Showing posts with label Security. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Security. Show all posts

Review // Feral Guardian by Ember Holt

December 18, 2023

Feral Guardian by Ember Holt

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon



Feral Guardian by Ember Holt

Feral Guardian by Ember Holt


Rating:
Standalone - The Princesses of Ruin #2
Genre/Trope: Fantasy Romance / unrequited / protection / royalty
POV: Dual 1st person
Heat: - slow build, more than descriptive and less than explicit
Source: eARC provided by the author
Length: 312 pages

A prophecy of ruin binds him to her.
She wants nothing more than to escape.

Lily has never been the delicate flower she was named after. She preferred silly pranks and dirty poetry to needlepoint and politics, which is why the queen sent her off to a “proper” royal academy. Now that her magic is developed and her manners are passable—barely—it’s time for her to return home and attract a powerful man to rule by her side. Except Lily doesn’t want a king or a kingdom. She wants freedom. And nothing feels more freeing than adventuring with her bodyguard, Alastair.

Alastair is an honor-bound knight, tied to a prophecy from his people, and he doesn’t experience desire. At least, that’s what he likes to tell himself. In truth, he wants nothing more than to sweep his ward off her feet and take her away to a dark corner of the world where he can keep her safe from that dark prophecy. There’s just one the prophecy states if Lily doesn’t become queen, the tentative peace in the kingdoms will crumble.

When their journey home from the royal academy lands Lily in the custody of cutthroat pirates, Alastair will stop at nothing to protect his princess. But the biggest danger of all may be Alastair himself, because if Lily doesn't stop trying to make him break his vow of chastity, he may forget about honor and risk everything to have her to himself.


"Why does your touch feel so good?
Like my soul is bruised and you're the salve."


Feral Guardian by Ember Holt


Now that's how you make me come back for more!

Lily is heir to the throne and Alastair is the man duty-bound to protect her. When she sent him away four years ago, he was at a loss. With his charge out of his reach, he bided his time until he would see her again. And when he did... he wasn't about to let her out of his sight ever again.

Lily has loved Alastair almost all of her life. Believing that they have no future, she sent him away to get past her feelings. However, when she sees him again, she quickly realizes how foolish and impossible it was to try to wish her feelings away.

I fell in love with everything that was brewing between these characters. I was curious about their secrets, their goals, their choices, and their end. What do the runes mean? Who are the individual gods that power these runes? Who are their true allies? Their foes? And would these two find a way to be together?

After everything the author gifted us with this book, from the danger to the romance to the utter hilarity that was Lily, I want more. I need to read the first book because Lily's older sister sounds like a hoot and I'm utterly fascinated by the unique magic all of these characters possess and wield.

If you love suspense, mystery, love and humour, you'll enjoy this story as much as I did.


Ember HoltEmber loves all things with heat! A glass of wine, a comfy, oversized sweater, and a spicy book next to a fireplace is her ideal night. She likes to read about powerful heroines and protective heroes, and write about them, too.

When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well.

Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)

Visit emberholtwrites.com for more information.

Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | BookBub

Review // Code Name: Genesis by Sawyer Bennett

March 07, 2023

Code Name: Genesis by Sawyer Bennett

I force every bit of worry, planning, and strategy out of my head, and I concentrate on this amazing woman in my arms.
The woman I once loved with all my heart—who I'm fairly certain I've fallen right back in love with. Thus, keeping her safe and taking this stalker down just became the most important thing I'll ever do in my life because I'm ready to see what waits on the other side of that for Joslyn and me.

────── ♔ ──────


Code Name: Genesis by Sawyer Bennett

Code Name: Genesis by Sawyer Bennett


Standalone - Jameson Force Security #1
Genre - Contemporary Romance with suspense elements / second chance / security
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 3 out of 5
Format - ebook
Length - 306 pages

Years ago, we were in love. She was an up-and-coming superstar and I was the security professional hired to keep her safe. We fell hard and fast, no matter how much we tried to resist one another. But not everyone around us was happy about our relationship, and a string of lies and deceit destroyed what we once had. I moved on from her and didn’t look back.

Now I’ve taken the helm of a nationally renowned protective services company, and I’m looking to rebrand my career. The newly crowned Jameson Force Security is moving from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas to the mountainous steel town of Pittsburgh, and the last thing I have time for is to deal with my past.

More than a decade has passed since our split, but even a bruised and battered heart remembers its first love. So when Joslyn Meyers comes to me for help, I reluctantly agree to keep her safe from a terrifying stalker who keeps threatening her life.

As the danger continues to intensify, it becomes clear that I’ll stop at nothing to protect the woman who turned her back on me all those years ago. Because one thing is certain—no matter how hard I try to convince myself otherwise, Joslyn still has my heart.

My Two Cents

4 "When a stalker brings back your true love" stars

Years ago, Joslyn and Kynan fell in love. She was a music and acting superstar. He was her bodyguard. Think you've heard this story before? Think again because even I was surprised by some of the things that happened here.

Joslyn is back... and she's not alone. After being attacked in her home by her stalker, she basically begs Kynan for his help. But he's not in a very charitable mood. He's still hurt by her actions years ago. She left him without any kind of explanation and he's still messed up when it comes to her. However, she's truly in distress and he can't resist her case.

First let me tell you what I liked...

❥ the creep factor of the stalker. I liked that I couldn't figure out who it was and the smooth moves he made to keep himself unrecognizable.
❥ Bebe. This woman has been through hell and I'm excited to see her happy ending. Her reunion scene with her son and her mom was so touching.
❥ Cruce and Saint. I know they get their own books and I'm looking forward to finding out more about these intriguing men.

And that's it. Notice I left out the main characters. Here's why:

❥ Joslyn left Kynan because of a dossier that outlined he was a cheating jerk. She asked no questions. She didn't confront him. Just up and left him.
❥ Kynan's opening scene with a strange woman he met at a club... it was 10 times hotter than anything her shared with Joslyn. Yet she was the love of his life. She was the one woman he truly wanted.
❥ Kynan flaunted this one-night stand in Joslyn's face. I couldn't get past it. And even though my feelings did warm up towards him in the end, it didn't take away my distaste for his earlier behavior.
❥ Joslyn didn't trust the man she hired. The man she loved.

Overall, I obviously enjoyed this book. I will be reading the others in the series. And I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a romance with a bit of suspense and a second chance at love.

The Author

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

Find more information here: https://sawyerbennett.com

Review // Set by Alessa Thorn

November 23, 2022


"I only became known as a war god in the New Kingdom, Doctor. Before that, I was a hero—god of protection and love too."
"Then how did you change to a war god? It's the exact opposite of love."
Set's laugh was silky enough that heat curled inside of her.
"If you believe that, Ayla, the you've never been in love."

────── ♔ ──────


Set by Alessa Thorn


Standalone - Gods of the Duat #1
Release - June 24, 2021
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 207 pages
Publisher - Thornstar Publishing Pty Ltd

Set thinks it’s going to be another boring day in Egypt when he's asked to protect his boss's secret daughter. Then he sees Doctor Ayla Neilos in the flesh and the god inside of him wakes for the first time in centuries.

Before he was known as a god of war, Set had been a god of protection, and he isn’t going to let anything happen to Ayla, no matter the cost.

As a doctor used to working in war zones, Ayla thought she would be prepared for the worst kind of conflict. That is until she’s kidnapped and then saved by a massive mercenary determined to keep her safe.

Not only does Ayla learn her father isn’t dead, but she’s also being baby sat by a god of war. A god who isn’t exactly acting like the villain that the stories have made him out to be.

Trying to hide from bounty hunters is hard enough, but neither Ayla or Set is going to be prepared for what they awaken in each other. With half of Egypt wanting them dead, they will both pay the ultimate price to keep each other safe.

My Two Cents

4.25 "The God of War is coming to get you" stars

After reading and loving this author's The Court of the Underworld series, I knew I needed to get my hands on her other books. I fell in love with the way she created this world full of mythical beings, walking and talking and living among us, burdened with problems both familiar and alien to us all.

Being introduced to Set was like stepping into a piece of unheard of history. I thought it was hilarious that he knew there were stories about him and that so much of what humans thought they knew... they didn't have a clue. Here was a god who had lived and loved and suffered and triumphed. A god who knew how to feel, to hurt, to distance himself from those who cared for him. And all it took for everything to come to a head was his protection detail of Ayla.

Both of these characters held such warmth that it was easy to fall into heavy like with them right from the start. And aside from the fact that my fellow nubians were somewhat white-washed, I enjoyed the heck out of this story.

There's action and adventure. Secrets and betrayals. Otherworldliness unlike anything I've read before. And the love that grew between Ayla and Set was a magic all its own.

As much as I didn't want to let this story go, I'm excited to get started on the books to come. Thoth accomplished the impossible to help these two out and he seems to be in for a world of trouble on his way to finding love. And then there's Anubis, who's been missing for a very long time. Seeing these great beings fall in love is always fun!

About the Author


Alessa Thorn believes that all monsters and villains deserve their happy endings. She prefers her clothes black, eyeliner winged and books full of hot romance. She thinks heroes are boring, so her first series 'The Court of the Underworld' centers around dark gods, monsters and villains from her favorite Greek Myths.

Find out more about this author at https://alessathornauthor.com

Review // Don't Play With Odin by Cynthia Eden

July 17, 2021


She smiled at him. Those dimples would be the end of him one day.

Don't Play With Odin by Cynthia Eden


Standalone - Trouble for Hire #2
Release - July 13, 2021
Genre - Romantic Suspense / ex-military / serial killer
Mainly Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5 / a couple of scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the publisher
Page Count - 302
Publisher - Hocus Pocus Publishing, Inc

Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3rgIIRk


Big, bad, and currently out of his element...

Odin Shaw thought he’d spend his life on a battlefield. But fate had other plans, and now the ex-Special Forces operative has just landed a new job at his best friend’s PI office. It’s one hell of a life change, and the giant “Viking” is trying to adjust, fast, but then she walks into his life.

Delicate, beautiful, and hunting a killer…

Maisey Bright has been following the news. She knows that the small PI firm just helped track a killer and get the perp locked away—so Maisey figures that the towering man sitting behind the massive desk will be perfect solution for her current predicament. The cops don’t believe her story, so Maisey has no choice. She wants to hire Odin. The job in question? Well, she needs him to help her find proof—irrefutable evidence—that her next-door neighbor is a serial killer.

The gorgeous ones are always a little bit crazy…

Odin figures the case will be a snap. He’ll prove that Maisey’s neighbor is most definitely not a serial killer. He’ll do it in record time, and he’ll score some extra cash for the PI firm. Maybe he’ll even score some points with the lovely—but obviously way too crime-enthusiast-obsessed—Maisey. Piece of cake.

It’s not a piece of cake. It’s a freaking nightmare.

When Odin steps into Maisey’s world, things seem off from the very beginning. Her neighbor is suspicious as hell, and when Maisey is nearly kidnapped after leaving her job, Odin realizes there is much more to the case than meets the eye. A whole lot more. He moves into Maisey’s place to protect her—and to keep an eye on her neighbor. But the close proximity to the maddening Maisey stirs a fierce desire inside of Odin. Maisey is smart, off-beat, sexy…and when he kisses her, Odin is a goner.

But first, the killer…

Odin and Maisey set off to uncover the truth about her neighbor, and as they dig deeper into the disappearances that have plagued the town for the last year, Odin begins to suspect that Maisey may be dead right. He also realizes that he is falling for a woman who now seems be the target of a killer. Looks like it might be time for Odin to go to battle once more. Because there is no way—no way—that anyone will hurt Maisey.

Author’s Note: Calling all true-crime enthusiasts! Maisey is your girl. She spends her nights listening to podcasts and sleuthing, but when she suspects that a killer is living next door, Maisey knows that she needs a professional partner…so Odin Shaw enters the picture. Odin has muscles for days, and he doesn’t even blink when he faces danger. He’s just the PI that she wants. Danger, romance, twists—time for their story to begin.

When it comes to the PI firm, Trouble for Hire, it seems that serial killers are lurking around every corner! Maisey Bright believes that her neighbor is a killer. Some things about him are just not adding up, and with the way women disappear around him, including her close friend, she needs him caught and for justice to be served. Realizing she can't do it by herself, she hires her own personal PI to get the job done.

Odin Shaw was an ex-military, PI extraordinare. After making headlines over their last case, his firm was known to catch some serious bad guys. Upon meeting Maisey, he thinks she's way off base with her assumptions, but she's too darn cute to turn away. Then he finds the trail of clues and quickly realizes that he will do anything to protect 'his girl'.
"You put yourself in front of me." A hard step toward her. "Don't ever do that sh!t again."
Her shoulders squared. "You put yourself in front of me all the time. It's kinda been your thing since we met."
Another hard step. "Damn straight it's my thing." He towered over her. "In case you missed it, I'm bigger than you, stronger than you, and a million times meaner than you. I can take a threat. I can take an attack."
I loved how quickly these two characters connected on an emotional level. It was intense and the suspenseful events only made their bond stronger. I'm here at the end of the book and I want more. I still have to read War's book, which started it all, and Jinx's book is next, which promises to be hilarious, passionate and fierce. I do hope that there will be a book for Ramsay. I'd love to see if his lost love will ever remember him and how much he meant to her.


Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

For more about this author and her books, check out her website: http://www.cynthiaeden.com/

Material Witness by Lisa Mondello // Review

May 13, 2021

Material Witness by Lisa Mondello

She knew he would have taken the bullet for her, with or without a vest. It both filled her heart with love and with colossal fear.


Material Witness by Lisa Mondello

Material Witness by Lisa Mondello


Standalone - Heroes of Providence #1
Release - January 1, 2012
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Primarily Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5/a couple of barely descriptive scenes
Format/Source - Amazon Kindle purchase
Length - 237 pages
Publisher - Indie

Bestselling crime novelist, Cassie Alvarez, aka Cassie Lang, had murder on her mind when she walked into Rory's Bar under dressed and under cover to research her latest crime novel. Researching the cool, blue-eyed and dashingly handsome man at the end of the bar stirred her senses more than she wanted to admit. But was this man of leather armor all he appeared to be?

Playing White Knight to an innocent wasn't how Detective Jake Santos planned to spend his time under cover. But there was no way "CJ" was what she claimed to be and that nagging tightness in Jake's chest told him he'd better take her home to safety and leave it at that. Then the barroom exploded with gunfire, leaving a trail of dead that includes a notorious Providence crime boss and an undercover FBI agent. When Cassie's name is leaked to the media as the only witness to the grisly murders, Cassie insists she only trusts Jake to protect her.

The FBI wants their star witness happy and will do anything to make sure Cassie testifies. But it is clear to Jake that the shooter isn't the only person who wants Cassie dead. Not knowing who to trust, he vows to protect Cassie at all cost despite the fact that guarding the beautiful novelist is a serious distraction.

I was attracted to the blurb for Material Witness and I have no regrets! I love me some romantic suspense, and while I did find this story to be a bit ridiculous, inaccurate, and predictable, I enjoyed the heck out of this read.

Cassie was a woman who wrote crime fiction for a living and she was pretty good at it... if you chose to neglect the fact that it wasn't wholly accurate or that she naively put herself in dangerous situations in order to research whatever she was writing about. I found her to be a bit deluded when it came to real life as opposed to the fiction she wrote. Who goes into a mob-run bar to conduct research for a fiction novel? Seriously? At least Detective Jake Santos had a reason to be there, seeing as he was undercover. Anyway, her being there ties her whole life up in knots because she's a witness and someone doesn't want to leave her alive.

It was pretty obvious who some of the bad guys were, but I was still caught off guard. I enjoyed the way the story developed and the way the suspense brought the characters closer together. If someone recommended another book from this author for me to read, I'd definitely give it a go!
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, Lisa Mondello, has held many jobs in her life but being a published author is the last job she'll ever have. She's not retiring! She blames the creation of the personal computer for her leap into writing novels. Otherwise, she'd still be penning stories with paper and pen.

Visit http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com/ for more information!

Die For Me by Cynthia Eden

October 11, 2020

Die For Me by Cynthia Eden
"We aren't who our pasts say we are. Damage doesn't define us. We define ourselves."
Die For Me by Cynthia Eden

Die For Me by Cynthia Eden

Standalone
Genre - Romantic Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon

She thought her fiancĂ© was the perfect man—until he turned out to be the perfect killer…

Katherine Cole is running for her life, desperate to escape the Valentine Killer—so-called because he stabs his victims through the heart and leaves them holding a telltale single red rose. Still he tracks her to New Orleans and begins carving a bloody path to her door. But this time, Katherine refuses to run any farther. This time, she’ll do anything to stop the madman she once loved, even trust the sexy cop promising to keep her safe…

Detective Dane Black never lets his emotions interfere with his job, even as the Valentine Killer surfaces in New Orleans to stalk his prey. But when Dane agrees to protect the killer’s ex-fiancĂ©e, Katherine Cole, he can’t ignore the passion kindling between them. After a single unforgettable night binds them body and soul, Dane knows he won’t rest until Katherine is safe in his arms—and the Valentine Killer is dead.

DARK 'N' DEADLY by Tee O'Fallon

October 16, 2019

DARK 'N' DEADLY by Tee O'Fallon
Secrets will tear them apart.

ONLY FOR ME by Cynthia Eden

September 21, 2019

ONLY FOR ME by Cynthia Eden

Find your copy of Only For Me here:
Goodreads | Amazon

CLAIMING SARAH by Susan Stoker

August 28, 2019

CLAIMING SARAH by Susan Stoker

Add it to Goodreads
Find it here:
Amazon | B & N | Book Depository | Indigo

QUIET MAN by Kristen Ashley

August 14, 2019

Dreams Really Do Come True
Lottie believes that time is running out.
She's got no man. She's got no kids. She's not getting any younger.
She wants more.
But a stalker throws a spanner in the works.
Can't have a future if you're not alive. Right?
So she gets a bodyguard.
Mo is everything she could ever want in a man.

There was so much to love about this story! Quiet Man gave me instalove at its finest! I adored the development of the relationship between Lottie and Mo. I loved how they were together without being together, right from the start. There was no denying that they belonged to each other. I loved how they didn't always agree with one another and yet found ways to make their relationship work. I loved the bonds they shared with their circle of people and how all of those people blended to make a gigantic circle of family.

I'd like to point out that Mo had a good and strong point. Lottie's a stripper. There aren't many men out there envisioning their forever woman showing the goods to complete strangers on a regular basis. I'm not knocking the career choice. I've got friends who are or have been strippers. But is that ALL you want to do? What happens when you have children? Are you still going to be a headlining stripper? Lottie was right in that there's a double standard, but men and women ARE different. It's a fact. Therefore you can't color each gender with the same brush. She's a stripper not because she has to be but because she wants to be. Kudos! You like the attention. But to say you're not encouraging men to fantasize or degrade??? It's all about supply and demand and I'm sorry, but strippers aren't solving world hunger or fighting for world peace.

Anyhoo... I laughed. A lot. And I swooned during many of Mo's chapters. He and Lottie were simply awesome characters that I felt lucky to read about. I also enjoyed getting to meet so many side characters and I'm excited to read their books. Fans of KA will get a chance to visit with the Rock Chicks and the Hot Bunch and meet a ton of other hot guys to fall in love with. While I wanted the suspenseful part of the story to carry through to much farther than it did, I still enjoyed everything I got. I will always be a fan of these grunting and growling alphas and their sassy ladies!

Goodreads | Amazon

BROKEN WITH YOU by J. Kenner

July 01, 2019

Broken With You by J. Kenner
True love never fades...

After surviving a troubled childhood, Denise can’t believe that she’s blissfully married to her partner and soulmate. She’s confident that not even Mason’s long-term, deep-cover assignment will shake their bond. And she certainly doesn’t anticipate that when he finally walks back through her door that he’ll have no memory of her, himself, or their time together…

When Mason is pulled out of an operation gone bad, all he knows is what he’s told — that he was a covert agent, that he has information vital to national security somewhere in his head, and that they can tell him no more for fear of burying those hard-fought secrets even further. They tell him nothing else; not even that the beautiful woman who makes his heart beat faster is not just his partner, but also his wife.

The secret she must keep wrecks Denise, who wants only to return to Mason’s arms. But despite the desire that still burns hot between them, she can’t tell him who she is—or that she’s carrying his child.

But when dark forces threaten both their lives in order to retrieve the information trapped in Mason’s mind, it’s not their past that will be tested, but the tenuous new love now burning hot between them.

DESCENDED FROM SHADOWS by D.G. Swank

May 19, 2019

Descended From Shadows by DG Swank
For centuries, Phoebe Whelan’s family of witches and mages has guarded the Book of Sindal, a tome filled with spells so evil it could destroy the world. After their parents’ death six years ago, it’s up to Phoebe and her older and younger sisters—Rowan and Celeste—to guard the book with their magic and their supernaturally fortified land. But Celeste’s expression magic is wild and untamed, and without their mother’s calming influence, Celeste is slowly going mad.

When the book—and Celeste—go missing, the Valarian Small Council believes Celeste stole the deadly book of spells. When they assign Captain Brandon Cassidy, the head of the Magical Protective Force and Phoebe’s former high school crush, to look for book, and things get a whole lot more complicated

Soon it becomes apparent a dark force has taken the book, which will only open with the blood of all three Whelans. The Dark Set has the strongest sister, now it needs the blood of the other two. Brandon’s mission quickly changes to include her protection, but Phoebe’s goal has remained the same—find the book and her sister, prove Celeste’s innocence, and let nothing get in her way, including her reawakened feelings for the man at her side.