Category Archives: Review

Paranormal, Review, Witches

#Review – The Practitioner of Boca Muerte: A Carole Walsh Novel by Campbell Brouse

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“She stared at the bead in the palm of her hand. Just a plain wooden bead, light brown with flecks of darker brown showing. Just a simple bead. A simple, cruel, manipulative, brutal, coercive, unjust bead. She had twenty minutes to cast the spell and become a slaver, perhaps a lobotomist. Or not cast the spell and guarantee the execution of them both. But it was a spell, so, Hell, she’d cast it on Quincy and it would rain cookies and punch. Then, while they were cleaning up, the Society would sweep in and kill them.”

Carole Walsh lives quietly as a community college history professor in a sleepy Texas town. She also lives a double life as the magic practicing sentinel keeping watch on a thin spot between worlds for the shadowy Society, a cartel of magic users. But that life is pretty quiet, too; right up until it isn’t. A magically possessed man attacks Carole, and her enigmatic neighbor, James Quincy, jumps in to help her. That’s when things go crazy. Now, the attacks keep coming, Carole has been abandoned and betrayed, and Quincy is getting ever more involved in her magical world. Can Carole find her way back to her old life? Can she break free of the Society? Can she even survive? It ain’t easy being the practitioner of Boca Muerte.

Note: These are adults who do swear throughout the book.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I read the blurb and was hooked! I had a feeling that the story was going to be unique and something different from what I have been reading. It did not disappoint! In full disclosure, I started to read the prologue and started to question why I even wanted to read the book. There are soooo many adjectives, then I started to feel sort of stupid like I wasn’t cut out to read this book, which is crazy because I read all the time! I picked it back up a couple days later, finished the prologue, and THEN got into the story. Whew! I am so happy I did because once I started chapter 1, I very much got invested in this story. It was getting to the point that I couldn’t stop turning the pages because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed how the relationship between Carole and Quincy started and how it grows throughout the entire story. Hold on tight because once the crazy starts cranking, it does not stop! I am so grateful that I picked this back up because I really enjoyed this story. I look forward to the shenanigans that Carole and Quincy will get into. A must read!

Contemp. Romance, Review

#review #partofaseries Play Me (Player 2) by Katie McCoy

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Play Me (Players Book 2) by [Katie McCoy]

Recipe For:
A Roll In The Hay Hot Crossed Buns Love

Ingredients:

1 Chef (equal parts sexy and carefree)
1 Pianist (equal parts uptight and endearing)
1/8 inch of drywall between their apartments
2 opinions on everything

Combine all ingredients, mix vigorously, and be prepared for an explosion of heat.

Pianist Ella Thomas is training for the competition of her life. Finally in an apartment of her own, she can practice from dawn till dusk. But she didn’t bet on the sexy and frustrating neighbor keeping her up all night – even if he does cook like a maestro and kiss like it’s his job.

Jake Matson is living his dream as Head Chef at one of the most popular restaurants in San Francisco. He’s easy going, flirtatious and not looking for love. He didn’t expect to be completely distracted by the girl next door, whose buttoned-up appearance hides the seductive firecracker underneath.

What happens when opposites attract? As their tension fires up, can they create a new kind of music together or will everything boil over?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28227316-play-me

Amazon  https://amzn.to/3CSdjLW

Review by Twinsie Dee

When the new girl Ella moves into an apartment building that has thin walls and where everyone understands that the sexy neighbor that’s a chef who works late hour and sleeps late is normally quite in the mornings well Ella didn’t get that info when she moved in so when he shows up half asleep in her door way to inform her on it.

Katie McCoy is a self proclaimed sushi addict, Cardinals baseball fanatic, and lover of all things theatrical. A St.Louis native transplanted to Brooklyn, she acts, sings, and shakes her booty when she isn’t writing books about hot men and the girls who love them.

Review, Standalone

#review #standalone Cuffed (Untouchables MC 1) by Joanna Blake

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I’m a bad man with a dark past. She’s innocent in every way. I’m about to break all the rules, just to make her mine.

I’m a Special Agent assigned to take down a notorious biker club. She’s just a girl who’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I can’t bend the rules, even if I know she’s innocent.

Casey Jones is a natural beauty with curves that won’t quit. With her big doe eyes and long legs, she’s pure temptation. She’s barely old enough to be working in a place that serves alcohol, but I can’t stop myself from wanting to make her a woman.

My woman.

She’s in the middle of something bad, and too stubborn to see that. But I can’t fight the need to get her into my bed and keep her there.

Now all I want to do is protect her.

*Cuffed is a standalone novel with a HEA and no cheating!*

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34224648-cuffed

Amazonhttps://amzn.to/3NR3sfn

Review by Twinsie Dee

Oh my I loved this book. Connor is delicious and Cassandra is an awesome independent girl who has been through so much. They make the perfect couple and like the saying goes Opposites attract.

Joanna Blake loves good old fashioned romance, men who open doors and work with their hands. Hot Blooded Heroes is a series of sizzling stories about True Blue American men and the women who love them. She’s thrilled to be collaborating with Pincushion Press on her new series! Come along for the ride!

Friends to Lovers, Review

#review #bestfriendstolovers Insta Love (Her Dominant Alpha) by Brooke Kinsley

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Paige Manning has the seemingly perfect life, a respectable husband, a nice house in the suburbs and an easy job. But it doesn’t matter how many people envy her, she still can’t shake the feeling that everything’s wrong and of course, husband, Arthur is at the center of her troubles.

With her life in turmoil, she finds herself casting her mind back to being a teenager when the real love of her life, Sean was in her arms. If only their relationship wasn’t harboring not one, but two dark secrets. Things that could never let her sleep easy again…

With an aching desire to resolve the past, she seeks out Sean, now a successful psychiatrist. Posing as a patient, she reveals all and soon he can’t stop himself from falling in love again. But after eight years, life is increasingly complicated and both of them will have to learn to face the impossible.

Will Sean be able to stop himself falling into old Dominating Patterns? Or will Paige be only too happy to be his Little Girl again?

Warning, this book contains sexual and graphic content. Take responsibility for your own sexual pleasure .

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34683207-insta-love

Amazon https://amzn.to/3PAnfkB

Review by Twinsie Dee

When Paige goes to get help with the hot psychiatrist she just hope he remembers her from high school. When he does things start to steam up. After seeing Sean, Paige has to not only relive her past but deal with her husband at home. This story is very well written but very strange with the relationship of the characters.

Brooke Kinsley is a canadian poet who began sharing her confessional style stories in 2017

The truth is – love is complicated, painful at times but, it takes you to places you have never been before

My mission: write passionate romance with blazing hot scenarios and the ideal mixes of heart, flirt, and comedy filled with a large dosage of HEA ❤️‍🔥

2nd Chance, Review, Standalone

#review # #standalone Cockpit (Hot Blooded Heroes) by Joanna Blake

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She’s the one who got away. But I live for the chase…

I’m a thrill seeker. I fly the fastest jets in the world, and ride my motorcycle when I’m on the ground. The only thing that matters to me is speed. Why would I ever think about settling down?

Jenny Reeds, that’s why. One look in those hazel eyes and I found a thrill no dogfight could match. For one wild, unforgettable night, she was mine. I wanted to keep her close but she disappeared without even telling me her last name.

I did my tour and flew combat missions in desert skies. But I never forgot her.

Now they have me pushing papers and training new pilots. I thought I’d be bored to tears. Guess who I run into my first night back?

It’s her, my wild-eyed, fiery-haired beauty. Turns out she’s the General’s daughter. But that won’t stop me. I’m persistent and it doesn’t take too long before she’s back in my arms.

Only one problem. She’s kept one hell of a secret from me. She had a baby while I was overseas. My baby.

Now I want them both under my roof. Permanently. I’ve never failed a mission yet and I don’t intend to start now.

Cockpit is a standalone novel with a guaranteed HEA and no cheating. This edition includes bonus materials and will end before 100%!

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31282058-cockpit

Amazon https://amzn.to/3pjFVdT

Review by Twinsie Dee

This is an amazing love story with an amazing happily ever after. I fell so hard for Jagger and Jenny theyare amazing. When you have sex for the first time with a stranger and end up pregnant l. You figured you will never see him again until he walks into the bar you are working at and everything picks up where it left off a year and a half ago. But one thing he doesnt known you have a baby let alone that it’s his baby.

Joanna Blake loves good old fashioned romance, men who open doors and work with their hands. Hot Blooded Heroes is a series of sizzling stories about True Blue American men and the women who love them. She’s thrilled to be collaborating with Pincushion Press on her new series! Come along for the ride!

Athletes, Football, Novella, Review, Standalone

#review #standalone Cupcake by M. Andrews

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From the time I was able to hold a ball, I have lived and breathed football. It controlled every aspect of my life. The game consumed me, that was until I met a sweet feisty blonde, pastry chef named Pippa Montgomery. The moment I laid eyes on her she turned my world upside down. Now all I want is to live and breathe her. Grayson Bennett looks like the all American boy next door, but beneath his sweet charming personality beats the heart of a dirty talking sex god, who with a single touch of his hand turned my boring existence into a wild ride of hot sticky sex. Grayson also gave me the confidence to go after what I really wanted… Him. They say some love stories are complicated, but our story gets a little sticky.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31294778-cupcake

Amazon https://amzn.to/3XyoW4e

Review by Twinsie Dee

Grayson is the hot football quarterback and Pippa is the sweet baker. When Grayson has a goal in mind he sets out to win his trophy. Everything he never seen in his future he now wants with his sweet cupcake. This book will get you hot bothered and wishing you were with the quarterback

M. Andrews resides in Seattle with her husband and two kids. She spends most of her time with her family and reading anything she can get her hands on. She’s a coffee lover with a mighty sweet tooth.

M. Andrews has always had a passion for writing. She started out writing short stories and fan fiction as a way to give the voices in her head an outlet. She took the leap into writing books when she found herself living in a new city, giving her the opportunity to finally live out her dream of being a writer.

Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, slow burn

#Review – Wolf Gone Wild: A Steamy, Slow-burn Werewolf Romance (Stay A Spell Book 1) by Juliette Cross

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What’s the worst thing that can happen to a werewolf?

Unable to shift for three months, Mateo Cruz knows all too well. His wolf has taken up residence in his head, taunting him night and day with vividly violent and carnal thoughts. Convinced he’s cursed, he needs the help of a powerful witch before he literally goes insane.

Evie Savoie has always obeyed the house rules of her coven–no werewolves. They’re known for being moody and volatile. So, when a distempered, dangerous werewolf strolls in the bar and almost strangles one of her late-night customers, she’s ready to bounce him through the door. But the desperation in his eyes when he begs her to help him softens her heart and convinces her to bend the rules.

What Evie doesn’t know is that Mateo’s wolf has a mind of his own. And now that she’s in his sights, he wants only one thing. Her.

Oh my gosh I devoured this book!

I came across this series in one of the book groups I’m in over on Facebook. The poster had said that it was a fun read and that she loved the whole series. She wasn’t wrong!

I haven’t read paranormal romance in so long but man, am I ever glad I took a chance on this new to me author.

This book was exactly what I needed. I’ve been reading dark and heavy books for so long and writing them too, that I needed a break and this was perfect.

This story is about Evie, a witch, and Mateo, a werewolf. It’s a slow burn, which is something I don’t usually like, but it was perfect for this story and made complete sense. Mateo has an issue where he can’t shift and asks for help from Evie and her sisters.

I loved the side characters, the banter, the laugh out loud moments and I especially loved Mateo’s wolf, Alpha. Their back and forth had me laughing out loud.

This book was the perfect mix of spice, humour and suspense. It was imaginative, creative and I just loved it.

If you want a super fun, sexy, read with a hot werewolf and sassy witch, I 100% recommend this book! Now to read the rest of the series because I’m dying to know more about the other sisters!

Mystery, Review, stalker, Standalone, Thriller, YA

#review #YA #thriller #standalone The Island by Natasha Preston

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They said goodbye to their friends and family for the weekend. They weren’t counting on forever.

Jagged Island: a private amusement park for the very rich—or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley—social media influencers with millions of followers—have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. They’ll make posts and videos for their channels and report every second of their VIP treatment.

When the teens arrive, they’re stunned: the resort is even better than they’d imagined. Their hotel rooms are unreal, the park’s themed rides are incredible, and the island is hauntingly beautiful. They’re given a jam-packed itinerary for the weekend.

But soon they’ll discover that something’s missing from their schedule: getting off the island alive.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60813624-the-island

Amazon https://amzn.to/3J4ElTC

Review by Twinsie Dee

when a new all exclusive amusement park pops up on an island and only the rich could afford. the owner has only the top influencers on social media come for the weekend as the first to experience and post about how amazing the park is. the decor is creepy but stylish in a gothic way, but this isn’t the only thing that starts to seem creepy but when people start disappearing and there is no way off the island, a killer is among them, they just don’t know that they are hiding in plain sight. anther amazing YA thriller by Natasha that has more twist that you will never see coming.

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Cellar and The Cabin. Romance and YA Thriller writer, boy mum, Tom Hardy enthusiast. Always buried in a book and a glass of wine.

Mystery, Police, Review, Standalone, True Crime

#reivew #truecrime #mystery For Laci by: Sharon Rocha

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Laci Rocha Peterson, 8 months pregnant, was last seen by her sister, Amy, in the late afternoon of December 23, 2002. She spoke to her mother, Sharon Rocha, at 8:30 p.m. that night. This would be the last time anyone from her immediate family ever spoke to her.

A search began which lasted an agonizing four months. Sadly, Laci Peterson and her son Conner were found dead on the shores of San Francisco Bay on April 18, 2003.

Her husband, Scott, was eventually arrested and charged with the murder of Laci and Connor. After a sensational, media-saturated trial, Peterson was found guilty of capital murder and was sentenced to death on March 16, 2005.

This book deals with the story in three separate sections: first, Sharon describes the ordinary, loving life her daughter led, including fond memories of her childhood and adolescence. Second, it covers her marriage, disappearance, the community’s moving search for her, and her and Connor’s eventual recovery from San Francisco Bay. Third, it tells the story of the trial in detail not before revealed. Sharon will also talk about victim’s rights, a subject on which she now campaigns regularly.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/407366.For_Laci

Amazon https://amzn.to/42944RB

Review by Twinsie Dee

wow just wow I personally didn’t know much about the case in the beginning, I was just in elementary, but the older I got the more I learned about it, and I always guessed that Scott had killed Laci and their unborn son. So of course, when I seen this book at a thrift store i grabbed it up immediately. But like it states in the book the how, where and the biggest question why needed to be answered and they were never really known. Well after reading For Laci and seeing this case from her mom’s point of view I really feel like Scott did do this terrible crime. There are so many things i heard well-read for the first time that I never knew about this case, but one thing is known Scott is a terrible person and both Laci and Connor didn’t deserve anything that happened to them. This book opens your heart, and mind to really seeing behind closed doors. even if you think you know this case from all the tv specials, or you have listened to every podcast on the case you need to read this and get a new point of view on it all.

Sharon Rocha is the mother to Laci Peterson

Contemp. Romance, Review, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Trigger Warnings

#Review – Mountain Haven (Mountain Mayhem Book 1) by Dawn Love

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Mountain Haven (Mountain Mayhem Book 1) by [Dawn Love]

They say when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

But for Lexi Lane, life didn’t hand her those lemons. Instead, they were hurled from a grenade launcher. It’s been almost five years since her world detonated around her, and she’s moved on from that sour time in her life – or so she thinks. Hiding out in the mountains of West Virginia has given her the solitude she’s needed to survive, but surviving is all she’s done. When a stranger crashes into her life, will she finally be able to open herself to feel again? To love again?

Michael “Blaze” Blaisure has devoted his life to righting some of the wrongs in the world. Part of a covert military unit, he has traveled from country to country and seen the pits of hell first-hand. After witnessing more death and despair than his heart and soul could take, he makes the decision to change directions and choose a new path. But will that path lead to acceptance and forgiveness for his part in tragedy and death?

All it takes is a mountain, a storm, and the hand of fate to open their eyes to new horizons. But when danger appears, will it separate them, or bring them closer than ever?

Content/Trigger Warnings: Mountain Haven is meant for adults and contains explicit and graphic sexual scenes and language; themes of grief, death, infant loss, loss of fertility; mental illness, PTSD, depression, agoraphobia; violence; stalking; attempted kidnapping; and disturbing imagery.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Surviving! It doesn’t matter what each of us are going through, we all have our stories and each of us are just trying to survive. Lexi and Blaze come from two completely different backgrounds, both with their own struggles and their own ways of dealing with them. Both looking for a place to escape and somehow finding themselves by finding each other. A raging storm on a mountain brings these two together. Right from the beginning the chemistry is just there. I do believe in a sort of “love at first sight” because sometimes we see someone and just know that it works. These two, even though they are battling their own demons, end up finding each other and helping each other more than either of them knows.

This story is a slow burn. There is a lot that each of them have to dig through just to let loose with the other for even one night. However, there are some bad vibes going that ultimately present a crazy curve ball with the story. One, actually a couple, that I had no clue were coming. Just when I thought they loved and could move on, they lost. And then I thought things were cooling off, BAM! The crazy hits us! This was a slow burn, with the perfect amount of steaminess, and a very suspenseful plotline. Definitely a page turner. Sometimes one person can make you believe in love again and this story is a true testament to that!

Author Logo

Dawn Love was born in Mayfield, Kentucky, and spent the first twenty-six years of her life there. Always a creative person and an avid reader, she began writing stories for her own entertainment as a teen, and her love of writing continued to grow into adulthood. Meeting the love of her life brought many changes, including moving 900 miles away from home and settling on the Delmarva Peninsula where she resides on her 50-acre farm. Now the mother of two teenagers, she spends her free time creating the characters and stories of her fantasies. She also writes an internationally read Blog where she gives her readers a glimpse into the craziness of her day-to-day life, her mind, and all that the world throws her way.