Review: Ruthless Game - Jo Brenner

Ruthless Game: a dark college hockey romance by Jo Brenner
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐stars

Ruthless Game by Jo Brenner is an enemies to lovers story which centres around Lawson and Emma. These characters have a past with each other but it becomes explosive when Emma is accused of something that she didn’t do and Lawson believes the lie.

Fast forward a few years and Lawson sets eyes on Emma again, making him spiral and wanting her to pay for what happened, not realising that he is taking them both down a dark hole that they may not come back from. From there it is all about Lawson making Emma pay in any way he can, the main one being blackmailing her. I did feel sorry for Emma at points as her story never changed, but she seemed to get punished every chance she got. Add into the story her crazy brother (shudder) and you’ve got a character who goes through a lot but is such a strong and sweet character, you can't help feeling sorry for her throughout most of the story.

Within this book there are a lot of emotions from both characters and although you may not agree with Lawson’s rage, he does redeem himself in the end. There are definitely some trigger warnings in this book so be warned.

It may be helpful to read previous books in this series (I didn’t), just to get to know who other characters are but it isn’t a must. If bully romances with enemies to lovers is your thing, then you are going to like this book.

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review 😊

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New Release: Violent Little Thing - Lani Lynn Vale

 

RELEASE BLITZ

Title: Violent Little Thing

Series: Don’t Date Him #10

Author: Lani Lynn Vale

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, One Night Stand, Small Town

Sports Romance, Widower, Single Mom, Second Chance

Release Date: October 6, 2026

BLURB

The first time Courtland Navarro saw Charleigh Lynn Kensington, she was yelling at her old boss about a yeast infection.

Court didn’t know that his heart could even beat after the loss of his late wife, but in that moment, when she was yelling about a bladder infection from hell, he realized that maybe he hadn’t died inside after all.

The second time he saw her, he was protecting her from herself.

The big—actually quite small—bad—more like a pissed-off Chihuahua—Marine thought she could handle herself. And honestly, she might have been able to. But she was five-foot-nothing, had crazy blonde hair, and looked like one hell of an easy target.

To say that they got off on the wrong foot would be an understatement.

Then, searching for something to do with his life after getting out of prison, he finds a mechanic shop for sale. So he buys it.

Little did he know that Charleigh had wanted that shop.

And now she had even more reason to hate him.

She tries her hardest to hold on to the anger, the utter dislike of all things Court Navarro. But Charleigh doesn’t stand a chance.

Court has set his sights on her, and there’s nothing that she can do but surrender.

But, maybe, that was what she wanted all along.

Someone to fight for her.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/247631613-violent-little-thing

PURCHASE LINKS 

US: https://a.co/d/06FezaQm

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/03Jb4M3B

CA: https://a.co/d/04gNwejE

AU: https://amzn.asia/d/0eoYolcJ

B&N: https://t.ly/72fGl

Kobo: https://t.ly/7cw0x

Apple Books: https://t.ly/fi8bC

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE DON’T DATE HIM SERIES

US: https://amzn.to/4qWOVRr

UK: https://amzn.to/4wcy9A2
CA: https://amzn.to/4nb2YAZ
AU: https://amzn.to/4wcdnjY
B&N: https://t.ly/fNfdr

Kobo: https://bit.ly/4eueW6y
Apple Books: https://apple.co/4eYbC3G 

COMING SOON

#11 Little Ray of Pitch Black – Releasing November 3

US: https://a.co/d/0eZRtQ8D

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/09jXW2Ho

CA: https://a.co/d/0dwzDhzF

AU: https://amzn.asia/d/0e0XQ2fc

B&N: https://t.ly/Nxqgb

Kobo: https://t.ly/OiPzK

Apple Books: https://t.ly/DdnzI

AUTHOR BIO 

Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.

AUTHOR LINKS 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lani-Lynn-Vale/author/B00IOX7R3S 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lani-lynn-vale 

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005499525196 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LaniLynnVale 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/114951082190362 

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

Website: http://www.lanilynnvale.com 

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

Review: Violent Little Thing - Lani Lynn Vale

Violent Little Thing by Lani Lynn Vale
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars

Violent Little Thing is book #10 in the Don’t Hate Him series by Lani Lynn Vale and focuses on the characters Charleigh and Court. Charleigh is former military, a woman who knows her own mind and doesn't deal with fools! We see from the beginning of the story that she has been through her own tragedy, losing her best friend in a drunk driver incident which has shaped how she thinks and deals with people. Charleigh deals with a lot throughout the story, not only the person who killed her best friend, but also her boss, who is all kind of yuck! But thrown in all of this is Court, and their relationship is perfect, it has the right amount of seriousness and playfulness to keep you turning the pages. When you also add in Court's trauma, you kind of get two peas in a pod character wise!

Court, went to prison for killing his wife and unborn child (due to a medical condition), but can’t forgive himself. His wife’s family is making his life hell, and his own family have disowned him. Then along comes Charleigh, a woman who both intrigues him and frustrates him. Believing himself incapable of being in love again he knows his deal with Charleigh will be easy, that is until feelings do get involved!

This was a fast paced read with the usual Lani Lynn Vale snark, great characters and a fast-paced story. There are a few substories going on for both the characters: work, personal life, former lives, but it all comes together to generate one great story about finding love again with someone who doesn’t necessarily needs you but wants you.

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review.

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Review: Kill For Her - Melinda Leigh

Kill For Her by Melinda Leigh
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars

Kill for Her by Melinda Leigh is book 10 in the Bree Taggart series. The background to the story is a murder has happened outside the home of famous singer, Naomi Skye. Throughout the story, we're left trying to figure out how it all ties to Naomi and whether she is the actual target.

Bree and Mike must figure out what the killer is doing and who is next in his sights, but the killer isn't going to make it easy, add in the freezing cold temperatures and other things going on within their lives and you have a complex mystery. There was definitely an intriguing mix of characters in this novel, from the disgruntled ex to the odd reporter and the pastor who isn't what he seems to even Naomi and her sister, each character wove its way into the tale.

This story was fast paced with a lot of thrills thrown on for good measure. You never know who the killer is throughout the book until the end and that makes a good thriller for me. I also enjoyed the interaction between Bree and Mike as well as the K9 Turbo who nearly needs his own story with all of the shenanigans that he gets up to. A great addition to the series and I can't wait to read more by this author!

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review 😊

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