Morning Star Kris Jayne (Lone Star Crossed Saga, #3) Publication date: June 15th 2023 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
The marriage is fake, but the passion is real.
Famous for his last name, devilish Anthony Star-Hunter is the black sheep of the Star clan. He’s an expert at using his tall, dark, and handsome charm to get women into bed—the last remnant of his declining hard-party escapades.
But the bucks are about to stop here. His grandfather’s will demands he marry to inherit his fortune. Anthony panics. Even with his bad boy allure, how the hell is he going to find a tolerable bride, like, yesterday?
The minute Sarah Pennington spots the tattooed muscles her new stepsister’s ex hides under his Italian suits, she rolls her eyes. Anthony is not for her. And with her father maybe headed to prison for a financial fiasco, she’s had enough bad male behavior. She’s responsible. She’s hard-working. She…can’t stop having naughty dreams about the sexy “celebutant.”
At a beach-side wedding, a drunken mishap throws Sarah into Anthony’s bed, and he’s intrigued. Can he convince her to give fake marriage a chance? Can she convince herself to keep her heart out of the deal?
Their slow-burn, un-love affair isn’t what either expect, but it might be what both of them need forever.
Kris Jayne is a devoted writer, reader, and traveler, crafting addictive contemporary romance novels with heat and heart. She spends her days blissfully sweating out the writing process in the Dallas area with her dogs, Otis the Shih Tzu, Rocco the Terrier, and Red the Foxy Mutt.
Her passion for writing is only matched by her passion for the adventures of travel. In 2008, she let a friend talk her into sleeping outside for the first time in her life when she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
P.S. If you’re buying her a gift, she has a penchant for single-malt Scotch and scarves.
I gather that this romance is part of a series. Like all the best series though, it's a standalone book with links to characters from the other instalments. It didn't matter then that I hadn't read the first two books and I still enjoyed this one just as much. Our story follows playboy and millionaire Anthony Star-Hunter, someone who has had no intention of settling down. If he wants to inherit his share of the money that his grandfather left him then he has to marry and soon. Sarah Pennington has never had a good opinion of Anthony, but that hasn't stopped her hot dreams about the man. They may not seem like ideal marriage partners, but as this is purely a business arrangement, then that of course won't matter... I really enjoyed this story, Anthony and Sarah make a great couple and it's clear to everyone else that they are in love and belong together. I really liked their journey from acquaintances, to friends, to lovers. I don't know that Anthony and his family need to be quite so rich, but I suppose this is all escapism and fantasy, so why not. All in all a good read and a series I wouldn't be sorry to read more from.
‘Too many have suffered at my father’s hands. I won’t let it continue. I’ll stop him, I’ll build a world where we can finally be free, I swear it…’
Berlin, 1938.When Hanni’s beloved sister suddenly vanishes in the middle of the night, Hanni knows her high-ranking Nazi father, Reiner, is not telling her the whole truth and may hold the key to her disappearance.
Years later, after finally learning how to live with her troubled past, Hanni dedicates herself to raising her teenage son, Leo, but her sister is never far from her mind. But when Leo begins to share Reiner’s pro-Nazi views and runs away from home to meet his grandfather, Hanni’s world collapses in an instant. She is determined not to lose her son to her father’s cruelty, like she lost her darling sister all those years ago…
Hanni has tried to stop her father before and nearly lost her life. Now she is fighting for Leo too and the stakes are higher than ever. She can’t lose him to the Nazis. She won’t let her father take her son away from her. Hanni knows this is her last chance to bring her father to justice. With her son’s life hanging in the balance, Hanni knows this will be her toughest battle yet. But with Reiner’s popularity stronger than ever, will she succeed?
A heartbreaking and gripping historical novel about courage, redemption and the endurance of the human spirit. Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will be inspired by this heart-wrenching story about the choices we make to honour the lives of those we lose.
Author Bio:
I seem to have followed a rather meandering career, including marketing and teaching and politics (don't try and join the dots), to get where I have always wanted to be, which is writing historical fiction. I am a story lover as well as a story writer and nothing fascinates me more than a strong female protagonist and a quest. Hopefully those are what you will encounter when you pick up my books.
I am from the North of England but now live very happily in Glasgow with my American husband. Both my children have left home (one to London and one to Berlin) which may explain why I am finally writing. If I'm not at my desk you'll most probably find me in the cinema, or just follow the sound of very loud music.
I'd love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website https://www.catherinehokin.com/ or on my Cat Hokin FB page or on twitter @cathokin
This whole series has been an emotional rollercoaster. From the beginning of Hanni and Freddie's story when they first met working together to solve a murder, their relationship growing, Hanni's secrets about her past coming out and destroying them and then facing up to life without each other. Now, 13 years have past and they still haven't been able to move on. With the threat from Hanni's evil father hanging over them, there is no way that they can be together or be safe without first dealing with him. This book was harrowing. The more we find out about him, the more it becomes clear just how evil he is and how important it is to stop him. This book had me on the edge of my seat, wondering if we would finally see him getting what he deserved. I loved this series, it was hard reading at times, but I still didn't want to put it down. I'm usually reluctant to leave well-loved characters behind when a series comes to an end, but this time it almost feels like a relief to move on, knowing that we're leaving Hanni and Freddie finally happy and with a chance at a real life. These books were fantastic, but work best if you read them all. If you haven't already, go back and start with the first one. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers/Bully Romance/WhyChoose/Slow-Burn
Release Date: May 18, 2023
Never make a deal with a Fae. You’ll end up on your knees, begging for your life.
Dark Falls—the most prestigious school in the three realms—is in session. Brooding vampires, snarky mermaids, and vicious Fae all want a piece of me...and they're not willing to ask permission.
Flynn, the cruel bully.
Trent, the thirsty vampire.
And Cole, the dark Fae prince. I hate him most of all.
How am I supposed to kick their asses in the arena and the classroom with all the mysteries and dangers lurking in the stony halls? And why is my sister keeping so many secrets—including the identity of the man she's seeing?
I'm mortal. Their deadly beauty will last for centuries.
They want me out of the academy. They’re beautiful. Devious. Relentless.
I'm worse.
I'm a Winslow witch, and I've got enough fire to burn them all.
***Completed series***
Dark Falls Academy is an ennemies-to-lovers, new adult fantasy series where the heroine likes to set things on fire and the dark hero loves to fight—and share when the mood is right. Expect the steaminess to increase with each book and scandalous secrets to come to light. Dark curses, pointy fangs, and a wicked prince, oh my!
Anya J Cosgrove lives in Québec with her husband, her beautiful son, and two mischievous cats. She works as a veterinarian by day. She’s a travel and Disney junkie and is passionate about her favorite paranormal series.
What would Buffy do? Kick ass!
My Review:
It feels as though this last book has been a long time coming. The last two books weren't that long ago, but it's been quite a while since I started reading this series. I think that the characters and story have grown with the passage of time and perhaps the characters themselves have been on a journey that I (and possibly even the author) wasn't quite expecting. Even so it's been an enjoyable and memorable story. Jules is a great character and I've enjoyed following her story. From the start where her potential love interests have been quite horrible, they all changed and grew up into something quite different. I've enjoyed this series and I hope that we'll revisit the world again in the future. I don't feel quite the empty, sad it's over feeling that I had at the end of the Shadow Walker series, but I still really enjoyed this one. It was nice to bring everything to a conclusion. You would really have to read the whole series to get a good grasp of the story, but that doesn't matter as it is a good read.
I probably should start this by admitting that I read it in a day. Not because it was too short or too light or anything like that, but simply because once I started I didn't want to put it down. It will probably come as no surprise then that I loved this romance between Rowan and Keir, they seemed so well suited and the way that they were able to open up and be with each other worked so well. It was easy to see that they should be together. Having said that, there was one aspect of their romance that I wasn't on board with, or rather the way that he dealt with it. I think I would have preferred if that had been done slightly differently, but overall I still really enjoyed the book and finding out about these characters. Particularly the hidden pain and past that Rowen was dealing with. There is a character in this book called Stetson. I don't think I've ever come across a name like that before, but surely it's verging on child abuse and who knows what someone saddled with that name would end up like! This was another great read from Jill Ramsower and one I really enjoyed, I can't wait for the next. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
“I don’t want you over there until we sort this out.”
“Having someone inside that house is the best possible source of information. And besides, Stetson is my boyfriend.” Didn’t he see the obvious flaws in his plan? I was in an ideal situation to gather intel. Stetson likely wouldn’t notice if I made excuses to stay away, but I didn’t tell that to Keir. I was the one who heard the girl cry. I felt responsible for her, and I didn’t want to wipe my hands of her without ensuring something was being done.
Something about what I’d said struck a nerve. Keir’s vibrant blue eyes darkened until they were as fathomless as the deepest parts of the ocean. He walked me backward, trapping me between his enormous body and the wall, his face suddenly inches from mine.
“Why do you even care about any of this? You could go about your life with no skin off your back.”
I prickled at the insinuation. “I’m just a shallow sorority girl, so you’d think that’s what I’d do. Maybe I’m looking for bonus points when I apply for my membership with the Colony Club. Oh, I know! Maybe I’m doing it out of a sense of obligation derived from my obvious superiority.” Was that what he wanted to hear? That my station in life made me incapable of any depth or compassion?
“Don’t put words in my fucking mouth,” he growled.
“I didn’t have to. You might as well have put them on a billboard.”
I couldn’t breathe. He was too much. Too disorienting.
His body blocked my escape, the same way his overwhelming presence eclipsed all thought of anything else. All I could see or feel or think of was Keir.
Then his lips were on mine, his hands gripping me tightly to him. I met his kiss with an intensity that rivaled his own. We were two magnets unable to resist one another.
The sensual press of his lips, the tug of his fingers in my hair, the delicious taste of his tongue against mine—the simple act erased my identity until I was no longer Rowan. I was whoever he wanted me to be. I was free.
His hands began to roam my body, but only for a second. Not nearly long enough. He stiffened and pulled back as though only then realizing what he’d done. A heavy veil descended behind his eyes, cutting off any chance of me understanding where his thoughts had taken him.
I didn’t know what to say or do.
“Looks like staying away from the boyfriend won’t be such an imposition.” His well-placed jab deflated the balloon he’d only just filled in my chest.
Jill is a Texan, born and raised. She manages the hectic social calendars for her three active children and occasionally spends an evening with her dashing husband. Aside from being an author and a mom, she's a travel junkie and loves to read when she is not lost in her own stories.
With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.
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