Uncategorized – My YA & NA Book Obsession

Cover Reveal: Hush by Anne Malcom and BT Urruela

Today is the cover reveal for Hush by Anne Malcom and BT Urruela. This book releases on 11 August. Today you can check out the cover!

Title: Hush
Author: Anne Malcom and BT Urruela
Links:

Goodreads

Blurb:
They were taken.
Off the street. From parking lots. Malls. Playgrounds.
Snatched from life and thrust into hell.
They took Orion Darby on a perfect summer day, while she could still taste her first kiss on her lips.
She joined the others with chains on their ankles and scars on their souls.
They turned into nothing more than statistics. Cold cases. Lost girls.
Years passed and the world forgot.

Until the day they escaped.

This is not about their captivity.
This is about their struggle to return to a life that’s passed them by.
This was the real world.
But for Orion, this was hell.
You see… freedom isn’t enough.
She needs blood.

About Anne Malcom:
Anne Malcom has been an avid reader since before she can remember, her mother responsible for her book addiction. It started with magical journeys into the world of Hogwarts and Middle Earth. As she grew up, her reading tastes grew with her. Her obsession with books and romance novels in particular, gave Anne the opportunity to find another passion, writing. Finding writing about alpha males and happily ever afters more fun than reading about them, Anne is not about to stop any time soon.
Raised in small-town New Zealand, Anne had a truly special childhood, growing up in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. She has backpacked across Europe, ridden camels in the Sahara, eaten her way through Italy, and had all sorts of crazy adventures. Currently living in London, she’s on a whole new adventure.

Links:

About Anne Malcom and BT Urruela:
BT Urruela is a combat wounded amputee, purple heart recipient, contemporary author who has written both independent and traditionally published books. He is a RARE under 40 award recipient, Rockwood Summit High School and Rockwood School District Hall of Fame inductee, Co-founder and Brand Ambassador for VETSports, Ambassador for Tampa Sports Academy, People Magazine Tribute for Heroes winner, Cover Model, Motivational Speaker and Philanthropist.

At an early age he began writing short stories having been inspired by reading books authored by RL Stein. His maternal grandmother’s bookshelf was filled with literature that inspired his young mind and cultivated his vivid imagination.
Upon graduation from high school his desire to have a 20-year military career was cut drastically short by an improvised explosive device. Taking the life of his commander, and leaving the remaining four team members badly wounded.
After careful consideration and multiple surgeries, he along with the guidance of his doctors made the decision to amputate. It was the only surgery he ever left with a smile on his face, as if a weight had been lifted. He struggled for two more years through 4-5 hours of physical therapy a day, five days a week to get adapted to his new prosthetic. He medically retired from the Army with high hopes. His focus on restoring his physical shape being the most eminent battle caused him to neglect his psychological state.

Meeting people was difficult and there were very few options for veterans to utilize that would stimulate friendship, and ultimately, allow communication barriers to be breached. After moving to Tampa, Florida, he co-founded the veteran community sports nonprofit, VETSports, with two other combat wounded veterans. It was their mission to change the way veterans transitioned back to civilian life through organized team sports, community involvement, and leadership opportunities.

After being invited to attend a photoshoot with acclaimed photographer Michael Stokes, he flew to California in December of 2014, with incredible excitement. His photos were so widely publicized that he soon gained exposure to the literary world like he’d always dreamed of. That opportunity launched him into his present writing career. He co-wrote the novel ‘A Lover’s Lament with author KL Grayson. The following year he released first solo novel, ‘Into the Nothing’ and will be releasing Wicked Little Words with author Stevie J. Cole. He is now writing full-time.

Links:

Cover Reveal: My Favorite Souvenir by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

Today is the cover reveal for My Favorite Souvenir by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland. Let’s have a look at the cover. This is a standalone contemporary romance book that releases on April 27th 2020.

COVER CREDITS:
Cover designer: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative
Photographer: Davide Martini
Model: Simone Bredariol

Title: My Favorite Souvenir
Author: Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland
Series: standalone
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Links:

Blurb:
My planned trip for two unexpectedly turned into a trip for one. Rather than let my breakup get me down, I packed my bags and decided a week at a luxury resort was just what I needed.
But one calamity after the next, and suddenly I was stuck without a hotel room, along with a few hundred other people.
It looked like my fancy vacation was about to turn into me sleeping on the hotel lobby floor.
Until I overheard a gorgeous man pretending to be someone he wasn’t in order to steal a reservation from a guest who hadn’t shown up yet.
When I realized there were two rooms, instead of calling him out, I pretended to be his sister. That’s how the story of “Milo and Maddie Hooker” began.
We were the Hookers.
My depressing trip quickly made a U-turn into an adventure.
My fake brother spent the next few days showing me around his hometown. When it was time to leave, neither of us really wanted to go yet.
So, instead of flying back to our respective homes, we ventured on a road trip.
At every stop, we’d pick up souvenirs.
But as hot as our chemistry was, we never crossed the line.
Milo knew I’d just come out of a tough relationship and didn’t want to mess with a vulnerable woman.
So instead, at the end of our trip, we made a pact to meet again in three months.
It was always my intention to meet him.
But when I got back home, reality hit in a big way.
And I worried I may have lost my handsome stranger forever.
Was there a place for him in my future?
Or had the memory of him just become my favorite souvenir?

Penelope Ward:
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over twenty novels. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

Links:

Vi Keeland:
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

Links:

Cover Reveal: ALEXEI by Brenda Rothert

Chicago Blaze hockey romance series. Preorder your copy now! It releases on January 28th.

Preorder ALEXEI Now:

Amazon | Nook | Apple Books

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Follow Brenda’s newsletter and join her Facebook group for exclusive details!

Alexei by Brenda Rothert

Releasing January 28 | Chicago Blaze, #5

Preorder ALEXEI Now:

Amazon | Nook | Apple Books

Book Blurb:

Alexei

I guess the party’s over—for now.

When I wake up in the hospital after a DUI car crash, my new NHL team owner gives me an ultimatum – get sober or get packed for the minor leagues. So I talk the talk and go to rehab. I plan to breeze through, get sprung in 30 days or less and hit the road with my new team, the Chicago Blaze. All I have to do is charm my attractive, uptight rehab group leader into thinking I’ve changed—how hard could it be?

Graysen

I see right through Alexei Petrov.

My calling to save addicts from themselves before they self-destruct is deeply personal. Alexei’s hot and successful, sure. But he’s not okay, and he’s got a lot of work to do before graduating from my group. No one’s ever tested my boundaries like he does, though. I fight my desire and keep things professional, because the stakes couldn’t be higher—it’s not just my job that’s on the line, but also his life. The deeper we fall, though, the more he makes me question the mantra I live by: never trust your heart to an addict.

Add the book to Goodreads

PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Purchase ANTON Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

Purchase LUCA Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

Purchase VICTOR Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

Purchase KNOX Now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Wattpad | Amazon

Blog Tour: Dangerous Games (Dangerous Beauty #3) by J.T. Geissinger

Today is the release day for Dangerous Games (Dangerous Beauty #3) by J.T. Geissinger!

Title: Dangerous Games
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Series: Dangerous Beauty #3
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Links:

Blurb:
The game isn’t over until somebody dies.

Dangerous Games, the thrilling and action-packed conclusion in the Dangerous Beauty Series from J.T. Geissinger, is available now!

Eva knows what it’s like to be imprisoned by a man’s twisted obsessions. But after running, hiding, and finding refuge in a rescuer’s arms, she’s suddenly pulled back into the black hole of her past. Kidnapped by her sadistic ex, Dimitri, and with the love of her life left for dead, Eva is facing down the worst of her demons alone.

If Dimitri wants to play sick games, Eva’s ready. She already knows how dark they can get. But despite her fears, she hasn’t been abandoned. Naz is in hot pursuit. And the last thing Dimitri expects is for a dead man to come calling. For Eva and Naz, worlds apart yet bound by fierce and unbreakable passion, it’s time to beat the devil.

To do it they’ll have to be just as ruthless, seductive, and cunning. With every pulse of the heart, they must risk it all to play Dimitri’s final game to its harrowing end—and win.

Excerpt:
Eva
“Make a sound and she dies.”
His gun pressed to the woman’s temple, Dimitri speaks in Russian, his voice as soft as silk. His smile says he assumes I’ll obey his instruction, because experience has taught him that I will.
This is an old game between us, one I know well. A game called Do What I Say, or Someone Innocent Suffers.
In this case, the someone innocent is a terrified stranger holding a bottle of wine who Dimitri used as a lure. She really could be the woman who owns the Airbnb rental Naz and I checked into, which she identified herself as when I asked through the closed door of the apartment moments ago, but I’ll probably never know.
Because her brains are about to paint the porch red.
Sorry, lady. I stopped taking orders from this asshole a while ago.
My scream is a wild beast of a thing, tearing out of my throat with fangs and claws. It’s long, loud, and composed of a single word.
“Naz!”
The woman jumps, drops the bottle of wine, and bursts into hysterical tears.
Dimitri is so stunned by my disobedience that he simply stares at me in blank disbelief.
I take advantage of his surprise and kick him as hard as I can in his balls.
He doubles over with a roar but doesn’t drop the gun. The woman shrieks like an air-raid siren. Naz calls out from somewhere behind me, a panicked shout, but my attention is caught by the sound of heavy boots pounding up the wooden stairs to the second-story apartment. I only have time to scream Naz’s name again before a group of armed men dressed all in black swarm the landing at the top of the stairs and crowd there shoulder to shoulder.
Dimitri’s soldiers point a forest of handguns at my face.
The woman’s eyes roll back into her head, which makes a dull thud as it hits the landing’s iron rail on her way down to the floor. She flops sideways, unconscious, legs splayed. Her plaid housedress rides up, exposing flabby thighs the color and texture of curdled milk.
“Take her!” snarls Dimitri through gritted teeth. His eyes blaze cyborg blue, but he’s still doubled over, cradling his groin.
I spin around to run but am caught by my T-shirt and yanked backward. My back bumps into a solid surface. A forearm as hard as an iron bar snaps into place around my throat. I scream again, struggling and clawing at the arm that holds me, but my scream is cut short as the arm tightens like a vise.
As stars pop in my vision, Naz emerges from the bedroom with his gun in his hand.
He strides toward us, arm outstretched, fully nude and heartbreakingly gorgeous.
“Stop where you are!” shouts Dimitri in English.
Apparently he’s recovered from my attack on his balls, because he jerks upright and shoves the barrel of his gun under my jaw. My teeth clack together with the force of it.
Naz freezes in place. His eyes are black and wild. His hair is wet. He’s dripping with moisture from the shower, his body gleaming, his chest heaving up and down with each breath.
Each labored, fury-filled breath. I can almost taste his rage. It’s a sharp metallic tang in the air, dangerous enough to cause spontaneous combustion. There’s a moment of electric silence where the only sound is the harsh breathing of the man who’s holding me. His mouth is so close to my ear that his hot breath is a wash of steam down my neck. Then Naz takes a careful step forward, and Dimitri speaks.
“Yes, come closer. If you want her dead.”
Naz freezes again. He’s focused on Dimitri with extraordinary intensity, his eyes unblinking and his jaw like stone. He appears to have no self-consciousness about his nudity and no fear that he’s staring down a dozen muzzles of loaded guns. Every muscle in his powerful body is tensed, ready to strike.
He’s magnificent. David challenging Goliath, the light of vengeance in his eyes.
Please, God, don’t let him be about to die!

About the Author:
J.T. Geissinger is a bestselling author of emotionally charged romance and women’s fiction. Ranging from funny, feisty rom coms to intense, edgy suspense, her books have sold more than one million copies and been translated into several languages.

She is the recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and is a two-time finalist for the RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America®. She has also been a finalist in the Booksellers’ Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.

Her first novel was published in 2012. Since then she’s written eighteen more novels. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, drinking wine, surfing the internet, and daydreaming about all the things she’s going to be when she grows up. She lives near the beach in Los Angeles with her husband and deaf/demented rescue kitty, Ginger.

Links:

Review: The Chase (Briar U #1) by Elle Kennedy

Title: The Chase
Author: Elle Kennedy
Series: Briar U #1
Rating: 5 stars
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Links:

Blurb:
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.

My Review:
FLOVED. Loved the Off Campus series and have been patiently waiting for this new spin-off series and it didn’t disappoint. Loved Summer and Fitz from the original series and it was so great to read their romance. Adored all the cameos from Dean, Garrett, and Tucker, but wish we had gotten some Logan! Can’t wait for Breanna’s story and my money’s on Jake Connelly being the guy but I’m wondering if she’s going to throw us a curveball instead as he’s not a Briar hockey player so I think Elle has something up her sleeve … can’t wait until Feb to find out what!

Review: Get Me (The Keatyn Chronicles #6) by Jillian Dodd

Title: Get Me
Author: Jillian Dodd
Series: The Keatyn Chronicles #6
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Links:

Blurb:
From USA Today bestselling author Jillian Dodd comes the final book in the addictive Keatyn Chronicles series. Discover a breathless fairy-tale romance with swoon-worthy characters, suspense, and a glittering celebrity world. Fans of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and reality TV shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians will devour this pulse-pounding, sexy teen drama set against the backdrop of Hollywood and an East Coast boarding school.

Keatyn’s crazy life comes together in one perfect script.

Will Keatyn get her life back?
And if she does, which life (and boy) will she choose?

My Review:
Initial Thoughts: A brilliant ending. I have SO MANY FEELS.

For me, this was probably the best book of the series, and I enjoyed it immensely. This was much more fast-paced than previous books and I loved how Jillian tied everything up at the end. While it’s not quite a neat little bow (Brooklyn’s story made me really sad and Riley doesn’t get his HEA but I’m not complaining as he has a spin-off series, yay) it brought a fair amount of happy endings.

Of course, the two main threads were wrapped up in this one – who is Moon boy and did she choose him, and the stalker plotline. It looked like it was going a certain way on the romance and I was feeling an actual pain in my chest but thankfully it all went my way. I had been mad at the other boy for most of this series and one of the things I really liked about Get Me was how Jillian brought me to a point of understanding in that relationship. Both of them thought they were in love, wanted to be in love with one another as they had been crushing so hard in secret for so long but the reality vs the fantasy was very different. Both also had a lot of growing up to do over the series and it was beautiful that they came to the same realization at the same time: They would always love each other and be a part of each other’s lives but only as friends. All my frustration with him melted away at that and, in hindsight, I have to admire how Jillian crafted that relationship.

And I was incredibly happy she chose the right boy because he was perfect for her and with every book I just fell more and more in love with him so I was jumping for joy (even if Keats did give me a heart attack with how she was acting at this part of the story.)

The stalker plotline ended explosively although I think some of those scenes could’ve been a bit more developed but it was great to see Keatyn take control of the situation and take back her life.

Probably the thing I enjoyed most about this series was Keatyn’s development (as well as Aiden because come on, The God of All Hotties!) Keatyn was an immature, spoiled little brat in the first book and she has matured into a responsible, confident young woman who knows what she wants and takes steps to achieve it.

I adored the ending and how Jillian tied in Captive Films and the trilogy on the big screen and I thought it was very cleverly done.

Having read this series now, I can happily recommend it. I loved the angst-driven romance throughout this series and all the love interests were fun even if I was frustrated at certain points. It meanders a bit in some of the books and the stalker aspect could’ve been executed better but for swoony romance and high-school drama, it gets ten out of ten. Overall series rating: 4 stars.

Actual Rating for Get Me – 4.5 stars.

As an aside, I’ve hummed and hawed over whether to comment on the pricing because, as an author myself, I always try to maintain respect in my reviews. I understand how much work goes into writing, publishing, and marketing a book. However, I feel strongly that this series is overpriced and it’s the one thing holding me back from reading the spin-off Captive Films series. I don’t usually read any e-books priced more than £3.99/$4.99 as it’s my cut off point and I only ended up reading this series because I picked up the first three books in a boxset for £5.49. I wish they were cheaper, and my personal belief is the author would sell more books in this series if she lowered the prices a little. I mean no disrespect when I say this.

I did pick up Fame a few months back for 99p so I’m going to read that even though I’m scared it will suck me in like this series did and I won’t be able to stop myself from one-clicking the rest.

Blog Tour: Rock King (Nothing But Trouble #1) by Tara Leigh

Today is my stop during the blog tour for Rock King (Nothing But Trouble #1) by Tara Leigh. Read on for my review of this book and some teaser images.

Title: Rock King
Author: Tara Leigh
Series: Nothing But Trouble #1
Rating: 3 stars
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Links:

Blurb:
Fans of Kristen Callihan and Kylie Scott will scream for this sizzling bad boy rock star romance!

I’m not who you think I am.

Shane Hawthorne has it all. At least, that’s what the headlines say about me. I have millions of fans, awards, more money – and women – than I know what to do with. But what you don’t see is the wreckage I’ve caused. The memories and pain I can’t escape, even when I pour them into music and spin them into gold.

I tried to forget. To lose myself in booze and groupies. It didn’t work. It hurt me and – worse – it hurt my band. That’s the last thing I want to do, so I’m cleaning up my act… starting with Delaney Fraser.

Gorgeous, smart, drama-free, and even nice – Delaney is the perfect “girlfriend.” When I’m with her I don’t have to pretend. It’s like she sees the real me. And I can see a future with her. But that’s dangerous. Because the truth is, Shane Hawthorne doesn’t actually exist. He’s a shield to hide who I really am. Fraud. Runaway. Addict. Murderer.

And it’s impossible to love a lie, right?

My Review:
Rock King by Tara Leigh is the first book in her Nothing but Trouble series and it is sure to please readers who enjoy a well-written rock star romance with the usual themes. Shane is the tormented rock star who hires fake girlfriends to help keep him on the straight and narrow, and Delaney is the girl down on her luck who finally manages to catch a break. Our pair hit it off straight away but they both have their demons and fight the inevitable. True love wins out in the end. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and it fits well within the genre.

I am voluntarily reviewing a complimentary copy of this book as supplied by Inkslinger PR.

About the Author:
Tara Leigh writes steamy contemporary romance featuring tortured heroes worth lusting after and the women they didn’t know they needed. She attended Washington University in St. Louis and Columbia Business School in New York, and worked on Wall Street and Main Street before “retiring” to become a wife and mother. When the people in her head became just as real as the people in her life, she decided to put their stories on paper. Tara currently lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut with her husband, children and fur-baby, Pixie.

Links:

Review: Teach Your Heart (Bounty Bay #3) by Tracey Alvarez

Title: Teach Your Heart
Author: Tracey Alvarez
Series: Bounty Bay #3
Rating: 5 stars
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Links:

Blurb:
Some lessons are harder to learn than others…

Doctor O-for-Awesome Owen Bennett is all about fixing broken things. Then the arrival of his orphaned nieces and nephew for twelve weeks causes his workaholic life to plummet into chaos. Hiring the beautiful but unpredictable Gracie Cooper as a live-in nanny might just get him out of a tight spot…or it could seduce him into a reckless affair.

After four years flitting around Europe, waitress/dog-walker/au-pair Gracie Cooper has returned home to New Zealand. Her plans to hang out with her big brother change when Owen offers a perfect solution to her crippling university debt. In spite of her sexy-stick-in-the-mud boss, she’ll spend fun days playing in Bounty Bay’s sand and surf with three cute kids. At summer’s end she’ll follow the sun overseas again.

Gracie and Owen’s opposites-attract connection is so unexpected and powerful that their foundations are rocked. But some things aren’t easy to fix. Some past hurts can’t be run from forever. And the lessons they teach each other risk breaking their hearts.

My Review:
Every time I start a Tracey Alvarez book, I set aside plenty of time to read so that I can really savor the experience because I know it’s going to be an amazing read and Teach Your Heart was no exception. Tracey has a wonderful ability to create complex, multi-layered characters that dig their way into your heart and you can’t help rooting for them and praying they get their HEA. She also writes gorgeous romance and creates wonderful community-led settings and I always finish one of her books buzzing and chock-full of warm feels.

Owen is a workaholic who ends up having to take care of his two nephews and niece. Gracie is visiting her brother Glen and his fiancee, Savannah, and she ends up getting hired as a nanny to the kids. On the surface, both Owen and Gracie seem like polar opposites. She appears carefree and spirited and very easy going and laid back. He is quite stiff and set in his ways and initially came across as quite serious. However, as the story develops, and their relationship progresses we begin to see them in a slightly different light. Yes, they have those traits but they also have avoidance issues with neither of them facing up to problems choosing to flee (her) or bury their head in work (him) instead of tackling things head on.

The romance was sweet and sexy and I like the slow-burning nature of it.

There is a great cast of secondary characters, and I ADORED Charlie, William, and Morgan. You can tell Tracey is a mother because she writes very believable children’s characters. It was the same with book two in this series – I loved the kids and really warmed to them. In this book, their characters add so much to the story. Loved William and his HP obsession and some of Morgan’s carry-ons had me laughing. The House Rules were also hysterical. It’s this focus on the little details that really allows Tracey’s work to shine, that really make her books stand out from the crowd.

Things go a bit pear-shaped before they work out but it ended perfectly and that epilogue was AWW, so gorgeous, and now I’m in that happy-sad place because I loved it but I hate that it’s over.

Another fab read, Tracey – thanks so much!

In summary, this was an amazing read from an author who never fails to deliver. Thoroughly, Highly Recommended.

Review: His to Love (Fireside #1) by Stacey Lynn

Title: His to Love
Author: Stacey Lynn
Series: Fireside #1
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Links:

Blurb:
In the explosive debut of Stacey Lynn’s irresistible Fireside series, a pair of estranged lovers are reunited by dangerous loyalties—and intoxicating desire.

Tyson Blackwell never saw it coming when his Mafia princess girlfriend dumped him and disappeared at the age of eighteen. He never forgot her, either, even after what happened next: the killing of his father, a Detroit PD officer, at the hands of one of her father’s men. Tyson swore revenge, and now, ten years later, the kid who dreamed of a pro football career is a hard-nosed FBI agent, back in town to take down the Galecki crime family once and for all. But Tyson’s mission gets complicated fast—because going undercover means seducing the only woman he’s ever loved.

Gabriella “Blue” Galecki has been in hiding for a decade. She finally comes home to spend time with her terminally ill mother, only to receive a blast from the past when she runs into Tyson. His brooding eyes and electrifying touch still send chills down her spine. But as heir to the family empire, Blue has been promised to another. Caught in a web of deception, she is tempted to pull the trigger on the boldest risk she’s ever taken: trusting Tyson with her life, her body, and her heart.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

My Review:
Superb. 4.5 Stars.

I really enjoyed this book although it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Blue and Tyson (Blackbird) were childhood sweethearts cruelly torn apart by lies and deception. Fast forward ten years and their paths are set to cross again. This time, ex-NFL up-and-coming star Tyson is now Agent Blackwell and he’s sent back to Detroit to investigate Blue’s Mafia father and his corrupt, illegal empire.

I love second chance romance and this one was superbly written. The chemistry between our couple was off the charts and I adored their natural banter. Even though they hadn’t seen each other since that fateful night ten years ago, it was obvious their love never died. They can barely stay away from one another so it doesn’t take much for them to reconnect. It’s not without its challenges, though. Her father wants to step down and has hopes that Blue will marry his mafioso successor. Ty is hiding his true persona and real agenda from the love of his life and the weight of it is a heavy burden.

What I enjoyed most about this story was the complexity of the main characters and the intensity of the emotional development. I felt everything they felt! Her heartache and pain when his betrayal is revealed, his inner turmoil at the thought of losing her again. The scene where her mother passed was extremely well written. Tears were pouring down my cheeks, it felt so real.

The romance is very much front and center stage which I didn’t mind because it was so beautifully written. However, I was expecting romantic suspense and it was very light on the suspense/mystery aspect of the story. It would have benefitted from stronger world building. It was only toward the end of the book that we got a proper look at the horrific criminal empire her father presided over, and saw Tyson in his professional capacity. I did also feel like the friends were kinda thrown into the story to set up the next few books and I would have liked more character development of the secondary characters.

The writing was great and I had no issues with pacing either.

If you go into this book as a contemporary romance you will adore it. It is deftly crafted and expertly executed with strong emotional development and sublime characterization. The romance is sizzling and you can’t help but root for our couple. All in all, a fantastic read.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Wedding Contract (The Ferro Family) by H.M. Ward

Title: The Wedding Contract
Author: H.M. Ward
Series: The Ferro Family
Rating: 3.5 stars
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Links:

Blurb:
A Stand Alone Ferro Novel by New York Times Bestselling Author H.M. Ward

After I get the witch at the front desk to hand me my room key, I head for the shower. I was supposed to shoot my best friend’s wedding alone, and I couldn’t wait to escape New York and Nick Ferro.

Yeah, he’s beautiful, sexy, and completely charming, but he’s stealing my clients. He’s done so much damage that I’m going to be lucky if I can keep my studio open for a couple of weeks. This wedding means everything to me, and I refuse to let a spoiled brat with a shiny new MBA put me out of business. Screw that.
But then I find myself wearing nothing but a smile when the person I hate most walks through the hotel room door. Nick Ferro. Two adversaries, shooting one wedding and sharing one room for one week. What could possibly go wrong?

My Review:
Actual rating 3.5 stars.

I’ve heard a lot about this author so when I saw this book was on sale I grabbed a copy and was intrigued enough by the blurb to get stuck right in.

It was a decent read though I had some issues with inconsistent characterization (Yes, Deegan, I’m talking about you) and parts of the plot were nonsensical and wouldn’t hold up to scrutiny. The romance also didn’t really kick in until the last part of the book, so it was a little on the light side for me.

But I did enjoy it despite those issues! Honestly! I adored the love/hate theme, really enjoyed the author’s writing style, and some of the dialogue was hysterically funny and it had me shaking in bed. There are also some scenes that were downright cringeworthy, but, again, so funny to read.

This is marketed as a standalone, but I disagree. It left off in the middle of a scene and there was no sense of closure for our couple. Damn you, H.M. Ward, now I need to continue the series. As if I don’t have enough unread books already on my Kindle.

In summary, this was a great read if you overlook the minor irritations with plot and characterization. Superb writing and witty banter were the highlight for me.