At a Stranger's Mercy: Badge and Bullets Book 1, Brittany Cournoyer

With a lot of acerbic interactions interspersed with disturbing and grizzly murders, this book was intriguing and dramatic from the word go.  I enjoyed that the main characters weren't caustic and antagonistic out of spite and that when there was fear, it was a real fear expressed in a real way.  There were no unbelievable or unlikely moments of sudden heroism, adrenaline-filled bravery, or blinding passion.  Starting the series strong with a case straight from hell and a tentative bond between two men who have a whole lot of baggage, I was invested right from the start.

Bradley is first introduced as somewhat of a fuddy-duddy with a strict and regimented life that is suddenly thrown into chaos because of one departure from his routine.  I wasn't sure I would like him with all his rigidity, but he grew on me.  He took his safety seriously and aside from one error, he made the best of the situation with intelligence and caution.  I respected that far more than someone who tries to shout their independence from the rooftops in an ill-fated attempt to assert their character "strength".  He's also not a pushover, no matter how fearful he is of his situation.  That's not to say there aren't moments of pouting or sulking, he's only human, but on the whole, he's someone to be admired.  My favorite moment is when he takes Max to task for the situation he ended up in and his utterly fantastic challenge that paves the way for something more between them as the series continues.

Max is more conflicted as a character and we get pretty much nothing about his past.  A past that clearly haunts him, but it's not something we're privy to at this point.  His baggage is hinted at and I'm guessing there's a whole lot of angst that we'll get to experience with him as he strives to meet Bradley's challenge.  All throughout the book he was a paragon of prickish behavior.  He was rude, condescending, brusque, short-tempered, non-communicative, and closed off.  But despite all those negative traits, there's something more to him; something damaged and vulnerable and desensitized to the evil he fights and hunts every day on the job that draws me to him.  There's so much promise for a man who will grow, soften, and find strength in what he might have with Bradley.  I'm really eager to see how he'll achieve that.

I absolutely knew this was going to end with a romantic cliffhanger so I kept that in mind when each page, each chapter held zero passionate moments between the men and I have to say I loved that.  It makes their entire dynamic believable and then as we see them grow in the subsequent books their development will progress organically.  And the notion that the evil wasn't just one person?  There's something big that's going to come and I'm really looking forward to see how that works out too.  Overall, there's so much to enjoy about this story that had a good flow, enjoyable characters, and a suitably suspenseful plot.  I'm definitely in for the next book in the series.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

Making eye contact with a killer wasn’t exactly how Bradley Danforth had planned to start his day. As an accountant, he craved structure and routine. What he hadn’t anticipated was being part of a real-life murder mystery with him cast in the starring role. 

Death and sorrow were part of Max Donohue’s job description, leaving the detective hardened after years on the job. On his latest case, he’s the one stuck protecting the only witness in a sadistic homicide.

One death becomes two… then three. And soon Max and Bradley find themselves playing a deadly game of cat and mouse. Can Max save Bradley from the clutches of a serial killer? Or will the killer finish what he started?

The Royal Elite Prince Duet, Nana Malone

Second chances and secrets...

Meet a prince who needs both.

April 30: Return of the Prince

May 21: To Love a Prince

Series: The Royal Elite Prince Duet #1

Release Date: April 30, 2019

They said I’d never come home again…they were wrong.
There is one person worth returning home for. Her. One little problem. She hates me. 

She should, I left her behind.

Now I’m back and I have a score to settle. 

I'll do what ever it takes to to win her back.
Even if it means spilling my secrets.

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AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

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GOOGLE PLAY

Series: The Royal Elite Prince Duet #2

Release Date: May 21, 2019

For her I risked it all, but was it worth her paying the price?

Now that she knows my secret, what will she do to protect it and the crown?

What will I be willing to do to protect her?

That answer is easy…everything.

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AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY

Author Bio

USA Today Bestselling Author, NANA MALONE’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since.

With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters. Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana, meantime works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.

The books in her series have been on multiple Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble best seller lists as well as the iTunes Breakout Books list and most notably the USA Today Bestseller list.

Until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find Nana working hard on additional books for her series as well as other fun, sassy romances for characters that won’t leave her alone. And if she’s not working or hiding in the closet reading, she’s acting out scenes for her husband, daughter and puppy in sunny San Diego.

Want to hit me up? Just email me:

nana@nanamaloneromance.com

Follow Nana...

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FACEBOOK
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Black: MM Kitty Play Romance, Quin & Perin

The premise seemed simple with an undercurrent of emotional conflict.  What we got was far more complicated, more angst, more depth than I thought we'd get.  I'm so glad.  Initially thinking the story would be kinky sexy with a side of emotional struggle, I went into it with a lighter heart than I ended with.  Trials came both at the individual as well as the pair and the feels were heavier than anticipated and I was struck by the vulnerability and difficulties of both men.  Their love was hard-won and well worth the emotional journey to watch them achieve it.

Having the synopsis focus on the kitty play, it seems like that would be the focus of the story.  It's actually one part of it, but it really comes through well with how it's integrated.  Rather than being a necessary sexual act or lifestyle to feel complete on an every-day basis, it becomes a shared kink that's more for sexual and certain personality trait expression that fits in with the life they already live.  I like that it started off as a joke, then a surprise, and then grew into something fun, sexy, and excitingly comfortable.  It was an interesting take that I enjoyed reading about, especially since it was super hot.

Dima and Tony's relationship was a bit of a roller coaster and there was a good mix between Tony's tenderness and persistence and Dima's prickly, offensiveness.  There were huge reasons as to why Dima was the way he was.  There was one surprise reason and it altered their dynamic in a huge way that ultimately made their connection, their struggle to find their way together, and their ending much deeper.  Dima needed him so badly in so many ways that I loved watching Tony's heart slowly break down Dima's defenses until they could make everything they had together work.

There were a few confrontations that I felt were unnecessary because it just made things more complicated, but there wasn't anything so huge that it derailed the story or the relationship.  It was Tony's mellow yet determined nature that saved them over and over again.  Tony's situation with his family was supposed to be an individual focal point but didn't get a lot of attention or resolution.  His grief wasn't really addressed, nor was his relationship with his sister and her boyfriend, Jan.  Jan was inserted as an important side character and yet he seemed so milquetoast during most of his moments.  Everything with Dima and Tony had varied depths, but what surrounded them didn't really enhance that.  Instead it seemed as if the world around them was merely a prop instead of something well-balanced to support them.  Overall, though, I was so caught up in Tony and Dima that I could forgive all that and ultimately enjoyed their story quite a lot.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

“Meow!”

There it was.

The sound that made my knees buckle.

He purred, neck stretched, eyes half-lidded.

With those cat ears, in his hair.

And the tail, that he flicked.

A ray of sun in the drizzling rain. I’d been a traveler, floating adrift, while he’d stayed in one place. How was I supposed to know he’d become my anchor? My light. My everything. But would I ever become his?

No Quick Fix: Torus Intercession Book 1, Mary Calmes

I think I'm hoping really hard for Mary Calmes to write more manny stories because they seem to be my favorites.  First with Frog, and now with No Quick Fix, we are given these fantastic alphamallows who seem to have the perfect natural instinct to bring out the best in a family by connecting with children who need love, understanding, and a straightforward personality.  It doesn't hurt that they also have a special way of bringing together a community either.

So first...there is NO cheating.  The premise makes it seem like that might be an issue and I don't consider it a spoiler to assuage anyone's concerns about that.  This is a much slower burn romance than with many other books by this author and I really enjoyed that it took so long for them to get to that part of their relationship.  It felt right considering their situation and it also gave them time to lay a strong foundation before adding in all that lovely passion.  I do wish we got a lot more background and depth to Emery though.  We don't get anything until the big confession scene and up to that point Emery felt separate despite his efforts to be a good father and constantly touching Brann.  By the end I could connect with him, but it was a long wait to get to that point.

A couple issues I had were pretty basic but not without frustration.  First, the cussing around the kids was uncomfortable for me.  I mean, there's nothing wrong with being casual, being yourself around children, but the more adult language doesn't have to come from you as the caregiver.  A few slips here and there are completely natural and I have no issue with that at all, it's that it became more common as the story progressed and I didn't agree with that.

Second is when the more amorous intentions become known Brann does what a lot of Mary Calmes' characters do and they do a whole lot of running away, talking over the other person, and making unilateral decisions based on their hurt, embarrassment, or disappointment.  While Brann doesn't run from Ursa or his responsibilities, he does a whole lot of it in virtually every other way he can.  Beyond annoying.  It did bring about the distance necessary for Emery to make the important choices, but it doesn't mean I had to like it while it was happening.

Some readers might have an issue with how fast everything comes together, how virtually every person falls under Brann's über perfect spell despite his intentions, or with how simple the suspense aspect ended up, but honestly I just don't really mind all that too much.  It's a typical Calmes story and I'm not ashamed to say that I love the style.  The confrontation was a bit too full of dialogue and light on believability for the scenario, but as the focus of the story was Brann's role and place in Ursa, I'm glad the more sinister aspect of the story didn't take precedence.  Brann was pretty much universally well-liked by all but the bad seeds, but it worked for the character and the story.  The timeline is a bit truncated, but the setup is that both men, not to mention the entire town, are at the point of needing to make some big changes in their lives so it's like everything is primed and ready for them to be made and to fall in place.  I just think it's a sweet, nice, simple story that works.

My last surprise in this story was the tone.  I've read almost every book this author has published and there's a certain feeling of immediacy, a dire need for everything to happen, and a bit of urgency at the same time as there's some kind of acceptance of the romantic situation and despondency that goes along with it that can be found in just about every single one.  With this story I was shocked and extremely pleased that there was a bit of those feelings, but it all seemed somewhat muted, softer, and more mature.  It was a new subtlety that I'm loving.  I cannot express how eager I am to see if that continues with the rest of the series or any of her other works.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

A retired SEAL is about to face his toughest assignment yet. As a nanny…

Fixer. Bodyguard. Advocate. Brann Calder is expected to play all these roles and more as a member of Torus Intercession, a security firm guaranteed to right what’s wrong. In the military, catastrophe was his specialty. Five months out of the service, Brann is still finding his way, so a new assignment might be just what he needs. Unless it includes two things sure to make a seasoned, battle-trained veteran nervous: life in a small town, and playing caregiver to two little girls.

Emery Dodd is drowning in the responsibility of single fatherhood. He’s picked up the pieces after losing his wife and is ready to move on now, hopeful that his engagement to a local patriarch’s daughter will not only enrich his community but will grant his daughters some stability too. 

The only thing standing in Emery’s way is that he can’t seem to keep his eyes—and hands—off the former soldier he’s hired to watch his girls until the wedding.

Emery’s future is riding on his upcoming nuptials, but being with Brann makes him and his family feel whole again. Too bad there’s no way for them to be together.

Or is there?

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 40

• Tiny Dancer: Cold Case Psychic Spin Off Novella 7, Pandora Pine
• Whole Again: Orchard Ridge Omegas Book 1, Braylon Black
• My Maine Man: The Johnson Family Book 4.5, Holly J. Martin 
• Trickster, Nicola Cameron

Despite being a novella, this felt like a fully fleshed out relationship based on something solid and not just a supernatural enhancement of insta-love.  When Riordan jumps on stage to dance with his daughters because of stage fright I was just as charmed as everyone else.  His innate strength of character allowed him to push on despite his grief and his lack of pride let him accept help where it was available.  I loved his humility.  And for a loving, supportive partner, there was no man better than Faulkner.  While I had reservations about him before this point, he more than redeemed himself with his stellar care and concern for Riordan as well as his adoration of all the children.  His heart was so obvious in this story that I couldn't help but fall head over heels for him.

The only thing I had an issue with was the four year old speaking like she was seven or eight.  I enjoyed her role and pure childlike acceptance of the supernatural, but it was the age and verbalization capabilities that took me out of the story quite a few times.  I also wish I got a lot more of Faulkner's background, but I liked what we did get.  Overall though, this was a fantastically sweet story that fit in with the parent series and introduced me to new characters to love.  4 stars.

It's not every day you get a second chance with your first love, but for Houston and Emmett the embers of attraction and warmth of youthful love spark into a full-blown forest fire.  Except the past holds them hostage and they'll have to decide if a future together is more important than holding on to the pain of the past.  I liked the threads of making amends and embracing your history in order to become the person you were always meant to be.  Those ideas were really well done in this story.

Houston's difficulties with his father were incredibly painful and legitimate reasons for him to leave the town behind.  His shortsightedness when it comes to his situation with Emmett, however, is a bit frustrating.  Emmett's painful past is truly heartbreaking.  His insistence on pushing Houston away at every turn, even when he willingly makes a family with him is beyond annoying.  I had a really hard time taking him seriously after a while because his fierce need to believe in a curse truly hurt Houston over and over again.  They figured things out and I appreciated the way the story ended because it went a long way to soothing my feelings for both men.  With an interesting cast this series holds quite a bit of promise.  3 stars.

When Noah first meets Ned it's definitely lust at first sight, but when they give one another a chance to see beyond the surface, they find something truly special with a partner they'd never expected to find.  I know Ned was a big bully growing up and that he really did some awful things, but if there was anyone who needed redemption and love, it was the big, gruff antisocial lumberjack.  I liked Noah's feisty attitude and positivity too.  Together they could be wonderful.  I truly loved the quiet way Ned went about seeking redemption.  It was his heart, his intent, and his humility all while feeling like he didn't deserve forgiveness that broke my heart and made me love him so hard.

But any time (read every time) the outside world or even the community entered the picture, Noah got on my nerves.  He was wonderful with what he was doing for the Boys & Girls Club and was so open-hearted and generous, but the way he made Ned feel in public was often unfeeling and disappointing.  Noah did come around and I'm glad he didn't get haughty or make Ned grovel because he really was the best match for Ned.  Ned's Grand Gesture was heartfelt and great, but by the end of his speech it felt off because it should have circled back to the purpose behind the event.  It just didn't feel right for the situation, story, and intention behind it.  With Ned's pure soul and Noah's openness to change and the beauty of a town that felt like home, this was a nice story with a very sweet ending.  3.5 stars.

An unexpected mate brings Delaney to his knees and despite all that stands in the way of their mating, he's determined to make Mark his in the most loving way possible.  What I loved about this story was that it was moved along by passion, but it was the forbearance of the lust in favor of the solid connections, the creation of comfort, and the honesty Delaney was determined to have before he gave in that won me over.  Everything happened quickly but it felt more natural than so many other insta-love shifter stories I've read.

I appreciated the villain being a predictable mystery and not overly complicated.  Another awesome point of the story is when Mark uses his brain to find a solution without resorting to making amends and hoping for forgiveness after giving in to coercion.  Using his resources and not going it alone because of threats was admirable and it showed true strength to me.  Mark and Delaney made a great pair with their sweet moments, their intelligence, their chemistry, and their commitment.  This was a surprisingly fantastic read.  4.5 stars.

All Souls Near and Nigh: Soulbound Book 2, Hailey Turner

So, really, is it possible for Hailey to write something bad?  Maybe too complicated?  Perhaps too convoluted?  Apparently not.  Another book for the win.  Seriously.  Not only has she masterfully added two more pantheons worth of deities, but she also threw in a whole 'nother breed of shifter along with all the other complications inherent in the series itself.  You'd think it would be too much, but somehow, someway, it all weaves together to keep me excited and pouring myself into the story so much that I'm kinda ticked that it's not real.  So yeah, Jono and Patrick for the win...again.

There's a lot more Jono in this book and how he fits into his role with Patrick and as a god pack shifter with a bad-a patron.  While we don't get any deeper into his past yet by establishing him as a willing partner, one who is immensely powerful on his own, we're getting a set-up for a phenomenal pair that won't put up with any bull and will get things done, no matter how difficult the task.  I love the way Jono puts up with everything that is Patrick and all his baggage of the deity varieties.  His well-timed calm and sarcasm are a fantastic match for the snarky, surly, secretly vulnerable mage.

And speaking of the mage, Patrick is hilarious and his take-no-guff attitude never fails to entertain.  I do quite enjoy how he's never threatened by Jono's power, patron, or capabilities.  The way he reluctantly accepts his feelings is also strangely entertaining, mostly because of how he snipes at Jono about them.  While Patrick is an unwilling pawn of many, many gods, he never comes across as merely a puppet, but is powerful in his own right and maintains his own methods for doing their bidding.

This book is a doozy, to say the least.  There are so many elements added that you can easily get lost if you try to skip ahead or get so excited that you read too quickly.  Many of the subtle interactions have ginormous consequences in their world and with all the new puzzle pieces added you have to really pay attention.  At times I had to go back and re-read short sections because I got distracted or tried multitasking and failed at everything, but once I got back on track and sequestered myself in my room after the kids were in bed, I didn't stop until the book was done.  I might have been dead tired the next day because I didn't sleep, but I can honestly say it was worth it.  I didn't even notice that I was tired while reading because the flow of the story just kept moving, kept building.  The climax came and I honestly didn't see it going down like that.  I loved it.  As soon as I get a crack at book three I'm going to start at book one so I can become fully immersed in their world so I miss nothing.  Cannot wait.

*$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

You can’t bargain with death if you’ve already sold your soul.

Special Agent Patrick Collins has been reassigned by the Supernatural Operations Agency to New York City. Navigating his new relationship with Jonothon de Vere, the werewolf he’s now soulbound to, is nothing compared to dealing with territorial disputes between the vampires and werecreatures who call the five boroughs home. But the delicate treaties that have kept the preternatural world in check are fraying at the edges, and the fallout is spilling into the mundane world.

Manhattan’s club scene is overrun with the vampire drug known as shine and the subways have become a dumping ground for bodies. When the dead are revealed as missing werecreatures, Patrick and Jono find themselves entangled in pack politics twisted by vampire machinations.

Learning to trust each other comes with problems for both of them, and the gods with a stake in Patrick’s soul debt aren’t finished with him yet. Bound by promises they can’t break, Patrick and Jono must find a way to survive a threat that takes no prisoners and is stalking them relentlessly through the city streets. 

Old and new betrayals are coming home to roost but the truth—buried in blood—is more poisonous than the lies being spun. Trying to outrun death is a nightmare—one Patrick may never wake up from.

Love Across Time Books 1-3, Jackie North

  

• Heroes for Ghosts: Love Across Time Book 1
• Honey from the Lion: Love Across Time Book 2
• Wild as the West Texas Wind: Love Across Time Book 3

A message sends Stanley across a battlefield and across time to end up in the care of Devon, a master's student obsessed with the very battle that changed the course of Stanley's life.  There's an instant attraction on both their parts, but there's a lot of hesitance too.  Devon thinks the young man is off his rocker yet delicate so he'll have to tread lightly when trying to get information from him and to get him help.  Stanley is lost and the kindness of Devon has him thinking of all the ways things are different in the time period he left.  There's a lot standing between them and a possible future; not just the future Stanley was thrust into, but the one they might have together.

Their interactions are pretty much in a bubble.  Stanley's adjustment to modern times isn't exactly believable as it's so smooth.  The love between them would have been a bit more believable if there were a little more emphasis put on the transition from gratitude to love on Stanley's part, and academic interest to love on Devon's.  I'm pretty oblivious to historical facts so I was able to sink into the story without issue.  What I do love is the tenderness that abounds in this story.  I also really like Stanley's personal journey of going back and forth in time to save his men.  This was actually the most captivating part of the story with all the details, the struggles, the interactions, and the re-do's until Fate/Time was satisfied.  As I was reading I could feel the characters' struggles and am pretty sure I'm going to be a big fan of this author's work going forward.  4 stars.

 

Stepping out of your normal life and into an experience doesn't end up like Laurie plans.  There's mysticism that draws his interest and a yearning for a simpler life.  So when he finds himself lost in the snow and at the mercy of a grumpy mountain man, he's left to wonder just what he did to deserve being lost in time as well.  Their story moved along at a much slower pace than I expected, but there's so much in terms of learning about one another, adjusting to harsh living, navigating homosexuality in the time period, and the interactions of their community.  I found that I absolutely enjoyed how detailed their story was, not just the little details, but weaving their story and how they built something solid together.

I would have loved to hear John's POV.  His gruffness as well as his giant heart were so captivating and yet we don't get to hear his wonder, his discovery, his conflict with everything Laurie is.  Laurie's sacrifice and learning of how John would have ended up had he not found a way back to him was achingly beautiful.  I also really, really wanted an epilogue.  There's so much about their simple life and profoundly warm love that was given a vague happily ever after.  I wish there were more.  It's kind of not fair to make me fall in love with these men and to leave me hanging a little.  With an outstanding and richly crafted cast of characters and all the focus on the two men learning to love, I fully enjoyed reading this story.  4.5 stars.

 

Where Honey from the Lion wasn't related to Heroes for Ghosts in any way outside of time travel, Wild as the West Texas Wind is directly related to Honey from the Lion.  The time period, the characters, the circumstances they end up in, all of it takes us back to the couple I fell in love with previously.  What I truly loved about this story was the tenderness, the warmth, the tentative way Zach and Layton found their love and future.

There was quite a bit more excitement to this story as there were so many things that could and did go wrong for them.  With Tom's cruelty, the perils of the times, the hesitation on Layton's part as he tried to break free from his fear, Zach's struggles with injustice, I felt so many things so often that I couldn't do anything but enjoy the ride.  And we got to see Laurie and John again =].  This story was more tender, more timid, and more hopeful than the other stories, I feel, and it was a great change of pace to the series.  My only hope now is that Maxton gets his own time-traveling love.  4.5 stars.

Apple Boy: The Quiet Work Book 1, Isobel Starling

In an unfamiliar land with only the clothes on his back, Winter Aeling finds himself at the harsh mercies of a hard-fisted master.  What he also finds is the abusive man's son, a beautiful young man who seems to have only kindness in his heart.  Their journey is long and definitely arduous, but what they grow between them is full of magic, exploration, discovery, and heartfelt promise.

Win and Adam have a connection that began as very basic and juvenile in their age and inexperience, but it grew to something that I felt would become quite strong.  While I wasn't a fan of the constant comparisons or frequent thoughts of Win's past conquests, the passion shared between them was both tender and exciting.  They both appreciated as much as they aroused one another and all their passionate encounters were based on both of those things.

This was quite a long story.  There were just so many words!  With fewer words the story would probably have worked just as well, though I learned to appreciate the detail and a lot of the minutiae because all that came in handy when other things were revealed.  The overall feel, though, was that the story just felt so long instead of just feeling like a super descriptive, exciting journey.  And being from only Win's point of view, there wasn't really a break in the voice to get a different perspective or picture of what they experience along the way.  Despite all those descriptions the world-building remained quite confusing for a while.  I had a list of questions that just got longer as the story progressed.  Some of them are great points to draw interest for the continuation of the series, but I still ended the story feeling confused about many things.

Once I got past the many mental observations and connections made by Win that seemed more for the reader than the characters themselves I really did become invested in the story.  The magic elements remain a mystery that I'm really intrigued about and will more than likely continue the series to learn more about it.  As the series will follow different characters connected with Win and Adam I'm eager to see how the bonded pair fare in the relative periphery of the group as the turmoil and revelations continue to rock their world.

*$6.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

A lost lordling, a farm boy, and a tale of mystery, magic, and murder! 

After a traumatic event, Winter Aeling finds himself destitute and penniless in the backwater town of Mallowick. He needs to travel to the city of Serein and impart grave news that will bring war to the Empire, but without a horse, money, and with not a soul willing to help him, he has no choice but to line up with the common folk seeking paid work on the harvest. 

As wagons roll into the market square and farmers choose day laborers, Winter is singled out for abuse by a brute of a farmer. The only man who stands up for him is the farmer's beguiling son, Adam, and on locking eyes with the swarthy young man Winter feels the immediate spark of attraction.

Winter soon realizes there is a reason he has been drawn to Blackdown Farm. The farmer possesses a precious item that was stolen long ago from Winter’s family, and he determines to retrieve it. He also cannot take his eyes off Adam, and as the young man opens up Winter can’t help wondering if Adam is just kind or his kind!

How Not to Wait and Break: Lovestrong Books 0.5 and 3, Susan Hawke

A snowstorm and a sexy night ignites a longing that lasts a decade and only a stalker after Shaw shakes Nick's head out of his...well, gives him a chance to truly see Shaw as the man he is and not the boy he was.  They've got a lot of chemistry together and it's clear there's more than lust, but a lot of time is between a moment and a lifetime.  They'll both have to be honest with themselves and one another if they've got any chance to make that moment become their life.

There was just enough background on these two men to give the short story enough depth to jump right into the steamy encounter.  The attraction is absolutely incendiary and the way they come together is all kinds of awkward and a little bit inappropriate, but the sparks between them are absolutely real.  While it's not the ideal first encounter, it gives us a very clear image of why it takes them a decade to do anything about it.

With the hints we've gotten over the course of this series already we can see there's a lot of unresolved issues and tension between Nick and Shaw.  What I enjoyed most was that they both came to the realization that they needed to grow on their own and come to terms with who they were outside of grief and the one night that changed their whole world in so many ways before they could have something real together.

The focus was kept on Shaw and Nick finding a way forward together amidst the crazy stalker issues and I appreciated that it stayed focused throughout.  Even with the potential awkwardness with Rick, there was no unnecessary drama or complications to distract from Nick and Shaw together and solving the crime that gave them their second chance.  The villain was kept predictable and simple, but not in a bad way.  By having a few names thrown around as possible suspects but the feeling that it was really one person kept the suspense at the same time as not drawing it out or making it unnecessarily complicated.  Shaw's pride and determination to maintain his independence didn't trump smart actions to stay safe and I can't fully express how much I liked and respected that about him.  It's a big pet peeve of mine when the "I have to do this myself/I can take care of myself" attitude smothers common sense.

The dreams were helpful for the individuals and ended up being really sweet moments, though I will say they felt a little out of place on the whole mainly because it didn't exactly jive with the overall feel of the story or any kind of spiritual-ish vibes from either Nick or Shaw up to that point.  The ending, though, was totally perfect for these men and the story was a really great way to showcase their happiness, it felt so right for the couple.  I really enjoyed getting the story of their second chance, finally watching them find their forever was worth the wait.

*$3.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Take one former SEAL with a healthy dose of regret… 

Nick St. Cloud is living with shame from the one time he let his lust override his sense of honor. He’s haunted by the memory of when he made love to his best friend’s eighteen-year-old son. The tragic accident that happened that same night has only compounded his guilt. A decade later, he’s doing his best to be there for Charlie’s son, but anything more than that just wouldn’t be right… would it?

Plus the younger guy who he’s tried to forget…

It’s been ten years. Ten long years. Does Shaw Michaelson feel bad about having seduced his dad’s best friend? Umm, maybe? Although he could’ve done things differently, Shaw can’t find it within himself to be sorry for the hottest night of his life with the one man he’s never been able to forget. The man he’s patterned every subsequent relationship after… yeah, Shaw totally has a type.

Equals a pair of men who deserve a second chance at a first time. 

The two men are living in an uneasy peace within the same small town and circle of friends, being careful not to let the other get close enough to open old wounds. All their walls fall when a stalker begins terrorizing Shaw, sending him running to the one man he knows will keep him safe.

Quick Reads, Quick Reviews 39

  

• Farrell and the Fake Boyfriend: Book 1, Lisa Clemente
• Running Off: Rainier Family Book 5, Ashton Cade
• Stealing His Heart: Nox Bay Pack Book 1, Connor Crowe

I really love the fake-situation-real-romance trope, especially when the honest feelings become obvious earlier rather than later.  This had an interesting start in that the MC's were virtual strangers prior to the agreement.  What was less appealing was Scott's situation.  It felt like it tainted all the tenderness they were sharing because he was never forthright in his feelings for Farrell once they started changing.  Instead, we got more of him declaring that he was working for the attentions of someone else.  Disappointing.  Farrell felt a bit pitiful, actually.  I thought he was less soft and shy and more weak and self-sacrificing.  The bright spots were really the tender moments of touching, connecting, and the end.  Farrell was right to make Scott think about what he truly wanted and I really liked the humorous and more playful honesty that brought them back together for their promise of a happy future.  3.5 stars.

The prodigal son meets the stalwart son; both needing what the other man offers yet so afraid of what they might lose that they almost give up the best possible future for both of them.  Parris actually rubbed me the wrong way right from the start.  He's so up his own...well, so self-involved that he's choosing to be blind to everything good about his hometown and refuses to take responsibility for just about everything negative in his life.  By the end of the story I did like how he softened and learned to love himself and appreciate his home, but I don't think enough attention and page time was given to his "ah ha!" moment.  We spent so long reading about how much he dislikes everything about Umberland that his turnaround isn't truly believable.

It's no wonder Caleb keeps pushing him away despite how much his heart wants to grab on and never let go.  Caleb was a bit too much of a martyr for me, though I did prefer him over Parris.  He was so faithful, so loving, so giving and to watch Parris do things he did and then turn around as if his negative actions should be overlooked was disappointing.  Caleb's emotional distance after a while was warranted and I did believe and like his personal turnaround which led to a really wonderful reconciliation.  The epilogue was sweet and perfect for the couple and very necessary for the story to end on a great note.  3 stars.

I'm all for insta-love between fated mates and virtual insta-pregnancy in mpreg stories.  None of that bothers me in the least.  What I do hope for, though, is that there's some kind of connection, some kind of personal education between the characters to build on that shifter-mating-fate thing that gets them together in the first place.  Felix is pretty fantastic, I will say.  He's honorable, vulnerable, immensely strong inside, crafty, loyal, caring...he's just all kinds of great.  As for his mate?  Well, I honestly know almost nothing about him.  We get a lot of superficial information as to who he is and what his responsibilities are, but any more than that and how much he admires and yearns for Felix and we've got pretty much nothing.  I'm really hoping that as the series continues we'll get more about him, even on the periphery of the other characters' stories.  3.5 stars.