New(er) Release Review ~ Before and Again ~ Barbara Delinsky #2018NewRelease

Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Source: I received an eARC from St. Martin's via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friends - and thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. She's thankful for the new friends she's made - though she can't risk telling them too much. ANd she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.

Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn't the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend's teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man's Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself - or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie's own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.

I knew here name but I'd never read BDelinsky before. The synopsis of Before and Again intrigued me though so I requested it. I'm so happy I did. Delinsky delivered a character-driven, captivating story dealing with love, loss, guilt, forgiveness, and what it means to be a true friend.

Highlights

• Characters
  Maggie (Mackenzie) is the central character and she was a woman I wanted to wrap up in a big, warm hug. She's endured so much and has built a new life in a small, quiet town, and made new friends. She's on a journey of self-discovery of sorts and she's forced to learn a lot about herself when her past shows up in her present, along with helping a new friend face a challenge. The supporting cast was also well-developed where it needed to be - especially Maggie's friends and Edward. I admired how Delinsky created a close-knit community where, for the most part, people rallied around their own even if "their own" weren't life-long residents. That's something I really enjoy about small town settings.
• Plot
  Delinsky deftly wove together plot threads from past and present as Maggie put together the puzzle of her life. I appreciated how Maggie's past was dealt with and how the present, particularly helping Grace deal with her problem - something Maggie wished she'd had friends do for her - tied those threads together with the present enabling Maggie to see a real future for the first time in a long while.
• Message (for lack of a better term)
  Before and Again deals with some weighty topics but does so adroitly. I liked what Maggie's story seemed to say aobut how our pasts shape us, are a part of us but don't define us. I liked the element of forgiveness - of others but especially ourselves. I also liked the ways in which Maggie learned about love - familial and romantic - and friendship - what it means to be a good daughter, wife, and friend.

I'm delighted with my introduction to Delinsky and will definitely be reading more from her.

New Release Review ~ One Naughty Night ~ Shelly Bell @ShellyBell987 #2018NewRelease

One Naughty Night by Shelly Bell
Release Date: May 17, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an ARC from the author which had no influence on my rating and my review is provided voluntarily. 
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
She's his younger sister's best friend.
A cancer survivor.
A guest on his storm chasing tour.
Completely forbidden.
She's too innocent for a man like him.

For five torturous days, he's followed the rules and kept his hands to himself.
But now that he's read her naughty list, all bets are off.
He's going to fulfill every dirty fantasy on that list.

All except the one-night stand.
Because if he has his way, they'll last longer than one naughty night...

One Naughty Night was short and sexy...it reminded me why I enjoy SBell's writing. The characters were engaging and the story was relatable...and she delivered an inherently readable story with a side of steam. *wink*

We've all at least contemplated it - a bucket list of things we want to do before we're no longer able to. In Allie's case, she created bucket lists - yes, two. When she was forced to consider the uncertainty of life far too early in her life, Allie created a "nice" bucket list and a "naughty" bucket list. What would you do if you decided life was to short not to take risks? Chase a tornado? Get naked with the hunky storm chaser who just happens to be your best friend's older brother whom you've been secretly crushing on for years? And who also just happened to read your naughty bucket list? Um...yes!?! =)

I enjoyed how SBell brought Allie and Drake together. They each had their reasons for not risking their hearts but their connection and attraction was undeniable. The element of suspense created via storm chasing was exciting and felt realistic. And the sexy scenes were exactly that....oh so sexy.

One Naughty Night was a pleasure and even though its pages are few it was enough of a story that I'm satisfied. I do hope to see Allie and Drake again...maybe when we get Taryn and Jack's story?

Release Day Review ~ Good Girl ~ Jana Aston @JanaAston #2018NewRelease

Good Girl by Jana Aston
Release Date: May 15, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Source: I received an ARC from the author which had no influence on my rating and my review is provided voluntarily. I also purchased my own copy on Kindle. 
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
I've always been a good girl.
I work hard, I follow the rules, and I always achieve my goals.

But sometimes good girls want things that aren't good for them.
Or someone who isn't good for them.
Like their new boss.

And sometimes they do very bad things to get his attention.
Like sell their virginity in an auction.

Who knew he'd be so very, very mad?
Maybe this was not my best laid plan...

Y'ALL! Ms. Aston does endearingly awkward so well! Good Girl was hilarious but also sweet, heartwarming, and so utterly entertaining. I loved every minute!

Lydia and Rhys' first meeting goes down as one of the best I've read - in the comedic category anyway. Lydia is a recent college grad and she's smart, quirky, and a little socially challenged. She and her BF/roommate, Payton, moved to Vegas to work at a new casino. One night, after Payton tricks Lydia into going to dinner only to take her to a bar, she sets eyes on Rhys. Things get very interesting from there.

Rhys is a guy who thinks he's in touch with his feelings - thinking he has none - but is so clueless as to be ridiculous. It's the only area where he is though. He's handsome, wealthy, about to open a casino in hopes of making a name for himself within his family - oh, and he only does one-night stands...until he meets Lydia and she challenges everything.

These two together are magic...and awkward moments...and passion...and humor. I don't know that I've ever laughed so hard at a book than I did at a particular scene in this one. I was grateful it was only my cats who witnessed i. But seriously, Lydia and Rhys are able to teach one another quite a bit about love and what it means to have a committed relationship. And while it took Rhys a little time to get it all together, he showed glimpses of the gem he was underneath. And Lydia - well, Rhys brought out a different kind of passion in her. They each uncovered the whole person in each other. It was honest, genuine, and on occasion, giggle-inducing.

Ms. Aston's supporting cast rocked as well. t seems we'll be seeing Lydia's BF/roommate Payton next and that promises uproarious antics. But I also hope Canon, a friend of Rhys', gets a story, too. *hint*hint*

It's been a hot second since I last read something from Ms. Aston. I've missed her but Good Girl was worth the wait. 

New Release Review ~ Rock Chick Reborn ~ Kristen Ashley @KristenAshley68 #2018NewRelease

Rock Chick Reborn by Kristen Ashley
Rock Chick #9
Release Date: April 2, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Gift on Kindle (using gift card from Lexxie)
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
As a Rock Chick, Shirleen Jackson lived through all the kidnappings and explosions. Along the way, she also watched the dramatic love stories that came with those rides unfold.

But long ago, Shirleen made her choice. It affected who she was and would always be. She decided to settle for what she had and not want for more. She had good friends. She was raising two fine young men who weren't hers, but she loved them anyway.

She was good.

And then Moses Richardson crashed into her life, literally... and deliberately.

Moses has different ideas about Shirleen. He's more interested in the Shirleen of now, mostly because she's interesting. And funny. And loyal. Smart. Beautiful.

But Moses has a big challenge on his hands.

He has to convince Shirleen of all that.

And then convince her she deserves to have more.

Rock Chick Reborn was like a more mature version of Rock Chick... a Rock Chick story with ALL the feels but without all the mayhem. And seeing as it's Shirleen's story, it was just right!

I've adored Shirleen since she first stepped onto the page. She's as selfless as they come, taking on everyone else's problems and love life  even taking on raising two street kids who needed love and stability. And getting to boss around badasses - the Hot Bunch - and making bets on their love lives was gravy. But Shirleen never thought to have bets made on her own love life because she felt she wasn't worthy.

Omigosh did I enjoy Moses' way of proving to her just how worthy she is! Moses was a more mature version of one of the Hot Bunch. Every bit as alpha - but a bit more...reserved maybe? in his methods. Watching him win Shirleen over - worm his way into her heart - was so sweet. Getting to spend a little time with both the Hot Bunch and the Rock Chicks was the cherry on top...and made me long for yet another re-read. *wink* Oh, and I appreciated that a character from the Chaos series - a minor character who made a huge impact on Joker and Carissa - appeared here, making an impact once again. Just made me smile.

The release of Rock Chick Reborn was a surprise and a very welcome one. Shirleen had to have her day, her say, and get her own Hot Bunch man. Now the series is really complete!

Release Day Review ~ Passion Rising ~ JA Huss & Johnathan McClain (@JAHuss, @MisterJMcClain) #2018NewRelease

Passion Rising by JA Huss & Johnathan McClain
Original Sin Series #4
Release Date: May 8, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: I received an eARC from the authors. This did not affect my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
Old demons are back.

Maddie's dealing with the fallout of her choices. Safety and happiness are relative, elusive things she's desperate to have. But they will forever remain out of reach until the demons of her past are laid to rest.

Tyler's mistakes resurface to haunt him and he's just beginning to understand that money can't fix a broken relationship. He must open his heart and search for answers he'd rather not find.

She wants peace in a world made of chaos. 

He wants to rid himself of a lifetime of guilt.

They're soul mates, but that's no guarantee.

They'll need to rely on each other to find their happily ever after.

Because the fight never ends - it just gets easier with someone at your side.

Wow. Passion Rising was honestly the perfect ending for this series as well as the perfect way to wrap up Huss & McClain's first foray into being writing partners.

Passion Rising did a one-eighty and went from being more action to more...cerebral. And that wasn't a bad thing. At least not for me. It made me stop and think - really examine the story as a whole. And I appreciated that. Maddie and Tyler have been through so much in their young lives. Things that would have broken lesser individuals. But while they were both damaged, the each continued getting up each day, putting one foot in front of the other because they felt there had to be something more. They've been through quite a lot since they reconnected as well. They were both in very dark places and I don't know why they had to experience even more "bad" together except to say that it couldn't have worked in any other way. They've endured tragedy before but in experiencing it together they realized that together is better...or at least makes handling it easier. And in each other - or maybe simply with each other - they found what they needed to fill in the cracks of their damaged selves and they maybe, just might have found purpose...which is something I think we all long for.

See? Cerebral. But don't worry. It wasn't all contemplating life's purpose, love, etc. There was an injection of suspense as well as plenty of steam. But again, Passion Rising made me take a stap back and look at the entire picture of Maddie and Tyler's story...put all the pieces together...and I was just pleased as punch with how it all came together.

As a sort of an aside, going into this book as a longtime fan of Huss, I think I had certain preconceived notions of what I'd get from this series despite her partnering with McClain. Passion Rising pushed home the point that this series is not a Huss book, it's a Huss-McClain book and therefore I got something a little different. And I must admit to enjoying the experience. I look forward to seeing what these two come up with next.

New Release Review ~ Come from Away ~ Genevieve Graham #2018NewRelease

Come from Away by Genevieve Graham
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
In the fall of 1939, Grace Baker's three brothers, sharp and proud in their uniforms, board Canadian ships headed for a faraway war. Grace stays behind, tending to the homefront and the general store that helps keep her small Nova Scotian community running. The war, everyone says, will be over before it starts. But three years later, the fighting rages on and rumours swirl about "wolf packs" of German U-Boats lurking in the deep waters along the shores of East Jeddore, a stone's throw from Grace's window. As the harsh realities of war come closer to home, Grace buries herself in her work at the store.

Then, one day, a handsome stranger ventures into the store. He claims to be a trapper come from away, and as Grace gets to know him, she becomes enamoured by his gentle smile and thoughtful ways. But after several weeks, she discovers that Rudi, her mysterious visitor, is not the lonely outsider he appears to be, but someone else entirely - someone not to be trusted. When a shocking truth about her family forces Grace to question everything she has so strongly believed, she realizes that she and Rudi have more in common than she had thought. And if Grace is to have a chance at love, she must not only choose a side, but take a stand.

After reading Sophia's review of Tides of Honour (@Delighted Reader), I determined that Genevieve Graham was an author I needed to read. There were several reasons for this: 1) Her story seemed well written and she crafted fully-realized characters, and 2) The setting is Canada (Nova Scotia, specifically) and Ms. Graham tells stories set during Canadian history that I'm unfamiliar with and curious about as well as writing about the Acadian people whom I'm also unfamiliar with and curious about. So when Ms. Graham contacted me asking if I'd be interested in Come from Away, I was giddy! And I was also not disappointed.

Come from Away is set in Nova Scotia with WWII as the backdrop. It revolves around the Baker family, their life in the small fishing town of East Jeddore, and how the war affects them. It delves into perceptions, feelings, and emotions experienced when loved ones are far away fighting and everything you read or hear about the enemy paints them *all* as monsters.

Grace has stayed home to tend to her family and her hometown via working at the general store. She struggles with this decision, uncertain if she's doing her part for the war effort. She'd really like for things to return to normal - where one of her biggest concerns would be her brothers teasing her over her impending spinsterhood. When the town holds a dance, Grace meets a young man who makes her heart race and as she later gets to know him, he challenges her preconceived notions and perceptions - makes her consider her own prejudices and those of he neighbors.

Rudi arrives in East Jeddore on a mission and stays by way of a twist of fate. He grew up very differently than Grace. He was raised to feel a nationalistic pride unlike most. But the things he's seen and experienced at home and during the war make him question what he was taught. Rudi is forced to make difficult decisions and must learn to deal with the perceptions about himself and his countrymen. He must figure out a way to prove that in his heart, he's a good man.

The ways in which Ms. Graham dealt with the ugliness of war and he feelings he war evoked - the pride of country and the hatred towards the enemy on both sides - was masterful. Especially in that she used those who'd seen war, those currently fighting, to impart logic and reason upon a subject that seemingly has none. Watching as Grace fought against her prejudices to embrace her feelings for Rudi, how she and her family had to deal with a community who would persecute their own over the biases created by war was gut-wrenching and heartwarming. Ms. Graham illustrated the triumph of humanity over war in this story. It's a beautiful, timely, and brilliantly rendered story. And one that made me a fan of Ms. Graham's storytelling abilities. I'll be reading more for certain.

Release Day Review ~ Oceanside ~ Michelle Mankin @MichelleMankin #2018NewRelease

Oceanide by Michelle Mankin
Rock Stars, Surf, and Second Chances #3
Release Date: April 10, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received an ARC from the author. I voluntarily provided a review. I also purchased my own copy.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
Oscar night.
Rock star legend, Ashland Keys should be on top of the world, but the blond blue-eyed SoCal surfer is disillusioned with fame, done with drugs, bored with the groupies and sick of all the fake f*ckery.
A rising star, Fanny Bay is nominated for best original song in the same category as the Dirt Dogs band, but the novel redhead with the corkscrew curls and the slight Canadian accent would prefer to chart a course with a different destination.
Hollywood is not for her.
He's full of regrets, darkness and secrets.
She's full of hope and light and has mysteries of her own.
He's her reserved hero.
She's his gypsy rose.
He's water. She's fire. Together, they don't make sense.
But he's what she's always wanted, and she just might be everything he needs.

Omigosh did I love Oceanside! This whole series has been fabulous - the backstories, the romance, the friendships. But Oceanside...it's unique. Ash, the drummer for the now-retired Dirt Dogs, isn't your everyday hero. And Fanny is not your conventional heroine. They're from different worlds and they're opposites for sure...him dark, her light. But their story was captivating.

Highlights:

• Gripping
  I was immediately pulled into the story despite it having been a year since I read the last installment.

• Character Development
  Character development is a strength of Mankin's and she showed her prowess here. Ash is such a complex guy with all his rules and boundaries. I could feel his inflexibility and I understood the why's of his rules and his actions in regards to Fanny. Fanny was so mature for her age. She'd lived through quite a lot and even if I didn't agree with all her decisions, they all came from her heart and her desire to do right by those she loved.

• Chemistry
  The chemistry between Fanny and Ash was palpable but there was also just that something there that pulled them toward one another.

• Secondary Characters
  I, of course, loved spending time with Linc & Simone, and Karen & Ramone, who I met in the previous installments but I also adored a new character, Hollie. Mankin created a strong cast of characters to inhabit this series and the addition of Hollie only added to the depth of this story.

• Suspense
  A big part of the plot was suspenseful and kept me turning the pages wondering if and when things would go south for Fanny.

• Reason Behind Ash's Behavior
  I'm being vague here on purpose but know that Mankin did a tremendous in conveying how Ash felt about this and how he dealt with it.

• Shakespeare
  Being a fan of Shakespeare myself, I loved how Mankin wove in meaningful and relevant quotes.

You can read Oceanside without having read Outside or Riptide but why deprive yourself of meeting all these characters and getting their stories in order? I'm not sure if Oceanside is the end of the road for this series but I do feel confident in saying we haven't seen the last of these characters. And I, for one, am thrilled with the prospect. But this was a great way to wrap up the series with the original Dirt Dogs members. I hope you'll give them all a try.

Release Day Review ~ Sin with Me ~ JA Huss & Johnathan McClain (@JAHuss @MisterJMcClain ) #2018NewRelease

Sin with Me by JA Huss & Johnathan McClain
The Original Sin Series #1
Release Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
Source: I received an eARC from the author. This did not affect my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Sin with Me is the first book in a four-book contemporary romance series by New York Times bestselling author, JA Huss, and veteran actor and writer, Johnathan McClain. Each full-length novel will release three weeks apart starting March 6, 2018.

Synopsis
Two broken people in a city fueled by sin.

Maddie isn't looking to be saved. She knows the only person you can count on is yourself. Her moral compass might not point true North these days - but at least she's still standing.

The Military taught Tyler about loyalty. Being there for your brothers is the only thing that matters - but when it mattered most, he wasn't.

She's got a ticket straight to Hell. He's already been there and back.

Some sins scar your soul so deeply, you'll never be the same.
But this Devil in disguise might just be the angel he needs to forgive himself.

Omigoodness! You know, I've read and reviewed nearly everything Huss has written and it was starting to get difficult to come up with something fresh to say about her work. I mean, she gives good stories...good characters. And then. And then she gives me a break. She decides to collaborate with Johnathan McClain. And y'all. The result is going to have me waxing poetic!

In this first installment in The Original Sin series we're introduced to Maddie (aka Scarlett) and Tyler (aka Ford Aston). As an aside, I loved the nod to Huss' Rook & Ronin series.) Maddie is sort of down on her luck, working as a stripper to make ends meet while trying to her her latest business venture off the ground. Problem is, she's in debt to a kingpin, her strip club boss doesn't like her much, and she has some sort of anniversary looming that she can barely hold herself together just thinking about. Tyler on the other hand, is rich beyond his wildest dreams but is carrying a huge stone around his neck. He seems to believe he gets people killed. In fact, he's been dreaming about his own personal angel. And then he meets her.

Honestly, I don't know all the details of how Huss and McClain went about writing this story from dual POVs but what I do know is that each character has a distinct voice and the story flows together seamlessly. Tyler - he keeps a running dialog in his head and I kinda feel like it might represent what Huss' mind looks like but still... Another thing I know? I'm captivated. I love their separate stories and I adore how their stories converge. I knew the thing they had in common - I don't think it was meant to be a secret - but I was shocked to discover the real reason behind Maddie's fall down the rabbit hole. And I was even more shocked at the reaction both Maddie and Tyler have to the reveal. Add to that the movie references and I have to mention it again - Tyler's internal dialog which is reminiscent of Vince Vaughn's character's rapid-fire speech in the movie Swingers which makes you question his sanity, as well as Maddie's internal dialog where she rationalizes every decision she makes in a clear attempt to prove, if only to herself, she's not crazy - it all made for compelling reading. 

These two have some serious issues. You want to fix them, starting by giving them the hugs they so clearly need. And you want to get to the root of their issues, help them be whole and happy. Because fate certainly seems to be at work here bringing them together. 

Great character development, a solid plot line, and enough little reveals to keep me riveted, Sin with Me has me charmed and anxious for the next installment.

New Release Review ~ Born, Madly ~ Trisha Wolfe (@TrishWolfe) #2018NewRelease

Born, Madly by Trisha Wolfe
Darkly, Madly Duet #2
Release Date: February 5, 2018
Genre: Adult, Psychological Suspense, Dark Romantic Suspense
Source: I received an eARC from the author. I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
Duet: a performance by two.

But who is acting, and who is devolving?

A buried past is unearthed, and Grayson Sullivan - AKA The Angel of Maine - retaliates against the system who made him, deploying psychological warfare on the woman who initially set him free. Dr. London Noble probes deep into the mind of the killer she's fallen for, searching for answers, as a copycat killer threatens their unity. Are they partners, lovers, or enemies? One final trap will reveal all.

"Even the vilest of monsters deserve to be loved." -London

That quote pretty much sets the stage for the finale of London and Grayson's story. Do we really believe that everyone deserves love? 

TWolfe dove into the minds of a killer, a criminal psychologist, and two law enforcement officers - I can't imagine the research she did for this story - and delivered a tantalizing, thought-provoking, mindf*ck of a story that couldn't have been a more perfect ending for London and Grayson.

Highlights:

• Characters
  London, having experienced the revelations brought to light in Born, Darkly must now learn to accept who she is in light of what she suffered and how it impacted her. And she must also deal with a new revelation about herself.
  Grayson is so self-aware it's almost scary. However, he's unsure how to deal with the emotions London elicits having never experienced them before. Even Foster and Nelson, the law enforcement officers on Grayson's trail are so well developed that I wanted to crawl inside their heads to figure them out.
• Thought-provoking
  If the quote didn't already clue you in, this story makes you think. It's still rattling around in my head - things like nature versus nurture and fate. Whether criminals can be rehabilitated. If a killer deserves love.
• Psychologically thrilling
  TWolfe kept me guessing throughout. I was never certain what either London's or Grayson's next move was going to be. And the moves they made were often perplexing and chilling. There are many things that never would have occurred to me. That London and Grayson were in each other's head so deeply that they could seemingly feel each other's need was mind boggling.
• Romance
  London and Grayson's romance is so far from conventional that unconventional doesn't cover it. As Grayson said,

"We're inexorable. Inescapable." 

"We're connected on some deeper level... Through bars and cages and prisons...in the physical sense and the mind. That's why you could never be expendable to me. You're my match."  

Born, Madly rather blew me away. It's a story that will stick with me for a long while as I attempt to puzzle out the how's and why's. I'm still questioning whether I'm smart enough to figure it all out. I knew TWolfe would make this finale worth the wait. She didn't disappoint! 

New Release Review ~ Captivated by the She-Wolf ~ Kristal Hollis (@KristalHollis) #2018NewRelease #COYER

Captivated by the She-Wolf by Kristal Hollis
Wahyas of Walker's Run #4
Release Date: February 1, 2018
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Source: I received an ARC from the author. This did not affect my rating and I voluntarily provided a review.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease, #COYER
Goodreads

Synopsis
A shifter finds his soul mate...

Ronni Lyles and her son are just settling into their new pack when her dead husband's brother comes to claim then. Bodie Gryffon is looking for a safe place to raise his daughter - a raven-shifter, just like him. What begins as a purely practical alliance turns passionate. But Ronni senses that Bodie has a secret - one that could force him to make a painful choice.

The mythology KHollis has created surrounding her Wahyas has kept me enthralled with this series. In Captivated by the She-Wolf, she incorporates a Native American myth and the result was, well, captivating. Here are the highlights:

• Ronni and Bodie
  I previously met Ronnie but getting the chance to know her better, well I couldn't believe every single male Wahya wasn't knocking on her door. Not only is she a great mom but she's also a compassionate woman. She's always putting everyone else first - in fact, she hardly ever considers herself. So when she meets Bodie and feels that pull towards him, she does her best to ignore it. Bodie is also an amazing parent, raising his teenage daughter on his own after losing his wife. He also takes care of his mom although she does a lot to help him as well. Bodie is a man of principles, non-violent, protective - most everything he does is with a mind towards his family. Meeting Ronnie, he was immediately enchanted but then he began to feel that pull. But can a raven-shifter find a true mate in a wolf-shifter?
• Mythology
  As I said, the mythology KHollis has created around her Wahyans - wolf-shifters - makes her stories that much more compelling. Their history, their dynamics as a shifter society and as a society hiding among humans, how their shifts work, and what happens when they find the one - it all adds depth to the characters and their stories. That KHollis chose to incorporate a Native American myth intrigued me. The way she did it was brilliant and seamless.
• Humor
  The banter between Ronnie and Bodie was quite comical a lot of the time. He teased her - often - and often at times Ronnie most needed the distraction from something more serious. That brought levity to the story when needed and also conveyed layers of Bodie's personality.
• Secondary Cast
  One of the things I appreciate most in this series is the dynamics between the wolves. That requires a well-rounded supporting cast and I was thrilled to spend thime with those I'd previously met, seeing how they're doing as well as how they welcomed Bodie and his family into the pack. Getting to spend time wtih Ronnie's son, Alex, his friend, Lucas, and Bodie's daughter, Willow, was also a pleasure. KHollis portrayed these teens well.
• Suspense and Emotion
  KHollis created some intense suspense using Ronnie's past as well as mythology surrounding Bodie and his raven-shifters. There was some white knuckling, some gasping, and maybe even a few tears.

In the end, I was so enchanted with the blending of the Native American myth into that of the Wahyan that I didn't mind one bit that this story wasn't only about wolves. And I'm looking forward to seeing how Bodie and Ronnie's blended family impacts Wahyan life and beliefs.

New Release Review ~ Angel of Shadow ~ D.H. Nevins #2018NewRelease

Angel of Shadow by D.H. Nevins
Wormwood #2
Release Date: January 13, 2018
Genre: Adult, Dystopian, Romance
Source: I received an eARC from the author. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
D.H. Nevins hurtles you into a world of half-angels, demons and tormented love in this driving, dystopian sequel to Wormwood.

Half-angels, known as Nephilim, have all but destroyed the surface of the Earth. Yet for Kali Michaels, her life is now much more complicated than simply surviving. Grappling with her own powerful identity, she worries her connection to the world of Shadows could destroy those around her.
And what if she hurts Tiamat Wormwood, the Nephilim outcast who has given everything to save her?
Tiamat and Kali know hey have no future - not when outside forces and Kali's own power push both the humans and the Nephilim to the brink of extinction.
As she fights to stop the inevitable, she is led to question who her real enemies are, and whether the ultimate threat may actually be herself.

To say I'd been anxiously awaiting the release of Angel of Shadow is an understatement. Wormwood made much an impression I couldn't wait to see what Kali and Tiamat did next. But wait I did. And fortunately, Angel of Shadow was worth the wait!

Highlights

• Characters
  Of course, Kali and Tiamat are the central characters of the story but Nevins also further developed characters we'd previously met as well as weaving in some new ones. All the characters, particularly a demon named Richard, added complexity to the story overall as well as creating tension, suspense, and providing comic relief. I'm a fan of character growth and watching Kali in particular grow, change, and mature was a pleasure.
• Action/Suspense/Gritty Setting
  Angel of Shadow didn't skimp on action or suspense. Now that the Nephilim are split and no one is quite certain what the new missions is, I waited and watched with bated breath to see what was going to happen. Also a revelation concerning Kali had me biting my nails as the repercussions slowly revealed themselves. And of course Richard had to keep stirring things up for all involved.
  Nevins adeptly paints a post-apocalyptic landscape. I could almost taste the dust and ask, feel the crunch of dirt and small pebbles being walked on, feel the oppressive darkness of the caves. And the battle scenes had me gasping for air.
• Thought-provoking Elements
  Nevins had Kali, Tiamat, and other dealing with accepting new roles as well as accepting themselves when new characteristics/traits were realized. It was interesting and exciting to witness characters learning to deal when things went against long-held beliefs, when they reached deep and found inner strength they didn't realize was there, and try to understand that genetics don't make a person, it's the choices the person makes and the actions the take that make them who they are. Kali and Tiamat are also exploring love - what it means to love and to be loved.

And all this was delivered in Nevins' beautiful prose.

The future is uncertain for Kali, Tiamat, and their friends. Whatever comes, they'll face it together. I'm eager to see where things go from here.

Review ~ Chasing Red ~ Isabelle Ronin #2017NewRelease

Chasing Red by Isabelle Ronin
Red #1
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received this book from Sourcebooks via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 2.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
They said she was going to be my ruin...
Then let her ruin me.

Caleb Lockhart has everything - wealth, adoration, a brilliant future. Until a chance encounter with a siren in a red dress changes everything. Until he meets the woman he dubs Red.

Veronica Strafford's past makes it hard for her to trust anyone. Now, kicked out of her apartment, she reluctantly accepts Caleb's offer for a place to stay.

Caleb feels intensely drawn to Veronica. And, for the first time in his life, he really wants something - someone. Too bad Veronica's heart might just be the one thing Caleb can't win.

I want to preface my review by saying this is my opinion. There are many readers who have enjoyed Chasing Red so if you're interested don't let my opinion dissuade you from checking it out. The story just didn't work for me. Here's my opinion of what sort of worked and what could have worked better:

• Premise
  The premise was intriguing. I mean, it drew my attention and made me want to read the book. However, the execution was lacking. The story was uneven and I was often bored. 
• Characters
  The characters were underdeveloped but did have their moments. Seeing Veronica with her girlfriends, Beth and Kara - who were both a hoot -  and Caleb with his friend Cameron and even with his longtime girl friend - whose name escapes me. Hmm... These interactions enabled me to learn a little bit about who Veronica and Caleb were, something that didn't happen when they were together. Despite sort of liking the characters, I felt they were mostly one-dimensional. There wasn't any real character development so I never felt a connection to them, which makes it difficult to engage with their story.
• Tension & Climax
  The last quarter or so of the story might have been the most exciting. The "villain" was rather evil-minded and I liked the tension she created. But it was silly and melodramatic reasons behind that tension.

Maybe it was just my mood but Chasing Red was an uneven read for me. I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping I would. I'm not sure I'll read the next installment since I'm not really invested in the characters enough to care what comes next.

If you've read Chasing Red or if you end up reading it, I'd love to discuss your thoughts. :)

New Release Review ~ The White Lily ~ Juliette Cross (@entangledpub @Juliette__Cross) #2017NewRelease

The White Lily by Juliette Cross
Vampire Blood #3
Release Date: October 23, 2017
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, Fairy Tale
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
To the north of the Varis empire, a mysterious faction spreads propaganda against the vampire monarchy. Friedrich Volya, the Duke of Winter Hill, seeks to discover who they are before his uncle finds them first. King Dominik will punish the traitors with brutal force.

Local schoolteacher, the raven-haired Brennalyn, is on her own mission - to spy on the duke and discover what she can for the Black Lily.  She longs to help the commonwealth and bring justice to the many orphans left behind from the ravages of the blood madness, like the children she lovingly keeps in her care. What she doesn't plan for is the heart-pounding attraction she feels for the duke, enemy to the Black Lily.

But when Brennalyn's secret puts her life and the life of her children in danger, Friedrich steps in as her protector, she finds out there's more to the duke than she thought.

Although The White Lily can be read as a standalone (it's #3 in the series but I never felt lost) I think I'd have benefited from reading the previous installments first so that I had the full vision of the over-arching plot. However, I quite enjoyed my introduction to this series (and this author) and plan to go back and read the earlier books. 

Highlights

• Snow White and vampires
  Yep. I liked that JCross used Snow White for inspiration and wove in her own brand of vamps.
• Characters
  Friedrich and Brennalyn were well drawn. I could see they were good people who fought for their convictions. The dialog between them was fun and emotionally as well as sexually charged. And I delighted in watching them grow. Friedrich's relationships with Grant and Mikhail were entertaining and conveyed the respect and loyalty they held for one another. And Brennalyn's adopted brood was also fleshed out well enough that I was invested in  each of them. They also added depth to Brennalyn and the story.
• Parallels in class structure
  There were many parallels between the class structure in the story and the current societal structures in the world today - how it benefited the higher classes and hurt the lower ones. I liked how JCross made vampires the aristocracy, "sucking" the lifeblood - literally and figuratively - out of the lower classes. At least, vampires in general. There were exceptions, of course. *wink*
• Rebellion
  Oh boy did I admire that the rebellion was apparently started by a women and gained a staunch ally in Brennalyn Snow - yet another intelligent, strong-willed, and strong-minded woman.
• Romance
  The romance was dreamy and steamy. I admired that Friedrich yielded to loving Brennalyn in equal measure to desiring her capitulation to him. They each had reasons they were avoiding commitment but they fell hard and it was endearing to watch them fall.
• Nice Balance
  This was a romance but JCross balanced it well with the political intrigue and action. It kept the pace just right.

I'm grateful to Entangled Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read The White Lily but JCross enamored me. Her writing is engaging and her characters well developed. I've already purchased The Black Lily because I need to meet all the characters on the game board and get the full story. The final book in the series releases in January! *wink*

New Release Review ~ Right Where We Belong ~ Brenda Novak (@BrendaNovak) #2017NewRelease

Right Where We Belong by Brenda Novak
Silver Springs #4
Release Date: October 31, 2017
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak returns to Silver Springs with a moving story about rebuilding your life when you've got nothing left to lose.

Savanna Gray needs a do-over. Her "perfect" life unraveled when, to her absolute shock, her husband was arrested for attacking three women. With her divorce settled, she takes her two children home to Silver Springs to seek refuge between the walls of the farmhouse where she was born. It needs a little TLC, but she's eager to take control of something.

Gavin Turner understands the struggle of starting over. Abandoned at a gas station when he was five, it wasn't until he landed at New Horizons Boys Ranch as a teen that he finally found some peace. He steps up when Savanna needs help fixing things--even when those things go beyond the farmhouse.

Despite an escalating attraction to Gavin, Savanna resolves to keep her distance. She trusted her ex, who had a similarly tragic background, and is unwilling to repeat her past mistakes. But it's hard to resist a man whose heart is as capable as his hands.

It was so nice to sit down with my friends in Silver Springs. Not only did I get better acquainted with Gavin, I was introduced to a new neighbor in Savanna as well as getting to spend a little time with Eli and Aiyana. A treat all around. 

Gavin came to New Horizons via a wretched childhood where his father allowed his stepmother to abandon and beat him. His foster family wasn't much of an improvement. But Aiyana Turner gave him the love he needed to overcome all that and find some peace. So it was disheartening that someone he was somewhat involved with would take advantage of his past to affect his future. Especially when he'd only just met Savanna.

Savanna came to Silver Springs to escape a very ugly and public set of circumstances. She's closed the door on that part of her life but meeting Gavin wasn't part of her plan.

Both Gavin and Savanna have every reason to be commitment-phobic, particularly Savanna. Imagine finding out the person you've shared your life with, had children with, was capable of such violence. But there was something between them that immediately clicked. They tried to talk themselves out of starting anything but it seemed fated. All they had going on individually though would have made most mortals run in the opposite direction so it was testament to their strong connection that they "stuck".

I loved watching Gavin and Savanna together. They had some great moments of fun banter as well as some serious romance. Gavin's honesty was refreshing as was Savanna's actually. Neither seemed averse to telling the other how they felt even if they did, on occasion, leave out a few details for the other's protection. The villainous supporting cast was very well done. I honestly couldn't stand any of them and that Novak developed them well enough to evoke such strong negative emotion says a lot. On the flip side, watching Eli and Aiyana conspire together in matchmaking efforts was fun and seeing Savanna and Gavin with Savanna's kids was heartwarming.

The only drawbacks were due to a few places where my suspension of disbelief was stretched a bit. Otherwise, Novak delivered a well-crafted story with characters so well drawn I both loved some and hated some. I'll be looking forward to my next visit in Silver Springs.