I am posting a Feature Blog and Book Review for Book One of a wonderful new romance series featuring sexy professional Savannah Heat hockey players and their HEA heroines.
JUDE’S SWEET FIRE (A Savannah Heat Hockey Romance Book One) by Jessica McBrayer brings the heat. This book features the gorgeous Norwegian team captain and star, Jude Christensen. He is sweet and smokin’ hot.
Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, author info and social media. After reading Jude’s Sweet Fire there is a BONUS free novella download offer. Enjoy!
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Book Blurb:
What starts as a routine run becomes anything but ordinary for sexy NHL player, Jude Christensen, when he stops to rescue a yowling kitten in distress. He rushes the mauled kitten to Dr. Megan James, the most gorgeous woman he’s ever seen. Even though she seems reluctant to respond to their instant chemistry, Jude is used to working for what he wants.
A new town, a new beginning, and a new life put Megan at a safe distance from the man that nearly killed her. But when her past returns to threaten her once again, the Savannah Heat captain walks a fine line; Megan is suspicious. She is hyper-alert to the dangerous difference between a man’s natural desire to protect his loved ones, and the need to own and dominate. Once fooled is more than enough for Megan. Will Jude be able to make her safe without interfering with Megan’s need to fight her own battles?
Jude’s Sweet Fire is the first book in the Savannah Heat series. Boasting a real hero, a spunky heroine, fun and sassy friends, Southern charm and danger. The passion in this suspenseful romance will leave you breathless with satisfaction.
JUDE’S SWEET FIRE (A Savannah Heat Hockey Romance Book One)
by Jessica McBrayer is the first book in a new series of contemporary romances
by a new to me author featuring Savannah Heat NHL hockey players.
Jude Christensen is the captain of the Savannah Heat NHL
hockey team. On a morning run, he rescues a kitten being attacked by a feral
dog. He runs all the way to the veterinary clinic he passes on his route to see
if the kitten can be saved. He meets Dr. Megan James and asks her to save the
kitten at any cost.
Dr. Megan James is intrigued by the gorgeous man who is willing
to pay for the surgery of a kitten that does not even belong to him. She is
able to save the Maine coon kitten which Jude names “Gordie Howe”. Even though
Megan is not looking for a relationship, fate continues to bring them together.
As the press tries to identify the mystery woman with Jude,
someone else is watching their growing relationship, also. Megan thought she
was done with an abusive ex-boyfriend, but he is not happy that she has found
someone new.
As the danger escalates, Megan refuses to be intimidated and
hide from the life she has built for herself. Jude will do anything to find a
way to protect and save her, but will it be enough?
I loved Jude and Megan together! Jude is so sweet with
Gordie Howe and how can you not love a man who loves animals while also being
considerate, hot and sexy. Megan is a combination of grit, determination and a
loving heart so her father’s nickname of “Sweet Fire” is very appropriate. The
sex scenes are smokin’ hot and explicit, but I never felt they were gratuitous.
Their relationship does move quickly, but that is due to the danger posed by
Megan’s ex.
Ms. McBrayer writes realistic dialogue that had me laughing
out loud and blushing with the characters. The plot escalates in pace along
with the increased suspense. I also, enjoyed that the suspense climax was
resolved before the very end of the book, so the HEA is not quickly written
into the ending.
This is an enjoyable romance read that left me satisfied,
but also interested in reading the next book in the series.
***
Author Bio:
Jessica McBrayer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. She enjoys reading voraciously as well as writing and is often daydreaming about her next book. A die-hard San Jose Sharks fan, you can find her during hockey season wearing her favorite player’s name on the back of her jersey and yelling at the TV. She never wants to find out what the world would be like without hockey in it.
Social Media:
Facebook: @JessicaMcBrayerAuthor
Jessica’s Bookinistas Group on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/568621823624240/
Instagram: @jessica.mcbrayer
Be sure to visit www.jessicamcbrayer.com for info on new releases, bonus material and inside information on characters from Jessica’s books.
Today is my turn on the Blog Tour for DESERVE TO DIE by Miranda Rijks. This is a well written page turner and the second book by this author that I have read and enjoyed.
Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, the author’s bio and social media information and purchasing links. Enjoy!
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Book Blurb:
Dom and Stacey have the perfect life. Until they meet Tamara. Brilliant, beautiful, she hides a horrifying secret. One that may destroy them all.
Happily married with two beautiful children, Dom and Stacey have it all. He runs a successful design agency, she is finding fame as an author of children’s books.
Everything is perfect. Until they meet Tamara.
Because Tamara is a woman with a plan. She executes it step by step – patient, systematic, methodical.
And as her plan unfolds, Dom and Stacey find their lives slipping out of control. Taking them from heaven into the deepest, darkest hell.
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars
DESERVE TO DIE by Miranda Rijks is a new domestic psychological
thriller. I read the mystery, “Fatal Fortune” by this author that I enjoyed so
I was excited to give this book a read. I was not disappointed.
Dom and Stacey are happily married with two children. Dom is
the head of a successful design agency and Stacey works from home writing and illustrating
children’s books. They are very happy.
It is a complete shock when the account executive of Dom’s
firm commits suicide and blames his unhappiness on his job. Conveniently, the
perfect replacement shows up for his job. Tamara is beautiful, classy and
highly motivated. She has a plan, not only for the company, but also for Dom
and Stacey.
As Tamara’s plan begins to unfold, the seeds of mistrust
between Dom and Stacey grow. Stacey is gas-lighted by Tamara as she moves to
replace her at Dom’s side and in her home.
The story is told in alternating chapters between Stacey and
Tamara. The pace increases as the story progresses and the tension escalates to
the point of not wanting to put the book down. All of the steps Tamara takes
really scared me because of how believable it was and how easily it was done. I
did have some difficulties with Dom and Stacey though. Dom switched sides a
little too quickly for me if they were as happy as it seemed and he even
believed Tamara over his two children. I liked that Stacey went for help when
needed, but she seemed completely incompetent when looking into Tamara’s
background. She worked at Dom’s company before their children and she is an author,
so I found it difficult to believe.
Overall this is an intense and well written domestic
psychological thriller. It is not unique, but it kept me turning the pages and
I was satisfied with the ending.
***
About Miranda Rijks:
Miranda Rijks is a writer of suspense
novels.
Miranda has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre.
She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of
years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now
she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex,
England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.
Miranda loves connecting with her readers, so you can reach out to her at www.mirandarijks.com
How do you catch a killer who thinks murder
is art?
Michael Fisher sees himself as an artist
rather than a killer and poses his victims to resemble famous paintings.
Detective Nick Kelly is called to attend
the latest crime scene and finds himself at the centre of a media storm. But
while the rest of the police department feels under pressure, Nick relishes the
attention.
Karen Kelly, Nick’s soon to be ex-wife,
watches in horror as this brutal game of cat and mouse plays out. But Karen has
secrets of her own.
And when another body is found, Nick is disturbed to discover he knows the victim and things start to get a little too close to home.
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars
THE ART OF MURDER by Rebecca Muddiman is a suspense/thriller
by a new to me author. Each chapter alternates between the perspectives of the
three main characters.
Detective Nick Kelly is on an NYPD team working the case of
an unknown serial killer who poses his victims to replicate famous paintings. As
the number of victims increases, the pressure is on from the media for more
information. Nick’s superior does not want the public to know how the victims
have been displayed, but Nick enjoys the spotlight and wants to release more
information.
Karen Kelly is cohabitating unharmoniously with Nick as they
wait for the court to decide which one of them gets their NYC apartment in
their divorce. Karen owns an independent bookstore which is struggling
financially and is generally unhappy with her life at this point in time. She
meets a nice man on her birthday while she is out on her own, but she had such
poor taste in picking Nick, she does not know if she can trust this charming
new man.
Michael Fisher wanted to be a famous artist. His father
belittled him and he dropped out of art school. Now he works on his personal
masterpieces to replicate famous master paintings to prove his talent to his
father and the world. The backdrops are painted, but the main figure is not. If
you are squandering your true talent, Michael will make a painting to feature
you.
I felt this book was predictable for about the first third of the story, but then the author does manage to insert a few curve balls that increase the suspense and pace. I enjoyed the serial killer in this book more than Nick and Karen. Nick is a narcissist in every sense of the word. Karen was a whiny wimp until the very end and I find it surprising that she even came through then, which somewhat limited the believability for me. This was a group of characters that I did not like, but the plot does have a few unique twists that carried me through to the end.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for allowing me to read this eARC in advance of release.
***
Rebecca Muddiman was born and raised in the North East and worked in the
NHS for many years. She has published six crime novels – Stolen, Gone,
Tell Me Lies, Murder in Slow Motion, No Place Like Home, and The Art of
Murder. Stolen won a Northern Writers Award in 2010 and
the Northern Crime Competition in 2012. She is also a screenwriter and was
selected for the London Screenwriters Festival Talent Campus in 2016.
Most of her spare time is spent
re-watching Game of Thrones, trying
to learn Danish, and dealing with two unruly dogs. Sometimes all at the same
time.
I am happy to bring you this Feature Post and Book Review for Only a GoodMan Will Do (The Good Man Series Book 1) by Dee S. Knight which is the first book in a new contemporary romance series by a new to me author.
Curl up in your favorite reading spot and fall in love with Daniel and Eve just as I did. (And make sure a fan is handy.) You are going to want to start this series right now with book 1. Below you will find a book blurb, buy links, an excerpt from the book, my book review and the author’s bio and information.
Enjoy!
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Blurb:
Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to
encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover
Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!
Daniel Goodman is a man on a mission. He aims to become headmaster of Westover Academy. For that he needs a particular, special woman to help him set high standards. Into his cut and dried life of moral and upright behavior, comes Eve Star, formerly one of Europe’s foremost exotic dancers. Her life is anything but cut and dried, black and white. Daniel is drawn to her like a kid to chocolate. Nothing good can come of this attraction. Or can it? He is after all, a good man.
Daniel
walked into the parlor of the headmaster’s house Saturday afternoon seeking
first the food table and second, his friend, Stan Baxter. He spotted them both
near the front window.
“You’re
late,” Stan said.
“Lots
of people wanted to chat.” Parents’ Weekend, when teachers sat in their
classrooms to meet their students’ mothers and fathers, meant mandatory tea
afterwards for all professionals at the Academy. Board members and parents
attended at their own discretion, and the boys—the reason the school existed
and they were all there—mostly stayed out of sight and hearing.
“Fortunately
for me, a good many parents now have grabbed their progeny and left campus, so
I have access to the snacks unimpeded,” Daniel said, examining the finger food
on display before making his selections. The challenge was always how to load
his plate while appearing to take a socially acceptable portion. “Did I miss
anything?”
“Only
an angel.” Stan turned toward the window. “Holy Mother! Look at that,” he
muttered.
“What?”
Daniel asked, fitting a cucumber sandwich beside the smoked salmon-topped
cracker on his dessert plate. “Am I missing a table of fare? I swear, every
year the offerings at these teas are more meager than the last.”
Stan
chuckled and answered in the same low voice, “Is your stomach all you think
about? I was talking about another kind of dish. One you can have fun eating in
bed, if you catch my drift. And she just slipped out onto the lawn.”
“Is
your libido all you think about?” Daniel bit a carrot stick in two and
sighed. Only three more hours and he could order a pizza. With all of his
charges gone from the dormitory for Parents’ Weekend, he had a rare, private,
two-day holiday ahead of him. With the tiny plate full, he joined Stan at the
large windows. “Where is this goddess?”
“There.
In the red dress and hat.”
Daniel
saw nothing but the shapely form of a woman walking away. Slender ankles topped
three inch heels. A dress of some kind of lustrous material hit her mid-calf.
The style was soft and feminine, and berry red. Not many women showed up at
Westover in a color sure to make them the focus of attention. Not that most of
them didn’t expect to be the focus—didn’t demand it, in fact—but they
usually weren’t so obvious. The breeze at her back molded the material to the
curves of her hips and ass, and fluttered the dress’s full sleeves. A
wide-brimmed hat hid her hair, but based on what was visible, Daniel easily
imagined a long column of neck designed for kissing.
“If
the rest of her matches the back view, you’ve got reason to be drooling down
the front of your gown.”
Frowning,
Stan glanced down as though to make sure the drool comment was only facetious.
“Can’t afford to drool on this. I had to use my tax refund to pay for the thing
and show off my Master’s chevrons. I don’t know how you afforded to pay for
your Ph.D. paraphernalia.”
“The
new degree looks sharp on you. Now, why are you mooning over a woman you see at
the headmaster’s tea, when you know she’s some student’s mother and off
limits?”
“She
looks young enough to be a sister, so it’s not a given she’s out of bounds.”
At
that moment, a young boy wearing the school uniform and a big grin ran up to
the woman. She bent to catch him in her arms. When she straightened, she
ruffled the boy’s hair. His expression and his wagging finger showed that he
chastised her, but then he laughed and finger-combed the mussed hair back into
place. She took his hand and they walked toward the circle where most of the
parents parked. Looking up at the woman, the boy’s lips moved the whole while,
carrying on a steady monologue.
Something
in her actions captured Daniel’s attention. They were artless, performed
naturally and with unabashed love. The child fairly skipped beside her and the
frequent turns of her head showed she looked at him as though hanging on every
word he spoke.
“How
wonderful,” Daniel murmured, impressed with her total attention to the boy.
“Did you see that?”
“Oh,
yeah. I didn’t think her hips would ever stop swaying, and it’s a crime they
make hemlines so long.”
Daniel
laughed. “You’re such a hedonist.”
“And
proud of it. But you were right. Looks like she’s a student’s mother after all.
Damn the luck.”
For
once, Daniel agreed with his friend. But not just because of the woman’s
obvious good figure. More because she seemed to love her son and didn’t care
who knew it. He normally kept his distance from flashy women, as this one
appeared to be, based on her dress color, but her easy manner with the boy
would be enough to make him ignore his own inclination toward the conservative.
If she weren’t also a patron of the school. Assuming the gods smiled on
him and he became headmaster, he and the woman would be on business terms, and
nothing good ever came from mixing business with pleasure. Pleasure is
what every male instinct in him screamed she would be.
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
ONLY A GOOD MAN WILL DO (The Good Man Series Book 1) by Dee S. Knight is a contemporary romance by a new to me author that had me falling for the hero and heroine, fanning myself during the well written sex scenes and looking forward to the other brothers’ stories.
Daniel, Jonah and Mark Goodman are a set of natural born identical
triplets. Growing up in North Carolina to loving, but eccentric parents, each
brother may look alike, they have gone in very different directions in their
adult lives.
Daniel Goodman loves being an educator. He has worked for
years to achieve his goal to become the Headmaster of Westover Academy.
Westover Academy is one of the most prestigious schools in the country and only
accepts boys. There are stringent rules for both the students and those who
teach them. Daniel wants to become Headmaster to carry on some of the school’s
traditions, but also to make changes that would better serve the students.
Jonah visits Daniel, who has not been home for several years
to ask him to come home for Thanksgiving. Daniel loves his parents and
brothers, but the reason for his visit home could derail his path to the
Headmaster’s office which requires a life of moral and upright behavior.
Enter Eve Star and her son Timmy. Eve is formerly one of
Europe’s foremost exotic dancers. She will do anything to provide her son with
an education at Westover Academy. This includes making up a false background. All
it takes is one night of helping a young man from Westover for the possibility of
her secrets being revealed and her son removed from the school.
Daniel decides to help keep everything he has learned about
Eve to himself, but is it to help his students or is it because he cannot control
his attraction to this beautiful mother? And are Daniel’s years of sacrifice to
achieve his goal more important than one woman?
I sat down and just got lost in this romance. Daniel was a
great hero to follow through his journey in this book. At first, everything was
black-and-white and goal oriented and then… Eve upends his world. I knew from
the glimpses of his childhood remembrances that there had to be a hero under
all of that pomp and circumstance. Eve was a wonderful single mother doing her
best for her son and not letting others define her or her past. Daniel and Eve
challenge each other and their beliefs. The sex scenes in this book are
explicit and smokin’ hot, but not gratuitous. I also fell in love with all the
boys who were secondary characters. I completely agree with Daniel who believed
in rules, but there are also times, as he discussed when you have to let kids
be kids.
I highly recommend this romance and I am looking forward to reading Jonah and Mark’s stories!
Today is my turn on the Blog Tour for a new, emotional psychological thriller THE PERFECT BETRAYAL by Lauren North. It is always difficult to tell you about a thriller without giving away any spoilers, but in this type of thriller I always suspect everyone, even the narrator so I am not usually surprised. This ending has a twist that is SHOCKING!
Below in this Feature Post you will find a book blurb, my book review and author information and social media links.
You have to read this book!
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Book Blurb:
After
the sudden death of her husband, Tess is drowning in grief.
All she has left is her son, Jamie, and she’ll do anything to
protect him – but she’s struggling to cope.
When
grief counsellor Shelley knocks on their door, everything
changes. Shelley is understanding and kind, and promises she can help Tess
through the hardest time of her life.
But when a string of unsettling events happens and questions arise over her husband’s death, Tess starts to suspect that Shelley may have an ulterior motive. Tess knows she must do everything she can to keep Jamie safe – but she’s at her most vulnerable, and that’s a dangerous place to be.
My Book Review:
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THE PERFECT BETRAYAL by Lauren North is a psychological
thriller by a new-to-me author that is absolutely perfect. This is the type of
thriller that makes you question everything everyone says and does, even the
narrator. When you believe everything is settled, keep reading. The ending is
so SHOCKING!
Tess is barely keeping herself and her seven year old son,
Jamie functioning after the death of her husband in a plane crash. Both are
depressed, angry and struggling to cope with everyday life and each other. Tess
is unwilling to ask for help from her extended family and she has never been
friendly with Ian, her husband’s brother.
Shelley is a grief counsellor assigned to help Tess. Shelley
lost her son to leukemia and believes her son would have looked just like Jamie
if he had lived. Tess and Shelley bond over Jamie and she seems to be helping
Tess to move on with her life. As much as Tess is friendly with Shelley, there
are times that Tess believes Shelley has ulterior motives.
Since Shelley and Ian have been around a series of
unsettling events have occurred that have Tess and those around her questioning
her improvement, but Tess believes Shelley and Ian have ulterior motives and
are scheming against her. Tess will do anything to keep Jamie safe, but will
pushing everyone away keep them safe?
To tell the truth, when I started this book, I thought it
was going to be another domestic psychological thriller that would be an
escape, but nothing new. I was SO WRONG! The depression and emotions are
heartbreaking. All of the characters’ motivations remain hidden throughout. The
ending had me in tears and shocked. Ms. North’s writing will pull you in, twist
you up and leave you questioning everything you just read. Tess is a character
that will stay with me for a long time.
I highly recommend this book!
***
About Lauren
North:
Lauren North writes
psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships
and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things
books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and
her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could
happen in every situation.
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where
she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the
Suffolk countryside.
My turn on the blog tour. I was riveted, repulsed, scared and engrossed the entire time I was immersed in this new suspense/thriller. One sitting was all I needed to fly through The Controller ( A Lynch and Rose Thriller Book 1) by Matt Brolly.
Below you will find a book blurb, my book review, author info, author social media and purchase links. I loved this edge-of-your-seat thriller!
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Book Blurb:
From the bestselling author of the acclaimed
DCI Lambert series comes The Controller, a gripping serial killer thriller
introducing Sam Lynch and Special Agent Sandra Rose.
It is
six years since special agent Samuel Lynch left the FBI following the
disappearance of his son, Daniel. Lynch believes an underground organisation
known as The Railroad is responsible and has never
stopped searching.
When
Special Agent Sandra Rose investigates a house invasion gone wrong, she
discovers the assailant has the legendary, and infamous, Railroad tattoo carved
onto his back and he claims to know Daniel’s whereabouts.
Rose
draws Lynch in to her case, and together they become embroiled in
an unparalleled world of violence and evil.
It seems that to see his son again, Lynch will have to confront his greatest fear and face the ultimate test: an encounter with the Railroad’s enigmatic and deadly leader, The Controller.
***
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THE CONTROLLER (A
Lynch and Rose Thriller Book 1) by Matt Brolly is a fast-paced, high octane suspense/thriller
that I could not put down until the explosive end. A former and current FBI
agent work together to bring down an organization that is only spoken about as
a legend.
Special Agent Samuel Lynch left the FBI. He was forced out as he spent every minute investigating an underground organization known as The Railroad who he believed kidnapped his son and hundreds of others. Each time he gets close, his lead evaporates, but he will never stop searching until his son, Daniel is found.
Seven years have passed.
Special Agent Sandra Rose is sent to investigate a home
invasion were the killer sadistically eliminated an entire family. He is taken
into custody, but refuses to talk to anyone but Samuel Lynch. He claims to know
were Daniel is being held – alive.
Rose brings Lynch in and together they become entangled in a
world where no one can be trusted. As Rose works with her partner within the
system, Lynch will allow himself to be taken by The Controller, who is the
sadistic and deadly leader of The Railroad. He will do anything to see his son
again, but will it be the last thing he ever does?
This book drops you immediately into action that never lets
up. The author weaves Lynch and Rose’s backstories throughout without losing
momentum. There are gruesome scenes that are graphic, but this is a thriller
about an organization of sadists and I never felt the scenes were gratuitous. The
Controller was a truly scary psychopath who is still out there. (This is not a
secret, so I will be looking for him in future books.) All of the secondary characters
kept you guessing if they were good or bad which added to the tension.
I am very interested in following this duo to see how the
author handles each going forward. The next thrill ride cannot come soon
enough!
***
About Matt
Brolly:
Following his law degree where he developed an interest in criminal law,
Matt Brolly completed his Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University.
He is the bestselling author of the DCI Lambert
crime novels, Dead Eyed, Dead Lucky and Dead Embers. The fourth in the series,
Dead Time, was released by Canelo in May 2018 and a prequel, Dead Water, will
be published in September 2019. In 2020 the first of a new crime
series set in the West Country of the UK will be released by Thomas and Mercer
(Amazon Publishing).
The Controller, released in May 2019, is the first of a new thriller
series set in Texas.
Matt also writes children’s books as M.J.
Brolly. His first children’s book, The Sleeping Bug, was released by Oblong
Books in December 2018.
Matt lives in London with his wife and their two
young children. You can find out more about Matt at his website MattBrolly.co.uk or by
following him on twitter: @MattBrollyUK
