Category Archives: Read by VDub

Worth The Shot (The Bannister Brothers # 2)

By Jennie Marts

Synopsis

Addison Cavanaugh had one rule: Do not date hockey players. So kissing the newest trade to her dad’s team should have been off-limits–even if he is hot enough to melt the ice.
After being traded in the middle of the season, Bane Bannister wasn’t looking for trouble. In fact, he’d been strictly instructed by his new coach to stay out of trouble and away from women. Too bad the only woman he’s interested in happens to be the coach’s daughter.
Is the hunky hockey player enough to make Addison break her only rule? Is the new player worth the shot or is she risking her heart in a game she can’t possibly win?

Review

After reading and enjoying ICING ON THE DATE, I was really looking forward to reading Bane’s story in WORTH THE SHOT; unfortunately, I did not find this one as enjoyable as the first. Both books are novellas, but WORTH THE SHOT is just half the size of the previous book, so the story is very rushed. In under two days, Bane and Addison meet, have sex, fall in love, break up and make up. It moves so quickly that, as a reader, we’re not given the chance to get to know the characters or even to find out what happens to Bane’s hockey career. I also think Ms Marts needs to research sports a lot more if she plans on continuing with sports romances. The way Bane is “traded” to another team is not how it’s done in real life, nor does a coach have the power to fire a player without the approval of the team’s management and/or its owners. Ultimately, the lack of both depth and realism ruin what could have been a good story. WORTH THE SHOT is told in dual POVs and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

Worth The Shot (The Bannister Brothers # 2)

My Rating:

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Point Of Origin: A Legacy Novella

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By Rebecca Yarros

Synopsis

In Legacy, Colorado, our inheritance is simple: Fire and Heartbreak.
Sebastian Vargas…he’s both.
He was my best friend. My first love. My everything.
Until he was my nothing.
It’s been ten years since the wildfire that turned our small town to ashes, taking the lives of our fathers and their elite hotshot crew.
Six years since Bash disappeared with my heart.
No explanation. No goodbye.
But now he’s home, fighting to resurrect the very thing that destroyed us both.
One look, and I’m breathless.
One touch, and he’s relentless.
And I’m not careful, he’ll burn me to the ground again.

Review

The town of Legacy is still healing from a wildfire that ten years ago destroyed the town and killed the entire Hot Shot crew with the exception of one man. Emerson (Emmy) and Sebastian (Bash) were just two of the children who lost a parent that day. Four years later and after a very memorable night, Bash leaves Legacy and Emmy without a word and never looks back. Until now.

I liked both Emmy and Bash and thought they made a good couple. I liked that Emmy stood up not only for herself, but what she thought was the right thing for the town even if that idea was presented by the same man who had broken her heart. She could see the bigger picture and she put her own issues aside. I think Bash was a complete and utter idiot for leaving and cutting off all contact with Emmy all those years ago, but in the present, he didn’t play games and he was very sincere and honest about his feelings.

POINT OF ORIGIN is told in dual POVs and is the introduction of a new series from Rebecca Yarros revolving around the new Hot Shot firefighting crew of Legacy. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it very much, but it could use some editing as I noticed the occasional missing word here and there. Despite being a novella, it didn’t have that rushed feel to it that some do, although I would have liked to have seen more time spent on two things: the mayor’s involvement in the deaths of the old crew, as well as the financial impact against Emmy’s family due to the town’s bank refusing the insurance payout for a part-time firefighter. Other than that, I’m looking forward reading the next book in this new series.

Point of Origin: A Legacy Novella

My Rating:

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Faking It (Homefront: The Sheridans # 3)

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By Kate Aster

Synopsis

FUBAR.

The day my life fell apart, I was introduced to this term. It’s comforting to know there’s one word that completely defines my life.

Go ahead. Look it up.

And right next to the term, you might see a picture of me as the example, sweltering in a 40-pound princess gown in front of my castle beside a kiddie coaster …

… and flanked by the sexiest piece of man candy that ever walked this earth: Dylan Sheridan.

The same Dylan Sheridan who’s an Olympic medalist turned MMA fighter turned billionaire entrepreneur.

The same Dylan Sheridan who destroyed my best fantasy the moment I realized he’s just a cock-sure narcissist who thinks I have a single-digit IQ.

And I won’t fall for him. Even when my life spirals out of control and he’s the only one who reaches into the hurricane to pull me out.

Because even though you see his rock-hard body standing by my side … we’re just faking it.

Review

Both Cass and Dylan have their own reasons for not being interested in a relationship, but that doesn’t stop them from having some fun while they’re both staying in Newton’s Creek. But when their sexual relationship becomes public fodder, Dylan suggests a fake relationship to protect Cass’s reputation. He’s used to being in the public eye, to being the irresponsible one in the family and to women using him for their own purpose, so he has no problem with playing a role if it protects Cass.

FAKING IT is told in dual POVs and is the final book in the Homefront: The Sheridans series, where we see the final Sheridan brother fall for the final woman in a trio of best friends. Both Cass and Dylan are very nice people and make a wonderful couple, but Dylan’s complaints about being left out of the family business that no-one knew he wanted to be a part of, were as silly as Cass’s reason for not believing in marriage because her parents got divorced. FULL DISCLOSURE (book 2) was the best book in this series. FAKING IT wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anything special either, however the epilogue was wonderful and a great way to say goodbye.

Faking It (Homefront: The Sheridans # 3)

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Decipher (Declan Reede: The Untold Story # 3)

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By Michelle Irwin

Synopsis

Brake hard, jostle for position, and watch for the blind corner.

In a swirl of controversy, Declan Reede lost everything important to him. Now old temptations resurface, old battles reignite, and he has nothing left in reserve.

When a glimmer of hope is offered, Declan has to stand and fight for what he wants or he might just lose it all forever.

How can he decipher the clues and get revenge on those who want to see him burn?

Review

First off, I need to point out something that is completely unrelated to this review: I was mentioned in the dedication. How awesome is that? Now, onto the important stuff⎯my review.

If you’ve read all books in this series so far, you’ll know that Declan has just been kicked off the Sinclair Racing team because of a damning eight-page article in a gossip magazine. After all the action we’ve seen in the previous books, DECIPHER was notably short on it. It’s still a great read and I couldn’t put it down, but not a great deal happens in this book. We find out who’s behind the article and why they’re out to ruin Declan. He and Alyssa are trying to make their relationship work and prepare for the future, but it’s hard when Declan is without a job, her family’s still not on Team Declan and the paparazzi is still following them around. I think the most important thing to point out is that Declan seems to be growing up. He swallows his pride and starts making amends with the people he let down. But Declan is still Declan, so he’s bent on revenge and determined to make those who ruined him pay. It’s something that Alyssa hates but I personally don’t blame him because I’m all about revenge.

DECIPHER doesn’t really end in a cliffhanger⎯you’re not left hanging or screaming “What The F#%&?”⎯but it’s not the final book in the series. DECLARE will come out next month.

Decipher (Declan Reede: The Untold Story # 3)

My Rating:

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Romancing The Ranger

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By Jennie Marts

Synopsis

She’s getting out of the city and into his heart…

Reese Hudson meant to destroy mementos from her last failed relationship, not burn down an outhouse and incur the wrath of a sexy park ranger. When the judge rejects her offer to pay for the structure and sentences her to rebuild it—with the hot ranger supervising—she embraces the challenge to take control of her life.

Park ranger Wade Baker wants nothing to do with the rich city girl, no matter how tempting he finds her lush curves. She’s too much like his ex-fiancée, and if he’s learned anything, it’s that women like Reese don’t fit into his world. And he sure as hell wants no part of her big city life.

Reese may not know a hammer from a screwdriver, but she’s working hard to prove she’s not just some pampered princess to be toyed with. And damn it if Wade doesn’t admire her tenacious spirit. If only they got along half as well outside the bedroom as they do in it, there might be a chance for them after all…

Review

What happens when a city girl meets a small-town boy? Wade is wary of women since his ex-fiance left him with a mountain of debt and a low self-esteem. Not all women mind you, just the ones who have or want money as well as the finer things in life. When he spots Reese in her flashy car in his park, he instantly dislikes her despite being attracted to her, even more so when she accidentally sets fire to the outhouse. His nightmare only gets worse when he’s ordered by the courts to supervise her repair efforts for the next two weeks.

ROMANCING THE RANGER was a fun and cute read. It’s told in dual POVs and I’m unsure at this stage if it will be a stand-alone or part of a series. No other characters were really introduced in this book, so I’m assuming it’ll end up being a stand-alone. I liked both Wade and Reese and thought they were a good match. I really liked that Reese didn’t break down and cry after Wade tried to end what they had for a very silly reason, instead she chased him down and tried to change his mind. Be warned, the main conflict happens right towards the end of the story and is resolved in the final page, which kind of sucks, but other than that, I enjoyed reading this light and humorous novella.

Romancing The Ranger

My Rating:

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Pitching My Heart (Love, Laughter & Baseball # 1)

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By Karly Morgan & Samantha Long

Synopsis

After a disastrous date in college, Katryn Winters never wants to come face to face with hot pitcher Weston Dukes again. When she’s assigned the interview of a lifetime by her magazine with the elusive Weston Dukes, what is she to do?

Weston jumps from girl to girl with no desire to settle down. A previous relationship has left him bitter and cynical. When he’s approached for the interview with Katryn, he can’t help but remember how horribly things ended with their date. What happens when he accepts the interview and sparks begin to fly between them? Will they catch the pitch love has thrown at them or will they both strike out?

Review

I’m saddened to say that I wasn’t a fan of PITCHING MY HEART. I just couldn’t get into it no matter how hard I tried or how many times I put it down thinking that maybe it was me and I just wasn’t in the mood. After more than a week of trying and skipping large chunks just to get to the end, I have to accept that I don’t think I was the problem.

I felt like everything was too over-the-top. The characters were really rude, mean, bitchy, crazy and childish. These are people who are in their mid-twenties but are instead acting like they’re in high school. The women seem to enjoy getting into fights and are often threatening physical violence. I think this was meant to be funny, but it fell flat for me. There’s a lot of drama revolving around Weston’s ex-girlfriend, as well as a lot of pushing and pulling between Weston and Katryn. The sex scenes are over so quickly that you’ll miss them if you blink⎯either expand them or get rid of them entirely. I did like one part of the story, and that was when Weston stepped up and took responsibility for something that happened in his past.

Pitching My Heart (Love, Laughter & Baseball # 1)

My Rating:

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Worth The Fall (The McKinney Brothers # 1)

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By Claudia Connor

Synopsis

They meet on a beach. . . . Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.

They only have a week. . . . Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories they deserve. Matt’s been sidelined by a combat injury, and haunted by the best friend he lost and the promise he made: to remain a SEAL—focused and dedicated. This leaves no time for what he’s always wanted: a family.

But a week is all it takes. . . . Matt opens her heart while Abby soothes his soul. And though they plan to say good-bye when the week is over, something magical happens on that beach, something neither can forget. Something utterly, completely worth falling for.

Review

Matt is a Navy SEAL who is grieving the death of his best friend. On a forced beach getaway with a cousin, he stumbles across Abby and her children playing in the sand. The kids are in desperate need of a father figure and really cling to Matt after they meet. Matt’s not in a very good place, but he enjoys spending time with Abby and her family, so he inserts himself into their lives for the week they’re away. But one week is not enough and they start a long-distance relationship while Matt decides if his future is with his SEAL team, or with Abby.

I loved everyone in this book⎯Matt, Abby and her kids. Abby has always dreamed of having a large family, one that would never leave her. But her husband travelled overseas for work and was never there for her or their kids, so when he died, it wasn’t much of a loss for her. I liked that she didn’t cling to Matt in the beginning, despite her attraction to him. She took her time, she was cautious and she made sure he was serious before starting anything with him. What can I say about Matt? He’s sweet. He’s hot. He’s a wonderful man to Abby and a wonderful father to her kids. You just know that he would do absolutely anything to keep them safe and happy.

Abby: “I can’t breathe when you look at me like that.”
Matt: “Like what? Like I love you? Because I do. More than I ever thought possible.”

I’ll be honest, when WORTH THE FALL came out in September 2014, I wasn’t interested in reading it. A book about a man falling in love with (and presumably having sex with) a pregnant woman who already has four kids? Yeah, that didn’t sound like something I’d be into. But as time went on, I kept seeing the book⎯and the series⎯pop up in my FB newsfeed, so I finally decided to give it a try, and I’m so glad I did because it truly was a beautiful story. WORTH THE FALL is told in dual POVs, is the first book in the McKinney Brothers series and I believe it is also the debut novel from Claudia Connor. The only fault I had with the story is that there were times where a conversation or a thought didn’t make sense, only because said conversation or thought seemed to come out of nowhere. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading book two, WORTH THE RISK, real soon.

Worth The Fall (The McKinney Brothers # 1)

My Rating:

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Hawke (Cold Fury # 5)

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By Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis

Off the ice, elite defenseman Hawke Therrien enjoys his fair share of booze and good times. And why shouldn’t he? He’s worked his way up from the minor leagues and made himself a star. The only thing Hawke misses from that life is the pierced, tattooed free spirit who broke his heart without so much as an explanation. She’s almost unrecognizable when she walks back into his life seven years later—except for the look in her eyes that feels like a punch to the gut.

Vale Campbell isn’t the same girl she was at twenty. As crazy as she was about Hawke, her reckless behavior and out-of-control drinking were starting to scare her. She had to clean up her act, and that would never happen with Hawke around. Cutting him loose was the hardest thing Vale ever had to do—until now. Because she’s still crazy about Hawke. And if he could ever learn to forgive her, they just might have a future together.

Review

HAWKE starts with a flashback of seven years, to when Hawke and Vale are madly in love at the age of twenty. Out of nowhere, Vale breaks up with Hawke and provides no reason for the breakup other than she doesn’t love him anymore. He tries for a few days to get her to talk to him, but she never returns his calls or texts and in his anger, he gives up and moves on. Back in the present day, Hawke is welcomed into the Cold Fury team on the same day that Vale is introduced as their newest athletic trainer. He thought he’d gotten over his feelings for her, but one look at her brings all the anger, frustration and yes, love, screaming to the surface.

HAWKE is a second-chance romance that is told in dual POVs, and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I love Sawyer Bennett’s work, which is why it pains me to say that HAWKE was a bit of a letdown for me. I am not a fan of conflict that is caused by simple miscommunication. I was annoyed at Vale for laying half the blame on Hawke when absolutely none of the breakup was his fault. I was irritated by the constant allusion as to why Vale broke it off with Hawke, before the reason was finally revealed at the 60% mark. I really disliked the scene where Hawke nearly forced himself onto Vale, thinking that her refusal was unacceptable to him because he was too far gone. Lastly, he’s been sleeping around for the past seven years and she’s been in other relationships, and yet both are more than ok with not using a condom the first time, or any time after that. Overall, I feel that the book was as frustrating as it was enjoyable.

Hawke (Cold Fury # 5)

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Emergency Delivery (Love Emergency # 2)

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By Samanthe Beck

Synopsis

Madison Foley is determined to stand on her own two feet, no matter how wobbly her circumstances. Fate, however, keeps throwing her off balance, and then sending heroically hot paramedic Hunter Knox to save her.

She’s put men on the back burner until she gets her life on track.

But Hunter’s got other plans.

Decisions. Decisions.

Review

Hunter and Madison meet in a fairly unconventional way when Hunter is called in to deliver Madison’s baby on the side of a busy road. Feeling a connection he doesn’t understand, he visits her the next day to find out she’s already been discharged. A month later, he finds out from another paramedic that she’s been re-admitted to hospital after collapsing in public. When he discovers the full extent of her situation, he offers up his home as a way to help her out.

I adored Hunter and thought he was an absolute sweetheart. His friends and co-workers know he’s a great guy but they also think he has a hero complex. I don’t think it’s a hero complex, rather that he’s a good guy who wants to help those who need it. As a paramedic with dreams of becoming a doctor, fixing things to make lives better is simply who he is. The only time I wasn’t sold on him was when he planned to propose to Madison when he hadn’t yet told her how he felt about her. Madison is a nice, young woman who hasn’t had the best start in life. Her ex-boyfriend is a total loser that she can’t seem to shake no matter where she goes. She wants to prove to herself and her daughter that she can provide them with everything they need, and while that’s admirable, it’s that need for independence that got to me at times. Hunter is an amazing guy, so it annoyed me that she kept trying to push him away for their own good.

EMERGENCY DELIVERY is told in dual POVs and while it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. It was an easy and romantic read with a little action thrown in. I liked Hunter and Madison as a couple and I thought the ending was sweet and perfect.

Emergency Delivery (Love Emergency # 2)

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Into The Rain (Daughter Of Fire # 3)

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By Michelle Irwin

Synopsis

Evie Meyers and Clay Jacobs have found paradise in the remote wilderness. Hidden away at the ends of the Earth, they are certain no one can find them. The illusion is shattered when Evie’s former lover Aiden crashes into their sanctuary. ‬

The tension caused by the fae’s arrival escalates when they discover the reason for his presence. An ever-present foe has kidnapped someone precious to his court, and he needs Clay’s help for the rescue. The mission will take them straight into the Rain. The path is a dangerous one, filled with dark secrets and old lies. ‬

With echoes of the past surrounding them and a shadowed threat lurking nearby, both Evie and Clay must put their trust in the hands of an enemy. How will they find a way to reconcile their prejudices and make it out alive?

Review

INTO THE RAIN takes up from where RISE FROM ASH left off, with Clay and Evie still on the run from The Rain and living in a secluded cabin in Europe. It starts out all kisses, cuddles and kick-arse training, but when people from Evie’s past ask for help, the book quickly heats up with action. If Evie and Clay choose to accept this dangerous mission, it will take them directly into The Rain.

So what happened in this book? Well, I can’t tell you that now, can I? What I can tell you is that your opinion of one character will permanently change for the better. I can tell you that secrets will be revealed and the truth will be hard for some people to accept. I can tell you that if you think you know who’s working with the enemy, you’re probably wrong. I know I was.

INTO THE RAIN is another book in the Daughter Of Fire series that I could not put down. Honestly, I find most books predictable. I still enjoy them, no doubt about that, but it’s not often that a book keeps me on my toes, keeps me guessing as to what’s going to happen next or has my brain shouting “WTF?”. What I love about this series is that I can’t predict anything, and I love it.

INTO THE RAIN is told in Evie’s POV and cannot be read as a stand-alone; you really do need to read THROUGH THE FIRE and RISE FROM ASH first. And the ending??? Oh. My. God. It’s official, Michelle Irwin is the Cliffhanger Queen. I’m fairly certain the final book in this series comes out in October this year, and I cannot wait to see how Clay and Evie’s story will end. I have all my fingers and toes crossed that they will get their HEA.

Into The Rain (Daughter Of Fire # 3)

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