Review: The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson

 A mysterious plague that causes random bouts of violence is sweeping the nation. Now three generations of women must navigate their chilling new reality in this moving exploration of identity, cycles of abuse, and hope.

Chelsea Martin appears to be the perfect housewife: married to her high school sweetheart, the mother of two daughters, keeper of an immaculate home.

But Chelsea's husband has turned their home into a prison; he has been abusing her for years, cutting off her independence, autonomy, and support. She has nowhere to turn, not even to her narcissistic mother, Patricia, who is more concerned with maintaining the appearance of an ideal family than she is with her daughter's actual well-being. And Chelsea is worried that her daughters will be trapped just as she is--until a mysterious illness sweeps the nation.

Known as The Violence, this illness causes the infected to experience sudden, explosive bouts of animalistic rage and attack anyone in their path. But for Chelsea, the chaos and confusion the virus causes is an opportunity--and inspires a plan to liberate herself from her abuser.

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What I thought about The Violence

The Violence takes on what is sure to be a controversial topic with a story about a post-pandemic illness that causes it's victims to perform acts of extreme violence. I thought it was interesting to think about violence in abuse in this manner, so I took a chance on this title.

It's clear from the start this book is going to be one trigger warning after another, and that was certainly the case. There's plenty of abuse and violence in detail, and it didn't always work for me in the story. It's not just about the Violence illness, it's about broader systemic abuse. Sometimes enough is enough.

Overall, I thought it was a creative and yet fanciful (in a negative way) story of how abuse shapes a person. At least that's what I got out of it. There's a bit of a thriller and dark intensity in there too, but this is definitely a book you need to be in the mood for.

 

Release Day Review: 5 Stars for Good Girl Complex (Avalon Bay) by Elle Kennedy

Good Girl Complex

She does everything right. So what could go wrong?

Mackenzie “Mac” Cabot is a people pleaser.  Her demanding parents. Her prep school friends. Her long-time boyfriend. It’s exhausting, really, always following the rules. Unlike most twenty-year-olds, all she really wants to do is focus on growing her internet business, but first she must get a college degree at her parents’ insistence. That means moving to the beachside town of Avalon Bay, a community made up of locals and the wealthy students of Garnet College.

Mac’s had plenty of practice suppressing her wilder impulses, but when she meets local bad boy Cooper Hartley, that ability is suddenly tested. Cooper is rough around the edges. Raw. Candid. A threat to her ordered existence. Their friendship soon becomes the realest thing in her life.

Despite his disdain for the trust-fund kids he sees coming and going from his town, Cooper soon realizes Mac isn’t just another rich clone and falls for her. Hard. But as Mac finally starts feeling accepted by Cooper and his friends, the secret he’s been keeping from her threatens the only place she’s ever felt at home.

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What I thought about Good Girl Complex

When I heard that Elle Kennedy had a new adult/college-age romance happening, I couldn't get my hands on this book fast enough. It's the best book I've read so far in 2022.

The book starts out with a fight between Cooper, a "townie" and Preston, a rich "clone" as the townies call the students at the local Garnet college in Avalon Bay. When Preston gets Cooper fired from his job, a revenge plot is hatched that involves humiliating both Preston and his clone girlfriend, Mackenzie.

I wasn't a big fan of this revenge plot -- it was just downright mean and nasty. But what I did like is that Cooper's group of friends rally around him and while they egg him on, they also have his back. When things backfire and Cooper ends up falling hard for Mac, well, things don't go so well for him, so you might say he does get his just desserts.

I did like Mackenzie. I loved her spirit and determination and drive toward doing what she wants to have a fulfilling life, not what her parents want. That's a bit of a tough lesson for her that causes a rift in her family. Everyone is dealing with change -- some are doing well with it, others not so much. There's also some family drama on Cooper's side, and I loved Levi and how he took care of the boys when they needed support.

I thought Good Girl Complex hit the mark when examining the choices that can be made at that college age. The romance between Cooper and Mac is sweet -- they develop a friendship first that leads to deeper feelings. There's quite a few references to perfect pecs and jeans that hang on the hips just so. Overall, this was a book that I wanted to fall into and read in one night and while it might have taken me two nights to read this, it was a quick read for me. I'm eager to see what other characters will get books in this Avalon Bay series.

 

About Elle

 

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

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Review: Crash Site (Fiona Carver #2) by Rachel Grant

 

For archaeologist Fiona Carver, the Caribbean glistens with untold menace in a heart-racing novel by Rachel Grant, USA Today bestselling author of Dangerous Ground.

Fiona Carver has landed a dream assignment: conducting an archaeological inventory of Ruby Island, a privately owned, pristine gem in the Caribbean. Two months in paradise exploring and mapping a lush rain forest, vast caves, and a seventeenth-century star fort and following up on legends of hidden Spanish gold. Add a simmering reunion with wildlife photographer Dean Slater and it’s enough to take Fiona’s breath away. But the sparkle fades when Dean’s arrival is met with sudden, terrifying danger.

Reunited and determined to see the project through, Fiona and Dean find themselves in a swirl of intrigue as they delve into the complex history of the unspoiled refuge, now a tropical haven for billionaires and their secrets. But the work isn’t easy, as someone appears determined to kill the project—by any means necessary.

As betrayal casts tropical storm clouds over Ruby Island and treasured friendships dissolve into distrust, one thing becomes clear: Fiona and Dean are trapped in a dangerous paradise.

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What I thought about Crash Site

I was really excited to read this when I read the blurb. I've been craving something with action, adventure, and romance. Rachel Grant is a new-to-me author.

It's clear from the start that Fiona and Dean have some history. I hadn't realized this was the second book of a series and that the main characters began their relationship in the first book. Crash Site does do a good job of filling in the major events from book one that I missed and I didn't have any problem reading this without having read book one, but I do think it would have enhanced the reading experience.

I loved learning some new science and technology terminology reading Crash Site and the research team aspects of the story. I would have found a map helpful to have a better sense of the movement around the island setting as these characters are on the move for the second half of the book. I did find the first half a bit slow for me, but the second half takes a better turn with some swoony romance and plenty of villains. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see how it would all turn out.

Fiona is terrific. She's smart, strong and fearless. Dean is a bit difficult at times, but he did grow on me although I did want to slap him upside the head at the end. The ending left me a bit unsatisfied, as I didn't get the payoff of a HEA romance. It left me wondering if there would be more adventures for these two. I wouldn't mind that at all.

I really did enjoy this story and this author is definitely on my radar now. Looking forward to reading more from Rachel Grant.  

USA Today bestselling author Rachel Grant worked for over a decade as a professional archaeologist and mines her experiences for story lines and settings, which are as diverse as excavating a cemetery underneath an historic art museum in San Francisco; surveying an economically depressed coal mining town in Kentucky; and mapping a seventeenth century Spanish and Dutch fort on the island of Sint Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles.

In all her travels and adventures as an archaeologist, Rachel has found many sites and artifacts, but she’s only found one true treasure, her husband, David. They met while working together excavating a four thousand year old site about to be destroyed by the expansion of a sewage treatment plant in Seattle. Despite their romantic first meeting, she has no intention of ever setting a story at a sewage treatment plant.

Rachel Grant lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children.

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Harlequin Romantic Suspense Review : His to Defend by Sharon C. Cooper

  

 

HIS TO DEFEND by Sharon C. Cooper
(on-sale Dec.28, Harlequin Romantic Suspense):

A romantic reunion…threatened by their past. Amina Kelly broke Sergeant Maxwell Layton's heart when she married his best friend. But the detective never forgot her…or the sizzling attraction they never acted on. Years later, while Maxwell and Amina work together to find her ex's killer, Maxwell finds his desire for the nurse stronger than ever. As he puts his life on the line to keep Amina safe, Maxwell realizes that the greatest risk of all might be to his heart. 

 

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What I thought about His To Defend

In this second chance romance, Sargent Maxwell Layton is reunited with the woman he lost to his best friend and coworker. 

When Maxwell met Amina, he was definitely smitten but when he had to leave the social event,he asks his friend Jeremy to give Amina a message that she never gets. To make matters even worse, Jeremy pursues Amina himself and ends up marrying her, straining Max and Jeremy's working relationship. While Max accepted Amina's decision, he still had feelings for her and decided to distance himself. 

When a routine investigation turns tragic, Max has the opportunity to reunite with Amina. As it turns out that Amina also has lingering feelings for Max, and they rekindle their friendship which turns into so much more. 

Complications arise when the current case involves Amina and she's injured during an attempted mugging and her house is ransacked. As Max and his friend Trace investigate, it becomes clear that there's some criminal behavior going on.

I really enjoyed this story. There's plenty of heat between Amina and Maxwell and they just really work well together. The criminal case is an entertaining who-done-it and there were a few nice twists to the story. It's also the perfect size in that the story doesn't drag. I really liked that about His to Defend.

Overall, a quick read that kept my interest until the end. Interesting characters and a romance I could cheer for has me giving this title four stars.  

 

  

 

About SHARON C. COOPER: 

 

 Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books, Sharon C. Cooper loves anything that involves romance with a happily-ever-after, whether in books, movies, or real life. Sharon writes contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense and enjoys rainy days, carpet picnics, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She’s been nominated for numerous awards and is the recipient of Romance Slam Jam Emma Awards for Author of the Year 2019, Favorite Hero 2019 (INDEBTED), Romantic Suspense of the Year 2015 (TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES), Interracial Romance of the Year 2015 (ALL YOU’LL EVER NEED), and BRAB (Building Relationships Around Books) Award -Breakout Author of the Year 2014. When Sharon isn’t writing, she’s hanging out with her amazing husband, doing volunteer work or reading a good book (a romance of course). To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net  

  

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Release Day Review: 5 Stars for The Best Men by Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely

 

Bestselling authors Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely team up for the first time in an enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, irresistibly sexy standalone romance between the best man and the other best man!

In my defense, I was left alone with a bottle of single-malt and a life-long penchant for protecting my baby sister. Still, that's no excuse to send ten drunk-texts on why her hasty marriage would be a mistake.

If only I had just texted my sister. But nope. I accidentally sent the message to her, her groom, and his super hot wingman.

I also used the phrase “super hot wingman,” so I’d like to die now.

Instead, I have to plan a wedding with the aforementioned hottie and share a too-small guesthouse in steamy Miami.

Three days in the sun with the cocky, charming former athlete who likes to push my buttons? Fine, two can play at that let’s-infuriate-each-other game.

Until Asher ups the stakes with one wildly sexy suggestion. A no-strings fling, then I go back to my single dad life in New York, and he returns to his star-studded one.

Sign me up.

But the more nights I spend with the other best man, the more I want days too, and that just can't happen. Especially when I find out the real reason why…

Contents Include: First times, a secret to-do list, champion-level flirting, fast cars, #eggplants, and two men who look good in formal wear.

 

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 What I thought about The Best Men

Wall Street meets Ex-Athlete in this M/M romance from Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely.

Mark is a divorced dad navigating being newly single, bisexual and having significant responsibility for his young daughter. He really doesn't have time for anything more, but his libido gets a jump start when he meets Asher St. James. 

Asher is a former European footballer and professional photographer. He's also best friends with Mark's sister's new boyfriend Flip. There's money all around here, even in their names. When Flip and Hannah get really serious very quickly, Mark's red flags wave. (Be sure to read Super Hot Wingman to see how things get started between Asher and Mark.) 

Mark and Asher are thrown together to make sure the wedding goes smoothly. There's some slow burn here as these two men get on the same page with their feelings. After some forced proximity, a steamy TV kiss and a no-strings-attached deal, Mark and Asher give into their physical needs and desires.

These two are hot together. Mark's lack of experience and Asher's response to it is quite sweet, and I'm not sure I'll ever look at a spreadsheet the same way again!

What I liked the most about this book was how they worked to resolve their situation at the end. It really was sweet and it made the ending all that more satisfying.

I really enjoyed this story. It had everything I looked for in a romance -- two characters with chemistry, some realistic conflict and love triumphing over the obstacles. Definitely recommended.

See how it all started with this free novella:

Super Hot Wingman

A prequel novella to The Best Men

Promises I make to myself…

1. I won't stare at my sister's fiancé's super hot best friend, even when he takes his shirt off at a dinner party.

2. I won't look him up online and check out photos from his professional soccer career.

3. And I definitely won't fantasize about him late at night.

Oops. Broke all three. But in my defense, his abs and that arrogant smile are my catnip. Plus it's been a while.

But no matter how sexy Asher St James is, I will never let on that he's at the top of a long list of things I want to do.

And I keep that last promise.

Well, mostly…

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Release Day 5 Star Review: Prodigal Son (Forever Marked #2) by Jay Crownover

 

PRODIGAL SON
(The Forever Marked Series Book 2)
by Jay Crownover

Release Date: January 12th

Genre/Tropes: Single Dad Romance/
Childhood Friends-to-Lovers/Destined Lovers

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Blurb:

When she was a little girl, Remy Archer fell in love with Hyde Fuller at first sight. In fact, he was the only thing she could see for a very long time. For Remy, it never mattered to her that Hyde was always too serious and always seemed so sad. To her, he was the very best, and the center of her entire world. She never dreamed he would let her down when she needed him the most.

Now Remy is a semi-reasonable adult, one with a better understanding of why her intense feelings scared Hyde away when she was at her lowest point. She’s moved on, and if anyone asks she's perfectly happy with the chaotic and hectic life she's built. She’s also really proud that she's still around to experience all the best and worst that surviving something deeply traumatic has to offer. The last thing she needs or wants, is Hyde coming back and taking over her every thought and feeling the way he once did. Unfortunately, they picked the exact same time to come home to search for a little redemption.

When he was a little boy, the instant they met, Hyde Fuller wanted nothing more than to protect Remy Archer from everything, including herself. She gleefully took up every moment of his free time, and every ounce of his patience, as they grew alongside one another. He was so intent on keeping her safe, he didn't realize how deeply Remy had worked her way into his heart.

Now that Hyde’s facing the biggest challenge and biggest change of his entire life, he deeply regrets walking away from Remy. She was always the one person who always had his back, no matter what. The way Remy loved him used to terrify him, but now, it’s the way he loves her that scares him to death.

Hyde knows he needs Remy in his life, so he can finally figure out how to be the man she always believed him to be. History has a bad habit of repeating itself, and Remy has a knack for turning even the most simple of situations end over end. This time Hyde is determined to stay by her side no matter what, even though his love for Remy is going to change more than his life this time around.

 

 

What I thought about Prodigal Son

 

I've been a fan of Jay Crownover's characters since the very beginning when Rule winked at me from his cover and lured me in. Ms. Crownover has built a world that I never hesitate to jump into.  There's just something about the Archer family and their friends that just resonates with me.

So I was absolutely thrilled to read Remy's story. What I liked even more was that she isn't some perfect daughter with minor problems -- she's dealing with something very real.  Borderline personality disorder.  I strongly recommend reading the forward and content warning before jumping into this story.  This is one of the few romance novels I have read that deals with mental health in a very straightforward manner and I adored this book for that aspect.

So, the story.  Remy has always loved Hyde, but maybe not in the healthy way, especially when she was younger.  He wasn't ready for her either.  But years later after dealing with where and what they wanted out of life, they are both back together in Denver.  Hyde has a newborn and Remy .. well, both Remy and Hyde find themselves drawn back together under much different circumstances than years ago.

There's a lot of fate, destiny and just good old fashioned love in this story.  It really worked for me.  I think the mark of a good spin off or second-generation story is that reading it will make you nostalgic for the originating series, and the Forever Marked series has me wanting to go back and read the Marked series where it all started all over again. 

I absolutely adored Remy and Hyde's story. I'm so glad the author gave these characters substance and depth they have because that's what makes this series and the Marked Men special.   

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, the Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point series, the Getaway series, the Loveless, Texas series and the Forever Marked series. Her books can be found translated into many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.

 

 

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Release Day Review: Juniper Hill (The Edens #2) by Devney Perry

 

Juniper Hill by Devney Perry is now live!

Memphis Ward arrives in Quincy, Montana, on the fifth worst day of her life. She needs a shower. She needs a snack. She needs some sanity. Because moving across the country with her newborn baby is by far the craziest thing she's ever done.

But maybe it takes a little crazy to build a good life. If putting the past behind her requires a thousand miles and a new town, she'll do it if it means a better future for her son. Even if it requires setting aside the glamour of her former life. Even if it requires working as a housekeeper at The Eloise Inn and living in an apartment above a garage.

It's there, on the fifth worst day of her life, that she meets the handsomest man she's ever laid eyes on. Knox Eden is a beautiful, sinful dream, a chef and her temporary landlord. With his sharp, stubbled jaw and tattooed arms, he's raw and rugged and everything she's never had--and never will. Because after the first worst day of her life, Memphis learned a good life requires giving up on her dreams too. And a man like Knox Eden will only ever be a dream.

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Narrated by: Maxine Mitchell & Jason Clarke

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What I thought about Juniper Hill

The Eden family story continues with Knox Eden in this second book in The Edens series.  Knox has his own private place on Juniper Hill and values his privacy, but when his sister needs a place for a new employee to stay, he agrees to letting Memphis Ward live in the apartment over the garage.

What he doesn't know is that she's gorgeous -- and Memphis feels the same about him.  And even though they both know it could be a disaster, it isn't long before the mutual attraction is just too strong to resist.

I liked these two characters together. Memphis is determined, and Knox is might seem gruff but has a heart of gold.  They are both looking for something and maybe running from something, which they find in each other after a bit of dancing around. Knox is amazing with Memphis's baby, too, which was just lovely.

The conflict comes in the form of Memphis' parents arriving in town.  There's a bit of a showdown, and secrets are revealed. I loved how Memphis handled them.  

I really like this series and the Eden family. Looking forward to more of The Edens!

Meet Devney

Devney is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her family. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she's discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop.

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