Review: Dane's Mark by Lora Leigh

 

Dane's Mark (The Breeds #33) by Lora Leigh

Publication Date: February 6th 2024 by Berkley 

Pages: 288

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Katy’s heart was broken eight years ago when she overhears Dane Vanderale, the man she thought she had a connection with, say that Katy could never be part of his world. Katy had already had feelings of abandonment and not feeling good enough after being left by her mother and with the remaining family begrudgingly taking her in. Working in the local diner, she thought she struck up a friendship that felt like it could turn into more with Dane, but after hearing those words she’s crushed. Soon after Graeme Parker, a Bengal Breed, extends an offer of training and employment for Tech-Corp, and she leaves with him immediately.

Eight years later, Katy’s back in Broken Butte, New Mexico to oversee the Tech-Corp’s new facility there. She’s risen in the ranks and has grown in confidence. She now has friends and support, and Graeme is like the father she’s never had. But being back in Broken Butte brings back some of those bad memories and of course she’ll be running into Dane.

Much of the book is centered around the romance between Katy and Dane, why they have such a strong attraction if Katy doesn’t trigger the mating bond in Dane. This is a back and forth and Graeme knows the answer to this and for reasons I couldn’t understand doesn’t share it with Katy or Dane. I also didn’t understand why Katy didn’t question her origins when she’d have these episodes of adrenaline flooding her system and Graeme, a Breed, was the one to help her learn to control them. Also, I was irritated that Dane pulls a stunt that hurts Katy all over again and the thing is just swept under the rug without much of an apology. I get that a lot happened in the end, but come on. 

There were characters gunning for Katy, an attempt on her life but that was just kind of swept away, too. I feel like it would’ve been a more interesting thread to pursue and include than just having the story on this whole mating business.

I haven’t read the previous books and I do feel like I would’ve enjoyed the story more if I had some prior experience with the world and characters, but it can also be read as a standalone. I will say that even with these niggles the story was entertaining, and I did want to find out how it all turned out. 

3 Stars

Book Description:

A new kind of Breed is faced with what happens when destiny and desire collide in the latest novel in the highly charged series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh.
 
A decade ago Katy Chavos was a proud misfit who had her heart broken, crushed by a man who drew her close with one breath and pulled away the next. He left a mark she’s done everything in her power to erase. But when Katy’s job brings her back to the hometown she couldn’t wait to escape, seeing Dane again awakens something inside her that won’t be tamed....
 
Dane Vanderale isn’t like other Breeds. As a hybrid he’s stronger, more primal, and more determined to hide it. He’s also certain that Katy is not his mate—not that that stops him from wanting her with every part of his soul. He knows he hurt her deeply and he intends to make things right, but she is dead set on keeping him at arm’s length.
 
Despite their painful history, Katy can’t deny the intense attraction she still feels for Dane. And before long, it will be impossible for either to deny the truth that has been in front of them all along....

Audiobook Review: Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Publication Date: July 18th 2023 by Random House Audio

Pages: 323

Audio Book Length: 13hrs 3min

Narrator: Gisela Chipe

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Montserrat and her friend, Tristán befriend Abel Urueta, an aging film director who hasn’t made a film since his last horror flick stuttered and died before being finished. Since then, he claims because the last scene wasn’t finished, the spell that had been woven into the film wasn’t completed and everyone involved with the film was then cursed. With Montserrat a film engineer and Tristán an actor, Abel thinks they’re the perfect candidates to finally finish the last scene and nullify the curse.

 

Montserrat becomes immersed into the history of the Wilhelm Ewers, the screenwriter and occultist, now dead, partly looking for clues to keep them safe and partly fascinated by the man. After the three of them complete the scene crazy stuff starts happening to them as it seems they’ve re-awakened a dark power. 

Silver Nitrate started off slow, with the history of Montserrat and Tristán’s friendship, and a lot of detailed Mexican film history related. There’s a bit of romance, unrequited for most of the story, that fell a bit flat for me.

 

Even though the story is labeled as horror, I wouldn’t say it’s a scary. I was entertained and invested in seeing how it would all turn out, hoping Montserrat and Tristán would survive the evil pursuing them.

 

I enjoyed Gisela Chipe’s narration. Her subtle Spanish accent was well suited for the characters. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

3 Stars

Book Description:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and Mexican Gothic comes a fabulous meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film--and awakens one woman's hidden powers.

Montserrat has always been overlooked. She’s a talented sound editor, but she’s left out of the boys’ club running the film industry in ’90s Mexico City. And she’s all but invisible to her best friend, Tristán, a charming if faded soap opera star, though she’s been in love with him since childhood.

Then Tristán discovers his new neighbor is the cult horror director Abel Urueta, and the legendary auteur claims he can change their lives—even if his tale of a Nazi occultist imbuing magic into highly volatile silver nitrate stock sounds like sheer fantasy. The magic film was never finished, which is why, Urueta swears, his career vanished overnight. He is cursed.

Now the director wants Montserrat and Tristán to help him shoot the missing scene and lift the curse . . . but Montserrat soon notices a dark presence following her, and Tristán begins seeing the ghost of his ex-girlfriend.

As they work together to unravel the mystery of the film and the obscure occultist who once roamed their city, Montserrat and Tristán may find that sorcerers and magic are not only the stuff of movies.

Review: A Wedding on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills

 

A Wedding on Sunshine Corner (The Sunshine Corner #2) by Phoebe Mills

Publication Date: March 29th 2022 by Forever

Pages: 349

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Savannah and Noah have grown up together with Noah being close to her brothers, but they have never been friends.  Noah’s been nothing but uptight and judgmental towards Savannah and Noah regards her as spoiled, flighty, and impulsive. However, when Caleb, Savannah’s older brother, asks them to team up to help plan their wedding in Heart’s Hope Bay they must set aside their differences to work together.

Both Noah and Savannah have a lot on their plate. Savannah has just started as a teacher and coordinator at her friend Abby’s (the previous installments heroine) preschool, and Noah is juggling work while raising his four-year-old daughter alone. Savannah has a lot of self-doubt since most of her attempts at finding her career path have fizzled out.  It was obvious to me that she was a hard worker, she just hadn’t found her niche yet, and I appreciated Abby’s unwavering support. Savannah had a great bunch of female friends in her corner as well as a big loving family.

I felt for Noah since he was the primary caretaker of his daughter. It’s hard for me to believe that a woman would move states away from her young daughter for a career opportunity and give up primary custody. I found it hard to understand why he was so stubborn to accept help from others. I also had a really hard reconciling his judgmental attitude towards Savannah one minute with his attraction to her the next which made it hard to buy into their romance for me.  He had no right to go off on her the way he did with the final conflict (you know the one that comes about 75-80% in ?), especially when Savannah took care of the majority of the wedding planning even though it was supposed to be a shared burden. Noah was such a complete jerk dressing her down, feeding into her worst insecurities. I would’ve had a hard time forgiving him.  I was happy Savannah didn’t just take him back quickly when he realized how badly he screwed up, but I would’ve liked a bit more from him. More groveling for sure.

3 Stars

Book Description:

A delightful small-town romance between a daycare teacher and single dad who must overcome their differences to help plan the ultimate wedding.

They’ve driven each other crazy for years, but were they fighting each other—or the chemistry between them?

As the youngest in her loving, overprotective family, Savannah Lowe has always gone with the flow instead of going out on a limb…until now. Her new job running a preschool requires her to be all in. If only the father of one of her students wasn’t her brother’s incredibly infuriating, impossibly attractive best friend. Savannah has no clue what she ever did to make him dislike her, and now they’re stuck spending even more time together planning her brother’s wedding.

Single father Noah Adams has his hands full between his job as a paramedic and caring for his young daughter. The last thing he needs is a complication like Savannah in his life—a girl he remembers being constantly pampered by her family. But the more he gets to know her, the more he sees how kind and compassionate she really is. Now their long-ignored, off-the-charts chemistry has them on a collision course…with each other.

Review: Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch by Carolyn Brown

 

Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch (Ryan Family #1) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: July 27th 2021 by Forever

Pages: 375

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads | Audible

My Thoughts:

I won’t summarize the plot; the book description below does a better job than I will. I adore Carolyn Brown’s down-to-earth cowboy romances; I’m usually laughing at the antics and enjoying a sweet and sexy romance, but Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch wasn’t my favorite from her. It was entertaining, but didn’t have her usual charm, IMO.

There wasn’t a lot of drama or angst and I appreciate that most of the time with my romances, but finding out you have a nineteen-year-old daughter you didn’t know about would have to be a shock, right? Jesse was understanding and forgiving, but I think in real life it’d be hard to not be angered you didn’t get to share in all the milestones of your child growing up. I did know this information going into the story, and I do think Addie, in her own mind, had a decent reason for withholding the information initially, still I was hoping for more.

The romance was easy going, a little too easy being this was a second chance romance. I was happy with how it all turned out, but I felt it was lacking in passion. The whole story felt a bit superficial, but would be good if you’d like a light read to breeze through. With that said, I am looking forward to Cody and Stevie's romance next. From their interactions it feels like it'll be a good one! 

3 Stars

Book Description:

From the bestselling author of Queen of Cowboy: regrets and old heartbreaks are unearthed in this sweeping love story as hometown sweethearts get a second chance at love—and being a family.

Retired combat medic Jesse Ryan hasn’t been home much since he enlisted twenty years ago. Now he’s headed back to Texas to help take care of his aging foster parents and run Sunflower ranch. But when he gets there, he finds his parents’ live-in nurse is Addison Hall, his high school best friend and the woman he always regretted leaving behind after their one steamy night together before he shipped out. He’s not at all surprised that their chemistry is still sparking, but Jesse is shocked to learn Addy gave birth to a little girl about nine months after he left—his little girl.

​Addy has her hands full as a single mom of a nineteen-year-old daughter who suddenly wants to rebel at everything. The last thing she needs is Jesse Ryan complicating her life even further, especially since she’s always had a crush on the handsome cowboy. But the more time she spends with Jesse, the more she wonders what might happen if they finally let their friendship blossom into something more and became the family she’d always hoped for. 
 
Includes the bonus novella Small Town Charm for the first time in print! 

Review: Claimed by J.R. Ward

 

Claimed (Lair of the Wolven #1) by J.R. Ward

Publication Date: July 27th 2021 by Gallery Books

Pages: 525

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Lydia Susi heads the Wolf Study Project and is disturbed when some of the wolves show up sick and poisoned. Lydia suspects the owners of a big new hotel on the edge of the reserve’s property, and she aims to stop them. Meanwhile, her director has been behaving oddly and now he isn’t even showing up at work. The WSP has been operating on a shoestring budget and they need to hire a new handyman. With the director MIA Lydia takes it upon herself to hire Daniel Joseph, the handsome and mysterious drifter.

Claimed wasn’t anything I expected. I kept trying to figure out what was going on, where the plot going, and it seemed to take forever to get anywhere. Yes, it’s a mystery of sorts, but that it wasn’t front and center, and I didn’t feel like there was a sense of urgency to solve it from Lydia or that she was in any kind of immediate danger. It seemed to be more of Daniel and Lydia getting to know each other, and slowly, very slowly falling for each other.

There isn’t any paranormal in much of the book, even though it’s part of a series named “Lair of the Wolven”.  There wasn’t anything shapeshifter/wolven to the plot, other than natural wolves in the preserve, until the very end.  I was surprised by the reveal, I thought it’d be the other way around.

I was thrown by the addition of the Black Dagger/Xhex chapters not really getting the connect to what was going on. Yes, the labs, but I think it’d would’ve been fine to leave out the BDB part. Honestly, it was a little distracting and took away from the main story, but maybe that’s because I haven’t kept up with the BRB series. Maybe someone who’s been reading every book from the BDB might understand the connections and feel differently.

With all that said, Claimed managed to hold my attention enough to finish it even though it’s a long book (525 pages), and I have no problems with pulling a DNF if I’m not enjoying the story. I wouldn’t say this ended in a cliffhanger, more a “to be continued” sort of situation. I was left with a lot of unanswered questions by the end. Hopefully, we get a more focused plot and answers in the next book, which I plan on reading.

3 Stars

Book Description:

A heart-pounding new series set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, with a scientist fighting to save the timber wolves—and getting caught in a deadly trap herself...

Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project—and becomes a target.

One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia’s life in the forest, and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious, and someone she intrinsically wants to trust. But is he hiding something?

As the stakes get higher, and one of Lydia’s colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia’s reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love... or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever?

Review: Christmas Past by Mary Burton

Christmas Past by Mary Burton

Publication Date: October 29th 2019 by Zebra

Pages: 96 for Christmas Past

400 pages with the two other novellas by Fern Michaels & Judy Duarte

Source: Publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

From New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton comes a captivating tale of romantic suspense set in the heart of a rugged winter . . .

Photographer Nicole Piper moved to Virginia hoping to put a troubled past behind her and start fresh with her baby daughter. But those hopes are dashed when she receives a very unwelcome Christmas gift—from her late husband. It’s a letter that holds clues to an elusive killer’s identity. The victim had helped save Nicole’s life—and paid with her own. Nicole owes it to her to follow the letter’s trail, and perhaps put to rest the fear that stalks her once and for all. But she can’t do it alone.

When Homicide Detective David Ayden first met Nicole, he was looking for a fresh start too. Widowed and raising two teenage boys, Nicole was the only woman who’d stirred his interest—and the attraction was mutual. But that was months ago and she wasn’t ready to trust again. Maybe she still isn’t. All that matters now is that she needs his help—even if it means embarking on a road trip that will take them both into the heart of danger—and desire . . .

My Thoughts:

Christmas Past is a quick suspense read with the wintery holiday as a backdrop providing a nice little story to read by the fire.

Nicole escaped her abusive husband, now dead, and is moving on until she receives a letter promising to identify the killer of the woman who helped her escape. Nicole knows the letter will dredge up the past, and it does require she go on a goose hunt for information.  Not something she’s looking forward to, but Nicole wants the man who murdered her savior brought to justice, not only for her, but for the woman’s family so that they might have some measure of peace, especially since it’s the holiday season. Also, on the upside she won’t have to face her past alone, since Detective David Ayden is determined to see her through this journey.

Nicole and David were getting close, but Nicole put the brakes on their relationship not yet ready for romance so soon after running from her horrid husband. Spending time together while they try and hunt for the killer gives them a second chance at love. 

Christmas Past was a quick, entertaining read, one you could blaze through in an evening. I really liked David and didn’t understand some of Nicole’s reluctance, but I’ve never come out of an abusive relationship so what do I know? I liked Charlotte Wellington, the attorney, despite her taking on Nicole’s ex-husband’s task, and I worried for her welfare. She was a fighter and I liked that!

I didn’t realize Christmas Past was part of a collection of stories, three I think, with Fern Michaels and Judy Duarte authoring the other two novellas. Christmas Past was the only story I received for review, and I’ve never read anything by the other two authors.

3 Suns

Review: Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne

Passion on Park Avenue (Central Park Pact #1) by Lauren Layne

Publication Date: May 28th 2019 by Gallery Books

Pages: 288

Source: Publisher/Audio Library Lend

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible

About the book:

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Stiletto and Oxford series, the first in a sizzling new series following the unlikely friendship of three Upper East Side women as they struggle to achieve their dreams and find true love and happiness in the city that never sleeps.

For as long as she can remember, Bronx-born Naomi Powell has had one goal: to prove her worth among the Upper East Side elite—the same people for which her mom worked as a housekeeper. Now, as the strongminded, sassy CEO of one of the biggest jewelry empires in the country, Naomi finally has exactly what she wants—but it’s going to take more than just the right address to make Manhattan’s upper class stop treating her like an outsider.

The worst offender is her new neighbor, Oliver Cunningham—the grown son of the very family Naomi’s mother used to work for. Oliver used to torment Naomi when they were children, and as a ridiculously attractive adult, he’s tormenting her in entirely different ways. Now they find themselves engaged in a battle-of-wills that will either consume or destroy them…

Filled with charm and heart and plenty of sex and snark, this entertaining series will hook you from the very first page.

My Thoughts:

Passion on Park Avenue was a mixed bag for me.  I did really enjoy parts, but other parts were annoying.  Be warned, some of this review is kind of spoilery. 

Loved Oliver! He was honest, sweet, and patient.  My heart went out to him going from losing his mother to cancer to having his dad develop Alzheimer’s and being responsible for his care. On the other hand, I had issues with Naomi holding onto a grudge, especially when you consider Oliver was ten years old when the event happened. I mean come on, grow up!  At least let the guy know where he went wrong and let him have a chance to be sorry and explain.  Instead this ridiculous grudge/revenge thing went on WAY too long.  Can’t really get behind a relationship with the heroine keeps this kind of secret grudge to herself most of the book.  When she did soften towards Oliver it was late in the game and she was scared to come clean and ruin things between them.  Thankfully, when things blew up (because you just know they will) it was short lived. I did warm to Naomi, especially when she was so nice to Walter.  She treated him with kindness and heart when he really didn’t deserve it.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Oliver and Naomi, but inevitably as soon as something would begin between the two Naomi would be reminded somehow of why she hated Oliver and his family and turn up the frost.  I did feel sorry for Naomi over what happened, and can understand why she was so profoundly wounded, but Oliver had clearly changed after so many years.  And who hasn’t been awful at some point in their childhood? One event caused a lot of heartache for Naomi, but her mother was also very much to blame for what happened, Oliver and his family were only partly to blame, IMO.

Also, wasn’t a fan of the brand-name dropping, which was so over-the-top at the beginning I almost DNF’d. Thankfully, it tapered off, but still, the lifestyles of the rich and famous are a little hard to relate to sometimes.

As a side note, the narration was excellent!

3 Suns

Review: The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts

The Summer Retreat (Moonlight Harbor #3) by Sheila Roberts

Publication Date: April 23rd 2019 by MIRA
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher and Audible Purchase
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible

About the book:

Join USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts for a seaside escape to the beaches of Moonlight Harbor
Celeste Jones has plans for a perfect summer with her boyfriend (and hopefully soon-to-be fiancé)—until he dumps her to be with the woman he’s had on the side for months. Heartbroken and furious, Celeste resolves to move on. When the going gets tough, the tough…okay, the not-so-tough go to the beach.
As soon as school lets out for the summer, she waves goodbye to her first-graders, packs up her bikini and heads for Moonlight Harbor, where she knows her big sister, Jenna, will receive her with open arms. Jenna could probably use some help at the Driftwood Inn, and Celeste is happy to do chores around the place in exchange for a relaxing summer escape. She just needs something—or someone—to distract her from her troubles.
Finding The One can be tricky, and Jenna is determined to make sure Celeste gets it right this time around. Not that Jenna’s an expert. She’s still trying to sort out her own love life. But if both sisters listen to their hearts, eventually they’re bound to discover that life—and love—is good at the beach.

My Thoughts:

Celeste has been burned her boyfriend, a man she thought would propose only to find he’s been cheating on her.  In response, she ventures out to Moonlight Harbor, the seaside town her sister has settled into after purchasing an inn.  Celeste, a teacher, takes the summer off to help at the inn while trying to figure out where she’s gone wrong in her love life.  She had sparks and chemistry with her last beau, but that just ended in heartache so she decides to go for the safer bet, the town’s pastor, Paul.  He’s good-looking and even if he doesn’t make her heart race, he’s a steady and sure bet, not someone likely to cheat on her.  Not like Henry, the guest in cabin twelve, an annoying man, poking and prodding at every turn, but one that heats her up!

The Summer Retreat was an entertaining read, kind of a Hallmark movie type of romance, where lots of things go wrong and are a bit whacky. I quickly flipped (listened) through the pages, but this is one of those stories where I had mixed feelings.  I felt bad for Celeste because she was duped by a cheating loser at the beginning, but I was also annoyed with her.  She ignores her instincts that tell her she’s not a good match for the Pastor Paul but goes along with the “romance” because he’s the safe bet, a man who’ll never cheat.  I don’t like reading a romance where the heroine is all tied up with one man while she’s meant to be with another. It was clear to me and should’ve been clear to Celeste that Pastor Paul wasn’t the guy for her, and yet the situation plays out for almost the entire book.

I was also irritated with her sister, Jenna, who kept pushing her toward Paul when Celeste didn’t seem all that hot on him.  I have to say Jenna’s romantic situation is another frustration: a love triangle, that wasn’t resolved in this story. Maybe it will be in the next book?

It does sound like I didn’t really like the story after writing all of my complaints, but I did. I’m happy for how things turned out for Celeste, and I did have some laughs along the way.  I switched back and forth from my e-copy to the audio book and found Ann Gideon’s voice pleasant and upbeat.

3 Suns

Review & Giveaway: Collision Point by Lora Leigh

Collision Point (Brute Force #1) by Lora Leigh

Publication Date: February 27th 2018 by St. Martin's Press

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Macmillan | Books-a-Million | Indie Bound | Powells

About the book: 

From #1 bestselling author Lora Leigh comes Collision Point, part of the thrilling Brute Force series—packed with powerful men, steely women, and explosive passion.

SHE’S NOTHING BUT TROUBLE
Riordan Malone is more than a bodyguard. As an Elite Ops agent, he’s ripped, raged, and ready to rumble—a true warrior, inside and out. But no war zone can compare to the battle in Rory’s heart when he lays eyes on the only woman he’s ever loved—and thought he had lost forever. . .

HE’S EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS
As the daughter of a crime lord, Amara Resnova has endured the cruelty of her father’s enemies—and has tried to escape that world ever since. Now, she must reach out to the one man who saved her life, even if she’s never forgiven him for breaking her heart. But Amara is tougher today than she was then. She’s also more desirable to Rory—and dangerous to love. Can he protect her from her father’s enemies without surrendering to his own passions…or will love seal their fate for good?

My Thoughts:

Riordan Malone almost lost his life rescuing Amara Resnova, his lover and charge, from her father’s enemies and has spent the last six months getting back to 100% without a word from her.  Now she’s back at Riordan’s door, asking for help, because it appears someone is still after her.  Riordan’s more than a little upset that Amara turned away from him but won’t turn her away when she’s in need. 

Amara can’t remember the last year of her life, but she’s has vivid nightmares of death, and haunting erotic dreams of a man she discovers to be Riordan Malone, a man who was once her bodyguard.  Odd occurrences and accidents start happening, and Amara just knows she’s in danger all over again.  She has only shadowy memories of him, but her instincts tell her Riordan is the one to help her, a man she can trust to protect her.  What she doesn’t expect is the animosity rolling off him when they meet.

Collision Point was an entertaining read, one that held my attention until the end, but not without some issues for me.  The story was heavy on sexy times, which as a romance junkie I do appreciate, but it was to the point that it interrupted the pacing and urgency of the mystery.  Also, the writing was a bit distracting.  Long sentences had me reading and rereading to get the meaning. Some of the descriptions of the sex were too wordy and had me cringing, at times.  Even so, the book was still pretty darn hot, with a lot of sizzling sexual tension between Amara and Riordan!

Even with the above issues, I couldn’t put the story down.  I suspected the reasons Amara lost her memory, but I wanted to see how it all worked out.   Also, I wanted a happy ending for Amara and Riordan.

3/3.5 Suns

Author Bio:
#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

Connect with Lora Leigh:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

The lovely people of St. Martin's Press have generously provided a Paperback Copy of Collision Point to one lucky reader! The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck!

Review: Roomies by Christina Lauren

Roomies by Christina Lauren

Publication Date: December 5th 2017 by Gallery Books

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

About the book:

Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.

Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a big-time musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.

Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realise that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

My Thoughts:

I had high hopes for Roomies and while I liked the story, I didn’t love it.

You get the gist of the overall story from the description, so I won’t rehash it here. I think this is a case where the story would’ve benefited from a dual POV because my biggest issue was that I wasn’t sure that Calvin wanted Holland like she wanted him for much of the book.  It felt very one-sided to me, I knew Holland was crazy about Calvin, but didn’t feel it on his end. If we would’ve had Calvin’s POV maybe I would’ve felt differently?  Who knows.  I didn’t feel much chemistry between them, and they didn’t even get together until well over (highlight to view spoiler) the 60% mark (end of spoiler).  Until then, I wasn’t sure Calvin was even attracted to Holland. 

Holland’s self-doubt and insecurities kind of tainted the story for me as well, because I didn’t see any evidence to the contrary. She didn’t start believing in herself until the very end. Holland kept wondering why someone like Calvin, talented and amazing, would want to be with her besides the benefit of a green card.  I didn’t feel a magnetic pull between them, so I kind of wondered the same thing.  This is a romance, so it all worked out, but I still feel a bit underwhelmed by the whole thing.  I’m in the minority with my reaction, so who knows, maybe it was just me. 

3 Suns

Review: The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

The Ones Who Got Away (The Ones Who Got Away #1) by Roni Loren

Publication Date: January 2nd 2018 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

About the book:

A fresh new contemporary romance from New York Times and USA Today bestseller Roni Loren that will rock your world.

Twelve years ago, tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a small number of students survived, a group the media dubbed as The Ones Who Got Away.

Now, web designer Liv Arias, along with the rest of the survivors, have returned to the small Texas town to tell their stories for a documentary. Which means Liv seeing former star-athlete and old flame Finn Dorsey. A lot happened between them that night and Liv is ready to end their decade-long riff and move on. But when her attempt at closure turns into a steamy kiss, moving on proves much more difficult than either of them thought...

Liv's words cut off as Finn got closer. The man approaching was nothing like the boy she'd known. The bulky football muscles had streamlined into a harder, leaner package. The smooth face was now dusted with scruff, and the look in his deep green eyes held no trace of boyish innocence. A thousand things were in those eyes. A thousand things welled up in Liv.

My Thoughts:

Liv and Finn had a secret romance back in high school that was obliterated when a school shooting tears their lives apart. There’s more to their story than what was made public, a reality that hurt both Liv and Finn.  Twelve years later they are reunited with the other survivors, and the old raging chemistry they felt before is stirred up again, but can they get past the damage the shooting and their actions caused?

The setup here sounded amazing to me, and I’m a huge fan of Roni Loren’s work (her erotica), but somehow Liv and Finn’s romance and story didn’t really touch me.  I did enjoy the story overall, but I didn’t feel the yearning and connection that was supposedly there between them.  Also, I felt the issue keeping them apart in the long term, (Finn’s job situation) wasn’t as big of a deal as Finn was making of it.  I think when you fall in love with “the one” you find a way to make it work.  What about all the wives who live without their husbands while they’re off serving a tour in the military? They find a way, and I thought Finn could somehow adjust his duties, so they weren’t apart, so I was a bit frustrated when it took so long for him to clue in on the possibilities.

I haven’t read anything from Roni Loren I haven’t loved, so I think this might’ve been a fluke that I didn’t love it, or possibly my reading mood at the time.  I’m still a huge fan of her writing and I look forward to the next in this series, Rebecca’s story in The Ones You Can’t Forget. I felt bad for her!

3 Suns

Connect with Roni Loren:

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Review: Breaching the Contract by Chantal Fernando

Breaching the Contract (Conflict of Interest #1) by Chantal Fernando
Publication Date: September 18th 2017 by Pocket Star
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando returns with BREACHING THE CONTRACT, book one in a brand new series—The Conflict of Interest Series—about a brigade of lawyers who, despite being bad boys at heart, always end up just on the right side of the law.

Katerina Dawson knows exactly what she wants from life. And as the new associate at the top law firm in the city, she’s ready to live out her dreams of becoming a criminal lawyer. But going on coffee runs and babysitting kids during the day was definitely not what she had in mind. She knows that anyone else would kill to be in her shoes, but she has to draw the line somewhere. That’s easier said than done, though, when Kat has to confront her handsome boss…

Tristan Channing and Jaxon Bentley run a successful law firm together and the two partners couldn’t be busier right now. When Jaxon suddenly takes a leave of absence, Tristan begrudgingly assumes responsibility of the new associate, the hot new associate, who has curves for days. Needing to keep his distance from her, Tristan sends Kat on needless errands and has her doing work even an intern wouldn’t touch, like picking up his kids. But his plan backfires when he sees his children grow attached to Kat and sees her getting comfortable in his home. It triggers something deep within him, and it feels right to have her there. Will Tristan be able to keep his work and personal lives separate, or will he find that his heart holds the final verdict?

My Thoughts:

Kat’s dream job came through when she’s hired as an associate in a prestigious law firm, but when her primary boss takes a leave, Tristan takes his place.  He’s sexy for sure, and there’s immediate attraction between them, but he comes off as a rude jerk their first meeting.  Also, Tristan has no problem sending Kat for personal errands, including picking up his children from school.  Kat doesn’t relish those chores, but knowing she’s the newbie she doesn’t balk.  Surprisingly Kat ends up forming a fast bond with Tristan’s kids, and in turn, Tristan. As they work together the attraction they’ve felt from the beginning becomes irresistible. Will their professional lives suffer if they give in? 

At only 130 pages, Breaching the Contract was a fast, sexy little story you could easily read through in one sitting. Yes, things happen pretty quickly, but sometimes I like a quick fix of romance without long, drawn out drama, and this is exactly what I got with Breaching the Contract. 

I’m looking forward to Jaxon’s story next in Seducing the Defendant.

3 Suns

About the author:

Chantal Fernando is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club series and the Maybe series, along with several other novels. She lives in Western Australia, where she is working on her next book. Find her online at AuthorChantalFernando.com, and on Twitter and Facebook.

Review: Lucky Charmed by Sharla Lovelace

Lucky Charmed (Charmed in Texas #2) by Sharla Lovelace

Publication Date: July 18th 2017 by Lyrical Press

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

Charmed, Texas, is as warm and welcoming as it sounds. But even in a small town, when it comes to love, sometimes you’ve got to take the bitter with the sweet . . .

Carmen Frost hates honey. And bees. And in her hometown of Charmed, Texas, which practically invented the stuff, that’s a problem. The good news is that the summer Honey Festival is finally over. Even better, so is the annual Lucky Hart carnival, a road show that made off with her dreams years ago—including the boy she loved. Now she’s got a divorce behind her, and a successful law career in front of her, but in a tiny town, big memories die hard. Or they don’t die at all—as Carmen discovers when she runs into an all too familiar pair of eyes—older, wiser, and just as heart-melting as ever . . .

Sully Hart has had enough of the nomad lifestyle. Travelling with his father’s carnival gave him adventures, but it cost him much more. Now he’s home to stay, contracted to create an entertainment complex in Charmed. He wants roots, a house with a yard and all the mundane pleasures that go with it. But the girl he loved has become a woman who still wants freedom. Can she still want him? It seems he and Carmen are at each other’s throats one minute—and on each other’s lips the next. Someone’s gotta give . . .

My Thoughts:

Lucky Charmed was times fun, and sexy, but I didn’t love it like A Charmed Little Lie.  I won’t bother to summarize the story because the description does a good job of that. Instead, I’m just going to list what I liked and didn’t like about this installment.

What I liked:

Sully.  He was such a sweetheart and was back in Charmed to stake his claim on happiness. He was nice and professional to everyone in spite of the unfair treatment from those such as Carmen’s mom, and Dean, Carmen’s ex-husband.  I thought he was super patient to Carmen even though she was pretty hostile.  In her defense, she didn’t have the whole story so I can kind of give her a pass. Up to a point.

Sully and Carmen’s chemistry.  Every time she’d let her shields down they burned up the pages!

Even though Carmen was pretty upset with Sully, she came to his defense basically every time someone got critical.

I enjoyed how it all turned out.

What I didn’t like:

Carmen’s mom.  Seriously, this woman was something else. So critical of Sully when she had absolutely no reason to be! When everything was revealed I couldn’t believe that it was swept under the rug and forgiven so easily by Carmen!

Carmen’s ex-husband was a total piece of work, too! He had a sneaky part in the past, too, but things didn’t work out so well for him in the end, so there is that.

Carmen constantly running away from Sully, right when they were on the verge of getting close again, and finding out exactly why Sully left.  

Carmen hated on the town of Charmed for much of the book; talking about getting out of there every chance she got, then all of a sudden, she does a complete 180 turn around with her opinion at the end. I got tired of her negative attitude.

In spite of my issues, I did have fun with Lucky Charmed.  I’m looking forward to the next in the series: Once a Charmer out in October. 

3 Suns

Connect with Sharla Lovelace:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads