Monday, June 28, 2021

Dark Queen {a review}


Are you an avid reader of mafia romance? Do you like your stories with some darker moments? How about age gap? Do you like that? Then definitely go check out Dark Queen by Ker Dukey!

Dark Queen starts out with us meeting our heroine on her family's farm. Her mother has just died, her father is distant, and the boy next door is pushing for a relationship. Meanwhile Alyssa is preparing to leave town to audition for a prestigious ballet school. There is limited space, and she needs to get in with a scholarship as she cannot afford the tuition. After her audition, Alyssa isn't feeling very confident, and is worried she'll have to return to her small town. As she's fleeing, she runs smack into Luca Leto. This man has her immediate attention. There is something about him that has her captivated. Luca Leto is less than thrilled that this little ballerina is in his way. Yet there is something about her that calls out to him. Luca is the head of his mafia family, and will take on the full roll when his father passes. Luca is currently mourning the loss of his mother, as well as the woman he was having a relationship with. Serena was recently found murdered in his club, and Luca is on a mission to find out who the killer is. They will pay. When Alyssa arrives to the station, her phone rings, and it is the school telling her that her tuition has been paid for, and she needs to get back NOW.  After moving into the dorms, Alyssa learns that she's been given a job at a local, prestigious, wine bar. It is there that she again runs into Luca. And from there, a lot happens. 

Reader friends, this book was spectacular. I could not put it down, and I could not wait to find out the answers to questions I had. I'll tell you now, I gave Dark Queen 4.5 stars. It was very close to being a 5 star read for me, but there were plot lines that were not closed, and since this is a stand alone, I don't think I'll be getting my answers. From the Alyssa and Luca's initial meeting, to the second introduction, to the attraction they both felt, to the big dramatic moment, to the revelation of who the killer was, it was all wonderful. Loved the side characters (Hannah, Simon, Jewel, Antonio, Marcello), and have high hopes for additional books set in this world. Well I mean except for one character. I also loved how feisty Alyssa was. She wasn't going to back down from Luca, and she proved that time and time again. Also the way she handled Jewel's father at the event? YES! Loved how she shut that down, and then went to the head person, and called her out on the things that were happening. 

I do have a few questions that I'd like answered. Did Alyssa ever tell Luca what happened to her Mom? Was that secret told? How about the other secret that Alyssa was keeping on behalf of her friend? What happened there? I know if that secret had been told, it would have been a part of the storyline, and honestly I thought it would have been. It would have been another dramatic moment between Alyssa and Luca. One last question I have is in regards to Luca and Antonio's dad but I won't say it because of potential spoilers. I can only be so vague people. But I do have a feeling that there was an assist in that whole scenario.

Ker Dukey better take me back to this world! I need more!

Highly recommend Dark Queen by Ker Dukey. Such a fabulous mafia romance. The dark king has found his queen.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
Laura



He was my boss.

Rich, ambitious, dominating.

I was a waitress, struggling to pay the fees for ballet school.

Poor, talented, desperate.

He needed to marry to appease his dying father, to inherit the family empire.

It wasn’t supposed to be real, or forever.

Until he changed the rules.

What Mafia king Luca Leto wants, he gets, and he’s crowned his queen.

Me.

I’m under his rule now.

And his reign is cruel and toxic.

They call him the dark king and to gain my freedom I’m going to have to become a dark queen.

NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon US | UK | CA | AU

Read for FREE with KU!


Add Dark Queen to your Goodreads TBR!





Meet Ker Dukey



Ker Dukey is an International bestselling author.

Genres include:
Dark Romance, Psychological Thriller, New Adult Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mafia Romance, MC Romance and more.

Ker, has over Forty titles published, held multiple #1 bestseller banners and chart-topping titles with the rights sold to numerous countries, translated in multiple languages, and have been adapted into audiobooks.

In addition to being an author, Ker is an annoying wife and a mother of three children + one dog (who thinks he's human.) She has a passion for reading and binge-watching crime documentaries.

Connect with Ker

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBubAmazon | Newsletter | Ker's VIP Bloggers


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Thank you to Ker Dukey and Candi Kane PR for providing me with an advanced copy of Dark Queen.


Crowned Crows of Thorne Point

 Release Date: June 28

What's worth the price of a secret?

To get an audience, you have to give up something. A secret, a favor…something that hurts. Welcome to Thorne Point, where darkness rules.

Rowan
I enrolled at Thorne Point University to be closer to my brother.
Now my world is falling apart.
Ethan is missing.
Every day I can’t find him it plays on repeat.
The search for answers turns up nothing and I’m running out of options.
But there’s a rumor on campus.
And I’m desperate enough to seek out the Crows as my last resort.
Wren Thorne’s reputation precedes him, but I won’t take no for an answer.

Wren
The night belongs to us.
We run this town.
Wear the rumors like crowns.
But after losing the most important thing to me, my brothers are all I have left.
Our bond runs deeper than blood.
When Rowan comes looking for our help, I do one thing I shouldn’t: break all my rules.
She asked for monsters? I’ll show her one.

Warning: This is part of a continuing series and each book ends on a cliffhanger!

Crowned Crows of Thorne Point is a dark new adult enemies to lovers college romantic suspense intended for mature readers. This book is the first in the Crowned Crows series following a gritty brotherhood of antihero bad boys and the feisty heroines that capture their hearts. Each book in the series should be read in order to understand the continuing plot. If you’re not a fan of morally bankrupt book boyfriends, steer clear. This mature new adult romance contains dubious situations, crude language, and intense sexual/violent content that some readers might find triggering or offensive. Please proceed with caution.


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Add to Goodreads Here!


Meet Veronica Eden


Veronica Eden is an international bestselling author of dark new adult romances + reverse harem romances with spitfire heroines and irresistible heroes.

She loves exploring complicated feelings, magical worlds, epic adventures, and the bond of characters that embrace us against the world. She has always been drawn to gruff bad boys, clever villains, and the twisty-turns of morally gray decisions. She believes sometimes the villain should get the girl and is a sucker for a deliciously devilish antihero. 

Veronica also writes romance as Mara Townsend. 

When not writing, she can be found soaking up sunshine at the beach, snuggling in a pile with her untamed pack of animals (her husband, dog and cats), and surrounding herself with as many plants as she can get her hands on.


To learn more about Veronica Eden, visit here!


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Friday, June 25, 2021

Small Town Pretender {a review}



Small Town Pretender is the fifth book in the Havenbrook series by Brighton Walsh, and it just released on June 24! This small town, friends to lovers romance has a fake marriage, which means there is forced proximity as well. Oooh, yes please! So many fantastic tropes all in one book!

Having just finished Small Town Pretender late last night I have one thing I want to say before moving on to my recap and review. IF you are an emotional/sensitive person, who tends to tear up easily while reading stories, have tissues on hand. I wasn't prepared, and well my poor pillow got quite wet.

As the book begins, we find Nat on assignment somewhere overseas, and she is having a conversation with her sister. Nat is preparing to give her niece some advice on babysitting, and Nat finds herself missing her family and friends. It must be time for a quick visit. Fast forward a few days and Nat's phone rings late at night. Those late night phone calls never bring good news. When she looks at her phone, she sees that it is her best friend, Asher. Asher is a singer/songwriter who is getting ready to sign a contract with a label. That is until the night he receives a phone call from the Havenbrook PD informing him that his sister (and her husband) had been in a crash, and he is listed as her emergency contact. Asher quickly calls Nat, and breaks the news to her. Asher then breaks down on the phone with her. After that phone call, Nat changes all her plans (except one), and moves heaven and earth to get home to support Asher. You see not only is Asher grieving the death of his sister and her husband, but he is also the guardian of his niece and nephew. So he is now responsible for these two little kids who just had their world destroyed. What happens next is a court date for custody purposes (the paternal grandparents want the kids and are prepared to fight), an impulsive announcement, convincing Nat that it's a good plan, planning everything, and trying not to fall in love with his best friend.

My heart has not fully recovered from this story! I went into Small Town Pretender expecting a nice, sweet, friends to lovers story that is set in a small town. I was not expecting the death of two characters, and the grieving that goes into that. I also was not expecting to witness the 4 year old eventually grieve her parents. THAT GUTTED ME. That right there. My heart. It is bringing tears to my eyes as I just think about it. UGH. Also, yes I knew there was a fake marriage in this story, but how it all went down, wasn't what I was expecting. I wasn't expecting Asher to just say "downpour" and that this would be the outcome. Personally I loved Asher and Nat together. I loved how she just jumped in with little to no questions asked. How she had no issues sharing a bed with her bestie. How the kids just handled it and went with the flow. From the wedding ceremony to the reception to the custody battle to life after, I just loved it. So dang much. Oh, and when Nat's Dad did what he did? My heart. Then when the dramatic moment happened in Asher and Nat's relationship, UGH. The tears came again. But when Nash butted in, YES! Loved that. Appreciated that. It needed to happen. I absolutely adored Small Town Pretender.  

I cannot say enough good things about Small Town Pretender. If you are a fan of small town romances, the friends to lovers trope, having a musician as a main character, and/or forced proximity, then go grab Small Town Pretender. Just remember to grab tissues first. If you're curious about my rating, I am giving it 4.5 stars. Oh, and while this is the fifth book in the series, they are all standalones, so you don't need to read the first four before reading Small Town Pretender.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,
Laura




Asher McCoy can win over a crowd with a husky note and a strum of his guitar, but proving to a judge he’s responsible enough to gain custody of his niece and nephew? Not so easy. His big idea—a fake marriage. And who better to play his doting bride than his longtime best friend? He just needs to get her home first...

Natalie Haven couldn’t get away from her suffocating hometown fast enough. For years, she’s fluttered around the globe as a freelance photographer. And if that unconventional job pisses off her daddy? Well, all the better. But when her best friend sends out an SOS, she heads back to the one place she swore she’d never land.

Except a fake marriage means a not-so-fake living arrangement, including only one bed. Nat's witnessed enough women fall for Asher’s charms, but she refuses to be one of them. Because permanence isn’t in her blood. Not even for him.



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ALSO AVAILABLE


Captain Heartbreaker (Book 4)
is FREE on all platforms!

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AUTHOR BIO


USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh spent a decade as a professional photographer before taking her storytelling in a different direction and reconnecting with her first love—writing. She likes her books how she likes her tea—steamy and satisfying—and adores strong-willed heroines and the protective heroes who fall head over heels for them. Brighton lives in the Midwest with her real life hero of a husband, her two kids—one who’s already taller than her and one who's catching up too fast—and her dog who thinks she’s a queen. Her boy-filled house is the setting for dirty socks galore, frequent dance parties (okay, so it's mostly her, by herself, while her children look on in horror), and more laughter than she thought possible.


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Thank you to Brighton Walsh and Give Me Books PR for providing me with an advanced copy of Small Town Pretender.

Newspaper Nanny {cover reveal}


💜🏒COVER REVEAL💜🏒

NEWSPAPER NANNY by Maren Moore is coming July 30!

Cover by: Cat Imb with TRC Designs


When I stumbled across my dream job in the classified section of my newspaper, I knew it had to be too good to be true.

Turns out it was.

Becoming the nanny for the grumpiest hockey coach in the NHL was more like a nightmare.

Liam Cartright was infuriating, stubborn, and impossible.

Oh, and he happened to be my new boss.

I should have signed my resignation with a giant kiss my ass the moment he opened his mouth, but I couldn’t.

I fell for his little girls before I realized it was happening, and my resolve began to weaken.

Our roles were clearly drawn out.

He was the boss, and I was the nanny.

But then we crossed a line.

I wouldn’t lose my job over a chiseled jawline and a few stolen kisses. I couldn’t.

Not when so much was on the line.

But Liam was the one who made the rule book, and 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴.


Pre-Order Here
Amazon Universal

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When We Were Reckless {cover reveal}

🌟 ℍ𝕠𝕥 ℂ𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕒𝕝 🌟

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽, 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝘂𝗻𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟱𝘁𝗵!

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲!

𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!


Cover Photo: Wong Sim
Cover Design: Lori Jackson
Model: Charley Santos


𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜k?

𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒 𝑀𝑐𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟.
Motocross legend.
Reckless heartbreaker.
And the love of my life.

Too bad he only thought of me as his best friend’s little sister.

Naïve and innocent. Only eighteen. Completely off-limits.

Unrequited love… was there anything more painful?

Turns out there was—when he kisses you but has no memory of it.

When he tells you his heart was broken, and he doesn't believe in love.

When he doesn’t want you kissing anyone else, but you're stuck in the friend zone.

Despite the odds stacked against us, my foolish heart refused to stop loving him.

Now I’m falling under his spell.

Drowning in his perfect lies.

Addicted to his stolen glances and forbidden kisses.

I’m on a collision course with disaster and only one thing is certain… Jesse McCallister is going to ruin me. 



🌟Add WHEN WE WERE RECKLESS to your Goodreads TBR!

PRE-ORDER LINKS
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Catch up with the Lost Stars series!

When the Stars Fall
Amazon
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When The Storm Breaks, Book Two
 AMAZON
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emery Rose has been known to indulge in good red wine, strong coffee, and a healthy dose of sarcasm. When she’s not working on her latest project, you can find her binge-watching Netflix, trotting the globe in search of sunshine, or immersed in a good book. A former New Yorker, she currently resides in London with her two beautiful daughters.

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