Thursday, September 21, 2023

Book Release Blitz for Vixen by D. M. Earl (REVIEW)…..


It's another tale full of intense emotions set in the MC world from an author who's become a go-to for me.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Vixen by D.M. Earl, along with my impressions of it, then add this fourth installment in the Devil's Handmaidens MC series to your bookshelf!

She's as fierce and fearless as they come...
Being pulled back in is the absolute last thing that I want,
Or need.
After all, the demons and horrors of back then nearly destroyed me, Broke me,
And killed me.
But my friend needs me,
She needs out,
Away from the trafficking and prostitution, An escape I know all too well.
The Devil Handmaidens are always on my side, Supporting me,
Trusting me,
And protecting me.
I just need one more person on my side, The strongest, bravest man I know,
The one who shattered my heart,
Left me high and dry.
Can I rely on Ironside,
Or will he break me all over again?

**START THE SERIES here WITH TINK.**


BUY VIXEN here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Readers will once again be pulled into the emotional wringer of a web built on a woman's painful past that has defined her until now.  When that past comes calling though she'll be left with big decisions and big reveals that will change her life inexorably.  With each turn of the page the author balances moments of edge of your seat suspense, with intimate and sensual encounters between an unforgettable main couple, with the help of an eclectic cast of secondary characters who have me looking forward to future installments.

Vixen's a woman with a painful past who managed to crawl her way out with the help of the Devil's Handmaidens.  She didn't escape without scars though as she was forced into prostitution and drug addiction with her twins stolen from her.  She thought that undercover FBI agent Ironside would be her savior but he vanished from her life, taking her heart with him, and leaving the Devil's Handmaidens her sole support emotionally and in giving her a safe place to call home too.  When a phone call from her past reopens the door on her journey of pain, it's a journey that now encompasses many of her club sisters since the man that hurt her back then is fueling many of the secrets hanging over the club now.

From the moment Vixen gets the call for help my pulse was immediately racing with fear and anticipation.  The rescue plan was one that brought in every member of the club and put each in danger.  The rescue plan crafted fueled this story courtesy of the importance of its success, the secrets it left hanging over those trying to save those used and abused, all which made for a raw and gritty read.  The romance between Vixen and Lucas "Ironsides" Dombranski is one of second chances, forgiveness, and making amends and it made my heart ache watching them try to find a HEA amongst so much pain and uncertainty.  Theirs was definitely a hard-fought and rocky road to HEA...but I was definitely on board for all that went on between them and was fully invested in them from start to finish.  Not only was I captivated by Vixen and Ironside's complex relationship, I was on the edge of my seat for all that befell the other members of the club.  The secrets hanging over each, the uncertainties weighing each down, all kept me excitedly turning the pages in search of answers and HEAs.  In a book filled with many (one too many at times) eclectic characters, ones who were tough yet supportive, ones who put their lives on the line to do what's right, I'm once again applauding D.M. Earl and this wonderfully crafted MC world that keeps me coming back for more!

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.


AUTHOR INFO:

USA Today Bestselling author, D. M. Earl creates authentic and genuine characters while spinning stories that feel so real and relatable that the readers plunge deep within the plot, begging for more. Complete with drama, angst, romance, and passion, the stories jump off the page.
When Earl, an avid reader since childhood, isn't at her keyboard pouring her heart into her work, you'll find her in Northwest Indiana snuggling up to her husband, the love of her life, with her seven fur babies nearby. Her other passions include gardening and shockingly cruising around town on the back of her 2004 Harley. She's a woman of many talents and interests.
Earl appreciates each and every reader who has ever given her a chance--and hopes to connect on social media with all of her readers.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Book Excerpt Reveal for Fractured Hearts by D.M. Earl…….

 The Grimm Wolves are back in this seventh installment of the gritty and pulse pounding story of a woman hiding out from danger and the MC biker hiding his pain behind his laughter.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste, along with a new excerpt, of Fractured Hearts by D.M. Earl, then start counting down the days until this book hits shelves on October 20th!

DINGO
Laughter is the best medicine. I make sure to always deliver the fun and crazy while hiding my pain behind it. It's who I am and what I do. I also work my butt off for the Grimm Wolves MC brothers, trying to prove myself as more than just a prospect. But even the toughest of the tough need to let loose every now and then. I know that more than anyone after the world of hurt I've experienced.
CELEE
A chance encounter in a chat room just may be the saving grace I've needed all along. My father's enemies are closing in, and my time just might be running out. Thank God!
Dingo and his brothers will do anything to keep me safe--even if it means going up against the most vile of criminals around. But the more Dingo tries to protect me, the more I know he's hurting too.
Can two fractured hearts find a way to heal together?

EXCERPT:

“Celee, never give up your power, sweetheart. Only you know what you want to do. I get it, it’s hard sometimes to make decisions, but if you allow others to do that for you forever, you will never do what you want. I’d rather you tell me ‘I’m not sure, let’s get gas and we can decide then.’ I do know where you’re coming from believe me, that’s why I’m telling you this. So, Celee, are we stopping or going for a bit longer?”
I smile inside because Frank is a good guy, one in a million, and I don’t know how I got so lucky being so stupid. God, I could have ended up with a murderer or a rapist, but instead I found the one biker who seems to have a soft heart and an old soul.
“Frank, why don’t we stop at the next big truck stop, fill up, and see how we both feel? Sound good?”
 He laughs instantly, which has me giggling. This right here. It’s so easy to be with him since he doesn’t make me feel stupid, or worse, worthless. Well, maybe he will if he ever hears my entire story.



PRE-ORDER THIS UPCOMING BOOK here.

**START READING THE GRIMM WOLVES MC here.**

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Book Tour for Freak Show by Lani Lynn Vale (REVIEW)…..

 Ms. Vale continues to fly through the air with the greatest of ease in this second installment in the Welcome to the Circus series as a star pro footballer (and single father) finds himself drawn to a woman who's the star of the show...but clearly struggling under the weight of performing.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of 
Freak Show by Lani Lynn Vale, along with getting my impressions of this emotional and charmingly endearing romance, then add it to your bookshelf too!

Slone Day, defensive end for the Longview professional football team, has a lot on his plate.
He’s at the peak of his career, he’s a single father raising a girl that’s border line genius and can’t seem to find the time to date. Let alone see someone seriously.
He’s perfectly content living his life as it is.
Then he goes to a circus.
There, he meets a woman that literally takes his breath away.
And in one bold, crazy, this is probably going to backfire move, he not only asks the woman out. But he invites her to spend the next two weeks with him while she’s recovering from an incident.
***
There she is, a practical invalid who can’t go anywhere without being babysat, experiencing a crisis in the middle of a public setting, when she spots him.
The moment that Caristonia Singh meets Slone, she realizes her life is about to change.
Meeting men when you work in a circus is practically impossible. That’s why she’s the inexperienced girl that doesn’t know how to act around a hot guy.
A really big, really sexy, holy crap he could toss me over his head and make it look easy, guy.
From the moment he comes to her defense—family can be dicks sometimes—she starts falling.
But nothing good ever lasts when it comes to the circus life.
People come and go. No one ever stays.
But Slone is dead set on proving her wrong, but she’s learned firsthand that nothing good ever lasts.


BUY LINKS:  AMAZON  |  iBOOKS  |  BN  |  KOBO


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

The Welcome to the Circus continues to shine courtesy of its unique setting, a larger than life feeling when it comes to the storyline, and its delightful and immensely appealing main couple and its surrounding secondary characters.  The Singh Family Circus offers a bit of something for everyone to see, but behind the scenes things don't run nearly as smoothly with personal issues and danger from an unknown person rocking the foundation the family has tried to build.

Caristonia "Ari" Singh is the Queen of the Big Cats, showing them off to the world while keeping them under control.  Her home life is far from controlled however thanks to her less than loving family.  In the first book in this series her family seemed caring and supportive for the most part, with the occasional family squabble.  In this book however, her family was far less likable.  They seemed almost cruel at times in their antics with her, particularly the behavior of her twin.  With each hurtful moment one after another adding up, and with health issues becoming increasingly dangerous for her career and everyday life, she's desperate to get a break from her family and the circus...Enter single dad footballer, Slone Day who offers her sanctuary!  Ari's an amazing woman, one who gets put through a lot with each turn of the page.  She's a loving, caring, quirky woman who tends to be a bit quieter than her twin.  Her family's mocking and joking antics sometimes turn cruel which left her with no support.  These moments broke my heart and seeing Slone come on the scene to defend her had me cheering and instantly falling in love with him.

Slone Day first made an appearance in a previous book where his story of being a single dad began.  That story expands here with him and those around him driving this story in this engaging and fast-paced romance.  Slone's a wonderful hero with an equally delightful daughter, a super smart little girl who contributes many funny comments to the story.  Slone accepts Ari quirks and all, accepts her unconditionally from the moment their eyes meet.  He gives her the support and the protection her family should be giving her.  He's a hero in every sense of the word, both as a father to his genius daughter and as a lover to Ari.

This was a fast-paced read with a romance that built over Ari's two weeks away from the circus.  It was a combustible connection between Ari and Slone, balanced out by them actually getting to know each other.  They shared their fears, their dreams, along with the reality of their lives and how their relationship might be affected.  I loved all the past characters who made appearances and seeing how their appearance tied all of Ms. Vale's backlist together.  While frantically turning the pages of this compelling romance my heart was beating crazily, waiting with bated breath for the identity of the stalker...while discovering another cliffhanger that left me screaming yet ready for more.  Ms. Vale has captivated me, keeps me thoroughly entertained with heart pounding romances and compelling characters in a cleverly crafted world that keeps calling to me.

My rating for this is an A.

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Book Tour for Acing the Game by Carey PW (REVIEW & GIVEAWAY)……

Carey PW is an author who embraces diversity, and with their newest book they take readers on a journey of exploring sexuality and finding love, happiness, and your own self-worth.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Acing the Game by Carey PW, along with getting my impressions of it, then discover even more about this LGBTQ+-fueled tale by the other sites hosting this tour HERE
In honor of this  angsty romance make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC too!

Is food really the way into a person’s heart?
Shep Lee thought he had it all. A successful restaurant, a loving husband who understood his asexuality, and most of all, the ability to be himself, a popular chef in the small town of Cloverleaf, Montana. That is, until his husband, Elmer Eshler, began pushing Shep more on sex.
Elmer doesn’t understand why he can’t turn his partner on—aren’t they perfect for each other? And Shep loves him, right? Shep, meanwhile, while confident with his body, is and forever will be sex indifferent. Why has Elmer suddenly changed his tune? But he doesn’t want to lose the man he loves so much. What can they do?
Shep convinces Elmer to try a polyamorous relationship. Elmer gets to have Shep and the sex life he’s always wanted. Shep gets a cooking buddy and a chance to experience a relationship and even try sex with a woman as his authentic gender. At first, Shep isn’t sure, but finds himself coming around—this feels safer than opening up the relationship. All three of them will be romantically involved, so that should ease any jealousy, right?
But when Willow Saint, a free-spirited, boisterous, and saucy young woman, comes into their lives, neither are prepared for the emotional and sexual rollercoaster that follows. Enthralled by Willow’s charm and kindness, Elmer and Shep struggle to understand what this means for their own bond. Can they become one happy family? Or will this ruin everything?

FIND AT GOODREADS here.

BUY AT AMAZON here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

This is the second by Carey PW that I've experienced and I'm once again impressed by the depiction of diversity found within the pages.  What starts out as a couple looking to change how they conduct their marriage eventually evolves into a journey of self-exploration.  It's an uber-angsty journey though, one that frustrated me at times while also giving me a lot to think about when it comes to "definitions" and sexuality.

Shep and Elmer are a compelling main couple, a far from perfect couple who feel their relationship is lacking and thus decide to bring in a third.  That third is Willow, a likable woman with a background that I wish had been more fully fleshed-out.  Her place in the trio added a lot of angst, a lot of frustration, and it took a lot of push/pull to make things work.  Shep's a likable character, one who thought his marriage was good...until Elmer caught him off guard with wanting something new.  I felt sorry for Shep in his desperation to make Elmer happy.  I wish he'd communicated more but I was still rooting for him to make a more secure HEA for himself.  Elmer was someone who angered me time and time again, often made things about him, but I still enjoyed the discussion he fostered in readers.  Another character I enjoyed was Tank, a delicious husband and larger than life character who I wish had played a bigger role in the story.

From start to finish this was a book that pushed buttons, one that was thought-provoking and had readers debating sexuality and self-esteem.  Definitions are never easy and this book gives readers a lot to think about.  While it's not a perfect read it's one that you won't forget anytime soon!

My rating for this is a C+

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Carey PW (he/they) is a debut author, college instructor, and mental health counselor. Carey is currently completing his next manuscript, Acing the Game.
Carey lives in Montana, and identifies as nonbinary, transmasculine (AFAB) and panromantic asexual. Due to the lack of resources in rural communities, Carey has discovered that writing about his lived experiences is a therapeutic outlet for him and hopes that his readers relate to his own personal struggles and triumphs shared through his characters’ narratives. Carey is particularly interested in exploring relationship conflicts around sexuality and gender differences. He has also worked as a high school writing instructor and college writing instructor, earning a B.A. in English Literature, a M.Ed. in English Education, and Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education all from the University of Georgia. In 2020, Carey earned his second M.Ed. in Counselor Education and works as a licensed clinical professional counselor, LCPC. He has a strong passion for working with the unique mental health issues of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Readers can learn more about Carey from his blog, www.careypw.com. When he is not writing, Carey is busy training for marathons, parenting his six cats, sharing his culinary talents on social media, serving on the board for the nonprofit Center for Studies of the Person (CSP) and learning photography. 
Carey PW loves to hear from readers. You can find his contact information, website and author biography HERE.

AUTHOR BLOG  |  INSTAGRAM  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  TIKTOK

**********GIVEAWAY**********

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Friday, September 8, 2023

Book Release Blast for Reckless Heart by Brighton Walsh (REVIEW)…….

 A secret romance explodes in this fourth installment in the Starlight Cove series as a businessman becomes entangled with his employee...who just happens to be his sister's best friend.  Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Reckless Heart by Brighton Walsh, along with getting my impressions of it, then add this steamy and sentimental small town romance of opposites attracting to your bookshelf!

Turns out the gorgeous woman I had a one-night stand with is not only my sister’s best friend but also my new employee.
Worse? I shared a whole lot more with Avery than one mind-blowing night. I told her my deepest, darkest secret.
Despite my constant worry that she’ll let the truth slip to my family, I can’t stay away from her. And when we’re tossed together for an out of town trip and forced to share a room with only one bed, the chemistry between us finally explodes...again.
I have no problem making her see stars—or breaking the bed. The trouble is, the longer our secret relationship goes on, the more I want to keep her.
But she’s eight years my junior, the sunshine to my grump, and I know her free spirit wants more than the small town of Starlight Cove can offer.
I have no doubt no one will ever give her more pleasure than I will, but I refuse to hold her back. Even if that means letting her go when her three month contract is up.


BUY here.


MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Courtesy of Ms. Walsh, and her sweet and spicy small town romance, my week has ended on a definite high note.  In a story that checked many of my happy boxes, readers will find this a comfortable read that is low on angst and high on sexual tension thanks to its delicious hero.  With much about this book feeling familiar, the story becomes like a blanket that warmly embraced me and captivated me from the first page to the last.

In a story full of delights, the brightest spot is its decadently delicious hero, Aiden McKenzie.  To the world he seems buttoned-up and dedicated to work, a man who likes to control everything he sees as his.  Behind the scenes though is another side to Aiden, a casually sexy side that shows off his tats and his talent for dirty talk and erotic thoughts...all leading to a big secret he's been hiding, one that he only shares with his one night stand.  It's a one night stand that changes his life irrevocably as it's courtesy of an unforgettable woman...one he discovers is his sister's best friend.  Avery and Aiden are combustible from the moment they lock eyes and they waste no time burning up the pages.  Though Avery working for Aiden leads to a few awkward exchanges early on they have a wonderful connection that sees them wholeheartedly supporting one another with each turn of the page.  Through it all Avery's a likable heroine, fun and sassy, but with some issues that have kept her from reaching HEA.  Aiden's just the one to help her be all she can be though and they fit together like two pieces in a puzzle.

Along with a combustible main couple, there were a slew of entertaining secondary characters who were funny and told it like it was.  Friends and family of Aiden were especially delightful with banter that constantly had me smiling.  Young and old both provided entertaining banter and keep driving this series forward, leaving me clamoring for more.

My rating for this is an A-

*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Award-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh spent a decade as a professional photographer before taking her storytelling in a different direction and reconnecting with her first love—writing. She likes her books how she likes her tea—steamy and satisfying—and adores strong-willed heroines and the protective heroes who fall head over heels for them. Brighton lives in the Midwest with her real life hero of a husband, her two kids—both taller than her—and her dog who thinks she’s a queen. Her boy-filled house is the setting for dirty socks galore, frequent dance parties (okay, so it's mostly her, by herself, while her children look on in horror), and more laughter than she thought possible.
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Connect with the author HERE.