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

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!!

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!!“.

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.

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.

Getting Hot with the Scot (Sometimes in Love: Book 1) by Melonie Johnson

4 Stars

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

Date of publication: August 30th, 2019

Series: Sometimes in Love

Getting Hot with the Scot—Book 1

Smitten by the Brit—Book 2 (expected publication date: May 28th, 2019)

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

Where to find Getting Hot with the Scot: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookbub

Synopsis:

IT’S TIME TO FLIRT WITH A MAN IN A KILT

Cassie Crow, a pop-culture reporter for a TV talk show, is focused on becoming a “serious” journalist. But when she stumbles into a kilted Highlander with a killer accent, Cassie decides that taking one night off from work and spending it with a sexy Scot couldn’t hurt. . .

Logan Reid has built a career on his charm, hosting a series of off-the-wall hijinks on the Web. But when the Scottish prankster meets the all-American, equal parts intelligent and irresistible Cassie, Logan realizes that one night of fun won’t be enough. Could it be that this career-focused, commitment-phobic couple is finally ready to take a chance at true and lasting love?

My review:

When I first saw the title of Getting Hot with the Scot, I was in love. I am a complete Anglophile. I love anything (and everything) that comes from England, Ireland or Scotland. I figured I was in for a treat. For the most part, I was. There were a few things that I didn’t like about the book. But other than that, I thought Getting Hot with the Scot was a delight to read.

I liked Cassie, even though she gave off some desperate vibes at the beginning of the book. She went on her dream trip expecting to have a fling. I don’t know about you, but that is not something I expect when I go on vacation. Flings, well, they happen. You can’t force them. I did like that she brought an industrial size box of condoms with her. While I agreed with her about being filmed, I also didn’t see the harm in letting them do it. I also understood her freak out seeing the release form in Logan’s jacket pocket. If I had spent 2 days with a guy and found that out, I would have reacted the same way.

I liked Chicago Cassie better than Trip Cassie. She was more real and relatable. She seemed more in control than when she was on the trip. Saying that I did think her reaction to seeing the video online was overboard. She signed a release. You would think that working on TV would have prepared her for that. It irritated me a little bit. But, I got over it. By the end of the book, Cassie was the most real that she was the entire book. I was able to connect to her the most at that point.

Logan, I didn’t care for. Imagine that, not caring for a hot Scottish man. It killed me inside to realize that. He came across as an immature prankster who only cared about his gratification. I also got some major stalker vibes through the book. He followed Cassie to her hotel. Got Theo to find out that they were staying there and booked a room. Then pretended to run into her. Then, he tracked her down in Chicago. When I say tracked her down, he called her. But still, he googled where she worked and found that where he was going was in the same building. Then debated showing up at her job!! No thank you. His immaturity shown through when he released the video of him and Cassie kissing in the castle. He was so wasted he couldn’t remember it. Drove me nuts. I wanted to smack him upside the head and say “Why, why did you do it?“

The sexual tension was high in this book. From the first kiss, Cassie and Logan had it going on. The author was able to keep the spark going throughout the book. Intense sexual tension leads to some pretty awesome sex scenes. Even the makeup sex was hot!!

I had a love/hate relationship with the Scottish part of the book. I loved that it was set in the Highlands. I loved that the author had Logan, Janet and Mam speak like they were from there. I tend to read with accents, so that helped with me a lot. I loved that the Scottish traditions were detailed. But, I didn’t like having to google/look up words and holidays. Like clooties. I had no flipping idea what they were. I had to look them up. And so you guys don’t have too, click here for the link. I wish that there was a glossary or something at the end of the book. It would have helped.

The end of the book was sweet. I loved the talk that Mam gave Logan. He needed it. He needed to be told what she told him. I couldn’t stand Tiffany after what she did to Cassie. I was hoping that she got fired. The direction that Cassie’s career went was impressive!! What I loved, even more, was what Logan did during the New Years celebration. My heart melted.

My final impression of Getting Hot with the Scot is this. It is a cute romance. The chemistry between Logan and Cassie was electric. I did find that Logan was immature. He also gave off stalkerish vibes. I also noticed that Cassie tended to react and then think about what she did after the fact. But, this was a good read.

I would give Getting Hot with the Scot an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is language. There is mild violence. There are triggers. They would be the loss of a parent. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Getting Hot with the Scot. I would also 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 Getting Hot with the Scot.

All opinions stated in this review of Getting Hot with the Scot are mine.

The Third Eye (The Four: Book 1) by Margaret Watson

The Third Eye (The Four Book 1) by [Watson, Margaret]

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication: April 9th, 2019

Genre: Romance, Paranormal

Series: The Four

The Third Eye-–Book 1

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

Book Synopsis:

When evil invades her office building, Dr. Rowan Burke discovers her ‘gifts’ in the nick of time. After Detective Jack Murphy helps her avert a massacre, it’s clear he’s another ‘gift’ — one that draws her deeper into a new reality of darkness and magic.

While working together to defeat a powerful foe, Rowan and Jack become targets as they uncover a sinister conspiracy to create soldiers with extraordinary abilities. Struggling to stay one step ahead of an enemy who grows more terrifying by the moment, they must learn to see all the possibilities in each other’s gifts — if they’re going to survive.

My review

I have been reading a ton of PNR lately. I’m not complaining about it – actually, the opposite. I am loving reading them. When I read the blurb for The Third Eye, I was intrigued by it. I am glad that I read it. This was a fantastic PNR!!

The Third Eye starts with Rowan waking up to her grandmother screaming in her bedroom. After waking her up, Rowan is told that she has a gift. She can see in the future and past. She is hit with the news that there is a whole subculture of people like Rowan. Rowan didn’t believe it until she started seeing visions. While she was picking up her possessions from a job that she was fired from. These visions helped save people’s lives, along with her own. But, she makes a powerful enemy. Someone who wants her dead. Can Rowan stay one step ahead of this group? Or will she become a victim?

The main plotline of The Third Eye is Rowan and her dance with her dangerous enemy. I thought that it was well written. The author did a great job of keeping who the bad guy was until the end.

There were a few secondary plotlines. I liked how they added to the plotline. Sometimes the secondary plotlines will take over the main one. Not in this case. These were kept in the background until the author decided to merge them with the main plotline.

I loved Rowan in The Third Eye. For someone who had a whole lot of crap dumped on her, she dealt with it pretty well. I mean, if I went through what she did, I would have been a basket case. I liked how she embraced her gifts. I also liked how she was willing to stand her ground and fight.

I liked Jack. His belief in Rowan was rock solid. I wasn’t surprised that he had powers. I was surprised at what they were. Sometimes, I wish I had those powers. While I understood his anger at Mason, I thought he went a little overboard. He also irritated me at the end of the book.

The secondary characters were awesome. I loved Aislinn, Flynn (I want to know her backstory!!), Gianna, Mason, and Cal. I cannot wait to see who the author pairs together. But, I have a feeling that I know. There were a couple of scenes in the book that made me go “Hmmmm.”

I thought that The Third Eye was a great fit in the paranormal genre. Rowan’s introduction to her second sight was interesting as was her bonding with her Moonstone. I am interested in seeing where this series goes.

I also thought that The Third Eye was a great fit in the romance genre. I will warn everyone; this isn’t a “get to know you” romance. It is an Instalove romance. I am not a fan of Instalove, but but certain storylines need it. And The Third Eye’s is one. Jack and Rowan couldn’t have had a romance if it was any other way.

The sex scenes were steamy!! If it could have, my Kindle’s screen would have steamed up. Jack and Rowan also had significant sexual tension. I saw it right from the beginning. The author did a fantastic job of keeping it going, even after they had sex.

The end of The Third Eye was great. I liked how the author resolved Rowan’s issues. I did a fist pump and said “Yes” when that happened. But even more, I loved the last chapters. All I have to say is that Rowan was right and Jack was a fool. The epilogue has me interested. Because of who and what was introduced. It went well with what Rowan was experiencing. I am wondering how it is going to figure into the next book.

I would give The Third Eye an Adult rating. There is explicit 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 Third Eye. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review The Third Eye.

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

Bloodline Destinies by Iuliana Foos

4 Stars

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: February 13th, 2019

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Where you can find Bloodline Destinies: Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

In the year 2516 humans share Earth with elusive vampires and GeMs—a new species of blood-drinkers who appeared after the Flood.

Months before his five-hundredth birthday, Theodor De Croix, Prince of The Old Coven, crosses paths with Vivienne. Torn between proving himself worthy of his bloodline and centuries-old beliefs about true love, he saves her life but rejects the idea that she might be sent to him by fate itself.

Vivienne is a human scientist turned GeM in an accident. Body and mind forever altered, she struggles every day to adapt to her new life. Attracted to the man who saved her, but fearing his kind, she finds herself in more danger than ever.

Caught up in a whirlwind of dreams and evil plots, both must confront their own demons in order to save each other, testing the powers of fate and love.

My Review:

I am going to start this review off with a warning. There are triggers in this book. Vivienne was tortured and abused in this book. What she went through before and afterward was a significant part of the plotline. So, if you are triggered by abuse, do not read this book.

Vivienne is GeM who has endured the worst kind of abuse. Escaping from her captor, she crosses paths with Theodor De Croix. Theo saves her from certain death. Vivienne is torn between her desire for Theo and her fear of what he is. Can she overcome her fear and her past? Can she allow herself to love Theo?

Bloodline Destinies has three significant plotlines. Vivienne and her recovery from abuse are one. Theo and his dance with Malvina was the second one. Malvina and her quest to avenge Ivan is the third one. I loved them all.

There were a couple of twists in Bloodline Destinies that I saw coming. They both involved Malvina. Even though I guessed at what was going to happen, they still surprised me.

I will say that I liked that the book took place almost 500 years in the future. I loved the whole backstory about the alien ship and the destruction it caused on Earth. Also, the entire storyline on how the GeMs were created was fascinating.

The sub-storyline that detailed Vivienne’s abuse and the aftermath from it broke my heart. Her strength poured off the pages.

I liked Vivienne. She had immense strength. I loved how she adjusted to being a GeM. Even though she was made into one the previous year, she was never allowed to learn how to be one (if that makes sense). I thought her fear of Theo was a little much. I could understand why she was scared of him. She had a prey response to him. But he showed her, over and over again, that he wouldn’t harm a hair on her head. That was the only complaint I had about her.

I did like Theo, even if he had a quick temper and came across as a jerk for 90% of the book. Don’t get me wrong; he wasn’t all bad. He came across as a grump. But, he did love Vivienne and was willing to do whatever it took to make sure she was safe.

Malvina was slimy. From her first scene, I knew she wasn’t good news. And man, she was bad. I understood why she wanted to avenge Ivan’s death. That was her dad. She did get what she deserved at the end of the book. She should have been killed off sooner (sorry for the spoiler!!)

As always, the secondary characters added an extra depth to the story. I liked how the author brought in Ana and Andree from book one but kept them in the background. I also loved seeing Thora. I was surprised by Serge and his actions. I didn’t think he would do what he did.

I thought that Bloodline Destinies was an excellent fit for the romance genre. I liked how the author took Vivienne and Theo’s romance slow. I liked that there were setbacks. I also liked that there was a love triangle going on between Victor, Vivienne, and Theo.

As for the sex in this book, it’s there, but the author doesn’t go into detail. It wasn’t until a key scene at the end that I realized that Theo and Vivienne had even had sex. I was confused by it for a minute then the lightbulb went on.

I thought that Bloodline Destinies was a great fit in the paranormal genre. I loved that the author had a new vampire subspecies. The GeMs were fascinating. I do wish that more detail was given about the GeMs. Like why they were so hated.

The end of Bloodline Destinies was what I thought it would be. It was predictable. The storylines were all wrapped up in a way that I liked. I am interested in reading Thora’s story.

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

I would reread Bloodlines Origins. I would also recommend to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Bloodline Origins.

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

Bloodlines Origins by Iuliana Foos

4 Stars

Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing

Date of publication: April 11th, 2018

Genre: Paranormal, Romance

Where you can find Bloodline Origins: Barnes and Noble | Amazon| BookBub

Book synopsis:

Determined to turn her fantasy into reality, Ana starts her journey to become a vampire. Along the way, she learns the truth about their secret society, discovers her prestigious bloodline, and falls in love.

Not all vampires are accepting of humans and war looms in the shadows. An ancient tome reveals the vampires’ alien descent and sparks war.

An army bent on eradicating her coven’s existence threatens her new world. Survival or annihilation will be in Ana’s hands.

My review:

I have been reading a lot of paranormal romances lately. Before reading Bloodline Origins, I was getting burnt out on them. So, when I had the opportunity to read/review this book, I already had an opinion formed about it. Then I read the book and was surprised. The author took a typical vampire romance and added her flair to it. I loved it!!

The plot of Bloodline Origins was interesting. Ana was attacked by Ivan and his friend on her way home from the beach. During that attack, Ana learns that vampires are real. So, she asks to join them. Ana finds acceptance and the courage to overcome past hurts. She falls in love. But, there are sinister forces at work. A vampire with an agenda is plotting to eradicate Ana’s new family. Can Ana save her family? Or will she watch them be annihilated before her very eyes?

I connected with Ana. She was a well-written character who had to overcome her past to morph into the woman that she became in the book. Ana wasn’t perfect. She was a normal human woman. I did like that nothing seemed to faze her, well outward. Everything was kept internal.

I liked her reactions when she realized what she got herself into. They went from fear to doubt to acceptance. I loved that she had an opportunity to back out at any time. The scene where she carved her initials on Andree’s hand was the turning point for her. The author created enough doubt for me to wonder if she’d go through with it.

I loved Andree. He was a little bit intimidating when he was introduced in the book. But that went away after a few of his interactions with Ana. As much as I loved hem, I did think that he took some liberties with Ana. Like reading her mind while she was sleeping. And then having David scan her while she was asleep. I got a little peeved with that. That was the only time I got annoyed with him. Every other time in the book, he was perfect. He was patient and so in love with her that I got jealous!!!

Ivan was a creep. I didn’t understand his obsession with wiping out Emilia’s coven. I did feel bad for him, kind of, when Collin was killed. But it fueled his desire to end them even more.

Bloodline Origins fit with the paranormal genre. I was interested in the plotline about the aliens and how vampires came to be. It was an original and different retelling. I am interested in seeing where the author goes with that.

I also liked the different take that the author took on vampires. For one, if a woman was pregnant when turned, she could give birth to a vampire hybrid. But, it was only between certain weeks in the pregnancy. I also liked that the full blood vampires could go out in the sun, but they had to drink a serum. But, the hybrids could go out in the sun, and they didn’t rely on blood to survive.

The book also fits with the romance genre. The love that Andree and Ana had for each other was terrific. Even though it was Instalove, they were bonded within a few days. As for the sex scenes, which are essential in a romance novel, they weren’t graphic. The author spent no time on them at all. It took me a few chapters, after the wedding, to realize that they had sex.

The end of Bloodline Origins was interesting. I am curious to see if what was said will come true. I am also eager to read the next book!!

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

I would reread Bloodlines Origins. I would also recommend to family and friends.

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

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Bloodline Origins.

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

Love, Again by L.P. Dover

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: April 9th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Where you can find Love, Again: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Sometimes all you need is a second chance.

“L. P. Dover knows how to create the men who make us swoon, the book boyfriends we all want.”—New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin

Aubrey Reynolds is a small-town girl who’s made it big. A successful Hollywood director, Aubrey doesn’t have time to linger on what could have been. But when a routine blood test comes back with a false positive, she decides to take some time off to do the things she’s always wanted to do: taste the famous chocolate chip cookies at the Minnesota State Fair, hike the Grand Teton National Park, scuba dive in the Caribbean. But after Aubrey admits to herself what she’s really missing, she heads back home to Dusty Valley, Oklahoma . . . and the man she left behind.

Cole Haywood is a small-town fireman and that’s just fine with him. Sure, when the love of his life left their hometown to chase her dreams he was heartbroken and—he’ll admit—damn mad. But Cole would have never forgiven himself if he had held Aubrey back from success. So the last thing he expects after all these years is to walk into his favorite bar one night and find the girl he’s always loved—there—looking for him. Maybe now’s the time to make his dreams come true.

Love, Again is about how a love lost can be revived. Aubrey left Cole behind when she moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of being a successful director. Ten years, go by and Aubrey has never forgotten Cole. Then a misdiagnosis puts everything into focus. Aubrey puts her career on hold to follow her bucket list. The list includes going back to Oklahoma and making amends with Cole. Can Cole forgive Aubrey? Will they make amends? Will they revive their relationship?

I so needed to read Love, Again. I needed to read a book with a simple plot. The last few books I have read have had plots that were all over the place. So, reading a book that was focused only on one thing was terrific. It was a balm for my brain.

I liked that Love, Again was a second chance romance. Out of all the genres/troupes, second chance romances is in my top 5. I love reading about characters who get back together after being separated for years. I like seeing those characters reconnect. Audrey and Cole was no exception.

I liked Aubrey. I did think that she was too chill about certain things (like her misdiagnosis). I loved her bucket list. There were a few things on there that I want to do. She didn’t come across as a typical Hollywood person. She seemed genuine to the people that she met. I didn’t understand how she could leave Cole a month before the wedding. That was the only time I thought she was selfish. But, when it was revealed why she left and who was behind it, then I understood. My feelings about her being selfish went away, and I pitied her. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I did like Cole, but I didn’t get as good as a connection to him. His chapters were introduced rather late in the book. Don’t get me wrong; he was excellent for Aubrey. I felt that something was missing on my end. I wish I could explain it. But I can’t.

Love, Again was a perfect fit into the romance category. Being a second chance romance, I didn’t have an issue with Cole and Aubrey falling in love . Usually, I would be screaming “Instalove,” but in this case, it wasn’t. Aubrey and Cole had a history. They knew they were soulmates. So, yeah, I had no issue with them saying the “L” word as soon as they did in the book.

Aubrey and Cole’s romance was relatable to me. They were soul mates that separated. It did take them ten years, but once they got back together, it was almost like they were never apart. Their love for each other came off the pages.

The sexual tension and chemistry between Aubrey and Cole were steaming hot. From the minute they saw each other, I could see the zings. The author did have them have sex shortly after they saw each other. Again, something that would bother me, but in this case, it didn’t. The sex was red hot. The author was able to keep the sexual tension going, which made every single sex scene amazing.

I did have a small complaint. If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, then you know how I feel about the characters having unprotected sex. I know that Aubrey and Cole were soulmates but to go bareback after ten years? Yeah, no thank you.

I did have the ending figured out. I had it figured out when Aubrey and Cole went to Turk and Caicos. Of course, I liked how the book ended up. It was the ultimate HEA. But I thought that Aubrey took an unnecessary risk cliff jumping. The epilogue was my favorite part of the book. I was hoping for an Emilia/Bennet book, but from what I read, that isn’t happening.

The author did a fantastic job at wrapping up all the plotlines in Love, Again. There was no lag in the plot. All the storylines were wrapped up, which meant that there were no dropped storylines or characters. I liked that the author took events that happened at the beginning of the book and tied it in to the end. For some reason, that made me happy.

I would give Love, Again 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 Love, Again. I would recommend it to family and friends.

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

All opinions stated in this review of Love, Again are mine.

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

Have you read Love, Again?

What are your feelings on it?

Second chance romances?

Love them or hate them?

Let me know!!

Prince of Persuasion (The Novi Navarro Chronicles: Book 1) by Emigh Cannaday

Prince of Persuasion (The Novi Navarro Chronicles Book 1) by [Cannaday, Emigh]

4.5 Stars

Publisher: Silver Popular Press

Date of publication: March 5th, 2019

Series: The Novi Navarro Chronicles

Prince of Persuasion—Book 1

Crown of Contempt—Book 2 (expected publication date: June 3rd, 2019)

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Where you can find Prince of Persuasion: Amazon | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

A dying king…
A dynasty in danger…
A prince with one duty: secure the succession!

Created when they intermingled with demons, the dark elves of Sinaryos have come to rely on humans to keep their race alive. The royal family is no exception, with a king on the verge of death, a court riddled with spies, and a broken line of succession. Despite everything working against him, Prince Fallon Blackwood has met all the demands of the crown for nearly a hundred years… except for one!

After avoiding this obligation for too long, the time has come for him to take a harem and prove that he’s capable of continuing his family’s bloodline and ensuring their control of the throne. But underneath his cool and calm exterior, Fallon secretly yearns for a much different life than the one he was born into…

Novi Navarro is a working-class barmaid who’s used to running her tavern and running her mouth. When she gets assigned to Prince Fallon’s harem by mistake, she thinks it’s a complete joke. She makes a deal with Fallon for them to both get what they want from this administrative oversight. But when members of the Blackwood Court discover her true identity, she quickly learns that she must beat them at their game… or die…

Can I tell you all how excited I was to read this book. I love fantasy. I love romance. When there is a book that brings the two genres’ together, I almost always pick it up to read. When I was approached to review Prince of Persuasion, I accepted immediately. I am glad I did because this book was fantastic.

I loved Novi in this book. She took nothing from anyone. Well, except her boss/landlord and that was because she had to. She did try to fix the administrative mistake, but no one would listen to her. Novi had a bit of snark to her as well. I was dying when she made eye contact with Fallon while thinking about him. She didn’t know that he could read her mind, which made the dance that happened right afterward even more amusing. I also died laughing when she thought that Fallon and Cedric were “together.” Let’s not forget her helping Fallon by spreading the rumor that he finished fast. I. Was. Dying. At that point, she became one of my favorite heroines.

I felt terrible for Fallon. He had to deal with a scheming mother, a brother who was plotting against him, and a father who was dying. On top of that, he had his duties as Crown Prince. One of which was to produce an heir. So, when Fallon is introduced in the book, he is not happy about being forced to procreate and take a harem. At first, I thought Fallon was a jerk. But he became less jerklike as the book went on. By the end of the book, I loved him.

The sex scenes were hot. I did laugh, though, when Novi first saw Fallon’s member. Her reaction would be one of any woman seeing something that big. I liked that the author built up Novi and Fallon’s sexual relationship too. So when they did have sex, it was hot. The author was able to keep that going through the rest of the book.

It took me a while to figure out that Prince of Persuasion was set in the same universe as the Anika Brisby series. I am not giving anything away, but I made the connection to a particular character in The Darkest of Dreams (not Talvi!!).

I could not stand Queen Laena. For a race who depended on humans to keep their race going, she didn’t like humans. There was mention of her past, and that made me wonder what she was hiding.

Tristan was also on my list. I couldn’t decide if he was going along with Queen Laena because he wanted her approval or if he was concerned for Fallon. Still, after what he did to Callie and what happened at the end of the book, he ended up on my list.

The end of the book frustrated me. I can’t stand cliffhangers. But it did its job. I need to read the next book.

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

I would reread Prince of Persuasion. 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 for allowing me to read and review Prince of Persuasion.

The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: April 2nd, 2019

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Where you can find The Girl He Used To Know: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people’s behavior confusing, she’d rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.

Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game–and his heart–to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone.

Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She’s living the life she wanted as a librarian. He’s a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins.

My review:

Annika was not expecting to fall in love when she met Jonathan. Shy and anxious in new situations, Annika keeps to herself. Annika has issues with personal relationships. She finds most people challenging to be around. But not Jonathan. He loves her for her quirks. Their relationship is perfect until a tragedy forces Annika and Jonathan apart.

Ten years later and ten years wiser, Jonathan reunites with Annika in Chicago. Jonathan realizes that his feelings for Annika never went away. Annika comes to the same realization, and they restart their relationship. Will their relationship be as strong as the first time? Or will another tragedy stop it before it can begin?

When I started reading The Girl He Used To Know, I didn’t know what to think about it. The book is told from two different 1st person perspectives. It is also told in two different time periods. In my experience, those two things do not go well together. I usually have issues following these types of storylines. I didn’t have those issues with The Girl He Used To Know.

I loved the storyline that revolved around Annika. I did guess that she had autism early in the story. I have a nephew who is non-verbal autistic, and he shares many of the earmarks that Annika did. What I also enjoyed was seeing how far Annika came from college. There was a point in the book where I thought she would give up.

I liked Jonathan. I did have my doubts about what his intentions were when he first started hanging out with Annika. But as their love story deepened, I could see that he cared about her. He never pushed her past her limits. By the end of their college romance, I was in tears. I didn’t want them to break up.

I do want to give some attention to Annika’s friendship with Janice. It was even more amazing that Janice chose to become Annika’s protector on campus. That scene where she saved Annika from a potential gang rape was short of amazing. Janice became my hero.

I thought that Annika and Jonathan’s romance was one of the sweetest romances that I have read. I couldn’t wait to see what the next step would bring. I was devastated when they broke up (and why they broke up too). When they reunited in Chicago, I did have my doubts if they would rekindle their relationship. And I was happy when they did.

The end of The Girl He Used to Know gave me chills. I am not going to get into what happened, but it was tragic. What Annika did and her determination to find Jonathan made me cry. I was a little confused by the last line of the book. It was the only thing that made zero sense to me. While I knew what it was referring to, I didn’t understand why it was at the end of the book.

I gave The Girl He Used to Know a 4-star rating. This was a well-written book that had me in tears. The characters were relatable. The plot-lines were well written. The only complaint I had about the book was the end. It made no sense to me.

I would give The Girl He Used to Know an Adult rating. There is sex (but not graphic). There is language. There is mild violence. There are triggers. They would be bullying, attempted rape and drug use. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Girl He Used to Know. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Girl He Used to Know.

All opinion stated in this review of The Girl He Used to Know are mine.

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

Have you read The Girl I Used to Know?

Love it?

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

Breaking His Rules By Aliza Mann

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: April 2nd, 2019

Genre: Romance

Where you can find Breaking His Rules: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Synopsis:

An international playboy finds true love in a sexy new standalone contemporary romance from Aliza Mann.

Ashton Lyle is a man in control. His rules are simple:
Discipline.
Hard work.
No deviation.
And lucky for him no one is able to resist his mega-watt smile, dazzling wit, sexy British accent, and ability to manipulate any situation in business . . . and in bed.
That is, until he meets a woman with rules of her own.

Terra Ellis is a self-made woman who knows what she wants.
A successful entrepreneur, she has worked hard to cultivate an impeccable image.
A tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband has reinforced her drive but it has also made her question serious relationships.
After all, a busy woman has no time for romance.
That is, until Terra meets a man who sees through her façade.

Ashton and Terra are about to discover that some rules were made to be broken. . . .

My Review:

When I started reading Breaking His Rules, I was a little put off by Ashton’s rules. I will give everyone a breakdown of his rules to dating. I thought that they were ridiculous. I also want to remind everyone that I am taking the rules from an ARC. The wording might change.

1. Never pick the prettiest woman. They’re usually merely a pretty face, have no real power, and are high maintenance or looking for more than what one has to give. No, the pretty girls will ruin your chances at playing the field. The less attractive friends always want attention and will be far more appreciative in the long run.
2. Don’t think of her as a one-night stand. Think of her as a new friend you can call at 3 a.m. asking to come round her place.
3. No discussing family history.
4. No deep conversations that linger into the wee hours. Keep things light. Airy. Like fresh laundry on a clothesline in the spring.
5. Never treat a woman poorly. Be distant instead. Not too distant, though. It’s a fine line after all.
6. Whatever you do, don’t hang out until the next morning. It gives the wrong impression. No need to contradict the aloof vibe you’ve perfected.
7. No actual dates of Friday or Saturday, as these are universally known as couples nights.
8. No consecutive days of seeing one another, either.
9. No sharing of clothing items.
10. No taking personal items to one another’s homes.
Ashton Lyle’s Playbook

Can you see why I thought they were ridiculous? But, at the same time, I did see the humor and truth in them. I dated (and remained friends) with a few guys who had different versions of Ashton’s Playbook.

I did like Ashton. I loved seeing his character evolved throughout the book. He went from being an emotionless lady killer to someone who broke all his own rules to be with Terra. What I liked, even more, was that he was able to move past his horrible childhood and make peace with it.

I loved Terra. Like Ashton, I liked seeing her character’s growth in the book. I did understand why she stayed to herself, why she was afraid to let people get to her. Baggage like she had can do that to people.

I loved that Breaking His Rules was an interracial cougar romance. I have read interracial romances (one of my favorite subgenres to read). I have read a couple of cougar romances. But them together, nope. This book was my first one, and I want more!!

The author did a fantastic job of building up the sexual tension between Terra and Ashton. She kept stroking the flames so when they had sex, it was terrific. But, what impressed me even more, was that she kept sexual tension up the entire book. What I also liked is that she had Terra be sexually adventurous. Light bondage and public sex were a theme in Breaking His Rules.

The only thing that I didn’t like about Breaking His Rules was Marcus. He made my skin crawl. I know the author kept true to what happens in the real world. It still didn’t lessen my shock and horror about what he did. I wished he hadn’t been in the story. But I do understand why the author chose to have him there. She wanted to show us what Terra was up against and what she came from.

I had the same feelings about Ashton and his father. I did think that Terra overstepped her bounds. But, if something like that happened to one of my kids, I would want to know. Her doing that did open a line of communication between Ashton and his father.

The end of Breaking His Rules was perfect. The author did a great job of wrapping up all the storylines. I loved the HEA!!! It made me happy to read that.

I would give Breaking His Rules 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 Breaking His Rules. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author, Loveswept, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Breaking His Rules.

All opinions stated in this review of Breaking His Rules are mine.

Have you read Breaking His Rules?

What are your thoughts?

Did you/do you have rules like Ashton when you are dating?

Let me know.

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