Blurb: His whole life Hrafn had been ridiculed for his inability to always understand things. He was slower than others when it came to comprehending the world around him, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want what everyone else did – love. Yet, he was sure that would never happen for him, for who could ever learn to love someone like him?
With a knock on the door, Teagan’s world had been changed. Unsure how life could be so cruel and take his family from him, Teagan struggled to find meaning in his life. Searching for his ancestry led him to the place where the origins of his family tree began. If he’d known his being there would bring hell upon earth to that small town, he never would have come. Then again, if he hadn’t, he never would have met his fate.
Hrafn and Teagan must find a way to break down the barriers of their past so they can see what is Beneath the Surface if they hope to find their eternal love.
PLEASE NOTE: Although each book is about a different couple, these books should be read in order for maximum enjoyment!
Review: I loved this story about Hrafn and Teagan. This is full of twists and turns as Teagan learns of the others and their powers. Along with secrets revealed as to who the group of druid friends are descended from.
A new threat is revealed that causes the group to double their efforts in training and protecting each other. I have loved Hrafn from the very first book. He is so sweet and caring. His past is sad and horrible and I really felt empathy for him. Teagan seemed to be the balm that helped him heal what he thought of himself.
I thought Teagan and Hrafn were fierce in the face of their enemies. They fought with a determined passion to vanquish all threats. Another thrilling addition to the series.
Fantastic read and I highly recommend the entire series. They must be read in order as each book picks up where the last leaves off.
Hi guys! We have Shea Balik popping in today with her new release Beneath the Surface, we have a brilliant excerpt and Shorty’s review, so check out the post and enjoy! ❤️ ~Pixie~
Beneath The Surface
(Druid’s Curse 05)
by
Shea Balik
His whole life Hrafn had been ridiculed for his inability to always understand things. He was slower than others when it came to comprehending the world around him, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want what everyone else did – love. Yet, he was sure that would never happen for him, for who could ever learn to love someone like him?
With a knock on the door, Teagan’s world had been changed. Unsure how life could be so cruel and take his family from him, Teagan struggled to find meaning in his life. Searching for his ancestry led him to the place where the origins of his family tree began. If he’d known his being there would bring hell upon earth to that small town, he never would have come. Then again, if he hadn’t, he never would have met his fate.
Hrafn and Teagan must find a way to break down the barriers of their past so they can see what is Beneath the Surface if they hope to find their eternal love.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (24th February 2016)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: Since the death of their mother, Josten Applewhite has done what he’s had to do to take care of his little brother and keep their small family together. But in an instant, a stroke of bad luck tears down what little home he’s managed to build, and Jos and Isaac end up on the streets.
That’s where Officer Kip Rogers finds them, and even though he knows he should let the prop-er authorities handle things, he cannot find it in his heart to turn them away, going so far as to invite them to stay in his home until they get back on their feet. With the help of Kip and his friends, Jos starts to rebuild his life. But experience has taught him nothing comes for free, and the generosity seems too good to be true – just like everything about Kip.
Kip’s falling hard for Jos, and he likes the way Jos and Isaac make his big house feel like a home. But their arrangement can’t be permanent, not with Jos set on making his own way. Then a distant relative emerges, determined to destroy Jos’s family, and Kip knows Jos needs him – even if he’s not ready to admit it.
Review: Fire and Rain is the third book in Andrew Grey’s Carlisle Cops series. You don’t need to have read the previous book in the series. I’ve read and listened to the two series Carlisle Cops and Carlisle Deputies completely out of order. And while the characters from previous books pop up and you know that they are together, there is nothing vital mentioned that I found difficult to put together on my own. But that being said, it’s such a great series, it probably would be easier to start from the beginning and work your way through. I completely arsed it up, but no reason why anyone has to do that. I honestly think I was just too excited about the book itself I didn’t care and am familiar enough with Grey’s writing to know I can usually read (or in this case listen to) his series out of order.
That leads into the fact that I am a massive fan of Andrew Grey’s writing and I’m not ashamed to admit it. He has a great knack for mixing romance with kids. I connect to his writing style and the great way that he manages to includes kids in many of his books, they are not there for decoration and are a very important character along with the two romantic leads. Much like the previous book in the series, Fire and Rain is a great book for anyone that loves a good romance mixed up with a cop drama and includes a heart wrenching story with kids.
The narration of this book was by Randy Fuller. I am not unfamiliar with Fuller’s work. Fuller has performed the narration for Carlisle Cops and Carlisle Deputies, so I have quickly become accustomed to him being “the voice” of the series. His voice has a gravelly timbre that really suits the dangerous and raw emotion aspects of the plot line. In addition, he has a very reasonable, well-paced tone in his voice when it comes to portraying level-headed characters. (It is actually the latter trait that makes Fuller’s narration of The President’s Husband one of my favourite books to re-listen to, but that is not the point of this review).
Since I listened to this book and then went back to book 2, I did note that there is some similarities in the overall themes of the book. However, Grey uses this to his advantage in how the main cop character interacts with his colleagues and gets advice. But that isn’t me saying that it is identical, because it isn’t.
Officer Kip Rogers is on patrol and takes a call about a homeless person loitering near a shop which is the best place for protection out of the rain. That man is Josten Applewhite and Kip is horrified to see that Josten has his little brother Isaac, who is barely a toddler. With the local shelters already full, in part because of the terrible weather Kip’s protective instincts kick in and he wants to help the handsome young man with his adorable brother. However, Josten, aka Jos, isn’t trusting. After the death of his mother and losing his job and then being evicted out his apartment, Jos is understandably suspicious of anyone who wants to help him and Isaac without getting anything in return.
Now that he has met Kip, though, it seems that the two men are fated to be thrown together. Kip is also mindful that he doesn’t want to take advantage of Jos’s situation and for a start just wants to keep the man and the little boy safe. Kip is kind and gentle, as well as being strong, he is everything that Jos needs before we even get to the romance. As they begin to fall in love and Jos begins to get back on his feet, a threat comes in the form of an estranged aunt with ulterior motive. The whole story with the aunt, admittedly, wasn’t hard to work out before it fully played out but it was still a well-executed aspect of the story.
As I said earlier, I really love this series and hope that there will be more in future. At any rate, I know I will happily re-listen to this audio.
Blurb: The Demon Prince, Brennen Vyskala, is dying and nobody can figure out why. If he doesn’t find a healer soon, he won’t live to see his 100th birthday, and his dream of final-ly uniting his kingdom will die along with him.
Aribel Tyre is a healer. Held prisoner in a secret room behind the Phantom Nightclub, he uses his gift to keep him and his brothers safe. When a group of demons come asking for him to come heal their prince, he finds himself facing a past that comes back to haunt him.
Brennen is thrilled when he discovers the beautiful healer is his mate, but he never ex-pects Aribel to reject him. His world shatters as his only chance at a happily ever after slips through his fingers. Can Aribel overcome his past abuse and learn to trust his mate before it’s too late or will Brennen die before he gets the chance?
Review: The Demon’s Healer is the first book in the series Under Demon Rule by Camellia Dawn. Dawn is a completely new author to me, so I didn’t know what to expect in terms of writing. However, the blurb indicated that this book was right up my alley. I had flagged this book to read it when it first came out but it dropped off my radar until recently.
The book follows Demon Prince Brennen Vyskala and timid human healer Abriel Tyre. The two couldn’t be any different. Brennen is a prince and with only months until his one hundredth birthday, he is under great expectations from his father when Brennen takes over as king after his coronation which is scheduled for short weeks away. The only problem is that Brennen is sick, on the verge of death and only his closest friends know that unless a healer can do something, Brennen wouldn’t make it to his coronation. That is when Brennen’s closest confidant finds a healer that could help Brennen. That healer is, of course, Abriel Tyre. He is being held against his will in the back of a club because of his talents – not only is he a healer but he is also an empath. Abriel finds out that he is leaving the club, but the only way he would do so is if he takes his brothers with him.
From the start things are not easy for Brennen and Abriel. Brennen knows that the human is his mate, however, past abuse and a terrible experience has Abriel running from his fate. Abriel is hot headed and is quick to jump to conclusion, which is a majority of the source of drama in this book. The only problem being he needs to get over his baggage before his mate dies.
I won’t go into things more. The plot is quite simple, but it was well written and was a fun read. I found that I liked the writing style and found it easy to sympathise with Abriel, despite the fact that if he was written slightly differently I would find him dislikeable for being so hard-headed. I also liked the chemistry between Brennen and Abriel, they work well together and I think that they give a certain hope for the future of the Demons. The other thing that is good is that we have now had the world and characters set up for the next books in the series.
Book 2 has recently been released and I am totally keen to read it, especially after I read the blurb and saw which characters that we in this book are involved.
I recommend this one for people that like paranormal romances, the demons and magic makes this a fun read.
Blurb: Carter Benson is a lonely, scarred mess of an alpha. Honorably discharged from the army after being injured, he is left with very little that really matters. All he has is a Trust fund he refuses to touch, burns on his face, and a brand new prosthesis. He doesn’t have his family, he isn’t near his friends, and his face makes small children cry. So, he goes to Maine, finds a tiny town, and starts a business as a plumber. It doesn’t help his loneliness, though. Until a little girl hunts him down and forces him to be her new best friend.
Elijah Wilson has lived in Hobson Hills his whole life. So what that most of the townspeople think he’s a whore because he’s a single omega and got pregnant at eighteen? So what if they think he takes advantage of his grandparents by living on their property? Elijah and his large extended family know better. They know that he hasn’t dated anyone since before Olive was born. They know he works hard in the family business and is great with investments. They know the truth, but it can be hard living in a town that doesn’t care about the truth. It can also be really lonely. Until his daughter makes a new best friend.
When the two men meet, sparks fly. Their lives change for the better, but life isn’t always easy. Narrow-minded townspeople and greedy parents can cause a lot of trouble. But there’s always hope. There’s always love.
Elijah had came home from college pregnant and alone. He had his entire family to help him but he was really good with money. He had taken over his grandparents old house when they wanted to go smaller and his daughter was growing up. However most of the town folk were not happy with him. They called him names and treated him like crap but for the most part he just took it in stride. Then his daughter introduced him to their new neighbor and he was caught.
Carter’s family was never happy with him. He studied to be a plumber and joined the military. When an accident happened he lost friends as well as his leg. He had burns on one side of his face and down his arm, but he was doing better than most. When he moved to Maine he didn’t think anything would change. However when a little girl shows up, hands him a goody basket and claims that he is her best friend, well damn things were going to be looking up. Then he meets her father and he is sold.
Life is going to be good, until Elijah’s parents showed up and shit hit the fan. It will take the whole town to help keep them safe, but in reality it will just take his alpha. This is one of those alpha and omega stories where the omega can get pregnant. It is also one of those where even though they are alpha and omegas, they are completely human. Which is not normally one of my favorite types but this author manages to make it stand out. I love the action packed, a bit of danger, excitement, cute animals that is in this story. It has so much humor mixed in that I love.
I enjoyed it quite a bit and can’t wait to get started on the next book. It will be one of those that will be read more than once.
Shorty’s Review đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 3 1/2 Hearts:
Carter is an ex soldier that was injured in battle. He keeps to himself as he’s self conscience about the scars he has. Elliott is an omega on his own with his daughter. He befriends Carter and the two hit off.
I like the way the story progressed at times but other times it felt too fast. Elliott’s family was a riot and caused many laughs. You have two men who are judged by others for being who they are and what they have been through. It shocked me how cruel some of the townspeople were in their gossip.
All in all it was heartfelt story with plenty of emotions and love. Good read.
I enjoyed reading this story and can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. I would definitely recommend it.
Blurb: New body. Four men. And a reputation so bad, even tabloids are tired of him.
Theo Salazar will never be the same again.
Shadowborn. Once known as a child embraced by the shadows themselves, he was the Dark Cult Clan’s greatest secret and their supreme sacrifice. He took them out from the face of the earth…before they came back to snatch him from the dead.
Theo went through his mental checklist: Revived? Check. Mind-fucked? After jumping off roofs apparently. Men who wanted him dead again? Yep.
A man couldn’t even die in peace and now I have to cater to this arrogant CEO? That’s where I draw the line.
Oh. And kill a shit god.
Before he was put in the body of a scum actor named Theo Salazar, he was a mercenary – a laid-back freelancer who lived to die. It just so happened that he was also called Theo.
“Theo without a last name.” Cursed. Feared. A man covered in the ashes of a thousand enemies…and about to retire, umbrella drinks and all. That is, until he died and found himself on a hospital bed like part of some abandonment play. Gods.
He was supposed to be dead — Only to wake up in another man’s body.
From runaway child vessel of shadow magic to the forever lovable bastard of a mercenary, he spent his whole life covered in blood. But just when he thought he could finally rest in peace…
Bang.
He died for a bet – thrown carelessly into a new life and new problems. “Good luck,” the voice said.
The threads of his life kept getting tangled, past life and present.
Haunted by dreams of an angel, Theo could only hear her pleas to save somebody she wouldn’t name. And then there were them. Four men who prowled his nightmares and sought to chain him to their very souls.
Strange Connections, Hollywood Hate.
Ever since he transmigrated to this new life, he found himself fighting more than he ever did on the battlefield.
Stuck in the body of an infamous “scum actor” known as Hollywood’s Creep, Theo had to survive not only god’s games, but also the actor’s enemies as well. Who also coincidentally shared the same first name as him. He was now…Theo Salazar the embarrassment of Hollywood.
Seriously. What exactly was he supposed to do over here?
Add fashion-crazed yakuza, fox-masked ninja with skills, and a lot of heavy dreams. To top it all off, the man who should have hated him the most? America’s Golden Child? Knew him in the most bizarre way.
Coincidence – or orchestrated by the gods? He wasn’t naive enough to believe in “fate”.
And why couldn’t a certain CEO just leave him alone? He’s not the only one.
Dealing with assassins under the moonlight was one thing. Heated encounters with strange men was another.
“Demon king…” What? Said the guy sleeping at my front door.
“A company must make it’s full investment back.” Why won’t you let me rip up the contract?!
“You saved my life!” Then stop stalking me!
“If you ever need to talk…” Okay. Shit. Can’t say anything here. It’s like he stepped out of a painting.
…I’ve lost it, haven’t I?
Why didn’t he simply leave them alone…disappear…vanish into the shadows like he always did? What was it about them that made him stay as much as he wanted to leave?
Review: I have to say this was one of the strangest yet entertaining books I’ve read so far. Theo is a complicated character at least it seemed to me he was. He has dark powers capable of killing men by the dozens. His own family wanted him dead so he dealt with them. But that’s not all assassination attempts are made repeatedly throughout.
Then there is the scene where he dies, which confused me greatly. How can you be killed by a dead man? I was lost at that scene. Afterwards Theo is thrust into countless dreamlike states where he sees individuals and gets glimpses of certain things. Then comes back to life in an actors body with the same name who everyone hates.
Whew it was a challenge grasping what was going on at times but what a wild ride it was. I loved the details and the imagery of the scenes. The things Theo does when put in a dangerous situation is mindblowing.
I enjoyed the story and looking forward to reading more about all the characters throughout.
Blurb: What if your first love was abducted and presumed dead—but returned twenty years later?
That’s the dilemma Cole Weston faces. Now happily married to Tommy D’Amico, he’s suddenly thrown into a surreal world when his first love, Rory Schneidmiller, unexpectedly reappears.
Where has Rory been all this time? What happened to him two decades ago, when a strange mass appeared in the night sky and lifted him into the heavens? Rory has no memory of those years. For him, it’s as though only a day or two has passed.
Rory still loves Cole with the passion unique to young first love. Cole has never forgotten Rory, yet Tommy has been his rock, by his side since Rory disappeared.
Cole is forced to choose between an idealized and passionate first love and the comfort of a long-term marriage. How can he decide? Who faces this kind of quandary, anyway? The answers might lie among the stars….
Review: Cole and Rory were so in love and belonged together like no other. Then Rory disappeared one night after making love. Cole could hardly eat, hardly sleep and hated going to work. Then he accidentally runs into Tommy with his bike and things were changing for him. He just never forgot the man he loved.
Twenty years have past and his love has changed. He married Tommy and their lives were looking good. The problem was his past love was the one he always thought about. Then Rory showed back up.
Rory has been gone for twenty years but to him he was only gone for a night or two. He even still looked like he was in his twenties and his love for Cole was still strong as ever. He just had no clue what happened to him.
When I came across this book I actually figured the author was just going to turn it into a menage a trois story. That however was not the way he took it. I hate to admit that this book was twisted and not in the good way. There were no clues to where Rory had ended up for twenty years and you never get the answer. The book was down right creepy and I hated the ending.
I was glad that **** didn’t end up breaking ****’s heart, but what happened was ****’s heart was the one being broken. However I guess it was the only way that could have ended but I was disappointed in it either way. I would have loved it better if the three of them had gotten together in the end.
To be truthful I hated this story and it is going straight to the never read again list.
Overall the story is quite unique and is a very refreshing type of story. It just wasn’t for me…
Blurb: Santa isn’t the only one coming to town…
Chris wasn’t a part of the calendar shoot—his brother, Albert, was. When Chris attends the release party for the charity calendar, he isn’t expecting anything but a night of boredom.
Which is what he gets.
It isn’t until the following week when he has a client who turns out to be the sexy Dane Dillon—Mr. December—that Chris’ world gets turned upside down.
Review: Chris’ brother was part of the near disastrous photo shoot. Dane was sexy as hell Mr. December and needs a massage. This is where the two men start forming a relationship. I loved the way these two connected.
Another sexy, suspense filled story with a great cast of characters.
Blurb: Lucas’ life is good. He has friends, lives in a nice house, and owns a bookstore—which he thinks is the perfect job. He’s missing love, though, and he’s envious of his mated friends.
Carter left Chicago after his divorce. He needed a change, and Gillham is his hometown and a great place to raise his daughter Lilia. He’s wary when he meets Lucas and they realize Carter’s his mate, but he’s willing to give love another chance. Lilia deserves a second parent—the parent Todd never wanted to be.
Lucas thinks everything is going well until Todd tries to wiggle his way back into Carter’s life. He believes Carter when he says he’s not getting back with his ex, but is that really what Todd wants, or is there more behind his attempts to convince Carter he still loves him? And if there is, how far is Todd willing to push to get it?
Lucas thinks everything is going well until Todd tries to wiggle his way back into Carter’s life. He believes Carter when he says he’s not getting back with his ex, but is that really what Todd wants, or is there more behind his attempts to convince Carter he still loves him? And if there is, to what end is Todd willing to push himself to get it?
Review: Each book in Council Enforcers collection features a different romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order. This series is the children from Whitedell Pride and Gillham Pack so I would suggest reading those first.
Carter is a divorced father of a little girl. He decides that they should move back to his home town. He is not to sure about the sexy wolf shifter who claims to be his mate, but he can’t say the man doesn’t turn him on. Then his ex shows up and danger just seems to follow.
Lucas is a sexy wolf shifter who has just found his mate. A mate with a child, looks like he is about to become a dad. Now Lucas is my kind of man, he owns a bookstore and damn if he is not sexy.
Fascinating story that kept my attention throughout the whole book. It has quite a bit of surprises in it for me, lots of action, excitement and so much more in it. The worlds that this author creates is quite entertaining and somewhat mysterious. The characters are fully developed with quite a bit of attitude backing them up.
I enjoyed reading this story and can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. I would definitely recommend it.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (6th November 2018)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: All hands on deck for a shipboard romance—with a secret.
Like his cousins, Devin Walker aspires to be a chef, but he wants to indulge his wanderlust while feeding his customers, and working a cruise ship seems like the solution. Since he can’t find an opening in the kitchen, he’s happy to start out in a position behind the bar.
While onboard Poseidon’s Pearl, Devin is assigned to shepherd a visiting executive. Paul Bailey is quiet and unassuming, and a car accident that cost him his leg also shattered his confidence. He doesn’t think he’s attractive to other men anymore, and Devin is eager to show him just how wrong he is. Paul has a surprising secret that might sink their passionate affair before it even leaves port.
Review: Seeking Solace is the third book in Ari McKay’s series The Walker Boys. It isn’t essential that you read the previous books, though it would probably make life easier when one of the MCs, Devin Walker, talks about his family back home in Buffalo Lick, Texas. Much like the previous two books, Seeking Solace is a sweet and simple romance at heart. Of course, there is a good dose of drama, mostly fuelled by miscommunication and running away from one’s problems, but it is a fun and adorable story.
I really enjoyed this story when I read it and looked forward to the audio. When I grabbed the audio from Audible, I was even more excited to see that the narration of this book was done by John Solo. I absolutely love Solo’s narration, he has the magic touch – the magic tonsils? – when it comes to bringing emotional depth into the characters with just the tone of his voice. Some of Solo’s performances are also so good that a book that I didn’t like when I read it, or pick it up to read after listening to audio, are far more enjoyable than just reading the written text. That is the sign of a good narrator, in my opinion. Seeking Solace is no exception in terms of performance, I loved it and connected to Devin and Paul so quickly, especially when the drama of the story comes into play.
The story is about Devin Walker, one of the famous Walker boys from Buffalo Lick, Texas. Unlike his many cousins, he had it a little tougher time growing up when people out of town hurled racial abuse at him. Like many others in Walker clan, he has the cooking bug. He wants to be a chef but before he can get there, Devin is working as a bar tender on a cruise ship, where he meets Paul Bailey.
However, Paul Bailey is Paul Mercer. He is on the cruise ship undercover, as he is in fact the heir of the cruise line company. He just wants to be seen as another exec who has to spend time on ship before settling into a job at head office. Devin becomes Paul’s staff liaison and the two quickly develop a friendship that becomes something a lot more meaningful.
The problem being, is that when Devin discovers Paul’s true surname, he feels betrayed and goes back to the only place he knows to recover. Paul is confused why he didn’t see Devin and again and when he discovers what has happened he is determined and sweet enough to take the biggest risk.
These guys are well suited. Their chemistry is strong but there is something deeper to it than their physical attraction, which does bring in something of an instalove aspect to the book. This is the perfect escape book for a relatable and relatively uncomplicated romance. Fans of the previous books in the series or fans of Ari McKay or people that simply love the romance and sappiness that comes from many Dreamspun Desire books, you won’t be disappointed. For anyone else, if you’re into simple and sweet romances then this is the book for you.
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (8th April 2019)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: All Vance Connelly ever wanted to do was continue his family’s tradition and join the Tampa Po-lice Department, but his dreams were crushed the day he woke with the enhanced mark on his face. After years of struggling to adjust to life as an enhanced human, by a stroke of luck, he met Talon Valdez and became a proud member of the FBI’s Human Enhanced Rescue Organi-zation.
Samuel “Angel” Piper is eager to leave his DEA undercover work behind as he joins the HERO team as Vance’s regular human partner. But Sam’s painful past is ever present, just below the surface of the life he has built for himself as an ambitious young agent. When the team investi-gates rumors of a new drug using enhanced blood, the case’s mysterious connection to Sam threatens not just his life but Vance’s.
Trust doesn’t come easy for Sam, but Vance is willing to fight to convince his partner that the strength of his heart might be the salvation they both need.
Review: Strength of His Heart is book 4 of Victoria Sue’s series, Enhanced.
Before I started this audio, I hadn’t realised that I hadn’t realised it was a series, but a couple chapters in when it finally clicked to me, I was too invested to stop and get to the other three stories. I was able to follow the plot without any problem, although I am sure that I missed some points when it came to some of the background characters, they were well developed and fleshed out by this point in the series, but again, nothing that I couldn’t piece together in my head.
This book is the first book I’ve read/listened to by the author, so I had no idea what to expect in terms of the writing and the depth of the world that had been created. However, I am very familiar with the work of Nick J Russo, the narrator. Normally, I have heard him perform contemporary books and I have found that he is well suited. But this book is best described as an urban fantasy. I was totally blown away by how well he narrated the story and conveyed the complex emotions of the MCs. Both MCs are tough, alpha type of males, however, one is a gentle giant and the other is a scrappy guy.
The series is called Enhanced after a group of people in the world who have been ridiculed and discriminated against because the men (because it’s only men) that are “Enhanced”, known for the scar on their face after transformation, develop powers which the rest of humanity can’t understand. I suppose it’s a kind of parallel to the LGBTQI community. I’m not explaining the enhanced very well, but basically think of Marvel’s X-Men but it’s only men. Some enhanced can mind speak, some have super strength, some have healing – you get the point.
Vance and Sam are partners in a special FBI taskforce. It aims to team up human and enhanced partners in order to show the world that the enhanced aren’t monsters to be scared of.
Sam is ex-DEA (and has a past which is revealed through the story) but soon after partnering with Vance on the FBI team is back helping the DEA for another mission. Sam was good at his job in the DEA but he wanted so much more. He wanted to be in the FBI and didn’t want to be dragged back into the DEA. He has been used of protecting himself and being pushed around by people bigger than him, so when he is teamed up with Vance, despite sexual attraction, Sam isn’t going to let Vance take control.
Vance has always wanted to be a cop – it’s in his family to serve in the Tampa PD, his father is now the lieutenant, one of his brothers is also a cop, while another is also with the FBI. But Vance always wanted to be a cop, a choice that was taken away from him when he woke up as a teen, enhanced and with the scar to prove. While his parents and siblings have always been supportive of Vance, there are many opportunities and people in the world that do not think of him as human because of his abilities. The man has such a big heart and all he wants to do is help people.
Vance is a very sweet man and extremely vulnerable under his tough exterior, while Sam is tough and knows only how to keep up shields to keep himself safe from any kind of affection. There is an attraction between the two men, but with the danger of their ongoing case which involves drugs and added is the mystery of how enhanced have been dragged into the situation, things are often left on hold. As the danger increases the feelings also increase and Sam can’t help but keep putting his foot in his mouth to protect himself. Which, honestly, had me a tad emotional for poor Vance who wears his heart on his sleeve.
I absolutely adored this book. The chemistry between Sam and Vance is on point, their emotions are complex but relatable. The secondary character, some of whom have already had their own book in the series, are equally as deep and complex as Sam and Vance, even the two guys who have been set up to be the next couple of the series. The world that Sue has created is an adventure from start to finish. Now, I need to go back to the start of this series and find out about the other guys!
Blurb: Carter Schunk is a dedicated police officer with a difficult past and a big heart. When he’s called to a domestic disturbance, he finds a fatally injured woman and a child, Alex, who is in desperate need of care. Child Services is called, and the last man on earth Carter wants to see walks through the door. Carter had a fling with Donald a year ago and found him as cold as ice since it ended.
Donald (Ice) Ickle has had a hard life he shares with no one, and he’s closed his heart to all. It’s partly to keep himself from getting hurt and partly the way he deals with a job he’s good at be-cause he does what needs to be done without getting emotionally involved. When he meets Carter again, he maintains his usual distance, but Carter gets under his skin, and against his bet-ter judgment,Donald lets Carter guilt him into taking Alex when there isn’t other foster care avail-able. Carter even offers to help care for the boy.
Donald has a past he doesn’t want to discuss with anyone, least of all Carter, who has his own past he’d just as soon keep to himself. But it’s Alex’s secrets that could either pull them together or rip them apart – secrets the boy isn’t able to tell them and yet could be the key to happiness for all of them.
Review: Fire and Ice is the second book in Andrew Grey’s Carlisle Cops series. You don’t need to have read the previous book in the series. I’ve read and listened to Carlisle Cops and Carlisle Deputies completely out of order. And while the characters from previous books pop up and you know that they are together, there is nothing vital mentioned that I found difficult to put together on my own. But that being said, it’s such a great series, it probably would be easier to start from the beginning and work your way through.
This is a great book for anyone that loves a good romance mixed up with a cop drama and includes a heart wrenching story with kids. For me Andrew Grey is an instant read. I connect to his writing style and the great way that he manages to includes kids in many of his books, they are not there for decoration and are a very important character along with the two romantic leads. In fact, I’ve read the book before, loved it and so was super keen to get into the audio book.
The narration of this book was by Randy Fuller. I am not unfamiliar with Fuller’s work. Fuller has performed the narration for Carlisle Cops and Carlisle Deputies, so I have quickly become accustomed to him being “the voice” of the series. His voice has a gravelly timbre that really suits the dangerous and raw emotion aspects of the plot line. I particularly enjoyed his portrayal of emotionally closed-off social worker, Donald Ickle. In addition, he has a very reasonable, well-paced tone in his voice when it comes to portraying level-headed characters, in this book that being Carter Schunk. (It is actually the latter trait that makes Fuller’s narration of The President’s Husband one of my favourite books to re-listen to, but that is not the point of this review).
Carter Schunk loves his work and is dedicated to his job helping the people of Carlisle. He got the reputation of being a whiz with computers and so for the longest time spent most of his time behind the desk, being the man behind the screen and a great asset to the cops on the team. But now he has been able to move behind the desk and hit the streets. One of his first calls is to a domestic violence dispute which ended in the death of a woman. Instinct meant that Carter found scared, dirty and abused little boy call Alex. Carter has an instant connection with the kid and when child services struggles to help the boy due to lack of resources, Carter manages to goad Donald Ickle to help Alex himself.
Donald Ickle has earned the name Ice or Ice-Ickle, and for very good reason. Donald became a social worker so that he could help kids that needed it, much like he had needed help when he had been a child. Taken away from his mother and with no known family, he had lived his life in the system. He’s psychologically scarred and his defence is to push away anyone that wants to get close to him. He and Carter have already had a thing and Carter has already had his feelings hurt, but there is so much going on beneath the surface.
Carter doesn’t give up, not on Alex and definitely not on Donald. It is dangerous that the two men grow close to the little boy, and it is the little boy that brings them together. But this is just a deep and heartfelt plot that sees all three characters undergo a lot of changes throughout the book. These are really well developed characters and the feelings I got from them were intense. For this reason I adored Fire and Ice. Although, add in great chemistry and totally relatable characters and a slow burn romance, I was a very happy person by the end of it. That’s not to say I shed quite a few tears throughout the book.
When all seemed lost, the budding wordsmith is saved—in more than one sense—by Khalid Novak, a lifeguard at the lodge’s pool. Khalid is two years older, a bit more sophisticated, and the most incredibly alluring thing Dane has ever seen. The two young men find themselves joyously wound in a searing romance that teaches Dane that love can be wildly intense yet fleeting so one should revel in it when the discovery is made.
Can this summer romance survive the chill of autumn as well as the winds of time?
Review: Shake the Stars is a standalone novel by VL Locey. I am a massive fan of VL Locey, which really ramped up when she started to release the Harrisburg Railers series (collaboration with RJ Scott). I love her writing style and the sweet romances which I have come to know her for.
The story is about Dane Forrester and Khalid Novak. They meet each other on their respective family vacation and love blossoms between the two young men. However, education, continents and life throws up roadblocks for the two men. I don’t want to go into too much detail because I don’t give away the whole plot. I love how the book was set up, which follows the MCs from when they first met and jumps ahead to the present when everything seems lost.
Shake the Stars is a really heartfelt novel that goes through first loves, mistakes made on both sides and ultimately goes around to second chances. But there is hope and there is always love, which makes for a beautiful, mature love story.
Blurb: What are you willing to sacrifice for true love?
Harris and Grant were both raised in an orphanage. They’ve known beatings, starvation—and falling in love. When the dangers become too great, they run away into the dark woods, and they come across a cottage made completely of sweet treats. What could one taste hurt? Well, it stirs the handsome witch that lives inside. Fearing his wrath, they run straight into the brutal orphanage owner they were fleeing from before. Their unlikely hero is none other than the witch, but does the handsome magician want to save them or devour them? As it turns out, a bit of both.
But when the cottage the witch is bound to is set on fire, Harris and Grant face a terrible decision. For the only way the witch can be free is by eating one of their hearts…
Review: I loved this take on Hansel and Gretel, it was unique and fascinating with amazing characters that really blossomed the story into a fantastic read. Harris and Grant grew up in a orphanage. Neither have had a great time of it as the head of the place is a cruel man.
The boys finally run away and find Dec, a witch in the woods. Unfortunately Mr. D finds them and what follows is decisions and futures to be made.
Twists and turns along with an amazing story line had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. I loved it.
Blurb: Can a couple be more opposite than a thief and a cop? Or do they have more in common than they think?
Mattias Dumont stole to survive. He was damned good at it. But there’s no such thing as a victimless crime, and when he saw how his theft hurt people, he resolved to change. Now he works as a consultant, and while helping to investigate a rash of burglaries, he crosses paths with James.
Police Officer James Levinson doesn’t trust thieves, and that includes Mattias. James’s father stole to support himself, and James knows firsthand how that can destroy lives—it inspired him to go into law enforcement. Mattias is no different, from what he can tell… at first.
As they work together, Mattias and James realize there’s something deeper between them than just the physical attraction neither can deny. Given time, they might even grow to trust each other—unless the case they’re working on dredges up pasts both would rather forget.
Review: Mattias became a thief to survive. When his parents died and his grandparents took him in was the only time he was truly happy, then they passed on. He lived in several foster homes but when one of them got a little close he took off. The only way to make it was to steal for food and such. But when he met someone who had lost it all to a thief, he changed his ways. From then on he decided to help those who had been hurt from it all. Now he was working with an officer who really and truly hated him.
James’s father was a thief and he absolutely hated it. His father kept hoping for the next biggest score but it never came. Now there were a group that was stealing from homes using children, their own children. It was getting personal and in more ways then they expected. That hate might just change to something stronger, love.
This is absolutely a wonderful series to connect with. I loved the characters in this particular book and their stories. From first starting you would never think that these two could possibly get together. They are as opposite as one could get but damn if it doesn’t work. Their heat and passion is just as hot as they are. The twists and turns in this book has you sitting on the edge of your seat just trying to figure it out. It gave me the perfect blend of romance and crime to make the story just pop out.
I had a blast reading this and can’t wait to get started on the next book. It was an amazing story and I would definitely recommend it.
Firefighter Lucas Attiker is mired in guilt by his inability to save his young son, who perished in a fire three years ago. When he rescues a troubled young man and his baby daughter from a Colorado forest fire, Lucas finally begins to forgive himself. But the wildfire is only the beginning of the dangers facing them.
Hell-bent on saving his daughter from his crime boss ex, Owen Michaels is on the run with the baby in tow—fleeing both the killers who are after him and the US Marshals Service deputies assigned to protect him. When his desperate flight lands them in the midst of an inferno, the man who saves them offers hope for more than just survival.
They might have escaped a blazing forest and a hail of bullets, but both men will need to risk their lives—and their hearts—to give a little girl a loving family… if they can make it out alive.
Review: Lucas is a firefighter used to running headlong into danger to save those trapped in a fire. When a raging inferno spreads to a supposedly uninhabited area he and his crew are tasked with making sure no one is there. Owen and his daughter Mia are on the run from the man who desperately wants them back. Federal agencies are also looking for them so Owen can testify against the man looking for him.
One life saving encounter follows both men on the run for their lives as Lucas tries to keep Owen and Mia safe. I loved this story. There were dangerous situations around every corner. Shootouts galore as Owen and Lucas stay on the move. Corruption and a double cross I never saw coming led to one amazing read that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
I don’t know what else I can say without giving too much away. Read the book you will not be disappointed.
Blurb: When John “Moose” Zitelli discovers that the human who was beaten by a lion shifter and two demons is his mate, he decides to stick around Maple Grove. Moose is glad of his decision when a murder takes place in the sleepy town. Now that Grayson is the new town sheriff, his mate is gonna need all the help he can get to solve the crime. The suspect pool is residents with secrets to hide, but Moose is determined to find the killer and win his mate’s heart.
Grayson Copache doesn’t want to be the new sheriff, but he promised he’d take over the job. His first day finds him knee-deep in trying to figure out who is vandalizing the town. Then a murder happens and Grayson has no idea who the suspect is. But with the help of his sexy mate, some steamy sex, and a deputy who despises him, Grayson is sure he can crack the case.
Review:Each book in the Maple Grove collection features a new romantic couple. To enjoy the overall story arc and crossover characters, I would recommend reading the series in sequential order. This series is one of the cutoff series and I would suggest starting with book one in Brac Pack.
Grayson has been beaten by a lion shifter and two demons, found out that there were indeed more than human’s out there, found out that he had a bear shifter as a mate. To top that off he was now the sheriff of their little town, to bad he had not wanted the job. Now someone was destroying other peoples property and a murder has been committed.
Moose was a bear shifter who loved his sweets. He has found his mate and getting through the man’s hard head was difficult. However they are mates. He was going to keep his mate safe and if that meant following the man, getting in his way and helping with the case, well so be it. This is going to be fun to watch.
This is one of those series that you need to read another series to figure out what was going on prior to the book. Moose might eat you out of house and home, but he is as sweet as his deserts. I love the characters that this author comes up with . They are a blast to read and there is quite a bit of humor with them. This is a world that I would love to be a part of what with the crazy family these guys have.
I had a blast reading this and can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. I can guarantee that this is one of those stories that will be read many times over.
Blurb: No way was Arne going to allow fate to chain him to a guy who thought all creatures, even those determined to kill you, were worthy of saving. Arne was a Viking warrior, death was his thing and he was damned good at it.
Dermot Kincaid believed all of God’s creations deserved respect. He was a pacifist at heart, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t stand up for himself. Even when that meant getting retribution against the asshole who thought he was better than anyone else.
When Arne and Dermot are attacked, they must find common ground so they can work together to defeat the enemy. If they can’t, they may not just risk losing, but they also risk their hearts developing a Fatal Frost.
Review: I loved this story about Dermot and Arne. Arne was an ass to Dermot thinking Dermot was a coward. Dermot for his part always made Arne pay for his nasty comments by freezing him, which was hilarious. Gillie, Dermot’s three year old nephew was so adorable throughout the story.
Everything about this book appealed to me in every way. You learn a little more about the past from Dermot and the journals he has of Aed’s. Theories are talked about the rituals and the fae getting through. There are tense situations that had me on the edge of my seat awaiting the outcome.
Each book there is a new druid with a power to help combat the fae. I am so looking forward to the next book to see who comes next in the series and what their mates power will be.
Blurb: In the hottest summer on record, Iron Lake reservoir is emptying, revealing secrets that were intended to stay hidden beneath the water. The tragic story of a missing man is a media sensation, and abruptly the writer and the cop falling in love is just a postscript to horrors neither could have imagined.
Best Selling Horror writer Chris Lassiter struggles for inspiration and he’s close to never writing again. His life has become an endless loop of nothing but empty pages, personal appearances, and a marketing machine that is systematically destroying his muse. In a desperate attempt to force Chris to complete unfinished manuscripts his agent buys a remote cabin. All Chris has to do is hide away and write, but he’s lost his muse, and not even he can make stories appear from thin air.
Sawyer Wiseman left town for Chicago, chasing the excitement and potential of being a big city cop, rising the ranks, and making his mark. A case gone horribly wrong draws him back to Lan-caster Falls. Working for the tiny police department in the town he’d been running from, digging into cold cases and police corruption, he spends his day’s healing, and his nights hoping the nightmares of his last case leave him alone.
Review: What Lies beneath is a mystery, thriller written by RJ Scott. It is the first book in a trilogy and I highly recommend it to people that love a good mystery/thriller. There’s a horror writer, a cop, a years old murder mystery and a town’s whose upper echelons have been shady for too many years. And of course, there is romance. It is really a lot of fun and the mystery element is really well drawn out.
RJ Scott is an author that I’m familiar with. Years ago, I got into her Ellery Mountains series and I remember really enjoying it, but unfortunately she dropped off my radar until recently when I got into Scott’s collaborations with VL Locey (Harrisburg Railers, etc.). And so here I am, I find myself intrigued and happy to get back into RJ Scott’s writing away from Hockey.
What Lies Beneath starts out with Sawyer Wiseman, who is now back in his small hometown working for the equally small police department. He had dreams of excitement and had followed them to Chicago. There had been a lot of baggage left behind, with a friend that went missing and the fall out that had gone through the small community. However, when things had gone wrong in Chicago Sawyer sees no choice but to return home and take up the life of a small town cop. Even if he has to work for a most unlikable sheriff who has a hold on the town along with the mayor. The sheriff and mayor are the two most powerful men, at the very least the two men coverup a situation of domestic abuse, which no one likes but are powerless to stop for the time being. Sawyer is biding his time but at the same time will take the chance to do whatever he needs to make life peaceful for the people of Lancaster Falls.
Chris Lassiter is a best selling horror author and has come to Lancaster Falls to get away from things somehow get his mojo back and shake the writer’s block that was threatening his career. With Chris, think of someone a little like the horror version of TV’s Richard Castle (because I can’t go past a Nathan Fillion reference!). But being in a small town, a stranger does spark curiosity, especially when he resides in an old isolated cabin (so very horror!).
The discovery of bones at the bottom of Iron Lake Reservoir throws Chris and Sawyer together. There is one major disappearance that has the whole town talking about the identity of the bones. Sure, it brings back Chris’s writing mojo, but for Sawyer it brings a whole world of trouble, both personally and professionally. There is every chance that the bones belong to one of his childhood friends, who had disappeared. With the sheriff and mayor causing him grief on a completely separate issue, Sawyer needs support, even from the closed off writer who is seeking inspiration for his next novel.
The men have great chemistry which has them inexplicably drawn to each other. The mystery across multiple lines of investigation had me engrossed. Sawyer and Chris are a dynamic duo and I loved every second of their story. The mystery storylines of the book are tied up at the end of this story and Sawyer and Chris get a very satisfying HEA for their romance. However, digging up the past brings more people to Lancaster Falls and I can’t wait to meet them properly in the next book!
Series: Dreamspun Desires 72 / Beyond the Boardroom 01
Author: Angela McCallister
Narrator: John Solo
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 7 hrs, 5 mins
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (2nd May 2019)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’–đź’– 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Prime
Blurb: Anything but business as usual.
Billionaire CEO Nic Price lives for his job. With sales down and grumbling from the board of directors—including Nic’s permanently dissatisfied father—the last thing Nic needs is distraction from the new manny, whose freewheeling approach to childcare is outlandish… and who makes Nic feel things he’s never allowed himself to feel.
Ex-teacher Sasha Lindsey is all about fun—that’s the reason people love him, so he has to be. After a bad break-up leaves him jobless and homeless, the live-in manny job with Mr. Price seems like a windfall. But his chemistry with Nic is off the charts, and he can’t afford another workplace romance disaster.
Can Nic leave his dominance in the bedroom and open his heart to the best thing that’s ever happened to him? Or will Sasha’s leap of faith backfire and ruin his chances at the family happily ever after he’s always dreamed of?
Review: The CEO’s Christmas Manny by Angela McAllister is from the Dreamspun Desires line. To be perfectly honest, I’ve read and loved the book before and so had to get to the audio. What had initially attracted me to this story when I read it was good romance with hot boss and his manny, maybe even especially at Christmas (sort of).
Nic Price is the stereotypical CEO/billionaire in so many romance novels. He is a ruthless business man and is great at his job, that’s why he’s a billionaire. However, he has to cope with the stress of the board of his family company, including his father who is never satisfied with anything that Nic does, despite increasing the company profit’s over the last few years. On top of that he also the guardian of his orphaned niece and nephew. Since he’s had them for a few years and has been so distracted by business he has now lost his connection with but doesn’t take the time to care that this has happened because ultimately this all loops around to the fact that his father is forever down his throat and issuing threats about the family company (yes, another stereotype but totally works). The kids have gone through another nanny and so another is hired.
This is where we meet young, idealistic and enthusiastic teacher, Sasha Lindsey (and of course everyone expects him to be a female). Sasha lost his job as a casual teacher at a school in favour of someone who is tenured. His new job, across the country, as a live in manny is a godsend, especially at Christmastime with teaching positions being few and far between. Both when I read and listened to this book, the vibe that Sasha gave me was one like Mr Keating in The Dead Poet’s Society. He wants to engage his students, not just tell them what they need to know, he wants them to enjoy learning and to have fun.
Nic finds it hard to open his heart to the kids and to Sasha, especially now that he has been threatened with losing his position if he can’t increase profits further. But Sasha is sweetness and happiness and love which Nic has never known from his family and eventually, despite a bit of drama, these guys are inevitable.
The narration for this was performed by John Solo. I absolutely adore Solo’s work and he is very well suited to these type of contemporary romances. I’m at a bit of a loss for words about what to say in this review, I’m not for fluffy descriptions, I just like what I like. To me I love the full package of voice, tone, emotion and pace done by Solo in not only this book, but many of the books he narrates.
I really loved this book. It fulfilled every soppy romantic fantasy I have, despite being a tad too predictable and the story kind of reminding me of The Sound of Music (minus running away from the Nazis). The chemistry between Nic and Sasha is off the charts and it was easy to relate to both of them, even if Nic was a grouch that needed Sasha’s love to heal is heart and show him how to really live life and to be happy.
Title: Beneath the Surface
