The Solitary Protector by Rebecca Hefner

A secluded cabin. An outgoing princess on a mission, seeking shelter from a storm. And one antisocial Vampyre who puts the “grunt” in surly grunting grumperson. So…much…grunting. What’s not to love? 

What’s it About? 

A woman determined to discover her past…

Adelyn, daughter of Lila and Latimus, has never felt quite whole. Although she loves her parents immensely, the origin of her lavender irises always remained a mystery. When she overhears rumors of a secret species of immortal who share the rare trait, she’s compelled to journey into treacherous territory to find them.

A man destined to protect her…

Leo, son of Kilani and Alrec, prefers solitude rather than the misery and exclusion he experienced in the immortal realm. When a gorgeous Slayer shows up at his remote cabin, he yearns to protect her, even if the stubborn woman drives him mad.

A perilous journey…

Incensed by the grumpy Vampyre, Adelyn vows to leave him behind. But the obstinate man insists on protecting her, and each day they forge ahead, she wonders if her heart might need the most protection of all…

First Impressions

Listen up! If you’re in the mood for a paranormal romance featuring a sunshine heroine juxtaposed against a grumpy hero, then you need to run, not walk, and add this read to your TBR list. What we have here is the absolute epitome of witty banter which acts as the most delicious kind of foreplay between our two lead characters. They can’t stand to be in the same room together at the start, which makes their isolated location of a remote cabin in the middle of a torrential rain storm all the more perfect. Adelyn may have stumbled across one of the most infuriatingly stubborn and brash Vampyres she’s ever met in her immortal life, but she’s also not afraid to give back as good as he’s dishing out. This aristocratic princess certainly isn’t what Leo was expecting to come home to in his solitary home far removed from the reaches of society, and her incessant need for conversation has him on the verge of throwing her out in the cold. Or maybe…he might just have to throw her into his bed instead, because he can’t deny that this little vixen has awakened a desire in him he thought long buried. 

With every snappy comeback we see these two polar opposites come closer together, and it’s clear we’re just a hidden smirk or two away from an explosion of heat. Something I truly loved about this read was that Leo wasn’t just a grump for grumpiness’ sake. Oftentimes in Romancelandia we can be presented with a surly hero who seems to have a few underlying anger or personality issues that we never really get to the bottom of. When it comes to this read though, we can see how centuries of isolation have shaped Leo into the man he is today. It’s not that he’s always in a bad mood, but rather his interactions with anyone aside from his parents has been so limited that it naturally takes him some time to remember how to open up to anyone new. Adelyn refuses to back down when confronted with his testy attitude, which in turn brings about his willingness to confide in her about those who have turned away from him in the past. On the surface it might seem as though these two have nothing in common, but we come to find that their differences are what complement each other so well to bring them closer. 

A Tame Addition

If I had to categorize this eighth installment in the Etherya’s Earth series when compared to the other novels so far, I would say it’s quite the palate cleanser. We’re seeing a brief moment of peace in the larger war against the evil Elf King Dakath, so the primary focus of any angst or drama is on our lead couple as they traverse the rocky landscape towards building a relationship. Aside from one night scene involving a run-in with some lone Deamons, which frankly I’m sure will haunt my nightmares at least once in the coming weeks, we don’t see any scenes of battle or bloodshed. Unless you want to call Leo bringing a snooty aristocrat to his knees after an attempt to fight for Adelyn’s affections a battle. The main area where we see a bit of movement forward in this great fight of good against evil is in Adelyn’s mission to locate the secret species of Nymphs living on the outskirts of society. 

Her ancestors descend from this ancient line of peaceful healers, and it’s from them she’s inherited her tell-tale lavender-colored irises. While Adelyn loves her adoptive parents, Latimus and Lila, she’s always yearned to find out more about where she comes from. This is impetus for why she sets off on her mission to not only make first contact with the Nymphs, but also hopefully meet her birth father for the first time. I will say this was the one aspect of the novel which left me wanting more. So much of this story involves Adelyn’s search for the Nymphs, and eventually how her and Leo’s newfound relationship will survive following her return to society. The time actually spent with this new species, learning from them, simply felt far too short. There is definitely the implication that this won’t be the last we see of the Nymphs, but considering that Adelyn is a half-nymph herself, I was really hoping we would see more of her interactions with them in her own novel rather than what might come to be a side-story in a future novel featuring someone else in the lead role.

Unforgettable

There are two remarkably poignant moments in this read which I know will be sticking with me for quite some time. They were crafted so surprisingly well by the author, that I can’t help but tip my hat at the sheer excellence of these scenes. The first I will simply refer to as: the shave. So, a bit of back story. There is little I hate more in this world than when a movie, TV show, or novel will depict a man shaving, or getting shaved, with a straight razor. Something about it just puts me on edge with the heebie jeebies. Maybe it’s because 9 times out of 10 these scenes will result in some kind of bloodshed, but nevertheless, my hair stands on edge every single time, without fail. So you can imagine my sheer horror when this novel presents us with just such a scene, but then also my outright stupefaction over the fact that this author succeeds in making it the sexiest scene of the entire book. There is a moment when Adelyn is helping Leo shave off his wild mass of a beard because she’s been poking fun at it ever since her arrival in his cabin. As if the physical closeness this activity presents wasn’t delicious enough, when Adelyn proceeds to climb in his lap to get a better angle under his chin…all bets are off. This is the exact moment where everything changes. They both become aware of their mutual desire for one another, Leo can literally smell it on her, and by Etherya if somebody doesn’t open a window in here I’m going to spontaneously combust! 

Mkay, sexy moment over. Now for something a bit more intense. From the moment Adelyn sets out on her mission to find the Nymphs, we know there is a deadline for her to return back to society. Her father Latimus is already seething at the fact she insists on going alone, and if she’s not back home by the date he’s set out for her, he’s fully prepared to send out the entire immortal army after her. Enter Leo. Their time together in the cabin definitely awakened a physical chemistry between them, but it’s their journey together through the wilderness which secures their emotional connection as well. They share their struggles and joys over their adopted childhoods, insights into Leo’s former failed relationship with an aristocrat that confirmed his decision to live a solitary life, and Adelyn’s feelings of being lost at not knowing her birth parents. Each step of their journey brings them closer together, while also bringing us closer to the moment when we know Addie must return home. 

Leo is so set in his need for seclusion, just as Addie needs to be close to her family and fulfill her duties to the realm. When they eventually return to the cabin after finding the Nymphs, they have just a few days to share with each other before they must part ways. They are days filled with pure ecstasy, but also a looming dread for the inevitable, a desperation that it won’t come to pass. What makes these moments in the cabin even more heartrending was to see how two immortals must face the harsh reality of something coming to an end. Their bittersweet goodbye brought tears to my eyes, especially when considering the transformation of Leo as this surly grump at the start of the novel, to a man who has to force himself not to fall on his knees and beg Addie not to leave him. Ugh, ok, getting emotional again. Just read the freakin’ book already! 

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Etherya’s Earth, book 8. I never want this series to end! Even though I hope these immortals will soon find everlasting peace in their seemingly constant fight against evil, whenever that day comes I would just love to move around the different compounds seeing new couples find their happily ever after. And the way these original couples are popping out babies, I might just get my wish! I still think this series is best read in order, but of all the books in the series so far I would say this is the first full-length novel which could best be served as a stand-alone. 

Would I befriend the heroine? Maybe…in small doses. Like Leo, I often crave moments of quiet solitude, and let’s just say Addie might be too much of a chatterbox for my patience to handle. 

Would I date the hero? As long as I could watch him chop wood shirtless at least once a day, I’m here for it. 

Final Impressions: Although this read may have been short on violent battle scenes, it was full to bursting with emotional vulnerability, humor, witty banter and enough surly grunting to put Ted Lasso‘s Roy Kent to shame. Adelyn and Leo were the perfect pairing, especially as we see how the little things which drove them crazy about each other in the beginning eventually drove them crazy in love by the end. It was also great to see how Addie’s arguments for Leo rejoining society didn’t solely rely on the fact that she wanted him to choose the convenient option for her, but rather that coming back would allow him to be a better version of himself by living a more fulfilling life. While I would have liked to see more interactions with the Nymphs, I did love that we were able to spend some time with a few of couples from the previous books, especially Leo’s parents, Kilani and Alrec. If you love a grumpy/sunshine lead couple, then this is definitely the book for you! 

Smut Level: We have a secluded cabin here people, there’s nobody around for miles to hear these two enjoying each other’s company. There are a few mentions of Adelyn being submissive to Leo’s dominant side, but this is solely actualized in some hair tugging and slight pressure on Addie’s neck. No full-on choking, spanking or safe words. At least…that we know of 😉

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $3.99 Kindle Price. Reading Goddess Press, LLC. 303 Pages. 

Love So Deep by Kathleen Ball

She’s been shunned. He’s been exiled. Will two outcasts find love in the winter freeze?

What’s it About? 

Colorado, 1853. Samantha Foley is cold, alone, and scared. After being rejected from her wagon train for refusing to marry a man she didn’t love, she must find a way to survive the merciless Colorado winter on her own. When she stumbles into a handsome mountain man, she might be saved… if she can convince him to take her in.

Patrick McCrery knows what it’s like to feel unwanted. Half white and half Indian, he fits in neither world and has built a solitary life as a trapper. Caring for the beautiful woman he finds in the snow is the right thing to do, but it means risking the sting of another rejection come spring.

As winter bites and the two wait out the thaw, an unexpected attraction heats up. But with trust in short supply, will Samantha and Patrick open their hearts to love, or will past hurts and discrimination freeze romance in its tracks?

Love So Deep is a sweet Western romance. If you like heartwarming stories, complex characters, and raw emotions, then you’ll love Kathleen Ball’s gorgeous novel.

First Impressions

I know what you’re thinking. Rugged mountain man rescues traveling damsel in distress. He takes her to his secluded cabin to recover from her hardships, and they’re stuck there for the rest of the grueling winter. With just the one bed. Heck yeah, let’s get this party started!! Well…not so fast. Patrick and Samantha practically only have two solitary seconds alone together before another unexpected lost traveler finds his way to this safe haven of shelter. Young and rambunctious Brian certainly knows how to make an entrance, and kill any potential chance of our two leads sharing that bed any time soon. Especially when yet another surprise guest is dropped off at Patrick’s doorstep in the form of a woman from a local indigenous tribe who is due to give birth any day now, and insists that she belongs with him.

Again, we’ve got a bit of a mood killer happening here when another woman is staring daggers, and sometimes even wielding daggers, at Samantha. And that’s before the scoundrel who kidnapped and abused the young Brian finds his way into this bevy of characters who have become so tense with cabin fever that a trek through the harsh winter wilds of the Colorado mountains is starting to seem like a bright idea. For a secluded cabin this place is certainly getting a bit crowded! And yet, in between each new surprising arrival there’s the tedious repetition of daily chores, from laundry to cooking, fur trapping and whittling. Even we as the reader can’t help but feel a little stir crazy for something to break up the monotony of frontier living. 

From One Extreme to the Next

This is a novel of extremes. From overreactions to unsupported judgments, everything is done to the n’th degree and then some. The perfect example of this is when Patrick first rescues Samantha as she is trudging through the mountains in the middle of winter, at immediate risk of frostbite, or even death. When she relays her story to Patrick of how her parents both died on a wagon train, and she was thrown out to fend for herself, he scoffs at her wild tale which must obviously be fabricated. When Samantha repeatedly insists that she’s telling the truth, Patrick gives her an “oh sure whatever you say” kind of roll of the eyes that I’m sure we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives. Then when young Brian comes on the scene, Patrick insists that he must be her son since they share the same coloring, and she must have abandoned him on the trail to save her own skin. Again, we’re going from zero to sixty here in less time than it takes to blink. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t necessarily the best way to be introduced to our leading man, and although many of his later actions prove he is indeed a decent man, there was always a part of me that didn’t fully warm up to him considering his initial harsh judgement of Samantha. 

This theme continues throughout the rest of the book with almost every character we see. We’ve already discussed the pregnant woman who is dropped off and takes an immediate dislike to Samantha, even going so far as to threaten her with a knife not too long after first meeting. There are multiple villains who try to kill our characters at some point, all of whom are the purest representations of evil. When Samantha, Brian and Patrick eventually get to town we see how the townsfolk are the most racist, high and mighty bunch of quick-to-judge dimwits we’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting. They look down on Patrick for being half-Indian, and while they initially pity Samantha for the harsh time she was forced to spend with such a “beast”, they instantaneously switch to thinking she’s a harlot when she deigns to defend him. Throughout all of these crazy shenanigans Samantha and Patrick are slowly starting to warm to each other, but any time they allow themselves to feel something they are quick to convince themselves that the other really isn’t all that interested. Even if they’ve just shared a passionate kiss or embrace out in the barn. Honestly, it was kind of exhausting to be presented with so many irrational and exaggerated responses. 

Series: Stand-alone.

Would I befriend the heroine? Considering how the men of the cabin always relied on her to do the cooking, I feel like she and I would kick some serious butt if we did some kind of team cooking TV show competition together. 

Would I date the hero? Can’t really say that I would. I wanted to like him, but talk about a negative first impression. It was even more disappointing later on when we find out how much unfair judgement he received by the townsfolk throughout his entire life, but he was still quick to judge Samantha on her arrival. 

Final Impressions: There were several aspects of this novel which needed to be either toned down or amplified. Everyone was quick to think the worst of everyone else, to the point where it’s frustrating to see these characters interact with one another. We would go through bouts of text where not much was happening in the seclusion of the cabin, and then boom! Villains come out of the shadows and are squandered in about a page, to the point where you think, wait, was that really it? There was one other feature of the novel which held the most promise, but ultimately kind of fizzled in execution, which was how the slow build of Samantha and Patrick’s relationship was impacted by his Indian heritage. Any time Patrick started to feel something for Samantha he would immediately try to push it aside by insisting that she didn’t feel the same way, or that he couldn’t put her in a situation where she would be ostracized by the town, but now he’s willing to give their relationship a chance, actually never mind, wait actually he’s going to propose, oh but their kids would be ostracized so really never mind. What could have been such a fascinating exploration of Patrick’s inner turmoil at his insistence on sacrificing this deep love for Samantha in an attempt to protect her from scandal instead came across as a guy who just couldn’t make up his mind over what he wanted. The pieces were there for a truly emotional moment of sacrifice and eventual acceptance, but they never fully came together in a compelling way. 

Smut Level: This is a low-heat read. A few stolen kisses in the barn, but nothing too steamy. 

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $4.99 Kindle Price. 194 Pages. 

Together Forever Across Time by Bess McBride

Her life and family exist in the future, his in the past. When they find each other across time, how will they manage to hold onto each other forever?

What’s it About?

Stephen Sadler reluctantly attends the Seattle wedding of Robert Chamberlain to Ellie Standish, the woman who had captured his interest. There he says goodbye to the woman he thought he had fallen for. Only a few weeks later while traveling on a train, Stephen is confronted by the vision of a strange wild-haired woman in a pair of snug-fitting trousers called “jeans” who claims she doesn’t know where she is or how she came to be on his train – until she sees the date on the newspaper, that is.

Dani Douglas cannot travel through time! Her mother in Montana is ill, and she has to get back to her. But the crystal clear blue eyes of handsome Stephen Sadler hold her captive in 1901, and she doesn’t know how to leave him – perhaps forever.

Stephen realizes that Dani and Ellie have much in common, but where Ellie simply captured his interest, Dani has captured his imagination and his heart. Unlike Ellie though, Dani cannot stay. Her mother is ill. Stephen doesn’t know how he can let her leave him – haps forever. As the train hurtles back and forth across the rails, Stephen and Dani struggle to find a way to be together forever across time.

First Impressions

Last week I completed a round trip train ride from Washington, DC to New Haven, CT and back again for business, all in the same day. After 10+ hours of a physically uncomfortable journey, it only seemed appropriate that my next romance novel of choice should feature time travel via train. As the second novel in the Train Through Time series, it was understandably difficult to refrain from comparing this sequel to the premier novel, especially considering the lead couple from that book makes a reappearance or two in this installment. That being said, the thing I appreciated most about this book was that, on the whole, the story and romance between Dani and Stephen remained distinctively unique from that which we saw previously between Ellie and Robert. That’s not to say all characteristics presented here were a homerun, and we’ll explore a few of those issues in a bit, but it was nice to feel as though we weren’t just reading the same romance play out on repeat.

The Key to Time

While the time travel logistics were left somewhat inconclusive by the conclusion of the first book, they are cemented a bit more firmly in this installment as Dani makes not just one, but multiple trips back and forth from the present day to the turn-of-the-century. This was something we never even knew was possible based on Ellie’s journey through time in book one, so it was shocking to see it realized here. There are a few key elements which have now been confirmed: 1) time travel takes place on the train, 2) the location remains the same just outside of Wenatchee, WA, 3) our heroine must be sleeping and 4) traveling east to west takes you back while west to east sends you forward. Even more surprising after my recently tiresome train trip was the unfathomable consideration of how many extensive trips these characters were willing to undergo via train in a mere matter of days so we could come to these realizations. But alas, to each his/her own.

The second aspect of this novel which I adored was that Dani not only makes more than one trip through time, but she even succeeds in doing so with someone else in tow. At this point in the series we’re used to having a modern-day heroine traveling back in time, but it was an absolute delight to see our turn-of-the-century gentleman, Stephen, transported to the future alongside the woman who has come to mean the world to him in such a short period of time. Stephen and Dani both realize they want to spend the rest of their lives together at roughly the same time they realize the impossibility of such a thought. Even though they have succeeded in traveling through time together at one point, Stephen cannot remain in the future, just as Dani cannot live in the past. Her mother is about to undergo surgery for breast cancer, while Stephen’s beloved sister often falls ill from chronic bronchitis. Why must fate be so cruel in bringing them together only to succinctly tear them apart? How can they find their happily ever after when they are separated by not only distance, but time?

Lack of Character…Development

And now for a few of those pesky issues which made it a slightly less enjoyable read than book one. On the whole, it’s fine. It really does keep you guessing until the very end how these two will manage to overcome such unimaginable obstacles to find their way back to one another. Stephen and Dani are perfectly pleasant as leading characters, but unfortunately we don’t really get to know them as intimately as we did the couple from the first book. By the end of the novel I could barely remember what either one did for a living, and we almost know them more in their relationships with other people rather than as individual characters. They are both driven by a love for family, and it’s actually a love which could potentially threaten the growing love they feel for each other. Besides that, I couldn’t really tell you much about the personality or idiosyncrasies of either character. Likes, dislikes, what makes them tick, there just simply isn’t much there. I think the author was more focused on getting as many train trips as possible out of this read to nail down some of those time travel details.

One Day

And now for my biggest complaint with this book: our lead characters declare their love for each other after literally one day of knowing each other. Now, don’t get me wrong! While I’m not always a fan of love at first sight romances, I can still understand and appreciate them within the realm of Romancelandia. The issue here is that it didn’t even really make sense within that space. At first sight, Dani was understandably more concerned about the fact that she had somehow been transported to over 100 years in the past, though I’ll admit her reaction was less believable than the one we saw play out for Ellie in book one. Ellie was convinced she was dreaming for a large part her novel, whereas Dani comes to realize and essentially accept the fact fairly quickly and without as much concern as you’d expect. Stephen is a bit more intrigued upon first meeting Dani, especially considering she’s a woman traveling alone, wearing trousers, and babbling on about being from another time. You miiiiight be able to say he was smitten, but even that is kind of a stretch. We really weren’t given any clues or indications to expect that either character was on board for an “I love you” declaration.

Their primary concerns during that first day involved getting Dani some appropriate clothing, introducing her to the lovely Ellie who might know more about what’s going on, and figuring out how to get Dani back to her ill mother. Dani is seemingly grateful to Stephen for his help during this confusing time, but the leap from gratitude to love was quite extreme. Seeing Dani declare her love for him after less than 24 hours of being in his company, I couldn’t help but exclaim aloud, “Wait, what?!”, thinking that surely I must have skipped a few chapters of storyline. It was that jarring of a pronouncement. It’s a bit confusing why the author felt the need for these characters to vocalize their love so early on in the story. It seems to have been used as an impetus for explaining why Stephen would have been willing to travel forward in time with Dani, and why their eventual separation through time would have been so heartbreaking. However, Stephen had plenty of reason to jump on that train with Dani, which was the promise of advanced medicines in the future which could help his sickly sister. The story arch would have been more fluid if Dani and Stephen’s relationship blossomed into something romantic after spending more time together in the future, rather than trying to rush it forward in the past.

Series: Train Through Time, book 2. Technically I think you would be fine reading this second book in the series without having read the first, but considering the repeated appearances of several characters from the first book it probably wouldn’t hurt to read in order.

Final Impressions: If I had access to this book while on my lengthy business train ride, I would have had no problem finishing it in one sitting. It’s a quick read, but almost too quick if you ask me. We had plenty of time (possibly too much) to focus on Dani figuring out the dynamics of time travel to the past and back to the present, but that left us with almost zero time to get to know Dani and Stephen individually or even as a couple. I will admit the scenes of their farewells were heartbreaking, where you truly believed that these two had fallen head over heels in love with one another, but it was the journey towards that love where I felt pertinent details were unharmoniously left out. I did appreciate how we were left in a near constant state of wonder at how these two would manage to work things out in terms of when they would end up in time, but there was also a rush to bring things to a conclusion in the end. I would have happily stuck around for another 50-100 pages if it meant we could have ironed out some of the kinks in this read.

Smut Level: Similar to book one, there are just a few loving kisses sprinkled here and there.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.99 Kindle Price. Self-Published. 158 Pages.

Brewer by Skye McNeil

They come from two seemingly different worlds: she a chef and he the member of a small town MC. But one person from each of their pasts will bring them together in a way they never saw coming. 

What’s it About? 

Out for blood and justice, Brewer Stapleton is on the hunt for Macha MC’s traitor, Shovelhead, the man who also murdered his parents. Nothing will keep him from his mission, not even the woman who unexpectedly brings him to his knees.

Raised to fear motorcycle clubs, Delphi Windsor is content running her bistro. When she meets the man who runs Macha’s bar, on a fun night out, their chemistry is instant. But Delphi uncovers a secret. One that brings her closer to Macha MC than she ever thought possible.

With Brewer focused on revenge and Delphi intent on uncovering the truth, it’s unlikely everyone will survive the fallout.

First Impressions

From opening bell it was clear that the connection simmering between bartender biker Brewer Stapleton and hot shot chef Delphi Windsor was going to be electric. It’s a case of lust at first sight, and Brewer knows he wants the gorgeous beauty standing in his bar. Never to back down from what he wants, he doesn’t hesitate to lay the flirtatious banter on thick, and headstrong Delphi has no problem standing up to him to tease and dish it right back before turning him down. From that point on you knew you were in for a delightful game of cat and mouse, and I for one couldn’t wait for the game to begin. Their desire and attraction for each other is intense, but so is Delphi’s hesitancy to get involved with someone in a motorcycle club. She has a complicated history with an ex who was part of a rival club, as well as the fact that her parents tried everything in their power to warn her away from the troublesome MCs before they both unexpectedly passed away. Brewer can recognize that Delphi is an outsider to this world, and tries his best to keep his distance even though everything in his being is calling for him to not only watch over her, but to claim her as his. 

A standout feature of this series so far is that we’re constantly presented with a badass female lead character. In this fourth installment we see that even though Brewer never backs down from being vocal about everything he craves to do with Delphi, ultimately it is her call for when they’ll finally cross that line to stripping off their clothes and going at each other like bunny rabbits. Which they do plenty of, believe you me. Aside from the outspoken ladies, another hallmark feature of this series is the fact we have a plethora of sexy, surly, alpha men who are uber-protective over their women. This is something that can be fairly standard in MC romances, but something I believe the author does a fantastic job of in each book is demonstrating how these men aren’t just going into protector mode because someone else is threatening to take away their possession, and it’s not because they view their women as weak or fragile crystals that can be easily broken. Instead Ms. McNeil paints us a picture of this strong group of men who have fallen so completely head over heels in love that these women have become the most precious and important thing in their entire lives, even stronger than the brotherhood they’ve formed amongst themselves. It’s true Brewer doesn’t want to see any harm come to Delphi herself, but I think the author has created this unbreakable link between the two characters that for him to see her hurt would also cause him an unbearable pain unlike any other he’s experienced before. Her pain would be his pain, and so he’ll do anything to preserve the bond between them. Even if it means possibly giving up on the revenge he’s sought for years to bring his parent’s killer to justice. 

The Betrayer

The identity of Shovelhead as Delphi’s possible father, while simultaneously being the man who gunned down Brewer’s parents definitely threw a curveball into their quickly evolving relationship. Brewer and his sister have both vowed to bring this man to justice, yet Delphi also wants a chance to confront and possibly even get to know the man she never knew was her biological father. Though an interesting form of conflict, it never felt as though it was incorporated as fully into Brewer and Delphi’s story as it should have been to really pose a threat to their connection. After all, Delphi lived her entire life thinking another man was her father, and it wasn’t until this other man lay dying on his deathbed that he admitted the fact someone else could be her real father. Then upon meeting Brewer she quickly learns more about the endless instances of deceit caused to the Macha MC at the hands of Shovelhead, including the murder of Brewer’s parents.

It just seemed surprising that she would still have a desire to build a relationship with this man she’s never met, a man who either abandoned or possibly raped her mother, who she now knows is a criminal and murderer, and that this desire to meet him could cause the downfall of her relationship with Brewer. Especially considering we know that Macha is an MC of integrity, and while every member of the club wants the chance to draw blood from Shovelhead, there’s no question that they would hand him over to the authorities before they’d ever risk killing him. I guess I never fully understood why there was this growing tension between Delphi and Brewer where Shovelhead was concerned. Perhaps if she had already established some kind of relationship with Shovelhead before discovering the true breadth of his crimes, or if Brewer was insisting that justice would result in Shovelhead’s death, the conflict between our two lovebirds would have made a bit more sense.

Beach Read Suspense

This is sort of the ideal beach read in that you get the perfect mix of romance and steam, with a little sprinkling of suspense mixed in as well. Now, I will say that while the dramatic side of the plot was intriguing, it probably could have been amped up another couple notches to really get the juices flowing. After all, this MC has been tracking the duplicitous traitor from their brotherhood for quite some time. He has betrayed and killed their own, including shooting down Brewer’s parents in cold blood, and the time has come for them to put the pedal to the metal and finally end his reign of terror. And yet…I couldn’t help but feel that everything came together almost too easily and uneventfully considering the amount of build-up we’ve been seeing across the series. This is true not only in how the matter of the traitor is concluded, but also during the most climactic scene of the novel wherein Delphi has been kidnapped by a rival MC. We’re basically told that she is rescued, and then the subsequent chapter goes back in time a bit to show how everything came together to rescue her, almost as a way of saying, “Don’t get too nervous, everything works out, remember?” That’s not to say that these scenes aren’t interesting, as they are successful in holding our interest,  but it didn’t really keep me on the edge of my seat like it could have. 

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Macha MC, book 4. I’ve only read books three and four in this series, and I must say now that I’m done I really want to go back and start from the beginning. While it’s possible to follow along with the characters and events having missed the first two books, I do think I could have had an even deeper appreciation and understanding of this world if I’d read the whole series from start to finish. Definitely something I’d recommend to all of you! 

Final Impressions: I’ll admit I’m not always a fan of MC romances. They can be dark, gritty, and I can’t help but feel that 9 times out of 10 the main characters are just covered in a grimy sheen of sweat…mixed with leather. This series is so different in the most fantabulous of ways. Yes, there are still bikes, leather cuts and standoffs with rival gangs, but the sense of brotherhood which this series evokes is quite beautiful. There’s camaraderie and love shared between these men, and while the club still has a group of sexy “nymphs” at their beck and call for sexy fun times, there’s still an underlying respect of women which doesn’t always seem to permeate the MC world of other romances. The fact this novel ends with the discussion of women finally being let into leadership roles in the club demonstrates the changing tide as new blood steps up to the forefront. Do I think the scenes of conflict could have been heightened a bit to truly amplify the suspense? Sure, but I can also appreciate not wanting to sweat things out too much in anticipation during a beach read, and the scenes depicting Delphi and Brewer’s evolving love affair stole the show anyways. Overall, a fun and entertaining read, a good series, and plenty of descriptive sex scenes to keep you satisfied. 

Smut Level: If flirtatious banter isn’t enough to get you to want to pick up this steamy read, then how about the fact that Delphi and Brewer’s first time together is in a tattoo shop chair? 

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.99 Kindle Price. Hot Tree Publishing. 274 Pages. 

Lost on the Atlantic by Angela Christina Archer

Declan and Siobhan knew that their journey on the Titanic would change their lives forever. They never could have expected that by boarding the Ship of Dreams they were taking a step onto what would soon become their Ship of Nightmares. 

What’s it About? 

The gossip had spread across Ireland. People talked of her speed, size, and how even God couldn’t sink her.

Titanic—the ship that could forever change their lives.

With Ireland on the brink of war, passengers Siobhan and her husband Declan board the luxury steamer headed to America. While her husband dreams of a better life in a new country, she dreams of a life on stage, singing for audiences young and old. Having read the stories from her husband during the three years he helped build the ship, Siobhan is excited to see all the lavishness carved into every inch from the bow to the stern. Unfortunately, their third-class tickets hinder their ability to explore the deepest secrets of the first-class areas.

Determined to experience all the ship has to offer, they steal clothes from the cargo hold and pose as members of the elite, vowing to talk to no one. Their devious plan goes awry, however, as they soon find themselves not only invited to dinners and parties, but they are making friends with the rich and famous interested in helping Siobhan’s dream come true. Can they run the con long enough to make it to New York? Or will their lies catch up with them? And will it matter when the ship is headed toward a fate no one thought possible?

Quick Review

Angela Christina Archer has once again transported us to another time and place, this time from a small rural village in Ireland, to the wooden decks of the illustrious Titanic, and ultimately to the bright lights of New York City. While it’s hard to read this book without immediately comparing it to the 1997 film, or the true events of history itself, I would say that something Ms. Archer has done exceedingly well is provide us with a glimpse beyond the first class cabins and passengers the film and history books often prefer to focus on, and instead lets us walk the hallways of third class. That’s not to say we aren’t also introduced to a few familiar faces from history, including the stalwart and lovable Molly Brown, to the loving Astors, the top-hat wearing Mr. Guggenheim, and even the white-bearded Captain Smith. Beyond these known names though, we get to know the passengers and stories for those who were relegated to remain in the bowels of the ship.

For our lead characters, and so many others who shared the lower decks with them, the Titanic was not merely a pleasure cruise transporting them from one place to another. She was their salvation from poverty and war, bringing them to a land of promise. We see the years of toil and struggle that went into being able to afford just one ticket, rather than simply winning it with a lucky hand of cards during a poker game a la Leonardo DiCaprio. We also witness the immense heartbreak that went into leaving one’s country and family behind. For so many, they knew that they would most likely never be able to afford a return ticket home for a nice “visit”. The process of taking those steps onto the infamous ship was, in essence, a death of their former life which had to be mourned before they could fully celebrate the new adventure upon which they were embarking. To see that so many inevitably left one death behind just to move closer to another more permanent death is a whole other kind of heartbreak unleashed upon us. This book is certainly an emotional journey from start to finish, but for fans of Titanic history I would say it’s worth picking up. 

Series: The Wildflower Women Collection, book 4. I can’t recommend this series enough. Each book is a stand-alone, set in four very distinct periods of history. They are all connected in a way by the presence of a strong female-lead, trying to find a place in the world with the love of her life supporting her through all the obstacles they might face together as a couple. While it’s not necessary to read this series in order, I would say just keep in mind that the third and fourth novels are probably the most emotionally taxing of the bunch. You might want to build up to those!

Final Impressions: My biggest piece of advice when embarking upon this read is to plan it out when you can finish it all in one sitting. We all know the inevitable tragic fate that will befall this ship. However, we’re constantly held in a heightened level of suspense wondering what will happen to not only our beloved lead characters of Siobhan and Declan, but also the family and friends traveling along with them, as well as each and every character they happen to meet along the way. The iceberg is a constant shadow we know is lurking just beyond the horizon, and I have a feeling that if you put it down at any point you might find it hard to pick back up for fear of discovering which characters will survive or perish. In that sense, it’s actually a fairly quick read as I found myself picking up the pace with every page our married couple spends upon this ill-fated ship, desperate to find out if they’ll realize their American dream. I also spent about the last half of the book in tears, so again, aim for one sitting! My only complaint with this book came in the very very end, which felt too rushed. We almost have the opportunity to learn how some specific characters met their fate, but instead we just get a quick listed mention of who lived or died, even though we’re presented with a survivor who could have provided more of a first-hand account of what happened. Other than this rushed ending, it’s an interesting historical read of love and ambition.  

Smut Level: We might see reference to an automobile kept in the cargo hold of the Titanic, but don’t expect any post-coital sweaty hand-print moments in this read. A few kisses here and there, with everything else a fade-to-black. This tale rightfully focuses more attention on the emotional connection between Siobhan and Declan, especially as the sad fate of the Titanic crumbles around them. 

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $3.99 Kindle Price. Long Valley Press. 264 Pages. 

One Shingle to Hang by Deann Smallwood

When Lil looked to the future, all she ever saw was the law. She’s defied family expectations, not to mention societal norms, to open her own law practice. Marriage never seemed to be on the table. But all of that changes when one rugged cowboy with a threat against his life walks in seeking her help. 

What’s it About? 

A woman with too much knowledge was at risk for insanity. Her fragile mind couldn’t handle it. That’s what Lil had been told when she went against convention and became an attorney. The 1800’s had fewer women lawyers than women doctors. Her pride knew no bounds when she hung her shingle—L.M. Wentfield, Attorney At Law.

Drew was a struggling cattle rancher, building a fledgling Hereford empire. He was working toward that goal when he was accused of rustling and faced possible hanging. He needed a lawyer—a good one—a man. Chesterfield had one lawyer—a new one—L.M. Wentfield. He wasn’t prepared for a beautiful blonde with a sharp tongue and fiercely won independence.

Lil had no homemaking abilities. Her love was the law. And if the thoughts of the gray-eyed cowboy, who had the audacity to refuse her legal help, stayed in her mind, she’d push them aside. She had nothing to offer a rancher . Even her wealth wouldn’t be considered an asset to a prideful man. And Drew Jackson was proud. So proud, he knew he couldn’t ask a woman of Lil’s stature to share his life—but he wanted to—from the moment he’d stolen that first kiss.

First Impressions

This is a cute, light-hearted read whose synopsis was unfortunately more enticing than the story itself. I’m always excited to pick up a historical romance that will regal us with a strong female character who is “ahead of her time”. While Lil was certainly a headstrong and quick-witted female lead, I was rather disappointed we didn’t get to see her engage more with the law. After moving to this small mountain town with the goal of opening her own law practice, the most lawyer-ly activity we see her pursue is writing up an ironclad will for her first ever client who deigned to giver her a chance. When it comes to helping Drew, the dashing cattle rancher in need of legal help, Lil almost transforms more into an intelligent private detective than a lawyer.

She even goes so far as to set up a sting operation with the local sheriff to catch Drew’s accuser in a lie. An entertaining scene to be sure, but I was holding out hope for a dramatic courtroom argument where Lil could truly showcase her law prowess. The fact we are never privy to one scene in court throughout the entirety of the novel was the peak of disappointment, not to mention that Drew’s drama is resolved quite early on in the novel. Even though an act of revenge from Drew’s nemesis is hinted at in the beginning, it’s a threat which never comes to fruition. Instead the focus of the novel switches to the budding romance between Drew and Lil, which was certainly an adorable relationship you proceed to root for, but the flow of the story probably could have benefited from bringing the conflict involving Drew’s land and cattle business back full circle. As things stood, that particular story line was left feeling unfinished. 

The High Point

While the story didn’t quite live up to the hype of the synopsis, one area where this novel truly excelled was in the characters. This is a world you want to live in, or at least have the opportunity to visit, merely in the hopes of sitting down to a cookout with our outspoken female lawyer, her devilishly handsome and selfless rancher, the candid yet caring housekeeper and her precocious granddaughter, just to name a few. Even our villains were characters you loved to hate, from the nefarious cowboy who has his sights set on Drew’s ranch, to Lil’s conservative parents who threaten to stand in the way of everything she’s built for herself. I can’t remember the last time I was so inclined to don a pair of gloves, merely so I could rip them off to haughtily slap a fictional character’s face.

Even though the author should be commended for the creation of such distinct and hypnotizing personalities, it was also a little disappointing to see the introduction of some fascinating characters at the start of the novel, only to have them fade away from the story completely by the midway point. I think this can once again be attributed to the flow of the plot, which was too distinctly segmented into Lil setting up shop, Drew seeking her help with his legal troubles, and then the slow evolution of their romantic relationship after his legal conflict is resolved. This meant that when one segment was settled, there wasn’t an attempt to bring back some of the characters and drama from that section into a later one.

Series: Chesterfield Colorado series, book 1. Though a sweet read, I’m not sure I’ll continue on with this series. 

Final Impressions: Greater cohesion for how this story unfolded, as well as further incorporation of Lil’s law knowledge, really could have made this historical romance a standout read. It seemed like an odd choice to suggest that the source of Drew’s legal drama at the beginning would come back to seek revenge against him and Lil, but then abandon that story line completely. The book as a whole is relatively conflict free, so to bring in Lil’s parents as the final source of drama for the book felt random compared to the possibility of fully resolving the outstanding risk of Drew’s nemesis. Lastly, every great legal story, from Philadelphia to My Cousin Vinny has an exciting courtroom scene of opposing counselors, so never giving Lil the chance to prove herself in court seemed like a wasted opportunity for some delightful entertainment. 

Smut Level: The most sensual moment of this read is when Drew and Lil share a jug of lemonade together in a shaded, hidden meadow. Their clothes stay on the whole time, and the biggest step they take is a brush of lips, but there’s something about that lemonade scene, as they contemplate where each other’s lips have just been that will make you giddy with excitement. Who knew? 

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. FREE Kindle book. Soul Mate Publishing, LLC. 213 Pages.  

Undeceived: Pride & Prejudice in the Spy Game by Karen M. Cox

When you’re reading Price and Prejudice and think to yourself, “this book is good and all, but you know what would make it even better? Some Cold War-era espionage”. Well then, this retelling of the classic British romance just might be right up your alley!

What’s it About? 

“…if I endeavor to undeceive people as to the rest of his conduct, who will believe me?” (Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 40)

Elizabeth Bennet, a rookie counterintelligence officer, lands an intriguing first assignment – investigating the CIA’s legendary William Darcy, who is suspected of being a double agent. Darcy’s charmed existence seems at an end as he fights for his career and struggles against his love for the young woman he doesn’t know is watching his every move. Elizabeth’s confidence dissolves as nothing is like she planned – and the more she discovers about Darcy, the more she finds herself in an ever-tightening web of danger.

Unexpected twists abound in this suspenseful Cold War-era romance inspired by Jane Austen’s classic tale.

Quick Review

Similar to a modern version of a classic fairy tale, I’ll dive right into a Pride and Prejudice retelling as soon as I can get my hands on it! That being said, I would probably categorize this version as “loosely inspired” by the story we all know and love, rather than a retelling of it per se. There were certain inspirations from the original that were unmistakable, from the cantankerous dolts of Wickham and Collins, to the unrequited initial declaration of love by our prideful Darcy, and finally the animosity turned affection of our leading lady Elizabeth. In certain scenes we even see how sticking so close to the original source material in this updated tale of espionage essentially resulted in some unfortunate spoilers of the spy game at play.

After all, when you have the lecherous character of Wickham insisting that Darcy must be a double agent, it’s not too difficult to gauge that his insistence and motives would be less than honorable. On the whole though, there were some hallmark traits of the 1800s classic which were noticeably absent, to the point where you almost question why there needed to be a link to Pride and Prejudice at all. Gone were the familial dynamics involving Elizabeth’s many sisters and hilariously embarrassing mother, while other crucial supporting characters were oftentimes relegated to secondary side plots that barely received mention. I almost think this story would have benefited more if it didn’t try to put a Pride and Prejudice label on it, but rather stood on its own two feet as an enemies-to-lovers romance set in the confusing world of Cold-War spy craft.    

Series: Stand-Alone. 

Final Impressions: It took some time before the plot really pulled me in to the point where I had a vested interest in seeing how everything would play out. A large part of this had to do with the fact that while we see Elizabeth and Darcy engage in a few different spy missions, we’re never really privy to the details or end-goal of each mission. We just know that Darcy is the leading spy of the day, and Elizabeth serves as his translator. We never really learn what they’re after, or hoping to achieve, with each mission. Linking this spy novel to Pride and Prejudice meant that we were constantly dealing with this odd juxtaposition of not being surprised when certain plot points were revealed, but then also being surprised to see some character development twists that were a shocking departure from the original. Again, this read may have had more of an impact if it were a stand-alone book that didn’t try to affiliate itself with P&P. 

Smut Level: This was one departure from the original that I was all on board for! While Elizabeth and Darcy initially tip-toe around their attraction for each other, once their mutual adoration becomes known they have no reservations about physically exploring their desires. And on a hot and sweaty Caribbean island no less!

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $4.99 Kindle Price. Adalia Street Press. 334 Pages. 

Beg for Me by Natalie Anderson

This contemporary romance presents us with the biggest fear for anyone out there who manages multiple social media accounts: what happens when you publish the wrong content to the wrong account? The repercussions for Min involve a confrontation with a brooding billionaire who could benefit from a fake fiancée for a few weeks. Sooo…winner, winner?!

What’s it About? 

One mistake means she’s his to marry?

No one needs an image overhaul more than Logan Hughes. His notoriety has reached epic proportions thanks to a sex clip circulating on the Internet. But when his newly contracted social media manager inadvertently tweets his happiness at his engagement, he—along with the rest of the world—is astounded.

With one wrong click of a button Min Jones just committed career suicide. Mixing up her client’s account wouldn’t have been so bad if he had only a few followers… unfortunately he has almost a million. Summoned to meet with him face-to-face, she’s more tongue-tied than ever when he announces that his engagement is to stand and that she’s to be his supposed fiancée.

With her career on the line Min agrees but she isn’t going to hide away meek and mild. If Logan Hughes wants a fiancée, he’s going to have to play by her rules and that means he’ll have to learn to handle some restraint…

First Impressions

While this sequel didn’t necessarily compare to book one in the Be for Me series as far as enjoyment level, it did certainly present us with several high points. From a delightful premise completely distinct from the first book, to a slew of new and intriguing characters, I’ll take any fake engagement romance I can get my hands on. The sexual chemistry between Min and Logan was positively riveting, and you can’t help but enjoy the ride of their relationship evolving from one of animosity to convenience, friendship to love. The majority of the scenes between these two also involved them spending time together in fairly close quarters, whether it was in Logan’s luxurious New York City apartment, or confined to a room in his parent’s mountain resort, which successfully added to the passionate electricity between them. That being said, there were a few different power dynamics at play which oftentimes posed a few problems that probably could have been dealt with or expanded upon differently. 

Who has the Power? 

First and foremost, if this kind of meet-cute had occurred outside of Romancelandia we’d definitely be dealing with a blackmail/sexual harassment lawsuit on our hands. Min is, for all intents and purposes, Logan’s employee through her management of his social media presence. Although the two have never met before, Min’s unfortunate error of publishing an engagement announcement meant for another client to Logan’s Twitter account guarantees a swift and tension-filled confrontation. However, it’s during this first meeting that Logan realizes Min, not to mention a fake engagement, could prove to be of benefit during an upcoming awkward meeting he has to spend with estranged family. To convince her to play along, Logan says that if she doesn’t participate in the charade he’ll basically destroy her business by announcing her Twitter-error to all of his closest contacts. It’s not long after this initial meeting that Logan’s desire for Min takes over. He insists it won’t be long before she’s begging him to give her the ultimate pleasure, and he’s willing to tease and tempt her in any way possible so that she’ll eventually beg for him. 

As you can see, even though we recognize that Min is immediately smitten with this hunk of a man, and her initial reservations to this scheme act as a shield to her admitting her own desire for him, there’s still an awkward employer/employee power dynamic at play here. This continues throughout the novel when it comes to their sexploitations as well. As they set the terms for their fake engagement, Min is initially insistent that there not be any sexual intercourse between them, which Logan immediately sets as a challenge that he will pleasure her in so many other ways she’ll soon be begging him for more. He’s always consistent with bringing her to release, but it’s never quite to a point where she can reach the full potential of pleasure, which does in fact keep her coming back to him.

Alongside Logan’s insistence that she will be the one begging him for sex, he simultaneously vows that he won’t find his own release, whether it be by her hand or his own, until she begs for him to take her. The rather heartbreaking aspect of this entire dynamic is we eventually see how much Min struggles with the fact Logan is continually giving her pleasure, but he’s not allowing her to express her own sexual desires by returning the favor. During one tearful scene Min admits that while he’s been so insistent on her begging for him, the thing that could bring her the most pleasure would be if he were to beg for her. It is during that moment that we recognize how painful all of this constant back-and-forth power play teasing between the two of them has probably been, and it sort of lent on overarching air of unpleasantness to something that initially seemed like it was all in good fun. 

Series: Be for Me, book 2. Even though I enjoyed book one significantly more than book one, I am in no way done with this series. I can’t wait to see how book three plays out involving Logan’s sister and best friend falling for each other. We were also introduced to a slew of other characters that I can’t wait to hear more from in future novels. 

Final Impressions: The initial premise which brought these two characters together was spot on, as was the eventual focus on both Min and Logan needing to overcome their own personal insecurities before they can truly find happiness with each other. While there were certain elements of their relationship which I enjoyed throughout the rest of the book, we do have a few problematic features. This was especially true when it came to power play, which appeared to be a distinctive feature of their sexual relationship. I think the issue here was that power play can be such a personal thing between a couple, that it can make it difficult for us as outsiders to fully understand. I couldn’t help but feel that there were several times during this power exchange that Min was left feeling emotionally exposed and frustrated in a way that wasn’t pleasurable. In addition, when we consider this book clocks in at 397 pages, it seemed the attention spent on certain facets of the plot could have been divvied up differently. For example, after the initial Twitter-error confrontation that led to their fake engagement, there were several scenes that dragged on for too long as they would continually rehash the details of what happened and how their engagement would proceed. The flow of the novel probably would have benefited from several of these scenes being shortened, and instead using that page length later on in the story when it came to Min and Logan interacting with and confronting their troubled relationships with their respective parents. These were interesting elements that didn’t receive the full attention, or even resolution, that they deserved.  

Smut Level: Logan might not indulge Min in his sexual intercourse prowess until she’s begging for it, but that doesn’t mean he won’t introduce her to a multitude of other pleasurable (and fully descriptive) delights. 

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $3.99 Kindle Price. 397 Pages

Swaying the Opposition by D.M. Porters

What better way to start off the new year than with a captivating historical romance featuring two headstrong lead characters on opposing sides of a societal battle? We can’t help but wonder who will succeed first, the innocent beauty trying to sway this man to see her point of view, or the devilish rake hoping to sway said beauty into his bed. Crack this one open to find out for yourself!

What’s it About? 

Lady Aeryn Dunning believes love is fiction, a clever myth designed to control the weak. It was why marriage had never been an option for her growing up. But time changes that. Aeryn starts to feel like a burden on her family and yields to their wishes, accepting the hand of her father’s friend, the Honorable Lord Dunning. Kenneth is much older than her, but the politician is kind and compassionate, making him as good a choice as any. The two become more friends than lovers, but sadly, the marriage would be short-lived. Aeryn is left a wealthy widow, free to pursue a cause dear to her and her husband – saving children from factories and giving them the gift of learning.

Handsome Royce Garrington is a member of Parliament whose tragic past made him cold and uncaring. His arrogance is well-known, and his patience razor-thin. The young lord hates wasting time on inconsequential matters and sees the Factory Act as one of these. He believes the alleged abuses in factories exaggerated and urges the House to move on to more pressing issues.

Aeryn and Royce meet under the most extreme circumstances, and immediately he is drawn to the ravishing redhead. Aeryn knows of Lord Garrington; he is a scoundrel, and she should have nothing to do with him. But when the cad threatens her father’s reputation, Aeryn is forced to agree to a most scandalous arrangement with him. Neither is prepared for the torrent of emotions that would overwhelm them during their time together. Perhaps love does exist, and its power can sway the opposition.

First Impressions

Swaying the Opposition proves to be the kind of historical romance where you not only have the opportunity to witness the development of a young couples’ relationship from enemies to lovers, but you also learn something about the time period in question. At first I was a tad concerned that the rather heavy subject matter of child labor and corresponding injuries/fatalities in the midst of the Industrial Revolution would put a damper on the romance evolving between Lady Dunning and Lord Garrington, but the author actually does a phenomenal job of weaving the details of the Factory Act as a key feature into the romantic story line of the book. The two elements go hand-in-hand, and while you might need a tissue (I know I certainly did) a time or two as we witness the harsh realities of factory work in this era, there are plenty of other moments where you’ll want to stand up and cheer for the bravery and resilience of those who fought to bring about an end to these injustices. What better backdrop for two people on seemingly opposite sides of the aisle to find their way into each other’s arms?   

A Blackmail Scheme that Leads to Love

Aeryn proves to be the perfect boss lady of a heroine. She’s the kind of female lead you love to love. Not afraid to go after what she wants, she also does whatever is necessary for the betterment of those less fortunate than her, even if it means throwing societal pressures and expectations to the wayside. Does she ultimately succumb to the blackmail scheme devised by Lord Garrington to get her into his bed in return for his silence over her actions of trespassing to free a young girl from a harmful factory? Sure, but this really shouldn’t be construed as a matter of weakness, but almost as one of empowerment. I couldn’t help but applaud the author for her ability to highlight this scenario as a way for Aeryn to finally explore her sexuality for the first time in her life, and with a partner she actually wanted to say yes to. In a way, it felt as though this moment of blackmail was the excuse Aeryn needed to convince herself it was ok to give into the desire that Royce had awoken within her. You never for a moment think that Aeyrn was forced into a situation that she didn’t want to wholeheartedly explore herself. 

And that brings us to good ole Lord Garrington. Oh yeah, he’s the perfect cad you love to hate, but then grow to love. The story arch of Royce’s character from an unfeeling politician at the start of the novel to a loving partner by the end was probably my favorite aspect of the entire book. Lady Aeryn proves to be the catalyst for him to start looking at what his life has become, and not only question where things went wrong in the past, but also wonder how he might want to change things for the future. In spite of his wealth and stature in society, he doesn’t feel good enough for a woman of Aeryn’s integrity. For this very reason Royce goes through most of the novel believing he’ll never succeed in winning her over into his life permanently, and yet this surprisingly doesn’t stop him from ultimately succeeding (with some supplemental help from a lovable friendly butler) to change his ways for the better. His continued self-deprecation was in fact a crucial feature of his growth as a character, as we are convinced by the end that Royce wasn’t merely trying to change on the surface in the hopes of getting Aeryn back in his bed, but rather she inspired him to do some soul-searching of his own to see how he could become the man, friend and brother he once was. 

The Game of Politics

Politics play a critical role throughout this entire novel, not only in the logistics of the Factory Act itself, but also for the development of Royce’s character, his evolving romance with Aeryn, as well as the transition of a former friend to villainous foe. I remember at the very start of this novel thinking to myself, “it’s simply not believable that there would be such intense opposition, and from our lead male character no less, to the passing of a resolution which would safeguard women and children” to then having this eye-opening realization of “oh yeah…politics…that definitely tracks”. It was almost comically horrific to see how applicable some of the same debates and futile misunderstandings which permeated the political landscape of the era still ring true today. From Royce thinking the tales of abuse and disfigurement were merely overblown exaggerations not to be believed in the newspapers, to other politicians insisting previous legislation already dealt with the topic, and finally to wealthy businessmen arguing a change in regulations would cripple advancement and economic prosperity. Same arguments, different era. 

While these political debates were crucial to capturing our interest in the story as a whole, they also presented two problematic features for our characters that I wish had been addressed or altered in some way. Firstly, as previously discussed, Royce is initially presented to us as…well a bit of an ass. He staunchly opposes the Factory Act, and seemingly delights in arguing with members of the opposition in a way that makes their blood boil. Even though we ultimately see a change in character for Royce later on that makes us (and Aeryn) fall in love with him, the fact he could be so blasé and dismissive of child endangerment at the start of the novel was quite a turn off. We do see a brief mention that Royce believes there are more pressing issues at hand to discuss in Parliament, but we never really get a full insight into what he thinks those topics are. If we could have been privy to one or two other key pieces of legislature that he felt truly passionate about, and perhaps had even put a lot of time and energy into, he could possibly have been a more redeemable character to us, and Aeryn, earlier on. And this brings me to the second, and perhaps more pressing issue that this political opposition presents, which is that it’s a bit hard to understand why Aeryn was so smitten with Royce considering he essentially stood for everything she despised.

Don’t get me wrong, I was 100% rooting for them to come together by the end of the story, but I couldn’t help but feel as though the initial connection on Aeryn’s part for Royce was almost too steeped in sexual attraction at the start. This is a woman who has devoted most of her life to rescuing women and children from oppressive working conditions, and yet after a few tumbles between the sheets with Royce as part of his blackmail scheme she continues to think upon him fondly after he sends her back home. At this point in the story all she knows of his character is that he voraciously opposes the Factory Act every chance he gets, and that he’s an amazingly attentive lover. We as the readers get a few glimpses early on that there is more lying beneath the surface for this complicated man, as we are privy to his inner musings and changing ways, but Aeryn doesn’t necessarily see the same revelations at that point in time. Later on she learns more in conversations with his butler and adopted brother that Royce came from a complicated past that impacted who he became later in life, but during those early days of their interactions she simply knows him as the ruggedly handsome blackmailer who fights her father on the Parliament floor. This is another reason I had hoped we could have seen one other thing early on that Royce was passionate in arguing for, not against, as it could have been something for Aeryn to hold onto beyond their sexual connection as a reason she couldn’t push him out of her mind. 

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: Stand-alone

Final Impressions: This read captured my interest from opening bell, and it was rather difficult to put down at times, as evidenced by the fact I finished reading it in just 3 days. We have a strong female lead, a troubling male lead in want of reform, and a slew of supplementary characters that bring the story to life. Sure, I would have enjoyed one or two more scenes involving Aeryn and Royce engaging together outside of the bedroom, but they were also so focused on each other when they weren’t together that you almost didn’t notice the physical distance. Almost 😉 The time period setting was truly fascinating, and the political arguments presented were surprisingly reminiscent of those we still see made today across the aisles. This novel does present us with hope though. Hope that true love can not only be found, but that there are people who won’t stand down in standing up for what’s right. 

Smut Level: Me oh my is it getting hot in here! There are plenty of instances of bodice ripping and being pushed up against closed doors/walls to make you swoon. 

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $2.99 Kindle Price. 284 Pages

Betting on Cinderella by Petie McCarty

A modern twist on a classic fairy-tale. From a devastatingly handsome Prince Charming to an enchanting, down-on-her-luck heroine. The only missing detail was a delicate glass slipper!

What’s it About?

Garrett Tucker inherits his grandfather’s casino empire and steps into the reclusive billionaire’s shoes as the “Prince of Vegas.” His first act is to buy a bankrupt casino in Biloxi. When he discovers embezzling in his new operation, Garrett goes undercover. His prime suspect is the new finance supervisor–the spitfire brunette who stole his heart at first sight.

Andi Ryan moves to Biloxi to care for her godmother and takes a job as finance supervisor for the renovated Bayou Princess casino. She discovers someone is skimming from the till and starts her own investigation, worried she will be blamed for the theft when the new owner discovers her godmother has a gambling addiction.

A rival Vegas competitor has sent a spy in to ruin the Bayou Princess, and Garrett and Andi are forced to work together to prove her innocence and discover the identity of their casino spy.

First Impressions

This sequel in the Cinderella Romances series had all of the classic fairy-tale details which were only hinted at in book one. From evil step-mother and step-sisters, to a cheery godmother, and everything culminating in a fancy gala with our female lead draped in a gorgeous sparkly blue gown. However, this isn’t simply a rehash of the story we all know and love, but rather those details are sprinkled into the bigger story being told of embezzlement and corporate espionage. I did appreciate that all of the Cinderella elements weren’t solely reserved to our heroine, Andi, but also shared equally with her Prince Charming, Garrett. While she may have been the one cursed with the villainous step-relations, Garrett was the one who was hiding the nature of his true identity from the woman with whom he was quickly falling in love. I always felt like the Prince was a secondary character at best in this particular fairy-tale, and it was refreshing to see Garrett as a primary character in his own right.

Screeching Villainesses

Once we immerse ourselves into the plot of this sequel, there were aspects that weren’t quite as successful as book one. First and foremost, it was a bit overly-complicated at times, especially in terms of some secretive behind-the-scenes plotting, and probably could have been about 100 pages shorter. In addition, while I appreciated seeing more of the classic Cinderella details, some of them were almost too over-the-top for reality. This was especially true for Andi’s step-mother and one of her step-sisters who took the roles of wicked villainess to the extreme. They acted as Andi’s boss and supervisor at the casino where they all worked, and while many of us have dealt with overbearing and demanding bosses, these two acted in ways that were clearly an HR nightmare. Their propensity to literally shriek at the top of their lungs in front of everyone about their disappointment in Andi’s work performance and personal life was especially cartoonish. Having villains who could have been more sly and cunning in their deceptions would have been scarier in my opinion than the surface-level crazy these two characters constantly emitted.

Another rather frustrating detail of this read was that almost every chapter would end on a cliffhanger scene or comment, and then the subsequent chapter would change gears to focus on another issue entirely. It was literary whiplash! It seems this technique was employed in an attempt to build a sense of tension to the read which all culminated in what was probably supposed to be an unexpected climactic twist. Unfortunately, the surprise we were presented with was fairly obvious early on in the book, so all of that build-up eventually led to a final reveal that wasn’t as rewarding as I was hoping for.

*A copy of this book was provided for an honest review*

Series: The Cinderella Romances, book 2.

Final Impressions: While this sequel certainly had more Cinderella elements than book one, not all of the wider plot points necessarily came together in a cohesive way. The ending focused more on resolving the romantic story-line between Garrett and Andi rather than tying up all the loose ends of some of the more dramatic embezzlement plot points. We may have gotten our happily ever after, but not everything felt entirely finished.

Smut Level: These two shared some passionate kisses that left Garrett desperate for more and Andi’s eyes rolling into the back of her head. They never take things into the bedroom though.

Get it on Amazon: Click Here. $3.99 Kindle Price. Soul Mate Publishing LLC. 434 Pages.