Tag: Book Review

Sacked By Surprise by Beatrice Bradshaw

5 Stars

A Rugby Romance

This is the third book in Ms. Bradshaw’s Rugby series, and it finishes with the story of Scottie who is easily the largest player on the Sterling Rebels team.  Quiet, but observant, he sees a woman in the movie theater who catches his attention.  Ava is a ballet dancer, who has been seeing another Rebel player, and has moved into Nevin’s apartment with him.  This has now put Ava into a situation where she is being treated badly-the domestic abuse is spoken about but not in detail- and her going to the movies is to give her alone time in which to consider what she should do next.  From this beginning the story progresses through sweet and loving moments to very hard moments that go from bad to worse.  The book ends satisfactorily and I enjoyed reading it very much.  This can be read as a standalone, and you won’t really be missing anything, but readers will get a better experience from having read the first two books in this series.

I was given an ARC by the author, and this is my honest opinion.   

Magical Midlife Rogue (Leveling Up #12) by K. F. Breene

5 Stars

A thrill ride, again.

With book 12 in the series Leveling Up, K. F. Breene has again shown readers that she can write a thriller with heart, a paranormal romance, and a story with a romantic heart.  Each book in this series has built on these 3 promises, and she continues to deliver.  Once you start reading you become invested in the story, and don’t want to see the series end.  I laughed and cried while reading what Jessie and Austin, and their crew, do to further their futures.  I have enjoyed every book and this one only adds to the finely woven and intricately told narrative based on a middle-aged woman finding herself.  This series is a must read for anyone who want to cheer on a perceived underdog.  Well done Queen Breene!

I was given an ARC of this book by the author, and this is my honest opinion. 

Kiss of Skye (Skye Druids Book 8) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

Outstanding! West meets East to help.

This book is centered on Mason, a member of the London Druids, and Rowan, a Druid from Washington state in America.  They meet in London while attending a large gathering of the London druids.  From this beginning Donna Grant has written a fast paced, exciting, and very involved story that moves the reader through an intricate web of characters.  As part of an ongoing series, this book should be read in order for the best experience, and what an experience Kiss of Skye is.  Well written with fully developed main characters and a supporting cast whose stories have already been told, it moves along quickly and for fans gives the reader an edge of the seat experience.  I cannot wait for the next book to read what else is going to happen to the Druids who live on the island of Skye. 

I received an ARC of this book from the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.

An Heir to Blood and Power (Billionaire Sanctuary: The Heir Book 2) by Blair Babylon

5 Stars

More and more!

This picks up where A Prince of Smoke and Mirrors left off.  Lexi Byrne, a country girl from Nebraska, and Nicolai Romanov, royal billionaire, who married yesterday evening are trying to work out how they will stay married for a full year.  Nicolai married Lexi to avoid having to marry the daughter of a Russian mafia boss, Demyan Volkov, who is now planning on his revenge.

Blair Babylon writes billionaire romance with adventure, and in this book so far, we have the romance and I’m sure that upcoming books will be giving us the adventure. Well written with great characters they are fun to read and are an escape from all our more mundane lives.  Can’t wait for book 3!

I was given an ARC of the book by the author through BookFunnel, and this is my honest opinion.

A Prince of Smoke and Mirrors (Billionaire Sanctuary: The Heir Book 1) by Blair Babylon

5 Stars

Another amazing start to a series!

Blair Babylon writes intricate and interconnected series; not just a story but a saga that once you start reading you will not want to stop. And so, with this first book in the Billionaire Sanctuary series we are introduced to Lexi Byrne, a young woman who thought she was getting married.  But as she approaches the altar, she finds out her fiancé is not who he’s been pretending he is.  Now ditched by him, his family, and all her supposed friends she is alone in Las Vegas.  Wearing her wedding dress since she has nothing but the clothes she has on, she starts busking for a few dollars as a statue in front of a hotel like building. 

Nicolai Romanov, who is related to the deposed and murdered Tsar of Russia – though he wants no part of Russia and its politics, is traveling with Harry and Megan (!) to a mutual friend’s bachelor party being held at the Las Vegas Billionaire Sanctuary.  As they and their security detail are moving toward the entrance, Nico sees a woman in white, who catches his attention.  This is the start of a compelling, exciting, and interesting set up for book 1 of this series.  Blair writes contemporary adventure romances which always have a believable plot and intertwine current political and social events into it.  None of her main series are short so there are always several books that end with a development that hooks you into the next book.  I find that I learn a lot of new things when reading Blair’s books, and her research is always spot on.  She likes to write about billionaires, which I find a bit fascinating since I, and probably most other readers, fall far below that level of income.  But I love reading about them, and this first book in the series is no different- giving us a look into the lives of the rich and famous.  Cannot wait for book 2! 

I received an ARC of the book from the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion. 

You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan

4 Stars

Christmas second chance

Six months ago, Maisie Smart, photographer with an always forward, never backward mindset and Nick King, professional hockey player who is currently injured and on the bench, had a one-night stand.  Nick felt the best way to handle the morning after is to leave without talking to Maisie.  So now Maisie has a burning anger at the man who up and left without a word.  Nick almost right away regrets not talking to Maisie and thoughts of her are in his head.  Now, just before Christmas, they find themselves in Merry, Washington.  Maisie and her family are celebrating the holiday season staying at a Christmas tree farm called Tickle Tree Farm.  Injured Nick has come to stay with his sister Ellie and nephew Asher at the tree farm she owns, Tickle Tree Farm.  With almost no chance of avoiding the other, the two have to work through the feelings that they have for each other. Will this be the second chance for them? 

Well written with all the characters interesting, the story moves along with minimum angst.  I enjoyed how the characters changed and developed and gave me a happy, holiday feeling.  Great read for the weeks before Christmas, or just when you want that holiday feeling.

I received an ARC of the book from the author through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart

5 Stars

Worth it!

I struggled to read this story whose two main characters, Rowan Midwinter, a witch who won’t use her magic, and Gavin McCreery, non-magical but son to the man who wants to sell a big part of the magical town they live in, try to avoid each other and are failing at that.  Rowan is not a happy character and this gave me some trouble dealing with her almost overwhelming negativity.  In contrast Gavin is much more positive in his outlook.  In the past the two were close until Gavin made a decision which ultimately drove Rowan away from her family, friends, and hometown.  The ensuing story is more interesting, and the author allows her characters to grow.  I enjoyed the book excepting for Rowans lack of self-worth, which in the end she decides to push that part away and becomes a more likeable person.  Set around the Mid=Winter solstice the story also gives off Christmas season vibes.  In the end a very enjoyable book. 

I was given an ARC of the book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Season of the Witch – A Spicy Witch Christmas Romance (Toil and Trouble Book 3) by Sophie H. Morgan

5 Stars

Bring back House Parties!

Our two main characters Tia Hightower and Henry Pearlmatter were a couple eight years ago, but Henry choose work over Tia.  Now both the Pearlmatter and the Hightower families and in business together and a prospective investor invites Tia and Henry to a Christmas house party in England. He thinks they are a couple after finding them kissing and wants them to share his love of Christmas while he considers investing in their family’s business.  But the only room left at his estate has only one bed.  On top of this is that Tia did a forgetting spell on Henry which went wrong, taking away all his memories of his breakup with Tia. 

There are characters in this book from books 1 and 2 but their stories don’t impact this one.  This book is well written with well-developed characters and the plot is a fun look at Sophie Morgan’s magical world.  Both characters grow in this book, and the road they follow is a fun, twisting, Christmas filled romp. 

I was given an ARC by the author and NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. 

Shadow Agents: Covert Affections (Psi-Ops/Shadow Agents #5) by Mandy M. Roth

5 Stars

More excitement for the Agents!

This book features Jesse Culbertson as an employee of The Corporation (the Evil guys) and Lindy Delgado, former test subject of said Evil.  Written in both characters voices, the story covers over 30 years.  If you haven’t read the previous books in this series, at least go back to the one just prior to this one (Ground Training – Immortal Outcasts Series Book 5) or you won’t get parts of the story you’ll need to understand what is happening. 

Both of our two main characters are shifters, and both have memory loss due to their pasts.  There is interaction with other characters from other parts of Mandy M. Roth’s extensive Universe of shifters, fae, demons, and other paranormal creations, so some prior reading will be helpful.  This book is much longer than prior books but well written with a lot of information presented in the story.  If you enjoy paranormal storylines, this is the book -and series – for you!  Cannot wait for the next book in whatever part of her numerous series Ms. Roth decides to take us.  Every book I have read of her many and varied series has been excellent, with some short quick reads and others more detailed.  Almost all have a past/present telling which helps if you start a book that is later in her overall timeline.  All are compelling stories that are enjoyable to read.  Also, the books are interconnected, and while some think they end in a cliffhanger, they really are just setting up for the next book which will have 2 or more “new” main characters. 

I was given an ARC of this book by the Author and BookSprout and this is my honest opinion. 

True Dreams (True Men: Book 2) by Tracy Sumner

5 Stars

A photograph of a dream.

Campbell True is the second brother in this series.  He left Promise, South Carolina as soon as he could, and now is a successful photographer.  Home base for him is Atlanta, Georgia and he travels the world shooting landscapes.  Now, however, he is retuning back to Promise to help his grandfather and half-brother since his stepmother has died.  He plans on moving them to Atlanta so he can forget all the hurts that are centered in Promise. 

Fontana Quinn has landed back in Promise as she and her sister are running for their safety.  Fontana hopes that returning back to her hometown is a good move and that they won’t be found there after all the time they’ve been gone. 

Our two main characters meet up for the first time since high school on Campbell’s drive back to the family home.  Neither one is impressed with the other, but Tracy Sumner does a wonderful job of telling a story of past hurts, scars, and finally understanding between them.

I’ve been a fan of Ms. Sumner’s Victorian romances, enjoying each well written, complex, and smile-inducing book.  This series, True Men, gives her a chance to write more contemporary novels, and these first two start off with a bang.  I am looking forward to more writing from her. 

I received and ARC of the book through BookSirens and the author and this is my honest opinion.