MAGGIE'S REVENGE is book six in the Wounded Hearts series and is my first read by author Jacquie Biggar. This is a clean, romantic suspense.
Maggie is MAGGIE'S REVENGE is book six in the Wounded Hearts series and is my first read by author Jacquie Biggar. This is a clean, romantic suspense.
Maggie is a DEA agent who's being held hostage by a Mexican/Chinese mafia leader. Adam is Maggie's partner and ex-boyfriend. He, along with their boss, Amanda, enlist the help of Adam's friend and former Navy SEAL, Frank to rescue Maggie from the Mexican cartel.
There's several players in this story and maybe if I had read this series from the beginning, I would've gotten more background on all the characters. And I only want more because I really liked all of the characters! Now, I described the book as a love triangle but there's no cheating or anything like that. It's more like two best friends who are interested in the same girl. However, the romantic aspect takes a backseat to the suspense in the plot.
This was a fast read and I actually would've liked some scenes to have been expanded on, especially the various blossoming romances between certain characters (wink, wink!)! Overall, a good contemporary thriller with strong characters! Told from various POVs with a happy for now ending. I received, read and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Merged review:
MAGGIE'S REVENGE is book six in the Wounded Hearts series and is my first read by author Jacquie Biggar. This is a clean, romantic suspense.
Maggie is a DEA agent who's being held hostage by a Mexican/Chinese mafia leader. Adam is Maggie's partner and ex-boyfriend. He, along with their boss, Amanda, enlist the help of Adam's friend and former Navy SEAL, Frank to rescue Maggie from the Mexican cartel.
There's several players in this story and maybe if I had read this series from the beginning, I would've gotten more background on all the characters. And I only want more because I really liked all of the characters! Now, I described the book as a love triangle but there's no cheating or anything like that. It's more like two best friends who are interested in the same girl. However, the romantic aspect takes a backseat to the suspense in the plot.
This was a fast read and I actually would've liked some scenes to have been expanded on, especially the various blossoming romances between certain characters (wink, wink!)! Overall, a good contemporary thriller with strong characters! Told from various POVs with a happy for now ending. I received, read and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book....more
Cocky Jerk is a standalone, opposites attract romance.
Antonia is the "princess" of her father's bikers club, the Corrupt Hellraisers MC. She desperateCocky Jerk is a standalone, opposites attract romance.
Antonia is the "princess" of her father's bikers club, the Corrupt Hellraisers MC. She desperately wants her independence from them though so she gets a job as an intern with an advice column, "Ask Ida." On her very first day, she gets pulled over by a cop with an attitude, Marco. Her unfortunate situation not only makes her late to work but also gets her three tickets. But there's an instant connection between Marco and Antonia that she can't deny.
Right away, we know that this relationship will be combustible...I mean nothing good can come from a police officer dating someone connected to an outlaw biker club, right?? And one thing that can be said for Ms. Bosco: she always delivers a strong female and an alpha male! This one was so fast paced, the pages just flew! I loved the build up, the "foreplay" between Antonia and Marco. It was sexy with just enough suspense and drama. Yes, Marco was totally a hot, cocky alpha but Antonia was no slouch either. She was quite sassy and I loved that she gave just as much attitude as he did.
This story was another winner for me! Told from dual POVs with a happy ending. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book....more
JUSTIFIED is book 1 in the Loveless, Texas series. There is a prequel to this one but it's not necessary to read it before you dig in here (though theJUSTIFIED is book 1 in the Loveless, Texas series. There is a prequel to this one but it's not necessary to read it before you dig in here (though the prequel tells the story of the younger Lawton brother...).
Case Lawton has lived his life in Loveless, trying to undo the damage to the Lawton name. His father was the former ruthless, corrupt sheriff but now Case is in charge of this small Texas town. When Aspen Barlow first moved there as a goth looking teenager, Case took her under his wing. Several years later Aspen is his biggest nemesis since she represented his ex-wife in their divorce and was "responsible" for keeping him away from his son, Hayes. But now, Aspen is in trouble and Case must protect her. Along the way, he learns that nothing is quite what it seems.
Well, there ain't nothin' like a hot cowboy claimin' his woman! Whew..what a ride! Case and Aspen have an intense, complicated relationship that hits you in the gut right from page one. I'm usually too impatient to really enjoy a slow burn but Ms. Crownover did an amazing job creating just the right amount of sexy tension between these two so that I was eagerly plowing through the book. Case had a tough childhood, living under the tainted cloud of his father's bad judgements. But in spite of his past, Case was a fair, courageous, intelligent man who, under his gruff exterior, was actually super sweet. Aspen was the outcast for most of her life but she put that aside to become a successful lawyer. She was ambitious, caring and determined to live her life humble and honest. It may have taken Case and Aspen a long time to come together but I definitely enjoyed the path to get there.
And speaking of paths, theirs was a doozy! The action began early on and it kept going until the breathtaking end. The plot was full of all kinds of wacky twists and suspenseful turns. I gotta admit, I was surprised by who the bad guy turned out to be. But even with all that happening, it didn't overpower the romance that was building between Aspen and Case.
This book is a small town romance between a hot cowboy sheriff and a smart lawyer with an thrilling storyline and fabulous secondary characters. Told from dual POVs with a happy ending for out couple and nice segue into the the next book. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book....more
THE CHATEAU is book 9 in The Original Sinners series. If you're a Tiffany Reisz fan, you'll moan and groan at me when I say that this was my very firsTHE CHATEAU is book 9 in The Original Sinners series. If you're a Tiffany Reisz fan, you'll moan and groan at me when I say that this was my very first read from her. And I suppose, technically, it can be read as a standalone. I mean in my ignorance, I never realized that this one was part of a series and I was still able to read it pretty easily. Having said that, I think you'd get a hell of a lot more out of it if you began the series at the beginning!
Kingsley Boissonneault is a lieutenant in the French military intelligence (almost like the CIA I guess). He's tasked with an undercover assignment: find an "in" to a secret sex cult where women make the rules and men obey. Then locate his commanding officer's missing nephew. This isn't Kingsley's normal mission but when he finally meets the Madame of the house, he's more than intrigued with the beautiful sadist. Could Kingsley be happy in this upside down world of BDSM?
Ok, let's begin with the obvious...this is an erotic BDSM romance! It's got a lot of sexy steam in it but it's written in such a way as to be almost classy. Sounds weird, I know, but it definitely works. Author Tiffany Reisz had me absolutely enthralled with this strange world where women are the masters and men willingly serve them. It definitely gave me a lot of insight into BDSM and more specifically, sadism and masochism.
I loved Kingsley! Oh my goodness, this poor man had such a skewed view of love. He needed to come to terms with who his true self really was and accept that he required something that perhaps is taboo to most, which I suppose is a journey we all make at some point. He was snarky and funny, alpha hotness half the time and submissive the other half, an utterly complex character that had me rooting for him to find his HEA.
Then when I got almost to the very end, I realized that, NO, Kingsley might NOT get his happy ever after! WHAT?!? This isn't supposed to happen in romance! It wasn't until I read the epilogue that I finally understood Ms. Reisz's direction for her character. See, if you're like me (a clueless goof) and haven't read anything from The Original Sinners series, here's the key: this book is more like an "episode", a chapter in Kingsley's life. He DOES get his happy ending, just not in this book! What does this mean? It means that I unequivocally must go back to book 1! Told entirely from Kingsley's POV. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book....more
DEVOTED is the conclusion to the Lace Underground series and must be read last!
This book begins right after book two ends. I don't like giving away spDEVOTED is the conclusion to the Lace Underground series and must be read last!
This book begins right after book two ends. I don't like giving away spoilers but I'll just say that nothing is as it seems (remember Kane's tattoo?).
Admittedly, this book is much less intense than the first two books but I loved it just as much! Even knowing all the things that Kane did, I still had a huge soft spot for him. And, crazily, I was just as torn between Kane and James as Angie was. Tess Oliver wrote such a FANTASTICALLY character driven story that I felt myself able to completely relate to each of the characters, even the bad guy! I understood Kane, James AND Angie's POVs and could sympathize with each of them.
The plot was just as intriguing as the characters though! I loved all of the little twists that were thrown in. But the BEST thing was how Kane's tale gets wrapped up. It was a bit predictable but I don't care because MAYBE, just maybe...Kane will get his own story?!?
My only complaint was the absence of an epilogue and that's just because I'm selfish and didn't want to leave these awesome characters and their disturbed world! Told from multiple POVs with a sexy, happy ending. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book....more
OBSESSED is book two in the Lace Underground series and must be read in order!
Just a few FYIs: *Technically, this is NOT a love triangle, though AngieOBSESSED is book two in the Lace Underground series and must be read in order!
Just a few FYIs: *Technically, this is NOT a love triangle, though Angie is torn between two men. *There are situations that may be a trigger for some (drug use, homelessness). *Again, this ends in a cliffhanger and is part of a series of three!
This book begins a few weeks after the end of book one, I believe. Angie (aka Tawny, aka Ten) is struggling with her addictions...addiction with the "nectar" and with Kane Freestone. Her partner, James Maddox is desperate to find a way into the Lace Underground. Can he save Ten before she loses herself completely?
I read this book until I finished it at around 5 a.m. this morning. I literally COULD NOT put it down! Everything about the story fascinated me...the utter craziness of the Lace Underground, the dichotomy of Kane, the struggle Angie faced, Maddox's utter feelings of helplessness. There's so much angst and trepidation but then there's scenes that make you squirm or make you smile. And it all fits together like the perfect puzzle.
Make no mistake, this book is a dark, erotic thrill ride! I can't wait to dive into the conclusion. Told from multiple POVs with a happy cliffhanger. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book....more
CAPTIVE is book 1 in the Lace Underground series. This is an angsty thriller and ends in a cliffhanger!
After Detective Angie Tennyson (aka Ten, aka TaCAPTIVE is book 1 in the Lace Underground series. This is an angsty thriller and ends in a cliffhanger!
After Detective Angie Tennyson (aka Ten, aka Tawny) learns of both a personal and a professional betrayal by her partner, Detective James Maddox, she decides to go undercover. The mission is dangerous and mysterious. But then Angie meets the enigmatic Kane Freestone. She quickly becomes his willing "Captive". Or is she?
It's been awhile since I've read Tess Oliver and I could kick myself because reading this book reminded me of why I absolutely adore this author! This story is full of angst, dark seduction, taboo wants and thrilling scenes. I was so entrenched in Angie's tale that I literally felt my heart thumping in anticipation. The circumstances that Angie finds herself in are both scary and strangely alluring. (And I won't explain that because I don't wanna give anything away!)
This review is going to be short because books two and three are already available and I've already dived into the next book! Let's just say that I feel like a ping pong ball, bouncing back and forth between Kane's side and Maddox's side. There's a clear line between the good guy and the bad guy but somehow, I'm still drawn to the bad boy. Hmmm...what's that say about me?!?
Just a few FYIs: *Technically, this is NOT a love triangle, though Angie is torn between two men. *There are some situations that may be a trigger for some (drug use, homelessness). *Again, this ends in a cliffhanger and is part of a series of three!
Told from multiple POVs. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book....more
SMILING IRISH is a contemporary standalone and book two in The Summerhaven Trio series.
Tierney (I LOVE her name!) is the only girl in a set of tripleSMILING IRISH is a contemporary standalone and book two in The Summerhaven Trio series.
Tierney (I LOVE her name!) is the only girl in a set of triplets and is a bit of a recluse. She's awoken in the middle of the night by Burr O’Leary, an undercover cop who's been shot and desperately in need of shelter and some TLC!
The beginning of this crazy sweet story started off super fast for me. It's filled with tension and the thrill of the unknown between Burr and Tierney. But after that initial coaster ride, their story kind of slowed down. Not that it wasn't GOOD, it was, it just didn't have that little ZING that the beginning had!
That being said, I'll confess that I loved the Irish-ness of the story. I totally gave Google translate a hell of a workout because I SO wanted to hear that brogue accent in my head! At the expense of sounding trite...Burr and Tierney were just so darn CUTE together! These two seemingly opposite personalities were actually pretty like minded. They were one of those couples that made me SWOON (awww...) with their nutty banter and instant connection!
I'm looking forward to Ian's story next, the last of the Haven triplets and probably the most anticipated one for me! Told from dual POVs with a happy ever after. I received, read and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book....more