Hey all thanks for stopping by to check out my tops reads for the last half of the year.  The first half of the year books can be found HERE. The books included were  – Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver, Devoted by AJ Renee, Shadows of Timber Creek by SJ Chaynie, Ryker by Samantha Lind, Scallywag by Sophie Stern, and Corrupted Innocents by Measha Stone

These books are in no order for this 6 months are the following….

Wreckage of Stone Creek by SJ Chaynie

One minute you’re one of LA’s top attorneys, then the next, you’re buying a bar in a small town in Colorado, finding out you’re a father, and realizing the woman that you could never get out of your head wants nothing to do with you. She’s independent. Sexy. The mother of my child, and now……my new employee. All I need is a chance to plead my case. Make her see that I’m all in. But when my past comes back to haunt me, it puts the two people who own my heart and soul in the line of fire. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, and once we make it through the wreckage, and after all the closing arguments, there’s only one thing Whitley Harper will be. Mine. M
This is the fourth and final book of the Timber Creek Series. Series contains interconnected standalones.

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My review – Wreckage of Timber Creek, Book 4 of Timber Creek Series by S.J. Chaynie
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
To say I was excited for this book…well any in the series for that fact…would be a total an understatement. Each of the men has stolen my heart completely. I THINK Grey is still my favorite but dang it, Jordan is riiiiiight next to him tapping on Grey’s NFL Shoulders.
Whit…oh Whit. She is so closed off after a bad relationship. She was all for a one-night stand with no strings, but she ended up with a lifelong parting gift by the name of Heidi. Whit runs home to the small town she grew up in and refused to admit anything about Heidi’s parentage. She was just home to raise her daughter.
Jordan was a goner the second he saw Whitley. When he persuaded her to have the one night-stand, he was done. He was ready to convince this stubborn woman how perfect they would be, but she disappeared on him. When he finds her, and with his own drama happening, he changes everything to be with her.
These two…OMG YES!! I freaking loved their story. My favorite lines is Jordan talking to Whitley
I will never not want you Whitley Harper. You’re it for me. Now if you are done. I am going to fuck you on the desk!
Oh Jordan!!! SWOON!!
As with all the books from this amazing author, she gives us a couple of great twists and this one didn’t disappoint at all.
I gotta say WTF with the 2nd epilogue!!! Ma’am you have some explaining to do!

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Stone Crest by SJ Chaynie

A chance encounter.
A blue-eyed Raven.
A single curse.
She’s not supposed to be mine. Not just because I’m her professor, or she’s my student, but because of what I am. A man with a mask. A shifter with a curse. But I can’t stay away. Not when I know the beauty of her heart, and not when her life is in danger. Truths are revealed, secrets unveiled, and when my wolf decides she’s ours, there’s no turning back. I’ve always protected Stone Crest, but now, I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting her.

Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven is a standalone professor/student shifter romance with no cheating and a HEA.

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My Review – Stone Crest, Rise of Raven book 1 by S.J. Chaynie
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
When I was told that the author was writing a paranormal story I was over the moon. Paranormal was mu jam. Knowing how great of a writer she is, I knew she would nail the story and boy was I right.
Raven is being forced to go to an college by her overbearing, rich, “important” father. He doesn’t want her to ruin the good family name after what she recently did!!
Raven meets her roomie Prestley (who I love so much and cannot wait for what is in store for her and Dec) that forces her to come out of her room to hang out. When she is hangin’ with her one night she runs into a tall drink of water. After a one night stand she strolls into her class to find he is her teacher!!! WHOOOOP.
Locke is stunned stupid when he sees the woman he met on the side of the road who has captures his heart and mind is a STUDENT!! WOOF he broke meg rules.
The story is amazing. Raven and Locke are fighting their attraction while we are also finding out all of their backstory which is amazing. Raven has secrets. Loche has secrets. Dec has something happening that I need to know forbook 2. The rest of Loche’s team are having issues as well.
This story was not long enough. The story has so much happening that I couldn’t put the story down. I am also very excited the future stories in the series because its going to be

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Marked by Measha Stone

With each passing moment, the nightmares worsen.
Tortured images of a past I cannot remember haunt me.
I know I’m in danger… I just don’t know why.

Then he comes to my town.

I can feel him watching me, studying me, always from the shadows—like a hunter stalking its prey.
The closer he circles, the more aware of him I become.
His nearness is toxic, and yet…

There’s something about the darkness within him that calls to me, that speaks to the scars of my troubled past.
Only a truly violent man could understand my demons.
He will either be my salvation or lead me to my destruction.

Amazon

My Review – Marked by Measha Stone
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Oh man. I admit I took this ARC not really knowing much except for its dark romance. LOL I like Measha’s stories so I was ready.
This book was EVERYTHING I could have wanted in a dark romance. I mean Zack was *Chef’s kiss* dark and delicious. He sees Harley while on a job but had to get to know her. Know her he does *snickers*.
Harley’s life is awful. She has a sister who was murdered, and the town pretty much hates her for the loss of her sister and not her. Wild town but that is the small-town dynamic right? Everyone knows your business and has a say in it.
Harley finally feels free but mostly SAFE in the arms of Zack. The two tumble down the story of her kidnapping and sister’s murder. It was WILD!!! I MEAN WILD!!!! I had no idea what was going to happen next, but each scene had me saying “WHUUUUUU!!!!!!” because Measha has the way of keeping you guessing while also busting your brain wide open with twists.
I am so excited for this series. I cannot wait for book 2 based on the little bit we already know. Any dark romance lover and any Measha lover will need this book to complete their obsession with her writing.

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Mated to Curves series by DV Fischer (I only included book 1 but the stories are all novellas so grab the whole series.)

Avani is okay with being alone. Even though all shifters are packless and the world looks vastly different now that the humans are suspicious they exist, she’s handling the solitary life quite well. However, she’s thrown a curve ball when she finds out that her mate owns a shifter underground club she frequents. Once he laid eyes on her, he was determined to keep her. But, even though he’s incredibly attractive, enticing, and she wants more than anything to give in to him, she isn’t stupid. Two alphas together would start a pack and that could be disastrous. With her demanding to remain mate-less for the good of their kind, how is he going to convince her to accept him?

This is a steamy curvy girl shifter romance with two strong alpha characters.

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My Review – Mated to Curves, Book 1 by D.V. Fischer
I purchased this book.
I met this author at a book signing. When I saw I could get 5 novellas for a few bucks I jumped. I started this book when I was on the long drive home. The author has several novellas series (all on audio as well). I just grabbed this set and went. They are all standalones. The only issue I had was wondering why wolf packs dispersed. I am not sure if that is discussed in another book but otherwise, I just rolled with it. Packs can’t be packs. Got it!
Cade is an alpha who finds happiness taking care of the submissive shifters in his fighting ring. He can’t be the alpha but he gives the packless a place to be.
Avani is a scappy female alpha who is looking to make a big pay day fighting Kye in the underground club. All is good until she and Cade make eye contact then BOOM. There is a lot of hell no’s from Avani and Cade uses all his good moves to get her alone with him.
I was loving this book and then we get to see the couple for book 2, Kye and Joyce. I was thrilled because Joyce was a riot!!! She is the best best friend anyone would want.
If you love instalove, fated mates, shifters, and all that jazz then this series is a must for you!!

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Boyfriend with Benefits by Allison Temple

When Bailey’s new boss turns out to be his childhood bully, a.k.a. Jake the Jerk, it’s time to call in backup for the upcoming corporate retreat in Vegas. Too bad Bailey works too much to date. His best option is to ask his very straight roommate to play the part of temporary boyfriend, even if Gordo is better with pythons than he is with people.

Except Bailey and Gordo haven’t even checked into the hotel and Jake the Jerk is already everywhere. The pressure is on for Bailey to prove he deserves to climb the corporate ladder, but it’s hard to talk shop as Gordo goes from backup to an increasingly attractive distraction.

Bailey’s trying to keep his cool, schmooze the executives and stick to the plan, even though Gordo’s not playing by any of the rules. They’ve always been just friends, but maybe it’s time to be boyfriends…with full benefits.

Boyfriend with Benefits is a contemporary MM romance novella. It features fake boyfriends who might not be so fake, a hotel room with only one bed, and a James Bond moment in a tiny blue bathing suit. HEA guaranteed.

Amazon

My Review – Boyfriend with Benefits by Allison Temple
I purchased this audiobook.
The narration was great. He did a great job varying the voices but I LOVED how he did Gordo. It definitely hit the peace love and happiness vibe Gordo puts off well
I was looking for a quick novella and saw this book from and author who is attending a book event /I was going too. I love the whole Fake dating aspect so I was sold.
When we meet Bailey he was a bit high strung being in the corporate world and climbing the ladder of success. He gets bad news that the man who made his life hell is now going to be his boss. Oh snap! Worse of all he lied and said bully that he has a great boyfriend and they can’t wait to hang out at the corporate retreat.
Yeah uhm CRAP!
Enter the amazing Gordo. Gordo is NOT in the corporate world. He is a peace love a happiness guy that loves to rescue any animal really from dogs to dragons to snaked and spiders. He said he would love to help his roomie out as long as they can see the fountains while in Vegas.
This is when THINGS start to happen and make me look at Gordo a little more …like maybe he isn’t so peace love and happiness. Maybe is he …well, I won’t say my guesses but lets just say Gordo is the best fake boyfriend ever.
I absolutely loved this story. Gordo knows Bailey very well and knows exactly what he needs when he needs it Bailey soon realizes a lot about his fake boyfriend like he wants Gordo to be his real boyfriend through this emotional roller coaster of a weekend. Jake, well lets say he has the nickname for a reason and he deserved it his entire life. LOL