Review of “Vow of Retribution” by Emma Renshaw @HiddenGemsBooks @emmarenshaw_

Vow

Wow, what a story! When I first started this book I thought oh, this is going to be a good story. When I got into the book though I completely changed my mind. Holy Vow! This is a great story, I love the men and women in this book. They are all very strong and loyal. They stand with their friends and family no matter what the circumstances. Can I have James, please?

Liam is a young man who has just returned home to Austin, Texas after living in Chicago for several years for college and then a job. He was missing his family and decided it was time to return home to be close to them again. He has a secret though that he does not want to share with his family, because he doesn’t want them to look at him differently. He reconnects with his high school friend Hudson upon his return. Hudson is a player, a man who works in his family business, but makes no commitments with women. He is loved by everyone and flirts with all the women.

Savannah is a young woman who moved to Austin, from a smaller town about two hours away. She needed a fresh start at life and found herself making it in Austin. She carries her own secrets and she doesn’t let many people into her life. She’s a badass, a survivor, a woman who can take care of herself and takes no prisoners. I love her! Savannah meets James at a tattoo shop not long after she moves to Austin. At first she is intimidated by his size and his stern looks, but they become family in a short time. He will protect her and show her how to protect herself. She is like a little sister to James and he watches out for her. James own a gym and is loyal, quiet, and lethal.

I love this book and hope to see more about these characters in the near future. This was my first read of Emma Renshaw’s work and I hope it won’t be my last. Her writing took me into Liam and Savannah’s life. I felt as it I knew these two and could not put this book down. I hated for it to end, but I also wanted to find out how their story would end. I really hope that it hasn’t, to be honest. If you are looking for a story about strength within, finding true love, or survival, I would highly recommend this book. I give it a 5 star review.

REVIEW OF BEFORE SIN, BY M. MALONE AND NANA MALONE @LWOODSPR @NANAMALONE @MINXMALONE

Another winner by M. Malone and Nana Malone! I loved this prequel to the Sin Duet. It was short, but had so much in it. I can’t wait to read the next books in this Duet, Sin and Sinful. The men of Blake Security are strong, caring, and lethal. They will do anything to keep their women happy, and they will go to the ends of the earth to protect them too. They all have a story and they all want to find that one person who will understand them and love them unconditionally. The members of Blake Security are a close knit family and they will protect each other at all costs, no questions asked.

 

 

A spot light on Susan Sage, and my review of A Mentor and Her Muse, by Susan Sage @SusanSage #TuesdayBookBlog

I would like to Spot Light Susan Sage, Author of “A Mentor and Her Muse”.

I asked Susan how she came to write “A Mentor and Her Muse”, and if she had a muse when writing this story, who it might have been:

I’ve often heard that novels begin with questions, so here were a few of mine: What would it be like to spontaneously take a road trip? Where would I go and who would I want to go with? I’ve always enjoyed traveling, though trips I’ve taken with my husband have always been pretty well-planned out – especially longer ones. It was easier for me to write about places in Ohio because I’d been there, but well into the first few drafts of the novel, I’d never been to North Carolina. Internet research came in handy regarding a few of the places I wrote about, though I have to admit that the area I wrote about outside of Asheville was a little less populated in my imagination. Also, I’ve never taken a long road trip by myself, though it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. What prevents me is that, like my main character, Maggie, I don’t like driving much. However, she’s definitely the sort who can ‘throw caution to the wind’ way more than me. She doesn’t back away from obstacles, even if it means breaking the law, something I would never do. She chooses Taezha to accompany her primarily because she regards ‘Tae’ as her muse. But I don’t think I would’ve had Maggie take the trip, had it not been for Tae.

My muse for the novel was a girl, younger than Tae by a few years. I met her at an urban school where I was an educational coordinator.  I coordinated field trips, tutored, and ran an after-school program. One of the fifth graders in the program was a girl who had just discovered that she wanted to become a writer. She often stopped by my desk with her poems or stories, and it impressed her because I read what she wrote with interest and my full attention. Who doesn’t want to be taken seriously? She knew I had published some of my writing and had lots of questions. Yet it wasn’t simply her writing interest that caused her to become my muse. She had this great, positive energy, and a lovely laugh! After I left my job to work at another school, I lost touch with her, but her memory burned bright – and it was then she became my muse and I came up with the idea for A Mentor and Her Muse.

I had little doubt who would accompany Maggie on her journey. (Tae was definitely more an older version of the girl from the north side of Flint than Maggie was me.) I’ve had way more mentors in my life than muses. The trick of having a muse is that we can’t get to know them too well; if we do, they can no longer fulfill that role – or at least not as well. Hope this isn’t too much of a spoiler alert!

A Mentor and Her Muse

My Review:

Taezha Riverton, a young girl who wants to become a writer. She lives in Flint Michigan. She’s a bright girl, a talented young writer, and according to Maggie, an “intellectually curious” young girl. She lives with her mother and three sisters, although she questions whether Quintana is actually her mother. Taezha befriends Maggie Bennett, a woman in her 50’s who works at the school Taezha attends. Taezha (Tae) has discovered in Maggie something that has been missing since her Aunt Serafina died. She looks to Maggie as an Aunt, and she finally feels like someone cares about her.

Maggie Barnett works at Jefferson Middle & High School in the library. She has met several smart and talented students, but none have effected her as Tae has. Maggie is a woman who is rarely settled in her life, she published a book and just about the time she thought it was beginning to take off and become a top seller, it stopped. Maggie decides that she wants to take Tae on a road trip and help her become a great writer by seeing life and living in on the road. She also tells Tae that she will take her to meet her Uncle Tyler, a very good friend of Tae’s Aunt Serafina.

This was a different story from what I normally read, but it was a good read. I found myself questioning Maggie’s motives of going on the road trip with Tae. Was she really looking at Tae as her Muse, or was she trying to find something that was missing from her life, like a family? It is clear that Maggie cares for Tae, but is it a healthy relationship for either of them? Is Maggie trying to recover her youth, her writing, or a family that she was denied for so many years due to her lack of finding the right man for her, and the fact that she has no living children of her own. I give this book a 4 star review. Ms. Sage did a great job of painting the picture for this book. Her description of Maggie was so detailed that I could almost see her in front of me.

If you enjoy women’s fiction and psychological novels, this is a good book to read. It a book about social norms, obsession, and the ambition to succeed.

 

Review of “Married Lies”, by Chris Collett @Books_n_all @JoffeBooks @Crime_Crow

DCI Tom Mariner and his team are on a case that has them all wondering how someone could be so heartless and ruthless. A middle aged woman is found dead in her home and when they begin to investigate the death, they find that it was a cruel death and they have no real suspects. The team is also investigating a claim from a woman who believes she is being followed and is getting harassing phone calls. DCI Mariner along with Jamilla Khatoon are investigating this claim by Lucy Jarrett. A young woman who has recently married a musician who is on the road a lot.

The investigations are leading to very little and the team is having a hard time to figure out who the culprit is in both cases. A break finally comes in the case of Lucy Jarrett being harassed. However, it takes a little while longer before the cases are solved. During this time, DCI Mariner finds his life going through more changes and a real tragedy could leave him a broken man this time.

This was another great story with DCI Mariner. I enjoy reading this series as each story has a lot of twists and suspense, but the stories all take you into the life of DCI Mariner and his team, Tony Knox, Jamilla Khatoon, and Charlie Glover along with their Commanding Officer, DCI Davina Sharp. Ms. Collett does a great job with these characters and it feels like they are a part of my neighborhood, or circle of friends when I am reading their story. I feel the pain they are going through in their personal lives and the frustration they feel when trying to solve a case feels so real.

I give this book a 4.5 star rating and I look forward to more in the series. I love DCI Mariner and I hope that the next books in the series find him living a happy and healthy life.

RELEASE BLITZ OF HOT SEAL REDEMPTION, BY LYNN RAYE HARRIS @givemebooksblog @LynnRayeHarris #TuesdayBookBlog

RB BannerRELEASE BLITZ
Title: HOT SEAL Redemption
A Hostile Operations Team Series Standalone
Author: Lynn Raye Harris
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 15, 2018

BLURB

Bailey Jones doesn’t know jack about babies, but she knows how much it sucks to have a deadbeat father. So when her sister drops off her newborn baby and then disappears, Bailey is ready and willing to confront anyone, including a six-foot-two, sexier-than-sin Navy SEAL sniper, and make him do his duty.

Alexei “Camel” Kamarov is not the sort of man to carelessly father a kid, but as the oldest of six, he does know a thing or two about babies. The firebrand on his doorstep might have mistakenly tagged him as the baby daddy, but Bailey is cute, and Alexei is more than willing to give her a hands-on class in Baby 101.

When a ruthless criminal comes looking for the missing sister—putting Bailey and the baby in danger—the situation escalates. Bringing them under his roof and enlisting his HOT teammates to help find Bailey’s sister are easy. But as Alexei and Bailey draw closer, passions erupt and feelings tangle.

That’s nothing compared to the danger lurking in the shadows—and the test that awaits them both. Bailey will need to give everything she’s got to redeem Alexei’s faith in love. And he’ll have to move heaven and earth to save her—before someone takes her away from him for good…

Hot Seal Redemption Ebook Cover

 

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37937092-hot-seal-redemption

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS

US: https://amzn.to/2IcWqNM
UK: https://amzn.to/2rGRcmL
CA: https://amzn.to/2rBcKAW
AU: https://amzn.to/2jPNtzp
B&N: http://bit.ly/2jMWVng
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2KfjxrA
iBooks: https://apple.co/2wwfAwK
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2G6ah6Z

Hot Seal Redemption Teaser 3Hot Seal Redemption Teaser 4Hot Seal Redemption Teaser 5

EXCERPT

“Magic sperm, Bailey. I could father six kids before I knew what happened to me. Hell, my luck, it’d happen all at once.”
Bailey winced. “Ouch.”
“Yeah, ouch is right.”
She grinned at him. “Well, sure, ouch for you too—but I was thinking more about the poor woman who would have to carry six babies in her belly before popping them all out. What a nightmare.”
“And now you know why I wrap it tight.”
Unexpected heat flared beneath her skin. Holy shit, was that a blush? Really? But the thought of this man standing in front of her with a hard on, his hand wrapped around it as he slid on a condom, was almost unbearably sexy.
He cocked his head. “Are you blushing?”
Hell. So much for being cool. “A little. Maybe.” Why deny what he could clearly see happening?
“Over birth control?”
Bailey rolled her eyes. “Not over birth control, you idiot. More or less the thought of you putting the condom on.”
His gaze went smoky—and then it dropped over her body, slowly, before rising again. Their eyes met. Held. Her heart pounded. No, no, no. Bad idea. So bad.
“I’d be happy to give you a personal demonstration.”

 

Hot Seal Redemption Teaser 6

AUTHOR BIO

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynn Raye Harris burst onto the scene when she won a writing contest held by Harlequin. A former finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award and the National Readers Choice Award, Lynn lives in Alabama with her handsome former military husband and two crazy cats. Lynn writes about hot military heroes, sizzling international billionaires, and the women who dare to tame them. Her books have been called “exceptional and emotional,” “intense,” and “sizzling.” To date, Lynn’s books have sold over 2 million copies worldwide.

 

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://lynnrayeharris.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLynnRayeHarris
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynnRayeHarris
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2973925.Lynn_Raye_Harris

 

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My Review of “HOT SEAL Redemption”, by Lynn Raye Harris

Alexi Kamarov, a Navy SEAL that is not looking for anything along the lines of a permanent relationship. Upon his latest return from a deployment, he is disturbed and woken up by a loud knocking on his door. When he answers the door, he is surprised to see a woman standing there accusing him of be a scoundrel. The oldest of six in an immigrant family, Alexi is well aware of what it takes to care for a little one, and is a natural.

Bailey Jones, a woman who is determined to find out why her sister left her baby with Bailey and where she’s gone. She has a name of who the father is and she needs help with little Ana, so she starts by pounding on the “fathers” door. Although he swears that little Ana is not his.

Alexi tells Bailey that he is not a nice person, but Bailey doesn’t believe him. His actions don’t agree with what he is saying. Shes doomed to fall for this hard bodied, kind hearted, and sexy SEAL, whether she wants to or not.

I loved this story. This was my first book in this series to read, but now I want to go back and read the others before it. I love Alexi and Bailey. They are perfect together and they are both strong people who care very deeply for those they love. I look forward to the next story as well. I have grown to love all of the HOT SEAL Team and want to know their stories. This book is very well written and I hated for the book to end. I was actually looking for more to read of it when I finished it. I wanted more of Alexi and Bailey as well as Neo, Kayla, and Blade. I look forward to reading more of this series soon. I give this book a 5 star rating. Beautifully done Ms. Harris

Review of “Smug: Se7en Deadly Seals Season 2, Episode 1” by Alana Albertson @HiddenGemsBooks @AlanaAlbertson

Mitch Martinez, a Navy SEAL and a man who can get most women to drop their panties for him with a smile. He is divorced from his high school sweetheart, and the father of two young children. He would do anything for his children and he would love to be able to see them more often, but his ex-wife took them and moved to Las Vegas after the divorce. He knows he can’t have full custody with his job, but seeing them more regularly would be nice.

Ashley Pierce, an NCIS agent who is like a dog with a bone when she believes something and is trying to get to the bottom of an investigation. She is still hung up on the case of Joaquin Cruz. She still doesn’t think that the case is closed or that all of the people involved have been arrested or dealt with. She is now investigating the death of United States Navy Officer, Paul Thompson. She doesn’t quit believe that he committed suicide.

Mitch and Ashley are reacquainted in Smug after their meeting in Season 1 when Ashley was posing as a stripper named Autumn. Now she has to investigate the death of a Navy Officer and Mitch was the one to find the body. Is he a suspect, should he be, or did he just happen upon the body? Ashely has to fight herself and her feelings for Mitch,  while trying to get to the bottom of Paul’s death.

I missed a few books in Season 1 and now I have to go back and read them. This story brought back the steaminess of these Navy SEALs and their strength as a team. Ashley will have to work through some things in this series. She is going to find some things that will make her question a lot of her younger life, and she will have to overcome some doubts that she has for those around her. This book is well written and ends with a cliff hanger. It is a short read, but the story will keep you turning the pages to find out what will happen next. I look forward to more in this season to find out the answers to the questions this book left me with.

Ms. Albertson knows how to write about sexy SEALs and steamy scenes. I have read a few of her books and have never been disappointed. I look forward to reading more. I give this story a 4.5 star review and can’t wait until the next book with Mitch, Ashley, Grant, and Mia.

Review of “Roses & Thorns”, by Bry Ann

Roses & Thorns

This is a great story! I had a hard time putting this book down. It drew me in right away and kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. As bad as it sounds, I really liked Sven, even though he was manipulative and dark.

Sven Xander is a man who knows what he wants, and will do what it takes to get it. He is in the Mafia as a soldier, but he wants to move up. He knows that he has to plan things just right to get where he wants to be.

Rose Bellemore is a nurse working in a psychiatric hospital. She lives for her job. She has a dark past that she is running from and trying to avoid. Her patients give her the only joy in her life.

This is a dark romance story. There are a lot of people in this story that are dark and twisted, but the fact that the Boss and Sven have a soft side is great! They both find the one woman who can bring that side out in them. While these women seem to be doormats, in reality, they are very strong women and they stand up to these men. They may be scared to death while doing it, but they do it none the less. These women have been through a lot but they are still compassionate and kind. I give this story a 4.5 star review and I look forward to the next book in the series.

 

Review of “The Wolf’s Prize: Hinterland Book 4”, by K. T. Harding

I enjoyed this series and enjoyed the twists and turns that are in the story. The anticipation kept me reading even when I shouldn’t have been, but I needed to find out what was going to happen.

Raleigh Douglas had some hard decisions to make in this final book. She faced a lot of things that she dreaded and yet she came out on top of it. Her life will never be the same again. The people she loves will cause her to question her beliefs and her life.

Bishop is back, but he has a lot to overcome as well. After being rescued and the torture he went through while he was a captive, has left him damaged and he has to make a decision when it comes to saving his life. Will he agree to it or not?

This was the final book in the Hinterland Series. I hated to see it end. There is still more to find out about Bishop and Raleigh, and now we are introduced to Ilkha. How will she fair working with Raleigh. Will her life turn out like Raleigh’s or will it be different. I give this story a 4 star review. I wish there were more to come. With the changes that Bishop and Raleigh went through in this story, there have to be more changes to come in Hinterland as well.

 

Wolf's Prize Cover

 

 

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This review is part of the May Discovery Blog Tour on Lisa * My Everyday Life’s blog.  I am honored to have been invited to join this Blog Tour with Lisa and other bloggers. Although my book review has no holidays in it, I do wish all the mothers viewing this a Happy Mother’s Day this coming Sunday, May 13.

Please visit Lisa’s blog, she has a few of them, and see what she’s up to.

Review of “The Penance List: The David Trilogy”, by S. C. Cunningham @rararesources @SCCunningham

Wow! I did not expect that ending.

“This one comes with a warning – a steamy suspense-ridden psychological thriller – think Silence of the Lambs meets 50 Shades and hold on tight! S C Cunningham writes with a skilled mix of fueled tension, dark humour and pulsating sex scenes. Grab a glass of wine, close the bedroom door and read alone!” This is from the blog tour material I received. I have to agree with every word! This story had me cringing, getting excited, and getting upset while reading it.

David Howard, a young boy who is sent to boarding school and is too pretty for his own good. He has had a lot of bad things happen to him and to cope, he has turned to the dark side. His love for his sister, Helen’s best friend, Tara is thrown back at him by Tara after she receives a letter confessing his love.

Tara Warr is a bit older and does not carry the same feelings for David as he carries for her. She feels that they are both too young to know what love is and in her reply letter to David she tells him that she is not the woman for him. Unfortunately, this is just another thing to push David over the edge.

I enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to the next in the series. This was my first read of S. C. Cunningham’s books, but I look forward to reading more. I loved the characters in this story. Seb, Franco, Michael and Anton were great and fun to read. Helen is a little off…Josie, I am unsure of still.

Great job! I give this book 4.5 stars and look forward to reading more of the trilogy.

Review of “Medium Wave” by Rose Zolock @rararesources @RoseZolock

Becky Moran, a woman who leads her life as someone who can talk with the deceased. She has a great life. She works with Hugh Jolly, a man she met while still in college who was looking for his next star. Becky met Hugh at a party, and she was able to convince him that she was the right person for him to work with to get his life back on track and his producing career back in gear. Becky is very good at reading people and knowing what to say to get their attention. She has Sarah Jones who works for her now to do the research on the guest for her radio show, but before the radio gig, she was able to research people to know what to say to get their attention. Becky also has Olly Harvey, her producer who keeps her focused during her shows. Little does Becky know that her life is about to change forever, and she could be in danger because of it. Becky is doing her weekly talk show and she is describing a four hundred year old piece of supernatural history. It’s a crystal that was belonged to “Dr. John Dee, he was the Queens magician, a powerful alchemist and was the Royal Astronomer to Elizabeth the First.” This stone will change everything for Becky as well as those she works with.

Bert Brookings, a young man who sees Becky as a spiritual nemesis. He runs a YouTube channel for his Astral Enchantment fans. He runs workshops for his fans and he claimed he could heal the sick, he was guided by the unicorn, and that “Love Cured” him. He was making money off of his fans and he too was a fake. Bert came from the wrong side of the tracks and had a dark past. His new found life came to him while he was in prison. Bert’s life will change too, but not in the same way as Becky’s.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a big change from what I usually read. I read paranormal occasionally, but this was really different from what I am used to. I am very glad that I was chosen to be part of the tour for this book and was able to read it to review it as well. Most of the characters were likable in this story, of course there should always be one or two that are not to make a good story. Bert was that character for me. Even though Becky was not honest in the beginning, she was a woman trying to make a life and chose to go about it in a deceitful way, but eventually, she turned her life around. If you are looking for a book that will draw you in and keep you interested with some twists and surprises, then you should pick up Medium Wave. I give this book a 4 star review, and hope there will be more to read in the future about Becky and her new found life.