Conjugal Visits by Lani Lynn Vale // ARC Review

February 13, 2021

Conjugal Visits by Lani Lynn Vale

"There won't be anyone else. You're..."
"You're it for me, too," I interrupted her thoughts. "There won't be anyone else."
How could there be, when I was so in love with Beckham Spurlock that I couldn't even think about being with anyone else?


Conjugal Visits by Lani Lynn Vale

Conjugal Visits by Lani Lynn Vale


Standalone - Souls Chapel Revenants MC #2
Release - February 23, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance/second chance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5/frequent
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 236 pages
Publisher - Indie

Don’t ever, ever, ever go near that boy. Not unless you want to be a single mother at seventeen. That boy is Bad with a capital B.

The words that my father spoke to me when it came to Trouper Aoki didn’t scare me like they probably should.

In fact, they only made me intrigued all the more.

When it came to Troup, there was just no resisting fate when it came to the two of us.

Even at eighteen, when we went our separate ways with the promise to come back to each other once we were done pursuing our careers, I knew he would always be it for me.

And color me surprised when eight years after making that pact with Trouper, we were once again reunited. Only this time in an undercover FBI investigation—me, the FBI officer, and Troup call sign ‘State’ as a military liaison.

Trouble always finds him. You’d do better to run far, far away.

Truer words had never been spoken.

From the time Troup was a young boy, he’d been in some kind of trouble.

So it only goes to show when he winds up in the FBI investigation with none other than Beckham Spurlock, his high school sweetheart, things are bound to go wrong.

Only, he has no idea how wrong until things go bad. Really, really bad.

All it takes is saving her by hurting another for him to see the wrong side of a jail cell.

To make matters worse, he has to live the next fifteen years in prison knowing that his son will grow up without him. And the woman he loves will likely move on to a man that isn’t so much trouble.

Trouper Aoki and Beckham Spurlock are endgame! They know it, I know it, and pretty soon, you'll all know it. Why? Because no matter the distance, the obstacles, the interfering, or the years, they belonged together. It was so obvious to anyone who reads about them and the author did an incredible job of showcasing their bond.
She was it for me, and I was it for her.
Troup was literally the bad boy next door. The one Beckham's father (Foster) wanted her to have nothing to do with. The one who didn't quite fit in but fit so well with her. From high school and beyond, what they had is what everyone should aspire to have. Shoot, not even prison could keep these two apart. They needed each other like one needs air, food and water. What they had was so freaking beautiful and their love, their story, deserves all of the stars!!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ZqJ2QJ
Nook: https://bit.ly/2OoOYan
iBooks: https://apple.co/3jM5o8p
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3jOk0Eu


I flipped on the lights when she paused about halfway into the living and she gasped.
I knew what she was seeing.
The entire place was bare.
Sure, there was furniture, but there was no real 'life' to the space.
When you moved around a lot, you didn't really like to gather a lot of extra 'crap'.
Extra crap just meant that you would have to pack it and move it.
But there were a few personal items over my mantle, right underneath where I'd mounted the television.
Sometimes, during commercials, or hell, even during my shows, I'd find myself looking at the photos and not the television.
She walked to the photos and stopped in front of the most recent one that we had taken together.
The photo of us on Easton's graduation night.
Easton had taken it for us outside the restaurant that we'd gone to with his mother.
Even after an awkward as hell dinner, we still managed to have a good time.
And I knew that the woman that was the love of my life was the reason for that.
She could make any situation, good or bad, better just by being there.
That particular night it's been windy.
Beckham's hair had been flying all over the place.
The photo was of her hair flying, and her hands at her hair to try to hold it in place. Her eyes were shut, and there was a huge smile on her face as she laughed openly.
Then there was me, staring down at her in awe.
Love was plain to see on my face, and it was more than obvious that she was it for me.
She was my one and only.

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.

You can find out more about her and her amazing books on her website: https://lanilynnvale.com/

The Cyborg's Secret Baby by Cynthia Sax

February 09, 2021

The Cyborg's Secret Baby by Cynthia Sax

When they were together, they could be themselves.


The Cyborg's Secret Baby by Cynthia Sax

The Cyborg's Secret Baby by Cynthia Sax


Standalone - In the Stars Romance
Release - September 25, 2018
Genre - SciFi Romance/secret baby/cyborg/second chance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - Kindle purchase
Length - 177 pages
Publisher - Indie

A fierce cyborg warrior and his curvy human female share a no-longer-so-little secret.

Stealth, a K Model cyborg, knows his passion for Zebrina, the commander’s human daughter, is forbidden, yet he can’t resist the curvy female. He craves her touch, cherishes her sounds of pleasure, would do anything to keep her safe.

When he’s faced with the choice of protecting his fragile human or living to see the next sunrise, he chooses her, always her, sending Zebrina halfway across the universe to safety. He doesn’t realize their stolen moments had consequences neither of them believed possible.

After hearing her warrior died in battle, Zebrina focuses on the last gift he gave her. Doing what is right for their child is her sole priority. She will put their son’s happiness first, even if that means choosing another male over the love of her life.

The Cyborg’s Secret Baby is a STAND-ALONE story loosely connected to the Cyborg Sizzle series.
It is also a Second Chance Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, often-violent universe.


Stealth is a cyborg, destined to die in battle, and Zebrina was the commander's daughter, a human, someone he wasn't even supposed to look at, much less touch. But touch he did... and so much more. When their planet is no longer safe, they make the decision to leave and finally live together openly. However, Stealth is a soldier and when it comes to protecting his mate, he's always willing to lay his life on the line.

A couple of years later, Zebrina is raising their son alone, separated from the other colonists due to heavy amounts of discrimination, and desperately clinging to the hope that Stealth is still alive. When he finally reaches her, they not only get the chance to rejoice in their reunion, but they have to learn each other again and figure out how to work as a family.

I enjoyed the fact that this story explored speciesism and didn't shy away from how ugly it could be. I loved how fierce these characters were in the face of such ignorance and irrational hate, how compassionate they were despite the negativity, and how their love grew so strong in the midst of it.

This was such an easy read. There is just something about Cynthia Sax's writing and the cyborgs she creates that I can't get enough of! Her stories are special, her characters are a wonder, and she's definitely earned her place on my must-read list.

Amazon
Kobo
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The battle for the thirty strides of terrain had been fierce. Stealth’s form was riddled with projectiles. Hunks of flesh hung off his face and chest. His back had been blasted bare by explosions, his body armor long gone. The pain was excruciating.

He had a smile on his face.

Being a K Model cyborg, he loved to fight. His brutal masters, the Humanoid Alliance, had manufactured him for that purpose. He and his brethren remained enslaved to them and couldn’t choose their opponents, but they could defeat them with zeal.

That wasn’t the reason for his joy.

After ten planet rotations of separation, he would finally return to the Humanoid Alliance base with his brethren. He would see his female, the one being genetically compatible with him.

From the moment, Zebrina, the commander’s daughter, had arrived on Ahki, he had been hers. He’d been standing outside with his fighting batch, being inspected for damage. She’d skipped down the ramp, her generous curves jiggling, her black curls bouncing against her brown cheeks.

His female had been a vibrant beam of hope in a gray and dismal world. Everyone, including himself, had been drawn to her.

Then her delectable scent filled his nostrils and that attraction multiplied exponentially. His circuits surged. His heart pounded. A part of him that had been deactivated came online. It had taken all of his willpower to keep his expression blank.

She said hi to everyone, her light, bubbly tone belying the keen intelligence in her big blue eyes. Stealth and his fellow cyborgs had been included in her greeting, much to their delight.

The commander, a harsh human she referred to irreverently as Daddy, told her not to talk to the machines. Zebrina giggled and said they looked like her dollies.

She then brushed her fingers across Stealth’s right shoulder, a light touch he felt to his metal frame, and he knew the attraction was mutual. Their relationship was doomed. She was human, the daughter of his tormenter, and he was a cyborg, designed to die fighting.

Every moment with her was a gift, a reward for having survived as long as he had.

USA Today bestselling author Cynthia Sax writes contemporary, SciFi and paranormal erotic romances. Her stories have been featured in Star Magazine, Real Time With Bill Maher, and numerous best of erotic romance top ten lists.

She lives in a world filled with magic and romance. Although her heroes may not always say, “I love you,” they will do anything for the women they adore. They live passionately. They play hard. They love the same women forever.

Cynthia has loved the same wonderful man forever. Her supportive hubby offers himself up to the joys and pains of research, while they travel the world together, meeting fascinating people and finding inspiration in exotic places such as Istanbul, Bali, and Chicago.

To find out more about Cynthia Sax and her books, visit her website: http://cynthiasax.com/

Forbidden Flame by Alison Aimes // ARC Review

February 08, 2021

Forbidden Flame by Alison Aimes

When he'd intercepted that package, he'd been searching for revenge.
He'd been delivered salvation instead.


Forbidden Flame by Alison Aimes

Forbidden Flame by Alison Aimes


Standalone - Ruthless Warlords #1.5
Release - February 8, 2021
Genre - SciFi Omegaverse Romance/revenge plot
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4.5 out of 5
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 138 pages
Publisher - Indie

He's out for revenge. She's out to escape. Neither intends to fall in love.

His instructions are simple: do not open the bag. To escape exile and enact revenge, crime boss Magnus Avitus agrees to play the part of errand boy. But when the volatile package he’s been tasked with delivering begins to squirm, he has to take a peek. He never expects to come face-to-face with her. Or to have everything inside him roar "mine."

Her plans are simple: escape the bag and those intent on using her. But when omega Amora Rose's prison is unpacked before she can free herself, she is claimed by ferocious, scarred warlord who makes her heart whisper "mine."

Except she has a secret that’s about to send all their simple plans up in flames.

I know I'm not the only one who loves a good revenge plot. When it's paired with an irresistible couple, set in an omegaverse, I'm gobbling it up! In Forbidden Flame, both Magnus and Amora have experienced their share of pain and betrayal. With each other, they found the unexpected - compassion, understanding, and fated love. He was determined to exact his vengeance on the traitors who exiled him and she was the perfect weapon. Together, they were fierce and powerful. Together, they could finally have it all.

I'm seriously in love with everything I've come across from this author. And again, Alison Aimes has delivered a must-read romance I have to recommend! I was in a huge book slump and this story was not only unputdownable, but easy and fun to read... oh and it was very, very hot!

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During all her abductions -- and there'd been plenty -- she'd never encountered an Alpha like this one before. He was bigger and stronger than any she'd ever come across. More savage and wild too. He could really hurt her.
But it was hard to hold on to that worry when each of his rumbled commands only made her burn hotter.
Because he was also the most mouthwatering, sexy Alpha she'd ever seen.
Too much more of his scent and dirty promises, and she'd be in heat.
Then they'd both be in real trouble.

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.

Find all of her information and other books on her site: https://alisonaimes.com/

Trapped by Alison Aimes // Review + Excerpt

February 07, 2021

Trapped by Alison Aimes

"Pain and pleasure." His voice was a dark rasp against her ear. "That's how you know you're alive, fighter girl. That's how you know you've got something left to give."


Trapped by Alison Aimes

Trapped by Alison Aimes


Standalone - The Condemned #1
Release - March 1, 2016
Genre - Dystopian SciFi Romance
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook purchase
Length - 236 pages
Publisher - Orchid Publishing

“Convicts don’t ask. They take.”

Marooned on a primitive prison planet , Bella West has one chance for survival until rescue arrives: trade her body for protection.

The ripped hulk who claims her is more beast than man. Convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, ex-soldier Caine Anders has lost his humanity after eight grueling years on a hazardous planet of dirt, rock, and treacherous inhabitants.

He looks out for himself and never grows attached. So, when the bold female offers him pleasure in return for protection, he takes the deal without hesitation. He never expects her touch to alter him. Or to feel something beyond lust.

But caring for someone on Dragath25 may be the greatest hazard of all. And, as the dangers multiply, it’s no longer certain whether she’ll be the key to his salvation or his destruction....

The first book in the Condemned Series, TRAPPED is a stand alone, action-packed, sexy sci-fi romance with a HEA, a strong heroine willing to do what it takes to survive, and a scorching hot, broken alpha hero you can’t help but fall in love with.

"You're everything to me, fighter girl. I'd die for you."

It's the year 9015 and Earth is destroyed. Desperate to find new resources to replenish all that has been lost, Earth has sent scientists and soldiers to their prison planet to see if there's anything there that can help. After their ship crashed, killing most of the crew, Bella makes the sacrifice that enables their survival - anything Convict wants, he can have. And oh how quickly obligation turns to love!
"I don't know what the future holds, but I do know nothing has ever felt as right as your hand in mine."

Her body to preserve the lives of her friends seems like a noble sacrifice. Dragath25 is a danger zone and she needs someone who knows the terrain to keep them going until rescue can come. However, surviving soon turns into thriving and Convict may just be the most honorable, most kind, and most amazing male she has ever met.
He liked her spirit. Her courage and the way she looked out for her colleagues and her siblings. He liked her toughness and her tenacity. Her resilience and her sense of fairness. Even her fierceness when he was being an ass.

Okay, so this story was steamily interesting and reaffirmed my love for all things Alison Aimes. I'm still new to reading from the scifi romance genre, but she has quickly earned a spot on my must-read list!

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

A splash sounded. Powerful ripples washed against her back like a surging tide. He was coming for her.

She whirled and discovered small bubbles on the surface of the water. An inky cloud of red and brown streamed in all directions followed by foamy white. Then a dark head broke the surface and he was standing before her, waist high in the water, a mud man no more.

Her mouth opened on a tiny o.

Without the dirt, dark, thick hair, shorn close to his scalp, was now visible. Along with olive skin, a wide forehead, low brows, firm lips, and a square jaw. Tiny droplets left his long lashes spikey while rivulets of water tracked over chiseled cheekbones down his sculpted chest and abdomen to a small trail of dark hair that snaked from his belly button to disappear into the water. Scars of various length and width tracked across miles of pure, hard muscle.

My God, mud man was a flesh and blood man—an incredibly masculine one. If she’d met him at the Academy or the barracks on Earth, she would have been unable to stop staring. He was that beautiful.

Then his hand shot out and her daze shattered.

With a hiss, she stumbled back.

One dark eyebrow rose. “Here.”

She looked down to see a small white bar in his hand.

“It’s soap.” His tone was brusque. “The drones dump trash from Earth. Use it.”

“Thank you.” It took all her courage to reach out and take the bar from his hand. “I—I’ve never used it before. The Academy only allows lasers for cleaning. The use of water was banned a long time ago.” She stopped short.

Of course, he knew that. He wasn’t from some distant galaxy. He was from Earth. He just wasn’t welcome there anymore.

His lips flat lined. “I’ve been here a while, but not as long as that.”

Was that a joke? His expression offered no clue.

“Of course.” Hands shaking, she took the soap and rubbed it against her arm. The blood stayed put. She rubbed harder.

She hadn’t expected this…this talking. Or the kindness of a bath—with soap. It was confusing.

“You need the water to make it work.” Rough hands reached out and took the soap, dunking it under the water, making that same foamy circle she’d seen before.

“Turn around.” His voice had gone husky again.

That overworked heart of hers started up double time once again. Her feet remained planted where they were.

He waited for longer than she would have expected before he spoke again, his jaw locked tight. “Anything?” It was a reminder. A reproach. A challenge.

And her last chance to change her mind.

Her eyes sunk shut. I can do this. I need to do this.

She whirled around, bracing for a grab. A strike. But the deliberate slow glide of a calloused fingertip down the bumps of her spine slammed through her with more force than any blow.

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.

Find all of her information and other books on her site: https://alisonaimes.com/

The Young & the Sinner by V.T. Do // ARC Review

February 02, 2021

The Young & the Sinner by V.T. Do

The Young & the Sinner by V.T. Do

The Young & the Sinner by V.T. Do


Standalone - The Entangled Past series
Release - February 15, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance/age gap
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - extremely slow build/4 out of 5
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 469 pages
Publisher - Indie

Mason:
Olivia Williams is everything I’m not supposed to want. Pure. Sweet. Young.
I know better than to seduce an innocent. I know better than to fall for my brother’s ward. There is just something about her that I can’t get enough of. Something I can’t stay away from.
I tried to resist her in the beginning. Tried to leave her alone—let her heal from her family’s mistake. Let her grow up in that happy existence she is trying so hard to build with my brother.
Then tragedy strikes, and I find I can no longer stay away from her. I want to protect her from every hurt in this world, protect that innocence in those deep, brown eyes. But can I protect her from myself? What happens when you’re the reason the girl you love is hurting? What happens when you are the villain in her fairy tale? Can she ever forgive me for my past sins? And more importantly, would she want to when all of my hideous secrets come to light?

Olivia:
Mason Kade is everything I’m not. Dominant. Confident. Beautiful…
Sinner.
I know better than to fall for that enigmatic smile of his. I know better than to fall for my guardian’s brother. There is just something about him that makes me want to sink in a little deeper each time. He is the one temptation I can’t abstain from. Even when he tries to resist us, I see the truth in those bottomless blue eyes of his. He wants me. And I will do whatever it takes to keep him.
I should have listened to his warning instead. I know better than to build my hopes and dreams on a fairy tale. Yet, I naively thought he would be my happily ever after.
That’s my mistake.
I think a great age gap romance might be one of my not-so-secret secret pleasures. In The Young & the Sinner, Olivia is a young woman who has had to deal with her fair share of heartbreak. From abandonment to secrets, she's had a rough go at growing up. Fortunately for her, she's got two beautiful, supportive, understanding, and protective men in her life - Max and Mason Kade. One is the father figure she's always wanted. The other is her chance at love. And while Mason had his own painful past and a huge secret to share, there was no denying their inevitable connection and the emotions that would bond them.

This read more like a coming-of-age romance than anything else. It took a long while for the relationship to build and to be. I think my biggest issue with this story was that it was too long. There was so much time spent on Olivia's repetitive thoughts and emotions that it felt like it took forever to get to the meat of the story. Slow build would be an understatement, however, when it finally came, it was hot and sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the writing, the main characters, and even the side characters proved to be interesting. I loved Max the most though. I know, I was surprised too. With someone like him in your corner, you can't help but be the best you can be. He was awesome!!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tr8SSr


V.T. Do grew up in beautiful Colorado with words on her mind and dreams in her eyes. Writing is the best way for her to express herself, and she has been doing that for as long as she can remember. When she's not writing, you can find her talking to herself, daydreaming, hunting magical creatures, and obsessively reading. The Mess You Left Behind is her first book, and with many more coming soon!

Books Written Before I Was Born


Happy Tuesday and welcome to another TTT! I almost missed making this post (again) because I got all caught up in Animal Crossing. I know, I know... I'm addicted. Whatever! I've finally got a 5-star island and I intend to keep it that way!! Anyhoozits... This meme is hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl and this week's TTT theme is Books Written Before I Was Born. I decided to show you the books that were published in the year of my birth that I actually read. Can you guess what year I was born in?

the neverending story

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende


flowers in the attic

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews


the bloody chamber

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter


Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected by Roald Dahl


amelia bedelia helps out

Amelia Bedelia Helps Out by Peggy Parish


oh say can you say

Oh Say Can You Say by Dr. Seuss


the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams


the dead zone

The Dead Zone by Stephen King




Have you ever read any of these books? I have a few of them slated as re-reads for some time in my life. Have you guessed my birth year yet?

xo, Natalie

January 2021 Recap

February 01, 2021


It's a new year and I thought my reading would improve, but sadly... no. I guess having 2021 roll in didn't make my reading go any faster. I find I'm reading even less than usual. But at least I'm reading, so I'll continue to count my blessings.

I hope we all find amazing reads in February!

The Best of January


See my review HERE

The other books I've read this month, which were all pretty great, include:
Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters
Twisted Together by Pepper Winters
Repeat Offender by Lani Lynn Vale
Girl Meets Boys by Ari Reavis
Captain by Lauren Rowe
Stolen by Alison Aimes
The Revelation of Light and Dark by Sawyer Bennett
Ball Peen Hammer by Lauren Rowe
Call You Mine by Claudia Burgoa

Book Haul



Added to my TBR


Coldhearted Heir by Michelle Heard
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Heiress by Molly Greeley
Riot House by Callie Hart
The Songbook of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon
About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken