ARC Review: BOLT: VOLUME ONE (Parts 1-2-3) by Angel Payne

June 13, 2018


Working the night shift at one of Downtown LA’s hottest hotels, Emmalina Crist has had her fair share of strange encounters—but none of them have prepared her for meeting Reece Richards, the charismatic bad boy of the Richards Resorts dynasty. Emma and Reece share an experience unlike anything they could have imagined, leaving Reece enraptured and Emma weighing the consequences of this supercharged night of passion with her boss.
But Emma learns fighting the flames only fans them, as Reece saves her life and is compelled to reveal his true identity as Bolt, the city’s superhero savior. She’s always wanted more than just a typical relationship, but falling in love with the man behind the mask is one electrifying ride. Defining their relationship is no easy task—particularly while they’re being subjected to the media’s spotlight, their families’ intrusions, and racing to stay one step ahead of the fringe scientists who want to get Reece back on their lab table.
Emma is helpless to resist Reece’s passion and power. He’s bolted her heart and soul forever. But can she reach beyond the normal expectations of reality, and even herself, to fight for the one ultimate superpower—true love?

Amazon | Goodreads

ARC Review: ON THE EDGE by CD Reiss

June 12, 2018

On the Edge by CD Reiss
"In Iraq, I promised you a bed of rose petals." He grabbed my hand under the table, tightening his grip as if he were falling from a precipice and our connection was the only thing saving him from certain death.
"They were beautiful."
"You smell like apples. Roses were wrong." There was nothing soft about his tone, but his quiet words were for me alone. "I want everything to be right for you."
"Caden, look at me."
I caught his gaze and held it. He was confident. Arrogant. Sure he had a place in the world. And under that was the man who needed me to be that place.
"If I could…" He smiled and shook his head at a silly thought he wanted to dismiss but couldn't-a contradiction in keeping with the whole man I married. "If I could write my love in the sky, it wouldn't be big enough. I'd run out of room. I'd fall out of the air trying to say it all."
He was saying it all.
Every day.
And he was falling out of the sky to do it.

ARC Review: VAMPIRE'S FAITH by Rebecca Zanetti

June 10, 2018

Vampire's Faith by Rebecca Zanetti
Vampire King Ronan Kayrs wasn’t supposed to survive the savage sacrifice he willingly endured to rid the world of the ultimate evil. He wasn’t supposed to emerge in this time and place, and he sure as hell wasn’t supposed to finally touch the woman who’s haunted his dreams for centuries. Yet here he is, in an era where vampires are hidden, the enemy has grown stronger, and his mate has no idea of the power she holds.

Dr. Faith Cooper is flummoxed by irrefutable proof that not only do vampires exist . . . they’re hot blooded, able to walk in sunlight, and shockingly sexy. Faith has always depended on science, but the restlessness she feels around this predatory male defies reason. Especially when it grows into a hunger only he can satisfy—that is if they can survive the evil hunting them both.

Amazon | Goodreads



ARC Review: ACE OF HEARTS by Chantal Fernando

June 09, 2018

Ace of Hearts of Chantal Fernando
Erin Dawson had the perfect life growing up in a perfect home with a perfect family. Her parents gave her and her sister everything a child could want. But after learning that the man she’s called “dad” her whole life isn’t actually her biological father, Erin is determined to find the man who is.

Armed with her original birth certificate, she finds her father, but begins questioning if her mom had been right all along to keep this information buried. It turns out he is the president of a motorcycle club, which could not be further from the life Erin leads. But, she’s determined to get to know the man who she gets her striking blue eyes from. Despite getting what she wants and finding her biological father, it’s the slightly older, much rougher but incredibly sexy biker Ace that catches Erin’s eye.

As the new “princess” of the Cursed Ravens, Erin is learning a whole new world, but her father has made it clear she is off limits. Will Ace follow his President’s orders or will he put his heart ahead of his duty? A sizzling tale of family and passion, Ace of Hearts features Fernando’s signature “snark and sass” (Booklist) and is perfect for fans of Kristin Ashley.

Amazon | Goodreads

ARC Review: UNTAMED by Lauren Landish

Untamed by Lauren Landish
Everyone has their first love. Mine was Aubrey O'Day.

We were high school sweethearts with our futures planned, together every step of the way.

Then one day, he disappeared.

I was shattered, left with questions and doubts.

I've worked hard to rebuild my future, to create a different life. And I have. Good job, good friends . . . but something's missing.

A decade later, he's back in my life. But he's changed. Gone is the happy-go-lucky boy I knew, replaced by a brooding, mysterious beast of a man. Gone are the boyish good looks and innocent laughter. His broad chest, rippling arms, and chiseled abs have all exploded until he's literally a mountain of pure muscle.

Still, some things haven't changed. One look from him, and the fire he lit in my belly flares back to life. But where has he been? Why did he leave me?

And can we still have that future we dreamed of so long ago?

Untamed is a full-length Romance with an HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger. You do not need to read the previous books beforehand.

ARC Review: COZEN by Bethany-Kris

June 07, 2018

Cozen by Bethany-Kris
coz-en (kuz-uhn)
verb
1. trick or deceive.
• obtain by deception.

She was named most appropriately.

Cozen Taylor has more than earned her place as one of North America’s most successful thieves. Her name is whispered amongst criminal elite as the go-to thief when someone needs a heist.

She has never failed.

A call from the Miami-based Astor family could change all that with a job that seems almost impossible to complete. The mark should be simple—a stolen family heirloom, the man who has kept it hidden for over twenty years, and six months to return the piece to its rightful owners.

Nothing is ever that easy.

Three-hundred million for a successful heist. No smart thief would turn the offer down. Cozen didn’t expect a complication like him to put a kink in her plans, though. Sargon Makri—tall, dark, gorgeous, and entirely dangerous. For her life, her heart, and for the success of the heist.

The last thing Cozen needs to be thinking about is Sargon, and how she can get him into her bed … especially when he just happens to be her mark’s bodyguard. The thrill of the job has never been more addicting to Cozen, and she will risk everything to make the heist a success.

But at what cost?

***

From author Bethany-Kris comes a whole new world. A North American network full of criminals battling to stay on top, and painting the streets red in war as they dabble in the game of betrayal. Malicious, cunning, forbidden, and violent—welcome to The Empires and Badlands.

Amazon | Goodreads


My Review


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think this will be the simplest review I’ve ever written for a book I’ve read by Bethany-Kris. If you haven’t read anything of hers before, this is a perfect example of her exemplary prose and a wise choice to get your feet wet with. And if you’re a mega fan like me, you’ll love how seemingly flawless her segue from mafia romance to plain old romantic suspense is.

Cozen is a thief looking for her last job and it happens to land in her lap at just the right time. Her skills are highly sought after because she doesn’t just steal what you’re looking for. There’s no smash-and-grab. She has the unique ability to insert herself into her target’s life, identify the mark, take the mark, and exit without anyone being the wiser. Perfect. And her tactics should have worked just as effortlessly as ever before except for one snag - an irresistible man named Sargon. While trying to seduce her target, she was also seducing him, and from first sight, she was seduced by him. And it was sexy, incredibly hot, and absolutely beautiful.

I loved so much about this story and I wish it didn’t have to end. I loved Sargon’s frustration over Cozen’s pretense. I loved how Cozen couldn’t help herself when it came to Sargon. And I loved the twists and turns that this author fed me right up until the end. I admit that I was pleasantly surprised that I was intentionally left in the dark about so much and yet I felt that the surprises only validated how much I loved these characters.

Release: 06.04.2018 | Genre:Contemporary w/ suspense | Dual POV - 3rd person | Heat: 4 | Standalone

ARC Review: THE CHURCH by Celia Aaron

June 05, 2018

The Church by Celia Aaron
Trapped.
Beaten.
Broken.
Adam destroyed himself to save me. At first, I doubt if I have the strength to go on. But with every second that passes, I seethe and curse the Prophet. My time as a Maiden is over. I refuse to be a toy in his game any longer. But there’s always more ways for the Prophet to get to me, to use me, and to keep me under his influence. Will I be strong enough to break free?

Join here: www.jointhecloister.com

Author's Note: If you have a trigger, this book will pull it. The Maiden is the first book of The Cloister Series. The Prophet will release in May, and the conclusion to the series, The Church, will release in June.

Find it here:
Amazon | Goodreads

FREE in KU

ARC Review: IN BED WITH THE BEAST by Tara Sivec

In Bed With The Beast by Tara Sivec
A tale as old as time: she needs a place to stay, he's a grump with a secret and an extra room...can love find a way?

Meet the Naughty Princess Club, a series from USA Today bestselling author Tara Sivec that brings readers to Fairytale Lane and the hilarity—and romance—that three women fall into once they decide to strut their stuff and bring on their own happily ever after.

Living in her overprotective dad’s basement, shy Belle lives her life through books. Being a part of the Naughty Princess Club is the first adventure she’s ever had, plus she desperately needs the money to save one of her favorite places - the local library.

But when her new friends and new business gets her kicked out of her dad’s house, Belle is rescued by the surly Vincent “Beast” Adams who invites her to be his house guest until she gets back on her feet. Despite his attitude problem and long list of rules, Belle finds herself warming to the muscled man with a penchant for growling and starts seeing a gentle side to him that wasn’t there before.

Yet there’s a room that Beast keeps locked and Belle keeps getting hints that Beast is hiding something…can a nerdy librarian tame the beast or will their romance be over before it has a chance to blossom?

Amazon | Goodreads


My Review


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Tara Sivec, but from what I remembered, I thoroughly enjoyed each experience. This read was no different. In Bed with the Beast was a hilarious tale loosely based on Beauty and the Beast that tackled a woman’s growth and development into self-sufficiency and independence. It told a story of kindness and charity, of funny hijinks and antics, of the bond found with family and friends, of the intricacies of interpersonal relationships, and of faith in happily ever afters. There was romance, drama, and laughs to be found in its pages. I had a blast reading it!

I could tell that I could become a huge fan of Vincent and was begging to get his perspective. I couldn’t really connect with his character and I needed him to counteract the effects that Belle had on me. Every time she doubted his feelings or motives, I wanted to shake her for ignoring the obvious. In so many big and small ways, Vincent showed her his intentions and how very much he cared for her. It hurt so much when she would disregard this or treat him disrespectfully. Hello! You had no place to go, he gave you a home, and you are being unappreciative. RUDE!! I really liked that these characters, despite their immense attraction, didn’t just jump into bed. They were able to grow beyond the physical and got to really know each other. It made their relationship that much more special.

If you’re looking for a good laugh while watching someone try to sabotage their chances at everlasting love, you won’t want to miss this!

Release: 06.05.2018 | Romantic Comedy | Heroine POV - 1st person | Heat: 2.5 | Standalone - Naughty Princess Club #2 | Publisher: St. Martin’s Press - Swerve

Review: THE BOY & HIS RIBBON by Pepper Winters

June 04, 2018

The Boy and His Ribbon by Pepper Winters
“What do you do when you meet your soul mate? No wait…that’s too easy. What do you do when you meet your soul mate and have to spend a lifetime loving him in secret?
I’ll tell you what you do.
You lie.”

REN

Ren was eight when he learned that love doesn’t exist—that the one person who was supposed to adore him only cared how much he was worth.
His mother sold him and for two years, he lived in terror.
But then…he ran.
He thought he’d run on his own. Turned out, he took something of theirs by accident and it became the one thing he never wanted and the only thing he ever needed.

DELLA

I was young when I fell in love with him, when he switched from my world to my everything.
My parents bought him for cheap labour, just like they had with many other kids, and he had the scars to prove it.
At the start, he hated me, and I could understand why.
For years he was my worst enemy, fiercest protector, and dearest friend.
But by the end…he loved me.
The only problem was, he loved me in an entirely different way to the way I loved him.
And slowly, my secret drove us apart.

ARC Review: CLAIMING HER by R.R. Banks

Claiming Her by RR Banks
F*ck with my family, and I'll destroy you.

Wealth. Power. Submission.
That's all I craved. Then I saw Olivia.
Pure. Innocent. Everything I'm not.
I knew she was mine.
To touch. To command. To possess.
I claimed her innocence and marked her as my own.
Before I could taste her sweet curves again, she disappeared.

Two years later, she's back.
But this time she has a big secret, my son.
We revisited our past.
And woke up with a ring on our fingers.
This marriage may be a mistake, but my vows are real.

Someone's still trying to keep us apart...
And whoever kept me away from my family will f*cking pay!

Amazon | Goodreads


My Review


My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Vincent and Olivia met while she was on vacation with some friends at his resort. In a little under 3 weeks, these two had some fun in the sun and fell in love. But the happiness didn't last due to a little bit of sabotage by the mean-spirited 'best friend', Charlene. Fast forward two years and these two one-time lovers meet again. Misunderstandings are explained away and the path is left open for some reconnecting. But their road to happily ever after had some Charlene-shaped obstacles to get through first.

I honestly had a good chuckle every time Charlene did something crazy. She was absolutely nuts but she definitely kept me entertained. If you're looking for an easy romance with bits of steam and tons of drama, you're looking in the right place!

Release: 06.02.2018 | Second Chance Contemporary Romance | Multiple POV - 1st person | Heat: 3.5 | Standalone

All views expressed are my own. 100% honest. 100% of the time!!

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review