Dark Desires by Aja James

Ryu Takamura is the Dark Ones’ Assassin. He has never missed his target…until now. Until her.

Ava Monroe is a talented geneticist who holds the key to the vampire race’s future…and perhaps her own as well.

Their attraction is explosive from the first. She would do anything to have him. He would sacrifice all to protect her.

But will their love triumph over seemingly impossible odds as they battle enemies new and old? Especially the demons from Ryu’s past? And deep within his heart?

Buy it here: Amazon
(free with Kindle Unlimited)

I. Am. TELLING YOU... read this series!!

There's Ryu, a shadow assassin and member of the Queen's Chosen. He's tasked with annihilating the threat to his kind that has popped up in Japan. Ava is his way in, a target, and someone he didn't expect to affect him so strongly.

"What do you want from me?" he rasped huskily, his mouth a hair's breadth from hers.
She thought of saying something flippant or flirty, but couldn't come up with anything but the truth:
"Everything," she whispered.
A sharp indrawn breath, and then —
Heaven.
As his mouth covered hers, hot and delicious.

I absolutely adored the way the author explored these characters. Ava is a socially awkward genius who speaks her mind, even when it's cause for embarrassment. Ryu is a sweet, broken man who can't see how truly worthy he is. Ava brings out the best in him and he in her. Their love is almost instantaneous and energetic and profound. Their connection was brilliant and I enjoyed every moment spent with them and experiencing their firsts.

I'd give my life for you, she heard his voice in her head, in her blood, as he continued to hold her gaze. I have never known love before you. Never loved in return. And I never shall love any woman but you.

My only regret was that Ryu's mom's death wasn't a prolonged, tortuous affair. That woman deserved no mercy!

While this book gave me some answers (YES TO INANNA FINDING HER FATHER), I'm still left with so many questions, such as:

Gen Pop by Lani Lynn Vale

Hangry: adjective—feeling irritable or irrationally angry as a result of being hungry.

Sometimes, Crockett felt that in her soul.

And, of course, the one time that she’s being ‘irrationally angry’ would be the time that the hottest guy on the continent walked into her place of business dressed in prison orange.

She should’ve been afraid.

She should’ve taken one look at him and walked the other way.

But, she didn’t.

Crockett Archer, better known as a doormat extraordinaire, didn’t walk away from the people she knew needed her. She’d never been able to do it with a father that didn’t love her, and she wouldn’t be able to do it with a man that didn’t think he deserved a chance at love.

One look is all it takes for Zach Caruso to know that Crockett could be his.

All he would have to do is snap his fingers, and she’d fall right into the palm of his hand.

Which is why Zach turns around and walks far, far away.

He tries not to look back.

He tries to leave her be.

But then he sees how she’s treated by the people that are supposed to love her, and all cognitive thoughts seem to flee his rational brain.

One second, he’s running in the opposite direction. The next, he’s playing her knight in dingy armor.

God help her.

Amazon US * Amazon CA * Amazon UK

First of all, that cover... 😍😍

Second... I've been anticipating Zach's story ever since he shoved that piece of glass in that bully's heart. I've loved him for a while. And to finally see him get his happy ending made my day!

After killing the guy who almost killed his girl, Zach was tried and convicted and sent to prison. Thanks to Lynn, he got out early and he was trying to put the pieces of his life back together. First stop, a real meal. And that's where Crockett comes in.

Crockett was a doormat. Poor girl had only one ally, her grandfather. Her father hated her and did everything he could, along with her stepmother, to make her life miserable. And while her siblings didn't participate, they didn't dissuade the abuse either. And Crockett just took it... until Zach.

Amidst zany family shenanigans, the banter between friends, the appearance of Cleo and Rue (his parents from Life to my Flight), and the pop up of Ford and Ashe, I found love. Not that I was surprised, since I love everything Lani Lynn Vale puts out. Zach was a wonder!



This was far from my favorite book from LLV. Honestly, it was probably one of my least favorite. I didn't really feel the relationship between Zach and Crockett, which sucked because I loved Zach. The story felt messy and didn't flow as easily as her stories usually do. I liked it, but I didn't love it.

There were some discrepancies as well, but I'm pretty sure they will be fixed when this ARC goes through its final editing.

* Zach finished pumping gas and replaced the nozzle, during which Crockett admired his forearms. However, when her stepmom appeared, once again Zach was finishing up the pumping of gas and replacing the nozzle.

* her stepmom hung up on her as her father's face appeared, yet she immediately continued a conversation with her father with no mention of a callback in order to talk to him.

Check out the other books of this series:

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

Add it to Goodreads / Find it on Amazon

Standalone
Release - July 5, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance/instant connection/interracial
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 263 pages
Publisher - Indie

When a guy saves you from a horrible blind date, you don’t expect to end up dating him.

Mariah’s confusion over why a man is pretending to know her quickly fades once she realizes the handsome stranger winking at her is trying to save her. If she leaves with him, what might this night turn into?

Damir knows he can’t watch the beautiful woman across the restaurant cringe one more time without stepping in to help her. He promises he would take her on a much better date than the one she just left, but will she give him the chance to prove it?

He's got a past that corrupt people refuse to allow him to forget. She's come too far to get wrapped back up in the hardships she's escaped.

Can such an imperfect beginning turn into exactly what they both need?

Damir and Mariah were perfectly imperfect together. His past consisted of many mistakes and missteps, but his loving and supportive parents helped to steer him onto the right path. Now he's a successful contractor, giving back to the community.

Abuse and neglect haunted Mariah's past and it was with the love of her big brother that she was able to love and thrive.

On one seriously terrible first date, Damir comes to Mariah's rescue and his white knight behavior doesn't stop there. They quickly fall in love, discovering they both want the fugture the other envisions.

One major problem: the cops who harass Damir and won't allow him to move on from his past.

I enjoyed many elements of this story, such as...
* the easy chemistry between the characters
* how simple and sweet the secondary characters were
* the way the author illustrated the harassment Damir suffered

While I didn't find this book to be as suspenseful as it purported to be, I did find it entertaining so recommending it comes easy.

Ari Reavis is a wife and mother of five. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, she enjoys staying in, devouring books and watching movies. Her kids are running around, her husband is trying to show her martial arts moves, and she's trying to write. Her day in a nutshell.

Halligan to My Axe by Lani Lynn Vale

Standalone - The Heroes of The Dixie Wardens #2
Release - October 29, 2014
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - Kindle gift
Length - 297 pages
Publisher - Indie

You’re the Halligan...

Kettle had it all. Until he didn't.
He lost it all in a moment. One heart stopping, soul shattering moment, and there wasn't a single thing he could do about it.
From that day forward, he stayed away from relationships.
Then he responded to a possible fire and there she was, rocking his world when he didn't want it to be rocked.

To My...

Adeline was just a schoolteacher. She lived a boring life.
Until she stole something.
And it didn't have anything to do with the sexy firefighter’s heart.
Oh, she stole that, too, even if he didn't want it to be stolen.

Axe...

Kettle didn't realize just what kind of trouble Adeline was in until it nearly ripped her from his life.
There was no way anything was taking that away from him.
Not again.
One man was about to see up close and personal what fury looked like on the face of The Dixie Wardens MC’s enforcer.

Find Halligan to My Axe on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zRjDk3

Adeline was awesome! She was a unique kind of person, covered in tattoos, rescued animals, a high school science teacher, and had a huge heart. She was a terrific human being and a great sister. Her twin, Viddy, is someone I can't wait to meet. She's blind due to an accident the crazy twins were in when they were teenagers and I enjoyed watching what was developing between her and Trance. And when these sisters were together... magic!

Kettle was amazeballs! He was an amazing friend and brother and I was kind of surprised by how much depth there was to his character. I wish there was an actual discussion about the illness he suffered as a child and all that he had lost in his life, but I'm guessing what I want wouldn't have really pushed the story where it needed to go.

I will say that this was probably the most painful book I've read from LLV ever. It packed a whole lot of punch and yet it gave plenty of heartwarming moments and humor as well. It had a great balance and for all that it forced me to feel, it's more than worthy of all the stars!

Tiago/Kettle & Adeline family tree:

    Their children
        Saylor Rae Spada - Sinners Are Winners

    Kettle's family
        Shannon Spada (sister)

    Adeline's family
        Vidalia "Viddy" Sheffield (twin sister) - Kevlar to My Vest
        Jefferson Samuel Sheffield (brother)

Check out my review of the first book of the series:

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

I'm still learning to love. Be gentle with my heart. Otherwise you're going to feel the wrath that is my brother." - Ember's secret thoughts

Highway Don't Care by Lani Lynn Vale

Standalone - Freebirds #2
Release - October 1, 2013
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Dual POV - 1st person/Gabriel "Gabe" Luca Maldonado II & Ember Leigh Tremaine
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - Kindle purchase
Length - 361 pages
Publisher - Indie

Her

Snark. Jokes. Attitude.
These were all things I used to disguise the hole in my heart. I'm not a happy person. I don't live life. I just exist. That is until that beautiful man rides in on his Harley Fat Boy and burns rubber on the way into my heart.

Him

My life's been no hayride either. Everyone I've ever loved in life has died or betrayed me. So I stay back and watch. Unless you're one of my brothers, you get nothing from me. I don't participate. I ride. I eat. I sleep. I work. And I repeat. That is until Ember stomps into my life with her bad attitude. She's all piss and vinegar, and makes me want to share my bike seat for the first time.

Together

They fight like cats and dogs. Don't see eye to eye on a single thing. They rant, rave, and yell.
They bring out the best in each other. They heal each other's hearts and souls. They find what they were missing, even the things they never even knew they had.

Everything is perfect. If you didn't count a gang, one of the biggest in the South, gunning for Ember. That, or the pure evilness that is Gabe's ex-girlfriend. Gabe will have to put his life on the line to save the one woman he loves, but will it be enough?

One thing is constant in life. It's about the journey, not about the destination.

Gabe and Ember were truly beautiful together! Like many of my favorite heroes, Gabe was a bit broken, but Ember was the one to dive deep, get him to open up, give him the motivation to thrive. I adored Gabe! While I also really liked Ember, I could have done without her childishness, especially when it was paired with Cheyenne's bouts of immaturity. These characters have such huge hearts and although they (and I really mean mainly Ember) made some silly mistakes, everything they do is out of love.

The suspenseful edge of this story was actually terrifying and had my heart pumping like crazy. Gabe was a beast and I love a take-charge man who can basically take everyone out viciously and single-handedly. Yummmmm!

Okay, so there were some interesting facts I learned from this story. I got to see the origin of Gabe Jr and now meeting his father... I can see why I enjoyed If You Say So so much. I also got to see more about Cora from Ain't Doin' It and my heart broke more for her. I don't know how Lani Lynn Vale keeps all of these characters and their family trees and events straight, but I'm impressed and I can't wait to learn more.

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

Our new unit was formed in a little over a month. It consisted of nine men: Jack, James, Gabe, Elliott, Max, Dougie, Justin, Malcolm and myself. I was appointed to Captain of the unit, much to my surprise. - Sam

Boomtown by Lani Lynn Vale

Standalone - Freebirds #1
Release - June 27, 2013
Genre - Contemporary Romance (military, instant connection)
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - Kindle purchase
Length - 302 pages
Publisher - Indie

Her

I wanted to have a pity party of one when I went for that beer. I never imagined I would meet a dark and dangerous man. That man took me on the wildest ride of my life. Literally and Figuratively. He quickly became my entire world.

Him

I didn't know I was looking for her. I saw her warming that bar stool and knew she would be mine. A man like me doesn't deserve the likes of her. But damned if I didn't take it.

Her

When we met for the first time we didn't know that we already had a connection. A cruel game was being played, and we didn't know the rules. Sam would save us, but at what cost? Sam was one of my main reasons for living. If he wasn't in this world anymore, would I still want to be a part of it?

Ever read a book and wanted to know the history of a character? How did they get this way, what or who influenced them, and who they are at their core? Boomtown gave me all of that and more!

Cheyenne was having a bad day. It was her birthday and she was all alone, but she wasn't going to let that stop her from getting a little celebrating in. The bar she chose... Sam's haunt. And when he gets his first glimpse of her, something tells him he won't ever be looking away. They started off explosive, the suspense that stalked them was creepy, and their love was sublime.

I've read plenty of books by Lani Lynn Vale and one of the things I love most is that her characters, main and otherwise, just may pop up in a future story. This book not only gave me insight to the background of Free, but I learned about Sam and Cheyenne, Luke Robert's story has so much more context for me, and I saw Janie and Kayla when they were little girls. I've learned so much about characters that I've come to somewhat know and definitely love. Now I have more questions and I can't wait to discover the answers in the books to come.

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

"I watched you for four months and fell head over heels. You're perfect, and I can die knowing I found love, even if it was short. Thank you for that."

Vampire by Rebecca Zanetti

Standalone - Dark Protectors #12.5
Release - April 13, 2021
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5/it's there but not frequent or terribly descriptive - it's a novella so...
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author through InkSlinger PR
Length - 108 pages
Publisher - 1001 Dark Nights Press

Dr. Mariana Lopez has finally stopped bailing friends out of difficult situations. Well, except for substituting as the leader for another anger management group, pitching in as a campaign strategist for a prospective sheriff, and babysitting three dogs. Even with such a full life, she can feel the danger around her—a sense that something isn’t right. Nightmares harass her, until the real thing comes to life, and only the dark and sexy male sitting in her group can save her. However, with safety comes a price she might not be willing to pay.

Raine Maxwell is one of the Maxwells out of Montana, which means he's not only one of the most deadly vampires alive, but his path is set and his mate has been chosen for him. To save him—to continue his line. Unfortunately, his mate is an enhanced human female who has no idea of her abilities, of his species, or of her future. He’d like to lead her gently into this new world, but his people aren’t the only ones who’ve found her, which puts her into more danger than she can imagine. Plus, in order to follow his laws, he only has one week to convince her that immortality with him is what she wants—and needs.

Find your copy of Vampire here:
Amazon CA * Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon AU

Any time I can get my hands on a book from the Dark Protectors series, I'm here for it. After the glimpse I got in Vixen of what would be the story of Raine and Mariana, I knew I needed to know more.

Raine Maxwell is from a long line of cursed males. After centuries, if they don't find their mate, they die. Raine has found his mate and while it's love at first sight for him, he's not mating her. He knows he's dying, but he's honorable and doesn't want to drag an innocent female, no matter that she's enhanced, into the dangers of his world. So what happens when those dangers make their way to her despite his noble intentions?

Raine was über Alpha and a bit old fashioned and quickly won me over. I was invested in his mission to keep Mariana safe and silently pushed him to save his own life! I kept wanting to push him closer to her, to get him to accept his destiny, however, I also respected the author's reasons for him being hesitant to mate. Zanetti sure knows how to create amazing heroes.

I made a list of things I enjoyed about this story, such as:
🧛 Raine of course. For most of the story, I found Mariana to be rude and ignorant, incredibly abrasive, and not worth my time. However, Raine made every moment something I needed to experience, so her nonsense didn't bother me as much as it could have. Raine was just that awesome!
🧛 Tabi and Evan were there! I was so glad to see the spunky demoness and her sweet lover. It was fun to see him getting used to his new powers and that Raine considered him a friend.
🧛 BENNY!!! I freaking love this male and getting some of him here, knowing that his story is soooo close to my fingertips... such a great bonus. Oh yeah, there's also peeks from Faith and Mercy :D

The Dark Protectors series is one of my absolute favorite PNR stories of all time and I can always be counted on to buy and review. How can anyone resist hot alphas, fierce heroines, intriguing plots and twists, the danger element, the familial dynamics, the love... the everything??? If you're a fan of the series, this a neat treat to hold us over until the next book. If you're new to this series, what an amazing introduction!

Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over forty romantic suspense, dark paranormals, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Upcoming series are: The Blood Brothers, The Realm Enforcers and The Scorpius Syndrome.

Stolen by Alison Aimes

Standalone
Release - June 1, 2020
Genre - SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 340 pages
Publisher - Orchid Publishing

He’s a half-Martian Warlord. Savage, dominant, and dangerous—and now he’s on the hunt. For her.

Deception is a way of life for desperate thief Aurora Blake. Her sole purpose is to snatch enough jewels to escape her vicious stepfather, the powerful head of the corrupt Earther Corporation.

And the fierce Warlord she frames for her crimes? He's the last complication she needs.

She never expects to cross his path. Or to burn so hot after watching from the shadows as his rough commands bring exquisite pleasure to another female.

But Aurora's expectations don't matter when the Warlord wants her for himself. He won't stop until he's claimed her as his obedient mate.

Can she survive whatever he has in store once he discovers she's stolen far more than his barbarian heart?

Stolen is a sexy, standalone Alien Alpha Romance full of danger, betrayal, love, and the kind of epic steam that will have you flipping the pages fast!

Amazon * Nook * Kobo * iBooks

I can obey too, DaKar! I can so freaking obey!!

The year is 9094 and what is left of Earth is unrecognizable. After many wars, all that's left of what we call home is protected by a dome. The people of Earth are divided - the Élithe and the others. DaKar was the son of a powerful member of the council that rules over everyone. He was also half-Martian, seen and treated as an Outer World freak. He was abused and tormented for his half blood, surrounded by monsters who believed themselves somehow above him. Years later, after returning to his true home and becoming the man he was always meant to be, he arrives back on Earth to take his inheritance and finally shake things up in the oppressive culture that was propagated by the wealthy.

A chance 'meeting' when he was just a boy created a connection between DaKar and Aurora. She was Élithe and supposed to be untouchable. But DaKar isn't one for rules and Aurora can't deny what is quickly growing between them. However, she has a secret she cannot tell. When DaKar's honor is called into question, the one person he would never suspect is also the person responsible for his predicament. However, there is more at work here and I loved all of the moving parts the author introduced.

While I'm not the biggest fan of how this story reached its climax or its ending, I enjoyed the journey to get there. It was so much fun to watch all of the minor characters go about their business, gossiping, griping, and generally being pains in the behind. I was also entertained by everything about DaKar and his experiences, both as a boy and as a man. I loved the way his mind worked and I would have been happy to spend more time with him. Aurora wasn't very impressive. I get that her being a liar and a thief were meant to feature heavily in the plot, but she didn't do herself any favors.

After being introduced to this author's work with Ruthless King, I'm making it my mission to read all of her books!

Alison Aimes is the award-winning author of the sexy sci-fi romance series the Condemned as well as the sizzling contemporary romance Billionaire Bad Boys collection. A sci-fi fanatic with a PhD in Modern history, she’s an all-over-the-map kind of woman with a love for dramatic stories and great books, no matter the era. Now, she’s creating her own stories full of intrigue and passion, but always with a happy-ever-after ending. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two kids, and dog. When not in front of the computer, she can be found hanging with family and friends, hiking, trying to turn herself into a pretzel through yoga, listening to a fabulous TED talk, or, last but not least, sitting on the couch imagining her characters’ next great adventures.

Depends On Who's Asking by Lani Lynn Vale

Standalone: SWAT Generation 2.0 #12
Release: December 8, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance w/ suspense - instalove
Dual POV: 1st person
Heat level: 4 out of 5
Format/Source: eARC provided by the author
Length: 213 pages

It was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…nope. No. Nuh-uh. That’s a lie.
The moment that Caro wakes up, she knows that she’s not alone.
One thump-thump from the living room and she quickly moves into action.
One 9-1-1 call later, and she’s ready to defend herself.
Only, she gets more than she bargains for when she steps out into her living room and comes face to face with a living, breathing nightmare.
And isn’t it just fitting that the man that saves her by coming down the chimney with a large black gun in his hand is named Saint Nicholas?
***
It seemed like the start of a bad joke.
Saint Nicholas comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve night, but he isn’t there to bear gifts. He’s there to take out the trash.
When he lands on his silent feet, he has no other choice but to put himself in harm’s way.
One look at Caro’s terrified face, and he can’t stop himself.
He steps in just as the bullets start flying, saving the damsel in distress and taking a bullet to the shoulder for his trouble.
But one thing he can say is, heroes always win the girl.
And Caro is the best Christmas miracle of all.
I've read and loved every book from this series (including this one) and I can't believe it's done. Being here, at the end, is giving me such a bittersweet feeling. I have now finally really met Saint and Carolina in their very own story and while I couldn't put this book down, I didn't want to finish it either. Unsurprisingly, I loved both Saint and Carolina. From their awkward and suspenseful meet-cute to their forced quarantine to all the things that made up their connection, they were easy to fall for.

Things did get a bit messy for these two and some of the moving parts didn't really flow properly, but none of that took away from the beauty of what was developing between these characters.

I loved that Saint was an introvert because it made him so relatable. He learned (the hard way) that some people were only in your life to get what you could give. Finding Carolina, a woman who only wanted him for him and not what he could do or for who he knew, was a blessing and he didn't take that for granted.

I also adored Carolina and the organic way her feelings grew. She was patient and understanding and loyal and exactly the type of woman Saint needed in his life. The author did an amazing job of bring these people to life for me. So it's the end. And while I'm happy for the journey and sad that it's concluded, I'm excited for what's to come. Mayor Lynn's story is next and I cannot wait to get my eager little hands on it. Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.