Audiobook Review: Reckless by Winter Renshaw

Series:	Amato Brothers #2
Pub. Date:	Nov. 29, 2016
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Joe Arden Maxine Mitchell
Length:	6 hrs 44 min
Source:	Publisher

We are on to the second of our devastatingly handsome Amato brothers, the tight knit Italian family of five brothers ranging from professional athletes to corporate moguls to models and actors. I had a great connection to Alessio Ace Amato in the first book, Heartless, so I was looking forward to this next installment. This was a dual narration by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell, and they did a good job with the performance. I normally don't like male narrators attempting female voices, but Joe Arden did an acceptable job.

Dual ARC Review: Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

Series:	Mercy Thompson #10
Pub. Date:	March 7, 2017
Publisher:	Ace Books
Length:	371 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Julie and I are back with another dual review of the latest release in one of our favored series, Mercy Thompson. We had some good chats about this one... which is always the best part of reading the same books as your friends. So let's get to it, shall we?

ARC Review: The Deep End by Kristen Ashley

Series:	Honey #1
Pub. Date:	March 7, 2017
Publisher:	St. Martin's Griffin
Length:	454 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I was nervous to read this book, I'm not gonna lie. If you follow my reviews and rambling, you will know that Kristen Ashley is my abso-favorite author, and I have proclaimed far and wide that I would read anything that she writes. But alpha subs? Sounded like an oxymoron to me, and I just didn't know how it could work. I'm not a big fan of femdomme trope, but I was willing to give it a shot. Now that I have read the first book - will I continue reading the series? Yes, yes I will. Let's discuss.

ARC Review: How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Series:	The Embraced #1
Pub. Date:	March 7, 2017
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Length:	416 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I am always happy to have an author enter the genre of fantasy romance... you have heard me say time and again that there are not enough books out there in this genre! Kerrelyn Sparks really knocked it out of the park with this first installment of the The Embraced series. Her world-building was done well, and she gave us a nice prologue detailing the history of the kingdoms and the Embraced race.

In short, in the fantastical realm of  Aerthlan, the Embraced are born on the night of the two moons eclipse. This special birth gives them special powers, which is seen as dangerous by the kings of the land. The Embraced are executed if found, so they must live in secret, and are sometimes sent to the Isle of Moon as infants to be raised in hiding. This is where we meet five teenage girls who have been raised in a convent on the Isle of Moon - Luciana, Brigitta, Gwennore, Sorcha, and Maeve. Having grown up together, these girls share a special bond and consider themselves sisters who will be together forever.

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. 

Guest Mini Review by Julie: Baron by Joanna Shupe

Series:	Knickerbocker Club #2
Pub. Date:	Oct. 25, 2016
Publisher:	Zebra
Length:	311 pages

Descended from an established family line, and a successful railroad baron himself, William Sloane is debating about running as lieutenant governor. Unfortunately, his ticket mate has been taking his social cues from psychic medium, Madame Zolikoff/aka Ava Jones, and Will has decided she has no business being involved. She could ruin his name and reputation-an unacceptable option. 

ARC Review: If the Duke Demands by Anna Harrington

Series:	Capturing the Carlisles #1
Pub. Date:	Feb. 28, 2017
Publisher:	Forever Grand Central
Length:	368 pages
Source:	NetGalley

If the Duke Demands features an altruistic and exuberant heroine that will endear herself to most readers, and have you hoping she wins her HEA. 

Miranda Hodgkins grew up with the Carlisle family as the orphaned niece of their tenant farmer. Known for being reckless and troublesome, the Carlisle boys still see Miranda as the irksome sprite who followed them around their estate. But when Miranda wants Robert Carlisle (the middle brother) to notice her as a woman, she decides the best course of action is to sneak into his room scantily clad following a masquerade and attempt to seduce him. Her plan was going extremely well, until she realized she was in the wrong brother's room! You really couldn't dislike like Miranda. She genuinely cared about people and wanted to help wherever someone needed... yet trouble seemed to find her no matter her good intentions. She had a bit of a black cloud over her head when it came to accidents and unintended consequences, but she didn't let that affect her joie de vivre. Her positive attitude was contagious and I found my mood improved as I was reading. 

Audiobook Review: Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Series:	Mercedes Thompson #9
Pub. Date:	March 8, 2016
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Narrator:	Lorelei King
Length:	10 hrs 7 min

Bare with me because its been almost two years (I think) since I read the rest of this series... so I didn't quite remember everyone and I couldn't fit a re-read of the series into my schedule.

Let me start out by saying that Lorelei King does a great job narrating this series. All of her characters have their own sound/persona, and she has no problem switching between male/female/child characters.

ARC Review: My Fair Duchess by Megan Frampton

Series:	Dukes Behaving Badly #5
Pub. Date:	Feb. 28, 2017
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

My Fair Duchess offers up a very interesting premise for the setting and time period, when titles and estates generally only flowed to the male heir. Our heroine's family received a special allowance to allow the duchy to pass to a female heir in the absence of a legitimate/living son, and so we have a flipped power dynamic when our heroine unexpectedly becomes a duchess and is in need of help being duchessy from a hero who is lower in social status.

Audiobook Review: Highland Spy by Madeline Martin

Series:	Mercenary Maidens #1
Pub. Date:	Jan. 10, 2017
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrators:	David Gillies
Length:	11 hrs 11 min
Source:	Publisher

I was very intrigued by this series and the thought of Mercenary Maidens... ruined and fallen women forced into the life of a spy for the crown and king. As I listened to the story, the team of spies was definitely the most intriguing aspect. These women were trained in combat, interrogation (sort of), disguise/acting, seduction, and how to get out of sticky situations using their wits and, at times, drugs.

Guest Review by Julie: Quantum by Jess Anastasi

Series:	Atrophy #2
Pub. Date:	Aug. 8, 2016
Publisher:	Entangled
Length:	325 pages

Quantum opened up with a bang and never slowed down! Mae is undercover trying to prove if Zander is human, or if he's been replaced by the Reidar, shape shifting aliens planning to take over the system. What follows is a fast-paced story with enough suspense and adrenaline that kept me glued until the end!

ARC Review: The Burning Page by Genevieve Cogman

Series:	Invisible Library #3
Pub. Date:	Jan. 10, 2017
Publisher:	Roc Books
Length:	356 pages
Source:	NetGalley

The Invisible Library has been such a unique series involving various sects (humans, fae and dragons) living in realms of differing levels of chaos, and accessible by librarians who seek to preserve the order and existence of each unique realm by collecting its important works of literature.

ARC Review: Origins by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Seventeen #5
Pub. Date:	Feb. 21, 2017
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	313 pages
Source:	Author

The gifts bestowed by One not of this world, to the Man who had lived longer than most. 
The Empire ruled by a King who would swallow the world in his madness.
The Warrior who chose to rise against her own kind in order to defeat him. 
Discover the extraordinary beginnings of the Immortals and the unforgettable story of the Princess who would become a Legend.

I wish I could tell you what first led me to A.D. Starrling, but I honestly don't know. I think it was fate that made me pick up the first book in this series, Hunted (f/k/a Soul Meaning) because the book was totally out of my genre and I had never heard of the author... but whatever it was that made me jump into this world of immortals, I am extremely grateful. I have been hooked on the Seventeen series from that first book... the stories are action-packed, intelligently written and never fail to get my adrenaline going. With each successive installment, Ms. Starrling has amazed me with her writing talent and ability to draw me into the story.

ARC Review: Rough & Tumble by Rhenna Morgan

Series:	Haven Brotherhood #1
Pub. Date:	Feb. 20, 2017
Publisher:	Carina Press
Length:	432 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I have been wanting to try this author since I got to hang out with her a little last year at the RT Convention (FYI - she is cool people)... but I just haven't been able to get a lot of personal reading on the calendar in the past year. Being more of a urban fantasy and paranormal fan, I expected to start with the Eden series, I even went on a one-clicking spree buying up the series with grand intentions to start ASAP. As my plans fell through in that regard, I was excited to see this new series, even though I don't read as much contemporary these days. Now I am just kicking myself for not reading her work sooner.

There's the family you''re given by birth, and there's the family you choose for yourself.

So let's start with the Haven Brotherhood. Five brothers (and two mothers) that are family, not by blood but by loyalty and obligation. They are not just rough and tumble bikers, but each brother seems to have hidden depths that the reader will love to discover as they fall in love (and lust) with these swoonworthy men. 

It's not where a man comes from, or what he wears, that matters. It's what he does with his life that counts.

Jace Kennedy is the first brother offered up for our reading pleasure, and he is an alpha male, intelligent businessman and co-founder of the Haven Brotherhood. He is also charitable and active in his community with at-risk youth, his philanthropic side being inspired by his childhood. But for all his alpha maleness, Jace has a vulnerable side that draws the reader in and, for me, created a strong emotional connection to his character. I was drawn to his character from the get-go and felt myself getting offended on his behalf when business deals tanked or were sabotaged by petty and ignorant people more worried about appearances than the good he provided for the community and his business partners.

The sooner you figure out who the hell you are on the inside, the happier you'll be.

Vivienne Moore is outwardly a straight-laced buttoned-up event planner, dressing in prim and proper business suits and living in a sterile environment. Viv didn't have the easiest childhood with an uppity mother, a drunk father, and a sister following in his footsteps. So she thinks that by suppressing her nature (and wild curly hair), she will go through life safe and bored out of her mind. Needless to say, Viv was in dire need of someone to come and mess up her perfectly boring existence. I found her to be a tolerable heroine... I usually have such a hard time with heroines in contemporary romance, they tend to get on my nerves by being overly dramatic or running away from adult situations/responsibilities, etc. However, I commend Viv on her mostly reasonable ability to stick it out with Jace even when she wasn't absolutely sure what she was doing. I think any negative feelings I had toward her were out of jealousy because I would have scooped up that man in a heartbeat so I didn't identify with her hesitance. 

The relationship was definitely the main focus of this story, so it got going pretty fast from the start. Jace is a man that knows what he wants and goes after it... but it was nice to see that he respected Viv and reined in his alpha nature so he wouldn't spook her and send her running the opposite direction. But O-M-G, the sexual tension between these two! It was off the charts. Rhenna did a great job with the build up and wrote some exceedingly steamy sexytime that is sure to satisfy any smut lover. (You know who you are!) These two interacted and communicated like mature adults, which made me happy. I hate seeing unnecessary drama these days - my drama llama tolerance is quite low.

Never underestimate a high-caliber wingman, let alone a trio.

But back to this brotherhood... man these are some yummy dudes. I think Jace may be my favorite, but he is going to have some strong competition with Axel and his playful nature and Scots brogue. Next up is Zeke's story in Wild & Sweet.

Haven Brotherhood

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.

Trailer Reveal - The Deep End by Kristen Ashley

 

✮✮✮ A delicious world of erotica, BDSM with alpha-subs and their Dommes, and a gripping love story…Welcome to The Bee’s Honey! The first book in New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley’s Honey Series, THE DEEP END is a seductive and rich love story releasing March 7, 2017! And check out the amazing trailer created by Book Candy Studios below! ✮✮✮

Guest Review by Julie: Tinderbox by Rachel Grant

Series:	Flashpoint #1
Pub. Date:	Feb. 14, 2017
Publisher:	Janus Publishing
Length:	302 pages
Source:	Author

Master Sergeant Pax Blanchard is my new favorite hero! He's a nerd in uniform and respects the female mind-that by itself is a magical concept! I liked his wicked sense of humor and dedication to his job and loved the way he never underestimated Morgan! Their conversations were never dull and the chemistry was positively scorching!