Month: February 2022

Review: Cash by Jessica Gadziala

Posted February 28, 2022 by Casee in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: Cash by Jessica GadzialaReviewer: Casee
Cash by Jessica Gadziala
Narrator: Jillian Macie, Alexandre Steele
Series: The Henchmen MC #2
Also in this series: Wolf
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Point-of-View: Alternating First
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 237
Length: 7 hours and 51 minutes
Add It: Goodreads
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four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

The Henchmen return, this time with CASH as our leading man.
CASH
My life has been about three things- brotherhood, good times, and women. Easy. Nothing complicated. That was until Willow Swift came barging back into my life, face bloodied, banging at the gates of The Henchmen compound calling in a favor owed. Now a marker is a marker and I had to make good, but if there was one woman in the world I didn't need in my life, it was the hard-as-stone, hot-as-sin Willow Swift and whatever mysterious ghosts from her past that were haunting her present.
WILLOW
My life has been nothing but two things: hard and complicated. The last person I wanted in my business was the notorious love-em and leave-em Cash, but I needed help and he was the only one I could lean on without worrying about him finding out about my past. But I was starting to wonder if maybe he was his own kind of dangerous bent on tearing down some things I had long since learned were not possible for me- like falling for a guy I could not, ever, let see the real me.
While this can be read as a stand-alone, you will get more out of this book if you read "Reign" and "Monster" first.

As VP of the Henchmen MC, Cash lives for the good times. He is always having fun & he doesn’t apologize for it. When Lo herself comes to ask the Henchmen for help, they can’t turn her away. They owe her and Hailstorm a favor. Lo is at the compound for help. She doesn’t care who helps her, as long as it’s not Cash. Ha. Cash is instantly attracted to Lo, but he is determined not to get involved with her. The last thing he needs is the leader of Hailstorm in his bed. Again…ha.

Lo is a badass. She runs Hailstorm like it’s the military. Because of that, her people are some of the most feared in Navesink Bank. When Lo’s past comes to haunt her, she has nowhere left to go. Lo was a combination of so many things. Sweet, fierce, witty, and beautiful. She loves romance novels because she’s a romantic at heart. That doesn’t take away from the fact that she’s one of the most dangerous people in Navesink Bank.

I really ended up liking this book. I thought the whole manwhore thing would turn me off Cash, but it didn’t. He’s so self-deprecating that it was hard not to like him. In the end, he would do anything to protect Lo from her past. Anything to protect the woman he loves.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Henchmen MC

four-stars


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What Are You Reading? (597)

Posted February 25, 2022 by Holly in Features | 3 Comments

Casee

I have been getting a lot of reading time in over the last few weeks. I’m still binging Claire Kinglsey. I can’t and won’t stop. I love her characters, the tropes, everything. I’m reading a series that she co-writes with Lucy Score called Bootleg Springs. It is a brilliant series. The two authors have created quite the world in Bootleg. I’m currently reading Gin Fling (Bootleg Springs #5) by Lucy Score. While I’m excited to finish this 6 book series, I’m a little sad. Bootleg Springs is where it’s at y’all.

I’m on a road trip this weekend and have downloaded Highland Conquest (Sons of Sinclair #1) by Heather McCollum. This is my first book by this author.

Holly

I am still barely reading. Work is killing me right now. Let’s hope it lets up soon. I finished The Purveli by Dianne Duvall and started the first book in her Immortal Guardians series, Darkness Dawns on audio. I also re-read three books in Kristen Ashley’s Fantasyland series, Wildest Dreams, The Golden Dynasty and Fantastical.

I just started Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson for my book club.

What are you reading this week? Any new favorites or books that drove you crazy? Share!


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Review: Perfect Wreckage by Catherine Cowles

Posted February 24, 2022 by Casee in Reviews | 2 Comments

Review: Perfect Wreckage by Catherine CowlesReviewer: Casee
Perfect Wreckage by Catherine Cowles
Narrator: Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell
Series: Wrecked #2
Also in this series: Reckless Memories
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: September 22, 2020
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Point-of-View: Alternating First
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 328
Length: 9 hours and 12 minutes
Add It: Goodreads
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four-half-stars
Series Rating: five-stars

My past taught me to play it safe.To stay far away from handsome men who promised it all.My life was good without them. Stable, secure, predictable.
But one kiss showed me that I’d been playing it safe for far too long.One night, and all I wanted was more of his wildfire.One challenge and my carefully constructed walls tumbled down.
Amidst the rubble, I realized there was more to this man than I ever dreamed.When everything fell apart, he showed me what it meant to stay.How to truly live.
But when my demons return, that life might end up shorter than either of us expected…

Kenna leads a very predictable life. She’s an accountant (us accountants like predicability). Numbers are predictable. There is no gray areas here. Kenna enjoys her job immensely. She’s content, if not happy, with her life. She has a good job, good friends, and Harriett, the woman that has raised her since she was 11.

When Harriett dies, Kenna is devastated. Crosby was Harriett’s lawyer. He knows exactly what is going to happen when Harriett’s family finds out that she left Kenna The Gables. The home that is a haven for Kenna. Something that Harriett’s family is trying to take away from her. While she’s usually happy to stay out of the spotlight, she’s not going to let Harriet’s family take her home.

I adored Kenna. She grew so much in this book. Crosby helped her realize that life isn’t about working. It’s okay to have a little unpredictably in life. He taught her how to live. It’s like she was in a bubble of her own making, and Crosby just popped that sucker.

I didn’t think I’d like Crosby as much as I did. Sure, he was okay. But really not my kind of hero. I enjoy alpha heroes. Very alpha. Crosby is not that. He certainly has a quiet strength, which is what made him so likable. Crosby doesn’t want to settle down. He likes his life and can’t imagine being with one woman the rest of his life.

I’ve read a few reviews that states this book is romantic suspense. I highly disagree. It might have had romantic suspense undertones, but it was a straight rs.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Wrecked

four-half-stars


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Review: Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross

Posted February 21, 2022 by Holly in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: Witches Get Stitches by Juliette CrossReviewer: Holly
Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross
Series: Stay a Spell #3
Also in this series: Wolf Gone Wild, Don't Hex and Drive
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: July 20, 2021
Format: eBook
Source: Library
Point-of-View: Alternating First
Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 390
Add It: Goodreads
Reading Challenges: Holly's 2021 Goodreads Challenge
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Violet Savoie has a plan. A dream, rather. To open her own tattoo shop, which caters to supernaturals in need of permanent charms. As a powerful Seer, she has the potent magic to cast every kind of spell. Except the kind to give werewolves control over their beastly side. And her business partner Nico needs help in the worst kind of way.

Nico Cruz has a secret. A motive, rather. To subtly stalk and seduce Violet until she finally recognizes they are fated to be together. Ever since their heated encounter in Austin on New Year’s Eve two years earlier, he’s been dying to get his hands—and his tongue—back on her body. He knows a woman like Violet can’t be courted in the usual way. Luckily, Nico has no scruples about misbehaving to get what he wants.

But when his former pack roams into town, and an old friend is far too interested in Violet, his focus shifts to the threat venturing into his territory. Nico may come across as the quiet, broody one, but the intruders are about to regret stepping foot in New Orleans. And when Violet goes missing, no charm or spell can keep Nico’s wolf at bay.

Witches Get Stitches is the third book in the Stay a Spell series by Juliette Cross, which features the Savoie sisters, powerful witches who own a bar in New Orleans. Nico and Violet had a connection in the first book, Wolf Gone Wild, and I was really excited to read more about them.

Violet is a powerful seer. She also has a unique gift – she can imbue tattoos with spells. She goes into partnership with Nico in a tattoo shop as she works on refining her craft. She and Nico had a passionate encounter, but she did a divination for herself and realized he wasn’t the one, so she’s been keeping him at arms length.

I have to say, Violet frustrated me. She acted very immature about her attraction to Nico. I wish she’d been more open and honest with him, instead of just ghosting him, or picking fights for no reason.

Still, I liked the underlying message about inclusion, and the way she and Nico changed things for the werewolves. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Stay a Spell

three-half-stars


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