5 Stars for The Priest (Original Sinners #9) by Tiffany Reisz

Tiffany Reisz’s USA Today bestselling Original Sinners series returns with the long-awaited sequel to The Queen.

When a New Orleans parish priest is found dead of an apparent suicide, the police see no reason to investigate. Private detective Cyrus Tremont knows a cover-up when he sees it, however. A former cop, he’s seen it all...or so he thought.

Clues point him in the direction of Nora Sutherlin, an erotic romance writer who moonlights as a dominatrix. Together, they form an unlikely bond built on their shared need for justice.

As Cyrus is drawn deeper into Nora’s underground world of pleasure and pain, what lines will he cross to discover the truth about the priest? And what will he and Nora do with the truth once they find it?

The Priest is the beginning of a new era for Reisz’s Original Sinners series, and the perfect jumping-on point for new readers.

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What I thought about The Priest

A priest commits suicide and Mistress Nora's business card is found on him as the cops process the crime scene.  When the case seems a bit fishy, but the police close the case as a suicide, a private investigator is brought in to look into the situation.

What follows next is a terrifically crafted and impactful story.  Cyrus Tremont is terrific as he appeals to Nora to help him unravel the case.  There's terrific banter between these two, which was a welcome aspect to this dark story.  It's not hard to see what might be behind the priest's suicide, and the way Cyrus and Nora work together provides the lighter element that is much needed in this story.

And there's more to The Priest than just this mystery.  Soren is back, and he's deliberating his return to the Jesuit order which comes with some significant conditions.  I've never been much of a Soren fan, mostly because I don't think he's honest with himself, but The Priest changed that for me somewhat.  He's confronted with finding that honesty inside himself in this book and the circumstances of the suicide bring him to the brink of understanding.  I just loved this about this story and I've found myself having a softer heart toward Soren for it. The Priest finally deals with some issues I've had with this complicated character, namely his vows and it sheds light on Soren in a way that made him seem more human, more vulnerable, and I adored that about this story.  Even Nora sees him in a slightly different light and that impacts some of the decisions related to faith and the church that she makes.

There are so many wonderful insightful lines lines from the various characters in this and I just wanted to read them and then read them again. It says some fairly important things about men, women, power and inequality, especially the ending which had me holding my breath just a little bit.

 

This might be my one of my favorite books in this series and from this author. I loved everything about it.  If you like romantic suspense and BDSM erotica, you might like this. It can be read standalone, but for the full effect of these wonderful complex and creative characters, I recommend reading the series in order.

 

An ARC was provided. This is my honest review.

 

  

 

About Tiffany Reisz

 

Tiffany Reisz is the USA Today bestselling author of the Original Sinners series for Mira Books and Mills & Boon, including the RT Book Reviews Best Erotic Romance 2012 winner The Siren and the LAMBDA Literary Award-winning The King. Her novel The Saint won the Romance Writers of America RITA® for best Erotic Romance in 2015. 

Follow Tiffany on Social Media: Facebook • Instagram 

About 8th Circle Press 

8th Circle Press is a Lexington, Kentucky-based publisher of literary friction. For more information, visit our website at www.8thCirclePress.com.

Review:The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren

Published: Simon & Schuster/Gallery (Mar 24, 2020)
Category: Adult (Contemporary Romance)
Series: Standalone

Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There’s only one problem: America’s favorite couple can’t stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses’ secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together… 

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What I thought about The Honey-Don't List

 

In The Honey Don't List, Carey Douglas has worked for the Tripp's for many years from their startup to where they are today as TV show hosts and about to release a new book of marital advice. When Carely stumbles upon Rusty in a compromising position as they are about to go out on a book tour, she knows there's going to be trouble. Melissa and Rusty are in a constant state of drama and discontent that isn't going to play well as they try to sell their book.

Rusty's assistant James and Carey get tasked with keeping Melly and Rusty's indiscretions out of the public eye. Their close proximity has them getting friendly, and even more than that as they deal with this challenging task. As Carey and James learn more about each other in the process, a real relationship develops between them.

But when the Tripp's marital situation goes ballistic, some secrets are revealed that could have a serious impact on whether James and Carey's relationship will also survive.

This story was a fun read, in spite of the marriage-in-trouble aspect. I really liked the contrast of a relationship in decline with the budding relationship between James and Carey. The story of these two relationships keeps the story moving forward and I was completely engaged with the story throughout. James and Carey are an adorable couple. Kudos to shedding light on dystonia, an incurable movement disorder.

Overall entertaining and humourous, I enjoyed this story.

An ARC was provided. This is my honest review.

About the Authors

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fifteen New York Times bestselling novels. 

They are published in over 30 languages, have received multiple starred reviews, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, been inducted into the Library Reads Hall of Fame, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, a Lambda Literary Award finalist and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. 

They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, O Magazine and more. Their third YA novel, Autoboyography was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, followed by  Roomies, Love and Other Words, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, My Favorite Half-Night Stand, and the Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal starred The Unhoneymooners, out May 2019.


Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.
 
Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. These days you can find her at her desk, writing or watching BTS videos. She lives in Utah with her husband and daughter, thinks she’s the luckiest person in the world to write books with her best friend, and is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter.

You can follow their shenanigans at:
@lolashoes (Lauren) & @seeCwrite (Christina) on Twitter, and @ChristinaLauren on instagram.

For official information about their books, events, interviews, movie/TV news and more, follow @christinalauren.

Release Day Review: All I Ask by Corinne Michaels

From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Time comes a breathtaking story about first love, second chances, and starting over.

All I Ask, a new standalone contemporary romance by New York Times bestselling author Corinne Michaels is now LIVE!

Teagan Berkley is trying her best. A single mom raising a precocious teen, she may have given up on her dreams, but she's accepted her life in her small beachside hometown. Now the one person who abandoned her when she needed him the most has returned, bringing back memories of what might have been.

Derek Hartz arrives in town with a teenage daughter - and he's full of guilt over his failed marriage and the way he ended his friendship with Teagan. He's determined to set things right with her, but first he needs to gain her trust. Something he's not convinced he deserves.

As Teagan and Derek open up to each other-and confess their deepest secrets-it's impossible for them to deny what's always been between them. But just when their happily ever after is within reach, their complicated history surfaces again and threatens to keep them apart. Forever.

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What I thought about All I Ask

Teagan and Derek have been best friends since high school, and she's got a problem -- she's in love with him and he's going to marry someone else.

The start of this book is really terrific and pulled me right into this second chance / friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story.  I felt compelled to find out what was going to happen to Teagan and her daughter.  A former mean-girl, all that matters is her daughter, and she wants nothing to do with her sperm donor for good reason.

When Derek comes back into Teagan's life after thirteen years, it takes some time for Teagan to get over what he did to her.  And then there is the matter of Derek's daughter who goes to school with Teagan's daughter and who just might be one of the mean-girls.

I loved the beginning of this story and how they recapture (with some trouble) their former feelings for each other. But once they get there, that's when the pace of the book slows down some until an incident with Derek and Teagan's daughter causes everything to blow up.  And then there's a bit of twist at the end that had me hoping they could somehow, someway make things right between them again. 

The story kept me engaged for the most part, although there were some slower spots (for me).  If you are a fan of "true love / first love" stories, this standalone might be for you.

An ARC was provided. This is my honest review. 

  

Meet Corinne:

Corinne Michaels is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller author. She’s an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children. Corinne is happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife.

After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness. She enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak and finding a way to heal them through their struggles. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love.

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Review: Love Hard (Hard Play #3) by Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you the next sizzling story in her Hard Play contemporary romance series… 
 
Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.

As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends—and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend.

Straitlaced Jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.

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Excerpt

 What I thought about Love Hard

I'm always so excited to see another story in this contemporary romance series. I got hooked on Nalini Singh when I read the Rock Kiss series and I'm always on the lookout for more.

Jake Esera has 2 priorities -- his family and his rugby. He's a single father, lost his sweetheart in a tragic manner and he's committed to providing the best he can for his daughter. That means keeping her out of the media spotlight created by his outstanding rugby career. When he reconnects with Juliet, a close friend to his high school sweetheart, he's attracted to her, but past history makes it difficult for Jacob to act on his desires.
 
Juliet may have been a wild child in high school, but she's grown up a lot since then. One thing for sure is that she doesn't want her tarnished reputation to cause any damage to the Esera family.

I loved the slow rebuilding of relationships in this story and the gentle progression to a real romance between Jake and Juliet. There isn't a huge amount of conflict here -- most of it deals with Juliet and her ex. I absolutely love Jake in this story. He's the strong silent type, with a heart of gold and when he turns his protective ways on Juliet, she finds something she's wanted in her life. I liked the simplicity of this story as it puts the spotlight right on the romance of Jake and Juliet. Jake's daughter couldn't be any cuter!

I definitely recommend this series, and the Rock Kiss series. The stories are original and have a quiet, heart-touching romantic element that I adore. Love Hard definitely worked for me.

An ARC was provided. This is my honest review.  

 Author Information

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

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Release Day Review: 5 Stars for Love Around the Corner (Romano Sisters #3) by Amanda Weaver

The last thing Gemma Romano needs right now is her first love coming back home. She’s trying to keep her family’s bar from being bought up and developed into some glass eyesore, just like all the other family businesses in her beloved Brooklyn neighborhood.

Like it or not, she’s in charge of the Romano legacy, and she can’t afford to risk it—or her heart—on Brendan Flaherty. Not now and not ever again.

Brendan’s old neighborhood is changing fast, but some things are still the same. Gemma’s as devoted to her family, her neighbors, and the bar as she’s always been. And she’s still the one woman he can’t seem to forget.

Gemma’s determined to steer clear of Brendan at first. Not only did he break her teenage heart, but now he’s grown up to be a property developer—he’s the enemy. Staying away from him would be a lot easier if she didn’t find him so infuriatingly attractive. Their chemistry still burns as bright as it ever did. But their painful past is still there, too, and Gemma’s not sure she’s ready to risk her dreams, her business, or her heart on Brendan a second time.

This book is approximately 82,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

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“Weaver’s delightful reimagining of You’ve Got Mail is a satisfying treat for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance such as Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.” —Library Journal (starred review), on The One I Love to Hate 

 

What I thought about Love Around the Corner

Gemma Romano has been taking care of her family and helping with the family bar for what seems like forever, but much like her sisters finding love and moving away, the bar seems to need life support as the business breaths the last gasps before things go into the red.

In spite of all of this, Gemma keeps a positive attitude. She's tenacious about her family and the business until her past walks into the bar one night.  Fourteen years ago, Brendan Flaherty walked out of her life and she hasn't forgiven him yet.  

Brendan is really an awesome hero in this story.  He's had his share of big bumps in his life, and he hasn't forgotten what he had with Gemma.  I loved how he woos her back.  Gemma can't resist him for long, starting out by playing  the old game of "let's just have a physical relationship" which all romance readers know usually ends up being so much more. Some love is just meant to be and I loved that about this couple.

Both Gemma and Brendan have a few more bumps in the road to get by together, like multiple hits to the already-in-trouble bar and Brendan finding out just how much of a snake his relative can be. When Gemma gets left out of a major decision she's quite upset about it with good right. There's just the right level of conflict that had me a bit choked up at the end. 

I adored Gemma and Brendan together, and I especially loved how the sisters came together to help Gemma work through what she needed to do. There are some strong non-family relationships here as well, with the long-time patrons and neighbors of the bar.  Love Around the Corner beautifully captures how hard it can be to accept letting go of the past for the promise of a future.  I just absolutely loved everything about this story.

An ARC was provided. This is my honest review.

 

About the Author

Amanda has loved romance since she read that very first Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novel at fifteen. After a long detour into a career as a costume designer in theatre, she’s found her way back to romance, this time as a writer.

​

A native Floridian, Amanda transplanted to New York City many years ago and now considers Brooklyn home, along with her husband, daughter, two cats, and nowhere near enough space.

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Release Day Review & Excerpt: 5 Stars for Runaway Road (Runaway #1) by Devney Perry

 RUNAWAY ROAD
Release Date: March 6th, 2020

Londyn McCormack didn’t have a typical childhood. She ran away from home at sixteen, escaping parents more interested in drugs than their daughter. She doesn’t have loving siblings or an adorable pet. Her only family is the five other runaway kids who shared her junkyard home.

Life pulled them all in separate directions, taking her to Boston. For a short time, she thought she’d found something permanent. But after a devastating divorce, she’s running away again, this time to find a lost friend.

She’s driving across the country in her convertible. As a teenager, the rusty car was her shelter. As an adult, it’s her ride to freedom.

Except one flat tire derails her trip. Her life collides with Brooks Cohen. They walked away from the first crash. The second might destroy them both. 

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EXCERPT

“When was the last time you had pie for dinner?”

“Can’t say I ever have.”

Her fork dove into the chocolate cream. She hummed and her eyes drifted closed when the bite passed her lips. She savored it, rolling it around in her mouth. The woman had a talented tongue—lucky pie. She moaned again, torturing me with the subtle sound.

She swallowed, then shot me a smile that was pure sex. “You’re missing out.”

I snapped my fingers, raising my hand in the air to flag down the waitress. When she came over, I pointed to Londyn’s plate. “I’ll have that.”

 

What I thought about Runaway Road

Londyn's divorce is final and she's ready to hit the road. She plans to travel across the country to look up and old friend, but ends up in a ditch in West Virginia, waiting for the tow-truck driver.

And what a driver! Brooks Cohen shows up to help Londyn get her classic car in the body shop for repairs and she ends up staying in Summers for longer than she expected. It's enough time for Brooks and Londyn to really fall for each other.

That's the charm of this book. What starts off as a friendship turns to something more. There's a wonderful progression of their relationship and the small town feel just really bathes this story in a sweet, wonderful light. The conflict is relatively low, and the love story between Brooks and Londyn is both steamy and adorable. I also loved that the story kept moving and kept me interested until the final pages.

If you're looking for something easy, sweet and a a nice level of steamy, you just might like Runaway Road.

An ARC was provided. This is my honest review.

  

About the Author

Devney is a USA Today bestselling author. 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 husband and two sons. 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. Devney loves hearing from readers!

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Review: Hookup by Anne Marsh

Enemies make the best lovers when an angry ballerina and a brash billionaire face off in New York Times bestselling author Anne Marsh’s latest hot-as-hades DARE novel!

If billionaire Max O’Reilly doesn’t take my video off his hookup app, I’ll destroy more than his high-end laptop. But this computer genius is no geek. He’s all tanned skin and hard muscle and knowing looks. And my man picker must be broken beyond repair, because I can’t help responding to his cocky grin.

Max has figured out my secret: I love to be watched. But I never imagined my hateful ex would upload a video of me pirouetting in nothing but my ballet slippers. Now my job as a social media influencer is on the line. Because who’s going to hire an unwitting porn star to promote their products?

The Silicon Valley CEO wants to make it up to me, and I do need a respectable-looking fake boyfriend to save my reputation. But when a game of beachside truth or dare turns X-rated, the heat between us could fry any electronic device. And when the king of kink wants more than a hookup, I know I should exit stage right before I’m the one who gets burned.

Harlequin DARE publishes sexy romances featuring powerful alpha heroes and bold, fearless heroines exploring their deepest fantasies.

Four new Harlequin DARE titles are available each month, wherever ebooks are sold!

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What  I thought about Hookup

Former ballerina Maple likes to dance. And she likes to hookup, so when the Kinkster app became available, she let her hookups know that she likes to be watched as well. Only that backfires on her when her current boyfriend happens to post a salacious video in Kinkster that Maple sent to him for his eyes only.

The video generates lots of unwanted attention (900+ hookup requests) Maple has only one option and that's to get the Kinkster app to remove the video. Storming into the offices, she demands the app developer remove the video. Max O'Reilly is owner, billionaire and hookup aficionado is very intrigued by Maple and goes out of his way to accommodate her. He's not sure why, but there's something about Maple that he likes or is it wants?

This was a hot and steamy little story about two people brought together by circumstances and leads to something much more than either one of them expected. Max is interested in Maple in a way he hasn't been with any other previous hookups and that's the most interesting part of this story. Will Max finally settle down? Will Maple want him to? What I liked most about this story is the progression of their relationship.

Overall, a quick entertaining and very erotic story.

An ARC was provided by the publisher. This is my honest review. 

About Anne Marsh

A professional technical writer, Anne discovered that getting laid off was actually A Very Good Thing. While looking for her next writing gig, she picked up her pen (well, okay, she used her writing as an excuse to buy a new Apple laptop) and started writing. She soon discovered that writing was uncomfortably similar to sit-ups: add a few more crunches each day, wake up sore, but, by God, you will fit into that bikini. Or finish the book (she’s still working on the bikini).  Now she cranks out software manuals during the daylight hours– and writes about alpha shapeshifters the rest of the time. Anne can be reached at annemarsh at ymail.com.