How To Train Your Earl (First Comes Love: Book 3) by Amelia Grey

How to Train Your Earl (First Comes Love, #3) — **How To Train Your Earl by Amelia Grey**

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: April 27th, 2021

Genre: Romance

Format read: Unedited ARC

Got book from: Saint Martin’s Press

Trigger Warnings: Grief

Goodreads Synopsis:

A roguish earl must fight using his honor and not his sword to win his lady’s hand in How To Train Your Earl, the third book in the First Comes Love trilogy from bestseller Amelia Grey.

Brina Feld has settled into a life devoted to helping others since the sinking of the Salty Dove left her widowed. She has no need for a man in her contented life. But when the notorious and handsome Lord Blacknight returns and awakens her desires, her peace and serenity vanish. If she agrees to an alliance with him, she knows she will have to battle her heart to keep from being snared under his spell.

Zane, the Earl of Blacknight, was never supposed to inherit the earldom, so he didn’t much care to lead a respectable life before then. Fistfights, card games, and drinking are the order of the day. Now he’s determined to change his rakish ways and he knows the proper lady who can help him. There’s just one problem: He’s already bet he’ll win her hand before the Season is over. With her resolve to out-scheme him, how can he show her that his love is true?

First Line:

Brina Feld should have known a lady wasn’t safe from rakes, rogues, and scoundrels at a masked ball in Paris.
How to train your earl by amelia grey

Review:

I was excited to read How to Train Your Earl. I had read the first book in the series and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I did miss the second book but figured that I didn’t need to read it (I was right). So, I jumped right into reading this book.

From the beginning, the flow of How to Train Your Earl was great. The chapters were well organized, and I could tell when the author shifted from one person to another (mainly Zane and Brina). That made it pleasurable to read the book.

The plotline for How to Train Your Earl was medium paced. There was some build-up at the beginning of the book, plateauing in the middle and then having a gradual wrap up towards the end of the book. Again, it was perfect for the book.

I wasn’t a massive fan of the storyline. Something about a woman forcing a man to do what she wanted (and vice versa) made me go, “eh. “ I did like the secondary plotlines with Brina’s cousin/Zane’s cousin and the gambling. It added a bit of zip to the plotline.

I was not too fond of Brina. During various points in the book, I found her to be controlling, immature, unwilling to bend, and naive. She was passive-aggressive too. Looking back on the book, I still don’t know what Zane saw in her, other than she saved him and he needed a wife. She was also almost too independent for the era. Some of the things she did with Zane were appropriate for the period. But others (having him in her house alone, hosting a dinner at his home were two) were borderline “eh. “ I also wish that there were some flashback to when she was grieving over her husband’s death. She kept saying how badly she hurt and how long it took for her to recover.

I felt terrible for Zane. He inherited the earldom when his cousins died. On top of that, his family had treated him terribly growing up, and they expected him to be OK with them acting like he was the best thing since sliced bread. So, I understood why he latched onto Brina when he saw her, and I understood why he agreed to her ridiculous rules. It was nice to see his character grow throughout the book. I liked who he became.

As much as I didn’t like Zane and Brina together, they had chemistry. Their attraction zinged off the pages, and when they finally ended up in bed, it was terrific.

The secondary storyline involving Brina and Zane’s cousins was interesting. It added a little extra oomph to the story. It also set up, I think, for the next book in the series.

The end of How to Train Your Earl was interesting. Mainly because of how Brina acted. I won’t get into it, but I had my mouth opened the entire time during that scene with Zane. She didn’t let him get a word in edgewise. Of course, this being a romance, there is a HEA, but man, I don’t know. I don’t think that they could have a HEA in real life.

How to Train Your Earl was an OK romance. The plotline and pacing of the book were good. The flow of the book was fantastic. But there were things that I didn’t like. I was not too fond of the characters, which is a massive thing for me. The characters make or break a book. There was great sexual chemistry up to when they had sex. Then it went away.

I would recommend How to Train Your Earl to anyone over 21. There are sexual situations in the book with slightly graphic sex. There is some mild violence along with some gambling scenes.

Blog Tour: The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horwitz

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Date of publication: October 1st, 2019

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Children’s Fiction

Purchase Links: Amazon | Audible | B&N | WorldCat

Format Read: Unedited ARC

Received: Publisher

Trigger Warnings: None

Goodreads Synopsis:

The new face of big evil is a little . . . small.

Dastardly deeds aren’t exactly the first things that come to mind when one hears the name “Clementine,” but as the sole heir of the infamous Dark Lord Elithor, twelve-year-old Clementine Morcerous has been groomed since birth to be the best (worst?) Evil Overlord she can be. But everything changes the day the Dark Lord Elithor is cursed by a mysterious rival.

Now, Clementine must not only search for a way to break the curse, but also take on the full responsibilities of the Dark Lord. As Clementine forms her first friendships, discovers more about her own magic than she ever dared to explore, and is called upon to break her father’s code of good and evil, she starts to question the very life she’s been fighting for. What if the Dark Lord Clementine doesn’t want to be dark after all?

Review:

I am always on the lookout for books that my 13-year-old can read. My son is a voracious reader and will read anything that I give him. So, when I saw The Dark Lord Clementine’s blurb, the book caught my interest. I thought to myself: “My son would like this, but I need to read the book first.” I am glad that I did because The Dark Lord Clementine was a great read!!

The Dark Lord Clementine is a story about a girl named Clementine. She lives in a dilapidated castle with her Dark Lord father. One day, Clementine notices her father is missing his nose. That is when she finds out that the Whittle Witch has cursed him. Clementine takes it upon herself to try and find a cure for the curse. She also tries to assume the Dark Lord duties that her father cannot do. With the Whittle Witch waiting to take over the castle, Clementine is running out of time. Can she save her father?

The plotline for The Dark Lord Clementine was evenly paced. The flow of the book was perfect. It wasn’t too fast or too slow. There was no lag in the book or dropped plotlines either, which I enjoyed.

I loved Clementine. She was a timid little girl at the beginning of the book. But as the book went on, I could see her character growth. By the end of the book, she became this confident young woman. I loved it!!

I did feel bad for Clementine. She didn’t have any friends. Well, human friends. She did have the nightmares and the black sheep for company. But other than that, nothing. She longed for friends, even if she wouldn’t admit it to herself. Hiding in the shadows and watching the villagers play said so much. So, when Sebastian and then Darka befriended her, I was happy. Clementine needed it.

I didn’t care for Darka at the beginning of the book. I wouldn’t say I liked that she befriended Clementine to gain favor and hunt in the woods around the castle. I didn’t particularly appreciate that she was hunting unicorns. But I liked that her story had more depth to it. When it was revealed, I started to pity her. But it was Darka’s actions at the end of the book that made me love her!!!

I loved the humor in the book. The Gricken is the most notable one. When Clementine was younger, she tried to turn a frog into a chicken. Unfortunately (and hilariously), the spell backfired, and she turned her family grimoire into it. If she wants to learn a spell, she has to wait for the Gricken to lay an egg. There is a hilarious scene where Clementine pleads with the Gricken to lay an egg. I laughed so hard; I had tears in my eyes.

The end of The Dark Lord Clementine was perfect. I am not going to get into it because of major spoilers. I will say that what Clementine did was brave. The way the book ended made me wonder if there was going to be a book 2.

Deadly Interception (Moonlight and Murder: Book 5) by Reily Garrett

Publisher:

Date of Publication: March 29th, 2021

Genre: Romance, Supsense, Mystery, Thriller

Series: Moonlight and Murder

Shifting Targets—Book 0.5

A Critical Tangent—Book 1 (review here)

Pivotal Decisions—Book 2

Seeds of Murder—Book 3

An Unlikely Grave—Book 4

Deadly Interception—Book 5

Purchase Links: Amazon

Format Read: Unedited ARC

Received: Author

Trigger Warnings: memories of kidnapping, memories of assault, memories of branding, moderate violence, moderate language

Goodreads Synopsis:

Harlyn bristled under the weight of unknown eyes dissecting her every move. Skin at her nape crawled from the mal intent focused in her direction. From behind the trunk of a spreading oak, she scanned the isolated meadow in search of the unknown threat.
Nothing stirred but shadow arms sprouting budding leaves. It’d been years since she’d turned the tables on the predator intent on breaking her.

Harlyn Colton has never run from a fight, not until her best friend’s murder sends her to the mountains of Pennsylvania. Shredding her ID and ditching electronics, she assumes she’s bought time to sort the mystery before federal officers knock on her door.
Brice Crenshaw works with the Ferndel foundation, a group organized to help returning military Veterans learn valuable skills and smooth out the rough edges before joining civilian life.
When a kickass, knife wielding female arrives with a target on her back, the group closes ranks to protect one of their own.
Accidents stack up while dead bodies reveal conflicting evidence. With the help of her K9 companion and the distraction of a well-intended protector, Harlyn must uncover the identity of the killer before he eliminates his final witness. Harlan.

First Line:

Harlyn bristled under the weight of unknown eyes dissecting her every move.
Deadly Interception by Reily Garrett

Review:

Deadly Interception is the fifth book in the Moonlight and Murder series. I was a little hesitant when I started reading it. Even though I had read the first book, I had skipped books 2-4. I was worried that I had missed something important (relationships, plotlines) that would come up in Deadly Interception. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. There were references to the previous books, and the main characters from the earlier books were secondary characters. But that was it. The author kept those storylines/characters in the background.

The flow of Deadly Interception was fast. This book hit the ground running from page one and didn’t stop until the end of the book. I couldn’t put the book down. I needed to know what was going to happen. There was a slight lag in the middle of the book but nothing to write home about. It didn’t affect the flow of the book at all.

There were two main storylines. The first one was Harlyn hiding from whoever killed her best friend and the investigation into it. There were several secondary storylines attached to it. The second storyline was Harlyn’s emerging relationship with Brice and her budding friendships with his friends. Both were brought together towards the middle/beginning of the book’s end and merged into one storyline. Both storylines were well written and had multidimensional characters.

I enjoyed Harlyn’s character. The author did a great job showing how severe trauma can affect a person years after the incident. She was severely damaged, suffering from PTSD. It didn’t help what her father did (and didn’t) do after she returned. I did find her sometimes too intense and super standoffish during certain scenes. And her hot/cold relationship with Brice drove me insane.

I had a love/hate relationship with Brice. I loved how he intuitively knew that Harlyn was damaged, and he was going to look out for her, whether she liked it or not. But, at the same time, I hated how immature and insecure he came across. He read Harlyn’s journal and used that information to get her to trust him. That left a bad taste in my mouth. Plus, he couldn’t believe that a woman could do the job that she did. I wanted to shake him and ask what century he lived in!! Oh, and let’s not forget a specific scene at the end of the book. I had smoke coming out of my ears (even though that person deserved it).

The story arc with the dogs was fantastic. I do wish that the author introduced the dogs earlier. On the other hand, I figured that if Hutch were there, some of the scenes would have been different.

The romance between Harlyn and Brice was a slow-burn. At times, I did wonder if it was going even to take off. Mainly because of how Harlyn and Brice got along. The minute they kissed, I knew that the sex scene was going to be hot, and oh boy, it was!!!

The end of the book was great. The author wrapped up Harlyn’s storyline in a way that made me cheer!! She also left the door open for another book. Now, I am wondering who the book will be about. My bets are on Dylan, but I don’t know. He stated that he had already lost his “forever person.” But, we’ll see. There are a couple of other people that I would like to see meet their match.

Deadly Interception was a fast-paced romantic suspense that hooked me from the first page. The storyline was fantastic, and the characters were memorable.

I would recommend Deadly Interception to anyone over the age of 21. There is violence, language, and sex. There are several flashbacks to when Harlyn was kidnapped and what they did to her. There were also flashbacks to what happened to her after she escaped.

Bones of a Saint by Grant Farley

Publisher: Soho Press, Soho Teen

Date of Publication: March 16th, 2021

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

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

Format Read: Unedited Arc

Received: Publisher

Trigger Warning: Drug/Alcohol Use, Child getting paddled at Catholic school

Goodreads Synopsis:

Set in Northern California in the late ’70s, this timeless coming-of-age story examines the nature of evil, the art of storytelling, and the possibility of redemption.

Fifteen-year-old RJ Armante has never known a life outside his dead-end hometown of Arcangel, CA. The Blackjacks still rule as they have for generations, luring the poorest kids into their monopoly on petty crime. For years, they’ve left RJ alone…until now.

When the Blackjacks come knocking, they want RJ to prey upon an old loner. But RJ is at his breaking point. It’s not just about the gang who rules the town. It’s about Charley, his younger brother, who is disabled. It’s about Roxanne, the girl he can’t reach. It’s about the kids in his crew who have nothing to live for. If RJ is to resist, he must fight to free Arcangel of its past.

First Line:

The priest climbed the trail into the foothills as the mission bell tolled matins.
Bones of a saint by Grant Farley

Review

I tend to wish for a lot of books on NetGalley. Bones of a Saint was one of those books that I wished for. I was surprised when I checked my email and saw that NetGalley had granted my wish. I was beyond excited. I had been seeing reviews for Bones of a Saint, and the good majority of them were positive.

Bones of a Saint was a fast-paced book. Even though the book was fast-paced, I was able to keep up with the main storyline. I do sometimes have an issue with keeping up with fast-paced books. I end up having to reread specific chapters, in most cases. In sporadic cases, I end up getting frustrated and turned off from the book. Thankfully, in this case, I didn’t have issues keeping up with the book.

The storyline for Bones of a Saint was interesting. Set in the late ’70s, a local gang has the town in its grips. RJ had kept under their radar until the night he was forced into a meeting with the leader. The leader, a hippie, is mad that an older man had moved into a house used as the gang’s hideout. He wanted RJ, his friend, and RJ’s disabled brother to vandalize the place. That sets off a series of events that end up defining RJ’s entire summer and changing his life.

The beginning of Bones of a Saint had me going, “WTF.” It made zero sense, and I was trying to figure out why a priest was hiking around in the desert. But, it is explained but not until the very last chapter. I ended up rereading the prologue, and a lightbulb went off over my head. I think it would have been better as an epilogue than a prologue.

The author amazingly wrote the characters in Bones of a Saint. The main character, RJ, was rough around the edges but had a heart of gold. He helped his mother (a single mother in the late 70s) without a second thought. He made friends with an older man and then tried to shield him from the local gang. He was a good kid, and I was worried for 75% of the book that the gang would get its hooks in him.

I had my theories about Mr. Leguin and why he was holed up at the house. His friendship with RJ was one of the sweetest that I have read. There was a big twist in his storyline that startled me but at the same time made me go, “Oh well, that makes sense now.”

The storyline with the Blackjacks was interesting, but it ran out of steam for me halfway through the book. I figured things would go the way they went. So, I wasn’t amazed at the end of the book.

There is so much more I could get into with this review, but I am afraid that I will give away spoilers. Everything in this book is intertwined. Nothing is a coincidence. If you read this book, keep that in mind.

The end of Bones of a Saint was breathtaking. There was action, Mr. Leguin told long-held secrets, and the identity of the priest is revealed. This was one of the best coming of age stories that I have read in a while!!

Bones of a Saint was a fast-paced emotional coming of age story. The plotline was engaging and the characters unforgettable.

I would recommend Bones of a Saint to anyone over the age of 16. There is no sex (not even kissing). There are references to drug use and alcohol use. There are some mild violence and mild language. There is one scene where RJ gets paddled at his Catholic school, but it was not graphic.

Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Date of publication: March 2nd, 2021

Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Adult, Suspense, Contemporary

Purchase Links: Amazon | Audible | Barnes and Noble | WorldCat

Format Read: Unedited ARC

Received: From publisher

Trigger Warning: Child neglect, Cyberstalking, Bullying

Goodreads Synopsis:

She was born for all the wrong reasons. But her search for the truth reveals answers she wishes she could forget in this suspenseful and deeply moving novel from the author of The Last One.

What if your past wasn’t what you thought?

As a child, Linda Russell was left to raise herself in a 20-acre walled-off property in rural Washington. The woods were her home, and for twelve years she lived oblivious to a stark and terrible truth: Her mother had birthed her only to replace another daughter who died in a tragic accident years before.

And then one day Linda witnesses something she wasn’t meant to see. Terrified and alone, she climbs the wall and abandons her home, but her escape becomes a different kind of trap when she is thrust into the modern world—a world for which she is not only entirely unprepared, but which is unprepared to accept her.

And you couldn’t see a future for yourself?

Years later, Linda is living in Seattle and immersed in technology intended to connect, but she has never felt more alone. Social media continually brings her past back to haunt her, and she is hounded by the society she is now forced to inhabit. But when Linda meets a fascinating new neighbor who introduces her to the potential and escapism of virtual reality, she begins to allow herself to hope for more.

What would it take to reclaim your life?

Then an unexplained fire at her infamous childhood home prompts Linda to return to the property for the first time since she was a girl, unleashing a chain of events that will not only endanger her life but challenge her understanding of family, memory, and the world itself.

First Line:

A woman whose name shouldn’t be Linda stands inside the locked front door of her apartment, listening.
Forget Me Not by Alexandra Oliva

Review

When I read the blurb for Forget Me Not, I knew that I had to read this book. I enjoy books that deal with childhood trauma/mystery/science fiction/dystopia. So when I saw that this book had all of those, I knew I would read it.

Forget Me Not was a fast-paced emotional book. The pacing was fast enough to keep the story going but not so fast that things got lost. There was a slight lag at various points in the book (mainly during Anvi’s POV), but the author got the book over the lag and back on pace.

Emotionally, this book wrecked me. My range of emotions went from anger (at Linda’s mother) to extreme sadness (Linda was severely damaged) to happiness (Anvi’s friendship) and back. I didn’t cry during this book, but I did have tears in my eyes while Linda battled her demons (literally and figuratively).

My heart broke for Linda during the book, but at the same time, I was amazed at her inner strength. She was a strong person. But even strong people have breaking points, and she did reach hers.

There were two plotlines in Forget Me Not. There was the main plotline with Linda and her issues (past and present). Then, there was the plotline about Linda’s older sister, who died and who Linda was born to replace. Both plotlines were equally fascinating and disturbing at the same time.

There were a couple of secondary plotlines in Forget Me Not too. Anvi’s plotline was interesting because of who she was and where she worked. I also liked it because of the genuine friendship that grew between her and Linda. The other plotline was….different. I didn’t understand why it was even being mentioned until the very end of the book. Even then, though, I wasn’t sure how it fit into Forget Me Not.

I loved how the author incorporated science fiction into the book. There were self-driving cars, devices that tracked Linda’s every move, and virtual reality. I loved it!! I loved how virtual reality helped Linda with her healing. There were points in the book where I was like, “Why didn’t her therapist try this before!!” But then I realized it probably wasn’t around.

The book’s thriller/suspense/mystery aspect didn’t come into effect until halfway through the book. I couldn’t get enough of it. I will say that Lorelei made me feel conflicting emotions. I wanted either to hug her, beat her, or put her in an asylum.

Before I forget, I do want to mention Linda’s father. I had conflicting emotions about him and also about how much he knew. He said that he knew nothing about Linda or what Lorelei did, but I don’t quite believe him. However, I think he didn’t know how Linda was being raised, and he took her in when she escaped. But he wasn’t precisely a hands-on father. Calling him distant would be nice. He did somewhat redeem himself at the end of the book but still. I wasn’t a fan of him.

The end of Forget Me Not was terrific. I will not get into it, but there were more twists and turns than a mountain road. I could not put the book down. And that last chapter. Talk about a doozy!!

Forget Me Not was an emotional, fast-paced book. It was well written with an engaging plotline. The author was able to keep me on edge with the mystery/thriller/suspense angle of the book.

I would recommend Forget Me Not to anyone over the age of 16. There is no romance and no sex (there is a flashback where Anvi remembers her ex, but the author did not give details). There is violence. There are scenes with an extremely mentally ill woman. There is a scene where MR’s death is detailed. There are scenes of extreme child neglect and abuse. There are flashbacks where Linda is harassed verbally and online.

Blog Tour: Fearless (Less Than Zero: Book 3) by Kaylene Winter

Publisher: Rockstar Romance LLC

Date of Publication: March 17th, 2021

Genre: Romance

Series: Less Than Zero

Restless—Book 0.5

Endless: Ty & Zoey—Book 1

Limitless: Jace & Alex—Book 2

Fearless: Connor & Ronni—Book 3

Purchase Links: Amazon

Format Read: Unedited ARC

Received: For Blog Tour from coordinator

Trigger Warning: Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault (implied in one case), Alcoholism, Drug Use (talked about)

Goodreads Synopsis:

Family is everything, I protect mine with my life..

Connor McGloughlin had it all, a great family, a college scholarship and music.
Tragedy forced him to grow up too fast.
When his life finally is on track, Ronni Miller appears like a dream.
Kindred spirits in the most unlikely of circumstances.
There’s only one thing in the way—
Her dark past he’s determined to protect her from.

When your innocence is stolen, trust is a precious gift..

Actress Ronni Miller tasted fame at a young age.
But her path to stardom was riddled with tragedy.
She never imagined falling for Connor McGloughlin, a rogue, Irish rock star.
The thing is? Ronni’s got revenge on her mind.
Regardless of the risk or the consequences—
Or losing the one thing in her life that makes her feel alive.

Connor has only ever asked Ronni for one thing: her heart.
But when her bravery is couched in lies?
She risks losing the man who would do anything for her.
Will she realize being fearless means trusting true love?

First Line:

“Fuck my life!” Byron Angel, the pampered second-bit actor screeched just before shoving his chips over to me.
Fearless by Kaylene Winters

Review

When I read the blurb for Fearless, I knew that this was a book that I wanted to read. I decided that I would look past that it was book 3 in the Less Than Zero series. That is how much the blurb hooked me into reading the book. I figured that if I liked Fearless, I can go back and read the first two books (actually three because of the prequel). And I was right on all counts!!

Fearless is a medium-paced book in both storyline and pacing. With these types of books, I have come to expect a fast-paced plotline/storyline. So, I was surprised when Fearless started at a medium pace and kept it up for the entire book. I enjoyed it. It allowed me to digest what was going on (and a lot was going on initially).

Fearless has dual storylines (Connor and Ronni’s). Usually, I’m not too fond of it when there is more than one storyline. But in this case, and considering what Ronni was doing/had gone through, it was needed. To try and condense everything to one storyline wouldn’t have had the impact it did.

I thought the author did a fantastic job showing how toxic Hollywood was (and still is). I got chills when I read about Ronni’s time on the TV show and how it affected her. I also liked that the author showed that men could be forced into the same #MeToo situations as women. I never gave that much thought until I read this book. Then I remembered Corey Feldman and his claims about the same things happening in Fearless, and I began to wonder. How many times is the “casting couch” used for men and women to get parts? How many times are teenagers (and adults) forced to do things they usually wouldn’t do with producers/directors to get juicier parts? And how many of those people are forced out of the business/blackballed/labeled difficult because they refused or had parents that said: “No Fucking Way?” (like Ronni’s mom). Just food for thought.

The author also highlighted something else that I have rarely heard of—being a beard. Being a beard means that a straight woman will date a closeted gay man to convince people/keep up the appearance that the man is straight. Ronni was a beard, and she was a beard with a mission. She was collecting evidence against one of the TV producers whose show she was in when she was a teenager. The men she dated were victims of him. It was very compelling to read.

Connor’s backstory wasn’t as traumatic as Ronni’s, but it was pretty sad. His father had a horrible car crash when Connor was in high school and soon spiraled into alcoholism with a side of gambling addiction. Connor ended up dropping out of high school to run the family business. He also learned how to play poker to recover the money his father lost. His outlet was the band. The road to fame was gradual for him (it was several years before the band hit it big), and he dealt with a lot of verbal abuse from his father. It was sad to read, and I could emphasize Connor’s frustration.

Connor and Ronni’s love story didn’t get off to a great start. They met at a concert, there were sparks, and then he took off (thinking she would follow). She didn’t and thought he was a player. It wasn’t until she and her friend hitched a ride to Australia with the band that they got to know each other. That is where their relationship began. The author didn’t end the book after their initial hook-up. Nope, instead, the book kept going for several years before everything blew up. Ronni and Connor were together for 3-4 (maybe more) years by the time things went down.

For those of you who like hot sex scenes, Connor and Ronni’s were insanely hot. I loved it!! They were like bunnies every time they got together—days and days of sex. My only complaint was that Connor and Ronni were going bareback very soon into their relationship. And they didn’t get tested. Why would I be bothered? Because Connor turned into a man whore after his longtime girlfriend dumped him. He slept his way across Europe (implied). Other than that, I was all in!!

The author wonderfully wrote the main storyline (see above). Saying that I wouldn’t have been as patient as Connor was with Ronni while she was bearding. I also understood why he did what he did. But, saying that, I was surprised at the turn that the storyline took.

I will say that the secondary characters were terrific in Fearless. Ronni had such a great support group, and Connor’s bandmates were incredible. They made this book so much more interesting to read.

Fearless can be read as a stand-alone book, even though it is book 3 in the series. There are references to previous books and characters, but nothing made me go “Uh” or “WTF.” It made me want to read the previous books and see what their stories were.

There were a couple of things that I didn’t like about Fearless. First, I wouldn’t say I liked how the book began. I was left lost in the first couple of chapters. It isn’t until almost the end of the book that the first couple of chapters make sense. Secondly, I thought the ending was typical, which was disappointing. Ronni and Connor were anything but ordinary and to have that sort of conclusion was “eh.“

Fearless was an emotional, well-written romance. The romance was excellent, and I loved that the author jumped into current events. The medium-paced storyline complemented the story.

I would recommend Fearless for anyone over the age of 21. There is graphic sex. There is violence. There are scenes of the aftermath of sexual abuse. There is talk of a suicide. There is talk of drug use. There are graphic examples of alcohol abuse.

AUTHOR BIO:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

March 15th
–Sunny Shelly Reads >> Excerpt
–Crazykalm >> Review
–Sascha Darlington’s Microcosm Explored >> Top 10 List
–Njkinny’s Blog >> Review

March 16th
–Adventures in Writing >> Excerpt
–Ingrid´s Book Blog >> Review
–Viviana MacKade >> Top 10 List

March 17th
–underneath the covers >> Excerpt
–Iron Canuck Reviews & More >> Excerpt
–obsessed book reviews >> Review

March 18th
–Hawthorn Book Reviews >> Review
–Rockin; Book Reviews >> Top 10 List
–Read With Me >> Review

March 19th
–Sadie’s Spotlight >> Excerpt
–The Bouncing Tigger Reads >> Interview
–My Fiction Nook >> Guest post

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March 22nd
–Syllables of Swathi >> Excerpt
–Jenerated Reviews >> Review
–Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm >> Excerpt
–Books a Plenty Book Reviews >> Review

March 23rd
–Drunk On Pop >> Excerpt
–The Avid Reader >> Interview

March 24th
–Barbara’s Booknalysis >> Review
–breen.rb >> Review

March 25th
–Westveil Publishing >> Guest post
–Books We Love >> Review
–Sinfonia dos Livros >> Review

March 26th
–Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author >> Excerpt
–Teatime and Books >> Excerpt
–Books A-Brewin’ >> Excerpt
–BookishKelly2020 >> Excerpt

Hidden Fury (Annie Fitch Mysteries: Book 2) by Marie Flanigan

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing

March 2nd, 2021

Genre: Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Series: Annie Fitch Mysteries

Exposed Fury—Book 1 (Review Here)

Hidden Fury—Book 2

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Format Read: unedited ARC

Received: from Author for honest review

Trigger Warnings: Mild violence, talk of past child abuse, speculation of incest/rape

Amazon Synopsis:

As a former cop turned private investigator, Annie Fitch hopes to never be in the line of fire again, so she’s expanded her business to include installing security systems. She’s thrilled to be hired by Preston Farr, a farmer with a vandalism problem on his family’s historic apple orchard and farm.

Preston’s roots in the community run deep. His family has held the same property in Leesburg, Virginia, since the 1700s. The two get to know each other over the course of the job. When Preston asks her out after the work is done, she accepts. After all, Annie’s on-again, off-again love affair with her childhood best friend, Ford, is currently off. Why should she mope until he decides it’s on again?

What she intended to be a fun, casual romp with Preston turns serious quickly when Annie’s newly installed security cameras record startling footage. Family secrets begin to unravel, echoing over two hundred years of heartache and violence.

First Line:

They say when you’re dying, you see a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, but when I was dying, I didn’t see that.
Hidden Fury by Marie Flanigan

My Review:

I like a good mystery. I like it when the mystery I am reading sucks me in and keeps me on edge for the entire book. I also like it when the characters are relatable. Sometimes, when I read a mystery, the characters are a little over the top. While in some cases, it is what the book needs, in other cases, it is a distraction. Fortunately, for Hidden Fury, I was kept on edge, and the characters were relatable.

Hidden Fury is the 2nd book in the Annie Fitch Mystery series. It takes place several months after the events of Exposed Fury. Annie, a PI, has expanded her business to include installing security systems. One of her first customers is Preston Farr, the owner of a historic orchard. His business is being vandalized, and he wants to find out who it is. Annie and Preston have an immediate connection and start a romantic relationship shortly after the system is installed. But, there is more going on at Preston’s orchard than just vandalism. After a skeleton is found in an abandoned, historic church on Preston’s property, Annie is compelled to solve the mystery of who it was. Will she solve the mystery? Will her relationship with Preston survive the truth?

The plotline for Hidden Fury was medium-paced which was fine with me. I like medium-paced plotlines with mysteries. It gives the plotline time to evolve (and in this case, it did) and for me to become engrossed in the book.

There is one main storyline with several secondary storylines in Hidden Fury. The primary and secondary storylines were well written. What I enjoyed is when the main storyline ended (when Annie caught who was vandalizing Preston’s farm and why), the author then had the storyline for the church become the main storyline. I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed how the author did it!!

There were a couple of twists in the plotlines. One was revealed in the middle of the book. I can safely say with that twist; I saw it coming. The other twist I saw coming but was stilled surprised (and saddened) when it was revealed.

The characters in Hidden Fury were well written and had a depth to them. Annie, by far, was my favorite. I was a little disappointed that her brother and Ford weren’t featured in this book.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Preston. He came across as a very indecisive man. I also wouldn’t have doubted the story that my great-uncle was telling. But, I can understand why he acted the way he acted. He was a decent person outside of the drama. I hope that Annie and his relationship are still ongoing in book 3 (if there is one).

As I mentioned above, I thought the mystery was well written. The author did throw some red herrings out to try, and they did distract me, but in the end, I figured out both. I still enjoyed the lead-up to both reveals.

The end of Hidden Fury was terrific. The author wrapped up the storyline and plotline. She also left some wiggle room for a book 3.

Hidden Fury is a well-written mystery. Even though I was able to figure out both mysteries, I enjoyed the lead-up to the reveals. It had an excellent medium-paced storyline.

I would recommend Hidden Fury to anyone over the age of 21. There are flashbacks to how Annie got her brain injury. There is also a mention of child abuse, insect, rape resulting in pregnancy, murder, racism, and a church’s desecration. There are sex scenes but nothing explicit.

A Private Heaven by Dave Eagleston

Publisher: Solstice Publishing

Date of publication: December 13th, 2020

Genre: Adventure, Semi-autobiography

Purchase Links: Amazon | Alibris | IndieBound

Format read: eBook

Received from: Author for honest review

Trigger Warnings: None

Amazon Synopsis:

Helicopter Adventure
Prison Survival
Family Struggle

A Private Heaven is an adventure-filled drama based on a true story. Like Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It, this is the story of two brothers as opposite as Cain and Abel.

When Dave, the impulsive, younger brother completes his tour of duty in Vietnam, he moves his young family to Newfoundland, where he embarks on a challenging, often dangerous career as a helicopter pilot. Dave’s older brother, a six-foot-four, muscle-bound convict, has Hollywood good looks, a charming smile, and a serious penchant for violence.

With the stunningly beautiful island of Newfoundland as one backdrop and the Oklahoma State Penitentiary as the other, A Private Heaven is brimming with helicopters, rescues, icebergs, poachers, a prison rodeo, and even a prime minister’s wife.

Dave quickly learns the harsh realities of bush flying and wonders what will explode first-his fragile marriage or his beat-up, antique helicopter.

First Line:

The stars faded as I stood on the breezy deck of the small oceangoing ship that ferried passengers, cars, and freight between Nova Scotia and the Island of Newfoundland.
A Private Heaven by Dave Eagleston

I usually do not read anything autobiographical or semi-autobiographical. They do not hold my interest. But, for some reason, A Private Heaven caught my eye when I read the author’s email. I did go back and forth on if I wanted to read it before I said yes. I am glad I did because A Private Heaven was a thoughtful, sad, and well-written book that kept my attention.

A Private Heaven is told in dual storylines with two different points of view. The first storyline (the one that starts the book off) is Dave’s, and it is in 1st person. The second storyline is Marve’s, and it is told in 3rd person. I had no issues with keeping track of the book when it went between storylines. The alternating POV’s made it easy.

The pacing of A Private Heaven was medium. It took me a couple of days to read the book. The book did have some lag in the middle of the book, but it quickly got back on track and stayed on track to the end.

I did learn more than I ever wanted to know about helicopters and flying them in A Private Heaven. I’m not complaining. I knew that this book was about a helicopter bush pilot from the blurb. But, I am saying that if helicopters came up as a Jeopardy subject, I would know how to answer them!

I thought that Dave’s life was exciting. He followed his dream by moving to Canada and, through hard work and sacrifice, he made that dream a reality. What I liked the most is that his bad times were not glossed over. All the struggles that he and his wife had been clearly outlined. But, also clearly outlined, was the steps that he took to fix them.

I thought that Marve’s life was tragic. It was hard even to imagine Dave and Marve as brothers. There was a point in the book where I thought Marve was going to go straight, but boy, I was proven wrong. I cried during his last chapter.

I enjoyed the end of A Private Heaven, if though I thought it ended abruptly. The follow up (not quite an epilogue). It detailed precisely where several vital characters were today. I loved seeing how these people prospered!!

A Private Heaven was an exciting and compelling read. It was medium paced with a fantastic storyline.

I would recommend A Private Heaven to anyone over the age of 16. There are some scenes of drug use and child abuse. There is one scene where the hero is criticized by someone who was anti-Vietnam War. There are some mild language and mild violence. There are scenes where Marve is incarcerated.

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

Publisher: Penguin Group Riverhead

Date of publication: August 4th 2020

Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Queer, LGBT+, Africa

Format read: eBook

Got book from: NetGalley as a Non Arc

Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, Transphobia, Domestic Violence, Rape, Incest, Violence, Drug Use, Alcohol Use, General Violence

Goodreads Synopsis:

What does it mean for a family to lose a child they never really knew?

One afternoon, in a town in southeastern Nigeria, a mother opens her front door to discover her son’s body, wrapped in colorful fabric, at her feet. What follows is the tumultuous, heart-wrenching story of one family’s struggle to understand a child whose spirit is both gentle and mysterious. Raised by a distant father and an understanding but overprotective mother, Vivek suffers disorienting blackouts, moments of disconnection between self and surroundings. As adolescence gives way to adulthood, Vivek finds solace in friendships with the warm, boisterous daughters of the Nigerwives, foreign-born women married to Nigerian men. But Vivek’s closest bond is with Osita, the worldly, high-spirited cousin whose teasing confidence masks a guarded private life. As their relationship deepens—and Osita struggles to understand Vivek’s escalating crisis—the mystery gives way to a heart-stopping act of violence in a moment of exhilarating freedom.

Propulsively readable, teeming with unforgettable characters, The Death of Vivek Oji is a novel of family and friendship that challenges expectations—a dramatic story of loss and transcendence that will move every reader.

First Line:

They burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died.
The death of vivek oji by akwaeke emezi

The Death of Vivek Oji is one of the best books that I have read in the past six months (I would say year, but it is only February). I could not put the book down; that is how much I liked it.

I will admit that it took me a chapter or so to get into the book’s rhythm. But once I got the rhythm, the book went fast. There was no lag and no excess storyline. That made for a delightful read.

The Death of Vivek Oji is written mainly from the 1st person perspectives of Vivek and Osika. There are some 3rd person chapters written when describing the events around specific events in Vivek’s life (mainly their death and their mother’s meetings with the Nigerwives). Some people might have an issue with that, but I didn’t, which surprised me. I was quickly able to follow when the book switched perspectives and people.

The author did a great job of showing how repressed Nigerian culture was for gay/trans people. The main scenes that stand out to me were when Vivek grew their hair out, and their parent’s first response was to cut it. Vivek was not allowed out because of how they looked. Their aunt had a preacher beat them to “get the demons out.” It was heartbreaking to read.

I felt for Osita the entire book. He loved Vivek with his whole heart but couldn’t share that love with the world. Instead, the small group of friends Vivek and Osita had known. It must have been so tiring to live like that. My heart hurt for him.

There is sex in The Death of Vivek Oji. I won’t lie and say that it isn’t graphic because it is.

The end of Vivek Oji’s death was one of the rawest that I have read to date. I am not going to get into it, but it was intense. I do like that Vivek’s parents finally understood their daughter and honored her. But, it was the final scene with Osita that made me cry. That poor, poor man!!

The Death of Vivek Oji was a fantastic book to read. It was fast paced and was able to deliver a heavy plotline with the grace that it was due. I am actively looking for other books by the same author to read!!!

After much thought, I will recommend The Death of Vivek Oji for anyone over the age of 21. There is a scene of attempted rape. There is talk of domestic violence. There is deadnaming. There is graphic sex.

Once Burned (Blackhawk Security: Book 2) by Margaret Watson

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication: January 15th, 2021

Genre: Romance

Series: Blackhawk Security

Once Removed—Book 1 (Review Here)

Once Burned—Book 2

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Indigo | Kobo

Format read in: eBook

Got book from: Author via BookFunnel

Trigger Warning: Violence, Stalking, Child Abuse

Goodreads Synopsis:

After a number of threatening incidents, Chef Julia Stewart seeks help from Blackhawk Security. They recommend bodyguard Nico Elliott. The Seattle chef is reluctant, but finally agrees. To stay close, Nico poses as a busser in her restaurant.

As the dangerous incidents escalate, Nico and Julia grow closer. Nico keeps Julia safe, but they need to figure out who’s trying to kill her. And why.

Amid rising threats, their attraction flares out of control. With everything at stake, Julia faces her tormenter. Will he kill her? Or will the truth destroy her first?

First Line:

As Julia bumped down the cratered driveway beside her house, she pressed the transponder and waited for her garage door to heave itself upward. One of these days, she’d replace it, but her struggling restaurant sucked up all her available cash. Madeline’s had to come first.
Once Burned by Margaret Watson

Synopsis overview:

Julia is the owner/chef of Madeline’s, an up and coming restaurant in Seattle, Washington. But, over the last couple of months, Madeline’s has been hemorrhaging money, and Julia has no clue why. One night, Julia comes home and finds that her house has been broken into. Deeply shaken, Julia calls her best friend, who runs a cybersecurity company. Taking her laptop the next day, Julia and Zoe find out that there is a sophisticated keylogger installed on her computer. That is when Zoe refers Julia to her sister’s security company. After reviewing Julia’s case, Mel talks Julia into hiring her company to protect her until they find out who was after her and why.

That is where Nico comes in. An ex-Delta Force soldier, he is assigned to be Julia’s bodyguard. He becomes a busser at her restaurant to be close to Julia and not to break his cover. After several interesting encounters with staff, Nico is convinced that everything (Madeline’s money issues/Julia’s past/the attempts on Julia) are connected. How connected, though, it remained to be seen.

What Nico and Julia weren’t counting on was the immediate attraction between them. That threw both Nico and Julia for a loop.

Who is after Julia? Why does this person want her business destroyed?

I was eager to read Once Burned after reading Once Removed. The author had laid the groundwork for Blackhawk Security in that book, and it caught my attention. So, I dove right into reading Once Burned.

I am glad I did. This book was a fantastic read. It had everything that I liked: suspense, sexual tension, mystery, and relatable characters.

Lately, it has been taking me a couple of days to read a book. But not this one; I blew through it within a couple of hours. I could not put my Kindle down. The story utterly enthralled me.

Once Burned was a fast-paced book. There was no slow build-up; instead, the author started fast and kept the pace up for 95% of the book. I say 95% because, after the climax, the author kept going but slower. I am not complaining. Nope, I liked it. It gave me time to digest what happened and then focus on what could potentially happen. I am not complaining. Nope, I liked it. It gave me time to digest what happened and then focus on what could potentially happen.

Julia’s backstory was awful, and I could understand her survivor’s guilt over what happened. But I also liked that she refused to let her grief overwhelm her. I liked that she saw the good in everyone and gave people the benefit of the doubt. I also liked that once she realized that someone was screwing her over, she could do what needed to be done. It gave her depth and made her relatable.

There were some things that I didn’t like about Julia. I felt that she acted like a child at specific points in the book. I also thought that she was too trusting of her staff at the restaurant. And she was too lenient. Not going to give anything away, but I would have thrown the book at those people.

I loved Nico and felt he was perfect for Julia. He was protective by nature (hello, ex-Delta Force!!), but with Julia, that ramped up. He was honest with himself with how he felt about Julia but was disciplined enough not to act on it right away. He was, in my eyes, the epitome of a perfect guy.

The mystery angle of Once Burned was well written and kept me on my toes. I did figure out who was tormenting Julia, but the why was kept under wrap until the end of the book. I was saddened and surprised when that scene went down.

The sexual tension between Nico and Julia was terrific. It was immediate, and the suspense kept going up throughout the book. I loved it!! That sexual tension exploded into one of the more memorable sex scenes. And then the author did something that very few authors' I have read do. She brought the sexual tension back up.The sexual tension between Nico and Julia was terrific. It was immediate, and the suspense kept going up throughout the book. I loved it!! That sexual tension exploded into one of the more memorable sex scenes. And then the author did something that very few authors’ I have read do. She brought the sexual tension back up.

The end of Once Burned was bittersweet. As I mentioned above, I had figured out who was tormenting Julia, but I was crushed for her when I found out why. Instead of ending the book after that, the author continued it for a few more chapters. I will say I was not ready for what happened between Nico and Julia. It made my heart drop, and I got weepy. I got even weepier when the book ended.

Once Burned was a fantastic mystery romance. It was fast paced with just the right amount of heat in it. I cannot wait to read book 3. The preview given at the end of the book has caught my attention!!

I am going to recommend that no one under the age of 21 read Once Burned. There is talk of child abuse by an older sibling. There is stalking. At the end of the book, Julia is almost killed by her stalker. There is mild foul language. There is sex. There are three sex scenes, mildly graphic.

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