REVIEW - Cold as Ice (The Warriors #2) by Charlene Groome

The Book
Release Date: 8 December 2014
Goodreads Link

The Warriors take to the ice again in Charlene Groome’s sensational series about hockey players and the women who love them. But the team’s new addition may have to work for a warm welcome…

Defenseman Devin Miller has bounced from team to team and city to city, but he’s finally ready to settle down—professionally and personally. The Warriors seems like the perfect fit. Now all he needs is the right woman to start a family with—and he’s willing to put in the practice to find her. 


Sports anchor Carla Sinclair already doesn’t like Vancouver’s hot new acquisition. So when she’s persuaded to interview him, she’s not prepared for the chemistry between them. But though Devin seems eager to show Carla his moves—on and off the ice—he keeps his personal life off-limits. Frustrated by him in more ways than one, Carla decides to track down Devin’s secrets on her own—and soon must decide if their attraction is worth the hit to her fragile heart…

My Review  1 STAR
**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Kensington Books for an honest review**

Unfortunately with a good few tries, this has become a DNF for me.  Its the second time that i have tried this author and her writing style is just not for me.

The author often writes in the third person which means i am unable to connect to the book or the characters or feel their emotions.  I am lead down a story which then just feels blah.

Unfortunately i will not be reading any further books from this author.

REVIEW - The Captive Born (The Captive #1) by L.K. Magill

The Book
Release Date: 4 February 2018
Goodreads Link

Val's never broken the rules before. She's never stepped out of line, never given The Agency any cause for concern. As a member of the captive born, Val's life is not her own.

And it's a condition she's been trained to accept... that along with her role in life, which is to submit.

But that was before the Agency took her sister away. Now standing here, waiting for her own sale to a man she's never even met... it suddenly seems so clear. Val has nothing left to lose.

So what's a captive girl to do? When she's got the first inkling of rebellion brewing in her mind. Val may just surprise herself... and The Agency too, while she's at it.

My Review  5 STARS
**My thanks to the author and Hidden Gems for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Wow, this book is a complete page turner i opened the book and could hardly put it down.

The author did a brilliant job putting things together with a modern slavery aspect where women and men could be bought from agencies from hourly to for life.

Lots of exciting things happen, Jason and Val fall in love, the bad guys try to get back on top but are toppled in the end (for now). The book has great friendships and anti-slavery protesters.

It is mainly the well written world that had me turning pages as i have not quite read a book like this.  

Certainly an author to check out!

REVIEW - The Demon Slave (Shadow Quest #2) by Kiersten Fay

The Book
Release Date: 19 October 2011
Goodreads Link

From USA Today bestselling author Kiersten Fay comes this sizzling hot tale of a rouge demon mercenary and the Faieara princess who enchants him.

Marik Radkov believed the only thing left from his tortured past were the scars that adorned his body. When he is stranded on a foreign planet and held captive by a beautiful stranger, he is forced to face his past once more.

Years after she was forced to take refuge on the icy planet of Undewla, Nadua has all but lost hope that her people will return for her. When the threat of a native rebellion arises, she is inexplicably recused by a ruthless demon who ignites a desire in her she cannot deny.

As danger draws near, Marik struggles to contain his powerful lust for her while keeping them both alive.

My Review  5 STARS
This book had me giddy to catch up with all the previous characters and meet just a few more, however with more than once point of view it got a little messy.   I know it added to the overall story, but i would have preferred just Marik and Nadua's telling only.

I loved seeing all the other characters and catching up with how they were getting on and the twists and turns that brought together the story continuing to bring us further into the plot and one more sister found.

I cannot wait to read Calics story to see what happens next.

REVIEW - Demon Possession (Shadow Quest #1) by Kiersten Fay

The Book
Release Date: January 2017
Goodreads Link

From USA Today bestselling author Kiersten Fay comes this devilishly passionate tale of a fierce demon captain and the vulnerable young princess he vows to protect. Their passion will ignite the stars.

As captain of the merchant ship Marada, Sebastian has only one goal: keep his family and his crew safe while they deliver a curious parcel to a ruthless pirate. But when a bewitching young woman mysteriously appears on his ship, he finds it impossible to focus on the job...and to keep his hands off her.

Analia has known only one life: enslavement. In a bid for freedom, she escapes onto a craft led by a fearsome demon captain. If she is to maintain her freedom, she must gain Sebastian's trust while concealing her true nature.

Together they contend with the hazards of open space, but what no one knows is her secrets are more dangerous than anything they have encountered before.

My Review  5 STARS
**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Victory Editing for an honest review**

This is the first book that i have read by this author and i loved this book.  Analia, who is called Anya as a nickname, is a very strong character and has been through hundreds of years of torture on the ship Extra and finally gets a break to escape and ends up on the ship Marada.  Here her whole life changes when Sebastian finds her at the brink of death.

Sebastian is the captain of the ship and is also only one of four Demons on board, two are his siblings and the other is a former slave that they freed.

Anya fits into life onboard easily making friends everywhere she goes, but Sebastian struggles with his feelings for her and always feels particularly protective towards her.

I loved the twists and turns and all of the supporting characters, each cannot help but make you smile and you so want them to get a happy ever after.

Really looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

REVIEW - The Return (Second Chance Flower Shop #1) by Noelle Adams

The Book
Release Date: 26 May 2020
Goodreads Link

Ria Phillips has a plan. Stay strong. Stay busy. Stay focused on what's important. And don't start daydreaming again about a certain pair of soulful brown eyes.

No, it won't be easy. Jacob Worth was her first love. Her first time. Her first everything. Until he left town one day without explanation. He broke her heart back then, but she's not a teenager with a crush anymore. She's an adult--with a plan.

In the past eight years, Ria has built a good life for herself in her small hometown. She and her friends have used their creativity and business savvy to turn the little florist shop she inherited into an astonishing success. She's got more than enough in her life to be proud of, and she's going to make sure Jacob sees that.

She's not going to let him rattle her. She's not going to watch him from afar, even if he's even hotter than before. And she's definitely not going to fall into bed with him. Or, if she accidentally slips up, it will only be once.

She learned her lesson a long time ago, and she's not going to fall for Jacob again. 

My Review  43STARS
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is a fast second chance read that keeps sweet all the way through.

Ria had her heart broken by Jacob when he left town the day after graduation, neither have been able to forget each other and with Ria still living in the small town she grew up with, she has not been able to get over the rejection.

With Jacob home because his only family left, his grandfather, is dying, the pair are forced together and to finally sort out their feelings and future.

REVIEW - Baby Daddy Wanted by Hazel Kelly

The Book

Release Date: 

Goodreads Link

Who knew picking a baby daddy could be so much fun? 

Maeve's ready to have a baby, but when she's dumped on New Year's Eve by yet another tire kicker, she decides to stop waiting around for Prince Charming and start looking for a sperm donor. But as Maeve soon learns, picking a baby daddy is no easy task... 

Finn

The stunning brunette perched on my favorite barstool has baby fever. 

It’s one of the first things she tells me when I sit beside her after playing my set. She’s also just been dumped, but it’s her Scotch that tells me that.

Talk about a bundle of baggage a bachelor like me doesn’t need in his life.

Yet there’s something about her that intrigues me, something that makes me believe she’d completely unravel if I could just find the thread that has her so tightly wound.

But she doesn’t give me the chance.

She dashes out before midnight like a fairytale princess with a pumpkin to catch.

She’ll be back, though. Not because I’m a suitable donor, but because I’m going to help her find one. 

It’s the perfect arrangement. 

We’ll flirt, have some filthy fun, and when she finds a baby daddy that meets her sky-high standards, I’ll bow out gracefully. No mess. No fuss. No feelings.

What could possibly go wrong?

Baby Daddy Wanted is a standalone romantic comedy full of humor, heat, and heart. No cheating, no cliffhanger. Just lots of witty banter, sexy surprises, and a happy ending that delivers.

My Review  4 STARS

**My thanks to the author and Hidden Gems for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Maeve and Finn were a wonderful couple with great chemistry and i loved that Maeve said and did exactly what she said she would without being fake.  Finn was also a good character, just a little hard on himself.

Both characters had good friends around them and helped them when it was needed, 

This is the first time that i have read this author and the writing certainly has me thinking that this will not be the last time.  I will have to add her to the want to read more of authors list lol.

I really enjoyed this book and stuffy Maeve ended up loosening up a bit and with Finn going with the flow of things and not really fighting his feelings towards Maeve, we get a delightful story and a very happy ending.

Definitely worth reading.

REVIEW - Wine Hard, Baby (OHellNo #6) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes an Enemies-to-Lovers, Romantic Comedy.

CAUTION: CONTAINS HOT COWBOY. Do not mix with wine. Avoid watching him do shirtless labor on hot days. SIDE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE: Feeling of extreme temptation, excessive drooling over his abs, elevated heart rate, and loss of coherent thoughts when in his presence. My name is Camila Clark. And that sexy cowboy right there? The one with the devilish smile, twinkling brown eyes, and tattoos on his muscular arms? He’s Jed, the guy I turned down flat back in Texas. He just showed up here in Oregon at the winery where I work. The question is why? Not that it really matters. I have my reasons for staying away from all that manly temptation. Reasons he can’t possibly understand but seems determined to punish me for. But the more I fight him, the more I learn about this mysterious, hot-as-hell cowboy. I just don’t know how much longer I can keep pretending to hate him. The problem is, I’m technically engaged to a guy I’ve never met.

BUY LINKS

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | AMAZON AU

KOBO | NOOK | APPLE BOOKS | PAPERBACK

About the Author

MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a New York Times bestselling author who’s sold over one million books around the world. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dreams. Mimi lives with her Latin lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and their three spunky dragons (really, just very tiny dogs with big attitudes) Snowy, Mini, and Mack, in the vampire-unfriendly state of Arizona. She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.

Sign up for Mimi’s mailing list for giveaways and new release news!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter

My Review  5 STARS

**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

In this book we have Giselles friend Camilla who has been brought up in a very loving but strict background and Jed who we have also seen before.

This can be read as a stand alone book as most of it happens at a wine ranch, it is only the beginning that might get lost in translation if you have not read the previous book.

Cami is a cool character, has a mouth like a sailor when she is nervous and cannot help herself with the things that come out of her mouth at Jed, usually something that she ends up wishing that she can take back.

Jed is a laid back character, but he kinda brings he poor past behind him.  It is only after something that Camilla says to him that has him rethinking how he has behaving and changes what he does and wants.

I really enjoyed this book and really hope that there is another book in the series.

REVIEW - Sure Shot (Brooklyn #4) by Sarina Bowen

The Book
Release Date: 12 May 2020
Goodreads Link

A new stand-alone hockey romance from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, sports agent Bess Beringer is ready to make some changes. Armed with a five-year plan—indexed and color coded—she’ll tackle her personal life with the same zeal that she brings to her successful agency.

A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage. He’s a ride-or-die loner with a bad reputation. He’s on the rebound. He’s also the sexiest thing on two legs, and for some crazy reason it’s Bess that he wants.

She knows better. But then she falls stupid in love with him anyway. And for a while it seems like maybe he’ll do the same.

Until she asks him for the one thing he can never give her…

My Review  5 STARS
**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

I love hockey sports books and this one is another hit in the park for this series.  As with previous books you can read each book as a stand alone, you just don't know some of the other supporting characters as well.

We have met Bess in previous books as she is the agent to many of the hockey players she originally met Tank nine yrs ago where they got together, but after weeks of fun, Bess stopped seeing Tank.

Tank has just been traded from Dallas and has also separated from his wife.  Seeing Bess changes the future for both of them.  Bess does not date sports stars, however she makes another exception for Tank.  they struggle to stay away from each other.

The chemistry between the pair is off the charts and although they have their troubles, mostly from not speaking out about their pasts, they want each other too much to stay away.

We have good friends helping out and re friendships being forged, this book really pulls you in and you can't help but devouring the pages.

REVIEW - Chaos & the Geek (Grace Grayson Security #1) by Elizabeth Stevens

The Book
Release Date: 3 January 2020
Goodreads Link

Amber
How do you politely refuse when the only guy to star in any of your dirty fantasies has just offered to put you up for the foreseeable future and your brother’s just accepted like you were in fact still thirteen and couldn’t make decisions for yourself? You don’t. And, you end up with a roommate who wears a very good elegant mask over the rough and tumble, bad boy core I remember far too well.

Only, it’s ten years later and I’m even nerdier than I used to be. It’s ten years later and I couldn’t look worse. It’s ten years later and I can’t keep one guy. It’s ten years later and my brother still teases me mercilessly in front of him. It’s ten years later and Kit somehow looks even better than the guy I spent my formative years crushing on.

So, there’s not only the issue that he’s my older brother’s best friend, but also a sex-god this virgin can barely talk to. But that certainly never stopped me from drooling over him and it wouldn’t stop me now. He’s so far out of my league, I wouldn’t even clean in his league.

Except, there might just be a smouldering heat in Kit’s eyes that suggests he’s not quite as out of my league as I thought. Just maybe, this geek is about to get a whole lot of chaos.

Kit
When I find out about my best mate’s little sister’s situation, the offer is out of my mouth before I can stop it; Hawk’s like a brother to me even if Amber’s never looked twice at me. I could never tell if she was scared of me or hated me. But the deal is done. She’s going to bring her bedraggled self upstairs to my penthouse and live with me for as long as she needs.

I see the pain she hides away, I see the lack of confidence despite how smart she is, how good. If there’s something I’ve learned, it’s that confidence makes all the difference. So, it becomes my mission to help Amber find her confidence. But I find more than confidence in her and suddenly I’m seeing my best mate’s little sister completely differently.

I’ve never known what to say to her. She’s always been good and studious and sweet. She’s always been so far out of my league I wouldn’t even carry bags in that league. Her face is a mask that tells me nothing in between the sparse words that come out of her mouth.

Except, there might be something in the way she smiles at me that gives me hope I’m not as far out of her league as I thought. It might just be time that this chaos gets a little geek.

Please be aware that this story is set in Australia and therefore uses Australian English spelling and syntax.

My Review  4 STARS
**My thanks to the author and Hidden Gems for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is the first book that i have read by this author and i was pleasantly surprised, all the characters felt believable and i got really stuck into the story, the only downside is that there was not an epilogue, something i have found that i really like in my books, just to see how they are getting on further down the line.

Chaos is the best friend of her older brother Hawk.  She has always been awkward around him as she has always liked him, but didn't know how to act around him.  After finding her so called best friend of 20 years sleeping with her boyfriend, she walks out of her shared apartment and ends up taking refuge in a hotel over the road, where Chaos lives, but she doesn't know.  When her brother comes to pick her up, Chaos appears and says she can stay in his Penthouse apartment.

It is there finally that the pair actually start getting along and Chaos starts seeing the geek in a totally new light, especially as she starts actually looking at him and having an actual conversation.

I loved the chemistry between the pair and that Chaos, Hawk and their friends and team all take Amber under their wing.

REVIEW - Finding Mr. Right Next Door by Sarah Ballance

The Book
Release Date: 11 may 2020
Goodreads Link

For Lexi Dean, burning down her kitchen was disaster enough. Agreeing to move in next door with her totally off-limits best friend, Matt Freeman, until her house is livable again? 

Utter madness. 

They’ve always been close, but this is ridiculous. If she’s not bumping into him at the refrigerator, he’s at the front door giving her date the third degree. And slipping between his borrowed sheets? That’s about as distracting as listening to his shower run, because suddenly all she can think about is rivulets of water cascading down is spectacular body—the one he seems to be going out of his way to make sure she notices. 

Not that it matters. He can flaunt his firefighter abs around her all he wants. They already share everything—their jobs, their friends, their backyard, even their dog—and that means only one thing: Lexi is not going to risk losing any of it by dipping a single toe in the temptation that is Matt Freeman. 

Lexi may not know how to handle a fire extinguisher, but this is one fire that just might burn them both if they’re not careful...

My Review  4 STARS
**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for an honest review**

Lexi and Matt have been best friends since as long as they can remember.  They live next door to each other and also work at the same Firehouse.

However it is only when Lexi, who is really bad at cooking, burns down her kitchen and moves in with Matt does their relationship take a change.

With Lexi liking Romance films and having signed up tp a dating site and having her first date with a cop, Matt's teasing eventually becomes jealousy as he starts seeing his friend in a different light.  Lexi also starts seeing him different in the way he teased he.

EVERYONE has always seen them as a couple and had bets on when they would get together.  IT's a nice lighthearted story and it's just a shame that the book does not have an epilogue.

REVIEW - Texting the Rugby Player by Ariya Cox

The Book
Release Date: 
Goodreads Link

Mae Nolan is existing in Australia; that’s the only way to put it. She arrived with her ex-boyfriend, who promptly cheated on her, and ever since then she’s been too embarrassed to go home and face the family who warned her against him. Now all she does is work long hours, save her money, and avoid anything to do with the opposite sex. 

She’s just not interested.

Until one night she comes across a passed-out girl, Ciara, and ends up taking a phone call from her very irate brother. Her brother, Jack, is rude, snappy, and abrupt, but when Mae and Ciara become friends and Jack continues to text her, she starts to see the real him. Somehow she ends up looking forward to their chats and starts revealing more and more of herself to him.

It's a relief to talk to someone, and he feels safe because he's on the other side of the world and she knows she’ll never see him.

Then he comes to Australia.

And she finds out he’s an international rugby star.

And he wants to meet up.

None of this was part of her plan, and she definitely wasn’t expecting what comes next.

My Review  4 STARS
**My thanks to the author and Hidden Gems for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

I really enjoyed this story, the only part that put me off was right at the end where she loses her way and even more of her confidence when her ex boyfriend comes back on the scene.

Mae has not really moved on from her ex-boyfriend even after 16-18 months.  She would take him back in an instant even though her has hurt her heart twice already and is an emotional bully.  She is not as strong a character as i would have liked.  She is a bit of a walk over.

Jack is a lovely man and comes across as really caring and nice.  I would certainly love a man like that in my life.

This is a new to me author and i really enjoyed her writing style.  Just hope that in the next book that i read of hers, the woman has more of a backbone.

It would also have been nice to have an epilogue a year or so down the line, although it was nice to be able to download the extra read to a situation from Jacks point of view.