Book Reviews – Page 97

* Review * SUMMER ON THE ISLAND by Brenda Novak

April 15, 2022 Leave a Comment

Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak
Published by MIRA on April 5, 2022
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A summer of healing, friendship, love…and a secret that could change everything.

After the death of her US senator father, Marlow Madsen travels to the small island off the coast of Florida where she spent summers growing up to help her mother settle the family estate. For Marlow, the trip is a chance to reconnect after too long apart. It’s also the perfect escape to help her feel grounded again—one she’s happy to share with friends Aida and Claire, who are hoping to hit reset on their lives, too.

A leisurely beachfront summer promises the trio of women the opportunity to take deep healing breaths and explore new paths. But when her father’s will reveals an earth-shattering secret that tarnishes his impeccable reputation and everything she thought she knew about her family, Marlow finds herself questioning her entire childhood—and aspects of her future. Fortunately, her friends, and the most unlikely love interest she could imagine, prove that happiness can be found no matter what—as long as the right people are by your side.

This beach read is sure to hook you from the very start! Love, friendship and loss are front and center as we delve into Brenda Novak’s SUMMER ON THE ISLAND and as the story unravels a good bit of drama enters the picture. For me I’m less likely to sink deeply into enjoyment when there is a lot of pandemic talk in the story since let’s face it, we’ve all had to live it personally way too much right now, so it starts out iffy for me, but I quickly got drawn into the characters and enjoyed their stories regardless.

Marlow is kind-hearted and easy to like. The drama that this trip opens up for her is unexpected, but the she also gains love and understanding throughout.

I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a dramatic women’s fiction story with strong elements of romance chock full of attention grabbing characters and love, laughter and angst enough to fill your heart.

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* Review * SETUP AT WHISKEY GULCH by Elle James

April 15, 2022 Leave a Comment

Setup at Whiskey Gulch by Elle James
Series: The Outriders Series #4
Published by Harlequin Intrigue on March 29, 2022
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She's a small-town cop
…after a killer.

After losing her fiancé to an IED explosion, sheriff's deputy Dallas Jones planned to start over in Whiskey Gulch. But murder in the quiet Texas town upends her life. To catch the unknown suspect, Dallas partners with Outrider Levi Warren, a former Delta Force operative living with PTSD. Their dogged investigation riddled with gangs, drugs and death threats sparks an unexpected attraction…one they may not survive.

Whiskey Gulch hooked me again! With the fourth book in The Outriders Series Elle James delivers a fast paced jaunt into danger with SETUP AT WHISKEY GULCH and I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Dallas is easy to connect with and an interesting character to get to know and follow into danger and back. I enjoyed her.

Levi is a solid addition to the Outriders and his determination to help Dallas stay safe was endearing.

I recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone that enjoys a little drama mixed with highly intense intrigue and a satisfying romance.

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* Review * JUST ONE DARE by Carly Phillips

April 14, 2022 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * JUST ONE DARE by Carly Phillips

Just One Dare Series: The Kingston Family #5, The Dirty Dare Family #1
Published by CP Publishing on April 19, 2022
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A one night stand with no names exchanged.
Six years later, she comes face to face with her baby’s father again.

Aurora Michaels isn’t the same girl she was that spring night. No longer homeless and living in the back room of a diner where she worked, she’s now a member of the wealthy Kingston family. She has her daughter, a career and has adjusted to her new normal.

Billionaire Nick Dare is a man who takes charge. He runs the hotel arm of the family empire and his life revolves around business and travel. A quick stop at his brother's movie premier has him doing a double take.

The woman who haunts his dreams is there. He’s been given a second chance and is determined to make the most of it.

When he learns about their daughter, Nick becomes a man on a mission. Aurora and their child are his. Even if he has to knock down Aurora’s emotional walls to prove it.

An explosive reconnection! Carly Phillips is outdoing herself on the steamy goodness when she has a Kingston collide with a Dare and fireworks ensue in JUST ONE DARE! We’ve all known we’d one day uncover the secrets that Aurora brought with her into the Kingston family when she was discovered early on in the series as a long-lost sibling … we just never could have imagined they might include a side of the scrumptious Dare family! I loved every single minute of Aurora and Nick!

Aurora is sweet and sincere and seeing the mother and philanthropist she’s worked hard to become is endearing.

Nick is self-assured and yummy and I loved seeing them reconnect.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a high-powered family of close-knit siblings who are always there for one another and support each other through the happily ever afters that come knocking.

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* Review * CODE NAME: REVENGE by Sawyer Bennett

April 14, 2022 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * CODE NAME: REVENGE by Sawyer Bennett

Code Name: Revenge by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Jameson Force Security #9
Published by Big Dog Books, LLC on April 19, 2022
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When Kynan McGrath approached me about joining Jameson Force Security, I jumped at the chance. Just call me Dozer Burney, one half of the genius duo who keeps the team at the forefront of security technology. The move from NASA to Jameson also put me back on the east coast, closer to those who mean the most to me.

Jessica Anderson has been my best friend since college. A single mom who found herself mixed up with a dangerous man years ago, she’s been living a safe, quiet life in Miami after helping police put him behind bars. We both knew her safety, and that of her daughter, was reliant on him staying locked up. So when I see an alert that he’s escaped from his maximum security prison, I know where he’s heading to exact his revenge.

Now it’s a race against time to get to Jessica before he does.

Protecting her with my life is easy, because there’s one thing I’ve never admitted to anyone, not even myself—I have been in love with Jessica Anderson since the day I met her. And if we both make it out alive, I’ll make sure she knows it every day for the rest of our lives.

Non-stop intrigue topped off with a sweet love story! Sawyer Bennett is known for wrapping the tough guys of Jameson Force Security around her reader’s hearts as they jump into mission after mission and CODE NAME: REVENGE is keeping the intrigue and suspense high like normal but it’s also throwing in a side of sweet when Dozer brings his BFF into the mix. I loved every minute!

Dozer is lovable and endearing and watching him be thrown into a situation that is a little out of his brainiac wheelhouse is fulfilling.

I loved Jessica and everything about the love and friendship they have shared through the years.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful series that always has a happily ever after to wrap it up after keeping us on our toes the entire story to see what’s going to happen to the guys next.

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* Review * NO RINGS ATTACHED by Rachel Lacey

April 12, 2022 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * NO RINGS ATTACHED by Rachel Lacey

No Rings Attached by Rachel Lacey
Series: Ms. Right #2
Published by Montlake on April 12, 2022
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Lia Harris is tired of being the odd one out. She’s never quite fit in with her uptight family, and now that her roommates have all found love, she’s starting to feel like a third wheel in her own apartment. Fed up with her mother’s constant meddling in her love life, Lia drops hints about a girlfriend she doesn’t have. But with her brother’s London nuptials approaching, she needs to find a date to save face. Lia turns to her best friend, Rosie, for help, and Rosie delivers—with the fun, gorgeous Grace Poston.

Grace loves to have a good time, hiding her insecurities behind a sunny smile. Her recent move to London has provided her with a much-needed fresh start. Grace isn’t looking for love, and she hates weddings, having weathered more than her fair share of heartache. Friendships are different, though, so for Rosie’s sake, she reluctantly agrees to pose as Lia’s adoring girlfriend for the wedding festivities.

Both Grace and Lia are prepared for an awkward weekend, complete with prying family members and a guest room with only one bed. As it turns out, they get along well—spectacularly, in fact. Before they know it, the chemistry they’re faking feels all too real. But is their wedding weekend a fleeting performance or the rehearsal for a love that’s meant to last?

A delightful connection steals the show! Rachel Lacey easily wraps another set of destined lovers around her reader’s heart as she continues with book two in her lesbian romance series Ms. Right and I loved every minute of it! The back story is entertaining and the drama rallying between the two main characters and their surrounding lives leads to an attention holding story.

Lia will be very familiar to anyone who read the first book in this series and it was great to see her again and watch her get to step into the life she’s always dreamed of.

Grace is haunted by the unknown and the love and support she receives from Lia helps her become strong enough to step into a life she never imagined she could enjoy.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a sweet lesbian connection with a wholesome yet somewhat sexy atmosphere with a close knit group of friends surrounding them.

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* Review * SUMMER AT THE CAPE by RaeAnne Thayne

April 12, 2022 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SUMMER AT THE CAPE by RaeAnne Thayne

Summer at the Cape by RaeAnne Thayne
Published by HQN Books on April 12, 2022
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As the older sibling to identical twins Violet and Lily, Cami Porter was always the odd sister out. The divide grew even wider when their parents split up—while the twins stayed in Cape Sanctuary with their free-spirited mother, Rosemary, fourteen-year-old Cami moved to LA with her attorney father. Nearly twenty years later, when Cami gets the terrible news that Lily has drowned saving a child’s life, her mother begs her to return home to help untangle the complicated estate issues her sister left behind.

Navigating their own strained relationship, Cami readjusts to the family and community she hasn’t known for decades, including the neighbor who stands in the way of her late sister’s dream, while Violet grieves the loss of her twin and struggles to figure out who she is now, without her other half, as the little girl Lily saved pulls her back into the orbit of the man she once loved.

An emotional journey of love and healing! RaeAnne Thayne has a real talent for making her characters radiate love, warmth and acceptance no matter what trauma may be chasing at their heals, and SUMMER AT THE CAPE continues that pattern. I loved every minute of the Porter family and the reconnection of their wounded hearts. The characters are easy to like and relate to.

The Porter family is reuniting after tragedy strikes, and the depth of their pain and turmoil is spot on. There’s love and pain but also sunshine and laughter as they celebrate the good, support each other through the bad and rediscover the future side by side.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a family driven story with emotions running high as the past and future collide. Lots of family driven dialogue with touches of romance.

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* Review * GOOD HANDS by Kelly Jamieson

April 12, 2022 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Good Hands by Kelly Jamieson
Series: Bears Hockey II #2
Published by Kelly Jamieson on April 12, 2022
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A hookup doesn’t have to mean just once. Right?

Brandon Smith
Keep it easy. Keep it fun. Never hold on. That sums up my relationship goals, with hockey teams and with women. I learned early on that love and family equals fights and heartache. So I’m always moving on to the next team, the next hookup, before things turn sour.

When I meet Lola at a tropical beachside bar, it’s the perfect set up for a little hot vacation sex. She’s gorgeous, funny, and most importantly, leaving for home tomorrow. But this time, I have a sinking feeling I’ll be sorry to see her go.

Lola McGrath
I knew after that night in Aruba I’d never see Brandon again. That’s fine; I’m too busy vying for the corner office to make time for relationships. But when our paths cross again in New York, our sizzling attraction leads to “just one more night”. Then another. And another.

We never meant to become friends with this many benefits. Especially the one neither of us ever expected—or thought we wanted.

An electrifying connection! With book 2 in her Bears Hockey II series Kelly Jamieson continues to delight with tempting hockey hunks and the feisty women that take them to their knees in GOOD HANDS. Interesting characters with a titillating romance held my attention throughout. Looking forward to more to come in this fun series!

Brandon has hang ups about his past but is a really down to earth guy that was easy to like.

Lola is a go getter and a delightful match for Brandon.

I recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a close knit group of hockey guys and their spouses who love and support the game and each other as one guy after another finds his true love.

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* Review * PRIDE by Arell Rivers

April 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Pride by Arell Rivers
Series: Sins of the Fathers #2
Published by Tarnished Halo Publishing LLC on April 7, 2022
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Breaking News: NYC’s Golden Boy Takes A Walk

This “Breaking News” about Xander Turner hardly deserves such a title. Then again, the mere mention of Xander’s name has always made my ladybits tingle, no matter that he never gave me a second glance when we were in school. But when the news anchor announces he’s out of the high-profile marketing position in his now-infamous family’s business, my wayward thoughts shift to my struggling PR agency. I want him. Ahem, to save my firm.

Much to my shock, Xander accepts my job offer. Not only does his sexy face and business savvy bring in the clients, but he adds a layer of fun and creativity I hadn’t expected. He even makes the transition from uptown shark to downtown employee seem effortless. Soon I come to realize that Xander’s more than just his looks. A hell of a lot more.

When the paparazzi catch wind of our unlikely pairing, will their ruthless pursuit give my agency more exposure, or will NYC’s dog-eat-dog media industry tear apart all we’ve built?

Dramatic and compelling! Arell Rivers is bringing temptation and scandal to life with the second book in her Sins of the Fathers series and it quickly held my attention! PRIDE picks up where the previous book in the series left off and brings us into the heart of Xander Turner’s downfall. The drama was high and the tension off the charts, and while lagging in certain areas, it held my attention and reignited my interest in this family.

Both characters had their pluses and minuses in their moral compass and loyalty, but overall I found them to be a fresh take on an opposites attract story line.

I recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys high powered execs being humbled a bit as family drama ignites and leaves them holding on for dear life.

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* Review * A FAMILY AFFAIR by Robyn Carr

April 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

A Family Affair by Robyn Carr
Published by MIRA on April 5, 2022
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Life’s biggest dilemmas can provide its sweetest rewards

Anna McNichol knows how to take charge. Raised by a single mother, she’s worked to ensure her three children have every advantage she didn’t. And while her marriage has its problems, she values commitment and believes in "till death do us part." Now an empty nester, she’s at the peak of her career and ready to seize the opportunity to focus on her future.

But life can change in an instant, and when her husband dies suddenly, Anna’s carefully constructed world falls apart. The mysterious young woman at the memorial service confirms her husband had been keeping secrets, and Anna is determined to get to the truth.

For once, she doesn’t have the answers. Her kids are struggling with their grief, her mother’s health is in decline and Anna needs closure. Faced with one challenge after another, she finds support from an unexpected source. And as she puts her life back together, Anna realizes the McNichols may not be perfect but they’ll always be family, and family is forever.

Emotionally addictive! A FAMILY AFFAIR by Robyn Carr brings us the story of a mother of grown children who has to somehow find a way to heal their wounds as well as her own upon the sudden death of her husband. Untold secrets come to light and take this family on a journey of forgiveness, healing and love. Highly entertaining!

Anna is a strong character both in fortitude to balance life’s every day challenges but also in giving the benefit of the doubt to a potentially toxic situation through grace and understanding.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dissecting the family dynamics of a seemingly perfect life when big changes make for a new normal.

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* Review * WITH LOVE FROM ROSE BEND by Naima Simone

April 5, 2022 Leave a Comment

With Love from Rose Bend by Naima Simone
Series: Rose Bend #3
Published by HQN Books on March 29, 2022
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He came to Rose Bend to hide. But she’ll help him find everything he’s been missing.

Leontyne Dennison is on a love hiatus. And that’s just fine, because perfectionist Leo is hyperfocused on the success of her family’s Berkshires inn. Volunteering for Rose Bend’s annual spring festival is certain to boost business—and provide the perfect distraction from men—until Leo comes face-to-face with Owen Stafford, the hottest one-night stand of her life.

A retired professional football player, Owen came to Rose Bend to escape after a devastating car accident ended his career. Enter the woman he hasn’t forgotten in the year since their sizzling night together. When Owen’s parents arrive, threatening his low profile, Leo helps keep the peace by pretending to be Owen’s girlfriend. Rose Bend was never part of Owen’s long game, but Leo’s increasingly convincing TLC is starting to give Owen every reason to stay.

Small town seduction at it’s very best! Naima Simone’s signature sassy style always delights, but when she adds a close family dynamic and an emotional back story to the mix, she shines like no other. I’m loving Rose Bend and all of the depth each character and romance brings to this cozy town. Can’t wait for more in the series!

Leontyne is loyal, tough and has a take no prisoners attitude but beneath the surface lies a past she has kept hidden and heartache that she never got over.

Owen is adjusting to his career coming to an early end, but he’s not ready to embrace the new guy he sees day in and day out. Leo might be a blast from the past, but she’s also the adorable nuisance he needs to get him out of his head.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a lively cast of characters living in a cozy town where everyone knows everything about you. Highly entertaining and emotional.

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