Heart of the Mountain, Frankie Love and C.M. Seabrook

I wanted so much to like this story.  A heroine who is putting her life on the line for a baby, a celibate (virgin in this case) hero, and a rugged mountain setting...should be amazing, right?  If only.  If only they lived up to the idea I had of them before I started reading.

I just had a really hard time with the heroine's knee-jerk reactions that constantly put her in worse danger.  Her courage was admirable, but she made things worse on multiple occasions and that didn't sit well with me.  There were so many other things she could have done, that he could have done, but once again, we're all victims of their inability to communicate and think before acting.  Which totally bites because I wanted to like this book!!  The big conflict just didn't work for me either.  A lot of build up and a whole lot of crazy that seemed more like a rushed resolution.

According to the Amazon reviews pouring in, it appears that I am in the minority.  I usually love the author's work and snag almost every book she writes, but this story just did not live up to her usual standard, in my opinion.

*99¢ on Amazon

An angel.
It's the worst rainstorm in history when I find her unconscious in the woods.
Sent from heaven.
She's lost and alone, a newborn baby in her arms.
I will protect them. My cabin is their shelter from the storm. Under my care, no one can hurt them.
Whatever the cost. But I'm not who she thinks I am.
And if she finds out, she'll keep on running.
My home is her home, my heart her heart. And I sure as hell don't want to break it.

Apex Investigations: Books 1 and 2, Julia Talbot

I think I was expecting something a little grittier, a little sexier, but what we got instead was something that was more fantastical, sweeter, and something I truly enjoyed.  With a fox shifter in danger and a wolf who feels the need to protect, I was all set to enjoy a good shifter romance.  Adding in the shifter surprises and the family dynamic of the pack, and I was all in.

There were little things that were a bit inconsistent, like eye colors changing, and a few things that felt a little rushed and superficial, and the safe house procedures were laughably abysmal, but overall I was drawn into the relationship and the whole pack.  The pack itself was interesting to me with its mix and dynamic between all the different shifters.  It really was a case of choosing your own family and there are certain characters that intrigue me more than others.  I'm definitely coming back for more of the series.

But back to Fox and Wolf.  We didn't really dive deep into the characters and that was a bit of a shame.  What I learned, I liked, but there was so much more to be said.  The drama surrounding them and bringing them together seemed quite far-fetched and seemingly nonsensical until you get into book two...but we'll get there.  For now, it felt a little too big, a little too much.  It fits later though.  And the fox-sense is so true to species and not paranormal/otherworldly.  For a lot of people they might see it as a bit of psychic-ness, but it's an actual trait that foxes have to sense danger before it catches them and I loved that addition.  Overall I was impressed by the individuals and can't wait to get going with everything that's coming their way.  4 stars.

Brock didn't really endear me to him in book one, but knowing there's damage and softness under all the bluster and offense helped a little to open me up for more of him in this book.  I'm also not typically a fan of second-chance romances (though I can't seem to not read them) and I wasn't sure how to feel about what we learned of Brock and Grizz.  All my apprehensions were pretty unfounded once I got into their story.  Once they got on the same page they were both all in and I couldn't believe the amount of sweetness, sappiness, and nuzzling, and possession coming from Brock.  It was fantastic!

The story, however, was less fantastic.  Not by much, but seeing how it followed the same formula as the first, it was just a whole lot of action and drama packed into a short story and could have used some flow adjustment.  It was still good in terms of giving me surprise after surprise and keeping me on my toes, but the antagonist wasn't clear-cut.  Yes, it's part of the whole series' trajectory, but we're left with far more questions than answers.  I suppose it keeps us right in the thick of things with the characters of the series, but I can't help wanting a little more resolution than we're given.

This was much more well-rounded on the relationship side of the story than Fox and Wolf.  We're also drawn far deeper into the pack's dynamic and I'm even more interested in finding out what happens with everyone, especially Kit.  There's a lot going for this series, in my opinion, and while it's not as clean and with a clear flow as other books and series in this genre, I can't help but want to come back for more.  4 stars.

Drunk Boy: Call Me Daddy Book 2, Aubrie Lee

The promise of the dynamic intimated in the premise is one that I'm definitely drawn to lately. And it doesn't hurt that I was interested in where the MC's could have taken the story even without the Daddy/boy stuff added in. I wish the execution had been as on-point as the synopsis, but I just didn't connect with the characters or the story as much as I had hoped I would.

Miguel and Dallas had a lot of chemistry that they could play off of, but it didn't really go very far. Their first scene was a good start, it just got muddled, confused, over-complicated, and distracted by the light of day and hesitations that didn't make a whole load of sense. The secrets were justifiably frustrating as well as the predictable concerns about age, but other than that there were so many moments that I felt like I was missing something, that I'd read too fast or skipped too much, that they were just making mountains out of thin air and not just mole hills. I feel like they just pushed the many small conflicts and misunderstandings way too hard for the length and pace of the story. 

The dramatic conflict that brought them together in the first place didn't really go anywhere either. I would have liked more time actually following an investigation instead of getting lost in so many other details that didn't push either the relationship or the plot forward. Adding in the side characters and it was just a bit too much for such a short story. I'm vaguely interested in what's going to happen between Dallas' contact and Miguel's brother, but other than that I think there were too many elements fighting for attention. 

With some better content editing this could be a great addition to the series. I'd have liked to see them keep more of the playful moments, the sweeter side of things to balance the secret that really is their biggest valid issue, and streamlining the extraneous details and events that detracted from the story's flow. This wasn't a bad book, I just had a difficult time connecting with the characters and the story.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Was it a push from above, or just too many shots?
We were both drunk, that’s my excuse.
He had just broken up with his fiancé, that’s his excuse.
But we both want to do it again.

Miguel Mancinelli isn't anybody's idea of a typical Daddy.
He's twenty-two years younger than Dallas Coulter.
He's physically bigger, but too rough around the edges to take care of anyone, but himself and his nightclub.
Yet, the day they meet everything changes… can they really blame it on the drinks?

Shipping Orders: Valentine's Inc. Cruises Book 2, Ashe Winters

An unrelenting crush and a subtle fascination collide when a coincidence brings the awkwardly insecure Reign on a collision course with the commanding Adonis, Chase.  Neither is on the cruise to find love, but love is never predictable and when their fling becomes more, it's fear that might keep them from keeping what they've found.

It was hard not to be a little in love with all of Reign's insecurities and I wasn't surprised when Chase crashed hard for him.  But while I eventually found those quirks endearing, I was a bit frustrated with how much Reign held himself back.  Sexually he ended up giving Chase everything that was inside him, but in the quieter moments I was hoping for him to be a bit more verbal and relaxed.  That just wasn't him I suppose, and when we ended the story I was pretty shocked that the glimpse we got of him through Chase's epilogue showed us a much more solid presence.  I wished we had gotten to see more of that than just their bedroom chemistry.

I was a bit more disappointed with Chase though.  There was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way.  It could have been the many, many mentions of how he just couldn't keep Reign, the slightly dismissive way he thought about his interactions with Reign versus Reign's coworker, or maybe just an overall feeling of disconnect between me and his character.  I just wasn't as drawn to him.

This story focused a ton on their sexual compatibility and while we saw some more tender and "foundation-shaking" realizations during those encounters, there was a bit of depth that I was missing.  Even the reveals of pasts and fears didn't feel as momentous as I thought they would.  Keeping the angst relatively low and forgoing a huge separation/reunion bit pleased me to no end however, and it made the ending much more satisfying for me.  I would really have enjoyed a bit more of a balance between the bedroom and character evolution, but aside from that I enjoyed this story.

*$3.99 on Amazon

A happy ever after is not in the cards for me. But a short fling aboard a ship crossing the Atlantic might just be exactly what I need. 

When my friends suggest I take a much-needed vacation on their Valentine’s Inc. hosted cruise, I leap at the chance. I don’t have a lot of expectations for this matchmaking singles cruise—I’m certainly not looking for a future Mr. Chase Kelton. 

What I’m not prepared for is walking into my assigned suite to find a man passed out on the first day. I recognize the shy barista immediately. He’s been serving me my morning fix for a year and driving me crazy with the hard shell he keeps locked around himself. I want to break it. I know there’s an entirely different man beneath it that I’m itching to reveal.

Reign is the proverbial fish out of water, and when I discover the real reason he’s on this cruise, I see an opportunity I can’t resist. He needs a companion to show him the ropes—I can do that and so much more.

Realize: Men of Hidden Creek Season 4 Book 2, Susan Hawke

Life can certainly be unpredictable, but for Parker it tore his world apart.  If not for his children and best friend, he might not have had the strength to survive it.  It didn't take long for me to admire both men and root for something wonderful between them.  Thankfully, they didn't disappoint with the depth and rightness of their changing relationship.

I didn't get a great sense of Max right at the start, other than his heart and his willingness to support his best friend, but when we first get into his head we see right away that he's never second-guessed his role in the lives of those that matter most to him.  Parker needed him, Cindy and Tommy needed him, so he stepped in and took the burden happily.  I admired that about him quite a lot.

And then there's Parker.  He struck me as both caring and strong right in the beginning despite having the rug pulled out from under him.  But when we see him again, he felt so very young and a little on the immature side.  Not the immaturity that comes from irresponsibility or selfishness, but from youth and inexperience.  He didn't regain his maturity and solidness until much later as his relationship with Max became something more.  Maybe it was because all the pieces were slotting together as they should be, or maybe it was just because his reaction to those changes was so smooth.

Their relationship was very slow-burn, but the explanation for that is rooted in sexual identity and the focus being on building a family rather than a sexual connection.  Even with the "educational" aspect of the sexuality discussion, it all felt like a pretty natural transition.  With no angst at all, I was wondering how the story and the couple were both going to progress, what kind of conflict would be used to give us some sort of tension or literary climax.  To be honest, the whole thing felt tame and mild, and that wasn't necessarily bad, it was just a longer and fluffier story than I was expecting.

Overall it was a nice change of pace and I learned to love all the sweetness, the tender way their family found stability, security, and happiness in the aftermath of so much grief.  Overcoming those difficulties was a bit overly simplistic though, yet it fit the lighter feel of the story.  Max gained everything he could ever want and Parker gained everything he could ever need.  Once again we see that Hidden Creek is the town where love is love and love is all.

*$3.99 on Amazon

“What we have can’t be faked.”

Max Jackson’s life is pretty close to perfect—except that he’s secretly in love with his straight best friend and roommate. He’s got his dream job and a family he secretly pretends are his own. But they aren’t… no matter how much he might wish it were true.

After the tragic death of his wife, Parker Wilson didn’t have time to wallow in grief—not when he had two young children to raise. He’s not looking for romance or a new partner. He doesn’t need one anyway… he has his life-long buddy Max to help him through every struggle.

When Parker loses his job and can’t afford his daughter’s pricey insulin, Max suggests fake marriage for insurance coverage. Since he’s already a second parent to Parker’s cute kids, it should be easy… until the marriage becomes a little too real.

Killer Queen: Crazy Little Thing Book 2, Serene Franklin

Amusing, difficult, sexy, detestable.  I'm having a hard time with this review.  I did get through the whole story, read right until the end and through the epilogue.  If I went with my first instinct to DNF about halfway through I would have stayed sour on this book.  But since I read to the end and found sweetness, honesty, and feelings, I'm a little less sour even though I really, really don't want to be.

Fidelity is something that I must have in real life, books, movies, anime, manga...doesn't matter.  If there's cheating or even a hint of cheating, I'm done, physically ill, bothered for days.  It doesn't work for me and it never makes me want to keep learning about the characters fooling around whether on purpose or by accident.  In Mac and Dubhlainn's case, they're clear and upfront about non-exclusivity and we get details about Mac's encounters sometimes that turn my stomach because I'm wondering when they'll ever get on the same page and if Mac will ever become serious about Dove.  When they do, I believe it but I don't like it.

When Mac first blurts out his newfound curiosity/obsession I found it kind of cute because it fit his character so well.  I was expecting more of that as the story went on, but instead we get so much bottling, denial, ignoring, and sleeping around because he couldn't commit.  And for Dove to find someone else because he's jealous and petty and both of them going through the night "competing" because of those same things...ugh, no respect.

I just...I'm just sick thinking about how little care, how little emotion, how little monogamous thought went on for so damn long in this story.  I hated that.  Were they sweet to one another once hearts were shared?  Yeah.  Did we get a lot of that?  No.  The story was really about sex.  Sex with others, sex with one another...so very little depth for the characters and their relationship that I wasn't invested.  I finished for the sake of finishing, hoping that it wasn't just my colored view because of my own experiences.  I don't think it is.  I'm not wowed by the men, their love, or the story overall.

There were some high points and that was the seriously sexy steam, Mac's grandmother, and Maxim.  When g-ma's are cool and loving I'm a fan.  I think if Maxim gets his own story I'll definitely jump on reading it because there's something incredibly intriguing about him.  Aside from that, I just am not convinced by the story and can't honestly recommend it to anyone with my kind of sensibilities.  Was it a bad story?  Probably not, if you're not me, but since I can only be me, I'll leave it here and simply say, the book wasn't for me.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Mac

I’m the kind of guy you can always count on. When my best friend and former roommate—who up and ditched me in favor of his boyfriend—needs a favor, I don’t hesitate to help any way I can. This most recent favor landed me with a moody Irish university student for a roommate. With his long copper-red hair and blue eyes, he’s too damn cute for his own good—which is saying a lot considering I’m straight.

Thing is, he kinda hates me. Crazy, right? I shouldn’t care as much as I do, and I definitely shouldn’t let it bother me. Alas, here I am, caring and letting it bother me. I want him to like me, although I’m not quite sure why.

Dubhlainn

Insufferable. My new flatmate is insufferable. Between his loud, cheesy music, stupid assumptions, and flippant attitude, he annoys me. He also has this ridiculous aversion to wearing clothes around the flat, which wouldn’t be so bad if he weren’t so bloody attractive. It’s hard to remember to hate him when his perfect arse is within view.

Going after straight guys is nothing but trouble, and I’m smart enough to avoid that. Besides, I’d rather not mess up another living arrangement, and sex always makes things complicated—not that I’m thinking about sex.

Kept in the Dark: Locke and Keyes Agency Book 1, Charlie Cochet

Entertaining from the start, it's obvious that D and Caiden have a whole lot of denial and grudge to overcome if they want something lasting to happen between them.  I really enjoyed the banter between the men, though sometimes there was too much sniping and not enough open honesty about feelings and motives.  Overall the men were absolutely hot for one another and once we got to know them, it was very clear that they were meant to be together.

D's introduction was a bit of a shock for me, mostly because I was NOT a fan of getting a graphic description of how he spends his free time with his more amorous pursuits.  It's not something we really have to read between the lines for with him, but to see it so explicit right at the start was not endearing me to him.  Add in all his back and forth with his wanting Caiden, then pushing him away harshly and barking at him for doing his job and I wasn't really believing his investment in them once things got real.  The "that's why I left" bit was unsatisfying as well because we got two different "reasons" before the truth came out and it was, yet again, different from the previous reasons.

The back-and-forth with Caiden was present from his side as well, but it was more from the "I'm all in, I give up" perspective.  I wasn't a huge fan of that version of push and pull either.  How he went from unkind teasing to a fully invested heart so quickly felt rushed and a little disingenuous.  But despite his initial huge outburst at their reintroduction, it didn't take me long to warm up to him.

Caiden's responses to D's humor were entertaining and their chemistry was absolutely incendiary.  I don't necessarily think there was enough depth to support all the sexy times, but it was relatively easy to put that aside because once they were both all in, it was hard not to love them just as much as they professed to love one another.  The huge declaration and surprising question kind of caught me off guard and was a bit too sappy considering the TPO, but it was weirdly fitting too considering who these men were.  Getting their "epilogue" was the right way to end the story too.  It was suited to the men, their lives, and their personalities.  We didn't get a lot of the other agents, but what we got was enough to spark a huge amount of interest.  I'm actually quite excited for more from this series and how more of the men of Locke and Keyes will meet their fiery matches.

*$4.99 on Amazon!

Former Army Ranger turned government assassin Álvaro Montero and CIA Officer Caiden Cardosa crossed paths two years ago in Vienna, where their encounter ended less than amicably—despite the explosive sexual chemistry between them.

Now Caiden is riding a desk at Langley after his cover is blown. And Álvaro—who was “killed”—has a new identity and purpose as Delta/D, an operative for the Locke and Keyes Agency, under the leadership of the mysterious Alpha Orion.

When D and Caiden team up in a deadly black ops mission, the urge to kill each other will have to take a back seat to the desire for revenge against the man who betrayed them both. Surviving the mission won’t be easy. Resisting the passion between them—that might be impossible.

The Guy from Glamour: The Guy Series Book 1, Skylar M. Cates

Stunned by the balance.  Between the stoic, secretly scared, badass Night Stalker and the puppy dog, yearning for love guidance counselor; between Dean and his niece and between both men; and between the steam and the more tame aspects of building a relationship.  So yeah, in a word, what made me love this book was balance.  Almost all of the interactions in this story were really well-written and real and so memorable.  And when you add two men who were really made for one another and had a whole lot of chemistry, you've got the makings of a great story.

Dean's insistence that he just doesn't do human interaction could have been a turn-off, and while I think it could have been made into something more endearing rather than just a quirk, I felt it was well-done.  It didn't feel like an affectation due to arrogance or even social anxiety, it was just a part of who Dean is.  His fear over doing or saying the wrong thing for his niece was cute and actually believable.  And once he made the connection with her, his freak out was even more adorable.  It was so hard not to love this man.

Anthony was cute and I wanted so much for his happiness.  I was really glad that he found it with Dean.  While I wasn't a fan of him lying to himself or his caving into his ex's requests or actions, he was overall a likable character that was well-matched to Dean.  He wasn't as compelling, but he was a calm, positive, optimistic, and caring counterpart to a man who didn't understand how to connect with others with his whole self.

Maybe half of the book was devoted to both men navigating the relationship between Dean and his niece.  Their relationship was allowed to get on fairly solid ground before anything really began between both men.  So often you have stories that have guardianship thrust on the MC's, adoptions or fostering, single parents, or any other permutation of those kinds of situations and the connections between the kids and MC's feel forced, rushed, or too easy.  In this story it was absolutely honest, a bit slow-going, and exactly what I hoped for.  And then you got the tenderness and steam between the two men and I'm just gone.  This was a whole story, one I'd gladly recommend and will absolutely come back for more of when the rest of the series is available.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

A military man and a “nice guy” at a crossroads

Anthony Carrino loves his big, gregarious Italian-American family. Even if his sisters are interfering, and his dad, the local sheriff, knows everything going on in town. He’s happy as a middle-school guidance counselor. Despite helping kids and their parents fix their problems, Anthony can’t manage to get his own love life right. Apparently, he’s just too nice.

Dean Pierce doesn’t do relationships. A tough-minded military man, he is dedicated to his job flying Chinook helicopters and minding his own business. He never stays in one place for long, and he certainly doesn’t want to deal with a mess of emotions. But when tragedy strikes, Dean finds his hands full with the unexpected addition of his troubled niece, her irresistible guidance counselor, and a meddlesome family, which includes a rather large puppy. 

Will Dean have a change of heart or will he stick to his agenda? Anthony has been hurt before, and he doubts his feelings are reason enough for Dean to stay in Glamour. If Anthony can convince Dean that some plans aren’t worth keeping, then maybe this time, the “nice guy” won’t finish last.

A Family of His Own: Stories of Us Book 3, Rheland Richmond

The bodyguard trope is one I generally enjoy, especially when it involves people who need love and protection wrapped up in a sexy package.  Adding in the power that comes from regained confidence and freedom claimed, and I'm usually a goner.  But with this story I was struck right in the beginning by some disturbing comments and attitudes that I had a severely difficult time getting over.  Cris and Xavier's connection also just didn't sink deep enough for me to fall in love with the story.

Cris had a really hard go of things.  I could absolutely relate to his loneliness and when he got stuck with Patrick, I felt for him.  In a cerebral way I can see how his inner strength got him through the ordeal, but on the page it seemed to fizzle out pretty quickly.  The man he was when a surprise phone call came was one of vulnerability and eager hope.  That man was interesting too, but not nearly as potent.  There seemed to be a disconnect between who Cris was at the beginning and who he was near the end.  I kind of liked both sides of him, but if they had been brought together well they would have cemented him as a whole and diverse character and I would have loved him.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Xavier, on the other hand, started off as a noble man, one that I was curious to get to know.  Except when he was faced with the surprising and captivating Cris, his mouth pissed me off.  In what world is it ever okay, even to provoke a reaction, to victim blame?  Sure it got Cris to spit fire from his eyes, but Xavier's whole attitude was one of heavy-handed and domineering authority that I absolutely didn't appreciate.  He excused his terrible words and attitude later by saying he couldn't stand the idea of Cris hurt, but that was only ever one passing thought in his head never to be revisited.  And then the pages and pages and pages devoted to his denial of any spark or feelings he might have for Cris was so overboard.

And so by chapter four, I was having an extremely difficult time getting into the story.  I almost didn't care what happened.  When the drama went down it was so close to the end of the story that I wasn't sure if anything was ever going to get answered.  Sure enough, because it was left so last second, it felt more like an info-dump and everything was rushed which left me feeling underwhelmed.  That and the overall pacing of the story was hard to swallow.

There were great moments in this story though, lest you think I detested the book.  Every time Cris was genuinely happy, excited, and in awe of his gift, I was pretty floored by his immense love.  Without Cris this story would have suffered severely.  His heart was the best part of this whole book.  While I wasn't drawn by any of his friends and didn't like their banter, Cris managed to rise above them and be someone I'd remember.  He and Xavier really did work for their happiness and it was well-deserved.

*$4.99 on Amazon

XAVIER

Former Navy SEAL Xavier Thierry knows he is good at his job… protect the client. You do the job but never get too close—that’s his motto.

When the friend he owes for saving his life asks for a favor, he doesn’t hesitate to say yes, no questions asked. But babysitting some pampered brat is nowhere on his to-do list.

Until he first lays eyes on him… Cris. And he’s nothing like Xav expected.

He wasn’t sure when this man stopped being a job, but the rules blur once Cris ends up in his arms. How can Xavier let him go when he’s the only one who chases away the darkness?

CRIS

Cris Whitcomb thought he finally found his happily ever after… But the fairytale soon became a nightmare, one that left him with only one choice—to push away those he loves to protect them.

His chosen family refuses to be pushed away. Their solution, call in someone trusted to watch over and protect him… Xavier.

But what happens when your future walks in on the worst day of your life?

Maybe sometimes you have to go through the bad to get the best...

When Two Omegas Dance: Vale Valley Season 3 Book 10, Amy Bellows

I like it when authors can write about a contemporary problem in a unique enough way that it feels unique to their world but resonates in mine.  Kai and Noah are two omegas that find something deeper than biology, they find their fated mates and when their world refuses to understand them, they find a safe haven in Vale Valley.  I really enjoyed their story.  Sure there were a few plot points that were iffy and some other cringey bits, but overall this was a super sweet story where we absolutely root for these men who seem to have so much against them.

Kai was the one that drew me in the most.  I felt for Noah's plight, but Kai's insistence and earnestness in his pursuit of Noah was what won me over.  He was kind, honest, and devoted right from the start.  He won over Noah in time as well and I enjoyed seeing him soften toward Kai, begin to believe that he could really have a mate in someone that desired him for who he is rather than what he smells like.  Kai's fathers were also a high point, mostly because their acceptance of everything their son is and his dreams is what I hope to see in parents everywhere.

Noah's father is another gem, mostly because when he finally understands exactly what his son feels, he goes out of his way to give him the support he needs, even to his own detriment.  That bit of the plot wasn't given in detail, but I think what we were given was enough to know that the cult Noah and his father escaped is beyond understanding.  I would have liked more in the way of his integration with Kai's family and Vale Valley too.

But really, aside from magic supplanting reality the story itself was well written.  There was balance between finding freedom and finding love.  The attraction was definitely there and it was apparent that they had something more to carry through all the way to their happily ever after.  There have been hits and misses in this series, but this was one story I'd definitely count as one of the hits.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Two Omegas. No alpha. And lots of dancing...

Kai spends eight hours a day training for a grueling sport only the toughest men can handle.

In other words, he’s a ballet dancer.

When Kai gets cut from his dance company, he’s not sure what to do. His whole life has revolved around ballet since he was a child. Heartbroken and uncertain of his future, he ends up at a strip club with his friends. There he sees an omega own the stage with a presence that takes Kai’s breath away.

There isn’t any doubt in Kai’s mind that this omega is his fated mate.

Noah is a red wolf shifter. Like all omega red wolf shifters, he has powerful pheromones that trick alphas into thinking they’ve found their fated mate. But Noah will never have a fated mate. He’s only attracted to other omegas, and while some omegas are drawn in by his pheromones, the artificial connection never lasts. He’s resigned to living his life alone.

But the night Noah meets Kai, Noah feels the connection too. If only he could be sure that Kai’s feelings for him are real.

In a world where everyone thinks they’re Noah’s fated mate, how will he know when he’s found the one person who actually is?

Walk Tall: Assassin's Claw Book 1, Susi Hawke

An assassin, a boy who just wants to be loved, and a whole lot of sappy declarations make this a cute story with a side of action.  The action that makes it hot is memorable while the action that is more dangerous becomes humorous when you add in a herd of ninja rabbits.  Overall this was a sweet book with a whole lot of steam and quite a few surprises for the MC's that were predictable yet fit the vibe of the story.

Clay and his brothers are a tight-knit group that share a profession, one that puts him on the path to find his true mate.  Not just a man to bond with, but one to share his long life, to love and cleave to for generations to come.  I liked the take on mates here, that the idea that mates are one thing, but the idea of "true mates" is a relatively unknown entity so we get surprised right along with him and Nick with all the implications of what they've found in one another.  I liked Clay in a general way.  A big Alpha with a bigger heart knowing he will do the right thing no matter who's paying him goes a long way with me when there are secrets to be had.

As for Nick, I got a pretty good sense of who he is and he was pretty average for me.  Predictable and slightly boring.  Not that he wasn't a good character or a good match for Clay, just that he didn't really stand out for me.  He was impulsive and reactionary and his dream to have love and a family didn't really excuse the way he acted without thinking the consequences through.  His age is something to consider regarding his maturity level for sure and because my dream life is the one he describes for himself I'm absolutely not faulting that, it's how he's passive about some things that matter and impulsively naive about others.  So he wasn't bad, dumb, or intolerable, just young and not my favorite type of MC.

The one thing I had the biggest problem with was the text.  No handler, no operative, no client would EVER send something that detailed about what was supposed to go down, what changes were made, or what precautions to take.  Having everything spelled out was not only implausible, it felt like the reveal was forced and utterly ridiculous.  Other than that, most issues were excusable.  The cheese level was super high, but since both MC's acknowledged it it became a part of their romance and not something for the reader to roll their eyes at.  Surprising us and all the characters with what happens when one of the true mates is human was pretty good too.  There were a lot of little gems here that give me hope for the series to come and I'm actually looking forward to seeing where we go from here and how each brother finds their own HEA.

*$2.99 on Amazon

Watch out for the Assassin’s Claws… 

Clay Moreno is a paid killer, just like his four brothers. It’s the family business—they fight together, they die together. Whether they’re working as a group or alone, they are a tight unit who protect their own. 

Clay drew the short straw on their latest mission: assassinate the American president. He knew the case was going to be tough, but the last thing he expected to find was his mate… the president’s own son. The fact that he began the case with plans to seduce his way into the White House via that same son is beside the point. What his mate doesn’t know shouldn’t hurt him… 

Nick Jackson is lonely and ordinary in a family of overachievers. He doesn’t want to do photo ops for the press, prep for the next year’s tests over the summer or any of the hundreds of other things his mother hassles him about. All he wants is to relax after his first year of college, work on his tan… and maybe find a boy to flirt with.

A Rhythm You Feel: The Rock Gods East Coast Label Book 1, Ann Lister

Nico's earnest desire for a good life is shaken for good by a rocker who explodes into his store with pleading eyes and a sexy everything else.  Blade is a bit bowled over by the honest man that gives him refuge and pursues Nico in a way that's completely new for him.  Both of them are stunned by what they find in one another and I really liked that there were complications, demons, and adjustments that were necessary before they found their HEA together.  While a little Hemingway at times, there was enough flow to the story that I could overlook that in favor of watching everything unfold.

Blade had a lot going for him but I never really felt that he lived up to his potential.  He was a spoiled and rich rockstar that could have found ways to enrich his life after finding someone that made him think far beyond himself.  Instead, the only change he found in his life was the relationship and his heart toward Nico.  The bratty attitude wasn't endearing.  What was fabulous though, was his determination at the end to keep Nico from pushing him away when circumstances made him lash out at Blade.  That level of maturity was kind of unexpected, but truly appreciated.

It was Nico that stole the story for me.  I liked his complications.  Sometimes it was a bit much, but it all worked together.  Like, they fit the man in addition to how each complication fit with the others.  Family loss, drugs, ex-con, sobriety, attachments...all of it worked for me.  Even though I didn't like the lashing out near the end, it was a long time coming and I was glad that Blade was there to help him work through it.  I will say though, that it was resolved relatively simplistically.  Far too simply to be satisfying.  For it all to work out the way it did was kind of implausible.

There were a few other things that didn't get resolved, such as Tigo's situation, but I'll be honest and say that while I could have pointed them all out as soon as I finished the story, a couple days removed and most of them I can't remember at all.  My overall feel for the book is very positive and I liked both men, but loved Nico.  The way his issues, especially his sobriety, were handled was what stuck with me the most.  As for the romance, I believed it, liked it, but didn't really feel completely moved by it either.  Definitely steamy, that's for sure, and it was also quite raw at times with the feels, so that was another big plus for the book.  I was drawn in to the music, the bands, and all the stories that are yet to be written for these intriguing men.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Blade: As the lead singer of Hard Core, I’ve been taught several key life lessons. Unfortunately, I've also ignored many of them in the last twenty minutes alone, which is why I'm now being chased by a horde of crazed fans.

But my worst misjudgment today? Going outside in public without security or a backup plan. Screaming fans come with the job and the fame is as much of a blessing as it is a curse, but I still couldn't imagine doing any other line of work.

Music owns me and I am happy to be her bitch.

Nico: I knew who he was as soon as he burst through the front door of my store and I was absolutely starstruck and speechless. Yes, me with my own hardened attitude and jaded outlook on life had lost the ability to talk in the presence of Blade.

I'm an ex-con. I paid my debt to society, and I have my own brand of scars to show from the time I spent behind bars. My life's regrets stain my soul as much as the ink of my tattoos color my skin. Solace for me came with ownership of a bookstore. It was a peaceful place to work until a certain rockstar blew in from the street like a Category 5 hurricane.

Hurricane Blade was about to make landfall and I wasn't sure I'd survive the storm.

Until Joe: Happily Ever Alpha Book 2, CP Smith

Wow.  Possessive, sexy, determined, domineering, intense...every word that could describe Joe could very easily be shared with every stalker or abuser except for a couple things—if he weren't so loving, so full of sweetness under all the gruff and the growls and if I didn't yearn for a man of my own who would think me a woman "worth living and dying for."  Out of all the softer traits, the one that resonates the most with who we learn Joe is, "freed" seems most apt.  Through finding the woman who makes his heart beat, calls to his soul, and fires his blood, he finds a freedom he didn't think existed for him.  Add in a strong Southern woman who knows herself, trusts her heart, and fights for herself as hard as she fights for her man and we've got a pretty fantastic pair.

There were times that I was a little uncomfortable with the overbearing attitude and the in-your-face sensuality at their first face-to-face meeting.  Once things settled a bit (if you can call making a run from a ridiculously tenacious and powerful father along with pretty much non-stop sexy times settled) they got to know one another and while not a ton of it was on the page, I actually believed that they were building something solid.  There's a lot that goes on and I think a bunch of it was a bit over the top, but I don't think you can not have a good amount of drama in this series as with all the connected stories as well.

The drama was pretty contained to one factor even though it dragged out for most of the story.  If it were written any other way, like just appearing at the end to up the conflict, it would have been terrible.  So while I think it was a bit much for such a short story, it was done well and was pretty believable if you considered all the players and the themes of the families' stories involved.

What I loved best was Bernice's intelligence.  When confronted with "proof" she reacted understandably, but then she used her brain to logic out what she was seeing, what she knew of the man she'd fallen for, and kept her sense.  I loved that.  It spoke to her strength and intelligence and even though I liked her before, I was completely won over after that.  She really was a woman of worth and Joe was right to do everything in his power to keep her to love forever.  Their story was quick, steamy, and so full of an intense love, one that I wish I had.  I'm always drawn into this world and this story was a fantastic fit.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Sometimes the greatest love comes in the middle of your life.

Joe Rouger (Uncle Joe from the Until Series by Aurora Rose Reynolds) is ready for a woman who completes him. He finds what he’s looking for in a feisty Southern belle named Bernice Armstrong (Wallflower Series by CP Smith) The question is, can he leave his world behind for a chance at happiness? 

And if he does, can he keep Bernice away from outside sources that threaten to steal what he’s waited for his whole life: a soul mate he can live and die for!

*Purchase Links...

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

Join the Release Party!

About CP Smith...

CP Smith lives in Oklahoma with her husband and five children. She loves football, reading, and card games. Writing for her is about escape. She writes what she loves to read, and leaves the rest to those with better imaginations.

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Zombies Ahead: Club Zombies Book 1, Z. Allora

A seriously sexy twist on zombies made this an extremely interesting story to dive into.  I wish so hard that I loved it.  There was very little character depth and the story was so focused on all the sex around the MC's that we got extremely little of their own relationship development and intimacy.  When they did get around to bonding it was so underwhelming that I almost wish I DNF'ed this book.  So seriously sad because I was set to enjoy the story based on the sexy premise.

Kai, a hick from the German sticks, is whisked away to a completely foreign world, in more ways than one.  I could appreciate his personal journey into finding out what he likes, who he likes, and what the zombie world is all about.  But while I was expecting characters evolving, I got a whole lot of voyeurism and sex by everyone but Kai and the man he's drawn to more than anyone else and it left me with a sour feeling.  I'm certainly not a prude, but I was appalled by what I was witnessing through Kai's "education".

Jasper was so tame and hands-off that I just didn't care about him at all.  There was so much potential for him and we got so little that I didn't even really know why I bothered being interested in the first place.  I understand that he was pretty set in his disappointment over not having a mate, but after counseling others you'd think he'd be a tiny bit more aware of the reactions he was having to Kai and would be more interested in learning about him, getting closer to him to find out if what he's drawn to is a mate bond in Kai and not just a nice-looking young man, and more annoyed by the offers and advances of fellow zombies.  We got so little that it might as well have been nothing at all.

Their connection was too little, too late for me and while I'm a fan of the double-innocents thing, there was so little to recommend them as a couple that I just didn't care.  The "seer" bit with Kai's cousin, the creating a connection and building a mate bond between Kai and Jasper, Kai learning to accept his sexuality...there were a lot of things that could have been developed and yet we were just given a very erotic view into a zombie brothel.  I didn't hate the story, but I definitely didn't enjoy it either.

*$3.99 on Amazon

Zombies suck, but they’re not after brains! These zombies are young, hot, and looking for action. One day Kai Bauer is tending vineyards in Germany, the next he’s on a plane heading for… well, he doesn’t really know.

Wait a minute! He’s a what? And they have to drink male essence to live forever? The transition begins on his nineteenth birthday. He must find a mate in four years or he won’t ever be emotionally or physically satisfied.

That’s Jasper’s problem. After decades, the ex-priest has given up on finding his mate. He’s living a chaste life but he’s willing to be Kai’s mentor and friend. Gorgeous, distant, and off-limits meet young, virile, and gay.

Fire in the Heart: Metahuman Files Classified Novella 3, Hailey Turner

It would appear that Sean and Alexei just can't catch a break.  A wedding, a honeymoon, a whole lot of fire and explosions...what moment in their lives would be complete without those?  There's so much love, passion, and respect that these men have for one another that most of us die-hard fans of theirs are wishing they could have a bit of uninterrupted peace, and yet, if we're really honest with ourselves, we're hoping even harder that they'll get to show off their own brand of badassery while they watch one another's six.  And here we get it all.

There's something addictive about not just this series, but the couples in them.  For me Sean and Alexei are honestly my favorites.  All that they've overcome is immense and that they're finally embarking on their kind of happily-ever-after is truly triumphant.  But since there're a few strings from their trials that haven't been singed off yet, we get one of them here that pulls them from their honeymoon into something worthy of the action and crazy we've come to love from the series.

What I wasn't exactly a fan of was that this ended up being an explosive non-ending to that particular string.  Yes, this was absolutely exciting.  Yes, I got more from characters I love.  Yes, there were definitely some fantastic sexy times.  But there wasn't really an ending.  It was more disappointment and frustration that one of their adversaries...well, I'll avoid the full spoiler.  I'm not exactly sure why this was the type of confrontation that was chosen to pull them from their honeymoon bed of insane hotness.

Speaking of that hotness, what I loved most here in this story was how that hotness wasn't tempered, but increased by the emotional depth of it.  Their tender, sultry looks were palpable and are absolutely the stuff of daydreams.  This was everything.  And if we put that with the fantastic writing on top of the action that is definitely edge-of-your-seat reading, it's still a big win.  It's hard to stay mad at the non-resolution resolution because it just means that we're not done with their world.  When that day comes it's going to be a sad, probably devastating day for me.  Until then, I'm adding this to my re-read pile.

*$2.99 on Amazon!

Surrender to vows.

Staff Sergeant Alexei Dvorkin has come a long way since being turned into a metahuman, and all he wants to do is marry the man he loves. A wedding is easy, but it’s the honeymoon where his past unexpectedly catches up with him. 

A future together.

All Agent Sean Delaney wanted was a romantic honeymoon with his new husband. When he and Alexei stumble into a fellow operative’s mission on the luxury gambling resort island Fortuna-sur-mer, they get more than they bargained for in their newly-minted civilian lives.

Destined to burn.

Forced to choose between staying and joining the mission or leaving to stay safe and postpone their honeymoon, Alexei and Sean make the only decision they can—to fight.