Monday, December 28, 2015

Fences & Freedom by Bailey Bradford

Fences and Freedom Fences & Freedom by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Finally!!! I finally know how old Barney is. Yes, that elusive tidbit of info has been annoying me because when he “distracted” Will after Troy’s attack in Chaps & Hope he seemed as though he was close to their age. Yet when Salt talked about him in Saddles & Memories I got the impression he was younger than I first surmised. As it turns out, Barney is only twenty but as we learn more about him in Fences & Freedom, I understood my confusion because Barney’s past meant he had to grow up fast and assume adult responsibilities sooner than he should have when his father died. No, Barney wasn’t abused or anything like that. Well not in the sense we tend to think of because he was ridiculed by his peers for being poor and it was his mother’s financial woes that resulted in him growing up fast as he began doing what he could (legally) to bring in money to help his mom pay the bills. Yep, Barney is a keeper and it just so turns out that Ramsey, the Mossy Glenn’s least-liked hand, may just be the one to keep him.

As we find out in Fences & Freedom, Salt had every reason to be wary of Ramsey because he was not who he purported to be. But as the book unfolds and we learn who Ramsey really is, why he’s at the Mossy Glenn Ranch, and the reason behind it, I found myself sympathetic to his plight – especially after seeing how his father treated him. But of course, this is after I was annoyed with him for trying to stake his claim on the “new guy” when Barney started on at the Mossy Glenn. However, my annoyance was short-lived when I realized that Barney had taken a shine to Ramsey and the “hunter” soon became the “hunted” with practically no one being aware of it because nearly everyone underestimates Barney. While Barney is most definitely sweet and comes off as naïve due to his age and inexperience, he’s accustomed to working hard for what he wants and being patient as he works to obtain it. Because of this, he does a fine job of indulging his curiosities about sex, breaking down Ramsey’s defenses, and making Ramsey his without being used by Ramsey or going all the way before he was ready. Barney’s inexperience is easily outweighed by his enthusiasm and this makes for some really steamy scenes that left me chuckling at times.

I really enjoyed watching Barney break down Ramsey’s walls simply by being himself. Barney is a good kid with a good heart and while Ramsey set out to scratch his itch with the dumb young thing, he soon found that he not only underestimated Barney’s intelligence, but also what being around Barney’s inherent goodness would do to him. Barney made Ramsey want to be a better man – a man deserving of someone as good as Barney. This is what made his conscience rear its ugly head and led him to try to make things right. While most underestimated Barney’s intelligence, few underestimated his goodness and it was his willingness to stand with Ramsey that made Carlos, Troy, and Will give Ramsey the second chance he needed. Fences & Freedom is yet another enjoyable addition to the Mossy Glenn Ranch series and I’m glad I still have more of them to read.

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 Fences and Freedom (Mossy Glenn Ranch #4) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Sunday, December 27, 2015

Never More by Dana Marie Bell

Never More Never More by Dana Marie Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Never More may actually be my favorite of The Gray Court series, or at least it’s in direct contention with The Hob. I loved the banter between Raven and Amanda. From the moment in The Hob that Robin learned that Raven was his son and claimed him as his own, I have been rooting for Raven to find his truebond. Learning of the lies, manipulation, and torture he experienced at the hands of the Black Queen just made it even more important that he find his truebond – that one person created just for him – because it was clear that despite all that he endured, he was a good man. A good man in dire need of love.

With a reputation nearly as terrifying as his father’s, who better to love Raven than a human who has no fear of him because she has no idea of who and what his is? Enter double-dog-daring Amanda. Oh yes that’s her, the lovely Amanda who conspired with Leo to send Ruby his way. Where Ruby is all shy and reserved, Amanda is in your face and brash, which makes her the perfect match for Raven, who we learn has just as sharp of a wit and tongue as she does. But it’s not all fun and games as the two get to know one another because Amanda’s visit to see Ruby has turned into a business trip as she got “volunteered” to plan Robin and Michaela’s wedding. At the same time, Raven is trying to avoid the Black Queen’s assassin, track down a murderer who is attempting to frame him, and prove his innocence so that the White Queen can’t have him executed for said murders of members of the White Court. Not a dull moment to be found.

Once again Bell has crafted a thoroughly enjoyable tale of romance, magic, suspense, humor, and seriously hot sexy fun-times. While I hate the why behind it, I loved that Raven did not rush to mate Amanda. He wanted to get to know her first and make sure she was comfortable with him and understood what she was getting into before she accepted his bond. The dinner seduction scene was absolutely hilarious, but Bell tempered the darkness that Raven was forced to deal with in his endeavors with regular doses of humor between him and Amanda throughout the book. While all of the previous couples had their moments of levity, this is a couple that thrives on laughter and I look forward to their inclusion in future installments. My only actual complaint about Never More is that the storyline involving the White Queen felt unfinished. I can only assume that it will be picked back up in the next novel, which I am assuming will be Big Red’s story and I am so looking forward to that one.

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 Never More (The Gray Court #6) by Dana Marie Bell blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Monday, December 21, 2015

Saddles & Memories by Bailey Bradford

Saddles and Memories Saddles & Memories by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Truth be told, I wasn’t the least bit sure of what to expect from this installment in the Mossy Glenn Ranch series. While we’ve seen Salt around quite a bit in the previous books due to him being one of the first hires, I hadn’t really formed a strong opinion of him. Yes, I liked that he was protective of Drake when Ian first showed up, even if it was misguided, but other than that he’s been a bit of a mystery. In Saddles & Memories we learn far more about the weathered cowboy than I expected and the man’s layers are far deeper than he likes to let on, especially his sensitive side.

As an older cowboy, Salt is quite relieved to have found his place at the Mossy Glenn Ranch. Having spent most of his life in the closet, the sense of peace he feels for being accepted for who he is rather than being judged for his homosexuality is welcomed. Like his bosses, he doesn’t make a big deal of his sexual orientation when in town, but it’s no longer a secret that the Mossy Glenn tends to hire from the LGBT community. It’s because this is becoming common knowledge that Andy Calder takes a chance on approaching the cowboy while in town trying to make news sales contacts for his company’s organic feed line. Long since resigned to a life of one-night stands, Salt is ready, willing, and able to show Andy just how well this old cowboy can ride. And their night together is hot, so hot in fact that the men break their personal rules and agree to a repeat performance, well several repeat performances. As they spend more and more time together, they both begin to want for more than their current arrangement but neither is willing to say anything in fear of scaring the other man off. Just as things begin to get serious, Andy gets a call about a family emergency that sends his life spinning out of control and Salt proves to be the stabilizing force in his life he didn’t realize he needed. But with all the changes facing Andy in his personal life, the two men have to decide if what they have is strong enough to endure the storm.

I loved Saddles & Memories! Watching Salt and Andy cruise each other in the feed store was both amusing for a southern girl and hot to watch. The attraction between the two men was intense and I found myself caught up in their passion when they were able to act upon it. Seriously squirm inducing cowboy lovin’ going on in this installment. As their relationship progressed from just sexual to more, it was sweet to watch the two men fall in love – not because it was sappy, but because both men had faced obstacles in their past that left me feeling as though they were perfect for each other. I really, really liked how Salt not only accepted Ty as a package deal with Andy, but that he embraced and cherished the chance to have the family he never expected to have as a gay cowboy. Gotta love a man who’s not afraid of his emotions. Saddles & Memories is only the third book in the series, but each book is better than the last. I can’t wait to start Fences & Freedom to find out whether or not Salt’s concerns about Ramsey are justified.

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 Saddles and Memories (Mossy Glenn Ranch #3) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Sunday, December 20, 2015

Siren's Song by Dana Marie Bell

Siren's Song Siren's Song by Dana Marie Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


At the end of The Hob, King Oberon was shown wandering, lost because his memory was gone. That was a terrible way for the author to leave fans of the series hanging. Outright cruel. Needless to say, I am glad that I had Siren's Song loaded on my Kindle and on my review schedule so I didn't have to wait long to find out what Oberon's fate was and whether or not he would accept his mate.

Having first met Cassie in Artistic Vision and then getting to know her a bit more in The Hob, it was obvious that hers was a pure and honest soul. As one of the merfolk, she uses her siren’s song to heal others and yet her own safety was in danger one she fled Atlantis up avoid an unwanted arranged marriage. Yet despite the risk to her safety and freedom, she takes off in pursuit of Oberon once his absence has been detected. Having been forewarned by Shane as to the condition she would find him in, Cassie knew that her skills would be needed to restore his memory. Because of the kind of person Cassie is, she is cautious as to the information she reveals during their time together because she does not wish to unduly influence Oberon. This proves to be a wise choice on her part because as Oberon's memory returns and he comes to realize how she could have taken advantage of his situation, his love for her grows. Oh yes, I said love. As it turns out, Oberon's memory loss ends up being a boon as he got to know Cassie without the memory of Titannia's betrayal coloring their fledgling relationship.

One of the things I enjoy about Bell's writing and this series is that while there is a series thread that is running from book to book, each book is written in such a way that it can be enjoyed as a standalone. While this does hold true for Siren's Song as well, this particular installment will be more enjoyable if the prior books in the series are read first, but at the very least The Hob should be read. Despite how distressing his memory loss was, I found the developing relationship between Oberon and Cassie to be quite heartwarming. Cassie did all that she could to heal Oberon fully expecting her truebond to send her away once his memory was restored. So when his memory returns and he sets out to claim his queen, Cassie is happier than she ever expected to be. At the same time as their bond is being formed, Robin and his Blades are busy uncovering who was responsible for Oberon's condition to begin with. I definitely understood his reaction to the identity of those involved and seriously enjoyed the way he and Robin dispensed punishment. But my favorite part was the formal bonding ceremony and I look forward to seeing Queen Cassandra show the doubters that she is truly Oberon's partner and truebond mate.

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 Siren’s Song (The Gray Court #5) by Dana Marie Bell blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Monday, December 14, 2015

Retrograde by Bailey Bradford

Retrograde Retrograde by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It’s no secret that I love the Southwestern Shifters series and loved that I got to gorge myself on the series in August. So you won’t be shocked to learn that I was beyond thrilled when I found out about Retrograde’s release and I nearly went through the roof when I discovered that Bradford had written it as another chapter in Marcus and Nathan’s life. I love all of the couples in the series and each has a special place in my heart, but with all the Nathan has dealt with as Marcus was under attack from more than one quarter, it felt right for them to get another installment in the series and Bradford managed to make me love this couple even more than I already did.

Because of assassination attempts and challenges for Marcus’s position, Nathan has been on edge for a while and having to kill another individual (even one who was bad) in order to save Marcus’s life makes that edge even finer. It’s not that Nathan regrets saving Marcus’s life or even that he killed to do so, but rather that he was forced to take another’s life. Having been raised by a human, Nathan still finds the easy acceptance of violence among shifters too much to bear at times. Sensing that his mate needs to get away and realizing that they need a chance to reinforce their bond before an upcoming conference of the Alpha Anaxes, Marcus makes arrangements for a short getaway for just the two of them. Having the chance to let their wolves run free in a safe environment that’s not fenced in, to spend time alone with just the two of them, and to connect sexually on a more primal level does wonders for both men. Yet even on vacation they can’t seem to get away from the needs of other wolves when they discover a wild pack of young shifters who know nothing about the shifter society. Thank goodness Marcus and Nathan know of a wolf who loves to take in strays – Gabe. But when demands of Marcus’s position require that they return to the compound, they are once again faced with treachery when another plot to take out an AA is discovered. For once, Marcus wasn’t the target but because it was being attempted in his home it affected him no less. Thankfully Marcus has a pack filled with loyal and intelligent shifters who were able to help thwart yet another assassination attempt and strengthen ties with other honorable AAs.

Retrograde was another excellent addition to the Southwestern Shifters series. I loved watching Nathan and Marcus get back to nature so to speak and embrace their wolf so fully. It was obvious it did them good mentally, but it also made for some smoking hot sex scenes. They were lucky they didn’t start a forest fire with as hot as they got. I liked that Bradford made another AA the target in this novel and that for once Marcus didn’t have the bullseye on his back. I found his handling of the territory situation to be very telling of the kind of man Marcus is – a good man who only wants what’s best for all shifters. I loved meeting Lexxie and hope to see more of her in the future and learning more about her heritage. That Bradford foreshadowed the changes that are coming for Marcus and his pack made me so freaking happy because that means more books are in the future. But the end. Oh my word was the end sweet. I mean… We’ve got puppies!

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 Retrograde (Southwestern Shifters #11) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Ropes & Dreams by Bailey Bradford

Ropes and Dreams Ropes & Dreams by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was quite excited when I learned that Ropes & Dreams was Drake’s story as he managed to worm his way into my heart in Chaps & Hopes. Considering the news he got at the end of that book, I was curious to see how Bradford would have him find his match. As it turned out, the author handled a tough subject with sensitivity and a strong, informed dose of reality that made me admire her writing even more. In addition to Drake’s romance, fans are also treated to a bit of intrigue and suspense as an arsonist appears on the scene.

Toward the end of the previous book, Drake received a call from his ex-boyfriend telling him that Rigo had tested positive for HIV. Obviously Drake was devastated by this news and continued to worry about his status even after the first negative results knowing that it could still be too soon for a positive result on a test. Considering his history of poor choices in men, Drake swears off men deciding that he’d rather be safe and alone than with someone and abused. But Officer Ian McCain soon has him rethinking his new vow, because despite the man’s cold eyes and stoic personality, Drake finds himself attracted to the man. Once Drake finds out that the attraction runs both ways, he knows he has to reveal his possible HIV exposure and is surprised when it doesn’t send Ian running. It was Ian’s initial reaction to the news and the way in which the men embarked upon a SAFE sexual relationship that left me admiring Bradford’s writing even more. Rather than treating Drake as a diseased and unlovable being (as his ex was attempting to do), Ian shares his personal history with an HIV+ individual and not only explains to Drake that a sexual relationship isn’t off the table, but proceeds to show him that he is not only lovable and touchable, but also deserving of love. I really liked how Bradford used Drake and Ian’s relationship as an opportunity to educate readers within the context of the story, keeping to the flow of the storyline and avoiding the “soapbox” feel that can too easily occur. If the sex scenes weren’t hot enough, the added BDSM elements ratcheted the eroticism up as Drake learned even more about himself under Ian’s guiding hand.

There was actually more than one romantic suspense angle in Ropes & Dreams. The main one involving the arsonist certainly shocked me as I was not only surprised by the arsonist’s identity but also the way in which his arrest scene played out. Bloody heck that scared me! The minor suspense elements involving Drake’s ex and Ian’s stepbrother not only helped to explain why both men behaved the way they did, but they both served as plausible suspects for the arsonist, and this kept me guessing as to who it was. Watching Drake and Ian fall in love and in bed, the BDSM elements, the sensitivity regarding the subject of HIV, the romantic suspense angles, and catching up with Carlos, Troy, and Will made Ropes & Dreams a thoroughly enjoyable read for me and secured it a spot on my reread shelf. I’m ready for Saddles & Memories.

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 Ropes and Dreams (Mossy Glenn Ranch #2) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Sunday, December 13, 2015

Dare to Believe by Dana Marie Bell

Dare to Believe Dare to Believe by Dana Marie Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


While this is not the first time I’ve read Dare to Believe, it has been a LONG time since I last read it and as I reread it, I was actually annoyed with myself for not having returned to The Gray Court sooner as the Dunnes and the world they live in is quite magical – and not just because they’re fae. As the first book in the series, the author does a wonderful job of introducing the various parts of the fae world the Dunnes are a part of and weaving it into Leo and Ruby’s story in such a way that the reader learns about Leo’s life at the same time Ruby does. For me, this helped me to connect with Ruby – that and the fact that she has a killer sense of humor.

Unbeknownst to her, our dear sweet frumpy Ruby captured Leo’s attention almost immediately. Because she considers herself unattractive, she has avoided being in Leo’s presence for fear of her attraction to him becoming public knowledge and the subsequent humiliation she knows will follow – after all, no one as attractive and accomplished as Leo Dunne could possibly be attracted to the short, fat girl. But Leo is determined to prove what he already knows – that Ruby is the one woman the universe made for him. The five years of (not so) unrequited love and the fated mates aspect made the way in which their relationship progressed feel right. Ruby’s feeling that she was rushing headlong into heartbreak had more to do with personal insecurities than Leo himself. The built-in history allowed the author to move the story forward – from a hot night of sex and seduction straight into the kidnapping of Leo’s brother Shane. Although not ideal circumstances for meeting her future in-laws (even if Ruby didn’t know that at the time), Leo’s parents were very welcoming of Ruby and approving of her as Leo’s mate. Yet the story is just getting started and soon all hell breaks loose as those responsible for Shane’s kidnapping demand their ransom – Leo’s hand in marriage – and their attempt to remove Ruby as an obstacle leads to quite the explosive bonding as Leo claims his mate in no uncertain terms. Not willing to let something as trivial as a truebond waylay their plans, the kidnappers step up their plans and Leo finds himself tapping into his Leprechaun bloodline to save the day.

One of the things that still impresses me about this book is the way that Bell utilizes the ongoing storyline to teach the reader about the Fae Courts, introduce the cast of characters, and set the stage for future books in the series. There is a lot of information introduced as the author builds the world in which the series is set, yet it is done in such a way that the reader is not overwhelmed with the info – at least I wasn’t. As I have read the first three books more than once, I found humor in statements made that foreshadowed future plot lines that weren’t humorous during the first read because I wasn’t privy to the direction the author was taking the series. Bell combines intriguing characters, fast-paced action, steamy sex scenes, and a sweet romance in Dare to Believe and managed to hook me so thoroughly that I bought and read books two and three immediately and I’m looking forward to rereading them next.

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

Check out the Dare to Believe (The Gray Court #1) by Dana Marie Bell blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers!


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Saturday, December 12, 2015

The Man She Needed by Ruth Staunton

The Man She Needed The Man She Needed by Ruth Staunton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The fourth and final season of Corbin’s Bend is off to a solid start with Staunton’s The Man She Needed. After spending a decade in a vanilla marriage, never telling her husband of her desire for a domestic discipline relationship, Norah has moved to Corbin’s Bend to start her life anew three years after being widowed. As a lover of books, I was excited for Norah as part of her new start was opening a bookstore in Corbin’s Bend and living in the apartment above it. I was also excited for the community because the new businesses that I recall from previous books have been almost exclusively restaurants, and between the schools and book clubs in Corbin’s Bend and the plans that Norah had for her store, she was filling a hole in the community. Add to that Norah finding herself attracted to yet another vanilla man, Caine, and that spelled good things for the novel.

The Man She Needed offered a plethora of ideas, notions, and incidents that the psychology student in me gorged on. Rather than having Norah set off on her new life shortly after the death of her husband, Staunton allowed three years to pass. While we didn’t see those three years play out, this choice shows an understanding of the grieving process and how much time Norah would have needed to come to terms with it and overcome any related depression before she would have been “up to” the challenge such a move and new venture would pose for her, no matter how excited she was about it. Although we don’t learn the extent of abuse that Caine suffered until much later in the book, I enjoyed watching him and Norah dance around the dating issue once he made it clear to her that he was not interested in such a relationship. I liked how they worked on building a solid friendship instead, even if they both seemed like emotional masochists as they fought their attraction for one another. The manner in which their relationship played out over the course of the book – friends, dating, breaking up, dating – felt right considering the nature of Caine’s issues. While at times it may have felt as though the author was dragging out the relationship to the inevitable ending, considering the characters’ personal landmines it wouldn’t have felt as authentic had the breakup and makeup been skipped.

As for Caine, his flashback scene was astoundingly realistic, from the auditory trigger, to how the memories played out, to his physical responses, all the way through to the difficulty Ben had in pulling him out of it and dealing with the aftermath. It was Caine’s weakened emotional state which enabled him to tell Ben about his past because the wounds were still raw and, while painful for him to tell (and me to listen to), it was the best opportunity for him to be able to talk about it. That Ben insisted on Caine getting therapy and then working with him on the mechanics of spanking was fabulous. As Ben and Jonathon have held a special place in my heart from the beginning of the series, I was tickled pink at how much of a part they played in The Man She Needed, especially when Caine practiced his first real spanking on a live spankee. Staunton has penned another enjoyable installment in the Corbin’s Bend series and I’m looking forward to the next book already.

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 Man She Needed (Corbin’s Bend Season 4 #1) by Ruth Staunton blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Friday, December 11, 2015

Montana Mistletoe by R.L. Syme

Montana Mistletoe Montana Mistletoe by R.L. Syme

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Montana Mistletoe is a quick read that did a nice job of kicking off the holiday reading season for me. It also had me wanting to cry in frustration on Gillian’s behalf as everything that could go wrong did, and then some. Syme does an excellent job in creating Gillian’s character and all that she must deal with on the night of the theater’s biggest fundraiser, and keeping it from becoming a comedy of errors. I believe most of us has had one of those days where nothing goes right, you question why you bothered getting out of bed that morning, silently beg the universe to let you crawl back into bed and wakeup to a do-over, and have to endure all of that with a ghost from our past showing up to witness it all. I know I have experienced all that minus the last part and this certainly made Gillian a very sympathetic character in my book.

That’s not to say that Mason wasn’t also a sympathetic character, because he was and I connected to him as well. In fact, I could easily feel Mason’s frustrations when he had to deal with Gillian’s reactions (appropriate and inappropriate), last minute changes because the secretary failed to share the night’s schedule of events ahead of time, and subpar working conditions while still being expected to prepare an outstanding meal. Top that all off with Gillian’s hot and cold demeanor toward him and it’s quite impressive how well he did over the course of the evening. While I liked both Gillian and Mason’s characters, I didn’t quite connect with them as a couple. Granted Montana Mistletoe is more of a reigniting the sparks of a second chance romance than the story of how their second chance actually plays out. As such, this didn’t allow for a lot of interactions between the two and with only a couple of stolen kisses here and there, this hindered my ability to connect to them as a couple rather than as individuals. However, this didn’t reduce my enjoyment of the novella overall, but rather left me wanting more and hoping that the next installment in the Granite Peak series will show us more of Mason and Gillian’s romance. Montana Mistletoe was an enjoyable holiday read and a fun way to spend an hour or two.

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 Montana Mistletoe (Granite Peak Book 1) by R.L. Syme blog post on Crystal’s Many Reviewers.


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Thursday, December 10, 2015

PUCKED Up by Helena Hunting

PUCKED Up PUCKED Up by Helena Hunting

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Having laughed my butt off while reading Pucked (and why can’t that be literally?), I dove at the chance to read Pucked Up. Let me first assure those that have not read Pucked that you absolutely can read Pucked Up as a stand-alone book, but you are seriously shortchanging yourself on the experience that is Vi, Alex, and the MC. Those who read Pucked will be delighted to know that Vi and her filter-less mouth make many appearances in this installment as she is Buck’s step-sister after all. And while the humor is certainly rampant within this book, I was surprised by how much the humor was toned down from book one considering that Buck is a guy and all. But it worked because Hunting revealed Buck’s character in such a way that I realized that I was just as guilty of misjudging him as so many of the people around him were – and I even knew how good of a brother he was to Vi. Yep, I fell in love with the yeti!

Where Pucked was a romantic comedy featuring the borderline adolescent sense of humor of Vi, Pucked Up is more a comedy of errors with a sprinkling of adolescent humor. If there was a way for a situation to go wrong and lead to Buck looking like a manwhore on social media, it happened. Rather than the incidents feeling contrived as a way to add humor to the book, they felt like naturally occurring misfires as they were rarely situations of Buck’s making. The charity carwash is a perfect example of this because Buck went to the event with two very admirable goals and found himself plastered all over social media – again – in what looked to be a compromising situation when it wasn’t. Buck is one of those guys who can actually say “It’s not what it looks like” and it be completely true. He was also far deeper of a character than I would have ever expected from reading book one. His feelings for Sunny were genuine and made him want to be a better man. While their sexy fun times were seriously hot, I found the romance between Sunny and Buck to be far sweeter than I ever expected. And I loved it.

As much as I liked Sunny and felt badly for her when she messed up, she messed up HUGE because she let people close to her who didn’t know Buck and the relationship they had try to tell her what to think of him. That said, I loved it when she stood up to Alex and let him know that she wasn’t going to let him tell her what to think. But Hunting didn’t stop there with clearing the air because more than one person took the time to “man up” in this book and apologize for jumping to conclusions about Buck and what they assumed was going on. Human nature often leads to a level of immaturity when peoples’ feelings are hurt, causing them to lash out, but I liked how Hunting’s characters showed growth by owning up to what they did wrong and apologizing for it. It’s not something you see in a lot of romances, especially the new adult genre, so it was quite refreshing. Pucked Up was “incrawsome” and I really hope that Hunting plans to continue the series as I love this group of friends and would love to revisit them … and find out what went down between Lily and Randy.

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 Pucked Up (Pucked #2) by Helena Hunting blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Chaps & Hope by Bailey Bradford

Chaps and Hope Chaps & Hope by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Although I haven’t read Bradford’s Love in Xxchange series in which Carlos, Troy, and Will met, I wasn’t all that worried about being lost as my experience when reading this author is that the books within a series stand well on their own and when needed, the pertinent information is shared. Chaps & Hope reaffirmed my faith in the author’s ability to write books that are related to others without you having to read all of the prior ones in a series (or the series it spun off of). That said, as a fan of Bradford’s work I do hope to go back at some point to read the Love in Xxchange series as I can only imagine just how hot it is.

Being as it was made clear in the blurb that Carlos, Troy, and Will were already in a well-established ménage relationship, I was only mildly surprised with just how quickly the author opted to show the reader why their relationship has been successful. Boy howdy! These are some seriously hot cowboys that have no qualms about letting one another know how much they love each other and just how much they are attracted to one another. And there is a LOT of horse saving going on in Chaps & Hope and I loved it! But all that cowboy lovin’ doesn’t take away from the fact that the guys are there to resuscitate the Mossy Glenn Ranch and due to the nature of their relationship they decide to make it a safe haven of sorts for the LGBT community. While they don’t hide their relationship, the guys also don’t go out of their way to publicize it when in town – but the bigots always seem to know and the guys find the ranch being targeted by vandalism. When Troy is attacked by a local business owner, the guys find out that their community is far more supportive than a few bigots made it seem.

I really enjoyed Chaps & Hope. Despite the fact that Carlos, Troy, and Will had met and fallen in love in Where There’s a Will, Bradford showed the continued development of their relationship. Not having read the previous book didn’t prevent me from seeing how their relationship continued to progress as there was still obvious baggage from their pasts that was addressed in this novel. With this being the first book in the Mossy Glenn Ranch series, the author does spend some time laying the foundation for the series through the everyday tasks of repairing the ranch, hiring staff, interacting with townsfolk, dealing with the vandalism, and each man finding his place on the ranch. I loved Drake and cannot wait to read his own book (at least I’m assuming he gets his own). I will admit that I was surprised when the identity of the vandal came out and my heart actually broke for the guy; I really hope that we see more of him in the series. I also enjoyed how the townsfolk rallied around the guys after Troy’s attack and I’m looking forward to seeing how that bodes for the ranch’s future. Chaps & Hope was an enjoyable read and I’m ready for Ropes & Dreams – which I just peeked and saw is Drake’s story. YAY!

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 Chaps and Hope (Mossy Glenn Ranch #1) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Monday, December 7, 2015

A Collar for Christmas by A.E. Lawless

A Collar for Christmas
A Collar for Christmas by A.E. Lawless

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I absolutely loved A Collar for Christmas. It’s an odd thing to say about a BDSM romance, but it was an unbelievably sweet story and one I can see myself reading many, many times again. Ms. Lawless created an extremely powerful Prologue that served to illustrate the devastating effect that Liam’s panic attacks had on him, while at the same time showed where his relationship with Aaron started. While momentarily awkward when the book jumps ten months forward with the first chapter, Liam’s reaction to an online article and his subsequent actions filled in the pieces rather quickly as to how their relationship had evolved over that time. Any remaining gaps were filled in as the book progressed through memories, musings, and conversations between Liam and Aaron.

As the story is told from Liam’s point of view, the reader gets a firsthand look at how the changes in their relationship have both helped Liam and exacerbated the situation. While Aaron’s presence and his ability to exert the control over Liam that he needs have helped reduce Liam’s anxiety in dealing with the world at large, his increasing dependence upon Aaron causes a separate set of anxieties for Liam as he worries about what will happen to him should Aaron ever refuse to be a part of his life. Add to that Liam’s ever increasing need for “more” from Aaron despite Aaron having clearly stated that there could be nothing more, well it’s no wonder Liam is a confused bundle of emotions. While the scene in which Liam finally tells Aaron that he needs more than what they’ve been doing was heartbreakingly devastating, it was good to see Liam confront Aaron about what he wanted and needed.

The emotional rollercoaster ride that A Collar for Christmas took me on was heightened by how fully I connected to Liam. I felt his anxiety, fear, and heartbreak when he confronted Aaron; I felt his calm seep in when he went home for Christmas and spent time with his family; I felt his anger and worry when Aaron called him with his drunken confessions; I felt his hope when Aaron showed up at his house on Christmas day; I felt his submission during THE sex scene that was off-the-charts hot; I felt his relief and happiness at his family’s easy acceptance of Aaron; and I felt his love for Aaron. The author has managed to encompass a ton of emotion within the pages of this novella and I loved every bit of it. I cannot wait to check out more of Ms. Lawless’s writing.

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 #ChristmasInJuly: A Collar for Christmas blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Strings Attached by Cassandra Gold

Strings Attached
Strings Attached by Cassandra Gold

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I don’t read a lot of holiday-themed books because by the time I “find” them, the holiday is over and I’m no longer in the holiday mood. But because we’re doing a Christmas in July theme for the blog, I had a great excuse to find some Christmas-themed books to read and Strings Attached was at the top of my list. Based on the blurb, I expected to get an enjoyable read as two complete strangers embarked upon a no-strings attached affair while on a Hawaiian vacation – a little steamy fun in the sun read. And while I did enjoy the book and the steamy fun in the sun it offered, Ms. Gold gave me even more than I bargained for.

When the blurb says that “James Hastings is having a bad week.” let me tell you that THAT is one heck of an understatement. As I read the first few pages of the book, I completely understood why he headed straight to the liquor store after work because if ever there were a reason to drown your sorrows, James had three of them. While at first it doesn’t look like his luck is getting any better when he goes to pay for his purchase and realizes that he’s left his wallet in the car, he gets a helping hand from a stranger who sees paying for James’s beer as his good deed for the season. And for once, a good deed not only goes unpunished but it gets rewarded as James’s purchase wins him an all-expense week long vacation in Hawaii. Because he doesn’t have someone to go with him, James finds himself inviting Travis along. We learn later that Travis accepting the invite was just as out of character for him as it was for James to issue the invitation. When the guys find themselves checked into the honeymoon suite, neither is sure of what to do because they assume the other is straight. Once that misconception is cleared up and they spend some time together, Travis suggests a no-strings attached vacation fling and the heat ramps up between them quickly. A lot.

I really liked the whole opposites attract and don’t judge a book by its cover messages that seemed to drive this book. Were it not for the trip, neither James nor Travis would have given the other a second look as they weren’t representative of the kind of guy they usually liked – James seemed like too much of a stuffed shirt to Travis, while Travis’s tattoos, piercings, and emo vibe were the antithesis of James’s typical dates. Yet as they spent time together outside of the suite, they learned that they had a lot in common and their chemistry in the bedroom was unmatched by any of their previous lovers. Despite how well they clicked, both guys possessed just a little too much of the “man gene” and neither was willing to talk about how they really felt, choosing to accept that the agreement that began their week was still what the other wanted and they parted ways at the airport. OY, MEN!!! While I don’t want to ruin the ending, I will say that it’s a good thing that James seems to attract helpful strangers and he gets the kick in the pants he needs to go get his man. I loved Strings Attached and hope that the author plans to rerelease the other books in the Fantasies 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 #ChristmasInJuly: Strings Attached blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Sunday, December 6, 2015

Primal Heat by A.C. Arthur

Primal Heat Primal Heat by A.C. Arthur

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One of these days I’m going to set down and read this series from the beginning, back-to-back, so I know which of the good guys I’m grieving for. Yes, that’s a tiny bit of a spoiler, but with the ongoing war between the Shadow Shifters and the rogues, there are bound to be losses and Arthur keeps the series feeling real by breaking our hearts when it happens. Add to that Boden’s personal vendetta against the Shadow Shifters and Crowe’s machinations to create a hybrid super soldier, well that insured tons of action in this installment. But all of that was mild in comparison to what is simmering between Eli and Nivea because the secrets they each harbor may end their pairing before it can even begin.

While none of the female mates in this series have had it easy, Arthur outdid herself with Nivea’s backstory. The hints given regarding Nivea’s past did not prepare me for the truth of why she left the seemingly lavish lifestyle she was raised in and why she remains estranged from her parents. When the details began to be revealed I actually reread the scene because the what wasn’t even on my radar. Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe my reaction. And yet Nivea refused to let her past define her and embraced her Shadow Shifter heritage fully, much to the dismay of her sisters. It is her determination in overcoming her past that made Nivea the perfect match for Eli because like her, his past left him scarred, but unlike her, Eli has not overcome it, allowing his past to define him as he refuses to believe that a mate will help him overcome his “curse” or that he is deserving of happiness. Eli’s refusal to acknowledge they’re meant to be mates forces Nivea to call upon her determination because she’s not just fighting Eli, she’s also fighting the ghosts of his past.

I loved watching this relationship play out. Eli gives new meaning to the phrase hard-headed man with his refusal to acknowledge Nivea as his mate. My heart broke for Nivea each time he rebuffed her or snuck out the morning after, but man were those nights between them hot! But even as my heart ached for her, I loved that she was sure in her belief that she deserved happiness and that Eli’s rejections were on him and not a reflection of her. And even as he denied her as his mate, Eli had her back when her loyalty to the Shadow Shifters was in question. While I haven’t read all of the books in the series, I like that Arthur develops the relationship within the ongoing conflicts – the war doesn’t stop for love. This serves to strengthen their bond as they face their enemies head on. Primal Heat was a great addition to The Shadow Shifters series and I love the possibilities that about with the open ending of the book – not a cliffhanger per se, but it certainly leaves many, many avenues open for the author to take.

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 Primal Heat (The Shadow Shifters #6) by A.C. Arthur blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers!


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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole

The Strongest Steel The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When I finished The Strongest Steel I wasn’t sure whether to give it four or five stars. Without a doubt, the book was great and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But I reserve five stars for those books I’d like to read again or that impact me significantly. I just wasn’t sure where on the spectrum this book fell – whether or not it was something I would consider rereading. So I slept on it. The next morning I was still undecided. Yet my indecision was still not enough to relegate it to a 4-star read as I tend to do when I haven’t committed myself to the full five stars. But as I sat down to write this review and thought more and more about the journey that Harper takes and all that she overcomes in the course of the novel, I find myself with no doubts that it is indeed a 5-star read for me.

It’s obvious from our first encounter with Harper that she has suffered something beyond tragic that has left her scarred – inside and out. Even when we see her first meeting with Trent at the tattoo studio and her reactions to his touch as well as her reactions to physical contact with others, I was not prepared for the magnitude of what she suffered and the lengths to which she went in her quest to feel safe again. But the revelations of her past makes the relationship that develops between her and Trent that much more meaningful, impressive, sweet, heartwarming, fulfilling, you get the picture. While Trent does not lack for female company and has a bevy of beauties at his disposal, his usual tactics are thrown out the window when it comes to Harper. He wants more than a one-night stand or short-term relationship with her and he’s willing to put in the time and effort it’s going to take to break through her defenses. And as they spend more and more time together in the studio and out, he realizes that she’s worth the effort … even when her past comes back with vengeance on his mind.

I really liked how much the book focused on the relationship between Trent and Harper and how Trent took it slow with her. He took what he knew of her history into consideration and didn’t push her or rush her. This allowed for a friendship to develop first and then they built upon it. I also liked that Trent’s touch didn’t “cure” her. Even after she was accustomed to Trent touching her, Harper still flinched when Cujo touched her and during her training with Frankie. Cole kept this aspect of the story true to life by making it the repeated exposure to others that enabled Harper to accept touch more and more as the book progressed. While Harper’s abduction by her ex wasn’t a surprise plot wise, I appreciated that the author kept short and that Harper was able to use Frankie’s training – it may feel a bit anticlimactic for some readers, but I liked that it wasn’t drawn out. Even though I really didn’t like Trent’s response to Harper’s less-than-thrilled reaction to his news about the reality show, it felt appropriate to the situation considering Trent’s past and it showed that he was human too. My only real complaint about The Strongest Steel would be that the Reid angle felt extremely unfinished. Harper’s brother’s desertion of her and their family when her ex was convicted didn’t sit right; it didn’t make sense for a brother who had protected her their entire life until Nathan tried to kill her would simply vanish from their lives. I can only assume that the author will be giving us more on Reid in a future installment in the series. Regardless, I absolutely loved the camaraderie between the Second Circle family and cannot wait to read more. I’m already looking forward to the next installment to find out what’s really going on between Drea and Cujo.

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 Strongest Steel (Second Circle Tattoos #1) by Scarlett Cole blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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