Category Archives: Review

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal, Review, Romantic Comedy, Shifters, Vampire, Witches, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review – Baker Down: Magic and Mayhem Universe by A.J. Renee

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Bougie Treats was my dream—and is Assjacket’s favorite spot for peanut butter and jelly donuts and chocolate croissants.

After an electrical storm damages my ovens, I’m left scrambling to keep the bakery running. I blame my reaction to the repair man on my earlier-than-normal mornings.

Keeping my growing attraction to the good-looking visitor in check should be easy… except at every turn, the simple repair is delayed by unknown forces.

How is a witch to protect her heart when fate keeps intervening?

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

When the hottie that comes to fix your ovens, fries your girly circuits, you invite him to lunch! Cami is having a helluva week. Her ovens stopped working and she is running herself ragged trying to keep up with the bakery. D’Angelo has been called to fix her ovens. However, when one thing goes right, another goes wrong and D’Angelo has to postpone the repair. These two have an instant connection but both of them are trying to talk it down. He has to leave and she has to stay. This just won’t work! Fate, which most of the time has its own laughable agenda, pushes these two together. Oh, and we cannot forget about Ricky! He has to be one of my favorite familiars! Love him!

Baker Down is an adorably funny, super cute, and humorous story! If something can go wrong, it will go wrong, but for the absolute best! Just like with the other stories in this universe, you should expect quirky characters around every corner that will keep a smile on your face.

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AJ Renee is a military wife and mother of three. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

She loves to read and write steamy romance with a happily ever after. When not working, you can find her playing World of Warcraft, board games, or outdoors for a run or hike.

https://www.facebook.com/ajreneeauthor

http://https//WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/AJRENEEAUTHOR

http://https//WWW.TWITTER.COM/AJRENEEAUTHOR

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15251253.A_J_Renee

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aj-renee

Fantasy, Paranormal, Review, Sci Fi, Urban Fantasy/Urban Fiction, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review Stolen Soul A Reapers Origin Story: A Reapers Prequel by Tara Vasser

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Someone has done the impossible – broken into Death’s vault in The Realm of the Dead, and stolen an especially valuable and dangerous soul. The very soul which determines the balance between life and death.

As Death’s enforcers, Gunnar and his fellow Reapers are tasked with hunting down the thief and recovering the soul. Will they catch the culprit and recover the soul before things take a catastrophic turn?

Stolen Soul is a prequel novella to the Reapers series.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

This is a new series and author for me and I understand that this is a prequel, however, I received this book for free for signing up for the author’s newsletter. As Tara Vasser is a new to me author, it was the perfect way to see if I would enjoy her words. Well guess what?! I absolutely do!

Stolen Soul is absolutely gripping!! Right from the jump I was captivated. I absorbed this story in what felt like minutes. It is intriguing and will leave you literally needing to continue this story. I was able to get a snippet of some characters that I feel like will be big players down the road. Amethyst is a witch, Gunnar is a vampire, Atticus is a werewolf, and then there is Death. There are many more characters that you are introduced to within this short story that I can’t wait to catch back up with them all in the series. Gunnar has a new mission and I can’t wait!

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Tara is a writer who lives in the frozen north in Minnesota with her wonderful husband and two rambunctious little dudes. She is an engineer during the day, a crazy mom in the afternoon and a writer at night. She enjoys spending her time playing in the dirt when her gardens aren’t covered in snow and listening to a wide variety of music that inspires her writing – sometimes doing both at the same time.

Be sure to visit Tara’s web page and sign up for her newsletter for updates on works in progress and upcoming new releases! www.authortaravasser.com

Paranormal, Review, Romantic Suspense

#Review – Piper’s Purgatory: A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Novel by Maureen Miller

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Is it possible to fall in love in the afterlife?

The last thing Piper Malko ever expected was to have her life snatched away so early. When she wakes up on the front steps of her brownstone to a rose-colored facsimile of her world, she is forced to come to grips with her demise. Why is she still trapped on her street, though? Was there a debate as to her final destination? Any attempt to ask the gauzy pedestrians passing by goes unheard. No one notices her. Until she sees him—over six feet of well-defined humanity staring back at her from across the street.

Russell Hughes is dead. He can remember the impact of the car. But there was no bright light. No portal to the beyond. Instead, everything around him is pink. Except for her. The attractive woman across the street.

Piper and Russ try to piece together the crime that killed two strangers on the same road. If they can find their killer, then maybe they can escape this rosy limbo.

But will leaving purgatory tear them apart…just as they’re falling in love?

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Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

“Who knew hell came in shades of pink?”

Piper finds herself alone in purgatory but happens to find another soul, Russ, stuck in the same place. These two are naturally drawn to each other, but they are the only people here. They are working through how they ended up here and how to move on. But then what does “moving on” really mean. I felt like this moved a bit slow at the beginning, working through purgatory. I expected there to be more paranormal activity, possibly other souls, ghouls, bad things…but that really wasn’t there. There was a being trying to get Piper, and Russ was ever so chivalrous to protect her. Eventually, the twist happens and that is when the story gets great. This is a true love story where fate was definitely involved. If you are looking for something more along the lines of ghosts, vampires, or other things that go bump in the night, I would not recommend this. However, if are looking for a super sweet love story that happens to start in Purgatory, this is perfect!

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USA TODAY bestselling author, Maureen A. Miller worked in the software industry for fifteen years. She crawled around plant floors in a hard hat and safety glasses hooking up computers to behemoth manufacturing machines. The job required extensive travel. The best form of escapism during those lengthy airport layovers became writing.

Maureen’s first novel, WIDOW’S TALE, earned her a Golden Heart nomination in Romantic Suspense. After that, she became hooked to the genre. As hooked as she was, childhood fantasies still danced around in her head––little voices calling for her to write the young adult science fiction BEYOND series. To her it was still romantic suspense…just on another planet! She now divides her time between romantic suspense and young adult novels.

Maureen is a wife. A mother of a crazy Corgi. And a lover of mozzarella.

Find more about Maureen at www.maureenamiller.com

Follow on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MaureenAMillerAuthor

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Review, Romantic Comedy

#Review – Blue Beaver (Awkward Book 2) by JB Heller

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Did you know flannel can be deceivingly sexy?

I’m Charlotte, a fashion blogging, endo warrior (if you know, you know. If you don’t, buckle up). If devoting my life to fashion has taught me anything, it’s that flannel was never a good choice. But it turns out, I was wrong. Very wrong.

The first time I met Elijah he told me I was insane and I called him a lunatic. Then he came to my rescue, like a knight dressed in flannel, and I had to eat my words. Apparently, not all country folk are serial killers intent on feeding you to their pigs. Who knew?

Never in a million years did I imagine myself lusting after a dead sexy, flannel-clad, llama farmer. There’s no way it would ever happen. Me, flannel, and llamas, do not mesh. But the guy is basically perfect. He’s tall, built like a greek god, and kisses me like he was born to do it.

Too bad he’s currently sharing his bed with Satan’s Mistress—I mean—Delilah, his baby rescue llama. And she hates my guts.

**Please note the Awkward series is set in Australia and written in Australian English. As such you may assume there are some spelling errors within. However, it’s just how we spell things Down Under.
**For lovers of all things romantic comedy. If you’re a fan of Julia Kent, Pippa Grant, Lili Valente, or Emma Hart, you will adore JB’s Awkward girls.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

For the love of all that is holy! Llamas, blue beavers and flannel! So ridiculously funny but absolutely adorably cute! These characters have me hooked! When I finished Pink Bits, I was going to rush right in to read Blue Beaver, but something told me to wait. I got into another slump and NEEDED the hysterics and shenanigans of the Awkward series!

Elijah has no time for himself. He is always working and helping everyone else but himself. Then there is poor Charlotte, she has endometriosis and suffers badly during that time of the month. She self medicates at times with chocolate and wine. While on a chocolate run, she runs into Elijah and you just know that the sparks are going to fly. It is super cute because they are basically forced together and when this happens Charlotte finds out that chivalry is not dead. This is a huge wake up call for Charlotte because she has sworn off relationships. Even when she puts Betty on a leash for a while, she doesn’t want to fall in love. However, even with the llama demon spawn trying to keep Elijah and Charlotte separated, their draw to each other is absolutely undeniable.

These books are fast and fun. While turning the pages, you will laugh and swoon at the same time. Blue Beaver was truly awesome! I am so happy that I found this author and series!

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USA Today Bestselling Author JB Heller is an average Aussie housewife and Mumma in her 30’s with a wicked sexy imagination. As well as the owner of a randy Eclectus parrot with boundary issues.

These days she writes mostly contemporary romance and romantic comedies, drawing inspiration from her everyday life.

Monday to Friday you can find JB glued to her laptop weaving words or trolling Pinterest for her next potential muse. Come the weekend, it’s family time. (And of course lots of reading and Netflix binges.)

Join Heller’s Bookwhorders reader group on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/groups/hellersbookwhorders

Want to know more?

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New Release, Part of a Series, Review, Small Town Romance, Standalone

#review #newrelease #seriesstarter Single Southern Flirt (Magnolia Grove 1) by Cary Hart

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After my divorce, I was looking for a good time—no strings, no feelings, no complications.

What I went and found… a single, southern flirt who wanted more than one night, who made me feel things I wish I didn’t. Oh and to make it even more complicated—he’s my brother’s best friend.

And our little rendezvous? Yeah, it’s about to make big waves in the small town of Magnolia Grove.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200276337-single-southern-flirt

Amazon https://amzn.to/46Vbkmv

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review

Emmalee has just ended her 6-year relationship with her lawyer fiancé because he cheated but somehow made it her fault (insert eye roll). she’s been back home for 2 weeks and is being forced to listen to her parents’ special time. her brother just offered her to live in his new retail property and her bestie is making her go out. Wanting to make it big in the NFL, Mattie was on his way to make it as the famous quarterback that he wanted to be, but one stupid night basically ended his career trying to stop a fight, ended up with a cut down the middle of his throwing hand all from a broken beer bottle. Both back in Magnolia Grove for a different reason could it be fate or just flirting around with each other. Also, Mattie is Emmalee’s bog brother’s best friend and is totally off limits or at least it was. Will that cause a flag on the play or will it head for a touchdown.

Cary Hart hails from the Midwest. A sassy, coffee drinking, sometimes sailor swearing, Spotify addict, lover of all things books!

When not pushing women down the stairs in the fictional world, Cary has her hands full. Soccer mom in all sense of the word to two wild and crazy, spoiled kiddos, and wife to the most supportive husband. In addition to writing full time, she enjoys binge watching Netflix, laying around in her hammock and baking up cookies for her family and friends.

Cary writes real, raw romance! In her stories the characters deal with life’s everyday struggles and unwanted drama, they talk about the ugly and they become the broken. Everyone deserves a happy ending, but sometimes before you can appreciate the light, there has to be darkness.

As a child, if someone would have told her she would become a writer, she wouldn’t have believed them. It wasn’t until she got her hands on her first romance novel, that the passion grew. Now she couldn’t imagine her life any other way – she’s living her dream.

Apocalyptic, Review, Sci Fi, YA, Zombie

#Review #Zombies Love and Decay, Volume One by Rachel Higginson

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Zombies- as if that wasn’t enough to ruin any girl’s dream of a happily ever after.

A vaccination gone oh so wrong and a huge portion of the world’s population was turned into Zombies. Reagan Willow is forced out of her home when her parents become casualties of the horrid Zombie Apocalypse. With the help of her best friend Haley, they’ve become somewhat of experts on surviving the dangers of a world thrust into chaos and decay. Reagan and Haley are on a vague mission to find somewhere safe to live out the remainders of their terrifying life when they stumble upon the Parkers, a pack of brothers that seem to have the survival thing down in a much more efficient and successful way than Reagan could ever have imagined.

Soon the Parkers become more to Reagan than just traveling companions and more than friendship starts to develop between her and Hendrix, the second oldest brother. But at the end of the world, nothing can be as simple as life and death. Now, Reagan is going to have to schedule falling in love between hunting and surviving. Hopefully she can last long enough to find out if true love can still exist when everything else has started to fall apart.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Love me some Zombies!!!  Love and Decay sort of reminded me of The Walking Dead and Zombieland mixed together. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical of reading this because some of the reviews were pretty harsh because of the character’s likeability. You have two young adult females that were best friends from before the zombie apocalypse that started with a vaccine (the vaccine piece is being played out). The girls have been going good for a couple years relying solely on each other. One fateful night, they find MASCARA! I know that this doesn’t seem like a big deal but sometimes, you miss those little things. Well, things don’t go as planned and while running from a zombie horde they get help from the Parker brothers. Some things are a bit predictable as the two groups join and work together. But while on their journey, we learn a ton about each character which gives all of them some depth. The author lets the characters still be “normal” people who haven’t lost their sense of humor or their passion for protecting the ones they love. Each episode is wrapped up nicely and kept me entertained. I would recommend this for teens and young adults.

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Rachel Higginson is the best-selling author of The Opposite of You, The Five Stages of Falling in Love, Every Wrong Reason, Bet on Us and The Star-Crossed Series.

She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days writing stories and raising five amazing kids.

You can visit Rachel:

Instagram @mywritesdntbite

www.authorrachelhigginson.com

facebook.com/rachelhigginsonauthor

Twitter @mywritesdntbite

Mystery, Paranormal, Review, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR24 #Review – Georgia Roots Revealed (The Romy Files) by Savannah Verte and Shelly Small

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She thought she was getting away. She wasn’t. In the time it took FBI agent Romy Griffin to doze off, she was pulled into another horrific case. Her empathic abilities made her a better agent, but also an easier target. The latest draws her into a nightmare that has been playing out for nearly as long as she’s been alive…and not by coincidence. When it’s over, maybe she’ll get to rest, but before that, she’ll have to uncover the crimes of her uncle, learn the role her mother played in the mess, and come face to face with her father…just as her Georgia roots are revealed. Who needs enemies when you have family?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Romy Griffin is an FBI agent whose empathic abilities make her a fantastic source to solve cases but it also takes an incredible toll on her mentally and physically. After one particular grueling case and following the death of her grandmother, all she wants to do is relax. Rest and relax. She is drawn to this small town but feels that something is not right. As she follows her instincts and her heart, she uncovers more than just a murder, but also her Georgia roots.

The characters are well written as well as the story. I felt like I was a fly on the wall the entire time. With every page I turned and read, I couldn’t help but turn to the next page to find out what happened. But the twist at the end will make you want more! The story and plot was fabulous and I look forward to finding out what other cases that Romy will find herself in. Absolutely gripping!

#WOTR24 Attending Author Savannah Verte

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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.

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

or on her webpage My Revolution: www.savannahverte.com

Author Shelly Small

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Growing up in a military family, Shelly Small mostly lived on the west coast. She was also in the military herself. Although she has only lived in 7 different states, Shelly has traveled across the country and has been to most of the 50 states. Most of that traveling is due to marrying a military man. He is now retired and they live in Wisconsin. Shelly also has two children.

Most of her life has been reading books and about 5 years ago started doing what her husband dubs “her hobby” began her own editing company. From doing that, she has met some fabulous authors and has since wanted to bring to others – Words and Worlds Unmasked.

Contemp. Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Review

#Review – Haunted on Bourbon Street (The Jade Calhoun Series Book 1) by Deanna Chase

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“Sexy, seductive and simply delightful. Deanna Chase has worked magic, and I can’t get enough of Jade Calhoun and her adventures on Bourbon Street” – Viv Arend

New York Times bestselling author. Jade loves her new apartment—until a ghost joins her in the shower.

When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn’t count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and developing feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord.

Being an empath has never been easy on Jade’s relationships. It’s no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it’s up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she’ll need Kane’s help—and he’s betrayed her with a secret of his own—to do it. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost?

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Review by Twinsie Kelly

Ghosts, strippers, witches, and a sexy landlord all on Bourbon Street…need I say more?

I read this blurb and was like, “Hell YES! Sign me up!”

I knew that it was going to be a wild ride but I did not expect that I wouldn’t be able to stop turning the pages. I NEEDED to know what happened next.

Jade is new to Bourbon Street fresh from Idaho and is in need of lessons on misbehaving. She is the epitome of Miss Responsibility. She rents an apartment that everyone knows is haunted, but when the ghost comes out to play, things get real. Some really great friendships are formed and new love starts to bloom, but this does not make the spirits happy. Things get amusing and chaotic and help is needed in many forms. Next thing you know, there are ghost hunters, witches, and other spirits. The story is cute and twisted, the characters are witty and fun, and kept me on the edge of my seat as I turned each page.

I thoroughly enjoyed the chaotic, but amusing, rollercoaster of the first book in this series. I am a new fan and ready for more!

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Deanna Chase, is a native Californian, transplanted to the slower paced lifestyle of southeastern Louisiana. When she isn’t writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans or playing with her two shih tzu dogs. For more information and updates on newest releases visit her website at www.deannachase.com or sign up here: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/q1s9b0.

Age Gap, Contemp. Romance, Fake Relationship, Opposites Attract, Review, Romantic Comedy, Small Town Romance

#Review – The Fall of Us: A Grumpy Sunshine, Fake Dating, Age Gap Romance (Love in Isolation Book 5) by Kennedy Fox

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What happens when you travel across the country for your dream job and end up sharing a bed with an older man who volunteers you to be his fake girlfriend? You hope you don’t fall in love when it’s time to say goodbye.

The Fall of Us is an age gap, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity romance.

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Review by Twinsie Kelly

Wit and banter… check!

Super steamy scenes (wags eyebrows)… check!

Crazy exes… check!

All wrapped up in the most adorable happily ever after Hallmark movie… CHECK!!!

First, I have to say that when I picked this book up, I didn’t realize it was part of a series. Second, you don’t have to read the others in the series. This is a complete stand alone. There were some areas that I figured there was another backstory but in no way shape or form did it impact this story at all. This story has just about a little bit of everything.

Oakley and Finn are absolute opposites, including their age. Oakley has been commissioned to paint for Finn’s family celebration. Finn fights everything when it comes to Oakley, small talk, ogling each other, thinking about her, and the list goes on and on. Oakley tries to hate Finn for the way he is treating her. However, they these two end up crawling under each other’s skin and when Finn uses Oakley to try and get his ex off his back, Finn and Oakley are forced into positions that they can no longer fight.

I don’t usually care for a lot of books that are super sweet and sugary. In fact, when I first started reading this, it immediately felt Hallmark-esque. However, that did not last long at all. Finn and Oakley keep each other on their toes and became an incredible love story that I could NOT PUT DOWN! I am so in love with them that I am ready to go back and read the entire series.

Kennedy Fox is a new author for me but I am here to stay! You, my friend, have a new fan!

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Brooke Cumberland and Lyra Parish are a duo of romance authors under the USA Today pseudonym, Kennedy Fox. Their characters will make you blush and your heart melt. Cowboys in tight jeans are their kryptonite. They always guarantee a happily ever after! View our full reading order here: http://bit.ly/2qgCqTu

Instagram.com/kennedyfoxduo

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www.kennedyfoxbooks.com

kennedy@kennedyfoxbooks.com

Paranormal, Reverse Harem, Review, Shifters, Vampire, why choose

#review #rh #supernatural Havenfall Harbor (Havenfall 2) by Albany Walker

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Havenfall was never just a job to me, and that was before I knew I was mated to two powerful supernaturals. I’m settling into my new life, but our problems haven’t disappeared with my acceptance. In fact, they may be far bigger than we ever imagined.

Classes are in session, but something is wrong within the walls of the school. Kids have gone missing, and it seems a trusted member of the staff may be behind the troubles plaguing the academy.

Welcome to Havenfall Harbor, home for wayward and orphaned supernaturals, where more than just the students bite.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56980036-havenfall-harbor

Amazon https://amzn.to/3MsTEHG

Review by Twinsie Dee

i was given this book by the author for an honest review

As the temperature rise and gets spicey for Quinn who finds herself on a relationship with a polar bear and a vampire one of those just so happen to be her boss. Quinn wants to learn more about her new job working with supernatural kids. When one of the kids that ends up hurting her and leaving her for dead disappears from her punishment Griffin and Evan are on full alert not taking any chances on something happening to Quinn their mate and will protect her at all costs. Will Quinn be able to deal with her job and overly protected mates or will it be too much and have her running for the hills and never looking back. Ugh i loved this story, world, and characters, who knew a vampire and polar bear best friend was a match made in why choose heaven.

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever afters.