2018 Wrap up

I’ve read and reviewed 146 books this year. That’s only the books that I have read and reviewed. I have read some other books that I did not review, but read just because I wanted to. Either they were part of a series that I read, or because they interested me otherwise. I was introduced to some new authors to me this year and I look forward to new authors to me in 2019 as well. Some of the books I read were really great and others were alright. I also now have 100 followers on my blog. That’s very exciting to me.

My wish is for everyone to have a Very Happy New Year and a wonderful 2019 full of reading. I look forward to reading more books by several authors that I really love to read; such as Bry Ann, A. Zavarelli, Maya Hughes, T.L. Smith, Tia Louise, Tijan, Sue Colletta, Laramie Brisco, and Natasha Knight just to name a few.

Review of Cavalier (A Crimson Elite Novel), by T. L. Smith

Wow! This book was a great read. The men of Crimson Elite are all handsome, ruthless, and very in control of their lives and their business, that is until Creed meets Elicea. They own Crimson Elite, the most exclusive sex club in the world, and no is allowed to talk about it. If they do, they will regret it.

Creed Christopher in one of four friends who owns Crimson Elite, he’s the guy who brings in the women for club. He knows how to read them and he knows who will be the best for the club. He is the quiet one. He believes that he only has enough love in his heart for mother and no one else. So when he sees Elicea Beckham, he doesn’t know what it is about her that draws him to her.

Elicea Beckham is a woman who does not appreciate anyone touching her, so when she has finally taken all she can from being touched at work, she decides that she better quit before she gets fired because she retaliated against a man who has touched her too many times while she is working. She is a woman who needs her job to make ends meet, but she just can’t do it anymore. When Creed offers her a job making double what she is making, she can’t walk away from it. The attraction she has to him will have to be pushed aside.

I really liked this story and hope that there will be more on the other guys from Crimson Elite. I would love to read about all of these men finding the one woman who can bring them to their knees just like Elicea did to Creed.

I give this story a 4.5 star review and highly recommend it to anyone who likes to read about powerful men who find that one woman who can bring them to their knees and find their HEA.

RELEASE BLITZ AND REVIEW OF A MAFIA ROMANCE: BELLA (The Beginning and the Ending), BY KIMBERLY SOTO @givemebooksblog @kimblalockAngel

RELEASE BLITZ
Title: Bella
A Mafia Romance
Series: Sagatori Family Saga
Author: Kimberly Soto
Genre: Mafia Romance
Release Date: December 19, 2018

1 Bella: The Beginning

I wanted to know Bella in every way, but she didn’t want to know me, not the man I really am—not with the secret I swore with a blood oath to protect. I swore this secret would die with me. The truth is hidden within the darkness of her past and it’s fuelin’ a war with the Bratva. Their comin’ and it won’t be long before they threaten everything I love.

I hated him for the things he’d taken from me. I hated him for the love he’d refused me.
I know now that being forced to marry him wasn’t the worst that could’ve happened to me. I’m a woman born into a man’s world. I’ve stood tall and held my own, but now the people that want my family dead, aren’t far behind.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42205829-bella

PURCHASE LINKS

US: https://amzn.to/2Et5dNw
UK: https://amzn.to/2C5bsoo
CA: https://amzn.to/2SGCcku
AU: https://amzn.to/2QPGokw
B&N: http://bit.ly/2PE0qtC
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2PwdZvh
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2CdIYZq

Audiobook coming soon

2 Bella: The Ending

Protecting Bella had always been the plan and the only thing I ever wanted. Accepting her father’s offer to love and protect her was an honor. And I would honor that until the day I died, but I could no longer be what she needed or wanted. After her rescue in Russia I wasn’t the same…I was dangerous to her and to myself.

Since the day I’d become Mrs. Jax Moretti I’d seen my share of bloodshed. I’d been taken and threatened, but I was strong and I’d survive. What I hadn’t considered was Jax’s survival, because that… I had never questioned before. I had never doubted that he would handle the threats and action the Bratva were taking against our family. I never doubted his love for me or that he would do what needed to be done to protect us.
I should have…

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42206013-bella

PURCHASE LINKS

US: http://1click.bz/BellaEndingAMZNUS
UK: http://1click.bz/BellaEndingAMZNUK
CA: http://1click.bz/BellaEndingAMZNCA
AU: http://1click.bz/BellaEndingAMZNAU

Will be available at other retailers & in audiobook soon

AUTHOR BIO

Kimberly is an International Bestselling author and has been writing since she was a young girl growing up in Kansas City, Mo. Reading and writing has always been a big part of her life. She enjoys a world she can get lost in while reading a good book. A wife to a wonderful husband and mother of their six beautiful children. She spent some time chasing down fugitives as a bounty hunter then laid down her hand cuffs and finished her college degree in nursing degree and now she is a full time Author.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://www.kimberlysoto.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/author_kimberly_soto
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorKimberlysoto
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/357341127777200
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kimberly-soto

MY REVIEW:

Wow, this book really drew me in until the end. I stayed up until 3:00 am to finish it because I hated to put it down. It is one of those books where I thought if I put it down the characters would do something without me.

Isabella Sagatori is a Mafia Princess who does not always conform to the Cosa Nostra’s views of how women in the Familia should act. Or is she who she thinks she is?

She has a brain and likes to use it. However, since her father is the Boss of Bosses, she has to abide by the rules that he sets for her and she tries her best to do that. 

Jax Moretti is the boss of the Chicago outfit of the Cosa Nostra and a man who rescues Isabella from a Capo who wants her as his. Jax is a higher ranked man than the Capo and after he is asked to meet with the Boss of Bosses, Anthony Sagatori, he will find out his future, whether he is prepared or not.

Isabella is a woman who is wanted because of the power she holds as the Princess, but is that all that she is wanted for? Can Isabella have a real love and true respect for herself, or is only because of who she is. There are so many secrets in her life that will come out during this series, will they destroy her completely, or is she strong enough to find her own life and push through everything that is thrown at her in this series?

These two can’t seem to catch a break at a happy life, but with everything they go through, they’ll be stronger and tougher together. I really enjoyed this series and the characters in the book are great. There are the usual characters where you are rooting for them to get their happy ending, and then there are the characters that you’re hoping they get the ending they deserve. There is suspense, love, hate, anger, and drama in this story and it drew me in from the first page right through the ending. I give this story a 5 star review and I whole heartedly recommend this story to readers who like mafia stories. I am looking forward to Chase’s story in May 2019.

Review of Vow of Atonement, by Emma Renshaw

I had previously read Vow of Retribution and loved the characters. I was happy when I started reading Vow of Atonement, and was reintroduced to the women of this series. They are strong and funny. They also want to make sure that everyone in their group is as happy as they are. Then add in the men of the group of friends and add two new men to the mix.

I love Harper and Roman’s story. This story is a story of second chances and atonement for past mix ups. The connection that Harper and Roman have is a connection that is rare, but they are truly meant to be together. Their past is what will bring them back together, but their love for each other will keep them together.

Harper was kept in the dark about her family as a young girl, and that will come back to haunt her as an adult. However, she is a strong young woman and she will overcome all the pain and trouble that is being thrown at her now.

Roman hasn’t stopped thinking about or keeping track of Harper in the past ten years that they have been apart. He could never forget the only woman who has his heart. He’ll have to do some convincing to get Harper back, but he’s good at that.

I loved this story and the twists in it made it so much better. The secrets in a family can be so destructive, but once they are all out in the open a future is in sight. I give this story a 4.5 star review and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading romance suspense stories with a few twists in it and women who can kick butt when they need to, but can also let the men of their lives help them and protect them when it’s required.

COVER REVEAL: KINGS OF MAYHEM MC SERIES #1, BY PENNY DEE @givemebooksblog @AuthorPennyDee

COVER REVEAL
Series: Kings of Mayhem MC
Author: Penny Dee
Genre: MC Romance/Contemporary Romance
Cover Design: Marisa, Cover Me Darling

1 Kings of Mayhem – Release Date: January 28, 2019

When a King loves
He loves hard

CADE
I’ve loved her since we were five years old.
We grew up side by side.
Two kids tied together by the Kings of Mayhem Motorcycle Club.
But I broke us.
I broke her.
So, she fled.
Now she’s back after twelve long years.
And I’m going to show her all the reasons why we should be together and make her forget all the reasons why we shouldn’t.

INDY
I’m back in town but only because I have to be.
I’m here to help my mom bury my father.
And the sooner we get it done, the better.
Because I want to see Cade as much as I want a hole in the head.
He broke me once—no, he broke my everything— and I’ll be damned if I’ll let him do it again.
Get in and get out. That is the plan.
But you know what they say about best-laid plans.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42433993-kings-of-mayhem

PRE-ORDER LINKS

US: https://amzn.to/2Ef4vm2
UK: https://amzn.to/2RMg3RI
CA: https://amzn.to/2Qsz92y
AU: https://amzn.to/2QnwUh7
B&N: http://bit.ly/2SMl1y0
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2QSAnDD
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2QuvEc6

2 Brothers in Arms – Release Date: February 26, 2019

Someone is going to pay.
But who?

CADE
They took someone from me.
And I’m going to make them pay.
In blood.
But before I can do that, I have to make sure my girl is safe.
And I will do whatever I have to, even break my own heart, to make sure she survives.
Because she is my queen.
My everything.

INDY
He’s changed.
His grief is overwhelming and I can feel the gap widening between us.
Someone is coming after the Kings of Mayhem MC.
And we are trapped as they play out their evil scheme.
Because under the cover of darkness, they are coming for each of us, one by one, to play out their own twisted vendetta.
And no one is safe.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42434020-brothers-in-arms

PRE-ORDER LINKS

US: https://amzn.to/2QqexIh
UK: https://amzn.to/2L9qKey
CA: https://amzn.to/2QsQ854
AU: https://amzn.to/2BcP62J
B&N: http://bit.ly/2BgY2nq
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2LgnCxJ
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2PDJ8gl

AUTHOR BIO

Penny Dee writes contemporary romance about rockstars, bikers, hockey players and everyone in-between. She believes true love never runs smoothly, and her characters realize this too, with a boatload of drama and a whole lot of steam.

She found her happily ever after in Australia where she lives with her husband, daughter and a dog named Bindi.

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pennydeebooks
Kings of Mayhem MC Series Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheKingsofMayhemMC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorpennydee
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Penny-Dee/e/B00O2OKT5G
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8526535.Penny_Dee
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorpennydee
Website: http://www.pennydeebooks.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorPennyDee

A Series Review of: Bratva & Cosa Nostra, by V. F. Mason @Author_VFMason

Back in October, I read and reviewed Kaznachei’s Pain, by V. F. Mason. I had not read the other books prior to this one though and since I had found myself with some spare time and no scheduled reviews recently, I decided to catch up on the series. I purchased all of the books a while back and had not gotten around to reading them until just recently. I am so glad that I did. I have found another group of Men and women who find themselves in some very crazy situations where the women seem to always be in danger and the men have to save their women and protect them.

I fell in love with the men and women in this series after reading Kaznachei’s Pain. These stories are about a group of men who are brought into the Bratva as they are found living on the streets who form a family and a tight bond, that will prove that family does not have to be blood. Throw in the man that taught these men how to fight and how to survive the life they are brought into. It can also be people who find a place in your heart and will stand with you no matter what you are going through.

Pakhan’s Rose, Pakhan’s Salvation, Sovietnik’s Fury, and Brigadier’s Game are all great stories and I love each one’s story. I give all of these stories a 4.5 star review. They have some very sexy covers too. I highly recommend that you read these stories if you are into stories about mafia, Bratva, Cosa Nostra, or men who will go to the ends of the earth for the women they love as well as for their family members. I also bought the Sociopath Duet. I haven’t read these yet, but I will being reading them in the near future. I can’t wait to read Damien’s story too. 

ARC Review of: Graveyard Girl, by Bry Ann @AuthorBryAnn #TuesdayBookBlog

Love this cover and the book!!

A Mafia Capo and a homeless girl find each other in the most bizarre way. Their story is a story of pain, passion, and finding love and happiness.

Marley, a young woman who lives on the street and takes in a few homeless children to care for on the street has had a rough life. She is almost feral in her actions when she first sees Frances. She will do most anything to survive on the streets and to feed the children she’s taken under her wing.

Frances is a Mafia Capo who likes to inflict pain and he gets off on it. He considers himself a Psychopath, but in this story we will find what’s underneath all of his psychotic actions and his real persona will emerge.

I loved this story as much as I have all of the other books before it; Roses & Thorns Series, Enzio, Cut, Shattered, and  Accepted & Rebuilt. The Mafia family these books revolve around are very different from what you would expect. While these books are about the men of the Mafia family in them, the women who these men find and fall in love with, are really the badasses in the stories. These women have been to hell and back. The love they find in these men really bring out the best of these women and the men find the best in themselves.

Marley’s story is so harsh, troubling, and yet done so well by Bry Ann. Everything that Marley has to endure is tough to read and yet, I found Marley to be just as much of a badass as Lacey. Her toughness, vulnerability, and the care she has for the children will draw her into your heart.

I love this story and am so happy that Marley’s story was written. I know that Frances is the character from the Mafia, but this story really makes me feel that it is Marley’s story. I give this story a 5 star review and look forward to so many more books with these characters. I love the letter at the end of the book too. It really shows how Marley was able to find herself and a good life.

Review of: Naked Truths, by Karen Botha @rararesources

Lucy a massage therapist meets the perfect man, or so she thinks. There are a lot of secrets surrounding her new client. She has a rule of not mixing business with pleasure but she can’t help herself when she meets Giles. 

He insinuates himself into her life and she feels that she has no other option than to give him a chance since she is attracted to him. The only problem is that he has secrets and one very big one that could ruin everything.

Lucy’s best-friend, Paula is a retired police detective and she just can’t leave the detective work behind when she has a feeling about Giles.

This story has suspense and several twists. Gile’s story has a lot of deceit and it could ruin everything for him with Lucy. Paula just can’t let things go so she will dig until she finds the truth. 

This was a good story and the ending certainly left me wondering what would happen in Lucy’s future. I give this story a 4 star review and recommend it to anyone who likes to solve crimes, yet doesn’t want the obvious solution to be right in front of them.

Review of Shamrock, A Linear Tactical Standalone, by Janie Crouch @givemebooksblog @janiecrouch

Another great Linear Tactical Series story. I love Shamrock. Aiden is a man who feels so much and yet, he has to set all of that aside to do the job he has committed to doing. He would give up his cover for one woman though after he sees that Violet appears to be in trouble.

Violet is a young woman who works with her brother, a retired Navy SEAL for the family company as Engineer and is going to college for her Engineering degree. Her true passion though is baking. She is used as a pawn in a shady deal by a long time family friend and Aiden is the man who will rescue her. 

I loved this story!! The men of Linear Tactical are strong, dedicated, and very good at what they do. They will go all out to protect what they deem to be theirs and they will fight until the end if they have to. 

I love how these guys and their women work so well together to attain what they are after. I give this story a 5 star review and look forward to more of the Linear Tactical guys. I am excited for Angel and Ghost’s stories. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes Romance with suspense, Alpha males, and strong women who kick just as much butt as their men do.

RELEASE BLITZ: SHAMROCK (A LINEAR TACTICAL STANDALONE), BY JANIE CROUCH @givemebooksblog @janiecrouch

RELEASE BLITZ
Title: Shamrock
A Linear Tactical Standalone
Author: Janie Crouch
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: December 4, 2018

BLURB

Every mission has a price.
He never meant for her to pay it.

Aiden has never left anyone behind. Not a comrade and certainly not an innocent. But when an undercover mission goes wrong, he’s forced to abandon a woman trapped in a human trafficking ring.

Violet learned brutally that no one is promised a happy ending. She knows Aiden blames himself for his part, but she refuses to let her abduction define the rest of her life.

She won’t be a victim again. And she’s going after what she wants: Aiden.

Watching Violet transform herself into a fierce warrior is the sexiest thing Aiden has ever seen. The honorable plan would be to stay away from her–let her heal and grow without the shadow of his mistakes clouding her progress–even though every instinct tells him to claim her for his own.

But when they discover the danger they thought they’d left behind is closer than ever, they’ll have to face their deepest fears and fight side-by-side in order to survive.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40044015-shamrock

PURCHASE LINKS

US: https://amzn.to/2SanX7i
UK: https://amzn.to/2PWb9ov
CA: https://amzn.to/2S98jcj
AU: https://amzn.to/2xmU3nu
B&N: http://bit.ly/2LpFLYc
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2P5aLyS
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2MxiMzW
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2QlzKSS

EXCERPT:

“We need to get you away from this wall,” Aiden whispered.
“Why?”
“I have a rescue team outside. We just want to make sure you’re safe if things get a little more rowdy than we planned.”
Violet tried to stand but her body had taken too much damage today. Too much trauma. Her muscles just wouldn’t work. “I can’t seem to move. I’m sorry.”
He reached down and scooped her into his arms.
“Wait! I’m too heavy.”
He kissed her forehead, keeping her high against his chest as he crossed the room. “Featherweight.”
The way he moved so quickly with her, so easily, she almost believed him.
He set her gently on the ground behind him, then pressed something on his neck. “Control, Shamrock. We’re on the south wall. You’re clear to breach.”
He helped ease her down so she was sitting low on the floor. Then he crouched in front of her, pulling her head against his chest and wrapping his arms around her.
“What’s going to happen?” she whispered. “Is it going to be loud?”
“Not if everything goes the way we expect it to. But keep your head down just in case.”
His big body was surrounding her on just about every side. Anything that was going to hit her was going to have to go through him first. “What about you? Are you bulletproof or something?”
“My mom always said I had a hard enough head to stop a bullet. Plus I have a Kevlar vest. So we should be okay.”
They sat in silence for a few moments. “Maybe at some point after this we could meet each other when I actually have some clothes on. You know, just to try something different.”
His deep chuckle was enough to almost make her forget the situation. Make her forget her body had been so abused that she couldn’t even make her muscles move at her command. That this man, whose name she wasn’t sure she actually knew, had seen her naked multiple times. “That’s a deal,” he whispered. “And I’m sure Gabe has clothes for you in the van.”
The thought of having to walk, or be carried, naked even in front of the good guys sent ice through her veins. She wanted to ask Aiden to help her, but the man was already shielding her body with his own. What more did she really want?
But she couldn’t be naked again in front of a group of strangers. She couldn’t stand it. Her throat started to close, making breathing impossible.
A finger trailed up and down her cheek. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to get you out of here. Just hang on for a few more minutes, sweetheart, all right?”

AUTHOR BIO

USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch writes what she loves to read: passionate romantic suspense. She is a winner and/or finalist of multiple romance literary awards including the Golden Quill Award for Best Romantic Suspense, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the RITA© Award by the Romance Writers of America.

Janie recently relocated with her husband and their four teenagers to Germany (due to her husband’s job as support for the U.S. Military), after living in Virginia for nearly 20 years. When she’s not listening to the voices in her head—and even when she is—she enjoys engaging in all sorts of crazy adventures (200-mile relay races; Ironman Triathlons, treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp) traveling, and movies of all kinds.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://www.janiecrouch.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/janiecrouch
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crouchcrew
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/janiecrouch
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/janiecrouch