Contemporary Romance Review ~ One for the Road (Barflies, Book #3) by Katia Rose @KatiaRoseAuthor

Better late than never.

It’s the phrase on the tip of everyone’s tongues. For three years, every staff member and regular at Taverne Toulouse has watched Zach and DeeDee edge their way closer to the grand finale of a ‘will they, won’t they’ dance that feels like it’s lasted for decades.

Bets have been placed. Wagers have been drawn. The whole of Montreal’s most famous dive bar is holding its breath. Will the small town boy with a heart of gold finally make a move on the wild, pink-haired bartender he’s been in love with for years, or will the moment pass them by and leave Zach and DeeDee insisting they’re ‘just friends’ yet again?

A rowdy night at the bar gets served with a twist that sends DeeDee spinning—not into Zach’s arms, but straight into his living room. With his dream girl crashing on his couch for a few weeks and brightening his days with spontaneous dance parties and eventful forays into the art of hair dyeing, Zach’s feelings only get stronger, and DeeDee’s follow right behind.

He calms her storms, and she streaks his skies with lightning. They fill each other’s gaps with a symmetry neither of them can ignore, but every step closer only raises the stakes of losing it all.

Late or never. A choice three years in the making. Their final shot to get it right.

Publication Date : April 29, 2020

Print Length : 348 pages

ASIN : B0871P6P9B

Amazon: https://amzn.to/37dsWPe

My Review:

I love the entire Barflies series but the story of Zach and DeeDee is my absolute favorite. I have been chomping at the bit for their story. The author weaved their "will they, won't they" saga through books 1 and 2 but finally, Zach and DeeDee's book has arrived!

Zach and DeeDee have chemistry, boy do they have chemistry. Zach has watched DeeDee flirt and date for years without stepping up and vying for her attention. When disaster strikes and DeeDee is out of options, Zach comes to the rescue and she is holed up on his couch. 

We learn a lot about DeeDee. She's wild, the life of the party, outgoing, and always ready for fun. What we discover is that our little party girl has some demons chasing her. The author breaks DeeDee down in such an awesome way. We get to learn about her past but it doesn't make DeeDee anything less that the woman she is right now. The author created a strong person, one who knows Zach is who she wants but also knows she needs to be happy with herself before she can truly commit to anyone. 

Zach, oh my goodness, Zach. What a fantastic character!. Always there for anyone, especially DeeDee, Zach is the boy next door, sweet, charming and the exact opposite of the bad boys DeeDee typically chooses. His strength, compassion, and understanding nature allows him to fall for DeeDee but pull back when she needed space. We also saw Zach grow. He began putting himself first after so many years of putting his own needs and wants to the side. 

Both Zach and DeeDee were flawed, required taking hard looks at themselves and who they were and wanted to be. These two were imperfect, but after all the soul-searching, they were perfect for each other. Zach and DeeDee are my favorite pair from the Barflies series and I will be forever grateful the author, Katia Rose, contacted me and requested a review. 

My Rating:

 

Review: The Secrets of Gable House (Lost Souls Book 1) by Nancy Fraser @nfraserauthor @GoddessFish

About the Book:

Noah Miller is shocked to learn that an unknown great uncle has named him heir to the family fortune, including the residence known as Gable House. Built by Noah’s fifth-back grandfather, the house is ripe with family secrets and unusual occurrences.

Maggie Shephard has spent the past ten years researching the history of Willow-By-The-Sea, including that of her own ancestors. Considered an authority on New England history, she’s often sought out as a consultant. When Noah Miller asks for her help in acquainting him with both the house and his ancestors, she jumps at the chance to share her knowledge with the handsome architect.

Noah and Maggie have an immediate attraction to one another, made even more so by the time they spend together researching the Gable family history. The fact that each Gable male died an untimely and gruesome death, leads Noah and Maggie on a quest for the truth in hopes of setting a murderous spirit free.

Purchase from Amazon

My Review:

Noah Miller is the new owner of Gable House, much to his surprise. Noah thought he was alone in the world so the bequeathing of a great uncle's estate is a huge surprise. When Noah shows up in town to settle the estate, he learns his family has secrets. Deep, dark, and possible paranormal secrets. Good thing he has a very knowledgeable librarian, and town historian, at his disposal. She knows almost everything there is to know about his family tree.

Maggie Shephard's knowledge about the history of Willow-By-The-Sea comes through hard work, lots of research, and journals passed down in her family. When the surprising new owner of Gable House comes to her seeking information about his family, she is excited to help him, and maybe get to know him better. As they discuss his lineage and she takes him on a tour through his familial home, they are encompassed by weird, otherworldly occurrences. It would appear one of Noah's ancestors might not have been able to give up the Gable House. 

The Secrets of Gable House is a short paranormal story. I was engaged in the story from the very beginning and loved the setting, the author's writing style, and mix of paranormal and contemporary romance. I enjoyed the quick paced story with likeable characters. The romance was sweet and a bit spicy and I loved Noah and Maggie together. Their chemistry is undeniable and they have wonderful new-romance passion and intimacy. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Review:

#Review ~ The Demigod Complex (Brimstone Inc. #1) by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks @EntangledPub #PNR

 

When Lyleia Naiad was head-hunted by Brimstone, Inc., for her job as Executive Assistant to a high-powered billionaire demigod, she was given one directive—do NOT fall in love with Castor Dioskouri. Doesn’t matter if he’s the son of Zeus and can electrify a room with a single glance. As an ex-nymph, she possesses a unique ability—a gift from the goddesses to protect nymphs from the randy gods—to resist her boss's charms.

Or so she thought.

He insists she accompany him to an alpha wolf shifter mating ceremony, an event where the pheromones fly, and so do clothes...and inhibitions.

Goddesses save her, because Castor has stolen into Lyleia’s heart, and she’s not so sure she can hold out much longer...

Publication Date : February 17, 2020
Publisher : Entangled: Amara (February 17, 2020)
ASIN : B08472G5RJ
Word Wise : Enabled
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2SLnrz4

Lyleia "Leia" Naiad is a former nymph, having lost her spring after a vindictive werewolf had hers destroyed. After her banishment, Leia became an Executive Assistant to Castor Dioskouri, who is also a demigod and the son of Zeus. Nymphs, whether active or banished, have a magical interference, allowing them to resist the charming behavior of gods and demigods. Leia should be more than safe from Castor.....but her heart might not be safe.

Castor Dioskouri asked for one think from Brimstone Inc. when he requested a new assistance. He did not want anyone who would be attracted to him, require love and affection, or fall into lust with him. The company chose the perfect employee, a water nymph. Blessed with a gift allowing nymphs to resist sexual temptations, he thought he'd be safe from Lyleia Naiad. Except he wasn't really.

When Castor discovers Lyleia is going to resign, he does everything in his power to prevent that from happening. During her latest attempt, Castor requests her attendance at a mating ceremony between to shifter packs. Determined not to go, Leia tries to remove herself from the situation but Castor wins, like always. Leia soon finds herself making travel arrangements to Rocky Mountain National Park where they will be staying with the pack members in the Stanley Hotel.

(2017 copyright A.M. of Sapphyria's Books)

(2017 copyright A.M. of Sapphyria's Books)

The Demigod Complex is a quick read, blending paranormal romance and mythology in a novella that packs a punch. Both Leia and Castor are terrific characters and I really enjoyed the chemistry the author created between them. The world building was done well and I was able to visualize the story as I read along. I can't wait to begin the second book in the series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Review ~ Our Star-Crossed Kiss (The Rooftop Crew, Book 4) by Piper Rayne #ContemporaryRomance

About the Book:

She’s got two strikes against her.
Her name is Erickson and her parents own The Bagel Place.

It wasn’t always that way. When we were nine, we were best friends. But then a feud between our dads ripped their successful business apart—and my best friend was ripped away too.

Our paths were bound to cross again. When both our families vie for the same spot on a Food Channel’s reality show, the producers decide to change the format, aligning us as allies.

In order to get our parents to agree to work together, Evan asks me to pretend to be her boyfriend, but I dare her to up the ante—be my fiancée. Fake fiancée… obviously.

As usual, I didn’t think things through. Turns out our parents have a lot of demands neither one of us expected. And all those demands lead to things feeling more real than fake.

Grab Your Copy Here:
Amazon US

My Review:

Evan Erickson and Seth Andrews are ones who got away...from each other. A family feud from 20 years ago split the duo apart. Evan and Seth spent all that time using avoidance techniques while being equally as miserable. When a cooking show comes to town, they find themselves competitors until the producers shake up the format. Now, Evan and Seth concoct a scheme to reunite their still-feuding parents....they pretend to date and become engaged. As Evan and Seth's plan continues to ramp up, so do their feelings for each other. The ending of this charade may prove to completely break them both.

Everything about Our Star-Crossed Kiss worked for me. The characters are awesome and include everyone from the previous books. Evan and Seth have such fantastic chemistry and witty banter. While you could consider this a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the series in order so you have context. The character development is great and the authors continue to introduce a new characters. The level of emotions in this book run high, are expertly written, and make the reader feel exactly what the characters are feeling.

The entire series is awesome and highly recommended. Our Star-Crossed Kiss is exceptional and I loved the book very much. I'm glad I will be able to read the story again anytime I want.

I look forward to the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

#Review ~ Morrigan’s Blood by Laura Bickle @Laura_Bickle #UF Urban Fantasy ~ Crow’s Curse, Book One

Garnet has the blood of the legendary Morrigan – and legions of vampires and witches will go to war to possess that power.

Morrigan’s Blood
Crow’s Curse
Book One
Laura Bickle


Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Syrenka Publishing LLC
Date of Publication: Sept. 25, 2020
ASIN: B08B9TJ4V9
Number of pages: 188
Word Count: 57000

Cover Artist: Danielle Fine

Amazon Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3iDIgqv

About the Book:

Garnet has the blood of the legendary Morrigan – and legions of vampires and witches will go to war to possess that power.

As a trauma surgeon, Garnet Conners has seen more than her fair share of blood. But when one of her patients walks off the operating table and disappears into the night, she finds herself caught in a war between legions of vampires and witches in her city.

Garnet has dreamed of bloody battlefields for years – and a mysterious lover who controls a kingdom. In her waking life, Garnet is shocked to meet that man in a club. Merrel knows her from another life, a life in which she was the legendary Morrigan, goddess of death and war.

Garnet rejects the notion of magical incarnations altogether. But she falls in with Sorin, a handsome warlock who’s determined to protect the former bootlegger city of Riverpointe from a secret society of vampires. Haunted by crows and faced with undeniable proof of magic, Garnet scrambles to protect her career and loved ones from magical violence.

Abducted by vampires who seek to turn her into a vampire against her will, can Garnet seize the power of the legendary Morrigan to forge her own path in her embattled city? Or will she be forced to serve as a fearsome weapon in a deadly nocturnal war?

My Review: 

Told from both a historical point-of-view and a modern setting, the author sets up a story that begins in an ancient time filled with battles, treason, and blood. Lots and lots of blood. We learn about the Morrigan, a vampire, also known as the Queen of the Night. She grants her favors to kings in exchange for blood. I enjoyed reading about Laura Bickle's telling of the Morrigan.

The Queen of the Night's modern day predecessor is Garnet Conners. Garnet is a trauma surgeon extremely dedicated to her work. She works all the time, not giving herself an opportunity for much down town or time out with the few friends she has made. Dreams of blood, battlefields, vampires, and crows begin to crowd her nights. Garnet has always found friends in crows. They have always navigated their way to her, leaving little gifts. 

Garnet's life is about to be rocked at the foundation as she meets one of the men from her dreams in a club. The club later becomes engulfed in flames.  To add to the weirdness, one evening she has a fully sedated patient spring off the OR table, jump out a window, and disappear after being fully surrounded by figures just off hospital grounds. Wait until she finds out she's the reincarnation of the Morrigan, goddess of death and war, also knows as Queen of the Night - and everyone is out to harness her power.

Laura Bickle is one of my favorite authors. She writes interesting and captivating stories. The way she twists the mythology of the Morrigan into a modern-day telling is nothing short of perfection. I was captivated from the start and engaged throughout the book. The references to elemental salamanders reminds me of Sparky, the salamander from the author's Anya Kalinczyk series, and I smile every time she inserts those little Easter eggs. I enjoyed the story of Garnet's life being shaken-up, her fairly realistic-feeling dreams, and her inevitable walk down the path of the supernatural. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Review: The Heart of Doctor Steele by Colette Dixon @CDixonBooks #Historical #Romance

Are the rumors about him true? 

She intends to find out.

About the Book:

The mysterious Dr. Steele has taken up residence next door, and scandalous rumors about him are spreading through Margaret Landeau’s small Massachusetts town. Rumors of women he’s ill-used and exploited for his experimental surgeries. Never one to believe gossip, Margaret arms herself with a basket of baked goods and ventures to discover the truth from the man himself.

John Steele has lost everything. His parents, his aunt, too many women he intended to save, and his good name. All he has left is his aunt’s home in a far-flung village and a library he’s stocked with whiskey. He has nothing to offer anyone. Especially not the bold woman next door whose passion for healing reminds him of the man he once was.

But when a dangerously ill girl arrives on his doorstep, pleading for help, Margaret is thrust into his world. She will learn who the real Dr. John Steele truly is, and soon, not even his dark past can stop her from fighting for the brilliant doctor she now loves. But he must deny his crushing desire for her—loving a man like him can only cast a shadow over her own bright future.

Book Details:

Publisher : Crimson Fox Publishing (October 6, 2020)
ASIN : B08DTJ6VDW
Publication Date : October 6, 2020
Print Length : 325 page

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/30Cui23

My Review:

I was enchanted by The Heart of Doctor Steele by Colette Dixon. The author breathed new life into historical romance with subject matters that women are still having to fight with men about today - the right to treatment for our own bodies and the right to be equal (attending medical school in Margaret's day and equal pay in modern day, for example). I found myself completely absorbed in the tale of Dr. John Steele, disgraced doctor of female ailments. His desire to help those of the fairer sex is noble but, at the point in history, not widely approved. Being run out of town after the spread of lies and the threat of a lawsuit, Dr. Steele finds himself holed up in his late aunt's home in a small town in Massachusetts. 

Margaret Landeau is curious about their new, reclusive neighbor. Unflattering rumors about him have being to circulate but Margaret being of sound mind and not prone to the beliefs of idle gossip, refuses to believe the stories. She's intent on being neighborly and finding out the truth about Dr. Steele. Let's just say his first impression was less than stellar. Yet, Margaret feels drawn to him and is eager to know more. As her unwavering confidence in Dr. Steele, as not only a capable surgeon but also a gentleman, continues to grow, feelings develop between them. When his past drops onto his porch like a rock rolling down a mountain, John and Margaret will be tested in ways they never expected.

This book was amazing and I couldn't put it down. The author created and developed wonderful and likable characters. The subject matter was timeless, pertaining to history and current events. The research done and incorporated into this book by Colette Dixon was on point. I loved the additional historical detail the author provides at the end of the book. The world building was flawless and showed me a small town in the early 1800's where I could see everything from the homes to the church, and feel the tension between John and Margaret  and the stress during surgeries that, at the time, included surgeries without anesthesia. This is a must read!

I was provided an ebook of The Heart of Doctor Steele to review and my thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Rating:

Review: Hush of Ruin: Mists of Magic and Mayhem, Book 4 by HP Mallory @HPMallory #Fantasy #Romance

This episodic, monthly fantasy romance series will suck you into the world of magic and mayhem—of witches, vampires, fae and lycanthropes.

Episode 4: Hush Of Ruin

Sinjin Sinclair has one goal—to gain entry into the Abyss in order to find and protect his one true love. But getting into the Abyss isn’t quite as easy as he might have hoped and he’ll find himself traveling to Faery in order to request help from an unlikely source...

Meanwhile, Emma continues to try to understand who sent a killer spirit after her. And the one person who can help her solve the mystery just happens to be her incredibly handsome and sexy professor...

Pagan wonders if maybe going to Nyx wasn’t such a good idea, after all, when he finds himself her prisoner...

And what happens when Jolie suddenly feels the presence of her sister through their shared mental bond? Is it possible Bryn has entered the Abyss?

Find out what happens in the fourth episode of the Mists of Magic and Mayhem Series!

MISTS OF MAGIC AND MAYHEM:

1. Shadow Phantoms

2. Circle of the Moon

3. Hallowed Flames

4. Hush of Ruin

Publication Date : September 19, 2020

Print Length : 143 pages

ASIN : B08JKQBZGT

Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/34oXCdf

Visit the Author:

www.hpmallory.com

My Review:

Hush of Ruin is the 4th episode in the Mists of Magic and Mayhem serial by HP Mallory.

Episode 4 has a lot going on in the world of Jolie Wilkins. Emma, Stone, and Clark are battling for Emma's life against a killer spirit. Knowing who sent it will go a long way in snuffing the spirit out, provided Emma and Stone figure it out before the spirit can make good on his request.

Bryn is trying to locate a way into the Abyss. Sinjin, desperate to help and protect her, finds himself at the door of an unlikely ally. Together, the duo must find their way to Brynn.

Hush of Ruin is action-packed, fast-paced, and pulls the reader in effortlessly and keeps them engaged. I am excited to be back in this world. Along the way through this fresh, new adventure we get to meet new characters, venture into new settings, and learn new things. The story is engaging and branches in several directions, but done smoothly.

This series is amazing and I love that we are back in the world of Jolie Wilkins. We get to see what they are up to 10 years after the end of the Bryn and Sinjin series. Each book draws you in and the endings keep you wanting more. I’m constantly on edge, waiting for the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating: