ARC Review: How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne

Series:	Devil You Know #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 27, 2019
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press MacMillan Audio
Narrators:	Derek Perkins
Length:	440 pgs 13 hrs 4 min
Source:	NetGalley / Publisher

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is the first installment of the brand new Devil You Know series by Kerrigan Byrne. I could not wait to get my grabby hands on this new series, particularly with the teaser that these men are "dark, bold and brave." Kerrigan is exceptional at writing these types of heroes, and I couldn't wait to embark on a new adventure after the Victorian Rebels series.

ARC Review: Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh

Series:	Psy-Changeling #18 Psy-Changeling Trinity #3
Pub. Date:	June 4, 2019
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	416 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

I don't think I've ever read a bad, or even mediocre book in the Psy-Changeling series, or by Nalini Singh in general. The Psy-Changeling Trinity series has been extra interesting as we navigate the alliance among the Psy, Changelings and Humans. I have enjoyed expanding into some of the different changeling groups... but also loved coming back to our favorite wolf pack with this latest installment, Wolf Rain.

ARC Review: Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy

Series:	Chronicles of Dasnaria #2
Pub. Date:	Sept. 4, 2018
Publisher:	Rebel Base Books
Length:	206 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Exile of the Seas is the second installment of the Chronicles of Dasnaria series, featuring our lost princess, Jenna, the Imperial Princess of Dasnaria, and runaway wife of Rodolf, the vile and sadistic lord with eyes to the throne. The first book, Prisoner of the Crown, was a good, but heartwrenching read. But Jeffe really hit it out of the park with this second installment, I was totally captivated by Jenna's journey. So much so, that I found myself stretching this read out because I didn't want it to end!

Review: Prisoner of the Crown by Jeffe Kennedy

Series:	Chronicles of Dasnaria #1
Re-Release. Date:	June 12, 2018
Publisher:	Rebel Base Books
Length:	160ish pages
Source:	Amazon

Prisoner of the Crown is the first book in a new fantasy series by Jeffe Kennedy, which is either titled Chronicle of Dasnaria or The Lost Princess Chronicles... I'm seeing it as both, so I'm not sure which it is. I kinda like the latter best and feel it fits our protagonist best. Jeffe is branching out as this is straight fantasy (vs. fantasy romance), though it is connected to her prior fantasy romance series. As obtuse as I am, I didn't realize exactly HOW connected it was until I had read about 2/3 of the book!

ARC Review: The One You Can't Forget by Roni Loren

Series:	The Ones Who Got Away #2
Pub. Date:	June 5, 2018
Publisher:	Sourcebooks Casablana
Length:	416 pages
Source:	NetGalley

This is only my second read from Roni Loren, and I'm jumping into a series already in progress. The One You Can't Forget is the second installment of The Ones Who Got Away. I haven't read the first book, and I felt like this one worked okay as a standalone. The series focuses on a group of heroines (and the hero of the first book), who are survivors of a mass shooting at Long Acre High School. The stories take place 10-15 years later, and our heroines are a close group of professional women living in Texas.

Review: Beautiful Lawman by Sophie Jordan

Series:	Devil's Rock #4
Pub. Date:	December 26, 2017
Publisher:	Avon
Narrator::	Jill Tanner
Length:	368 pgs
Source:	Overdrive/Library

This is my first time reading a Sophie Jordan contemporary, and I don't know what took me so long. I am very intrigued by this series and I need to get to earlier books ASAP. While I haven't read the earlier books yet, I think they work well as standalones and I didn't feel overly lost of like I was missing information as I read. There appears to be a very small amount of character crossover, but nothing substantial enough to warrant the books being read in order.

ARC Review: Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz

Series:	Cutler Sutter & Salinas #2
Pub. Date:	Jan 2, 2018
Publisher:	Berkley Romance
Length:	334 pages
Source:	NetGalley

As I was reading When All the Girls Have Gone, I was very intrigued by Max Cutler and his foster brothers who were rescued from a cult fire. I thought the backstory was captivating and was interested to learn more about their time in the cult and their life afterwards.  So I was very interested in this second installment where both of our main characters were cult survivors.

ARC Review: If Ever I Should Love You by Cathy Maxwell

Series:	Spinster Heiresses #1
Pub. Date:	Dec 26, 2017
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	368 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

If Ever I Should Love You kicks off a new series, the Spinster Heiresses, by renowned historical romance author, Cathy Maxwell. The premise of the series involves three heiresses whose blood is just not quite blue enough for the bon ton, and who are each quite picky in their prospects for marital bliss. Unfortunately for our girls, their fathers are determined to sell them off in exchange for a title.

Our first spinster heiress is Leonie Charnock, whose name you might recognize as the chit who was jilted by the Duke of Baynton in A Date at the Altar. Although Leonie wasn't all that upset at being overthrown for an actress, as she harbors guilt, shame and fear over what was wrought by a foolish decision in her past, and it has caused an aversion to marriage and "man things." I had a hard time with Leonie at first. I did not like how she treated our hero and seemed not to think about the consequences her actions had on his life. However, I did try to make allowances for her past, and then I grew to like her flawed character. I got wrapped up in her turmoil and tippling, and I felt sorry for her. I also loved the cover of this book, and it fits our heroine perfectly.

ARC Review: The Bachelor Contract by Rachel Van Dyken

Series:	Bachelors of Arizona #3
Pub. Date:	Nov 28, 2017
Publisher:	Forever Romance
Length:	336 pages
Source:	NetGalley

This was my first read from Rachel Van Dyken, and I have heard good things about her books. Unfortunately this one just didn't work for me. But I'm not giving up yet, I will try another one and see if it's a better fit.

I should mention that this is the third book in the Bachelors of Arizona series, and I have not read the earlier books. I didn't feel like I was lost or missing too much information, but after reading some other reviews I understand that this story may have been playing out in earlier books. Regardless, I didn't feel like I was missing anything vital.

Brant and Nikki married very young without a blessing from either of their families and they attempted to make a go of it on their own. Unfortunately a horrible tragedy struck the couple and they were just too young and naive to deal with it. We meet them again four years living apart and tortured by the past. Brant has become an alcoholic asshole, and Nikki is blind and struggling through life as a masseuse. Determined to drag Brant out of his misery, his family orchestrates a situation where the two won't be able to avoid one another.

ARC Review: Nauti Angel by Lora Leigh

Series:	Nauti #9
Pub. Date:	Nov. 7, 2017
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	349 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I was a big fan of the early Nauti books, but it has been a long time since I read them. I thought I would try to jump back into the series with the latest installment, Nauti Angel, and I ended up having a hard time with it. I couldn't remember quite what happened in those earlier books, and I have obviously missed what has been happening with the Mackays over the last few books of this spinoff series. 

Our heroine is a rough and tumble kickass mercenary chick, at only 23 years old. She has been taught to fight and survive since she was 3 years old, and she can allegedly remember everything back to her first birthday and first steps. While I like a good kickass heroine, that memory thing was a bit of a stretch for me. Nevertheless, Angel (f/k/a Beth) was a good heroine. She was tough, but caring. Capable and sure of her self, but that surety often came across in humorous ways. She also had a lot of vulnerability from her past that she tried to hide and stuff down so no one would see it. So overall I found her to be relatable and engaging, and I was glad our hero was around to break down her walls.

ARC Review: Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh

Series:	Westcott #3
Pub. Date:	Nov. 6, 2017
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	384 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I have been so pleasantly surprised by this series. I don't know why I've been surprised, Mary Balogh is an excellent writer. But I feel like each book has caught me off guard with how much I enjoyed it. I think this one caught me off guard with a sort of reverse Beauty and the Beast theme, with a beautiful hero and a tortured heroine. It was quite refreshing.

I urge you to read the earlier books so you have the complete back story, but if you have not, there are enough tidbits in this story to give you the gist of what has happened in the past. 

ARC Review: Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh

Series:	Guild Hunter #10
Pub. Date:	Sept. 26, 2017
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	361 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Nalini Singh has never disappointed me, and Archangel's Viper is no exception. I love the diversity and uniqueness of her characters, and I like the continuing story arcs so that we see prior characters and couples in abundance. Every time I read a new book in this series, it makes me want to go back and read the others all over again!

ARC Review: The Time In Between by Kristen Ashley

Series:	Magdalene #3
Pub. Date:	Aug. 29, 2017
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	563 pages
Source:	InkSlingerPR

Man, The Time in Between was so good that I want to immediately read it again. This is the third installment of Magdalene series, that takes place in picturesque small-town Maine. If this book doesn't make you want to live in your very own lighthouse, well, you just don't believe in magic at all!  I SOOOO want a lighthouse!  But I'm moving to Arizona in 6 weeks (land of Kristen Ashley!), so I wonder how weird they would find me if I tried to buy a slice of desert and build me a lighthouse on it? I can just imagine that majestic tower and revolving light in the midst of all the saguaro cacti. (I've lost my mind, I know.)

Audiobook Review: Beauty and the Highland Beast by Lecia Cornwall

Series:	Highland Fairytale #1
Pub. Date:	June 20, 2017
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Ruth Urquhart
Length:	9 hrs 33 min
Source:	Publisher

I have had Beauty and the Highland Beast on my TBR for a while, so I was happy to see it come out in audio just in time for my latest road trip. I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings, so I was extra excited about a Highland beast!

Dair Sinclair is our beast. He is a once proud son, rumored to be a pirate, with all the cocky swagger that entails. But after being captured and tortured, Dair has returned home a broken man whom most of his clan thinks to be mad. Between injuries, scars and nightmares, he made a sympathetic beast.

Audiobook Review: The Watcher by Bella Jewel

Pub. Date:	May 30, 2017
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Maxine Mitchelle Joe Arden
Length:	7 hrs 11 min
Source:	Publisher

This will be a quickie mini review as I'm still traveling and continue to find myself pressed for time. I listened to this audiobook at the beginning of my road trip, and it made the miles fly by. Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell did a good job with the character performances and held my attention quite well throughout the story.

ARC Review: Claim & Protect by Rhenna Morgan

Series:	Haven Brotherhood #3
Pub. Date:	June 12. 2017
Publisher:	Carina Press
Length:	416 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Rhenna Morgan is killing me. 

KILLING. ME!!! 

Starting with Rough & Tumble, I fell in love with Jace. I figured he would be my favorite of the series, second only to Axel (who has a sexy smutty Scot thing going on). But then there was Zeke in Wild & Sweet, who was AWESOME. And now... NOW... Rhenna gives us freaking Trevor, who blows both of the previous heroes out of the water. Seriously - each hero has been better than the last! By the time we get around to Axel, my head is just going to explode. Or my ovaries. Or something. And let it be known RIGHT NOW, that I am claiming Axel and his proclivities for all things kink. He. Is. Mine. Period. Exclamation Point!

If you haven't read Rough & Tumble or Wild & Sweet, then you are totally missing out. But if you want to start with Claim & Protect and read out of order, you should be fine. Basically what you need to know is that the Haven Brotherhood is a group of unconventional alpha males that have become family. These men are totally hot, totally possessive alpha male, and totally successful. From club owners to pilots to doctors... you are sure to find a hero to suit your tastes. (Just stay away from Axel!)

ARC Review: Wrecked by Cynthia Eden

Series:	LOST #6
Pub. Date:	May 30, 2017
ublisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

Wrecked is the sixth and final installment of the Last Option Search Team series, that quickly rocketed to the top of my favorite romantic suspense list. So this is a bittersweet end for me. I loved getting to know all the members of the LOST team, but I'm sad to see them go. I hope that Cynthia Eden continues writing these dark gritty serial killer type romantic suspense stories, because she does it exceedingly well. Sometimes I want to peek into her brain to see how she creates the dark and twisty villains that were featured in this series.

ARC Review: Shadow Reaper by Christine Feehan

Series:	Shadow #2
Pub. Date:	May 30, 2017
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	480 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Christine Feehan has created such a unique series with her Shadow Riders... a sect of humans with the paranormal ability to "ride" shadow tubes, which allows them to travel place to place very quickly and undetected. The purpose of the supernatural Shadow Riders is to mete out justice to the derelict and deserving, usually those operating in the underbelly of society. In this second installment of the series, the Ferraro family finds itself the target of a dangerous plot which will see them suffering injuries and death before all is said and done.

If you have read Shadow Rider, you will remember that Ricco Ferraro was the darker and more mysterious of the Ferraro clan. He was broody and dangerous and reckless. After a near-death experience (one of many it appears), Ricco's family lays down the law that he has to shape up or Stefano will take him off the Rider rotation. This drives Ricco to look for a rope model that will allow him to lose himself in the art of Shibari. Ricco was the Ferraro whom I was most drawn to in Shadow Rider, as I have always had a thing for the dark and broody bad boy. I liked the amount of character development that we had for Ricco. The things he went through as a teenager, and the level of stress and responsibility he felt thereafter definitely created a level of despondency and desperation for our hero. I am impressed that he he held it together for as long as he did. But when Ricco finds his matching Shadow Rider, things are not going to be smooth sailing - especially as she has come to kill him.

Audiobook Mini Review: Echoes in Death by J.D. Robb

Series:	In Death #44
Pub. Date:	Feb. 7, 2017
Narrator:	Susan Ericksen
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Length:	13 hrs 43 min

You really can never go wrong with Eve and Roarke, so I'm finding myself at a loss for what to say in this review! This is one of the longstanding series that I prefer to do in audio because I love the narrator and the story is always engaging enough to hold my interest. 

Audiobook Review: Saint by A. Zavarelli

Series:	Boston Underworld #4
Pub. Date:	Jan 13, 2017
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Narrator:	Tracy Marks
Length:	8 hours 19 min
Source:	Author

I have enjoyed the boys of the Boston Underground series, particularly listening in audio as the narrator, Tracy Marks, does a good job with the Irish and Russian accents. This series is not for the faint of heart... its raw and gritty and sometimes graphic. Proceed at your own risk.