Category Archives: Donna’s Reviews

Review: THE PROTECTOR: Games People Play by HelenKay Dimon

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THE PROTECTOR: Games People Play Series, Book 4 by HelenKay Dimon

Publication Date: July 31, 2018

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

79135F1B-270C-4ABA-AB7C-780AF36D2870Salvation, Pennsylvania. The commune located in the small town was advertised as a modern Utopia: a place to live, share, and learn with other like-minded young people. Cate Pendleton’s sister was one of them. Now she’s dead—and Cate won’t rest until she finds out who killed her. Stonewalled at every turn, she approaches a DC Fixer for help and ends up with Damon Knox, a mysterious man with a secretive past. But Cate soon discovers that she not only needs Damon, she wants him, which isn’t good—for the attraction brewing between them will only lead to complications that can turn into danger . . .

Damon has tried to erase the hellish memories and the evil that happened in Salvation ever since he left a long time ago. Still, he can’t turn his back on Cate. As Damon works with Cate to uncover her sister’s killer, he finds himself drawn to her more and more. But how will she feel about him when she learns about his connection to the place?

Joining forces to uncover the truth, they must stay one step ahead of a cunning killer who’s bent on not being exposed.

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Donna 4 stars

I’ve always loved a book that has a lot of group camaraderie, especially in an alpha-male unit. This book fulfilled that wish, so now I must go buy the rest of the series! Thankfully I had no problem jumping into the middle of the series. Damon was ornery and secretive, loaded down with a past guilt that made him standoffish. I didn’t mind that and quickly wanted him to find release. It took me longer to warm up to Cate. She was a touch too argumentative and some of the risks she took seemed a bit improbably. That being said, she grew on me. They matched up into a believable couple, despite the mystery and danger bombarding them. It turned out to be a sexy, exciting suspense – that kept me guessing.

*Review copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

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Buy Links

Kindle | Amazon Paperback

Amazon Series Link

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About the Author

HelenKay Dimon is a former divorce attorney turned full-time romance author. Odd transition, right? She has sold over thirty novels, novellas and shorts to numerous publishers, including Kensington, Harlequin and Penguin, Samhain, Carina Press, and HarperCollins. Her nationally bestselling and award-winning books have been showcased in numerous venues and her books have twice been named “Red-Hot Reads” and excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine. But the best part of the job is never having to wear pantyhose.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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Review: HOT ON THE TRAIL by Vicki Tharp

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HOT ON THE TRAIL (Lazy S Ranch, Book 3) by Vicki Tharp

Publication Date: July 24, 2017

Genre: Western Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

2643BB56-0D60-42C6-ACBB-6BFDEFF5659EThe stunning beauty and quiet majesty of the Wyoming wilderness can heal your soul. But one woman will discover that her heart is fair game . . .

The Lazy S Ranch is everything to Jenna Nash. It’s given her family, friends, and a fulfilling career: helping veterans rebuild their lives. She sacrificed a lot to get her equine therapy program off the ground—including love. But suddenly, she’s in danger of losing it all . . .

Joining the Marines was the best decision Quinn Powell ever made, even if he had to go it alone without Jenna. Now his best friend’s death has brought him back to the ranch he once called home—and to the woman who rejected him.

Quinn hasn’t lost his touch—with the wildest horses or with Jenna. Though she’s falling for the brash, impulsive cowboy all over again, Jenna has reason to be wary. But when she and the ranch are threatened, Quinn will put everything on the line to save them both . . .

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Donna review 4.5 stars

This was a fun mystery, clue gathering and adrenaline rushing romance. I liked how Jenna and Quinn handled their reservations about rekindling their romance. It was done naturally and made sense, while keeping me geared up from all the sexual and emotional tension. It just seemed to flow the overall story and added to the fiery climax. I also like that the people around them are close-knit and added depth to the story. This murder mystery isn’t filled with a cowboy storyline, but it has enough to keep those who love horses, happy.  I honestly couldn’t put it down.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Amazon Paperback

Amazon Series Link

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About the Author

Born with a love for animals, Vicki Tharp pursued a career as a veterinarian, graduating from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. Always an avid reader of romance, mystery, and suspense, she combined her interests and medical knowledge in her book, DON’T LOOK BACK.

She makes her home on small acreage in south Texas with her husband and an embarrassing number of pets. When she isn’t writing, trimming hooves, woodworking, or mucking out the barn, you can usually find her on the back of her horse, enjoying the delightful nasal bouquet of flowers, fly spray, and eau de horse sweat.

Website | Facebook | Amazon

Review: THREAT OF DANGER (Mission Recovery Book 2) by Dana Marton

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THREAT OF DANGER (Mission Recovery Book 2) by Dana Marton

Publication Date: June 5, 2018

Genre: Romantic Suspense

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AD1F2092-E84E-49CC-BD4F-71D6D04F5DF8Falling in love can be a deadly proposition in this pulse-quickening Mission Recovery novel from the New York Times bestselling author.

Jess Taylor and Derek Daley were in the throes of first love in a small Vermont town when they were kidnapped by a serial killer. They escaped his clutches—but not the trauma of the unsolved crime. With their lives changed forever and their romance cut short, they went their separate ways to exorcise their fears.

Jess is living on the edge as Hollywood’s hottest stuntwoman. It’s no longer terror thrumming through her veins. It’s adrenaline. Derek is a former Navy SEAL spinning his ordeals into heart-pounding bestselling thrillers. But when Jess is called home on a family emergency, she must face the past—and face the man she left behind, who is just as haunted and, like her, still so much in love.

Now, as an old flame reignites, Jess and Derek are taking advantage of second chances and putting their bad memories behind them. But here, in the quiet town of Taylorville, a killer is getting a second chance as well.

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Donna 5 Stars

This story kept me captive and wouldn’t let go. I’ll admit that I had my doubts in the very beginning, but then the mystery began to unfold. It was a nice combination of edgy fear and hometown comfort blended together to make a smooth flowing story. Jess and Derek not only had to deal with the psychological impact of their past trauma, rekindling their old relationship, and real-life issues – there was a serial killer on the loose. It all came to a boiling point that had me clenching my teeth. I loved this romantic thriller.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle | Amazon Paperback

Free via Kindle Unlimited. You can sign-up for a free trial here: Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans

✦Book 1: SILENT THREAT (Mission Recovery Book 1) by Dana Marton
Kindle http://amzn.to/2Eq3ENd | Review 4.5 Stars https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-ayv

 

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Dana Marton is the New York Times bestselling author of the Agents Under Fire series, the Hardstorm Saga, and the Broslin Creek novels. She is the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, the Readers’ Choice Award, and the RITA Award. For more information about Marton and her work, please visit her at www.danamarton.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/danamarton.

Review: CHARMED AT FIRST SIGHT (Charmed in Texas) by Sharla Lovelace

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CHARMED AT FIRST SIGHT (Charmed in Texas, Book 4) by Sharla Lovelace

Publication Date: July 10, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

11F3543F-EB4F-46BC-8962-44EB3C3F99DCA hot mess runaway bride and a smokin’ hot biker lock eyes at a red light. Lord have mercy . . . is our little town of Charmed, Texas ready for this?

Never one to do things by the book, Micah Roman couldn’t just chalk it up to bridal jitters, or even quietly call off her wedding to her long-time fiancé. No, she has to high-tail it out of the church sporting a dress that cost more than her car, and jump on the back of a smoking-hot stranger’s motorcycle. Her knight in all-black is headed to a town called Charmed, so that’s where she’ll go and try to lay low. Except their appearance raises plenty of eyebrows . . . and a sudden, intense attraction she has no business exploring.

Who knew picking up a damsel in distress would lead to lust at first sight? Leo McKane headed to Charmed prepared to deal with some family secrets–including his status as long-lost brother. This runaway bride is an unexpected distraction his set agenda and loner lifestyle doesn’t include. She’s everywhere he turns, getting under his skin with her quirky, headstrong ways and eyes he can’t forget. But when Micah’s jilted ex comes looking for her and opens up his shady past, Leo knows he has a choice to make.

They both do.

Run to safer ground again? Or take a leap that their untrusting hearts are wary to take.

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Donna 4 stars

This is a lovely little contemporary romance with some suspense thrown in for thrills. I connected with Micah right off and loved the panicked confusion driving her. Since it was told in Micah’s point of view, I had to guess at Leo’s motivations and thoughts. Because a lot of the suspense involved his past, it would have been nice to hear his thoughts as well – it would have made the pace of their relationship clearer also. I enjoyed the townspeople, the emotional undercurrent and the romance. It’s a fun summer read that will leave you with a smile.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

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Buy Links

Kindle | Amazon Paperback

Amazon Series Link

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About the Author

imageSharla Lovelace is a bestselling, award-winning author of sexy small-town love stories. A proud Texas girl through and through, she lives in southeast Texas with her retired husband, a tricked-out golf cart, and two rambunctious dogs. Author of five stand-alone novels and the Heart of the Storm series, she loves connecting with readers; find her on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, or subscribe to her newsletter at www.sharlalovelace.com to keep up with new releases.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: ALL-AMERICAN COWBOY by Dylann Crush

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ALL-AMERICAN COWBOY (Holiday, Texas Series Book 1) by Dylann Crush  

Publication Date: July 3, 2018

Genre: Western Romance

Synopsis

B5D8FA18-51BF-4236-83C5-D02AD92C33A6This city boy has it all figured out…

Until he goes toe-to-toe with a fierce cowgirl

who’s snagged the home field advantage.

Holiday, Texas is known far and wide as the most celebratory town in the South—and no shindig is complete without one of its founding members. It’s a real shame the last remaining Holiday is a city slicker, but what’s that old saying about putting lipstick on a pig…?

Beck has no intention of being charmed by some crazy Texas town, but the minute he lays eyes on his grandfather’s old honky tonk—and Charlie Walker, the beautiful cowgirl who runs it—he finds himself wishing things could be different. Life’s gentler in Holiday. Slower. More real than anything he’s ever known. And when he looks into Charlie’s eyes, Beck may finally discover what it’s like to truly belong.

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Donna 4 stars

This was a lovely contemporary romance. It isn’t a ranch-type story, but rather set in a little Texas town and revolves around the landmark honky-tonk. I loved how Beck handled being a fish out of water when he first arrived from New York City. It was humorous without being overly stereotyped. Charlie was strong and capable without being bitchy. She and Beck made a nice couple struggling through their different backgrounds. There were no surprises with the townspeople, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t fun an interesting, they added a nice layer to the book. Everything flowed nicely into a smoking romance filled with miscommunication and tension. It was a nice feel-good story.

*Review copy provided by Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

The man approached the driver’s side, his mouth curled into a sheepish smile. She forced a tight grin and leaned out the window. “What seems to be the trouble?”

“Thank God. I was starting to think I might die right here on the side of the road.” He rested one of those sinewy forearms on her door. A hint of expensive cologne wafted off his skin. “I seem to have lodged my rental in the ditch.”

Charlie ignored an uptick in her pulse and peered past him. “You did a nice job wedging yourself in there.”

He glanced toward his SUV, then back at her. “Yeah, I don’t really do things half-assed. Lucky for me you came along.” He offered another apologetic grin.

She didn’t reciprocate. Might be lucky for him, but her luck had apparently run dry. Who the hell had she pissed off recently to deserve a day like today? First she had to deal with Baby Back and now this city boy.

He waited a beat for a response that didn’t come, then tapped his hand against the doorframe. “So, yeah, something ran across the road, and I had to slam on the brakes. I’ve got Triple A. Does your cell phone work? I’ve got no service out here, but if yours works, I can call for a tow truck. I’m sure they’ll have me out of here in no time.”

The Yankee continued to spout off about cell towers and roadside assistance while she slid out of the truck. She turned her back to him and walked to the edge of the road. “There’s only one tow truck in town,” Charlie finally interrupted. “You’re welcome to give him a call. But I heard he went fishing. Depending on how the fish are biting, might take him a while to tear himself away.”

Beckett wiped away the sweat beading at his brow and shook his head. “Damn.”

He probably deserved to get stuck here all day waiting on a tow. She almost climbed back into her truck. But something about the way he cocked his hip and funneled a hand through his hair reminded her of Sully. Dammit.

With her hands clamped on her hips, she nodded toward the bed of her truck. “Why don’t you hand me a rope and I’ll see if I can pull you out?”

“You sure?”

“Unless you want to sit in the ditch all day.”

“No, ma’am.” The dimple on his left cheek practically winked at her as he climbed onto the bumper and stepped into the bed.

She ran her gaze over his classy khakis, catching a glimpse of bare ankle at the hem. Loafers with no socks? Seriously? The local boys were going to chew this guy up like a wad of Skoal and spit him out before he even had a chance to settle that fine-looking ass onto a barstool.

“Will this work?” He held up a coil of rope.

“That’ll be fine. If you toss one end down here, I’ll tie it up.”

The whole truck rocked as he climbed over the edge and hopped out. “I can do that for you.”

She smirked at the chivalrous offer. “Just toss me the rope. I wouldn’t want you to get your fancy shoes dirty.”

Beckett glanced down at his feet before shrugging and tossing her the rope. “I guess nobody told me loafers weren’t fit for Texas.” He was so easygoing about it, she almost felt bad for poking fun. But then she thought of all the years Sully had waited for some word from his family out east, and it made her want to shake him up even more.

“Boots aren’t a requirement. But they do come in handy when you find yourself wading through the tall grass to rescue a city boy in distress.” The end of the rope sailed her way and she snagged it out of the air, then scrambled down the embankment to secure it underneath the front bumper.

“I’ll try to avoid any further trouble.” He offered her a hand as she climbed out of the ditch. “I sure do appreciate your help.”

Charlie opted to take it. Warm, firm grip, smooth… Not like the hands of the men who worked on her family’s ranch. Those were callused and rough.

“Plus, they help keep the ticks away.” She reached the road and reclaimed her hand, not wanting to admit to herself how nice it felt to be touched by a man. Even if it was this man.

He paused. “Ticks?”

“Yep. Ticks like to hang out in the weeds.” Charlie brushed her hands against her thighs, trying to wipe away the tingles of contact before she bent down to secure the other end of the rope to her trailer hitch.

“Then I’d better keep my car on the road from now on. So what do we do next?” Beckett shifted his weight, gesturing to the SUV. “Do you think this will work?”

Standing, she squinted up at him. “Now you put it in drive and aim for the road, and I pull you out of the ditch.” She directed a pointed look to the SUV.

“That easy, huh?”

Charlie angled her hip. “Helps if you get in the car.”

He let out a deep laugh, and she had to bite back her grin. She didn’t want to admit to herself how much she was enjoying their little exchange. It had been a long time since she’d made a man laugh.

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Kindle | Amazon Paperback

Amazon Series Link

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5 Copies of All-American Cowboy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Dylann Crush writes contemporary romance with sizzle and sass. A romantic at heart, she loves her heroines spunky and her heroes super sexy. When she’s not dreaming up steamy storylines, she can be found sipping a margarita and searching for the best Tex-Mex food in Minnesota. Although she grew up in Texas, she currently lives in a suburb of Minneapolis/St. Paul with her unflappable husband, three energetic kids and a canine who doesn’t think he’s a dog. She loves to connect with readers, other authors and fans of tequila. You can find her at www.dylanncrush.com.

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Review & Giveaway: OFF THE GRID (The Lost Platoon) by Monica McCarty

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OFF THE GRID (The Lost Platoon, Book 2) by Monica McCarty

Publication Date: July 3, 2017

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

195F4014-DEF5-4966-ADE9-5091092093C7A hunt for dangerous secrets leads to explosive chemistry in this exhilarating romantic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Going Dark.

A team of Navy SEALs go on a mission and disappear without a trace—they are The Lost Platoon.

Investigative reporter BRITTANY BLAKE may have stumbled upon the story of a lifetime in her search for her missing brother. When he seemingly disappears overnight, she refuses to accept the Navy’s less-than-satisfying explanation. She begins her own investigation, which leads her to top-secret SEAL teams, covert ops, and a possible cover up…

JOHN DONOVAN is having trouble biding his time, waiting for his Commanding Officer to figure out who set up their platoon. John’s best friend and BUD/S partner, Brandon Blake, was one of the many lives tragically lost in the attack against his team. When Brandon’s sister, Brittany, tracks John down, looking for answers, he realizes that she may be their best bet–or bait–for finding out who is targeting SEAL Team Nine.

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Donna review 4.5 stars

Another exciting installment in the Lost Platoon series. The author managed to give good insight into John’s situation and personality without resorting to an info-dump (much appreciated). I rather liked his brooding attempt to keep from getting attached to Brittany. I related to her rather quickly and loved how their sexy romance ebbed and flowed through the turmoil. I wish the platoon wasn’t so dispersed, so they could have more of a group dynamic to the stories. I want to be pulled in deeper to them as a group. That being said – I loved the mystery, danger, romance and edge to this book.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

Read an Excerpt Here: http://monicamccarty.com/books/grid.php

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Buy Links

Kindle | Amazon Paperback

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Check out Book 1:
 GOING DARK (The Lost Platoon) by Monica McCarty
✦Review 5 Stars http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-9G1
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Kindle http://amzn.to/2qtdF55
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Giveaway

Paperback Copy of OFF THE GRID (The Lost Platoon) by Monica McCarty.

★ENTER FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY HERE★

Winner will be selected (7/14) by 6PM EST. Reading in Pajamas is responsible for this giveaway. Paperback was provided to Reading in Pajamas by Berkley Romance.

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About the Author

Monica McCarty is the bestselling author of The Arrow, The Raider, The Hunter, the Highlander trilogy, the Campbell trilogy, and more. Her interest in the Scottish clan system began in the most unlikely of places: a comparative legal history course at Stanford Law School. After a short but enjoyable stint as an attorney, she realized that her career as a lawyer paired with her husband’s transitory life as a professional baseball player was not the best match. So she traded in her legal briefs for Scottish historical romances with sexy alpha heroes. She now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their two children.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: BUILT TO LAST (Black Knights Inc.) by Julie Ann Walker

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BUILT TO LAST (Black Knights Inc. Book 12) by Julie Ann Walker

Publication Date: June 26, 2018

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

00A45B69-78C6-48F7-A187-CBA837D9DCECIn the epic conclusion to the BKI series, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker delivers her biggest bombshell yet!

Welcome to Black Knights Inc.

What appears to be a tricked-out motorcycle shop on the North Side of Chicago is actually headquarters for the world’s most elite covert operatives. Deadly, dangerous, and determined, they’ll steal your breath and your heart.

After a mission-gone-sideways forces Jamin “Angel” Agassi to change his identity, he’s determined to bring down the world’s worst crime syndicate kingpin once and for all. That’s going to be the easy part. Keeping Interpol agent Sonya Butler from discovering who he really is—and blazing another trail into his heart—is the challenge.

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Donna review 4.5 stars

I was so looking forward to Angel’s story and am glad that it explained his past while forming his future. To do this, the book kept flashing back to his previous life, illustrating the impact on his and Sonya’s relationship. I’m not a big fan of the back and forth, so thankfully the story itself kept me enthralled. Sonya was someone I liked and could relate to. Her personality made the romance in an unheard of situation believable. Lots of action + smoking hot romance + close-knit friends = a good BKI story! Of course, all the people I’ve grown to love in the Black Knights world were involved in the usual mayhem, making me smile even when the tensions were high. I’m saddened to think this is the end of BKI, but excited for the hint of things to come.

*Review copy provided by Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.

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Excerpt

“Angel,” she whispered, coming up for air.

The way she said Angel, with such longing and desperation, was perfect. Except it wasn’this name. Not his real name, anyway. And the fool in him longed to throw caution to the wind and tell her the truth, if only to hear her call him Mark one last time.

Years of unquenched desire rode atop his shoulders. A decade of dirty words fell from his lips as he kissed his way back to her ear.

“Tell me you want me,” he commanded, nipping her earlobe.

The way she groaned captured him. Trapped him. Except the truth was, she’d owned him since the moment she opened her mouth beside his table at that café in Paris and asked if he was Mark Risa in sweetly accented Hebrew. He was hers. Always had been. Always would be.

Instinct was his ruler now. Instinct and the memories of all the things she liked. All the things that made her yelp and purr and beg for more. Cupping her breast through the soft cotton of her T-shirt, he thumbed over her nipple, delighted to discover the peak already ruched tight with desire.

She was as responsive as he remembered. Possibly more so.

“Tell me you want me,” he demanded again, needing to hear it. Needing her to admit it.

“I want you. God help me, I do.”

If he’d only heard the desperation in her voice, he might have kept going. Except…overshadowing that desperation were hard notes of guilt.

Reality check.

He pulled back to discover her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. Everything inside him stilled—his heart, his lungs, his blood. Everything except his mind. It raced toward a conclusion he didn’t want to face.

“Are you still crying for him?” he whispered. “This man from your past?”

“No.” She shook her head. Then shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. It’s just that you remind me of him sometimes. The way you walk. The way you pop your jaw. The way you kiss except…”

He wanted nothing more than to keep contact with her. But she had withdrawn from him emotionally, and the gentleman in him—a guy he rarely let out to play—demanded he withdraw from her physically. When he stepped back, breaking the connection of their bodies, it felt like everything that was important inside him stayed behind. Stayed with her.

“Except what?”

“Except you’re better at it than he was. I didn’t think that was possible,” she was quick to add. “Because he was the best. The absolute best. And yet it is possible. And I feel so…so…” She swallowed and searched his eyes. “Guilty for admitting it.”

Angel shot a victorious fist in the air. Or, at least, he imagined he did.

Couple of things here… One, good to know that for her, and up until now, he’d been the best. And two, he had learned a thing or two since the tender age of twenty-four. He looked forward to demonstrating each and every new skill.

“Sonya, you are not wrong to want me. Your man is dead.” The lie tasted sour in his mouth. God, don’t strike me down. Not now. Not yet. “But you are still living. Still breathing. You have needs.”

She frowned before ducking her chin and staring at her bare feet. He glanced down too and found, much to his delight, her toenails were painted a familiar hot pink.

So there is some of the old Sonya left…

“It feels wrong to want you.” Her blond hair had fallen over her shoulders like the halves of a curtain. “I don’t even know you.”

He didn’t mistake her words. They were essentially the ones he’d given her earlier. Except the difference was that in his case, he had known he was lying.

She lifted her chin, staring into his eyes. “Why? Why do I feel this connection with you? Is it because we’re in the same boat? Because Grafton has us both by the nose?”

“I cannot say.” Another lie. The pile was becoming unwieldy. “But I can tell you I feel it too.”

He thought she would be happy to hear it, but she pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead and blew out a gusty sigh. “I’m tired. I should go to bed. We leave for Moldova in six hours.”

Whoa. What? That was it? She was going to abandon the conversation when it was getting good?

“Good night, Angel,” she said a little breathlessly.

Stay, he wanted to tell her.

No. Screw that. He didn’t want her to stay. He wanted to toss her over his shoulder, cart her upstairs, and throw her on his bed and undress her. He wanted to kiss every inch of her naked body until she begged him to put himself inside her.

Instead, he took a step back and lifted a hand, wordlessly indicating she was free to go.

It took everything he had not to reach for her when she slid past him. Instead, he satisfied himself with watching her hips sway to the feminine rhythm of her body as she walked to the end of the kitchen island. She had filled out some over the years. Not that she’d ever been stick thin. God had smiled the day he made her and blessed her with curves. But what little angularity youth had given her was gone now. Her hips were fuller. Her breasts heavier. Everything about her screamed woman.

At the doorway, she swung around, a question in her eyes.

“Was there something else?” he asked.

“I know you think I’m broken.” The misery in her voice hit him in the place where his shattered heart used to be.

Oh, Sonya. What happened to you?

He wanted so much to take her in his arms and remind her of what she once was. Of who she once was. But all he could give her was one simple truth. “The light only truly shines through people who have been broken.”

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Kindle | Amazon Paperback

Amazon Series Link

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Black Knights Inc. Series by Julie Ann Walker – Amazon Series Link
✦1. HELL ON WHEELS ➢ Kindle
✦2. IN RIDES TROUBLE ➢ Kindle
✦3. REV IT UP ➢ Kindle
✦4. THRILL RIDE ➢ Kindle
✦5. BORN WILD ➢ Kindle
✦6. HELL FOR LEATHER ➢ Kindle | Review 5 Stars
✦7. FULL THROTTLE ➢ Kindle | Review 5 Stars
✦8. TOO HARD TO HANDLE ➢ Kindle | Review 5 Stars
✦9. WILD RIDE ➢ Kindle | Review 5 Stars
✦10. FUEL THE FIRE ➢ Kindle | Review 5 Stars
✦11. HOT PURSUIT ➢ Kindle | Review 4.5 Stars
✦12. BUILT TO LAST ➢ Kindle

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668768D3-6BA9-484F-8B53-1284009D6CFFBKI Series Giveaway

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IMG_7397Julie Ann Walker is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling Author of the Black Knights Inc. romantic suspense series. She is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics. She’ll never say no to sharing a glass of wine or going for a long walk. She prefers impromptu travel over the scheduled kind, and she takes her coffee with milk. You can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Blog Tour, Review & Excerpt: DOWN DEEP: Station Seventeen by Kimberly Kincaid

 

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DOWN DEEP: Station Seventeen Book 4 by Kimberly Kincaid

Publication Date: June 18, 2018

Genre: Romantic Suspense/ Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

C95C450D-14BB-4113-8794-B3D350DBF492Ian Gamble has a past he’d rather forget—which is exactly what he’s doing at The Crooked Angel Bar and Grill when the place catches fire. Between his active duty in the Marines and his experience as a firefighter, his instincts get him and hot, headstrong bar manager, Kennedy Matthews, to safety. But those same instincts kick into high gear when the fire is ruled an arson, and he discovers Kennedy’s got secrets of her own.

The only thing that matters more to Kennedy than her bar is her brother. When she finds out he’s in over his head with a dangerous arsonist, she’ll do anything to keep him safe—even if it means teaming up with Gamble, who’s too sharp-eyed and hard-bodied for his own good. With every step, their attraction flares hotter and the risks grow more dangerous. Can Gamble and Kennedy face their fears—and their secrets—to catch a terrifying enemy? Or will they go down in flames?

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Donna 5 StarsI truly enjoyed this pulse-pumping romantic suspense. Gamble and Kennedy were both people I could relate to, even if the danger swirling around them was not – but that’s what makes it fun. Kennedy is a tough woman with a tender heart, and ghosts from Gamble’s past give him the perfect depth to make theirs a good match. The smoking hot romance was not forced and progressed nicely through all the dangerous twists and turns. Making it an exciting, sexy read. I can’t wait for the next installment.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

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Excerpt

Kennedy exhaled for the first time in ten minutes. When faced with fight or flight, she’d go with fight every single time and twice on Sundays. That still didn’t change the fact that the adrenaline was a bitch to manage. Add to it that she hadn’t needed to forcibly boot anyone from The Crooked Angel in over a year—even then, Javier had done the actual handiwork—and she was definitely out of practice with the defenses that had once been daily survival skills.
You sure you’re not going to get soft on me if you move out of the neighborhood, sis?
Setting her shoulders despite the ache that was making a comeback now that her nervous system was (sort of) returning to business as usual, Kennedy spun toward the pass-through at the far end of the bar. Gamble followed her to the customer side, taking a decent-sized draw from his water before putting it out of the way, shrugging out of his leather jacket, and grabbing the nearest bar stool. She had to admit, having him stick around and walk her to her car was smart from a strategic standpoint, and his quiet, steadfast presence calmed her down.
Even if the way he’d trusted her to handle herself had revved her way up.
“So,” Gamble said, yanking her back from crazytown as he turned the stool in his grasp upside-down and put it on top of the bar. “How did a woman like you end up managing a place like The Crooked Angel, anyway?”
“A woman like me,” Kennedy repeated, treating the stool in front of her to an expert flip.
If Gamble had caught the steel in her tone, he didn’t show it by backing down. “Yeah. Something tells me they don’t teach hammerlocks like that at Remington University.”
She released her bar stool to cross her arms over her chest. “Are you saying I don’t look smart enough to have a college degree?”
“I’m saying you look like you have a story,” he qualified, and her muscles burned with a fresh shot of fatigue.
“Yeah, well, I’m not about to tuck you into bed with a glass of warm milk and tell it to you.”
Gamble flipped another bar stool over, the ink on his left arm dancing with the flex and release of his ridiculously well-defined biceps. “Why not? We’ve got a little time to kill while we finish up in here, right?”
“We do,” Kennedy said slowly, moving another stool to its proper place. They’d reached the end of the bar, where one last stool remained in front of four shots of tequila. Gamble’s eyes met hers, glinting briefly, and God, she wasn’t the only one with a story. But since she knew he wasn’t about to get all loose-lipped, and he was right about them having some time to kill while she finished closing the bar down, she figured what the hell. Her background wasn’t exactly top secret information, and it was less awkward than shooting the shit about something mundane, like the weather.
“I guess I ended up here the way most people end up where they work. I applied for the job and got it.”
Bypassing the shots of tequila and the last bar stool—at least, for now—Kennedy moved back to the pass-through at the other end of the bar with Gamble right behind her.
“Did you always want to manage a bar and grill?” he asked, mirroring her movements as she began restocking clean wine glasses in the racks behind the bar.
“Not always. When I was a kid, I wanted to be Wonder Woman.”
He rumbled out a laugh. “Not a bad pick, but something tells me there’s not a lot of availability for a position like that.”
Kennedy bit back the urge to tell him there had probably been an equal likelihood of her honestly working her way out of North Point as there had been of her becoming a superhero. “Exactly. And while office jobs work out great for a lot of people, they’re not really my jam, so I decided the restaurant industry was a good way to go.”
“Yeah, I’m not a nine-to-fiver, either,” Gamble said. “Not that I don’t respect those kinds of jobs. I just wouldn’t last more than two minutes doing one.”
Curiosity flickered in her mind, and she put it to words. “So, what did you want to be when you were a kid?”
“Race car driver,” he said, taking the last wine glass from the tray in front of them and putting it carefully in place. “But I decided it’d be safer to run into burning buildings instead, so here I am.”

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Buy Links

Kindle | Amazon Paperback

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✦Station Seventeen Series by Kimberly Kincaid✦
Book 1: SKIN DEEP ➢ Review 4.5 Stars | Kindle
Novella: DEEP CHECK ➢ Review 5 Stars | Kindle
Book 2: DEEP BURN ➢ Review 5 Stars | Kindle
Book 3: IN TOO DEEP ➢ Review 5 Stars | Kindle
Novella: FOREVER DEEP ➢ Review 4.5 Stars | Kindle
Book 4: DOWN DEEP ➢ Kindle

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About the Author

imageKimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she’s not sitting crosslegged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber,” she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. She resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
 

 

Review: CAJUN PERSUASION: A Cajun Novel by Sandra Hill

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CAJUN PERSUASION: A Cajun Novel by Sandra Hill

Publication Date: June 26, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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BC835AD6-837E-4BEE-93D6-2973108472B5Return to New York Times Bestseller Sandra Hill’s Cajun country, where the Louisiana bayou is steamier than ever…

Alaskan pilot Aaron LeDeux came to Louisiana with his brother to discover his Cajun roots. But any hopes he had of returning home are extinguished when he agrees to help a crew of street monks and nuns rescue sex-trafficked girls. For the work has become his new calling. Plus, he’s in love with a gorgeous almost-nun named Fleur…

With her harrowing past, Fleur Gaudet only feels safe at the nunnery. But when she’s ordered out into the real world to decide where she truly belongs, Fleur goes to live with the notorious Tante Lulu, matriarch of the LeDeux clan. Suddenly, she’s leading a regular life, thinking irregular thoughts about Aaron. With his whiskey-colored eyes and fierce bravery, Aaron is like her own personal Cajun cowboy, re-introducing her to . . . everything.

As the dangerous missions bring them closer, Fleur must decide if her heart is truly on the path she’s been following, or if she’ll have a new future with the man of her heart.

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Donna 5 Stars

I love this Cajun series and am glad this installment kept the flame burning. It has danger, romance and laughter. I enjoyed how the self-confident, Aaron had to work hard to break through Fleur’s reluctance. It was sweet and enjoyable. I truly like him and Fleur. Her reluctance was real and never got to the “enough already” stage. It flowed nicely and was fun to read. I love this group of people; their loyalty and humor make me wish I was down there right now. Loved it!

*Review copy provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle | Amazon Paperback

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✿THE CAJUN SERIES BY SANDRA HILL✿
✦Book 1: THE CAJUN DOCTOR ➢ Kindle | Review 5 Stars
✦Book 2: CAJUN CRAZY ➢ Kindle | Review 4.5 Stars
✦Book 3: CAJUN PERSUASION ➢ Kindle

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imageimageMy life and my books are a celebration of new beginnings. Although I am a livelong writer–I’m the oddball who liked writing essays in school–it wasn’t until the early 1990s that my writing interest turned to novels. It was a new beginning for me…a totally different career path from the journalism I had been practicing. More than twenty novels later, I am still in love with writing…and with new beginnings.

No wonder all of my books deals with new beginnings in some way or another. In fact, my first novel, The Reluctant Viking, first published in 1994, was about a woman on the brink of divorce looking for a chance to start all over. A new beginning for poor Ruby Jordan. Fast forward more than ten years and you will find there is a theme of new beginnings in all my books. Doesn’t matter if it’s divorce, death, despair, time travel, loneliness, boredom or plain old dissatisfaction, readers want to know that there is a chance for…yep, new beginnings.

One of the greatest gifts we have in this world is to find work we love, which is appreciated by others. I have been especially blessed in that regard.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

Release Blitz, Review & Giveaway: RELENTLESS (Somerton Security Book 2) by Elizabeth Dyer

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RELENTLESS (Somerton Security Book 2) by Elizabeth Dyer

Publication Date: June 12, 2018

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

Synopsis
DF6833DD-4EB3-429E-8A5A-FB3CC7FAAB26Ethan Somerton doesn’t do safe or easy. He’s all about the challenge. The risk. In order to rescue one of his agents, Ethan must infiltrate the ruthless Vega cartel. One tiny error—just one—and he’s dead. Which means he needs Natalia Vega. Bright, beautiful, and cut sharper than the most lethal blade, she’s finally reached her breaking point. Now Ethan must find a way to make her surrender.

Caught between desperate choices and no-win situations, Natalia has survived the unthinkable by becoming dangerous, relentless, and feared. When it comes to protecting her sister, there’s no line Natalia won’t cross. But when Ethan storms into her life with his cocksure arrogance, stone-cold competence, and seductive promises, Natalia wonders if she’s finally found a way out. But discovering whether Ethan is salvation or destruction is going to require the one thing Natalia doesn’t have—trust.

As the cartel implodes and loved ones are threatened, Ethan and Natalia are going to have to choose between love, loyalty, and the lies they cling to. They could run, knowing they’ll never be safe. They could fight, knowing they’ll probably die. Or they can trust in each other¼and do something far more dangerous.

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Donna 4 stars

The second installment in the Somerton Security series managed to keep the life or death edge from book one. It is a bit heavy on the narrative and I would have liked more dialogue, but the story moved quickly, and it gave a clear understanding of motives. I liked Natalia right away and wanted her happiness, Ethan was the perfect choice for her; he was her white knight that enabled her to save herself. Overall, it was a hot romance full of intrigue and danger. I liked it!

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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FAVORITE QUOTE

In a sea of black suits and starched white shirts, she approached like the sunrise, a bold slash of color brazen enough to challenge the night, determined and steadfast enough to win. Bright and beautiful and hot enough to burn.

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Buy Links

Kindle | Amazon Paperback 

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Book 1 isn’t on SALE for $1.99 (please check price before buying)

DEFENSELESS (Somerton Security Book 1) by Elizabeth Dyer
Review 4.5 Stars: https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-avL | Kindle http://amzn.to/2BoFyzM

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Giveaway

$50 AMAZON GIFT CARD

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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About the Author

Elizabeth Dyer likes her heroines smart and snarky, and her heroes strong and sexy. An attorney and recent coffee devotee, Elizabeth spends the majority of her time tucked into a corner table at Starbucks or pinned beneath her (overly affectionate) bullmastiff. When she isn’t working or wrestling the dog, you can usually find Elizabeth writing the types of sexy, suspenseful books she most loves to read.

A born-and-bred Texan, Elizabeth resides in Dallas, where she indulges in Netflix marathons, Instagramming her dog, and brunch. Definitely brunch. Adorably awkward, Elizabeth hates the phone as much as she loves all the social-media things and hearing from her readers. Follow her on Twitter (@lizdyerwrites) or Instagram (@elizabethdyerwrites).