Tag Archives: Mary Martel

#WOTR21 #AudioBook #review #SeriesStarter #Witches #Paranormal #RH – Brothers of the Flame (Ariel Kimber book 1) by Mary Martel

Brothers of the Flame: An Ariel Kimber Novel, Volume 1

Reverse Harem Series


Ariel Kimber is a 17-year-old girl who, thanks to her mother, has had a life full of unpleasantness and abuse. And it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
After her mother meets a man online, Ariel is forced to move to a different state, leaving all that she has ever known behind. Any teenager’s nightmare. But Ariel isn’t like most teenagers, she’s different, and she has literally nothing to leave behind. No friends, no nothing. They move next door to a house that remains empty all summer long until the day before the first day of school. A school where the other kids treat Ariel like garbage because of who her mother is and the fact that she’s different from them, save for a few – her neighbors. Tyson, his mysterious Uncle, Quinton, and twins, Abel and Addison. They quickly become her only friends, but Ariel soon finds out they are hiding things from her, keeping secrets from her. And she wants answers. Surprisingly, they give them to her. What do you do when you find out you’re not who you always thought you were and your whole world gets flipped upside down?
Ariel Kimber stumbles into a world she didn’t know existed, a world of magic and nothing is as it seems. Thankfully, she has the guys to guide her, to hold her hand along the way and she is going to need a whole lot of hand holding.
-This is a Reverse Harem series.
– There is adult langue and some mature content so be warned of that.

Goodreads

Kinde Book

Audio Book

I received a copy of the audio of this book from the author.

I read this book a few years ago.  I fell in love with these guys and Ariel. It was fun to listen to the audio.  I forgot so many little things I was nice to be reminded.  The narrator, Melissa Schwairy , was very good. I felt like I was right there in the book. I didn’t want to push the pause button when my real life needed attention.

Here is my original review:

So when you are on a road trip with your BFF and she starts to read this book to you while you drive stating you just have to read. Well you listen to her and let me tell you she was right.  I am hooked on this series.

Ariel Kimber has not had an easy life mostly thanks to her mother. Her mom abuses her and has men going in and out her door like people going in and out a revolving door. Her mom meets a man and uproots her to a strange town and new school with no friends. The hurt doesn’t end there being the new girl at school proves to be difficult especially when the town knows her mom’s rep.  When she meets her neighbor’s things start to change for her.

Tyson lives with his Uncle Quinton and twins, Able and Addison.  Ariel becomes fast friends with Tyson but she is leery of Uncle Quin. These four are keeping a big secret from Ariel and she has no idea how much she has in common with them or why she is drawn to them.

The connection these guys and Ariel have is off the charts. The surprises and twists Mary Martel puts in this one has me wanting more and more as I read. The characters are different in their own way and I want to know everything about each one..yes, even Uncle Quin he is so brooding and mysterious.

I am so glad my partner in crime made me listen to this one.  I am hooked and so ready for the next book.

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

#WOTR20 – #Review – Zombie Queen by Brandy Slaven and Mary Martel

Zombie Queen

The beginning…
The beginning is always the best place to start when reflecting on what has been.
Thinking back on it, my life had been perfect.
Middle class girl in high school with a happy home life.
My life had been full of nothing but promise.
Life was good.
Everything was great.
And then my whole world went to shit. In one day.
The disease came first.
Then the dead.
It was a fight for my life every single day from the start. But I was different from all the rest.
I had heard my mother’s screams while watching my sister become one with the undead. All the while feeling like there was absolutely nothing I could do to help them.
It killed me.
What’s more, it changed me.
I did everything I possibly could to survive on my own.
And then I learned how to survive with others.
By being their Queen.
Their Zombie Queen.
And by being the most feared woman they ever came in contact with.

This is a WhyChoose novel full of zombies, a sword wielding badass chick, and an army of dudes.
Recommended age 17+ due to content and language.


Goodreads


Amazon

BookBub

For the love of zombies and all of their undead unholiness….Sign me up! I am going to try to explain how great this story is. The tag on this book is WhyChoose…so why choose? It’s the end of the world and the zombies have taken over, people! Em was a good girl with a good future ahead of her but that was in a past life. “I may be a sword wielding bad@$$ zombie slayer now, but before all of this….I was pretty much afraid of my own shadow.” Em has had to learn to survive on her own. She has taught herself to survive and to take care of herself. She is the ultimate bad@$$. The first real curveball thrown in the story is how she meets her band of merry men. I was like “whaaaaat?” It was craziness I tell ya! Then being witness to the story unfolding and how she gets to know all these guys is really impressive. This is not a hot and heavy reverse harem type of book, it’s so much more! I really love how the world building happened and how the characters unfolded. Nothing was overbearing or overdone. It was fast paced, full of action, with some hawtness thrown in…perfect! There are zombies and then there are monsters…of the human variety. People just don’t act right and those actions were loud and clear in this story. There were many many times that I rooted for Em and her crew out loud. Em has protected herself, not only physically, but mentally as well by not being a pushover little girl. She has a smart mouth, knows what she wants and has no problem letting them know about it either. I am going to give one tiny spoiler because it stems from one of my favorite lines in the book. Em befriends a grandma and she says “Suck on a d***, Grandma Death. I thought we were supposed to be friends but you’re a f*****g traitor.” I literally LOL’d after this. Em is a girl after my own heart. I hope their story continues because I need more! 

Brandy Slaven

Brandy Slaven lives in Tennessee with her husband and two wild children. If you can’t find her typing away at her laptop, you will find her with her nose in a book at the beach or hiking at a state park.

Mary Martel

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

Twinsie Dee’s Top 5 pick from January to June 2020

#WOTR #AttendingAuthor #PartofaSeries  What the Hex Happened (Unfortunate Spells Book 3) by Jennifer Laslie

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49973025-what-the-hex-happened

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-Unfortunate-Spells-Book-ebook/dp/B082YS6QW5/ref=sr_1_10?crid=NCKYZTNEH34K&keywords=jennifer+laslie&qid=1579565195&sprefix=Jennifer+las%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-10


Blurb
– 
Mortality might kill him if the crazy witch that hexed him doesn’t.

When Ashton finds himself at the wrong end of a powerful witch’s hex, gone is his comfortable life as a bartender at Hallow’s End. With his gift of thrall, he never wanted for beautiful women — human or supernatural — to warm his bed and satiate his hunger. But plagued with mortality, he’s lost his coordination, strength, and the one power that helped him catch a meal.

Gray hairs and body aches are only the first warning signs of a bigger problem. If Ashton can’t break the spell, he’s not sure he’ll make it to next week. Faced with the choice to either relive a mistake or let the hex do him in, he enlists the help of his best friend, Tensley.

Together, they embark on a trip from Texas to New York in search of the one thing they believe can cure Ashton. Only, Ashton can’t tell what’s in more danger, his immortality or the walls he’s put up around his heart. Will he be able to endure the dangers ahead without losing himself to the nightmares of his past?

My Review Woah wow more please,. Ashton is this sexy bartender who not only knows how to flip a bottle , serve a great drink and swoon the panties off a lady but he is also a vampire so what more could you ask for. Ashton could charm any woman he wanted so when he gets a weird feeling leaving work one night but cant see anything he just shakes it off, once he got his eye set of this gorgeous girl to take home and snack on back to his place. Once they arrive he already has a visitor his ex who only wants one thing and that’s for him to turn her into a vampire too which he has refused to do.  So she puts a hex on him making him human. So Ashton and his friend Tensley (who has had a thing for him forever) set off for New York in the cover of darkness to get this stone and turn him back into a vampire. But there are twist and turns that are following them on their journey and some wrenches get tossed into it as well. Will Ashton get turned back into a vampire before its too late or will he give in and turn his ex so get turned back. Oh my goodness this book was so good it keeps you handling on til the very end Ashton is just ahh I totally fell in love with him

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#WOTR #AttendingAuthor #SeriesStarter Just One Chance (Oh Tequila 1) by C.A Harms

Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35718915-just-one-chance

Amazon-https://www.amazon.com/Just-One-Chance-Tequila-Book-ebook/dp/B07441K4LX/ref=sr_1_23?crid=3DEH0YTKER128&keywords=c.a.harms&qid=1580231401&sprefix=C.a.harms%2Caps%2C269&sr=8-23

Blurb

Tequila, you failed me.

You left me in a terrible haze, and I can’t find my god damn wallet.

Or my left shoe.

How the hell does one lose their shoe?

I have no f*cking clue.

All I know is that my night started out with one thing in mind…to have a little fun.

The problem with that? I can’t remember a damn thing, except one.

Morgan’s soft and needy moans. It’s a sound I will never forget, and just thinking about it makes my heart race and my pulse quicken. And I want to hear it over and over again…I crave it.

But Morgan’s a mystery. The harder I try, the more she resists. There’s one thing she doesn’t know about me though…I’m not one to give up.

I’ll play her game. I’ll let her think she’s won. But in the end, I will have her.

Because all I need is Just One Chance to prove she’s meant for me…

My Review Yes please i need  more Morgan will do anything for her family, she moved out got a job and padded for her classes just to take some of the finacial burden off her parents so that they can focus all of the help on her little brother Toby who ha cerebral palsy. So when she finally had a night off her best friend Marcus i making her get outta her comfort zone and let loose for once in her life, o he’s making her go to a frat party. It’s there that Morgan chooses she’s not doing what she normally does and that she is going to doing things different. Xavier lived in the frat house which most of the time is said to be a zooo you never knew who was going to prank who and when the next prank was going to play out. The party had well started drinks were flying and a game of never have i ever was under way, when Xavier had noticed a cute blonde on the other side of the circle during the game and she was looking right at him liking what she seen. Well i feel like I’m going to give away the whole book so ill stop there and make you read and fall in love with Xavier, Morgan and the crazy guys that live in the frat out along with both of their families. This book was amazing the frat brothers all make you laugh out loud with all of their pranks on each other’s and Morgans sassy, stubborn attitude will make you love her to and wish she was your friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#WOTR #AttendingAuthor #SeriesStarter Welterweight (Hallow Brothers book 1)by Tricia Andersen

Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34888638-welterweight

Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/Welterweight-Hallow-Brothers-Book-1-ebook/dp/B086Q3WFDW/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Tricia+Andersen&qid=1588642981&sr=8-4

BlurbCaleb Hallow doesn’t need anyone. All he needs is to dominate in the MMA cage and become world champion. His plans are derailed when he wakes up with a mysterious tattoo of his ancestors after a one-night stand with his opponent’s ex-girlfriend, Meg Riley. Sharing the mark with her joins them as mates for eternity. Can Caleb deal with Meg for the rest of his life? Can he keep her safe from his past as he falls deeply in love with her? And will she stay by him when she finds out he is actually a werewolf?

It was just a fling, a chance to get revenge on her cheating ex. At least that’s what Meg Riley tries to convince herself. But the indescribable pull that draws her to the dark, dangerous Caleb Hallow tells her differently. Although she is furious when she finds the strange tattoo on her back after their night together, and even though he tells her some convoluted story about him being a werewolf, she can’t stay away from him. She can’t stop herself from falling for him. When her ex threatens Caleb’s life, how far will Meg go to save him? Will she be willing to sacrifice her life for his?

My ReviewHoly hot werewolf shifter love making. Meg was dating the champion of the welterweight title Austin Graves and all Austin cared about was getting whatever he wanted and stopping at no cost to do so, even if it meant losing his girlfriend to his enemy and the man he hated the most Caleb Hallow. Meg caught Austin getting a blow job right in front of her by some groupie she was done with him for good. While sitting at the bar Meg felt a weird pulling sensation and when she turned around there was Caleb Hallow what better way to get back at her ex then getting under the one person he hates the most. Caleb was after the title he worked hard for years to get it and he wanted it but he had one secret he and his family had to be careful of on the full moon well they became werewolf’s and its a secret he kept to himself. After Meg and Caleb hooked up and had the best time either of them have had do they make it a normal thing or is it a hit it and quit it type hookup just to piss Austin off. Holy crap this book had me hook from the very beginning it will probably get you all hot and bothered and will definitely leave you wanting more. You will not be disappointed with this book at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#WOTR #AttendingAuthor #SeriesStarter Control Us by JM Walker

Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44422339-control-us

Amazon-https://www.amazon.com/Control-Next-Generation-J-M-Walker/dp/1989782019/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3Q5X5BBUQRDFJ&keywords=jm+walker&qid=1583245231&sprefix=Jm+w%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-3

BlurbZach She was innocent. Passionate.Fierce.After Luna Stone and I went from friends to lovers, my only purpose was showing her how worthy I was. But how could I convince her when I didn’t believe it myself? I craved her touch and her smiles but most of all, her heart.I vowed to protect her and show her father that I could be the man for his daughter. I pushed.She pulled.And when all was said and done, I’d have to go through an even higher power to prove that I deserved her…Myself.*LunaHe was quiet.Withdrawn.Intense.Zach Porter and I had been friends since we were kids, but it had never amounted to anything more than that. Until now.But as close as we were getting, he was still closed off. He protected his heart and put up walls, even though he had no reason to. He shoved.I grabbed hold and never let go.If I didn’t fight for what was ours, he’d succumb to his demons and believe their vicious words telling him that he’s not good enough. To give up.On us.

My ReviewWow wow wow, Luna wanted it all a family, career and her best friend since they were kids. Zach was a troubled kid then was adopted into a loving house, but that didn’t stop the torture he went through as a child from creeping into his mind. Once these two let their feelings be known nothing could stand in their way well except for Luna’s dad that is no one was good enough for his daughter. But Zach and Luna didn’t care they wanted what they wanted but his past might just get in the way of their happiness. This book was amazing there aren’t enough words to use to describe how wonderful it is with some twist and turns and shocking surprises it’s gonna get you hook line and sinker.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#WOTR #AttendingAuthor #SeriesStarter Brothers of the Flames (Ariel Kimber Novel 1) by Mary Martel
 
Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35615161-brothers-of-the-flame?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=sAE2DP7DIl&rank=1

Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Flame-Ariel-Kimber-Novel-ebook/dp/B073RSN7Y1/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3T450TOO4CEW9&keywords=mary+martel&qid=1580956276&sprefix=Mary+mar%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-4

Blurb  Ariel Kimber is a 17-year-old girl who, thanks to her mother, has had a life full of unpleasantness and abuse. And it’s about to get a whole lot worse.

After her mother meets a man online, Ariel is forced to move to a different state, leaving all that she has ever known behind. Any teenager’s nightmare. But Ariel isn’t like most teenagers, she’s different, and she has literally nothing to leave behind. No friends, no nothing. They move next door to a house that remains empty all summer long until the day before the first day of school. A school where the other kids treat Ariel like garbage because of who her mother is and the fact that she’s different from them, save for a few – her neighbors. Tyson, his mysterious Uncle, Quinton, and twins, Abel and Addison. They quickly become her only friends, but Ariel soon finds out they are hiding things from her, keeping secrets from her. And she wants answers. Surprisingly, they give them to her. What do you do when you find out you’re not who you always thought you were and your whole world gets flipped upside down?

Ariel Kimber stumbles into a world she didn’t know existed, a world of magic and nothing is as it seems. Thankfully, she has the guys to guide her, to hold her hand along the way and she is going to need a whole lot of hand holding.

-This is a Reverse Harem series.

– There is adult langue and some mature content so be warned of that.

My Review- Holy moley was this a great book I’ve had a hard time trying to put into word how much i loved this book while not giving important information away. Ariel was just your average girl well as average as she could be she was just moved from her high school that she loved because she could blend in with the crowd and no one noticed her. Her mom was a whore and went from one rich man to the next and didn’t care how she ruined Ariels life in the process. So at a new school with everyone is staring and talking about her Ariel definitely didn’t like it one bit. Then things started to change the boy next door never talked to anyone but everyone noticed that he treated Ariel differently, and when he paired up with her for a class project she wasn’t too sure how to handle that i mean after all he was very good looking but he did snarl at her. Well there is more between these two then just looks and class projects they definitely had some magic flowing between them. This book will get you hook line and sinker, feeling for Ariel and her mothers relationship, curiously wondering about the next door neighbors and why they are all so sexy with their good looks, and wondering what is up with this new man candy her mom has claimed this time.

#WOTR20 #FamilySaga #2ndChance #Zombie #RH #Comedy #Novella #Dark #KU – Twinsie Angie top 5 reads from January 1 to June 30, 2020

  All of my top books from January 1 to June 30th are author who are #WOTR20 authors.

Love and Neckties by Lacey Black Love and Neck Ties by Lacey Black

Zombie Queen by Brandy Slaven Zombie Queen by Mary Martel and Brandy Slaven

Four Rounds by Jillian Jacobs Four Rounds by Jillian Jacobs

Mine for Now Mine for Now by Cindy Tanner

Convict Blood by Vivian Ward Convict Blood by Vivian Ward

Love and Neck Ties 

Blurb – For Samuel Grayson, everything is black or white. As a funeral director, there’s no room for in-between. He’s accustomed to dealing with life and death, though he’s definitely more comfortable with the latter. Especially when it comes to a chaotic, petite, feisty ball of energy. Freedom Rayne. Samuel’s pretty sure her goal is to make his life hell, or so it appears. When Samuel boards a flight to Las Vegas for his sister’s wedding, the last thing he expects is to share it with the one woman who drives him crazy.

Freedom is eccentric and completely content with it. Floating around from job to job, she finds peace and tranquility in everything she does, including tormenting poor, uptight Samuel Grayson. When she finds herself on the same flight as him for her best friend’s wedding, she sees this as the perfect opportunity to get under his skin, something she tries to do every chance she gets. The problem is the more time she spends with him, the more she likes him.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Not for Samuel and Freedom. Will they be able to forget about their trip when they return to Rockland Falls? What if one mistake turns out to be the best thing ever?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zombie Queen 

Blurb – The beginning…
The beginning is always the best place to start when reflecting on what has been.
Thinking back on it, my life had been perfect.
Middle class girl in high school with a happy home life.
My life had been full of nothing but promise.
Life was good.
Everything was great.
And then my whole world went to shit. In one day.
The disease came first.
Then the dead.
It was a fight for my life every single day from the start. But I was different from all the rest.
I had heard my mother’s screams while watching my sister become one with the undead. All the while feeling like there was absolutely nothing I could do to help them.
It killed me.
What’s more, it changed me.
I did everything I possibly could to survive on my own.
And then I learned how to survive with others.
By being their Queen.
Their Zombie Queen.
And by being the most feared woman they ever came in contact with.

This is a WhyChoose novel full of zombies, a sword wielding badass chick, and an army of dudes.
Recommended age 17+ due to content and language.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Four Rounds

Blurb-—A completely ridiculous way to fall in love.
You Tube influencer and syndicated morning talk show host, Cricket Kelly lives life with purple tips on her red locks and unicorn socks on her feet. Theodore Brooks lives by the numbers with nary a hair out of place.
They meet between boxing bags and even though opposites attract, Cricket’s father is being implicated for money laundering, and Theo is the lead investigator on the case.
Will four rounds be enough to discover true love? Or will disastrous dates end their chance at happiness? Find out with this slightly silly but absolutely fun fight for love

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Convict Blood

Blurb – I’m forced to choose between life and death in two hells that I can’t escape.

Facing a prison sentence on a mysterious, unknown island with my infant daughter, I try to lay low and fly under the radar during my term, but Officer Matthew Kent has his sights locked in on me from the moment we have our first encounter. I find myself trapped in his private lair where my worst nightmare begins.

Handsome, obsessed, and haunted by his past, he’ll never let me go. Confined with my captor, love is no longer a choice because without him, I might not live long enough to make it out of here alive. My only instinct is to survive. There’s just one problem with our forbidden relationship: people are watching––and talking about it. Someone will die. Someone must die. But who will it be first?

Read this dark prison romance novel to find out who will make it out alive

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mine for Now

Blurb – Ran Walker can’t outrun his demons. After watching the woman he loved marry another man, he’s given up on finding that happiness for himself. Until a chance encounter with a fiery redhead challenges everything he thought he knew… 

Elle Sullivan is done bending to the expectations of others. Now, she’s determined to live life by her own terms. Even if that means taking a chance on the burly biker that helped her fix a flat tire. He’s the exact opposite of any man she’s ever dated—yet the heat between them is undeniable. 

Can Ran and Elle shrug off the shackles of his haunting past and her constricting family name to find the freedom of a blissful life together? Or will the ill-fitting facades of who they are supposed to be force them apart? 


Love and Neck Ties 

Zombie Queen

Four Rounds

Convict Blood

Mine for Now


Love and Neck Ties review- 

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

LAWD!!! Sammy and Free!! You two have been killing me this series!! I mean GAH!! I was so excited when I learned that Free was going to be Samuel’s HEA because honestly, I cannot imagine anyone else with him. As opposites as they are, they fit together perfectly in so many ways.

Samuel has always been annoyed yet intrigued by his sisters’ best friend who was essentially adopted into the family. He, however, also couldn’t stand her constant teasing and chaos of a world. Samuel is Mr. White and Black. Everything has a place and life isn’t messy. Life is orderly. Boy does Free rock his world right off its axis.

Freedom is the queen of the hippie life. She doesn’t eat meat. She doesn’t believe in animal testing on products. She is the most reliable if not slightly late friend you can ever want so why is she so attracted to her sister older brother. The man who wears ties to family functions…never mind what those ties do to her libido!!!

These two have fought the chemistry so long so when they are thrown together in the Vegas for Samuel’s sister/Free’s best friend Harper’s wedding as the only single friends, they kiiiinda lose control and kiiiind awake up a mess. Apparently, what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas!!

I loved seeing Free be so sure in the decision to stay with Samuel and convince him she was the right person for him. Seeing Samuel so conflicted but stepping out of his norm to TRY this life with Free was adorable. I loved the scene with him in the shop…hilarious!! The entire scene cracked me up.

The conflict of the story made my eyes a bit leaky because we all wanted to punch Samuel. He has lived by his strict controlled world. He is having a hard time learning to trust his heart and not follow his brain. Free is the most amazing character in the series and when we finally got to SEE what her life was before this meeting Harper and her family, it was sad. We understand why family is so important to her and why she clings to those she loves so fiercely.

The epilogue was amazing, and the bonus epilogue made my heart sing!! I was so happy by that little chapter because …well we all needed to see this happen and see the HEA!!

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zombie Queen Review – 
I received this book from the author for an honest review.

I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing and crazy good this story is. The first chapter will have you on the edge of your seat. My heart was in my throat listening to Emerald tell you about the day everything changed for her. If that chapter does not keep you totally enthralled, then when you hear the description of the life and surroundings Emerald has…I felt my skin crawling because it was so tense and so claustrophobic. I was dying but in heaven dying!! It was totally a good thing!

This book is so fast paced at times with so much action and then other times we are feeling the despair and fear of Emerald. We know its been 16 months and we know she is sad, lonely and scared. When the Sam appears I admin I was scared outta my mind because women aren’t treated the best in these worlds and Emerald knows this first-hand. As the other guys start to show Emerald they are not the bad guys and can be trusted, we see her open up and hope beyond hope she had a safe place. A Family to call her own. Complete with a crazy Granny!!

The story is a lot of interpersonal relationships and dealing with the all the men and one Emerald. But when Emerald makes some proclamations, I was like GET IT GIRL!!! When our family is starting to come together and starting to find a rhythm, chaos finds them and its not even the crazy girl or the wild man who bring it home.

I loved the action and loyalty this family shows one another. But sweet Baby Jesus if you ladies don’t write another book, Imma be broken. I need some more time with some of the guys and Emerald.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Four Rounds Review
I received this book from the author.

I read the first chapter and was messaging Jillian how hilarious this book is. Seriously I snort laughed so many times in this book!

Cricket is so damn funny and off the wall, but I loved her so much. Once you get past her wild and crazy side you see a woman who wants to be loved for her but is so scared of being loved. Her life hasn’t been great, and she hides it well. However, her insane attraction to her friend’s brother changes that for her in an instant.

Theo is a total sick in the mud. He goes boxing with his sister and takes notice of the wild instructor immediately. When she just shoves her way into his life, he is not happy but also not unhappy about it. The only issue is…he can’t get involved with her given he is investigating her father’s dirty dealings.

The dates the two go on…had me in stitches!! I mean shut up!! I couldn’t stop giggling while reading!! The story of Theo’s investigation takes on the majority of the end of the story but seeing them try to be together through it all was well worth the read.

Seriously I would love to read a book about Jessica, Theo’s sister, because this insane family needs more wild in their lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Convict Blood Review – 
 
I receive this book from the author for an honest review.
Ok fraaaannz!! I am a dark reader but I am a scaredy cat dark reader…meaning…if its super dark I hide and cry. If its super dark, I freak outta my mind. Ok so now you know what kinda whimp reader I am. Lemme say, THIS BOOK I was totally rooting for the couple and not at all sad about what was happening. LOL
Vic and Henry are totally in a bad spot and get caught stealing. Now this is way way way back when Australia would send entire families to the jail if the parents were caught. So Vic and Henry along with baby Lizzy are facing this jail time. (You get the prequal for the story here https://www.authorvivianward.com/ )
The couple are bound and determined to last the 9 month journey and if they get separated, they will keep their heads down and noses clean. Well that is a great plan IN THEORY, but Vic soon becomes the eye of Marine Officer Kent’s eye.
Matthew Kent is not a great guy….initially. Yeah, he is forcing himself on Vic but soon they two do form a bond. Now I know people will scream STOCKHOLM SYNDROM, but I don’t think so. I think they really and truly grow to love each other. Matthew has cared for Lizzy and Vic while also looking for her husband but coming up short.
They two must overcome a lot while on the journey to the prison’s new camp. They wonder if they can make it ago and what will happen once they do arrive at the island. Right when we think we know what will happen, Vivian throws a giant couple of twists and turns and I was like DAYUM GIRL!! Why you gotta do me like this!!! LOL
Once they boat makes way to the mainland Vic has a lot of new things to navigate and new worries besides what she has been worrying about the entire journey. I legit cannot even begin to discuss what happens on the island because HELLO SPOILERS are not my jam. But if you like darker books and storied with crazy twists and turns with yummy anti-heros and sweet heros, then this is a book for you.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Mine for Now Review –
I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Friends!! Ran has been on my mind since I read When you Where Mine back last fall. I mean this dude is a hot mess of loyalty and family but also heartbreak and feeling less then.

You don’t need to read the previously mentioned book BUT to know Ran and his heart, I highly suggest it. When Elle comes and knocks him on his big burly ass, you will appreciate it all the more.
Ran has only loved Harper and after the heartbreak of losing her to Ash, he has given up on finding anyone. He knows he is a felon and who wants to marry or be with a guy like that? He is gruff and rough around the edges plus he is totally pushing away all his friend. But he is definitely the one guy you can trust to keep a woman safe.

Elle is over it all. After walking away from her fiancée and starting life over in this small town, she too is over dating. When an accidental tasing of Ran leads Elle to wonder about the hot stranger, they both think they will never see the other.

When Elle comes barreling into his life by helping and befriending his sister Nona, who also is a hot mess and I am dying to know her story with Ben, the two start a “friends with benefits” relationship. Each is afraid of the day the other will call it quits but is secretly falling head over heels with the other.

When miscommunication and self-doubt cause the two to separate, I was ready to nut punch Ran. I was glad to see Harper come and knock some sense into him with the help of Ash. These two are a perfect fit and they need to open their eyes and stop worrying about the fears in their heart.

I am such a huge fan of these characters. I admin the previous book was one of my favorite last year so this book was a very anticipated book by me. I can saw 110% this book did not let me down. I loved getting to know Ran and all his “faults” even more. But I really loved the sassy and fiery red head named Elle who helped him overcome his fear of being less then. But yo, I really freaking loved Gigi!!!!

 

#WOTR20 #CoWritten #Zombies #RH – Zombie Queen by Brandy Slaven and Mary Martel

The beginning…
The beginning is always the best place to start when reflecting on what has been.
Thinking back on it, my life had been perfect.
Middle class girl in high school with a happy home life.
My life had been full of nothing but promise.
Life was good.
Everything was great.
And then my whole world went to shit. In one day.
The disease came first.
Then the dead.
It was a fight for my life every single day from the start. But I was different from all the rest.
I had heard my mother’s screams while watching my sister become one with the undead. All the while feeling like there was absolutely nothing I could do to help them.
It killed me.
What’s more, it changed me.
I did everything I possibly could to survive on my own.
And then I learned how to survive with others.
By being their Queen.
Their Zombie Queen.
And by being the most feared woman they ever came in contact with.

This is a WhyChoose novel full of zombies, a sword wielding badass chick, and an army of dudes.
Recommended age 17+ due to content and language.


Amazon

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing and crazy good this story is.  The first chapter will have you on the edge of your seat.  My heart was in my throat listening to Emerald tell you about the day everything changed for her.  If that chapter does not keep you totally enthralled, then when you hear the description of the life and surroundings Emerald has…I felt my skin crawling because it was so tense and so claustrophobic.  I was dying but in heaven dying!!  It was totally a good thing!

This book is so fast paced at times with so much action and then other times we are feeling the despair and fear of Emerald.  We know its been 16 months and we know she is sad, lonely and scared.  When the Sam appears I admin I was scared outta my mind because women aren’t treated the best in these worlds and Emerald knows this first-hand.  As the other guys start to show Emerald they are not the bad guys and can be trusted, we see her open up and hope beyond hope she had a safe place.  A Family to call her own.  Complete with a crazy Granny!!

The story is a lot of interpersonal relationships and dealing with the all the men and one Emerald.  But when Emerald makes some proclamations, I was like GET IT GIRL!!!  When our family is starting to come together and starting to find a rhythm, chaos finds them and its not even the crazy girl or the wild man who bring it home.

I loved the action and loyalty this family shows one another.  But sweet Baby Jesus if you ladies don’t write another book, Imma be broken.  I need some more time with some of the guys and Emerald

Mary Martel –

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

Brandy Slaven – 

Brandy Slaven lives in Tennessee with her husband and two wild children. If you can’t find her creating worlds with her words, you will find her with her nose in a book at the beach or hiking at a state park.

Find her online at
www.authorbrandyslaven.com

#WOTR20 #5YearFamily #RH #Witches – Unforgotten Family (An Ariel Kimber Novel Book 6) by Mary Martel

Unforgotten Family (An Ariel Kimber Novel Book 6) by [Mary Martel]

Ariel Kimber has settled into life with her family and coven. Everything seems to be as it should, and she finally feels like she’s exactly where she needs to be in her life.
Her dad is awesome and she loves getting to know him.
Her guys are the best and she falls deeper in love with them by the day.
Her job at Fortunes for the Unfortunate does not suck and she’s more than happy to spend her days there.
Her guardians have become family to her and she finally thinks she’s living the good life.
But, like everything else in Ariel’s life, that goodness does not last.
When the Council comes to call, she answers and refuses to bend to their will. They are not men who take this lightly and there will be consequences.
And her dream walking has gotten out of control and takes her to someone she can’t forget or leave behind.
Her life quickly becomes a mess, and she’s forced to do things that threaten her relationships in order to try and dig her way out of it. She’ll do anything for the sake of her coven, but at what cost?
And will they forgive her when it’s all said and done?


Goodreads


Unforgotten Family by Mary Martel

I received this book for free from the author for an honest review.

OMG this book.  Intense and full of twists but also with a delicious dish of hot lovin!!

If you are a fan of this series, you are going to be holding your breath like I did for huge chunks in this book.

There is so much to discuss.  The biggest part is the family we are learning about.  The aspect of family is so weaved in this book.  The coven family, the ragtag add on family we have fallen for, Mr. Cole, and lord help us…the Council.  There is bile in my throat and when you read you will understand why.

I am really excited to read more Raven and see him helping out our family when they are in need twice in this book.

But friends, this book…..man the bonds of Ariel and her boyfriends are really really realllllly stretched and almost break in this book.  I was devastated and so will you be.   Can I just say, I loved seeing Jules and Damien shine in this book.  I also loved seeing their “coupledom” shine.  Can I also say that I loved seeing Quinton realize sometimes your family can help take care of everyone and he doesn’t have to take that all on his shoulders.  Can I say, the twins……omfg…ya’ll.  Can I say Tyson is the best bestie you can have but also needed a nut punch.  Can I say Mr. Cole is not my friend anymore.  Can I say…..this book Ariel and her boys drew deep gouges and lines in the sand for the Council.  I kinda fear for the next book after the way Adrian left things with Ariel!!!!

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

#WOTR #AttendingAuthor #SeriesStarter Brothers of the Flames (Ariel Kimber Novel 1) by Mary Martel


Ariel Kimber is a 17-year-old girl who, thanks to her mother, has had a life full of unpleasantness and abuse. And it’s about to get a whole lot worse.

After her mother meets a man online, Ariel is forced to move to a different state, leaving all that she has ever known behind. Any teenager’s nightmare. But Ariel isn’t like most teenagers, she’s different, and she has literally nothing to leave behind. No friends, no nothing. They move next door to a house that remains empty all summer long until the day before the first day of school. A school where the other kids treat Ariel like garbage because of who her mother is and the fact that she’s different from them, save for a few – her neighbors. Tyson, his mysterious Uncle, Quinton, and twins, Abel and Addison. They quickly become her only friends, but Ariel soon finds out they are hiding things from her, keeping secrets from her. And she wants answers. Surprisingly, they give them to her. What do you do when you find out you’re not who you always thought you were and your whole world gets flipped upside down?

Ariel Kimber stumbles into a world she didn’t know existed, a world of magic and nothing is as it seems. Thankfully, she has the guys to guide her, to hold her hand along the way and she is going to need a whole lot of hand holding.

-This is a Reverse Harem series.

– There is adult langue and some mature content so be warned of that.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35615161-brothers-of-the-flame?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=sAE2DP7DIl&rank=1

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Flame-Ariel-Kimber-Novel-ebook/dp/B073RSN7Y1/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3T450TOO4CEW9&keywords=mary+martel&qid=1580956276&sprefix=Mary+mar%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-4

I bought this book and this is my honest opinion

Holy moley was this a great book I’ve had a hard time trying to put into word how much i loved this book while not giving important information away. Ariel was just your average girl well as average as she could be she was just moved from her high school that she loved because she could blend in with the crowd and no one noticed her. Her mom was a whore and went from one rich man to the next and didn’t care how she ruined Ariels life in the process. So at a new school with everyone is staring and talking about her Ariel definitely didn’t like it one bit. Then things started to change the boy next door never talked to anyone but everyone noticed that he treated Ariel differently, and when he paired up with her for a class project she wasn’t too sure how to handle that i mean after all he was very good looking but he did snarl at her. Well there is more between these two then just looks and class projects they definitely had some magic flowing between them. This book will get you hook line and sinker, feeling for Ariel and her mothers relationship, curiously wondering about the next door neighbors and why they are all so sexy with their good looks, and wondering what is up with this new man candy her mom has claimed this time.
Review by Twinsie Dee

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

#WOTR20 #5YearFamily #Review #RH #NewRelease #ReleaseDay – Dash:An Ariel Kimber Novella by Mary Martel

Dash: An Ariel Kimber Novella

Dash Flynn always thought he was damaged beyond repair.
Both a mother and a grandmother who had wanted him to be born a female witch, growing up, he was nothing but a disappointment to those around him.
His father had fought for him as best as he could before he disappeared from Dash’s life, leaving him to grow up with the two women they both had hated most in this world.
Years later, Dash thinks his life is finally coming together.
He has his brothers, his coven, and his sweet angel, Ariel. Finally a woman in his life deserving of his love.
But is that enough?
Only time will tell.


Goodreads


I receive this book from the author for an honest review.

I think each book I fall more in love with Dash but LAWD don’t let Uncle Quint know I admitted this.  He is super growly at times.

For all of you Dash lovers, this book is just what you wanted and expected.  I am a HUGE fan of these POV books of the men in Ariel’s lives.  I love seeing Ariel with the guys in the large books, but I really love these novellas because we can see Ariel and the guy bonding and growing in love.  We can see them sharing experiences that will be special to them only, but we get to see all the inside details of each relationship.  The large books are full of twists and new drama, but these novellas slow it down for us a bit to see the relationships growing and developing.  Any who that is just my 5 cent opinion.

So Dash….Dreamy sigh ladies….DREAMY SIGH!!!  We finally see more of the way his life was when he was a child and friends….my heart just couldn’t handle it.  We also get to learn a bit about Binx and again my heart!!!

Ariel and Dash are reconnecting in this book because so much has happened and they both feel a bit lost without the other.  They have a special bond…over blood and pain…the others don’t understand but that is what makes their relationship so important and extra special.  Sorry Quint but you gotta just deal with that little bit of information. *pats Quintons head while he pouts*

Again this book is helping us reconnect the two and lawd was it a good reconnection!!  HEEEYY!! *Wink*  But we also see some new things happening…Like the stuff Baxter lets slip and Isobel and Rain plus Rain and the council.  I love how this book ended and can’t wait for the story to continue to unfold.

But friends, I am really really looking forward to Juls and Ariel’s book.  Something about this broody sweetheart makes me again turn my head.  Each layer of this man that is unveiled ….yeah I just kinda sigh…..

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

#WOTR20 #5YearFamily #MC – The Dollhouse Series by Mary Martel

No Mercy Book #1

Lost Faith Book #2

Dark Beginnings Book #3

Broken Pieces Book #4

Last Sins Book #5

Willow Book #6

Book 1-

Warning: this series is intended for a mature audience. It contains violence, murder, prostitution, foul language, suicide and sexual content.
This is a first part in a series. The books are meant to be read in order.

“Do you know what the funny thing about Mercy is?” Cap asked her. Before she could answer he spoke again, “It can be a cold, hard, unforgiving bitch.”

Duchess runs The Dollhouse. An old, two story mansion she recently purchased in an attempt to create a safe home for herself and her girl Franky, something neither of them have ever had. A safe home is not all The Dollhouse is though. The downstairs is a bar and the upstairs is home to something much seedier. A modern day brothel. A brothel Duchess is the proprietress of.
Duchess is a cold, hard, tough as nails woman with a murky past. Her whole life revolves around taking care of her girls and keeping them safe.
Life at The Dollhouse is irrevocably altered when its sole neighbor, the Mercy MC, strolls through the front doors of the bar.
From that moment on Duchess’s fate is intertwined with theirs. She tries to fight it to no avail. They claimed her and her girls and that’s all there is to it.
She gets a family she never wanted. Friends she never needed. And a lover she never expected. She also suffers loss and has no qualms about killing anybody who stands in her way or threatens her or her girls.

This is the first part in a series and it is not a happy go lucky story

Book 2-

This is the second instalment in the Dollhouse series, and boy, have things changed at the Dollhouse.
Another girl moves in. A girl who is most certainly not fit to work at the Dollhouse, or, at least not on her back upstairs.
While Duchess’s relationship with the boys from the Mercy MC grows stronger every day her relationship with Cap is somewhat strained. They both find that they want different things out of life and Duchess struggles to come to terms with it.
The bonds she shares with Franky and Stanley are put to the test and when it’s all said and done things will never be the same between them.
Love. Loyalty. Friendship. Trust. Family. It’s all put to the test.
Ties will forever be severed and lives will be lost.

WARNING: This series is intended for a mature audience. It contains violence, murder, prostitution, foul language, suicide and sexual content. This is the second book in a series and they are meant to be read in order.

Book 3 –

This is the dark, short story of a chance encounter between two young women that will forever change their lives.
At the age of seventeen, after surviving a heartbreaking, soul wrenching childhood at the hands of a monster, Francesca Wright finds herself drugged out of her mind and playing the whore in a house of sin.
Libby is a young woman who’s been through it all and came out the other side stronger than ever. By chance she spots Francesca in the whore house. Immediately she’s drawn to the dainty, blue-eyed girl with the face of an angel. She wants nothing more than to take her far away from the hell hole she’s in and keep her safe. Being the strong, stubborn, determined woman that she is, she sets about making Francesca’s escape a possibility.
Through death, horror, and heartbreak an unshakeable bond stronger than blood is forged between the two.

*Warning*
Intended for mature audiences only. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18. This book contains sensitive subject matter that may be disturbing to some readers.

Book 4-

Duchess, her girls, and the Mercy MC are back in this emotional, fast paced novel.
Much to her dismay, Duchess finds herself entangled in some of the Club’s seedier business. Things go south and end with gunfire and bloodshed.
When she’s not busy with Captain and the club she’s dealing with the many problems her girls have. And they seem to have a never ending string of problems.
Most especially Franky. The blue eyed, blonde, whore with the face of an angel can’t seem to catch a break even if she tried. Her life is a disaster filled with one drama after the next.
Duchess has got her hands full and her work certainly cut out for her.

Book 5 –

In this final instalment of The Dollhouse Series the past comes back to haunt Duchess and Captain with a vengeance and a beautiful face.
Love and loyalty are both put to the test after blood is spilled and, once again, the lives of Duchess and her girls are turned upside down because of the Mercy MC.
As Duchess and Captain’s relationship becomes strained Franky ad Batey seem to grow closer together.
Feelings get hurt, blood gets shed, relationships changed and lives will forever be altered.
With the past firmly blocking the path to her future Duchess has got a fight ahead of her to get the life she wants. But that’s not anything new for a woman like Duchess. She’s used to fighting for everything in her life and this will be no different.
Book 6 –
“I was everyone’s version of a wet dream.”
-Willow
Willow is a young woman with a decent life, strict parents and a strong desire to be wanted. Despite the way her parents raised her and the kind of girl they wanted her to be she turned out to be the exact opposite.
After disappointing her parents in what they considered to be the worst kind of way they ship her off to live with her grandmother whom Willow hates. So she runs off to live her life how she wants to live it.
But how she wants to live her life isn’t exactly safe or healthy for herself. She finds herself in a horribly dangerous situation with a very scary man, and what’s worse is she has no one to blame for it but herself.
This is a Dollhouse Series Novella about the very beautiful but very f*cked up woman that is Willow and how she meets the man who will eventually introduce her to Duchess and be the reason she moves into The Dollhouse.
Due to adult content, this book is recommended for readers 18 and up

Goodreads

Amazon

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

#WOTR20 #NewRelease #Review #RH #AnitHero #KU – Vanity (A Villainously Romantic Retelling Book 5) by Mary Martel

Vanity (A Villainously Romantic Retelling Book 5)

The beautiful does well to hide the beast.
Nova Crimson was absolutely beautiful, and she knew it. Not only was she beautiful but she was smart, filthy rich, had a fabulous wardrobe, a great house, on paper she seemed to have it all going for her.
Well, what’s the problem with all of this, you want to know?
The interior didn’t match the exterior, or so the saying goes. Nova Crimson was a cold, ruthless bitch who got what she wanted when she wanted it and wasn’t afraid of the casualties who might get trampled in her wake.
There’d only ever been one person in her life who she’d allowed to see past the beautifully cold mask she hid behind, and that had been a boy named Olliver who’d been everything Nova had not. They’d become friends, of a sort, after Nova stood up to protect him.
Unfortunately, the very next day, Olliver and his useless drunk of a father disappeared without a trace. And Nova had been forced to go about her life as if a piece of her hadn’t gone missing right along with Olliver. The very best piece of her, the piece that held any time of compassion or love she might have ever had.
Now, all grown up and on her own in the world, Nova still can’t let the ghost of that boy go. The hunter in her wants to track him down and find him herself. But hunting men had only ever ended in one way with Nova and that was with their death. Something she made a great deal of money off of and was very, very good at.
One thing Nova had learned in life was that if you couldn’t do it yourself you needed the best of the best to get the job done for you.
That’s when River, Vega, and Talin walked into her life. That’s also when things took a drastic turn in Nova Crimson’s life because in order to embrace love one had to take off the beautiful mask that hid the beast and embrace the ugly on the inside.

Goodreads



I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Oh snap friends.  This book is GOOOOOD!!  Nova is a typical female that Mary writes about.  She is feisty, fearless, and full of sass.  She is not waiting for a Prince Charming.  She pays him to “Help her out” *wink wink*.  Nova hires 3 sexy men to find her childhood friend who disappeared without a sound.

River, Talin, and Vega have no clue but when they are near Nova they loose their cool and just want to be with her.  There is something about her strength these men appreciate and approve of.  When they find her friend, we learn a lot about her and Olliver’s lives.

This book is a quick read but it’s sexy as hell.  There is so much angst plus impossible amounts of twists and turns.  I am going to say if you love her Dollhouse books, Nova and Duchess would be best friends!!!

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.