Alien Indiscretions by Tracy St. John

Alien Indiscretions by Tracy St. John

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Oh boy, shit just got real in Kalquor folks! Alien Indiscretions may just be the most action-packed installment in the series to-date, or at least on level with Alien Salvation and the aftermath of Earth’s self-inflicted Armageddon. Which is rather appropriate as it also brings Dramok Diltan back on the scene as a potential suitor for another of the Empress Jessica’s relatives – Cissy Salter. As I haven’t read Alien Salvation in quite a while, Diltan’s name didn’t ring any bells until the incident between him and Lindsey is brought up and boy did I remember him then. So between Diltan’s past encounter with Lindsey, his unwanted attraction to the brash and in-your-face Cissy, the uncovering of the secrets regarding the original abduction of Earther Mataras (pay close attention to the Prelude to a Scandal pre-chapter), and the Kalquor people on the brink of civil war, Alien Indiscretions was a page-turner of epic proportions and not because of its length.

The author begins the book like most in the series, with the focus on the Earther Matara. In this case, we’re actually treated to two because Cissy and her identical twin sister Tasha are being escorted to Kalquor to be reunited with their cousins Jessica (Empress) and Lindsey. As they too had a Buddhist upbringing like their cousins, Cissy and Tasha are not as repressed as many of the Earther females have been and it’s made clear that they enjoyed their time on the transport ship with the numerous Kalquor men escorting them. You go girls! But they are ready to be off the ship so they can enjoy spending time with their cousins and life NOT under Earth’s religious fanaticism. Unfortunately as they are considered royalty, they must suffer through (in Cissy’s opinion) a diplomatic welcome. It is during this reception the Cissy and Diltan first bump heads and sparks fly – but not the good kind. Neither makes a good impression on the other and Diltan’s interest in clanning with Tasha would be fine by Cissy except she’ll be stuck interacting with the arrogant arse on holidays. I have to say that I found the first encounter between Cissy, Wal and Rolat hilarious, which only made Clan Diltan’s dates with Tasha even more painfully boring. Fortunately for Diltan, his Imdeko and Nobek take matters – or should I say Cissy – into their own hands and Diltan is provided the opportunity to see what he is passing up due to his snobbery. This is where Cissy’s Buddhist upbringing comes into play – she’s not saddled with the sexual repression that many of the Earthers are so she’s far more adventurous in the bedroom. It turns out that Cissy was made for Kalquorian bedroom games and she is very well-matched with Clan Diltan. This makes for some out-of-this-world hot sex scenes throughout the book. But with all that is going on in the Empire, clanning between Cissy and Clan Diltan is not as simple as it should be.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t re-read the series in a while, but I felt like we got to know Wal and Diltan far better than previous potential clan mates. This is largely due to the other main focus of Alien Indiscretions – the secrets behind the Earther Matara abductions that led to the war with Earth and its ultimate destruction. As a Royal Councilman and a member of the Ethics committee, Diltan was chosen to review former Emperor Zarl’s records and it was within these records he found the order for the Earther Matara abductions – an order everyone knew was given, but no one had been able to find evidence of who had given it. Understanding the potential ramifications of the documents, Diltan was at a loss of how to proceed – protect the Empire or adhere to rules of transparency. When he consults with a fellow colleague as to what to do, he unknowingly gives the opposition the “smoking gun” that could be the end of the Kalquorian Empire. As all of this is going on when his clan begins to court Cissy, we spend a good deal of time in Diltan’s presence and get to know him as he grapples with the enormity of his misplaced faith in a colleague. Once Diltan makes the former Emperor’s records public, we get a much closer look at Wal as he is one of the judges who must preside over the hearing regarding Zarl’s records and who else was involved. St. John gives readers a rather in-depth look into Kalquor’s governing bodies through Diltan and Wal’s jobs and their involvement in the case. But rest assured that in-depth does not mean boring. I was absolutely fascinated with both Diltan’s discoveries, the proceedings that Wal oversaw, and the emotional and ethical issues both men faced while carrying out their duties. Much like the Kalquor people, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the verdict would be. I was both shocked yet not by the decisions. Yet I wasn’t prepared for what took place in the Royal Council just days later. While St. John does provide the happy ending for the relationship between Cissy and Clan Diltan, the author has left the future of Kalquor hanging in the balance. I cannot wait to see what happens next and hopefully I won’t have to wait too long.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Alien Indiscretions (Clans of Kalquor #9) by Tracy St. John blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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To the Max by Elle Aycart

To the Max by Elle Aycart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Have you ever read a book and gotten mad at yourself once you finished the book because you enjoyed it so much that you’re left questioning your sanity for putting it off for so long? Yeah? Then you know what I’m feeling now that I’ve finished reading To the Max. The worst part about it is that I LOVE Elle Aycart’s writing. I know I love her books and STILL I put off reading To the Max. Between the combination of a sexy as sin Bowen brother, a witty heroine, loads of laughs, and seriously hot sex scenes, I must be batsh!t crazy for depriving myself of the read for as long as I did. And as expected, Ms. Aycart more than delivered on the “hitching” of the youngest Bowen brother, Max <= queue the mournful wails of the single women of Alden.

Because it has been a couple of years since I’ve read More than Meets the Ink and Heavy Issues, I didn’t remember Annie; now Max being a Bowen was another matter entirely because you just don’t forget the Bowen brothers. Once the circumstances behind her pregnancy were revealed, I knew that I had indeed met Annie before and hunkered down to enjoy the fireworks that were practically guaranteed when I realized that a 35 year-old pregnant forensic accountant/heiress was about to take the final Bowen brother off the market, even if she had no intention of doing so and started her journey by vomiting all over his shoes at his brother’s wedding reception. Yep! What a way to begin a book and a relationship. When Annie finds herself homeless due to fire damage at her condo Max offers her lodging at his home by the lake, in exchange, he asks her to take care of his pets while he’s gone on a movie shoot for several weeks. Annie reluctantly agrees and the meeting of Tango and Cash was priceless. Suicidal guinea pigs indeed!

I suspect because of the age difference and her pregnancy, Annie was more comfortable in Max’s presence than she expected. While she was intimidated by his looks, she never considered herself a viable option for “the county’s most famous landmark” and this is what allows her to be herself – cracking jokes with Max, geeking out over TV and movies, and being as comfortable in sweats and yoga pants on the weekend as she was in business suits and pearls during the week. And because he got to see the “real” her, Max found himself falling for Annie as he spent time with her. In fact, Max does such a good job of hiding his attraction to and feelings for Annie, that as the reader I couldn’t pinpoint when he actually fell for her. This gradual development of their relationship is what made the romance aspect of the book so enjoyable. But I certainly enjoyed when their relationship entered the physical phase because Max demonstrated the benefits of being a serial dater. Boy howdy does that man know his way around a woman’s body!

To the Max was a thoroughly entertaining read. I laughed until my stomach hurt over far more scenes than I expected, but each and every time they used their nicknames for one another. I teared up when Max revealed a very powerful memory from his childhood and later when his dad, Nate, claimed Annie’s child as his first grandchild. I felt Annie’s fear when Max jumped in front of a bullet for her and Max’s fear when Annie’s condo exploded – oh yeah, there’s a bit of mystery embroiled within the book as well. I understood Annie’s hesitancy at introducing Max to her family – not in fear that he would not live up to their expectations (which he wouldn’t because no one would), but that meeting her family would send him running away from her as fast as humanly possible. I without a doubt found their myriad of sexual encounters to be extremely stimulating, yet was thrilled when Annie called him out after the gym encounter and equally as pleased that they worked that out almost immediately. I was amused by the doomsday preppers’ evac drill (don’t even try to decipher that without reading the book). Most of all, I was swept away by Max and Annie falling in love and making their own family. And the icing on the cake is that I have found my new hashtag for blogging – #Cliterature – I cannot wait to use it. The bad part of finally having read To the Max is that now I’m hankering for a Bowen marathon but alas my schedule will not allow it. Fortunately a Bowen novella is slated to be released next month so at least I can return to Alden sooner than I expected.

Check out the To the Max by Elle Aycart post on Wicked Reads.


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Tricks of the Trade by Spencer Dryden

Tricks of the Trade by Spencer Dryden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

Oh my goodness that was hot! Mr. Dryden opens Tricks of the Trade with a scene that seems to come straight out of a porn video – lonely older housewife, hot young plumber, and plenty of pipe. And yet, as I read on I quickly found that there was far more substance to this hot little novelette than the first page would suggest. When Will comes to Mitzi’s plumbing rescue, he does so by giving her a little lesson on basic plumbing. While it is true that Mitzi shows her “gratitude” with a little oral pleasure, she takes it one step further and gives Will a lesson in women, specifically older women. Because Mitzi is a sexually confident woman who hosts sex toy parties, she’s quite adept at “schooling” our young Will. I really liked how her instruction was provided during the course of their sexual interlude – the author managed to make it sexy without feeling clinical. Oh yeah!

Now don't let me lead you to believe that Tricks of the Trade is erotica with no story because it’s not. Actually Will’s interlude with Mitzi is only the first half of the story because it’s Friday night and Will has plans to go clubbing with his buds. Thanks to Mitzi’s Intro to Cougars 101, Will is far more aware of the older ladies in the club than he was on previous nights out. He decides to use the disco dancing skills his momma taught him to meet some new ladies. I loved that Will’s mother taught him to dance and that he got the opportunity to use them to woo the ladies. I was delighted when he made a connection with one of his dance partners. That she was a massage therapist made it even better because it gave Lucy the opening and confidence she needed to make an overture to Will. And yes we are treated to another steamy scene as Will proves that he was definitely an apt pupil. It is through Will’s interactions with Lucy that Mr. Dryden gives us the romance that keeps Tricks of the Trade from being relegated to being strictly erotica. I was quite impressed with how the author managed to pack so much story into 44 pages, giving me not only hot sex scenes and romance, but also a few laughs at Will’s inner monologues and his friend Smitty. And he did it without falling into the insta-love trap by giving readers a look at the beginning of a romance. Tricks of the Trade was a great little read that has been added to my re-read list – hence the 5-star rating – and I look forward to reading more of Mr. Dryden’s work as I enjoyed his writing style.

Check out the Tricks of the Trade by Spencer Dryden Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


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Linemates by D.K. Dunn

Linemates by D.K. Dunn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


While I am not an actual sports fan, I love sports romances and Linemates proved to be a really good read for me. Dunn wastes no time in jumping right into the story by opening the book with Derek learning that he’s just been traded to Detroit. While playing for the Wheels is a childhood dream come true, the fact that he will be playing with Trevor makes the move a nightmare of epic proportions. Trevor. The one that got away. Or more accurately, the one that ran away. Needless to say, Derek’s excitement for a dream realized is overshadowed by his anxiety over coming face-to-face with the only man to break his heart. What a way to begin a book!

As the story is told from Derek’s point of view, we get a front row seat to all the action both on and off the ice. I suspect hockey fans will eat this book up as Dunn does not shy away from the time on the ice and we get to feel Derek’s frustration as he works to find his place with his new team and his rhythm on the ice – especially as he is being given the cold shoulder by Trevor – as well as his elation when he finally finds it. Even though I know very little about hockey, I still found myself swept up in the game as Derek played. Just as powerful was what he was dealing with in his personal life and the grief that Trevor was causing him. Because I experienced everything from Derek’s point of view, it was hard to like Trevor. He runs so hot and cold with Derek that there were times I half-expected Derek to deck him. Hockey is a violent sport after all. Fortunately for Trevor, Derek is intent on proving his worth to the Wheels and sets out to be the consummate professional both on and off the ice. But being paired with Trevor on the ice and being assigned his as roomie while on road trips makes it harder and harder to do.

While I felt badly for Trevor’s self-inflicted situation, I really disliked how he treated Derek. His paranoia over Derek revealing what happened between them five years earlier causes him to overstep more than once. Even though I felt as though Derek accepted too much of Trevor’s bad attitude, I was glad when he rejected his drunken advances. He’d been there, done that, and did not want a repeat performance. Despite Trevor’s antagonistic attitude throughout much of the book, the chain of events that culminate with Derek’s injury made Trevor’s change of heart believable. I saw it coming, so I wasn’t surprised by Trevor’s claims. There is a ton of sexual tension in the book, so when it is finally realized it makes for quite the steamy scene. I only wish the book hadn’t ended where it did, especially as there is no indication that there is a sequel in the works. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t an abrupt ending, I just would have liked to see a bit more of what the future held for them. I definitely enjoyed Linemates and would love to read more about Derek and Trevor, or perhaps another of their teammates.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Linemates by D.K. Dunn blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Bo by Rie Warren

Bo by Rie Warren

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really don’t know how she does it, but Ms. Warren just keeps getting better and better with each book she releases in this series. I loved Hunter. I loved Kinkaid. And I loved Bo! As soon as he came on scene I wanted his story and I was not disappointed at all. Like Hunter, Bo is ex-military but rather than adjusting to civilian life by working with law enforcement or the government, he has decided to do his own thing and offer boot-camp style personal training – something I would LOVE to watch, but wouldn’t want to participate in myself. And the fiery red-headed Veronica Hartley may be just what the doctor ordered to help Bo get his head back on straight and have a reason to finish his reentry into the world.

Bear with me folks because I’m gonna continue throwing a lot of love around in this review. I loved getting to know Bo better, even if he forced Veronica to hunt him down after yet another missed appointment so that we could be privy to his therapy session. I loved how Veronica challenged Bo and didn’t let his past or attempts to scare her away with his war stories intimidate her. Although when we find out just why Veronica is not intimidated by his tactics…well that was a big OH-KAY moment for me as I did not see that coming? Talk about a well-matched pair. But their troubled pasts were only the tip of the iceberg when it came to how well they complemented one another – their banter was hilarious, they challenged one another both physically and mentally, and their passion and sexual intensity was electrifying. As expected, there came a time in the book when Veronica breaks Bo’s heart, but the incident that followed immediately after kept me from wallowing in despair alongside Bo as we didn’t have time for that nonsense because Veronica’s past comes back with a vengeance and it was extreme. Boy howdy was that some scary stuff. And I loved Tuck as the dog whisperer.

I want to thank Ms. Warren for showing how a responsible psychiatrist/psychologist acts when he/she has feelings for a client. As I read fiction almost exclusively, I allow authors a lot of leeway when it comes to doctor-patient relationships – things that would be unethical in real life are okay in a book when done in the name of love. But to see an author write a character who comes to the realization rather quickly that no matter how much good she thinks she can do for her patient’s mental health, she acknowledges that her attraction to him could lead to an inappropriate relationship and uses their first meeting as an intake interview of sorts to refer him to another psychiatrist. It was absolutely refreshing and made an already great read even better – if that makes sense. Bo delivered the action, suspense, freaking hot sex, and romance that I’ve come to expect from Ms. Warren; yet another book for my reread shelf. And the countdown begins for final book in the Bad Boys of Retribution MC series, Coletrane. I am giddy with excitement!

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. (And then bought it.)

Check the Bo by Rie Warren Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


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Alien Caged by Tracy St. John

Alien Caged by Tracy St. John

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Alien Caged is one of the few Clans of Kalquor books I’ve only read once…until now. That actually has nothing to do with the book itself, but more that prior to reviewing for the blog my reading tended to go in cycles by genre and I didn’t hit another sci-fi erotica read-a-thon before being recruited to review. So it was with immense glee that I jumped at the chance to reread Alien Caged this month. Sci-fi erotica is my favorite genre and St. John’s Kalquorians are one of my favorite of the alien races. How can you go wrong with a race that forms a clan of three men who hold their woman so dear that she is practically worshipped by them? Add to that the Kalquorian men’s anatomical advantage over earth men and said woman is in for the pleasure of her life.

One of the things I have enjoyed about this series is that after the first few books where the author took the time to build the universe of Kalquorian-Earther conflict and did so with the obligatory young, attractive child-bearing women her heroines began to grow, if you will. In the case of Alien Caged Elisa is still the requisite virgin as dictated by Earth’s now-defunct government, but she’s a 48 year-old woman who has spent the past several years serving as a dietician on a military ship. The only woman on a ship full of men with nowhere to dock for “shore leave.” Knowing how crude men can be when they have no sexual outlet and the respect with which Kalquorians treat women, it is no surprise that she found herself responding to the gentle attentions of Zemos, Oret, and Miragin. While Elisa’s attraction to and fantasies regarding Clan Zemos have increased over the past three months, she finds herself torn between the clan she’s come to love and her fellow Earthers when she learns the fate of the Kalquorians. When Elisa is caught up in the Kalquorians’ escape attempt she learns first-hand how determined the warriors are when they set out to conquer – both their foes and their woman.

As almost all of this novel takes place on the Earther ship that Elisa works, the romancing and seduction occurs in less than favorable conditions. Prior to their escape, Clan Zemos is behind bars and their time interacting with Elisa is limited to the brief meal delivery that occurs twice a day. Yet it is apparent from the outset that they have made the most of this time and getting to know one another whenever a guard wasn’t present. While it may seem odd at first, the men actually ramp up their seduction of Elisa while in the midst of their taking over the Earther ship. Most of their efforts are undertaken by their Imdiko Miragin as he has no military training and was on the Kalquorian ship when it was captured only because he was conducting interviews for a book, thereby giving him the freedom to focus on Elisa rather than the fight. This does not mean that neither Zemos nor Oret take no part in convincing Elisa to join their clan, but that their time with her is shorter. But less time doesn’t mean less intense when the seduction gets physical. Even as the men wage war on Elisa, the author keeps the battle for control of the ship front and center. The combination of action, intrigue, romance, and off-the-charts hot ménage sex keeps me returning to the Clans of Kalquor series, and Alien Caged certainly delivers in all of these areas. I cannot wait to read Alien Indiscretions next as its release snuck by me earlier this year.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Alien Caged (Clans of Kalquor #8) by Tracy St. John blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Scarred Souls by T.T. Kove

Scarred Souls by T.T. Kove

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Scarred Souls is one of those rare reads where not connecting with the main characters was a good thing. Why? Because both Josh and Damian bear major scars – emotional and physical – and not connecting with them was paramount for my sanity. Not connecting with the characters did not keep me from feeling their pain, their frustration, their calm, their happiness, or their love, it just kept me from feeling them with the same intensity that they did, especially Josh. Scarred Souls is an extremely emotional read and I strongly suggest you take the warning seriously because if self-harm, suicide, or physical or sexual abuse are sensitive issues for you, do NOT read this book.

Kove tackles some very difficult subject matter in Scarred Souls and does so admirably. Much of the book seems to focus on Josh’s issues but for good reason – his scars and behaviors are the most noticeable. Although Josh’s trauma isn’t explained fully in the beginning, the author drops enough clues through Josh’s thoughts and trailing statements that it wasn’t difficult to suss out that he had been physically and sexually abused. Whether his abuse was directly responsible for his personality disorder or not, his coping mechanism is one of the more extreme and difficult to treat. Josh is a cutter and when he meets Damian he is sporting fresh wounds because it was the only way he knew how to deal with recent events. We don’t understand the significance of Damian inviting Josh back to his flat until Damian’s conversation with his roommate Silver. Where Josh’s mood swings are obvious and frequent, Damian is calm and collected for most of the book. Between Josh’s inner musings, journal entries, and conversations with others, it’s easier to figure out where he’s coming from (even when it’s not from a place of logic), but Damian being a man of few words meant that even though I knew something happened to him, I had no inkling of what it was until he actually told Josh about it. And, ummm, yeah, that was disturbing.

While both men have suffered terribly in their pasts, they fit together. It’s not an easy fit because Damian’s asexual nature exacerbates Josh’s insecurities (which are worsened by his personality disorder). Because neither have felt for anyone what they feel for each other, both young men persevere in making it work, even if it takes them a while to define what their relationship is. This is not a case of insta-love or even insta-lust, but rather a situation in which one broken soul (Damian) seems to recognize a kindred spirit (Josh) and cannot turn away from it. Because Kove does such a good job of capturing the chaotic mind of Josh, I suspect that this will prove to be a difficult read for some. Josh has a personality disorder that eschews logic, causing his reactions to be dictated by his emotions, which are unstable, and the writing reflects this perfectly. Scarred Souls is a 5-star read because of how impactful it was for me. I look forward to reading Inked Souls when it’s released because I want to see where things go for Silver and Kian and I hope for updates on Damian and Josh as well.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Scarred Souls (Scarred Souls #1) by T.T. Kove blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers!


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Nobody's Hero by J. Leigh Bailey

Nobody's Hero by J. Leigh Bailey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I started reading Nobody’s Hero expecting Danny’s sexual assault that is mentioned in the blurb to be the heavy part of the book. Boy was I wrong. Not to make light of Danny’s situation nor Brad’s willingness to step in, but that scene turned out to be a minor scuffle once we learn why Brad is in the right place at the right time. While this is a new adult romance, the drama and angst isn’t manufactured – sadly it’s reality based (not necessarily a true story, but this stuff happens) and completely understandable. This made for a very moving read as the author dealt with difficult subject matter in a sensitive way.

*****THIS SECTION MAY CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS*****

When Brad overhears Danny’s date attempt to force him back into a vehicle to finish their evening, Brad is unable to stand by and do nothing, even if he has no idea of who Danny is. While Brad would prefer to go back to his truck once the incident is over, Danny insists on treating him to a drink while they wait for Danny’s brother to pick him up. Because he was raised by parents who love and accept him for who he is (his dad’s comments later in the book are perfect when it comes to this), Danny has no problem opening up to Brad about being gay and discussing his family, friends, the town, and anything else he can to keep Brad occupied. Unfortunately Brad was not raised by accepting family (<=serious understatement) and tells Danny that it’s not a good idea for them to hang out. Even when Brad ends up getting a job working with Danny, he continues to discourage anything between them. At first glance, it may appear that Brad is being an arse because he doesn’t want anyone to know he is gay and is refusing to hang out with Danny to avoid being outed. But Brad’s concerns aren’t unfounded because the reason he has left his family and trust fund behind is that Brad’s brother is in jail for assault and attempted murder when he beat up and tried to kill the boy Brad was caught kissing. As much as you would like to believe that that horror story only appeared in books, it’s unfortunate that such incidents are a reality in our world and once you learn all the details about what Brad’s brother did, you understand why Brad pushes Danny away and even once they begin seeing one another, why he refuses to make their relationship public knowledge.

*****END OF POTENTIAL SPOILERS*****

Considering what Brad was dealing with, I was caught between feeling badly for him because of his past and his undeserved feelings of guilt and feeling badly for Danny because he was caught between understanding why Brad acted the way he did, yet wanting for more and hoping to break through Brad’s fears. I was glad that Danny wasn’t afraid to call Brad out on certain things and that helped get through to him eventually. I liked how the author built a little bit of suspense around the situation with Danny’s brother and how it played out because it not only showed how family sticks together, but also gave Brad an unexpected chance to stand up to his mother. And I LOVED the Ortega family! They were so welcoming to Brad and the love they have for one another was so very apparent in their everyday interactions. I thought the ending was perfect for both Danny and Brad. Nobody’s Hero has the Letting Go series off to a great start and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Nobody’s Hero (Letting Go #1) by J. Leigh Bailey blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Rendered by Bailey Bradford

Rendered by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Hallelujah! Joshua Dobson is finally made to answer for his sins and we learn in Rendered that he has committed far more than anyone realized. After failing his Alpha Anax so completely, Alex set off at the end of Reckless to track down Joshua Dobson and make him pay for Marcus’s abduction and torture. Rendered picks up with Alex finding Joshua’s trail after several false starts and having to call in for backup once he realized he was too outnumbered to take on Dobson and his pack. His decision to call in turns out to be quite fortuitous as he not only learns that Marcus had full faith in his abilities (after all, it was only Alex claiming he failed in his duties), but it also keeps him from unknowingly violating one of Marcus’s edicts – no harm is to come to Sean Dobson. And it’s when Alex encounters Sean that things get REALLY interesting.

Sean is Joshua Dobson little brother. He’s the young man who risked and received several beatings for helping Marcus while he was being held by Joshua. He’s also Alex’s mate. And didn’t that just tick Alex off. But when Marcus and his mate Nathan stand up for Sean and make Alex realize how foolish and disrespectful he is being by refusing his mate, he begins to reconsider his personal ban on all things Dobson. But because both men were victimized by Joshua and Sean is still healing from his brother’s attempt to kill him, Alex takes a few days to actually get to know his mate and build a bond that becomes vital to their healing – both of their healing. While Joshua Dobson is not an honorable man, he had every intention of fulfilling the last promise he made to his brother – if he survived the last punishment, Joshua would come a collect him because as far as he was concerned, Sean belonged to him.

There were several things I really liked about Rendered. Obviously I really, Really, REALLY liked that Joshua was brought to justice (you’ll have to read the book to find out what his punishment was). This of course was tied with the emotional healing that Alex and Sean begin to undergo once they accept one another’s mating mark. With both men being victims of the same abuser, they had an insight into the other’s emotional pain that few others did. But rather than dwelling on their shared pain, they chose to move forward together. Alex and Sean are not only good for one another, their mate bond leads to some seriously hot sex scenes throughout the book. My only complaint about Rendered is that we didn’t get to find out what nicknames Gabe gave Alex and Sean. Hopefully that tidbit will be revealed in Resilience.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check the #ShiftWithMe: Rendered blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Courted by Time by Bree Cariad

Courted by Time by Bree Cariad

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ms. Cariad just seems to be getting better and better as this series progresses. I enjoyed the first three books in the series and considered them all 4-star reads. The second set of three books were better and I considered them all 5-star reads as they were each re-readable books for me for various reasons. That said, I found Courted by Time to be even more enjoyable than its predecessors. Part of my enjoyment was in seeing how Deeka’s father Barrett had become such an integral part of the Straynar household and provided DeLynn and her siblings paternal support without “taking over” as the entire family’s Head of Household. But most of my enjoyment came from watching DeLynn blossom and come into her own over the course of the book.

As we have learned from previous books in the series, once a girl in Hyacinth turns 19 and has not entered into a courting, she considers her chances of being courted to be pretty much nonexistent. When DeLynn’s expected courting request failed to materialize in Courted by a Knight, we got a chance to see firsthand how hard it was for a girl and her friends to balance being happy for a friend who is being courted with being supportive of one who is not – and yet these girls often manage to do it and remain close friends. The friendship that DeLynn has with Deeka proves to be invaluable as Deeka’s plans to attend the local community college despite her marriage to Curtis encourages DeLynn to pursue her own education. As her friendship with Deeka has put her under the watchful eye of Barrett for years, he is very supportive of her request to enroll in college for the upcoming term and not only goes to bat for her with her mother, he also helps her with choosing courses, providing transportation on days that carpooling is not an option, and encouraging her to meet her goals.

Because of this, Ms. Cariad is able to take the series outside of Hyacinth and give readers the opportunity to see how a girl raised in a Domestic Discipline oriented community fares in a world that does not understand it. That DeLynn is naturally shy makes the transition a bit tougher socially, but she is there to learn and takes pride in her classes and studies hard. Yet when she meets Zachary, the school’s chaplain, she finds herself interested in a man and curious as to whether or not a relationship with someone who does not prescribe to DD would work. But being pathologically shy makes this a non-issue and DeLynn relegates her interactions with Zachary to school-based activities. As someone who preferred studying to partying in college, I sympathized with DeLynn’s situation and was thankful when Mother Nature took charge of the situation and gave Zachary the chance to come to her rescue (even if that situation was scary as heck at the time).

If you have read any of the books in the series (or are a romance reader in general), that Courted by Time ends happily is not a spoiler. But it’s the journey to DeLynn’s happy ending that made the book for me. I loved watching DeLynn come into her own. While she will likely always be shy, she found an inner strength and confidence she did not possess prior to this book and one I’m not sure she would have found had she not gone to college – or at least not to the same level. I appreciated that Zachary had already been attracted to the DD lifestyle and had made his decision to move to Hyacinth before meeting DeLynn; this meant that while DeLynn may have hastened his entrance into DD, it was not the sole cause of it. The relationship that DeLynn developed with Barrett was beautiful to see because he provided her the paternal guidance she had been missing since her father’s death and only implemented DD when she needed it and at her request. I found that scene particularly emotional for reasons I won’t go into because it was pivotal to the story in so many ways. The author added another layer to the book with Chrissa’s story – one I’m torn between wanting to read and not wanting to read – and as much as I hated that DeLynn felt the sting of Chrissa’s selfishness early in the book, I liked how she was able to take the situation and forge something positive out of it. And I really, really, really, really, really liked what her friendship with Jonah may foreshadow about the future of the series. Courted by Time is an excellent addition to the In Hyacinth series and is now my favorite of them. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Courted by Time (In Hyacinth #7) by Bree Cariad blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Claimed by the Rogue by Hope Tarr

Claimed by the Rogue by Hope Tarr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Claimed by the Rogue was an enjoyable read the left me looking forward to Ms. Tarr’s next installment in the series, while at the same time sending me off to search her backlist to see if she has released Chelsea and Anthony’s story. While Robert is far more damaged of a hero than I usually get in my historical romances, he has managed to overcome the horrors he was exposed to during his time away. But he is soon to learn that while Phoebe has not married another, she is not the same girl he left behind six years earlier. Ms. Tarr not only takes Robert through the paces as he attempts to woo Phoebe again, but she also adds a good bit of intrigue and a bit more spice than I expected to find in a book of this genre, but by no means am I complaining.

I quite enjoyed the banter between Robert and Phoebe. Much like her actions, Phoebe’s tendency to bicker with Robert was a sure sign that she wasn’t “over him.” Quite the contrary, her tendency to lash out merely highlighted how much his supposed death had broken her heart and how his subsequent desertion had hurt her. Were it not for all that Robert endured and overcame during his time away, he may have given up his attempts to win her back. Thankfully Phoebe’s hardheadedness is matched by Robert’s persistence and love for her, and he refused to let her wed another without fighting for her. Unfortunately Phoebe’s intended is not quite the gentleman he purports to be and has no qualms about fighting dirty in order to thwart Robert’s efforts and I for one was stunned by the lengths to which he went to secure Phoebe’s hand in marriage.

I was also surprised by the level of intimacies that Phoebe allowed. Despite being in her mid-twenties and a near-spinster, I was surprised with the liberties she allowed Robert. My surprise had little to do with the genre or Phoebe herself – because despite all that she said, her love for Robert clearly never waned – but rather my surprise had to do with Phoebe being willing to risk her mother’s wrath. Lady Tremont was certainly a force to be reckoned with and one I cannot imagine waving the proverbial red flag in front of, but it merely added to the excitement of their predicament. That said, Robert proved to be worth the risk and I’m not sure I could have resisted him either had I been in Phoebe’s position (pun intended). Ms. Tarr does a delightful job of weaving action, intrigue, steam, and love within this second chance romance that kept me up late until my eyes would read no longer. Claimed by the Rogue was a delightful read for me and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Tarr’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Miss Taken by Cleo Scornavacca

Miss Taken by Cleo Scornavacca

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was quite excited to start this book today. I loved the premise of Miss Taken – the bad guy falling in love with his captive because he abducted the wrong twin. When I began the book I was even more excited as it was narrated in the first person from Rain’s point of view. However, within a few pages my excitement began to dim because the author kept switching from present tense to past tense, the transitions were not only jarring but they were a sign of poor editing. As Miss Taken was available on Amazon, I downloaded the sample to set my mind at ease about the editing. However, the sample showed that the tense issues were not only not corrected during the editing process, but the author’s edits were also visible in the purchased copy. What do I mean by this? You can see where someone has stricken out the text and made changes; for example: There had It had never been a sexual relationship between Tommy and me. Not good, but ultimately not the reason for the low rating.

Despite this and because I received a review copy, I soldiered on in the hopes that the story would suck me in to the point that I could overlook the errors and tense issues as I have found – on more than one occasion – a diamond in the rough, a great story hidden within bad editing. Sadly, this was not my experience with Miss Taken. As I said, the premise was great but the execution was not. I found Rain to be extremely disappointing as a female lead. Initially she comes off as a strong and sassy woman, living her life to the fullest despite a somewhat debilitating medical condition. Yet time and time again, her behavior was equivalent to that of a doormat. Just when I thought she found her backbone, she’d cave at Dominick’s first apology OR even worse, apologize to him first for something that was his fault. I lost track of the number of times that she allowed Dominick to walk all over her – it was bad enough that the final time in this installment that she left him did not leave me with the expected feeling of suspense I know the author intended. As for Dominick, egomaniacal does not even begin to do him justice. Add to that his volatility and obsessiveness, it was too much for me to stomach which is why Rain’s constant forgiveness made no sense to me. I could not relate at all. This left the story feeling flat and disjointed for me.

I usually give a book two stars when it falls within the “Just okay” area and reserve one-star ratings for books that leave me thinking “I hated it and I want my time back.” I didn’t hate Miss Taken, so it’s not really a one-star read, but I didn’t consider it “just okay” either. It was more of a situation where I really didn’t care what happened to the characters and there just wasn’t that much that appealed to me, no matter how much I tried to like it. I enjoy abductor-abductee romances and have many in my Kindle library that I have read and reread. I was looking forward to adding Ms. Scornavacca’s Miss Taken series to my collection but sadly that will not be happening as Miss Taken didn’t work for me and left me with no desire to continue the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Blind Ride by B.A. Tortuga

Blind Ride by B.A. Tortuga

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Even knowing that Blind Ride was the first book in a revised and re-edited, previously released series, I wasn’t prepared for it to end when it did. I’ve read a couple of Ms. Tortuga’s recent releases and found the writing and storyline in Blind Ride to be just as engrossing and entertaining as her newer works. As this is my first time reading this book, I cannot remark upon the level of revision and how much – if at all – it differs from the original. What I can say is that if you enjoy rodeos, hot cowboy lovin’, and the unconditional love and support of a man in love, then Blind Ride might be right up your alley.

As this is the first book in the series, the author spends a good deal of time setting up the Roughstock world and the men and women who live in it. Because of this, we are much farther into the book than I expected to be when the incident occurs that takes Jason “Mini” Scott’s sight. Admittedly I was already on edge as I waited for that shoe to drop because I hadn’t anticipated the author’s world building to last as long as it did. But that’s not a complaint because it gave me that chance to get to know Mini and Andy “Bax” Baxter well enough that I was devastated for BOTH men when Mini was hurt. This foundation also allowed the author to stay on track post-accident when decisions were made about where Mini was going and his rehabilitation plans because the author didn’t have to introduce the relevant characters because we already knew them. It also serves to show how close-knit their group of friends are and why it’s no surprise that they rally behind Mini after the accident.

As for the relationship between Jason and Andy, there are a few hints and throw-away statements made pre-accident that suggest that at some point in the past and in the presence of a pretty good amount of alcohol, they spent the night together. While it’s clear from their inner musings that both men are still attracted to one another, neither acts upon it. Yet when Jason’s life begins to spin out of control, Bax is there as his beacon in the storm, and the need to affirm their lives are still worth living leads them to take solace in one another and reconnect on a physical level. What I’m about to say may sound like a complaint, but it really isn’t. There is a lot of sex in Blind Ride, far more than I would have expected considering how far into the book we are before the first encounter. I repeat, I am not complaining about how often Mini and Bax get intimate because these two are hot together. What I found interesting though, is that what began as a life affirming act became one heck of an avoidance tactic used by both men when they couldn’t or didn’t want to deal with the world. The intimacy Mini and Bax share is intense and it allows them to lose themselves in one another and escape the realities around them. And considering what they had to deal with, I can’t really blame them there. As I said before, the end of this installment came sooner than I was ready for so I was quite annoyed when I got to the last page and found out I wasn’t going to get to “see” Mini ride. I can only hope that the next book in the series is re-released soon so I can find out what happens next.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out the Blind Ride by BA Tortuga post on Wicked Reads.


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Kinkaid by Rie Warren

Kinkaid by Rie Warren

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

I absolutely loved Kinkaid. That said, I was not expecting to cry – at all. After reading Steele: Into Your Heart and Hunter back to back, I was in the MC mindset. While the Bad Boys of Retribution MC is not as gritty as some MC romances because the members are not one-percenters, both books were action-packed and I was expecting Kinkaid to follow a similar theme. Yet Ms. Warren chose to mix it up, step back from the suspense element, and gave fans a heartfelt drama that is more reminiscent of the feel of Stone: At Your Service and Love: In the Fast Lane and I loved every page of it – even the soggy ones.

From the book’s description, I went in knowing that Kinkaid and Sadie are best friends until she finds out he has been stripping and lied by omission about the job. And boy what a way to find out! As the book progresses we come to realize that it’s not the lie that angers Sadie but the fact that he’s “selling his body” to strangers when she’s been harboring feelings for him for years. Of course that information doesn’t come out until Sadie and Kinkaid are fighting and it is definitely entertaining as they both realize they want the same thing. As they take their relationship status from best friends to lovers, Ms. Warren proves yet again that she can write some seriously hot sex scenes. But what surprised me (and shouldn’t have) is that she can write just as hot striptease scenes. Good grief! It’s no wonder that Kinkaid was able to pay for his grandfather’s medical bills and care by working only three nights a week. I felt like I should have been stuffing bills into my Kindle.

Be forewarned, Sadie and Kinkaid are in their early twenties so there is a bit of a New Adult feel to Kinkaid – a bit more angst than you would expect to find in an MC book. Add to the fact that Kinkaid is like most guys in a romance in that his communication skills are subpar and he’s a little slow on the uptake regarding how his stripping bothers Sadie, well there are certainly plenty of opportunities for fireworks between these two. But there is far more heartfelt emotion in Kinkaid’s relationship with his grandfather, the way he takes care of him, and the emotional upheaval he faces as his grandfather’s health declines that keep the angst from overpowering the book. It was two-tissue tearjerker for me. While you can read the Bad Boys of Retribution MC series without reading the Carolina Bad Boys series and you can read Kinkaid without reading Hunter first, it is a richer reading experience if you have read the others because there is an overlapping of characters between the books (even if the plotlines do not rely on knowledge gleaned from the previous books). I know I have already said it, but it bears repeating – I loved Kinkaid. This was a great addition to the franchise and I’m already salivating for Bo because the ending of Kinkaid teased me just enough to want to know what’s going on with our latest addition to the Retribution MC.

Check the Kinkaid by Rie Warren Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.

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Three-Way Tie by M.Q. Barber

Three-Way Tie by M.Q. Barber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was a perfect little snack to hold me over while I waited for the release of Becoming His Master. Three-Way Tie gives fans of the series the chance to spend a day with the trio as they go shopping for the perfect dishes for their first Thanksgiving dinner as a family. We get to witness the care that Henry takes as he prepares Alice and Jay for their day out. The usual banter between Jay and Alice is present as is the Henry's steadying presence. The sexual tension between the three is obvious as they make their way into yet another antique store, but it is Jay's pleasure at finding the perfect dishes and at the praise he receives from Henry that is most palpable. That is, until they arrive home and Henry choreographs a stunningly erotic scene between the three of them to fulfill the promise of his all-day foreplay. Despite the short length of this story, Ms. Barber continues to stay true to her characters and who they are as individuals as well as who they are within their ménage dynamic. I do not recommend reading Three-Way Tie as a standalone because to fully appreciate it, you need to be familiar with the trio and what they have faced to get to where they are in their relationship. But if you are a fan of the series, spend the buck and buy this novelette. I got it as a Prime borrow for the month and will be purchasing it so that I can read it again whenever I need a quick Alice, Jay, and Henry fix.


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Baby's on Fire by A.F. Henley

Baby's on Fire by A.F. Henley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Although glam rock was before my time, I was fascinated by David Bowie when I found my parents’ Ziggy Stardust album so I found myself quite intrigued by this book’s blurb. That I enjoyed Henley’s m/m romance Sonata made it practically impossible to resist this book. As I read Baby’s On Fire, my mind kept combining images of Bowie during his glam rock days with images from the movie Almost Famous. This is not to suggest that the book is a rip-off of the movie or based on Bowie’s career, but rather an explanation of the visuals and feelings the book drew from my brain as I read it. And I loved every page of it – even the ones that ripped my heart out.

The author does a wonderful job of alternating chapters from the present (1994) with those from the past (1974), so we get to see Gerry as he is today and how a single glimpse of Mark Devon aka Maxx Starlight can bring him to his knees with a flurry of memories from their time together, both good and bad. Now because we know that Gerry and Mark are not together when the book begins we know that their time in 1974 did not end well, but that does not make their story any less interesting or emotional. At 20 Gerry got the chance to live the dream most music lovers have had at one time in their life – to meet their idol, to spend time with their idol, and to become an important part of their idol’s life. As Fawn, Gerry became an anchor in Maxx’s rock star life because Gerry saw Mark, not Maxx, and loved Mark. Over the course of their time together, it became apparent to me that even as Mark fell in love with Gerry, he fell for the hype his manager and the record company was selling and at the moment Gerry needed Mark, he got Maxx instead and the pyrotechnics from Maxx’s concerts had nothing on the way their relationship exploded.

Just as their past was heartbreaking to watch unfold, Gerry’s present proved to be an equally emotional tale for me. Although it was rather underhanded and failed spectacularly, I quite enjoyed the reunion that Mark arranged – both of them. Even though Gerry was beyond pissed when he found out just how much Mark had been involved in his life without his knowledge, I found it swoon worthy (then again, I wasn’t the one who was betrayed). When Gerry finally accepts that he has to hear Mark out so that he can put their relationship to rest once and for all, he learns a lot about Mark’s life in the intervening years (he avoided all things Maxx Starlight after their breakup) and finds himself examining his own life.

One of the things I really liked about Baby’s On Fire is that Gerry not only finds himself in a position to reconcile with what is frankly the love of his life, he also finds himself reconciling with his mother and brother. I also liked that Gerry did not immediately forgive Mark and take him back; it would have been contradictory for someone who had harbored feelings of betrayal for 20 years and yet I’ve seen it done. Mark’s reappearance in Gerry’s life reopened old wounds and Henley took the time to let Gerry pick at them a bit and then let them begin to heal. While I loved the concert scene at the end because it demonstrated to Gerry just how much of an impact he had on Mark, my favorite scene is the final chapter set in 2014 because it was the absolute perfect ending for Maxx and his Fawn. Baby’s On Fire is a definite reread for me and I look forward to checking out more of Henley’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Baby’s on Fire by A.F. Henley blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Sacrati by Kate Sherwood

Sacrati by Kate Sherwood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed Sacrati. While the Elkati society seemed to be modeled after the traditional monarchies of our world, I found the Torian people and their society to be fascinating – the division of the sexes and labor that both enjoyed because it suited them and their way of life. The Elkat marry (one man to one woman) and remain a family until death – homosexuality is not accepted. Among the Torian, the concept of homosexuality is foreign because men and women enjoy both sexes and considering the way in which the Torian valley the story takes place in is set up it makes sense. There is no stigma attached to sex among the Torian people, so when a patrol of Sacrati – the elite of the Torian military – capture a band of Elkati trespassing on their land, there is no doubt that both people will find their world views challenged.

Sherwood does an excellent job of creating a tale of suspense and romance that challenges the reader to ponder both sides of the impending war. Part one of the book is presented from the Torian perspective, specifically from Theos’s point of view as the leader of the patrol that captures the Elkati trespassers. As the story plays out, we get to see Theos grow from the order-following Sacrati soldier into a man who is forced to contemplate the world he lives in. What begins as a warrior instinct that all is not right, causing him to claim Finnvid as his bounty, morphs into a need for answers as he begins to see Finnvid not as a nameless enemy but as a person. Just as Theos begins to see Finnvid as more than just his annoying “bedwarmer,” more information comes to light that forces Theos to release his claim on Finnvid and Theos is left with feelings of betrayal and something he cannot define. This change in circumstance leads into part two of the book, which is told from Finnvid’s perspective. Whereas part one gave the reader a look into the Torian society, part two is more focused on Finnvid and his struggles to find his place in the world – a world that is much larger now that he has been exposed to Torian cultures; a world that does not see man-on-man pairings as unnatural; a world that expects him to behave one way while away from Elkat but another way once he returns to Elkat, and a way in which he no longer feels he can live.

I loved the way in which the author presented the story – the world as Theos saw it, the world as Finnvid saw it, and the world that the various factions were trying to achieve. Sherwood does a great job of weaving together the “big picture” story about the impending war with the storyline that focuses on the relationship that develops between Theos and Finnvid. As the story progresses, each man has to come to terms with the differences between their societies and what it means for him. At first glance it may appear as though Finnvid is the one making the sacrifices, but Theos found his worldview turned on its head more than once. His internal battle to overcome his military discipline and question the actions of superiors was an emotional upheaval that he was ill-prepared for and yet the sacrifices that Finnvid made enabled them to support one another when the time came. Because the two men started off as enemies and the way in which their relationship changed throughout the course of the book, there was a slow build to intimacy between them. The way in which the author shifts between the main characters’ perspectives from part one to part two, made the way in which part three played out more suspenseful and kept me glued to my Kindle – after all, we are dealing with war and there are no guarantees as to who will live and who will die…not even in a romance. Sacrati was a great book and I hope that the author is considering writing a sequel.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Sacrati by Kate Sherwood blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Relentless by Bailey Bradford

Relentless by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It’s been right at a year since I read book one in the series, Rescued, so I was excited to sink my teeth into Relentless. If only everyone else had been excited for me and left me the heck alone while I read, I would have been a much happier camper today. Do you know how irritating it is to get interrupted while reading the sex scenes? A Bailey Bradford hot as heck sex scene? Repeatedly? Let’s just say that I felt Zane’s pain when Aiden made him wait … or when Gabe interrupted them … lol.

Although I didn’t immediately remember Zane from the first book, Bradford uses a mandatory meeting of the alphas as a way of making sure a new reader (or a forgetful one) has all the pertinent info as to who Zane is and the part he played in Mika’s ejection from the Gila pack. But that info is rendered almost meaningless when Zane finds out who his mate is and it’s not good considering all that Zane has done as the Gila Alpha; which causes him to leave the meeting before his mate can recover from his shock. Oh yes. Zane’s mate is male. Even better, Aiden is the #2 among all the alphas – the Dux Ducis – second only to the Alpha Anax, who is his twin brother. It turns out that finding his mate is only the beginning of Zane’s troubles when he learns on his way home that there are three wolves set to challenge him for the position of Alpha. When they decide to ambush him, he fights for the sake of his pack even as he questions his suitability to remain Alpha. Once Zane secures his place as Alpha, he immediately appoints the new Alpha and sets out make amends for the wrongs he did as leader of the Gila pack. Just as Zane turns up at Mika and Gabe’s front door, Aiden is on his way to Gila to find out why he was mated with a man whom everyone believed to be a heterosexual bigot. I know, right?!?!? Aiden is relieved to learn of his mate’s location before getting all the way to Gila – that is, until he meets Gabe. Good grief, you gotta love Gabe and his refusal to give respect before it’s earned. The beauty of Gabe being human means the Alpha vibe is ineffective on him and that makes for a boatload of humorous scenes throughout the book. And Gabe’s spatula-wielding antics go a long way in evening out the mood of the book as Zane’s secrets are revealed – at times, even to himself.

One of the many things I enjoyed about this book was that Bradford gave fans of the series the chance to catch up with Mika and Gabe while they got to watch Aiden show Zane of his intent to keep his mate no matter what. As a large part of the book takes place at Mika and Gabe’s house, we are not only treated to the scorching hot sex scenes between the newly mated Aiden and Zane, but we also get to share in Mika and Gabe’s moments of intimacy as well. Because Zane has a lot of healing to do from the ambush, Aiden takes the opportunity to get to know his mate and to help him overcome not only his physical injuries, but his emotional ones as well. Despite what appears to be a heavy focus on romance, sex, and relationship development, Bradford has no problem writing action scenes that will leave you wondering if all of the good guys are going to make it or not. I enjoyed the heck out of Relentless and look forward to reading the next book in the Southwestern Shifters series soon.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Reckless by Bailey Bradford

Reckless by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Reckless picks up six months after Relentless and we learn that Marcus has been missing the entire time. The book opens amidst Marcus’s clinging to his fragile sanity as he fears that he won’t survive much longer as it appears that his captors have abandoned him, leaving him chained with no access to food and water. Within a few pages we meet Nathan and while it’s clear that he is a shifter, his response to Marcus’s suffering is at first bewildering as I wanted him to rush in a yank Marcus out of his prison immediately. Not one to leave her readers hanging for long, Bradford reveals why Nathan is both drawn to Marcus and wanting to flee at the same time and I soon found myself feeling almost as badly for Nathan as I did for Marcus. But that’s only the beginning of Reckless and the action and romance that follows kept me flipping pages until I could no longer hold my eyes open and returning to my Kindle as soon as possible the next day.

While I am relieved that Bradford chose not to detail the six months’ worth of suffering Marcus endured, his physical state, memories, and nightmares made it apparent that his kidnappers took great pleasure in abusing him. Despite his fear of other shifters, Nathan is unable to abandon Marcus and waits until he has no choice but to enter the camp and attempt to rescue Marcus. Because Nathan has had no interactions with other shifters since he was a young child, he does not understand why he is drawn to Marcus and compelled to help him regardless of his fears. Marcus on the other hand immediately recognizes that Nathan is his mate but is too ashamed of his physical appearance and emotional trauma to let Nathan know what is going on. Fortunately this is not enough of a deterrent to keep him from accepting Nathan’s help to escape his captors. But their trek to freedom is not an easy one as Marcus’s physical condition slows them down enough that his captors are able to plan an ambush. And Marcus finds himself in the position of having to soothe his mate when Nathan’s wolf instincts kick in as he protects his mate.

One of the things I enjoyed about Reckless is that because Nathan had no experience with shifters and because of Marcus’s own post-abduction issues, the men had to take time to get to know one another. Any attraction either felt was ignored for their own reasons and this gave them a little bit of time to form an emotional bond first. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for mating instincts taking over and causing a rush to mate. But given the abuse that Marcus suffered, the slow approach felt right in their case. It goes without saying that when the two men were finally ready to mate, it was hot. I also liked how much Nathan and Marcus were able to help the other heal. And while Marcus’s initial meeting with Nathan’s surrogate father did not start off on the right foot, I was glad to see that they were able to set it aside for Nathan’s sake. Equally enjoyable was getting to catch up with characters from the previous books, even if Aiden and Marcus’s reunion caused me to get a bit teary-eyed. As the party responsible for Marcus’s abduction has not been caught yet, I cannot wait to read Rendered to find out what happens next.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #ShiftWithMe: Reckless blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Courted by a Knight by Bree Cariad

Courted by a Knight by Bree Cariad

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Courted by a Knight was a delightful addition to the In Hyacinth series. I found the opening scene absolutely hilarious. I cannot imagine who was more mortified – Deeka or Cami. The situation became even funnier when Deeka confessed what happened to her father, who was laughing so hard he nearly lost his breath, only to find out that the phone call from Jerod was not about that and her confession earned her a punishment for trespassing. Not only was the entire situation comical (because I wasn’t the one being spanked), but it made for a nice introduction to Deeka as we learned that she obviously wasn’t a gossip (otherwise she wouldn’t have alerted Jerod and Cami to her presence), she was honest by owning up to her actions to her father and the Kinsleys, and she was a hard worker because not only did she assist Jerod with the task he assigned her as her way of making up for trespassing, but she continued to help him after her penance was paid.

It is because of this introduction that I was looking forward to the commencement of Deeka’s courting experience. Sadly, her prospects weren’t that great and her excitement for her courting year was beginning to wane. Fortunately for Deeka, one of her father’s friends was checking out the area as a potential place to move to and he proved to be a very entertaining and engaging dinner guest – despite his witnessing her mortifying interaction with Wally. Between the values her father instilled in her and her summer work experience, the fact that Curtis was in a wheelchair part of the time did not phase Deeka one bit. She was far more interested in Curtis’s writing and life experiences as he shared the steps he took to research some of his books. Her acceptance of Curtis’s condition just endeared Deeka to me that much more. As Curtis joined them for dinner regularly, Deeka began to develop feelings for him and surprisingly she shared that with her father – I think I was just as disheartened as Deeka at her father’s explanation that Curtis might not be an appropriate suitor because he wasn’t sure if Curtis was even aware of the Domestic Discipline lifestyle. It was because of this that I was not surprised at the conversation that Deeka walked up to between her father and Curtis. I completely understood where her father was coming from and applauded him for putting his daughter’s long-term happiness ahead of her short-term happiness and his friendship. I also liked how he called Curtis out for underestimating Deeka in regards to his disability. But what I really loved was that Deeka risked punishment (for eavesdropping) and made sure her feelings were heard – it was her future happiness on the line after all. Not surprisingly, Curtis does what he must so that he can court Deeka and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop, especially once they hit the punishment phase of courting.

While we did get to catch up with some of the couples from the previous books in the series, Ms. Cariad also introduced us to a slew of new characters, some of which I hope to see featured in their own book. We also got another extremely unlikeable character as well – Wally. As for Wally, I cannot even go there – think the male version of Marjorie and remove the threat of punishment because his behavior towards Deeka is beyond disrespectful, not only of her but also of the courting system, so it’s hard to believe that his father has taken him in hand as he should. Okay I guess I did go there, but once you read the book you’ll realize that I barely went there because that kid made me want to throttle him … repeatedly. I absolutely adored Courted by a Knight and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series – hopefully it will be one of Deeka’s friends so I’ll get to check in on Deeka and Curtis.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Courted by a Knight (In Hyacinth #6) by Bree Cariad blog post Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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