* Review * K-9 SECURITY by Nichole Severn

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * K-9 SECURITY by Nichole SevernK-9 Security by Nichole Severn
Series: New Mexico Guard Dogs #1
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on January 23, 2024
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four-stars

He and his K-9 always get the job done.
But this case will test even the toughest heart.

Military contractor Cash Meyers and his Rottweiler, Bear, show up in time to save Elena Navarro from being abducted by a drug cartel. But they’re too late to protect her little brother. Rescuing the boy means confronting a criminal who will sacrifice anything—and anyone—to claim Elena. Cash’s instincts are battle honed, but will his intense attraction to Elena put them both in danger?

 

Fast paced and addictive! This explosive introduction to the New Mexico Guard Dogs series is quick to nab the reader’s attention, but there’s a lot of back story to try to keep track of between the two of them and the indiscretions of those from their family and past. I liked the core characters and enjoyed their interactions and I liked the premise of the story and look forward to more in the series.

 

four-stars

* Review * SERIOUSLY PUCKED by Emma Foxx

* Review * SERIOUSLY PUCKED by Emma FoxxSeriously Pucked by Emma Foxx
Series: Chicago Racketeers #3
Published by Blake Wilder Books on January 19, 2024
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four-stars

Chicago Racketeers Book Three

Dating and falling in love is fun.

Getting serious is…well, serious.

It means real-life situations, like fathers getting sick, people you love getting injured, and…maybe worst of all…work parties with your significant others. Shudder.

But this is what it’s like when you’re in a relationship. Things aren’t always rainbows and unicorns. Even if you’re living and laughing with, and having hot sex every night, with three men who worship the ground you walk on. Trust me, that’s amazing. Really amazing. I’d-probably-give-up-cookies-for-this amazing. And best of all…my men would never make me give up cookies.

But I’m having to hang on a lot tighter for this ride than I expected. Because I’m not just figuring things out with one guy. I’ve got three. And if we’re seriously going to do this, then we have to figure out if we’re really all in for better or worse.

Dani, Nathan, Michael, and Crew are back in another steamy, why-choose rom com! No cheating, a guaranteed HEA, and the guys are all about her!

 

Humorous, steamy goodness continues! Serious shenanigans ensue as Dani, Nathan, Michael and Crew take a huge step forward in their relationships together! Now I’m a huge fan of this cast of characters, and I love their desire and lust so, so much … but, I felt like with the serious matters being front and center in this book, there was a bit too little serious dialogue compared to steamy sex. I want the sex, BELIEVE ME, but I also need to feel like we’re truly in a real life relationship here that isn’t always all about that. For the first time in this 3rd book in the serious Dani came across as just simply childish when she couldn’t figure out on her own that she should grow up and support a loved one when something serious is going on in his life instead of being consumed with kissing a boo boo or feeling desired. She let me down this time … but I’ll forgive her! I’m looking forward to the next book when they start a big chapter in life. Overall this cast is an absolute joy to read and I leave with a smile every time I visit.

four-stars

* Review * HOW THE ITALIAN CLAIMED HER by Jennifer Hayward

* Review * HOW THE ITALIAN CLAIMED HER by Jennifer HaywardHow the Italian Claimed Her by Jennifer Hayward
Published by Harlequin Presents on September 26, 2023
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five-stars

He always puts business first…
then it’s mixed with pleasure!

After taking the reins of his family’s legendary but failing fashion house, CEO Cristiano Vitale vows to restore its legacy. To do that he needs the face of the brand, supermodel Jensen Davis, to do her job. Only she’s committed to living up to her headline-hitting reputation.

Jensen doesn’t want to jeopardize Cristiano’s company, but courting scandal distracts from her mother’s self-destructive spiral. So, lying low at his Lake Como estate, she’s caught between her familial duty…and how much she wants the dangerously sexy Italian to claim her!

 

This sensual scandal is sure to please! I was quickly hooked on this opposites attract storyline as a supermodel tainted by scandal tries to pick up the pieces of her reputation and prove to her fashion house that’s she still worthy of her contract. The characters are easy to connect with and the drama and romance are spot on. I highly enjoyed Cristiano and Jensen and would recommend their story to anyone who enjoys a touch of drama mixed in with your romance as true love overcomes gossip and rumor.

five-stars

* Review * THE MISSING WITNESS by Allison Brennan

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THE MISSING WITNESS by Allison BrennanThe Missing Witness by Allison Brennan
Series: Quinn & Costa #5
Published by MIRA on January 23, 2024
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five-stars

When a key witness goes missing, Quinn & Costa must find her before a killer silences her for good…

Detective Kara Quinn is back in Los Angeles to testify against a notorious human trafficker, finally moving past the case that upended her life. But when the accused is shot in broad daylight, the chaotic scene of the crime turns up few reliable bystanders. And one witness—a whistleblower who might be the key to everything—has disappeared.

After another person close to the case is killed, it’s clear that anyone who knows too much is in danger, and tracking down the witness becomes a matter of life-and-death. But as explosive secrets surface within the LAPD and FBI, Kara questions everything she thought she knew about the case, her colleagues and the life she left behind months ago.

Now with FBI special agent Matt Costa’s help, she must race to find the missing witness and get to the bottom of the avalanche of conspiracies that has rocked LA to its core…before it's too late.

 

Intrigue and corruption go hand and hand in this Quinn and Costa match up! It takes a minute to get caught back up on what’s going on with Kara Quinn, but then we are quickly thrust into the heart of her past as danger lurks around every corner and who to trust isn’t so clear cut anymore. I love the core cast of the Mobile Response Team and the underlying romance between Kara and Matt and the corruption coming to light in this story was unreal but super entertaining. I really hope to see more of this team soon!

Kara Quinn is a really endearing character. She’s tough as nails and dishes the attitude out with the best of them, but she’s learned a lot about how to rely on someone since joining Matt’s team and connecting with her partner and teammates. I really like her.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a police procedural with lots of twist and turns as they try to get to the heart of the case at hand. A great series for fans of Bosch, Criminal Minds, etc.

five-stars

* Review * POINT OF DISAPPEARANCE by Carol Ericson

* Review * POINT OF DISAPPEARANCE by Carol EricsonPoint of Disappearance by Carol Ericson
Series: A Discovery Bay Novel #2
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on December 26, 2023
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four-half-stars

A monster is stalking the woods…
And boys are disappearing.

Finding human remains while putting out a fire isn’t something forest ranger Tate Mitchell ever expected. Nor is the appearance of far too appealing Blanca Lopez. The FBI agent is on the island to solve a cold case involving a boy’s disappearance. A case Tate has tried very hard to forget. But when another boy vanishes, Tate and Blanca have to put aside their mutual attraction and find answers for the families. Could those answers lie in Tate’s memories of one fateful afternoon?

 

Fast paced and addictive suspense! The second book in the Discovery Bay series was quick to grab my attention as a forest ranger and an FBI agent join forces to solve the case of a cold case that might or might not be connected to a newly recovered burial site. I enjoyed the back story of the case and of Tate, but felt like Blanca’s past was left hanging a bit with the introduction of her former mentor/coworker who was showing a stalkerish attitude but then sort of dropped to the wayside as action began to pick up in the storyline. Overall I enjoyed the story wholeheartedly and liked Tate and Blanca together.

I recommend this book as well as the prior one in the series to anyone who enjoys a mystery that is tied up quickly with hints of romance throughout.

four-half-stars

* Review * SOLD TO THE CIRCUS by Lani Lynn Vale

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SOLD TO THE CIRCUS by Lani Lynn ValeSold to the Circus by Lani Lynn Vale
Series: Welcome to the Circus #5
on January 23, 2024
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four-half-stars

AITA: Am I the asshole?
Five years ago when she left, she broke my heart. No warning. No hey, this isn’t working out. No nothing. Just poof. One day she’s there, in my bed, and we’re talking about our futures. The next, she’s gone.
So when she shows up five years later and acts like she didn’t leave me with a broken heart, I get angry. So. Freakin’. Angry.
Of course, this is where I spiral. When we went through medical school together, we were on equal footing. Not anymore. Now I’m her attending, and I’ve made it my personal mission to make her life hell.
She wants to finish up her residency and finally become a doctor? Well, she’ll have to go through every single bad thing I can throw at her, first.
Seeping, maggot-infested, pus-filled bed sore? Yep, that’s hers to take care of. Man shitting every three seconds uncontrollably? That’s also hers. Man and woman having a baby while also in the throes of a divorce? You guessed it. Hers.
If I can make her leave after what she put me through, I’ll feel accomplished.
Only problem is, I forgot how determined Valhalla Singh was. Guess she’ll be reminding me.
Because Valhalla wasn’t named that for nothing.

 

Highly addictive drama! With the fifth book in the Welcome to the Circus series we get Valhalla’s story and it had me hooked from start to finish. I loved Val and Felix and the drama surrounding them, but I did feel like there was a bit of a disconnect from the series with this book. We don’t get a lot of detailed backstory of the family, and there’s an event with one of her sisters that never gets developed as to what happened, so if you are only reading this book as a standalone, you’re going to be a bit lost. Overall, I love the angst LLV pours onto the page with every series she delivers, but think there could be more cohesiveness to support a more standalone deliverance.

I recommend this book as well as the rest of the series to anyone who enjoys a close knit family filled with drama and turmoil who stand by each other through thick and thin as each sibling finds their forever love.

four-half-stars

* Review * FORTUNE’S BABY CLAIM by Michelle Major

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * FORTUNE’S BABY CLAIM by Michelle MajorFortune's Baby Claim by Michelle Major
Series: The Fortunes of Texas: Digging for Secrets #1
Published by Harlequin Fortunes of Texas on January 23, 2024
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four-half-stars

An unthinkable mistake…Might be their good fortune!

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare come true when two babies are mistakenly switched at birth! Single mom Esme Fortune already loves the infant she brought home from the hospital, but she can’t possibly deny her own flesh and blood. And even if businessman Ryan Hayes never expected to be parenting a baby alone, he certainly doesn't want to give up his son. Their unconventional solution: Why not join forces—and raise the kids together? The pair's unbreakable love for their children brokers an unlikely partnership…and as an undeniable respect and attraction grows, perhaps so much more.

 

Addictive start to a dramatic new Fortunes of Texas: Digging for Secrets series! Michelle Major can always be counted on to deliver down to earth characters who deliver angst and tension around every corner. I love the back bone of this story and am looking forward to what’s to come in the series now that we have an inkling of who might be behind the goings on around town. I felt like Esme and Ryan’s relationship was a smidge stunted and wanted just a little more oomph from them in their development and groundwork, but overall I loved their story and am looking forward to the series as a whole.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast paced, heartwarming story of connection as every day life springs surprises that the characters have to deal with on their way towards forever.

four-half-stars

* Review * A NINE-MONTH DEAL WITH HER HUSBAND by Joss Wood

* Review * A NINE-MONTH DEAL WITH HER HUSBAND by Joss WoodA Nine-Month Deal with Her Husband by Joss Wood
Series: Hot Winter Escapes #5
Published by Harlequin Presents on December 26, 2023
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five-stars

His business-deal bride…
is negotiating for an heir!

Millie Piper’s on-paper marriage to CEO Benedikt Jónsson gave her ownership over her life and her billion-dollar inheritance. Now Millie wants a baby, so it’s only right that she ask Ben for a divorce first. But she doesn’t expect to be completely blindsided by her attraction to her convenient husband!

For lone-wolf Ben, Millie’s in-person request ignites a dangerous desire. The intimacy of having his wife in his luxury Iceland home already threatens his ruthless self-control, though nothing compares to the shock of Millie’s next proposal—that Ben father her child!

 

Really addictive plot! I highly enjoyed my jaunt to Iceland in Joss Wood’s latest Harlequin Presents. The characters have an interesting back story connection and I was quickly hooked on the drama that was on the horizon from it. Rich plot, intriguing sexual chemistry and a pair of really heartwarming and down to earth power players. Loved them!

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys an arranged marriage trope that turns all too real when a connection begins that neither expected.

five-stars

* Review * HER LAST CRY by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * HER LAST CRY by Pamela Fagan HutchinsHer Last Cry by Pamela Fagan Hutchins
Series: Detective Delaney Pace #3
Published by Bookouture on January 16, 2024
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five-stars

A young woman has vanished into thin air.

When much-loved Annabeth Dillon is reported missing during a snow storm in Kearney, Wyoming, Detective Delaney Pace is called in. The search leads to a remote woodland cabin, and Delaney is distraught to find Annabeth’s lifeless body on the bed, dark red ties gripping her tight, long black hair covering her face. Searching the scene, she spots a dark figure at the window and rushes to give chase, but he gets away. Could it have been the killer?

Another victim is about to be taken.

As a local activist, Annabeth had a lot of enemies and she was no stranger to death threats. So why was she alone in an isolated cabin? And when one of Annabeth’s colleagues is found dead in her own home, Delaney fears that the murders are linked. Were the women hiding a secret that someone killed to keep?

A twisted killer is in town and they’re only just getting started.

Days later, Delaney discovers that the murderer left DNA evidence on the body, and she’s shocked to her core when she learns who it belongs to. She knows the killer. As she jumps to action, another call comes in—someone close to her has gone missing. Delaney knows just how dangerous the killer is, but she’s prepared to risk everything, even her own life, to save the life of another innocent victim. Will she find them in time?

 

Secrets are unraveling as danger lurks around every corner in the third book in the Delaney Pace series by Pamela Fagan Hutchins and I’m really enjoying sinking my teeth into this cast of players! We uncover some secrets as more mount with each passing page as Delaney continues to try to solve the mysteries surrounding her family. The characters are addictive and the suspense is high pitched. I really enjoy the core players of this series and am looking forward to more to come from them. I’m still hoping that sexual tension will pan out into a happily ever after for Delaney and Leo.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone that enjoys a whodunnit with lots of twists and turns along the way as an ongoing cast holds our attention and brings us new cases with each book.

five-stars

* Review * JUST A LITTLE PROMISE by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * JUST A LITTLE PROMISE by Carly Phillips and Erika WildeJust a Little Promise by Carly Phillips
Series: Dare Crossover #3
on January 23, 2024
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five-stars

He’s the one she’s never forgotten.
She’s the one he regrets letting go.
Now they have a second chance to get it right.

When Skye Tremont runs into her sexy former flame, Tripp Daniels, she’s reminded of the baby pact they’d made years ago… If she was single and childless by the age of thirty, he’d step in and be her baby daddy and fulfill her dream of having a child.

Now, after a bitter divorce that has left her guarding her heart, and wanting only one thing, Skye is ready to take Tripp up on his promise. When he’s one of the bachelors up for bid at a charity auction, it’s the perfect opportunity to have him all to herself for a weekend of baby making fun, as long as he agrees to her terms.

Tripp is on board to fulfill the promise he made to Skye. If he’s going to have a baby with anyone, it’s going to be the one woman he’d foolishly let slip through his fingers. But not this time because he’s all in. Skye is even more beautiful than he remembers, and the chemistry between them is hotter than ever, but while she gives him free rein with her body, she’s made it clear her heart is off limits.

Now, with a second chance within his grasp, Tripp is prepared to do whatever it takes to win the woman he loves and give them both the family they’ve always craved.

 

A sexy and sweet reunion is center stage in the next Dare Crossover novel by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde and I loved every juicy minute of it! The characters each have a rich backstory both together and singularly and the drama that Skye is embarking on in her life sets an interesting stepping stone for their reconnection. Each has a supporting cast of friends/colleagues that are familiar faces to fans of the previous series. Highly addictive and super satisfying!

I highly recommend this book as well as the previous Dare series to anyone that enjoys a steamy romance with easy to connect with characters, lots of drama along the way towards their happily ever after and lots of family and friends to interact with throughout the series.

five-stars