Tag Archives: Must Read Again

A Change in Tide (Northern Lights #1)

By Freya Barker

Synopsis

What impact would it have when everything suddenly faded to black?

For Mia, a crowded subway ride changes her entire life. Retreating to the wilderness helps her cope with a world that is suddenly too loud, too turbulent.
Her existence safely contained to the small cottage on the lake, she is unprepared for the neighbor that moves across the bay

A career-ending injury has Jared permanently benched. His reputation as The Enforcer won’t survive the unanticipated responsibilities awaiting him.
Away from the public eye, he adjust to his new reality, under the quiet observation of the intriguing hermit on the other side of the water.

Review

A Change in Tide is my first book by this author and will not be my last, her writing style, the way she interconnects the characters, their emotions, passion and humour was just fantastic.

As I got towards the Epilogue my eyes started to well with tears, I was simply not read to say farewell to this group of characters, I will be reading this story again and again, it is a beautiful story of hope, family and new beginnings.

The cover is pure and simple Jared, all masculine in that outdoors way, yet someone who would engulf you in a big bear hug and fight your demons. I also am happy to say I loved that Jared was shy of 40 and Mia was slightly older, it was wonderful to read a mature love story of second chances and changing your life’s direction.

The story is told from both Jared and Mia POV and it switches with ease and we also get an entwining story of Jared’s sister, now I could read a whole novel on her running parallel to this story as so many scenes I was like, I want to know what is being thought, felt and whispered, but that is just me. The humourous scenes around Jordy and Ole made me laugh many times which provided relief and John was a wonderful character and perfectly included – I was so in his alpha corner all the way.

Mia’s condition is written with heart and soul and it was respectful and as a reader you too were feeling the helplessness and loneliness. I was with Mia every step of the way in her fighting through and deciding to embrace life again and to go with the flow of the tide.

A Change in Tide was a simply beautiful romantic story and upon finishing the last page I had a smile on my face and tears in my eyes – my soul was nourished.

Quote: But if I truly want a new beginning – a total change in tide – I have to start with me.

A Change in Tide (Northern Lights #1)

My Rating:

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Fallen Crest Home (Fallen Crest #6)

By Tijan

Synopsis

It’s been years since my mother was in my life.
I healed.
I learned to accept love.
I lived.
That’s all done. She was away, and now she’s back.
I avoided her for a year and a half, but I couldn’t hide anymore.
Mason had an internship in Fallen Crest, so we headed back for the summer.
And when we got there—no one was prepared for what happened.

Review

Fallen Crest High (#1) has always been my favourite but Fallen Crest Home has surpassed that. Why you ask? Well we returned to what this is all about Sam and Mason, their relationship with each other, her mother and his father. So much action, game playing, guessing who is honest and just the fearsome foursome, Mason, Logan, Tate & Sam – they were Home and standing side by side.

I definitely felt that Mason was maturing and as this story progressed you just knew the tides were changing and he lost control at times, the scene after the wedding reception with Sam, how is that going to play out in Fallen Crest High #7?

I do admit I was a little upset that again Sam was being attacked from different sides from old and new threats, I really wanted them to be Home for some peace after all the drama at Cain. I did not feel calm until Logan appeared as I was worried Mason was alone, no matter who else is around unless those two guys are together I do not feel calm.I did a little dance when Logan finally gets into town, we were given great humorous moments as at that point in the story I was shaking in my boots in fear.

One favourite part was Mason’s reflection at the wedding ceremony, his realisation of Analise and Sam, it was a stellar scene and my heart filled. I also felt myself aching with the loss and hurt as Sam dealt with her demons in relation to her mother, at times I thought of reconciliation and other times revenge, it was riveting to follow Sam’s own personal journey of self discovery and allowing herself closure. The scene with her mother in the hotel reception was another favourite for me and I actually found myself thawing somewhat towards her mother.

Reading Fallen Crest Home to me allowed Sam back into the story, I would have liked David to be involved a bit more however her relationship with Malinda was perfect and exactly what she needed. I did find myself actually angry at Malinda helping Sam’s mother but then it made sense keep her friends close and your enemy closer as they say and in the end she was looking out for Sam.

Mason and Logan’s speech at the wedding ceremony was absolutely brilliant!

Adam and Becky returned with a vengeance and I did have a hunch on the leak and when all the secrets were revealed well it provided another layer to this story. I also enjoyed Garrett making an appearance and helping his daughter and Heather continued to prove her worth as a true friend to Sam.

I cannot wait for Fallen Crest High #7 – I am hoping for two things to evolve in their relationship – will they happen? Will there be further reconciliation?

Fallen Crest Home (Fallen Crest #6)

My Rating:

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The Castle (Endgame #3)

By Skye Warren

Synopsis

I’m safe in the ivory tower Gabriel Miller made for me. That’s what he says. Enemies lurk outside, waiting to strike. An army of enemies held back by these walls.

Except some animal instinct warns me the danger is much closer. It’s already here. Is Gabriel Miller my protector or my enemy? Is this house a castle or a cage?

There’s nowhere for me to go, no one left for me to trust.

No escape from a past determined to capture its prize.

Review

Firstly the Prologue gives us more of the night of Avery’s 18th birthday and it helped me return to this world of many games being played.

The Castle was breathtaking and brilliant and when Avery finally makes all the connections in her memory from her childhood it created that moment in books where you take a breathe. As a reader you knew major secrets were hidden but there trying to be revealed – just fantastic. This instalment is fast paced and you will be constantly on guard with Avery waiting for that moment when all the people in the game make their play.

Avery was strong in this final instalment of the trilogy and Gabriel was dominant and ultimately her protector and I loved the ending.

I loved the addition of Penny for Avery and I was so excited reading the thank you notes from the author that we will be having a story on Penny and Damon. I have actually held an interest in Damon Scott from the first book and considering all his connections I cannot wait as I feel he has so much more to reveal and also perhaps Avery and Gabriel will make an appearance too!

I read this in two days, could not put down and I will be returning to read this series again as I just connected to Avery and loved her whole story.

Avery and Gabriel’s passionate sexual scenes were intense and erotic and held so much emotional feelings even amongst all the danger.

Quote: A pawn with ambition. Or a queen with chains

The Castle (Engame #3)

My Rating:

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Fakers (Canaan Island #1)

By Meg Collett

Synopsis

Kyra Aberdeen is a YouTube sensation. Her bubbling personality and fresh beauty capture her audience each week, but they don’t know the truth-she’s just faking it. Beneath the surface of light-hearted smiles is a simmering darkness threatening to pull Kyra under.

When Kyra moves to Canaan Island and buys her deceased mother’s childhood home, she hopes to confront the lurking shadows haunting her every step. But when she meets her grumpy contractor, even her best-laid plans start to unravel.

Hale Cooper is as brutally honest as he is intriguing. He hates fakers, and isn’t afraid to call Kyra on her false personality. Yet, she is drawn to him, and the unexpected attraction to a man who challenges her to be her true self lands her in unchartered waters.

But if she lowers her guard and allows herself to be honest with Hale, will the darkness creep in too?

*This book is recommended for mature readers due to some sexual content and language. Cutting is represented in this book, and scenes may be considered triggering to some.*

Review

Fakers has one of the best group of characters I have read in a long time and I can honestly say this story is more than just Kyra and Hale, it has Stevie and Cade along with all the eccentric residents of Canaan Island.

Upon finishing Fakers I immediately downloaded book 2 Keepers which is Stevie’s story.

As I began highlighting favourite paragraphs because they touched my soul and gave me tingles it told me I am reading a beautiful love story and Faker’s did not disappoint.

The friendship between Stevie and Kyra was beautiful as was Kyra’s story of finding her home and a connection to her mother. Kyra’s background story with her grandmother and mother is heartbreaking but also immensely gripping and it is not finished – what is in her mother’s diary? Will her grandmother give Kyra’s mother a beautiful gravesite with light and flowers?

One character who showed he is more than just alpha hotness is Hale, he stepped up at the end of this book and he is my hero. The love, compassion and instinct in pushing Kyra to open up gives an amazing depth to this story.

I love the new covers of this series with the weatherboard houses. Faker’s covers some deep and emotional issues, it is done with compassion however it has so many moments of humour and lightness that it does repair your heart.

I am in love with this story, it’s residents and it’s location, I cannot wait to start book 2!

Quote: “We just cope the best way we know how, but its not the best way, because it hurts us. So we have to learn a new way, a better way. Because we deserve the happiness we fake.”

Fakers (Canaan Island #1)

My Rating:

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El Diablo (The Devil #1)

By El Diablo

Synopsis

I was ruthless.
I was feared.
I had sacrificed. Myself. Her. Everything…

Living in a world where I was worth more dead than alive was a choice. I was a bad man, never claimed to be anything else. I’ve done things I’m not proud of. Seen things that can’t be unseen. I’ve caused pain that I can’t undo.
It was all my choice.
Every decision.
Every order.
Right and wrong never mattered.
Until her.
She was under my protection, until she became my obsession.
But who was going to save her…

From. Me. The devil himself.

Fate brought us together. Destiny destroyed us.
STANDALONE. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Full length novel.

Review

El Diablo delivers those book moments (yes there are more than one) when you’re reading and you want to stop, it feels hard but you know you have to continue. This story tied me up in knots, I was scared for the secrets, not wanting to know but really needing to know if my feelings were correct. This story is amazing – I simply loved it.

El Diablo is told in two parts, however the overall theme is about the women who moulded this man to be who he is.

The first half told his story of young first love, his protection of his sister and his devotion to his mother. This is a hard story with loss and different types of love and him becoming that man. One scene with his sister and her friend is an incredibly tough chapter but moulds this man.

Moving on to the second half – this was my favourite – it is more dark, raw and gritty. I held such sadness for Briggs and totally devastation for Lexi but wow their characters and how they affect El Diablo kept me turning those pages.

Lexi was my favourite character of all the women for sure, the interactions, emotions and drama were fantastic. It was so interesting to see how part one of this story ultimately paved the way for how El Diablo lives and conducts his life. I was trying to piece everything together, I gave up and just enjoyed the passionate and heart breaking moments that was Lexi’s life with El Diablo literally conducting her life like a conductor of a orchestra.

El Diablo’s secret is outstanding at the end and ties all my questions together and thank god I got my answers, amazing how the author intriquitely weaved all the characters together. I cannot believe Sophia’s connection to it all and my god the lengths El Diablo goes for Lexi is breathtaking and I cried with relief at the ending.

This story is dark and dirty but the ending is beautiful and one of the best I have read in such a long time – so fulfilling – it is so worth the devastating journey.

El Diablo (The Devil #1)

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Captivating Nights

By Anise Storm

Synopsis

With New Year’s Eve and her thirtieth birthday fast approaching, best-selling author Calista Grant has a hard time envisioning actually doing something for herself. At the urging of her closest friends, she books herself a once in lifetime vacation, trading the chaos of Boston for the serene tranquility of the Caribbean. Once in paradise, she makes the decision to drop her guard and finally let loose.

Enter two bachelors, with demons of their own to vanquish. Zane Rhodes, a successful architect, is on a path of self-destruction after a tragic loss. In denial regarding his own issues, resort owner, Xavier Rivera, invites his best friend to spend the holiday with him in paradise. Once there, they both meet Calista and are immediately captivated.

Used to sharing everything, including women, they set out to seduce the innocent brunette and fulfill her deepest fantasies. Neither is prepared for what happens next, though, as the two Dominants find themselves not only battling each other, but their own demons as well. Will they be able to save their friendship before the reality of the three ends the fantasy forever?

Review

Captivating Nights has made me want to be a Y to my very own X & Z. I want what Cali was given by X & Z – she was cherished, devoured and pushed to her limits.

The three main characters all had something that the other needed in order to repair and take a plunge with their hearts. I cannot believe how much emotional baggage these characters had but it just gave them all such depth and I loved watching them all figure it out.

Cali immediately had me within the first few chapters and then X & Z – can two guys be any more dominant, possessive and selfless in the way they brought Cali to her knees.

X & Z both had such strong individual traits and then Cali comes along and it was like a three piece puzzle was solved with one night of passion. I enjoyed watching as they kept putting that puzzle back together each night at the resort and each time it was harder for them to break apart in the morning.

I am glad the author did not go too dramatic with Cali’s diving adventure, the way she entwined that into the story for Zane to have his moment on enlightenment was perfect.

Tears in my eyes with the ending and Captivating Nights is going to my menage shelf to pick up again.

Quote: “I’ve learned a long time ago that while some people are given the world, others should consider themselves lucky to simply exist in it”

Captivating Nights

My Rating:

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Kiss of The Highlander (Highlander Series #4)

By Karen Marie Moning

Synopsis

A laird trapped between centuries…

Enchanted by a powerful spell, Highland laird Drustan MacKeltar slumbered for nearly five centuries hidden deep in a cave, until an unlikely savior awakened him. The enticing lass who dressed and spoke like no woman he’d ever known was from his distant future, where crumbled ruins were all that remained of his vanished world. Drustan knew he had to return to his own century if he was to save his people from a terrible fate. And he needed the bewitching woman by his side….

A woman changed forever in his arms…

Gwen Cassidy had come to Scotland to shake up her humdrum life and, just maybe, meet a man. How could she have known that a tumble down a Highland ravine would send her plunging into an underground cavern — to land atop the most devastatingly seductive man she’d ever seen? Or that once he’d kissed her, he wouldn’t let her go?

Bound to Drustan by a passion stronger than time, Gwen is swept back to sixteenth-century Scotland, where a treacherous enemy plots against them … and where a warrior with the power to change history will defy time itself for the woman he loves….

Review

Kiss of The Highlander is a well crafted book. Karen Marie Moning perfectly put together a sequence of events that led the reader on a journey. This story had me laughing and crying out loud. At times I was even screaming into my Kindle. This is not the first time I have read this story and will not be my last. This is a must read again story.

Drustan Mackeltar has been gypsy cursed and been asleep for over 500 years. He is woken by Gwen. He is confused but because he has always been a ladies man he is more than happy to get acquainted.

This book then turns into Drustan trying to get Gwen to believe he is not crazy and from the past. It takes some work on his part and they develop a relationship that turns into love.

Their relationship takes a turn when she travels to the past. Gwen now finds herself in the position of having to convince that other Drustan that she isn’t crazy and somehow must help save his twin brother. And somewhere in this whole mess he may fall in love with her all over again.

Kiss of The Highlander is fast paced and beautifully written. From beginning to end you are cheering for these two. This story is also unique because you feel like you have two books in one. This is definitely a book to be read over and over.

Kiss of the Highlander

My Rating:

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Submission is Not Enough (Masters and Mercenaries #12)

By Lexi Blake

Synopsis

A fallen hero reborn

Theo Taggart lost everything the night he died. His family, his beautiful Erin, and worst of all, he lost himself. A twisted doctor brought him back from the brink of death, but reprogrammed his identity to serve her will. Rescued by his brothers, he must fight to reclaim the man he was and the life, and love, that were stolen from him.

A love worth fighting for

Erin Argent thought she’d lost Theo forever. When he walked back into her life, it was nothing short of a miracle. Months of torture and conditioning at the hands of Dr. Hope McDonald have done damage to Theo that may never be mended. He has no memory of her or the life they shared. Breaking through to him, and helping him rediscover all he lost, will be the toughest mission she’s ever faced. Luckily for Theo, Erin loves a good fight.

Their reunion under siege

Unfortunately, Hope is far from done with Theo Taggart. Obsessed with her prize experiment, she will do anything to get him back. If the only way to finally break him of his past life is to kill Erin and his son, then she’s only too happy to oblige…

Review

Submission is Not Enough has now become my personal favorite book from this series. Lexi Blake combined humour and emotional heartache that had me laughing and crying and laughing and crying. I love how she brought back all of the characters that we love and we got to know new characters that will find a place in our hearts.

Erin is a truly special person. She was a tough kid that had to overcome what was lacking in her family. She deserved to have an easy adulthood but that wasn’t in the cards for her. It was her tenacity that won me over. She learned so much while she thought Theo was dead and she never gives up on a fight.

Theo is a man that has literally lost everything he knows to be true. His family hasn’t given up on him but he has no idea who he is or what it means to be a Taggart. When he comes back from the dead he has to find himself again and relearn everything about what his family is made of.

Hope McDonald is the very definition of evil, but brilliant, mastermind. She is obsessed with Theo and will do everything in her power to get him back. She is definitely a person that you can just hate.

Lexi Blake put in the right mix of past and present into Submission is Not Enough. Many times in this book we were taken to the past and learned what brought these two together. I also loved all the humour that was injected into this story. Ian provided a lot of humour and a lot of tough brotherly love. This book had everything in it that makes this series so great.

Submission is Not Enough

My Rating:

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Road to Peace (Dogs of Fire #6)

By Piper Davenport

Synopsis

Widowed young, Maisie Mann was left to raise her daughter alone. Now, nine years later, she thinks she might have life as a single mom mastered. The last thing she needs is to lose that control, or be stranded on the wrong side of town. All she requires is a little roadside assistance and she’ll be on her way. But when her help comes in the form of a gruff but alluring biker, it sparks emotions she hasn’t experienced since her husband died.

Connor ‘Hatch’ Wallace is nobody’s hero. The Sergeant-at-Arms for the Dogs of Fire MC has a bitter past and has sworn off com-plicated, but fate continues to throw the pretty high maintenance blonde in his path.

Maisie has no intention of getting involved with a man like Hatch and, despite her overwhelming attraction to him, pushes him away… until her life, and that of her child, are threatened.

Is Maisie’s only chance of survival in the hands of a badass biker?
Will Hatch be able to put aside his past and protect a woman and her daughter at the risk of losing everything?

Review

This was a fantastic read and I cannot believe Hatch and Maisie have knocked Booker and Dani off as my favourite couple within the Dogs of Fire family. Maisie was such a soft and warm human being and I immediately connected with her from the first chapter. Her english accent was interesting and as an Australian so many of her sayings are what I grew up with so I knew where she was coming from. The term “mutton dressed up as lamb” is a term I use talking to my own daughter all the time!

Poppy was a beautiful part of the Road to Peace particularly for Hatch and I simply loved watching their relationship grow and the ending was just heart warming. Each of the Dogs of Fire books seems to have a child element that cements the couple as a family and I really love that.

The storyline with her work colleague was one emotional ride and it was beautiful how Hatch just stepped put the plate and cared for his girls.

There was humour, heartbreak and happiness throughout this story and it flowed really well and kept me surprised right up until the end. I also appreciated finding out the HEA details in the epilogue.

We also get a sneak peak at the next story and I had tears in my eyes reading the few pages – the next story is going to need a box of tissues next to me whilst I read this. It is Lily’s story who we first met in Book 2 Road to Redemption as Hawk’s gorgeous baby girl – it is going to be one hard read for sure if the sneak peak is anything to go by.

Road to Peace (Dogs of Fire #6)

My Rating:

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Anti Stepbrother

By Tijan

Synopsis

He told me to ‘settle, girl.’
He asked if ‘something was wrong with me?’
He said I was an ‘easy target.’
That was within minutes when I first met Caden Banks.
I labeled him an *sshole, but he was more than that. Arrogant. Smug. Alpha.

He was also to-die-for gorgeous, and my stepbrother’s fraternity brother.

Okay, yes I was a little naive, a tad bit socially awkward, and the smallest amount of stalker-ish, but if Caden Banks thought he could tell me what to do, he had another thing coming.

I came to college with daydreams about being with my stepbrother, but what if I fell for the anti-stepbrother instead?

Standalone.

Review

I simply could not put this down and is it wrong that I want to pick this up and read again – like all my other Tijan books on my bookshelf I will probably read once a year just to say hi to the characters again as they are in my heart and fed my soul.

Loved Summer and her humour and verbal diarrhoea, she cracked me up, one minute laughing with her and then the next minute my heart shattering at her social awkwardness.
I simply fell in love with this girl from the first chapter and I think Caden did too. This story is about the building a friendship into a relationship, of two people not seeing what all their friends could see from the beginning.

The relationship with her step brother and her family were entwined with her romance story with Caden at the right moments for me.

Avery was a friendship character that was really integral to this story for me and I found her so enjoyable. She along with Marcus were two characters I was so glad were included right up to the end of this story, I was happy to see how Marcus and Summer’s friendship progressed throughout the book.

The resolution of Summer’s family loss and her ability to move forward was placed within the story at the right moment and Caden and his family secrets provided another layer of emotions – you knew he had a story at the start and we are given full disclosure by the end.

Caden may have knocked off Carter Reed from my favourite Tijan men, or perhaps I can have two favourite Tijan men?