Until Cobi: Until Him/Her Book 7, Aurora Rose Reynolds

Until Cobi (Until Him/Her Book 7) by [Reynolds, Aurora Rose]

Between Hadley's complicated, tragic past and Cobi's determination to protect and love her, her heart doesn't stand a chance.  She's going to give him one helluva ride on the way, though.  But before she can have the future she always dreamed of but never let herself hope for, she finds herself in a bit of trouble.  There's another enemy that threatens everything they're building together and if they don't find out who it is and how to stop them they might not have that future they're longing for.

Hadley's past was certainly a doozy.  It colored her interactions with everyone and her ideas of what she could really have for herself.  If it weren't for her super pushy but incredibly loyal friend she'd be all alone in the world.  I loved that she was a strong woman inside, though, and was determined to fight for those without a voice, to give them what she never had growing up.  While I wasn't a fan of her constant denial of what Cobi made her feel as well as her stubbornness that got in the way of common sense, I did think she was a good woman worth knowing.  Her individual evolution was stunning, especially when we get to see her in the epilogue.

Cobi is a force, that's for sure.  I don't feel comfortable with his high-handedness or invasion of space, but I do see that it worked for them.  In real life, however, this would be highly suspect.  His heart, though, made it clear that he was in it more than just for passion.  The family he brought along with him was equally amusing and so full of warmth and love that I felt happy to get to know them all and could see where Cobi got all his attitude and caring from.  He was a good match for Hadley and pushed her to believe and trust in more as well as gave her the softness she needed to feel strong on her own.

The drama seemed to be a flash in the pan right in the beginning but it wasn't until the book was nearly over that there was an additional source for a bit of crazy.  Throughout the story there were some hints about more and I was frustrated each time it was mentioned and then glossed over.  That bothers me in pretty much any book that does that.  The issue was a big one for Hadley's profession and yet she didn't really do much to figure out what was going on whenever it came up.  Overall, though, it was the individual growth, warmth, and passion that carried the story and gave us a nearly perfect ending.

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 Until Cobi: Until Him/Her Book 7, Aurora Rose Reynolds


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 Until Cobi: Until Him/Her Book 7, Aurora Rose Reynolds


About Aurora...

Aurora Rose Reynolds is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose wildly popular series include Until, Until Him, Until Her, Underground Kings and Shooting Stars.

Her writing career started in an attempt to get the outrageously alpha men who resided in her head to leave her alone and has blossomed into an opportunity to share her stories with readers all over the world.

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Christmas Lane: Lighthouse Bay Book 1, Amy Aislin

Christmas Lane (Lighthouse Bay Book 1) by [Aislin, Amy]

Career goals and yearnings for love, Zach Greenfeld is on the cusp of both...at least he wishes he were.  He's looking for a job that isn't at his family's diner and lasting love, and if that love comes in the form of a super hot older man who happens to be double his age?  All the better.  Maybe he'll get his heart's wish this Christmas.  Holland Stone is charmed by the brightness in Zach, but as an old man he's convinced there can't be anything between them.  Except the busybodies and well-meaning people of their town give Holland and Zach a chance to see they're truly meant for one another, but only if they can survive the storms of various types that sweep into their little town.

I loved Zach's intelligence, problem-solving, his heart, and his maturity.  He tries so hard to take care of everyone and show them they're appreciated and yet there's no one to care for him.  Holland is a nice guy that I liked because of what he gave to Zach.  Not only his heart, but his ability to see the younger man.  They were a good pair minus the jumping to conclusions and miscommunications.  I found both of them together to be sweet and all that is good with Christmas, creativity, and love.

There was a bit of emphasis on Zach's part to avoid sexual intimacy of pretty much all types and, given his experiences, it's understandable.  What I wasn't exactly a fan of was the one sexual experience Zach and Holland have together being off-page and with no discussion of how they resolved Zach's issue with sex.  One sentence saying that things were better than he thought they could be and a few mentions of his desire for intimacy of that nature with Holland just doesn't do the situation justice.  Plus, I just really wanted the steam =].

Overall the story was very sweet from beginning to end and I enjoyed it very much.  Finding where you truly belong and treasuring the heart you're entrusted with, Holland and Zach learn what that means and how far they'll go to keep it.  There are quite a few characters and hints about the difficulties they'll face in their own stories and I'm definitely interested in revisiting Lighthouse Bay for them.  For a sweet and fluffy story full of Christmas Spirit and lots of love, Christmas Lane fulfilled the brief with lots of heart and warm fuzzies to go around.

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 Christmas Lane: Lighthouse Bay Book 1, Amy Aislin

Melt with You: Into the Fire Book 8, J.H. Croix

Melt With You (Into The Fire Series Book 8) by [Croix, J.H.]

Max Channing and Harlow May can't seem to keep their hands off one another despite their heads telling them to run the other way if they hope to remain unaffected.  But who listens to reason when their magnetism is enough to pull them together repeatedly and their chemistry is hot enough to start a forest fire?  A year goes by after their one night and they're just as drawn to one another now as they were before.  Max is determined to have more time with Harlow and he'll do everything he can to persuade her to agree.  But when they start to fall they'll have to come to terms with their pasts if they can hope to move forward to a happy future together.

I mostly liked both characters.  Harlow was a strong woman but most of the story was spent with her second-guessing herself romantically, running away, avoiding the truth of her feelings, and pushing Max away because of her fear.  While she eventually got it together, it took her almost the entire story to get there and I wasn't convinced she'd ever get there without some kind of tragedy.  Thankfully it didn't come to that.

 Melt with You: Into the Fire Book 8, J.H. Croix

Max, on the other hand, was determined to win Harlow's heart after he came to accept that he felt far more for her than lust.  The synopsis from with his perspective says no other woman will do but Harlow, except that's not completely true.  Between their first encounter and their second he seeks out the company of other women.  He's not cheating at all, they're not even really together for quite some time, it's just that the synopsis is a bit misleading.  So no celibate male lead here, that role is, predictably, given to the female lead.  Once he decides that Harlow is the one, however, he's all in, more so than Harlow actually.  His efforts to go at her pace but to push her just enough to accept more of his affection are sweet as well as hot.  He more than makes up for her vacillation and denials.

 Melt with You: Into the Fire Book 8, J.H. Croix

The ending was beyond sweet and so perfect for them as individuals.  It showed their growth, their commitment, and their love that matched the passion we've come to expect from them.  I enjoyed their first meeting before they fell into bed (or onto the counter...) and the epilogue the best.  From sweet to hot, they had the potential for a fantastic relationship, they just had a bit of a road to travel before they could get there.

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 Melt with You: Into the Fire Book 8, J.H. Croix

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About J.H. Croix...
 J.H. Croix, Amazon Author Page
USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy independent women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!


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Vampire with Benefits: Supernatural Selection Book 2, E.J. Russell

Vampire With Benefits (Supernatural Selection Book 2) by [Russell, E.J.]

The mates Casimir Moreau and Rusty Johnson expected were nothing like what Fate intended so as she worked her magic around their partners in Single White Incubus, she wove another thread around Cas and Rusty.  As they conspire a temporary solution to their individual problems they discover that there's more to life than meeting and shunning expectations.  But when outside sources seek to destroy them independently, they'll have to work together to ensure they have a future to work toward.

Cas seemed more like a petulant child most of the time, but the way he was written was actually endearing rather than annoying.  It was clear that his biggest regret before we met him was his initial choice to Turn and he then spent the rest of his life...death?...letting the powers-that-be of his displeasure through pranks and acting out.  But it's his rivalry that really led him to Supernatural Selection and, ultimately, to Rusty.  So rather than be disappointed in his childishness, I can't help but feel sympathetic toward him.  And watching him come to terms with his mistakes and his growing, changing feelings for Rusty warms me all over.

Poor Rusty gets the short end of the stick all the time.  When he thinks he'll finally be on even ground with someone even that is taken away.  His innate sense of caring and compassion opens him to all the goodness Cas hides beneath his bravado and devil-may-care attitude and it's that that I totally fall in love with.  Rusty is my favorite here because he's such a good man who tries to do what's right and gets shut down all the time.  While his indecision and hesitation aren't my favorite, his determination and earnestness keep me grounded in who he really is and could be.

Both men change for the better throughout this story and I really enjoyed watching them open up to one another.  The lead-up to the end keeps me on the edge of my seat with all the things that could go wrong and how many times they'll have to repeat the scenario before they get it right.  But what could have been a 4.5 stars goes down to just 4 when we don't get to see Cas rediscover what he feels for Rusty.  We see where they meet up again, but aside from having insight through Rusty's part, we're left with Cas' thoughts and feelings which felt inadequate for their reunion.  It was believable, if you can call fantasy and supernatural believable, but just didn't make my heart soar...I was left feeling rather flat and that's not how I wanted to end.  The overall story was good, however, and I'm so very in for Demon on the Down-low (expected to come out February 2019).

*$3.99 on Amazon!
 Vampire with Benefits: Supernatural Selection Book 2, E.J. Russell

Dead of Night: Cold Case Psychic Book 8, Pandora Pine

Dead of Night (Cold Case Psychic Book 8) by [Pine, Pandora]

Past lives and enemies converge on the present and Ronan and Tennyson will have a foe to vanquish that has been following them through the centuries.  This time a coven of witches is caught in the crosshairs and they seek out Ronan's help.  But when his friends and loved ones seemingly abandon him when he needs them most, it might break not just his heart, but the thread that holds them all together.

Ronan's big mouth and fiery temper almost cost him everything in this one.  But it's Tennyson that I'm the most disappointed in.  His reaffirmation that they're a team over and over seems to fall by the wayside when he chooses their future child over his husband.  Without said husband, that future won't happen so he has a whole lot of perspective shifting to do before he can get back into my good graces.  I don't actually feel that he gets it together soon enough nor do I think he did enough groveling.

Everywhere you turn in this story it seems that what holds them all together is crumbling under the weight of a particularly powerful antagonist.  I had huge suspicions about a certain character but was completely surprised that they weren't the villain at all, but a true ally.  There was a very small suspicion about a random character but it seemed unlikely when I had my mind set on someone else.  At many points I was wondering when Ronan and the other characters would get out of their own way to track down all the leads sufficiently and it felt like procedures and follow-through were both light on the ground.  When everything finally fell into place it was a pretty good confrontation.  There were some predictable elements but also some surprises as well as new characters that I'm very much interested in.

Now a word of caution...  The new characters take this into the realm of fantasy and while I'm okay with that development in general, I don't know that it's really the right direction for the series and I'm pretty sure a bunch of people won't like the changes.  I'm withholding my final judgment on that until after I read Dead Man Walking.  I've read the novellas in conjunction with those new characters and I have to say that I like the men individually and am totally fine with the fantasy element but, again, keep those things in mind when they're introduced here in Dead of Night.

While I like certain elements of "real life" regarding Ronan and Tennyson's relationship, I would rather that they weren't so huge that they go from immense happiness and fortitude to almost completely losing one another.  Their relationship roller coaster goes through manic and depressive episodes that refuses to find a balance.  With that kind of drama competing with the supernatural drama that carries the series I feel like I'm being tossed all over the place, and not in a good way.  I'm hoping that with Dead Man Walking we get something a bit more settled on the home front so Ronan can deal with the threat against him as well as his estranged best friend.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!
 Dead of Night: Cold Case Psychic Book 8, Pandora Pine

For a closer look at the new members of the Cold Case Crew...
Spellbound: A Cold Case Psychic Spin off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin off Novellas Book 2) by [Pine, Pandora]
 Spellbound: Cold Case Psyhic Novella 2, Pandora Pine
Spellbound gives us Tobin and Niall and introduces us to a couple of witches who become important to Ronan and Tennyson.

Blood Song: A Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novellas Book 3) by [Pine, Pandora]
 Blood Song: Cold Case Psychic Novella 3, Pandora Pine
Blood Song answers the question of Luca's surprising visit in the woods and whether or not Cisco and Ronan can forgive and become friends.

Hunter's Curse: A Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novellas Book 5) by [Pine, Pandora]
 Hunter's Curse: Cold Case Psychic Novella 5, Pandora Pine
Hunter's Curse answers the gargoyle question.

Depth of Focus: Natural Hearts Book 1, JD Chambers

Depth of Focus (Natural Hearts Book 1) by [Chambers, JD]

Life has a way of throwing you hard things to test your mettle, and sometimes it seems like it's just doing it to screw you over.  When Whitman goes through a breakup he decides to make a huge change and accepts a job in a tiny town in Oregon.  That change brings him into the bosom of a very nosy, very caring town that seems to have made a place for him, a place that feels like a true home.  But not everyone intends to end up stuck in Slat Creek, as is the case with Travis.  Both men learn about themselves and one another and forge a friendship with yearnings for more.  Yearnings, however, might not be enough to tempt Travis to stay when freedom comes calling.  Travis will have to learn what true freedom is if he wants to find both acceptance and love.

This was a very slow-moving romance.  There were a lot of times it felt like it would move into the "more" part of more-than-friends but then there would be an abrupt abort from one party or the other...mostly Travis.  And when he reiterated his sentiment of living as a young, out, gay man in a city over the "trap" of home I felt pretty disappointed though his feelings were absolutely valid, understandable, and even encouraged when you think about all he "missed out" on because of his family situation.  My personal feelings are that you don't have to sow your oats to experience life, but for others that may be different.  When he and Whitman finally do get on the same page it felt right and organic though it took forever to get there.  I'm not sure I really felt their romantic connection too deeply, however, and that was a let down because this author usually does amazingly when her men finally make their intimate and romantic leaps.

Both characters were sweet, nice, and a little conflicted, more so Travis than Whitman.  The steam was pretty tame, like incredibly tame compared to the Only Colorado series.  I thought there would be more, not necessarily kinky steam, but just ... more.  With a title like we have here I kind of thought there'd be something more poignant about what to focus on in life, the depth of the connections we make when we focus on the people and things that matter, or even something regarding photography.  The first two were there but kind of fleetingly and not really emphasized enough.  While the story was tender and triumphant when all the drama settled, I'm hoping there will be a little more from the rest of the series.  The set-up for other series characters in Depth of Focus was actually pretty good; we get a taste of who they are and what their difficulties might be so I'll definitely revisit this series for more.

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 Depth of Focus: Natural Hearts Book 1, JD Chambers

Hide and Seek: Playing with Fire Book 2, Anne Conley

Hide and Seek (Playing with Fire Book 2) by [Conley, Anne]

Joey is unsure of what he wants is future to look like and who he wants in it with him.  He's freshly dumped by someone who never had his heart and when he catches the eye, and disdain, of a fiery beauty he thinks he might have just caught a little clue about that future.  Except Vivian wants nothing to do with the muscle-bound hottie, no matter what her lust-starved body says; she's got a lot riding on her keeping her head, and her heart, out of the sheets and firmly in control.  Joey's never met a challenge he backed down from and Vivian's heart doesn't stand a chance.  As they open their hearts to one another it's clear they both want something more, something deep and lasting, but if they can't see what's right in front of them and take a chance, it'll slip right through their fingers.

It was Joey that captured my attention right away.  I knew there was something special about him and it became clear when his earnestness and devotion to Vivian even when she was only an idea once he met her.  Changing his ways and turning himself inside out to prove he was worth a chance as well as falling in love with her daughter endeared him to me even more.  And when he apologized right away and admitted to his lack of knowledge and understanding regarding both Carly and their history I was practically swooning.  He really was the complete package despite his cockiness, bravado, and difficulty accepting his mother's new-found happiness because he was willing to own his faults and improve for the sake of himself and to have a future with Vivian and Carly.

While I knew Joey wasn't perfect, I loved him for everything that found a balance.  Vivian didn't have that balance.  She was constantly shooting herself in the foot.  Being so anti men based on one, albeit horrible, experience was short-sighted.  Her commitment to her daughter was admirable and I absolutely do not fault her for it, except it often went to the extreme.  Protecting her heart is one thing but when she was almost cruel in her actions I couldn't get on board.  Her evolution, however, was wonderful.  She went from being surrounded by walls to being open and laid bare for someone she learned she could trust to treat her the way she deserved.  I enjoyed watching her open up to Joey and to the women who became her good friends, seeing her build her own community of support and love.

I enjoyed the story overall and felt that there was a lot of potential for both characters both as individuals and together.  Joey felt like a complete person and watching him grow and mature made everything worth it.  Similarly with Vivian, watching her become the softer, more open, more forgiving version of herself showed me that they were worth getting to know.  I did feel that Carly read a lot older than her described age, though to be fair, she could just be emotionally, verbally, and socially advanced for her age.  Overall, it was a pleasure to read their story mostly for their individual growth and for the passion that they shared that deepened into something long-lasting.

*$2.99 on Amazon!
 Hide and Seek: Playing with Fire Book 2, Anne Conley

Cold Case Psychic Novellas: Spellbound, Blood Song, Hunter's Curse Pandora Pine

Spellbound: A Cold Case Psychic Spin off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin off Novellas Book 2) by [Pine, Pandora] Blood Song: A Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novellas Book 3) by [Pine, Pandora] Hunter's Curse: A Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novellas Book 5) by [Pine, Pandora]


Spellbound: A Cold Case Psychic Spin off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin off Novellas Book 2) by [Pine, Pandora]Shocked by a sizable inheritance from his recently deceased mother, Niall Gallagher has a chance to recreate his life to follow his heart.  His heart leads him to his roots in Salem, Massachusetts where he meets Tobin Woods, the man that might just be his future.  But only if they can figure out why there are spirits threatening and hurting him in order to keep him away from The Black Cat Inn.

Tobin definitely didn't have his life together.  Niall's opportunity gives him a second chance and I like that he made the most of it.  I think their relationship moved incredibly fast and their declarations came way too soon.  I liked their dynamic between sweet and sexy, especially Niall's concussion-confessions which made him way cute.  Their overall story felt a bit disjointed and too hurried without proper depth and growth of a budding relationship.  Despite that, their story was pretty good and with all the action and supernatural elements we come to expect from the Cold Case Psychic stories and crew.  3 stars.
*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!
 Spellbound: Cold Case Psychic Novella 2, Pandora Pine

Blood Song: A Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novellas Book 3) by [Pine, Pandora]Luca is a struggling student and gets a nasty surprise after trying something different to earn more cash.  Answering a B&E call puts Francisco Jackson and Luca on a path to finding exactly who and what they need for a happily ever after.  The song Luca hears tells him they could be mates, but knowing so little of his condition puts them both at a disadvantage.  It will take a lot of trial and error between them to figure it out...unless whoever put Luca in this position gets their hands on him first.
Cisco is a bit of a surprise because of how willing he is to see and help Luca with anything and everything.  He and Luca have a communication issue in the beginning but I loved that Greeley was the one sent to help get Luca's head on straight and that it was Ronan who Cisco reached out to for answers.  Each person helped them sort out exactly how to begin and their natural talents and attraction got them the rest of the way.  I'm eager to see if there will be a reckoning with the instigator of Luca's vampirism...  Overall this was a really sweet story that gave us answers and sexiness and introductions to more characters pivotal to the Cold Case Psychic crew's future.  4 stars.
*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!
 Blood Song: Cold Case Psychic Novella 3, Pandora Pine

Hunter's Curse: A Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novella (Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novellas Book 5) by [Pine, Pandora]Refusing to join a dark witch's cadre Hunter Conroy is encased in stone as a gargoyle.  Hundreds of years later he finds himself in Salem, Massachusetts in the company of a strange group that oddly feels like home.  It's the first time he's ever wanted to fight against returning to stone form.  A big part of that is Walker Harmon, the only man to fully capture Hunter's heart.  With his deadline quickly approaching it'll take everything the whole crew has, and maybe someone extra, to change his fate so he and Walker can have their chance at forever.

I wasn't exactly a fan of Walker's when we met him in Blood Song and it felt like it took him too long to accept everything that Hunter and the Cold Case Psychic crew was offering him in Hunter's Curse.  It wasn't until much later in the story that he finally went all-in for Hunter.  Hunter felt a little too apathetic for most of the story and I wanted to like him so much more than I did.  Both men eventually got it together toward the end though.  The final confrontation was a little too "surprise, one of you guys are going to go against the plan because you can't seem to think logically or trust one another" and that was frustrating.  Once everything settled I could see where they have the potential to be true partners as well as great additions to the rest of the Cold Case crew.  3 stars.
*$2.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!
 Hunter's Curse: Cold Case Psychic Novella 5, Pandora Pine

Love Is, S.E. Harmon

Love Is by [Harmon, S.E. ]

With an ex who has clearly moved on and a family who thinks she hasn't, Avery Jane is in a bind.  She doesn't want her ex back but she's trying so hard to prove she's happy staying single that she's not sure if she's pretending to be happy or keeping herself too busy to think of the alternative.  So when her loving but incredibly pushy sister threatens her with blind dates, Avery takes the easy way out and makes up a fake boyfriend.  Except by doing that and committing to come to their father's birthday party she now has to find someone to play the part.  Her best friend has a solution and even if she knows being attracted to the playboy lawyer with a hot ass and a wicked sense of humor shouldn't play a factor, it does.  It might also crumble her walls and make her fall in love.  But how do you know it's love when you're not sure what love really is?  She'll have to figure it out sooner rather than later or she'll lose it all before she ever really has it.

The snark, wit, banter, and playfulness was superb.  I loved Jackson and Avery Jane's interplay while they were getting to know one another.  When it moved into the bedroom it became so much more, instead of being the focus of their relationship it became merely a facet of something that was growing, changing, and deepening.  While I was definitely not a fan of how often Avery was avoiding her feelings I could feel where she was coming from.

Avery was so conflicted having not truly grieved for her mother's passing and watching her father move on, her brother move away, and her sister become the over-achiever she's realizing she's stuck in the past and doesn't know how to move forward.  She's completely successful and brilliant in her own right but she has no idea what she really wants her life to look like.  When she suspects she's falling for Jackson she pushes him away as well as her thoughts regarding him because avoidance is always easier than the harsh introspection of hurt feelings.  Once she sorts it all out, though, her realization of what love truly is for her is stunning.  After having the conversation with her father that was a long time coming she was able to come to terms with what she feels and who she feels all of it for.  Now she just has to get him to take her back.

I so wish we had Jackson's POV.  I wanted to see his feelings for her and see how he viewed her struggle.  But honestly, this story wasn't just a romance novel, it was about Avery's emotional journey through grief, avoidance, self-worth, and coming to terms with all of it so she could not only see herself clearly, but see her future too.  The story took kind of a long time to get to her point of awakening but that annoyance was pretty minor overall.  I grew to both love and be frustrated with Avery as I would have if she were a very real person in my life.  I loved her sense of humor, her vulnerability, and her inner strength.  I was frustrated with her constantly running away and avoiding the one person who could see all of her clearly and loved her for it.  Her story is funny, sexy, annoying, and triumphant all at the same time and I enjoyed just about every moment.

*$3.99 on Amazon!
 Love Is, S.E. Harmon

Bishop Ridge: Sawyer's Ferry Book 2, Cate Ashwood

Bishop Ridge (Sawyer's Ferry Book 2) by [Ashwood, Cate]

The love and sex surrounding him with his two best friends is bringing out the "what if's" in Logan even though he's trying hard to deny it.  Never in the market for more than a night of mutual release, he's generally happy and fulfilled.  At least that's what he tells himself.  It isn't until he's struck speechless by a tall, dark, and seriously hot patient in his exam room that those denials sound more like denials rather than perfectly reasonable justifications.  Jackson is in the same boat.  Hookups only, rarely goes back for seconds, and keep moving; his way of life has suited him fine so far and he's not looking to change anything up any time soon.  But after indulging just once, it starts something deeper than either man ever expected and if they can't find the courage to admit their feelings they might lose the one person that could give their heart a true home.

If you're looking for seriously hot chemistry right from the start, look no further.  Jackson is fierce and hot, Logan is just as passionate but we all know that hot sex does not a relationship make.  I enjoyed their texting conversations and the way their accidental slips in openness moved them slowly into relationship territory.  It was a bit difficult to see them both, but mainly Jackson, downplaying and dismissing the depth of what they were feeling just because it wasn't what was planned or expected.

Getting them on the same page took almost losing everything and I admire Logan's courage.  While the reunion was fraught with worry I think that it should have been the other person to make the effort.  One of them already laid themselves bare emotionally and the one who tried to shut it down was the one who really needed to be the one to ask, to verbally admit what their heart truly wanted.  Never before had they felt the freedom or fear of asking for what they wanted and the words of reconciliation should have come from them.  I'm not upset about how it played out, I just wish it were slightly different is all.

Both men were worth getting to know, though I feel like I could have gotten to know Jackson a bit better.  Especially where he begins to make peace with his less-than-stellar upbringing, we're lacking that part of his evolution.  I enjoyed this story and definitely liked the side characters.  The cast, especially the sweetheart that is Witt, will definitely bring me back for more.  There was quite a bit of happiness to bolster the passion that seemed to carry both men for most of the story.  I'm glad there was a bit of a balance there and I'm super interested in continuing this series as this is my first foray into Sawyer's Ferry.  I'll definitely be back for more!

*$4.00 on Amazon or FREE on KU!
 Bishop Ridge: Sawyer's Ferry Book 2, Cate Ashwood

A Deceptive Alliance, Sydney Blackburn

A Deceptive Alliance by [Blackburn, Sydney]

An alliance between two kingdoms rests on the happy marriage of Isabel and Prince Darin.  But when Isabel disappears and doesn't return for the proxy wedding, it's up to Kel to take her place...temporarily.  Except he's a man and a twin, two very big marks against him according to the peace treaty and customs of Pervayne.  He'll have to keep up the ruse if he wants to save their lives and their alliance.  Not everything is as it seems, however, and Kel might not be the only one hiding things.

Kel was truly interesting with his abilities as well as his understanding of his country's situation regarding his sister's irresponsibility and impulsiveness.  Covering for her selfishness and poor decision-making more than once in this story showed how mature and selfless he was.  He was also no pushover.  The way he would stand up for "himself" to Dare and the other guard was admirable.  All the difficulty of assuming his sister's role was described really well, none of the awkwardness was overlooked.

Dare's character was slightly predictable but it was his confession and acceptance of his chastisement that made me like him.  His sincerity regarding his former lover's attitude and actions was admirable but a little dismissive as if they weren't that big of a deal when pretty much anyone could see that it was, based on that spurned lover's reaction to seeing Kel.  You can also kind of tell that he really isn't the heir apparent because he's a bit oblivious and slightly clueless about getting his way with his very domineering father or just acting in a way to be taken seriously once they reach his kingdom.

 A Deceptive Alliance, Sydney Blackburn

I liked the reasoning for both men's deception over the journey.  While Michael judged Kel unfairly and treated him with jealous prejudice I was wondering if that would become a bigger conflict but they quickly found common ground and became friends and allies regarding Dare.

The idea of the Kindred was definitely something more modern in expression and acknowledgment while placed in a historical setting that seemed both fitting and radical at the same time.  And the king's decree regarding the marriage is pretty much what many of us would like to see happen today; the way it was written made it a beautiful sentiment more than a current-time political statement.

I enjoyed this story quite a lot.  The conflict was really in the consequences of the revelation rather than anything external coming at them first.  And nothing more insidious than irresponsibility and extreme caution threatened them as well.  There were other events that could have turned into something more dangerous or become more of a hindrance to their HEA but everything resolved quickly and simply.  Perhaps too simply, but that's the beauty of something filled with love and fluff...if you're not feeling that type of story, you should skip this one.  Otherwise, enjoy the simple love and the strong characters that influence a happier future for all.

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 A Deceptive Alliance, Sydney Blackburn
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