Fighter by S Massery {a review}

Are you ready to return to Sterling Falls, and find out what happened to Kora, Wolfe, Jace, and Apollo? Well the time has come, and Fighter is now available! If you don't know, Fighter is the second book in the Sterling Falls series from S. Massery, and it is a continuation from Thief. So this series HAS to be read in order. Also, Sterling Falls is a dark, gothic reverse harem romance series with enemies to lovers, romantic suspense, and new adult themes. I'm fully enjoying it.

Sara Massery has lured me in, and I am waiting with bated breath to find out what happens next for our characters. How do they get out of the situation they have found themselves in? How do they get to their happily ever after? Who is behind the scenes putting all of this into play?  I HAVE QUESTIONS!!

Here's what I can tell you about Fighter.

• It is heavy on the action.
• The suspense is fantastic
• The steamy moments are intense.
• It ends in another cliffhanger.

My mind is trying to piece together everything I just read, and figure out how all of this came to be. That ending scene caught me off guard, and it has raised new questions in my brain.

There really isn't much more that I can say about Fighter. I absolutely loved this second book in the series. I gave it a rating of 4.5 stars. More importantly though, I need the next book immediately!

Is it July so that I can have Rebel? Please?

Kudos to S. Massery on writing an epic story that has twists and turns that draw the reader in, and has them returning to find out what happens next. I cannot wait to see how this story continues to play out.

Thank you for taking time to read my very basic thoughts on Fighter. If you are someone who enjoys dark, gothic, reverse harem types of romance, then you need to pick up this series!

Laura

Wild About You by Rebecca Jenshak {cover reveal}

 

Rebecca Jenshak has revealed the cover for Wild About You!

Wild About You is a full-length second chance romance with a grumpy NHL player, his teenage sister, and the ex-girlfriend he never forgot.

I cannot wait for May 17th! I have been eagerly anticipating this book since I read Wildcat back in December 2021. In a little over a month, I'll be able to set foot back into the Wildcat Hockey world, and I am excited.

A month ago, I was a rookie with the best stats in the league. I was traveling the world, playing hockey, and making more money than I ever dreamed.

Then my sister showed up on my doorstep, expelled from high school, with nowhere else to go.

I don’t know the first thing about being responsible for a troubled teen, and the team jet isn’t exactly kid-friendly.

Enter Piper. My sister’s new teacher and nanny.

Smart, nurturing, and just as beautiful as I remember.

I fell in love with her four years ago and never stopped.

Too bad she hates my guts.

We need her.

And this time, I’m not letting her go.

 

Pre-order your copy today on Amazon, Apple Books, Nook, or Kobo!

Coming soon to Audible!

 

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Meet Rebecca

Rebecca Jenshak is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and sports romance. She writes sexy, feel-good stories with lots of swoon-worthy moments.

Rebecca lives in Arizona. When she isn’t writing, you can find her cheering on local sports teams, hanging out with friends and family, or curled up with a good book.

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Bright Like Midnight by J Wolf {a review}

The time has come to return to Savage U! Bright Like Midnight is the second installment of the series from Julia Wolf, and it is now available. If you read Soft Like Thunder, then you already know our characters. Bright Like Midnight is the story of Amir and Zadie. These two opposites are definitely attracted.

I had been eagerly anticipating Amir and Zadie's story since their first introduction in Soft Like Thunder. I had to know what happened between them that day, and how it would play into future interactions.

So, what is this story about? Excellent question. I mean besides the obvious of Zadie filling us in on what happened during the time she was held hostage, we also learned about a traumatic experience in her past and how that has influenced her to this day. Not only that, but we also see Zadie do what she needs to do in order to get close to Amir. A deal is struck, and forced proximity enters the story. Bright Like Midnight tells how these two opposites find their way toward each other, attempt to build a relationship, and have that implode due to outside factors. This book is a college romance, but there is also a suspense element mixed in. It is fabulous, and it has you wondering if Amir and Zadie can get their happily ever after.

Going in to the story I had a general idea of what to expect. The reality though is that this book was captivating. Amir and Zadie drew me in, and held me hostage. They were my captor, much like Amir was Zadie's. Their story, from that first interaction, to the meetup at the party, to the deal that was struck, and everything else that happened was so intense. Their connection was strong. There was trust. There was understanding. There was desire.

The moment of conflict hurt. Seeing those two walk through the after effects was heart wrenching. But witnessing Zadie step out of her comfort zone was worth it. Watching these two go through what they did, and fight for their future, just had me loving them all the more.

I will say there were times that Amir drove me a bit bonkers with his possessiveness. But it's also who he is as a character, so it comes with who he is. It's his alpha nature, along with the persona he has built to work in the industry that he does. He needs to be that tough guy who people listen to, and then do what he requires of them.

That storyline of Zadie and Drew...OOFTA! That was a lot. And then with how all of that played out, and the revelations? DAMN! In my gut, I knew what was happening the entire time, but that little bit of uncertainty crept in, and I doubted myself. 

Julien's storyline toward the end gutted me. I was feeling all the feelings when that scene played out. It was this storyline though that led to Amir and Zadie being in the same place at the same time. It guided them toward being able to be friendly. After all they had a common concern, and so that was a bonding point.

Fully enjoyed every moment of this book. I am looking forward to Elena and Lock's story whenever that is released. I'm also hoping that Julien and Marco might have little novellas (or full length books work for me too) to tell their stories. I'd read them in a heartbeat.

Rating wise, I opted to give Bright Like Midnight 4 stars. As I sit and reflect more on the book, that rating might go up, but I can tell you that it will not go below a 4.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Bright Like Midnight. This second book in the Savage U series held my attention throughout, and the characters have worked their way into my heart. Cannot wait to return to this setting. I hope that you'll consider picking up the book, and discovering for yourself everything that made Zadie and Amir's story so wonderful.

Laura

Make no mistake, Zadie Night, I am the bad guy here.

The first time I laid eyes on Amir Vasquez, he held me hostage in my dorm.

You made me a promise.

I swore to myself my second year at Savage U would be different from the last. No more hiding from things that go bump in the night. I’m dating now. Making friends. Living my life.

But then someone starts leaving me notes and whispering my name in the dark, scaring me right back into my shell.

Are you my pet?

I’m shy and soft. Amir is dominant and hard. He stole a kiss once, and then he left me.

I should stay far away from him. But you know what they say about the devil you know…

Do I own you?

Amir will protect me, but not without cost.

I’m his, to do with as he pleases.

He thinks it’s a punishment.

But what he doesn’t know is I haven’t stopped thinking about him since he was my captor.

No one’s going to hurt you.

I’m safe from harm if I’m with him because he’s the biggest bad on campus.

Show me your whole universe.

And somewhere along the way, he became my haven, too.

You should be scared of me.

I can’t believe I’ve fallen for the villain.

(Author's note: Bright Like Midnight is a dark college romance that explores mature themes and dubious situations. If you're looking for a nice guy hero, this story isn't for you!)

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Soft Like Thunder

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Meet J. Wolf

Julia Wolf writes sexy rockers and badass women. She’s a huge believer in happily ever afters, no matter how complicated the road to get there is. 

Julia lives in Maryland with her husband and three crazy, beautiful children. When she’s not writing romance, she’s reading it. Some of her favorite things are, in no particular order: goats, books, coffee, and Target.

 

To learn more about J. Wolf and her books, visit here!

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Thank you to Julia Wolf, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advance review copy of Bright Like Midnight.

Gold Lust by Aleatha Romig {a review}

From New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a brand-new age-gap, family saga, chance meeting, contemporary romantic-suspense novel in the world of high finance, where success is sweet and revenge is sweeter.  GOLD LUST is a full-length novel and book three of the Sin Series that began with RED SIN, continued with GREEN ENVY and GOLD LUST, and will conclude with BLACK KNIGHT.

Gold Lust is absolutely amazing! It picks up right where Green Envy left off, and I could not put this book down. From start to end, I was all in. I loved being back in this world, and finding out what happened after Green Envy finished. And if you've read Green Envy, then you know the cliffhanger we were left with. Damn.

Here's the thing, A LOT happened in Gold Lust. It's intense. It is suspenseful. It has you questioning even more things. Then we are once again left with a cliffhanger! And that cliffhanger? Aleatha is excellent at those, because I need to know what happened next! Now I sit and wait for Black Knight.

While I gained more information about Van, I still have numerous questions. Not just about him, but the Butlers, the McGraths, Lena, Madison, and Philip. Then there are a couple of Van's employees that have raised some flags for me. I'm not certain they are working in Van's best interest, but rather that of another. Also, Greensphere. What is that all about? Who is behind it? I mean I have a gut feeling, but...

I know I didn't talk about much with this book. Honestly since this is a continuation of a storyline, it's a bit more difficult to review. There's too many chances of spoilers being revealed, and that's the last thing I want to do. What I can tell you is that this book holds you captive. Aleatha's storytelling draws you in, and there's just this desire to know more. What happened? Who are these people? Who's behind it all? Not to mention, can Van and Julia get their happily ever after, or will something (or someone) continue to block them? It's all very intriguing.

Rating wise, I gave Gold Lust 4.5 stars. It is absolutely fabulous. I love the setting. The characters have me curious. That storyline just continues to build, and it's about to explode. I CANNOT wait for Black Knight.

Thank you for taking the time to read my abbreviated, and cryptic thoughts on Gold Lust. If you are someone who enjoys billionaire romances, forced proximity, a suspenseful story that is filled with twists and turns, then you need to read the Sin series. 

Laura

Sexy, mysterious, with secrets hiding in the darkest of shadows, Donovan Sherman has stopped at nothing to achieve success. No one was immune.

One snowy night, his world and his life changed when he found Julia McGrath at the side of the road.

Finders keepers.

With Julia’s happiness as his new goal, he must keep his past hidden. Unfortunately, the casualties he’s left in his wake are back to threaten the life and love he never thought he’d have.

Will Donovan’s sins destroy their future?

Can Julia navigate the unfamiliar landscape where lust is more precious than gold?

Have you been Aleatha’d?

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Meet Aleatha Romig

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha's twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Get Aleatha'd Here:

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Thank you to Aleatha Romig, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced review copy of Gold Lust.

Shed My Skin by Nola Marie {a review}

Shed My Skin by Nola Marie is a must read for all rockstar romance fans, and it is now available! Shed My Skin is the first half of Maddox Masters story, and it is the fifth book in the Sons of Sin series. While you don't need to read the previous four books, I think it's beneficial so that you can witness Maddox in the other books. It will give you a better understanding of who he, the things he has been through, and how that has gotten him to this point. All of the books in the series are fabulous, and I am hooked. Keep in mind that this book DOES end in a cliffhanger. 

Seeing as how this book takes place after Break Me Down, I cannot recap Shed My Skin without giving spoilers for Ryder's book. So I'm just going to refer you to the description that Nola wrote (it's down below), and call it good. One thing I do want to mention is that there are trigger/content warnings for this book!

This book contains violence, explicit sex, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, child abuse, and sexual assault. Discretion is strongly advised.

Let's get my rating out of the way right from the get go. I gave Shed My Skin 4.5 stars. Maddox's story is dark. It is tragic. It is full of pain, and heartache. But at the same time we see Maddox falling for someone, and it's freaking him out because it isn't Zoey. Shed My Skin also shows us what it is Maddox is struggling with, and it isn't just the addictions he's battled for a while. It's deeper than that.

Holy hell that was a ride, and now I have to wait until Nola releases Breathe Again so I can find out how Maddox's story concludes. How does he get out of this dark space he is in? Does he come out of this working toward a future, or are we saying goodbye to a character? I refuse to believe that Nola would write off a character, so I'm thinking good things.

I knew that Maddox's story was going to be dark, and full of painful moments. I wasn't expecting him to have dealt with the things he did. His past is full of twists, turns, drama, and trauma. In this book we walk through all of that with him as he writes his "goodbye" to those he holds dear. It is very eye opening, and it has me viewing Maddox in a different light. 

One thing that was shared was everything that happened with Zoey. This has me understanding it so much more, and it all breaks my heart. Their relationship/friendship endured so much. Yes there was good moments, but there were also painful ones. I'm also better understanding the relationship with Ryder. It's all making sense. It's coming into focus, and the puzzle pieces are fitting together. Things with Bastian are making sense as well. Basically this book answers a lot of questions regarding Maddox's life. Which up until this point has been a mystery.

This story alternates back and forth between time frames. One moment you'll be in the present, at others you'll be back a few weeks, or even many years. Nola Marie does an excellent job of reminding you of the the time that you are in. All of the back and forth just helps to explain Maddox. His life hasn't been sunshine and rainbows. There are a lot of grey clouds in his world, and quite a few storms have passed through. 

The way this book ends, has me eagerly anticipating the second half of the story. There is a tentative release date of January 2023 (sigh), but I did see that Nola said on her Facebook page that it will be sooner than that. So just know that Breathe Again will be on an anticipated reads list eventually.

One thing I wanted to touch on was the mental health aspect of Shed My Skin. As I was reading the story, and we flashed back to his childhood, I honestly saw the signs of ADHD in him. I feel that there are potential other potential diagnoses that could be given, but that stood out to me immediately. Maybe it's because I have a child with ADHD that I just recognized it. I will say that his childhood did not set him up in a way to understand what was happening, or gave him any coping skills. Then there is the family medical history that was touched on. Again, had he received services for how to work with it all, or even therapy, maybe he wouldn't have gotten to this point. Maddox's life has not been easy. Not at all. But he also hasn't been taught the skills he needs to work through the highs and lows of his mental health. I think that is something that a lot of us can relate to. Especially as we move out of this ordeal we've been in for the last two years where a lot of us have learned more about ourselves.

I truly loved Maddox's story. I was a nervous wreck for a lot of it. It comes down to the fact that this character has me on edge. Witnessing him share his story, and everything that he has been through is just so hard hitting. It is dark, and it take a lot out of you. But as the book ends, you're left in this moment of wanting nothing but the best for Maddox. You're wanting him to come out the other side, and find the happiness that so deserves. To find the love that he so deserves. To have his person walking along side of him through the highs and lows.

Thank you for reading my thoughts on Shed My Skin. If you've read the previous books in the Sons of Sin series, then you need to read Maddox's story. It's a wild ride. Take breaks as needed. In the end, you'll understand him. Thank you Nola for sharing Maddox's story. I know it couldn't have been easy to write.

Laura

Cover Art: Nola Marie & Daria Loshlin
Photograph: Vologymyr, Canva

I'm tired.

Tired of the spotlight. Tired of fighting my demons. The guilt and shame have become too heavy to continue. It's time for me to go. Though my grip slips more each day, I need to hold on just a little longer. I need them to know the truth. That this fight was never theirs. My soul mate. My brother. My protector. And her. My Canary, my heart. My lullaby with whiskey eyes. I love you with all that's within me. I just wish I had more than darkness to offer.

This road has been long and winding
And I’m too tired to go on
Pain and sorrow have haunted me
Guilt and regret fill my mind
I can’t go on, I can’t keep fighting
This is my goodbye but it’s only for a little while
You were the one who kept me afloat
For you have I tried to keep breathing
But these ghosts haunt my soul and mind
This may be my last note
But from you, I’ll never be far
This is goodbye but it’s only for a little while
It won’t be long now but don’t shed a tear
Don’t cry for me or mourn my name
Cause I will always be with you
Even after I’m gone
My last song is goodbye but it’s only for a little while

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About the Author

Nola Marie has been writing her entire life but has authored nine books in the last year, four of which are published as her steamy mafia romance series, The Men of River City. Currently she is working on her Sons of Sin series which promises to be just as bold and exciting.

She also holds a bachelors degree in IT Management and an MBA in Leadership and Strategy. 

She has spent her entire life in Louisiana, and absolutely loves everything about it from the crawfish to the swamps. She has a hard-working, completely devoted husband that encourages her to do what makes her happy, three smart, kind, intelligent children that are her best friends, and an assortment of pets. 

When not spending time with her family, she reads, writes, listens to music, doing amateur graphic design, and plays video games.

Connect with Nola Marie

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Thank you Nola Marie for providing me with an advanced copy of Shed My Skin.