Review: X-Ops Exposed

X-ops Exposed (X-ops - Book 8) by Paige Tyler

Publication Date: 04/03/2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Casablanca
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 384
ISBN-13: 978-1492642435

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca via Netgalley)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Paige Tyler on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the Series:

0.5. Her Secret Agent
   1. Her Perfect Mate
   2. Her Lone Wolf
   3. Her Wild Hero
3.5. Her Special Alpha
   4. Her Fierce Warrior
   5. Her Rogue Alpha
   6. Her True Match
   7. Her Dark Half
   8. X-Ops Exposed 

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from X-Ops Exposed, courtesy of Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

HE LEFT TO KEEP HER SAFE
Believing he's too dangerous to be among people, feline hybrid Tanner Howland retreats deep into the forests of Washington State―with no choice but to leave behind the woman who's captured his heart. What he doesn't know is that she followed him...

SHE WOULDN'T STAY BEHIND
Heartbroken and determined, Dr. Zarina Sokolov tracks Tanner into the wild. Her presence unleashes Tanner's protective instinct―big time. Locals have been disappearing and he is desperate for Zarina to leave. As the kidnappings escalate, Tanner must embrace the dangerous instincts he fears so much. But with Zarina at his side, he'll have to learn to control his animal impulses, or lose himself―and the woman he loves―to the beast within.

BONUS CONTENT: ebook includes a second full-length novel, Hungry Like the Wolf, Book 1 in Paige Tyler's sizzling SWAT Series!

Thoughts:

Paige Tyler fans have been waiting for this story for a long time. Zarina and Tanner are finally front and center with the latest book in the X-Ops series, X-Ops Exposed. What do a former ranger, turned lion shifter and a geneticist have in common? A lot, if you're a long time reader of this series. This is a relationship that has skirted the edges of the series since the beginning, but it isn't all fun and games in this one. Tyler gives readers action on top of action and plenty of suspense to keep them interested. A must read!

What I liked:

I've been waiting for this relationship to flourish since I started reading this series and I'm sure other fans have as well. Tanner has been such a good secondary character and I was thrilled to see that we would learn more about him in X-Ops Exposed. Tanner is fiercely protective and loyal, but his more violent urges are hard to control. He has always seemed like a tortured character but in this book, Tyler shows a new side to our favorite lion shifter. There are light hearted moments and some steamy romantic moments that will have readers swooning. What a great hero!

Zarina is a brilliant geneticist. Her relationship with Tanner has always seemed so natural and deep. I was sad in previous books when Tanner decided he could not control himself enough to stay with Zarina and finding them together in this book was very satisfying. I like that Zarina is strong and capable and very intelligent. She can hold her own and was a perfect compliment to Tanner's alpha persona. The relationship itself was already established but it was certainly expanded in this book. Loved every bit of it.

There were basically two stories going on at once in this book. Tyler gives readers tons of action and nail biting moments with both Tanner and Zarina and with Chase and Tate, who I really enjoyed in this book. Tyler basically shows the East Coast side of the DCO (Dept. of Covert Ops) and the West side. It was an interesting comparison and I loved how it came together in the end. Both relationships got plenty of time to develop and grow throughout the book and a whole new dimension was added to the overall arc of the series.

I felt like this was one of those books that turns the corner in a series. It brings together the ideas and relationships from the previous books and takes them in a totally different direction. If readers were wondering if the series might get a little boring eight books in, they needn't have worried. Tyler has it covered. X-Ops Exposed completely changes the way this series is put together and I for one can't wait to see what happens next... But that cliffhanger, though... Wow!

What I didn't like:

I kind of had this feeling throughout the book that I wanted more of those tender romantic moments with Tanner and Zarina. Readers have waited so long for this and I wanted more lol... I loved getting to know Tate and Chase though, so it wasn't too much of a hardship. 

There was soooo much going on in this one. The action was non-stop. I wanted a minute to breathe here and there. I wanted to reflect a little bit, but Tyler's hard hitting style was relentless. It made for a very action packed book, but I felt like I needed a vacation after lol...

Bottom Line:

If you haven't read the entire series, as a reader, you might not understand what all the hype is about Zarina and Tanner. I wouldn't say this not a stand alone novel because in some ways it could be, but the reader will really be missing out so much. Long time readers, you will not be disappointed. This is such a good book. The series will go on in new and different ways. Loved the check in's with previous characters, absolutely adored the new characters and can't wait for more... Let me say again. That cliffhanger, lol... Read this series, it's just that good!

X-Ops Exposed is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag.

About the Author:

Paige Tyler is the USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kickbutt heroines who fall in love with them. Visit www.paigetylertheauthor.com.

Review: Marry in Scandal

Marry in Scandal (Marriage of Convenience - Book 2) by Anne Gracie

Publication Date: 04/03/2018
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Imprint: Berkley
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 336
ISBN-13: 978-0425283820

(Received for an honest review from Berkley via Netgalley)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Anne Gracie on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

1. Marry in Haste
2. Marry in Scandal

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Marry in Scandal, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

A shy heiress and a well-known rake face a scandal-forced marriage that might be true love in the latest irresistible romance from the national bestselling author of Marry in Haste.

Shy young heiress, Lady Lily Rutherford, is in no hurry to marry. She dreams of true love and a real courtship. But when disaster strikes, she finds herself facing a scandal-forced marriage to her rescuer, Edward Galbraith, a well known rake.

Despite his reputation Lily is drawn to the handsome Galbraith. In the gamble of her life, she agrees to marry him, hoping to turn a convenient marriage into a love match.

As heir to a title, Galbraith knows he must wed, so a convenient marriage suits him perfectly. But there is a darkness in his past, and secrets he refuses to share with his tender-hearted young bride. All Lily's efforts to get close to him fall on stony ground, and in desperation she retreats to his childhood home--the place he's avoided for nearly a decade.

Must Lily reconcile herself to a marriage without love? Or will Galbraith realize that this warm-hearted, loving girl is the key to healing the wounds of his past--and his heart?

Thoughts:

Author Anne Gracie is known for her quick wit and in depth character development. Her latest book, Marry in Scandal is the second book in her Marriage of Convenience series. Gracie takes a sweet, naive, young heroine and puts her with a notorious rake. Rescue turns to scandal and Lily's reputation is about to go up in flames when she marries her rescuer, Edward. But this is no blessed union as Edward has plenty of secrets and even more walls around his heart. Gracie gives a readers a very good Regency period romp, that is both a quick read and a satisfying respite from a spring that hasn't sprung...

What I liked:

Anne Gracie is one of those authors that always pique's my interest. She has a wonderful knowledge of the Regency period. Her books ring true and have an authentic feel to them. The customs ands rules of Ton are many and varied and Gracie obviously knows them all. Readers enjoy an author who does her homework and Gracie certainly does. It is easy to be transported right into Lily and Edward's lives and the roles they are meant to play. What's even more interesting is when they deviate from the plan. 

One of the things I found interesting about this book was that Gracie gives readers a heroine they might not be expecting. Lily is a young heroine, only 18. She is very sweet and gentle and doesn't come across like most female leads. She is almost timid. She also has a problem with reading and writing. It will probably be clear to reader that Lily is dyslexic, but in the Regency time period she was probably just thought to be slow. She is actually quite smart and engaging. She's also not a string bean. She's a little chubby or curvy as I like to say. I liked that she was flawed and real. It made her character easier to relate to and I applaud Gracie for going there with a heroine that's not societies idea of perfect.

Edward wasn't what one would call a "tortured" hero but he definitely wasn't a jubilant or happy character in the beginning. He understands that he needs to marry and that his rescue of Lily has put her in a precarious position. Reputation, reputation, reputation. That's everything in the Ton and Lily's is now ruined. He doesn't marry her for love. It's all convenience. I liked that he was not a man who wore his emotions on his sleeve. He was very introspective and he had some serious secrets. He wasn't just pining away over something silly. Gracie could have developed this character a little more, but I think she did enough to get the reader interested in finding out more. 

Gracie does an amazing job of incorporating characters from the previous book and giving readers something to look forward to with some eclectic and interesting secondary characters. I loved Lily's sister Rose with her sharp tongue and wit. And her cousin Georgie was a real hoot. I hope we see more of her in this series. Gracie always makes me feel like her characters are genuine and full of surprises. I like the fact that she isn't afraid to give the secondary characters some time in each book without taking away from the main couple.

What I didn't like:

This one was pretty short and sweet. The plot was a little lacking. The marriage of convenience trope is a common one and often an author needs some kind of hook to get the reader engaged. I felt like there were good moments in this story and the I enjoyed the characters but the overall plot was a bit lowkey. Once the initial scandal is averted there isn't much to propel the story to the next level. It is a good book by Gracie but probably not my favorite. 

Bottom Line:

This one can be read as a standalone and readers who have read Marry in Haste the first book in the series will enjoy catching up with old favorites. I thought Gracie did an great job with the secondary characters and the chemistry from the main couple was excellent. Lily is flawed and simply a joy to read. She wasn't a cookie cutter heroine and I liked that. Edward is a bit grumpy but not without redemption. The plot is a bit lowkey overall but it is still a very good read. 

Marry in Scandal is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Anne Gracie is the award-winning author of the Marriage of Convenience Romances and the Chance Sisters Romances. She spent her childhood and youth on the move. The gypsy life taught her that humor and love are universal languages and that favorite books can take you home, wherever you are. Anne started her first novel while backpacking solo around the world, writing by hand in notebooks. Since then, her books have been translated into more than sixteen languages, and include Japanese manga editions. As well as writing, Anne promotes adult literacy, flings balls for her dog, enjoys her tangled garden, and keeps bees.

Review: Dark Justice: Hunt

Dark Justice: Hunt (Dark Justice - Book 2) by Jenna Ryan

Publication Date: 03/26/2018
Publisher: Entangled
Imprint: Amara
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 225
ASIN: B07B8TVN2K

(Received for an honest review from Entangled via Netgalley)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Jenna Ryan on the WEB: Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

1. Dark Justice: Morgan
2. Dark Justice: Hunt

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Dark Justice: Hunt, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

Dr. Melia Rose and ex-Marine Johnny Hunt had it all. Until one night in Atlantic City changed everything. She’s left shocked, confused, and alone, unable to come to terms with what happened.
Hell, she doesn’t even know what happened; she just knows her life has taken a one-eighty.

Now, Melia’s started over—again—in her secluded, boring life in the swamps of Florida. The people are great, she has a housekeeper who may or may not be Bette Davis reincarnated, and it’s quiet. But when her ex-husband shows up, dropping a bomb of epic proportions, her new life is a whole lot more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

There’s nothing Johnny wants more than to undo the damage from the past. The secrets he’s been carrying have been eating away at him, but protecting Melia was more important than anything else. Even his own life. He managed to save her last time, but the danger is close—too close. In order to save her once more from his demons, Johnny will have to come clean...about everything.

Thoughts:

Jenna Ryan is back with the latest book in her Dark Justice series, Dark Justice: Hunt. This is an adventure packed novel with intrigue, relationship issues and plenty of action to keep the reader glued to the pages. Ryan's tongue and cheek humor sets a light tone for the book and sparks fly between the hero and heroine. Readers looking for a book that is quick to read, emotional and sensual will find just what they are looking for with this one. 

What I liked:

I'm a sucker for a good hero and Johnny Hunt certainly filled that role well. Currently a US Marshal and a former Marine, this hero had heart, charisma and a strong moral code. The actions he takes to ensure the safety of his wife were not only drastic but heart breaking. Ryan does a wonderful job of showing how difficult the last three years have been for both Melia and Johnny. He may be an alpha male but his heart shows through in all of his actions. I like a strong man, but one who knows how to share his emotions as well, is hard to come by. 

Melia has been through a lot even before this book begins. It's been three years since she's seen her ex-husband but it's obvious her feelings are still there. Melia is portrayed as a woman of substance, she's a doctor and she takes all of her actions very seriously. And actions she believed she committed against Johnny have weighed heavily on her. As a heroine, she was strong and intuitive. She was her own person and didn't need to be coddled. I thought Ryan did an excellent job of giving the reader a strong female lead.

Most romances follow a pretty predictable pattern. Boy meets girl. They fall in love. Have some issues. Break up. Get back together. Live happily ever after. Not so in this book and it made all the difference. I liked the fact that Ryan gives readers an already established relationship. She essentially cuts out the middle man. She gives readers a couple who not only know each other, but love each other, right from the beginning. It made the story take a different direction than expected and that's something readers are looking for. Something different to make a book stand out. Ryan pulled this off well by changing the rules a little bit. I liked that. Typical and predictable often lead to boring.

This book was full of action, intrigue and hot romance. I never used to think I liked romantic suspense but in the past few years that has changed. I didn't think I liked male characters who were commanding and forceful, but that's changed too. I've found with books like this one, an author can strike a good balance between too much suspense and just enough. Also the romance can be hot and steamy, but there can still be a lot of tenderness and emotion conveyed. Ryan does a great job blending all of these elements together in Dark Justice: Hunt. And readers won't be disappointed in the outcome.


What I didn't Like:

I was slightly disappointed in the way that Johnny chose to handle a difficult situation. To me it seemed like their could have been many other ways to protect Melia without making her feel ashamed of herself and her actions. I think she was a strong character who could have understood the danger and been a support to Johnny, but that would have changed the entire plot of this book. I thought Ryan might have been able to tweak a few things and make this part of the novel better, but she make up for this part in the end.

There is action and then there is too much action. This one walked a fine line. From fire fights to poison to explosions. It could have gotten a bit out of hand, but Ryan was able to reel it back in with the romantic elements of the story. I want my romantic suspense novels to be believable. To have some sense of reality. Most people don't go out their front door expecting drug lords and bullets. That being said, this was still an good book. 

Bottom Line:

I liked this one. It had a lot of good things going for it from a very sexy hero with a heart of gold to some quirky secondary characters, like Gert the housekeeper. Ryan gives us a story that doesn't follow the pattern we are used to in romance. I liked the established relationship but had a bit of difficulty with Johnny's treatment of a delicate matter. There is plenty to love here and in the end it all works out the way we want it to. But what a journey!

Dark Justice: Hunt is available NOW from your favorite bookseller

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Jenna Ryan was born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, but spent her childhood in several different areas of the country. She began creating stories before she could read. Growing up, romance alone had a strong appeal, but as it turned out, romantic suspense was the perfect fit. After all, what could be better than adding the darker elements of a mystery to a romantic relationship? And, oh, the fun of those secondary characters. Over the years, she has worked in several different industries, including modeling, interior design and travel, however, writing has always been her passion - even if she didn't go about it in the usual way. She earned a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Victoria in British Columbia and currently lives in a semi-rural setting fifteen minutes from that city.

Review: Sharpshooter

Sharpshooter (Byrnes Family Ranch (Book - 12) by Dusty Richards

Publication Date: 03/27/2018
Publisher: Kensington
Imprint: Pinnacle
Genre: Western
Pages: 416
ISBN-13: 978-0786039258

(Received for an honest review from Kensington via Netgalley)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Dusty Richards on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

  1. Texas Bloodfeud
  2. Between Hell and Texas
  3. Chaparral Range War
  4. Blood on the Verde River
  5. Brothers in Blood
  6. Ambush Valley
  7. A Good Day to Kill
  8. Arizona Territory
  9. Pray for the Dead
10. Deadly is the Night
11. Valley of Bones
12. Sharpshooter

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Sharpshooter, courtesy of Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Western Heritage and Western Writers of America Spur Award-winning author Dusty Richards spins a thrilling new tale in the epic Byrnes family saga . . .
 
In the brutal, unforgiving wastes of the Arizona desert, Chet Byrnes built a cattle ranching empire with his bare hands, steel will, and a fast draw. As the U.S. marshal, he risks his life to bring law to a lawless land.

When a new railroad route is planned to pass through Navajo territory, Chet fights to get the Indians a contract to supply the locomotives with coal. But the corrupt politicians in Tucson and D.C. have other ideas. The coal contract means millions, and the ruthless Tucson Ring will do anything to get it—even if it means killing a U.S. marshal. Battling bandits, the railroad, and a corrupt gang of millionaires, Chet won’t back down until the desert is painted red with blood.

Thoughts:

The Western writers world was saddened by the passing of author Dusty Richards in January of this year. Richards was an award winning author who wrote over eighty novels. He worked on The Byrnes Family Ranch series up until his death. Sharpshooter is the twelfth book in this hard hitting western series about the Arizona desert and a family determined to make their mark despite everything from range wars to indians, to railroad contracts. Richards was a very no nonsense writer and readers appreciated his style and found it appropriate to the times he was writing about. He will be missed.

What I liked:

One thing that has always struck me about Richards' writing is that his focus is usually on the relationships that he has created throughout the series. In this book the relationship between Chet Byrnes, the hero and his wife Lisa is important, as well as Chet's relationship with his men and with the Indians. Richards is able to convey so many things through the familial and friendship bonds. He used a style that incorporated both Chet's past with each person and the present. It was slightly hard to follow but gave the reader a sense of the history and how it was affecting the events going on in this book. 

Chet, is quite the hero. He has a very clear cut set of values and morals. He is a US Marshal who takes his job seriously and in Sharpshooter that job is to the get the Indians a contract to provide coal for the railroad company. But there are a lot of obstacles standing in his way of that. I thought Chet personified what a reader expects from a western hero. He was strong and level headed. A man who was determined to see things through in spite of any opposition and if that meant blood, so be it. Richards was able to show Chet as an alpha male cowboy, but still vulnerable and real. 

The plot was an interesting concept. I liked the idea that Richards was using the westward expansion of the railroad in his story. It gave the book a more authentic feel. The wild west was indeed wild and Richards was able to capture that idea and run with it. I liked the sense of urgency and it allowed the book to have a good steady pace once the initial introduction to the plot was done. I had often wondered myself how the Indians felt about the railroad and it's intrusion into their territory. The idea that perhaps they would be able to at least profit from it was in some way was satisfying. 

What I didn't like:

The book switched back and forth quite a bit between the past and present. Readers who are familiar with the past relationships of the characters probably will not have any trouble following what's going on but if you are a new readers to the Byrnes Family Ranch series, it might be a bit daunting. Keeping everyone and everything straight is not for the faint of heart in this one. 

I love a good western and I have read many. I know that during this time period in history women were treated significantly different than they are now a days. However, I generally prefer strong female characters. Richards often uses female characters but they don't always comes across as large and in charge, lol... I tend to get a little frustrated when women are relegated to the back burner in a story and that's kind of what happens in most books about the period including this one. Mostly, a personal preference but something to take note of. 

Repetition, repetition, repetition... That's what we say when we are trying to teach something. Remind and repeat over and over. I felt  that there were parts of this book that were on auto repeat. The same plot elements used multiple times. The same stories repeated more than once and the same people doing all the talking. Don't get me wrong. It was still good but you could have cut a bit and still ended up with the exact same story. 

Bottom Line:

This was a good book. Richards focused on relationships and continued to bring the Byrnes family to life. I liked the plot points and the idea of a coal contract with the Indians. Chet was a good hero and I felt like I learned so much about him in this book that I didn't know before. But there were a few issues that might cause some concern. The book repeated itself a lot and it was hard to keep the past and the present in perspective. It skipped around a little too much and the overall language was slightly are to pick up on. Once you got used to it, it was fine but it took a little while. I'm sorry that Dusty Richards will not be able to continue his legacy with more books about the West. He was truly a great author of the western genre. 

Sharpshooter is available NOW from your favorite bookseller. 

I'm giving this one 3 out of 5 apples from my book bag

About the Author:

Author of over 85 novels, Dusty Richards is the only author to win two Spur awards in one year (2007), one for his novel The Horse Creek Incident and another for his short story “Comanche Moon.” He is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the International Professional Rodeo Association, and serves on the local PRCA rodeo board. Dusty is also an inductee in the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame. He currently resides in northwest Arkansas. He was the winner of the 2010 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction for his novel  Texas Blood Feud and honored by the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2009.

Review: Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon (Embraced - Book 3) by Kerrelyn Sparks

Publication Date: 03/27/2018
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Imprint: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 448
ISBN-13: 978-1250108258

(Received for an honest review from St. Martin's Paperbacks via Netgalley)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Kerrelyn Sparks on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

1.) How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days
2.) So I Married a Sorcerer
3.) Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

TRUTH―OR DARE?

Gwennore is an Elf able to track down the cause of a certain illness and heal it―a valuable asset to her people. But when she is thrust into the realm of the dragons, she discovers a haunted place of power, passion, and magic―one that is plagued by an ancient curse. When she meets the smoldering General Silas Dravenko, Gwen knows she’s entered a whole new world of trouble. She’s been raised never to trust a dragon. So why does making a deal with the devil feel so good?


Silas has no way of saving the royal family he’s served for years. But when a beautiful, innocent elf comes bursting into his world, Silas is awakened to desire in a way he’s never felt before. But how can he trust a sworn enemy. . .and how can he live without her, in Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks.

Thoughts:

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon is the third book in Kerrelyn Sparks' Embraced series. The Moon goddess has imparted special abilities to certain chosen people and they are called the 'embraced' but they are often treated with prejudice and disdain. Sparks has created a world that will draw the reader in. Mystery abounds, as well as, love. Readers looking for a series that is fantasy but doesn't require a glossary will love this one. And dragons and elves are really cool. *wink*

What I liked:

This is a book that I wouldn't consider a stand alone. There is so much to the mythology and world building of the series that readers will miss without the background from the previous books in the series. Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon is a wonderful continuation of that world. Sparks has a real knack for creating customs and beliefs that readers can relate to even in a paranormal fantasy series. The plot itself for this particular novel is very engrossing. The idea of a mad queen who steals children to replace those she has lost is intriguing to say the least. There is everything from political intrigue to curses and poison. This one makes the reader delve deep and 'embrace' the culture of the people. 

Sparks also does something I consider difficult when it comes to writing. She is able to set a tone for the book that is both lighthearted and hopeful even though it centers around plague and infertility. It is often hard to strike the right balance that both excites readers but also convey's the seriousness of the situation. The right amount of humor is essential to pulling this off and I believe Sparks was able to do that with great success in this one. 

This book is part mystery and part love story. The characters Sparks brings us in Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon, are charismatic and mysterious. Gwen is a woodlyn elf with the embraced ability to diagnose diseases with the touch of a hand. Silas is a dragon shifter with plenty of secrets. Readers can feel the tension between the two from their first meeting. I'm not one to fall for instant love in a book, but Silas makes it believable. He falls fast and hard but is not overbearing with it. Gwen was a bit naive and it took her awhile to realize that Silas and Puff the dragon were one and the same. I was glad that Sparks chose to build the relationship a bit before throwing them into a steamy scene. It was worth the wait and readers will find their relationship much more believable because of it.

What I didn't like:

First of all, I think this is a great series and I love Sparks' writing. This one continued the plot of the overall series, but it left a lot to the imagination. We don't know much about Gwen's past, she remains mostly mysterious throughout the novel. She is essential to solving the mystery of what is going on in the land of Norveshka, but the reader doesn't find out if her tonic works or not by the end. There is a short epilogue but it is not set far enough in the future to tie up any loose ends. I felt like Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon asked more questions than it answered. Part of that is because it is not a stand alone novel and i'm a sucker for having things tied up with a bow. Regardless, it was still an excellent novel. 

My only other problem with this one is simply a pet peeve. Why in the world would you give your dragon  shifter a very sexy intriguing name like Silas and then name his dragon Puff? Thoughts of Puff the Magic Dragon were strong in parts of this novel and I had to really concentrate on the plot to keep from humming the tune in my head lol... Not exactly what i think you are looking for in a romantic lead. Otherwise Silas was spectacular in every way. 

Bottom Line:

If you've read the other books in the series, this one will only leave you wanting more. Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon has a strong plot, a very intriguing mystery component. It is a love story and Sparks' is never at a loss when it comes to that. Her world building here, is simply amazing and though I still had questions at the end of the novel, it definitely hit the spot. Just makes me anxious for the next one and if you think about it... that's the right idea isn't it?

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag. 

About the Author:

Kerrelyn Sparks apparently has issues with reality. After writing more than a dozen books about vampires, she has now completely gone off the deep end and wound up on another planet. But how thrilling that she can share this magical new world with her readers! Although she is best known (so far) for the Love at Stake series, which has hit as high as number 5 on the New York Times list and 22 on the USA Today list, she hopes her readers will love The Embraced as much as they did her merry band of vamps and shifters. To learn more about her paranormal, historical, and upcoming out-of-this-world fantasy romances, please visit Kerrelyn on Facebook, Twitter, or her website.

Review: Changing the Rules

Changing the Rules (Champion Valley - Book 3) by Erin Kern

Publication Date: 03/27/2018
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Imprint: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 352
ISBN-13: 978-1455536016

(Received for an honest review from Forever via Netgalley)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Erin Kern on the WEB: Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

1.) Winner Takes All 
2.) Back in the Game
3.) Changing the Rules

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Changing the Rules, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

This alpha athlete is about to meet his match...

Cameron Shaw knows exactly what he's doing when it comes to coaching high school boys on the football field, but caring for a six-year-old girl is a whole different ballgame. When a gorgeous, highly opinionated woman shows up with his niece in tow and claims he's Piper's new guardian, Cameron's first response is "hell no." But he can't abandon a little girl who just lost her mother....

Audrey Bennett wasn't planning to stick around town, but Piper's gruff, way-too-good-looking-for-his-own-ego uncle clearly needs help. The longer she stays-watching Cameron teach Piper to make pancakes and tie her sparkly pink shoelaces-the harder it is to leave. Especially when he stops arguing and gives Audrey the most toe-curling kiss of her life. But just as she thinks he might be the one, a secret he's been keeping threatens to tear apart their happy little family.

Thoughts:

Erin Kern returns to the Champion Valley series with her third book about football, family and love. Changing the Rules is an excellent feel good novel that readers won't have any trouble relating to. Cameron is the perfect bachelor, but can he be the perfect guardian for a little girl, who's lost her mother? Audrey knows a lot about this little girl but what is she to do with a sexy assistant football coach? Readers will fall in love with these two very different people who bond over the love of a child. 

What I liked:

Piper has lost her mother to Cancer and now she has to leave her home to meet a guardian and uncle she's never known. That's a very heartbreaking thought to me. And when I first started the novel I wasn't sure how things would go for this little girl. I liked the fact that Kern did not make Piper and afterthought in this story. Piper was a very real character who had feelings and thoughts, just as the main characters did. I thought Kern did an excellent job of incorporating family moments into the book that included Piper and made her part in the story central to the plot. 

Cameron was one foxy football coach. Everybody knows that Texas and football go hand in hand and Kern really played that up in this book. I think there will be tons of readers who not only appreciate Cameron and his vocation but who will also appreciate Kern's understanding of the culture. Cameron is a bachelor. What's he going to do with a little girl? That's what I was asking myself as I read this one. But sometimes you meet someone who has never really been around kids, who is just a natural. That's the way Kern portrays Cameron. He is just good at it and everything else... 

Audrey was spunky. She was a bit wary of Cameron and his flirty ways. She was devoted to Piper and making sure her mom knew what she was doing by making this handsome guy her guardian. I liked that she stayed the course to find out if this was right for a very impressionable and sweet little girl. Falling for Cameron was not what she had in mind. Kern writes her as having lost at love more than once and readers will be rooting for her finding her happy ever after from the start. 

What I didn't like:

There wasn't too much I didn't like. I'm not always a proponent of books where the hero or heroine is thrown into a situation beyond their control from the beginning. With this one, that situation was a child, which was daunting. I wasn't sure Kern could pull it off but I was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out. There were a few moments when I could't help but feel like it was all a little too perfect. Too cookie cutter familiar. But it passed quickly because of the superb characters and very well written romance.

Bottom Line:

This is the third book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. I thought the characters were well drawn and had very good chemistry from the start. Cameron was the hometown hero who had a big heart and Piper just seemed to fill a spot he didn't even realize needed filling. Audrey was a perfect match for his candor and openness. She was wary to start with and caution can make for some really good tension. Kern plays up the Texas, football and family angle and comes up a winner!

Changing the Rules is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Erin Kern lives in north Texas with her husband, two kids and their dog. She loves BBQ, Texas sunsets, antiquing and high school football games. The Champion Valley series was inspired by Erin's love of Texas football, small towns and happy endings.

When she's not at the computer working on her next tale, she can be found spending time with her kids or curled up with a good book.

Review: His Wicked Charm

His Wicked Charm (Mad Morelands - Book 6) by Candace Camp

Publication Date: 03/27/2018
Publisher:Harlequin
Imprint: HQN
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 480
ISBN-13: 9780373804054

(Received for an honest review from Harlequin HQN via Netgalley)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, itunes

Candace Camp on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

1.) Mesmerized
2.) Beyond Compare
3.) Winterset
4.) An Unexpected Pleasure
5.) His Sinful Touch
6.) His Wicked Charm

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from His Wicked Charm, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

She’s too prim

Lilah Holcutt dislikes Constantine Moreland from the moment she meets him. He may be handsome, but he’s frivolous, rash, impulsive and, worst of all, a flirt. Now that Con’s twin brother has married Lilah’s best friend, she’s seeing way more of Con than she’d like. And when Con’s sisters are inexplicably kidnapped, Lilah’s own curiosity and stubbornness get the better of her, and she finds herself swept into Con’s investigation.

He’s indifferent to propriety

Con knows that Lilah hates him—he just wishes she weren’t so devastatingly beautiful, that he weren’t so attracted to her. Especially since they’re working closely together to solve the kidnapping, an adventure that leads them to Lilah’s peculiar childhood home, Barrow House, which sits atop an ancient fen and features an eerie maze on its grounds.

They’ll have to join together to conquer a sinister force

The more Con and Lilah uncover, the more they’re convinced that the answers lie buried deep within Barrow House—answers to a mystery darker than either of them could ever have realized.

Thoughts:

Candace Camp's latest novel in the Mad Moreland series is a captivating romp through late 1800's England. In a time where the paranormal was not only believed but accepted, His Wicked Charm is simply magical! Camp's ability to make believer's out of skeptic's serves her well in this adventurous novel with a mystical twist. This book is a case of opposites who are definitely attracted. Though the hero and heroine constantly pretend to dislike each other it is obvious to the reader that there is romance in the air. Possibly, my favorite book by this author...

What I liked:

There was a lot to like in this book. I haven't talked to many readers who have read the book who did not find it one of Camp's best. The overall tone of the novel was adventurous and fast paced. Readers will enjoy how the plot develops, as well as, how the romance picks up speed right along with it. Sometimes that is the issue with novels like this. You have a very good plot but the romance falls flat or the plot drags and the romance is steamy. I'm happy to report that is not the case with this one. The plot was riveting and the romance was spicy. 

The hero, Constantine Moreland was quite the flirt. He was fun loving and full of vinegar, but he was also devoted to his eccentric family. Camp does a wonderful job of showing the familial bonds between the Moreland's and the other families in this book. I liked the fact that Camp was able to show readers Con's cheeky side and still allow them to see his more heroic and thrill seeking side as well. His attraction to Lilah Holcutt was surprising since she was the complete opposite of everything he was. Their meeting in the previous book, His Sinful Touch was less than stellar, but they tolerated each other for the sake of his brother and her best friend. The sparks certainly start flying when they meet again, though.

Oh, Lilah! lol... I just couldn't put my finger on the reason she was sooo uptight. I understand the concept of following the rules and doing the right thing and not being looked on as being out of the ordinary, but it simply isn't any fun. I really enjoyed seeing Lilah open up and show her more authentic self as Con was able to peel back her layers. There was certainly a lot more than met the eye with that one. Those lilac stockings were just the first clue.

I loved the way that Camp weaved the magic throughout this story. She has used a deft hand with the paranormal in the previous books in this series. Con's family has always shown a propensity for the eccentric and he believes in the beginning that it has basically skipped over him, but readers can tell that's not quite the case. And Lilah isn't exactly as prim and proper as she seems. Camp uses magic a bit more liberally in this novel and it makes all the difference. I loved this aspect of the book and I think most readers will agree, love is a magical thing no matter how you look at it.

What I didn't like:

The reader does have to dispense with their hard and fast ideas on magic and the paranormal here. If you are a reader who doesn't not want to consider anything out of the ordinary even in your reading, this one might not be your cup of tea. Other than that, I don't have a bad word to say. And that's a reader thing, not a writer thing. Camp was outstanding here.

Bottom Line:

If you've read the other books in the series, it's a no brainer, you gotta read it. If this is your first one, be prepared, your book budget is gonna suffer cause the first five will be on your list. This is a stand alone novel, but why would you want to? In my opinion this is one of Camp's best and my favorite in this series, for sure. Can't say enough good things about the magical elements of the story and about the romance of it all. Camp at her best! 

His Wicked Charm is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Candace Camp is a New York Times bestselling author of over sixty novels of contemporary and historical romance. She grew up in Texas in a newspaper family, which explains her love of writing, but she earned a law degree and practiced law before making the decision to write full-time. She has received several writing awards, including the RT Book Reviews Lifetime Achievement Award for Western Romances. Visit her at www.candace-camp.com.