Book Review Not Mine to Keep (The Costa Family #2)

 

Title: Not Mine to Keep (The Costa Family #2)

Author: Brittney Sahin

Star: 4

Review:

Not Mine to Keep is a Mafia style romance which I am not a huge fan of due to the more forcefully romance style.  The author Brittney Sahin is able to keep the story light and moving quickly with two very likeable characters.  The female lead is full of sass and the male lead is dark brooding with a heart of gold. The secondary characters are family who protect family at any cost giving readers a softer side to Mafia style romance. 

Yes, the book is full of steamy sexy scenes that will curl your toes. Once the main leads are together pages of sexy time follows.

The author throws in a little nugget that connects readers to pervious series. keep a look out for the name.

While this story wasn't to my liking the author did wonderful job keeping readers connect to so many different characters, what they were doing and why they were in each scene. 

The story is written from the female and male leads point of views and at times she kind of goes over the same scene that works for this style of storytelling.

The editing and writing were what you expect from this story.  From the amount of characters the author put in this series readers can expect more to come Brittney Sahin.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Not Mine To Keep.

Synopsis:

The name DiMaggio means mafia royalty, but Calliope, the dynasty’s last living heir, is no princess. A teacher and singer in Nashville, she’s moved as far away from the generations-old criminal legacy as she can. But she still can’t escape her dying father’s wicked reach, or his plans for her arranged marriage to carry on the family name.

Playboy Alessandro Costa has a different plan: marry her himself—temporarily. It’ll give him a chance to take down the DiMaggio patriarch and his empire, settle an old debt, and save Calliope from a catastrophic fate. But when the attraction between them sizzles, business becomes pleasure and a marriage game becomes the real thing.

It only raises the stakes—and the danger. Because now they are living in the shadow of violent men who’ll do whatever it takes to destroy them. With their love and their lives on the line, Calliope and Alessandro are ready to fight fire with fire.

About The Author:

Brittney Sahin began writing at an early age, with the dream to be a published author before the age of 18. Although academic pursuits (and, later, a teaching career) interrupted her aspirations, she never stopped writing—never stopped imagining.

It wasn’t until her students encouraged her to follow her dreams that Brittney said goodbye to Upstate New York in order to start a new adventure in the place she was raised: Charlotte, North Carolina. Here, she decided to take her students’ advice and begin to write again.

In 2015, she published her first novel, The Safe Bet. When she is not working on upcoming novels, she spends time with her family. She is a proud mother of two boys and a lover of suspense novels, coffee, and the outdoors

List of books read just not reviewed. I am so sorry

Life of a mom with small kids is insane and busy but the life of a mom with 1 preteen and 3 teens feels like a impossible task of trying to keep up with life and just breathing. 

Here is the list of books read and not reviewed.  All will be posted on Amazon and other book sites if I can get the passwords to work.  

I forgot to add my youngest has been using my computer for schoolwork so finding my laptop full changed is a miracle! 

Titles of the books I will have reviewed this week.
I Only Read Murder Will Ferguson; Ian Ferguson
The Hero                                                                                    3 stars Susan Stoker
A Good Wolf Is Hard to Find                                                       3 stars Terry Spear
Black Wolf                                                                                 3 Stars Juan Gómez-Jurado
Bloodlust Blues                                                                          3 stars Luanne Bennett
Fighting for Reese Katie Rues                                                       3 1\2 stars
Smoky Mountains Graveyard                                                     4 Stars Lena Diaz
On Her Watch                                                                        4 stars                     Melinda Leigh
Long Haul                                                                                    4 stars Frank Figliuzzi
You'll Never Find Me                                                           5 stars Allison Brennan
One Cursed Rose                                                                4 stars Rebecca Zanetti
Love Letters to a Serial Killer                                         3 1\2 stars Tasha Coryell
The Complete ADHD Parenting Guide for Girls:                  4 stars QC HARMONY
Threats in the Deep                                                       3 stars
Ancient Magic                                                         5 stars
Jewel Me Twice                                                           3 1\2 stars Charish Reid

Book Review: The Sleeping Girls (Detective Ellie Reeves #9) by Rita Herron

 

Title: The Sleeping Girls (Detective Ellie Reeves #9)

Author: Rita Herron

Stars: 4

Review:

Rita Herron has created a world where Ellie Reeves is struggling to find balance after her life has been turn upside down over the last several stories.  At times readers will have to suspended reality because there is only so much one person can handle before they become inhuman. Ellie Reeves comes across and inhuman.  

That being said the story will pull readers into Rita Herron world where Ellie Reeves and her friends are able to find the truth even if it might destroy the lives of those around her.  

The story will have readers staying up late at night needing to know what will happen next. The author will not disappoint. 

Thank you Netgalley for advance copy of Rita Herron the Sleeping Girls

Synposis:

The young girl looked so innocent, like a sleeping angel. Kelsey lay on a bed of white sheets, golden hair fanned across the pillow, eyes closed, pale lips pressed together. A white teddy bear was tucked under her slender arm… “My baby, she’s dead” her distraught mother choked out.

When the call comes in that fifteen-year-old Kelsey Tiller has gone missing from her bedroom in the middle of the night, Detective Ellie Reeves rushes to talk to her distraught parents. They tell her that Kelsey, a slender blond with green eyes and a timid smile, had plans to go shopping for her homecoming dress the next day, insisting she would have no reason to run away. But when neighbors report seeing Kelsey with a secret boyfriend, Ellie wonders how much Kelsey really told her parents.

Ellie is determined to find Kelsey’s boyfriend and interviews her friends and teachers at school. But just as she is making headway with the case, she receives some devastating news. Kelsey’s parents have received a photo of their daughter lying on a bed with white sheets over her body, skin ghostly pale under the freckles dotting her nose, her precious life snuffed out.

Desperate to find answers for those who loved Kelsey, Ellie studies the picture and realizes that her body has been posed in the same way as a teenage girl murdered ten years earlier. And when she learns Darnell, the killer in that case, has just been released from prison, fear crawls through her. Could Darnell have stolen another innocent life?

But just as Ellie thinks she has cracked the case, Kelsey’s best friend Ruby is snatched from her home, and Darnell has an unbreakable alibi. Haunted by Kelsey’s ashen face, Ellie knows she must race against time to find Ruby alive. And when she discovers one of her team is hiding critical information, she realizes she needs to act alone. But is she dealing with a twisted copycat killer or is the danger far closer to home?

 About The Author:

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.

Book Review: Fighting for Hailey (Redemption Harbor Security #1) by Katie Reus

 

Title: Fighting for Hailey (Redemption Harbor Security #1)

Author: Katie Reus

Stars: 4

Review:

Fighting for Hailey is full of steamy sexy scenes with lots of great dialogue between the different characters.  This is the start of a new series by Katie Reus who right away introduces you to the main characters as well as the intro to the next book in the series.  

With all things Katie Reus there is lots of action, second chance romance, feisty females who can take care of themselves and sweet, adorable men with lots of money who want to protect the women they fall in love with.

The story moves quickly, and you will want to read it alone because you will be blushing from the steamy romance.  

Thank you to Netgalley for advance copy of Katie Reus Fighting for Hailey. 

Synposis:

They grew up together, dated for years—but when Lennox had a chance at a college scholarship and a new life, Hailey abruptly ended things. She wanted him to have the life he deserved, and with her track record knew she’d just bring him down. Now they’re both grown and she runs the new branch of Redemption Harbor Consulting, heading up their security division. But her past is about to collide with her present in a big way, and she can’t outrun her demons any longer.

This time, he’s playing for keeps…

Years ago Hailey joined the military and ruthlessly cut all her foster siblings out her life. Now that one of them is in danger she’s back—and Lennox isn’t letting her push him away ever again. One of their own has been kidnapped and with the clock ticking, they have no choice but to work together to find him before it’s too late. But the threat is much worse than they imagined. It will take all their combined skills—and breaking through Hailey’s walls— to unravel the clues in time to save him.

About The Author:

Katie Reus® is the USA Today bestselling author of the Endgame trilogy, the MacArthur Family series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom's stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn't always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.

Book Review: Wild Magic by Alexandra Ivy

 

Title: Wild Magic 

Author: Alexandra Ivy

Stars: 4

Review:

I will admit I am huge fan of Alexandra Ivy romantic suspense series and have read a few of her supernatural romance series. 

I have to admit the story has some really cheesy moments I mean he lived for thousands of years but he never really lived until he met this woman. I mean come on even for this romance lover this is a bit much.  That being said the story is over all what you will expect from this author. 

The story is full of Mystery and adventure with the perfect cheesy slow burn romance readers are in need of right now. 

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Wild Magic.  

Synposis:

There was a time when demons reigned. That was before they were forced to retreat to the shadows. Today, in hidden corners across the globe their evil blood still pools, and the authority of their new rulers—the Vampire Cabal—must never be challenged. Leave it to a Jersey girl to change ancient
history . . .

At sixteen, when Peri Sanguis’s wild magic first appeared, she was forced to flee her Wyoming ranch—and her suddenly murderous family—to save her own life. On the East Coast, tutored by mages who run the Witch’s Brew bookstore-cafe, Peri’s world seems magically tranquil—until her estranged mother and a coven of witches are slaughtered. Now, to solve the violent mysteries of her past, she must put her trust, body and soul, in a sensual immortal who is every woman’s darkest fantasy . . .

The golden-eyed vampire, Valen, has never wanted more than to claim an untamed female like Peri. Lured into each other’s orbit, and working together against a resurrected evil brings them intimately closer—to danger, blood betrayals, all-consuming passion, and to sacrifices that must be made to save themselves and the world 

About The Author:

I'm not exactly sure when I fell in love with books. Probably on my mother's knee listening to her read Dr. Seuss to me. I do remember that I was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library. Could anything be more wonderful than spending summer days surrounded by stacks of Nancy Drew mysteries? Over the years I fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few. I read poetry, essays, biographies, and plays. In fact, I read anything I could get my hands on.

Years later (no, I'm not admitting how many) I'm still an avid reader, and my tastes are still as varied as they were in my youth, which I suppose helps to explain why I enjoy writing regency historicals under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy. For now that is enough to keep me busy, but who knows what the future might hold!

I do have a few other loves in my life besides reading and writing, the most important being my unbelievably patient husband, David, and my two sons, Chance and Alexander. Without their constant support and belief in me, I never could have been able to follow my dreams. They are truly my heroes.

Book Review: Frostbitten (Deep Ops #6) by Rebecca Zanetti

 

Title: Frostbitten (Deep Ops #6)

Author:  Rebecca Zanetti

Stars: 5

Review:

If you haven't read the Deep Ops series, you might want to read at least the first book, so you know the different characters. 

I love this series and Frostbitten is a perfect addition to this series that readers are falling in love with.  The characters are so over the top fun. Millicent and Scott are the leads and while they are apart of Deep Ops they are almost secondary characters in most of the books.  

The character development blending with action and steamy romance will keep readers wanting more even after they know who the bad guys are. The community that Milli grew up in will have readers laughing so hard.  Who threaten to hurt a cat? You know they are evil. 

Rebecca Zanetti has the ability to pull readers into her books with feisty women and steamy sexy scenes. 

Thank you to netgalley for advance copy of Rebecca Zanetti Frostbitten. 

If you haven't picked up a single book of Deep Ops I highly recommend you take the chance.  Fun Romantic suspense series with lots of laughs. 

Synposis:

Enigmatic.
With a wildly gifted mind, and an untamed head of hair to match, petite powerhouse Millicent Frost is brilliant when it comes to gadgets and electronics—less so with people. After an attempt to bust a bank scam goes awry, Millie is in hot water with Homeland Security and targeted by lethal enemies. In the midst of the trouble, she heads home to help out with the family hunting and fishing business. But when their rival competitor and Millie’s ex is murdered, she’s the number one suspect . . .
Irresistible.
Former Marine turned lawyer Scott Terentson devotes himself to getting his clients out of tricky binds. A loner, the last thing he wants is to belong to any team, yet the Deep Ops group considers him one of their own—and he pays the price by getting shot at by their enemies. Now Millie is seeking his help—just as he’s dealing with a brutal fail regarding a recent trial. Both are a headache, yet he’s drawn to Millie in spite of himself. They’re opposites, but maybe the old adage is true . . .
Electric.
Working together, Millie and Scott soon have more on their hands than they bargained for as the danger escalates—along with the sizzling heat between them. And when a disappearance is thrown into the mix, all bets are off 

About The Author:

New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than seventy novels and novellas, which have been translated into several languages, with millions of copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus starred reviews, favorable Washington Post and New York Times Book Reviews, and been included in Amazon best books of the year.

Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest.

Book Review: Mating Instinct: A Moon Shifter Novel (Moon Shifter #3)

Title: Mating Instinct: A Moon Shifter #3

Author: Katie Reus

Stars: 4

Review:

Katie Reus has the ability to gives readers what they want to read. This story is a second chance romance that will come at readers fast and let's admit it a little naught too.  I am not always a fan of Supernatural stories and yet somehow Katie Reus always pulls me into her world, and I am unable to walk away from the strong women and alpha men. 

If readers love Shifter stories with the right number of sexy times to story you will enjoy this series.  Yes, I started with book 3.  Which it can be read as a stand-alone novel. 

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Mating Instinct. 

First time publisher was 2013. 

Synposis: 

As the beast within struggles to break free, he must learn to be what she needs...Surviving for centuries, powerful lupine shifter Jayce Kazan managed to stay away from humans until he met Kat Saburova and was consumed by the need to protect her. But while Jayce shared his passion with the human seer, he refused to make her his bondmate—a refusal that caused the end of their relationship.A year later, an attack that left Kat near death has resulted in another lupine shifter turning her. Furious that he wasn’t the one to save her, Jayce is determined to show Kat that he is the one she should rely on. But the newly turned shifter is still traumatized and worried that she’ll hurt those she loves, unless she can learn to control her inner wolf.And as Jayce struggles to protect Kat from her own worst instincts and convince her to rekindle their love, the extremists who almost killed her are looking to finish the job.

About The Author:

Katie Reus is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Ancients Rising series, the Endgame Trilogy and the Red Stone Security series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.

However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing paranormal romance and romantic suspense.

Literary Agent

• Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency

Book Reviews Starting up again!

 I will admit Bookhimdanno hasn't been my priority lately mainly due to life getting in the way.  My family of 6 came down with a head cold that has taken two weeks for everyone to get over expect me it's been 3 weeks.  I am lucky like that!

While I have been sick and really unable to think more than where are the nose tissues, I have been reading some of my favorite authors and going back rereading several books.  Which is crazy I hate rereading books I already knows what is going to happen. 

That being said I loved getting a chance to review the amazing stories.  One author who I loved and adored died this year along with her husband in a house fire.  I find myself going back to her stories wishing she was still here so I could tell her how I loved her stories. 

Ritter Ames sent me many of her stories before they went to the publisher and often times when I would comment on a story line or secondary plot, and she would tell me she had felt the same way, but the editor felt it wasn't needed or it needed to change.  As time went on Ritter and I soon became friends talking about life, her pup and mine.  I was even able to meet her in person when she came to Phoenix for a convention which she snuck me into.  She sent my kids fun items for her book release. 

Losing her I lost not just a friend but an author who embraced me with all my spelling errors and grammar issues. Ritter Ames saw my love of reading even though I struggle due to my learning disabilities. I miss one of my favorite authors but most of all I miss the friendship I had developed with her over the years. 

Thank you for allowing me to tell you about Ritter Ames. 

I will tell you all the books on my "to review list" are all set for 2024 a few at the beginning of the years.  Those will start to be posted starting December. 

I am hoping to keep reviewing stories as well as finding new authors to fall in love with.  That bring said my family and my health are the most important part of my life so while I will still review there will be times and months where the reviews might not be as new as I hoped for.

Thank you to the author who have entrusted me with their amazing tales and stories.  I can't tell you how honored I have been and will continue to be. 

Netgalley and Updating Review

As a reader I sometimes find myself reading more and more stories without reviewing the story.  I get lost in so many amazing stories that have read over the last several months. 

I have to go back and reread some of the stories that were a bit more forgettable story.  With that being said I am working my way through several months of stories and reviewing them as quickly as I can.

Thank you for being patient with me. 

Here is a list of stories I will be reviewing over the next few weeks

On Her Watch Melinda Leigh

  I Only Read Murder  Will Ferguson; Ian Ferguson

The Missing Witness Allison Brennan

Wild Magic Alexandra Ivy

Life is getting away from me. Yet I am still reading book Just forgetting to Review.

 I am so sorry to everyone who follows this blog or maybe not one follows this blog.  Oh Heck Who knows anymore. 

The last several months have been for lack of a better word Strange. Crazy? I am not really sure what to call it to be honest.

I take certain medications.... Oh forget it I have Moderate General and Social Anxiety and lets not forget Moderate ADHD because let's face I am full of invisible disease. I take medication daily for my mental health. While that isn't unusually for me not being able to fill said medication is. I need my medication to be able to function otherwise I am pinned down with anxiety and unable to do more than sit and focus on things I cannot control.  Yes, that is with my coping mechanism I have been taught to us.  My poor husband has been dealing with this mental health issues since we were first married.  It wasn't until 14 years into our marriage I started to take medications and the whole world changed for us for the BETTER!

This stimulate is also the only one I can take into the country of Japan.  TO say I have been stressed and my anxiety is out of control would be like sticking your finger on your sprinkler outside.  It helps a little but sooner or later your will be soaking wet and there is nothing you can do about it. 

Where am I going with this you might be asking.  Good question I have no idea since I haven't been able to take my medication for 5 days now.  My thoughts are racing which makes it impossible to be able to focus on anything IE writing reviews.  I can totally hyperfocus on reading books but writing review with my learning disabilities sets off my anxiety crazy high. 

Back to School!

 This summer I decided to devote 100% of my time to my kiddos.  With a rare autoimmune disease I find it is difficult to split my energy into many different areas.  I decided to focus on what is most important and that would be my 4 amazing little demons.  Well, I guess they are not so little anymore seeing as the oldest is a senior in high school.  

School has started here on the surface of the sun or as the rest of the United States calls it Arizona. 

I will get back to book reviewing many of my favorite authors and hopefully find some wonderful new authors to share with you. 

Thank you for hanging on with me though this time of transition and change. 4 years ago I thought my life was over but now I see it has just begun.  Adventures await!

Book Review: Trail of Deception by Amanda McKinney

 

Title: Trail of Deception

Author:   Amanda McKinney

Stars: 3 1\2

Review:

I am not 100% sold on this story and the characters have me a little confused at times.  Traill of Deception is told from several different viewpoints one being the killer. The author uses the different viewpoints to move the story forward so readers are not reading the sometime just from a different viewpoint. 

Readers will figure out the killer and their motive pretty easily which I found to be disappointing since the characters really didn't jump out at me and I was unable to connect with the male and female leads. 

The author tried to keep away from the steamy romance side and focus on the "getting to know you before we jump into bed together." That was a nice change from the typical romantic suspense. 

Trail of Deception isn't a great read and its not a terrible read.  Its just average.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Amanda McKinney Trail of Deception.

Synposis:

When Aria, a young girl with autism, goes missing, search and rescue expert Beckett Stolle ventures into the swamplands of Texas to track her down.

When he finds the girl, she is alive, sitting next to a corpse painted in blood. Accusations fly, including suspicion that Aria was involved in the macabre murder. Beckett, however, fears this is the work of a notorious serial killer, turning his rescue mission into a hunt for a murderer. But every clue leads back to Aria, who has secrets of her own—something her psychiatrist, Jo Bellerose, sympathizes with on a very deep and dangerous level.

As an ice storm descends on Texas, Jo partners with Beckett, a handsome ex-military outdoorsman, to prove Aria’s innocence and find the real killer before another victim is slain. The two get trapped in the wilderness, where their professional relationship morphs into something intensely personal.

And the danger headed their way is one they never saw coming

About The Author:

Amanda McKinney is the bestselling and multi-award-winning author of more than fifteen romantic suspense and mystery novels. Her latest book, Rattlesnake Road, was named one of POPSUGAR's 12 Best Romance Books to Have a Spring Fling With, and was featured on the Today Show. The fifth book in her Steele Shadows series, Jagger (Steele Shadows Investigations), was recently nominated for the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense.

Amanda wrote her debut novel, LETHAL LEGACY in 2017, after walking away from her career to become a writer and stay-at-home mom. Her books include the bestselling series, STEELE SHADOWS SECURITY, the multi-award-winning BERRY SPRINGS series, BLACK ROSE MYSTERIES, and many more to come.

Set in small, Southern towns, Amanda’s books are page-turning murder mysteries peppered with steamy romance She lives in Arkansas with her handsome husband, two beautiful boys, and three obnoxious dogs.