4.5 stars for “One-Eyed Jacks – 04 – Taking Fire by Cindy Gerard”

*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***

Before I requested this one on NetGalley I had to think if I would like to read this … Military … Kabul … Terrorists … Betrayal … It’s not wat I usually read but I was intrigued. But I’m glad I did because I loved every second of it!

Betrayal

Six years ago Bobby was supposed to be just an assignment. Talia, Mossad, seduced him to get much needed intel on the location of a terrorist. Bobby was a civilian contractor trying to capture the same terrorist.

Retribution

Six years Talia carried the guilt and another secret. Six years Bobby felt betrayed and thought he hated Talia. Now a chance encounter brings them to the same place. Again in danger they are forced to work together. Bobby now works for an elite covert branch of the Department of Defense. Talia has left Mossad and has been trying to stay safe. One revelation changes everything!

Redemption

Can Bobby forget what happened? Can they build a live together?

I loved this well written action filled romance and give it 4.5 stars. The balance between action and the building romance great…. Perfect for a movie or tv series 😉

This is the forth book in the One-Eyed Jacks series. I haven’t read the previous books yet but I put them on my wanted list immediately after finishing this one.

4.5 stars for “Behind Her Smile by Olivia Luck”

*** ARC kindly provided by Book Enthusiast Promotions, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***

OMG I really loved this one! This is a well written, captivating, heart breaking story of domestic abuse, lies and … hope! I give it 4.5 stars…

5 years ago Karolina thought she met the man of her dreams, her savior! The one who will give her what she craves … a family, the feeling of belonging! Everything seems to go fine even though David starts controlling Karolina’s life more and more! She gives up her dreams and ambitions and tries to be the perfect, supporting wife. To the outside they appear to be the perfect couple but nobody knows how Karolina suffers behind closed doors! A story of humiliation, pain, broken dreams, lies, lost friends, manipulation, buried dreams, aggression, … but also hope, a gentle lover, new dreams, … and most important ‘feeling like coming home’

This story broke my heart several times and got me emotional over and over again. I’m so grateful the author didn’t rush Karo’s HEA because I really needed that!

There are time jumps in this book to the useful parts in the last 5 years which help to understand how their relationship evolved.

This wonderful book can be pre-ordered on Amazon US at a low price and will be published January 6, 2016. Link : http://amzn.com/B01923Y8EY

4.5 stars for “Cartel – 02 – Kingpin by Lili St. Germain”

*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher HarperCollins, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. ***

Damn you Dornan! You made me like you a little bit after book 1. I know what happened in the ‘Gypsy Brothers’ series but putting that into the very back of my mind, I did see your better side but now I hate you again …

Poor Mariana, what more do you have to go through before you finally get ‘rest’! I admire her strength! This author really knows how to create strong female characters!!

In this second book ‘Kingpin’ we are 9 years ahead and Mariana is still is a privileged captive who still loves Dornan even though he’s still living with his wife. Some things happen which make her see/feel the evil man he is, more often. Her lover slowly turns into the monster hidden deep inside him. She feels more and more attracted to compassionate, kind, thoughtful John, prez of the Gypsy Brothers and Dornan’s friend. John is married and even though his wife isn’t worth the title wife and mother he remained loyal to her all those years. But now he’s having difficulties fighting his attraction towards Mariana. Can he keep fighting his attraction? Which man will she choose? Can they have a future?

Again a wonderful, well written, captivating, emotional, twisted story. Even though I’m dreading what is going to happen I’m really looking forward to the conclusion in this series … ‘EMPIRE’, the irresistible conclusion to the Cartel trilogy will be published on June 1, 2016 according to GoodReads… OMG I don’t know if I can wait that long!

Available for pre-order on Amazon US : http://amzn.com/B00KHHF02E

4+ stars for “Iron Horse MC – 03 – Exquisite Redemption by Ann Mayburn”

*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher Barclay Publicity, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *** Quotes mentionned in this review are from the ARC!

Yay I loved this one!! I really love MC books with hot, dominant bikers and this one was great…

This is the third book in the “Iron Horse MC” series. Book 1 & 2 are about Smoke and Swan. Swan is Sarah’s identical twin sister. The sequence of the books in this series is a little strange. Their story actually takes place after book 3 and I guess also book 4.

This book “Exquisite Redemption” brings us the story of Sarah. As a young 4 year old girl her parents get separated. Her abusive, drug addicted mother takes off with Sarah and leaves her twin sister with her father Mike. They keep moving again and again, taking new identities. Finally at 14 she is allowed to see her father again. You’d think she would finally have a normal life but a dad training you to become a mini commando isn’t exactly ‘normal’… Now she has just finished her ‘career‘ as a pole dancer and wants to have 1 crazy night before searching for a stable, normal life. She meets the hot, dominant, rugged, drool worthy Carlos ‘Beach’ Rodriguez, national Prez of the Iron Horse MC. What was supposed to be 1 hot night ends in both of them getting kidnapped. And this is where it gets fun! Instead of the male being the rescuer, Sarah is a real kickass badass woman … loved it! This is as far as I’ll go telling the story because I don’t want to spoil anything.

This was a well written romance with great, likeable main characters. There are also some great side characters: Beach’s mom Mouse, Sarah’s stepmom Mimi, … I loved the storyline and, in case you didn’t notice yet, how badass Sarah is! She is strong, savage, sexy, sassy, self-confident, lethal …

This book end on a Happily For Now but there is more to the story. I’m looking forward to read the rest of it after March 3rd, 2016. I also really want to read the first two books in this series but will wait until after the 4th book…

Some quotes I loved:

“I’m cranky when I’m dirty; I’m homicidal when I’m tired.”

“So, in the future, if you fuck up and someone hurts me, I’m supposed to stand there and pout while the men handle it? No.”

“Listen real good, Sarah. Yesterday you showed me you’re something special, something I want to hold on to, and I always get what I want. ’Sides, I owe you for saving my life, and I don’t take that kinda shit lightly.”

“Honey, no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be normal. You’re exquisite, funny, and so fuckin’ adorable I just want to hold you against me like this all day. I get wantin’ to make your own way in the world, Lord knows I’ve had to fight for everything I got, but you will never blend in. No matter where you go, you’re gonna shine like a diamond among pebbles. ’Sides, I know that life wouldn’t make you happy.”

“I’m gonna fuck all that stress and sass outta you until you walk around with a permanent smile on your face.”

 

4+ stars for “Chicago Syndicate – 04 – For Cam by Soraya Naomi”

*** ARC kindly provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review. ***

This is the fourth book I read from this series and it’s another win for me! This author keeps me on edge during reading and even though I had a few busy days I had a hard time putting this book aside.

In the first 2 books I didn’t really like Adriano but in ‘For Adriano’ he made me fall in love with him. In ‘For Cam’ they both have to adjust to their new positions within the mafia. How do you work together professionally when you’re also involved romantically? Adriano acts overprotective and his position of boss is changing him. Both have a hard time adapting to the new situation. He still has his hot, dirty mouth and even this strict mafia boss showed his romantic side at the end of the book which I really loved.

There were lots of dangerous situations, devastating decisions to make, lots of lost time and a heart-breaking situation which had me crying a lot. I loved it from the beginning till the end!

I was glad to find out that there will be another book in this series. In ‘For Cam’ you find out who the Logan is for her next book ‘For Logan’. I really liked ‘this person’ and am looking forward to his book!

4+ stars for “King – 01 – King by TM Frazier”

I have too many unread books on my kindle and I can’t help myself buying new ones. I recently saw the cover of the third book ‘Lawless’ in this series and knew I needed it! Yeah I know it’s the story that counts but have you seen the cover? After reading ‘King’ I’m positive it’s going to be great and I really look forward to Bear’s story!!

I don’t really know where to start the story since I always try to keep it short and don’t give away too much but there is so much happening in this book and there are so many interesting characters. King once saved Preppy while he was being bullied at school. Since then they had a strong bond and started making plans for their future. Not always the legal way but they managed to build up a good life until King was sent to prison. On his ‘welcome home’ party he’s immediately attracted to Doe. Doe has lost her memory and has been living on the streets since. King doesn’t want to, but he’s immediately attracted to her and tries to push her away a few times but he can’t. But what will happen if Doe finds her memory again? Will she? Do they have a future? This is where I’ll stop retelling the story. There is so much happening in this book and it’s all worth reading including hilarious scenes with funny, light but crude Preppy. I really loved him!

I didn’t always like cocky, possessive, grumpy, stubborn, complicated King but you just know that deep down this troubled man is worth it! Then there is Doe. I immediately liked her and really loved how she just spoke before thinking!! I also liked how feisty and brave she was.

This is a great, well written story of 2 soulmates and I’m diving right into the next book because I just need their HEA!  I’m giving this one 4.5 stars

“King filled me so completely. Not just my body. My heart. My soul. My life. I didn’t give a shit if I ever got my memory back. Because with King, I knew exactly who I was. I was his.”

4.5 stars for “First and Last – 01 – First Touch by Laurelin Paige”

*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***

“OMG! OMG! Oh.My.God! That end? “ This was the only thing consuming my mind for some time after finishing the book. What a cliffhanger!!! I really need the second book soon…

This book brings us the story of Emily and her “Find Amber plan”. Emily and Amber met when they were 17. Both didn’t have good home situations and relied on each other and the men they met. They depended on those men to keep a roof over their head, keep them fed and clothed… But many men and abusive situations later the friends go separate ways and they haven’t spoken in 6 years. Now Amber left a message on the voicemail in Emily’s home from which Emily just knows that Amber is in danger. The last cue Emily has on Amber is hot, charismatic, alpha, controlling, possessive resort owner and bad boy Reeve Sallis. Emily tries to get close to Reeve in order to find out where her friend disappeared to but soon she starts to feel more for Reeve and her “Find Amber plan” is pushed to the background. But is Reeve who she hopes he is? Is he a dangerous man or not? Can she trust him? Is Amber still alive?

I still can’t believe it! This book kept me in suspense from beginning till end. I thought Emily’s plan might be revealed at any moment. I had some busy days but the free moments I had, I couldn’t put this book down!

I’m ashamed to say that before I have only read “Fixed on You” from this author and I really need to finish that series. I also already have Free Me on my kindle and will read that one soon!

4+ stars for “Tear Asunder – 03 – Shattered by You by Nashoda Rose”

*** ARC kindly provided by the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***

I read the previous books in this series with Logan and Ream’s stories and loved those but I can tell you that this emotional read is my favourite and gets 4.5 stars!!

This book brings us the story of Crisis and Haven. Haven is Ream’s (book 2) twin sister of whom he thought she died 12 years ago because of an overdose. Sometime later Ream moved in with Crisis’ parents who raised him like a son. So besides bandmates they are also brothers. Haven has lived in hell for the past 12 years. She has been severely abused during this period. What she all went through is just awful and heart-breaking! She survives with numbness and a cool exterior. She wants to become another ‘normal’ girl but on the most terrible moments her demons make her break down. Crisis is always there for her and soon she starts to trust him. Crisis has had feelings for her for the last months but wants her to come to him as soon as she trusts him. That’s all I’ll be telling about the story. It’s really worth buying 😉

I loved Crisis in this book! He is so sweet, caring, patient, protective… PERFECT! I love how he doesn’t have a filter but just says what is on his mind. I loved how he had feelings but placed Haven’s health first.

This story was told in dual POV which I really liked because I wanted to know more about Crisis ‘thoughts. I would have loved a little bit more in his POV though.

The next book in this series is going to be Kinky Kite’s story, really looking forward to that one …

4+ stars for “Chicago Syndicate – 02 – For Luca by Soraya Naomi “

*** I received a copy of this book for free from the author through I love Alpha Male books club on Goodreads in exchange for a honest review ***

I loved the first book “For Fallon”. It had just the right combination of romance and suspense for me. My heart was completely broken when I finished it and dived immediately into For Luca hoping that Fallon and Luca would soon get their HEA. But how wrong I was…

Many horrible events and a lack of trust make the distance between them enormous. Fallon’s strength and perseverance and Luca’s will to keep fighting for Fallon and protect her finally bring them back together. This story was a huge rollercoaster and had me sitting on the edge so often! But in the they get their HEA. I really loved the epilogue, I truly loved and needed that!

I’m really looking forward to start book 3 “For Adriano” and book 4 “For Cam” (not published yet). In book 1 we already read about their (non-)relationship and in book 2 we see lots of Adriano (and I like him more now than when I finished book 1) but only little of Camilla. I hope they’ll get their own HEA but will that be possible with a fun fact which was written almost at the end of book 2?

I loved this one and give it 4.5 stars!

4+ stars for “Elements – 01 – The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry”

I initially bought this book because I absolutely love the cover but OMG the story is as beautiful!! I will definitely read this one again someday…

After Liz and Tristan both lost the person they loved and Tristan also his son, their paths cross. Two broken souls that will heal each other… Initially Tristan is such a jerk but soon Liz and Emma start to break his hard shell! They are so right for each other…

“You know that place between nightmares and dreams? The place where tomorrows never come and yesterdays don’t hurt anymore? The place where your heart beats in sync with mine? The place where time doesn’t exist, and it’s easy to breathe?
I want to live there with you.”

I also loved the banter between Liz and her fun, crazy best friend Faye.

This was such a heart-breaking, well written, emotional read which gets 4.5 well deserved stars! Lots of tears and tissues later I hated that this story was finished… I’m looking forward to reading more from this author!

Something that confused me was the timeline. They meet in July 2015. In Chapter 25 it’s November and in Chapter 39 it’s again a few months later … so are we reading a book which ends in the future? Somewhere beginning 2016?

And did I mention I love the cover?