Shattered by D.A. Charles - Book Review

Description:

Shattered.

Eighteenth birthdays only occur once in one’s lifetime and they are supposed to be life changing-fate had a grim sense of humor when she attended Steven’s Maxwell’s party.

Irrevocably shattered when a devastating accident changes every aspect of his family dynamic, Steven Maxwell must salvage what’s left of his life; fitting the pieces into a puzzle that not only leads him through recovery, but to self discovery.

-0-

Abigail Harris has her life all planned out in perfect compartments. Her job. Her family. Her social life. Abby doesn’t have room in her life for the unexpected. She doesn’t have room in her tiny apartment either-especially when not one, but both of her long-divorced parents end up on her threshold within hours of each other.

Enter Abby’s Christmas Eve nightmare, turned medical mystery-the young educator is shattered when her health takes an unexpected detour.

Cue providence stepping in and sending an ambassador with a disability who welcomes Abby into his world and shows her-a life with physical limitations is still a life with quality.

Shattered is not broken.



-The Roll Models Saga-

Close your eyes and imagine a journey where even the smallest things in life cannot be taken for granted. Connect with characters so deep that when you open your eyes, all the layers that have been pulled back reveal an emotional response you never expected.



My Thoughts:

An emotional, realistic look into life with disabilities. The first 76% of the book is about Stephen and his struggles with living with a sudden disability as he adjusts to the changes and deals with his personal care, mobility issues, and personal relationships.
Finally we meet Abby and see how she deals with her disability. Her story felt a bit rushed after getting Stephen’s in so much detail. I wish we could have seen more of the two of them together. And the ending was pretty abrupt. I’m not a fan of big cliffhangers.

This is a really good read. I recommend for anyone interested in what it is like to live with a disability.

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: *


Where to get it:

Amazon


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Review: Must Love Lions by Alma Black

Description:

Alexis Parrish is very single. Sassy and smart, she's great at her job as a journalist, but it's never given her the time to find the right man--specifically, a human. So when she gets assigned to interview Max, a lion shifter, about the new dating app he's created, she can't believe her intense attraction to him. After all, humans and shifters don’t date. Max is used to causing trouble. He broke tradition by creating the paranormal dating app, Shifter Date, which humans and shifters alike can use to answer the call of the wild.

When Max challenges Alexis to give him a chance, she can't say no. A human like her has no business with this handsome alpha lion, but she can't resist his magnetism. Their chemistry is primal, their connection positively animalistic. After all, once you go shifter, you never go back.

But when a rogue shifter group against interspecies dating targets Alexis, Max will stop at nothing to protect her. It's more than his pride on the line; it's his mate.

Warning: Must Love Lions is a paranormal shape-shifter romance. If sassy, sexy, and carnal reads aren't your thing, this book isn't for you. It contains lots of hot sex, a bit of violence, and a lot of witty banter.

My Thoughts:
Satisfying, quick paranormal romance read. Just the right amount of steam, humor, and sass. I enjoyed it. They do get past their issues pretty quickly, but it's a short book. I liked the characters and the shifter/human prejudice angle was interesting. I would read more of these books.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: author



Where to get it:

Amazon (FREE Nov 30- Dec 2)
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZZ5NE8/
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZZ5NE8/
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01MZZ5NE8/
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MZZ5NE8/


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Shifter Date - Paranormal Dating App

Contemporary Romance Review: Refrain by Kennedy Ryan

Description:
People dream of a love that runs deep. So deep it feels like it's always been with you, just waiting for the person who'll own your heart and soul forever. So few ever find it, but for Rhyson Gray and Kai Pearson, happily ever after was only the beginning...

One of the biggest rock stars in the world and one of the brightest rising stars make a life together. Sometimes it's glamour-filled days and blissed out nights, but it's mostly staying true in the too-bright glare of the spotlight. It's long stretches where the road is lonely and the work is hard. It's living in a love that's the safest place you know even while danger lurks at your door.

Book 3 of The Soul series is an emotionally-charged epic conclusion that had to be told and should not be missed for fans of this series and this couple!

My Thoughts:

This is the continuation of Rhys and Kai’s story. If you read the other two and loved them you'll probably want to read this one. There were a few tears, tons of steam, and even some sweetness. I enjoyed getting more of Rhys and Kai. I am looking forward to Bristol and Grip's story.
My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: author


Where to get it:

Amazon 


Where to find the author:

Newsletter | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter | Book Group | Instagram

Contemporary Romance Review: Lone Star Nights by Delores Fossen

Description:

No strings attached is pretty much Lucky McCord's calling card in Spring Hill, Texas, but when family is on the line, this cowboy's honor and heart are about to get lassoed, tied and branded.

Every family needs its black sheep, and Austin "Lucky" McCord is happy to oblige. The bad-boy bull rider lives fast and loose, until his business partner leaves him an unexpected bequest. Suddenly Lucky is sharing custody of two children with Cassie Weatherall, one of the few homegrown women he hasn't bedded. And not from lack of trying…

Cassie fled her messy past to become a celebrity therapist in LA. So why does it feel so right to come back and share parenting duties—and chrome-melting kisses—with a man she's striven to avoid? Loving Lucky always seemed like a sure bet for heartache. But for this perfectly imperfect family, Cassie might just gamble with everything she's got.


My Thoughts:

I loved the first line and that just made me want to keep reading. Cassie and Lucky are thrown together when they are both left with custody of two girls. Lucky is the bad boy of the family with a reputation. Cassie has always known he would be a bad idea. This was a fun read. There are some funny points and I enjoyed it.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: BEA


Where to get it:

  | B&N


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook  | Goodreads

Contemporary Romance Review: Always My Girl by Samantha Chase

Description:
Sometimes the love that's closest to you is the hardest to see.

Quinn Shaughnessy's two older brothers have found their true loves ... but Quinn's not about to join that parade. Nope, as he tells his best friend Anna, there's a lot more to life than getting tied down to one person. He's positive tomboy Anna will be on his side - except she's inexplicably developing other interests - even dating! Suddenly Quinn is seeing Anna in a very different light.

Quinn has been Anna's buddy since they were both five years old. She can tell him anything - except the one big secret she's been hiding for years - that she's fallen in love with him. Now Anna is determined to make a life for herself that doesn't include pining for Quinn. Falling in love with your best friend? Easy. Telling them how you really feel? Impossible.



My Thoughts:

Quinn and Anna have been friends since they were kids. She's in love with him but he's the only one who doesn't know it. One day he starts noticing she's a woman. It was kind of funny watching him catch up to what everyone else already knows. And to see if he'll actually do something about it.

This is the third book in this series. I haven't read the first two. I felt like there was some information I was missing. I didn't have enough background and it took me a while to figure it out. I enjoyed the story though. A fun friends-to-lovers read.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!


My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Romantic Suspense Review: Devil and the Deep by Julie Ann Walker

Description:
Cocktail parties, political fundraisers, and charity events are Maddy Powers' way of life. But the daring man who appropriated her father's yacht a couple of months ago is still out there, somewhere, and she wants to pay him back for the scorching kiss they shared.

Behind his suave smile and ladykiller eyes, Bran Palladino carries a dark secret that keeps him from pursuing Maddy… even though he can't get her out of his head. But when Maddy is kidnapped as part of a grand scheme, it's time to put up or shut up… because Bran can't live without Maddy now.

My Thoughts:
I missed book one, but I was able to catch up pretty easily. They've been corresponding by phone and email since the events of book one. Maddy is going to be nearby and invites Bran to come visit, but he has commitment issues and is afraid if he sees her in person that he won't be able to keep his hands to himself. He's still questioning his decision when he shows up and finds Maddy in danger. There is plenty of action and suspense in this one, as well as some lighter, funny moments. Each character has a unique personality. They have interesting accents and sayings and some of them speak in movie quotes. An entertaining book and I look forward to checking out the rest of the series.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Historical Romance Review: A Most Delicate Pursuit by Pamela Labud

Description:

Though he’s fiercely loyal to his friends, Michael Carver has managed to avoid romantic entanglements by cultivating a reputation as a rake and a gambler. Believing himself incapable of intimacy, the Earl of Blandon avoids anything more than lighthearted flirtations or trysts with married women—which leaves more than enough time to slip out into the wilderness for a little fishing. All is well until Michael agrees, as a favor, to keep his best friend’s stubborn yet alluring sister-in-law company.

After one failed engagement, Beatrice Hawkins would rather become a spinster than risk her heart again. Her family, however, is relentless when it comes to finding her a suitable match. So when the roguish earl suggests they join forces to feign courtship and throw everyone off their scent, Beatrice only hopes the ton will take the bait. But at the hunting lodge where Michael takes her to escape prying eyes, Beatrice finds herself lured in by the unexpected charms of a man who has so much love to give—even if he doesn’t know it yet.

My Thoughts:
Beatrice and Michael are friends. She refuses to marry. He has issues and doesn't want to ruin a woman's life. They are thrown together when her life is in danger and he takes her away to keep her safe. I honestly was a little confused by this one. He is supposed to convince her to marry him to keep her safe. So he'll do that just not fall in love with her. Except they already seem to be in love with one another. It was an enjoyable read, though.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!

My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon 


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Paranormal Romance Review: The Dark Vampire by Kate Baxter (Last True Vampire #3)

Description:
The grave threat to the tortured race of vampires is greater than ever in Kate Baxter's THE DARK VAMPIRE. An unforgettable, intensely emotional, and hot series for fans of J.R. Ward, Nalini Singh, Lara Adrian and Larissa Ione.

Centuries ago, the vampire race was almost destroyed. Now, salvation rests upon one - the last true vampire.

For centuries, Jenner has been plagued by the shadows of his past. Now, a newly-turned vampire, he stalks the night like a wild predator, unable to satisfy his insatiable desires. Until a beautiful vampire sets his soul on fire...

Bria is pure innocence, hidden her whole life from a merciless enemy determined to hunt her down. When things become perilous, safety comes in the form of a fearsome bodyguard - Jenner.

One fateful night, Bria is saved by her vampire protector and a blazing connection is sparked. But surrendering to the powerful call of passion means breaking free from the shackles of their pasts. And with the war against the slayers more savage than ever, they must fight to survive. For the vampire race depends on it.


My Thoughts:
If you like the Black Dagger Brotherhood, you'll like this series. I usually like stories about vampires and magic and I have enjoyed each book in this series. Each book is about a different couple, but a larger story runs through all of the books so it makes sense to start with book one, The Last True Vampire. In this book we have Jenner who is a recently turned vampire and he is pretty much out of control. Bria has been sheltered and she is tired of it. She is staying at Mikhail's when Jenner finds her and is tethered. He holds himself back from her because he doesn't feel worthy of her which frustrates her. They have to find a way to make it work. I love characters and hope the books keep coming.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes


Where to find the author:

Website | Facebook | Google +| Goodreads

Contemporary Romance Review: Fooling Around by Noelle Adams

Description:
In this steamy novel from New York Times bestselling author Noelle Adams, a notorious tech mogul makes a mild-mannered woman an offer she can’t refuse. What he gets is a battle for control—and a million-dollar affair.

Eric Vincent isn’t in the habit of asking for help. As the founder of a lucrative sports videogame franchise, he’s accustomed to getting his way and enjoying the fruits of his hard-earned success. Then all his illusions of dominance are shattered by a skiing accident that leaves him hobbled, facing a string of surgeries and months of immobility. The only way he’s going to survive is with someone by his side to anticipate his every desire. Someone who will devote every waking second to his comfort. Someone like Julie Nelson . . .

Julie’s life revolves around other people: her students, her parents, her sister. But even she has her limits. Julie has zero interest in playing personal assistant to Eric Vincent, a man who’s as arrogant as he is charismatic . . . until he ups the salary to one million dollars for three months’ work. Soon Julie’s struggling to bite her tongue—and resist the chemistry that draws her to Eric. But after one scorching kiss, Julie decides it’s finally her turn to be selfish. And this time, she’s going to get what she wants.


My Thoughts:

Eric Vincent isn't an easy person to work for but he talks Julie into it by tempting her with a lot of money. She only has to hang in there for three months to get paid. Julie is very nice and is trying to get on with her life after spending so much time taking care of her parents. Eric isn't very likable at all until Julie gets to know him. A different kind of boss/assistant romance. I enjoyed this.

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language.

My Source: Netgalley


Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Paranormal Romance Review: I Dream of Dragons by Ashlyn Chase

Description:
THE HEAT IS ON
When Rory Arish and his two fiery dragon siblings are run out of their ancestral Irish home, it seems their luck has run out-until they arrive in Boston and find a paranormal-friendly apartment building. Finally, Rory has a place to call home. There's only one problem: Rory's new lair has simultaneously been rented to an infuriating woman who is as stubborn as she is beautiful and will not leave 'her' apartment matter how steamed he may be...

AND SPARKS FLY
Amber McNally is a down-on-her-luck flight attendant. She needs this apartment, and not even a fire-breathing dragon with his Irish charm and scorching good looks is going to scare her away. Holing up in their respective corners, a battle of wills ensues. Who will be the first to blink...or give in to their off-the-charts chemistry and decide to make this unorthodox living arrangement a little more permanent?

My Thoughts:
This is a light, fun, paranormal romance. Rory and his sisters are dragon shifters and are banished from their home in Ireland by leprechauns. Amber is a flight attendant who has recently become a modern muse. They are both trying to get the same apartment. The landlords accidentally rented to both of them at the same time and leave them to work it out.  It is pretty funny. The characters are great and I am guessing that this is part of a series just from some of the secondary characters in the apartment building. This is a highly entertaining story that I enjoyed.

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: Netgalley


Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Historical Romance Review: Much Ado About Highlanders by May McGoldrick

Description:
In the heart of Scotland, this Highlander is about to meet his match in a brand new romance from bestseller May McGoldrick.

Highland warrior Alexander Macpherson has lost his wife. When he agreed to take Kenna Mackay as his bride to advance his clan’s power in the north, he expected a bit of an adjustment. He didn't expect the sharp-tongued beauty to run away on their wedding night. Still, Alexander wants his runaway bride…and he has the sneaking suspicion that she wants him, too.

Kenna Mackay thought she was safe in a priory full of nuns learning the craft of healing, but when she is kidnapped by her own husband, the battle of wits begins anew. But even as passions ignite, a deadly secret from Kenna's past rises to the surface and put their new love in jeopardy. As a heartless villain closes in, two headstrong lovers find themselves locked in a struggle between evil and the power of undying love. And this time, Alexander is determined he will not lose his wife again.


My Thoughts:
I liked Kenna and Alexander. They seemed perfect for each other, even though she ran away from him when they first married and hid at a convent. I loved their banter. She has a talent for healing. He is an experienced fighter. They have to work together to keep her safe. She is being hunted and now that he has his wife again, Alexander isn't letting anything happen to her. There is a secondary love story as well, which I enjoyed. I wasn't all that satisfied by the ending, but it is part of a trilogy so I'm sure the story will continue. I'm interested to see what happens.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!



My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon 



Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads

Romantic Comedy Review: After the Final Dandelion by Brooke Williams

Description:
After Renee Lockhart appeared on the local TV dating show "Accept this Dandelion" and found the love of her life, she thought she was done with TV. But when she hears that the entire city has bets on how soon she and her fiancé will break up, she is determined to show that their love is meant to last. When Mike, the KETO producer, approaches her about airing the wedding live, she jumps at the chance. Once she is set up with a famous wedding coordinator, plans take a turn for the worse and the simple wedding they wanted becomes the event of the year. In the meantime, Eva Merida is dealing with her own life changing opportunity. Though she’s in love with her boyfriend, who she met on the second season of the dating show, she can’t turn down the chance to investigate a Hollywood TV show when offered a position. When she runs into an old flame, she questions the stability of her current relationship. Will Renee be able to prove her love for Ben to the city before her wedding falls apart? Who will Eva choose on her own emotional roller coaster? Hilarity ensues as the wedding of the decade melts into the disaster of the year. Because everyone knows weeds take over every garden…

 
My Thoughts:
This was a quick, fun read. Renee and Eva both found their loves on the set of "Accept This Dandelion." The book goes back and forth between the two ladies as Renee is planning her wedding to Ben to air on TV. There are plenty of funny moments and some near-disasters. I think I would have liked this even more if I had read the first two books and had more background on the characters, but it was still enjoyable.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !

My Source: author


Where to get it:

Amazon 


Where to find the author:

Website  | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: New Blue by Jules Barnard

Description:

As Hayden Tate fights to hold her own inside the old boys club of Blue Casino, privileged Adam Cade must decide between the job that means certain freedom from his father’s heavy thumb, or standing up for the girl who’s slowly working her way into his jaded heart.

---

The survivor of a high school sabotage that made her flee her hometown at sixteen, Hayden is no stranger to bullying. Now she has returned to Lake Tahoe to take on her dream job with a degree and a backbone. But her newfound strength is pushed to the limit as she fights to hold her own against the old boys club of Blue Casino.

Adam is the prince of Lake Tahoe, born into one of the wealthiest families in the area. He’s used to doing what he wants when he wants. So when his powerful father threatens to cut him off without a dime unless he uses his Ivy League degree for a job his father got him at Blue Casino, Adam capitulates. Hayden, the head of HR, hates Adam on the spot, finding every way possible to put him in his place—and suddenly the lackey job his father found him gets interesting. Adam’s life of leisure lacks substance, and even though he’s not willing to give it up, he wouldn’t mind the distraction Hayden presents.

But when the casino’s sinister inner workings begin to reveal themselves and Adam is caught between the powerful executives he works for and the lovely Hayden, his loyalties are divided. Blue Casino offers Adam a lucrative career where he wouldn’t need his father’s money for the lifestyle he’s accustomed to, but at what cost? Hayden’s silly side shines through when Adam least expects it, charming his jaded heart, and forcing him to face a morality he never knew he had. For the first time in Adam’s life he finds himself yearning for something real, but will he risk losing everything to have it?



New Blue is the 5th and final book in the Blue Series. Each book in the Blue Series is a stand-alone story and does not need to be read in order.

Deep Blue (Blue Series 1)

Blue Crush (Blue Series 2)

True Blue (Blue Series 3)

Blue Streak: A Blue Series Novella (Blue Series 4)

New Blue (Blue Series 5)



My Thoughts:

This is the 5th book in the Blue series but the first I've read. It stood alone just fine, although it was obvious I was missing some things. Hayden is not respected in her job at the Blue casino.  She is attracted to Adam, a co-worker,  but doesn't want to be and tries her best to ignore it. He seems to be involved in the shady aspects of Blue that she is trying to expose. As she gets closer to Adam, she realizes there is more to him than she first thought. I enjoyed this. I'd like to check out the other books in the series. Looks like there will also be a series based on Adam's brothers.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:
Amazon: http://geni.us/newblue

iBooks: http://apple.co/21qAxwr

B&N: http://bit.ly/1pFYIeQ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1SLVVMt

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1QQxbAg



Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Review: Good Dukes Wear Black by Manda Collins

Description:
A writer for the Ladies Gazette, Miss Ophelia Dauntry’s passion is her pen. So when she sees a fellow writer kidnapped before her eyes—and the trail of evidence leads to the Lords of Anarchy—Ophelia vows to find her friend and take down the notorious London driving club in her column. But before she can argue her case, she needs the inside scoop from its newest leader: Piers Hamilton, the Duke of Trent.

Headstrong, handsome Trent joined the Lords of Anarchy after a decade in the British Army. He’s made it his business to tame the misbehavior within the driving club—and the infuriatingly attractive Ophelia is only getting in his way. The deeper she digs into the case, the more she puts her own life at risk. Can Trent convince Ophelia to trust him to seek justice…and find protection, and passion, in his arms?


My Thoughts:
Trent and Ophelia are both likable characters. He is a Duke and the new leader of the Lords of Anarchy, she is a writer. Their friends are married so they are friends of sorts. She goes to him when her friend is abducted and she needs help. It's a sweet story of friends who realize there is more than friendship between them as they attempt to solve a mystery. An enjoyable read.



My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!


My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | IndieBound | Powells | BAM!


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Review: Brave Enough by M. Leighton

Description:

Is she brave enough to give her heart to a man she only thought she knew?

He was the most charismatic man I’d ever met. Strong, tough, brave. Bold as hell. Something told me Tag Barton could have anything—anyone—he wanted...and he wanted me. It didn’t matter that he was wrong for me in practically every way possible. It didn’t matter that my father would hate it.

I couldn’t resist him. Even if I’d known who he really was and what he was really capable of.

When he suggested we pretend to be engaged, I thought he was the answer to all my problems. He wasn’t. And, in his wake, he left nothing but scorched earth and me, just another casualty of my father’s war.

Can I believe him now when he tells me he loves me? Or is he nothing more than a beautiful, breathtaking lie?


My Thoughts
Weatherly runs off to her family's vineyard to escape her parents' expectations. It's a place she remembers with fond memories. Then she meets Tag. He is unexpected and completely different from what her family wants for her. He's hiding things. Their relationship escalated rather quickly and was hard for me to believe. I didn't feel super connected to either character but I wanted things to work out for them anyway.  I enjoyed it.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Mild language

My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | GooglePlay | BAM!


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Review: To Lure a Proper Lady by Ashlyn MacNamara

Description:
When Lady Elizabeth Wilde and her sisters are summoned once again to their chronically anxious father’s deathbed, she’s shocked to find that his worries are at last justified. He’s terribly ill, and Lizzie suspects poison. But when she seeks help from the Bow Street Runners, her request is answered by a rough-hewn rogue known only as Dysart. Though his irreverent charm by turns shocks and captivates her, a man of Dysart’s background is an altogether inappropriate choice for a duke’s daughter—isn’t he?

Although Dysart has his reasons to disdain polite society, the promise of supplemental income from a noble’s coffers is too tempting to deny. But if Dysart means to apprehend the culprit who poisoned the duke, he’ll need to avoid any and all distractions—like the delicious swish of Lady Elizabeth’s hips. Yet as the investigation begins to unearth secrets he’d rather remain hidden, Dysart must decide at a moment’s notice whether to hold Elizabeth at arm’s length . . . or pull her dangerously close.
My Thoughts:
Lizzie goes to Bow Street to find someone to help her figure out if her father is being poisoned. She meets Dysart who goes undercover during a house party to help her get answers. There is some mystery surrounding his background. He has some history with some of the party guests. Dysart and Lizzie get close, but Lizzie's father is expecting her to marry her cousin. I enjoyed the mystery. Dysart was a little hard to understand for a while but I liked Lizzie. Lizzie's sisters seem interesting and I would read their stories.

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: Netgalley


Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook  Goodreads

Heartbreaker by Kat Bastion and Stone Bastion

Description: 
Kiki Michaelson wants one wild night to forget her starving-artist worries. Simple.

Only instead of Darren Cole becoming her one-night stand, he taunts her with a challenge. Then while she’s trying to best him at his own game, he turns out to be the last thing she’s prepared for: someone she wants to keep.

Which means all he can ever be…is a friend.

Darren Cole never allows a girl to get close—not close enough to matter.

Then storms in Kiki Michaelson, a beautiful, fearless temptation that rocks his world off-balance. But he fights their attraction, unwilling to gamble something physical with their close ties. Until the passionate sculptor exposes her heart and breaks his wide open.

In that moment it becomes clear: she could never be just a friend.

Sometimes what you run from…is exactly what you need.

***HEARTBREAKER is a standalone, full-length new adult romance told in dual POV. Due to mature themes and adult language, this book is for those 18 and older.***


My Thoughts:
This book stands alone but Kiki is Cade's sister from the No Weddings series. She has a thing for the D.J. Darren and has been trying to hook up with him but he's making  it difficult. She wants a one-night stand but since Cade is his boss she's off limits. Both have reasons for not wanting a relationship. So Darren challenges her to just be friends. I liked it. It was fun watching them struggle to just be friends as they got closer and really got to know each other.

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
*Notes: Language.

My Source: Netgalley


Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo


Where to find the author:

Kat Bastion

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Stone Bastion

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: Into the Aether: A Collection of Steampunk Short Stories by Pj Schnyder

Description: 
Journey Into the Aether with award-winning author PJ Schnyder in a collection of daring and sometimes explosive adventures:

In Evie's Gift , Evie travels to England with her brother to find a sponsor for her first season in London. She’s finding much more than intended, including an enemy submarine bent on destroying the airship carrying them across the ocean and a conspirator responsible for sabotaging her host’s mechanicals.

In A Swan in Siam , Agent John M. Alvey of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences searches for the source of a swan feather of peculiar properties in the court of the King of Siam and encounters both an assassin and a living legend.

Plus in the new, never before published Keeping Cadence , fiery Cadence is assigned as both gun expert and bodyguard when the senior crew of the Airship Vulpes is hired to transport precious cargo. Things never go as planned, but the two things Cadence can rely on like clockwork are her captain's explosive temper and the opportunity for a good fight.


My Thoughts:
This was a nice collection of short stories. Steampunk airships, mechanicals, and biometrics. Even a touch paranormal in the first two. The third was a little racier. More romance.  Each story was different with very different characters. Each enjoyable. Made me want more. A fun read


My Rating:****
Steam Factor: !!!
*Notes: Some language in the last story.

My Source: purchased



Where to get it:

Amazon


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Google+ | Goodreads

Review: Risking It All by Christi Barth

Description:
Who doesn’t love Naked Men? In Christi Barth’s irresistible series, a group of close-knit friends talk out their problems with naked honesty on a popular blog. Bonded by a high-school tragedy, they’re moving on from the past—and fighting for the future with strong and sassy women.

Griffin Montgomery helps people. As a teenager, he kept his best friends alive after their soccer team’s bus crashed in the Alps. Now, as a Coast Guard search and rescue pilot, he saves lives with reckless abandon—until he goes too far and earns a lengthy suspension. Working on the Naked Men projects keeps his mind busy, but Griff’s itching to get back in the action. That’s when he finds his latest rescue mission: a pretty wallflower who’s stuck in her comfort zone.

Chloe Widmore doesn’t take risks. As a professional letter writer, she gets enough excitement out of expressing other people’s emotions. So when the hottest man she’s ever seen invades her coffee shop, Chloe surprises herself with how much she wants to be with him. Routines make her feel safe. Griff makes her deliciously unsafe, in so many ways. But falling for him is one risk she might just have to take . . . whether she’s ready or not.


My Thoughts:

This is the first in a series about a group of friends who went through a tragedy together in high school. They started a blog to help them cope. They now all have different jobs but still live together and work on the blog. 

Griffin is a rescue pilot in the coast guard. He meets Chloe in the coffee shop where she writes most days. It was cute. Everyone was treating Griffin like a hero but Chloe starts questioning him. They both took turns irritating me, but it was a fun read overall. Funny. Witty. I'm interested to see what kind of ladies the friends find. I definitely want to read the next book. 

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!
*Notes: Some language


My Source: Netgalley




Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Google Play | Kobo


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest  | Goodreads

Review: Recipe for Kisses by Michelle Major

Description: 
Chloe Daniels doesn’t need a man—after escaping a marriage gone bad, she guards her heart as closely as the details of her past. So when hot-tempered celebrity chef Ben “the Beast” Haddox storms into her struggling toy store, Chloe is determined not to be drawn in by his broad shoulders…or baby-blue eyes.

In his hometown, Ben’s culinary career is almost as famous as his bad-boy rep. He’s out to prove to naysayers he’s a success by opening a new restaurant—and the only thing standing in his way is Chloe’s store. But before he has a chance to convert her space into his signature eatery, she cooks up a plan to show him that her shop is worth saving.

As things start to sizzle between them, Chloe must figure out how to avoid getting burned. Can she trust herself to love again, or has she jumped out of the frying pan and into desire?

My Thoughts:
Chloe has closed herself off since getting divorced from an abusive husband. She has her toy store and the women she helps. Ben is loud and has a temper. He's famous for it. He is taking care of his niece and nephew now. Something about Chloe makes him want to be different. This was sweet.with likable characters. Surprisingly less about food than I expected. I enjoyed this one.


My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!
*Notes: Language

My Source: Netgalley



Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | BAM! | IndieBound


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads