Archives for August 24, 2019

* Review * WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT by Helen Lacey

August 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT by Helen Lacey

When You Least Expect It by Helen Lacey
Series: The Culhanes of Cedar River #1
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on September 1, 2019
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She was having his baby.

But why wouldn’t she be his wife?

After several failed pregnancies, Tess Fuller’s dreams of motherhood hadn’t worked out—until one memorable night with her ex-husband resulted in pregnancy! Take-charge rancher Mitch Culhane had never stopped loving Tess. Now he has the perfect solution: marriage, take two. But Tess isn’t so sure their love story can have a happily-ever-after…unless Mitch can prove he’s changed…

WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT is the first book in the brand new The Culhanes of Cedar River series by Helen Lacey and revolves around a rancher and his teacher ex-wife for a reunion story and a surprise baby all rolled into one!

Mitch is introduced as a solid guy who was left to raise his five younger siblings after his mom died and his dad fell apart years ago. He was quick to wrap himself around this reader’s heart, and I steadfastly supported him throughout the book.

Tess was hard to like at first because she was coming in with a major chip on her shoulder and causing discord with Mitch. It turns out a chance encounter that led to a night together several months ago led to a baby. Several failed pregnancies earlier led to their marriage falling apart, but can this one be the one that puts them back together again?

I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good reunited love story with a heavy supporting cast of family. I’m looking to seeing more of this town and this family!

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* Review * SHEIKH’S ROYAL BABY REVELATION by Annie West

August 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SHEIKH’S ROYAL BABY REVELATION by Annie West

Sheikh's Royal Baby Revelation by Annie West
Series: Secret Heirs of Billionaires #5
Published by Harlequin Presents on September 1, 2019
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Desert captives for one night

Bound forever by their unexpected baby

When desert prince Ashraf was kidnapped alongside geologist Tori, the desperation of their life-threatening situation led to passionate oblivion. Rescued the next day, Ash never knew Tori’s fate…but this powerful sheikh never stopped looking for her. Now he’s finally found Tori—and discovered she’s had his son! To claim them, Ashraf’s prepared to make Tori his queen…but can he offer more than his royal name?

Sheikh’s Royal Baby Revelation is the first book in Anne West’s latest Harlequin Presents series, Royal Brides for Desert Brothers and revolves around a desert prince and a geologist who are taken captive by the same people and find comfort in each other’s arms.

Ashraf and Tori were separated and neither of them knew who the other one really was, or if they had escaped their captors or not. As a reader, I was quickly drawn into the story because of the potential danger they were facing. We didn’t get to see a lot of their subsequent movement, but a few months down the road we meet them again as they reconnect and discuss their unexpected son.

I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a surprise baby story as well as a royal desert romance. Ms. West always portrays the settings of her books so beautifully in a reader’s mind and makes us feel like we were transported there with her characters. Looking forward to Karim’s story coming soon!

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* Review * FULL FORCE by Elle James

August 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

Full Force by Elle James
Series: Declan’s Defenders #3
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on September 1, 2019
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She saw something she shouldn’t have…
Now they want her dead.

Ever since she left the foreign embassy where she was working, translator Emily Chastain has been targeted by someone who wants to silence her permanently. Fearing for her life, Emily contacts Declan’s Defenders and is placed under former marine Mustang Ford’s protection. If only she could figure out why someone is trying to kill her—and how to contain her unlikely attraction to Mustang…

Full Force is book three in the Declan’s Defenders Harlequin Intrigue series by Elle James. The story centers around a translator and the former Marine turned Declan’s Defenders teammate who is sent to protect her in a bit of an opposites attract story.

Emily quickly became an intriguing character because the job she was leaving at the embassy seemed to be the catalyst to the danger she suddenly found herself in. Luckily she was friends with Grace who soon had her covered by the guys.

Frank (AKA Mustang) is a loyal guy who is all in to settling into this new venture he and the guys are branching out into. He jumps at the chance to help a friend of a friend and quickly has Emily’s back.

I recommend this book and this entire series to anyone who enjoys lots of intrigue with blasts of romance, and overall a top-notch group of characters who are as close as close can be and out to aid in making life right. Looking forward to more to come in the series!

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* Review * SHADOW by Janie Crouch

August 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

Shadow by Janie Crouch
Series: Linear Tactical #6
on August 16, 2019
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Dragging an innocent into his war was never a part of the plan.

Heath Kavanaugh lost years of his life working for a covert agency that ended up being the enemy. Knowing they put something inside his head--constant, incomprehensible whispers--is driving him crazy.

He needs answers, but they're nowhere to be found.

What he definitely doesn't need is to fall hard for his Linear teammate's younger sister, Jacquelyn--the adorable linguistics doctoral student who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Especially when Heath's attention puts her directly in the path of a danger he thought was gone for good. To stop it, they'll have to figure out what's in his head. And hope it doesn't destroy them all.

Shadow is book six in Janie Crouch’s exciting Linear Tactical series. Center of this story is Heath, an operative we have met in past books and the little sister of one of his best friends and teammates.

Heath is a very interesting character. We go in knowing he’s got issues in his head from programming that happened amidst a top-secret mission years ago, but we’re unclear on how much danger is still flying around until he’s knee deep into this mission.

Lyn sure doesn’t need another overprotective man in her life, but watching the attraction burn between the two of them when they are clueless as to who the other one is was a lot of fun.

I enjoyed Heath and Lyn’s story and recommend it to anyone looking for an action packed punch of intrigue with a strong group of background characters that play a large part in the story line. The entire series has been great, so you can’t go wrong with any of the six books already out.

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* Review * BLADE by Erin Trejo

August 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Blade by Erin Trejo
Series: Soulless Bastards MC Daytona Chapter #1
on September 6, 2019
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I wasn't happy in life. My role as President didn't give me the satisfaction I was seeking anymore. I wanted to move on but I didn't know how. Until she was dumped on my job. She was feisty and a challenge. One I liked to accept. Yet her secrets were hers. Until they were mine. Now I'm struggling to find the balance I need the most in my life.

Blade is the first book in Erin Trejo’s Daytona Chapter spin-off of her Soulless Bastards MC series, and it centers around the President of the club and the wayward soul that shows up on a job site injured and needing help.

Blade was quick to grab my attention because he was willing with no questions asked to take this woman in and simply let her heal and be safe for a change. He didn’t demand answers, he didn’t demand thanks, he simply supported her.

Lola started out being less than empowering, but quickly came into her own once she realized she could have a different life now.

Overall a satisfying read filled with passion, angst and lots of emotion. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast paced MC romance, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

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* Review * THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE by Katherine Center

August 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
Published by St. Martin's Press on August 13, 2019
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Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's a total pro at other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew—even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.

Things You Save in a Fire is an emotion filled forbidden love/family saga type of story about a female firefighter, the struggles she goes through both professionally and personally, and the rookie she bends the rules to fall for.

Cassie is a self-assured strong character who knows what she wants in life and goes for it. She had a couple of things in her life that inspired her to push past the negativity and become a powerhouse, and throughout this book she will confront both of those issues and reflect back on her life while forging through the new situation she finds herself in.

Owen becomes Cassie’s only ally in her new firehouse, and shows her the powerful support a man can bring to her life if she lets her walls down enough to let him in. He’s definitely a joy of a character.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a strong female heroine with an emotional story line with a bit of suspense, a bit of romance and a whole lot of heart. The plot was very interesting, and the way we are given bits of her life here and there keeps you reading to find out more. It was a bit slow moving in places, but overall a really solid story.

Filed Under: Book Reviews