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Book reviews for March 19th to March 31st

 


Hello!  I can't believe it is April.  I was home less than 24 hours from 3/14 till 4/2.  I am feeling the effects of a lot of miles, a lot of fun, and a lot of people-ing.  I visited my dad and family in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  My oldest daughter and I road tripped to Ellicott City, Maryland for a weekend at Charm City Romanticon.  I flew home (briefly after my flight was delayed) only to turn around for a solo road trip to Readers Take Denver and back this last weekend.  I will be making a separate post on the signings.  I just need to get my pictures and thoughts in order.

In the meantime, while I continued to read and listen to an audiobook or two, I got rather behind on writing reviews and publishing my blog post.  This is the catch up, thus why there is more than a week of reading on this post.  

I love reading new authors.  Signings are a perfect excuse to read authors I will be meeting but may not have read.  Sometimes when choosing a new author I may not pick there best work, or even a full novel.  many times I read only short stories before meeting them.  Then I learn more about their catalog.  Usually I get hooked on their personality as well.  It makes it easy try something new.  Over the last two weeks of March, I read at least five new to me authors. 

My brain is still a little fried.  I hope you will read through my reviews and find some new additions to your TBR or maybe a new author to try for you.  Until next time, Happy Reading.


Defending Keirnan (G.H.O.S.T #1) by P.J. Fiala

#SingleDad #Military #RomanticSuspense 3.5 STARS Book one of the GHOST series as an be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV. When Dane exits the Army, he meets his daughter’s kindergarten teacher and he is smitten. She can’t believe how handsome Dane is and that he is interested in her. When she becomes a target, he has to save and protect her. Their experience leads to the formation of GHOST. There was a lot to like about this book. I liked the characters. The story line was interesting. I think this is an important book to read if you want to read this series as it sets the whole thing up and introduces many of the characters to come. There is some heat and a lot of sweet romantic moments. The relationship each MC has with their family is good and important to their own good characters. They are noble, passionate, and each have a strong sense of service and purpose in their lives. Where I felt this book missed a little was in some of the repetitive writing, occasional misuse of synonyms, and my desire for the characters to have a little more depth. The danger elements of the plot wrap up quickly. For readers who are looking for some romantic suspense without a ton of darkness or triggers, this could be the read they want. That said, I enjoyed this read. I am looking in forward to reading more by this author. First in series books can sometimes be tough as they are creating a whole world while telling a story. I understand that. I am looking forward to reading as the series develops.

Found in the Lost (Leonidas Corporation #1) 

by Tarina Deaton

#ActionAndAdventure #Military 

5 STARS

This first book in the Leonidas series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV. Kinley is a little nerdy and a lot smart as well as beautiful. When she gets stranded on her way to a Guatemalan archeological site, she meets Shane. She is wary but thrilled when he offers her a ride. But their adventure is just beginning. Shane is a former SEAL and is visiting Guatemala with 2 active duty SEAL friends when they meet Kinley. The book is full of adventure and risk. There are heated and detailed intimate scenes between Shane and Kinley as they give in to their mutual attraction. I love how fast their feelings for each other grow in the face of danger. I love how supportive Shane is of Kinley, her work, and her dreams. The story has action and betrayal woven into a tight plot line while setting up the series. This was my first read by this author and I loved it. I am very excited to read more of this series.



Blue Squadron Pirates by Charissa Gracyk

#Military #Prequel

 5 STARS

This prequel introduces the blue squadron SEAL team and more specifically Jonah Steele.  It is written in third person from an alternating dual POV.

Jonah and his team rescue a reporter who has been captured by insurgents in Afghanistan.  He is immediately taken by her bright blue eyes.  She has suffered in the 3 weeks she was a prisoner and her mental recovery is going to take a while.  They bond and make plans to see each other stateside after his deployment ends.

The mark of a good prequel makes you want to read a series.  I am in.  This was my first read by this author and I am afraid my planned reading might be derailed.  I know I need to read the first book. I am more than a little afraid I wont be able to stop until the series is binged.  I am hooked and dying to read more.


Mr. Wrong (Hollywood Knights 31) by Megyn Ward

#ForcedProximity #Workplace 

4 STARS

This is book one in this series and it can be read as a standalone and ends with a HFN. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. Elle’s life has fallen apart when she has an amazing job opportunity teaching the daughter of a movie star. Lex is the brother of that movie star. When they first meet and have a hot, hot night neither one expects to really see each other again. The story and the characters captured me. I appreciated that things were a little messy and that everyone has some baggage. Neither Lex or Elle are particularly mature, yet I appreciated their willingness to fight for what is best for Cassie. There are some hot times and some moments that squeezed my heart. I read this as part of the Illicit box set. I found a lot of errors that should have been caught by a proofreader and were very annoying. There is a chance that this has been corrected in the current publication and that only this limited edition box set only holds these errors. I also felt like I wanted a more complete ending. I am guessing that this story’s resolution becomes more obvious in book two. I am very interested in Landon’s story and reading how he goes from cold to hero material. This was an entertaining read. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.




Wolf Ranch: Rough (Wolf Ranch #1) 
by Vanessa Vale and Renee Rose 

Narrated by Kylie Stewart 

#Paranormal #Shifter #Cowboy #SmallTown #Audiobook #FatedMates

5 STARS

Book one in the Wolf Ranch series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. 

I loved reading as Boyd, champion bull rider, falls hard and fast for Audrey.  Though Audrey is human, he has no doubt she is his fated mate.  He isn't sure how that can possibly work and it takes a little difficulty in their relationship before he figures it out.  I liked Boyd, though he was a little bit dense at times.  I really liked Audrey and her courage at taking chances with Boyd.  This is super hot.  I can always count on this author duo for hot an steamy alpha cowboys and they did not disappoint. 

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read and listen.  I started with the audiobook and finished as an eBook.


Handsome Devil (Cocky Hero Club) by Sara Cate

#AgeGap #BestFriendsFather #RoadTrip #Taboo

4.5 STARS


This was my forst Sara Cate book, and I really enjoyed it. Laila is 21 and on her way to her best friend's Vegas wedding. Unfortunately she ends up having to drive with her friend's father to get there. Henry is an accomplished surgeon at 39. The last thing he wants is for his daughter to make a huge mistake. He agrees to take Laila with him on his way to stop his daughter's wedding. Neither expects to form a friendship or attachment with each other. Though their chemistry is off the charts, neither is prepared to give into it. Until they do.

I really loved Henry. He is a hot British hero who is a little stuck in his ways. He has devoted so much time to making sure his daughter had what she needed that he failed to find love for himself. I love that Laila knocks his socks off. I love that Laila goes after what she wants. She is bold and a little reckless and she is good for Henry.

This was a super hot and steamy read with several explicit and filthy moments. I loved it.


Alien Captive (Tsenturion Masters #1) 
by Lee Savino and Golden Angel

#Alien #BDSM #FatedMates #AlphaHero

5 STARS

Book one in the Tsenturion Masters series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  It is written n first person from an alternating dual POV.

I found this series after an author panel at Charm City Romanticon 2023 where I met Golden Angel. Her mention of this series had me so intrigued that I bought book one immediately. 

Dawn is a human who is beamed up into space after reading an alien romance series on her kindle.  She is held captive and brainwashed before she is mated to the leader of the Tsenturion warriors, Gavrill.  Gavrill and the aliens who prepare her are both under the misconception that the BDSM books they read from Earth were training manuals for human romantic relationships.  This leads to some very funny moments.  This is a high heat BDSM book.  Gavrill develops feelings that he doesn't know how to handle initially as he struggles to balance his relationship with his work obligations.  Dawn struggles with her romantic emotions toward Gavrill while she questions how much of her feelings are due to Stockholm syndrome or her alien training program. 

I really enjoyed this love story.  There are lots of hot physical moments but there are also moments that are full of the emotions of new love.  I adore that Dawn gets to be her own hero at one point and Gavrill's intense protective feelings for dawn are super swoony.  I would love to read more of this series.



Two To Love (Nights in Bliss, Colorado #2) 
by Lexi Blake writing as Sophie Oak

Narrated by Kitty Bang and Lee Samuels

#Audiobook #Menage #FirstResponder #MFM #HealingLove #Virgin #SecondChance #SmallTown

5 STARS

Book two of this series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  It is written in third person from multiple POV.

I listened to this audiobook on my way to Readers Take Denver 2023.  I was in the car alone, so it didn't matter how dirty the audio got.  Callie first meets Nathan and Zane when she is 25. They share a hot, hot weekend together before Zane and Nathan leave to go deep undercover for the next several years.  Six years later, they have all experienced things in life that have changed them.  When Nate shows up in Bliss as the new Sheriff he is bitter, sad, and scarred.  Zane has been broken, mentally and physically and he feels he has nothing left to give anyone.  Callie has experienced loss and is trying to determine where and how her future should be.

The audio was a wonderful way to read this book.  I was captivated by the story of loss and then love reunited.  I really appreciated the friendship and bond between Nate and Zane.  There are some funny moments regarding how close they are, but they are really all about taking care of Callie.  Callie has to learn to trust her men.  She has to be able to take the risk of having her heart broken again.  Like many books in this series, Callie is a strong heroine.  She is tough and direct and doesn't hesitate to put the men in their place when they need it.  At the same time, she is happy to submit to the alpha heroes in the bedroom.  The men each have their own journey.  Nate has to come to a realization that his ambition and what he thought he wanted for a future may not still hold true.  Zane allows himself to embrace the quirky town and its inhabitants in the hopes of a future he wants to give Callie.  This is a beautiful story and I adored it.



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