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Under the MoonLight Book Blog

Wolf Instinct
by Paige Tyler
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
June 25th, 2019

     He’s a wolf shifter.She hunts monsters.How can she be The One for him?
     SWAT werewolf Zane Kendrick will do whatever it takes to take down the man who attacked his pack. His search takes him to Los Angeles, but when he meets Alyssa, the smart, sexy agent who comes to his aid, he’s immediately interested in pursuing more than just the next lead. All his wolf instincts tell him that she’s The One.
     FBI agent Alyssa Carson has investigated some weird stuff lately, and finding missing people drained of their blood definitely falls into that category. When following a clue leads her to Zane, she agrees to work with him and his team. She’s attracted to the gorgeous Brit, but she doesn’t have time for anything but finding answers.
When Zane and Alyssa discover the sinister truth, it’ll take everything they have to make it out of this mission with their lives—and hearts—intact.


     Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast. Visit https://www.paigetylertheauthor.com

Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2vmh0GR
B&N: http://bit.ly/2ILUNdT
Apple: https://apple.co/2GKNukr
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2IKJnao
BAM: http://bit.ly/2Wbw8CS


EXCERPT


     “Are you?” he asked. “Happy being an FBI agent, I mean.”
     “Yeah.” She smiled. “The pay isn’t the greatest and I practically live in hotels, but I love what I do.”
     “That’s what’s important.” Zane leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I am curious how you find time for anything resembling a social life since you’re never in one place very long.”
     She snorted, remembering how Christine had ragged on her about this same subject. “Social life. What’s that? As far as I’m concerned, if the FBI wanted me to have a social life, they’d issue me one, like my sidearm and badge.”
     Zane lifted a brow. “Are you saying that a woman as beautiful as you hasn’t gone on a date with anyone in a year and half?”
     Coming from anyone but Zane, that question might have irritated her. But for whatever reason, it didn’t. She especially liked the compliment. “While I’m not going to come out and put an exact time frame on it, I’ll admit it’s been a while. But if we’re going to discuss our social lives, how about you? Don’t tell me a big, good-looking man like you isn’t involved with someone.”
     Zane’s gaze turned molten in the sun coming through the window and she felt her stomach do that funny flutter thing that had only started happening after they’d met. “If I were involved with someone, do you think I would have kissed you like I did last night?”
     “I don’t know,” she said. “Would you?”
     He lifted his mug and took a long, slow sip of coffee. “No, I wouldn’t have. I’ve dated a few women since moving to Dallas. Probably more than a few, I guess. But it never felt right with any of them, and after a while, it didn’t seem worth the effort. Then I met you and everything felt different. That’s why I kissed you.”
     She’d just been messing with him about kissing her if he was involved with someone. His response was a lot more real than she’d expected. The part about why he’d kissed her made her warm all over. But the stuff about him not connecting with anyone since leaving London hurt more than she would have thought possible.
     “You broke up with your fiancée a long time ago,” she pointed out. “Are you saying that in all that time, you never met anyone you could see yourself falling for?”
     He didn’t answer at first, pausing to slowly chew his Pop-Tart. When he did finally answer her question, he kept his gaze fixed on the mug in front of him. “This probably won’t make much sense, but for people like me, it can be difficult finding that perfect person we’re supposed to be with. Some might even say it’s impossible.” The words were so soft she had to lean forward to hear them. “When the woman I thought was the right one for me walked out, I didn’t think it could happen again. But since meeting you, I’ve started thinking maybe I gave up too soon.”
     Alyssa didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t a declaration of love or anything, but still…
     Picking up her mug, she got up and poured herself more coffee. She held the pot up in Zane’s direction, but he shook his head. She didn’t necessarily want a refill, but it gave her a chance to think about everything he’d said. The guy had just unleashed a lot. It would take a while to absorb it all.
     Like those three simple but significant words: people like me. Just that fast, the big, sexy Brit had confirmed he was different. Surprisingly, that acknowledgment didn’t bother her as much as she thought it might. While she’d discounted the possibility of him using some kind of spell on her, part of her wondered if Zane was putting out some kind of supernatural pheromone to attract his victims with and make them easier to subdue. But one look at him sitting at the table chewing thoughtfully on his frosted brown sugar Pop-Tart made her toss that ridiculous idea right out of her head. Zane didn’t need to put out any pheromones to lure her in. All he had to do was look at her.
     She shook her head. One smile from him and she was ready to throw caution to the wind. Was she really that easy?
     Alyssa walked back over to the table with her coffee, thinking about the other stuff Zane had said—especially the part where he’d confessed he’d given up on the idea of finding someone until meeting her. She’d never thought of herself as the kind of woman who cared about romantic drivel, but when Zane said those words, she had to admit there’d been some serious feels going on. Part of her wanted to wrap her arms around him and hug him. The other part wanted to throw him on the floor and bang him like a cheap screen door—but that part was only making noise because it had been so long since she’d gotten laid.
     “So,” she said, ignoring her chair and instead sitting on the edge of the table right in front of Zane. “I’m guessing you think I might be this perfect someone you’d given up hope of ever finding? Do you mind if I ask what makes you think that?”
     Zane pushed his chair back a bit to make room for her, his dark eyes meeting hers. “You’re not going to like this answer, but…it’s complicated.”
     He was right. She didn’t like it. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”
     “Let’s just say the first time I saw you at that club, taking down Stefan’s goon, I knew you were someone special. And even though I’m still not sure if I’m comfortable with the idea—actually, I’m downright terrified—I’m also sure you’re The One for me.”
     That sounded so romance-bookish Alyssa almost laughed out loud. The serious expression on Zane’s face was the only thing that stopped her. It might be crazy as heck, but the big, sexy hunk seemed to genuinely believe it.
     They sat there looking at each other, Alyssa cupping both hands around her mug, breathing in the warm coffee while Zane seemed to be holding his breath like he thought she might bolt for the door at any second. Which was crazy since this was her room.
     “Okay,” she said, setting her mug on the table. “Assuming you’re right and I’m The One for you, what do we do now?”
     Zane grinned. “Kissing would be nice, yes?”
     His big hands were coming up to wrap around her hips, tugging her forward off the table and onto the chair with him until she was straddling his thighs. As sexy as that position might be, Alyssa couldn’t help laughing. “Seriously? That’s the movie line you’re going with to get into my panties?”
     Zane buried his fingers in her hair, tugging her mouth closer to his. Just before their lips met, he flashed her that thousand-watt smile, which made her pulse skip a beat. “I don’t know,” he murmured, his coffee-scented breath warm on her skin. “Did it work?”
     Alyssa hadn’t realized exactly what she’d said—about getting into her panties—until right then. But as she gazed down at Zane and his beautiful smile, she decided letting him have his way with her unmentionables sounded like a really good idea. After that, who knew what she might let him get into?
     She didn’t bother to answer his question. Instead, she lowered her mouth to his and kissed him hard enough to pull a growl out of him. And what an interesting growl it was, rumbling up through his chest and straight into her open mouth, making little tingles and shivers dance all over her body.
     Apparently, she was into guys who growled.

***
Excerpted from Wolf Instinct by Paige Tyler. © 2019 by Paige Tyler. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

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June 27, 2019 No comments
To Have and To Harley
by Regina Cole
Series: Bikers & Brides (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
August 7th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (via NetGalley)
Rating: 3.5 Stars

     You may now kiss the biker 
     Bethany Jernigan owes her bestie. Big time. So when wedding planning overburdens the bride-to-be, Bethany steps in to handle the nitty-gritty. But the guy in charge isn't anything like she imagined. He's gruff, tattooed, and 100% male. His staff is even rougher around the edges, and it's not long before she feels as if she's stepped into some kind of crazy alternate reality. 
     Are those...bikers? Arguing about wedding favors? 
     Trey Harding never wanted this to get so out of hand. One little lie somehow snowballed into a world of dresses and flowers and food and holy-hell-he's-in-over-his-head. But it's not like he can confess he's not the wedding planner he's pretending to be--especially now that he's falling for the maid of honor! His charade is becoming a farce, and as engines rev and ribbons fly, Trey's running out of time to figure out how to tell the truth without losing his new family, his crew...or the woman of his dreams.


     I adored this story and the biker characters so much.

     Bethany's best friend is getting married and she just quit her job and while she is looking for a new one her friend enlists her help with the planning of her wedding so she can concentrate on finals. Meanwhile, her "mother" (her BFF's mother and the woman who took her in after the death of her dad) just found her missing son.

     Trey Harding is a biker who was abandoned in the bathroom of a gas station and raised by the foster system. He skirts the law with his gang but not in the way one would think but by trying to have drugs and other "bad" things out of the streets.

     I liked how different from other MC books this story was and I found the premiss of the bikers-turned-wedding-planners to be entertaining and for the most part I enjoyed it but I think the author needed to either make this a RomCom or a touching contemporary story.

     I found myself laughing at the antics of the MC guys one moment and the next Trey or Bethany revealed something about their past that was touching and I didn't know if I should be annoyed or sad. I will be looking for the next book in the series because I am interested to see the HEA of some of the other characters.

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.
March 05, 2019 No comments
The Whole Package
by Marie Harte
Series: Movin' On (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
January 29th, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (NetGalley)
Rating: 3.5 Stars

     Always the caretaker, former Marine Reid Griffith wants to help his brother adjust to civilian life…and help other former servicemen. What better way to utilize their brawn, discipline, and charm than a moving company that hires veterans? But although Reid prides himself on being strategic, he certainly doesn’t plan to fall in the spotlight of one brilliant—and beautiful—PR whiz… 
     PR expert Naomi Starr is determined to bring Vets on the Go! into the spotlight. But when she meets Reid, it might mean breaking her rule to never mix business with pleasure. Especially once she discovers that underneath Reid’s sexy rough-and-tumble exterior is a vulnerable man who just might need what she’s got to give.


     Vets on the Go! it's a small fledgling moving company founded by two brothers and a cousin that only hires veterans.

     Reid Griffith is the youngest of the two brothers and the one that is in charge with the administrative side of things. You could even say that Vets on the Go! it's Reid's brainchild as he wanted to help his brother sustain a job.

     When Reid's brother and another employee stop a burglar and are featured on the news, Naomi Starr, a PR expert decides to offer her services to take Vets on the Go! to the next level.

     I loved the story behind the moving company, I loved the characters (although sometimes the main characters were a little bit awkward together) and I loved the diversity of the characters.

     There were some elements of the story that I didn't like too, like the "villain" (the story could have done without that little "trouble" in my opinion), and her constant obsession of not getting involved with a "coworker".

     Aside from that, I think that it was a really cute story and I'll definitely read the next book in the series.
January 28, 2019 No comments
Enchanting the Lady
by Kathryne Kennedy
Series: Relics of Merlin (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
August 1st, 2012
Genre: Fantasy
Format: eBook
Source: Library Loan
Rating: 4.5 Stars

His Magic Condems Him... 
In a Victorian England with a rigid hierarchy of magic, lion shapeshifter Sir Terence Blackwell is at the bottom of the rung of society. Only Lady Felicity Seymour, who has no magic, no inheritance, and no prospects, may be willing to judge the man strictly on his own merits... 
Until She Reveals His True Power... 
When family pressures push Lady Felicity into a terrible fate, she has only Sir Terence to turn to. Together, the two outcasts become embroiled in the dark depths beneath society's facade. And what they discover about each other is the only thing that's real...


      Enchanting the Lady is a fantasy / historical romance that centers on the story of Merlin.

     The order of the monarchy is not pass down through the eldest of the family, it is passed down to the person that can hold it through their magic.

     There are different levels of magic and so there are different levels in the monarchy; king, dukes, earl's, etc. At a certain point in their life, every child has to go through a testing which will allow the king to know what title this person will have.

     Felicity is the acting Duchess of Stonehaven until she can prove that she has the magic to hold that title. The only problem is that she can sense her magic but she cannot seem to grasp it to use it.

     Terrence Blackwell is a baronet. He is the lowest of the low in the magical chain since he has no magic whatsoever. What he does have is resistance against magic, which is why the king has awarded the Were kind a title, since they are the perfect bodyguards.

     Terrence has been tasked with finding relics of dark magic that have different effects and they all manipulate other magic users in different ways.

     Since the beginning of this book I was hooked and I was intrigued by all the different layers of magic and the monarchy and how they inherit their titles. It is a different concept and something I have not read before.

     Although with some of the things I knew what was going to happen I still enjoyed the reading. Author Kathryne Kennedy knows how to weave the story and have the readers engaged.

     I will be definitely reading more of this series. If you like historical romance and fantasy then you should really try this series.
December 29, 2018 No comments
Wolf Rising
by Paige Tyler
Series: SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team (#8)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
October 30th, 2018
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (via NetGalley)
Rating: 4 Stars

     Werewolf SWAT Officer Jayden Brooks has yet to meet The One—but when he rescues teacher Selena Rosa from a hostage situation at her high school, he knows he’s in trouble. Her scent is irresistible. 
     There’s a reason for that powerful scent—and it isn’t an expensive perfume. Thanks to the traumatizing events at the school, the werewolf gene flipped on and Selena’s going through the change. Even scarier, she’s on track to become an omega—an out-of-control and violent breed. It’s going to take everything Brooks has if he wants any chance to pull her back from the edge…and ultimately win her heart.


     This is the eighth installment of the SWAT series by Paige Tyler and I have to say that I am in love with this books. I first started reading this series because of the name of the series. I found it funny that Paige was able to use the SWAT acronym and give it a completely different definition at the same time that the characters are from a SWAT team. Add to that the fact that when I started reading this series I found that these wolves don't change from being bitten and I was hooked.

     This one follows Jayden, the biggest of the teammates and Selena, a teacher on the bad part of town. Like every one of the previous books, you get a before scene where we see the event that made one of the main characters become a werewolf; in this case Jayden. Then you get to understand a little more about the wolves after Selena is threatened by a gangbanger looking to recruit from the students of her class.

     With every book, we get deeper into the world of the wolves and we get to discover more things that have been happening behind the scene that even the wolves themselves didn't know about. The way that things the SWAT have been investigating come to light and how that discovery leads to more questions and problems keeps this stories going and gives a fresh canvas for each book is another reason why I love this series so much.

     I love the action in this books (this one having the prison scene amongst others) and the shocking realizations and even when I know the outcome of some things the story is written so well that I don't mind. I also like how every story is different and how all the characters come from different places physically, mentally and by circumstance.

    Every book has me hooked to it from beginning to end and by the end the next teammate to get their HEA is so well incorporated to the story that you can't wait for the next one and obviously I can't wait for it.

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.
November 22, 2018 No comments

Christmas Gift Guide Roundup


Mistletoe in Texas
Gift this to: Anyone who loves all things Texas or rodeo, and fans of second chance romance
Suggested gift pairing: A cute Texas cookie cutter, or a bag of Texas Pecan coffee for a warm and authentic treat. (Because a horse won’t fit under the tree!)
Amazon: amzn.to/2xlXATO
B&N: bit.ly/2xm0AzD
Apple: apple.co/2xkwAUZ
Kobo: bit.ly/2xhxLnM
IndieBound: bit.ly/2xlYjo0


Cowboy Christmas Jubilee
Gift this to: The friend who loves Christmas more than any other holiday, and fans of small town cowboy romance
Suggested gift pairing: Anything Christmas related – bonus points if there are cowboy boots involved.
Amazon: amzn.to/2Cy2ctu
B&N: bit.ly/2Cyrfwz
Apple: apple.co/2CzJtOp
Kobo: bit.ly/2Cz5JIb
IndieBound: bit.ly/2Cz5U6j


Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas
Gift this to: Anyone who has ever wanted to live on a Christmas tree farm (!) or cowboy readers who like a little suspense
Suggested gift pairing: A pine-scented candle, or a favorite piece from a local artist (in honor of our folk artist heroine)
Amazon: amzn.to/2Fol2WV
B&N: bit.ly/2OL0KpW
Apple: apple.co/2qLwVw4
Kobo: bit.ly/2QQDtoN
IndieBound: bit.ly/2K6PW4R


Cowboy SEAL Christmas
Gift this to: The friend whose favorite holiday movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or anyone who thinks horses and heroes are a winning combination.
Suggested gift pairing: Cute notecards, a framed photo, or an invitation to a holiday celebration because Christmas is all about connecting with the people we love!
Amazon: amzn.to/2MShW02
B&N: bit.ly/2PMd4Iy
iBooks: apple.co/2MSmCD7
Kobo: bit.ly/2MZvvdY
IndieBound: bit.ly/2MAr3TC


Billionaire Wolf for Christmas
Gift this to: The friend who has a long checklist for her perfect guy (billionaire, doctor, wolf shifter) or anyone who loves a trope mashup!
Suggested gift pairing: If you can’t find a half-naked billionaire to put a bow on, then how about an adorable book themed tote to throw a copy into.
Amazon: amzn.to/2xm0E2g
B&N: bit.ly/2xhxnWH
Apple: apple.co/2xhnsjY
Kobo: bit.ly/2xkCt4n
IndieBound: bit.ly/2xhxrFV


My Forever Home
Gift this to: Dog lovers
Suggested gift pairing: A puppy! (just kidding) For the minimalist friend, give this along with making a donation to a local no-kill rescue shelter. For something that’s easier to wrap, pair this with a cozy pair of red mittens for a soft and sweet gift.
Amazon: amzn.to/2M2jncH
B&N: bit.ly/2LXvQOG
Apple: apple.co/2niQZ79
IndieBound: bit.ly/2LZDkB0


Don’t forget gifts for you! At the holidays we always spend so much time thinking about others that it’s easy to leave ourselves out. Treat yourself this Christmas and enter to win all 6 holiday books! Then cozy up with a blanket, a hot cup of whatever you like, and get lost in a wonderful romance.

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November 19, 2018 No comments

Today we have the blog tour for NEVER LET ME FALL by Abbie Roads. NEVER LET ME FALL is a psychological thriller in the Fatal Dreams Series and available for purchase on all retail outlets!

Never Let Me Fall
by Abbie Roads
Series: Fatal Dreams (#3)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
November 6th
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (via InkSlingerPR)
Rating: 4 Stars

     Seeing is believing... 
     Thomas Brown can't see color, but he can see people's true souls. His abilities allow him to work with criminal investigators and deliver justice to families of the wronged. And he's starting to accept that his life will forever be in black and white... Then he encounters Helena Grayse, and everything changes. She brings vibrant color to his world, and he brings acceptance and belief to hers. But Helena's past is quickly catching up with her, and Thomas is in the crosshairs. As an enemy hidden in plain sight threatens their every move, they'll have to rely on their love to beat the darkness. 


     First of all, I want to mention that even though this book is the third in a series you can read it as a standalone. Although it is so well crafted that you get curious about the couples on the first two books if you have not read them, which I haven't, which I definitively will.

     This is the story of Thoma's Brown, the brother of Evanee who is the heroine of the previous book, and Helena Grayse, a convicted felon.

     From the moment this book started the night before Helen's release from jail to that final scene on the porch I was hooked. This story was so convoluted and full of twists and turns that surprised me at every time.

      Helen and Thomas have both been thru a lot of trauma from a very young age and that is something that connects them on a level not seen but felt. But there is much more than connecting them and that more than anything is what saves them time and again.

     There was just something about the story that left me filling left out. I felt like something was missing, or it was there and I couldn't see it, that didn't let me completely enjoy the story. But whatever it was I guess it was just my problem and I recommend this book to anyone who likes their romance with a sprinkle of paranormal on it.

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review for an InkSlingerPR blog tour. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

EXCERPT

     Thomas walked through the granite garden, looking for an open grave. His mother’s grave. Cold air stung his face and seeped in around the collar of his coat. A chill sliced across his shoulder blades—part cold, part dread.

     Trees dotted the landscape, their naked branches spearing the clouds. The sky above and the land below shared the bland, gray color he’d come to associate with winter in Ohio. Grass crunched under his feet and looked as desiccated as the bodies planted beneath it. Nothing was more depressing than a cemetery in winter. Would it look more alive with color? Was the sky really blue, while all he saw was gray? Were the gravestones a motley of different types of granite instead of the same dull color? Was there beauty here while all he witnessed was drab and dreary?

     It was so frustrating not being able to see what everyone else saw. As if the world had a secret and wouldn’t share it with him. He clenched his hands into fists.

     Clng. Clng. Clng. The sound of metal clanging against metal sounded loud as a church bell in the quiet cemetery.

     Across the endless sea of gravestones, Thomas spotted a canopy erected to protect the mourners from the elements. The fabric flapped and snapped in the wind. A metal grommet hitting one of the legs made the endless clng, clng, clng noise. The sounds grew in volume, became unnaturally loud. He reached up to cover his ears. But before he could get his hands into place, his vision winked out. Gone. Blackness.

     He just stood there. Frozen. Not from fear, but from acceptance. He was blind, and he should be freaking out. But then, blinding himself had been something he’d contemplated in his darkest moments. He’d always thought blindness would grant him an odd sort of relief. No more gray existence, no more seeing the shadow of death. Ignorance really could be bliss, right? The only thing that had kept him from following through was not wanting to be dependent on anyone for anything.

     Light flashed in his dark vision like far-off lightning. His sight blinked back on. Everything was the same. But everything had changed.

     He still stood in Sundew Cemetery, but it was as if everything around him had faded into the background and a spotlight gleamed on a woman in front of him.

     She stood no more than fifty feet away, a beacon of light, a burning flame that he couldn’t look away from.

     Her body was bundled against the cold, her thick, black coat zipped up over her mouth with the hood pulled down over her forehead. The tiny bit of skin he saw was the palest of—his mind searched for the name of the right color—pale peach. Her skin was pale peach. Pale. Peach.

     Holy motherfucking son of a bitch. 

     He saw color. Color. She brought vibrancy to his gray existence. And she carried no shadow of death. Not even a wispy hint. If love at first sight existed, he loved her for these gifts.

     At this distance, it should be impossible to see the color of her eyes, but they were gold and shining right at him, locking him in place with their brilliance, their luminescence, and some ethereal quality that made him think of purity and perfection.

     Call it instinct, call it pheromones, call it instant visceral attraction—his dick went hard.

     “Thomas? Are you all right?” The question he’d been asked too much lately punched him in the head, breaking his attention on her.

     Sound clicked back on. He heard the canopy flapping and the metal clanging. Almost as if his body was working in slow motion, he turned his head, absorbing a world that was alive with vitality for the first time. He felt like a kid who’d just learned to name colors. Brown grass. Green canopy. Red scarf.

     Audie stood outside the canopy wearing the same getup as last night. Only now Thomas could see the hat and scarf and mittens were bright red.

     Thomas raised his hand in a gesture somewhere between wait-a-minute, a wave, and what-the-hell. Audie smiled, his wrinkled face conveying a wordless understanding. That was why Thomas always liked the guy. No explanations, no empty phrases needed. And it didn’t hurt that he looked like Gandalf.

     Thomas turned back to the woman, but she no longer stood there. She was walking away, carrying an aura of color with her. The sky above her glowed a sweet, watery shade of blue, the grass under her feet a subtle tan, and the grave she passed was a pinkish granite. Holy shit. It was all so beautiful, but then his gaze locked on the erotic sway of her hips.

     Without warning, his mind flashed him images of her in his bed and him being mesmerized by her golden eyes, her matching gilded hair, and all that creamy, warm skin surrounding him, holding him tight. Without ever seeing her face, he knew she would be beautiful, so lovely that it would hurt to gaze anywhere but upon her.

     There was the before her part of his life. Now there was the after her part of his life. And he couldn’t let her go. He needed her in every sense of the word—emotionally, physically, sexually. He wanted to be underneath her, on top of her, inside her. He wanted to surround her, swallow her, take her into himself and keep her there. Forever. Always. A-fucking-men.

     He ran after her, opening his mouth to shout her name, but… He didn’t know her name. Yet he felt like he should know it. And know her. She was his other piece. She completed him. Healed him. Made up for all his deficiencies.

     “Thomas? What are you doing?” Pastor Audie yelled. The concern and worry riding along the old man’s tone was more effective than diving headfirst into one of the granite markers dotting the cemetery.

     What was he doing? Chasing after some random woman in the cemetery who obviously had no reaction to him. If she’d felt even an ounce of the connection he had, she wouldn’t be walking away.

     He stopped running. But the urge to keep going pushed him forward a few more steps. He grabbed on to a gravestone to keep from following her. His heart rammed against his sternum so hard it threatened to knock him to the ground. It hurt—physically hurt—to watch her walk away, taking color and beauty with her, leaving him alone inside his gray existence once more. It felt like she’d amputated half of his soul, leaving him with the phantom pain of what could have been. A cold heaviness settled over him. He felt as dead as the stone he clung to.

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Abbie Roads loves Snickers Parfaits and acrylic pour painting. It’s her new obsession. The pour painting. Not the parfaits. Though the parfaits would qualify as an obsession too. She spends her days a mental health counselor always looking on the bright side, but at night she likes to write dark and dangerous things—with kissing and sexy times. She loves reading inspirational quotes and stories about serial killers. She is married to her favorite fellow and they have two cranky old rescue dogs that are not spoiled. Not at all. Okay. Maybe a little. Alright, the dogs are terribly spoiled, but they do give lots of cuddles and kisses in return.
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November 07, 2018 No comments
Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas
by Katie Ruggle
Series: Rocky Mountain Cowboys (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
September 25th, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (NetGalley)
Rating: 5 Stars

     In the heart of the Rockies
     In the arms of a cowboy
     One white Christmas can change everything.
     When firefighter and single dad Steve Springfield moved his four kids to a Colorado Christmas tree ranch, he intended for it to be a safe haven. But he never expected danger to follow them to his childhood home...
     Or that he would come face-to-face with the one girl he could never forget.
     Folk artist Camille Brandt lives a quiet life. As the town's resident eccentric, she's used to being lonely--until Steve freaking Springfield changes everything. Brave and kind, he's always had a piece of her heart, and it doesn't take long before she's in danger of falling for him and his rambunctious kids. But as mysterious fires break out across the sleepy Colorado town, Steve and Camille will have to fight if they want their happy family to survive until Christmas...


     Brava Ms. Ruggle, Brava...

     This book was magnifíc from the moment Steve-freaking-Springfield sets eyes on Camille to that last heartfelt scene at the end.

     Since the moment I found out that Steve (how appeared on the Rocky Mountain K9 Unit series) was going to have his own book and be a man in uniform AND a cowboy to boot? I soooo needed to get my hands on this book.

     I have read most of Katie's books and I just love them. She manages to keep me guessing and second-guessing who might be the person causing all the trouble. And even if you think you know who the person is because it's revealed from the beginning? She still shocks you with unexpected twists and turns.

     This book was no different and so much more. I fell in love with Steve's kids and I laughed out loud with their antics. I cried and I cheered and I suffered thru many awkward moments along with the characters and I can not properly express how much I loved this book.

     I was sad at the end but I hope Steve's brother gets the help he needs and that he understands that they are not kids anymore to be competing to see who's best.

     I cannot wait for the next book on this series and I am hoping Joe gets an HEA too; that is sure to be a hilarious and much more awkward read, lol...

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

October 04, 2018 No comments

Brave New Earl
by Jane Ashford
Series: The Way to a Lord's Heart (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
August 7th, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (via NetGalley)
Rating: 3 Stars

     An Earl mired in melancholy is no match for a determined woman...
     Widower Benjamin Romilly, Earl of Furness, has given up hope of finding happiness. His wife died in childbirth five years ago, leaving him with a broken heart and a child who only reminds him of his loss.
     Miss Jean Saunders is a cousin by marriage. She doted on Benjamin's late Countess, and can't bear it when she hears rumors that the Earl is too bereaved to care for his young son. She arrives on the scene to evaluate his fitness as a father, and if necessary, to take his son away.
     Jean's sudden eruption into the Earl's household simultaneously infuriates and invigorates him. She may be the only person who can breathe life into his neglected home―and his aching heart...


Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via Hidden Gems Books for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

     I was in a reading slump recently and that might be influencing my review but I found the beginning of this book rather on the slow side.

     Lord Furness lost his wife in childbirth and has been mourning since then not caring for the state of his household or that of his son. Miss Saunders hears rumors from a reliable source that he is neglecting his son and she rushes to take the child away from his father and onto the child's grandparents.

     From there is a series of everyday social situations that are charming and cute and you just want to know what is behind the characters motivations.

     The second half of the book (when I got out of my slump) was all that I could have asked for. We get deeper into the lives of Lord Marklin (Lord Furness uncle), Lord Furness, Jean, and even Tom (Lord Furness son's unofficial caretaker).

     I loved Geoffrey, he seemed like a very intelligent child and sometimes you forget that he is only four or five years old. And his antics! I was laughing my ass off.

     I will be trying her next book on this series to see if it was just me or the actual book that was the problem since I am curious about Lord Macklin and all the other lords on that dinner.
September 28, 2018 No comments
Maverick
by Cheryl Brooks
Series: Cat Star Legacy (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
September 4th, 2018
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (via NetGalley)
Rating: 3 Stars

     Zetithians are back. And they're hotter than ever... 
     Having the Zetithian feline gene gives Larry Tshevnoe awesome beauty, fearsome strength, sensuality and sexual prowess unmatched by any other males in the universe. But it can make the quest for true love...complicated. 
     Enter childhood friend and fellow Zetithian Althea Banadänsk. Her empathic powers make her the only one who can show Larry what he truly desires, and she'll do anything to help...even if that means hiding her desperate craving for him. 
     But when a distress call sends them off course—and into danger—they find more than their hearts are at stake. Now it's up to them to become the champions of truth and justice throughout the galaxy...or risk losing it all.


Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via Hidden Gems Books for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

   This book started ion an interesting note and I liked the concept of it. We have this race of aliens that are cat-like and this insect race and all the makings of a great story. And it would have been if I had read the series that this one spins off.

     About half the book the characters mention many things that happened in the other series and I was a bit lost. If you are interested in this series I recommend you read the other series CAT STAR CHRONICLES.

     That said I liked what little I understood of this book and although I know there are people mad because of a supposed cheating I think it was done correctly in this instance since Larry was never intimate with this other person. Their relationship was superficial on both their sides it seems.

     I loved Brak and I found him hilarious at times. I loved the mission they went on and I just wish that I could have read the other series first so I could appreciate this book more.
September 22, 2018 No comments
Though the Fire
by Katie Ruggle
Series: Rocky Mountain K9 Unit (#4)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
August 28th, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Rating: 5 Stars

     Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit. They've been through too much to open their arms to a stranger―and as mysterious fires begin raging across Monroe, she can't convince them to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible.
     Wesley March, local fire spotter, knows Kit is right, and he's willing to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the closer they get...and the more danger they're in. A member of the K9 unit's inner circle is determined to get revenge―no matter who gets burned in the process. 
     This time, it's personal.

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

     What I love about this series is that it is a K9 unit. Okay, let me explain that so it's not a duh moment. I lot of books that have (to your understanding) animals in them (be it K9's or one of the main characters is a vet, etc) you almost never (if ever) see interactions with animals.

     In this series, you see the K9's all the time. They are a constant character and companion to their respective policemen. You have Viggy (book 1), you have Lexi (book 2), Xena (book 3) and now Justice. Each and every one of them with a special ability that the others don't have. 

     After reading the last book I knew (at least I was hoping) that there was going to be another book in the series. I am sad to say I am not feeling that way now. I do think this is the last book in this series but I at the same time love that about it. I will not be dragged around by dozens of books that will with time make me hate this awesome series.

     Kit is the new addition to the Monroe K9 unit and from the first day she arrives, she knows it is going to take a lot to have her fellow officers trust her. As days go by it gets more and more difficult to achieve this as her dog keeps tracking the bad guy to a familiar and loved place.

     Her only bright spot it seems is the quirky, nerdy recluse that leaves on the fire watch tower and that has awesome gadgets. Although you don't get a lot of Wes at the beginning of the book I think it was a well-written book and that everything happened at the moment it should have. There is so much going on that you don't even notice it.

     I also liked that all the books are connected by something other than the main characters. They are also connected by a secondary (almost phantom) character Mr. Espina(o?) and the bad guys are connected too (at least most of them).

     I will highly, absolutely and lovingly recommend this series to any romance reader out there. It is truly worth your time.
August 26, 2018 No comments
Wolf Hunger
by Paige Tyler
Series: SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team (#7)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
December 5th, 2017
Genre: Paranormal
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (via Netgalley)
Rating: 5 Stars

     She’s all the wolf he’ll ever need
     When SWAT Officer Max Lowry meets Lana Mason, he falls fast and hard. He’s positive she’s The One. And Max’s favorite part? Lana’s a wolf shifter too, so they can skip the awkward reveal and head straight to the happily ever after. There’s just one problem: Lana doesn’t know that she’s a werewolf. 
     To make matters worse, hunters with intent to kill have tracked Lana to Dallas. Max has to figure out how to keep Lana safe, show her who and what she really is—and just how much she means to him.


Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

     This review is a little late but it doesn’t take away from the fact that I loved this story just as much as I’ve loved every one of the previous books in the series.

     Max Lowry, the youngest wolf in the SWAT team, finds his One when attending a DPD awards ceremony. She is a wolf just like him, trouble is she doesn't know it. Lana for her part is attracted to Max and wants to spend a lot of time with him but her father, deputy chief in charge of the tactical teams, doesn’t want her to.

     Like every book in the series, this one took the span of less than a week but there is so much going on that it feels like much more time. I love the way Max was trying to handle the situation and trying to determine if Lana really didn’t know what she was.

     There were a lot of holy guacamole moments, what with the hunters and the shootings and stuff, that had me glued to my kindle and had me cursing people for making me do my job and not leaving me alone!

     This thing with the hunters is reaching critical points and I can’t wait to see what else is there for the SWAT guys to deal with. I hope the next one is Zane or at least that I don’t have to wait a lot for his story. I want to know what will happen to him after everything he went through in this book.
August 02, 2018 No comments
Built to Last
by Julie Ann Walker
Series: Black Knights Inc. (#12)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
June 26th, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Rating: 4 Stars

        Masterful, mysterious, and completely ruthless, Jamin “Angel” Agassi joined the Black Knights Inc. after a mission-gone-wrong forced him to undergo extensive plastic surgery and change his name. He's going to bring down the world's worst crime syndicate, and hopefully keep Sonya Butler, a love from his past, from discovering who he really is...
          When a dark-eyed stranger gets caught up in Sonya’s latest mission, she starts to question all her hard-won instincts. Something about Angel tells her he's more than he seems, and sometimes, when she least expects it, he reminds her of a man she used to know. As the bullets fly, she realizes that in love and war nothing is ever what it seems...


Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

     For me, this book had a slow start but after that, I got into it and I really liked how Julie Ann Walker went about finishing this series.

     Since Jamin "Angel" Agassi came into the BKI picture a couple of books ago he has been aloof, mysterious and a bit cold at times. This more than anything made me want to read his story and want to learn what made him tick.

     From the moment this book starts we see his facade start to crumble and that rigid self-discipline starts to fail and all because of the woman he once loved who now works as the personal assistant of the very man Angel and the BKI crew are looking to bring down. Sentence by sentence we learn more and more about Angel's past and chapter by chapter I fell in love with who he is under all that restraint.

     I know I put to much pressure into this book since the hero was a mystery and also because it's the end of BKI and I was a bit disappointed in it but I still liked how it turned out. I especially liked Ace and Rusty's side story.

     I have to say I was surprised by that ending. I hope we get more of this characters even if it's just a glimpse here and there if Julie Ann decides to expand on that. It is with a sad and heavy heart that I say goodbye to the BKI crew and say you will all be missed.
June 27, 2018 No comments
I am Justice
by Diana Muñoz Stewart
Series: Band of Sisters (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
May 1st, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Rating: 5 Stars

This bad-ass band of sisters plays for keeps.
She's ready to start a war
     Justice Parish takes down bad guys. Rescued from the streets by the world-renowned Parish family, she joined their covert sisterhood of vigilante assassins. Her next target: a sex-trafficking ring in the war-torn Middle East. She just needs to get close enough to take them down...
He just wants peace
     Sandesh Ross left Special Forces to found a humanitarian group to aid war-torn countries. But saving the world isn't cheap. Enter Parish Industries and limitless funding, with one catch— their hot, prickly PR specialist', Justice Parish. Their chemistry is instant and off-the-charts. But when Justice is injured and her cover blown, Sandesh has to figure out if he can reconcile their missions. With danger dogging their every move, their white-hot passion can change the world— if it doesn't destroy them first.


Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

     I requested this book after noticing it was the first in a new series. I have never read this author before (unless she has an alias I don't know) which I thought it was great since I want to try new to me authors. Second, it was the description. Who doesn't want to read about assassins?

     Justice has to go undercover by herself after her adopted mother tells her there is a traitor amongst her siblings. Justice doesn't want to believe it but goes on mission anyways as ordered. Sandesh for his part is having trouble having people take his mission seriously and when the Parish family offers to help him he, although suspicious, can't say know. After all the Parish family is known and respected worldwide.

     This book is 77 chapters of pure adrenaline, suspense, sexiness, and suspicion. I couldn't put it down from the first page to the last. I was sure I had the traitor pegged but then I'd second guessed myself and change my mind again and so on and guess what! I never had it. I was so shocked.

     I liked the writing style and the characters and the plot and twists. This book had me at the edge of my seat from beginning to end and I can't wait for the next book. This is definitively a series I'll get behind on and await every one of the releases if they are this good.
May 01, 2018 No comments
Kiss of Steel
by Bec McMaster
Series: London Steampunk (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
September 4th, 2012
Genre: Steampunk Romance
Format: eBook
Source: Library Loan
Rating: 4 Stars

     When Nowhere Is Safe
     Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?
     Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.
     When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.


     In this story we have Honoria and her siblings, who are running from a bad man that wants to kill and/or imprison them for their knowledge of what their father was doing, some experiments for a vaccine to help starve off the virus that makes them turn into vampires after many years.

     Blade has guessed who Honoria is but he doesn't want to turn her in for the reward, after all he is a rogue on the run himself, but he wants to know what is so interesting in her that the man he hates most in the world has put a price on her head.

     I find it charming that Blade tries to keep Honoria at arms length and at the same time he can seem to be apart from her for long. Honoria for her part tries to hide or not acknowledge her attraction for Blade. After all he is a blue blood and they are all the same in her head.

     There were many a scene where I cried and some other where I got mad. The twists and turns taken by this characters and the decisions they had to make to save themselves and those they loved were executed perfectly and I can't wait to see what McMaster has in store for Honoria's sister and the verwolven.
February 15, 2018 No comments
Survive the Night
by Katie Ruggle
Series: Rocky Mountain K9 Unit (#3)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
February 6th, 2018
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Rating: 5 Stars

     He's always been a haven:
     For the lost. The sick. The injured.
     But when a hunted woman takes shelter in his arms, this gentle giant swears he'll do more than heal her battered spirit―he'll defend her with his life.
     K9 Officer Otto Gunnersen always had a soft spot for anyone in need. As Monroe's very own Dr. Doolittle, he dedicates himself to rehabilitating the injured souls that cross his path―but for all his big heart, he's never been in love.
     Until he meets Sarah Clifton's haunted eyes. Until he realizes he'll do anything to save her.
     All Sarah wants is to escape a life caught between ambitious crime families, but there's no outrunning her past. Her power-mad brother would hunt her to the ends of the earth...but he'd never expect Sarah to fight back. With Otto and the whole of Monroe, Colorado by her side, Sarah's finally ready to face whatever comes her way.
     It's time to take a stand.

Disclaimer:

This copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of it or the content of my review.

     Of all three K9 officers in the Monroe police department, Otto Gunnersen is the one I've been most intrigued by. I have been waiting for his book and I have to say that Katie Ruggle has delivered once again and I can't be happier with this book.

     Sarah (or Alice in her previous life) is like the women in the previous book, hiding from someone. She wants the chance of a real life and after finally tasting some freedom she doesn't want to give it up. Otto for his part is struggling with making headway with his rescue animals and when he sees Sarah he has the need to rescue her just as he does his animals. 

     This book for me reads more like a contemporary romance than a romantic suspense since we know from the beginning who is trying to kill the characters. Even so, I loved the interaction between Otto and Sarah, the camaraderie that's always there for the three K9 officers and transformation of Sarah from helpless victim to strong woman fighting for those she loves.

     I just realized with this book that Ruggle's Serch and Rescue series is connected to this one and I am beyond happy. I love that series too. The ending of this book gave me hope that the series doesn't end here. I can't wait to see if it's true and see what else Katie Ruggle comes up with for this rowdy bunch.
February 06, 2018 No comments
A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious
by Mary Wine
Series: Steam Guardians (#1)
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
August 7th, 2012
Genre: Steampunk
Format: eBook
Source: Library Loan
Rating: 4 Stars

     Beneath the Surface of Victorian Life Lies a Very Different World…
     Hated and feared by the upper classes, the Illuminists guard their secrets with their lives. Janette Aston’s insatiable quest for answers brings her to their locked golden doors, where she encounters the most formidable man she’s ever met.
     Darius Lawley’s job is to eliminate would–be infiltrators, but even he may be no match for Janette’s cunning and charm…


     I have read Mary Wine before and I've liked her books and this one is no different although it's a different genre.

     In this one, we get Janette Aston, a society lady that has to hide the fact that she is a curious intelligent woman because she is a lady and in her society knowledge is only for men. Women are only pretty decorations to be showed off.

      Darius Lawley is the head guardian of a cell from a secret order called the Illuminists and his job is to make sure their secrets don't get out to the general public.

      Darius and Janette meet when she goes into the Illuminists' (I think is called) Silent Chamber after donning the kind of clothing the Illuminist women prefer. She is a Pure Spirit, which means she can handle the crystals that power all the Illuminists' inventions without getting hurt.

     From the moment she and Darius meet is fun to see how they try to stay apart from each other and how Janette struggles to strip years of proper rearing. The book is a combination modern and historical that makes for an exciting read trying to imagine what it could have been.

     One funny fact about this book is the name of the Hawaiian King Kamehameha. It makes me think about Dragon Ball Z.

     I didn't give it 5 stars because of where some things that were left in the air or were rushed in the end that they left me with more questions than anything. Hope they get solved or explained in greater detail in book 2 which I will most definitely be reading.
January 25, 2018 No comments
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