Tag: romance

Crown of Contempt (Novi Navarro Chronicles: Book 2) by Emigh Cannady

Crown of Contempt (The Novi Navarro Chronicles Book 2) by [Cannaday, Emigh]

5 Stars

Publisher: Silver Popular Press

Date of publication: June 3rd, 2019

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Series: The Novi Navarro Chronicles

Prince of Persuasion—Book 1 (review here)

Crown of Contempt—Book 2

Where you can find Crown of Contempt: Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

The illusion of choice. 
The burden of the crown. 
If Prince Fallon is to succeed, he cannot do it alone. 

Novi Navarro’s life hangs in the balance after being sentenced to serve in the Temple of the Chimera. The Prioress in charge seems intent on breaking not only her spirit, but the spirit of every living thing within those impenetrable walls. When a chance encounter leads to an unexpected friendship with one of the sacred creatures inside, she discovers a new reason to go on. 

Betrayed by his own blood, Prince Fallon has given up on his family, but he hasn’t given up on his dreams of a better world–preferably one with Novi by his side. When he presents her with three different choices of how her fate will unfold, Novi must decide which path to take… 

…and there will be no turning back.

My Review:

I rarely give 5-star reviews to 2nd books in the series. In my experience, these books are fillers. There is no real plot progression—the characters flounder. But, in Crown of Contempt, none of this happened. I was happy to have my expectations blown away by this book.

I hated seeing Novi broken. She wasn’t the same person that she was before going into the temple. She still had a sharp tongue and a more intelligent mind. But her humor, which is what made me love her, wasn’t there.

I felt bad for Fallon. The stress that he was under came off the pages. He was trying to install a new government, save Novi, and fend off his mother. I was surprised that he didn’t snap sooner.

I felt bad for Callie, too. The things she was forced to do and see. The abuse she put up with. My heart broke for her every single time she appeared in the book.

I want to see more Kai!! I thought his character was adorable. He had unconditional love for Novi and protected her the best he could.

If I didn’t think that Fallon’s family was dysfunctional in Prince of Persuasion, I think it now. That family makes me shake my head. The mind games that are played between parents and children sicken me. No wonder Tristan turned out the way he did.

I wasn’t surprised by what was revealed about Queen Laena. I was expecting something like that. I also wasn’t surprised at how cruel she was to Callie. Nothing about that woman surprised me. I am curious to see what will happen in the next book. I wonder how everything will work out for her.

Tristan bothered me in the book. I was prepared not to like him. I mean, he did shoot Novi with an arrow. But, there was another side to him that was shown in the book. He was the same abusive jerk to Callie and Novi. But, there were scenes where he acted like a hurt child. I am wondering what he will be like in the next book.

There is dual main plotline in Crown of Contempt. The first plotline centers around Novi. It shows what she has overcome and what she has to overcome. I did feel that the decree the king threw down was unfair. The second storyline centered around Fallon and his work to make the country equal. I found it fascinating.

The end of Crown of Contempt was satisfying. I am not going to say much. But I will say that I was right about the character from The Darkest of Dreams. I did a fist pump when it was revealed. It is going to make the next book enjoyable.

I would give Crown of Contempt 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 would reread Crown of Contempt. I would recommend it to family and friends.

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

Professor with Benefits (Beta Brothers: Book 3) by Hazel Kelly

Professor with Benefits (Beta Brothers #3)

4 Stars

Publisher

Date of publication: May 30th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Where you can find Professor with Benefits: Amazon

Book synopsis:

Sadie’s no princess, and she doesn’t appreciate being treated like one. As far as she’s concerned, women who don’t wear ridiculous shoes don’t need to be swept off their feet, and the last thing the world needs right now is one more hopeless romantic maiming one more unsuspecting daisy.

But when a handsome, young professor takes an unprofessional interest in her mossy green eyes and muddy attitude, she can’t help but enjoy the sparkly feeling his attention stirs in her. And the more he lays on the charm, the more she fears she’s not as attached to her loneliness as she once thought. 

Too bad he’s off limits. Then again, limits have never really interested Sadie.

But dreamy professors with penetrating blue eyes and sinfully sexy stubble? That’s a subject that’s about to make her senior year very interesting indeed… 

When I read the blurb for Professor with Benefits, I knew that I needed to read it. The blurb screamed easy to read with hot sex scenes. After the month I have had, I needed something that I could enjoy and lose myself in. Fortunately, with Professor with Benefits, I was able to do that.

What I Liked About Professor with Benefits:

Sadie: She was introduced in Friends with Benefits as Nina’s older cousin. She caught my attention from the minute she was introduced in the book. When I saw that this was her romance, I was pleased. Her character in this book was nothing like I thought it would be. She had mental health issues stemming from the suicide of her younger sister. Her mental health became a focal point of the book. I loved seeing her transform from this damaged young woman who needed to be handled carefully to someone who was working on her issues.

Kellan: I liked him from the minute Sadie puked a rainbow all over his shoes. He had his issues. I loved that Kellan realized how fragile Sadie was. While he did push in some areas, he let her call the shots in their relationship. He understood Sadie’s grief and he understood her issues. I loved how smart he was too. He owned his nerdiness. That made him even more hot to me.

The author’s realistic take on mental illness and grief: Sadie was traumatized from her sister’s suicide. I believe that along with deep depression, she had PTSD. Sadie was self-medicating before she met Kellan. Her record at school reflected that. The author didn’t gloss over Sadie’s issues. Instead, she made them a part of who Sadie was.

The sex scenes: Sadie and Kellan’s sex scenes were some of the hottest that I have read to date. But, even before they had sex, their chemistry was off the charts. There were points in the book where I had to put it down and fan myself.

The end: I am not going to say much about the ending except that I loved how it turned out. The epilogue brought tears to my eyes.

What I Disliked About Professor with Benefits:

Sadie’s landlady: I couldn’t stand her. She was unlikable and treated Sadie like dirt. The whole “you need to leave as soon as possible” scene made me want to reach through and smack her upside the head.

Thomas’s dropped storyline: I was enjoying Sadie’s interactions with Thomas. He added a much-needed bit of humor to the storyline. But, he went poof after the bar fight. What happened to him?

Dean Schwartz: Another character that I couldn’t stand. She seemed to have it out for Sadie. The infractions that Sadie got in trouble for were silly. Except for the alcohol one. I also understood why she made Kellan make a choice. But still. She was cold and heartless.

I would give Professor with Benefits 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 would reread Professor with Benefits. I would recommend it to family and friends.

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

Smitten by the Brit (Sometimes in Love: Book 2) by Melonie Johnson

Smitten by the Brit (Sometimes in Love Book 2) by [Johnson, Melonie]

4 Stars

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

Date of publication: May 28th, 2019

Series: Sometimes in Love

Getting Hot with the Scot—Book 1 (review here)

Smitten by the Brit—Book 2

Once Upon a Bad Boy—Book 3 (expected publication date: June 25th, 2019)

Where you can find Smitten by the Brit: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Synopsis:

DEFINITELY, MAYBE…OR LOVE, ACTUALLY? 

English professor Bonnie Blythe expects her life to play out like her favorite novels, especially now that her long-term boyfriend has finally proposed. So when a shocking discovery leads Bonnie to end her engagement, she decides to close the book on love. But the plot thickens when a brand-new character enters the scene—and quickens Bonnie’s heart.

With his brilliant blue eyes, sexy accent, and irresistible charm, Theo Wharton is like a romantic hero straight out of a Jane Austen novel. When fate places Bonnie in England for a summer—conveniently close to Theo—she realizes a hot friends-with-benefits fling is exactly what she needs to start a fresh chapter. Just as Bonnie begins to believe she’s falling in love, an eye-opening revelation into Theo’s life makes Bonnie feel like she’s wandered into one of her favorite books. Will Bonnie have the courage to risk her heart and turn the page with the dashing Brit to find her true happy ending after all?

My review:

I was interested in reading Smitten by the Brit. The sparks that Bonnie and Theo had in Getting Hot with the Scot was terrific. But, since Bonnie was engaged and Theo was a gentleman, they didn’t do anything about it. So, yes, I was interested in the book. I needed to know if they got together.

The plot for Smitten by the Brit was pretty straightforward. Bonnie walks in on her fiancee having sex with another woman on her bed. Devastated, she decides to take a summer job teaching in England. Where Theo is. The more Bonnie hangs out with Theo, the more she starts falling for him. Is it a rebound? Or is what she’s feeling for Theo the real thing?

I liked Bonnie. She was one of the more relatable characters that I have read in a while. I liked that she was quirky, loved Shakespeare, and loved to read. She was a sweet girl in this book.

Theo annoyed me, but I liked him. He was between a rock and a hard place the entire book. I wish that he grew a backbone sooner than later.

Bonnie and Theo’s relationship was a huge focal point of the book. I mean, it is a romance novel about them. I loved that the author didn’t have Bonnie fall heads over heels for Theo right after her break up with Gabe. It wouldn’t have sat right with me. Instead, she was an emotional mess. She was dealing with the baggage of Gabe cheating on her (and blaming her for it, flipping tool!!). That baggage had to be dealt with for her to move onto Theo. In that sense, the book did go slowly. Which I didn’t mind, weirdly enough. But, once she arrived in England, their relationship sped up. And that was months after her breakup with Gabe.

The sexual attraction and sexual tension carried over from Getting Hot with the Scot. I loved it. I haven’t read a book where the sexual tension between secondary characters was carried over as flawlessly as it did in this one. The author did a fantastic job of building it up and keeping it up. For the entire book. Loved it. Each sex scene was explosive. Each sex scene was fantastic.

I also liked the humor in Smitten by the Brit. From the beginning, I was giggling at the one-liners that Bonnie, Ana, Sadie, Delaney, and Cassie had. The whole scene with Ana showing Bonnie how to give a blowjob on a popsicle was hilarious.

As much as I liked the book and its characters, there were some parts of it I didn’t like. I couldn’t stand Theo’s mother. Talk about a controlling, cold woman. She had absolute control over Theo. I also didn’t like how Bonnie refused to talk to Cassie about her feelings. I understood why she didn’t want to talk to Cassie. But, she should have been honest with her.

The end of the book was fantastic. I am not going to get into it. I will say this. It was the perfect ending for this book!!

I would give Smitten by the Brit an Adult rating. There is explicit 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 Smitten by the Brit. I would also recommend it to family and friends.

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

All opinions stated in this review of Smitten by the Brit are mine.

Have you read Smitten by the Brit?

Your thoughts on it?

Could you date a man whose mother is constantly up his butt?

Let me know!!

Attracted to the Earl (Imperfect Lords: Book 3) by Bronwen Evans

Attracted to the Earl (Imperfect Lords Book 3) by [Evans, Bronwen]

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: May 28th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: Imperfect Lords

Addicted to the Duke—Book 1 (review here)

Drawn to the Marquess—Book 2 (review here)

Attracted to the Earl—Book 3

Where you can find Attracted to the Earl: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Unable to read or write, an earl discovers love in the last place he expects to find it—within the embrace of a brilliant woman—in this sexy, irresistible novel from USA Today bestselling author Bronwen Evans.

What’s an earl to do?
The Earl of Argyle has died suddenly, leaving his brother Guy Neville at a complete loss. The dull-witted second son, as his father used to call him, Guy is now responsible for the estate and his brother’s seat in the House of Lords. Shamed by an inability to read or write, his distress is multiplied by an inquiry from a dyed-in-the-wool bluestocking who wishes to use the Argyle library and study a rare plant on the estate. Guy’s first instinct is to decline her request—until he catches a glimpse of Miss Abigail Pinehurst.

How’s a girl to behave?
Abigail cares for only one thing: plants. She is unconcerned about how she looks, what she wears, or the impression she makes on men. An orphan who turned to books for solace in a miserly, cruel institution, she now makes her living illustrating the greenery she adores. Lord Argyle, in fact, with his uncanny memory and chiseled features, is the first man to capture her attention—a ridiculous distraction since he is so far above her station. But her unreasonable heart has a mind of its own.

My Review:

Guy Neville doesn’t know what to do. His older brother passed away, leaving him The Earl of Argyle. The reason Guy is at a loss is that Guy doesn’t know how to read or write. If it came out that he was illiterate, it could cost him the Earldom. When Guy meets the beautiful Abigail Pinehurst, Guy knows that his cousin has sent her to spy on him. Can he trust her? Or will she be the one to uncover all his secrets and use them against him?

Abigail Pinehurst is being used to spy on Guy. She doesn’t want to spy on him. With her reputation at stake, as well as her sister’s, Abigail would do anything to keep her blackmailer from talking. But, once she gets to know Guy, she wants to help him. Can Abigail do that without letting him know about her past? Can she protect her sister?

I am going to start this review with a trigger warning. There are several explicit scenes of child abuse. Guy endured emotional, physical, and psychological abuse that took years for him to get over. I went cold reading what he went through. Some people might think that the descriptions were too much, but I disagree. Those graphic scenes only showcased how strong he was. If you are triggered by child abuse, then do not read the book. Unfortunately, Guy’s abuse is a significant part of his character and part of the plot.

Guy’s inability to read or write had me wondering. Did he have a form of dyslexia? Everything that was mentioned made me think that he did.

Whenever Guy remembered his childhood, I got tears in my eyes. He had cracked ribs at 7. He was forced to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. He was dunked into wells. He was starved. He was beaten. All because he couldn’t read or write. My heart broke into smithereens every time he remembered something. I was thrilled that he had a secure support system when he was an adult. The support and love that he was denied as a child were there tenfold.

Abigail didn’t have a much better childhood. Her childhood wasn’t talked about until the latter half of the book. I was heartbroken when it was revealed where she came from. Then I got angry. When everything was explained, I understood why she decided to spy on Guy. She had Dora to protect.

Abigail and Guy had some serious chemistry going. From the minute she showed up, dripping wet, the sparks flew. I wasn’t too surprised when their chemistry exploded.

Their sex scenes were intense. I liked that Abigail wasn’t a shy virgin. She was able to look at Guy and not shrink from the size of his member. She was able to take intense pleasure from them having sex. I liked that Guy didn’t have to be gentle with her.

The main plotline, Guy’s disability and Abigail being sent there to spy on him, was well written. I liked that Guy went from being terrified that his disability would get out to not caring. He was willing to have someone else take over rather than have Patrick take over the estate.

I felt terrible for Abigail in this plotline. She was being blackmailed into doing something that she didn’t want to do. All she wanted to do was sketch the Ghost Orchid. Instead, she was forced to look for anything that would give Patrick leverage over Guy. It was a horrible position to be in.

I couldn’t stand Patrick. He was a slimy man who got what was coming to him. I wished that Kit did what he threatened earlier. It would have taken care of a lot of things.

I did figure out what Abigail’s secret was early in the book. The author dropped enough hints. But it wasn’t until Patrick saying something that it was confirmed.

I liked the end of Attracted to the Earl. I loved the note that Abigail got from her mother. The epilogue made me smile. I loved seeing them in a good place!!

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

I would reread Attracted to the Earl I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

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

Realm by Alexandrea Weis

Realm by [Weis, Alexandrea]

3.5 Stars

Publisher: Vesuvian Books

Date of publication: May 14th, 2019

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction

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

Book synopsis:

Based on a true story.

When her homeland is conquered by the mighty Alexander the Great, Roxana—the daughter of a mere chieftain—is torn from her simple life and thrown into a world of war and intrigue.

Terrified, the sixteen-year-old girl of renowned beauty is brought before the greatest ruler the world has ever known. Her life is in his hands; her future his to decide.

Without formal education or noble blood, Roxana is chosen by the Greek conqueror to be his bride. Soon she comes to know profound happiness and unyielding desire in her warrior’s arms.

However, being the king’s consort comes at a heavy price. To survive her husband’s treacherous kingdom, she must endure continuous warfare, deadly plots, jealous rivals, victory-hungry generals, and the stigma of being a barbarian. Persian blood will keep her from claiming the grandest title of all—queen—but her reign will seal the fate of an empire.

History tells his story. This is hers.

My Review:

When I read the blurb for Realm, I was intrigued. Like everyone else, I have heard of Alexander the Great. I have watched movies made about his life. I have read books about his exploits. But I had never heard of Roxana. There were mentions of a beautiful Persian princess, but no details were given. So, when I read that this book was about that mysterious Persian princess, I needed to read the book. I am glad that I read it because I got an insight into what being a woman was like back in those times. I also got a great insight into what being the wife and consort of Alexander the Great was like too.

Realm was hard to read at times. I am not a shrinking violet when it comes to violence, but I couldn’t get past certain scenes. An example would be Roxana witnessing the execution of some of Alexander’s troops. I was disgusted by the description. I will never be able to look at elephants feet the same way again.

I did like Roxana at first. I liked how she handled Alexander from the moment she met him. She wasn’t afraid to back down. But, after he died, her spirit dimmed. She wasn’t outspoken enough, in my eyes. I mean, she was being used as a political pawn. All because she was the mother of Alexander’s child. She did regain some of her fire in the middle of the book. Only to lose it at the end. I was disappointed by that. I would have loved to see her fire present the entire book.

I liked how Alexander and Roxana’s relationship was allowed to go at its own pace. There was no Instalove, well at least on Roxana’s part. It took her a long time to develop feelings for Alexander.

I know that many marriages were common back in those days. I loved how the author chose to portray Roxana’s reaction to it. Loved it!!

Once Alexander died, the book became confusing and boring for me to read. I know that the author was following timelines and real events but still. It became a dry read for me. There were only so many assassinations, murders, and generals out for themselves that I could take. But, it did illustrate how trapped Roxana was. I couldn’t even imagine living as she did. After her son was born, she was on the run for seven years. I can’t even imagine doing that.

The end of Realm broke my heart. I knew what was going to happen and was hoping so bad that the author would put her spin on things. Of course, it didn’t happen, and my heart broke into tiny little pieces.

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

I would reread Realm. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

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

Touch of Smoke by Karissa Laurel

Touch of Smoke by [Laurel, Karissa]

5 Stars

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing

Date of publication: February 8th, 2019

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, New Adult

Where you can find Touch of Smoke: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Three years ago, Rikki Albemarle watched her best friend die at the hands of a supernatural evil. Certain she was slated to be the next victim, Rikki fled her small Smoky Mountain hometown, vowing to never come back. Plagued by nightmares and knowing she’s the only one who believes Mina’s death was no accident, Rikki returns with hopes of finding answers and holding the killer accountable.

Rikki is convinced the key to unlocking the secret of Mina’s death lies with Owen Amir, the alluring young army vet who once claimed her heart. But the deeper Rikki digs into Owen’s past, the more she’s torn between the urgings of her heart and her memories of him on the night Mina died.

After falling further into the rabbit hole, Rikki lands at the feet of an ancient and powerful evil determined to finish what it started years before. To survive, she’ll have to make a decision: believe Owen is the monster she always feared he might be or trust him enough to stay and fight for a second chance at love.

My Review:

Touch of Smoke was a fantastic read. I don’t give 5-star reviews easily. A book has to capture my attention and keep it. I have to form a connection with both the male and female lead. Touch of Smoke hit all those and then some.

Touch of Smoke has a dual plotline. One takes place in the past and the other in the present. Usually, I don’t like that type of plotlines. In my experience, this type of plotlines generally gets me confused. Which in turns makes me lose interest in the book. In this case, though, the author was obvious when she was switching from the past to the present/the present to the past. She also did not give away what happened in the past. There were hints, but nothing prepared me for what happened. She also did a fantastic job of merging the two storylines mid-book. It was flawless.

The main plotline of Touch of Smoke centers around Erika (or Rikki), Owen and what happened that night her best friend, Mina, was killed. Rikki came back to town to face her demons, which meant that she had to face Owen and his role in what happened that night. When an ancient evil arrives in Evansville, Rikki needs to make a choice. Will she trust Owen and help him? Or will Rikki stand aside and let that evil destroy him? If she does help him, what will be the price that she pays?

I loved Rikki. She was a tough cookie. She was also the hardest working character that I have come across in a while. This woman worked two jobs while going to a community college. She was an EMT, and she worked in stable, cleaning stalls. I did think she was silly for pushing Owen away. I wanted to reach through the book and shake her. Her actions at the end of the book were amazing. And selfless.

I fell in love with Owen every time he showed up in the book. Who wouldn’t? He was an Army veteran who fell head over heels with Rikki. I loved that he didn’t push her into doing anything that she didn’t want to do. He let her set the bar for their relationship. He did have his secrets, though. I liked how the author revealed them.

The romance angle of Touch of Smoke was terrific. I loved seeing Owen and Rikki’s relationship evolve. It wasn’t Instalove (far from it). The author chose to have Owen and Rikki date and go from there. The scene where Rikki decides to throw caution to the wind was poignant. Mainly because of what happened a few days (at least I think it was a few days) later.

The fantasy angle of Touch of Smoke was terrific also. I liked how the author took the jinn myth and made it her own. I had no issue believing that jinns weren’t like Genie from Aladdin. Instead, they were out for themselves. The story that Owen tells about the boy, the ring and the jinn explains everything.

The end of Touch of Smoke broke my freaking hearts into little bits. Like I mentioned above, what Rikki did was selfless. I was ugly crying in the chapter after that. Of course, I liked how the author had Owen explain everything to Rikki in a story, including what he did after. But still. Ugly Crying. In the middle of the day. Enough said!!

I would give Touch of Smoke an Older Teen rating. There is sex (nothing graphic). There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread Touch of Smoke. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

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

An Indigo Wind (The Four: Book 2) by Margaret Watson

An Indigo Wind (The Four Book 2) by [Watson, Margaret]

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication: May 14th, 2019

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Series: The Four

The Third Eye—book 1 (review here)

An Indigo Wind—book 2

Dark Matter—book 3

Red Dawn Rising—book 4

Where you can find An Indigo Wind: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Firefighter Gianna Fallon struggles to hide her unusual talents – especially her ability to control fire. But when she and Callan Doyle are tasked with taking down a compound creating warriors with superpowers, both will need every tool they possess. 

Callan Doyle, surfer and former SEAL, hates what happened when he began receiving the mysterious injections that changed who he was. Still, he’ll use those changes to help destroy that compound. 

But a powerful evil hides in plain sight in the compound, making their task more treacherous. As a net slowly surrounds them, can they neutralize the evil in the compound before the net pulls tight and evil eliminates them? 

My Review:

I was excited when I read the blurb for An Indigo Wind. I was wondering who would be the next couple featured in The Four series. So, when I read that it was going to be Gianna and Callan (Cal), I was super psyched. Sparks flew between them in The Third Eye. Because of that, I was curious to see how their relationship was going to progress.

I liked Gianna. I was fascinated by her ability to control fire. Forget her superhuman strength; I liked that she could control fire. I was also intrigued that her fire manifested with her emotions. Any strong feelings and flames would appear on her hands. I also liked her super hearing. It helped her in more than one situation.

She was a born mutant. I do wish that the author had gone more into how she discovered her powers. There was an explanation about it manifesting when she went through puberty. An example was given about when she was lighting a magazine on fire. Other than that, nada. I would have loved to know how Gianna knew she had powers.

I liked Cal. For a former surfer, he didn’t give that laid back “brah” attitude that most have. If he hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have known that he surfed before joining the SEALS. I was fascinated with his ability to teleport. He was able to go anywhere. What I liked, even more, was that he was able to take people. Usually, if teleportation is mentioned, the person couldn’t take people.

Cal kept insisting that he was a made mutant, but I wondered. It wasn’t until the middle of the book that Cal admitted that he had powers before getting injected with Jack’s blood. He had an affinity with water. Jack’s blood gave him the ability to teleport, increased his affinity with water, and gave him the ability to control the weather. I did feel bad for Cal, though. He felt violated because of how he got his powers.

Cal and Gianna’s romance started slow but morphed into something hot. The sex scenes were out of this world!! I will say that I liked what happened when fire and water mixed. Not saying much on this but I will say that the title of the book is appropriate!!

I liked how the storyline from The Third Eye progressed. Enough was revealed and explained in An Indigo Wind that made me excited for Dark Matter. I have a feeling that I know how the next pairing will be and I can’t wait.

I do have to mention Rickart. All I will say is that I have a feeling that he is about to become a significant player in the remaining books. I am not going to say much more than that.

An Indigo Wind is not a stand-alone book. You need to read The Third Eye before reading this book. If you do read The Third Eye, read the epilogue. It explains a lot.

The end of An Indigo Wind was satisfying. I am not going to get into it, but I was surprised by what happened. It set up book three perfectly.

I would give An Indigo Wind an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is language. There is violence. I would reccomend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread An Indigo Wind. I would also recommend it to family and friends.

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

Have you read An Indigo Wind?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

A Safe Place (The Devereux Family: Book 1) by Margaret Watson

A Safe Place (The Devereux Family Book 1) by [Watson, Margaret]

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication date: February 19th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: The Devereux Family

A Safe Place—Book 1

The Woman He Knows—Book 2

Bending the Rules—Book 3

Where you can find A Safe Place: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Tough, tender-hearted Frankie Devereux doesn’t have time to babysit a smooth-talking football player who’s supposed to be doing community service at her after-school center for troubled teens. She’s dealing with serious stuff – gang problems, a homeless pregnant girl and scraping together enough money to keep her center open.

But when a dark secret from her past threatens Frankie and the existence of her program, Cal tries to step up and help. But with his career on the line, which will he choose? Football? Or Frankie and her vulnerable kids?–

My Review:

When I read the blurb for A Safe Place, my attention was caught. A football player was doing community service. A woman was running a center for troubled teens. That was enough for me to agree to review it. I am glad I did. A Safe Place was a fantastic read.

The plotline with Frankie, FreeZone, and the head of DCF was troubling but well written. I was troubled because I had no issue seeing what happened to Frankie in her teens happening to a girl in real life. I am not going to go off on a tangent but sometimes people in positions of power like that prey upon the very people they are supposed to protect. I cheered when Frankie took the power that man had over her and owned it. I also cheered when Frankie delivered on her promise.

Cal’s plotline wasn’t as extreme as Frankie’s, but he did have issues. He was dealing with a possible career ending injury and doing community service. His plotline didn’t go into his issues as deep as it did with Frankie, but they were there.

I didn’t like Cal. He was a self-absorbed jerk for about 90% of the book. Everything about that man irked me. The way he treated Frankie. The way he treated the kids, Ramon especially. He turned everything into about him or sex. He did get better as the book went on but still. I couldn’t bring myself to like him.

I thought that Frankie was a strong woman. She overcame some horrific things in her early teens. She turned that pain into something positive. Her determination to help the teens in her center was admirable. I also liked the strength that it took to confront the man that hurt her. Like I said above, she owned it.

As much as I didn’t like Cal, he and Frankie had some serious heat together. Their sexual chemistry was off the wall. When they finally did have sex, it was hot.

I didn’t get much of a romance vibe from Cal and Frankie. It was more of a sex thing for me. So what happened at the end of the book didn’t jive with me. Don’t get me wrong; I was happy about it. But it was something that I couldn’t even picture.

The end of A Safe Place was satisfying. I can’t get into why but I ended the book with a huge grin on my face. I can’t wait to read book 2!!

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

I would reread A Safe Place. I would also recommend this book to family and friends

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

Have you read A Safe Place?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

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!!

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

Love it? 

Hate it?

Meh about it?

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