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: Husband Undercover (Phantom Agents #1) by Catherine Edward

 

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Title: Husband Undercover (Phantom Agents #1)

Author: Catherine Edward

Stars: 2

Review:

Catherine Edward Husband Undercover has protentional to be a fun story instead falls flat with endless sex scenes, talk about sex and hot Jacks husbands' body is. 

The story feels old as in 20 years behind time expect for the use of cell phones. The characters are flat and lack any creative side to them. The author tries hard but even the side story of Phantom Agents is lacks focus. Leaving readers with a less than stellar book series.  The sad part is even the moments of humor come off awkward.  

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of Catherine Edward Husband Undercover.

Synopsis:

Jacqueline Hughes thought she had everything she ever wanted––a career as a kindergarten teacher, a home with a white picket fence, and a handsome husband. However, her life as she knows it is sent tumbling down the stairs and then onto a roller-coaster ride when she’s caught in crossfire.

Matthew Hughes is a secret agent for a top-secret government organization. The perfect balance he maintains between his personal and professional life is put to the test by his new assignment.

What happens when Jacqueline discovers her husband is not who he claims to be? Will Matthew be able to restore the balance in his life?

Disclaimer: The medical terms, medicines and its effects mentioned in this novel are fictitious.

About The Author:

Hailing from India, Catherine is an author and law graduate, specializing in Intellectual Property & Copyright Infringement. She is passionate about Lycans, Werewolves, Witches and Vampires, and writes sizzling tales of love and betrayal.


Her love for books started from a very young age, when her loving father would gift her books like Russian Tales woven with fantasy. But it was in late 2015 when she found the books of Paranormal Romance author Cynthia Eden, whose books introduced her to the whole new world of paranormals. The more she read the more she got enticed and she penned her first novel in 2016.

When she isn’t writing, she likes to travel and read. Music and writing goes hand in hand for this night owl. Her family and furbabies are her world.

Book Review: The Perfect Monster Paperback by W. Lawrence Nash

 

Title: The Perfect Monster Paperback

Author: W. Lawrence Nash

Stars: 2

Review:

As a reader I am not sure what to make of this book.  The author wrote a prologue explaining that while the characters and events have never happened yet the technology is real and other are possible in the near future.  While he said the book was written in 2015 its had to imagine he didn't update the book to fit with the current historical pandemic we are living in.

Each Chapter has a title some have dates and some do not which can confuse for readers who are new to W. Lawrence Nash.  There is a large cast of characters to keep track of even with the main characters leading the story. 

The story is almost a little to political and almost feels as if he wrote his thoughts and review on the pandemic in a fiction story from different countries point of review.

The story falls flat in many different ways with unnecessary dialogue, too many characters not needed, characters that come into the picture and never return.  

The author uses beliefs to drive a story with what feels like very little research done.

Thank you to the Netgalley for a copy of W. Lawrence Nash The Perfect Monster.

Synopsis:

Claire Watchorn and Jack Trenchart dive into the pressurized safe room, as the Biohazard warning siren screams in their ears. The quest to uncover the perpetrators of the global contagion is proving impossible and now the plague spreads to London. Unknown to Jack and Claire, six great nations, China, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Canada and Russia are fomenting the terror. Unknown to the six great nations, their deranged virologist, Roger Sloane, is in thrall to two autonomous and self-rewriting computer programs dubbed ‘The Boys’, who have other plans for humanity. The hopes for Jack and Claire fade as they race to intercept the final devastation planned by Roger Sloane and his soulless masters. Jack and Claire hold the survival of mankind in their hands. But they may be too late.

About The Author: 

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AW.+Lawrence+Nash&s=relevancerank&text=W.+Lawrence+Nash&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Book Review: Trusting Skylar (Silverstone #1) by Susan Stoker

 

Title: Trusting Skylar (Silverstone #1) 

Author: Susan Stoker

Stars: 2

Review:

Susan Stoker has been using the same predictable story line for the last several series.  As a reader and reviewer I like to see if the author changes up their style of writing.  Susan Stoker uses the same story lines just change them enough to sound like a new story or series. 

Her stories are unbelievable and over the top at the best.  This new series isn't anything new and it neither add to her current book list.  The story is all introduction to the new characters, their past and what the future will be focused on.

The story works for those who are fans of this authors writing style.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of Susan Stoker Trusting Skyler.

Synopsis:

Former military operative Carson “Bull” Rhodes hasn’t dated seriously since he and his teammates left the army. Since then he’s opened Silverstone Towing—which is a front for his other job: hired killer. When kindergarten teacher Skylar Reid calls for help while stranded on the side of the interstate, the attraction is instant. The problem is Bull’s career has jaded him. Skylar’s innocent, and he wants to keep her that way.

Cautious by nature, Skylar never expected to fall in love with her tow truck driver. Even so, once Bull reveals what he really does for a living, she’s not sure she can handle it. When Skylar faces threats that have nothing to do with Bull’s job but are just as deadly, the stakes are higher than ever.

With the help of the Silverstone team, Bull will use everything he’s learned over the years to bring the woman he loves home—because the alternative is unthinkable.

Kindle Edition, 317 pages

Published December 1st 2020 by Montlake

About The Author:

Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee. She's married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

Book Review: Dukes, Actually (12 Dukes of Christmas #5) by Erica Ridley

Title: Dukes, Actually (12 Dukes of Christmas #5) 

Author: Erica Ridley

Stars: 2

Review:

This is the #5 book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. I am normally a fan of this author and look forward to her offerings. However, in this instance, I felt the storyline was very weak. It failed to obtain my interest much less to keep me enthralled. I am sure this is just an off story by this author. I look forward to reading her next offering as this is not indictive of her excellent writing style and story telling.

I have rated this book 2 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review. Thank you Frank

Synopsis:
The Duke of Azureford isn’t the arrogant, aloof lord his peers perceive him to be. Yes, he’s awkward, but he has a plan to fix it. In order to woo a respectable lady, he must learn how to flirt. The completely inappropriate girl next door would make a perfect instructor, but a terrible duchess. So why can’t he walk away?

Incorrigible hoyden Miss Carole Quincy likes fast carriages, carom billiards, and the beautiful, buttoned-up Duke of Azureford. She’d be delighted to help him out of his shell and into her arms. Who cares if they’re just pretending to flirt? The heady, breath-taking, soul-consuming feeling inside her runaway heart surely can’t be love

Kindle Edition, 200 pages

Published October 22nd 2019 by WebMotion

About The Author:
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest. 

Book Review: Redeeming the Badge (Arizona K9 #2) by Dorothy F. Shaw

Title: Redeeming the Badge (Arizona K9 #2) 

Author: Dorothy F. Shaw

Stars: 2

Review:
This book wasn't what I expected and honestly I couldn't get past the while lusting and opps bumped into you again by accident story line.  The romance scenes were repetitive to the point of boring having readers skip pages to find something interesting to read in the book.   To be honestly wasn't easy to find. The story lacks focus, excitement and a desire to read after the first few chapters. 

The romance is just unbelievable and the story lacks anything that will keep readers wanting to come back for more.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Lyrical Press for the advance of Dorothy F. Shaw  Redeeming the Badge. 

Synopsis:
In high school, she was the girl most likely to live happily ever after—rich, popular, beautiful…and maybe just a little mean. But Heather Winters’ dreams of marriage and motherhood haven’t worked out as she hoped. Now she’s back in Arizona, trying to reinvent herself. She knows what she doesn’t want: a serious relationship. She doesn’t remember Robert Caldwell from high school, but the good-looking K-9 officer is everything she’s looking for in a short-term fling.

A routine traffic stop brings Rob face to face with the girl who fueled his teenage fantasies—and she’s even more ravishing than ever. The former homecoming queen didn’t know he was alive back then. Now she’s changed—and she’s hurting. Despite how great they are together in bed, Heather isn’t letting him anywhere near her heart. But he’s got a plan—and with a little help from his canine partner, Tricks, he’ll show Heather that together, they have all the happiness they’ll ever need

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: September 24th 2019 by Lyrical Press

About The Author: 

Dorothy F. Shaw stumbled into a career in Corporate America and has spent the last 20 years climbing the corporate ladder. A fan of journaling about her troubles, she started an online blog in 2009, and poured her emotions out for all to see. 

As luck would have it, the first post came out in the form of a poem. A few authors she'd met online encouraged her to write more, and in the span of 2 years she wrote over 150 poems. The poems led to short stories, which blossomed into novels. Evident from the very beginning was her voice as an author that is real and packed with wit and sarcasm. Her stories will always include complex, broken people trying to figure out how to start and keep a relationship as well as lots of hot, steamy sex. As Dorothy sees it, the journey is the best part. 

When she's not writing, she's a mother, and a friend to many. She truly lives and loves in technicolor! 

Book Review: The Nanny Rules by Melynda Price

Title: The Nanny Rules

Author: Melynda Price 

Stars: 2

Review:
The story is unbelievable predictable to the point it is laughable.
The story is pretty much what the synopsis tell you without a single surprise.  It is boring lacks creativity and where is the author voice or personal touch.  This could have been written by any 100 author out there.  If the author has a voice she isn't using it to create but to just sell a story.  The lack of creativity, typical characters and predictably leaves the reader uninterested.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Entangled: Brazen for the advance copy of  Melynda Price  The Nanny Rules

I am almost embarrassed to admit I read this book.

Synopsis:
Since becoming a single father, I have two things that keep me sane—my daughter Lily and playing football for the NFL. But when my meddling sister hires a nanny without my knowledge, I’m not thrilled to come home and find the woman has taken over my house. Our instant attraction is one more complication I don’t need in my life.

But my daughter loves Amelia, and I will do anything for that tiny munchkin. Even if it means walking around with blue balls most of the time. Why does the nanny have to be so sweet—and drop dead gorgeous? She’s driving me crazy. Never in my life have I wanted a woman more.

I just need to make it through this season. I can do that. Hands free, of course. But then there’s that moment, and I know she’s thinking what I’m thinking and, well, yeah. Screw the rules...

ebook, 200 pages

Expected publication: August 12th 2019 by Entangled: Brazen

About The Author:
Melynda Price is a bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary romance. Her Against the Cage series has finaled in many awards such as the RONE, USA Today BBA, Golden Quill, National Readers’ Choice, and New England Readers’ Choice, and won the 2017 Write Touch award.

What Price enjoys most about writing is the chance to make her readers fall in love, over and over again. She cites the greatest challenge of writing is making the unbelievable believable, while taking her characters to the limit with stories full of passion and unique twists and turns. Salting stories with undertones of history whenever possible, Price adds immeasurable depth to her well-crafted books. She currently lives in Northern Minnesota with her husband and two children where she has plenty of snow-filled days to curl up in front of the fireplace with her Chihuahua and a hot cup of coffee to write.

Book Review: Mercenary Princess (Mercenary Socialites #1) by Setta Jay

Title: Mercenary Princess (Mercenary Socialites #1) 

Author: Setta Jay

Stars: 2 

Review:
Setta Jay new sires and while it isn't perfect and most of it is Sex scene if readers are into this type of series or book than this might be what you are looking for.  I need more story than sex to really enjoy a book series.  The story lacks romance it is all about sex and absolutely no courting/dating (If people still use that word aka Dating.)
The author Setta Jay wrote a book about sex between two people and left a story floating around readers trying to figure out why this book was even written.
This book is more about the author fantasies than about a story AKA written Porn.
I skipped almost all of the sex once I realized the book would be 200 pages of sex and 60 pages of story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of  Setta Jay Mercenary Princess

Synopsis:
For years, one man has ruled Sophia’s fantasies. The harmless obsession keeps her warm on the nights her double life starts to take its toll. She, unfortunately, gains his attention at the worst possible moment, when she’s in the middle of a dangerous job. Now, she’ll be forced to protect her heart along with her life of lies.

Viktor has been tempted by the innocent princess’s lust-filled glances for far too long, and he has fought hard to resist her beauty. When her secrets finally draw him in, getting through her royal guard proves a minor inconvenience. But one sexually charged night isn’t enough. He wants more, including whatever she’s hiding beneath that demure façade.

As much as Sophia wants Viktor, she can never fully allow him in because her secrets aren’t her own. Viktor is determined to have all of his princess. Will they find a way to be together, or will her dangerous secrets tear them apart?

Kindle Edition, 1st Edition, 269 pages

Published August 16th 2018 by Setta Jay, LLC

About The Author:

Setta Jay is the author of the popular Guardians of the Realms series. She's garnered attention and rave reviews in the paranormal romance world for creating stories that incorporate a strong plot with a heavy dose of heat. 

Setta loves to hear from readers so feel free to ask her questions on social media or send her an email and she will happily reply. 

Book Review: Steel Resolve by B.J. Daniels

Title: Steel Resolve

Author: B.J. Daniels 

Star: 2 

Review:
The story is a predictable Harlequin Suspense romance. The villains are given to readers right away. Motive, reason everything is present with very little question what will happen and how the story will end.  When this happens the romance and characters interactions keep readers hooked.  The author isn't able to pull that off and the story falls flat.  

This story feels as if readers are thrown into the middle of a story.  The author fills in the background but instead bring the story up to date is slows down the progression leaving readers not caring what happens to any of the characters.

If the ending is tied up in a bow but readers will already know who, what, where, when and how.  Instead of giving something new to readers it ends up filling in pages not needed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of B.J. Daniels Steel Resolve.

This story lack suspense, lack romance, lacks mystery and lacks characters readers would like.  In a nut shell a boring read.

Synopsis:
Mary Cardwell Savage never meant to send that letter to her ex, 
Chase Steele. How could she know her words would bring the gorgeous cowboy back to Big Sky, Montana—with an unstable and dangerous stalker following close behind? Now Chase wants to prove that their love deserves a second chance. And this time, nothing will keep him from his heart’s desire…not even a killer.

ebook, 256 pages

Expected publication: June 18th 2019 by Harlequin Intrigue

About The Author:

B.J. Daniels' life dream was to be a policewoman. After a career as an award-winning newspaper journalist, she wrote and sold 37 short stories before she finally wrote her first book. Since then she has won numerous awards including a career achievement award last year for romantic suspense.

She lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, two Springer Spaniels, Jem and Spot, and a temperamental tomcat named Jeff. When she isn't writing, she snowboards, camps, boats and plays tennis.

Book Review: Hard Night (11th Hour #3) by Jackie Ashenden

Title: Hard Night (11th Hour #3)

Author: Jackie Ashenden 

Stars: 2 Stars out of 5

Review:
I am not sure if it is the authors writing style or the story but Hard Might just doesn't click together making it a somewhat hard and boring read.  As readers we always suspension of belief but at times even this story was too over the top and didn't make any since.
The story throws two people together and bam lots of sex. Which then leaves very little times for the story to evolve.
The author Jackie Adhendenn tried to create a sexual tension with a push pull reaction to things but in the end everything falls flat lacking the desired outcome. 
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher Kensington Books for the Advance copy of Jackie Adhendenn Hard Night

Synopsis:
Made up of former soldiers, the men of the 11th Hour play by their own rules to protect the innocent, capture the guilty, and stay in fighting shape for whatever--and whoever--comes their way . . .

Jacob Night, ex-Black Ops, owner of a billion-dollar security company, and leader of the 11th Hour, spends his life completing dangerous missions for others. But there's one personal mission he has yet to complete: Finding his missing brother, who was betrayed by the woman he should have been able to trust. But when he finally tracks down his brother's ex, there's one surprise: she can't remember a thing.

Faith has no memory of who she is. She can't remember life before she came to work for Jacob Night, and she's not sure she wants to. But when she and Jacob are ambushed by men who have come to kill her for sins she can't recall committing, she has no choice but to face the past. Yet once she does, and Jacob's identity--and her own--come to light, they may not survive with their lives intact, let alone their hearts. 

Kindle Edition, 304 pages

Expected publication: November 27th 2018 by Kensington

About The Author:
 
Jackie has been writing fiction since she was eleven years old. Mild mannered fantasy/SF/pseudo-literary writer by day, obsessive romance writer by night, she used to balance her writing with the more serious job of librarianship until a chance meeting with another romance writer prompted her to throw off the shackles of her day job and devote herself to the true love of her heart – writing romance. She particularly likes to write dark, emotional stories with alpha heroes who've just got the world to their liking only to have it blown wide apart by their kick-ass heroines. 

She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband. 

Book Review: Into the Darkest Night (The Chaos Theory Duet Book 1) by Cassandra Giovanni

Title: Into the Darkest Night (The Chaos Theory Duet Book 1) 

Author: Cassandra Giovanni

Stars: 2 stars

Review:
If you have ever seen on episode of the CW Arrow TV show the author  in her own way tells you the same story to the point it is laughable.  She didn't really change the characters rich playboy kidnapped on lost on a island where he learned skills to kill ect.  The woman Ana Jacobs same thing kidnapped on a island and is beaten, has scars, ect and wants to right the wrongs of her rich up bring.  
Levi is Oliver and she doesn't even try to hid the face with his best friend dating his ex girlfriend. 

This book screams of plagiarism in the since that the story, the Inner Circle, the characters are all very similar to the TV show Arrow and lack any creative story line that differs itself from the TV series. 
The story lacks focus because it jumps between present and past.  It is a series but ends in a very excepted cliff hanger.

The author put her best foot forward but failed in using a very popular TV and comic book show as her basic story.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy Cassandra Giovanni  Into the Darkness #1

Synopsis:
I was born a child of the Elite; destined to live a life of privilege in Sun City. 
With one decision I gave it all up. 

Ana Jacobs knows the Elite and their depravity all too well. She was one of them once. Her father was a member of the Inner Circle and head of the Trinity funding the corruption of Sun City. When he learned she knew the names of those he'd hidden so well, he turned his back on her; had her kidnapped and tortured to protect his secrets. 

When she escapes the island and learns of her father’s death at the hands of a knife-wielding vigilante called the Nightwatchman, she returns to Sun City, vowing to use her knowledge to protect the city. As a city cop, she blends into the background, and no one suspects her real motives. 

Levi Bennett knows where Ana’s been. He's also an Elite, but where Ana was sent to the island, he ended up there by accident. While Ana buries herself in her work and stopping the flow of illegal drugs and weapons into the poverty-stricken Blue District, Levi covers his pain by partying and spending his trust fund on buying bars and restaurants. 

Thrown together by Levi’s constant pressing of the limits, the two can’t deny the connection they share through their dark pasts. 

Their demons are one in the same, but some demons can’t be tamed. 

Kindle Edition, 207 pages

Published September 18th 2018 by Show n'ot Tell Publishing

About The Author 

Cassandra doesn't remember a time when she wasn't writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character's stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with their daughter and two dogs.

Book Review: Echoes Of The Past by TJ Hamilton

Title: Echoes Of The Past

Author: TJ Hamilton

Stars: 2 stars

Review:
The book started off with just the right amount of interest before everything turned sideways and the story came to a slow and painful stop.  The characters were not likable enough to keep readers interested.  As the story slows down the readers will flip pages to end the story or just toss it aside for something a bit more exciting.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Escape Publisher for the advance copy of TJ Hamiliton Echoes of the Past.

Synopsis:
Blue lights in the red dust...Echo Springs on the edge of the outback – a town where everyone knows your name, and your business. But the wholesome country living and welcoming community aren't what they used to be. Echo Springs has a dark underbelly, and it is seeping ever outward.Born on the wrong side of the tracks to a family well–known for all the wrong reasons, Leila Mayne's childhood was marked with suspicion and derision from the people of Echo Springs. But her heart has always belonged to this town, so after graduating from the academy, she returns sporting a shiny new badge and the desire to be an agent of change. But change isn't easy, and Echo Springs isn't ready to accept a Mayne on the right side of the law. Everyone except her childhood sweetheart, the man she ran away from and has spent her time trying to forget. Hayden is as big and beautiful and supportive as ever. But he has secrets, dark secrets. Secrets that could destroy the integrity and fresh start Leila has worked so hard for. When it comes to a battle between her heart and her badge, Leila knows that there can be no winners, and she will lose everything.

ebook, 200 pages

Expected publication: September 18th 2018 by Escape Publishing

About The Author:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17964443.TJ_Hamilton

Book Review: Deadly Games (Dallas After Dark) by Karen Rock

Title: Deadly Games (Dallas After Dark)
  
Author: Karen Rock

Stars: 2 stars 

Review:
Deadly Games is part of a series called Dallas After Dark. The story starts off with sex between two strangers. Nash Hawkins decides that after seeing Katherine Bowden from a distance she is the woman for him. The story is very predictable from the romance to the killer at the end of the story.
The author repeats the line "Arrogant, Cocky, egotistical man" in different areas of the book even if the words are moved around it is the same line with the same outcome.
The killer is obvious from the second the person is present to readers leaving them hoping the romance keeps them hooked to the one sided characters.
In the end the story falls flat, predictable and I won't remember this story from the hundreds other I have read that are the same story line.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Lyrical Liaison for the advance copy of Karen Rock Deadly Games


Synopsis:
Special Agent Katherine Bowden doesn’t do girls’ nights out. She doesn’t do blazing hot dances with male strippers or unbelievable, uninhibited one-night-stands. If you ask her ex, all she does is work: study evidence, profile criminals, track them down. And now Katherine’s back home in Dallas, with a new set of all-male colleagues second-guessing her every move, and a possible serial killer hunting women just like her. But just this once, Katherine is going to try all those things she doesn’t do . . .
 
  Growing up on the Reservation led Nash Hawkins down paths he’d rather forget. When his dream of joining the police force was crushed, he turned his hard body and wicked imagination into a meal ticket. His chemistry with Katherine is like nothing he’s ever felt. And though he’s sure a woman like her won’t want to get seriously involved with him, Nash knows things—things that might help catch a killer. 
 
Nash and Katherine can save lives, if they put aside the desire that torments them both. But the closer they get, the more they have to lose .

Expected publication: July 17th 2018 by Lyrical Liaison

About The Author: 

Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary author. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author. Her Harlequin Heartwarming novel, A LEAGUE OF HER OWN, has won the 2015 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award and the 2015 Booksellers Best Award. Her Heartwarming novel, WISH ME TOMORROW, has won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the 2014 Golden Quill Contest. Her co-authored YA novel, CAMP BOYFRIEND, has been a finalist in the Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards. When she's not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, hiking and redesigning her gardens. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter, and two lovable dogs who have yet to understand the concept of "fetch" though they know a lot about love. 

Book Review: The Adulterer's Wife by Leigh Russell

Title: The Adulterer's Wife

Author: Leigh Russell

Star: 2 stars

Review:
The Adultery Wife is a book with great possibilities but falls completely flat.  Leigh Russell has too many wasted characters that could have been more than a name on a page.  The thriller part of the story is giving away near the beginning leaving readers feeling bored.  Instead of psychological thrillers readers are giving a mess of characters, plot that falls short of its potential and bland characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher Bloodhound Books for the advance copy of Leigh Russell The Adulterer's Wife. 

Synopsis:
Julie is devastated to learn that her husband, Paul, is having an affair. It seems her life can’t get any worse - until she comes home to find his dead body in their bed. 

When the police establish he was murdered, Julie is the obvious suspect. 

To protect her son from the terrible situation, Julie sends the teenage boy to his grandparents in Edinburgh while she fights to prove her innocence. 

With all the evidence pointing to her, the only way she can escape conviction is by discovering the true identity of her husband’s killer. 

But who really did murder Paul? 

The truth is never straightforward

Paperback

Expected publication: May 7th 2018 by Bloodhound Books

About The Author:

After many years teaching English in secondary school, internationally bestselling author Leigh Russell now writes crime fiction full time. Published in English and in translation in Europe, her Geraldine Steel and Ian Peterson titles have appeared on many bestseller lists, including #1 on kindle. Leigh's work has been nominated for several major awards, including the CWA New Blood Dagger and CWA Dagger in the Library, and her Geraldine Steel and Ian Peterson series are in development for television with Avalon Television Ltd.
Journey to Death is the first title in her Lucy Hall series published by Thomas and Mercer.

Book Review: Rattle (Etta Fitzroy #1) by Fiona Cummins

Title: Rattle (Etta Fitzroy #1)

Author: Fiona Cummins

Stars: 2 Stars

Review:
The story started off slow with very little build in the case and while the story its self is a little creepy I found the writing its self basic and nothing original. Detective Sergeant Etta Fitzroy seem to be a little odd but towards the end she was hard and difficult to understand and I found myself as a reader flipping pages until the story ended.
Thank you to Netgalley and McMillian for the advance copy.

Synopsis:
On still nights, when the curve of a winter moon is smudged in the flow of the River Quaggy, the dead clamor for him. And sometimes he coaxes the living to join them. To other people, his victims might be mere medical oddities. To him, they are fascinating specimens, worthy of display. Above all, he is a collector, eager for recognition even as he hides in the shadows.
 
Detective Sergeant Etta Fitzroy is the first to recognize the connection between the disappearance of a young girl and a cold case that almost cost her the career she’s sacrificed so much for. A faceless psychopath is walking the streets of London, tantalizing the authorities with clues, taunting them with his ability to spirit his victims out from under their very noses.
 
Better than anyone, Etta Fitzroy understands loss. But this is one contest she will win if it kills her . 

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Published January 26th 2017 by Macmillan

About The Author:

Fiona Cummins is an award-winning former Daily Mirror showbusiness journalist and a graduate of the Faber Academy Writing A Novel course. She lives in Essex with her family. Rattle is her first novel.

Book Review: Claiming Bailey (Ace Security #3) by Susan Stoker

Title: Claiming Bailey (Ace Security #3) 

Author: Susan Stoker 

Stars: 2 stars out of 5

Review:
I have read now a couple of book by Susan Stoker so I have a feel for her writing style and a pretty good understand if how the characters are going to act and react.  This book was a huge disappointment in so many ways. 
First off your have already go an idea of who Bailey and why she is running away from her former life. She clears the air right away that she felt like a sex object and she wasn't good enough to have happiness in her life. I mean right off the bat. So when Nathan takes one look at her and all his thoughts go straight to sex I was beyond disappointed.  It made everything stop for this reader. The story went from helping the characters to sex in just a few short pages. 
Even though the story changes you know the male lead has the hots and at some point they will have sex. Romance readers and even mystery readers enjoy a little mystery instead of sex. Yes the author creates a friendship that develops over time that leads to sex. Its still doesn't take away the sting of the brothers first thoughts of her.
The author drove home the message don't judge someone until you get to know them. Along with men feel insure about their bodies, looking. I loved the message it just went a little longer than needed.
The brothers and either wives\girlfriends as well as extra characters from the different books appeared and readers who love the series are left with a fun little nugget.
The message in the book after a while felt like the reader is being beaten over the head with Don't Judge People Until You Get To Know them.
Thank you to Netgalley and  Montlake Romance publishing for the advance copy.

Synopsis:
Bailey Hampton will do whatever it takes to keep both herself and her little brother safe from the vicious Inca Boyz gang. Hiding out in Castle Rock, Colorado, is only a temporary solution until she can earn enough money to get out of the state altogether. But when she meets handsome security nerd Nathan Anderson, she discovers a reason to stay and fight for what she wants.

Ace Security’s Nathan Anderson has always been the “numbers guy,” not the man any of the firm’s clients look to when their safety is threatened. But from the first time he ran into Bailey, she never made him feel like less of a protector than his brothers. Nathan was attracted to the petite, black-haired pixie with wild tattoos from the start, and by some miracle, she seems to return his interest.

But danger stalks Bailey and her brother, so it’s up to Nathan to channel his inner alpha and find a way to end the threat to their lives once and for all—and he’s not giving up Bailey without a fight.

Kindle Edition, 267 pages

Expected publication: December 5th 2017 by Montlake Romance

About the Author:

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She's married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in. 

Connect with her at www.facebook.com/authorsstoker or www.facebook.com/authorsusanstoker

Book Review: Undercover Attraction (The O'Malleys, #5) by Katee Robert

Title: Undercover Attraction (The O'Malleys, #5) 

Author:  Katee Robert

Stars: 2 out of 5

Review:
Undercover Attraction isn't much to be honest. I feel like I have read this story already by another author only neither one was able to pull off the story well enough.
This book is full of sexual encounters that pull away from the story. If Katee Robert had taken out half the sex scenes the story would have been a short one instead of a full length novel.
The two characters never stay true to what the author presents at the beginning of the story and they falter many times throughout the book.  Their plans fall apart so many times leaving readers wondering if the book isn't more than erotica with a story that is as flat as all the characters. 
While readers do not read for realism this story makes sure to though out the real world at every turning point.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher Forever Grand Central Publishing   for an advance copy. 

Synopsis:
Ex-cop Charlotte Finch used to think there was a clear line between right and wrong. Then her fellow officers betrayed her, and the world is no longer so black and white. Especially when it's Aiden O'Malley, one of the most dangerous men in Boston, who offers her a chance for justice. The only catch: she'll have to pretend to be his fiancée for his plan to work.

Aiden can't afford to let anyone see the man behind the mask. To run the O'Malley empire, he has to be cool and controlled at all times. But the moment he meets Charlie, they're playing with fire. Her slightest touch is enough to send him over the edge. At first their "engagement" was a way to eliminate his enemies. Now he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe-- even if he has to destroy his own family to do it.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: November 28th 2017 by Forever Grand Central Publishing 

About The Author: 


New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it 'a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension." When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Book Review Deadly Rumors by Cheris Hodges

Title: Deadly Rumors 

Author:  Cheris Hodges 

Stars: 2 out of 5

Review:
Deadly Rumors by Cheris Hodges is nothing more than a toddler fighting with their older sibling. 
Nothing about this story makes since an FBI agent lying to a PI to keep her safe. Zoe is suppose to be a strong female instead she is comes off a brat, loud, with very little redeeming qualities.  Carver comes across an idiot. The fact we are present with all the facts from bad guys to good guys within the first few chapters makes readers feel as if they are not smart enough to figure it out on their own. The romance was teenage writing at best. The "sexual tension" the author was trying to create was Juvenal and childish at best.
I wanted to enjoy this story instead I struggled to figure out why it was even written.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy

Synopsis:
Elite investigator Zoe Harrington isn't about to be fooled twice. She knows all the tempting by-any-means-necessary games FBI agent Carver Banks will use to close a case. So when he needs her help with a missing person case, she's happy to charge him double the fee—and keep his sizzling moves at arm’s length. But when the search strikes too close to home, Zoe finds the passion between them reigniting past the danger point . . . 
 
Carver doesn't want to deceive Zoe again. He's never stopped wanting the sexy private detective who can match him play for passionate play. But she's at the top of a hit list. And he'll do whatever it takes to keep her out of harm’s way—until Zoe uncovers his true agenda. Now, how can he prove his love for her is real? And with time running out, will their one chance to survive mean losing each other forever?

Kindle Edition, 384 pages

Expected publication: October 31st 2017 by Dafina

About The Author: 


Cheris Hodges was bitten by the writing bug at an early age and always knew she wanted to be a writer. She is a 1999 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and a freelance writer in Charlotte, North Carolina. A native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Cheris loves hearing from her readers.