Review: Into the Storm - Rachel Grant

Into the Storm by Rachel Grant
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars

Into the Storm is book one in the ‘Evidence: Under Fire’ series by Rachel Grant and boy is it action packed. The story focuses on Audrey and Xavier who shared a passionate night together, only for Audrey to be betrayed by Xavier in the worst possible way. Now he is back in her life and even though they both have some mutual distrust going on they have to work together to survive and save Xavier’s SEAL team whilst trying to stay alive themselves.

This was a really great military suspense book/ romance. Audrey loves her job as an archeologist and even has feelings for Xavier, even after everything that he has done. She is harbouring some secrets of her own though, but she is a strong character and isn’t going to be strong armed by Xavier. Xavier on the other hand is pure alpha male and although he doesn’t trust Audrey initially, he knows that he has to work with her in order to survive and get his team to safety. At the beginning of the novel, he was quite arrogant, but he does develop as the story moves along.

The suspense is great in this novel and keeps you wanting to read on well into the twilight hours to see what happens to the characters. The setting in the national park is also wonderful too and you feel like you are taken on a thrilling ride whilst reading. Overall, a really good book.  

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊

View all my reviews

Cover Reveal: Friend Zone Hell - Marika Ray

Title: Friend Zone Hell

Series: Hellman Brothers Book 3

Author: Marika Ray

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Small Town Romance

Tropes: best-friends-to-lovers, heroine with an illness, hero has that golden retriever + daddy dom energy (okay, it's not a trope, but it should be!)

Cover Design: Jennifer Olson

Release Date: October 6, 2022

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61985570-friend-zone-hell

Blurb: 

The town’s most eligible bachelor just saved my life. I paid him back by puking on him.

Callan Hellman. Mr. Nice Guy paramedic. My best friend.

He buys my friends flowers when he knows they’ve had a hard day. Who does that? Callan’s the guy every girl wants to date and take home to mama. Not me though. We’re just friends. Have been since elementary school. I was the weird girl who kept him laughing with my antics, even when his father abandoned his family and Callan hid those scars behind his smile.

But due to my sudden medical diagnosis at twenty-four, Callan insists I move in with him. I accept and soon regret it. Since when did he grow all those muscles, and why is he allergic to wearing shirts? I’m getting white-picket-fences-feelings I have no business feeling, and try as I might to suppress them, Callan makes a bold move that proves he’s carried a love-shaped torch for me for years.

Turns out, best friends make the best lovers, but when Callan’s daddy issues come between us, will his well-meaning brothers be able to patch us up and get our hearts beating together again? Or have I just lost the best friend I’ll ever have?

PreOrder Links: 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3f6mFuA

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3DGOAvx

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Sjzyjg

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3Sk1Zho

Excerpt: 

“Angel, please.” I whispered, cupping her face and stroking my thumb across her cheek. She finally shifted her gaze so that she was looking directly into my eyes. “I’m sorry for embarrassing you. I’m sorry for causing a scene. I’m sorry for stepping in your business. I just couldn’t let him disrespect you like that.”

Cricket’s eyes closed and when she opened them, I knew she’d forgiven me. “I know you’re sorry. And I know he deserved it. I just…” She sighed, the sound laced with disappointment, discontent, and whole layer of something I couldn’t identify. “I just wish I’d been the one to do it.”

“Why, Cricket, that’s mighty violent of you.” My lips tugged into a smile I hoped she’d reflect.

I wasn’t disappointed. “I would have kicked him in the nuts, but the nose was good too.”

I chuckled and she did too, letting me pull her into a hug. Her blonde head fit in the dip right between my pec muscles. “Dance with me.”

She didn’t answer, but her hands slid up my chest and onto my shoulders. My arms wound around her waist and held her to me, letting me relish the scent of her perfume as it surrounded us. I couldn’t live with myself if Cricket was mad at me. 

She kept her cheek against my chest, her fingers playing in the hair that met the collar of my shirt. If I closed my eyes, I could get lost in this moment. Get lost in her. I could imagine dances just like this in our kitchen as we aged together. Our children growing up watching their parents dance to an imaginary song, too in love to care there was no actual music. I could envision a whole life with her.

“You’re such a good friend, Cal. What would I do without you?” Cricket whispered, her words instantly and painfully dissolving the vision in my head.

Good friend.

That was all I’d ever be with Cricket, and I’d do well to remember it.

Like a criminal stuck in a life sentence on Alcatraz, I was firmly imprisoned in the friend zone.

But if that was all Cricket could give me, I’d take it and be the most grateful man on the planet. I loved her, and that meant giving her what she wanted: her freedom to love someone else.

Author Bio: 

Marika Ray is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy and sweet RomComs, spending her time behind a computer crafting stories, walking any beach she can find, and making healthy food for her kids and husband whether they like it or not. Prior to writing novels, Marika held various jobs in the finance industry, with private start-up companies, and then in health & fitness. Cats may have nine lives, but Marika believes everyone should have nine careers to keep things spicy. All her books come with a money-back guarantee that you’ll smile at least once with every book.

 

More information can be found at www.marikaray.com

 

Author Social Media Links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/marikaray

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marika-ray

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16856659.Marika_Ray

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/MarikaRayNews

Website: http://www.marikaray.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormarikaray

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MarikaRaysofSunshine

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormarikaray

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marikarayauthor

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authormarikaray

Review: Wild Wicked Obsession - Layla Frost

Wild Wicked Obsession by Layla Frost
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars

Wild Wicked Obsession by Layla Frost is a hot, can’t put it down book and is part of the Hyde series. The story looks at the characters Joss and Lars. Joss is working at a bakery and as a Kindergarten teacher, trying to make ends meet when she finds her fiancé in a compromising situation, leaving her to pay for a mortgage on her dream house whilst it drains all of her money. The upside to her circumstances is Lars coming into the bakery. The broody, quiet man is everything that quiet Joss wants, but she continually second guesses herself after being burnt once. But sparks continue to fly between these two characters, and it isn’t long until a move is made and the come together in some combustible chemistry.

Lars knows that he isn’t the right guy for Joss, she is too nice and pure for a guy who has done time and is manager of a strip club. But he can’t seem to keep away from her and makes every excuse he can to see her, even if that means eating a lot of cookies. Like Joss, there seems to be a lot of miscommunication and mixed signals before they both get together, but once they do, there is no stopping them…if only someone else didn’t have their eye on Joss too!

This was a really great addition to this series. I loved the chemistry between both Lars and Joss as well as seeing other characters form previous books and how they are doing. There is a little bit of drams in the book but also lots of good times with some family and friends thrown in the mix too. If you like alpha males and sassy heroines. Then this is the book for you!

View all my reviews

Review: Whispers of the Dead - Adaline Winters

Whispers of the Dead by Adaline Winters
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars

Whispers of the Dead by Adaline Winters is book one in the Cora Roberts series. The story focuses on Cora an elemental living in a small supernatural town, trying to keep her B&B afloat. But a string of murders brings both vampires and shifters to her door and with it, plenty of danger. Yet Cora is not who she seems and with a label like ‘The Undertaker’, things take an interesting turn when Cora is asked to find out the truth about what is happening in her small town…the only problem is that it may just kill her trying to find out.

Cora is a sassy and sarcastic character who knows her own strengths and weaknesses. She has very interesting relationships with those around her and doesn’t put up with Hudson, an alpha shifter who wants to know all of her truths. There is definitely a lot of chemistry between the two and it will be interesting to see where it goes in the next book. We also have Sebastian and Cora’s relationship which took an interesting turn in the latter part of the book.

I definitely enjoyed delving into Cora’s world. There was enough suspense, romance and twist and turns to keep me interested and I will certainly be reading the next book in the series.

View all my reviews

Release Blitz: Alpha Mountain Warrior - Renee Rose & Vanessa Vale

Alpha Mountain: Warrior by Vanessa Vale & Renee Rose is now live!

Mistake #1: Sleeping with a friend
Hooking up with Quincy was a no-brainer.
The sexy hot-shot Navy pilot wasn't on my SEAL team.
I thought she'd be safe for a one-night stand.

Mistake #2: Letting her walk out the door
I realized too late she wasn't a one-and-done for me.
But now she thinks I'm a player. Okay, she knows I'm a player.
Which is why she won't go there with me again.

Mistake #3: Wanting to repeat Mistake #1
Quincy's on my team. We live in the same barracks.
We're friends. I don't want to screw that up.
Being near her is pure torture. I don't know how much longer I can last
Before I risk the biggest mistake of all— losing her.

  

  Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo!

 

Amazon: http://vanessavaleauthor.com/v/1vk

Apple Books: http://vanessavaleauthor.com/v/1vl

Nook: http://vanessavaleauthor.com/v/1vm

Kobo: http://vanessavaleauthor.com/v/1vn

Google Play: http://vanessavaleauthor.com/v/1vo

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3ICZwuy

 

Meet Vanessa

A USA Today bestseller, Vanessa Vale writes tempting romance with unapologetic bad boys who don’t just fall in love, they fall hard. Her 75+ books have sold over one million copies. She lives in the American West where she's always finding inspiration for her next story. While she’s not as skilled at social media as her kids, she loves to interact with readers.

 

Connect with Vanessa 

Website: vanessavaleauthor.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9835889.Vanessa_Vale

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00PGB3AXC

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessavaleauthor

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vanessavalewagontrain

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessa_vale_author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamvanessavale

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vanessa-vale

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vanessavaleauthor 

 

 

Meet Renee

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR RENEE ROSE loves a dominant, dirty-talking alpha hero! She's sold over a million copies of steamy romance with varying levels of kink. Her books have been featured in USA Today's Happily Ever After and Popsugar. Named Eroticon USA's Next Top Erotic Author in 2013, she has also won Spunky and Sassy's Favorite Sci-Fi and Anthology author, The Romance Reviews Best Historical Romance, and has hit the USA Today list nine times with her Chicago Bratva, Bad Boy Alpha and Wolf Ranch books and various anthologies.

 

For FREE RENEE ROSE BOOKS, go to this page: https://subscribepage.com/alphastemp

 

**Visit her blog at www.reneeroseromance.com

**Follow Renee at www.Facebook.com/ReneeRoseRomance - She loves to chat with readers!

**Follow her on Tiktok @authorreneerose

**Follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/reneeroseromance

 

 

 

Review: Warrior - Renee Rose & Vanessa Vale

Warrior by Renee Rose
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐stars

Warrior is book three in the Alpha Mountain series by Renee Rose & Vanessa Vale. This one focuses on Kennedy and Quincy and how their relationship develops. Kennedy and Quincy got it on during Qatar but both being in the Services, they didn’t think they would see each other again, even though there was an immediate spark between the two of them. Fast forward a few years and both of them find themselves on the same team trying to figure out who has framed their boss, Ford and caused his dishonourable discharge from the Navy.

Both characters definitely feel an attraction to each other, but Quincy is worried about Kennedy’s playboy ways and Kennedy isn’t looking for a relationship. At least that’s what he wants her to think, until things come to a head due to both characters jealousy over each other and then the sparks are literally flying. We’re literally thrust into the ups and downs of Kennedy and Quincy’s relationship and the baggage that both of them bring with them whilst they try and stay alive and ahead of a killer.

This was definitely a good addition to this series. I loved how Kennedy and Quincy were with each other and the growing that both of them did throughout the book. I especially liked the conversation that Quincy had with her mother later on in the book which gave her a lot of perspective when it came to being a professional woman. They also have some hot chemistry! I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊

View all my reviews

Review: Soul Taken - Patricia Briggs

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs is book 13 in the brilliant Mercy Thomason series. This time the book sees Mercy in a load of trouble with the disappearance of Wulfe, ultimatums from the vampires and an urban legend killer on the loose. It seems that the Harvester has returned to the Tri-Cities and it is intent on wreaking havoc on Mercy and her wolves.

There is a lot going on in this book and we definitely see the story mainly through Mercy’s eyes as she comes to terms with a lot of things, makes new friends and enemies and basically just tries to survive. She has definitely matured as a character and her and Adam’s relationship is as strong as even. Other relationships such as the one’s she has with Wulfe, and Stefan are as complex as ever and will keep you guessing on which way they are going to go.

The twist and turns in this book were great and certainly kept me wanting to keep on reading even when it was way past my bedtime. I would highly recommend starting this series from the beginning and just devouring it as a whole! I also love that we get tidbits for ‘hopefully’ future stories!

Overall, a great urban fantasy series and one that I just couldn’t put down once I started!

View all my reviews