5-Star Review · Billionaire Romance · Book Tours · Contemporary Romance · Must Read · Review · Romance · Second Chance Romance

New Review: Broken King (King Brothers #3) by K.M. Scott

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Ronan

I had it all once. The beautiful girlfriend who loved me. A talent that was going to take me as far as I wanted to go.

I was living the dream.

But I lost her because I made a terrible mistake, and then one horrible night, I lost any chance to play ball again. Everything I thought I had going for me disappeared, leaving me with nothing to live for.

Now I’m left to pick up the pieces. I’d give anything for another chance with Kate, but can I truly expect anyone to love me now that I’m not who I used to be?

Kate

He was the boy I fell in love with in high school, my first boyfriend. My first everything. I planned to spend the rest of my life being madly in love with him.

Until it all fell apart.

I never gave up hoping we might end up together, even though I moved on with my life. I heard he got drafted to a minor league baseball team, and even though we weren’t together, I was proud of him for finally living his dream.

Now the boy I loved is a man in pain, and there’s nothing I can do. I want to believe there’s a second chance for us, but is it too late?

PURCHASE LINKS:

BUY NOW LINK US – https://a.co/d/fCxuywr          

BUY NOW LINK UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWXXNLRK/

BUY NOW LINK CA –  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DWXXNLRK/

BUY NOW LINK AU –   https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DWXXNLRK/

BARNES AND NOBLE –  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/broken-king-km-scott/1146982456?ean=2940184685892

KOBO –  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/broken-king-4

APPLE BOOKS – https://books.apple.com/us/book/broken-king/id6741917899

GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS –  https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ChpGEQAAQBAJ&pli=1

MY REVIEW

~5 STARS~

Broken King is the third book in the King Brothers series, and it was just as good as the prior books! It’s a breathtaking second-chance romance. 

It’s now time for Ronan to share his story, which is unforgettable and full of emotions. Ronan had it all at one time in his life. He had a girlfriend who had a beautiful soul who loved him for who he was, not his family name. However, Ronan made a terrible decision that tore them apart. He dreamed of playing baseball and had the talent to do that. An accident tore that away. Now, he is in a terribly dark place that his family is trying to pull him out of, but he doesn’t have any desire to leave the shadows and begin to put his life back together. Until that beautiful girl, Kate steps back into his life. She might be the one who can show him there are other dreams he can achieve. 

Kate was madly in love with Ronan. He was her first boyfriend in high school, and she wanted him to be the “first” for everything in her life. After getting her heart broken, she flees. When she returns home, she hears about his accident, and she decides to go visit him. The first meeting went very badly, but she wouldn’t give up on him. She can’t turn off her love for him, and she is determined to be there and help him reclaim his life. 

This series has been one of my favorites. Each brother is so very different, and Scott does a great job of making readers fall in love with each of them, although it takes more time to fall in love with some brothers. The characters are so multi-layered and complex. She reveals something new about them with each chapter and each book she writes. She gives you more insight into characters from her previous books without taking anything away from Ronan and Kate. 

Broken King is a perfect title because Ronan is broken in body, mind, and spirit. Kate is also broken. Each has their own issues to work through. Ronan’s are obvious, and Kate has self-confidence and trust issues, which Ronan played a part in with their past. Scott turned their issues and past into a beautiful story of redemption, hope, second chances, and making different dreams when your prior dreams go up in smoke. I highly recommend the entire series!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

K.M. Scott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy contemporary and paranormal romance. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading a book, watching TV or movies, or cooking for family and friends.

4-Star Review · Contemporary Romance · New Review · Second Chance Romance · Series · Small Town Romance

New Review: Crossroads of Love (Hicks Creek Series Book 1)

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Returning to my small hometown was never part of the plan—but life has a way of forcing your hand.

I’m Gavin Wells—wealthy, divorced, and carrying enough baggage to fill this tiny town. My father’s funeral should’ve been a quick in-and-out, but nothing about coming home is ever that simple. Especially when it means facing her.

Lena Marshall—my brother’s widow, the girl I once loved, and the one I’ve never really let go. Seeing her again stirs up feelings we both thought we’d buried. But with the past comes secrets, and my family’s skeletons are clawing their way out, threatening to shatter Lena’s trust—and her heart—all over again.

Walking away would be easier. Safer. But I’ve spent too long running from my demons. Now, I have to prove I’m not the man who runs, but the one who fights—for her, for us, and for the second chance we both deserve.

PURCHASE LINKS:

BUY NOW LINK US –  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQ22MB4X 

BUY NOW LINK UK –  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DQ22MB4X 

BUY NOW LINK CA –  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DQ22MB4X 

BUY NOW LINK AU –  https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DQ22MB4X  

MY REVIEW:

~4 STARS~

Crossroads of Love was an emotional, engaging second-chance romance!

When I read the opening pages, I had no idea what journey I would take. It wasn’t just romance. Some mystery sprinkled in made the plot deeper, and that little addition kept my attention. There were questions I had to discover the answers to. 

Here is a little background without spoiling anything. Lena and Gavin seem so in love with one another, or that’s what I thought until Gavin blew everything up. Lena leaves him, which I could understand why she did, and doesn’t see him for another 18 years. In those years, she returns to their hometown and to Gavin’s older brother, marries him, and has a daughter, Jayla. Gavin never returned home, not even when his brother died, leaving Lena alone with her daughter, until now after the death of his father. He hopes to avoid Lena as much as possible and wants to get back to his life in the city as soon as possible. He and his father had a complicated relationship, so he thought this return would only take a few days. However, his father had a little trick up his sleeve. Now, he has to stay for a year if his father’s farm is to remain in his family and go to Lena and Jayla. As he spends time in his hometown, he realizes Lena is his future and will do whatever it takes to prove that to Lena. 

The characters are complicated and complex, even Gavin’s father, despite his death. He is a main character as he drives how the plot unfolds. Lena is the type of female lead character I love because she is strong and independent yet has some very vulnerable qualities. Gavin was the best! I hated him in the beginning of the book because of how he treated Lena, but not all is as it seems, as the author reveals to her readers in the book’s first chapters. He is a great support system to Lena, giving her the safety she has never had. An excellent cast of secondary characters adds to the book. 

The mystery is revealed as Gavin reads a letter from his father. He realizes who his little brother really is and how he has put Lena and Jayla in danger. 

Crossroads of Love isn’t just a simple love story with a dash of mystery. It’s also a book about finding your HEA, making peace with your past, and looking forward to a future full of promise.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kris Abbott is a contemporary romance author who thrives on crafting stories brimming with passion, twists, and irresistible brooding alpha heroes. Based in Northern Canada, Kris is an unapologetic romantic with a penchant for weaving unforgettable characters—flawed, raw, and deeply human—that will leave you breathless. When she’s not dreaming up her next plot, Kris loves to travel, often finding inspiration for her novels in the beauty and culture of her destinations. Whether on the road or at home, Kris delights in creating stories that stir your heart and keep you turning the pages late into the night.

4-Star Review · Book Tours · Cozy Mystery · Historical Mystery · Series

New Review: Melody of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries 4) by N.L. Holmes

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Neferet sets out to hire musicians for her stepdaughter’s party, only to find that one of them has been murdered. The perpetrator could be a member of the musical family itself… but the main suspect is the guest of honor’s husband, Neferet’s favorite relative-in-law! This investigation will take her and her colleagues into the heart of the Theban underworld, and they may not get out alive.

PURCHASE LINKS:

BUY NOW LINK US – https://a.co/d/5H2Wfhz 

BUY NOW LINK UK – https://amzn.eu/d/0Cceeng

BUY NOW LINK CA –  https://a.co/d/gD5glc7

BUY NOW LINK AU –   https://amzn.asia/d/cXV1flM

BUY NOW BARNES AND NOBLE: https://bit.ly/4c9cBLb

MY REVIEW:

~4 STARS~

Melody of Evil is yet another enjoyable addition to this fantastic series! Neferet has hired musicians for her stepdaughter’s party. This time, the murder victim is one of the musicians. As Neferet delves deeper into the case, one of her family members becomes the main suspect. This case is very personal for her, and danger may be closing in. 

I enjoyed this latest installment because readers get a better look into Neferet’s relationship with her husband in all its complexity. With each book, my respect for her grows. In this book, the author includes historical notes about music in ancient Egyptian society. Music was very important within the religious community, and music was the only area women were allowed to participate in regarding their religion. She also touches on the Theban underworld. 

Another winner from N.L. Holmes!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

N.L. Holmes is the pen name of a professional archaeologist who received her doctorate from Bryn Mawr College. She has excavated in Greece and in Israel, and taught ancient history and humanities at the university level for many years. She has always had a passion for books, and in childhood, she and her cousin (also a writer today) used to write stories for fun.

The inspiration for her Bronze Age novels came with an assignment she gave to her students one day: here are the only documents we have telling us about a certain royal divorce in Ugarit in the 13th century. How much can we say about what happened? It quickly became apparent that almost anything we might come up with was as much fiction as historiography!

Today, since their son is grown, she lives with her husband, two cats, chicken, and geese in northern France, where she gardens, weaves, plays the violin, dances, and occasionally drives a jog-cart. And reads, of course.

4-Star Review · Contemporary Romance · Kindle Unlimited · New Review

New Review: Love You Better: A Second Chance Stand Alone in the Oakville World by Kallyn Jones

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Blake Brady is gruff and irresistibly chiseled, with a just-right enough amount of salt in his hair to make me swoon. He’s a talented restaurateur and devoted dad to his daughter. In other words, he’s the only man who has ever tempted my confirmed bachelorette status.

Then I find out Blake’s business is in crisis, thanks to the embezzling accountant I recommended when I walked away from him three years ago. He says my skills with a spreadsheet makes me the only person he trusts to turn his restaurant around. Heaven help me, because I can’t say no to his gorgeous, weary eyes.

His brooding might as well be a form or foreplay, but it’s the man behind the hard shell who draws me in again. When Blake proposes a no-strings-attached office fling, I’m hooked. It’s only a bit of fun. No one’s talking about the L-word. Except when he finally breaks through my defenses, it’s impossible to keep Blake and his precious girl at arm’s length.

Love You Better is a later-in-life standalone novel set in the Southern Oaks world. You do not have to read previous books to enjoy this one.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON LINK US – https://a.co/d/8FK7et9 

AMAZON LINK UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-You-Better-Second-Southern-ebook/dp/B0DP1GM4BZ/

AMAZON LINK CA –  https://www.amazon.ca/Love-You-Better-Second-Southern-ebook/dp/B0DP1GM4BZ/

AMAZON LINK AU – https://www.amazon.com.au/Love-You-Better-Second-Southern-ebook/dp/B0DP1GM4BZ/

BARNES AND NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-better-kallyn-jones/1146953759?ean=9781737709763

MY REVIEW:

Love You Better by Kallyn Jones is an emotional, sweet, and spicy second-chance romance with an excellent cast of characters. 

Blake Brady has a lot on his plate. He is a single dad after losing his daughter’s mother. He owns a restaurant, The Garage, but after years of hard work, he is in danger of losing his business due to his embezzling accountant.

Cyndi dated Blake years ago and has done a successful job of staying away from him. That all changes when she runs into him trying to leave his restaurant after a disastrous dinner with her ex-husband. Neither Blake nor Cyndi realizes this chance meeting will change their lives. Is it possible they will finally get their “happily ever after.”

Both Blake and Cyndi were complex but relatable characters. Each one brought baggage and angst to the relationship; therefore, I could understand why the first agreed to a “no strings attached” arrangement. Blake was so endearing because of his relationship with his daughter, Olivia. He is a wonderful father. I loved how Olivia and Blake kept breaking down the walls around Cyndi’s heart. There is also a great cast of secondary characters that add a layer of complexity to the book. 

The book was a little slow initially, but the writer needed to give her readers some background on the characters. As I continued reading, the pace picked up. There is a little bit of everything…some angst, spice, sweetness, and a hint of mystery in Blake trying to find his birth mother. Jones did a fantastic job combining these elements into an excellent book full of emotion and second chances, hence the perfect title, “Love You Better.” 

Note: Make sure to read Kallyn Jones’s author’s note at the end of the book. She includes some startling statistics about Indigenous People, especially women, and children that everyone should be aware of. 

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kallyn Jones returned to her roots as an author after enjoying a career as a brand specialist. She brings the same passion to dive into unique stories as she writes about her sexy, down-to-earth characters and their offbeat families. She delights in finding heroes and heroines in unusual places. She believes the happily ever afters that are fought for the hardest are also the sweetest.

An autoimmune warrior for most of her life, she’s also a mom to an autoimmune kid. She champions those who often find themselves flat on their backs, for days or weeks at a time, through no fault of their own. The Southern Oaks series is dedicated to them. Besides, what else is a word-lover to do when she’s stuck in a pediatric waiting room for several hours a week?

Kallyn lives in her adopted hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, with her own hero, their three sons, and a dog. In her spare time, she enjoys trail walking, digital painting, and testing out new, “healthy” recipes. She’s proud to say her fellas usually like these experimental dishes. Usually.

4-Star Review · Book Tours · Contemporary Romance · New Review · Series · Sports Romance

New Review: Dirty Puck Buddies: Hamilton Steelhawks Book 4

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Steelhawks goaltender Laurent Gill has always played on the edge. Going above and beyond has made him one of the best in the league with all the money, girls, and partying that accompany success. When his best friend from high school re-enters his life, he’s tempted to push one more line. Dating and relationships aren’t Lorelei’s thing, but friends-with-benefits? Been there…

Free-spirited Lorelei Wescott has wandered the world in pursuit of creative inspiration for her art. She’s got to be over the massive crush she hid from Laurent when they were teenagers. Right? Meeting again only proves their attraction is more powerful than ever. Though she doesn’t want to ruin their friendship, desire leads to a dangerous game that finds them exploring new territory.

As the line between friendship and something stronger becomes more and more blurred, they are forced to confront feelings that end up overpowering them both.

PURCHASE LINKS:

BUY NOW LINK US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DGHXN1M3          

BUY NOW LINK UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0DGHXN1M3

BUY NOW LINK CA –  https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0DGHXN1M3

BUY NOW LINK AU –  https://www.amazon.com.au/Dirty-Puck-Buddies-Hamilton-Steelhawks-ebook/dp/B0DGHXN1M3 

BARNES AND NOBLE –  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dirty-puck-buddies-ac-sheppard/1146274142 

KOBO –  https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/dirty-puck-buddies

APPLE BOOKS – https://books.apple.com/ca/book/dirty-puck-buddies/id6670768651

GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS –  https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Dirty_Puck_Buddies/s_nw0AEACAAJ?hl=en

MY REVIEW:

~4 STARS~

Enjoyable friends-to-lovers sports romance!

Laurent seems to be living the dream…a successful goaltender and one of the best in the hockey league. He has all the money and women he could ever want. His best friend, Lorelei, has returned home from traveling to surprise him for his birthday. What the two of them couldn’t foresee was this night would completely change the direction of their lives. 

Lorelei and Laurent became fast friends when he entered her French class in high school. There was always an undercurrent of attraction, but neither one of them acted on it. So, they have remained best friends until now, as the lines between friendship have blurred. Lorelei has always been a free spirit, traveling for inspiration for her art. Now that she is home, those feelings get even more complicated, and Laurent isn’t big on relationships himself. They have to decide whether to take a chance on love or stay in the safety of their friendship. 

The characters are complex and complicated, and I enjoyed learning more about them as I read deeper into the book. This is a new series and author, and I look forward to reading more books by A C Sheppard.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

A. C. Sheppard is made up of an international tag team of romance authors. Anne and Clem (A. C. get it?) met back in the dark ages of the Internet when Geocities was a thing. (Get off our lawns!). We may even have chatted over Yahoo!Messenger. (Really, get off our lawns!) We both discovered writing through a mutual love of fanfiction and reading. Though we followed different writing journeys, we were both published separately in our respective native languages.

Anne lives with her husband and cat in the wilds of suburbia outside Montreal, where she works part-time in a grocery store. She is an avid hockey fan. Otherwise, she finds other excuses to neglect the housework, among them knitting, reading, and diving into Google wormholes.

Clem lives near Paris with her husband and her son, and teaches English in high school. She enjoys needlework, baking, hockey noises, rerunning The Office, binging books on her e-reader until 2AM and complaining that she doesn’t get enough sleep.

4-Star Review · Christie's Reviews · Contemporary Romance · Kindle Unlimited · New Adult Contemporary Romance · Review · Romance

New Review: The Man I Love by Taylor Sullivan

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Three thousand miles, two shattered hearts, and a new life on the way.

Three years after their life-changing road trip, Samantha Smiles and Tristan Montgomery are back at it again—only this time, the stakes are higher. Samantha is pregnant with Tristan’s child and they are no longer together.

Now, as they embark on another cross-country trip to move Samantha back to LA, the air between them is thick with unresolved pain and misunderstandings. Their once-passionate connection has been strained by time and separation. Samantha is struggling to navigate her own emotions while dealing with the realities of impending motherhood, and Tristan is haunted by the mistakes of their past and the burden of his own fears.

Forced into close quarters, old wounds are reopened and new truths are revealed. Can they mend their fractured relationship and find common ground for the sake of their child? Or will the weight of their past and the pressure of their future drive them further apart?

In a journey fraught with emotional turbulence and unexpected revelations, Samantha and Tristan must confront their deepest fears and rediscover the love that once bound them together. Will they find their way back to each other before it’s too late, or will their latest road trip be their last?

The Man I Love is a poignant exploration of love, forgiveness, and one choice. To cherish one another for the rest of their lives, or lose the love they once cherished forever.

PURCHASE LINKS:

BUY NOW LINK US – https://a.co/d/gHEfkIF              

BUY NOW LINK UK – https://amzn.eu/d/9TRA2b3  

BUY NOW LINK CA – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0D87JPSZC 

BUY NOW LINK AU – https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0D87JPSZC 

MY REVIEW:

The Man I Love is a heartfelt, emotional second-chance romance! I was pulled in by the storyline and the characters. When I finished the first book, Samantha and Tristan were just beginning their happily ever after. This book explores the reality of being in a relationship. 

A great deal has changed since their life-changing cross-country trip three years ago. Samantha is very pregnant with Tristan’s baby, but sadly, the two are not together anymore. As the two return to California, they are again forced to look inside themselves. They will have to reopen some past hurts and learn to trust one another if they will ever be able to co-parent their child together. Maybe, just maybe, they will find their way back together again. 

I enjoyed the way Sullivan wrote the book. The book opens with Tristan coming to NY to move Samantha back to California. It’s obvious the two aren’t together. Sullivan gives her readers the answers to the break-up in flashbacks. Readers see the two blissfully happy but trust issues and long-distance doom the relationship. I was hoping this would be only temporary. I knew all along that this couple had always belonged together. 

Sullivan made herself stand out in the genre with this book. There is angst, but it’s very relatable. It’s fiction, but yet it’s real-life. It’s what happens when a couple has gotten their happily ever after and how they navigate life with all the ups and downs that happen. There were times I wanted to throttle the two of them. If they had taken the risk and poured out their hearts with love and fear, they would have realized the love was still there. They just needed to communicate better, and isn’t that what all couples struggle with from time to time? 

It’s a beautiful, emotional love story with some lighter moments. It’s about a couple who grow and mature and discover what lasting love looks like, which involves grace, forgiveness, and trust. It’s about a girl who once hated a boy but now loves the man he has become!

MEET TAYLOR SULLIVAN

Taylor is the proud mom of three (not-so-young-anymore) kids she loves more than life. She spends her days juggling their endless activities, hoping she looks presentable enough to be out in public, while writing stories inspired by the strangers she meets in her daily life. Maybe she’s a little crazy, or maybe she just misses the Barbie games played with her sister when they were young—but that’s where her stories are born. It’s where they blossom and grow, and eventually breathe life onto the pages of her books.

Taylor is drawn to the complexity and flaws of people. She believes that a life well lived is full of mistakes and that beauty is always found in imperfection. And yes, she believes in happy endings. She’s been married to the love of her life for 21 years after kissing way too many frogs.

She would love to hear from you! (Or I would love to hear from you… writing in 3rd person makes me sound way cooler.)

5-Star Review · Book Tours · Christie's Reviews · Contemporary Romance · Friends-to-Lovers Romance · New Adult · Sports Romance

New Review: Delay of Game by Tam DeRudder Jackson

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About the Book:

Danny Chambers is back.

I lost my heart to Danny Chambers in high school, even though he parked me in the friend zone five minutes after we met. It’s taken years to stop thinking about him at least once every hour. It helped when he enlisted in the Air Force. But he’s back, and he’s walking onto the football team. He could go to college anywhere, so why does it have to be Mountain State?

Even best friends keep secrets from each other.

When Danny earns a spot playing receiver for the Wildcats, I’m in the clear. I can admire him from the stands and go back to my boring life of finishing my undergrad and resigning myself to being married to my career. After what went down with my one-and-only boyfriend last semester, well, I need to stop dreaming about happily-ever-after. Which makes the head games Danny is playing with me so painful. Why is he acting like he wants something more with me?

Five years ago, I made a colossal mistake.

I need a second chance. Growing up a military brat, the one constant in my life was playing football. Though I met all kinds of people while switching schools on the regular, one look at Taryn Hamilton and she’s my girl. Yet after we met, I discovered quick she was off-limits if I wanted to catch passes on Friday nights. I paid a big price for my bad choice. Now after giving Uncle Sam four years so I could attend college, I’m at Mountain State where I’m taking every opportunity to show Taryn how I truly feel—how I have always felt about her. She is so much more than my best friend.

Football was my first love. Now I’m playing for my only love.

Game Time.

Purchase Links:

AMAZON:  https://a.co/d/7ILE6hk 

BARNES AND NOBLE: https://bit.ly/42ZsEIW

My Review:

~5 STARS~

Delay of Game is another winner from Tam DeRudder Jackson.

This latest book in the series is about Danny and Taryn. Danny and Taryn became close friends in high school, but she was always hoping for more. However, he quickly “friend-zoned” her, and that was enough for her. He enlisted in the Air Force, so she didn’t have to see him daily. She had been working hard in college and even had a boyfriend, although he was a jerk. Things are changing because Danny is out of the military and planning to attend the same college as Taryn. 

There was some angst as I soon discovered that both had secrets they were keeping from one another. One big secret is Danny’s feelings for Taryn. He has always been in love with her, but he was forced to leave her alone in high school. Things have changed, and he is determined to make Taryn his finally. 

DeRudder keeps this series fresh because each book is a little different, yet readers get to catch up with characters in prior books. She always has a great cast of secondary characters, and I loved Taryn’s parents and sisters. They were so loving and always accepted Danny as a part of their family. In addition, the titles she chooses are always at the core of what the book is about. Danny put it perfectly when he says, “ The delay of the game that came from being in the friend zone for so long gave us the chance to be ourselves with each other. You’re the one person in the world who truly knows me.” 

DeRudder has given her readers another emotional romance that will surely please all her fans. 

About the Author:

Tam DeRudder Jackson’s love of all things Celtic led her to write the Talisman Series. Steeped in Celtic mythology, these steamy, fated mates, paranormal romance adventures are set in the mountains of Tam’s native Montana and the Highlands of Scotland. Rogue, the most recent book in the series, was named a best romance of 2022 by the Independent Book Review.

An avid fan of rock music, Tam never misses a chance to see a live show, especially if it’s Shinedown, one of her favorite bands. Her love of rock music inspired her contemporary rock star Balefire Series, a sexy fun ride following the lives and loves of the members of a fictional mega-band. Readers of this series consistently give the books five-star reviews.

Tam earned her BA in English from Montana State University and her M.Ed. in literacy from Lesley University. After a short teaching stint in Bath, England, she settled in the wilds of Wyoming where she taught adolescents all about the Celts and a bit about writing before she stepped out of the classroom to pursue her writing career full time.

When she’s not writing, you can find her working her way through her mountainous TBR piles, alpine skiing, or traveling to some new place on her ever-expanding bucket list. To stay up to date on her adventures, connect with Tam by signing up for emails and following on social media below.

Book Tours · Review · Romantic Suspense · Romantic Thriller

New Review: Shadowed Alliances: A Shadowed Defense Security Thriller (Book 5) by Mavery Ellscott

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About the Book:

She saw something she shouldn’t have. Now she’s running for her life.

All Emery Foster wanted was a quiet moment to herself after the party. Instead, she witnessed cybersecurity guru Rudolfo Manetti murder a woman. After a narrow escape during a brutal assault on a U.S. Marshal’s safe house that leaves everyone dead, Emery realizes she’s no longer a witness—she’s a target.

Desperate and out of options, Emery turns to Javier Escarra, former Navy SEAL and owner of Shadow Defense Security. Together, they unravel a sinister web of corruption that reaches beyond a single murder, revealing Emery isn’t the only one marked for death.

As the enemy closes in, Emery and Javier are thrust into a sinister charade of secret alliances, backed by powerful players who will stop at nothing to silence them. But are they prepared for the ultimate betrayal?

If you love high-octane twisty thrillers laced with romance and humor that will keep you hooked to the last page, Shadowed Alliances is a must-read. Dive into Mavery Ellscott’s world of deception and intrigue!

Scroll up, click “buy now” and grab your copy of Shadowed Alliances. Warning: Side effects may include a sudden urge to binge-watch action films.

Purchase Links:

BUY NOW LINK US – https://a.co/d/6DDmjmM     

BUY NOW LINK UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadowed-Alliances-Defense-Security-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0DQ7KHFTN/ref=sr_1_1

BUY NOW LINK CA –  https://www.amazon.ca/Shadowed-Alliances-Defense-Security-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0DQ7KHFTN/ref=sr_1_1

BUY NOW LINK AU –   https://www.amazon.com.au/Shadowed-Alliances-Defense-Security-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0DQ7KHFTN/ref=sr_1_1

My Review:

4 STARS

Shadowed Alliances is a twisty romantic suspense that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Emery is on the run from some powerful enemies who want her dead. She was at a party when she witnessed a man murder a woman. It wasn’t some random man; it was her future father-in-law. However, she has some other dangerous secrets she is holding close. She is taken into protective custody but soon discovers no place is safe. She is one of the only survivors after an attack, leaving almost everyone dead in the safe house she was staying in. Her only option for staying alive is Shadow Defense Security. 

Javier is a former Navy Seal and owner of a security firm. While he and Emery are on the run, he discovers that the organization determined to kill Emery is connected to some recent issues involving the firm. 

I found myself quickly immersed in the shadowy world the author created. The book had a little bit of everything…romance, suspense, action, and thrills, with a bit of humor sprinkled in. The book’s name is perfect…there are a lot of shadowy alliances between dangerous people. This is the first book I have read in the series. While it was easy to read, I would like to go back and read the earlier books, as the overarching conspiracy begins with the first book!

About the Author:

Mavery Ellscott’s first foray into writing was not as a thriller author. It was a journalistic undertaking.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, she convinced a neighbor to help her write and publish a newspaper. A pretty big endeavor for an eight-year-old armed with a bunch of scrap paper and her dad’s old typewriter. Total circulation – two. Fortunately, her later publications fared better. She’s even made it beyond the first round in a contest or two.

A conservationist, Mavery has won a few environmental awards. So, it’s no surprise she yearns to write a high-speed chase with eco-friendly cars in one of her action-packed suspense thrillers splashed with romance and humor.

4-Star Review · Book Tours · Contemporary Romance · Kindle Unlimited · New Adult · Review · Romance

New Review: The Boy I Hate by Taylor Sullivan

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About the Book:

Three thousand miles, two secrets, one man who can change everything.

Samantha Smiles and Renee Montgomery have been best friends for over a decade. They’ve shared laughs, secrets, and a mutual hatred for one person: Tristan Montgomery, Renee’s older brother. He was the guy every girl wanted, and every guy wanted to be, and it wasn’t uncommon they’d befriend his little sister just to get closer to him. Which was exactly how Samantha became Renee’s saving grace. She was the only girl Renee could trust not to fall in love with her older brother.

Until the one night Samantha spent with him alone, leaving her questioning everything she’d ever known about the blond-headed heart-throb.

Years later, Renee asks Samantha to be her maid of honor. After being one-upped by her boyfriend’s career, and with no other option, Samantha is forced to drive cross-country with the focus of their teenage ire.

He was her first kiss.

Her only secret.

Can Samantha survive the trip cross-country with the reckless Tristan Montgomery? The guy who did what he wanted, whenever he wanted, without worry for tomorrow? Or will she discover a different side of him – one that’s sweet, funny, and maybe a little bit vulnerable – and fall completely and helplessly in love for the first time in her adult life with the one man who could cause her to lose her best friend forever?

Links:

BUY NOW LINK US – https://a.co/d/dk7oBX3             

BUY NOW LINK UK – https://amzn.eu/d/dDBzs5T 

BUY NOW LINK CA – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0745JT2M5 

BUY NOW LINK AU – https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0745JT2M5  

GOODREADS LINK –  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35792291-the-boy-i-hate 

BOOKBUB LINK –  https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-boy-i-hate-by-taylor-sullivan  

My Review:

~4 STARS~

The Boy I Hate is a cute, new adult romance with all the feels!

Samantha has been best friends with Renee for many, many years. Now, Renee is getting married, and Samantha is looking forward to making the cross-country trip with her boyfriend. Just days before she is to leave, her boyfriend cancels, saying he can’t leave his dream job. He promises that he will be there, but he will come later. Renee suggests that Samantha travel with her older brother, Tristan. This is NOT what Samantha wants at all!!!! She hates Tristan!!!! But does she really????

Samantha has always hated Tristan, or so she tells herself. Everything seemed to come so easy for him. Every girl wanted him, and every guy wanted to be him. He always had a crowd around him fawning all over him. Samantha and Renee became friends because she was the only girl who really wanted to be her friend, not just using her to get closer to Tristan. However, one night six years earlier, she shared a special night with him and saw a different side to him, and even shared a kiss with him, her first kiss. That kiss has remained a secret, and that is the way she wants it to stay. 

The old sparks between Tristan and Samantha are still brimming underneath their snide comments to one another. The banter was highly entertaining. I enjoyed watching them really get to know one another and discovering who they were. 

I loved the flashbacks to that night so many years ago. While the book focuses on the two of them falling in love, it also dives beneath the surface of who these characters are. They were complicated and complex, each dealing with their own personal issues. I highly enjoyed the road trip aspect of the book as well. I have already downloaded the next book that continues their story, and I can’t wait to dive in!!!! 

Meet Taylor Sullivan

Taylor is the proud mom of three (not-so-young-anymore) kids she loves more than life. She spends her days juggling their endless activities, hoping she looks presentable enough to be out in public, while writing stories inspired by the strangers she meets in her daily life. Maybe she’s a little crazy, or maybe she just misses the Barbie games she played with her sister when they were young—but that’s where her stories are born. It’s where they blossom and grow, and eventually breathe life onto the pages of her books.

Taylor is drawn to the complexity and flaws of people. She believes that a life well lived is full of mistakes and that beauty is always found in imperfection. And yes, she believes in happy endings. She’s been married to the love of her life for 21 years after kissing way too many frogs.

She would love to hear from you!

4-Star Review · Book Tours · Review · Romance

New Review: Love is for the Birds by Diane Owens Prettyman

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About the Book:

For fans of Mary Alice Monroe’s The Beach House comes a heartwarming story from women’s fiction author Diane Owens Prettyman about second chances as two people find a pathway out of their grief – directly in the aftermath of a hurricane.

The Texas Gulf: beautiful yet unpredictable.

A beach town destroyed. Her mother’s candy store swept away. This is what Teddy Wainsworth faces when she returns to Bird Isle. Meanwhile, Jack Shaughness, owner of a popular barbecue restaurant chain and widower still grieving the death of his wife, receives permission to cross over to the island with a smoker full of brisket to feed hurricane survivors. Soon after arriving, he meets Teddy and immediately finds himself drawn to her – which makes him feel he is betraying his wife. When the two find a lost dog, Jack convinces Teddy to take it home while they attempt to find the owner, creating a bond that brings them closer.

In the wake of the hurricane, Bird Isle residents fear the Aransas Wildlife Refuge will not be ready for the whooping cranes’ annual migration south. Seeing that Jack has important connections and a love for the island, they enlist him to help restore the habitat of the endangered cranes before they fly to Padre Island for the winter. With their rescued dog always nearby, Teddy and Jack work side by side to rebuild Bird Isle for the return of the whooping cranes. But Jack is harboring a secret that may ruin everything he and Teddy are creating – and he won’t be able to keep that secret forever.

Purchase Links:

Amazon – https://a.co/d/7XYaZ6N

Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/love-is…/1145414475…

My Review:

Beautiful, emotional book about second chances!!!

“Not all storms come to disrupt your life; some come to clear your path.” This quote sums up exactly what this beautiful book is about!

The book opens when Teddy returns to Bird Isle after a devastating hurricane. She discovers that her beloved mother’s candy store was destroyed. Not long after being back, Teddy meets Jack. The two create a bond when they find a dog who is lost. With Jack’s encouragement, she takes the lost pup home until they can find the owner. Both of them are still mourning losing loved ones, so they are hesitant to go beyond friendship despite the pull they feel towards one another. 

Teddy is grieving her mother, who a drunk driver killed, and her goal is to rebuild her business. Jack is the owner of a barbecue restaurant chain, who has come to help the town’s citizens, and he has recently lost his wife. Both characters are so relatable and complex. Teddy doesn’t want to risk losing someone else, and Jack is dealing with guilt because of his feelings for Teddy. He feels like he is betraying his late wife. It was a beautiful thing to watch these two damaged souls find love and hope again.

The setting was gorgeous, and I loved seeing the community come together, rebuilding and working to get the Wildlife Refuge ready for the whooping cranes’ yearly migration. The author also added another layer to the story with a secret Jack is hiding and how that will affect his budding relationship with Teddy.

The book was well-written and had complex characters. The chapters were told from Teddy and Jack’s perspectives, giving a more in-depth look into their thoughts. Each chapter also had cute headings that teased what the chapter would be about, such as “Tide and Chance” and “Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About.” I loved that addition. While the book was emotional, it was also heartwarming, especially with the addition of the pups.

I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

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