Hunter's Mate (Canyon Springs #2) by Becca Jameson

 

 

 

Blurb:

The small town of Canyon Springs, Colorado, is filled with warm, welcoming people and breathtaking views. Is that why visitors often decide to stay for the rest of their lives? Or is it something else?

Layla doesn’t believe any of the nonsense her grandmother filled her head with growing up. There’s no way shifters have the ability to entice humans into their world through some sort of coercion. The woman was simply prejudice. The concept is nonsense.

So, Layla isn’t concerned about making the trip to Canyon Springs to settle her estranged aunt’s estate. In fact, she’s hoping to meet her first shifter and find out if they really are larger, sexier, and more tempting. The truth is that Layla is a starving actress, and she needs a change.

She’s not, however, prepared to meet Hunter and put all her beliefs to the test. He’s everything she hoped for and then some. It would seem he’s also doing exactly what her grandmother warned her about—luring her into his lair. Her libido is on overdrive. Her heart is in danger.

 

My review:

We met Hunter and Layla in Caleb’s Mate. This is their story. Layla is a struggling actress who goes to Colorado Springs to settle her great aunts estate. Family secrets and a hot wolf shifter definitely keep her mind off her career woes. This is a sassy, sweet and smexy romp that will have you wanting to Gibbs smack a few old ladies and break out a fan or two.

 

Buy links:

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The Art of Avoiding Your Werewolf (Wildwood 1) by Lola Glass

Blurb:

I almost hooked up with a werewolf… but before we got to third base, he dragged me off to jail.

Apparently, he's the leader of the pack in town.

The fact that I’m an illegal blood wolf—a vampire/werewolf hybrid—doesn’t help my case.

And he didn't appreciate me accidentally biting him when we were kissing, either.

Luckily, or unluckily, he seems to think I'm his true mate, which means he won't let anyone hurt me.

But he also won't let me go.

Between his possessiveness, my need to be near him, and the vampire clan hunting me, one thing's becoming clear:

I won't be able to avoid my werewolf forever.

 

My review:

A fun romance with a terrific take on blood wolves. The interaction between Archer and Lovene had me rolling. Truly enjoyable.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

 

Beyond the Badge: Fletch (Blue Avengers MC #1) by Jeanne St. James

 

 

 

 

Blurb:

 

When a challenge comes along that should be resisted, is it best to fight the urge or just say screw it?

Shane Fletcher loves his job as a state trooper. Even more so when he gets to work undercover. When the DEA creates a task force to stop the trafficking of meth into Pennsylvania by the Deadly Demons, an outlaw MC, Fletch jumps on the chance to be involved.

The Tri-State Federal Drug Task Force is not only made up of some of his own Blue Avengers MC brotherhood, but with law enforcement from other agencies. Including Nova Wilder, a special agent with the FBI. A kick-ass, no-nonsense woman whose specialty is fighting organized crime.

When Fletch and Nova go undercover with the Dirty Angels MC, they're forced to work as partners, share an apartment and pretend they're a couple. Only, living in close proximity and acting like a biker and his ol' lady ends up being the easy part. What proves to be the most difficult is trying to resist each other for the sake of not screwing up the assignment.

As it turns out, the Demons aren't the only problem they have to deal with. Unbeknownst to them, a much more powerful threat is lurking and ready to strike.

 

 

My review:

Beyond the Badge: Fletch is the first in a different kind of MC romance. Fletch is a state trooper and the Blue Avengers MC he belongs to is made up of LEO’s of all sorts. They even have a female member.

This installment has Fletch going under cover with a female Fibbie to find out who is bringing meth into their town. The chemistry between Fletch and Nova is scorching from the very start. If you read it for the romance its great the other parts had me a bit confused maybe it will clear up in future installments.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

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Gator Queen (Critters and Criminals Book 1) by Tara Lush

 

 

Blurb:

Full of laughs, hijinks, and a bit of steam, Gator Queen is a cozy mystery plus romance fusion perfect for fans of Arsenic and Adobo and To Have and to Heist.

“You’re the girl who traps gators?”

Even in the quirky town of Wahoo, Florida, twenty-five-year-old Maggie Andrews is an anomaly—a petite but determined female gator trapper who isn’t afraid to get dirty. But to fulfill her father’s dying wish, Maggie left her job at the Boston Zoo to take over the family business and reunite with her twin sister Vera.

Enter Jack Bianchi—a criminology professor from Miami who is renting a room from the twins. Jack’s smart, good with Maggie’s kitten, and hot as hell. But while Maggie’s debating whether she has time for a steamy fling, Vera’s getting into hot water. When a rival gator trapper turns up dead in a swamp full of bullets from Vera’s stolen gun, she's the prime suspect.

Maggie and Jack naturally pair up to investigate... And, to keep from arousing the suspicions of Vera's sketchy boyfriend, pretend to pair up romantically. It turns out that fake dating and finding a killer are more dangerous than trapping an angry twelve-footer, but Maggie isn’t about to let her family’s legacy, Vera’s fledgling romance bookstore, or her relationship with Jack go down without a fight.

 

My review:

Gator Queen is a delightfully quirky cozy mystery that will keep you laughing. Filled with memorable characters this story will keep you flipping pages and wanting more. Female gator hunter heck yeah. Romance bookstore – I want. The Andrews twins will steal your heart.

 

Buy links:

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Rhythm and Clues (Record Shop Mystery #3) by Olivia Blacke

 

 

Blurb:

The rhythm is gonna get you.

It’s been five whole months since the last murder in Cedar River, Texas, and Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie have been humming along when disaster strikes again.

Their struggling vinyl records shop/coffee nook, Sip & Spin Records, is under pressure from predatory investors, though the Jessup sisters aren’t ready to face the music and admit defeat. But the night after their
meeting, the sketchy financier is killed outside their shop during a torrential Texas thunderstorm that washes out all the roads in and out of town. Now the sisters find themselves trapped in Cedar River with a killer, and Juni is determined to solve the case.

When the river spits out an unexpected surprise, Detective Beau Russell asks for Juni’s help, never predicting her investigation will spin her into danger. Up until now, the Jessup sisters have been playing it by ear, but with
the whole town watching, can they catch a killer before he strikes again?

 

My review:

Rhythm and Clues is the delightful third in The Record Shop Mysteries series. When Juni finds another dead body no one is surprised. But finding the killer is going to take some doing. I kept guessing wrong but had a lot of fun along the way. I adored the punny drink names and quirky characters. Highly recommend.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

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The Unwanted Wife (The Davenports #1) by L. Steele

 

 

Blurb:

He’s my brother’s best friend
 

My fake husband...
 

And doesn’t believe in love

Nathan Davenport, CEO of the Davenport empire is my complete opposite.
 

He hates chocolate. 

I’m a size sixteen dessert chef.
 

He only wears black. 

I love glitter and pink.
 

He’s grumpy, while I look on the brighter side of life.
 

Too bad his piercing blue eyes, and high cheekbones haunt my dreams.

When he offers to loan me the money to save my bakery.
 

I have no choice but to agree.
 

Except he has conditions:

I must pretend to be his wife for a year
 

I must fake my feelings for him so his family believes our relationship.
I must stay by his side for the duration of our arrangement so he can claim his inheritance.

I don’t even like the man, surely I can get through this charade without developing feelings for him?
Except living in close proximity with him, our chemistry escalates
I know I am falling for the wrong man.
For when I tell him: “I love you,” he growls: “Love was never part of the equation...”

This is an opposites attract, forced proximity, one-bed, marriage of convenience, and a brother’s best friend, billionaire romance with a plus size FMC. It is a complete standalone.

My review:

Usually this would be right up my ally. Sadly it wasn’t my cup of tea. The pacing was off and there were hanging threads throughout. Nathan was a total alphahole who didn’t want to love Skylar. Skylar wasn’t a total pushover but close. Others may enjoy but it just wasn’t for me.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

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Between Realms by Lexi Ostrow

 

Blurb:

Astrid went to sleep after her father's death in Ireland and woke up in New York City. She's never felt she belonged in her new life, but her family refused to speak about "before". A spur of the moment decision quitting her job opens up the chance to return to Ireland and try to put together the pieces she can't remember. Until an actual unicorn appears in her kitchen, and she has no desire to remember anything.

Ronin would give his life for the king, but masquerading as a human to protect his daughter is almost too much. Astrid isn't safe in their realm thanks to her human blood, and Ronin can't seem to ignore the unicorn blood coursing through her veins any more than he could resist her beauty.

When betrayal strikes, Astrid learns she doesn't belong with the unicorns anymore than she did with the humans. When the lies of the past put Astrid in danger, she has to trust Ronin to protect her. Ronin can't decide if the best place for Astrid is in his realm or hers. He just knows he wants to be by her side, even if it means losing part of himself or herself to make their connection work. A war is coming and she won't be safe there, but sending her home alone isn't an option.

Astrid's forgotten past is within her reach. Ronin's greatest mission is to protect a princess who doesn't belong while a war brews in the background. They'll have to reconcile in order to keep peace within the Realm of the Fae.

 

My review:

Unicorn shifters! Squeee! This is romantasy at its very best. Action, adventure and a hot unicorn shifter add in a bit of family drama and political upheaval sit back with a hot cuppa and enjoy.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

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Gabriel (Shadowridge Guardians MC #5) by Becca Jameson

 

 

Blurb:

“Ladybug, you’re about to become intimately acquainted with my palm…”

Eden’s life is falling apart. Her boss is a condescending womanizer, her apartment is flooded, and her estranged sister is in town. The only good thing is her reliable car. Life is wearing on her last nerve, and then her boss makes a pass at her…

Gabriel is known among MC members as the wise one. He knows everything about every member, and takes his job as advisor seriously. His life is tidy and in control…until he heads to the town diner to pick up the tear-streaked, high-energy, fast-talking Little girl in desperate need of a Daddy.

Eden brings Gabriel to his knees in a heartbeat, but what she really needs is to be taken over his knees.

My review:

Gabriel is the laid back, even tempered guy that others spill their truths to. When he meets teary eyed, red headed Eden he falls hard and fast and even his cool demeanor is threatened when he finds out shes been mistreated.

I adored watching Gabriel bring a smile to Edens life. She surely needs one. Watching her blossom and grow under his care brought a smile to my heart.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

 

Caleb's Mate (Canyon Springs #1) by Becca Jameson

 

 

Blurb:

The small town of Canyon Springs, Colorado, is filled with warm, welcoming people and breathtaking views. Is that why visitors often decide to stay for the rest of their lives? Or is it something else?

Elena isn’t worried about spending a week in Canyon Springs settling her aunt’s estate. She’s never bought into the notion that shifters can somehow lure people into their dens and brainwash them into staying in town. That has to be a myth.

She and her twin sister have never met this estranged aunt, so they aren’t exactly in mourning. Elena intends to spend the week reconnecting with her sister. Hopefully, she’ll find the spine to tell her sister what a failure her career has been.

But what if the lore is true? In an unexpected twist, Elena finds herself instantly falling for Caleb, the sexy wolf shifter who approaches her on her first night in town. She can fight the pull. She can deny the illogical facts. But in the end, does it really matter why the heart chooses who to love?

 

My review:

Elena is barely getting by in Chicago so when the chance to go to Canyon Springs, Colorado to settle her great aunts estate, catch up with her twin and reassess her life she figures why not.  Family secrets and a hot wolf shifter definitely keep her mind off her career woes.

This is a sassy, sweet and smexy romp that will have you wanting to Gibbs smack a few old ladies and break out a fan or two.

Can’t wait to hear Hunter and Layla’s story.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

Death at the Drive-In (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries #13) by Angie Fox

 

 

 

Blurb:

For ghost hunter Verity Long, 'helping out a friend' can mean anything from passing the peas to solving a homicide. This time, it involves digging into a cold case that's been on ice since poodle skirts twirled and Elvis's hips shook the nation.

In 1956, Kitty Cunningham disappeared on the way to the Starlite Drive-In. Now the first real evidence of foul play is coming to light in the ghostly realm—and it links directly to a modern crime. Only a sleuth with one foot in the past can solve the mystery and make things right.

Armed with her wits and flanked by a wise-cracking gangster ghost, Verity explores the hidden side of 1950s Sugarland—from the haunting echoes of the abandoned drive-in to the dusty secrets of a long-forgotten mob vault. As she stirs spirits and secrets alike, she finds some corners of Sugarland’s history are darker and more dangerous than she ever imagined. Can Verity bring the truth to light, or will she be the next one to suffer death at the drive-in?

 

My review:

Verity takes on a case for her ghost buddy Frankie when his girlfriend Molly gets possessed by the ghost of a teen killed at the drive in. This mystery is chock full of surprises and fun. This series is smart and witty and this installment will leave you with a smile.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

B&N

 

 

Black Hand (Infernal Regions for the Unprepared #1) by Maya Daniels

 

 

Blurb:

How do you take on the most powerful organization of the supernatural world?

One death at a time.

A thousand years in the making, the Council finally has created their strongest weapon. What they didn’t expect was for her to target them. Forged by the pits of the underworld, Brooklyn plays her part all too well until the assassination of her friend. It was meant to send Brooklyn a message. What it did instead was unleash an uncontrolled rage that threatens the Council’s very existence.

Each target tips the moral compass and realigns who is friend and who is foe.

Unified by necessity, and driven by revenge, Brooklyn finds herself part of an unlikely trio: a vampire, a human and a shifter. Together, they are set on destroying an ancient evil that had nothing to oppose it until now.

The Council has finally met its match.

No one expects what happens next.

 

My review:

A great start. Black Hand is a fantastic first in an urban fantasy series that features Brooklyn an atua (vampire like being), Dominic a werepanther and a human witch wannabe named Alice. Brooklyn is different and her differences have put her at odds with the council who want to use her and should she not be willing they want her dead. Looks like she’s made her choice.

I was sucked in from the first page and have already purchased the next two books in the series.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

The Highlander's Heart: A Diesel War Novella by Mikea Howard

 

 

Blurb:

Knox Cameron of the berserker werewolf clan of the highlands always put duty first. Serving his family and father took priority until a chance meeting in an Edinburgh bookstore. His world tipped on its axis the moment he saw his fated mate.
Fenella had always been a sheltered lowland girl in the well-to-do Clan Cunningham. She found her escape in books and had a pleasant life. One glimpse of her berserker though and she knew her old life could never be enough.

 

My review:

This is a short but sweet tale of the magic of love. I laughed, sighed and cried but it was so worth it.

 

Buy link:

Amazon

Witched and Hitched in Seattle: The Case of the Spring Fling's Missing Offspring by Dakota Cassidy

 

Witched and Hitched in Seattle: The Case of the Spring Fling's Missing Offspring by Dakota Cassidy

 

Blurb:

It takes two to solve a murder right...

Stevie Cartwright-Winterbottom here! Witch and afterlife specialist, along with my reincarnated ghost-talking husband and ex-British spy, Crispin Alistair Winterbottom.

After solving one of our hardest cases yet (on our wedding day, no less), we're back from our gloriously perfect, ghost-free Italian honeymoon, rested and ready to begin our lives together!

There's just one problem... The long line of people outside our door (literally) who've come from parts near and far in Washington, hoping we'll help them solve all their mystery needs.

After we caught a serial killer, and the ensuing circus of news coverage, turns out, we're a little bit famous and everyone wants our help.

However, there's one person waiting in that line with a very personal request.

A gorgeous woman who wants us to help her find out what happened to her daughter.

A daughter she claims is Win's...

We're back and better than ever! Join Stevie, Win, and their trusted sidekicks, Belfry and Arkady for all new adventures where magic and murder collide!

 

My review:

Stevie, Win and the gang are back and still solving mysteries. This is a delightful continuation of the Stevie / Win saga. Marriage hasn’t slowed them a wit. An enjoyable start to a new arc. I really enjoyed this romp.

 

Buy links:

Amazon

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