Who - Megan Mitcham

Who
Megan Mitcham
Publication date: October 2nd 2018
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller, Romance

A billionaire in high heels. A relentless stalker. A chance rooftop meeting. Her choices could send everything crashing down.
Billionaire Larkin Ashford is fiercely independent, but even she has to admit her fashion empire was built on the backs of brides. When her company has the opportunity to go public, her board of directors won’t pull the trigger unless she settles down. A series of threatening messages aren’t making her decision any easier. As she retreats to her rooftop hideaway to clear her head, she finds herself imprisoned in the strong arms of a mysterious man who thinks she was about to jump.
Despite her friends’ warnings that her wannabe savior could be her stalker, she can’t get his body off her mind. Determined to find the truth, she searches the city for her mystery man and discovers a dark secret that could bring everything she’s worked for crashing down. With her empire in danger, she’ll have to uncover the truth before her fortune and her life zero out.
Who is the first standalone novel in a pulse-pounding psychological thriller series. If you like headstrong women, steamy chemistry, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Megan Mitcham’s high-rise romantic thriller.
Buy Who to live the high life with a sleek, sexy billionaire psychological thriller soon!

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Author Bio:
USA Today bestselling author Megan Mitcham was born and raised among the live oaks and shrimp boats of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where her enormous family still calls home. She attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi where she received a bachelor's degree in curriculum, instruction, and special education. For several years Megan worked as a teacher in Mississippi. She married and moved to South Carolina and worked for an international non-profit organization as an instructor and co-director.
In 2009 Megan fell in love with books. Until then, books had been a source for research or the topic of tests. But one day she read Mercy by Julie Garwood. And Oh Mercy, she was hooked!
Megan lives in Southern Arkansas where she pens sizzling suspense novels. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & Goodreads. For news, giveaways, and exclusive offers sign up for her newsletter at www.meganmitcham.com!

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My Review

Some books should come with a health warning, or perhaps I should just develop some self-control. DO NOT START THIS BOOK WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO. Even if it's just small things like cooking breakfast. I may have served slightly burnt bacon this morning because I'd picked it up for just a few more paragraphs while cooking and got a bit distracted. In case it isn't clear, I really enjoyed this read.

I don't like to retell the story in my reviews, so I'll just talk about some of the things that I liked. This book, indeed this series, seems to be populated by strong women who don't actually need men. They do like them though, although so far it's been nothing more than like. Larkin runs two successful businesses, she's a work-a-holic and she throws everything into her work to be successful. I loved reading about her and her friends as they negotiated a male-dominated world.

I also liked the chemistry between Larkin and he 'stalker' but is he really the one that threatens her? Or is there someone else who really wants to do her harm?

I really enjoyed both the romantic side and the thriller side of this book. I couldn't put it down and I really want to read the next in the series. Highly recommended.

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Forever in Starlight - Susan MacNicol

Forever in Starlight
Susan Mac Nicol
(Starlight, #3)
Publication date: August 29th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Bennett and Cassie are at it again, this time looking the ultimate challenge in the eye and deciding, after everything they’ve been through, why not?
AFTER ALL THIS TIME
Some people are meant to be together, even if they find each other through tragedy. When Bennett Saville’s brother jumped off a bridge and landed on Cassandra Wallace’s car, their lives become intertwined in a way they never wanted to unravel. But so much has happened, and most of it would have been soul destroying if they hadn’t had each other. And now, after all these years, they are ready to take the final step to declare their love, but Bennett’s star is rising fast, and being a famous actor with a hit movie might undo all the trust they have built their love on.
ALWAYS
Cassie isn’t the jealous, insecure type, but things have changed, and so has Bennett. Coming into his prime as a man and as a highly regarded actor, Cassie, ten years older than her lover, begins to worry that their foundation is shaky, and that she can’t compete with the jiggly twenty year-olds who throw themselves in Bennett’s path. What she can’t see is herself through Bennett’s eyes. If she could, she would know always and forever is all he ever wanted with his Cass.

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Author Bio:

The ‘Official’ stuff
Susan writes steamy, sexy and fun contemporary stories, some suspenseful, some gritty and dark and others that hopefully make you think. She’s also Editor in Chief at Divine Magazine, an online LGBTQ e-zine, and a Charity Board trustee at The Being Me Campaign in London.

Susan attained PAN status with the Romance Writers of America with her first M/M book, Stripped Bare. She’s currently a member of The Society of Authors in the UK, and the Authors Guild in the US. She enjoys being a member of Queer Romance Ink, All Author, Book + Main Bites, and the Paranormal Romance Guild.

The ‘Unofficial’ stuff
She loves going to the theatre, live music concerts (especially if it’s her man crush Adam Lambert) walks in the countryside, a good G &T, lazing away afternoons reading a good book, and watching re-runs of Silent Witness.

Her chequered past includes being mistaken for a prostitute in the city of Johannesburg, being chased by a rhino on a dusty Kenyan road, getting kicked out of a youth club for being a ‘bad influence’ (she encourages free thinking), and having an aunt who was engaged to Cliff Richard.

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My Review

There is always a danger when reading a book that is part of a series and you haven't read the others, that it won't really work as a stand-alone novel. Some do and some don't. Unusually, this fell somewhere in the middle. I haven't read the others and I do think it would have helped my enjoyment if I had. There was much in this that worked on its own merit though. 

I liked the idea of a couple struggling with one of them being famous and having young women throw themselves at him. I would imagine that it's a very difficult situation and probably a reason that many famous people end up with broken relationships. 

I hadn't seen this couple get together, which, for me at least, hindered the chemistry. I didn't quite see why they were a couple or what made them so strong and perfect as we were often told that we were. This book had lots of potential and possibly a lot going for it, but it was too long. I think as a third instalment in a series, it should possibly have been a novella rather than a longer book. 

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Black Girls Must Die Exhausted - Jayne Allen

Black Girls Must Die Exhausted: A Novel for Grown Ups by Jayne Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've always been told that you should never judge a book by its cover, but it was the beautiful cover that caught my interest with this one. Fortunately, what was inside certainly lived up to that cover.
The idea that both women and black people have to work much harder to get the recognition that they deserve is certainly not a new one. Of course being a black woman means therefore that you have to work even harder again, which is why the title of this book proclaims that Black Girls Must Die Exhausted. For the lead character in this book, Tabatha Walker, that is certainly true. She has to constantly fight to get ahead, without wanting to be seen as too pushy or too aggressive. Everything is a struggle and even her body is turning against her in her attempts to succeed in her career, her personal life and the dream of one day being a wife and mother.
This book is not just about race, although it is an important theme in the book, it is also about relationships. Tabby has a number of strong women in her life, from her best friends Leila and Lexi to her grandmother, who is also called Tabatha. Added to this is her complex relationship with her father, less than ideal relationship with her boyfriend Marc and a long distance relationship with her mother. It is all of these relationships that add to the rich and complex mix that make this story.
This isn't a fairy tale with clearly defined goodies and baddies. Although there are people that are not so good at points, there are also explanations and reasons given for the way that they act. Not that you can excuse everything, but somehow giving reasons makes people seem more real and human.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The added bonus is that it was actually the first in a trilogy (which I didn't realise until the very end) and I'm really keen to read the next instalment.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Hidden Children - Cover Reveal

~ Cover Reveal ~

The Hidden Children (The Lost Grimoire #1)

by Reshma K.Barshikar

‘What price would you pay to be extraordinary? What would you do to speak to a butterfly? 

Shayamukthy cruises through life: shooting hoops, daydreaming and listening to her favourite books. Even moving from the US to India, to a new school, a new culture, hasn't really rattled her. But something isn't right anymore and it begins when 'New Girl' joins the school. 

She pulls Shui into a world of magic and wonderment, a world she has been hidden from all her life. What starts as a quest to look for a lost book, hurtles Shui into a world where people live in trees, talk to the dead and speak to butterflies. 

But like all power, magic comes at a steep price, and under all things wondrous lie demons waiting to crawl out. The more Shui learns, the more she doubts everything and everyone around her.   

Will she be able to master her powers, or will they devour her and everyone she loves? 

Releasing on 10th November

About the Author:

Travel writer and novelist Reshma K Barshikar is an erstwhile Investment Banker who, as she tells it, ‘fell down a rabbit hole and discovered a world outside a fluorescent cubicle.’ As a travel and features writer, she contributes to National Geographic Traveller, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia, The Sunday Guardian, SilverKris, The Mint Lounge and The Hindu. Fade Into Red, published by Random House India was her debut novel and featured in Amazon Top 10 Bestsellers. She also holds well renowned workshops for young adults at both BDL Museum and Kala Ghoda and is keen to build a strong Young Adult reading and writing community to fill the desperate lack of young adult fiction in the Indian Market. Her new Young Adult novel, The Hidden Children, will be launching at the Vizag Junior Literary Festival. Reshma is from the ISB Class of 2003. She calls both Mumbai and the Nilgiris home. 

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Undisclosed - A.M. Salinger

Undisclosed
A.M. Salinger
Publication date: August 21st 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

I have a problem. His name is Lincoln “Asshole” Hudson. He’s the bastard who wants to run me out of town. I should hate him. Trouble is, Lincoln is my type. Like one hundred and ten percent. And, ladies, he has the biggest, er, package I’ve ever seen on a man — Eveline
I have an itch I want to scratch. Her name is Eveline “Sassy Mouth” Claude. She’s the woman standing in the way of what could be my most lucrative project yet. Eveline is my enemy. There’s one hitch: she’s the hottest thing on legs my dick has ever seen — Lincoln
When Eveline Claude discovers she doesn’t actually own the land on which her most successful club stands, she is determined to get it back from the man who has now laid claim to it. Unfortunately, Lincoln Hudson, the new landlord and über successful billionaire behind the Hudson Group, doesn’t want to play ball.
Lincoln Hudson is in Tokyo for a landmark deal that could help secure his company’s foothold in the Far East and expand his hotel business in a new and exciting direction. The only hiccup is, someone else thinks they own the prime piece of land he’s just bought. And that someone is a woman he very much wants to bed.
After Lincoln convinces Eveline into becoming his personal escort for the duration of his stay in Tokyo in exchange for considering leasing her the land, the two of them come to a mutual agreement; they will enjoy each other—socially and carnally—until such a time that their arrangement comes to an end.
But as their time together draws to a close, Eveline and Lincoln discover that they have more in common than just great sex. Will they let their business affairs sour what is growing between them? Or will they put aside their differences and accept that enemies they may have started as, but lovers is what they’re meant to become?
Discover Eveline and Lincoln’s story in this sexy and wickedly funny addition to the hot, contemporary romance series Nights by A.M. Salinger. Note from the author: although each book in Nights can be read as a standalone, you will enjoy this series even more if you read the books in order!
This is a novella length MF romance with a HEA.

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Author Bio:

Ava Marie Salinger is the pen name of an Amazon bestselling author who has always wanted to write scorching hot contemporary and erotic romance. In 2018, she finally decided to venture to the steamy side. NIGHTS is the first of several sizzling series featuring sweet, sexy men and women with dark pasts and a whole lot of love to give to the ones brave enough to fight for their hearts. When she’s not dreaming up hotties to write about, you’ll find Ava creating kickass music playlists to write to, spying on the wildlife in her garden, drooling over gadgets, and eating Chinese.

Want to be the first to know about Ava’s new releases and get access to exclusive content, sneak previews, sales, and giveaways ? Then sign up to her Reader Group here and join her VIP Facebook Fan Group here.

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My Review 

Although this is book 7 in the Nights Series, it didn't matter that it was the first one that I have read. I believe that some of the characters from previous books featured in minor roles in this book, but that didn't alter my enjoyment and I didn't need to have read those books first.
Eveline Claude is a successful businesswoman. She owns a chain of escort 'clubs' around the world. Her flagship club is in Tokyo. Unfortunately, she doesn't actually own the land on which it sits, the previous owner having conned her into thinking that she was buying it, rather than leasing the land. It has now been sold to successful businessman and hotel owner Lincoln Hudson and he is not willing to let her stay.
I have to admit, I couldn't quite get my head around the exact details of what she owns and doesn't own or the way that it's finally worked out. That might just be me being a bit slow on the uptake. I did like the chemistry between these, obviously well matched, pair though. 
Clearly, Eveline and Lincoln are very well matched. The lust is pretty much instant and very intense. Possibly not entirely believable, but for a book, I'm willing to let that go. Overall this was a fun, hot read with some interesting characters. I'd be more than happy to give the other books in the series a go.

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The Truth About Us - Megan D. Martin

The Truth About Us by Megan D. Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There were things that I loved about this book and things that I didn't. I'll start with what I did like: I liked the interaction between Tyler and Rowen. It was clear that they still had feelings for one another and were drawn towards each other in a way that they just couldn't resist. I wanted to know what was going to happen and of course, I wanted to see them back together. I liked all of that.
Unfortunately, where the book fell short was mostly to do with the conclusion. Throughout the book, we'd had them pushing and pulling towards and away from one another. Unable to finish, but unable to get back together. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the end appeared. It was almost as though the author couldn't decide how to get them back together, so she just missed that bit. It was completely unexpected and after the build up in the rest of the novel left me feeling a bit flat. The big reveal about why they had broken up before also seemed a bit silly. I just don't think that someone would do that.
I also wasn't thrilled by the way secondary characters were treated. Tyler's treatment of his girlfriend was terrible and both his friends and her friends seemed pretty horrid.
I did want to know what was going to happen in this book and I enjoyed much of the early part. I think that this made the end even more of a let down than it otherwise would have been. What a shame.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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A Murderous Malady - Christine Trent

A Murderous Malady by Christine Trent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good historical murder mystery, so I couldn't wait to start reading A Murderous Malady. I discovered later that it's actually the second book in the series, but I don't think that I missed out by having not read the first. It works fine as a stand-alone novel.
Choosing to use real people as the characters in your book is always a challenge. Are you just borrowing the names of these people, or are you trying to faithfully recreate them as they were. In this book, not only is the main character a real person but so are many many of the other characters. On the whole, I think this worked and worked well. I will admit that this isn't really my period, so I don't know much about any of these people and can't comment on how true to life they are. From a murder mystery novel point of view, they all work really well. I don't know if I can picture Florence Nightingale being an amateur detective, as well as all of the nursing reforms that she undertook, but in terms of the book, it worked well.
There were a few Americanisms that crept into the story, which for me at least, did detract from the overall read. I know that this book is probably mostly for an American audience, but it is set in Victorian Britain and personally, I prefer it to be more faithful to the language that would have been used. The word 'stoop' was used quite a bit, I tried to look it up and I think that it's something to do with the front of the house, but I'm still not entirely sure. Apparently, it comes from the Dutch language originally. Either way, it's not something that we have ever used in Britain and it really got on my nerves.
Little niggles like this aside, I really enjoyed the story and the mystery setting. I'd be more than happy to read more in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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