Then Came You (Laws of Attraction: Book 3) by Kate Meader

Then Came You: A Laws of Attraction Novel by [Meader, Kate]

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: May 7th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: Laws of Attraction

Down with Love—Book 1 (review here)

Illegally Yours—Book 2 (review here)

Then Came You—Book 3

Where to find Then Came You: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

In the courtroom, they’re rivals. In the bedroom, they’re . . . divorced. But could the road trip from hell lead to a second chance at love?

Aubrey Gates is the hottest divorce lawyer in Chicago, a barb-tongued stiletto with legs that go on for miles. When her cool gray eyes meet mine across the battlefield, I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone or anything. Then I remember who she is: the woman who brought me to my knees. The woman who destroyed my faith in relationships.

The woman I used to call . . . wife.

And she needs a favor from me, Grant Lincoln.

It seems my ex forgot to mention the demise of our marriage to her dear old grammie, and now we’re both expected to attend her ninetieth birthday party. In Boston. And because it isn’t already awkward enough, Aubrey and I are driving there together from Chicago. That’s more than a thousand miles of tension, heartbreak, and barely concealed lust.

A little piece of paper might say we’re over, but this road trip is the true test. I intend to get my wife back . . . and I won’t stop until “I do.”

My Review:

I was waiting for Aubrey and Grant’s story to be published. I couldn’t wait to find out the reasons why they got divorced. I thought it was going to be a silly reason, like Grant was working too much or Aubrey was insecure. I was surprised when the reason was revealed. Surprised isn’t the correct term. I was heartbroken for both of them.

Then Came You’s plotline was straightforward. Aubrey and Grant were a divorced couple who are forced to take a road trip to Boston for Thanksgiving. Audrey never told her grandmother that they got divorced. While on the trip, Audrey and Grant are forced to acknowledge the reason why their marriage ended. They also are forced to recognize that their love never went away. Will they be able to put the past in the past? Or will it continue to keep them apart?

I thought Audrey could have benefitted from therapy the majority of the book. Girlfriend had issues which started in her childhood. She was so tense that it was rubbing off on her cat. I couldn’t stand her the first few chapters. But, when she and Grant started on their road trip, I began to see another side to her. I began to like her when she began to open up to Grant about why their marriage ended. I liked that the author wrote her the way she did. She wasn’t perfect, and her issues weren’t going to be solved overnight. I had been getting sick of characters that had perfect lives. Audrey was a breath of fresh air.

I loved Grant. There was a point at the beginning of the book where I thought he was a pushover. But, as the book went on and I began to see the damage that Audrey’s family did to her, I started to understand why he was like that. And I admired him for it. I liked that the author chose to show his reaction to what happened to him and Audrey. My heart broke into bits. I also liked his resolve to mend things between him and Audrey. I will say that he had more tolerance than I did. If my in-laws were like Audrey’s family, I would have lost my cool.

The cat was a huge hit for me. He added much-needed humor to certain situations. I was laughing out loud when he was in the scene. As a cat owner (I have two), I can relate to some of the situations Audrey found herself in with the cat.

I disliked Audrey’s family. Her parents were a piece of work. I couldn’t get over how selfish and self-centered both of them were. The only one I liked was her grandmother. She was a hoot. A pot smoking 90-year-old grandmother. Who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Loved it!!

Grant’s family was more realistic. His mother was 15 when she had him and she worked hard to provide a good home for him. She might not have had the money, but she adored her son. His stepfather was as good. As I said, they were more realistic. More what I am used to seeing in real life.

I loved Then Came You was a second chance romance. The reasons why Audrey and Grant divorced were heartbreaking. Even in the previous books, you could see how in love they still were with each other. So to watch them rebuild their relationship was beautiful.

The sex scenes were off the chart hot. I loved that Grant gave Audrey 3 orgasms for his one. The author was able to keep the sexual attraction and chemistry going throughout the book.

The end of Then Came You was one of the more emotional that I have read. I wanted to hand hankies out to everyone. But, it was the epilogue that got me. I will admit, I had tears during it. It was an ending that Grant and Audrey deserved!!! Plus, I liked seeing what the other couples were doing too.

I would give Then Came You an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Then Came You. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Then Came You?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

Sunset Beach: A Novel by [Andrews, Mary Kay]

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: May 7th, 2019

Genre: Mystery, Women’s Fiction

Where to find Sunset Beach: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Pull up a lounge chair and have a cocktail at Sunset Beach – it comes with a twist. 

Drue Campbell’s life is adrift. Out of a job and down on her luck, life doesn’t seem to be getting any better when her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney, shows up at her mother’s funeral after a twenty-year absence. Worse, he’s remarried – to Drue’s eighth grade frenemy, Wendy, now his office manager. And they’re offering her a job.

It seems like the job from hell, but the offer is sweetened by the news of her inheritance – her grandparents’ beach bungalow in the sleepy town of Sunset Beach, a charming but storm-damaged eyesore now surrounded by waterfront McMansions.

With no other prospects, Drue begrudgingly joins the firm, spending her days screening out the grifters whose phone calls flood the law office. Working with Wendy is no picnic either. But when a suspicious death at an exclusive beach resort nearby exposes possible corruption at her father’s firm, she goes from unwilling cubicle rat to unwitting investigator, and is drawn into a case that may – or may not – involve her father. With an office romance building, a decades-old missing persons case re-opened, and a cottage in rehab, one thing is for sure at Sunset Beach: there’s a storm on the horizon.

Sunset Beach is a compelling ride, full of Mary Kay Andrews’ signature wit, heart, and charm.

My review:

Drue Campbell has no clue what she is going to do with her life. She had lost her mother to a battle with cancer. She was injured in a kiteboarding accident that ended her career in that sport. On top of that, Drue was fired from her waitressing job after refusing to serve an underage patron. Then she reconnects with her father with who she barely has had any contact with since she was fifteen. Her father offers Drue a job at his law firm. He also gives her the keys to her grandparents’ house, a beachfront bungalow. A home that has significant damage done to it from the last hurricane.

Drue finds that working for her father not what she thinks it would be. Her father married her middle school frenemy. That frenemy is now the office manager, and she seems to have it out for Drue. Then a case rolls across Drue’s desk. A case that piques Drue’s interest. An unsolved murder. At the same time, Drue finds the case file for a woman who has been missing for over 40 years in the attic of her house. Drue is determined to solve both cases. Will she be able to solve them? Will her relationship with her father and her frenemy change?

There were three main plotlines in Sunset Beach. All three were well written. I enjoyed that I could go from plotline to plotline without any confusion. The author also did a great job of pointing out when the story went into the past. Those chapters were marked. I liked that I didn’t have to guess when they went into the past.

I liked all the storylines. I did find the storyline about Drue and her relationship with Wendy and Brice a little much. Drue pushed back on everything that Brice and Wendy did. While I understood, there was a point where I got sick of it.

I thought the storylines about the murder at the hotel and the cold case was interesting. The author did a great job of explaining what went into investigating both cases.

There was a huge plot twist in the cold case storyline. I was not expecting it. I also didn’t expect who was involved. I was shocked. The twist with the murder case didn’t surprise me.

I wasn’t a fan of Drue when she was introduced. She has so much resentment built up against her father. There was a point where I started rolling my eyes when she began “acting out.“ It made her look like a child. It also made me think less of her as a character. I did like that she was tenacious when it came to the murder case. She saw things that the police didn’t.

The secondary characters were terrific. They added the extra depth that the book needed.

I liked how the author didn’t have the bad guys didn’t do anything. Well, other than what happened to Drue. She chose to show the investigation against them. She decided to build the case up against them. It worked for me. There is a time for bad guys being all in your face and a time for them to be in the background. This was the time for them to be in the background.

Sunset Beach fit right in with the mystery genre. The author did a great job at keeping both mysteries, well, a mystery until the end of the book.

There was romance in Sunset Beach. It wasn’t hyped on, and the sex scene wasn’t graphic. I wasn’t a fan of it, though. I thought that the book could have done without it.

I enjoyed reading Sunset Beach. The plotlines were fast-moving and engaging. The characters were 3d, and I liked them. Well, for the most part, liked them. There were parts of the book that took me by surprise.

The end of Sunset Beach was interesting. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. I liked it.

I would give Sunset Beach an Adult rating. There is sex (not graphic). There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Sunset Beach. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the publisher, the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Sunset Beach.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you read Sunset Beach?

What are your thoughts on it?

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Welcome the Little Children (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries: Book 3) by Lynda McDaniel

Welcome the Little Children: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 3) by [McDaniel, Lynda]

4 Stars

Publisher: Lynda McDaniel Books

Date of publication: November 15th, 2018

Genre: Mystery

Series: Appalachian Mountain Mysteries

A Life for A Life—Book 1 (review here)

The Roads to Damascus—Book 2 (review here)

Welcome the Little Children—Book 3

Where you can find Welcome the Little Children: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis:

Missing mother. Neglected children. Lost love. Abit and Della have their work cut out for them.

Meet Astrid, a sprite of a girl whose mother goes missing from her isolated log cabin. Abit Bradshaw and Della Kincaid get entangled in the investigation, searching for answers from the mountains of N.C. to the streets of D.C. Along the way, they come face-to-face with the lies and secrets plaguing their own families. Meanwhile, Abit struggles with a decision that could cost him everything he holds dear.

Welcome the Little Children is the third book in Lynda McDaniel’s internationally acclaimed Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series. Reviewers have compared her work to To Kill a Mockingbird and her storytelling style to that of Fannie Flagg. If you like page-turning dramas without over-the-top violence—but packed with suspense and character-driven stories—you’ll love this series.

My Review:

Welcome the Little Children is the last book in the Appalachian Mountain Mystery series. Abit has graduated from The Hicks and is doing well for himself. Della is wondering if she should pack up and move to Washington D.C. with Alex. That is when Astrid appears. An eight-year-old who seemed years older, she tugs at Della’s heartstrings. Then Della finds out that Astrid’s mother has disappeared. Using her investigative reporter skills, Della tries to find her. Along the way, Della is forced to face secrets that are haunting her own family. Will Della find Astrid’s mother? What are the secrets that Della will uncover?

Welcome the Little Children was a fantastic end to the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries. I was excited to read it. I couldn’t wait to see what Della and Abit would get themselves into. I wasn’t disappointed!!

The storyline that involved Della, Astrid, and her family was heartbreaking. I liked that Della was going to find out where Astrid’s mother was. And when she did, man did the fireworks start. I loved it. I also liked that the storyline was resolved in a way that made sense to me. It was realistic.

The storyline that involved Abit and Fiona was a heartbreaker. I cried more during that storyline than I did in the other books. I felt awful for Abit. The decision he had to make was a painful one. But he wasn’t going to be pressured into doing anything he didn’t want to do. What I liked about this storyline is that it came around full circle. I’m not going to say what but I will say that Abit and Fiona did get their happily ever after.

The characters in Welcome the Little Children were wonderfully written. From the main characters to the secondary, they all added depth to the storyline. Della’s crisis at the beginning of the book struck me. I have had similar situations before, and I have questioned myself too.

The end of Welcome the Little Children was good. The storylines were wrapped up in ways that I liked. I will say that I agreed with Della on Abit’s mother’s deathbed confession. I would have contemplated the same thing.

I would give Welcome the Little Children an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Welcome the Little Children. I would also recommend this book to family and friends

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Welcome the Little Children?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

The Roads to Damascus (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries: Book 2) by Lynda McDaniel

The Roads to Damascus: A Mystery Novel (Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Book 2) by [McDaniel, Lynda]

4 Stars

Publisher: Lynda McDaniel Books

Date of publication: February 5th, 2018

Genre: Mystery

Series: Appalachian Mountain Mystery

A Life for a Life—book 1 (review here)

The Roads to Damascus—book 2

Welcome the Little Children—book 3

Where you can find The Roads to Damascus: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis:


Abit is back! Four years after that fateful summer in “A Life for a Life,” Abit Bradshaw faces the biggest challenge of his life in “The Roads to Damascus,” the much-anticipated second book in the Appalachian Mountain Mysteries trilogy. When a family of con artists fleeces his school and casts suspicion on him, Abit, with the support of his friends Della Kincaid and Alex Covington, sets out to find them and get payback. He takes a life-changing journey from Washington, D.C., through the mountains of Virginia, and finally home again to Laurel Falls, N.C. Along the way, he draws on every bit of courage and faith he can muster as he encounters a slew of characters—from sinners to saints—who help him come to terms with his rightful place in the world.

My review:

The Roads to Damascus takes place four years after A Life for A Life. Abit (or VJ) is home after being expelled from The Hicks. A family of con artists takes his school for a large amount of money. They also set Abit up to take the fall. Abit decides that he needs to find them and their other victims. His journey leads him through Virginia and back to North Carolina. During this journey, Abit learns that not all smarts come from the brain and that there was a place in the world for people like him. It is up to him to embrace who he is.

The plotline for The Roads to Damascus was straightforward. It follows Abit as he pursues the family of con people who took his school for a lot of money. It was well written with memorable characters. I didn’t like that the book was told only from Abit’s POV. The back and forth between Della and Abit in the first book was lacking here. But, I could see why the author decided to only write from Abit’s POV. It was his journey that needed to be told. And what a journey it was!!

I loved Abit in this book. I loved watching his character grow in this book. I knew that I was in for something special when he went to Washington D.C. to with Della and started on his journey. The bumbling, childish manchild morphed into a mature man who knew his worth. I loved it. Of course, he made mistakes along the way. He learned from them and moved on. His journey, which first started being about him, ended up being about other people.

I was a little afraid for Abit at points in the book. He didn’t exactly keep it on the down-low that he was after Mama, Clarice, and Clayne. Some of the situations that he got into scared me. There were points in the book where I kept saying to myself “Abit, GO home.” Of course, I knew that he couldn’t.

I wouldn’t call The Roads to Damascus a mystery. There was next to no mystery in the book. The only mystery was when Abit was going to catch up with Mama, Clarice, and Clayne. But there was plenty of adventure and plenty of action. I would say that it was a good fit in those genres instead.

There was romance in The Roads to Damascus!! I wasn’t expecting it, and I loved it. I thought that Fiona was a perfect match for Abit. After what Clarice put him through, I was worried that he wouldn’t be able to trust anyone again.

The end of The Roads to Damascus was pretty typical. I knew that what happened was going to happen. I liked seeing Abit show up everyone who had doubted him.

I would give The Roads to Damascus an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would suggest that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread The Roads to Damascus. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Pray for the Girl?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

No Feelings Involved by Siobhan Davis

No Feelings Involved: A Brother's Best Friend Standalone Romance by [Davis, Siobhan]

4 Stars

Publisher:

Date of publication: April 30th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Where you can find No Feelings Involved: Amazon | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Can this skeptical player let down his guard long enough to let love into his life, or is this forbidden romance a train wreck in the making?

Ryan James doesn’t believe in love. 

It’s a truth he learned early in life. A truth he carried with him into adulthood. He broke his golden rule one time, but Myndi trampled all over his heart, cementing his belief that love is a lie and not worth the effort.

Now he’s returned to his cynical views and promiscuous lifestyle, racking up more notches on his bedpost than he can count.

Until Summer Petersen comes crashing into his world, threatening to knock down his walls with her tempting body and sunny, sweet personality.

Summer is determined to lose her V-card before she starts freshman year of college, and the hot, older guy with the cute dimples, dazzling smile, and rippling biceps is just the man for the job. Ryan doesn’t take much persuading, and he rocks her world, giving her a night to remember.

When they walk away, there’s an unspoken agreement it was a one-time thing. Ryan doesn’t do feelings, and Summer doesn’t want to be tied down at eighteen.

But when she moves into her brother Austin’s apartment, she’s shocked to discover her new roomie is the guy who recently popped her cherry.

Ryan can’t believe he slept with Austin’s baby sister, and if he finds out, he’ll literally kill him. Keeping their hook up a secret is nonnegotiable. Keeping his thoughts, and his hands, off Summer, less so. Because the longer he’s around her, the more he finds himself catching feelings for the gorgeous brunette. 

Summer doesn’t want to care for her older brother’s best friend, but Ryan makes her feel things she’s never felt before, and she’s slowly falling under his spell.

Embarking on an illicit affair behind Austin’s back has train wreck written all over it, but provided they keep their feelings in check, they can end this before he ever finds out. 

It’s not like either of them is in love.

Right?

My Review:

When I read the blurb for No Feelings Involved, my first reaction to it was “This is going to be a drama fest.” With an eighteen-year-old female main character and a twenty-something male main character, I figured that it would be arguing, sex, more arguing and more sex. Then I started reading the book, and I couldn’t have been more wrong.

When I first started reading No Feelings Involved, I did think that the plot was going to focus more on sex than on an actual storyline. The beginning didn’t help what I thought either. Summer ison a quest for someone to pop her cherry only reinforced those thoughts. But, as the book went on, the focus was less on the sex and more on Summer and Ryan’s relationship. I couldn’t get enough of it.

There weren’t any dropped/missing storylines. All the storylines were wrapped up by the end of the book— even the ones I weren’t expecting to be wrapped up. There was also zero lag in the book.

There weren’t any major plot twists in No Feelings Involved. There were a couple of minor ones that happened at the end of the book (involving Ryan and Myndi). I should consider those major.It explained why Ryan acted the way he acted with Summer after what happened.

I liked Summer, but she made me wince a couple of times at the beginning of the book. I thought that she was a little too honest with her parents and brothers. Other than that, she was fine. I did like that she was mature for her age. I don’t think I could have handled it if she had been one of those clingy main characters.

I did think that Ryan was a creeper at the beginning of the book. I mean, he knew Summer was young and still went from it. But, the more I got into the book, the more I liked him. He had been hurt so bad by Myndi. It wasn’t until the party that I even began to understand how badly he was hurt. But, it wasn’t until the end of the book, that I realized what she did and how it affected him.

There were a few characters that I didn’t like. Myndi, for what she did to Ryan and then letting people think what they did. I was so angry at her that I wanted her to be real so that I could smack her. Jordan was on my list because of how he acted. I did have a clue with him, though. Hannah because of how she acted after she found out about Jordan. Some friend she was. Pfft!! Charlie and Austin because, well, they were idiots. I understand being protective but man, but they were over the top.

No Feelings Involved was a fantastic fit in the romance genre. There was no Instalove, thank god for that. Summer and Ryan started as InstaLust. That leads to feelings. Ryan’s speech towards the end of the book had me in tears.

Ryan and Summer’s sex scenes were amazing. The sexual attraction and chemistry that those two had were off the wall. The first sex scene was awkward for me because of why Summer wanted to have sex. The author did redeem herself, though, with the other sex scenes. They were insanely hot. I had to fan myself a few times while reading.

The end of No Feelings Involved was excellent. I liked that the author had a few epilogues. I shed happy tears during the last one.

I have No Feelings Involved an Adult rating. There was explicit sex. There was language. There was violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread No Feelings Involved. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you read No Feelings Involved

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Pray for the Girl by Joseph Souza

Pray for the Girl by [Souza, Joseph]

4 Stars

Publisher: Kensington Books, Kensington

Date of publication: April 30th, 2019

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Where you can find Pray for the Girl: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Joseph Souza, acclaimed author of The Neighbor, brings readers into the dark heart of a small town in this riveting, relentlessly twisting new novel . . .

Lucy Abbott never pictured herself coming back to Fawn Grove, Maine. Yet after serving time in Afghanistan, then years spent as a sous chef in New York, she’s realized her only hope of moving on from the past involves facing it again. But Fawn Grove, like Lucy herself, has changed.

Lucy’s sister, Wendy, is eager to help her adapt, almost stifling her with concern. At the local diner, Lucy is an exotic curiosity–much like the refugees who’ve arrived in recent years. When a fifteen-year-old Muslim girl is found murdered along the banks of the river, difficult memories of Lucy’s time overseas come flooding back and she feels an automatic connection. At first glance, the tragedy looks like an honor killing. But the more Lucy learns about her old hometown, the less certain that seems.

There is menace and hostility here, clothed in neighborly smiles and a veneer of comfort. And when another teen is found dead in a cornfield, his throat slit, Lucy–who knows something about hiding secrets–must confront a truth more brutal than she could have imagined, in the last place she expected it . . .

My Review:

Mystery and thrillers have always had an enormous appeal for me. I love reading a book that makes my heart race. I also love reading a book where I have to figure out who the bad guy is. Of course, I have read duds, but it comes with the territory when you read as much as I do.

Pray for the Girl takes place in the fictional city of Fawn Grove, Maine. Lucy, a disabled veteran, has gone back to confront and make peace with her past. Soon after her arrival, Lucy gets caught up in the murder of a young Muslim girl. Investigating on her own, Lucy finds out that her hometown is not what she remembered. Secrets are many in Fawn Grove, and Lucy has her own. Who killed that girl? Why? The truth will be stunning.

I got caught up in Pray for the Girl’s main plotline. It was well written. I will say that the book is slow to start. But, it was laying the groundwork for the rest of the book. After the first couple of chapters, the book is on fire and doesn’t stop. I couldn’t put it down.

There was a massive twist in the middle of the book. I was not prepared for it. Not. At. All. After I got over my initial shock, I loved it. So much made sense when I looked back in the first half of the book. I do wish that it had been revealed a tad bit sooner. But then certain scenes wouldn’t have played out the way they did.

Lucy was one of my favorite characters, ever. She had my sympathy because of what happened to her. I liked that the author didn’t hold back when it came to her PTSD. Instead of glossing it over, he chose to go into detail about what Lucy went through daily. Being back in such a toxic town such as Fawn’s Grove didn’t help her either. I was a little surprised when she took it upon herself to look into the death of the Muslim girl. I didn’t understand why she took such an interest in that girl’s death. But, everything was explained around the same time the twist in the plot was revealed. Then it made perfect sense.

The end of the book was fast paced. There was a point where I had to stop and reread paragraphs to digest the information that was given. The very end of the book threw me for a loop. I am wondering if the author is setting up for another book involving Lucy? I hope so. That would be a book that I would love to read.

I would give Pray for the Girl and Adult rating. There is not sex (but there are mentions of sexual situations). There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Pray for the Girl. I would also recommend this book to family and friends

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Pray for the Girl?

What are your thoughts on it?

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Sullivan’s Promise (Bitter Creek: Book 12) by Joan Johnston

Sullivan's Promise: A Bitter Creek Novel by [Johnston, Joan]

3 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell

Date of publication: April 30th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: Bitter Creek

The Men of Bitter Creek: Two Complete Novels—Book 0.5

The Cowboy—Book 1

The Texan—Book 2

The Loner—Book 3

The Price—Book 4

The Rivals—Book 5

The Next Mrs. Blackthorne—Book 6

A Stranger’s Game—Book 7

Shattered—Book 8

A Bitter Creek Christmas—Book 8.5

Sinful—Book 9

Shameless—Book 10

Surrender—Book 11

Sullivan’s Promise—Book 12

Where you can find Sullivan’s Promise: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis:

Two unforgiving lovers reunite for the sake of their child in this fiery contemporary romance from Joan Johnston, the New York Times bestselling author of Surrender.

Facing the unexpected consequences of a life-altering night of passion with a cowboy she met in a Jackson Hole bar, and with her life committed to protecting endangered species, Victoria Grayhawk does what she believes is the right thing. She hunts down the cowboy, seeking his agreement that their baby should be adopted by a loving family.

Montana rancher Ryan Sullivan has no intention of giving away his own flesh and blood, and takes their son to raise himself. When Vick realizes what a horrible mistake she’s made, and wants back into their child’s life, Rye remains inflexible—because once trust is lost there are no second chances—until an attack by one of the grizzlies Vick has spent her life protecting changes everything and Rye learns that sometimes love can heal all wounds.

The passionate Westerns in Joan Johnston’s Bitter Creek series can be enjoyed together or separately, in any order:
TEXAS BRIDE • WYOMING BRIDE • MONTANA BRIDE • SINFUL • SHAMELESS • BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE • SULLIVAN’S PROMISE

My Review:

When I started reading Sullivan’s Promise, I was under the impression that it could be construed as a stand-alone book. The blurb states that it can (look above). Having finished the book, I ‘ll say that you need to read the other books before reading this one. There were parts of the book where I was left wondering what the heck was going on or why do people feel that way. I do not like feeling like that, and it factored into my rating.

The plotline was alright. The author did a fantastic job of taking a sensitive subject and showing both sides to it. She was able to explain what Vick went through without taking away from why Ryan was so upset. She also was able to show both sides of conservation. She was able to show the fine lines that ranchers have to walk when it came to protecting their land. My issue with the plotline was that it seemed like the author had to stretch it if that makes sense.

I wasn’t a fan of Ryan. I did admire him for stepping up. It was everything after that I didn’t like. He had a black and white view of the world. He was also unbendable with his opinions of people and events. His treatment of Vick is a great example. I get that he was mad, but she proved over and over that she was a devoted mother. But he refused to bend for five freaking years. That drove me nuts whenever it came up. What drove me nuts was that he wasn’t going to ask his mother about why he had a different blood type than her and his father. Instead, he stewed in it and made up scenarios in his head. Realistic but drove me up a wall.

I did like Vick. Her reactions to finding out that she was pregnant were realistic. She wasn’t happy about being pregnant. When she gave birth, she left the baby with Ryan. But, after six months, she decided she wanted a relationship with her son and got stonewalled by Ryan. I am not going to defend her actions. What she did was wrong. But, she wanted to make it right. Everything she did from that point forward was above board and honest. So, Ryan’s treatment of her was ridiculous. She was more patient than I would have been.

The romance between Vick and Ryan seemed forced. The sex scenes didn’t do it for me. I couldn’t get past Ryan’s treatment of Vick for the first half of the book. What irked me was that when Vick decided to start dating, Ryan ruined it for her. I wanted to pull my hair out at that point.

The last half of the book confused the heck out of me. Instead of being about Ryan and Vick, it was about their extended families, which confused the heck out of me. Other than Ryan’s parentage, I couldn’t understand why the other people were in the book. There were tie ins towards the end, but there were a few chapters where I was going “Why is this in the book? What does this have to do with Vick and Ryan’s story?” I did appreciate those updates, but I haven’t read the other books. So it annoyed me too.

The end of Sullivan’s Promise was your typical romance novel ending. Ryan and Vick’s storyline was wrapped up. It ended like I thought it would of. I did enjoy the epilogue. I liked seeing where Ryan and Vick were a few years later.

Would I have enjoyed Sullivan’s Promise more if I had read the other books in the series. Absolutely. I would have gotten a better grasp of the family dynamics.

I would give Sullivan’s Promise an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread Sullivan’s Promise. I am also on the fence if I would recommend this book to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Sullivan’s Promise?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

TEN: Part 1 by Sin Ribbon

TEN: Part 1 by [Ribbon, Sin]

5 Stars

Publisher:

Date of publisher: February 12th, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQIA

Where you can find TEN Part 1: Amazon

Book synopsis:

Is fate a shield against the agony of choice or a force that suffocates free will?

From diverse walks of life and different corners of the globe, ten strangers are being brought together. Prejudice, fallen dreams, loss, and trauma have plagued each of their lives . . . until they find each other, and for once it seems serendipity may heal their collective pain.

But what lurks behind these fated meetings is something far more sinister.

Terrible and elusive forces have endowed the ten with supernatural abilities. Far from a gift however, some are drowning in these overwhelming new powers to the point of possession.

What does fate permit us to do? Are we a product of choice or design? In this urban fantasy adventure, the ten must resist the will of destiny if they wish to carve their own paths. Armed only with camaraderie, they will discover if the strength of their choice is enough to prevent the looming, catastrophic future thrust upon them.

The battle for free will begins here.

Review here:

TEN: Part 1 is one of those books that will blow you away. I went into reading this book thinking that it would be OK. I figured that 10 main characters would overwhelm the book. Man, was I proven wrong. TEN: Part 1 was a fantastic read with a great plotline and characters that blew my socks off.

The plotline for TEN: Part 1 was interesting. Ten individuals, from all walks of life and cultures, are drawn to each other. All ten individuals have powers that are starting to awaken. These individuals soon find out that they are chosen to play a game by the Fates. A game that holds the fate of humanity in its balance. It fascinated me. I couldn’t wait to find out why these ten individuals were chosen and what their powers were.

The plotline drew me in from the beginning. The author did a fantastic job of introducing the main characters. While each chapter was short, she got right to the point. If there was a change to a different character, it was labelled. I also liked that there were zero dropped plotlines or a lag in the plotlines.

I am not going to go into each character individually. There are ten of them and my review would be long if I did that. I did like that the author was able to make each character their own person. Which I consider a huge feat because well, ten main characters. I was expected some overlapping with their personalities.

I also liked how diverse everyone was. There were White, Black, Hispanic, Indian and Chinese featured. I loved that the author had a bisexual character and transgender character. It made the book so much more interesting to read.

I did like how the author had certain people pair off. I wasn’t expecting Orion and Allister, though. That pairing took me by surprise. I also couldn’t make up my mind about Siya and Thane. There was something there. The author kept it vague enough to make me wonder.

I will say that the powers that the author had Orion, Allister, Thane, and Qiu manifest were scary. What made them even more scarier was what happened when they got “possessed“. The explanation that was given at the end of the book made sense. I couldn’t understand why they had different powers than the others. Again, the end of the book explained a lot (not everything).

The end of the book was interesting. The plotlines were not resolved. Which is what I was expecting. I mean, this is Part 1. I did like how Siya explained Orion, Allister, Thane, and Qiu’s powers. I also liked how she explained what Riya, Sebastian, Madison, and Olivia’s roles in the game would be. I am curious about how she and Isaac figure into everything. So, yes, I can’t wait to read Part 2!!

Oh and before I forget, I was thrilled that the author had a character sheet link attached to her Goodreads page. I can’t even begin to tell everyone how much I loved that. It was a huge help when looking up names and getting backgrounds. If only other authors would do the same thing, I would be in heaven!!

I would give TEN: Part 1 an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread TEN: Part 1. I would reccomend this book to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review TEN: Part 1

Have you read TEN: Part 1?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

The Invited: A Novel by [McMahon, Jennifer]

3.5 Stars

Publisher: Doubleday Books, Doubleday

Date of publication: April 30th, 2019

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Where you can find The Invited: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book synopsis:

A chilling ghost story with a twist: the New York Times best-selling author of THE WINTER PEOPLE, returns to the woods of Vermont to tell the story of a husband and wife who don’t simply move into a haunted house, they start building one from scratch, without knowing it, until it’s too late…

In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate abandon the comforts of suburbia and teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this charming property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. As Helen starts carefully sourcing decorative building materials for her home – wooden beams, mantles, historic bricks — she starts to unearth, and literally conjure, the tragic lives of Hattie’s descendants, three generations of “Breckenridge women,” each of whom died amidst suspicion, and who seem to still be seeking something precious and elusive in the present day.

My review:

Helen and Neal are living the dream. After inheriting money from Helen’s father, they decided to build their own house in Vermont. Shortly after they start building, Helen hears about the legend of Hattie Breckenridge. Her obsession begins when Hattie manifests in the new home. While she is out collection materials that were involved with each descendants death, Nate is obsessing over a white deer. What is the connection? Will the secrets that the town has long suppressed come back to haunt the people? Who is willing to kill to keep them that way? And how does Helen figure into all of this? Who is she supposed to save and why?

I was intrigued by a thriller set in Vermont. I can count on one hand how many books I have read that took place there. Out of all of those books, zero were thrillers. Which was the main reason I decided to request the book. I am happy to say that the author did pull it off.

The main plot line of The Invited was an interesting one. I haven’t read a book where the haunted house was built. Every other thriller that involves ghosts, the house were already built. It was a refreshing change.

The plot line with Helen and her obsession with finding Hattie’s descendants was written beautifully. I agreed with Nate at one point in the book. I thought that it was morbid that Helen was bringing in items that were present during a violent death to put in their new house. But at the same time, I got why Helen was doing it.

I thought I figured out Olive’s story line reasonably early in the book. Yeah, word to the wise, don’t do that because it came back to bite me in the butt. I was thrown for a loop not once but twice. I will say that I thought Olive would have made a great detective. I am not going to say much more than that.

I liked that I got to see what Hattie, Jane, Ann, and Gloria went through before their deaths.Out of all of the story lines, I was surprised by Jane’s. I was surprised at what she revealed.

I thought that the characters in The Invited were well written and well rounded out. The author did a great job of giving them depth. Their stories pulled at my heart: Olive’s, the most. Even the characters I didn’t like were well written.

The Invited fit well with the thriller genre. There were times in the book where I didn’t know what was going to happen or who it was going to happen too.

I loved how the paranormal angle of the book was written. It wasn’t overpowering. There was just the right amount of ghosts in the book. Which is something I never thought I would say. Plus, Hattie never harmed anyone. She manifested only to Helen.

If I liked the book so much, why the 3.5-star rating. I didn’t like how Riley’s story line turned out. I don’t like it when a character does a sudden 180, which Riley did. It baffled me.

The ending bothered me. Why reveal what it revealed then? Why to the person it was shown to? I don’t get bothered by endings, but this one got to me. There were too many whys, what ifs and a wth on my end.

I would give The Invited an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Invited. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Invited.

All opinions stated in this review of The Invited are mine.

Have you read The Invited?

What are your thoughts?

Do you believe in the paranormal?

Let me know!!

Ignite (Dark Kings Series: Book 15) by Donna Grant

Ignite: A Dark Kings Novel by [Grant, Donna]

4 Stars:

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

Date of publication: April 30th, 2019

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal

Series: Dark Kings

Dark Craving—book 0.1

Night’s Awakening—book 0.2

Dawn’s Desire—book 0.3

Passion’s Claim—book 0.4

Darkest Flame—book 1

Fire Rising—book 2

Burning Desire—book 3

Hot Blooded—book 4

Night’s Blaze—book 5

Soul Scorched—book 6

Dragon King—book 6.5

Passion Ignites—book 7

Smoldering Hunger—book 8

Smoke and Fire-–book 9

Dragon Fever—book 9.5

Firestorm—book 10

Blaze—book 11

Dragon Burn—book 11.5

Constantine: A History—book 11.6

Heat—book 12 (review here)

Torched—book 13

Dragon Night—book 13.5

Dragonfire—book 14 (review here)

Dragon Claimed—book 14.5

Ignite—book 15

Fever—book 16 (expected publication date is October 29th, 2019)

Where you can find Ignite: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Every inch of him was molded as if from granite…and her blood ran like fire… 

For centuries, V has waited to awaken from his doomed sleep and reclaim his destiny. But this Dragon King–one among a legion of legendary warriors sworn to protect the human race from darkness–must first find a way to win back his sword. Wield its power. And try not to fall prey to his own illicit desires.

Claire may possess the beauty and soul of a goddess but V knows better than to mess with a mere mortal. Still, he instinctively knows that Claire is The One who can help him regain the use of his sword and restore his place at Dreagan. But if she learns the truth about who–and what–he really is, her memories of him would be erased forever. How can V love Claire truly, madly, deeply…and protect her from the forces of fire and darkness that could destroy them both?

My Review:

I can’t even begin to express how excited I was to read this book. My excitement grew when I saw that it was V and Claire’s story. I couldn’t wait to read Ignite. Ignite more than lived up to my expectations!!

I loved Claire, and I would read her chapters with a grin on my face. Her ups and downs with dating were amusing. I found myself laughing more during this book than I have in the other books that I reviewed. I did figure out one of her secrets. It wasn’t too hard. The other one, though, I was surprised.

I couldn’t get enough of V in this book. He was dealing with a lot at the beginning of the book. He couldn’t use his sword (and not that one, dirty mind!!!). Since he couldn’t use the sword, he couldn’t call the dragons home. He was starting to get depressed and was going back to sleep when he noticed Claire. I loved how he seesawed back and forth on dating her. In my head, during those scenes, I was yelling at him to “Just go for it!!“.

Dragon on Light Up LED Orb Statue

I loved the plotlines of Ignite. I couldn’t put the book down. It was so fast paced that I was afraid that it was going to burn itself out in spots. I liked that the author was able to juggle a few storylines without letting any lag happen. The storylines were V and Claire’s love story, the Others, and Usaeil’s scheming.

I was frustrated with the lack of information on the Others and why they existed. I wanted to know what they wanted to defeat the Dragon Kings. Hints were given but still. I want to know now! I am sure more will be revealed as this series (and the other series) continue.

I was so upset over what Usaeil did to V and Claire. My heart dropped, and yes, I started to cry. That wasn’t fair to them. I am hoping that Rhi can find her and end her. That will be a death that I will be happy to read.

LEGO Elves Rosalyn’s Healing Hideout

The end of Ignite was interesting. Another of the Others came out of the shadows. Alliances were made. People disappeared. None of the storylines were wrapped up. All the questions I have about the Others are making me read the next book.

V and Claire had unbelievable chemistry. It sparked in every single scene that they had together. Their first sexual encounter (notice I didn’t say the first time they had sex) was nothing short of amazing. And let’s not forget the first time they had sex. Blazing hot!!

I would give Ignite an Adult rating. There is sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Ignite.