Rival Hero (Redleg Security #4) by Jackie Walker
ARC: Release Date-07/31/2023
#RomanticSuspense #RomanticComedy #ARC
5 STARS
Book four of the series brings readers the story of Mia and
Klein and their road to their HEA. It
can be read as a standalone and is written in first person from an alternating
dual POV. At 474 pages, this book is not
a quick read: readers will want to allow themselves time to sink into it.
Cal (Calvin Klein) is a little cinnamon roll, a little golden
retriever, and discovers through Mia (to his surprise) that he is also a bit of
a dominant alpha. I will say I
absolutely loved Cal. His relationship
with his mom is exceptionally sweet. I
loved his old soul. I loved all of his
sides. I adored his protective and overall
kind personality. Mia is a nerdy heroine
who is making changes to her life. She
is leaving the CIA and hoping to reestablish relationships with her estranged
sisters. She has seen humanity at its
worst and her ability to trust is severely compromised. Her actions at times are wrong, yet the
author does a good job of letting the reader empathize with why she does what
she does-eventually. I like the relationship she forms with Cal’s mom and with
the other ladies from Redleg. Those
relationships and the way she finally opens up to Cal allow readers to learn
her heart and believe that she deserves her HEA.
Readers who have read other books in this series will expect
suspenseful moments along with comedic moments.
Those are present along with the heat the author has had in her other books
and then some. I think this book may
contain the most physical intimacy scenes of all her books and they are hot. Readers who know Jackie will also get the
sarcasm, snark, and sometimes crazy sense of humor she always brings to her
books and her characters. Both characters
have a lot of internal monologues available to readers that, just like our own
internal monologues can be at times, are sometimes a little repetitive. Pop culture references are frequently used to
draw out the characters’ snark and personalities. As in previous books her characters also
frequently break the fourth wall and address the reader directly. Though the book
deals with some heavy topics related to Cal and Mia’s families and the Redleg cases,
I felt they were handled with care. This
is especially true of Cal’s mom and her early onset dementia. Having gone through that with my mom, Cal’s
feelings and his mother’s both felt accurate and true to what I experienced. It was heartbreaking and the reader feels
that. I loved seeing other members of
the Redleg team and how they interacted with each other. The conversation between the guys at the
restaurant, in particular, is going to stay with me for a while. This was a good read that made me laugh and swoon.
The Trouble with Runaway Brides (Lake Starlight #3)
by Piper Rayne
#SecondChance #RunawayBride #SmallTown #FamilySeries #SlowBurn
#ARC
5 STARS
Book three in the series can be read as a standalone and
ends with a HEA. It is written in first person
from an alternating dual POV.
Kenzie and Lance finally get their HEA once they remember
how much they love each other and Kenzie runs away from her wedding. They were high school sweethearts. When they run into each other again eight
years later, Kenzie is planning her wedding to Lance’s nemesis.
I adored Lance. He is
a kind and compassionate hero who never stopped loving Kenzie despite his
heartache. I love his relationship with
his cousins, especially Brinley and Easton.
I adore his relationship with his parents. And I really appreciate how clueless he is
when it comes to Kenzie returning to Lake Starlight for her wedding. He has no idea his heart was leading his
mouth.
Kenzie has worked hard to get over her own heartbreak and
move on. When she met her fiancé, she
never realized the connection between him and Lance. Readers soon discover all the ways that Will
is not the man for Kenzie, but it takes her a while to get there and realize
that too. She is honest with her friends
and vulnerable in ways she did not expect to be when she returns to town. I learned to understand her and like her,
especially once she is honest with herself about her feelings.
This book doesn’t have Kenzie running away from her
engagement until near the end of the book.
Readers see her relationship with her fiancé, her reemerging feelings for
Lance, and the past of her relationship with Lance told through
flashbacks. (They were incredibly sweet
as teens.) Once they return to each
other as adults, there is all the steam you expect from Piper Rayne. Just know
that it is all in the final 25%. The
rest of the book readers experience the complicated feelings and yearnings they
experience while she is engaged and they right the wrongs in their past. Despite their yearnings, there is absolutely
no cheating in this book, which I really appreciated. This was an excellent addition to the series,
and I can’t wait for the next book to come.
ARC: Release Date- 08/11/2023
#OppositesAttract #Bodyguard #SmallTown #AgeGap #ARC
5 STARS
Book four in the series can be read as a standalone and ends
with a HEA. It is written in third
person from an alternating dual POV.
Isobel (24) runs from an increasingly dangerous situation, abandoning
her life as she knows it. Ewan (34) is
the stoic, former special ops, bar owner.
When he finds her injured after an accident, he takes her in and cannot
resist the urge to protect her.
I adored Isobel. She
is an old soul who has lived mostly as an adult since she was 12. She is intelligent, creative, and determined
to succeed. Ewan is one of my favorite
kind of heroes. Big and burly, he is
really a marshmallow where Isobel is concerned.
As they fall into a domestic routine, I love that Isobel gets to
experience the big, found family that Glenlaig has become. Ewan is romantic without trying or even realizing
it. They come together physically in
open door scenes that detail their passion and their romantic feelings for each
other. Danger lurks, but Ewan is there for
Isobel.
This was a heart-warming read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Who can’t love a big Scot with a heart of
gold and his woman who is stronger than she seems in the beginning?
Give Me More (Salacious Player Club #3) by Sara Cate
#MMF #Menage #BDSM #BiAwakening #Erotica
5 STARS
Book three in this series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from three alternating POVs.
Readers met Hunter and Isabel in previous books as the only married couple among the owners of the club. They also met Drake, Hunter's playboy of a best friend. It was fun to get to know these characters better. I loved how the story evolves. It is not an easy read, but it is an unputdownable read. The characters each have a lot of feelings and emotions as their relationships with each other change and become more than they ever thought was possible.
The heat of the physical scenes is intense. I love how each member of the trio has a unique and undeniable relationship with each other. At times their process was heartbreaking. Honestly, this book left me with a huge book hangover that I am still trying to get through. It is my favorite MMF book to date. I love that it was messy. I loved all the emotions the characters go through. I felt each and every one of them. The writing was stellar and the characters were well-developed and real. I loved that it was not an easy process as I don't believe it would be in real life either. It was so much more than I expected. I am blown away.
Author's Trigger Warning:
"This love story deals with the journey of coming out, discovering bisexuality, and exploring polyamory. Please be aware that there are some themes of internalized homophobia, child abuse (mentioned) and child neglect. There is no on-the-page abuse or harm to minors, just the fight to overcome trauma and come out stronger and happier. Love is love."
Comments
Post a Comment