Another great Road Trip Romance book by A.K. Evans.
Wanting a family and to be loved and cared about has been something that Dakota Blake has wanted al her life, and she thought that she might have found it with her husband when they married, but she was so, so wrong. He was a man that wanted someone to take care of him since he no longer lived with his parents and his mother wasn’t there to do it. His family never liked her and never hid it from her, the trouble was that her husband never backed her up or showed her the respect she so deserved. So she was done. Moving to a remote cabin in the woods from the advice of her best friend she believed that maybe she could find herself and gain the mind set to live her life on her own. Jack Spears is hiding away from life and reality in the woods. His life hasn’t turned out the way he had hoped, but he’s content where he is and lives his life on his own in the woods. When the cabin next door becomes occupied, he knows he should go over and introduce himself, but he’s not sure he’s ready to. When he finds the new neighbor in trouble in the woods, he knows it’s now or never.
This is tear jerker for sure, but it’s also a beautiful story of two people that are trying to find love and find it in the most unexpected place. Dakota and Jack are great characters that need to see that life may have knocked them down but with each other, they can get back up and thrive. I loved the story and the characters.
I had forgotten how tragic and wonderful these books were. I am so glad to be re-reading them in the Special Edition series.
Ace is a man with the patience of a saint, a heart of gold, and a man that once he has his mind on something, you do not want to get in his way. He will protect and care for Violet with no problem. He will be the man she’s been waiting for to show her what love really is and let her be herself. I love Ace and his story was a favorite in this series.
Violet needs a hero that will worship her, protect her and love her without condition and she’s found this man. When Ace first saw her at the diner, he knew that she would be worth waiting for and he was right. Her world was crumbling around her, but she found a bright light in Ace and isn’t looking back now.
I love this book, the characters and the series. I am so glad that I re-read this book and the special chapter added to the end was a great read as well.
I am loving the Mission Mercenaries Series and the characters that are coming to life in them. Hollis seems to be a man that is easy going and lives his life the way he wants, but there is so much more to him than we see from the outside.
Hollis has a dark and painful past that comes to light in Bridges Burned. He’s lived his adult life looking for the man that destroyed his family. Now that he has a works for Mission Mercenaries, he finds a way to bring down the very man that destroyed his family and it could be the end of him if he’s not careful.
I loved this book and I love the characters in the series. Some of them seem to be light and easy going, but they are dark, dangerous, and deadly. They put their lives on the line all the time, but when they find a partner that can make them whole, they’ll go to the ends of the earth to protect them and have their backs no matter what.
Lyle’s spending another Valentine’s Day alone. Deciding to take a ride on his bike, he’s cruising down the road and spots something on the side of the road and as he gets closer realizes it’s not something, but someone. Pulling over to check on the petite woman that is walking down the road, looking rough and out of it, he finds that the woman is bruised, hurt, and probably dehydrated, so he does the only thing he can do, takes her back to the club house. She has no idea who she is or where she’s come from. She’s tired, sore, hungry and wandering the highway. When Lyle stops to check on her she can’t tell him her name because she doesn’t know it, so he names her Valentine, since that’s the day he found her. After several days at the Underground Crows MC clubhouse, a man shows up to claim her as his fiance, however when she sees him her mind warns her that he’s not a good man. When Lyle realizes that she’s not happy to see the man, the Underground Crows MC begin to dig into the man and find that he’s part of a cult of which Valentine escaped before Lyle had found her. I liked the book and the characters. Lyle’s a sweetheart and will protect Valentine forever. Valentine has proven to be a strong resilient woman that has survived a lot being raised in a cult. I loved it! It was the first book I’d read in the Underground Crows MC Series, but I went back and bought the first book and will be reading it and keeping up with the series now that I’ve found it.
They’ve both suffered enough. Enzo denied Sera in book 2 and now that he sees what’s happened to her and how her life will play out, he can’t accept it. His life is nothing without her in it, but her life will be a living hell for her. Now Enzo will force Luca to bring his plans forward so that Enzo can reclaim Sera and make her his. Enzo will have a lot of work to do to convince her that he’s being truthful and genuine about his feelings for her. He’s hurt her deeply by his rejection in book 2, so he’s going to have to grovel a lot to get her now.
Maggie Cole knows how to write dark, dirty, deranged characters and The Auction is no exception.
Riggs had nothing until he met Blakely’s father and was taken under his wing to create the man that he is now. Riggs is a power, determined man that works hard for his company and earns top dollar doing it. When he discovers that there are discrepancies in his books, he starts looking for the culprit only to be disappointed and then set on a new course to bring the culprit down. By using the man’s daughter. He believes that if he uses the beautiful Blakely, he will destroy the man easier, but unfortunately, his methods could destroy what he’s built with Blakely. Blakely is tired of being under the roof of her parents and having to live with the disfunction her family is, so she goes out on her own and tries to have her own life, only to have to fight to stay out of her father’s reach and the men he sends after her. One of these times bringing her to a new world and possibly happiness.
I loved the book and the characters. I always love Maggie Cole’s character as they always jump off the pages at you when you’re reading. They are strong, determined, and enjoyable to get to know. Even if they’re dark as well. I was anxious for book 2 to complete the duet.
Wow! I think this was the best DS Smith story I’ve read so far! It’s packed with action, suspense, twists and turns and may well be DS Smith’s hardest case ever.
I love the team that woks with DS Smith. They are a great team; they care about each other as well as their cases they work on. When a young girl is thought to have committed suicide by jumping 200 feet, they team works tirelessly to find the truth for her mother. In finding that truth there are some twisted truths being discovered as well. DS Smith has more than this case on his mind though when he ends up in the hospital for a night. The team will carry on, but Jason will be sitting on the sidelines and wondering what is happening while he is working through all he knows by himself.
This was an intense ride from the beginning to the end of the book. It was a hard to put down story that kept the pages turning and the story unfolding as quickly as I could read it. DS Smith is a man that believes in justice and that those that commit the crime need to pay for it, this story will test his beliefs and his team. I loved it and gave this story a 5-star review. I look forward to more stories by Stewart Giles with DS Jason Smith and his team.
When Viviana Spataro’s best friend was murdered, revenge became her number one focus and ten years later, her mission for vengeance is almost complete. The only obstacle standing in her way is the son of the man she wants to destroy, the sexy and lethal, Nazario Vaccaro. Fans of dark romances will devour Deadly Intentions by Anise Storm, a sexy enemies-to-lovers, mafia romance.
Viviana Spataro had dreams and ambitions until the murder of her best friend in a New York City alley changed everything. Overcome with grief, her dreams soon changed. Instead of wanting to heal others as a doctor, she now wants to annihilate the one person responsible.
Ten years later, she finally has her chance. As a mistress to one of the most notorious Mafia Dons in Italy, Stefano’s days are now numbered. Her mission of vengeance is almost complete, or it will be once she can get past the only thing standing in her way. That obstacle is her attraction to the sexy, and equally as lethal, son of the man she’s determined to destroy.
Nazario Vaccaro is well aware of his father’s sins, and he’s hellbent on exacting payback of his own. Viviana doesn’t know the levels of depravity his father is capable of so she has no idea the real danger she is in. He does, and he is determined to protect her, even from herself.
Will he be able to seduce her into heeding his warning as he prepares to take his rightful place upon his father’s throne? Or, will she become collateral damage in a deadly game of betrayal, sex, and secrets?
My mind was stronger than my flesh and bones. I let those men hurt me in so many unimaginable ways, but I knew they did it with love even during those times when there was no mercy shown. It was never something I’d begged for, and it wouldn’t have been given even if I had. No amount of physical or psychological pain mattered when thinking about Stefano’s miserable life being cut short at my hands. It actually got me off in ways I never knew I could. Now, that motivation was gone, but like father, like son. Nazario had robbed me of my destiny and stolen my future. One day, I’d steal his life and we’d finally be even.
I knew he was distrustful of me. No matter how many times we fucked, his suspicions never waned. I was like a damn machine. I moaned, cried, and came on command, so he’d never be the wiser. All of that was a front, though. When alone with my thoughts like I was now, there was a vulnerability I despised, yet couldn’t ever completely shake. The last two weeks had been spent in a daze. The days blurred together, and I found myself lacking a reason to live any longer.
“Why are you keeping me here?” I asked aloud to myself.
I knew Nazario didn’t love me. The only things that man could love were money, power, violence, and the thrill of the chase. It was all good because the only things I lived for were vengeance and sex, and with the former mostly done, I could only cling to the latter. At least, Nazario’s touch made me come, without having to think of other men. Damn, the things that man did to my body. My hands moved to my robe and I cupped my breasts through the silk material.
“You’re fucking mine now,” he’d told me hours after his father’s murder.
“Am I?” I’d asked, and he’d spent the next several hours bringing me to so many orgasms that I’d forgotten what I had even wanted to know.
Tonight, he seemed a bit possessive, too. I knew it was more for the crowd than anything else. He needed everyone to recognize him as the man in charge; and his father’s mistress being his was like the icing on the cake. I loved that dominant side of him. He exuded power, and now he had an unlimited amount of it. What would he do to me now? Would he drop me off and leave without so much as a damn word? I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t just stay in this fucking fortress day and night, playing the dutiful wife. I needed to get out of here. Some fresh air would be nice. I grabbed my phone just in case I got lost on this massive estate, and I headed outside. I started to walk through the gardens. Stefano had told me once his first wife loved flowers. He’d also told me how painful they were to see each and every day after she was violently murdered.
“You never told me you’d arranged the entire thing,” I muttered as I walked along the stone pathway. It was dark, so the type of plants and foliage were hard to identify. I’d taken this same walk many times in the light and I could understand why he would want to hold on to something so beautiful.
I also remembered the things Nazario had told me, including how Donna had died. God, how I wanted to drive a stake through his cold, cold heart. I almost had my fondest wish come true. My blade was sharpened and already coated in his blood. If I would’ve bypassed tormenting him and just fucking did it, this would’ve been over.
“Aren’t we done here?” I’d asked Nazario that day.
He’d smirked. “We’ll never be done, and if I’m wrong, you won’t be able to survive without me?”
I took that as a challenge, and it was now the only motivation I had to even wake up in the morning. As easy as it was to imagine Stefano’s demise, his son was a harder task because all my body needed was his touch. He set me aflame like no one else ever had, including my friends in Sicily. This had to be fate’s way of sticking up its middle finger at me.
I tightened my robe around me and continued to walk. As the night sky grew even blacker, the only thing illuminating it was the lightning off in the distance. There were barely any stars above this wasteland, and that realization made me smile. It stayed on my face until a loud boom of thunder overhead made me jump. God, I hated storms and they seemed to be a lot more frequent nowadays. I stopped and turned to see how far I had walked away from the house and it seemed to be a lot farther than I had thought.
My gaze then scanned the horizon. There was nowhere to go if the skies opened up beside… My eyes zeroed in on the mausoleum where Stefano and others in the Vaccaro family lay at rest. It was mere feet away from me, while the house was a good half of mile or more. Another loud rumble made my decision for me. Hurrying over to the large burial place, I managed to get the door open just before the skies opened up.
Once inside, I shuddered at how dark it was. I slapped my hand against the cold stone until I located the light. The bulb flickered once or twice when I turned it on, and I decided to light the candles near the tombs in case the electricity went out. I grabbed the book of matches and inhaled the sulfur smell as I lit one and proceeded to move up and down the walls, lighting the wicks in each candle. When done, I held the flame in front of my face.
Donna’s funeral flashed in my head. It had been so beautiful, but tragic at the same time. When I’d held up the flame that fateful day and lit a candle for her, I had decided then and there that I would make sure all those responsible for her demise would pay. I later learned the one with a death sentence was none other than a dangerous and feared man. I wasn’t afraid to die. I was only afraid of one thing and that was…
My eyes flew open. No, I wouldn’t allow that to happen. I couldn’t. I would never live a normal life again, because the man in the farthest tomb from me had made that impossible. I ignored the loud rumbling and scary flashes of light right outside of this building and moved down to where Stefano lay. His body was there, but his soul was in hell, where he belonged.
“Are you suffering,” I asked him as I traced the letters of his name.
God, how I hoped he was. I needed to believe that even if I didn’t believe anything else. I covered the match with my hand, extinguishing the flame. The slight burn was barely felt. I tossed the stick onto the floor and moved to the stone casket, which would one day house Nazario’s body. I couldn’t take out the father, but maybe I’d fare better with his son.
About Anise Storm
Anise Storm is a USA Today Bestselling author of Contemporary and Dark Romance. A Southern transplant, Anise is married with children. She has a love of football, shoes, and tall, dark heroes. When not spending time with family or traveling, she can be found either curled up with a good book or writing.
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MY REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 OUT OF 5
Viviana Sparto is shy, quiet, and keeps to herself, but her best friend is just the opposite. She has her life all planned out and is looking forward to her night on the town in New York City doing a historical bus tour at night. When her best friend wants her to go to a party, she declines. That’s not her scene, but her best friend Donna is a party girl and excited for a night to remember. Unfortunately, it is a night to remember, not for Donna, but for Viviana. This one night changes her life forever and her path in life as well.
Nazario Vaccao is the son of a Mafia Don in Italy and a man that has a vengeance to rid the world of his father. A dark, depraved man that has always hated his son. It may take years, but Nazario will discover the reason for the way his father treated him. He’ll also get the vengeance he’s wanted, but it is rushed due to Viviana being in the picture and rushing the job.
I really liked this story. It’s dark, depraved, twisted, and such a great read. Viviana is a determined woman that has changed everything about herself and is now looking for revenge and she’s trained with some of the best to be sure she will survive and get the revenge she wants. She may have been broken but now she’s reborn and lethal. Nazario is on the sidelines watching and waiting for his chance to take the place of his father. He realizes that he not only wants to be Don, but he also wants everything of his father’s including the lethal beauty that is acting like she’s happy with the Don. This book is dark and very twisted, but I loved it. I love the characters and I love how Viviana is reborn to be a woman that is to be feared and taken very seriously. I give this book a 5-star review.
“HOLY WOWZA HELL! D.M. Earl just keeps getting better and better … I’ll never get enough of this author, and HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!” ★★★★★ The Power of Three Readers
“Dark, Gritty and Oh, So Good!!” ★★★★★ Doris
He’ll protect her beyond a shadow of a doubt…
Zoey “Shadow” Jeffries is no stranger to pain and suffering. Sold into slavery as a child, Shadow was left for dead until she fought back got her freedom and then meets her best friend. Together, they started an all-women’s motorcycle club. As the club’s enforcer, Shadow’s strength and courage are paramount in keeping the club in the business of saving people.
Meeting a sexy Navajo horse rancher catapults Shadow to the next emotional level for the first time. Shadow and Panther will do anything to protect the young, trafficked victims from the sexual predators threatening them. While Shadow and Panther navigate uncertain waters to save the women, can they find passion and pleasure amidst their pain?
Devil’s Handmaidens MC is a multi-author world focusing on a badass all-female MC with various chapters/locations written by some of your favorite MC authors.
WARNING: The Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter of the Devil’s Handmaidens MC is a Romantic Suspense series filled with drama, a bit of angst, maybe some tragedy, and women who are bad a$$. These characters are flawed, some may be broken. If you’re looking for a safe, sweet romance with nice heroes and heroines who are perfect all the time, this is NOT the series for you.
Perfect by Pink Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. Bridge Over Troubled Waters by Simon & Garfunkel My Immortal by Evanescence Sandman byMetallica All By Myself by Eric Carmen When My Guitar Gently Weeps by Beatles Sound of Silence by Disturbed Bring Me to Life by Evanescence Because of You by Kelly Clarkson Raining Blood by Tori Amos Piano Man by Billy Joel Hurt by Johnny Cash Creep by Brian Justin Crum/Radiohead Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton One by Metallica Never Let Me Go by Florence and the Machine Beautiful by Christina Aguilera Million Reasons by Lady Gaga Dream On by Aerosmith If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys She Talks to Angels by Black Crowes Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton Fix You by Coldplay My Hero by Foo Fighters Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Guns N’ Roses Save Me by Hinder To be Alone by Hozier Only God Knows by Kid Rock You Say by Lauren Daigle Where Did the Angels Go by Papa Roach Black by Pearl Jam
D.M. Earl is a U.S.A. Today Bestselling Author who spins stories about real life situations with characters that are authentic, genuine, and sincere. Each of her stories allow the characters to come to life with each turn of the page while they try to find their HEA through much drama and angst. D.M. finds ideas for her next story from within those around her and what she experiences in daily life. Each book has a part of her left behind in it. She lives in Northwest Indiana married to her best friend who was instrumental in the start of her writing career in 2014. When not writing D.M. loves to read, play with her seven fur-babies (yeah crazy) and ride her Harley Dyna Lowrider.
“Enjoy this Ride we call Life.” Remember we only get one chance.
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My Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5
If could double the rating for this story, I would. Shadow’s story was so heartbreaking, interesting, and perfect!
Shadow’s life has been torturous to say the least. This is her story, and the secrets, trauma, and pain of her life will break your heart, but the love, acceptance, and loyalty of the Devil’s Handmaiden’s and the mysterious man that she’s been hiding from her sisters, will heal your heart for you. I loved the twists and turns that came with Shadow’s story.
I loved every tear, smile, and heart wrenching part of this story and am so glad to have been able to read it. Shadow is a tough woman that keeps her heart hidden from so many, but when they start breaking down her walls and creeping into her heart, she has no way of stopping them. Tink and Shadow have a very tight bond, but it will be tested in this story a bit. I love the Devil’s Handmaidens MC books and this chapter is one of my favorites. I can’t wait to read more. I give this book a 5-star review.
Series: The Mayhem Makers Series – MMM World Collaboration
Author: A.R. Hall
Genre: Dark Romance
Release Date: February 21, 2023
★★★★★ Goodreads Review – “This was the Gatsby I yearned for when I read the original book!! Strong and demanding but soft and passionate, oh boy my heart!”
A dark, twisted, modern retelling of the classic, The Great Gatsby.
Only this time, Jay will stop at nothing until Daisy is where she belongs, on her knees and next to him.
Daisy Buchanan isn’t happy with her life. An arranged marriage to a man that sees her as nothing more than a trophy on a shelf. She acts the doting wife in public even though she can hear the whispers. The public thinks of her as nothing more than a conceited socialite, and maybe that’s for the best.
Jay Gatsby did everything necessary to set himself and Daisy up for life. Only when he returned, she was married and living halfway across the country. He’s not one to give up though, so he spends the next year biding his time and setting things up for her to stumble back into his life.
One hour is all he needs to have her in the palm of his hand again. She always was the perfect submissive. Now, he needs to take care of those that stand in the way of their happiness. Whatever it takes.
Daisy fears for Jay’s safety if her family finds out. Can she stay away even as he forces his way back into her life?
Jay isn’t the same young man he was when she first met him. He’s made friends in the hell he rose from. She’s more of a brat than she once was, and his hand is itching to correct her behavior.
Real life isn’t full of romance and happily ever after. It’s made up of stolen moments in the dark with the chance of getting caught.
Will it be worth it in the end?
A.R. Hall has always loved to share stories. She often got in trouble when she was little by making up stories she shouldn’t have. She is a full-time mom, wife, and creator.
A.R. Hall writes mostly paranormal and fantasy romance. She loves telling a story that makes you say “that was weird and hot”.
When she isn’t writing or creating, she can be found playing in her backyard “hippie” garden or glamping in the woods with friends.
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My Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 out of 5
Daisy and Jay had their time when they were younger. He made her promise to wait for him to return to her. Jay went away to serve his tour in the service and Daisy’s family were tired of her excuses not to marry. Daisy’s family is a powerful, ruthless family that is using her as a pawn like most mafia families do. Pairing her with the son of a politician, who also has political aspirations, they are hoping for more power. However, when Daisy fails to uphold her part of the deal, her husband and her family make her miserable.
I loved the premise of this story, and the characters were great. Jay works his way into a position of power upon his discharge from the service, now that he has money and status, he’s better able to support and cherish Daisy, but he has to show her that he has returned and show her that he is the man she should be with. With some manipulation and a plan, Jay will have his Daisy.
I loved the story, but wished there were more at the end to show that they were able to really get their HEA, but maybe the idea was to leave it so there could be more to their story in the future. I hope so. I am loving these books in the MMM World and how they bring the signing into each story, it’s a great connection. I give this book a 4-star review.
I read lots of books, from mythology retellings to literary fiction and I love to reread books from childhood, this is a place to voice my thoughts for fun. I also like to ramble about things such as art or nature every now and again.
Lock and Key by A.K. Evans
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Sassy Redhead Book Reviews 