{eARC Review} Bound Together (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart #6) by Christine Feehan

Bound Together (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart #6) by Christine Feehan

For five years, Viktor Prakenskii has put his life on hold in order to take down the world’s most feared motorcycle club from the inside. But carrying out the insane violence and seeing the club’s exploitation of the innocent has brought his traumatic past roaring back. And there’s only one cure: to see the wife he left behind...

Blythe Daniels thought she’d never see Viktor again after he murdered her stepfather and left without a word. She rebuilt her life without him, becoming a personal trainer and physical therapist...becoming strong enough for others to lean on. But when Viktor comes back to Sea Haven, he’ll make Blythe question everything she thought she knew about good and evil—and the dark desires of the heart... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Published 

March 21st 2017 by Jove

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

{Review}

Bound Together wraps up the Sisters of the Heart series as well as tying up some loose ends from the Sea Haven series. I'm sad to leave these series behind but also excited to be introduced to the new series, Torpedo Ink, and the characters populating that world.

I've read this book twice now but I'm still struggling to write a review and I'm not sure why. I'm a huge Christine Feehan fan. Over the last two or so years I've read/listened to almost every Christine Feehan book I could get my hands on. I've really enjoyed the Sisters of the Heart series, I'm currently re-listening to Earth Bound, to show how much I love it.

While all the Sisters of the Heart series have their dark moments - a lot of bad things have happened to both the heroes and the heroines - Bound Together is definitely the darkest. Blythe has been the 'mother' of the Sisters, the caretaker and level headed one, and finally we get to see the past that made her into the woman she is. I liked Blythe even more after learning of her past, the heartache and heartbreak, her huge heart, her capacity to forgive. Viktor was hard to like but easy to understand once you see everything he's endured. He sacrificed so much to protect both the family he was born into and the family he created.

I was engaged in the story from the beginning, cried along with the characters, celebrated with them, shook my head when Viktor did something stupid (he's a serious alpha male who is not used to being questioned or challenged and Blythe is no pushover), and smiled when they finally got their happily ever after.There's lots of action and drama, we get to see all the sisters and all the brothers together and using their various gifts to battle their enemy.

{eARC Minute Review} Wolf Hunger (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #7) by Paige Tyler

Wolf Hunger (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #7) by Paige Tyler

She’s all the wolf he’ll ever need

When SWAT Officer Max Lowry meets Lana Mason, he falls fast and hard. He’s positive she’s The One. And Max’s favorite part? Lana’s a wolf shifter too, so they can skip the awkward reveal and head straight to the happily ever after. There’s just one problem: Lana doesn’t know that she’s a werewolf.

To make matters worse, hunters with intent to kill have tracked Lana to Dallas. Max has to figure out how to keep Lana safe, show her who and what she really is—and just how much she means to him. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 313 pages. Published December 5th 2017 by Sourcebooks Casablanca  

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

There's a lot going on this Wolf Hunger. A family in distress that brings up Max's painful history, a secret legacy, hunters moving ever closer, injury, loss, and of course the romance. The beginning of Max's story is hard as we learn about the tragic circumstances that led to Max's change but I held on because Max deserved a happy ending and I wanted to see it.

I enjoyed Max and Lana's love story from the first meeting, through interfering parents, loss and the revelation of secrets. It did feel like the love story was a bit overshadowed by the huge things that happened but it was satisfying none the less.

Wolf Hunger moved us one step closer to the showdown between the werewolves and the hunters and keeps me interested in finding out what happens next.

{eARC Romance Review} Wolf Hunt (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #6) by Paige Tyler

Wolf Hunt (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #6) by Paige Tyler 

A STORM IS BREWING...
Remy Boudreaux is back in his hometown, New Orleans. He's there with three of his fellow Dallas SWAT officers for a week of training with the NOLA PD. On the eve of a tropical storm, Remy and his buddies prowl the French Quarter. One tantalizing scent captures Remy's senses, forcing him to follow until he is face to face with Triana Bellamy—his beautiful high school crush.

After reconnecting, Remy and Triana are close—very. Remy struggles to keep things casual. Ever since his partner—and first love—was killed on the job, he's kept women at a distance.

But when a mysterious wolf pendant ropes them both into danger, Remy's protective instincts kick in. He may have to reveal his true self...and hope Triana accepts him. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, 352 pages. Published June 6th 2017 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

{Review}

Six books into Paige Tyler's SWAT series and I'm still addicted. In Wolf Hunt we travel with a few of the SWAT wolf to New Orleans where Remy reunites with a woman from his past.

I enjoyed the action/drama of Remy's New Orleans mission as well as the romantic drama with Triana and Remy. Things happen fast, Remy is caught by Triana's scent and Triana finds herself charmed but their past together makes it not seem quite so abrupt. Neither are a geographically desirable partner but their connection is so strong that you know these two will find a way.

Triana's mother was a fun character. She was really interesting and has her own connection to the werewolf community that helps Triana find her way. I loved the background of New Orleans, especially when all the drama of the pendant and romance comes to a head during the middle of a storm.

{eARC Review} Leopard's Blood (Leopard People #10) by Christine Feehan

Leopard's Blood (Leopard People #10) by Christine Feehan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan cuts straight to the heart of a man who stalks the shadows in an intoxicating Leopard novel.

Though born into a leopard’s lair in the bayou, Joshua Tregre’s fighting skills were honed in the rainforests of Borneo. Sleek and deadly, he’s the perfect man to take over a crime syndicate back home in Louisiana’s lush swamplands. His razor sharp instincts give him an edge in the violent underworld he knows so well, but even the watchful leopard inside him isn’t prepared for the danger that comes from the girl next door…

She is a woman who can create beauty out of thin air—and out of the ruins of her own life. The games that dangerous men play have taken their toll on her, but she is bent, not broken. And it’s her fierce spirit that’s like a lure to Joshua, a temptation he can’t resist—even if it means bringing his true nature into the light… (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details}eARC, 304 pages. Published October 24th 2017 by Piatkus. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I liked it

{Review}

I'm a huge Christine Feehan fan, I'm working my way through all of her series. I was thrilled to see a new addition to her Leopard People series and dived in. Right away things are hot and intense between Joshua (who we've seen through the previous books in the series) and Sonia. Their leopards are determined to be together but Sonia is NOT. Sonia has a sad backstory, has been hurt by men, and wants nothing to do with him so Joshua has a had road ahead.

Sonia is very independent. She's got a huge heart, is there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. I liked that she wasn't a shrinking violet, she was willing to jump in and defend the people she loved without a second thought. Joshua is a typical Christine Feehan hero. He's commanding and strong willed and determined to get his way. He's had a hard childhood too and it made him strong and protective and he knows what he's found in Sonia.

Super steamy, strong willed characters and an exciting storyline, Leopard's Blood is another winner from Christine Feehan.

Wolf Unleashed (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #5) by Paige Tyler

Wolf shifter Alex Trevino has fallen hard for veterinarian Lacey Barton. Getting her to agree to a date is a lot of work—and winning her heart proves even harder.

Lacey can’t deny her crazy attraction to Alex, but she has no intention of letting herself fall for him. In her less than stellar experience, men don’t stick around.

When Lacey’s sister is kidnapped, it’s up to Alex to crack the case—and prove to Lacey that he isn’t going anywhere. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 341 pages. Published December 6th 2016 by Sourcebook Casablanca 

 

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

 

{Review}

 

I love Paige Tyler's SWAT series. If you haven't started the SWAT series, I highly recommend it. Even five books in Paige still continues to produce exciting storylines, lovable heroes, strong heroines and a guaranteed happily ever after. 

Alex has already featured in the previous SWAT series books so I already knew and loved him, yet loved him more as we got to see inside his head, and especially seeing his interactions with the SWAT team's adopted dog, Tuffie.

Lacey is a veterinarian so there are lots of animals featuring in this installment, always a positive in my opinion. Lacey is a bit of a closed off character, making Alex work hard to get her attention much less her trust. She didn't have a stable childhood, was given a lot of responsibility young, and even now while starting her career she is dealing with a pile of debt and raising her younger sister. 

I enjoyed their relationship - Alex put so much effort and thought into his dates - the action and mystery and as always, was left eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

{eARC Review} Judgment Road (Torpedo Ink #1) by Christine Feehan

Judgment Road (Torpedo Ink #1) by Christine Feehan

An outlaw motorcycle club sets up shop next door to Sea Haven in the dangerously sexy new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.
As the enforcer of the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club, Reaper lives for riding and fighting. He's a stone-cold killer who turns his wrath on those who deserve it. Feelings are a weakness he can't afford--until a gorgeous bartender gets under his skin...

Near Sea Haven, the small town of Caspar has given Anya Rafferty a new lease on life. And she's desperate to hold on to her job at the biker bar, even if the scariest member of the club seems to have it out for her. But Reaper's imposing presence and smoldering looks just ratchet up the heat.

Anya's touch is everything Reaper doesn't want--and it brands him to the bone. But when her secrets catch up to her, Reaper will have to choose between Anya and his club--his heart and his soul. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, 304 pages. Expected publication: January 23rd 2018 by Piatkus

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

I was very excited to see a new series, Torpedo Ink, from one of my favorite authors, Christine Feehan. The cast of the Torpedo Ink series was first introduced in Bound Together, the last book in the Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart series, and are Viktor's (not biologically related) brothers and sisters. In Judgement Road we get to see a lot more of the Torpedo Ink crew - and a lot more of their horrible upbringing.

I was engaged from the beginning, seeing the mysterious Reaper - overprotective, quiet, dangerous - taking care of his family, trying desperately to ignore the mysterious new bartender, Anya. Growing up in the school he did, with the abuse and deprivation, without seeing anything normal Reaper has no idea what to do with his feelings for Anya. He doesn't even know he likes her. He makes a lot of mistakes but Anya couldn't find a fiercer champion, or one more determined to love her and make her happy.

Anya hasn't had an easy upbringing either, she and her mother bounced from shelter to shelter, but she was determined to make a life for herself, to make a home and build a family. She was working on her great life plan but her life has taken a dramatic left turn, sending her fleeing, and she has found safety at Torpedo Ink's bar. Reaper isn't the guy she imagined herself falling for but she can't stop thinking about him, and when they get close, she can't resist him.

There are quite a few tense moments in the story, both with his relationship with Anya (he's thisclose to blowing it with her multiple times), and with Torpedo Ink's fight against another club that is targeting women.

I like that this book shows you that people are more than their upbringing, that you can come from the worst of circumstances and make your life what you want it to be. There are a lot of members of Torpedo Ink so I'm looking forward to many, many years of books featuring these strong, scarred, men and women. 

--Trigger warning--

{eARC Romance Review} Royally Roma (The Royals #1) by Teri Wilson

Royally Roma (The Royals #1) by Teri Wilson 

In this charming, modern retelling of the classic Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday, a royal prince tries to escape his hectic and rigid life and ends up leading a young graduate student on a chase through the Eternal City.

Julia Costa is too busy trying to complete her PhD while also holding down a full-time job as a private tour guide in Rome to keep up with celebrity gossip. So when she crosses paths with a real, actual prince, she mistakes him for a client and takes him on a daylong tour of the city.

Intrigued by the idea of spending time with someone who obviously has no idea who he is, and delighted at the prospect of a day free of royal obligations, Niccolo La Torre, Crown Prince of Lazaretto, acts on impulse and assumes the role of Julia’s client. He swears to himself that he’ll return to his royal duties after only half a day…but he’s having the time of his life.

Until Julia presents him with the bill. Since he snuck out of the hotel without so much as a dime, he tries to escape, only to discover that she won’t let him out of her sight until he can pay her back. She’s determined to get her money…and perhaps more from the handsome stranger she’s fallen for. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} Kindle Edition, 251 pages. Published March 27th 2017 by Pocket Star. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

 

I really enjoyed this one. It's a fast read, just over 250 pages, but it packs a big punch.

 

Both Julia and Niccolo have secrets they can't escape. Niccolo is at a breaking point. He's been the responsible one, the one that cleans up the messes, who does the hard thing, but when he sees the woman with the red painted mouth, who doesn't know who he is, mistakes him for her client he seizes the opportunity to escape himself - at least for a few hours.

 

Julia is a strong person too. Her life was upended and she moved to Rome to start over, to make a life for herself there. I loved Niccolo and Julia together, the way they build off of each other, they're better together. I loved the setting, the sightseeing, journeying around with Julia and Niccolo on the Vespa, seeing all the famous sights. 

 

There were a few misses for me, I didn't like the beginning, I would rather have started without the glimpse of the future, and the ending felt too abrupt. I wish there had been more after the grand gesture, but I guess that's a good thing, leaving us wanting more. Overall I enjoyed Royally Roma and am excited to learn that the next book in the series, another retelling, will be available soon.

{eARC Review} Shadow Reaper (Shadow #2) by Christine Feehan

Shadow Reaper (Shadow #2) by Christine Feehan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan continues her sexy new series, as the Ferraros—a Chicago crime family—use their power as shadow riders to protect their empire and the ones they love…

Billionaire playboy Ricco Ferraro knows no other life. Being a shadow rider is in his blood - but so is a haunting desperation stemming from the secrets of his dark past. His recklessness puts not only his life at risk, but also the future of his entire family. To save them all, he must find a woman who can meet his every desire with a heat all her own...

Just when Ricco has given up hope, he meets her - a mysterious woman whose shadow connects with his. She's someone looking for a safe haven from the danger that has stalked her over the last several months. In Ricco's embrace, she finds one. But the darkness in which they so often find sanctuary can also consume them... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 480 pages. Expected publication: May 30th 2017 by Jove. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review


{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

{Review} 

It's hard to say much about the plot, the book blurb is really mysterious - it doesn't even say the heroine's name - but I'll do what I can to show how I enjoyed the book without giving too much away.

I really enjoyed Shadow Reaper, I loved seeing more of the Ferraro family, I liked Ricco even more after learning about his past, I thought the heroine was a strong character, damaged but kind, compassionate, and courageous, and there was quite a bit of action and excitement.

The relationship between the heroine and Ricco was my favorite part of the story. They have both endured terrible trials in their past, have been scarred by what they've survived and those scars still influence who they are today. I enjoyed how Christine Feehan used Shibari to develop their relationship; it was about sex but more than that it was about trust.

This is the second installment in the Shadow series and I do think you would enjoy it better if you read book one first to understand the world of shadow riders and get to meet the characters but it isn't strictly necessary. Shadow Reaper has confirmed that I'm a definite fan of this series and can't wait to learn whose story comes next.

[eARC Review} On the Market (The Ballard Brothers of Darling Bay Book 1) by Rachael Herron

On the Market (The Ballard Brothers of Darling Bay Book 1) by Rachael Herron 

The Bachelor meets The Property Brothers:
Love, property, and construction. What could possibly go wrong?

From international bestseller Rachael Herron, comes another book too delightful to put down:

Liam Ballard is good at buying houses, fixing them up with his brothers, and flipping them for a profit. When Felicia from the network shows up to offer them a reality show (the brothers renovate a house while one of them dates the buyer), the pay is too good to turn down. With it, they'll finally be able to open the after-school program for at-risk youth to honor the man who raised them. But when the very LA-like Felicia decides she'll be the buyer of the property (and his date), Liam wonders for the first time what set of keys he'll want to pass over to her, and will one of them unlock his heart?

A heart-warming, laugh-out-loud installment in the small town you love to visit. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 225 pages. Published June 28th 2016 by HGA Publishing. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

 

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

 

{Review}

Think The Property Brothers if one of the guys was supposed to fall for the homeowner during the purchase and renovation. I have no idea why I waited so long to pick up this book! I adored it. The characters, the setting - the house! - there was so much to love.

The characters are all endearing and wonderfully flawed. There aren't any perfect characters to be found here and the author isn't afraid to show their mistakes. It was hard to get in Felicia's head. I liked her but I couldn't understand her and the decisions she made. The author did a good job of trying to show her thought processes and how her upbringing would have guided her to those decisions but I still wanted to shake her. Liam has an enormous heart. He's uber-protective of those he loves, he's got issues - major childhood pain - but he has an amazing capacity for love. Of all the characters my favorite, hands-down, was the house. It was definitely the star of the book.

I did feel like the book was rushed near the end and I didn't feel like I saw enough of the other Ballard Brothers who are supposed to be the leading men in the next books but if you're looking for a quick, sweet and steamy romance novel set in a fabulous location check out On the Market.

{eARC Review} Leopard's Fury (Leopard People #9) by Christine Feehan

Leopard's Fury (Leopard People #9)by Christine Feehan

With her own bakery in San Antonio, Evangeline Tregre made a new life far from the brutal lair of shifters she was born into. Though she is all too aware of her leopard-shifter blood, she never felt the sensation of a wild animal stirring inside her. Not until Alonzo Massi walked into her bakery. The powerful shifter is as irresistible as he is terrifying, but his icy demeanor tells her to keep her distance.

Alonzo knows better than to let himself get involved with someone like Evangeline. She doesn’t deserve the type of danger that follows him, or the threat of his Amur leopard. But even with his lean muscle and iron will, Alonzo isn’t strong enough to stay away from the one woman who can make him feel at peace. And when their secret lives draw a mortal threat, Alonzo unleashes the feral passion he keeps pent up inside himself. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

{Details} 352 pages. Published November 8th 2016 by Jove. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Review} 

The latest addition to the Leopard People series is classic Christine Feehan: alpha males, strong women, violence, passion, family, drama and a happily ever after.

Evangeline's childhood was terrible. She was neglected, tortured, terrified, but she survived. She's put herself back together, she's created a life she loves, doing something she loves. And then a man walks through her door and turns her life upside down. She's may be young and innocent but she's also fierce, determined, and protective.

Alonzo can't stay away from Evangeline. His leopard is difficult - scary difficult - but around sweet, innocent Evangeline he calms. I felt for Alonzo. His childhood was horrific, he's seen and done things that would break the strongest of people, but he survived. He's still got his demons, lives a dangerous life, and doesn't think he deserves a woman much less one like Evangeline and it's a battle to get him to give in.

I liked Alonzo and Evangeline. He goes all alpha male but she's not afraid to stand up to him, he cares and protects her like no one in her life ever had before. I also liked that Evangeline has always known about her leopard, that it was been her companion, her protector, even if they haven't always been in agreement. I loved Alonzo's relationship with his brother and cousins and how they brought Evangeline into the fold, teasing and bantering with her.

As always, when I reach the end of one of Christine Feehan's novels I'm eager for another.

{eARC Review} Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome #2) by Rebecca Zanetti

Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome #2) by Rebecca Zanetti 

Before the Scorpius Syndrome tore through North America and nearly wiped out the population, Vivienne Wellington was the FBI’s best profiler. The bacteria got her anyway. But she survived. She recovered. And when she woke up from a drug-nightmare of captivity, her skills as a hunter of men had gone from merely brilliant to full-on uncanny. Her mysterious rescuer wants her to put them to the test. But no matter how tempting he is, with his angel’s eyes and devil’s tongue, Vinnie knows she shouldn’t trust him.

If the FBI were still around they would rate Raze Shadow as one of the bad guys. His military training can’t wipe out his association with the Mercenaries, the most feared gang in a thousand miles. His loyalties are compromised. He won’t even tell Vinnie his real name. But there’s no FBI in the new America of fear and firepower, only instinct and risk.

And the way his arms wrap around Vinnie tells its own story. Whatever else Raze is concealing, he can’t hide his desire . . . (Blurb via Goodreads)

 

{Details} eARC. 400 pages. Published August 30th 2016 by Zebra. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

 

{Review}

Rebecca Zanetti does not disappoint. Shadow Falling, the second book in The Scorpius Syndrome series, is just as exciting, as full of life and death, of shocks and aww, with a few humorous moments to lighten the dark and hard world.

 

I really liked Raze. He's smart and strong and uber-protective. He's also stuck between a rock and a hard place. He came to the Vanguard for a reason - a really good one - but now that he's there, working, helping, protecting and with Vinnie, things aren't so simple and he's got a fight on his hands to not lose everything. 

Poor Vinnie. She's been through the ringer. She's safe now - mostly - but she struggles to find her place, to belong, to feel worthwhile. I adored her spirit and drive to survive. Raze and Vinnie are so perfect together, the chemistry is great, their banter and ways of challenging each other are fun. 

I also enjoyed the sub-plot with the Reverend (which was super well crafted - and creepy) and the teasers about what we'll see in book three, Justice Ascending.

{eARC Review} The Darkest Link (Second Circle Tattoos #4) by Scarlett Cole

The Darkest Link (Second Circle Tattoos #4) by Scarlett Cole

When her car breaks down off the side of a lonely highway far from her sunny Miami home, tattoo artist Lia never expected her very own white knight to ride up on the back of a barely street-legal motorcycle...and she never expected to fall for her dark savior. After a string of failed relationships and a bruised heart, Lia is not looking for forever, and the hot mechanic, with his sexy scruff and shaggy hair, is simply impossible to resist and the perfect candidate for mind-blowingly-perfect, no-strings-attached one night stand.

Reid left his life in Chicago far behind him and hasn't been back, but he's never been able to escape the guilt he feels about his own painful role in inviting a monster into his baby sister's life. A monster who almost destroyed her. Being with Lia is an unexpected gift, one he doesn't feel he deserves, and their one night together has him wanting more than he should. Especially since she doesn't know the truth about his past. However, when he finds Lia’s bracelet in his bed, he has the perfect excuse to drive down and surprise her at her tattoo studio, Second Circle Tattoos, in Miami. He's in for an even bigger shock - and a fist to the face - when his past and present collide in the humid Miami weather when he runs into the last person he’d ever expect to see in a tattoo studio: Harper, the sister he betrayed, and the last link to his former life. (Blurb via Goodreads)

 

{Details} eARC. Published August 30th 2016 . Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

 

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

 

{Review}

 

I loved Harper from the first book in the Second Circle Tattoos novels. When learning about what she survived and the role her brother, Reid, played in the ordeal I saw him as a villain. When I read the description for The Darkest Link I thought 'how in the world am I going to see this guy as a hero much less like him".

I was pleasantly surprised. Reid isn't perfect but he's also not a monster. There are a lot of things that he hid from Harper and a lot of guilt he's been lugging around after him. It's an emotional ride as Reid reunites with Harper and faces his own demons but ultimately satisfying.

In comparison to Reid's rather tortured existence Lia seems a little boring though she's got her own family issues. I felt for her as she tried to manage a rocky relationship with her family while being true to herself and the life she wants to lead.

A spicy romance, family drama and a dash of danger, it's Second Circle Tattoos.

{eARC Review} The Bachelor Auction (The Bachelors of Arizona #1) by Rachel Van Dyken

The Bachelor Auction (The Bachelors of Arizona #1) by Rachel Van Dyken 

Cinderella never had to deal with this crap.

Jane isn't entirely sure that Cinderella got such a raw deal. Sure, she had a rough start, but didn't she eventually land a prince and a happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Jane is busy waiting on her demanding, entitled sisters, running her cleaning business, and . . . yep, not a prince in sight. Until a party and a broken shoe incident leave Jane wondering if princes---or at least, a certain deliciously hunky billionaire---maybe do exist.

Except Brock Wellington isn't anyone's dream guy. Hell, a prince would never agree to be auctioned off in marriage to the highest bidder. Or act like an arrogant jerk---even if it was just a façade. Now, as Brock is waiting for the auction chopping block, he figures it's karmic retribution that he's tempted by a sexy, sassy woman he can't have. But while they can't have a fairy-tale ending, maybe they can indulge in a little bit of fantasy . . (Blurb via Goodreadss)

{Details} 352 pages.Published October 4th 2016 by Forever. Source: eARC provided via Goodreads for an honest revieww

{Rating} 4/5 I really liked it

{Review}

A contemporary take on the Cinderella fairy tale.  Bachelor Auction is classic Rachel Van Dyken with her strong family bonds (good and bad), trademark banter, meddlesome secondary characters, great chemistry, and a happily ever after. I was sucked in by the story from the fairy tale beginning - poor Jane with a shoe mishap, to Jane and her prince at the ball.


I liked both Jane and Brock. They're wonderful and infuriating, they love their families fiercely, are devoted to them, sacrifice for them, and feel trapped by them. As much as they are drawn to each other (and forced together over and over again) their actions are guided by their pasts and they have to work through the guilt and obligations that shaped them.

If you're a fan of fairy tale retellings, a spicy romance, crazy families, and banter, give The Bachelor Auction a try.

{eARC Review} Primal Instinct (Bodyguard #2) by Tara Wyatt

Primal Instinct (Bodyguard #2) by Tara Wyatt 

ROCK YOU ALL NIGHT LONG

The first time he lays eyes on Taylor Ross in a bar, Colt Priestley does something few men would dare to do. He approaches the world-famous singer, shamelessly flirts with her, and gives her a night in his bed that neither of them will soon forget.

When Taylor's record label hires a bodyguard to keep tabs on the out-of-control rocker, she's less than thrilled to find it's her off-the-charts one-night stand who shows up for the job. She's terrified of letting herself fall for the damaged ex-Army Ranger, and she's determined to push him away. Yet every moment they're together simmers with tension. As the danger from an obsessed stalker mounts, Taylor and Colt are tempted to cross that line again-baring their hearts and souls as well as their bodies-and there's no telling how hot this song will get.

"If you love tough guys with a side of sweet, strong heroines with a hint of wild, and suspense with a spark of humor, this is definitely the book for you! Tara Wyatt has created a swoonworthy bodyguard series with primal passion, unexpected twists, and surprising laughs!"--New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 352 pages. Published May 31st 2016 by Forever

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}
 

Exciting, dramatic, a slow simmer romance that erupts into a full boil, a crazy stalker, a whole different type of crazy, and a happy happily every after.

I liked the heroine of our story. Taylor is a survivor, she's had to fight for everything in her life, she's sassy, and though it doesn't always turn out well, she's the type of person who throws herself whole-heartedly into things. 

When we meet her Taylor is in desperate need of some good things coming her way. She chose the wrong partner, made a bad decision in the aftermath of a breakup, got some terrible publicity, is in a writing slump and three men come into (or return to) her life, two that are definitely bad news and another who can hurt her in a whole different way.

Our hero hasn't had the easiest time of things either. Colt made a mistake that got him canned, he's working freelance and missing the camaraderie of co-workers,and then he meets a girl in a bar, has an amazing night with her and then finds out she's his new bodyguard assignment.

We see a little inside her stalker's head and he is totally and completely loco. And creepy. I want to shudder just thinking about him. Author Tara Wyatt totally blew it out of the park with an ick-worthy stalker.

{eARC Minute Review} Saved By The SEAL (Battle Scars #2) by Diana Gardin

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Saved By The SEAL (Battle Scars #2) by Diana Gardin

He saved her life. She showed him how to live it . . .

When he sees a woman drowning, Grisham Abbot immediately leaps into action. The Navy SEAL forgets his training, his past, and the explosion that forever scarred his body and his mind. He can only remember what he was born to do. But saving Greta Owen is a complication Grisham is definitely not ready for. She’s stunning and gorgeous—like sunlight after months of darkness. Yep, Grisham is so, so screwed.

Greta knows that the smart thing to do would be to run from Grisham. He’s a wounded warrior, and his head is a big-time mess. The problem is that Greta wants to make him her mess. One kiss and she’s completely in over her head. And if this SEAL risked himself to save her, then she must find a way to bring him back to life . . . (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 352 pages. Published March 8th 2016 by Forever Yours. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

Grisham and Greta have a history but when they meet again when Grisham comes to Greta's rescue it's an opportunity for a new beginning. I enjoyed the romance, Greta is great for Grisham, as well as the elements of suspense in the storyline.

I enjoyed Diana Gardin's writing, the pacing was great, the characters perfectly imperfectly and told from dual POVs we get to see in both Grisham and Greta's heads. Although this is book two in the series Battle Scars it can be read as a standalone, I did, but it did make me want to read book one, Last True Hero.

{eARC Review} To Love a Wolf (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #4) by Paige Tyler

To Love a Wolf (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #4) by Paige Tyler

HE'S FOUND THE ONE...
SWAT officer Landry Cooper is certain Everly Danu is The One. The problem is, she has no idea what Cooper really is. And as much as he wants to trust her, he's not sure he can share his deepest secret...

When Everly's family discovers Cooper's a werewolf, her brothers will do anything to keep them apart-they'll kill him if they have to. Everly is falling hard for the ridiculously handsome SWAT officer, and she's not about to let her brothers tell her who she can love... Until Cooper's secret is exposed and she discovers the man she thought she knew is a monster in disguise.

BUT CAN HE KEEP HER? (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 352 pages. Publication: June 7th 2016 by Sourcebooks Casablanca. Source: eARC provided in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

I'm a huge fan of the SWAT series and have been eagerly awaiting Cooper's story from the beginning. I was not disappointed. I've loved Cooper from the first book, he's calm and laid back, fierce and strong, and he's got his friends' backs without reserve or question. Seeing him with his own One, although he can't see as clearly when it comes to himself, showed me a whole new side. On top of his new romance he also he has an old friend in town in need of help, a bomber on the loose and after being involved in an incident during a bank robbery he's ordered to see a therapist.

Everly was a great heroine, smart and kind, fierce in her own way. She does lose it - which I hated because we know Cooper definitely isn't a monster - but Paige Tyler presents it in a way that I empathized with Everly. She's met this man that she falls for fast and deep, against all logic, her family hates him and then when the truth comes out it brings back the horrors of her past. 

I was hooked from the first page and couldn't wait to see him get his happily ever after.

{eARC Minute Review} Altered by Marnee Blake

Altered by Marnee Blake 

A new adult romance from Entangled's Embrace imprint...

When "normal" ends, survival begins...

The sickness came on suddenly and violently. When it was done, waitress Blue Michaels was different in a really strange way. And the entire town of Glory was dead...except for her.

Only that's not exactly true. A handful of people made it, including U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell, who was caught in the wrong town at the worst time. He's fierce and protective, and way too good-looking. As much as they need a leader—as much as Blue wants to trust him—there are too many questions and not enough time for answers. Now they are hunted. But what their pursuers don't know is each of them has strange new powers. And they'll use their "gifts" to survive...no matter who stands in their way. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} Kindle Edition, 277 pages.Published December 28th 2015 by Entangled: Embrace. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

Really enjoyed this one. The plot caught my attention from the beginning, the characters were believable and relatable and the pacing had a great mix of action and exposition.

I liked the two main characters, Blue and Seth, together and as individuals. They're both strong and determined and want to protect others. The romance is there but it's more of a way to heighten tension than a huge plot point, which I liked.

The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger - characters in peril, lots of unanswered questions - and will leave you waiting for the next installment.

{eARC Minute Review} Rare Form (Descended of Dragons #1) by Jen Crane

Rare Form (Descended of Dragons #1) by Jen Crane 

 A Secret Past

Fiery redhead Stella Stonewall can’t decide between a margarita and a manhattan.
The rest of her life? Please. Stella has never really fit in, and her pretty world comes crashing down when she learns it was never her world at all.
Rowan Gresham is domineering, brooding, and as sexy as chocolate-dipped sin. When he transports Stella to the magical realm of her parents she recognizes her rightful place immediately. Gresham’s motivations are less clear.

A Scorching Chemistry
The enigmatic Gresham aids in Stella’s metamorphosis and their chemistry ignites, though a long-time girlfriend and a significant age difference stand in the way.

A Battle for the Rest of Her Life
Stella’s life fast-tracks to extraordinary when she enrolls at Radix Citadel for Supernatural Learning, an enchanted college whose students turn furry on the regular. As Stella learns to navigate the magical new world of Thayer she must also find her animal form, a task as elusive as her ancestry. Stella soon faces an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn to manipulate an animal form she never knew she possessed. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 220 pages, Published October 6th 2015 by Carpe Noctem Publishing, LLC. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

{Review}

A promising first installment, characters that I want to see more of and an exciting storyline. Author Jen Crane has created an interesting take on the 'special one' trope with enough twists and turns that I didn't see coming to keep my attention.

{ARC Review} How Willa Got Her Groove Back (Creative HeArts #2) by Emily McKay

How Willa Got Her Groove Back (Creative HeArts #2) by Emily McKay  

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains an unbelievably hot bad boy, an unbelievably famous actress, and all the drama that comes with adding both to your family. Oh, and a forbidden flirtation with a soon-to-be stepbrother.

When Willa Schofer’s father comes home from a business trip with an über-famous new fiancée, Willa’s senior year blows up in paparazzi-fueled flames. Overnight, she has a new house, a new car, and a new soon-to-be stepbrother—the unbelievably hot, unbelievably arrogant, Finn McCain. Thank god he’s constantly pushing her buttons, or she might do something irresponsible. Like fall for the jerk.

Just when Willa’s decided to avoid him for, oh, ever, Finn lands in the center of her senior project team. Seriously—how hard is it to shake a guy? At least her work on the project snagged the attention of the (second) hottest guy in school. He might only be into her because of her famous stepmom, and he’s not quite as exciting as a certain annoying housemate, but at least she’s allowed to crush on the guy.

Because crushing on your annoying stepbrother? So not cool.

Willa and Finn Book 2 coming November 14, 2016 (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC. Published February 22nd 2016 by Entangled: Crush. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

Finn is a complex hero. Every scene it seems that we see another facet of him. He's jaded but he can also be kind and thoughtful. He's seen and done everything. He's also not a noble hero - at least he plays it like he isn't. He has an agenda. I found myself unable to blame Finn for the choices he makes, he's between a rock and a hard place.

I liked Willa from the start. She's had a terrible week at home and at school. She expected more of the same but her life has been totally turned upside down. She's got a good heart, her struggles with home and school seem relatable, even her bratty moments feel believable.

Finn and Willa have both been through a lot with their parents, both have had to be the parent at times, giving them a connection that few others can share.

The parents. Willa's dad confused me. What we see of him is nothing like the guy Willa tells us he is. She doesn't take her dad's new relationship well, the way most kids would react, but after seeing how her dad changes, including changing his feelings about big decisions such as their home and a vehicle for Willa, I think she has a right to be concerned. Mia, the future step-mom. Mia seems more like a child than anything else. I hope to see something else from her in the future.

I can't believe we have to wait until November to see the next installment in Willa and Finn's series.

{eARC Review} Holding Court by K.C. Held

Holding Court by K.C. Held

Sixteen-year-old Jules Verity knows exactly what's in store at her new job at castle-turned-dinner-theater Tudor Times. Some extra cash, wearing a fancy-pants dress, and plenty of time to secretly drool over the ever-so-tasty--and completely unavailable--Grayson Chandler. Except that it's not quite what she imagined.

For one, the costume Jules has to wear is awful. Then there's the dead body she finds that just kind of...well, disappears. Oh, and there's the small issue of Jules and her episodes of what her best friend calls "Psychic Tourette's Syndrome"--spontaneous and uncontrollable outbursts of seemingly absurd prophecies.

The only bright side? This whole dead body thing seems to have gotten Grayson's attention. Except that the more Jules investigates, the more she discovers that Grayson's interest might not be as courtly as she thought. In fact, it's starting to look suspicious... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 352 pages. Published March 1st 2016 by Entangled Teen. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4//5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

A really cute YA mystery story; it's a story with murders that still manages to be cute and that's hard to do.

I adored the characters. Jules was a great heroine, she felt really relatable, struggling with her identity, the boy she has a crush on, the psychic abilities that make her different and her desire to do the right thing that makes her want to solve the mystery. I liked her grandmother with her endless Eleanor Roosevelt quotes, the sweet boy she's crushing on, and the cast of characters from Henry VIII's court.

I enjoyed the storyline, laughed out loud more than once, Jules' PTS (psychic Tourette's syndrome) was hilarious. And the mystery was really well done, the 'who did it' kept me guessing until the very end.

Holding Court is my first K.C. Held novel but it certainly won't be the last.