Archives for June 24, 2024

* Review * SHOW ‘EM HOW by Jami Davenport

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * SHOW ‘EM HOW by Jami DavenportShow 'em How by Jami Davenport
Series: Bang Brothers Hockey #1, Portland Icehawks
Published by Cedrona Enterprises on June 25, 2024
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five-stars

Show ’em How by Jami Davenport is book 2 in the Bang Brothers Hockey series

Meet the Bang Brothers—five hot hockey-playing brothers who are allergic to commitment.

The brothers are about to face off against their newly-retired mother…who suddenly has plenty of time to play matchmaker. Add in their baby sister and some secret dating, a single dad, an accidental pregnancy, a marriage of convenience, and a wrong bed—or two—and these siblings are not going to know what hit them!

JAKOB:
I'm a professional hockey player and a single dad with two rambunctious five-year-olds. My boys have driven away every nanny that's stepped foot in our house--except one--the one I don't want to keep, but they do. Tatted and pierced Gardenia Bliss is everything I dislike in a nanny and woman. She's a mouthy whirlwind, an obsessive recycler, a buyer of organic only food, and a lover of loud music. She's disrupted my household and destroyed my comfortable routine with her spontaneity. I want her gone, but I also want her naked, which is all kinds of messed up.

My plans to send her packing are thwarted by a road trip and no other options available. By the time I return, she's completely entrenched herself in my house, my life, and my dirty thoughts. She has to go, but I haven't found a way to extract the boys from her clutches. They adore her.

Then my meddling, matchmaking mom shows up for the holidays and enlists Gardenia to help her find the perfect woman for me. The two of them are forces of nature I'm powerless to combat. They'll never know the truth--I don't want those other women. I want Gardenia, but I can't have her. She's all wrong for my boys and me, but tell that to my stupid heart.

 

Highly addictive and super satisfying! Jami Davenport took the reigns in book two in the Bang Brothers series she is doing with a group of hockey romance authors and delivered a story I could not have loved more that took place in her Portland Icehawks world. Gardenia and Jakob were both sincere characters who were super easy to like and connect with, and the humor and heart taking place on every page of the story was lots of fun. I loved his precocious kids and the buttinsky family. I was however surprised that we only learned the name of two of his brothers and his parents when the entire family is supposed to be center stage in this series. A bit lacking there in carry-thru, but overall a really great read and perfect addition to both hockey worlds. Can’t wait for the next brother’s book!

five-stars

* Review * HER BILLION-DOLLAR BUMP by Dani Collins

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * HER BILLION-DOLLAR BUMP by Dani CollinsHer Billion-Dollar Bump by Dani Collins
Series: Diamonds of the Rich and Famous #3
Published by Harlequin Presents on June 25, 2024
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five-stars

Cinderella’s confession:
“I’m pregnant.”

Housemaid Fliss gave up her fashion dreams to care for her late grandmother. So finding a discarded invitation to the year’s most exclusive event feels like her last chance to get her designs noticed. She just never imagined that attention would come from notorious Saint Montgomery…

Knowing she doesn’t belong in the billionaire’s world, innocent Fliss can’t resist one night of Saint’s expert seduction. Except when his “thank you” diamonds land her in the headlines, she’s drawn back into his powerful presence. Because she has news of her own—and the bump to prove it!

 

Subterfuge is front and center, but leads the way to a very enjoyable read! Felicity might use somebody else’s invite to get into the high society event that puts her into Saint’s realm, but it’s all her own charisma and spark that winds up with her sharing his bed for the night. Several fumbles of mistaken identity, paparazzi fueled issues and unknown names lead to a mad dash to find each other again. The characters both have interesting backstories and seeing them realize the other is more than they expected is heartwarming. When an unexpected baby comes from their night together, we get to follow them on a journey of falling for each other and creating that happily ever after neither was exactly expecting. I highly enjoyed their story and found it stands alone without issue as I had not read the previous books in the Diamonds of the Rich and Famous series that this is the third book in.

five-stars

* Review * LOVE BETRAYAL by Chantal Fernando

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * LOVE BETRAYAL by Chantal FernandoLove Betrayal by Chantal Fernando
Series: Angels & Devils MC #2
Published by Carina Press on June 25, 2024
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four-half-stars

In a world of monsters, falling in love requires sacrifice.

River

I'm VP of Devils MC, and every decision I make is to protect the Club. I’m the one they call when things go south. That means getting my hands dirty—a lot. Outsiders think I’m a monster. I agreed. Until Bella. She was able to look past the violence and see…me. I never thought love was in the cards, but now she’s mine. I’ll protect her. No matter the cost.

Bella

It was supposed to be a fling—a way for us both to scratch an itch. But River wasn’t what I expected. I’ve seen monsters, and River isn’t one. Our relationship isn’t all rainbows and butterflies—but it’s real. I’d never betray him, even when my ex-boyfriend threatens to destroy me if I don’t. I’m not a damsel in distress. I can solve this problem without sacrificing the man I love.

Even if it costs me everything.

Angels & Devils MC

 

Raw, gritty and sensuous! The second book in Chantal Fernando’s Angels and Demons MC series picks up soon after book one and the main characters this time around are cousins to Romeo and Julianna who we fell in love with in the first book. River and Bella are equally intriguing and easy to like. He’s rough around the edges but willing to learn what she needs when they agree their fling has come to mean too much to them to be anything less than forever. I like the realness in them letting each other see the truth over time and I enjoyed their connection. I felt like there were too many flames left dangling in the fire to make it feel totally wrapped up and I’m sure some of that is intentional to lead into another book for the series, but I felt a little was lacking in the deliverance of a complete story. I do love this world and will happily come back time and time again!

four-half-stars

* Review * TEXAS RANCH COLD CASE by Virginia Vaughan

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * TEXAS RANCH COLD CASE by Virginia VaughanTexas Ranch Cold Case by Virginia Vaughan
Series: Cowboy Protectors #4
Published by Love Inspired Suspense on June 25, 2024
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four-half-stars

Solving a decades-old crime

will leave no place safe…

Twenty years after her mother vanished, Ally Fulton returns to Harmon Ranch—the last place she was seen—and barely makes it out alive. Someone doesn’t want Ally digging up the truth. With a target on her back, she reluctantly accepts protection from Officer Tucker Harmon. Can he keep Ally alive—and right his family’s wrongs—before she’s silenced for good?

 

The exciting conclusion to Virginia Vaughan’s Cowboy Protectors series did not disappoint! Filled with twists and turns that keep us guessing and really easy to like and connect with characters. I liked Ally from the start and really liked how Tucker was quick to jump in and help her find out what happened to her mother all those years ago. They fell in love super fast without a lot of relationship development, but the storyline carried the momentum well. I felt the ending was abrupt and would have liked to have seen that fleshed out a bit more, but overall a very solid read and a great conclusion to the series. I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a faith based romance filled with top notch suspense.

four-half-stars