushed her even further out of his life.  When he comes back to Cage Lake, she is determined show him that she will be there for him and that their friendship is worth fighting for, but when their friendship goes so much further, she wants to show him that her love could be something even greater.  Now Dorian and Harper have to find a way to prove to one another and everyone around them that their relationship is everything they both want and need and that being together is worth any challenge and overcoming their fears to find the love they were always meant to have.

If You Were Mine is one of those stories that it is hard to summarize and review because it truly does need to be experienced to understand the depth and greatness of the connections between these characters.  From the love between all the siblings, to the long-term friendships, depth of the love that develops between the H/h and even the twisted love between parents and children that have too long kept secrets.  Dorian is the perfect tortured hero, one that is not only physically hurt, but mentally and emotionally challenged and forced to heal as he grows and changes with the help and love of his girl.  It was beautiful to watch him find his balance not only with Harper and the love they shared, but also with his siblings when he finally let go of the secret, he’d been living with most of his life.  Harper was wonderful as well, having lived through so much in her young life, loss after loss, but never giving up on love and never letting those painful experiences turn her away from living her life to the fullest.  She knows that life is short and will do everything in her power to make sure that Dorian heals and give them a chance to find the love and happiness they both want and deserve.  The more we get to know these MANY Cage siblings the more I love the and look forward to getting to know them, so I cannot wait to find out who gets their story next and what they will have to go through to find their heaven.  Ms. Ryan will surely take us all on a wild ride and we will all be lined up for it.

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

ARC Review: Falling for Violet

Falling for Violet

Katie Reus

Blurb:

It was supposed to be a simple favor…

Plan the perfect wedding for her best friend. Then enjoy margaritas by the pool once her bestie is off on her honeymoon. Easy, right? Wrong. Violet has planned hundreds of weddings, but something weird is going on with her best friend’s wedding. Plus her best friend’s younger brother is back home from his deployment overseas, and she’s seeing him in a whole new light. To her surprise, he’s looking at her in a whole new way too—like she’s cake and he wants seconds…and maybe thirds. Worse than that, she wants him too.

She never expected to fall for her best friend’s brother…

Tripp has wanted his older sister’s best friend for longer than he wants to think about. Now that they’re working closely together on his sister’s wedding—and he’s permanently back in the country—he’s making his move. Or that’s the plan, but then a flock of flamingos are released at the rehearsal dinner, and the bride disappears with an apparent case of cold feet. Now they’re all on damage control. If he’s ever going to claim the woman of his dreams, he’s got to help her salvage this wedding and prove that he’s not her best friend’s annoying younger brother anymore. He’s all grown up and ready to stake his claim.

Themes:  novella, Contemporary

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 I always love with Katie slips one of these little teasers to us to fill in the gaps until we get another Redemption Harbor story because we get teasers of the characters and sometimes crossovers.   In this story we get to see Bradford and his wife as well as hearing a few other familiar names, but the main characters are two childhood friends that finally have their time as adults.  Violet is a Wedding Planner extraordinaire whose best friend is getting married so she’s the maid of honor instead of working, but she kind of is anyway.  Tripp is the brother of the bride, and he has changed a lot in the six years since she saw him last, and Violet is feeling all kinds of feelings she shouldn’t be feeling for her best friend’s little brother.  Tripp has grown up into a warrior, but he never stopped wanting Violet and he is determined to seduce her into a relationship at his sister’s wedding. When weird occurrences start happening with wedding events which could cause mayhem, Violet and Tripp team up to make sure the bride and groom never realize someone is trying to sabotage their big day and the more time they spend together the more they both realize the desire is mutual and hard to resist. Once the wedding is over will they stick together or will Violet run from Tripp faster than an ice sculpture melts in the Louisiana heat? I loved every minute of this cute story of two long-time acquaintances finally opening their eyes to one another and getting their chance at love.  Tripp and Violet were both great characters, funny, smart, and dedicated to their shared goal of making the wedding happen, but when they were together you could see the sparks flying.  I would have loved to see their story be a full-length novel, but alas, I will make do and just hope to see move of them in future stories.  If you enjoy a sweet, spicy, and funny read that will keep you entertained for a few hours, you can’t go wrong Falling for Violet right alongside Tripp in this novella release by Katie Reus.

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

ARC Review: Caught in a Storm (Perfect Storm #3)

Caught in a Storm (Perfect Storm #3)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

In the storm of life, some passions can’t be tamed.

Mila has spent her life working on Stormy Weather Farm, alongside her fiercely loyal, slightly eccentric family. The Storms believe in hard work, the importance of tradition, and—most of all—love at first touch. It’s a family legend, passed down like a vintage bottle of when you touch the one meant for you, you’ll just know.

Mila always thought it was just a romantic notion… until Boone.

A rugged, brooding single father with a past that still smolders, Boone has one giving his twelve-year-old daughter a stable, quiet life. Love? He’s been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. Or so he thinks…until Mila.

She’s all sunshine and cinnamon, and she makes Boone ache with cravings he thought were long dead. Every time she blushes, every time she touches him by accident, the tension coils tighter.

Soon, late-night harvests turn into stolen glances, and shared glasses of wine become heated whispers in the dark. But love is risky business, and Boone’s heart isn’t the only thing on the line—his daughter’s trust, and Mila’s future, hang in the balance.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

One always wonders what an author will do with a character like Mila that has been pigeonholed into a role in not only her family but her entire life—a role that she isn’t necessarily happy or fulfilled living. Sometimes it can lead to very tragic circumstances and others to very crazy changes for a character, but for Mila our Queen of Romance took just the right direction by bringing Boone and his daughter into her life to teach her what she needed to change and what was missing for her. Mari Carr never lets us down when she takes us on an adventure be it bringing together three disparate personalities to find love, or just simply two stubborn people that have to overcome their own personal hang-ups to find a way to build a future together. I fell in love with this story from the very first meeting between Boone and Mila and wasn’t able to put it down until the very last word and I am dying to find out what comes next for these Storms and the craziness that never seems far from their love lives.

Mila Storm has always been the dutiful good girl, working on the family farm in whatever role is needed at any given time, but when she suddenly finds herself falling through the air and landing in the lap of the new vineyard manager her life changes forever. Boone Hansen arrived with his daughter on Stormy Weather Farm hoping for a fresh start for them, but when the first person he sees is a gorgeous younger woman falling from a ladder his heart almost stops.  Saving her with his own body as a crash pad causes all kinds of reactions for both of them, but he isn’t a relationship kind of guy and Mila has forever written all over face, so he pushes her away—hard. But the more time Mila spends with his daughter and around him the more he wants her until finally he can no longer deny the need and soon, they find themselves having an affair that terrifies him but fulfills something in Mila she never thought she’d find.  But when Boone’s past comes back to try to separate them, they have to decide if what they have is worth devoting their time to building a future for, or if they will walk away from a love neither of them ever imagined they could find.

I cannot express my love for these two characters enough; Mila is the perfect family member that I would have LOVED to known, the best sister, niece, friend, and just all-around human being.  While she is the kind of person to always jump in when someone needs help, she never forgets when there is something special happening and always goes the extra mile to make you feel loved. She is caring, smart, sassy, knows what she wants (even if she has trouble expressing it), and is determined to show those she loves that they matter to her.  She is also a crafty businesswoman, ingenious when she is making plans, and dedicated when she wants something.  While what she wants out of life might not seem like BIG things to a lot of people, she works hard to get what she wants and never fails to reach for her happiness even if she gets hurt in the end.  Not going to lie Boone was a bit of a twat in the beginning, knowing that he was breaking Mila’s heart by denying their attraction simply because he was too afraid to try a relationship again after the disaster of his first wife (and boy-howdy she was a piece of work), but when he finally pulled his head out, I liked him.  He is strong, loving, masterful, carting, nurturing, and gives credit when due but he is definitely a true alpha, no denying that. I would love to see him with even more daughters making him crazy, maybe learning that you can’t always win and argument with “because I said so”.

As a reader we always love to feel like we are along for the ride as the H/h are getting to know one another and finding love, and I definitely felt like I was Caught in a Storm, right alongside Boone and Mila. Mari Carr takes us back to the mountains of VA and lets us experiences a beautiful winter filled with weather issues, all of the teenage angst of a “new girl” situation, and of course all the craziness of lust and love denied and accepted.  Mila Storm is beginning to question her life as a sweet Storm girl more and more when she lands in the arms of the mans of her dreams, only to find herself soundly rejected, but soon her heart is invested in the Hansens, and she has to decide if she will fight for the man she can’t live without.  Boone Hansen is determined to live out his life with no more attachments, burned badly by his first wife, but Mila challenges every desire and need he’s ever felt and the more time he spends with her and her family, the more he wants her in his life and his bed.  When he finally gives in and takes her into his heart, Boone has to convince her that he will fight for them every step of the way and nothing and no one will ever tear them apart, or he could lose his only real chance at a happy ever after.  I loved the heat and passion of the lightning strike between these two, but even more I was warmed by the slow burning fire they nurtured as they built a friendship and then love that will support them for all their years. I am very much looking forward to the next story in the series because I just bet Maverick’s story of woe and heartbreak that has been kicking him for years is going to be a doozie. Carr strikes gold again.

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

ARC Review: Fighting for Hope (Redemption Harbor Security #7)

Fighting for Hope (Redemption Harbor Security #7)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

He never expected someone like her…

Redemption Harbor security expert Bradford never thought he would fall in love, until Hope blew up his world. But after their wedding in Vegas, she disappeared—and he was shipped out to places unknown. He still doesn’t know why she ran, and he’s learned to live with that. The one thing he can’t accept is living without her. So when he discovers she’s in danger, he won’t be walking away this time.

Now he’s ready to burn down the world to keep her safe.

Investigative journalist Hope has never gotten over Bradford. But no matter how much she loves him, it never would have worked. She doesn’t know how to love herself, let alone someone else—and he deserves someone who can give him everything. Only now that a dangerous enemy is gunning for her, she can’t trust anyone except Bradford. As they race to stay alive and uncover the truth, she finds herself struggling to protect her heart against the biggest threat of all: her estranged husband.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Bradford and Hope have been on our minds ever since he started hinting that he had a woman that plagued his mind when the others would tease him about other women in the past novels. Finally we get to hear the full story and see what happened to these two lovers that were obviously meant to be together and just couldn’t get on the same page for far too long. Katie Reus’s ability to portray rich characters, crazy complicated plots, and deadly action never ceases to amaze and enamor readers with each new installment in her Redemption Harbor series. This latest novel takes us to a small town where two lovers that never really severed ties are finally given a chance to be there for one another and not only solve the mystery of their own love life but bring down a ring of dangerous criminals that have working in the shadows for far too long. Bradford, Rowan, Berlin and the rest of the RH crew are in for a seriously crazy adventure and readers will enjoy each action packed mission as they let their crazy out just that little bit more to bring down the bastards out to end Hope’s life and Bradford’s chances at happiness.

Bradford once offered his heart to Hope Berkley, knowing she wasn’t the type of woman to stick around, but unable to deny to himself that she owned his soul. After a brief weekend in Vegas, Hope left him behind but neither of them ever filed for divorce, and when her father dies there is nowhere he would be then right there at her side. Hope never imagined she’d have Bradford at her side again, but not only is she grateful for his support, but things are getting strange in her small hometown. There are dangerous men threatening her, and masked me have broken into her father’s house, and now that the Redemption Harbor team is in town Bradford is determined to find out what is going on. The deeper the team digs, forcing Hope to spend more time with the only man who’s ever come close to stealing her heart, the stranger things get for them all. Hope and the team have to figure things out before their enemies succeed in killing her and definitely before she loses her heart, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to finally claim the husband that is rightfully hers. Bradford is through walking away and will do whatever is takes to keep Hope safe and in his life, because he will spend the rest of his life Fighting for Hope.

I loved reading this novel, finally getting to learn more about Bradford and to meet Hope. Hope seems like the kind of woman that has spent all of her life running from forming personal attachments and presenting a no fear persona in her work. Sometimes our formative years, watching how our parents interact not only with one another but with others truly does shape us in ways we never really realize as we grow. Hope’s father certainly led her to have little to no faith in men and fear deepening on or deeply caring for anyone, because doing so would certainly lead to them leaving in one way or another. But she’d never really met a man like Bradford and now she has come to understand the difference that having an honorable, brave, loving person in your life can truly make. She is smart, sweet, sassy, brave, and willing to stand up for the little guy even at the expense of her own safety so really what’s not to like about Hope. Bradford was one of my favorite heroes, one of those guys that knows when to give his woman space and when to show up and save the day, even if he has to be a little bit overbearing to do so. It was obvious that he loved her from the beginning, but knowing that she wasn’t ready to fully commit he let her go and just waited until she needed him to restake his claim on her heart. His ability to rush in, kick ass, protect his girl, and still crack jokes made me smile and kinda wish I was Hope, but my favorite was the way that he cared for all the women in his life, being their sounding board and friend, even encouraging their own fun brands of crazy. What a great guy he would be to have in your corner, even if you couldn’t have him in your bed.

Reading Fighting for Hope was a thrill ride filled with laughter, tears, action, and love as a team of crazy friends and found family come to town to help one of their own find out what the hell is going on in her small town after the death of her father, even as the man that stole her heart reclaims it once and for all.  Hope ran from Bradford years ago after marrying him, thinking she’d made a mistake, but never finding the courage to undo it, and now with the death of her father and strange men threatening her, she needs him more than ever. Bradford never gave up loving and wanting Hope, but now is his chance to prove to her that he is the man to be by her side through all of life’s challenges, and he is willing to do anything to keep her safe and solve this mystery. The Redemption Harbor team is right there with them as they blow shit up, bring down corruption, and make sure that no slimy bastards hide from their investigations, but Bradford just wants to keep Hope safe while showing her the love that he’s always felt for her. The heat between these two is there from the very first word of the prologue until they walk off the pages together hand in hand, but once they both accept that they should never have given up on their relationship those sparks become so much more. I loved every moment of this crazy ride and I cannot wait to find out where Katie might take us next with this group of found family and their crazy adventures.

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