ARC Review: Fighting for Magnolia (Redemption Harbor Security #4)

Fighting for Magnolia (Redemption Harbor Security #4)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

He promised forever, but then he left…

Magnolia fell fast and hard for the boy her parents warned her about. He told her that he wanted to give her the world, but then vanished. Now she runs a successful company in New Orleans and her son is picking out colleges—but someone is lurking in the shadows, stalking her every move. And they won’t stop until she’s six feet under.

Now he’s back and not going anywhere…

Security expert Ezra has just discovered the woman he never got over had their child years ago. Magnolia’s family lied to him, to both of them, and if he wants a place in their lives, he’s going to have to prove that he didn’t leave without a reason—all while keeping her safe from a deadly stalker who will do anything to destroy everything she loves.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Gotta say I love that I didn’t even read the blurb for this story before jumping right in, because that first chapter set everything up and prepped me for a great, sometimes overdone, but always fun trope of a romance story by one of my favorite authors.   Katie Reus returns to New Orleans with the latest installment of the Redemption Harbor Security series as she brings back together to former childhood sweethearts that were separated by circumstances and a past that truly has two sides to each of their stories.  The story is interesting, romantic, intense and sad in many ways as these two former lovers are faced with the truth of their past, present and the hope of a future that might allow them to build a family and home together if they can overcome all the obstacles in their way. I really loved every moment of their adventure and the stories within stories that Katie wove as she has Magnolia and Ezra fighting through the layers of their past in order to find their way to the core of their feelings and the love that never died for either of them.   I am dying for the next story because I know that Berlin falling in love will be a blast and whichever man, she enchants is going to be in for a serious battle to win her heart and trust.

Ezra Hunt has returned to New Orleans, somewhat reluctantly, to build a new branch of the business he runs with his friends helping people and he refuses to think about the past he left behind there eighteen years ago. When he saves a woman from being shot on the street he never expects to come face-to-face with Magnolia Lavigne, the girl that shattered his heart and sent him fleeing NOLA so long ago.  Magnolia is terrified when she runs into Ezra again, because she knows there will be not hiding the secrets she kept from him, even though he left her heartbroken when he left NOLA at eighteen. Now the two of them are forced to deal with the full truth of their past and face the consequences to their present and future, as well as the danger surrounding Magnolia.  Ezra and Magnolia each have unresolved feelings for the other, but can they deal with that as well as the pain of their loss and find a way to move forward, while dealing with the dangers they face, or will they be forced to let go of the future they both so wanted when they dreamed of a future together as kids?

Wow I love when two such conflicted characters, still so obviously in love are forced to deal with one another and find a way to handle their feelings.  Ezra obviously never stopped loving Magnolia even as he tried to move forward in some way after leaving NOLA to join the military, but now that he’s returned everything points him back to her.  When he learns the truth of their past and has to deal with the fact that his choice no longer affect only himself, Ezra begins to understand that he is more than a simple security operator.  His strength, caring, and loyalty are obvious even when he is at his angriest.  I loved the moment when he backed up Magnolia, standing at her back and giving her the extra strength, she needed instead of simply trying to stand in front of her to take care of things himself.  To me those choices of bring a partner instead of being an alpha male, just taking over, make him the perfect match for Magnolia.  Magnolia made a choice long ago, with the limited information she had, to stand on her own, supporting her son and be a great mother and businesswoman, but she never got her heart back from Ezra, leaving her unable to share it with anyone else.  When he comes back into her life, she tries to fight his pull, but like a lodestone and metal they are unable to resist one another, and Magnolia knows that her family will never be fully complete without him now.  The way she stands up fore herself, demanding her due shows her character more than anything, that sass, backbone and strength softened by her love for her friends and family as well as the way she is determined to help other women in need.  She really was a great character to learn about and it was easy to see why Ezra loved her so deeply.

Ezra and Magnolia might have had a short time together in their youth, but their past connection is apparent immediately when they are brought back together, that emotional connection snapping right back into place and there is no doubt why Ezra is all in for Fighting for Magnolia from the very beginning.  Magnolia has spent most of her life as a single mother, but now she is confronted with the only man that ever truly made her feel like a woman and made her heart soar and her soul sing, so it is no wonder that she loses herself to him again almost immediately. Ezra is cautious when he is faced with losing his heart again, knowing the pain that he faces, because he knows he isn’t good enough for Magnolia and he will face the heartbreak of having to give her up again, but that doesn’t stop him from losing falling.  The love and passion between these two are incontrovertible and I dare anyone to try to tell me they don’t below together, and I am kind of angry that they had to wait eighteen dang years for their HEA! The twisty plot and the way the villainy of the story unfolds was interesting and certainly a little bit unexpected, one of Katie’s expertise.  I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens with Berlin as she falls in love, but even more I am looking forward to Katie introducing more NOLA folks and expanding maybe into even more areas of the US with her Safety Harbor folks…. Heck let em take over the world! Once again Katie has struck a heartstring and brings a beautiful and meaningful story of two people separated by time, but never truly moving on, that finally get their second chance at love together.

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

ARC review: Forever for Us (The Wilder Brothers #8)

Forever for Us (The Wilder Brothers #8)

Carrie Ann Ryan

Blurb:

The moment I found out my ex-wife was cheating with my former best friend I knew I’d hit rock bottom, and it was time for a change. With the freshly signed divorce papers in hand, I want nothing to do with my old life as I start my new one with my brothers and our new distillery and bar on the Wilder Retreat.

Only when I see my former best friend’s ex, Ava, in need of a job, I can’t say no. Not when she has their eight-year-old daughter in tow and nowhere to go.

Now I’m forced to work with the woman from my past I’d rather forget. We both want to move on, but every time we’re near each other, the fire hadn’t known we could have burns between us even brighter.

We should say no. The complications would break us. Yet we can’t walk away.

Even when it would be safer for all of us if we do.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The Wilder you’ve been in the past, I guess the wilder the future could end up being for you, and Carrie Ann Ryan proves that in spades in her newest addition to the Wilder Brothers Series.  The newest set of Wilders is firmly entrenched in the family business and the Wilder Resort and Winery is getting more and more successful, but dangers lurk around ever corner it seems for this family. Carrie Ann Ryan has constructed a family and environment where her characters can not only thrive but find love and happens while growing their family and successes and it’s a beautiful thing to witness. I have enjoyed each new Wilder we have met and gotten to watch fall in love, even though there were so often tears, danger and fear as they each had to work through trauma, pain and emotional turmoil to reach their HEAs. I love the way that Ryan always manages to take us on a journey of two people that seem so disparate and different on paper, people that can’t possibly find a way to be together and overcome their pasts, and something manages to bring them together and force them to let go of their pain and find love once again.  I am dying for the next story, and I know that whoever finds love, their story will be amazing and an adventure in emotional growth and a test of love.        Carrie Ann never fails me in her magic touch and if I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if she was hiding some special magic of her own as she brings love to her characters from the most unbelievable of beginnings.

Wyatt Wilder is finally getting himself in order, his bar and distillery is becoming successful, and his ex-wife has finally signed their divorce papers, but suddenly things are not looking so bright when he is attacked and left bleeding and beaten in his bar late one night.  Removing from her divorce, Ava London, is doing all she can to feed herself and her daughter and keep them afloat when Wyatt shows up in the dinner where she is waitressing.  She doesn’t want to see the ex-best friend of her jerk of an ex-husband any more than she wants a hole in the head, but when her world is suddenly thrown into chaos, he offers her and her daughter a lifeline.  Wyatt has no idea why he offered Ava a job and a place at Wilder for her and Faith to live, but now he is faced with the emotions that they both bring up in him every time he sees either of them.  The more time Ava and Wyatt spend together the more incendiary their connection and when two such volatile chemicals come into contact there is no prevents the explosion.  But can these two find more than the simple physical connection they’ve discovered or are they both too shattered by their past to admit their feelings for one another—and will the darkness lurking in the shadows allow them the chance they deserve at that happiness?

I just loved getting to see these two such damaged characters as they found a way to heal and accept the pains of their past and let it all go as they found love again together. Wyatt has intrigued me from the very beginning, when the Wilder Cousins were first introduced several stories ago and I have been dying to read his full story and learn who and how he was so badly hurt.  Honestly having a vapid and selfish wife that left him for his best friend is pretty dang bad, but it sounds like he was much better off to me. He is the kind of man that needs to be reminded that life doesn’t always have to be so serious, sometimes we can laugh and enjoy the lighter side of life and love without forgetting responsibility.  He was somewhat of an ass here and there as he tried to have his cake and eat it too, when it came to having a relationship with Ava, but then again, she has her own issues.  HE was sweet with Faith always though, and that caring, loving nature, strength and sweetness kept him from moving too far into the dislikeable side of the alpha male that would have made him an asshole, so I enjoyed those moments where he allowed his softer, quieter emotions to rule him.  Ava obviously has been hurt repeatedly by her ex, so I didn’t much blame her from being resistant to Wyatt’s seductions, even when she allowed him into her bed, refusing him access to her heart.  But she slowly began to see that he was more than just a man out to get what he wanted and then leave her high and dry, he truly cared about her and her daughter, was willing to sacrifice and care for them and offer them a piece of his heart.  I loved seeing her interacting with the other Wilder women and finding where she fit in amongst the family, because its obvious from the very beginning that they accepted her into the family, even before Wyatt made her clear she was his.  She has a backbone of steel and is unwilling to give up everything she has scraped and worked for even though she knows that Wyatt is throwing her a bone, but she is not too proud to do whatever she must for her daughter.  That protectiveness, love and loyalty makes her not only a good mother, but a great addition to the Wilders and a great match for Wyatt in the end.

I truly loved the experience of getting to read Forever for Us and watch Wyatt and Ava as they circled and danced their way around one another and finally into a future that was obviously always meant to be.   Wyatt made a terrible decision with his first choice of wife, but now he is finally moving forward with his life and his business is thriving, but when Ava returns to his life, he is suddenly unsure of his path and his choices are all in the air again.  Ava has to fight her way out of the mire her ex left her in, but when Wyatt throws her a life preserver, she is terrified to trust another man, especially one so connected to her past and her ex.  Together they have to accept that sometimes a painful and mistake-riddled past in order to understand that it led them right to the future they were always meant to have, finding a perfect happiness together and building a family and future filled with love, light, and laughter.  The heat between Ava and Wyatt in the beginning often sparks in arguments and fighting, but when it explodes in an altogether unexpected manner, the resulting fire, one that will seemingly continue burn for their lifetimes, is bright and strong.  I loved watching these two dance around one another until they finally came to accept their fates and stop fighting it! Carrie Ann Ryan definitely struck gold with these two and I look forward to seeing more of them (psst there is an extended epilogue for those interested) in later stories.  The next novel (Pieces of Me) where the baby of the family, Gabriel, finds love should certainly be a game changer and I for one am dying for it.  Carrie Ann never lets me down; I doubt she ever will.

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

ARC Review: Kiss and Tell (Italian Stallions #8)

Kiss and Tell (Italian Stallions #8)

Mari Carr

Blurb:

Joey is no stranger to romance. After all, his family wrote the book when it came to falling in love and finding their forever partners. There’s no doubt in his mind that his soul mate is out there as well. What he doesn’t expect is to be struck down with a serious case of instalove the second Lucy Storm steps off the front porch of her family’s farmhouse.

Overcoming a difficult childhood, Miles is proud of the life he’s forged for himself. He’s got it all. A hit cable show, amazing friends, and Joey, the greatest cohost a guy could ask for. When Joey throws a curveball into their well-ordered existence, falling for Lucy, the most obnoxiously cheerful person he’s ever met, Miles knows he should be supportive. What he shouldn’t do is kiss the chatty woman to shut her up.

Lucy’s dreams are bigger than her family’s farm, but leaving home isn’t an easy proposition. When Joey invites her to hit the road, touring the country with him as he films his show, she jumps at the chance. However, travel isn’t what entices her most. Because for her, the greatest temptation is the charming Joey…and his infuriatingly grumpy, sexy best friend, Miles.

Themes:  Menage

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

Whenever I start a series finale it is bittersweet feeling, a feeling of leaving behind friends I have gotten to know and love, but the best thing about books is that we can always return to their pages again and again and visit.  This series finale is no less a departure even knowing that s spinoff is coming and we will probably be getting cameos from some of our favorite characters and also getting a brand-new adventure with all new characters as well. Mari Carr’s worlds interweave so beautifully through series, from the sensual Wild Irish of Baltimore, then the even Wilder second generation of Baltimore Irishmen and women that ultimately led us to the sexy Italians of Philadelphia and now we will start an all-new series of sexy Mountain folks in Northern Virginia (Perfect Storm). If you are looking for the basic and staid relationship, tame lovers, and calm waters of a lot of romantic stories, I warn you to turn away now, because not only will you never find that in any Carr romance, Kiss and Tell was definitely nothing like that. This story is filled with the angst of three people that find themselves in a situation none of them ever imagined they would and reaching for a life they never imagined they would want. Luckily the adventure of life is often filled with surprises and these three got to experience that firsthand. I am sad to see the end of these series, but truly looking forward to the new series beginning with Lucy’s family and getting to learn more about them.  Let the fun and games begin!

Joey Moretti and Miles Williams have been best friends for years, ever since they first met and became cohosts of their kickass TV show, traveling the country and meeting amazing entrepreneurs and business owners. But when they arrive at the home of their newest guests, in the beautiful mountains of Northern VA, they never could have foreseen how much their world was going to change.  Joey is looking for the woman that will finally complete his heart, the love like his siblings and cousins have found, and when he first sets eyes of Lucy Storm he is sure he’s found her.  Miles is attracted to Lucy as well, but he’d never poach on his best friend’s girl and he has no interest in the kind of relationship that the Moretti family has made common. Lucy Storm is brewmaster at her family’s brewery, but she has bigger dreams, if she can ever convince herself to follow them.   When these three are together the sparks fly, but with Miles working hard to deny the magnetic pull and Joey working hard to prove that they would make a perfect threesome, cross-purposes cause severe tension and could cause a rift.   When Lucy agrees to join them on a short trip to expand on her dreams and see a bit of the country, the passion explodes between them all, showing them that some things truly are undeniable, but their relationship has to have an end date—doesn’t it? After all, can three people with such different ideas for their future really build a lasting relationship? Only time and love will tell.

Wow, could three ore perfectly matched—even though it didn’t seem like it at first characters have existed? I loved getting to know Lucy and seeing her interacting with her family (also a good way to introduce future book characters) was intriguing to say the least.  There was definitely a dynamic in the family that was heartbreaking, due to the loses they’d suffered in the past and the way they’d dealt with them.  I loved Lucy’s carefree, sweet, intelligent, and always sunny personality, which was a perfect balance to Miles’s sometimes dark and gloomy moments.  She obviously had her own pain and issues, but once she reached for what she wanted to refuse to let anything hold her back which I loved. Joey was a bit of a character, even for a Moretti, and more than once I wanted to laugh at his stubbornness.  Some men just have to learn the hard way though that you can’t just barrel through life, forcing others to do what you want them to because you think you know what is best for everyone.  His strength, wit, caring, bravery, and dedication remind readers that sometimes if you work hard toward a goal you will get exactly want you want; his willingness to ask for help when it comes to areas that he is clueless—namely relationships—reminds us that he is resourceful and willing to give his all to get the love and relationship he wants. Miles is an interesting one; more than once I wondered if he truly would find his way to open his heart to Lucy and come to terms with the relationship Joey offered them.  He obviously hasn’t as easily accepted the alternative relationships that now fill the Moretti family, and he certainly believes that kind of relationship isn’t for him (or them).  While I could understand his concerns it seemed to me that he was more unwilling to confront his own fears and accept what his heart and mind were telling him every time he was around Joey and Lucy.  Sometimes our instincts are smarter than our higher brains and we just need to pay better attention.  The moments when he opened up, showing his humor, devotion, love, and intensity of emotion I could perfectly understand why Lucy fell for him and Joey was certain he was the perfect third for them.  They truly were the perfect side to make an equal triangle.

Kiss and Tell was a beautiful story of three people reaching for what they wanted out of life and find the beauty and fulfillment of a true love and HEA.  I loved every moment of the sensual, humorous, sometimes sad, but always beautifully written tale of Joey, Lucy and Miles finding their way to love.  Joey was a brash, sexy, in-your-face, and hilarious Italian hottie that stole the heart of a southern girl while teaching his best friend that sometimes we have to give up our preconceived notions of love in order to truly find it.  Miles was a passionate, brutally handsome, somewhat broken, Yankee that needed to have his heart healed in order to find his way to trusting in love again in order to open his heart to the sexy Brewmaster and sharing her with the brother of his heart. Lucy was the sweet and loving small town, mountain girl who’d devoted her entire life to her family, but when these two sexy city boys came into her life she finally decided to give herself a chance at reaching for the stars and the big dreams she’d always stifled.  The passion between these three simmered and sparked in various ways from the very beginning, but the times when they let it have free reign certainly leave us wondering if those mountains were safe from the raging fires they were creating. I am dying for the stories of the rest of the Storm family and their new series, beginning with Lucy’s oldest cousin Levi (Taken by Storm).  All-in-all Mari Carr makes you forget that she’s ending a series even though there are tears and cameos from so many of our favorite characters from past series as she brings Miles, Joey, and Lucy to their HEA in the fabulous conclusion to the Italian Stallions.  Fantastic Mari, just fantastic.

Fun note: for those that have read Mari’s Sparks in Texas series, you’ll recognize a few characters, and for those that haven’t (or like me that have it on their miles long TBR, you’ll want to get right on that after this story)

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

Mini- ARC Review: Foretold (Fated Love Series #2)

Foretold (Fated Love Series #2)

Chantal Fernando

Blurb:

What do you do when the person you are bonded to eternally has betrayed you?

Simple.

You make his life hell.

As the Shadow Prince’s secrets finally unravel, I’m left scrambling to pick up the pieces.

Hiding in another kingdom might fix all my problems, right?

My mate will be left in the darkness this time.

I hope those shadows choke him.

Let the games begin.

Themes:  Romantasy

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

I must say I was angry at the end of book one in this series, primarily because I am one of those readers that cannot stand cliffhangers, to the point that I generally refuse to read them, but I am glad to finally have my questions answered and to see Rave and Astrid get their HEA. This series has shaped up to be an interesting world filled with dangers, intriguing plot twists, and characters that are both filled with both the light and dark of humanity that makes us all so interesting.  The belief that as a species any being is all light or all dark is boring in my opinion so the dual natures represented by so many of the characters in this book is both interesting and fascinating to watch unfold as they come together and learn more about one another. Astrid is definitely one of the most interesting as she learns to embrace her dark side, while coming to understand this dualistic nature in her mate. The protective and possessive nature of her lover comes out in herself more than once as she sees the truth of her feelings for Rave, and she comes to peace with her needs for him.  While she might be attracted to another man, she knows that only her fated mate will ever match her perfectly.  Rave also comes to understand that Astrid is the perfect woman her for him, and when she hurts, especially if he is the cause of the hurt, it tears him apart.  I loved seeing the passion between these two as they worked through the trauma and turmoil of the enemies coming at them from every angle even as they tried to come to terms with the changes in their relationship and their new lives.  While I can promise you that this story gives us a beautiful wrap up to the love story between Rave and Astrid, it does give us a beautiful hint at the next story, letting us know that book 3 will be interesting to say the least, but I’m hoping that one won’t end of a cliffhanger.  Chantal has outdone herself with this duology of a love story, but take it from me, read Forewarned and Foretold together if you want the full impact of the love and danger of Rave and Astrid as they change the world and find a  love to shape a nation.

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

ARC Review: Forced Vows (Syndicate Rules #5)

Forced Vows (Syndicate Rules #5)

Lucy Monroe

Blurb:

RÓISE

The last thing I want is to marry into the mafia, but I'll do anything to protect my vulnerable younger cousin. My one choice left is who I give my body to for the first time. Fate plays a cruel trick when my club hookup turns out the be the underboss I'm supposed to marry.

MICELI

I will do anything for la famiglia, including marrying the niece of the Irish mob boss. Even after the most intensely passionate encounter of my life. I'll never forget the beautiful woman who gave me her virginity in a one-night stand, but when I meet her two months later, she's introduced as my future wife. I should be relieved. I'm not. I'm furious. How dare she risk her safety and offer what should have been mine to a stranger?

Themes:  Contemporary, Mafia

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

We always wonder what would happen if you were to be the one person that hits that one-in-a-million chance and hope that it is for a good reason, but one never imagines it will happen in quite the way it happens for Róise when she tries to spread her wings for the first time and finds herself in a whole different kind of gilded cage. Lucy Monroe began this adventure of dark Mafia romances recently and I have to tell you that I was doubtful I was going to enjoy it, because honestly, while I’ve read some dark romances, Bikers have been my limit when it comes to the criminal element for the most part.  But Ms. Monroe definitely has a way of presenting a whole new side of the mafia and their counterparts in other cultures that makes me really wonder if what I’ve always known was true.  This latest installment is just another example of her bending my mind and making me question my ideas of the shades of gray when it comes to right and wrong.  Róise and Miceli are definitely hot and their romance takes many interesting and dangerous twists and turns, filled with laughter, heat, love and the growth of two characters that have to come to terms with hard truths as they lose their hearts. I am dying to find out who will be next in this series to lose their hearts (secretly hoping it is Helios and that we get to learn more about the Portland Greek boys) but I know whatever comes our way it’ll be sexy and darkly intense.

Róise Shaughnessy is being forced into a marriage with a high-ranking member of the Italian mafia, at the demand of her uncle, the leader of the Irish mob, if she wants to protect her cousin.  But she won’t go down quietly and she won’t go into it as a virgin like they think, so she sneaks away from her guards for one night of adventure and sexual fantasy with a gorgeous Adonis across the country where the mafia can’t reach her.  Miceli De Luca is willing to marry the mob princess for the sake of la famiglia but when he finally meets his intended he is blown away to learn she is the sexy woman that snuck away from his bed after a night of wild passion and has not left his thoughts since.  Faced with the truth of their night together, Róise and Miceli have to come to terms with their intense feelings for one another and their future together and find a way to live with their new fate, but it will not be an easy adjustment.  With enemies and those that are determined to make the transition as difficult as possible, Róise and Miceli  both have misgivings and each must accept that sometimes fate has a bigger hand in a person’s life and that sometimes one night can lead to the most important connection and the greatest love that they have ever felt. If they allow themselves to let go of their hang-ups and misbeliefs, they might be able to find their HEA, but long-held beliefs are difficult to overcome and only together will they be able to accept their new way of life.

Róise is definitely the kind of woman that makes any alpha male’s life terrifyingly exciting, because as much as they don’t want to admit it, women like her are what keeps them on their toes.  She is very young for sure, but she is by no means immature, forced to grow up quickly after the loss of both her mother and father at a young age to the common violence of a mob life.  She managed to keep a lovely kind of innocence and verve for life, one that keeps her smiling even through the darkness of certain experiences and she is able to find fun in even the most unlikely of times. I loved seeing her sparring with not only her uncle and the Miceli’s brother—the Don of the Italian mafia no less—but mostly with Miceli himself as she forced him to accept her just as she is.  She always brightened the darkness that he cloaked himself in and pushed him out of his comfort zones so that he would see how good she was for him, finally making him accept that his heart needed to embrace her in order for them to have any chance at a future together.  Even when she was in a dangerous situation she managed to hold her own, kicking butt and taking names and saving herself instead of being the typical damsel in distress.  I loved that she made those around her accept her demands instead of caving to the men in her life, she made them see her as, if not an equal, then at least a seen member of their lives and one with a voice.  Her sass, sweetness, love, and caring made her the perfect match for Miceli’s darkness and scarred heart.

Miceli was the flip side of Róise’s coin for sure, his dark to her light, but he also had his moments of loving and caring that remind us that while he is a scary Italian mafioso, he is also a loving son and brother.  He presents an image to the world, one of being emotionless and hard that would have terrified a lesser woman, but Róise forces him to show her the true depths of the man.  His dark heart is by no means hard, but instead holds secrets that when uncovered shows the tortured soul inside that, if he’d been born to another family, would have made him into an entirely different man. It’s obvious that his generational inheritance of being a made man required him to lock away his heart long ago, but with Róise he can finally open it again and she will protect it without him having to be exposed.  He is a loving brother to his siblings and their spouses, a caring son to his mother, but the true measure of his love comes when he finally accepts his need for Róise and he offer her his heart.  I loved seeing him large and in charge as he shows his enemies his ruthless side of course, protecting those he cares for, mainly his new bride-to-be, but there were definitely moments I wanted to slap him in the head (much like Róise).  I was terribly surprised with the direction poor Miceli’s life took in this story as a result of events within the Mafia, but I can see how, with Róise at his side, he will make the transition he is forced into beautifully and I look forward to seeing him in his new role in future stories. All-in-all you could say that Miceli is a typically sexy, dangerously alpha, and beautifully complex dark hero who manages to make me want to take my own adventure into the world of the many shades of gray to find me a sexy bad boy.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to go through an unwanted, arranged marriage, in this day and age,  Forced Vows certainly gives us an intriguing look into one direction that things could take. Lucy Monroe leads her characters on an interesting and dangerous adventure of lust, anger, deceit, and ultimately understanding as they get to truly know one another and find love in the most unexpected of places.  Róise never imagined that the one night she spent in the arms of her dream lover would come back to haunt her when she meets the man she is going to be forced to marry, but as long as everyone holds true to their promises, she thinks she can escape the marriage with her heart intact. Miceli is determined to show the little minx that has infected his mind and body that she is his, forever, but in order to do so, he first has to survive long enough to get her to the alter, and keep her in his arms as well.  With enemies at every turn attempting to tear them apart, misunderstandings causing passionate fights that could break them, and so many differences, it truly will be a miracle if their agreement is ever fulfilled into a true relationship—but never underestimate the power of passion and love. The heat between these two is hot enough to burn through a rainforest and leave nothing in it’s path and burns hot from the first moment they are together until the last page.   I was a little disappointed that the book ended before the actual wedding ceremony (c’est le vie), but did enjoy that the timeline seemed to have overlapped quite a bit with the last book (Brutal Capo), so maybe the next story will do the same and the wedding will happen in that one.  Whatever comes next (Helios? Hint hint, nudge nudge) I know I will be the first one signing up to read and review because I am dying to find out what is coming now that so much has changed in the world of these folks, and I wouldn’t turn down whatever I get.  Lucy Monroe has definitely changed my mind about these sexy Mafia men and I will be reading many more of them in the future, because honestly the power and sexual intensity is right up there with bikers and I am learning so much. Another great read with all the passion, love, and magic I always expect from Lucy. 

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

Mini ARC review: Falling for Nola (Redemption Harbor Security #3.5)

Falling for Nola (Redemption Harbor Security #3.5)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

They started off on the wrong foot…

When Nola’s firefighter neighbor wakes her up for the third night in a row with his loud motorcycle, she has some choice words for him.

Once they clear the air, sparks fly between them…

Kayce falls for his neighbor from the first moment she yells at him, and he’s not alone in his attraction. But since they’re neighbors, she’s worried about the fallout if they part ways. Only he wonders why she thinks they’d ever break up…

Themes:  Contemporary, Novella

Rating: 3 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

What a cute little story to remind us that sometimes those sparks can fly at the most unexpected of times. Katie Reus gives us a short story of one of the side characters we met in her last Redemption Harbor Security Series and the fiery neighbor that steals his heart.  Kayce Laurent is a NOLA fire inspector, and he has just moved into a new house, surrounded by interesting and mostly friendly neighbors, but the beautiful spitfire that threatened bodily harm if he woke her up at an ungodly hour again with his motorcycle has stolen his attention. Nola Cartier still can’t believe she yelled at her sexy neighbor in the dead of night in her barely-there pjs, but now she is faced with him in the light of day, and he is even more sexy than she imagined.  When he turns on the charm there is no denying, he is attractive, but with a series of misunderstandings the two of them take forever to admit their attraction and finally get their chance at a relationship.  Once that fire is sparked though, the heat and magi of love burns and spreads quickly until these two are inseparable and there is nothing that will come between them.  I loved this short story, with lots of laughter, cute mix-ups, both Kayce and Nola jumping to ridiculous conclusion, and finally both of them just admitting their feelings. In the end it was obviously they were meant to be and that the love between them was never going to be denied.  The neighbors and family members also added some fun spice and laughs, and I enjoyed the book as a fun way to end a hectic week. I am looking forward to more of the series and hope to see Kayce and Nola again. Katie is also one to give us laughter and joy in her stories, even if they can be dark, but this story is full of laughter and happiness so if you are looking for a short read on the lighter side of love, grab it and enjoy.

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

ARC Review: Just One More Dare (The Sterling Family #2)

Just One More Dare (The Sterling Family #2)

Carly Phillips

Blurb:

A runaway bride.

Her older brother’s off-limits friend.

Taking one more shot at love should be easy, right?

Not on a dare.

Samantha Dare had one thought when she found out her fiancé was a lying cheater. Escape. So, she ran from her wedding…straight into the arms of the man who once gave her the hottest kiss of her life. But rebounding with her brother’s friend would be a huge mistake…wouldn’t it?

The last thing Dex Sterling needed was more chaos in his life. Retiring from football and starting over in broadcasting gave him plenty of that. But even though Samantha is chaos personified, for some reason, he’s still not able to keep his mind—or hands—off her…

Is a little bit of forced proximity and a lot of sexual chemistry enough to earn them a second chance at happily ever after?

Samantha and Dex are about to find out…

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Long-time Carly Philips readers have wondered whatever happened to that last Dare sibling from the Miami Dares… Well wonder no more my fellow readers! Samantha Dare finally meets her match and the man that will steal her heart and make her life and adventure in Just One More Dare.  I have been dying for this book ever since Carly gave me a hint it was coming, and I have to tell you she in no way let me down and I am truly proud to have had to chance to be one of the first to read the story. Samantha and Dex’s Road to love is a somewhat long and rocky one, filled with detours and obstacles that could have prevented them from ever ending up together, but in the end, they found their HEA together.  If you are a fan of two people working together to overcome adversity and beat the odds of not only scheming and lying exes, but also overprotective family members, and well-meaning but nosey friends, you will love Carly’s latest foray into the world of love and drama.

Samantha Dare is preparing to walk down the aisle, marrying her business partner and a man that she has doubts about until she learns the truth from his own lips about his plans for her and his mistress. Determined to not be made a fool, she runs from her high-society wedding and is rescued by her oldest brother’s good friend—one she shared a hot kiss with years ago, but never really saw again. Dex Sterling had no idea when he headed toa business meeting one morning that he would suddenly find himself whisking the woman that he always considered “the one who got away” to a private getaway in the Caribbean to help her escape her “almost wedding”. Dex knows that he has to keep his hands off the vulnerable and hurting Samantha, but the more they are together the more he wants her, and she isn’t helping as she flirts and tries to seduce him.  But once they return to New York, all bets are off as Dex realizes that she isn’t as broken by her aborted marriage as some might think.  Working to build a new relationship soon might not be the smartest move, but both Dex and Samantha as determined to prove everyone wrong and finally have their chance at happiness now that there is nothing standing in the way of them having a relationship.  However, someone is determined that Samantha does not get her HEA and if they aren’t careful, they will lose their chance together forever.

I really loved finally getting to know the last of the very first in the long line of the Dare’s, the family that began it all and opened up a whole new world of characters and spin-offs that I have enjoyed for a while now.  The Original Dare family began with Robert Dare’s children (Dare to Love) and if you haven’t read them, I suggest you run out and start them immediately, but I digress.  Samantha is the last of the single children from that large not-so nuclear family and she has lived an interesting and anything but sheltered life, but her siblings and mother have always been a support system while also being overprotective enough that she fears letting them down.  That fear of failing has made it hard for her to reach out when she makes mistakes, but Samantha learns through her relationship with Dex that sometimes its ok to admit we need help to solve our bigger problems. I loved seeing Samantha interacting with her siblings and her best friend, she was sassy, smart, savvy, and sensitive to the needs of others, but never let herself be walked on.  She stood up for herself and her confidence barely wavered even when she was angry enough to spit, but she certainly reached out and took the hand (Dex’s in this case) that was there to rescue her.  Dex was the sexiest KISA I have seen in a while.  While his version of armor might have been a sexy suit, he wore it with an aplomb that made any woman pant, he was loving, sweet, caring but strong, dependable and smart enough to know not to get between a woman and her problems, instead he stood beside her and supported her.  I loved seeing Dex as he shared the story of his past and how he became a Sterling, loving and supporting his second family when he had never been shown that from his bio family.  It is obvious that he has a lot of love to give and that he will always be there for Samantha and that the two of them will make a great bridge between two large families.

Just One More Dare is the perfect story to remind you that even in the midst of large supportive families we can sometimes feel inadequate in certain ways, finding ourselves adrift, but reaching out and finding that support is the most important feeling.  I loved the feeling of family togetherness, defense, and love that is always found in Carly’s Dare and Sterling stories and seeing it together all in one was masterful.  Samantha is a Dare through and through; loving, protective, sassy, smart, and willing to lay down her life for those she loves, Samantha will do whatever it takes to keep her family and friends safe and happy, and when she loses her heart to Dex there is no doubt that he will be her everything.  Dex is the most beautiful of alpha males, because even when he manages to make a dumb mistake, he can solve it; I loved watching him work through his fears and worries about building a relationship with Samantha until finally realizing he wasn’t willing to lose her a second time, no matter what it costs him.  The heat that flares between these two is unquestionable and even when they are trying to hide their love from others or even themselves you can feel the passion between them.  I am dying for the next book in the series and cannot wait for find out which Sterling sibling will lose their heart next, but I know whatever happens, Carly will blow our minds and it’ll be a heartbreaking and ultimately fulfilling story.

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