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Book reviews for the week of April 25th

 


I had a great week of reading.  I read two ARCs and then had a little gap where I tackled a few books on my TBR.  It was a week of alpha heroes, instant love, enemies-to-lovers and lots of sexy heat.  I thoroughly enjoyed these books and a reader really can't go wrong with any of them.


Reckless (Mason Family Series #3) by Adriana Locke

ARC: Release Date- 4/26/2021

#FamilySeries #ARC

4.5 STARS

Reckless is the third book in the Mason Brothers series but can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  Boone Mason’s story is written in first person from a dual POV.

Boone is the youngest Mason brother.   I love his heart, which is huge.  I love his insight into other people, gained from observation and good listening skills.  He is handsome, charming, and fun.  He is much deeper than he believes other people recognize.  Jaxi has had a rough life and is in full-out survival mode.  The surprises keep coming for her, but she is lucky that Boone is with her for the latest round.  I recognize how difficult it is for her to trust happiness and especially when other people factor into that happiness.  I love her though.  She is a survivor.  I love that she has baggage to overcome and gets the opportunity to create the life she never even dreamed was a possibility.

The Mason family factors heavily into this story and I love how they both support each other and give each other grief.  I love how welcoming they are to Jaxi.  I am hopeful that there are characters introduced in this series that we will see more of later in a different interconnected series.  I feel like saying more would give away spoilers, but I see many more awesome books ahead.  This book dives heavily into feeling worthy of happiness and love and I felt that deep in my heart.



Sex, Lust, Love, Hate by Mika Jolie

ARC: Release Date 4/30/2021

#EnemiesToLovers #WorkplaceRomance #ARC

5 STARS

Jagger and Charlotte are competing for a job.  They bicker and banter and underneath it all they are fighting the sizzling chemistry between them.  When they are forced to work together, they get to know each other beyond the assumptions they have each made. They both have some baggage.  They find that they are more alike than they thought they were, but like different sides of a coin. I really loved it when they learned to respect each other and appreciate each other’s strengths.   I loved reading as they gave into their chemistry and found their HEA.  There is some heat, emotional family dynamics, and the tension of two characters who share attraction and incorrect assumptions about each other as those assumptions are proven false.  Jagger and Charlotte’s story is written in first person from dual POV.



End Game (Sinners MC #2) by Jennifer Hanks

#MCRomance #RomanticSuspense

5 STARS

This is the second book in the Sinners MC series. Bear and Josie's story can be red as a standalone but readers will have a greater understanding of the club's history if they read book one first. This book is written in first person with a dual POV.

I fell in love with Bear in book one and I was so glad to read his story. He is a big, gruff guy with a drive to protect his brotherhood, his club, and the people he loves. He has a hidden heart of gold. Josie is perfect for him. The girl is full of sass with a drive to look after the children in her care. She is smart, though she occasionally puts herself in danger without realizing it. She has a lot to learn about the MC. Their attraction is intense and I loved the heat between them.

The story has suspense, heat, and elements of mystery. Trouble has a way of finding the sinners. I loved that I got to know Bull better in this book. I cannot wait for his story. I loved seeing Race and Becs (their story is next). I really enjoyed seeing Maggie and Gunner together, especially seeing how much Maggie has grown and come out of her shell. There are some intense moments and some descriptions of violence. I am sold on this author. I love her writing style and I definitely recommend this series to readers who like a steamy MC romance where the club is trying to stay within the law.



Arrogant Player (McCabe Brothers #3) by Julie Capulet

#Billionaire Romance #EnemiesTo Lovers #AlphaHero #InstaLove

5 STARS

This is the third book in the McCabe Brothers series, but it can be read completely as a standalone.  It is written in first person from a dual POV.

Gage is rich, successful, and handsome in a way that is gifted from heaven.  And he knows it.  He uses all the advantages at his disposal, and he always gets what he wants.  That is, until he meets Luna.  He is completely baffled when she does not immediately fall at his feet like other women.  He really has a hard time understanding how she can resist his charm and all he has to offer when he is inexplicable drawn to her in a way he has never felt before.  I love it when a character like Gage falls fast and hard.  They never know what hit them.  His feelings are described so perfectly, there are times it almost feels poetic.  Gage is also an excellent dirty talker.  At first, the reader gets that through a lot of his thought, but eventually we get to read as his dirty mouth undoes Luna completely.  I loved it.

Luna has some baggage to work through.  I loved reading as her character heals and moves forward from painful memories in her past.  I love how Gage opens up to her, allowing her to share her pain with him as well.  There is a bit of a slow burn between the two characters as it takes a little while for Gage’s thoughts to become a reality after he finally convinces Luna to give him a shot. 

I enjoyed the emotions, the heat, and the romance in this book.  I was told by other readers that Gage would capture my attention, and that he did.  He is special hero with a hard shell and a soft gooey center.



Genius by Julie Capulet

#InstaLove #CowboyRomance #AlphaHero

5 STARS

This is a hot, steamy, standalone featuring insta-Love, a whole lot of heat, and a dynamic family of hot cowboys. It is written in first person from a dual POV.
Will is hot and a little grumpy, with a sensitive soul under his rugged exterior. Ella is a sassy, feisty heroine from NYC with big dreams and the drive to achieve them. When they meet, the chemistry is electric. Ella doesn't push Will too much: she accepts him as he is. They both fall hard and fast. Their first week together is filled with smoking hot, kindle-melting, heat.
Will's family is awesome and I hope to read more of their stories in the future. Their relationships are realistic and strong. I loved Ella and Will together and the bonus epilogues are fantastic. There are times this feels a little like a fairy tale, an I absolutely loved it.
If you are looking for a hot read with insta-love and an alpha cowboy hero, this is your book. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and found it impossible to put down.

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