Tag Archive: Book Reviews


My very first read of Lauren Smith and her new series, ‘Brothers Of Ash And Fire”, is very, very interesting. Titled “Grigori” one of the handful of the existing Royal Dragon Shifters, the story is pretty interesting and captivating.

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Keeping the history of his ancestry and the existence of his family’s descendants a secret is Grigori’s ultimate goal. But a mythology professor and history buff, Madelyn Haynes is threatening that very secret, it’s his job to make sure she does so, even of he has to kidnap and keep her a prisoner in his castle.

Plagued by mystical dreams, Madelyn comes to Russia looking for answers never imagining being swept away by a dangerous and sexy stranger. The dreams of dragons chase her in the night along with the fiery attraction that sparks towards Grigori.

With ageless secrets coming to life, and with the revelation of truth behind Madelyn’s mythological dreams, Grigori and Madelyn have to decipher history to protect their ancestry, they have come together to fight the evil threatening their existence and future.

Lauren Smith’s first read was pretty impressive and captivating as she takes the readers on a mythological journey of Royal Dragon shifters, their fight to survive among the humans, their struggle to keep their existence a secret, and ward off evil that threatens their mates and their future.

Received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

The beauty of this love story lies in its simplicity deeply intertwined with the complexity of life. This is one of those very few stories where the main characters, Gabe Maguire and Adriana Hale have such intense chemistry that fills every word Melanie Shawn has penned!

When fate deals MMA fighter Gabe Maguire a left hook, he takes it in his stride with courage and patience, with support and care from his family, victorious and a champ. Now officially a firefighter, he wants to have his own HEA and family in Hope Falls, and destiny brings him face to face with Adriana Hale.

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Mother of twins and guardian of a nine year old nephew, Adriana Hale at a young age of twenty six has her life mapped out around her little family. Circumstances and with the need to do the right thing, brings Adriana to the charming town of Hope Falls, warmth and Gabe, who may vey well be deeply connected to her family.

The grandeur of this romance lies in the expert narration by Melanie Shawn as Gabe and Adriana handle the normal complexities of life with patience, practical and reasonable and a healthy dose of attraction and love. With the presence of kids and their personal lives and feelings interlaced with that of the adults, I love the fact that their feelings were given precedence, yet not taking away the essence of adulthood, the complexities and the emotions.

“Fire And Foreplay” is a poignant read of two of the most beautiful people who deserve all the happiness in the world, for themselves and for their readymade family. Kudos to Melanie and Shawna as they keep the plot tight, the narration light and humorous, highlighting emotions and relationships and full of warmth and incredibly beautiful. In a world going so wrong, here is a lovely romance to make us feel hopeful and the belief that the good outweighs the bad.

Received an ARC from the author for an honest review.

Anyone following the Shaughnessys knows that there is the Shaughnessy sister Darcy, pampered, indulged and spoiled and the apple of the entire family. Super social, talkative, interfering and the eternal butterfly fluttering from one job to another with mad organization skills, yet never zeroing in on her passion, faces off with Benjamin Tanner, the reclusive artist.

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Loving his solitude, away from the public eye and shunning social gatherings, Ben wants nothing more than to be left alone to create his amazing woodcarvings, his passion and his livelihood. Circumstances bring the tornado Darcy to his quite and Ben is thrown into a hurricane of feelings, lust, attraction and fighting for his solitude at the same time.

As much as I can understand Darcy, it was hard for me to get her fixation of having a perfect family and perfect everything, and I really thought for a grown adult, she sure comes off like a spoiled brat. Ben is the epitome of a saint, patiently handling Darcy’s various hang-ups and insecurities and I can’t blame him for taking a break! And yes, he’s not perfect either.

And my hang-up was Darcy and if portraying her as the spoiled rich brat was Samantha Chase’s goal, then she definitely achieved that. But I definitely did feel that the ending was rushed, and Darcy’s enlightenment of her mistakes and all was a tad fast to accept. The conversation between Owen and Darcy is my favorite of the book…insightful, honest, brutal and totally rocked!

Benjamin Tanner is the flavor of “Holiday Spice” for me!

Received an ARC from Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley for an honest review.

From the publication of her very first book “When You Are Ready” to now, Jennifer L. Berg has become an illustrious writer with her eloquent narration, keeps every character in her heart and writes with her soul.

A new series, “By The Bay”, with the latest title, “The Choices I Have Made”, she gives the readers another thought provoking and insightful story of two young teenage lovers, Jake Jameson and Molly McIntire, torn apart by circumstances and the choices made.

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Now twelve years later, Jake Jameson is back in his hometown, as a doctor and to fulfill his father’s last wishes and rites. Twelve years away did not dim his love for Molly nor did it ease the pain or memories of their past. And coming face to face with her, makes him question the choices he had made and the distance they had created.

Never leaving her little bay town, and now running her family’s B&B, Molly McIntire buried the bittersweet memories of Jake deep inside and is ready to move on with her life. But then the past comes knocking on her door for a place to stay, a friend to talk with and all the anger and fears bubble over, making Molly question the choices she had made twelve years ago.

“The Choices I Have Made” is a stunning story of two beautiful people, the choices that have separated them, fate that brings them together and destiny wants to give them a second chance to build a future together. Jennifer Berg as always dead-on with penning the emotions, fears and insecurities of two people in love, of the circumstances that separated them, and the reconciliation of their anger and residual resentment, that gives them a second chance for a life together.

Received an ARC from the author for an honest review.

Here is another author I enjoy reading her books – Jeannie Moon!

Another writer/author with immense talent and creativity, penning charming romances that go straight to the hearts of the readers, her latest release, “Then Came You” is no less deserving of the readers’ praise.

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Moving to the tiny town of Compass Cove, Mia DeAngelis hopes to give her nephew Ben a new lease of life, nourishing his passion for sports and a life far away from the judgmental people of the big city. Working at the college library and living with her grandmother, gives Mia a sense of control and a bond with her grandmother to treasure and a sense of belonging in the tiny close-knit community.

Ben’s passion for sports brings her in close proximity to the college football coach Adam Miller. An injury forced Adam to retire from NFL, and relocate to Compass Cove, to recuperate and start fresh as a coach for the local college. Neither he nor Mia ever had love on their agenda, but Adam wants to explore the attraction that flares between them, and his love for the game and her nephew tempts him for a life that he never dreamed of having.

I loved the way Jeannie Moon developed the relationship between Adam and Mia. With so many insecurities and fears dogging their feet, they still find the courage to explore the possibility of a future, the trust that evolved between them was so well penned with various situations and so is the progression of the their love.

“Then Came You” book one in the Compass Cove series, dis an incredibly beautiful romance to read and enjoy.

Received an ARC from Tule Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

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