Category: Review Sunday

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Very Merry Match by Melinda Curtis

TITLE: A Very Merry Match
SERIES #: Sunshine Valley #2
CHARACTERS: Mary Margaret Kevin
AUTHOR: Melinda Curtis
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/29/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Melinda Curtis brings the spice for the holidays with this small-town romance featuring a woman who must maintain a secret identity and the man who begins falling for her.
This holiday season, kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret Sneed never imagined she’d be unwrapping…herself. But a burlesque side gig is the young widow’s only hope of paying off her late husband’s substantial debt. With her reputation and career on the line, she performs in disguise, under the stage name Foxy Roxy. But her secret identity is threatened when Roxy’s biggest fan turns out to be Mary Margaret’s biggest crush — the handsome-as-sin mayor of Preston!

Newly divorced single dad Kevin Hadley is prepping to make the jump from mayor to state assemblyman. He knows he should be settling down with someone quiet and practical, someone like Mary Margaret Sneed. The last thing Kevin needs right now is a steamy scandal. But he just can’t stop thinking about Foxy Roxy…and if Preston’s matchmaking Widows Club has their way this Christmas, Kevin won’t have to…

Includes a bonus novella by Hope Ramsay!

REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts Ok so this was not really for me. First there was not a lot of Christmas/Holiday so it didn’t set me into the spirit of the holidays. And honestly, I never really liked the characters. I mean seriously, how did Kevin not know Mary Margaret and Roxy were the same person? And how could MM/Roxy be willing to date a guy she knows is two-timing (yes both with her but still HE doesn’t know that).

This was just not for me!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

TITLE: Crazy Stupid Bromance
SERIES #: Bromance Book Club #3
CHARACTERS: Alexis & Noah
AUTHOR: Lyssa Kay Adams
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/27/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A hacktivist and a cat café owner decode the friend zone in this romantic comedy from the author of Undercover Bromance.

Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan.

Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush.

Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Alexis has become a voice in the #metoo movement and now has brought other women together to join safe places. When a woman comes up to say “their” father is dying and needs a kidney. She didn’t know about him or her siblings. Noah has been smitten with Alexis for years but is in the friendzone but now he is willing to try…. Talk about crazy timing!

But the guys in the bromance book club are there for Noah to help him out.

I thought this was a cute book. The guys in the book are funny. Some people in the book were a bit irritating but mostly the characters were fun to read.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Looking For A Cowboy by Donna Grant

TITLE: Looking For A Cowboy
SERIES #: Heart Of Texas #5
CHARACTERS: Cooper & Marlee
AUTHOR: Donna Grant
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/27/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A cowboy finds love in the most unlikely place in New York Times bestseller Donna Grant’s newest Heart of Texas novel, Looking for a Cowboy

A beautiful stranger has come to Clearview, asking questions that are nobody’s business. Cooper Owens also wasn’t born yesterday. He knows that this out-of-towner is hiding a dark secret of her own. Much as he knows he should head in the other direction, he can’t make himself turn away. . .

P.I. Marlee Frampton always wanted to lead a nice quiet life, working as a cop in her local police department. But that dream came to an end when her sister was murdered―and her baby kidnapped. Now Marlee’s come to Texas to investigate the Harpers, who may be linked to shady adoption agencies. Cooper can’t believe that his friends could be involved in anything so sinister…and soon he makes it his mission to help Marlee discover the truth―and keep her safe in his arms.

REVIEW:
This is the 5th in the series but the first I have read. While it is a stand alone I did feel like there were other background characters that I should have known from previous stories but it did not take away from the story of Marlee and Cooper.

Marlee always seems to see the bad side of life and now she is in Texas investigating when Cooper walks into her life. He knows right off that Marlee is the one for him so he will do what he needs to so that Marlee becomes his.

I really enjoyed the story of these two but I am sure I am missing a bit from the previous books. But I think it would be a good series to catch up on especially since the way the story ended left a few unanswered questions.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kelly reviews I Loved You First: Anthology by Suzanne Enoch, Molly Harper & Karen Hawkins

TITLE: I Loved You First: Anthology
AUTHORS: Suzanne Enoch, Molly Harper & Karen Hawkins
NARRATOR: Amanda Ronconi
RUN TIME: 8 Hours & 19 Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: August 25, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | Audible

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Escape with three warm-hearted romantic comedy novellas about women’s second chance at first love from beloved romance authors, Suzanne Enoch, Molly Harper, and Karen Hawkins.
Take Two by Suzanne Enoch
Eleanor Ross has it all: fame, fortune—and Brian MacCafferty, the perfect combo of bodyguard and assistant who makes every day a breeze. MacCafferty anticipates her needs, puts out her fires, and—once upon a time—nearly put a ring on her finger.
And when a scandal erupts that could ruin El, it’s Brian who rushes to the rescue and joins her in hiding. Will El discover there’s no hiding from true love? And is she finally ready to take a second chance for her own, real life Happily Ever After?
Pasties and Poor Decisions by Molly Harper
Anastasia Villiers has hit rock bottom. And that rock is named Espoir Island.
Abandoned by her disgraced investment banker husband who liquidated all of their assets and fled the country, Anastasia is left with nothing—except for Fishscale House, a broken-down Queen Anne in the Michigan hometown she swore she’d left for good.
If Ana quickly renovates and flips the dilapidated building, she can get back to Manhattan and salvage her life. The problem? The only person on the island with historical renovation cred is Ned Fitzroy—Ana’s first love—who insists she help him with the labor herself. As Ana gets reacquainted with Ned, and her hometown, she realizes home may be just what she’s always wanted.
The Last Chance Motel by Karen Hawkins
Every big romance deserves a second chance. But Evan and Jessica Cho Graham are looking at the last chance: more specifically, The Last Chance Motel in Dove Pond, NC where Jessica has escaped to start a happily independent life, separate from her smart, sexy, but driven husband.
Evan has been wildly successful in every endeavor, except keeping the heart of the one woman he loves more than anything. If he’s going to repair this mess, he’s going to need all the help he can get—even if it’s from the crankiest handyman in B&B history—to turn his second chance with Jess into a perfect storybook happy ending.

REVIEW:
All three of these stories were great! Each was a second chance/redemption romance. So if you like those kinds of stories then you need to pick up a copy of I Loved You First!!

Take Two by Suzanne Enoch: This was a super sweet story. Eleanor Ross and Brian MacCafferty are both fun characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. I do truly enjoy the lengths that Brian has to go through to get what he ultimately wants 🙂
Pasties and Poor Decisions by Molly Harper: Once again Molly writes a story that makes me want more. I loved Ana & Neds story. I do truly hope that we will get a future peek at these two.
The Last Chance Motel by Karen Hawkins: Awe Jessica and Evan. It was fun to see how much Evan was willing to do to get back the love of his life. I really liked the twist in this story.
As always Amanda Ronconi does a phenomenal job narrating these stories!!

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews One Left Alive by Helen Phifer

TITLE: One Left Alive
SERIES #: Detective Morgan Brookes #1
CHARACTERS: Morgan Brookes
AUTHOR: Helen Phifer
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She knelt down by the side of the first girl. She had to force herself to breathe as she lifted the soft white cloth covering the girl’s beautiful face…
When the body of a woman is found hanging from a tree in her front garden, rookie Detective Morgan Brookes is first on the scene. But Olivia Potter is past saving. And when her husband and daughters cannot be traced, Morgan knows there is more to this tragedy. And then she finds them. Lying huddled together in the dark basement, each of their faces covered with a small cotton cloth, their bodies cold to the touch.
But as Morgan kneels beside the family, she realises that one of the girls is still breathing. As she holds Bronte’s fragile hand in hers, begging her to hold on, she vows to find out who has done this.
Every day Morgan wakes at 4:25 AM, her old insomnia now mixed with a new fixation on the case. But every clue about the murdered family leads to a dead end. Until, trawling through old files, she discovers a link to a cold case from years ago. Another family was murdered in this house, and the killer was never caught.
When Morgan returns to the scene of the crime to discover more about this forgotten case, she finds another body. With Bronte still unconscious in hospital, Morgan must act fast to solve this case and lay two families to rest, before the killer returns for the girl left alive…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is a new series from an author I have not read before so I thought I would try it. And I really enjoyed it.

A woman’s body is hanging from a tree and her family has been brutally murdered except one daughter miraculously left alive. And then another body is found. What is going on?

I found the suspense of this book really well written. I was trying to figure it out and kept thinking about it even when I would put the book down for a bit.

I would change a couple of things. One, I think the couple (Morgan and Ben) is being a bit rushed. And speaking of rushed the ending felt a bit rushed too. I would like a little bit of time before the two come together. Yes, we know they will but let it build. And the ending needed some time as well. I was happy with the ending but it seemed once we knew what happened it was “let’s wrap this up”.

There are a couple of things I would change but all in all this is a really good read.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Little Country Christmas

TITLE: A Little Country Christmas
CHARACTERS: Varies
AUTHOR: Carolyn Brown, Rochelle Alers, AJ Pine, Hope Ramsay
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/29/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From matchmaking carolers to a festive lights competition, four bestselling authors explore the magic of the holidays in these heartwarming small towns.

The Perfect Christmas by Carolyn Brown
Rugged cowboy Landon Griffin can’t help being smitten by single mom Dixie Boudreaux and her baby girl. To help win their hearts, he wants to give them both the perfect holiday at Longhorn Ranch — baking cookies, trimming the tree, building snowmen, and the whole works. But when nothing seems to go right, he might need a Christmas miracle to help him out of the mess.

Joy to the World by Hope Ramsay
Retired music teacher Brenda McMillan has lost her holiday spirit, but reluctantly agrees to fill in for the director of the Magnolia Harbor Christmas Chorale — even though Dr. James Killough, the town’s biggest Christmas enthusiast, is the group’s accompanist. Will he have enough Christmas magic to mend her broken heart?

Home for the Holidays by Rochelle Alers
Pastry chef Iris Nelson is looking forward to spending Christmas on Cavanaugh Island with her best friend’s family. But she wasn’t expecting to celebrate with their very handsome visitor on leave from Afghanistan. Is their attraction just the glow of the season or a gift to enjoy forever?

Cowboy Christmas at Heart by A.J. Pine
For Deputy Sheriff Daniela Garcia, no hometown tradition makes her happier than the Meadow Valley Holiday Light Parade. This year she’s planning for the sheriff’s office to have the most dazzling lights. But when the new mayor — and certified grinch — threatens to cancel the event, Dani will have to show him the true meaning of Christmas.

REVIEW:
I was going to review these separately but they all fell under the same number of hearts so I figured I would combine them.

These are sweet holiday romances that perfectly put you in a holiday mood. Since they are short novellas they are great for a quick read.

I picked this up because of the novella by Hope Ramsay but enjoyed all four of the stories equally.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Wife by Shalini Boland

TITLE: The Wife
CHARACTERS: Zoe & Toby
AUTHOR: Shalini Boland
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Zoe fainted on her wedding day, and she never knew why. She’s always felt sure something bad happened. Ten years later, she’s going to find out what…

It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Zoe was sitting in her hotel room, in her perfect white dress, looking forward to the moment when she would make kind, handsome Toby her husband.

Then, there was a blank.

They said she must have fainted, overcome with emotion. But nothing felt quite right afterward. Did something happen in that missing time?

Now, Toby and Zoe have two beautiful children and a perfect life. They’re planning their ten-year anniversary party for their family and friends. The invitations have been sent, the food ordered. They’re going back to the grand hotel where they got married.

But as the anniversary gets closer, it becomes clear not everyone is looking forward to celebrating. She catches Toby lying about where he’s been. One of her best friends seems to be ignoring her. And someone is spreading stories that might stop the party from happening at all.

Zoe is increasingly sure that she doesn’t have the full story. But does she want to know the truth, if it will destroy everything?

From the million-copy bestselling author, this totally gripping psychological thriller will have you hooked from the first page to the last jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is a new to me author that I was unsure about and while I enjoyed the story for the most part the main character, Zoe, drove me nuts. She was just so simple. Nice enough and all but so naive that I could picture her as a doormat.

There is a lot of suspense like why she fainted on her wedding day 10 years ago and why has her husband’s family started ignoring her and what he is up to.

This is a very fast read. There are a number of great parts about it and some not so great parts about it. I just never connected to Zoe and her naivete.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kelly reviews Nice Werewolves Don’t Bite Vampires by Molly Harper

TITLE: Nice Werewolves Don’t Bite Vampires
SERIES: Half-Moon Hollow #8
CHARACTERS: Tylene McClaine & Alex Bonfils
AUTHORS: Molly Harper
NARRATOR: Amanda Ronconi
RUN TIME: Hours & Minutes
PUBLICATION DATE: September 28, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Audible | Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The “enchanting” (Publishers Weekly) Jane Jameson series is back with a new paranormal romantic comedy about werewolf yearning to find her own place world, and the group of admittedly unique vampires who help her find love.
Tylene McClaine, black sheep of the McClaine Half-Moon Hollow werewolf pack, has spent a lifetime blocking out the criticisms of her boisterous pack. They say she’s too bookish, too sarcastic, and worst of all, too picky when it comes to finding a nice werewolf boy and settling down.
But when she meets vampire and Half-Moon Hollow music teacher, Alex Bonfils, Tylene starts to wonder if she could create the life she’s always wanted. She takes every precaution to meet her sexy vamp in secret, but when a vandal around town starts targeting vampire businesses, she fears her family might have found her out. When the damage in town escalates, Tylene and Alex join forces with Jane Jameson, Dick Cheney, and the whole vampire gang to find the culprit and save Half-Moon Hollow before it’s too late!

REVIEW:
Tylene McClaine has always known she isn’t your typical wolf, but she didn’t know just how unusually she really was until she started hanging out with vampires.
Alex Bonfils has lived a very long life and never has found a place to call home. That is until now, but he has to convenience a certain werewolf to take a chance on him.

You know what I love the most about long series? That every time there is a new book in that series it feels like coming home. That is exactly how I feel about Molly Harper’s Half-Moon Hollow series. I just love to see what shenanigans the gang is up to, to catch up with them and of course meet the news members of the family. Nice Werewolves Don’t Bite Vampires is all that and more. I loved Tylene & Alex together! The make a wonderful couple and bring some spice and calm to the Half-Moon Hollow family
Amanda Ronconi again lends her talents to the Half-Moon Hollow series. It is so great to have a narrator that is able to do so many voices. I also love the fact that I never feel like Amanda is just reading words off a screen. She is so good at telling these stories and bringing the characters to life.
I am already looking forward to the next adventure in this series.

Disclaimer:
I purchased this book from Audible.com and this review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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Kimberly reviews Broken by John Rector

TITLE: Broken
CHARACTERS: Maggie, Lilly & Mike
AUTHOR: John Rector
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/15/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Trust becomes a fatal mistake in this shocking thriller by the international bestselling author of The Ridge.
Welcome to Beaumont Cove, a slowly decaying tourist town at the edge of the world, and the place where Maggie James’s worst fears for her estranged twin sister, Lilly, have come true.
Lilly is dead, and Maggie has arrived to identify her body.
Lilly’s husband, Mike, is in custody for her murder. With his long history of abuse, no one in town is surprised at the inevitable end to their stormy marriage, least of all Maggie. All she wants is to clean up her sister’s affairs, see Mike punished, and get out of Beaumont Cove.
With the help of the local sheriff, a retired private investigator, and a strange but friendly carnival psychic, Maggie begins to uncover the truth about what really happened to her sister. But the truth comes at a price, and soon Maggie finds herself walking a dark path toward the same deadly trap that killed Lilly.
The more Maggie discovers about her sister’s final days, the more she realizes that nothing is as it appears in this strange boardwalk town.

REVIEW:
This is a really dark story regarding domestic abuse and murder. Lilly and Mike move to Beaumont Cove and Lilly spends a lot of time reflecting on her life and her abusive spouse. The town of Beaumont Cove seems ideal to Lilly but when her sister, Maggie, comes to identify her twin’s body she doesn’t see the ideal town Lilly did and wonders what her sister saw in the crumbling town.

Maggie assumes Mike killed her sister but even she starts questioning everything and wonders if her brother in law is actually innocent. But one she starts investigating she starts finding out info.

I found the suspense part of the book good. I wondered what had happened to Lilly and liked the way that part was written. However, the abuse part was dark, actually a bit too dark for me.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews The Highland Laird by Amy Jarecki

TITLE: The Highland Laird
SERIES #: Lords Of The Highlands #8
CHARACTERS: Emma & Ciar
AUTHOR: Amy Jarecki
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/13/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fans of Hannah Howell and Diana Gabaldon will love this Scottish romance that combines a high-stakes action and sizzling romance.

Emma Grant has been sheltered and underestimated her entire life. Her blindness may set her apart, but she’s just as fierce and loyal as any of her clansmen. So when she catches word that her brother’s best friend is in jail, she doesn’t hesitate to race to the brawny Highlander’s rescue.

Laird Ciar MacDougall is on a vital mission for Scotland when he witnesses a murder—and then is blamed for the death and thrown into a Redcoat prison to rot. He never thought he’d be broken out by a slip of a lass and her faithful hound. But now they’re outlaws on the run. And as their enemies circle ever closer, he will have to choose between saving his country or the woman who’s captured his heart.

REVIEW:
Another sweet Scottish romance. But what I loved about this story was that Emma is blind. I loved that she wasn’t a helpless lass that couldn’t do anything because she is blind. And I loved the scenes where she works at teaching a dog to help her even though I doubt seeing eye dogs was a thing back in the day.

Ciar is a sweet guy. Ok, maybe more of a diamond in the rough but still I thought he was sensitive and understanding and perfect for Emma.

I am glad we finally got their story since we have met them both before. But now they have their HEA and it was worth the wait.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Princess By Christmas by Julia London

TITLE: A Princess By Christmas
SERIES #: A Royal Wedding #3
CHARACTERS: Mareki & Hollis
AUTHOR: Julia London
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/13/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She’s discovered his secret.

Now the trouble really begins…

After three years of mourning—and turning her dear deceased husband’s gazette into the ton’s sauciest source of fashion and gossip—Hollis Honeycutt feels her life has been strangely bereft of late… Her sister is living abroad, and her best friend moved to the country. What must a young widow of rank and reputation do? Why, transform her society gossip sheets into serious investigative news, starting with a rumored coup…and the rather dashing, mysterious gentleman whom Hollis suspects might be the villain of her first real story, and she is the only one who can write it.

Marek Brendan is investigating terrible rumors of treachery and treason that threaten his home country of Wesloria, but he must proceed with caution. No one can discover the truth. After all, who would ever believe he is Wesloria’s lost crown prince? Only Hollis Honeycutt’s cerulean-blue eyes seem to know more than she’s letting on—and worse, Marek can’t seem to resist her curious charms. But even as betrayal threatens a nation and a throne, nothing is quite so dangerous as the lovely young widow who’s determined to find the truth…and a prince of her own.

REVIEW:
Talk about opposites attract… Marek is so quiet and just a nothing and Hollis is so well a bit obnoxious. But that is only in the beginning. Once you get to know the characters they bloomed. I watched both characters grow into each other and I enjoyed them falling in love.

Julia London has a knack for writing romance. She somehow takes characters that and turns them into friends. In this one we learn how the loss of her husband has affected Hollis. And how Marek is feeling when his home country is threatened.

It took a while but I really enjoyed these characters and the story that London weaved around the holiday season.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Guardian’s Grace by Rebecca Zanetti

TITLE: Guardian’s Grace
SERIES #: Dark Protectors #12
CHARACTERS: Adare & Grace
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/13/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Duty—or desire?

Vampire soldier Adare O’Cearbhaill’s default setting is cranky. Or irritated. Or down-right hostile. Still, as a Highlander of honor and duty he stepped up to save an enhanced and special human female by mating her—with merely a bite and a brand. The last person he wants in his life is a fragile human, yet he can’t get her out of his mind as she regains her strength before taking off for parts unknown. And when he discovers she is in danger, nothing can stop him from hunting her down—whether she likes it or not.

There’s only one way to find out . . .

Photographer Grace Cooper has had it with vampires, demons, and the rest of an immortal world she was happier not knowing about. She also doesn’t believe she’s destined for some great battle because of an old birthmark. Forget the fact that her mate is the sexiest thing on two stubborn feet, or that her brand is fading along with her health. She’ll handle things on her own—until an old enemy reappears and she learns the only way to stay alive is to actually mate, wild sex and all, with that ripped and dangerous Adare—a powerful, captivating Highlander who demands nothing less than everything . . .

REVIEW:
I have been waiting so long for Grace and Adare’s story. I mean Grace and Adare have been a part of each other for so long I was thinking this book would never come along. And I did wonder how it would be explained that someone as protective and possessive as Adare would let Grace be free until he claimed her. But this is Rebecca Zanetti and she never disappoints.

Zanetti has quickly become one of my favorite paranormal authors. I love the way she writes and how her characters jump right off the screen. I really wish a station like NetFlix would turn her books into one of their made for station series. Because these characters deserve to be available to everyone.

Another incredible story in the Dark Protectors series!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts