Chaps & Hope by Bailey Bradford

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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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.


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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.


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Primal Heat by A.C. Arthur

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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The Strongest Steel by Scarlett Cole

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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