He’s also my only hope.

As a shifter from the wrong side of the tracks who’s just been rejected by my abusive fated mate, I don’t have a lot of options in this city.

I have no choice but to make a deal with the devil.

But that doesn’t mean I’m powerless. I have an ace up my sleeve, a bargaining chip Maxim can’t resist. He wants revenge on my pack leaders for poisoning his father, and I hold the key to his enemy’s destruction.

In exchange for one month of protection from my ex and his friends, I promise to give Maxim what he wants—me.

I expect honoring the bargain to be pure hell. I don’t expect to ignite every time we touch or to develop a soft spot for this wounded wolf. His blood calls to mine, and I’m starting to think this wicked king may have a heart after all.

But is there room in his world for love? Or am I destined to become a pawn in his dark game?

*This is book one in a quartet. It ends in a cliffhanger.*

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

Another New to me author.  I purchased this book on amazon. Who can pass up shifter mobster. The description of the book had me hooked. This is book one of four and be prepared it does end on a cliffhanger.

Willows fate has been decided she was mated to an evil alpha. Not accepting this as her fate she runs right into the arms of the alpha of their enemy. She makes a deal with Maxim to buy her some time.

Maxim I’m not sure of but when he starts to open up and show Willow another side of him, I am head over heals for him. The chemistry between Willow and Maxim is explosive. Maxim knows she is hiding something and is going to find out. Can Willow handle everything that is going to come her way. So far she has lost everything, her sister, and her parents.

I enjoy the friendship that Willow and Maxim sister have. With what is coming Willows way I’m not sure she will have anything but the end. I want to know what will happen next with Willow and Maxim. To be honest I also want to know more about Maxim’s sister.

Bella Jacobs loves pulse-pounding action, fantasy, and supernaturally high stakes, mixed with swoon-worthy romance and unforgettable heroes.

She adores trips to the dark side and can’t wait to take you on her next adventure.

Visit her at www.bellajacobsbooks.com

In the autumn of 1865 an unnatural fog blanketed the back river waterway between the ocean and the Savannah Georgia port. As the mist lifted, it revealed that an entire fleet of barges, tugs, and merchant ships had all disappeared in the hours between sundown and sunrise. Not a single one remained.

When Holden Henry’s small tug re-emerges through the Halloween thinning veil one hundred fifty years later, he comes face to face with his past as he meets Esme Anders, an old soul who knows all about him, his disappearance, and the years between. His boat is in tact, as is he, but everything else has changed, including the land he called home.

His Savannah isn’t the same anymore.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

This was a quick read that had me pretty emotional at one point. Kudos to Savannah for being able to achieve that in a book that took me an hour or so to read.
I really enjoyed this story and I absolutely love the cover.

A lifelong lover of words and reading, Savannah Verte hasn’t quite figured out what she wants to write when she grows up. Born and raised in the upper Midwest, Savannah’s gypsy spirit and never quit attitude keep her busy and seldom idle. For so many reasons, Savannah considers herself a ‘Contemporary Vagabond’ when it comes to writing and hopes that others find her diverse offerings as enjoyable to read as they are to write.

As the primary owner and driving force behind Eclectic Bard Books she considers herself immensely fortunate to see writing from varied perspectives as she endeavors to publish the authors rostered there. Working with other writers, Savannah gets to expand her horizons every day as someone brings a new idea to the table and the brainstorming begins. There is something addictive about the creative process for her and helping other authors embrace their dreams make hers a reality daily.

That’s the official Savannah, the unofficial version is just this: a girl who loves experiencing life with every twist and turn it takes. When she was born, she had such fine, light hair that her mother used to tape bows to her head so people would know she was a girl. She’s had a host of crazy unrelated jobs- everything from cake decorator, dry cleaner, and insurance agent to Emergency Room assistant, bartender, crime lab tech and bouncer. Savannah loves air hockey but completely sucks at it. She loves good jazz, good scotch, and antiques but also old rock, a quiet tea, and a tidy home. She’s completely technology impaired and can get it after she’s broken the computer or done it ass-backwards a few times… Thank Gods that there are some amazing meme creators that let her pilfer images or she’d be lost. Lime green is her color, the rhinoceros is her logo & philosophy, and she’s completely mad about seeing new authors try.

Follow Savannah on Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsavannahverte

The student…
If he wants a job when he finishes grad school, Tanner Brown needs to get a foot in the door. But when he arrives at the country’s largest statistics conference to find he has nowhere to stay, he’s not sure it’s worth it. Especially when he realizes his hot faculty crush just witnessed his embarrassment from a front row seat.

The professor…
Dr. Beckett James is happily focused on his career until one of his former students slides into his line of sight. Tanner is brilliant and engaging, and when he ends up without a room, Beckett has no choice but to offer him a place to stay for the weekend. Even if it means testing his restraint.

The problem…
When their conference fling turns into an on-campus complication, Tanner and Beckett will have to control the variables that threaten to keep them apart or risk losing their chance at a happy ending before it’s even begun.

A Foot in the Door is the third full-length novel in the Open Doors series featuring a statistics professor who makes a mean curry, a ginger-haired student with a bright future, and an offer neither can refuse.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Tanner is a student at MacMillan. This weekend he is attending the countries largest statistics conference. Beckett is a professor at the same University. He, too, is in town for the convention. Tanner is having a good run of bad luck and is in quite the predicament. Even though he knows he shouldn’t, Beckett offers Tanner a place to stay for the weekend and let’s just say– the forced proximity and forbidden-ish-ness of it all, had me starting and finishing this one in record time.

These 2 men!!! I swear MM romance has a tendency to stress me out and this book did not disappoint in that aspect one bit. A Foot in the Door was the perfect balance of angst, heat, and romance. I’m addicted to this series. Well, I’m on to Brodys book next and let’s just say, I’ve been looking forward to learning more about him since he was introduced in book 1.

Vinni George has been a lover of romance novels (of all shapes, sizes, and colors) since she first got her hands on one of her grandmother’s Harlequins and has never looked back. She lives in Ohio with her two favorite guys (her husband and son) and, hopefully—one day—a dog. When not writing her own stories, she can be found helping to polish other people’s novels. In her spare time, Vinni dabbles in performance art, quilting, and various culinary pursuits and enjoys traveling.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

I’m kinda sad to see this series end. I love these shifters and their mates. Flint was one of my favorites in my opinion saved the best for last.
My heart broke to hear Flints back story but to see him with his mate made my heart happy. Being a dragon shifter and ban from his family and all other dragons made him hesitate when he met his mate. He didn’t want he to have the same fate ass him. However, they could not deny the pull of the fated mate bond.
My heart was torn when he had to put his own life on the line to save hers. Flint would do anything to save his mate even if it means losing his own life.
This was the best ending to the series I loved Flint and Amelia. Flint tried so hard to resist the mate bond but there was not stopping it. Flint was doomed between mate bond and Amelia being so determined to make this work.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

This is the fifth book and about Kit the only female member of the FBI Swat team. Talk about one bada$$ panther.
Kit wants to take down the Viper gang for what they did to her best friend. Now is her chance she is assigned to protect one of the gang members that is going to testify against the leader. Upon entering the safe house she realizes the criminal she is to protect is her fated mate.
Liam never had a family always going from group home to foster home. He thought he found a family with the Vipers until he could no longer deal with what they were doing. He now finds himself in protective custody with more questions than answers.
This was my favorite book in the series so far. So many secrets were uncovered and man I didn’t see some of them coming. I loved Kit and Liam’s story but I have been waiting for Flints story since the first book. I’m so ready to learn more about him.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

Oh my Sloane, he does not disappoint really he finds his fated mate picks her up and carries her our of the bar away from her date because she is his. Yes that is right the FBI SWAT member kidnaps his mate. I love this big Polar Bear. Now that he has her he has to explain who and what they are to each other without her running for the hills.

Ray is the daughter of a wealthy business man. When Ray is kidnapped she knows her dad will send the best of the vest to find her but can she survive the swamp and crazy man. Imagine her surprise when she realizes Sloane is not crazy and telling her the truth. No matter what trouble Ray finds herself in Ice is there to help her.

I absolutely love Ice and his family they are fun and enjoy tormenting one another. Ray makes a great addition to their family.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

I purchased this book.

I am enjoying this shapeshifter SWAT team. I love that when they find their mates these big tough alphas are brought to their knees. What do you get when a Hawk and a Lion are fated mates and family enemies? One intense mating and a not so happy family.

Hawk found his mate when he went to collect his cousins who stupidly crashed a lion shifters party. Both Saffy and Hawk were surprised to find their fated mate was from a rival shifter family. Hawk and Saffy could not be happier that they found each other. If only the families felt the same way.

Even though I had the feeling of a Romeo and Juliet vibe it didn’t end the same thankfully. I am enjoying these short reads and getting to know the shifters on the SWAT team. I am intrigued to read ICE the Polar Bear next.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

I purchased this book.

After reading Wanted by the Wolf I downloaded the second book I had to know more about Nash and the others. Nash the Grizzley is brought to his knees when he smells his mate in Maya’s Bakery. Nash is crushed when Maya tells him his mate is married.

Aria married a man not out of love but as an arrangement. When Nash realizes her husband is abusive and a downright awful husband, he decides there is no holding him back from her. The chemistry between Nash and Aria was instantaneous. Nash was ready to remove Aria’s husband from her life after he knew how awful he was to her. No one would harm or treat his mate poorly.

I enjoyed seeing how these two work things out and how her husband plays a part in this book. I cannot wait to read Hawk next. I’ve already downloaded Hawk and ready to read.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Melinda

I saw this on amazon as a free to buy.  I could not pass it up when I saw it was a shapeshifter SWAT Team. Plus I love finding new to me authors.

This was a quick read but I was not able to put it down. Cole had my attention from jump as well as the other SWAT Team members. To see Cole be brought to his knees when he realized Maya was his mate was amusing.

I enjoyed Maya just as much as Cole. She is a perfect match for him. I loved that Maya could hold her own when she needed to but would let Cole take over when she was in over her head. I cannot wait to see their relationship grow and see the other SWAT members find their mates.

I enjoyed this on so much I had to immediately down load Nash. I have a feeling Nash is going to fall all over himself when he meets his mate.

Hey Friends! Twinsie Tenise here with my Top 5 reads for the first part of 2023. 4 out of the 5 happen to be MM Romance. It has been a good year for MM ☺️❤️‍🔥 In no particular order, I give you my favorite books for the first part of 2023.

Tempt Us (The Next Generation #11) by: JM Walker

-Rowan-

He was sad.
Closed off.
Alluring.
Aiden Donovan was something I never knew I needed.
He had walls up to protect himself, but I was determined to shatter every single one of them.
I would show him that fate brought us together and we were meant to be.
It was just me and him against the world.
But someone from my past didn’t want me happy and would do anything to end what Aiden and I were starting to build.
Even if it meant taking someone’s life.

-Aiden-

He was dominant.
Addictive.
Stubborn.
Rowan Crane barrelled into my life at a time I needed it most.
He was determined to make me see that we were meant to be together and that he would do everything in his power to make me happy.
When I finally started seeing that maybe Rowan was right, the universe decided it had other plans for us.
Knowing Rowan’s history, the force threatening to tear us apart could win.
If we let it.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Aidan is a recovering alcoholic suffering from PTSD after serving in the military. Rowan owns an antique store and dabbles in… other things, of which he is working on. They meet in a bar. That seems odd because Aiden is in recovery but you will soon find out the reason for this.

Oh lawd! First off, Rowan is flipping perfect. I love him. He is everything Aiden never knew he needed. He is dealing with his own stuff at the moment but the way he makes Aiden his priority so early on was just breathtaking, awe inspiring, all the adjectives that are synonymous with those words! Yeah, all those things. But the heart knows what the heart wants. Sometime it just takes a minute for the brain to catch up. I loved this book from the first page and the way J.M. Walker writes MM is also all those adjectives I mentioned above! This story gave me constant goosebumps.

Tempt Us is book 11 in the series. The final book in the series. I’m going to miss these kids. I’m going to miss looking forward to the next book in the series. But I know its time to move on. I feel like this series will be one I take with me and recommend to everyone forever. There’s something for every romance reader within the pages of these 11 books. You may even notice a familiar name mentioned A LOT in book 5. I would just like to point out that I have nothing to do with my evil namesake and her craziness. I wanted that villain to be tortured buuuut I digress. Lol…
Thank you J.M. for keeping me on the edge of my seat for that past few years with these kids. I can’t wait to see what your fabulous mind creates next.

 

J.M. Walker, a Canadian author, is an Amazon bestseller who also hit USA Today with Wanted: An Outlaw Anthology. She loves all things books, pigs and lip gloss. She is happily married to the man who inspires all of her Heroes and continues to make her weak in the knees every single day.

“Above all, be the HEROINE of your own life…” ~ Nora Ephron

 

Necessary Space by: Kate Hawthorne

Hendrix

What’s the only thing more annoying than my years-too-young neighbor?

The way I want him more than air.

There are plenty of things I don’t like about my new home in California, and my neighbor, Miles, is at the top of the list. He’s smug and arrogant, he speaks out of turn. And even though I should have learned my lesson about fast-talking, younger, assertive men when I broke up with my ex, I want him. For better or worse, Miles and I are on the same page and that’s why we decide there’s no harm in taking things between us someplace a little more private.

Good thing it’s only a physical connection between us because I could never be with a man like him for the long term…

 

Miles

Can I tease my well-dressed and thick-thighed older neighbor into bed?

I’m not sure, but there’s no harm in trying.

There’s never been a man who twists me up inside the way Hendrix does, and from the very first time he tells me yes, I know I’m going to demand a thousand more agreements out of his gorgeous mouth before I’m anywhere close to being done with him. He says he only wants me for my body, but it’s not long before things between us feel anything but casual. Hendrix thinks I can’t tell he’s being cautious with me, that I don’t know his worries about the past repeating itself are a constant threat in his head.

Joke’s on him, though. Hendrix makes me want to be a better man and I’m not going to stop until I prove that I’m worthy of a partner like him, even if I stumble more than once along the way.

What’s the only thing scarier than falling in love with the older man who’s determined not to trust me?

Giving him the space to discover he can.

—

Necessary Space is a 76,000 word age gap romance where coffee is a love language, annoying neighbors become lovers, kneeling is so much more than an act of service, and love can be found all in good time.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Hendrix is trying to adjust to his new life in California.  If I’m being honest he was basically just going through the motions daily. Good thing he’s not very fond of how his life is going as of late because things are about to get intresting…

Miles is neighbors with Hendrix. They meet through the fence after an embarrassing moment and Hendrix is unimpressed with his cocky, much younger neighbor. Miles is up for the challenge that is his older, wiser, super hot neighbor, Hendrix . He will do what it takes to prove to him that he isn’t playing games and he wants him for keeps. Even if that means giving them both Necessary Space.

This book made my heart happy. I loved watching the relationship between these 2 men blossom and grow. It was a wonderful story. I’m so happy Hendrix finally got his HEA. I cannot wait to read about the next couple in this series.

 

 

Sixty Five Hours by: N.R. Walker

Cameron Fletcher and Lucas Hensley are advertising executives who have Sixty Five Hours to pull together the campaign of their careers.

Sixty Five Hours to get along. Sixty Five Hours to not kill each other. Sixty Five Hours to fall in love.

** First published in 2012. No additional content has been added

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

An ad agency has 65 hours to put together a campaign that will wow the client. The best 2 ad executives are put on the job. In order to get the job done, they are basically stuck together for the next few days. One begins to wonder is it even possible for them to complete this job in the time allotted? As the clock counts down to the final hour, a new– dare I say– romance begins to form. And what these 2 men discover about themselves and each other as the chapter numbers climbed was incredible. But will any of what they experienced even matter when Monday arrives and reality comes crashing through their bubble?

Oh my gosh! I already want to reread this book. I loved these 2 men, their chemistry, banter, and the entire storyline. Coming out is not easy, it should be but sometimes fear over what others think or how others may react, make coming out for some a bit more difficult, sadly sometimes impossible. I felt Cameron’s pain and struggle but I also was pleased with response from those he loved most. I was rooting for a HEA and I just cannot say enough great things. 65 Hours is going to be one of my annual Pride Month rereads. I give this cute, enemies to lovers, super steamy, coming out story– 5 rainbow stars!

 

 

Revolving Door (Open Doors #2) by: Vinni George

The grump…
Fletcher Morgan doesn’t like a single thing about Archer Waverly—not his pretty face, his wicked wit, or his perfect body. He especially hates the way Archer flirts with anyone and everyone. Everything about Archer reminds Fletcher of someone from his past he would much rather forget.

The flirt…
Archer thought Fletcher could be the silver fox of his dreams…until Fletcher opened his mouth and told Archer exactly how he felt about him. Now Archer is more than happy to rile Fletcher up and accept the consequences. Sparks fly every time they see each other proving hate is as potent as lust and enemies with benefits just might be hotter than friends with benefits.

The fireworks…
When an unfortunate incident involving Archer’s aging drag queen housemate brings Archer and Fletcher together–in more ways than one–they realize there might be more to the other than meets the eye. Maybe there really is a thin line between love and hate.

Revolving Door is the second full-length novel in the Open Doors series featuring a surly silver fox surf shop owner who refuses to fall in love again, a (mostly) reformed flirt who has never been in love, and a fabulous aging drag queen who has a penchant for platforms and matchmaking.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Fletcher owns the local surf shop and loves to surf. He’s 43, alone, cranky, and content with how life is going. Well that is until the sassy, spunky, and over flirtatious Archer storms into his life calling Fletcher Daddy which simultaneously ticks him off and turns him on.

If you read the first book in the series, we’ve met these 2 before. They are both friends of Sam. When I read their little exchange in Sam and Max’s book, my interest was piqued and I immediately grabbed this book upon completion.

Fletcher and Archer could not be more opposite. Fletcher is a loner. Runs his small surf shop with his dog Charlie and is content with things as they are. Archer works at the local magazine. He’s the life of the party and has made quite the name for himself as a player. Fletcher just isn’t in the mood for that crap so he tells Archer he’s not interested. Archer wants the older man and he is not shy about telling him despite Fletcher repeatedly refusing his advances. Problem is, his brain and another part of his anatomy didn’t seem to get the memo. No matter how hard he tries, the other male continues to occupy space in his mind…

And if we check in on Archer, seems he’s faring the same as far as thoughts of Fletcher are concerned.

Grrrr! These 2 men had me feeling all sorts of emotions as the page numbers grew. In the span of 10 minutes I went from swooning, to smiling, to crying, then laughing and cursing the author for trying to make me laugh after they had me crying. I know what you’re thinking. Dramatic much? I was just feeling all the feels. I really loved this couple. There was just something extra special about them and their story. My reader heart is so happy to have stumbled upon this new to me author. 2 books later, I’m now addicted to their words and cannot wait to start the next book in the series.

 

Vinni George has been a lover of romance novels (of all shapes, sizes, and colors) since she first got her hands on one of her grandmother’s Harlequins and has never looked back. She lives in Ohio with her two favorite guys (her husband and son) and, hopefully—one day—a dog. When not writing her own stories, she can be found helping to polish other people’s novels. In her spare time, Vinni dabbles in performance art, quilting, and various culinary pursuits and enjoys traveling.

 

Bad Mother by: Mia Sheridan

From New York Times bestselling author Mia Sheridan comes the twisted story of one detective’s pursuit of a serial killer who’s taunting her…and the familiar connection between them that’s haunting her.

When Sienna Walker is nearly fired from the NYPD, the last thing she expects is a second chance in the one place she vowed never to return to. But she can’t afford to turn down the job offer, even if a painful familial past and a broken engagement hardly make Reno, Nevada, home sweet home.

It’s made even less sweet by Sienna’s first case—a serial killer with a curious fixation on her. Along with his victims, the killer leaves perplexing clues and chilling journal entries addressed to Sienna detailing the murders he claims his mother committed. The case continues to get personal when her ex-fiancé is called out by the killer as well. Whoever’s behind the diabolical murders, Sienna can only be sure of one thing…it’s someone close to home.

As the twisted truth forces Sienna to face her complicated feelings, she learns that no matter how far you run from your past, it always catches up to you in the end.

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Review by Twinsie Tenise

Well done, Mia. I was guessing and coming up empty for most of the book until about 75% in and my “what if” was correct. After I picked my jaw up from the floor, I was able to complete this pulse- pounding, thrill ride. I finished over a week ago and it’s still replaying in my head. I love when a book is so well written, with such a unique plot– that you find yourself replaying the details long after THE END.

Sienna is a homicide detective who left Reno behind a long time ago, along with the shattered pieces of her heart. She’s not exactly thrilled when her job transfers to the city she ran from as a teen. A city that still includes the boy, who is now very much a man, who stole her heart all those years ago.
Gavin has it all. Well all that money can buy that is, but there has always been something missing. Her. When a psychopathic serial killer drags them into a sick and twisted game of murder and mayhem. The pair must work together to figure out the identity of sicko before anyone else loses their life. And where the clues led them still has me reeling…
This was an excellent Romantic Suspense. I give it 5 stars!

 

Mia Sheridan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. Her passion is weaving true love stories about people destined to be together. Mia lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. They have four children here on earth and one in heaven. Mia can be found online at www.miasheridan.com or www.facebook.com/miasheridanauthor.