Tag Archives: Series

Boy Toy (Man Hands #3)

By Sarina Bowen & Tanya Eby

Synopsis

Liam
The moment Sadie Matthews walks through the daycare center door, I feel my world tilt in her direction. Again. I fell for her when I was fourteen, and I’m still not over her. Problem: she still thinks of me as a teen she used to babysit. But I’ve learned a few things about pleasing a woman in the last fifteen years. I can’t wait to show her how good it could be. I need to move quickly before I lose her again. This is more than a game to me, but I still plan to win.

Sadie
I’ve just survived the worst year of my life. As a single mom of twin toddlers, I don’t have time for a man. I barely have time to finish a thought. Who knew that Liam McAllister would grow up to be so devastating? He’s everything my husband was not: tall, built, and willing to have a tea party with my girls.

I can’t possibly get involved with him. He’s too young for me. Too handsome. But he’s so persuasive…

Review

I loved this book! BOY TOY was sexy and fun, and it was refreshing to read a story about a younger man/older woman for a change, even if the age difference between Sadie and Liam was only five years.

I think Sadie is a character a lot of women will relate to. She was smart, hardworking and a wonderful mother to her adorable twin girls, Kate and Amy. I felt so sad and angry on her behalf at how her self-esteem had been knocked down by her douche of an ex-husband, who you wish was real just so you could kick him in the balls for his douchey ways. 

Liam was an amazing man and it was no surprise that Sadie and her girls fell in love with him. He proved to all three of them that they could rely on him, that he’d always be there and that he’d always keep his promises.

I loved all the characters, with the exception of Douchebag Decker of course, and I liked getting a glimpse of the previous couples and where they were at with their lives. I LOVED the surprise party for Liam’s dad, which was both hilarious and gratifying. As with the previous books, the banter and inner monologue were quite amusing, like this little gem, which had me laughing out loud and saying “Ewww” at the same time.

“He wants to put ranch dressing on your Hidden Valley.”

The only complaint I have is that I was irritated by how many times Liam referred to his fourteen-year-old self. It was funny at first, but it got old pretty fast.

BOY TOY is told in dual POVs and comes with a beautiful HEA for Sadie and Liam. While it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone, though I would recommend reading the previous two books because they’re both very enjoyable.

Boy Toy (Man Hands #3)

My Rating:  

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Man Hands Series

Destiny Mine (Tormentor Mine #3)

By Anna Zaires

Synopsis

Fate made us enemies. I made us lovers.

In a different world, we were meant for each other.

This is not that world.

Note: For optimal enjoyment, it’s recommended you read the Twist Me trilogy prior to starting this book.

Review

Not my favourite of this series, however, it is a must read to understand where the final book of the series will go.  Just the Epilogue leaves your aghast as to how the final book will play out.

I felt such loneliness for Sara as she waited for Peter.  The frustration that Peter felt and the build-up to the event that allows him to return to her left me a little deflated.  It really did seem to happen so easily after all that build up of being an impossible and dangerous exercise.  

My main problem with this story upon reflection is that Peter and Sara are separated for so much.  I love their chemistry and emotion when they are together in the story.  So I am putting that down to why this was not my favourite, I still enjoyed it but it did not set the sky alight.

Destiny Mine (Tormentor Mine #3)

My Rating:  

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The Chase (Briar U # 1)

By Elle Kennedy

Synopsis

Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right, because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother.

And that his best friend has a crush on me.

And that I just moved in with them.

Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates?

I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing?

He knows where to find me.

Review

THE CHASE is the first book in the Briar U series (a spin-off of the Off-Campus series, which is one of my all-time favorite series) and I won’t lie, I have been waiting for this book for a very long time. Almost two years to be exact and I’m very glad the wait is finally over. As with any book from Elle Kennedy, THE CHASE was a very enjoyable binge read that left me wanting more.

It’s hard to believe that two weeks ago I was excited about seeing Fitz.
Now I’m dreading it. My unicorn is no longer a unicorn. He’s a judgmental donkey.

I liked Summer and Fitz, but Summer was definitely my favorite character. She was a breath of fresh air and was so open and honest. A special mention also has to go out to Brenna, Summer’s new best friend and the daughter of the school’s hockey coach, who was just as ballsy and unapologetic as Summer was. Fitz was a good guy, but he did try my patience with how negative he could be towards Summer simply because her personality was different to his.

I’ve made more of an effort to be social, but deep down I’m still the guy who wants to remain invisible.
Summer is the most visible person I’ve ever met.

THE CHASE is most definitely an angsty, slow burn romance, with Summer and Fitz pushing and pulling each other for more than two thirds of the book, which for me was a very long time to wait for them to get together. I was left with a lot of questions relating to both Summer and Fitz, and if those questions don’t get answered in the following books, it will annoy me greatly. I was a little disappointed with the ending because it felt abrupt, came without an epilogue and came almost immediately after a very big scene had been played out.

THE CHASE is told in dual POVs and comes with a nice enough ending for Summer and Fitz. I’m very much looking forward to Brenna’s book, THE RISK, which is scheduled to be released in February 2019, and I’m desperate to know who her love interest will be. Will it be Hollis, Summer and Fitz’s roommate? Or will it be Jake Connelly, a rival hockey player from Harvard? Time will tell, and I for one hope time flies.

* Please note: This book includes talk about—and includes a couple of scenes of—sexual assault, so take caution if this topic is a trigger for you.

The Chase (Briar U # 1)

My Rating:  

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Briar U Series

Road-Tripped (Ad Agency # 1)

By Nicole Archer

Synopsis

What’s worse than driving across country in a phallic-shaped RV with a coworker you hate? Falling in love with them.

Copywriter Callie Murphy has a bad attitude, a vicious tongue, and a serious aversion to Shimura Advertising’s resident manwhore, Walker Rhodes. Know where he can stick his good looks and Southern charm? She can think of a few creative places. Avoiding him wouldn’t be a problem, except her boss threatens to fire her if she doesn’t go along with him on their RV client’s cross-country tour.

Walker is sick of his job, tired of women, and in a big old creative rut. The upcoming client road trip is just what he needs to shake things up and rediscover his lost passion. But his plans go south when his partner drops out at the last minute, and Callie, the foul-mouthed tiny terror, takes her place. Unless he can find a way to thaw his icy coworker, he’s looking at two months of pure hell.

Review

I am clearly in the minority here because I did not enjoy ROAD-TRIPPED like so many others have.

I wasn’t a fan of either Walker or Callie, who both frustrated me beyond belief. For almost the entire story, one of them would be moody and unpleasant while the other tried to win them over, and every time they were finally in a good place, some comment would send them spiraling back into enemy territory. Don’t even get me started on Walker taking a photo of a half-naked Callie while she was asleep (before they became friends and lovers) and then lying to her about it when he was caught. Or that he insulted and slut-shamed a female co-worker to her face AND in front of another co-worker.

I found the story hard to get through and not as funny as other reviewers had made it out to be, though there were a handful of good scenes which is why I’m giving this debut novel 2❤ instead of 1❤. ROAD-TRIPPED is told in dual POVs and ended with a HEA for Walker and Callie.

Road-Tripped (Ad Agency # 1)

My Rating:  

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Ad Agency Series

Holding On (Colorado High Country # 6)

By Pamela Clare

Synopsis

A hero barely holding on…

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no.

The woman who won’t let him fall…

Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns into something more—and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.

Review

I don’t know if it was me or the book, but I found HOLDING ON to be just an okay read. I’ve read and enjoyed many books from Pamela Clare, but when I got to the end of this one, I realized that I had not been invested in the story or its main characters.

That being said, I did like the sweet and emotional ending. I also liked Kenzie, who was ballsy and laughed in the face of danger when she was terrified.

HOLDING ON is told in dual POVs and while it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, when Meg was updating Harrison about everyone back home, there were a lot of names thrown out and even though I’ve read the previous five books in this series, I felt confused trying to remember who everyone was.

While I didn’t love HOLDING ON, I would gladly read more from this series.

Holding On (Colorado High Country # 6)

My Rating:  

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Colorado High Country Series

Emilia: Part 2 (Trassato Crime Family #4)

By Lisa Cardiff

Synopsis

I’m the head of the Masciantonio family. I’m a dangerous, ruthless, unforgiving man, and I know how to fight dirty.

Fate put Emilia Trassato in my path. I saw a future with her—I saw hope. But she didn’t agree, and I let her walk away.

Now she’s back, but I’m no longer free to claim her. However, the minute our eyes meet, I know there’s nothing in this entire goddamn world strong enough to keep me from her.

She’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted, and I don’t care how many promises I have to break, or how many lives I have to destroy…I’m not letting her go. Not again.

Because this time…she’s mine. 

Review

Firstly you must read Emilia: Part 1 which was released in May 2017, this will set up the love triangle and where Emilia finds herself at the start of this book.  As it had been a year I re-read book 1 and still loved the drama and suspense around this mafia family.

Salvatore and Marcello provide again great tension, however, I was happy this was not dragged on.  The choice by Emilia is made swiftly in the beginning and I was very satisfied, she chose the right man for her. Their passion was perfect and I loved how we learned so much more about Emilia’s family history.  Her father finally stood up for her.  That was a favourite turn of events in this story for me, to learn more about her mother.

The mystery and suspense were tied up really well by the author, it was worth the wait and I did not pick the dangerous connections.  My only complaint was Part 2 does not have all the angst and drama that Part 1 had and it would have been great to have this whole story in one book to keep the momentum.

Emilia: Part 2 (Trassato Crime Family #4)

My Rating:  

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Clean Sweep (San Francisco Dragons # 1)

By Kate Willoughby

Synopsis

He’s a hockey player, not a housekeeper.

Cameron Bowes is the face of the San Francisco Dragons, so when the team needs a gimmick to improve their fan relations, Cameron becomes the focus of the new video “At Home with a Dragon”. Unfortunately for Cam, his bachelor pad looks like an earthquake hit it. Repeatedly.

She’s the sexy maid a teammate hires as a joke.

Dakota Kelly has been working non-stop since she was unexpectedly awarded custody of her young niece. Though the little girl’s grandmother swooped in to help, the old woman’s overbearing ways have left Dakota no choice but to work as a janitor and moonlight as a maid in the hopes of one day getting some much-needed space from her niece’s highly controlling Nana.

Lucky for Cam, Dakota turns out to be the miracle worker he desperately needs, and he jumps at the chance to hire her as his live-in housekeeper. Soon, the two can no longer ignore their smoldering chemistry, and it seems turning their business relationship into a happily-ever-after for all three of them will be the next play. There’s just one problem: Nana doesn’t approve, and she’s not about to let her granddaughter go without a fight.

Review

CLEAN SWEEP is the first book in the San Francisco Dragons series, a new hockey series from Kate Willoughby.

I thought Dakota and Cameron were very likable characters. Dakota put her dreams and her life on hold to take care of her orphaned niece, Zinny. She was not afraid of hard work and was not ashamed of what she did because it helped provide for her and Zinny. Cameron was just an all-around nice guy and he never treated Dakota like a piece of meat. Instead, he seemed embarrassed for her at what she had to put up with just to provide for her family. He was there every time Dakota needed help and he was a wonderful father figure for Zinny. The only complaint I have against Cameron and Dakota is that I didn’t feel any chemistry between them.

Story wise, there’s hardly any hockey included, so if you’re after a hockey read, you won’t find it here. Additionally, there were some inconsistencies, some things left hanging, and some events that felt out of place, as though they weren’t put in the right part of the timeline. However, I was reading an advanced reader copy, and I know the author was still tweaking the book after I received my copy, so maybe these things have been fixed for the final copy.

CLEAN SWEEP is told in dual POVs and comes with a HEA for Cameron and Dakota. While it is part of a series, I’m assuming each book can be read as a stand-alone.

Clean Sweep (San Francisco Dragons # 1)

My Rating:  

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San Francisco Dragons Series

The Forbidden Brother (The McNeill Magnates #7)

By Joanne Rock

Synopsis

One night of passion, mistaken identity… and unmistakable consequences! Jillian Ross craves adventure. And she gets it when her new career as a film scout leads her to the ranch owned by the wealthy Wyoming McNeills. Giving in to temptation with the playboy McNeill causes havoc–since it’s actually his reclusive twin, Cody, she’s fallen for! Now she’s pregnant–and still can’t get enough of her reluctant rancher. Is this adventure just beginning?

Review

The Forbidden Brother has the main storyline and then another two running around the center.  This annoyed me as I found myself getting into the romance between Cody and Jillian and then we were taken to another character and their issues, especially Scarlet.

It was unresolved at the end with Cody and Jillian and considering her miracle I really wanted to see an ending for them.  I have not read any of the other books in the series and do not feel like I was missing anything.  There are great characters in this family and I am intrigued by the girl’s mother’s secrets.

Jillian held such interest to me, I immediately connected to her and so when she and Cody began talking about their future I was disappointed I found myself at the end of the story.  I could read so much more of this couple.

An easy and light read with Cody and Jillian having lovely emotion and passion with each other.

The Forbidden Brother (The McNeill Magnates #7)

My Rating:  

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A Change of Pace (Northern Lights #3)

By Freya Barker

Synopsis

Once a man who lived by the letter of the law.

Newt Tobias will do anything for his little girl. Even take early retirement, sell his city home, and move to cottage country, hoping that the simpler life will provide a better balance for his troubled teenage daughter.

Yet, not long after they’ve settled, he finds himself toe-to-toe with a stubborn, fiery-tempered woman with pretty brown eyes.

Once a recluse preferring to live alone.

Working with troubled adolescents, Frederique Marchand doesn’t suffer fools and won’t put up with bullies. Especially handsome strangers like Newt who think they can run roughshod over her. She loves her work, but on her own time, she much prefers the company of her menagerie of animals.

But with the welfare of a teenager at stake, she must put aside rocky first impressions and work with a man who needs her as much as she’ll come to need him.

Review

A Change of Pace is now my favourite of this series, I did not think anything could top Book 1 but this Author has told such an incredibly heartfelt story with too many wonderful characters.

I simply loved the dedication at the beginning to motherhood – it sets the tone of the entire story.  A woman can be a mother to a child without giving birth, love knows no boundaries.

The journey that Freddy and Millie take together was just inspiring and to see Millie grown as a young woman will melt your heart.

With sensitive subjects covered we are given moments of small-town humour and adolescent struggles.  The story continues with so many rich layers of new families forming and solid friendships.

The menagerie of animals and children and the concept of different families strengthened the message in A Change of Pace of motherhood in all different forms.

These characters, in particular, the trio of Freddy, Newt, and Millie all had battle scars of loss.  They all fought in their own way to want to live fulfilling lives and believe in love and second chances.

Newt’s love of his daughter knew no bounds and his desire for her to find herself again by trusting others.  Jim and Jordan’s storyline is another I loved as father and son and what a surprise with Phyllis – loved that curveball.

Finally, the Epilogue gives hope and also wonderful closure for Millie, Newt and Freddy.

Quote:  “Sometimes you need time to slow down so you can appreciate the wealth around you.  Most days we just run past it”

A Change of Pace (Northern Lights #3)

My Rating:  

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The Beast of Aubyn Hall (Bookworms & Alphas #2)

By Alex L Michaels

Synopsis

Meet Bookworms & Alphas!
Where men like to give orders, but women don’t like to listen.

The man they call the beast, sworn off love, meets the bookish beauty who thinks that love exists only in books.

When Bronte Beltran finds out that her next assignment is cataloging the famous Aubyn Hall library, she’s ecstatic. But when she finds out they call the owner the Beast of Aubyn Hall, not so much. A week in a dusty library should be right up her alley. But a wrong word at the wrong time and she might just find out what exactly is beastly about the Beast of Aubyn Hall.

Note from the author:
The Beast of Aubyn Hall is the second book in the series Bookworms & Alphas!
Each book is a standalone and can be read separately, although it’s recommended that the books are read in a suggested reading order. 

Review

The Beast to Aubyn Hall is a slow burn with plenty of angst, drama and also surprisingly humour.  The story concept drew me in as I love a book nerd girl finding her true love with an alpha male.

Bronte is a great character whom I immediately connected with and followed her journey through the two weeks she spends at Aubyn Hall.  This is a slow build up and I admit by the end I was as sexually frustrated as both Bronte and Cain.

Cain was hard to connect for me, I found him so gruff and abrupt and also his actions gave me whiplash.  One minute all alpha and the next he was like a sulking child which put me off a little.

Now a character I really loved was Magnussen his best friend, he actually softened Cain’s edges and allowed me to forgive his actions.  He actually made Cain accountable and gave him the emotional support and enabled me to learn more and become attached to Cain.

Bronte’s work friends were strange, I actually thought they were not overly nice to her and I second guessed if they would have her back or not.  They did provide humour again at moments to offset the burning sexual tension.

Now the ending, I loved how we finally find out how and why Bronte was chosen to work on his library. That moment actually brought tears to my eyes.  I actually would have loved more emotion like that between Cain and Bronte but then in hindsight, they were both very careful with their emotional feelings.

Quote:  I have set my mind on you … and I’m keeping you

The Beast of Aubyn Hall (Bookworms & Alphas #2)

My Rating:  

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