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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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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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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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.

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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.