Archives for November 13, 2022

* Review * FIGHTING FOR KING by Gillian Archer

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * FIGHTING FOR KING by Gillian ArcherFighting for King by Gillian Archer
Series: Star Studded #2
on November 17, 2022
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five-stars

The Nanny Factor! Is there something more going on between Actor Kingston Grier and his new nanny? Stay tuned…

Kingston: Who knew it would be such a challenge finding a nanny who could focus on my daughter without getting sidetracked by trying to get into my bed? I can’t even make eye contact without them thinking I’m flirting. I’m not.

Until Briar arrives, and finally we have a nanny who’s there for Zoe. But why does this Mary Poppins have to be so damn hot?

Briar: My divorce left me with more than my share of trust issues. Not that I’m looking at my new boss that way. Kingston might be a Hollywood hunk, but the guy has the personality of a potato. His daughter couldn’t be more different. One look into her doe eyes, and I am in love.

Somehow Kingston and I go from barely speaking to talking all night long. And our attraction becomes impossible to deny. Just when everything’s finally going right, intimate pictures of us are leaked and the fallout is insane. When I signed up for this job, I knew I’d do anything to protect Zoe—I just never expected how much I’d want to fight for King.

 

Sweet, sexy and oh so satisfying! The second book in Gillian Archer’s Star Studded series brings us Kingston’s story and it’s extra yummy. Great chemistry, endearing characters and so many feel good moments. I can’t wait for Phoenix’s story!

King is a loving father and a successful actor, but his family drama has him at his wits ends. I enjoyed watching him let his guard down with Briar and finally find the happiness he deserves.

Briar is a sweetheart just looking for some peace in her life again after drama with her ex.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a bit of Hollywood’s rich and famous taking a walk into the real world and facing it’s ups and downs on their way to happily ever after.

five-stars

* Review * CODE NAME: OUTLAW by Janie Crouch

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * CODE NAME: OUTLAW by Janie CrouchCode Name: Outlaw by Janie Crouch
Series: Linear Tactical #15
Published by Calamittie Jane Publishing on November 15, 2022
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five-stars

Months trapped in the clutches of a madman made Jenna Franklin a shell of the woman she once was. All she can do now is use her computer genius from inside the safety of closed doors.

Even two years later, going outside = blood-freezing panic.

She’s made herself a haven in the only place she’s felt safe since her captivity: Oak Creek, Wyoming—home of her Linear Tactical friends. They don’t realize the extent of her emotional trauma, but at least she knows she can trust them.

Only one person knows the truth about the fragile mental state she’s hiding: Zodiac agent, Mark Outlawson—code name: Outlaw.

He’s witnessed her panic firsthand. Knows what it does to her.

When info on a human trafficking group—one connected to her own captivity—comes to light, it’s clear only Jenna’s expertise can stop them. Mark will have to prove Jenna can trust him—to keep her secrets, to protect her, to help fight her demons.

He’ll prove this outlaw is a hero.

 

Captivating and raw! I’ve been along for the ride of the Linear Tactical series from the start so any visit back is a win for me. I enjoyed seeing some of the old team as well as some of the Zodiac Tactical guys work together against the common enemy. Some might find the lack of outright detailed explanation about Jenna’s past to be off putting, but I’m willing to overlook it not being in this book as much as it probably should be because I’ve read bits and pieces previously in the series, but if you’re new to the series you might find it lacking.

Jenna is strong and brilliant in what she can do, but she still suffers the after effects of evil after being held in captivity for months. Mark understands her and helps ease her pain when she is needed for a crucial project.

Mark is the epitome of a good man. A soldier who put his life on the line time and again for the better good and a guy always willing to take one for the team in his current job, but life is starting to let him down and he’s slowing down and realizing the beauty that is in front of him.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire Linear Tactical and Zodiac Tactical series to anyone that enjoys a great group of former soldiers who band together to right the wrongs as each falls for their forever love and stands strong in the fight for them all.

five-stars

* Review * SCORING BIG by Kelly Jamieson

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SCORING BIG by Kelly JamiesonScoring Big by Kelly Jamieson
Series: Bears Hockey II #3
Published by Kelly Jamieson on November 15, 2022
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four-half-stars

Nate
Delaying treatment for my bum knee until the off season isn’t the smartest move, but hey, I’m a big dumb jock. And pro hockey players play, come hell or broken bones.

That stupid knee sends me sprawling in front of the prettiest lady in Central Park. She’s also smart, and kind, and she bonds with my young daughter Quinn over strawberry cheesecake ice cream. Can’t hurt to ask her out for coffee, right?

Carly
There aren’t many options for a laid-off au pair in New York City. I can’t live on couch surfing, ranty blogging, and less ranty freelance articles forever, but I won’t work with kids again. It’s too painful when it ends.

But coffee with a single dad can’t hurt, right? Maybe a second date. Heck, why not make it one steamy night in his bed? But when Nate has to go under the knife, he asks me to help care for his daughter. I don’t want to be a nanny again, but I can’t turn him down. I’ll just have to keep my guard up to protect my heart.

 

Another winner from Jamieson in her Bears Hockey II world! I was quickly hooked on Nate and Carly’s story as we are wrapped around adorable Quinn’s little precocious finger. I was invested in them from start to finish, but I wanted more development to that ending. More of where things were going from there and how it was all going to play out would have been ideal.

Carly is an interesting character who has a bit of growing up to do on how to handle turmoil in her life, but overall is a caring, goodhearted person. I enjoyed her.

Nate is a doll and a doting father to an adorable daughter. He might have a few blinders on when it comes to his ex, but he’s a solid guy.

I recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone that enjoys a fun-loving hockey team who follow along with one another’s lives and cheer on the happily ever afters along the way.

four-half-stars

* Review * BEFORE I LET GO by Kennedy Ryan

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * BEFORE I LET GO by Kennedy RyanBefore I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
Series: Skyland #1
Published by Forever on November 15, 2022
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five-stars

Their love was supposed to last forever. But when life delivered blow after devastating blow, Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything.

It couldn’t save their marriage.

Yasmen wasn’t prepared for how her life fell apart, but she’s is finally starting to find joy again. She and Josiah have found a new rhythm, co-parenting their two kids and running a thriving business together. Yet like magnets, they’re always drawn back to each other, and now they’re beginning to wonder if they’re truly ready to let go of everything they once had.

Soon, one stolen kiss leads to another…and then more. It's hot. It's illicit. It's all good—until old wounds reopen. Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better, the second time around?

 

I was hooked throughout every delectable page! Kennedy Ryan is yanking on our heartstrings something fierce with the first book in her Skyland series, a gut wrenching rendition of life at it’s worst and the reawakening after the darkness.  There’s laughter and tears, love through the pain and so many feel good moments as we follow their journey back from the sadness they became. You are not going to want to miss this book … and be prepared to not be able to put it down. I really hope we see more of this fam and get to see her BFF’s get a story soon!

Yasmen and Josiah are both amazing characters. Life tore them apart, but they still have great love for each other and the life that they shared and they make great effort to put their children first always as they meander through the ins and outs of moving on without each other. I loved their love and respect for each other and though they each have different sides to their story, you can’t really find fault with either one.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves love and holds out hope that even in the darkest days, love will find a way.

five-stars

* Review * EXPOSED by Anna J. Stewart

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * EXPOSED by Anna J. StewartExposed by Anna J. Stewart
Series: Circle of the Red Lily #1
Published by CAEZIK Romance on November 15, 2022
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five-stars

Working as a Hollywood photographer means Riley Temple has seen it all. But then she finds herself staring at the chilling image of a dead woman. When her questions about the film lead to violence, she reluctantly turns to the only person who can help. Detective Quinn Burton, the police commissioner’s son. Her history with the LAPD is complicated, her trust in authority, tenuous. But to find those responsible and protect those closest to her, she’s willing to do anything. Even trust a cop.

After more than a decade on the job, Quinn knows a dangerous situation when he sees it and Riley Temple is up to her ears in trouble. But not for the reason she thinks. The pictures she’s stumbled on call into a question a notorious murder conviction—one that powerful people have a vested interest in keeping in place. Seeing this case through means betraying someone: his job, his family, or the woman he’s falling in love with.

As old secrets are revealed, Quinn and Riley find themselves targeted by members of a secret society that has long maintained violent control over Hollywood’s powerful elite. A society that, until now, has remained hidden in the shadows. A society that will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

 

What a ride! I was quickly hooked and enjoyed every single minute of Anna J. Stewart’s dive into a brand new diabolical series that endeared me to it’s characters just as much as it hooked me on the proclivities that were occurring around every corner and teasing me into following along page after page to discover. There are many unanswered questions here and much to build on, so I’m hoping this is going to turn into a long-lived series to intrigue me book after book. Well done!

Riley Temple is a kind, caring individual who happens to have a little bit of an ugly side hustle. Her goodness far outweighs her snark though and I enjoyed getting to know her and getting to see her stumble across the story of a lifetime. She has quite a cast of friends and family that leave a lot of potential here for several more stories as this mystery continues to unravel.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a whodunnit with some weight to the crime and lots of twists and turns as we meander through the characters. There’s a close knit family vibe here between her friends, fam and those she’s taken under her wing. Also some romance with her new favorite cop.

five-stars

* Review * RAVAGED by Naima Simone

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * RAVAGED by Naima SimoneRavaged by Naima Simone
Series: Burned Inc. #2
Published by Montlake on November 15, 2022
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four-half-stars

Miriam

It’s no coincidence that my family’s breakup service is called BURNED Inc. I know what it’s like to be dumped. I’ve been there.

Long story short, I’ve got a rule when it comes to my love life: no athletes. As it happens, my best friend, Jordan, is a professional basketball player. He also has a delicious body and sexy tattoos.

But rules are rules.

Jordan

Miriam is my best friend. She’s also the love of my life, the woman I’ve been dreaming about since we met. But she doesn’t do athletes.

I get it. I really do. And I just want Miriam to be happy. Which is why I set her up with a teammate to help her find the man she deserves—even though I can tell she’s into me from that one hot-as-hell night we shared months ago. Still, rules are rules.

But here’s the thing: I’m a competitor.

And sometimes you have to break the rules to win.

 

A decadently tempting friends to lovers story with all of the angst and feels rolled into one delightful read! I loved this second book in Naima Simone’s BURNED Inc series even more than the first and the only thing I really wanted to see developed a bit more was his NBA world which fell a little to the wayside behind Miriam’s secret life. I loved their story and am looking forward to seeing what is in store for Levi.

Miriam is the family brainiac and has let herself become comfortable in business with her brother and sister, but what no one knows is the secret desire she has in life and how far she’s come towards achieving it.

Jordan is a sweetheart and I loved watching his love for Miriam outshine just about everything for him.

I recommend this book as well as the rest of the series to anyone that likes a fresh business concept revolving around a close knit group of siblings who are thriving despite the turmoil of life around them.

four-half-stars