Book Review: A Daring Pursuit (Ruthless Rivals #2) by Kate Bateman

 

Title: A Daring Pursuit (Ruthless Rivals #2)

Author:  Kate Bateman

Star: 4

Review:

Another enticing story told by a very talented author. A fiery redheaded Davies female crosses paths with a sedate Montgomery male while trying to pay a blackmailer his demanded payment. As it turns out both have had a long held and unspoken crush for each other owing to longtime family issues. It turns into a pursuit but who is pursuing who and will the loser concede graciously? 

I enjoyed this book and do recommend it if you enjoy historical romance novels. I have rated it 4 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Synopsis:

TWO ENEMIES
Carys Davies is doing everything in her power to avoid marriage. Staying single is the only way to hide the secret that could ruin her—and her family—if it was revealed. For the past two seasons she’s scandalized the ton with her outrageous outfits and brazen ways in a futile bid to deter potential suitors. Outwardly confident and carefree, inside she’s disillusioned with both men and love. There’s only one person who’s never bought her act—the only man who makes her heart race: Tristan Montgomery, one of her family’s greatest rivals.

ONE SCANDALOUS BARGAIN
Wickedly proper architect Tristan needs a respectable woman to wed, but he’s never stopped wanting bold, red-headed Carys. When she mockingly challenges him to show her what she’s missing by not getting married, Tristan shocks them both by accepting her indecent proposal: one week of clandestine meetings, after which they’ll go their separate ways. But kissing each other is almost as much fun as arguing, and their affair burns hotter than either of them expects. When they find themselves embroiled in a treasonous plot, can they trust each other with their hearts, their secrets…and their lives?

About The Author:

Kate Bateman (also writing as K. C. Bateman) wrote her first historical romance in response to a $1 bet with her husband who rashly claimed she'd 'never finish the thing.' She gleefully proved him wrong. Her Regency and Renaissance-era romances all feature her trademark feisty, intelligent heroines, wickedly inappropriate banter, and heroes you want to both strangle and kiss.

When not traveling to exotic locations 'for research,' Kate leads a double life as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several TV shows in the UK, each of which has up to 2.5 million viewers. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England and writes despite three inexhaustible children and a number-loving husband who still owes her that dollar.

Book Review: Kiss of Darkness (Curse of the Guardians #1) by Taylor Aston White

 

Title: Kiss of Darkness (Curse of the Guardians #1)

Author: Taylor Aston White

Stars: 2

Review:

This is book 1 in a Supernatural Romance series by Taylor Aston White.  This isn't the best beginning to a new series.  The story feels as if I am missing book one and not starting book one.  The story seems to be missing something I can't quite put my finger on.  The story is your typical supernatural romance with all the supernatural beings from Demons to Fea's.  The story is very typical with the strong male and hot sexy romance that many supernatural readers I assume enjoy. 

The world the author created didn't seem to quite comes to life and instead fell flat and dull. Well written supernatural stories the author is able make the world or cities as a character in the story.  Unfortunately, this doesn't happen in Kiss the Darkness.

Kiss the Darkness is nothing more than what I have been avoiding in Supernatural romance stories.  Alpha, sex and very little story.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Taylor Aston White Kiss Of Darkness.

Synposis:

Kyra’s seen and survived the worst things imaginable, all because of the magic she was born with. Trapped by her secret, she has no choice but to serve Councilman Gallagher or risk everything she has tried so hard to build. Because despite black magic being banned, her very survival depends on it.

When she’s commanded to summon a Daemon, a Breed notorious for their corruption and brutality, she’s torn between keeping her secret and doing the right thing.

Xander’s hate for black witches was notorious, but nothing frustrated him more than the one witch that brings trouble with a capital T. With dark amber eyes, and a controlled strength that fascinated his beast - the monster he’s cursed to share a soul - Xander will do anything to push her away.

So when he’s forced into protecting her, he must put aside his prejudice and ignore his growing desire that’s an insult to his past.

Because he’s had an entire childhood to remember why you can’t trust black witches.

And he definitely can’t trust Kyra Farzan.

About The Author:

Taylor Aston White is an author of New Adult Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance with dark themes and HEAs.

She loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern magic world. She collects crystals, house plants and dark lipstick, and has two young children who like to 'help' with her writing by slamming their hands across the keyboard.
​
After working several uncreative jobs and one super creative one, she decided to become a full-time author and now spends the majority of her time between her children and writing the weird and wonderful stories that pop into her head.

Book Review: Guarding Her (Red Stone Security #18) by Katie Reus

 

Title: Guarding Her (Red Stone Security #18) 

Author: Katie Reus

Star: 4

Review:

Katie Reus has the ability to write a romance that has loveable characters that will pull at readers heart strings.  The story is a stand-alone but can be read as part of the Red Stone Series.  The story takes what is going on around readers every day and uses it to tell a suspense romance that readers will be able to read at the beach at the pool or right before bed.

Katie Reus is able to quickly paint a perfect picture as well as bring readers up to speed with the past characters without slowing down the story.  This is a perfect addition to the Red Stone Security series. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for advance copy of Guarding Her by Katie Reus.

Synopsis:

After a video of her modeling her friend’s new clothing line goes viral, Gia suddenly finds herself thrust into the spotlight. She never wanted fame—she was just having fun and helping a friend. Unfortunately, now she’s got a target on her back. Someone out there will do anything to destroy her. Someone who wants her dead.
As his best friend’s sister, Gia is off limits. She’s also the woman of Lawson’s dreams—and hottest fantasies. When she’s targeted by a vicious stalker, all bets are off. As a Red Stone Security expert, he’ll keep her safe at any cost. What he doesn’t know is how he’s going to keep her out of his bed, because he’s never wanted anyone as badly as he wants her. He’s all about rules—it’s why he’s such a good bodyguard—while she seems determined to test his control at every step. But if they want to survive, they’ll have to work together to stop the killer…before it’s too late.

About The Author:

Katie Reus is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Redemption Harbor 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: Dead Against Her (Bree Taggert #5) By Melinda Leigh

 

Title: Dead Against Her (Bree Taggert #5)

Author: Melinda Leigh

Star: 3 1\2

Review:

I wish I could repeat the same line as I have for every single one of Melinda Leigh's books.  Dead Against Her book 5 in the series starts off with what you expect. A few dead bodies. The author covers a dark side of the social media and how it can affect someone personal life. While the book teaches readers that social media can paint a fake picture to the world around you.  The story and characters within the story fall flat as the story putters its way to the end like an old car. The story falls flat for what readers usually expect from this author.  The twist and turns the author created lack any excitement and in fact are very predictable.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy Dead Against Her by Melinda Leigh.

Synposis:

Called to an isolated farm to check on an elderly widow, Sheriff Bree Taggert finds a brutal double homicide. One of the victims is Eugene Oscar, the bitter and corrupt former deputy she recently fired.

Working with criminal investigator Matt Flynn, Bree discovers that she isn’t the only one who had a troubling history with Eugene. But someone doesn’t want Bree digging up the past. She becomes the target of a stranger’s sick and devious campaign calculated to destroy her reputation, career, family, and new relationship with Matt. To make matters worse, she’s the prime suspect in Eugene’s murder.

When her chief deputy goes missing while investigating the case, Bree refuses to back down. She won’t let him become the next victim. His life and her future depend on finding a killer nursing a vengeful rage.

About The Author:

#1 Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker who learned that writing books is way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. Since then, she has garnered numerous writing accolades, including two RITA® Award nominations and an induction into the NJ Romance Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have sold more than 10 million copies across the world. Melinda loves martial arts, rescue dogs, and sea turtles.

Book Review: Taken By Lisa Marie Rice

 

Title: Taken

Author: Lisa Marie Rice

Star: 3

Review:

The story starts off with a moment of sadness and interest.  The hope for this story to move quickly into the reason why seem to fall flat as the story drags alone and everything is about sex and controlling her to keep her safe.  The characters are ok and at times fall flat.  The story does pick up off and on though the story but not enough to keep reader interest long enough to finish the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the Advance Copy of Lisa Marie Rice Taken

Synposis:

She is his. She just doesn't know it yet. Marcus Rey clawed his way to the top. He is immensely wealthy, ruthless and feared. He has everything he could possibly want ... except for her.
Eve Banner. 
Elegant, cultured, regal-she makes Marcus's pulse pound like nothing ever has. But the remote, bookish beauty is out of reach for a man who does not officially exist. But she has come into the sights of his worst enemy and he has to sweep her to his luxurious underground mansion to save her life.
Eve has worked hard for her success and enjoys it. Though she is a little lonely. The men she

meets are so weak and boring. It's easier to be alone. Until one night she is attacked by thugs, and rescued by a man who is anything but weak or boring.

Marcus Rey is strong, mysterious, secretive ... dangerous. A man doomed to always live in the shadows. But he calls to her like no man ever has. She is tempted to stay in his underground lair forever.
But then his deadly enemies start closing in on them with terrifying speed ..

About The Author:

Lisa Marie Rice is eternally 30 years old and will never age. She is tall and willowy and beautiful. Men drop at her feet like ripe pears. She has won every major book prize in the world. She is a black belt with advanced degrees in archaeology, nuclear physics, and Tibetan literature. She is a concert pianist. Did I mention her Nobel Prize? Of course, Lisa Marie Rice is a virtual woman and exists only at the keyboard when writing erotic romance. She disappears when the monitor winks off.

Book Review: The Rogue (The Intelligence Unit #4 ) By Kimberly Kincaid

 

Title: The Rogue (The Intelligence Unit #4) 

Author: Kimberly Kincaid

Star: 4

Review:

The Rogue is a perfect beach/pool read.  The story is face pace with sexual tension that readers will love until they finally give in.  The stalker is very much modern story that readers will be able to connect with.  The Bad guy is the perfect stalker. The heroes are strong smart and play it by the book. Expect for the Alpha brother who has the need for justice. 

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for advance copy of Kimberly Kincaid the Rouge

Synposis:

Detective Addison Hale is a survivor. The armor she uses to hide her scars keeps her safe on the job and holding people at arm’s length is a small price to pay when there’s a stalker on the loose.
Especially since he’s after the sister of impulsive firefighter Ryan Dempsey, who she had a scorching-hot fling with two months ago.

The fling she can’t forget, even though she knows how dangerous it is to get close. To feel.

Ryan will do anything to keep his sister safe, even if it means he has to play by Addison’s rules. But when the stalker sets his sights on the smart, sexy detective, Ryan finds he’ll do anything for her, including risk his life to fight at her side.

But this enemy is as cunning as he is deadly and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Addison and Ryan must outrun the shadows and outwit a killer.

No matter the cost.

About The Author:

USA Today best-selling author Kimberly Kincaid writes romantic suspense that sizzles and contemporary romance with heart and heat. Equal parts action and emotion, her firefighters and first responders always save the day. When she's not finding adventure with her husband, three teens, and naughty Whippets, Olive and Daisy, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book.

Kimberly's series include Remington Medical, Station Seventeen, the Line series, Cross Creek, and her brand-new Intelligence Unit series. All titles stand alone for easy reading.

Book Review: Modern Conspiracies in America: Separating Fact from Fiction By Michael D. Gambone

 

Title: Modern Conspiracies in America: Separating Fact from Fiction

Author: Michael D. Gambone

Stars: 4

Review:

Everyone at some point has heard at least one conspiracy in their life. The author Michael Gambone shows how the world has changed over the years that has allow the modern day over the top conspiracy theories that have run rampage on the TV and internet. 

What used to be tin hats, that person, Xfiles, or the uncle no one wants to talk to is now mainstream media and part of our every day.  From the most successful to the weakest of minds the authors give reader an eye-opening look at the conspiracy with the evidence and how he is able to use that information and show readers how one thought can turn into the most outrageous conspiracy to this day.

Evidence based knowledge will help reads be able to decide for themselves truth vs fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Michael D. Gambone Modern Conspiracies in Ameria.

Synopsis:

America is awash with alleged conspiracies. It seems like today, no one with a cell phone escapes the vortex of skepticism, cynicism, paranoia, and fear that occupy our thoughts almost constantly. Seeking out valid answers in this cacophony can be confusing and deeply frustrating. In this book, historian Michael D. Gambone provides case studies of popular conspiracy theories in America from the past 100 years, from Protocol of the Elders of Zion to #stopthesteal. He offers an approach based on basic logic and historical case studies, not designed to win arguments, but to help readers separate truth from the avalanche of nonsense descending on us every day. In each case, Gambone outlines the conspiracy claim, provides historical context for the conspiracy, presents evidence of the conspiracy claim, and analyzes the claim, context, and evidence.

Modern Conspiracies in American History will appeal to a broad audience of readers interested in American history and those seeking to become better informed consumers of news in an era when social media spreads misinformation widely and quickly.

About The Author:

Dr. Michael D. Gambone is the author of eight books, including Long Journeys Home: American Veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam (2017) and The Greatest Generation Comes Home: The Veteran in American Society (2005). He is currently a professor of history at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division. In 2006, he deployed to Iraq as a Department of the Army contractor and served in the city of Mosul.

Book Review: First Bite (Accidental Vampire PI Mystery 1) By Avery Daniels

 

Title: First Bite (Accidental Vampire PI Mystery 1)

Author: Avery Daniels

Star: 3 1\2

Review:

Avery Daniels take on the supernatural is a cute cozy story of a woman who is just trying to create a positive life for herself. Instead she becomes a vampire and meets a cast of characters that will help guide her though the change not to mention her new role as PI.  The story is cute fun and leaves romance readers excited for book 2 to see if the witch will break the rules for her.

The supernatural world has kind of new take on vampires they are changed DNA.  The story keeps to some myths and tosses other out the window. 

Reader's will fall in love with Misty and her positive affirmations she uses throughout the story. That is what had this review smiling at times as I finished the cozy read.  If you are looking for a summer quick read this Supernatural cozy mystery is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Avery Daniels First Bite

Synposis:

What's a positive thought girl to do when she finds herself one of the undead? Recite plenty of affirmations and use those new toothy skills to assist her PI boss, of course.

In 24 hours, Misty Summers had the worst date of her life, was bit by a vampire, and her PI boss may close his business as he goes through a divorce. Looking on the sunny side, she decides to use her new vampire assets and become the investigator to keep her job and income. She doesn’t know what her future holds, but it can’t be any worse! When she starts following up on a missing woman’s case, she finds herself in the middle of murder. Even with her positive thinking and affirmations, she is finding her new reality daunting. But she vows to take a bite out of crime in her small lake resort town.

If you like Duffy Brown, Nancy Warren, Nova Nelson, Dionne Lister, Trixie Silvertale, and Leighann Dobbs, then you'll love this series with a quirky intelligent sleuth, small town lake setting, and tantalizing mysteries. Misty Indigo Summers is a positive thinking kind of gal and a most unlikely vampire and PI. Buy these fun and clean cozy mysteries and start enjoying Misty's adventures today!

About The Author:

I was born and raised in Colorado, graduated from college with a degree in business administration and worked in fortune 500 companies and Department of Defense my entire life. My most eventful job (fires, suicide, kidnapping, etc) was apartment management for 352 units. I still live in Colorado with two brother black cats as my spoiled and beloved companions. I volunteer for a cat shelter, enjoy scrapbooking and card making, photography, and painting in watercolor and acrylic. I inherited a love for reading from my mother and grandmother and grew up talking about books at the dinner table. I was the odd child in school who knew the names of Henry VIII's wives because of that dinner talk.