4/5 Review: Make Me by Beth Kery

Harper McFadden established herself as an investigative journalist by being both compassionate and fearless. After tragedy strikes her family, she moves to the shores of Lake Tahoe to find some peace. But when mysterious software mogul Jacob Latimer enters her life, her thoughts turn from her own healing to an insatiable desire to get closer to him...

No one knows what secrets lurk in the past of Jacob Latimer. He built his corporation from nothing, but rumors abound about his mysterious rise to power. Harper is the last person he should let into his life. She could expose the truth about his origins. But Jacob knows things about Harper’s past that draw him in. He wants nothing more than to make her his—and Jacob is a man who always gets what he wants...

**********

Make Me was originally released as an eight part serial, this is the serial in it's entirety.  It is a standalone erotic romance.  We meet Harper McFadden and Jacob Latimer on a beach in Tahoe Shore.  Harper has just taken a job as newspaper editor to get away from the stress of investigative journalism and to heal from the recent death of her parents.  Jacob well he is a reclusive billionaire - with a hidden past that we learn about through the story and he knows Harper who has no recollection of who he is. 

The story is told by both characters through dreams, memories and present day.  It's a second chance romance of sorts even though they were both children.  One with memories and the other with none (it seems that her father was able to wipe the sordid details away.)

Ms. Kery, entwines the past and present beautifully.  We learn about each character and the story will keep you guessing as to the final outcome.  Her story lines are solid, her characters are strong.  The erotic aspect of the novel  doesn't take away from the forward motion.

If you are in the market for a wonderfully written, story with a bit of mystery and a bit of a different twist on a second chance romance, I highly recommend Make Me!



3/5 Review: Someone to Hold by Mary Balogh

Humphrey Wescott, Earl of Riverdale, has died, leaving behind a fortune and a scandalous secret that will forever alter the lives of his family—sending one daughter on a journey of self-discovery... 
With her parents’ marriage declared bigamous, Camille Westcott is now illegitimate and without a title. Looking to eschew the trappings of her old life, she leaves London to teach at the Bath orphanage where her newly discovered half-sister lived. But even as she settles in, she must sit for a portrait commissioned by her grandmother and endure an artist who riles her every nerve.

An art teacher at the orphanage that was once his home, Joel Cunningham has been hired to paint the portrait of the haughty new teacher. But as Camille poses for Joel, their mutual contempt soon turns to desire. And it is only the bond between them that will allow them to weather the rough storm that lies ahead...

**********

Someone to hold is the second in Ms. Balogh's Wescott Series.  It stands well enough on it's own.  

Camille Westcott has always been a perfect lady.  It has been revealed that her parent's marriage was not legitimate and she and he siblings are penniless and set out in the world.  In an attempt to settle into her new place in life - she takes a job teaching at the orphanage her legitimate half sister was raised and taught.  There she meet a young painter named Joel - with whom she takes and instant dislike for but there is also and attraction.

I had a bit of difficulty reading this one because I took a bit of dislike towards Camille - she is all prim and proper for naught.  However, once through a bit I had to find out how things turn out for her and Joel.

Ms. Balogh's writing is well rounded and her characters are strong even though at times you want to shake them.  Her story lines are fluid - although I have to admit the sex scenes in the book are more clinical then enjoyable to read.  That being said - if you enjoy period romances this one is worth the time.



5/5 Review: It Happened in Scotland by Patience Griffin

Christmas in the sleepy Scottish fishing village of Gandiegow this year is a time for quilting, patching up broken hearts, and rekindling an old flame... 
After pulling herself out of a three-year fog of grief over the loss of her husband, Joe, Rachel is bringing their five-year-old daughter to see his hometown of Gandiegow and visit with his grandfather. But Rachel wasn’t planning on running into Joe’s cousin, the man who made her have second thoughts at the altar...

Brodie has come home to help his grandfather’s fishing business, but he’d prefer not to see Rachel. Although she did break his heart six years ago, the grip she has on him hasn’t faltered. If they can stop butting heads long enough and learn to overcome the past, they may find new love in the new year...

**********

It Happened in Scotland was a very fast read for me, but that was simply because I couldn’t put it down! I will definitely be rereading this one. Her descriptions of Scotland and Gandigow, though fictional, make me feel as if I am right there, and I really want to go visit there now.  I haven’t read the other books in the series but will be going back to purchase those also. Patience Griffin has a unique way of writing that makes you feel as if you really do know the characters, with all of their imperfections, yet lovable personalities. You find yourself inside the story, as if you are a character also. That is my favorite kind of book.

 

Rachel, an American widow, takes her daughter to Scotland to visit her deceased husband’s family. Rachel once had feelings for her husband’s cousin, and surprise, they are still there.  She is reluctant to go because she knows the village believes she ‘stole’ one of their own. Rachel and Brodie, the cousin, spend the book trying to heal broken bonds and hearts, will they work at in the end? I leave you to read for yourself.

5/5 Review: Satisfaction by Lexi Blake

Brandon Lawless is a man on a mission: obtain the information that will clear his father’s name. He’s willing to do whatever it takes—even seduce his enemy’s personal assistant, the beautiful and innocent Carly Hendricks. But with her beguiling smile and captivating intelligence, Brandon soon realizes he doesn’t want to deceive Carly, he wants to win her over—both in the boardroom and the bedroom.

Then a twisted crime leaves Carly vulnerable and Brandon finds himself reeling. The stakes of his mission are now life or death—Carly’s life. And Brandon realizes he’s lost his heart to an amazing woman and his plan must succeed, because the stakes are no longer just revenge, but a once in a lifetime love.

**********

Book 2 of this ridiculously sexy book is just as I expected it to be. Perfection. Pure perfection. 

Branden (Bran) Lawless is not a very complicated man. Give him booze, strip clubs and fist fights and he's happy, well he's a least easier to be around. But under the surface lies a long ago devastating past that he can't let go of. He can't let go of his rage, so he covers it up, or fights it out. Nobody can talk sense into him, or calm him down, until Carly Fisher that is.

Carly Fisher hates her job. And by hate I mean she loathes it. But she's stuck with no wiggle room of any kind. Until a sexy stranger makes her an offer that she can't refuse... can she? Turns out she can't, cause helping the Lawless family, and gaining her freedom sound like heaven. Until she finds out what her cover story will be, and how it involves the sexy stranger, aka, Bran.

So I'm fairly new to reading Lexi Blake books, and I can truly say she has not let me down! This book explodes with passion, suspense, mystery and pure erotica fun! Who wouldn't want to read this!? It keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, what crazy things will the villain think of next, and the end is mind blowing! I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out! 

Definitely a must read! And by must, I mean right now! But if you haven't read the first in the series 'Ruthless' please read it first. You'll thank me later!

COVER REVEAL: Curly Q by Jamallah Bergman

“Curly Q!”

“What?”

“That’s what I’m going to call you from now on. With all those curls you’ve got, they look like mounds and mounds of curly Q fries.”

Madison Wilson had always thought the nickname her brother in law gave her was funny and it would be something she would grow to love over the years. She had an amazing career being a partner of her own law firm as well as having a loving husband and family who cared for her. Then her life came tumbling down around her and she realizes she will slowly have to pick herself up from the fiasco that has now become reality, after living in a dreamland for so long. But when her big sister, Candace tells her to visit her and her family, Madison never thought her visit would turn out to be something more than she ever expected it to be.

Austin Collins always had a camera in his hand. With that camera, he’d traveled all over the world, taking pictures of places, people could only dream of visiting. When he came back home, he didn’t realize an impromptu visit would end up being something far more than he ever imagined.

Curly Q is a story of self-discovery between Madison and Austin, two people whose sudden friendship quickly brings romance, long kept secrets and intrigue that could change their lives forever.

5/5 Review: One Hot Summer by Melissa Cutler

Welcome to Dulcet, Texas, home of the legendary Briscoe Ranch Resort, where one woman will discover that even love is bigger in the Lone Star State.
Celebrity wedding planner Remedy Lane is Hollywood royalty―until a scandal sends her packing to the wilds of Texas. She has a knack for leaving disaster in her wake, but she’s determined to reboot her career at Briscoe Ranch, a luxury resort known for extravagant weddings. Little does she know that weddings don’t happen at the resort without the approval of the town’s cowboy-swaggering, too-hot-for-his-own-good fire chief, Micah Garrity.
ONE HOT SUMMER
Micah knows trouble when he sees it, and all it takes is one glimpse of Remedy’s princess airs for him to know he’s met his match. Too bad he can’t stop thinking about her―even when she brings about one disaster after another at the resort. He and Remedy clash at every turn, but they can’t stop the sparks flying between them. They come from such different worlds―does love stand a chance or will this fire burn too hot for either of them to handle?

**********

Remedy Lane moves to a small town in Texas to try and rebuild her career as a wedding planner after an event in California that she planned goes terribly wrong. Remedy comes from a Hollywood family. Both of her parents are popular celebrities. She doesn't plan on sticking around in Texas for good, just long enough for the incident to blow over so she can go home. Little did she know that she would run into the fire chief on more than one occasion and things would change. 

Micah is the town’s fire chief and takes his job very serious. He has lost more in his lifetime from a huge fire that wiped out part of the town than most can imagine. Not only did he lose his home when he was young and everything in it, but he also lost his mother. She left and he never saw her again. Remedy makes him crazy. They seem to be at odds with everything she wants to do at the resort. There is something about her though that he can’t seem to stop thinking about. They are two different people from two different backgrounds. 

I got a good laugh out of the first time Remedy and Micah met each other. Remedy was relaxing by the river when a couple guys come into view. They were chasing a cooler down the river that had gotten loose during their little get together upstream. She ends up decided to go check it out with them. How could she say no to their southern charm? She ends up helping by carrying a watermelon to where the party is actually taking place. I loved the Dirty Dancing reference with her carrying the watermelon then sounding and feeling so dumb when she tells the handsome Texan that she carried a watermelon. They didn't really get along when they first met. 

When Micah shows up at the resort to inspect the set up for an event that Remedy is putting on they meet again. She can’t believe that this was the fire chief, the jerk she met at the party. 

Micah takes Remedy out for the best burger in Texas one evening and that’s when it all changes. They realize that they can’t resist each other any longer and decide to see where things go. 

Micah finds out that Remedy is rich beyond belief because of who her parent are. She tried to keep it a secret, but he finds out anyway. They get into a little fight about it, and he gets mad because she was keeping that from him. They seem to fix things until Remedy is offered her dream job in California and Micah assumes she's going to take it. He's afraid that she will leave just like his mother did all those years ago. So he storms off without even letting her explain what she wants to do. A fire breaks out at the chapel on the resorts property and Remedy risks her life to save a woman that is like a grandmother to Micah. They realize after that they can’t live without each other and won’t. She stays in Texas with Micah and plans to marry him after they rebuild the wedding chapel. I loved the relationship that these two built. They really do belong together. 

One Hot Summer is the first book in a new series called A One and Only Texas Novel by Melissa Cutler. I’m excited that I was able to start this series from the beginning. I look forward to reading more from this series and the characters around the Briscoe Ranch. This book was very good. I have a thing for Texas men and this book gave me just that! Micah is a hot manly cowboy of a man! 



5/5 Review: Power Game by Christine Feehan

The Ghostwalker series took me a few books to get into, but knowing they were from the talented Christine Feehan, I had total faith in the series.  Power Game didn't disappoint.  It ticks off all the things you need in a book; great storyline, strong characters and something to dig your teeth into.

Power Game is about the powerful Ezekial “Zeke” Fortunes and the family he has grown to protect.  He has always been there for everyone, forever the protector of his rapidly growing family.  First it was his brothers he protected, but now it includes their mates and their children.  Ofcourse there is Nonny too, the beloved mother to Ezekial and his team mates.

Bellisia Adams is the woman that opens his heart.  The moment he smells her scent; touches her hand it is his undoing.  She was born to be his mate.  Also genetically enhanced, she really is his other half to his soul. 

Bellisia is specially enhanced to camouflage into her surroundings while Ezekial is a super soldier you don’t want to mess with.  Someone wants him and his kind dead and their path is straight into the swamp haven that has become their safe place.

Their journey is a very dangerous one where they need to twist around ever increasing danger and learn to trust each other to survive.

I loved all the characters in this book, they are all so likable. 

5/5 Review: Deception Island by Brynn Kelly

Rafe Angelito thought he was done with the demons from his past—until his son is kidnapped. Blackmailed into abducting an American heiress, the legionnaire soon finds himself trapped in paradise with a fiery, daring beauty who’s nothing he expects…and everything he desires. But when he uncovers her own dark secret, Rafe realizes he’s made a critical mistake—one that could cost him everything.

Playing body double for a spoiled socialite was supposed to be Holly Ryan’s ticket to freedom. But when she’s snatched off her yacht by a tall, dark and dangerous stranger, the not-quite-reformed con artist will make a desperate play to turn her captor from enemy to ally, by any means necessary.

Yet as scorching days melt into sultry nights, Holly is drawn to the mysterious capitaine, with his unexpected sense of honor and his searing touch. When they’re double-crossed, they’ll have to risk trusting each other in ways they never imagined…because in this deadly game of deception, it’s their lives—and hearts—on the line.

**********

Rafe Angelito has a very dark past. He was trained at the age of nine to be a killing machine and to work for some very bad guys. He escapes from that life and end up married with a son. His wife ends up dying and Rafe leaves his now nine year old son to live with his grandmother. Little did he know that someone he thought to be just like a brother to him would kidnap his son to force Rafe to kidnap a senators daughter for ransom. Things are going according to plan until he finds himself with feelings for this woman.

Holly Ryan is relaxing on a yacht while being paid to pretend to be the senator’s daughter. She thought this was finally a way for her to start living a life that she could actually be happy with until she is kidnapped right off the yacht. Now she has to play this role of Laura to convince her captor that she is intact Laura to keep herself alive. Spending time alone with Rafe on a deserted honeymoon island has its affects on her. She wants to play him to believe she has feelings for him to get him on her side when things go south. She didn't count on those feelings actually turing into real feelings.

I loved this book would be an understatement. It was full of suspense and action. There was also a very steamy romance in it too! It had everything and then some. I was a little disappointed when I found out I had to wait until May to read anything else by Brynn Kelly. I want to read it now! I don't want to give too much away about what happens in this book so that you can find out on your own by reading the book. There really is so much that happens to both characters during the book. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. I know I had trouble putting it down. I would love to see this turned into a movie. My husband would even love this book if I could get him to read!



New Release: The Protector by Donna Grant

The second book in New York Times bestselling author, Donna Grant’s thrilling Sons of Texas series is finally here!

PRAISE FOR DONNA GRANT

"Grant’s dizzying mix of danger and romance dazzles ...off-the-charts chemistry and a breath-stealing plot." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Protector

The Protector

(Sons of Texas Series, #2)

By Donna Grant

Blurb: 

When his aunt and uncle are murdered and his father has been kidnapped, bad boy Marine Force Recon captain, Cullen Loughman teams up with the one woman who turns his world upside down.

Everything’s hotter in Texas…

When Marine Force Recon captain Cullen Loughman learns that his father’s been kidnapped, he will do whatever it takes to find him. In order to achieve his mission, Cullen will need to team up with the best of the best?someone who just happens to be the most stunning woman he’s ever laid eyes on…

This isn’t the first rodeo for ex-Air Force pilot Mia Carter. Still, Cullen’s bad-boy good looks and charm are distracting her from duty. . .and it appears that the feeling is mutual.

As Mia and Cullen make their descent into a dark, dangerous world, their attraction reaches the boiling point. But is their desire worth the risk when a ruthless enemy is waiting in the wings? Or will their Lone Star love conquer all in The Protector?

Available for purchase at

                        

Visit Donna's website to learn more about the series and read sneak peeks!

 Excerpt

Cullen hadn’t expected Mia Carter to be so . . . amazing. He’d never seen a woman fight with such passion or with movements so beautiful that he’d found himself watching her instead of finishing off the Colombian.

For the first time in Cullen’s life, he couldn’t find words. He could only stare at the beautiful woman with one thought—Valkyrie.

She was the epitome of what he imagined the winged creatures of Norse mythology would look like. All she needed was armor and a sword to complete his vision.

Now, as he sat in the cockpit of the British WWII Bristol Buckingham C. MK 1 plane, also known as the Bristol Type 163 Buckingham, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

Beautiful didn’t begin to describe this incredible woman. Every time her steely black gaze fringed with impossibly thick lashes turned his way, he became entranced. Her eyes were large and slightly tilted up at the corners.

He forgot to breathe as he took in her unblemished, sun-kissed face. With high cheekbones and wide, full lips, he was smitten.

Wisps of inky black hair escaped from her ponytail to fall along the narrow column of her neck. An olive tee skimmed her torso to show mouthwatering curves, and black denim showcased her lithe legs to perfection.

“It was Orrin who approached me,” she said.

That didn’t surprise him. His father had always had a gift for finding talent and using it to his advantage. “When?”

“A few years ago.”

It made Cullen wonder what else his father had been up to. While he and his brothers were off building their lives, Orrin Loughman had been setting up a team of Black Ops members to do some of the dirtiest jobs.

One of the missions, put together by the DOD, had sent Orrin and his team to Russia to steal a bioweapon.

Except something had gone terribly wrong. Someone betrayed Orrin Loughman. In the process, he’d been kidnapped, and his team was executed.

The last person to see his father was the woman sitting next to Cullen.

The years he’d spent as a Marine Force Recon captain had taught him many things. He knew how to fight his way out of various situations using his hands, body, and mind. He knew how to spot lairs and traitors. He also had dozens of rescues to his name.

He was damn good at his job. But he had to be more than good now. His father’s very life depended on it.

“How did you find me?” Mia asked.

“I went to the Air Force Base. When you weren’t there, I went to General Davis’s office. It seems they keep a record of every flight you make.”

Her lips compressed. “That they do.”

“To my benefit. If I hadn’t arrived, you would either be dead or in Camilo’s care. Neither of which sounds appealing.”

“I already thanked you.”

“Yes, ma’am. You sure did.” He linked his fingers over his stomach. There was something about Mia Carter he found compelling, and it had nothing to do with her beauty. She was very much like him, he suddenly realized.

Wary of the world with a look of cynicism she didn’t bother to hide.

“Tell me how a pilot with your skills is able to have a hangar on a base, work for the military as a contractor, and still be able to take jobs with criminals. Because let’s be honest . . .  Camilo was a criminal.”

“It won’t matter what I give you as an explanation. You’ve already formed an opinion,” she replied coolly.

In fact, he had formed an opinion. He suspected that she liked danger. She also loved to fly. Combine the two, and she was in heaven.

“You were telling me about how you and my father began working together,” he said, getting them back on topic.

She cut him a look with her black eyes. “What you really want to know is if I betrayed him. As I told Callie—and everyone listening on the phone that day—it wasn’t me.”

“I do remember that call. Though I’ve learned that people say a lot of things that aren’t the truth.”

“You want the truth?” she asked, turning her head to him. “I’ll tell you the truth. I hated taking orders, so I left the Air Force as soon as I could. But I wasn’t ready to give up flying. It’s my life.”

That much he could tell. It was in her blood.

Series Trailer

Sons of Texas Series

The Hero
(Sons of Texas Series, Bk #1)
by Donna Grant

Now Available!

                        

The Legend
(Sons of Texas Series, Bk #3)
by Donna Grant
Release Date: June 27, 2017

Pre-Order at

                        

About The Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her "totally addictive" and "unique and sensual" stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas.

You can find Donna at 

               

   

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