Jesse's Diner by Cardeno C.

Jesse's Diner by Cardeno C.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Being a fan of Cardeno C.’s writing in general and the Hope series in particular meant this was a no-brainer for me. I didn’t even bother to read the blurb before saying yes to the review opportunity. While I wasn’t the least bit surprised that I loved Jesse’s Diner, I was surprised with why I loved it due to the elements the author included (some of which I cannot tell you as they’re potential spoilers) – not because they were elements I don’t tend to enjoy in a book, but because there were some rather personal-to-me issues brought up that I wasn’t expecting to encounter. For me, this generally translates into a personal connection with the characters that tends to make a book even more enjoyable and meaningful and this was certainly the case with Jesse’s Diner.

I suspect the fact that I spent a large part of my childhood with my maternal grandparents who had a 12 year age difference between them is why I don’t focus on the age difference between characters. That is, unless the characters make a big deal of it themselves. Fortunately, in Jesse’s Diner the age difference was addressed a time or two, but was not the focal point of the book. Instead CC keeps the focus on the relationship that develops between Tanner and Steve. What at first presents as a convoluted relationship with Steve being Jesse’s widower and the father of Tanner’s best friend, Mike, and Tanner being Jesse’s protégé (of sorts) and recipient of the diner when Jesse died unexpectedly a year earlier, ends up being far less complicated as the story unfolds. When he goes to check on Steve at his friend’s request, Tanner unintentionally establishes a nightly dinner date with Steve in an effort to make sure the man isn’t suffering from depression. While we don’t know a lot about Tanner’s past initially, it’s clear that he’s far more mature than his twenty-two years and although he’s been crushing on Steve since meeting him almost six years ago, he manages to keep his thoughts and actions toward Steve strictly platonic out of respect for Jesse and Mike. This is what made the scene in which Steve “comes onto” Tanner so amusing – the young man had no idea that the attraction was mutual.

I loved watching the relationship develop between Tanner and Steve. It was sweet how their mutual respect and love for Jesse was a source of unification rather than something that kept them apart. I found Steve’s insistence that Tanner consider all the ramifications of a relationship with him instead of allowing the young man to dive head first into his first actual relationship without doing so refreshing. Granted, Steve’s past affected the future of their relationship and certain aspects of it heavily, but he acted like a mature adult and this is something I see missing all too often in books when adult characters embark upon a relationship, especially a sexual one, regardless of their age. In doing so, Steve also provided Tanner the opportunity to show that he was mature enough for such a relationship. Not surprisingly, the sex scenes are hot – but because of Tanner’s complete lack of experience, they are also tender as Steve takes his time with Tanner. Although the ending made me cry when Mike revealed that Jesse’s death wasn’t quite as unexpected as everyone believed, I love, love, loved the rest of that scene as it obliterated any hesitations Tanner had about getting involved with his best friend’s father. Jesse’s Diner is yet another 5-star read for me from the talented Cardeno C. and I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for Hope, Arizona 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 Jesse’s Diner (Hope #2) by Cardeno C. blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

You Can Leave Your Boots On by Irene Preston

You Can Leave Your Boots On by Irene Preston

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I always enjoy it when a book has far more substance to it than the blurb and/or title would suggest. In the case of You Can Leave Your Boots On I’m pretty sure my low expectations for storyline and high expectations for sex had a lot to do with the fact that the title makes me think of the song You Can Leave Your Hat On, my preferred version being the one recorded by Tom Jones as heard in the movie The Full Monty. And while there was a rather steamy scene between Travis and Bo – and yes, the boots were left on – there’s far more story packed into this novella than I expected and I enjoyed it immensely.

After being steamrolled by a new friend into a blind date arranged via a locally-based dating app, Travis comes face-to-face with the man he’s been lusting over for the past few months. The man he thought was straight. The man who also happens to be the son of his potential business partner. While Bo is by no means a child at almost thirty, Travis is stunned by the fact that Bo is his date because he had gotten no hint that the man was gay. None. Gaydar malfunction. While Bo is equally stunned, it’s not because he didn’t know that Travis was gay, but rather that Travis is the man he’s set his sights on and he can’t believe that Travis is actually there…to go on a date…with him. Once they get over their initial surprise, the early parts of the conversation are a little amusing for an outsider to watch because the men are tap dancing around one another so much it’s nearly painful to watch. But as they relax into the date, the story unfolds and we learn far more about the characters than I expected to and I loved it.

Preston doesn't tell you everything that transpires between the characters. There is a good amount of off-the-page life and conversation that occurs, but rather than telling us word for word what happened, the reader is given brief summaries via memories and thoughts. I actually liked this because it allowed me to imagine how a scene may have played out based on my life experiences and this brought me into the story a bit more. This technique doesn’t always work, but in the case of You Can Leave Your Boots On I thought it was a good way for the author to pack more story inside the novella without drowning the reader in the details. Because I don’t want to reveal how Bo and Travis’s story plays out and ruin the read for anyone, I will say that I really liked the book and I felt that the characters’ thoughts, actions, and reactions were realistic in regards to what was going on. You Can Leave Your Boots On has been added it to my reread shelf and I hope to check out more of Preston’s work in the future.

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 You Can Leave Your Boots On by Irene Preston blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Tin Man by Lisa Henry & Heidi Belleau

Tin Man by Lisa Henry & Heidi Belleau

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Bliss series scares the bejeezus out of me. Not because it’s horror or gruesome or gory or anything like that. No, this series scares me because I can easily see the world turning the way of Tophet and Beulah if the wrong people ever got into power and abused their authority. While Tin Man didn’t freak me out as badly as Bliss did, it still affected me because even in this day and age, members of the military are expected to follow orders without question and Tin Man shows just how dangerous that can be.

As we saw in Beulah, the powers that be in Tophet have skewed the laws in their favor and made it nearly impossible for those on the bottom to make a better life for themselves. Being unemployed is a crime. Being homeless is a crime. Publicly speaking out against the government is a crime. Being homosexual is a crime. As Ace meets three of those, he’s definitely considered a criminal by the Tophet government. So when he and his acquaintance, Chen, are asked for their papers to prove their employment and residency, Ace knows that his time is up and does what he can to secure Chen’s escape as the man has saved his life more than once and has children who depend on him. But being a criminal does not mean that Ace is the heartless, amoral animal that Soren has been taught crims are, which proves fortunate for Soren when he finds himself hanging on by the tips of his fingers – literally – trying not to plummet to his death. And yet just as Ace saves his life, Soren still attempts to follow orders and capture the crim. But Ace refuses to go down without a fight and in the midst of their struggle, he learns something very telling about the Anti-Terrorist Unit officer – he’s homosexual. What follows is a scene that is complicated emotionally, but hot as heck as Ace shows Soren the benefit of being a crim. As each man endures their own trials after the encounter, it isn’t until they come face-to-face again that they realize just how much that single encounter affected them.

Despite this being a novella, Henry and Belleau don’t skimp on the storytelling in Tin Man. Because this isn’t a romance per se, there isn’t a happy ending but rather the closing of one door and the opening of another. We don’t know what is to become of Ace or Soren because this is merely one chapter in their lives. The disparities between the classes is quite evident, especially towards the end of the book when we visit Soren’s apartment. That the laws are made arbitrarily and seem to be designed to keep people from bettering themselves, it’s disturbing just how much trust Soren has in his supervisors – at least until a condescending comment is made by a colleague. Yet it was this simple throw away comment that sent Soren’s world spinning off its axis as he began to wonder who it was that he’s really fighting. The chemistry between Ace and Soren is ridiculously hot and we get some seriously angry sex between the two, with the BDSM elements ramping up the heat. I thoroughly enjoyed Tin Man and am already looking forward to the next book in the Bliss 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 Tin Man (Bliss #1.5) by Lisa Henry & Heidi Belleau blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

All of the Voices by Bailey Bradford

All of the Voices by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


So when I finished When the Dead Speak, I had an idea as to who All of the Voices would be about. It turns out I was half right as Matt is our McKinton resident who finds love and spirits or love with the help of spirits this time around. I’m actually glad I was wrong about Rich being the love interest because not only would it have been too easy to bring Laine’s former partner to town, but Carlin proved to be a much more entertaining choice as the city slicker finds himself swooning over the country boy.

After nearly dying in When the Dead Speak, Matt developed a friendship with the elderly Mrs. Hawkins and rather than attempting to jump his bones when he responded to her prowler reports, she baked him cookies and they visited for a while. Because of this, he was devastated when he found her dead while responding to her latest prowler call. Their friendship was the only reason that Matt was able to tell the sheriff about Mrs. Hawkins’s nephew, a man who quickly becomes the target of Matt’s ire as he’s not visited his aunt in years. We learn that Carlin had good reasons for not visiting and once Matt is made aware of them, he reassesses Carlin and the men bond over their shared love of Mrs. Hawkins – and a rather lusty mutual attraction. Matt & Carlin strike up a short-term relationship with Carlin being honest about his intentions to return to New York and Matt wanting what time he could have with Carlin. Until Rich, Matt had never entertained the idea that he was gay. His attraction to Carlin confirmed his preference and Carlin was his first everything. Because of this, the sex scenes take on a level of care and sensuality I wasn’t expecting, especially with Carlin’s return to New York hanging over their heads.

I really enjoyed watching Matt and Carlin get to know one another. Although they fell in love within a week’s time, thse book didn’t have that insta-love feel to it that I find often accompanies such a quick moving relationship. This is probably why it hurt so much to watch them part ways when Carlin returned to New York. And thanks to the helping hand of a spirit or two – and Severo – it’s also what made the ending so perfect. I am curious about the new waiter and cannot wait to find out his story as he’s already eliciting the protective instincts of some of the townsfolk. All of the Voices was an excellent addition to the Southern Spirits series and I look forward to reviewing Wait Until Dawn – which is Rich’s book.

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 All of the Voices (Southern Spirits #3) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Boots and the Rogue by Myla Jackson

Boots and the Rogue by Myla Jackson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Having reviewed Boots and the Bachelor a few months back, I was excited for the chance to read Boots and the Rogue. It had been a couple of years since I had read any books in the Ugly Stick Saloon and I just happened upon the series again at the start of the McFarlan brothers being lovingly blackmailed by their mother to settle down and start a family – otherwise she was going to sell the ranch. After watching Angus reconnect with a woman from his past and fall in love, I was excited to read about the next brother, especially once I realized that it was the prodigal son’s story.

After receiving a call from his brother, Brody McFarlan rushes home in fear that his mother is dying. While he is relieved to learn that his mother is fine, he learns that the reason why Colin lied to him to get him back to the Rafter M Ranch is almost as dire. Dumbfounded doesn’t even begin to cover Brody’s reaction when he finds out that his mother plans to sell the ranch unless her sons demonstrate that they are indeed interested in their heritage by establishing a long-term relationship. Although he has no intention of getting involved with a woman, Brody plans to spend his time at the ranch convincing his mother to let go of her foolish notion so that he can return to Seattle and his brothers can continue to work the ranch. But when he meets Jessie at the Ugly Stick Saloon’s barbecue, he finds that leaving Temptation, Texas isn’t as high on his list of priorities as it was. Unfortunately, past betrayals make it harder for him to admit what he wants – Jessie and Texas.

Boots and the Rogue was a heck of a lotta fun to read. Jackson combines just the right amount of story and sex to keep the book entertaining in oh so many ways. I was stunned by the details of what led to Brody leaving home and cutting ties with his brother, Colin, years earlier. That said, I’m looking forward to reading Boots and the Heartbreaker next because I suspect I will learn even more about that situation. The passion between Brody and Jessie is all consuming and this leads to several intense scenes – one of which was interrupted in time to keep it from becoming public. I really liked Angus’s reaction to his brother’s talent when he happened upon him painting because I believe it’s what enabled Brody to come clean to his mother and Colin and begin entertaining the idea of a future with Jessie in Temptation. I thought the ending was perfect for Jessie and Brody and I’m now off to read the next book in the series so I can see Colin get his happy ending. As Mrs. McFarlan said, “Two down. One to go.”

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 Ugly Stick Saloon Spotlight blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Boots and the Heartbreaker by Myla Jackson

Boots and the Heartbreaker by Myla Jackson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


And another one bites the dust! The third and youngest of the McFarlan brothers finds his happy ending in Boots and the Heartbreaker, but not before he nearly mucks it up so badly even I wasn’t sure he was going to be able to fix it. With only three weeks before their mother’s deadline, Colin finds himself reconnecting with the last woman he should – his brother’s ex-fiancée and the reason for their estrangement … Fancy Wilson. While both Colin and Fancy resolve to avoid one another so as not to repeat their past mistake, all it takes is them being alone in the same room together and all bets are off … as well as their clothes!

The attraction between Fancy and Colin is magnetic. When they’re in one another’s orbit and there are no buffers around them, they cannot keep their hands off one another. Seriously HAWT!!! So hot in fact that I can’t help but wonder how they managed to keep their hands off one another as long as they did when they were hormonal teenagers – engagement be danged. Jackson does reveal more about that incident and that enabled me to “forgive” Fancy and Colin for their behavior and made it easier to understand why Brody would be able to forgive Colin and encourage him to pursue Fancy – that Brody and Jessie are doing so well doesn’t hurt either. Under the guise of working one another out of their system, Colin sets out to make Fancy his because now that she’s back in town, he realizes why none of the women he’s been with in the past eight years came to mean anything – they weren’t Fancy. The more time they spend together, the less able Fancy is to resist Colin. Until he lets his suspicions about her uncle courting his mother get the best of him and he makes one humdinger of an accusation that not only crushes Fancy, but also brings an end to his mother’s newfound relationship as both Fancy and her uncle prepare to leave Temptation, Texas once and for all.

Boots and the Heartbreaker was a great way to spend a couple of hours, especially on the heels of Boots and the Rogue. Colin has an uncanny ability to put his foot in his mouth and does so repeatedly. While most times it is amusing, it can also be quite damaging to his relationships. I really liked seeing the signs of reconciliation between Colin and Brody as this trio of brothers were clearly meant to be close. But the ending. Oh that ending was awesome. Reminiscent of an old soap opera, Colin attempts to undo the damage he has wreaked and having to face his mother, while having Fancy banging down the door, as declarations of love, marriage proposals, and ultimatums were bandied about all in a matter of minutes – I kept waiting for the “DUN-DUN-DUUUUN!!!” music to play. It really should have felt like an over-the-top scene and yet it was perfect for the madhouse that Colin’s actions had created and Jackson played it perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed Boots and the Heartbreaker and I really hope that Dusty finds love soon because that man is too nice to continue being a wingman for the women in his life.

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 Ugly Stick Saloon Spotlight blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Biker for the Night by C.J. Fallowfield

Biker for the Night by C.J. Fallowfield

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I really do enjoy this series, and not just because Logan Steele is sex-on-a-stick and a wild man in the sack. No, with each installment I get to see Logan grow as a character, and I will admit that when I picked up the first installment, Strangers for the Night, I wasn’t expecting a tenth of the storyline that Fallowfield has imparted in each book. While Biker for the Night takes place a week after the events in Sophisticated for the Night, a lot has happened in that time.

Or, more accurately, a lot hasn’t happened in that time because…she didn’t call. So Logan has decided to throw himself into his work in hopes of “working” Summer out of his system. What better way than to be the ultimate bad boy? Eve is a lady – no, I mean that seriously, she’s an honest to goodness Lady – and she’s hired Logan to make her bad boy biker fantasy come true because even though she has an actual bad boy biker interested in her, she knows there’s no way her parents will ever approve. If you’ve made it this far into the series, you will not be surprised that the sex scenes are hot as sin, but they will still surprise you in the end because Logan isn’t a one-trick pony. Seriously, this is a man that could probably talk most women into an orgasm. So the hotness factor has not diminished.

What did surprise me about this installment was how much Logan’s personal life entered the evening. He actually “shared” some of his feelings with Eve even if he wasn’t specific about the parties involved. I liked getting to see Logan open up just a bit to someone else, especially as that someone else was in a similar situation of not being able to have the one person they really wanted. I was not, however, surprised by the events of the following morning because despite his outward appearance, Logan is a softie. The phone call at the end of the book has me wanting to read Dominant for the Night now, not only because I want to see how that face-to-face conversation plays out, but also because I…want…to…know…Logan’s…real…name!

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 Biker for the Night (For the Night #6) by C.J. Fallowfield blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Final Protocol by J.C. Daniels

Final Protocol by J.C. Daniels

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When I read the blurb for Final Protocol I was on the fence about it. I love sci-fi romances and the book’s description really caught my attention. I was beyond intrigued, but the length was short enough that I wasn’t sure that the author could pull everything off without rushing the story. So as I pondered whether or not to take a chance on a new-to-me author I happened to notice a little tidbit of information in the author’s bio – J.C. Daniels is the alter ego of Shiloh Walker. SOLD!!! I love Walker’s contemporary romantic suspense novels and novellas. I was no longer worried about whether or not the story would be rushed and was anticipating Final Protocol finally making it to the top of my review schedule. So worth the wait.

In a single scene involving an aborted assassination attempt, I learned all I needed to know about Silence to root for her. As more of her story unfolds, any niggling doubts were laid to rest as Daniels hints at and reveals some of the horrors that Silence endured at the hand of her owner. It makes it easy to understand why she accepted her final assignment even knowing that she might not make it out of the situation alive. But when she comes face-to-face with the man who was largely responsible for her current position, the veil over her memory lifts and she knows that the nightmares she’s had are actually memories she’s reliving. And yet she doesn’t know who to trust and which truth is hers. Silence soon learns that while the truth may set you free … what it sets you free from may not be what you expect it to be.

I devoured Final Protocol. There is a steady flow of action that kept me flipping the pages so that I could learn the truth alongside Silence. There is a huge romantic suspense angle to the novella that the author manages to unveil without rushing the story, without making me feel as though I was shortchanged by the book, and left me wanting more. More action. More justice. More Silence. I just wanted more. Because I enjoyed Silence’s character so much and would love to see more of her story, I can only hope that Daniels decides to turn this book into a series. In the meantime, I’ll be checking out more of Daniels’s work to see what other little gems are out there.

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 Final Protocol by J.C. Daniels blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Hot Pink Passion by M.L. Montgomery

Hot Pink Passion by M.L. Montgomery

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Hot Pink Passion is the third novella featuring Kurt and McKayla – which I have unofficially dubbed the Hot Pink series. I read a book a day, so to be able to pick up a novella and remember a couple’s story when months have passed since reading the last installment is the sign of a dang good series for me. Granted, McKayla and Kurt’s escapades in the first book, Hot Pink Condom, threw me for such a loop that they’re a hard couple to forget and the storyline in Hot Pink Passion has merely cemented their spot in my memory.

Kurt and McKayla have one of the longest lasting long-distance relationships I’ve ever encountered in a series. But Kurt wants more. He wants a permanent spot in McKayla’s life and vice versa, but McKayla is happy with their relationship as it is and doesn’t want to rock the boat because she knows that will only lead to it sinking. In her world, LOVE is a dirty word that she can’t say, choosing to show Kurt how she feels about him through her actions. But Kurt needs more. He needs to hear McKayla say “I love you” and her refusal to utter those three words is driving a wedge between them. After a fight that had Kurt leaving McKayla home alone so he could figure things out and a failed attempt to get her best friend to see why she was right and Kurt was being unreasonable, McKayla heads out for some retail therapy. On her way home she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, being thrown into the back of van – bound and gagged, and not in the way she liked to be. But McKayla’s worst nightmare brings her the clarity of mind she needed to see that she was being the unreasonable one, resolving to tell Kurt she loved him if she made it out of the situation alive.

Like the previous books in the series, there was a twist to Hot Pink Passion. Because these books can be read as standalones, new readers won’t see it coming whereas Kurt and McKayla fans probably will. I figured out the twist, but not because it was predictable. Rather it was well within character for them and the series, and I would have been shocked had it not turned out as I expected. While McKayla’s kidnapping was all kinds of frightening, it forced her to realize who and what was important in her life. That there was something good to come out of the situation was a nice touch by the author and made the McKayla’s abduction palatable. As always, Kurt and McKayla’s bedroom time was off-the-charts steamy. But it was the ending of Hot Pink Passion that had me swooning. I enjoyed the heck out of this installment and can only hope that the author will write more about this couple now that life has given McKayla the metaphorical spanking she needed.

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 Hot Pink Passion by M.L. Montgomery blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

The Bite of Winter by Lauren Smith

The Bite of Winter by Lauren Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Bite of Winter is an interesting combination of two super-hot vampires, sexy fun times, an erotic love triangle, and a sweet romance, all set during the Christmas season. When presented that way, I wouldn’t expect it to work. Yet Smith combined all those elements with a sad but sassy heroine and created a novella that I not only enjoyed immensely, but left me hoping that the next book in the series (and thank you for making this a series) will bring us more of the trio’s story.

Smith paints a very moving picture with the first scene of the book in which we meet Zoey, feel her hunger and depression due to her homelessness, and feel it all stripped away when she is attacked and fatally wounded by a would-be mugger, all within a matter of pages. As fate would have it, Zoey’s attack caught the attention of an almost 200 year old vampire who hasn’t been moved by humanity since his mortal mate was murdered 90 years ago. But something about Zoey calls to him and he takes steps to prevent her death without turning her into a vampire – a fact she is unaware of at the time. But her ignorance of his true nature is quickly shattered when his best friend and the man he considers a brother comes home expecting dinner and assumes that’s what Zoey is. Despite her fear over learning vampires are real, Zoey finds herself attracted to both Ian (her rescuer) and Connor (the diner) and finds herself unable to resist their attentions – and I can only say “THANK GOODNESS!” for that because that made for several steamy scenes between Zoey & Connor and Zoey & Ian and eventually all three of them. But when tragedy once again befalls Zoey, the men must make a life altering choice on her behalf or risk losing her forever.

What I liked about The Bite of Winter is that while there is a touch of insta-love, the relationship starts with attraction and affection and it is not until Zoey is nearly killed that any of the three admit their love. Even then, the “true mate” aspect on the vampires’ behalf makes the short time frame (less than two weeks) reasonable. And considering the circumstances under which they met and the care, tenderness, and affection the men have lavished upon her, it really didn’t feel rushed on Zoey’s behalf either as this is a woman who has been starving for love since the death of her parents. In fact, more than once Zoey purposely achieves physical distance between her and the men to allow herself the chance to evaluate her reactions toward them to insure it’s what she’s truly feeling and not a result of their (unintentional) glamour. There was a thread within the story that was not followed up on as I expected it to be – a potential threat to Zoey from Ian and Connor’s past – and I can only hope that this means the next book in the series will be a continuation of the trio’s story. I shall have to wait and see. In the meantime, I expect I will reread The Bite of Winter this holiday season when I need a little something to warm me up.

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 Bite of Winter (Love Bites, #1) by Lauren Smith blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

A Subtle Breeze by Bailey Bradford

A Subtle Breeze by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I’m always hesitant to read paranormal books featuring ghosts because I find more often than not that I don’t care for the way in which they are portrayed by many authors. However, as I have read an increasing number of Bradford’s books, I was more than willing to give her Southern Spirits series a try as I enjoy the author’s writing style. It turns out that A Subtle Breeze was the perfect beginning to the newly revised and rereleased series and I absolutely loved the way the author crafted the contemporary M/M romance with touches of the paranormal.

Whether it be due to a lack of options or an intense physical attraction, there is a serious case of instant lust on Zeke’s part toward Brendon. On the other hand, Zeke’s sister and Brendon’s cousin have been feeding him stories and pictures about Zeke for a while now and Brendon has developed a healthy crush on the man – a crush that intensifies when they meet in person. Considering that it’s been four years since Zeke was last with a man, their rush to intimacy was not surprising. And it sure was hot! Also not surprising was Zeke’s meltdown when he learned that Brendon wasn’t in town for just a few days, but for the entire summer … and longer if it proved to be worth his while. While their relationship progressed pretty quickly, the combination of Zeke’s loneliness, his mother’s guiding spirit, and Brendon’s crush made it feel right for these two men. When trouble hits and Zeke is once again the target of bigotry, Brendon’s insistence on standing by his man merely cements the transition from lovers to more. As their relationship strengthens, the threats elevate until they find themselves in a life or death situation that left me freaking out at the incident while at the same time warmed by the response of the townspeople.

I really enjoyed the way in which Bradford used Zeke’s mom to guide him and Brendon toward one another and away from harm. Rather than making her a ghost that communicates vocally and/or can be seen visually, she is a spirit – like a breeze pushing at their backs or transmitting feelings (i.e., danger) rather than actual words. Her spirit was a guiding force rather than a full-fledged character and I really enjoyed that take on the afterlife. The bigotry and the quarter from which it came kept the conflict and tension high – almost too high – and provided the men a force against which they could unite. As this is the first installment in the series, there is a bit of world building as the reader is introduced to the town of McKinton, Texas and the characters important to this and the next few books, but not so much as to drag the story out unnecessarily. I thoroughly enjoyed A Subtle Breeze and am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series, When the Dead Speak, so I can find out what’s in store for Sheriff Stenley.

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 A Subtle Breeze (Southern Spirits #1) by Bailey Bradford blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Christmas With the Billionaire Rancher by Mandy Baxter

Christmas With the Billionaire Rancher by Mandy Baxter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Whew! I forgot how hot Baxter’s Billionaire’s Club novellas could be. I made the mistake of starting Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher at work and had to stop reading it because it was getting too hot for reading in public. The attraction between Nate and Chloe was immediate and palpable and I for one could not fault Chloe one bit for accompanying Nate to his hotel room the night they met. Goodness gracious the man had me turned on and I would have been calling Chloe names had she not gone upstairs that night. That their one-night stand was not enough, causing Nate to contact Chloe so they could spend time together not only added to my squirming, but also to my enjoyment of watching their relationship develop … and explode.

While Baxter can certainly write steamy scenes, she does so within the flow of the story and despite Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher being a novella, there is plenty of story to be found. Chloe approaches Nate at his father’s memorial service in order to solicit a sizable donation for her foundation. Even though she cringes at the thought of crashing a memorial service to beg for money, her foundation is on the verge of closing its doors and leaving the local at-risk youth without much needed services meant to keep them out of trouble. Although there isn’t much Chloe won’t do to help the kids she works with, she draws the line at mixing business with pleasure, so when she crosses the line with Nate he is no longer a viable option for funding. This integrity on Chloe’s part made her so very easy to like even if I could see how her actions were going to come back and bite her in the rear. And boy did they! Once we learn exactly what led to Nate’s estrangement from his father, his reaction to Chloe’s actions made sense – but they didn’t excuse just how hateful and nasty he was during their fight. I was glad to see that Chloe didn’t cave just because he apologized because what he said was not something that could be wiped away with a simple “I’m sorry.” Of course, Baxter provides the expected happy ending for Nate and Chloe, but the journey to get there is what makes Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher so much fun to read. Having met Nate’s brothers in this installment, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series because both men should be fun to read about.

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 Christmas With the Billionaire Rancher by Mandy Baxter blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Montana Mistletoe by R.L. Syme

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.


View all my reviews

A Collar for Christmas by A.E. Lawless

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.


View all my reviews

Strings Attached by Cassandra Gold

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.


View all my reviews

Cowboy Delight by Cheryl Brooks

Cowboy Delight by Cheryl Brooks

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Yeehaw! Now that was exactly what I was hoping for. I discovered Ms. Brooks several years ago when I stumbled upon Slave as a Kindle freebie. As sci-fi erotica is one my guilty pleasures, I quickly devoured it and the next five books in her Cat Star Chronicles series (all that were available at the time) in less than a week. As you probably figured out, she is one of my go-to authors for sci-fi erotica. When she ventured into the contemporary romance genre with her Unlikely Lovers series, I was once again at the front of the line to buy and read them. And while I did enjoy them, her Cat Star Chronicles have reigned supreme as my favorite Cheryl Brooks’ books. However, after finishing Cowboy Delight, the Cat Star chronicles may have a challenger for that title.

As this is a novella, the story moves rather quickly and occurs over a period of less than 2 days. After a rather amusing (to me) sequence of events, Lauren finds herself in Steve’s pickup on her way to meet her fiancé’s parents – and no, Steve is not her fiancé. He’s just the widowed cowboy who agreed to give her a ride and yes that trip your mind just took to the gutter is right on point … thank you Ms. Brooks! When Mother Nature steps in and presents Steve with the perfect opening, he proceeds to demonstrate why bench seats are a good thing in a pickup truck while giving Lauren a preview of things to come. And as hot as that scene was, it had nothing on the actual sex scenes. Holy crap on a cracker can Ms. Brooks write a squirm inducing sex scene! She gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “Ride ‘em cowboy!” But when a new day dawns, Lauren must decide between a life of luxury with her fiancé or a life of comfort with her cowboy. Cowboy Delight is a lovely little tale of finding oneself served up with a heaping helping of steamy sex. This is one novella I know I will read again and I look forward to reading Cowboy Heaven to find out what delights Ms. Brooks has in store for the next cowboy.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out the Cowboy Delight by Cheryl Brooks Spotlight Tour post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews

Breathe Deep by Willa Okati

Breathe Deep by Willa Okati

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have read several of Ms. Okati’s books, including the previous books in this series, and I have enjoyed them all because I love her style of writing. Although Breathe Deep is written slightly different than what I have become accustomed to, the writing was no less enjoyable. In the other books of Ms. Okati’s that I’ve read, the main characters are either already involved romantically or tend to know one another well and because of their familiarity with one another, there is a kind of shorthand way in which they interact (i.e., they already know or can accurately anticipate the other characters’ needs and much goes unsaid). Now as Shepherd and Kit have never met prior to this book this kind of shorthand communication would never work and the author doesn’t even attempt to use it. So for me, Breathe Deep offered me the chance to experience another style of writing by an author I enjoy and it proved to be an excellent read.

In case you’re like me and started reading the book without rereading the blurb, the author uses the Prologue to introduce the reader to Kit and show what it is that he is dealing with. It’s clear rather quickly that Kit is of the mindset that if he doesn’t admit that his leukemia is in relapse, then it’s not real. I don’t have to have a fatal disease to recognize Kit’s coping mechanism or empathize with him as I’ve done the same thing myself in situations that don’t even begin to compare. This not only gives me an immediate connection with Kit, but I found myself fully invested in his story within a matter of pages. As if the universe is trying to balance out this devastating development, Kit meets a big bear of a man – Shepherd. Kit’s finally found a man who’s everything he’s ever wanted and it happens at the same time he’s worried (at least subconsciously) that he’s in relapse. Despite his best intentions, Kit can’t stay away from Shepherd nor can he bring himself to tell Shepherd about his leukemia. As the men get close – and boy howdy do they get close! – Kit’s secret gets harder to keep. Of course such a secret can’t be kept for long and when it came out, my heart broke for both Kit and Shepherd. Thankfully the author did not make me wait too terribly long before putting my heart at ease.

I was completely torn over Kit’s decision to keep his leukemia a secret. It’s not like it’s something you just mention in casual conversation to virtual strangers, which is what he and Shepherd were and all Kit expected them to be. As Kit got more attached to Shepherd, figuring out how to tell him about the leukemia got worse because Kit was afraid of losing him. Not to mention, Kit was still in denial himself and when he finally accepted that he was in relapse he no longer knew how to broach the subject. Of course when there was no way to hide it anymore, I was reading through tears because of how Shepherd reacted, especially as it occurred at the end of such a perfect day for the two men. As this is a novella, the author opted not to take readers through Kit’s actual treatment and I for one am grateful because I don’t know that I could have watched Kit suffer through it. But this makes the jump in time to the Epilogue actually frightening because with how it began, I had no idea as to how the treatments turned out and whether or not the relationship was still intact. Thankfully Ms. Okati didn’t make me wait too long for the resolution and I found it both realistic and hopeful. Already I am looking forward to future installments in the St. Hawk’s Medical series in hopes that the author will provide occasional updates regarding Kit and Shepherd. Breathe Deep was an excellent addition to the series and well worth every tear I cried.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out the Breathe Deep by Willa Okati post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews

Don't Stake My Life on It by Bailey Bradford

Don't Stake My Life on It by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I know this is only the second book but I am so loving this series. After Tony and Augustin's unconventional romance in My Life Without Garlic I was excited to see what Ms. Bradford had in store for Claude's coven. Don't Stake My Life on It does not disappoint as Radney sets out to prove that he's not the loser or psychotic vampire his stunt with Augustin would indicate. And if along the way he happens to meet someone that captures his attention, well that's all for the better.

Truth be told I really didn't remember who Rad was until mention was made of his encounter with Augustin, which still only left me with a vague recollection of him. As the details of Rad's past are hinted at and revealed I realized that there was far more to him than previously known. While it's pointed out in the book that few vampires had a good experience when turned, we learn that Rad's was worse than most and that his early years were particularly traumatic due to a sadistic sire. Because of this he is squeamish about biting humans and avoids it whenever possible. Yeah, you read that right! A vampire who doesn't like to bite humans. Can you understand why I love this series? Ms. Bradford's characters do not fit the usual vampire romance stereotype. In the same vein (no pun intended), Andrew is not a super sexy human whose body is cut beyond belief. No, he's a slightly nerdy college student with a "soft" body, a big heart, and a double-dog dare from his twin brother to sex it up with the next attractive gay man he meets. It turns out that the attraction is mutual and that makes for one seriously hot make-out session.

While not fraught with the same level of snark as book one, Ms. Bradford insures that there are plenty of amusing moments to lighten the mood when needed. I like the new element she has added with the introduction of the hunters as they present a danger for both the vampires and the humans who love them. The relationship that develops between Rad and Andrew is sweet because they don't jump right in – at least not emotionally – preferring to get to know one another better before making an eternal commitment. I loved their chemistry and how well their personalities complemented one another. The end was great as Claude showed in no uncertain terms why he's the head of their coven. Don't Stake My Life on It was a great combination of humor, sexy fun times, romance, action, and a KILT and I enjoyed every page of it. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to find out who finds their mate next.

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

Check out the Don’t Stake My Life on It by Bailey Bradford post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews

An Author's Angst by Maggie Ryan

An Author's Angst by Maggie Ryan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed An Author’s Angst. Venia has been an ever present force within the community, always ready to mentor new Taken in Hands and help out wherever needed, so to see her get her own book was an absolute treat. I don’t know if it escaped my notice or it was never revealed before, but I had no idea that Venia was an author. As a blogger, I have “met” several authors via social media over the course of the past two years and I loved getting to see how Venia dealt with every author’s fear – writer’s block.

Jeffrey was the perfect match for Venia – a well-educated dominant who was not only willing to take her in hand, but he was also willing to tell her the truth when it came to her work in progress. I liked that he wasn’t embarrassed or too manly to read her bodice rippers and took the time to get a feel for her work. It made his feedback on her writing that much more meaningful because he knew what she was capable of. I also appreciated the fact that he took Venia’s lead in the beginning when it came to administering punishment when she technically met her daily writing goal but didn’t complete it on the piece she had to present him. That the author gave us a chance to get to know Jeffrey through his connection with Dina at work and at the science fair made the book that much more interesting – as did getting to catch up with Dina and Brandon. An Author’s Angst was a great addition to the series and I cannot wait to read more from Ryan and Corbin’s Bend.

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 An Author’s Angst by Maggie Ryan blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


View all my reviews

Deadly by Ker Dukey

Deadly by Ker Dukey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Were you ears burning Ms. Dukey? Because I pretty much cussed you out – out loud much to my dog’s dismay – when I got to certain point in the book. It wasn’t nice either. I used words I don’t tend to use unless I’m really angry or upset and you made me both. I know you know what point in the book I’m referring to. You made me cry and the worst part about it was that I didn’t know who I was crying for. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, I absolutely loved this book. Then again I have been fascinated by all of the books in the series because the author creates characters whose insanity is horrifically realistic.

There’s not much I can say about the book itself for fear of revealing spoilers, but I’ll do my best not to let the cat out of the bag. Deadly takes place three years after Vacant and we learn that Ryan is still trying to get Cereus to accept who she is by owning her actions. There are parts of Deadly that are confusing, but they’re meant to be. The book is written from the points of view of Ryan, Cereus, and Blake and only one of those three is actually sane … maybe. We learned in Vacant that Cereus was not only sociopathic like Ryan, but she was also hallucinating – seeing and talking to people who weren’t there. Needless to say, her chapters are those that will make you question what the heck is going on, what’s real, and what is not. Don’t be afraid to reread passages to make sure you grasp what’s going on – remember, crazy people are narrating. Adding to the confusion is that the story begins in the present and jumps to the past so that you can see the events unfold that lead to Cereus and Ryan being where they are – pay attention to chapter and section headers because they will help reduce timeline confusion … maybe. Again, crazy people narrating. As for me, just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took a turn and I was wrong. Boy was I wrong and I was so very glad to be wrong.

I enjoyed getting to catch up with Mel and Blake, even if it wasn’t under the best circumstances. Mel’s visceral reaction to Blake’s betrayal was only surpassed by his reaction to her refusal to keep him in her life. If you have read the previous books in the Empathy series, then you won’t be shocked by the violence in this installment. If you haven’t read them, don’t start with Deadly because none of the books in the series are stand-alone reads. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, romantic suspense, and sociopaths and serial killers, then I strongly recommend this series. Deadly is an excellent addition to it and I love that it ends in such a way that it serves as a conclusion, or an opening for another book. Yet again Ms. Dukey, I am impressed with your mastery of the sociopathic mind.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out the Deadly by Ker Dukey is Now Available & Reviewed post on Wicked Reads.


View all my reviews