Friday, April 28, 2023

The Widow's Dom (The Doms of Madison County Book 1) by Lila Fox


 


 

Blurb:


Nick and his friends were alpha Doms home from war, trying their best to find a place in the U.S. where they could fit in. A relative invited them to their town, and what they all saw was encouraging. It would be a great place to build his dream of having a ranch. The thing that would make his life perfect was a woman, but he had no time, and women were scarce. That changed the instant he saw Janessa.

Janessa was living her life the best she could after losing her husband. She was finally at a place where she could smile every day and wanted to live life. When she met Nick she knew he wasn’t the type of person she was used to, but damn if he wasn’t exactly what she needed—a Dom. She’d always known she was a sub but couldn’t do anything about it. Until she got her own Dom.

 

My review:

Fast paced, insta-love, older couple this story made me smile. Janessa is sweet and spunky. Nick is sweet and alpha a combination guaranteed to make me swoon.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

 

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Death Lies (The Randi Sanderson Series Book 3) by Lia Davis


Blurb:

While her son’s safety still remains priority number one, detective Randi Sanderson is locked in a seemingly never-ending battle against Tabas Stone and the half-angel, half-demon gangsters known as the Shade. Eager to eliminate Randi and her allies once and for all, the Shade leader enlists the help of a chaotic ancient demon with the swagger of a rock god and the mind of a lunatic. But Vassago isn’t the type of demon to stick to a plan, and before he can successfully eradicate the Vampire Council he’s wreaking havoc all across the city.

Unfortunately for Randi, Stone and his hired demon are just the beginning. Things are heating up between her and Cash, so why wouldn’t her ex, Kalon, decide to come back from the grave? She’s grateful to add another powerful fighter to her alliance, but the price to pay is pretty steep. Dealing with the clash of egos only causes headaches, and Randi doesn’t have the time to struggle against the tug-of-war game these two want to play in the name of winning her affections.

Just when things couldn’t possibly get messier, news of an unholy alliance between Heaven and Hell arrives, and it’s not good for the Shade. Randi should embrace the divine plan, but she has plenty of reason to fear the father of her child could get caught in the fray.

How long can she keep Kalon a secret while she tries to handle the Shade on her own? Not very, if the new hybrid investigator or the endless unwanted media attention have anything to say about it. The heat is on in Jacksonville and it’s quickly becoming evident that Randi’s plate has never been fuller.
 


It’s a good thing she’s hungry...for vengeance.

 

My review:

Randi and Cash are up against a powerful demon with an agenda. This book picks up right where the last one ended. Randi is emotionally torn between her new feelings for Cash and her old feelings for Kalon with no time to deal with either. Randi is better with kicking bad guy butt than dealing with her emotions.

This story is filled with action, energy and will keep you flipping pages. I can’t wait to see where this goes next.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

 

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Midnight California by Cara North


 


Blurb:

Warning: Midnight California contains explicit content that some may find triggering and most will find disturbing. It is not suitable for all readers. Please read with caution. 

 

In this dark erotic romance, you follow the lives of two sex workers. One who has been in the trade long before he was legal and the other, barely over that threshold, sees this as an opportunity to survive. The customers have their favorites. The employees have their favorites. 

 Falling in love is not part of the job. Still, two broken souls seem to mend together despite their situation. As their voyeuristic-based scenarios together bring them closer physically, their emotional connection begins to grow. As they delve deeper into their personal desires, they begin to realize that their passion may have deadly consequences. 

 With intense, graphic scenes involving sex, violence, age play, bondage, and more, this story is not for everyone. It delves into taboo subjects and explores the darkest corners of the human psyche. 

 

My review:

This book made my heart hurt for Vega and Drake. Life has handed them crap on a cracker and they are making the best of a bad situation.

This is a short story but it packs a wallop. Life isn’t fair and nobody knows that better than Vega and Drake but watching them deal was almost too much to bear. This isn’t a tale for the faint of heart but it gave me hope.

When going through Hell keep on going.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Accidental AF (The Accidentals Book 13) by Dakota Cassidy


 


 

Blurb:

A stranded human and his lifelong skepticism walk into a paranormal bar…

Sounds like the start of a bad gag, but the joke’s on Kash Samuels when he stumbles into a bar called NOPE, looking for warmth and a working phone, only to get caught in the middle of a bar fight. Next thing you know, he’s got weird…appendages…popping up all over the place…a fin here, a lock of pink hair there, a mangy tail somewhere else…

Maybe he actually fell asleep in his car and the exhaust fumes made him loco. It’s the only way to explain the insanity that ensues when he finds himself surrounded by a group of stunning ladies claiming to be paranormal beings, along with their entourage of demon, zombie, and troll butler/chef. And let’s not even discuss the line around the block of other supernatural species, each hoping to claim Kash as their own…

Oh, and one totally crush-worthy human scientist. A woman Kash is falling for more every day. Too bad she’s keeping him at arm’s length—and in the dark about her own health, even as she works day and night to help Kash control his wonky body.

Yep, life sure has taken a turn. For Kash, who’s always wanted a family after growing up in the system, just him and his brother against the world, this kind and crazy group may not be the family he envisioned…but they’re the family you need when you’re Accidental AF!

 

My review:

Talk about wrong place wrong time… human Kash gets caught in the middle of a paranormal bar brawl and ends up a mess.

This installment had me giggle-snorting and laughing out loud. Another fabulous Oops assignment.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

Monday, April 24, 2023

One Wolf Next Door (The Willow Witch Chronicles Book 1) by Efthalia


 

Blurb:

A Witch. A Wolf. And defective magic.
 
Samantha Willow is a defective witch. Her magical powers are useless, and her coven has turned its back on her. Her comfortable and serene lifestyle is short-lived when a new neighbor moves in next door. Romance was not on the agenda. To add to her problems, one of her customers ends up dead, and the police want answers. 
 
Dex Lycophron, wolf, and immortal warrior has had enough of fighting for humanity. He wants to put his feet up and relax, but when he gets a whiff of his delectable witchy neighbor, he knows he's not going to rest until he claims her as his mate. But to do that he must return to the world and connections he left behind.
 
Will the Witch admit that they belong together?

 

My review:

This book tells the tale of a young witch who has been told almost her whole life that her magic is defective. Nothing she does disproves that. Now her life is in danger and she must embrace the power of positive thinking. It doesn’t hurt that the hunky werewolf next door and a powerful warlock believe in her.

This is an enjoyable mystery with romantic elements. Sam and Dex will make you smile.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

Friday, April 21, 2023

Something Like Summer (Something Like #1) by Jay Bell


 


Blurb:

I remember sneaking over to his house in the middle of the night. And the secret love we used to share. That was back in high school. I never expected to see him again…

Life isn’t easy for a gay teenager living in the nineties. Ben thought coming out was his best chance of finding love. Instead he ended up lonelier than before. After a not-so-accidental collision with Tim, an attractive athlete and artist, Ben is convinced that he’s met his soulmate. Their budding romance is soon tested by spreading rumors, the danger increasing along with their passion for each other until it pushes them to the breaking point.

Years later, Ben is attending college in a different state while dating a wonderful guy. Everything is perfect until Tim shows up unexpectedly. Overwhelmed by old feelings, Ben is forced to reconcile the summer-filled dreams of his past with the complexities of his new adult life... 

But some love stories are impossible to forget.

 

My review:

This starts out as a coming of age story and morphs into so much more. Ben is comfortable in his identity as a gay kid. The guy he falls for not so much. This is Ben’s journey. I loved his straight best friend. This was an enjoyable, if occasionally painful, tale of love and second chances.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Inked Beauty: Wicked Inked duet: Book 2 by Candace Blevins


 


 

Blurb:

Lauren wants to put down roots of her own. Homewood will always be home, but it’s time she found her own place in this world. She thought Branson was the perfect opportunity, with a fantastic job, a bedroom just down the hall from Nick, and a quick drive to see Gavin, but everything’s falling apart, and there’s more trouble on the horizon.

Nick’s a cat, and they never react well when their feelings are hurt. Gavin’s a new Master Vampire, and no one’s challenged his status yet, but that’s bound to change soon.

And just how much fire is Lauren playing with, trying to have a relationship with two alpha males at the same time?


Inked Beauty is book two of the Wicked Inked duet, and should be read after Wicked Beauty.

 

My review:

Inked Beauty takes us further into Lauren’s relationships with Gavin and Nick and discovering her new gifts and how to control them. This book is a beautiful tale of love and discovery. I absolutely adored the arc their story took.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Dread and Buried (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #12) by Angie Fox


 


Blurb:

Dead men tell no tales.
Until they meet ghost hunter Verity Long.

Verity Long is proud to say she gets along with just about anybody—dead or alive. But she’s put to the test when her well-meaning boyfriend and her sweet-as-pie sister con her into a remote island “double date” weekend with her sister’s new flame and Verity’s long-time nemesis, Alec Duranja.

Her plans to avoid the uptight police officer go up in smoke when the four of them team up for a weekend treasure hunt competition based on the island’s legendary pirate past. And it doesn’t take long for Verity and her team to discover more than game clues. Someone is using the game to dig up real pirate gold...and they’re willing to kill to keep it.

There’s no escaping the island or the game. And when the killer targets someone Verity loves, she realizes she’s the only one who can uncover the truth behind the legend. She must stay one step ahead of the dangers of the island and two steps ahead of Frankie’s new ghostly pirate buddies—all in a race against time to solve a centuries-old puzzle and take down a real live killer before he strikes again.

 

My review:

Verity is challenged on many levels in this delightful mystery. Not only is she on a team with Ellis and her sister but she has to deal with her nemesis, Alec Duranja. She has to play nice all weekend and work with them and Frankie to solve a mystery and find a pirate treasure.

This may be my favorite of the series to date although they are all terrific.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

B&N

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Both Feet in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost


 

Blurb:

If you thought you learned more about the dangerous and sexy alpha vampire, Bones, in The Other Half of the Grave, you haven't seen anything yet...

This is Bones, in his own words…

Two hundred years of bounty hunting made Bones the best at what he does, yet it's still taken him four long years to find Cat, the half vampire now known as the "Red Reaper." There's a price on Cat's head, and not even her job as a secret government agent can save her. Only Bones can. But has time hardened Bones too much to love again? Or will his passion for Cat burn through every obstacle—alive, undead, or otherwise—between them?

 

My review:

Just as kick tail as The Other Half of the Grave. Bones background has colored the way he sees the world but what he does know is that Cat is the one for him and he will burn down the world to get her back. This story is told from Bones point of view with his unique sense of humor. I loved seeing their relationship through his eyes.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

 

Monday, April 17, 2023

Magic Corrupts, Magic Conquers (Warrior of the Divine Sword #2) by A.J. Locke


 


Blurb:

What if the world changed overnight…and it was all because of you?

All Pennrae wanted to do was to help. Now she’s found herself in a world that’s been instantaneously transformed by magic…that she brought back. She’s gone from a simple karate instructor to an instant celebrity—and she hates it. Fortunately, she has her friends, her beloved magic companion, and one ridiculously hot boyfriend. But a sudden, unprompted attack in broad daylight is about to make Penn’s life even more complicated.
An ancient forest guardian known as a Kiabi—a warrior of magic and almost impossible to defeat—has marked Penn to die. The attack at first seems incidental and unprovoked…until she discovers the true cause. Her. Penn may have saved the world, but her actions have set a chain of events in motion. In one brief moment, something dark, terrible, and older than time itself found an opportunity to escape, to free itself from the guardians and mark Pennrae as its enemy. Now the world and everyone she loves to face a gruesome fate unless Penn can unleash the full force of her Divine magic…

 

My review:

Penn is back and the world has changed to a mixture of magic and tech as it was supposed to be. The evil she was fighting has been defeated and she and Ashe are hailed as heroes. But now there is a new and more insidious evil to combat, it will take all that Penn is to defeat it. I hated the way this story ends but just know the author will make it right in the next book.  This is a wonderful addition to the saga and I can’[t wait for the next installment.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

 

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Shoulda: A Second Chance For Mr. Right by Pepper North

 


 

Blurb:

Fake relationships happen all the time at reunions, right?

Harper has adored Colt since the first day of third grade. The talented athlete shoulda avoided his chubby, academically-challenged classmate, but somehow they’ve always been the best of friends. As they grew up together, Harper hid her deeper feelings for her best friend, knowing there was no way the handsome hunk felt the same way.

Colt’s friends have always meant everything to him. In high school, he wanted to be more than friends with Harper, but she kept him at arm’s length. Pouring his heart and soul into his music, Colt headed for Nashville after Harper’s rejection, but when she calls to ask him to pose as her boyfriend at their upcoming reunion, wild horses couldn’t keep him away.

 

My review:

Shoulda features Colt and Harper. They’ve been friends since third grade. After high school Colt went on to country music fame and Harper followed her dream to open and run a childcare facility. This story takes place during their high school reunion. Their friendship and love is heartwarming and true. I loved watching them find their happiness.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

 

 


Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Marked For Risk (Crashed and Claimed #5) by Susan Hayes

 


 

Blurb:

She thought Cupid’s arrow would never find her… love sent a missile instead.

Being the onboard matchmaker for an interstellar dating cruise isn’t the most exciting job in the world, but that’s fine. Joy likes things to be calm and orderly. Then the ship gets attacked, and her captain orders her into an escape pod with two VIPs and instructions to keep everyone alive.

Crashing on an unknown planet is one excursion she never planned for. The wildlife is dangerous, the terrain is treacherous, and the only help available comes in the form of a tall, horned alien with the sex appeal of a rockstar and a stubborn streak wider than the Milky Way.

He’s certain she belongs to him . She’s convinced he’s crazy. She’s got a long list of reasons why it could never work, but the big, sexy alien has his charms… and he’s willing to use them all to get what he wants. Her .

After years of helping others look for love, this might be Joy’s chance to find it for herself… but only if she’s willing to take the risk.

**Buckle up. This sci-fi romance contains an alien with fur, fangs, horns, and a very possessive attitude when it comes to the woman he’s claimed for his own.

 

My review:

Joy is the onboard matchmaker for an interstellar dating cruise. She works for the happiness of others never expecting it for herself. When the ship goes down she is rescued by an alien with fangs, fur and horns who sees past her flaws and into her heart. I loved seeing Joy take a risk for love. A fun romp.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N


Monday, April 10, 2023

Coming Home for Us (The Wilder Brothers, #4) by Carrie Ann Ryan


 


 

Blurb:

I made plans. I followed the path. I fell in love.

Then the world took her away from me.

I swore to never love again, and I’ve done all I could to keep that vow.

But life finds a way and I can’t stop this burning attraction with my best friend.

Maddie stood by me when my world shattered.

She deserves more than a broken man who promised to never love again.

Only I swear she feels the same way about me. And I have no idea what to do about it.

Now she might leave the Wilders and I can’t tell her to stay—even if it means shattering the one piece of me I have left.

 

My review:

Elijah was the “happy go lucky” brother till his happiness was stolen. When he lost Joy he lost the ability to take a chance on happiness.

Maddie had crushed on Elijah but he chose Joy and then swore off love. She’s been friend zoned and she was okay with that.

Now things have changed once again and it is time for her to fish or cut bait. I felt so bad for her. Her heart has taken a heck of a beating.

Can these two heal each other or is it time for her to move on?  This story will pull your heartstrings and leave you with hope.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N