Kingston Court - Holly Kammier

I had the chance to read Kingston Court, after reading Choosing Hope a month or so ago. Both books are set in a similar place with some of the same background characters. I really enjoyed that book, so was looking forward to giving Kingston Court a go.

Kingston Court

What happens when you take middle-aged, stay-home-moms, and throw them back into the workforce and dating? A modern twist between Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City, Kingston Court follows the love, lies, and friendships of two wealthy Southern California women.
Samantha and Natalie are at a crossroads. Gorgeous, over-the-top Samantha, hangs her status and her happiness on her “perfect” husband. That is until she learns his secret.
But she’s not the only mother on the block struggling. Natalie, nurturing and careful, is thrust back into the workforce after her husband barely survives a horrifying car crash. However, it isn’t just her new job co-hosting a national morning news show that keeps her busy. Alik, the hot young production assistant, does everything in his power to seduce the woman he loves.
Death and misfortune in the span of a single year force these two women to rediscover their inner strength and make life-changing choices. Kingston Court is full of scandal, temptation, and all of life’s juicy little secrets.

My Review

If you're looking for a light and fluffy romance with a neat happily ever after ending, then this isn't the book that you're looking for. No, Kingston Court is so much more than that. Yes, there's romance and sex. But that is only a small element of this book. Firstly, there are two main characters; Natalie and Samantha. They live in the same place and are both suddenly finding that their lives have been turned upside down, but their storylines are two distinct narratives. I loved the way their stories unfolded through the pages of the book, parallel and similar in many ways, but not really linked.

Natalie is faced with returning to work and trying to save her family after a car accident leaves her husband recovering and in many ways completely changed. All that she has known and believed for the last twenty years is thrown into question and she has to ask herself what she really wants for her life and her future. 

Samantha's life is devastated in a completely different way, but the end result is no less traumatic. She too is faced with questioning who she is and all that she really feels and believes. For both women, a new life is on the cards, whether they want it or not.

I think one of the things that I liked most about this book, similar to Choosing Hope, is that it didn't try to suggest that there was an easy answer to anything. Although, in some ways, the ending was quite neat and brought a good end to the story. Life is complex and messy and fragile. I thoroughly enjoyed Kingston Court and would highly recommend it. 

Skin Deep - Cassie Leigh

I was looking for a fun romance to read over the Christmas holiday and Skin Deep ticked all of the boxes.

Skin Deep

Mr Right Now is planning on forever…

Gigi Duval doesn’t do relationships, especially with her heart and career on the line. She values two things–her image and a good time in the bedroom. Watching men lie and cheat her whole life hardened her against “happily ever after”. When she interviews with Roman Bishop, the sexy co-owner of Ink Spinners Tattoo, she begins to wonder if he might be more than a casual fling. Only one thing is certain: Roman is off limits. Gigi can’t possibly add her best friend’s brother to her little pink book. Or can she?

My Review

Sometimes you are really in the mood for a particular type of book. In the busy run up to Christmas I really fancied a nice romantic read, with a bit of heat, to lose myself in for an hour or two. Skin Deep was just the right book. It helped that it was a well-written romance, with likeable and believable characters. I would probably have really enjoyed it in any case.

I wasn't sure at first if I was going to like the book. Gigi is, to be honest, a little bit annoying and vacuous to begin with. But it soon becomes clear that this isn't really who she is. She might come across as a pink loving, good time girl, but really it's all a front.

Roman (why are they always called Roman, I've never come across a Roman in real life, but have read many romances where the leading man is called Roman,) was very likeable. Although there is the 'blip' on the road to true love and happily ever after that often happens in similar books, he is on the whole just a really nice guy.

I liked the growing romance between Gigi and Roman and the way that were together. I thought that this was a fun and enjoyable read and I'd quite like to read the next in the series. I suspect that we've already met the main characters in this story.

Power Struggle - Carolyn Arnold

Power Struggle

One hitman who’s back for revenge.
One detective who’s not going down without a fight.


It’s been ten months since Detective Madison Knight almost died at the hands of Russian Mafia hitman Constantine Romanov. She hasn’t seen hide nor hair of him since he escaped police custody and fled to Russia soon after his arrest, except now her latest murder investigation gives her reason to believe he’s back in town. Seeing as the victim is the man who killed her grandfather, her perspective may be a little skewed, but with the MO smacking of Constantine and the victim’s connections to the mob, she finds it hard to be objective. Still, she’s doing her best to consider all the evidence.


When she receives a threatening letter from Constantine, however, her suspicions are confirmed. And he’s made it abundantly clear that not only does he plan to finish what he started but he has her family and loved ones in the crosshairs, too. Madison vows to do whatever it takes to save them, but as the hours race by, the body count rises. And the stakes only get higher when Madison’s sister, Chelsea, goes missing.


Now, Madison’s only play is to take Chelsea’s disappearance for what it really means: Constantine is calling Madison out for one final showdown. And they won’t both survive…

My Review

I have read and reviewed a Madison Knight book before. Last time it was In The Line Of Duty. I had intended to read more in the series before now, but haven't had the chance. This is the latest book, so in terms of a timeline, comes after the last one I read. I would suggest that despite being part of a series, this can very much be read as a standalone novel. Having said that, I should perhaps mention that most of the action in this book is a result of something that happened in a previous book. I haven't read the book in question, so I don't think that it really mattered and it certainly didn't reduce my enjoyment of the story overall.

What I particularly enjoyed about this story was the way that Madison had to deal not only with the threat that she and her loved ones faced but also with the relationships that she has. Madison is living with Troy, but still hasn't fully committed to their relationship. She has to fight the drive to deal with everything alone. This isn't just with Troy, there is also her partner Terry who is there for her, the police chief, who also happens to be Troy's sister and her family. Madison clearly has a difficult relationship with her mother and this becomes clear in this book.

This was a really good read that I really enjoyed. I did find that the end was a little rushed, but I'm not sure if that was the book itself or my reading. If you enjoy a good detective story, particularly a police book, then you can't go far wrong with Power Struggle.

Bound to the Bad Boy Series - Alexis Abbott

The Bound to the Bad Boy series is a series of three books that follows Bruno and Serena and their journey to happily ever after. Although it is spread over three books, this is a series that has to be read in order. The books aren't stand alone novels and would make little sense if you read just one or out of order.

Bound for life

Bruno: 

I sacrificed everything for her. When I saved her from the mafia, I traded my freedom for hers. I’ve never regretted it. Never looked back. I cut her out of my life to keep her safe. She never even knew what I traded for her.

I did everything I could to protect her from the retribution of the Italian Mafia, but it wasn’t enough. They’re after her again, and all that’s standing between her and the darkest fate imaginable is me.

Serena: 

It’s scary the things you can close your eyes to. Even after I was rescued from men who wanted to do the worst things to me, I went on with my life. I forgot all about the threats of the mafia, about what they forced me to do, and even the man who saved me from them.

But now, my hero has returned, and just in a nick of time. Because the mafia is coming for me, and this time, I don’t know if we’re going to get out of this alive.

Bound to the Mafia

Bruno: 

They stole her from me. I killed to keep her safe so that we can build a life together.

Now I'm rotting in prison. But these bars can't hold me. Not when Serena is on the other side of them. I'll tear down the walls with my bare hands, crush the skull of anyone who gets in my way until she's mine again.

Serena: 

I thought our pain was behind us. How am I going to survive without him? Because I have a bad feeling that this is going to get a whole lot more dangerous very soon.

Bound in Love

Serena: 

I've lost everything. He sacrificed himself to keep me safe.

But I'm not safe.

Our baby isn't safe.

Now, more than ever, I need my hero. I need Bruno.

My Review

We follow Serena and Bruno from when they are first reunited and find their way one another once again. In the first book, we find out that Bruno and Serena had fallen in love when they were just teenagers, but life and the Mafia, came in the way. Bruno found himself caught up in a life that he had tried to avoid and decided that it was best to stay away from Serena in order to keep her safe. Now, things have changed and they are thrown together once again, only to find that their attraction is stronger than ever.

By the second installment quite a bit of time has passed and Serena and Bruno have been apart again. They can't stay apart for long though and once again they find their way back together. I don't really want to give too much away, by talking too much about what happens in the second and third book.

Over all this was a good, well paced read. The characters were well written and I liked both Serena and Bruno. I did think that Bruno was slightly too good to be true, at least in what he was able to do physically at times. I thought that the reasons that Bruno had been drawn into the life he led were interesting. It helped to make him into a character that you could care about, rather than being someone who seems to be violent for the sake of it.

This was a good read and I enjoyed all three books in the series. If you enjoy mafia based romances with a bad boy who really has a soft side and a heart of gold, then I don't think that you will go far wrong with this one. 

A Scottish Lord For Christmas - Lauren Smith

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: December 5, 2017

 

Synopsis

The best gifts come wrapped in a kilt... Beautiful Lady Rowena Pepperwirth can have any man her heart desires. Unfortunately no gentleman has elicited even the slightest flutter—until she meets the brooding Lord Forres at a holiday house party. With just one look at the dashing Scottish lord, Rowena suddenly knows what she wants for Christmas. Quinn MacCauley, Lord Forres, is in need of a wife. When he meets the lovely Lady Rowena, he knows she'll be a good mother to his daughter and a capable household manager. But Quinn doesn't count on Rowena being the most tempting woman he's ever met. He's determined not to risk his heart, but Rowena's just as determined to give him the greatest holiday gift of all—a chance at true love.  

Goodreads

 My Review

I've enjoyed the two previous books in the Sins and Scandals series and this was no exception. We met Rowena in the previous novella, where her sister met her match. Now Rowena is alone and looking for love. Quinn MacCauley attracts her from the moment that they meet, but his past loss make him reluctant to give his heart.

This is quite a sweet little story.Which is perfect for a Christmas tale and I enjoyed it a lot. It was quite a quick read, ideal to tuck into on a lazy Christmas afternoon, when you're letting your Christmas dinner settle. 

The characters in the story were both believable and likable. The only small thing that I would say, is that at times I couldn't remember when this was set. It is, I believe Edwardian, but in many ways it just seemed to be 'in the past' at some point. That might be more due to me being used to Lauren Smith's regency books, so getting myself confused. Over all this was a really good story and I really enjoyed it.

 

 

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An Earl by Any Other Name (Sins and Sandals – Book 1)

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A Gentleman Never Surrenders (Sins and Scandals – Book 2)

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USA TODAY Bestselling author LAUREN SMITH is an Oklahoma attorney by day, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She knew she was destined to be a romance writer when she attempted to re-write the entire Titanic movie just to save Jack from drowning. Connecting with readers by writing emotionally moving, realistic and sexy romances no matter what time period is her passion. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including: New England Reader’s Choice Awards, Greater Detroit BookSeller’s Best Awards, Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.  

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Exposure - Sylvie Parizeau

Exposure
Sylvie Parizeau
(Incandescent, #3)
Publication date: November 22nd 2017
Genres: New Adult, Romance

PHILIPPE-OLIVIER TISSEROT’s caffeine addiction is about to land him in uncharted territory and one hell of a ride. One that’s about to go viral.
Current status: Computer whiz to hacker to penpal.
Upgrade status: Lover.
Well, I’m still working on the lover part.
I’m just a computer geek studying at MIT. And now I’m in two places at once – the geek and the lover battling it out to get the girl.
The only problem is, my dream girl doesn’t know she knows me in either one of them.
Now I have to win her in both.
Please wait. Upgrade in progress.

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Author Bio:
A paralegal by day and incurable romantic by night, Sylvie is a cross-genre, and she takes Happily Ever After very seriously. The End just isn’t in her vocabulary.
An incorrigible daydreamer, she now feeds her obsession with epilogues by concocting stories in which heroes deal with the happy from the get-go. Ready, or not. And she confesses under oath to loving every minute of it.
Sylvie lives her own Happily Ever After in the beautiful mountains of Les Laurentides in Northern Quebec, alongside her whole set of characters.
In between treks in their backyard wilderness, you can find them hanging out at www.sylvieparizeau.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Review

 This is a lovely, sweet love story. That's not to say that it's a completely clean, sex free novel, but the general feel of the story and building of the love between the two main characters is very sweet.

P.O. is a computer geek, while in many ways Auréle is his opposite. She lives in a silent world and has relied upon books to be entertained. P.O. or Olivier, as she calls him, falls for Auréle from the moment that he first sees her. He thinks that she has rejected his attempts to befriend her, not realising that she cannot hear him and feels that she is damaged due to her disability and so avoids company. Using technology to get to know Auréle, (in a slightly creepy way to be honest, but we'll let that slide) she manages to convince him that there is more to life than instant gratification.

I enjoyed this story and read it fairly quickly, wanting to know where it was going to go. There were a couple of very small irritations, but I think that this was more down to me than anything else. If you're looking for a nice, satisfying romance, then I don't think that you will got far wrong with this.

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Wheeler - Sara Butler Zalesky

Wheeler
Sara Butler Zalesky
Publication date: July 4th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Sports, Suspense

Known as the Ice Queen of the peloton, pro cyclist Loren Mackenzie rarely shows emotion in the heat of competition; she leads her team with quiet strength and determination. But her successes have not come without suffering, and her tragic past is hidden inside tarnished armor.
While out on a training ride with her cycling team near Enfield, England, a chance meeting quickly develops into an unexpected whirlwind romance. But a relationship withan A-list celebrity brings with it the microscope of tabloid-media attention, which expose jealousy and rivalry that threaten to undermine Loren’s leadership of her team.
The new romance also reveals a dangerous obsession, culminating in a terrifying confrontation with someone from Loren’s past. Her injuries not only put her chances at the World Championship in jeopardy but also bring forth memories of a life she had longburied – for good reason.
Can Loren open her heart to the love she has held at a distance, or will her fear ultimately defeat her?
The follow up novel in the Wheeler series is coming soon.

My Review 

I didn't previously think that I would enjoy a book about road cycling so much, but Wheeler is a great read. It combines a growing romance with road cycle tours. But it's also much more than this. 

In many ways I wouldn't classify Wheeler as a romance novel. There is romance and plenty of it, between cyclist Loren and actor Graham. But there is also tension and a thriller element to the novel. While Loren pushes herself to her limit physically on her bike, she also has the emotional fall out from a previous relationship to deal with, along side the development of her new one.

I couldn't put this book down. It dragged me along quickly, making me want to know what would happen next and where it was likely to go. A lot of the road cycling strategy was covered and this could have got a little tedious, but the way that it was mixed with the story itself, meant that it really didn't. I was drawn into that side of things, even feeling for a little while that I'd like to take up cycling myself. (Never fear, it soon passed.)

The only down side to this story, was that it didn't really finish. Or rather, it finished on a happy for now, with more clearly to come. I can't wait to read what's next for Loren and Graham.

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Author Bio:
Sara was born in the wee hours of a November night in New York City. When her family moved to a small borough in northwestern New Jersey, she had little choice but to move as well. Self-sufficiency is a tough thing for a toddler.
The dichotomy of being the middle child of three, but the only girl, was difficult, as typically no one really pays attention to a middle child. Mostly, Sara spent her time creating fanciful stories in her head when she should have been focused on other things, an issue that continues to this day.
Most of these stories have never been shared, let alone completed. This all changed in the spring of 2015, when Sara was encouraged by a friend to expand upon a short story she had accidentally emailed to him. The result is 'Wheeler’, a romantic, women's fiction/sport novel, which combines the author's romantic inclinations and her passion for cycling.
Sara currently resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, with her loving husband and their son. She is a paralegal for a boutique law firm in Chester County, Pa, an avid road cyclist and indoor cycling instructor at a national chain.
Follow the author’s blog at sarabutlerzalesky.wordpress.com or on Twitter @sarazalesky. She does a little dance every time someone ‘follows’ her on Twitter. Really.

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You Came Like Hope cover reveal

~ Cover Reveal ~

Title: You Came Like Hope

Author: Jyoti Arora

Word length: 53,000 words

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Peehu:

“I heard them mourn my death. I lay in the next room. Motionless, silent, and staring at the ceiling.”

Adih:

“When it comes to a broken person, some of them are expert at blinding you. Spend an entire evening with such a person, but you may still not know how he is crushing inside.”

Uday:

“Who would say no to him? He is smart, intelligent, super handsome, rich, suave and sophisticated. He’s perfect!”

Pooja:

“Pooja gave no explanation. She asked no forgiveness. She just arrived in his home, resenting him for being her husband.”

Arunav:

“He had smiled as if nothing was wrong.

He had behaved as if he still had his dreams and hopes.

He had pretended as if it didn’t hurt.

But it did.”

Does Destiny hold the key to our happiness?

Is it always the feeble that is the victim?

Love can be the embrace of heaven. But what happens when it unleashes hellfire?

Lose yourself in the intense narrative of You Came Like Hope as it unleashes a rollercoaster of emotions, uncovers some bitter truths, challenges widespread prejudices, and forces you to reconsider your beliefs.

Releasing on 23^rd November 2017!

About the Author:

Jyoti Arora is a novelist and blogger from Ghaziabad. You Came Like Hope is her third novel, coming after Dream’s Sake and Lemon Girl. She is Post Graduate in English Literature and Applied Psychology. Besides reading and writing novels, Jyoti enjoys checking out latest technological innovations, watching movies, and listening to old Bollywood songs.

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A Scottish Lord for Christmas

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: December 5, 2017

 

Synopsis

The best gifts come wrapped in a kilt... Beautiful Lady Rowena Pepperwirth can have any man her heart desires. Unfortunately no gentleman has elicited even the slightest flutter—until she meets the brooding Lord Forres at a holiday house party. With just one look at the dashing Scottish lord, Rowena suddenly knows what she wants for Christmas. Quinn MacCauley, Lord Forres, is in need of a wife. When he meets the lovely Lady Rowena, he knows she'll be a good mother to his daughter and a capable household manager. But Quinn doesn't count on Rowena being the most tempting woman he's ever met. He's determined not to risk his heart, but Rowena's just as determined to give him the greatest holiday gift of all—a chance at true love.  

Goodreads

 

 

 

Excerpt

As much as he wished it weren’t true, he wanted to hold her deep into the night. It was one of the things he had dearly missed as a widower. There was no woman who belonged to him, no woman who he could tuck into his side and sleep with. Surely it would not be a bad thing to let himself have this one little joy in life. We will sleep, nothing more. I hope. Even as he thought this, his mind replayed their wedding night, how wonderful it felt to have her beneath him, to taste her lips, to feel her body grip him tightly as they chased the building waves of pleasure. “Thank you, Quinn.” Rowena was kissing him again and he lost control in a mere instant. He rotated their bodies and pinned her against the wall, his hands exploring her curves, shaping the flare of her hips and the softness of her breasts. She arched into him, nipping at his lips playfully. He loved that about her, how she made him feel young and happy again. Losing Maura had aged him a decade, but being with Rowena, and her teasing kisses and playful nibbles, resurrected the ghosts of his youthful passions. Years of practice had him lifting her up and carrying her to his bedroom. They only bumped into one wall and it was his arm he knocked into the wood paneling. With a little curse at the pain, he finally reached the bed and dropped her onto it. The woman was giggling. Quinn climbed up the bed over her and his clever wife was already working at the buttons on his waistcoat and peeling it off his shoulders. When she reached for his trousers, he gently pushed her hands away so he could get them off faster. Desire fogged his head, and his lips curved into a boyish grin that couldn’t be helped. “You’re so lovely,” he whispered as he bent to kiss her. His hands rucked her skirts up to her thighs and he growled in frustration at all the fabric preventing him from reaching what he needed most. Laughing, Rowena lifted her bottom so he could push the skirts to her waist. He covered one stocking-clad knee with his palm, urging her to part her legs as he tugged at her drawers. There was something wonderfully sinful about taking a woman fully clothed. They shared a moan as he sank into her welcoming heat. She was damned tight, but wet and hot enough to burn him. As he thrust into her deeper, their hips jerked together. She whimpered and threw her head back. Pins scattered as her blond hair broke free of the elaborate coiffure and rippled across the dark blue coverlet. Something inside him, a dark animal side, broke free. He didn’t want to hold back, not any longer. He covered Rowena’s mouth with his, kissing hard, giving her no chance to breathe as he drove into her again and again. He didn’t want to think about how he desired her, about how being with her like this drove him mad with hunger. It was like nothing else he’d ever experienced. When he was inside her, he couldn’t think past his next breath, the next surge back into her body, and how good it felt when she squeezed him with her inner muscles. His heart beat thunderously and boomed against his eardrums. Her palms slid over his body, clawing at the shirt he still wore. They’d not gotten past his trousers and her undergarments. And he didn’t care. He needed more…he needed…Panting, he lifted up off her and rolled her over onto her stomach, raising her dress over her bare bottom. He gripped her hips, repositioned himself, and thrust back into her from behind. Rowena hissed in surprise and dug into the blankets as she stifled a low moan. That never-ending sense of madness and the need to connect to her kept pulsing through him and he rammed into her over and over. He was aware, dimly, of her coming apart beneath him by the sounds of her muffled cries. Quinn didn’t bother to do the same. He came with a shout and an exhalation as his body went limp. Doing his best to not crush her, he collapsed onto the bed and kept her tucked against him. Her bare bottom still rubbed against his groin and he moaned in lethargic pleasure. Rowena was quiet, except for her shallow, quick breaths. His stomach clenched in sudden worry and he leaned over her, cupping her face to turn it toward his. Tears coated her lashes and her eyes were a little red. “Rowena, lass, are you all right?” His voice roughened as his anxiety deepened. He’d hurt her? Been too rough? Bloody barbarian, I am… “I’m fine,” she whispered. “I…well…it was so intense. I didn’t know…” Her cheeks were red as fresh cranberries. “Aye, it can be intense.” He paused, wondering how to explain what they’d experienced. He’d been married and in love before. He knew from experience that sex with someone you loved was overwhelming, not just physically but emotionally. If Rowena was feeling that way now, she was falling in with love with him. He’d known she would fall for him. She was too open, too young and sweet not to fall for her husband. And what truly worried him was how powerful his feelings for her had been, still were… “Have I upset you?” She tried to smile, but her lips quivered. It made something deep inside him stir, like a bird in its nest after winter had passed. It was strange…he had not felt…what it was he could not readily identify. “I’m not upset,” he promised, and against his better judgment he bent his head to hers for a slow, lingering kiss that burned clear through him like shafts of winter sunlight piercing clouds. “I forgot how young you are.” He smiled. Ten years felt like a lifetime between them in moments like this. Her face was still dark with uncertainty and yet he didn’t know what to say to put her at ease.

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An Earl by Any Other Name

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A Gentleman Never Surrenders 

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About the Author

USA TODAY Bestselling author LAUREN SMITH is an Oklahoma attorney by day, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She knew she was destined to be a romance writer when she attempted to re-write the entire Titanic movie just to save Jack from drowning. Connecting with readers by writing emotionally moving, realistic and sexy romances no matter what time period is her passion. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including: New England Reader’s Choice Awards, Greater Detroit BookSeller’s Best Awards, Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.  

Connect with Lauren

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Hunger Moon - Alexandra Sokoloff

Hunger Moon
Alexandra Sokoloff
(The Huntress/FBI Thrillers #5)
Publication date: October 24th 2017
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Revenge has no limits.
Special Agent Matthew Roarke has abandoned his rogue search for serial killer Cara Lindstrom. He’s returned to the FBI to head a task force with one mission: to rid society of its worst predators. But as the skeletal symbols of Santa Muerte, “Lady Death,” mysteriously appear at universities nationwide, threatening death to rapists, Roarke’s team is pressured to investigate. When a frat boy goes missing in Santa Barbara, Roarke realizes a bloodbath is coming—desperate teenagers are about to mete out personal, cold-blooded justice.
Hiding from the law, avenging angel Cara Lindstrom is on her own ruthless quest. She plans to stay as far away from Roarke as possible—until an old enemy comes after both her and the FBI, forcing her back into Roarke’s orbit. This time, the huntress has become the hunted . . .

Goodreads / Amazon

Previous books in the Huntress/FBI Thrillers Series:

Author Bio:
"Some of the most original and freshly unnerving work in the genre." - The New York Times
ALEXANDRA SOKOLOFF is the Thriller Award-winning and Bram Stoker, Anthony, and Black Quill Award-nominated author of the Amazon bestselling Huntress/FBI series (HUNTRESS MOON, BLOOD MOON, COLD MOON, BITTER MOON, HUNGER MOON - now in active development as a TV series), and the supernatural HAUNTED thrillers (THE HARROWING, THE PRICE, THE UNSEEN, BOOK OF SHADOWS, THE SHIFTERS, THE SPACE BETWEEN). The New York Times Book Review called her a "daughter of Mary Shelley," and her books "Some of the most original and freshly unnerving work in the genre."
As a screenwriter she has sold original horror and thriller scripts and adapted novels for numerous Hollywood studios. She has also written three non-fiction workbooks: SCREENWRITING TRICKS FOR AUTHORS, STEALING HOLLYWOOD, and WRITING LOVE, based on her internationally acclaimed workshops and blog (www.ScreenwritingTricks.com), and has served on the Board of Directors of the WGA West and the Board of the Mystery Writers of America.
Alex is a California native and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, where she majored in theater and minored in everything Berkeley has a reputation for. In her spare time (!) she performs with The Slice Girls and Heather Graham's all-author Slush Pile Players, and dances like a fiend. She is also very active on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. But not an addict. Seriously, it's under control.

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My Review 

I can't even begin to tell you how much I've been enjoying this series. I hadn't actually read any of Alexandra Sokloff's books before, but started with the first in this series Huntress Moon recently. Since then, I've not been able to put them down, reading quickly through to this latest installment; Hunger Moon.

As the series has gone on, the relationship between Matt Rorke and Cara Lindstrom has grown and developed. Although they are on different sides, he the law man, she the killer, they know and understand one another. They are in effect working for the same end, trying to achieve the same thing. They are almost like each other's alter ego.

In this book, things have changed very slightly. Rorke's focus is now on bringing down sexual predators, it is no longer Cara that he is chasing. The setting of this book is the US today and it is much more political than previous books. It's not really an easy read in many ways, but very engrossing. Which of course is often the way when something so serious and relevant to us all is dealt with.

The book is well written and a fast paced exciting read. If you haven't read the others in the series, then I would suggest that you go back to the beginning and start there. Highly recommended. I love this series.

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Mr Blackwell's Bride - Sienna Blake

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Drake

This marriage was supposed to be another business deal. My latest investment, a means to an end… I need an heir. Which means I want her belly swollen with my child before the year is out.

She was supposed to be my perfect little bride. Quiet. Uncomplicated. Unemotional.

I didn’t foresee the stunning firecracker who tumbled into my life and woke things in me I thought were long dead. I didn’t count on her turning my world upside down.

And I definitely didn’t plan on falling for this beauty.

Noriko

This marriage was supposed to be my sacrifice. A way to save my father, a means to an end… I need to remain childless. So I can exit the contract at the end of the year.

He was supposed to be a boring old man. Distant. Uncomplicated. Passionless.

I didn’t foresee the rude, arrogant and beautiful brute who made my body react like fire and smoke. I didn’t count on there being more underneath his gruff exterior.

And I’m definitely not supposed to fall in love with the beast.

This is a NEW story using old characters from the unpublished novel, Girl Wife Prisoner. This version has no Keir, no cheating and a Happily Ever After. Although this book is part of a series, it is a standalone novel.

My Review

I think that one of the things that I love the most about Sienna Blake's books, is how complex and well drawn her characters are. Mr Blackwell's bride is another great story, with fantastic, well developed characters. Although it follows a basic idea that has been done many times, by many people, the arranged married, she manages to create a story that feels new, fresh and different.

Drake is a damaged hero. Very damaged. He doesn't really know how to love. Only how to control, or to buy. He finds himself falling for his new bride, but he doesn't know how to win her. Instead he tries to keep her caged and attempts to buy her affection.

Noriko is a fantastic character. I loved her almost from the second she appeared on the page. She is full of fire and will not be squashed. She is an equal to drake and as such possibly the only person who can make him let go and really love.

Of course, as with any book like this, there are ups and downs. Drake and Noriko have to be tested and find what they really want and then be prepared to loose it all. I really enjoyed this book, I think that you probably will do too. 

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Meet Author Sienna Blake

Sienna Blake is a storyteller & ink slinger, word spinner of love stories with grit, and alter ego of a USA Today Bestselling Author.
She loves all things that make her heart race — roller coasters, thrillers and rowdy unrestrained sex. She likes to explore the darker side of human nature in her writing.
If she told you who she really was, she’d have to kill you. Because of her passion for crime and forensics, she’d totally get away with your murder.
Sign up for my newsletter and get Paper Dolls, a full-length romantic suspense as a thank you gift. You'll also be the first to hear about new releases, sales and giveaways ► www.subscribepage.com/SiennaBlake
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Choosing Hope - Holly Kammier

Choosing Hope
Holly Kammier
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: October 31st 2017
Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller

Choosing Hope is a harrowing story of passion and deceit, the things we do for love and the rabbit holes we tumble into chasing elusive fairy-tale endings. Dark around the edges with a shocking twist I didn’t see coming, this is the kind of book you’ll be passing around to your friends so you can talk about it. Holly Kammier delivers romance, suspense, and a strong, smart heroine who turns out to be nobody’s victim. Don’t miss this one! – Kat Ross, best-selling author of The Midnight Sea
A broken marriage.
A love affair.
A lie that changes it all…
Hope Rains Sullivan is living the dream—a successful husband, two beautiful young boys, and a charming home in Northern California. She should be happy. She almost convinced herself she was, until Adrian came along.
Adrian, appears to be everything her husband isn’t. He works with his hands, and is even willing to use them in a fight. He’s sexy, strong and fit, with warm brown skin that alludes to his Spanish background. Best of all, he lives for spending time with his kids. Feeling alone in her marriage, Adrian offers her a way out
Hope’s affair is just the beginning. Her journey inward will require untangling her complicated past and surviving an astonishing revelation. Her lover is not who he pretends to be.
She’s searching for her happily-ever-after, and no matter how painful the journey, she’ll find what she’s been looking for all along—the chance to choose Hope.

My Review

I'm going to start by saying how much I enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. Always a good sign. I found myself tied up in Hope's life. At times I was cheering her on and at others, I just wanted to give her a really good shake. Sit her down and say 'Hope, get a grip.' Of course i was talking about a character in a book, so I had to get a grip myself instead.

This isn't your usual romance story. This is actually a story about a woman who needs to discover what she really wants out of life. To take control and find her happiness herself, rather than hoping that someone else, some man else, will give it to her.

Hope was believable and it was easy to connect to her and buy into her story. There were times, that she seemed to be a little too trusting and a little two willing to smooth things over to keep people happy, rather than thinking about what she wanted. Of course, there are plenty of women who are like this really, so that shouldn't be surprising.

The whole book and the journey that Hope goes on was, ultimately, very satisfying. Of course, these things are never straightforward or completely easy, but in the end I was pleased with where she went. Highly recommend this slightly different and unusual read.

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Author Bio:
Co-owner of Acorn Publishing, Holly Kammier is a UCLA honors graduate and an accomplished content editor. With a background in journalism, she has worked everywhere from CNN in Washington, D.C. and KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, to the NBC affiliate in small-town Medford, Oregon.
Holly is the best-selling author of the novel, Kingston Court, and Could Have Been Hollywood, a memoir. She recently completed her third book, Choosing Hope, a spin-off from Kingston Court. Choosing Hope is a harrowing story of passion and deceit, and the things we do for love.
Holly resides in her hometown of San Diego, California, close to family and friends. A world traveler in her younger years, these days when she isn’t writing or working with new authors, she spends much of her time hanging out with her two boys, Josh and Alex. Holly is an avid reader with a passion for timeless books and beautiful writing. She also enjoys long walks with her Jack Russell Terrier, romantic movies, and making her mischievous sons smile wider.

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