ARC: Incubastard – Charity B. Book Review + Giveaway!

October 22, 2021thegoldenbookshelves Leave a comment

Blurb

Mishka
Angels, demons… the afterlife.
I’d always thought they were bullshit.
Until all my misguided beliefs were proven wrong by an infuriating, flippant asshole with horns who has no concept of boundaries.
Summoning him was never the plan, especially since I’m not willing to do what it takes to send him back.
If I’ve learned anything from Loch, it’s that preconceived ideas are usually false, and the truth is much messier than fables.
The theory of good and evil is flawed.
Nothing is that simple.
Loch
The only side of human nature I’ve ever encountered is vile and perverse, depraved and cruel.
However, Mishka’s none of those things.
She’s an insufferable, snarky creature who makes me question everything I know about myself.
The longer I’m with her in this world, the less desperate I am to return to mine, which is absurd.
I am son of Asmodeus.
A prince spawned from lust to torment the damned.
The mortal realm is not where I belong.

Incubastard deals with Christian lore that does not align with the Bible. It is completely fictional. If this will make you uncomfortable, please do not read this book.
Content Warning: This novel contains graphic scenes depicting blood and gore along with sexually explicit content and violence. For mature audiences only.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58394613-incubastard

Review

Incubastard was amazing and far exceeded my expectations.

I love Charity B.’s writing and I’m always in the mood for dark romance so I was definitely excited to pick up her newest release. Colour me surprised when I started reading and realized it wasn’t dark at all actually. I’m not sure how I missed the subgenre but apparently, I did which was fine because it made it all the more exciting. Incubastard was fun, flirty, sexy and had a nice amount of action and suspense that ramped up as the story progressed. In the end, it was very entertaining and I enjoyed it very much.

I haven’t read Charity B. in what feels like forever so I was ready for her incredibly addictive writing…

And addictive it was. I couldn’t put it down because I just had to know what would happen next. The storyline was very unique and I don’t think I’ve actually read anything like it before, at least not that I can remember. The writing was super engaging and there never was a dull moment. Charity B. is really great a creating well-developed stories and characters and moving things along at a good pace. It was a pleasure to read in all aspects.

The characters were so damn lovable!

Loch is our resident demon who’s been summoned to earth by a human woman. Loch was such a flirt, the things that came out of his mouth, man he was a character. Loch was also super kind, considerate, honourable and absolutely swoon-worthy. Or a demon who apparently had no heart, he was caring and loving towards those he was close to and it was clear in all of his actions throughout the book.

Mishka was a lovely heroine and it was easy to relate to her and love her. She was generous, understanding, patient and fiesty. Lord knows in her position she’d have to have had the patience of a saint and a healthy dose of sass to deal with the hand she’d been dealt. Mishka was a perfect match for Loch and he for her because they just suited each other so well.

Mishka and Loch had chemistry from the start. They circled each other at the beginning with so much angst and it was so yummy. When things finally reached a breaking point and the romance truly began things were fiery hot. I mean a demon of lust is bound to bring the heat and that’s exactly what he did. And Mishka was able to match him blow for blow so they were steamy with a capital S.

In addition to the characters and their romance, the plot was super interesting. There was so much going on behind the scenes that when you first start reading you’d never expect. I enjoyed this to a degree but I did feel like towards the end, like the last quarter, things were taken in a completely different direction that was a bit more chaotic and felt like O was reading a whole other story. That wasn’t such a huge deal but I did feel like things could’ve been less dramatic. But I mean for the purposes of the story, it worked so it didn’t have a big effect on my enjoyment.

Steamy as hell, with an addictive plot and characters that are impossible not to love Incubastard was one fun, yet wildly thrilling ride.

Overall, I had a great time reading this book and really did enjoy the outcome. It was unique and engaging and the romance was very well done. I look forward to reading more from this author. I am giving Incubastard 4.5 stars and would recommend it to fans of paranormal romance with a humorous vibe.

Buy Links

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Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3FnsmNJ
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Amazon AU:https://amzn.to/3mr1Wlh

Praise

Amazon Review – “So, here’s the question…Do I recommend it? For all my dark PNR lovers out there with a tolerance for triggers.. YES! A thousand times YES. Will I keep reading?Absolutely, Charity B has taken me on some fantastic, imaginative, and dark journeys and I want more. This book is now on my 2021 Favorites list! READ IT!”

Amazon Review – “This book �� man I can’t even begin to describe how freaking amazing this book was!”

Amazon Review – “I was instantly enthralled with this story , I love when it’s so good you can forget everything going on around you. The characters are fascinating and so is the storyline , I absolutely loved it !!!”

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ARC: Treachery – Lily White Book Review (Antihero Inferno #1)

May 26, 2020thegoldenbookshelves Leave a comment

BLURB

Ninth Circle.
Treachery.
Also known as Tanner Caine.

He is a temptation with cold, dark eyes.
A man with a seductive smirk and a body built for pure sin.
The linchpin of a group of wealthy bad boys known as the Inferno.

A dark presence that repels as much as he attracts, Tanner is the poisoned apple I want to bite even when I know it will destroy me.

Our story started in college, but I ran from him so far I believed I was safe.
I should have known he’d find me eventually.
I should have known that nobody escapes.

He has me in his sights again with an offer I can’t pass up.
I know better than to make a deal with the Devil.
Not unless I’m willing to pay his sensual price…

***Each novel in the series depicts a unique romance, but the plots through each book connect in one world. For the best experience, read the series in order.

Nine Standalone novels. Nine dangerous men. Nine unrepentant sinners you’ll hate to love.

REVIEW

This Inferno world is chock full of secrecy and mind games and I can’t wait to read more!

After reading the Treachery Prequel, I was hooked and needed to find out where Tanner and Luca’s love/hate relationship would go. The secret plan the Inferno guys had for her was one mystery I was dying to uncover and heck, I was not expecting the direction it went in. While there were some elements of this book that weren’t my absolute favorite, I can tell you this, Treachery is a whirlwind but it’s one hell of a complex and gripping whirlwind!

This series is setting up to be one hell of a wild and thrilling ride!

For the most part, I enjoyed Treachery very much. My interest in the rest of the Infernos guys has been piqued so I can’t wait for their respective books but as for Tanner and Luca, I was happy with the way their romance turned out. There were some moments in time that felt a bit repetitive or dragged out but, as a whole, the book was very well written and executed. After all, it is Lily White and she is a phenomenal author!

Tanner is a 100% unapologetic raging a**hole. His mind games and manipulation make him a force to be reckoned with and his demeanor just screams stay out of my way. I liked that he had a smidgen of a softer side that peeked through when it came to Luca because that balanced out his darker side.

Luca was one strong, fierce, and brave woman to go up against Tanner and knock him off his feet. She gave as good as she got and didn’t shy away from putting him and anybody else who stood toe to toe with her in their place. Luca was also such a kind-hearted person and I loved that she was able to somewhat tame the beast in Tanner and make him vulnerable for the first time.

These two together were a maelstrom. The love/hate relationship going on between them was full of sexual tension, push & pull and there was tons of angst. Their sexual chemistry was off the charts but where I felt like things were off was in the love side of their relationship. I couldn’t really feel actual emotional feelings between the two of them beyond physical attraction so I felt like that was a bit meh, but I’m hoping that as the series goes on and they grow in their relationship, that side will start to develop.

Sexy, complex, and full of secrets, suspense, and drama, Treachery is one epic psychological thriller meets enemies-to-lovers meets bully romance!

Overall, I enjoyed Treachery and look forward to continuing this series. I can’t wait to see where things go because I have so many questions. I know the answers will come all in due time so I’ll be here patiently waiting for Gabriel’s book! I’m giving Treachery 4 stars and would recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, enemies-to-lovers romance, and bully romance!

“He takes without asking. Traps me without apology. Seduces me without effort.”

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ARC: Road to Fire – Maria Luis Book Review (Broken Crown Trilogy #1)

April 30, 2020thegoldenbookshelves Leave a comment

ROAD TO FIRE

Broken Crown Trilogy #1

By Maria Luis

Release Date: April 30

It’s dark, it’s gritty, and there’s a pretty good chance it’s the royal romance you never even realized that you wanted. Your new anti-hero obsession is almost here—do you think you can handle Saxon Priest?

BLURB

“I’m not scared of you.”

I meet her gaze. “You should be.”

Bound by a secret oath spanning generations, I am loyal to no one but the queen.

Spy.

Defender of the Crown.

To all of England, I’m Saxon Priest. Traitor. Murderer. Owner of London’s most infamous anti-loyalist pub.

And then she appears.

Isla Quinn may claim that she’s only looking to buss tables, but I’m no fool. Bitterness bleeds from her hard-blue eyes, and her hatred for the queen is so palpable, I can practically taste it off every sharp-tongued word slipping from her full mouth.

“Hire me,” she begs.

We’re on opposite sides of this war. Enemies from the start.

Isla thought she found an ally, but she’s found me instead.

Savage.

Ruthless.

A man with no heart, no matter how the dead space inside my chest lurches whenever she’s near.

And so I lean over, dragging her deep into this twisted game of crowns and thrones, and offer a single vow: “I could use you.”

REVIEW

“I breathe, you inhale, and we both go up in flames.”

Road to Fire is an emotional rollercoaster!

Maria Luis is insanely talented, her writing is compelling and addictive and her stories are beautifully crafted. When she first announced this book, I was extremely excited. She said fans of Sworn and Defied would love this series and since those books are my favorite by this author, I couldn’t pass up the chance to read RTF. Let me tell you this, RTF packs an emotional, heart-wrenching punch. It’s suspenseful, thrilling, exciting, heartbreaking, and features some hella steamy scenes. All around, RTF was a phenomenal read!

Road to Fire was unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

I’ve read my fair share of romance that involved royalty, but this book approached it from a different perspective that I loved. Isla and Saxon were brilliant characters. Raw, flawed but incredibly resilient, these two were a power couple. Isla was a refreshing heroine. She is badass, fierce, and brave. Her conviction is unwavering and her heart is so loving. She was amazing, a heroine whom I admired in so many ways. Saxon is gruff, strong, and cold. His loyalty is unshakable and his dedication is unmatched. I loved how different yet similar these two were. Their values were at opposite ends of the spectrum but they had so much in common.

“I want Isla Quinn like I’ve never wanted anything else in my life.”

Their relationship was a slow-burn, swoony adventure. Isla thawed out Saxon’s icy heart and he sparked a flame in her that brought her to life. The chemistry between these two was off the charts and I loved the banter between them. Isla’s wittiness and Saxon’s aloofness made for some entertaining back and forth which put a smile on my face. And those sexy scenes were hot AF, so that was awesome! Honestly, Isla and Saxon had a beautiful, deep, and powerful love that couldn’t be denied. Their story was gutwrenching but lovely and I was blown away with the direction it went. The ending was epic and I absolutely cannot wait to continue this series. Saxon’s brothers were super interesting and I’m excited to see how their stories play out.

“If I have a heart at all,” I husk out, feeling my face heat, “it’s only because you’ve put it there.”

Suspenseful, sexy, and emotional, Road to Fire is a powerful and thrilling romance!

Overall, RTF was epic in all its brilliance. Maria Luis brought the house down with this one and delivered a truly captivating story. I loved it from start to finish and need more, especially after that ending. I am giving Road to Fire 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of romantic suspense!

“They’ll never have you,” comes Saxon’s dark, sinister growl. It’s a threat as much as it is a vow, and a thread of desire sweeps along my spine. “ I’ll tear their fucking hearts out first. Mark my words, Isla. Nothing will happen to you.”

BUY LINKS

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3f6oseG

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3cXMSW0

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2y3iw5T

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3f5Hlib

Free in KU

Meet Maria Luis:

Maria Luis is an Amazon Top 100 Bestselling Author.
Historian by day and romance novelist by night, Maria lives in New Orleans, and loves bringing the city’s cultural flair into her books. When Maria isn’t frantically typing with hot chocolate in hand, she can be found binging on reality TV, going on adventures with her other half and two pups, or plotting her next flirty romance.

Connect with Maria Luis:

Website: https://www.marialuis.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marialuisauthor/

Maria Luis Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MariaLuisReaderGroup/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Maria-Luis

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-luis

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16617028.Maria_Luis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marialuisauthor/

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ARC: The Vanity of Roses – Lily White Book Review

April 3, 2020thegoldenbookshelves Leave a comment

The Vanity of Roses
Lily White
Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 25, 2020
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50731598-the-vanity-of-roses

Blurb

Callan Rose.
That hadn’t always been his name.
When we were children, he was nothing more than a servant boy in my family.
He was an amusement to me.
A nobody.
A weak soul who refused to fight back.
It was so easy to take advantage.
But then my father died, and I was stolen. The family moved on without me. Until I was penniless with no place to go.
I returned to the Rose Estate not knowing Callan was the head of it.
He’d honed his body and temper in the underground fighting ring. The scars only made him more beautiful.
Now I’m trapped by a seductively dark man who has nothing but vengeance running through his veins.
I’d always wanted him to fight back, but you know what they say:
Be careful what you wish for.

Buy Links (kindle unlimited):
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2UA0f7a
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/39fpYav
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/33Ev1Qq
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2UCmj1g

It has my 3 D’s….. DARK, DIRTY & DELICIOUS!!! ~ Tricia, Goodreads Reviewer
Wow! Talk about gut wrenching! This book tore through me in every way possible! ~ Carvanz, Goodreads Reviewer

Totally consuming! I got lost in Callan and Lisbeths twisted love story. Callan is the ultimate bully worth fighting (or submitting) for. ~Keri Loves Books

The Vanity of Roses does not disappoint. It is everything I needed. It’s dark and violent, sexy and suspenseful. ~ S.M., Wicked Reads

Review

Lily White is the queen of deliciously dark reads!

I am a big fan of Lily White and will blindly read just about anything she writes. The Vanity of Roses had such an exciting and engaging premise and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read it. I enjoyed every single second of this book. It was dark, super sexy, angsty and full of suspense as well. The romance was great, the characters were amazing and the overall storyline was executed really well. This was one heck of a great read!

If you like dark romance with angst and an enemies-to-lovers feel, this is the book for you!

Lily White writes some of the best dark romance, it’s gritty, dirty and addictive. The angst is intense and the characters push and pull like crazy. Her dark romance is my go-to and this book just further proved why. The Vanity of Roses is intricate, suspenseful and full of lies and secrecy. It has you asking more questions and dying for answers. The writing is captivating in that it kept me hooked from beginning to end and flipping pages crazily because I needed more, I needed to know what would happen next. Lily White crafts such consuming stories, I guarantee you’ll get sucked right into all the darkness, steaminess and violence.

The characters were awesome. I loved them both and I especially appreciated how they evolved and changes throughout the book. Development for me is a key in any novel and the characters definitely benefitted from some great character development. Callan is as a dark as they come, with a penchant for violence, a burning anger, and a short fuse, he’s one intense fighter who takes what he wants when he wants it. But he’s also gentle and kind in his own way and that duality made him incredibly intriguing and likable. Lisbeth was an interesting girl. At first, she’s presented as a bratty spoiled girl but you quickly come to realize that there is more to her than meets the eye. There is a fierce strength to her and she has a big heart and a soft soul. She cares deeply and fights for what’s right, she was overall an admirable girl!

Callan and Lisbeth had some epic chemistry between them. Their connection sizzled even in their hatred for each other. They fight like cats and dogs but deep down, there is a spark that’s being flamed. Callan and Lisbeth were so steamy, the tension and angst between them were out of this world. I couldn’t get enough of their addictive romance and I was so happy with the direction it went in. Callan and Lisbeth were amazing together and their romance was one for the books.

Sexy, dark and dangerous, The Vanity of Roses is mystery and suspense wrapped into a steamy, gritty package!

Overall, this was one amazing read! The Vanity of Roses the perfect does of darkness with a fiery hot romance, intriguing characters and a plot that just kept on thickening. I am giving The Vanity of Roses 5 stars and would recommend it to fans of dark romance with an enemies-to-lovers concept.

“In many ways, I was the bomb waiting to explode and Lisbeth was the detonator, but even that wasn’t enough to stop me”.

Giveaway

$15.00 Amazon Gift Card
https://bit.ly/39geQdx.

Author Bio
Lily White is a romance writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. She is most known for her Masters Series, Target This, Wishing Well, and Asylum. In addition to dark romance Lily writes contemporary romance, taboo romance, and psychological thrillers. Lily enjoys stretching her writing muscles by continuing to challenge herself with each book she publishes.

Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlilywhite/
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Website: www.lilywhitebooks.com

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ARC: Fireworks – Sarina Bowen Book Review (True North #6)

November 16, 2018thegoldenbookshelves 1 Comment

Synopsis:

Skye Copeland is on paid leave from her broadcasting job after accidentally drawing a pecker on the traffic map.

Let that sink in. Like it’s her fault the traffic pattern created a perfect schlong?

Skye isn’t laughing. She needs this job. And that’s the only reason she’s willing to chase down a story in her least favorite place—that hell on earth known as Vermont.

A quick trip. In and out. Much like – never mind. She can sneak into the town that once tried to break her, get the story and slide back into the good graces of her producer. Easy peasy.

But things go sideways the moment she steps over the county line. Her stepsister is running from a violent drug dealer. And the cop on the case is none other than Benito Rossi, the man who broke Skye’s teenage heart.

His dark brown eyes still tear her apart. And even as she steels herself to finally tell him off after twelve years, the old fireworks are still there.

Things are about to go boom.

Review:

*I’ve decided to start writing shorter reviews for books I give between 3 to 4 stars, so this review will be a brief one.

Fireworks was easy to get into and was all around really enjoyable!

I had the opportunity to review an ARC of Fireworks and though it wasn’t phenomenal nor did it exceed my expectations, it was quite suspenseful, funny and sexy! Sarina Bowen did a great job developing this story and it was a good read!

If I’m being honest, I had higher expectations for this book but I was really satisfied with the outcome regardless.

I’ve read one other book by Sarina Bowen and that was Goodbye Paradise which I loved! I was excited to get into this one and despite not having read any other books in this series found it easy to understand and get into. I do understand why you might want to read the other books first because the characters from those books are mentioned but it definitely isn’t necessary. When it came to my enjoyment of this book, I really did like the storyline itself. It was nicely developed and fleshed out quite well. Sarina Bowen created a complex story with this book and I thought the execution of it was good. The writing style itself was also very nice. It flowed well, was easy to get into and I like the little bits of humor thrown in. I had a good laugh every once in awhile throughout my time reading this book and I enjoyed that. Moreover, I thought the romance was well done as it was a nice blend of sweet and sexy. As for the suspense, I thought that element was very nicely incorporated in the storyline. It was a crucial element and I’m glad it was worked in so thoroughly because it really added to the story. When it comes to the characters, I did like them to a certain extent. I thought Benito was honorable, loyal and very kind. He took care of Skye in such a loving way, he was just an all-around sweet guy. Skye was gentle, innocent and very careful. She had her own sweet streak but could still hold her own when it came time to. While the characters were good, I found it hard for me to build a connection with them and this lack of connection made the story drag at times. I felt sometimes like I wasn’t totally into the story which was disappointing but thankfully that was only on certain occasions throughout the reading! Aside from those short bouts where I was distracted from the book, it had some great things going for it!

Funny, sweet, sexy and chock-full of suspense, Fireworks was a well written and enjoyable read by Sarina Bowen!

Overall, while I did really enjoy the writing, the romance, the storyline and the execution of this book, I found it hard to stay completely into it because I couldn’t fully connect with the characters especially Skye. Her reactions were a bit forced at times and this made it hard to bond with her. Benito wasn’t too bad but I felt like we could’ve learned more about him on a deeper level. I am giving Fireworks 4 stars because it was interesting and has made me want to read the previous books in this series. I would recommend it to fans of romantic suspense and contemporary romance!

“I need you near me. I need to come home to you every night, eat dinner in my kitchen, and hear about your day. I want you in my bed, and in my life.”

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ARC: Acquainted – London Miller Book Review + Excerpt & GIveaway

June 22, 2018thegoldenbookshelves 1 Comment

Review:

Acquainted hooked me in from the very beginning and was a super enjoyable book!

The last time I read a book from London Miller was in November of 2016 and it had been the Seasons of Betrayal series she had co-written with Bethany Kris. That series was one of the first that got me into mafia romance and I loved it since. When I got the opportunity to review an ARC of London Miller’s newest release, Acquainted I was very excited since it’s been so long and I’m always in the mood for a good mafia romance.

Sexy, addictive and well written, Acquainted was a great book with amazing characters who continuously stole my heart and had me swooning and fanning myself!

Going into this book, I actually hadn’t known that it was a spinoff of sorts to the Seasons of Betrayal trilogy. The way I realized was because I read a name that seemed awfully familiar and was like “oh yeah, they were from those books!” The fact that I even remembered meant that they made a really good impression on me and Acquainted was very much the same! For starters, London Millers is great at telling a story. Her writing flows so nicely and hooks you in from the beginning. It was so easy to get into and I couldn’t put it down. Then there is the plot and overall idea behind the book that was perfectly developed and paced. There were no holes or gaps nor were there rushed bits or slow bits either. As for the characters, Alfie and Vera were amazing! I loved them to pieces because they were just so easy to connect with. Alfie’s broody yet cheeky personality made me adore him and the way he cared and protected Vera was swoon worthy! Vera herself was super relatable. She was passionate and hardworking and really stood up for herself. I admired her for that and grew to love her as well. She wasn’t immature or annoying like some heroines in her position which was definitely a plus. The secondary characters also left their mark, both the ones whom I’d met in the Seasons of Betrayal trilogy and the new ones. I must acknowledge the romance which of course was my favorite part or one of them at least. Alfie and Vera were goals! Their relationship developed quite fast if I’m being honest but it worked well with the story. It didn’t feel misplaced or insta-lovey, it just goes to show how well London writes! Vera and Alfie were steaming hot together but those tender, sweeter moments made me swoon as well!

While I loved the large majority of this novel, there was one point that I would’ve liked to have seen more of…

There was one slight thing though that I would’ve liked there to have been more of and that is intrigue/suspense. Sure there was some suspense and a lot of tension but not nearly enough intrigue as I would’ve liked. There was just missing a bang in your face moment and considering this is a mafia romance there are plenty of threats that could’ve contributed to that suspense/intrigue. Besides that though, everything was perfect and I believe this is the first book in a series so this will probably be resolved in the next books for sure!

Acquainted was a great read and further proved why mafia romance is one of my favorite sub-genres out there!

Overall, I loved this book! Acquainted was so well written and flowed nearly seamlessly. The pacing was great and the development was spot on. I’m so excited to see where the plot goes next for Alfie and Vera because I adored them and their powerful romance! I’m giving Acquainted 4.5 stars and would recommend it to fans of mafia romance!

ACQUAINTED

byLondon Miller
Publication Date:June 18, 2018
Genres:Adult, Contemporary, Mafia, Organized Crime, Romance

AVAILABLE NOW!

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/2t8uq7Q

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2JKPAEl

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2t3bIPF

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2MAZAxp

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2lekcz7

Amazon MX: https://amzn.to/2MBTehg

SYNOPSIS

They met under summer showers …

Vera Markovic only wanted a vacation away from New York where everyone knows her as a Russian Mafiya printsessa of the Markovic Bratva. She didn’t expect to find something worth remembering. And definitely not a man like Alfie Shelby.

They fell in love when the leaves changed colors …

As New York City’s notorious fixer, Alfie Shelby always gets what he wants—and when he sets his eyes on Vera, he’ll do anything to keep her … even if she’s not sure she wants to be kept.

And they nearly lost it all when the snow started to fall …

She wants nothing to do with a gangster.
A life of crime is all he knows.
But neither can deny what they have, even when forces beyond their control try to keep them apart.

Excerpt:

Venturing down the hallway until she found the vacant office he had stepped out of, Vera walked inside and whirled around to lay into him, but the door had barely closed behind him before he was crossing the room to her, tugging her forward into his embrace by the nape of her neck and slanted his mouth over hers.

A moment of resistance was all she could manage before she was kissing him back, forgetting all about the reasons why she shouldn’t.

How could she not kiss him? How could she not get swept up in the intoxicating promise his lips offered?

No one had ever kissed her the way Alfie did—as if he were starving and her mouth was the only thing that would satisfy him.

He made her forget just that easily why she had brought him back here at all, but reality settled back in quickly when something crashed outside the room door, making her jolt and push him away, trying to get her bearings.

“Can’t say I didn’t miss that, love,” he said with a smile that made her heart race.

It was just so blatantly arrogant.

But as easy as it was to get lost in him, she wasn’t going to bend that easily. “You could have said this was your restaurant.”

He made a low noise in the back of his throat, his expression growing serious. “Would you have come if I did?”

Maybe. “Why wouldn’t I?”

He shrugged, resting both hands on top of the cane she was only just now noticing he held. “You’re here now, and that’s what I wanted.”

“I can’t work for you,” she said quickly, remembering why they were both here.

“Why not?”

“I don’t take on clients I’ve slept with.”

It muddied the waters.

Vera had always been very careful to keep a distinct line between her business life and her personal one—and not just because of her family’s connections.

“That should make it easier, shouldn’t it?” Alfie asked. “You, more than anyone, know what I like.”

He would not make her blush. “That has nothing to do with this.”

“What’s so different?”

“Alfie—”

Before she could get another word out, he was kissing her again. His tongue stroking over hers, his gloved hands tangled in her hair. And for a moment—one sweet, electrifying moment—she got swept up in it with him, kissing him back for all she was worth, clutching his shirt to keep him exactly where he was.

This time, it was Alfie that stopped the kiss. “I’ve missed that fucking mouth of yours, Vera. I have.”

He was far too addictive. “Why didn’t you tell me you lived here?”

“It wasn’t important.”

“Yet, you’re here now hiring me for what?”

“Now it’s important.”

He was impossible. “You asked me here, Alfie, what do you want?”

“Beyond getting this place ready for the soft opening in a couple months?” Alfie asked with a cock of his brow. “I thought we could pick up where we left off.”

“Alfie …”

“Oh, don’t say it wasn’t good between us,” he said with a tit of his head.

No, she couldn’t say that at all. She couldn’t even bring herself to entertain the thought. Even if they had only spent less than three days in each other’s presence, it had still been the most amazing three days of her life.

“That’s not the point.”

“No? Enlighten me.”

“I can’t work for you and sleep with you.”

His expression changed so quickly, she almost laughed. “Why the hell not?”

“Because I don’t mix business and pleasure. So, if you want me to work for you, then that’s all it’s going to be. Work.”

He looked as if the last thing he wanted was to agree, but eventually he said, “Fine.”

“Glad we understand each other.”

Alfie leaned in close to her, resting one hand on each side of her hips. “But after … you’re mine.”

“You’re awfully confident.”

“As if I don’t have a reason to be, but don’t worry,” he said, tracing the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’ll keep my hands to myself … unless you ask for it.”

“Not going to happen.” Again.

“Come now, love. Let’s not say things we don’t mean.”

Arrogant and infuriating. Of course the first man that had interested her in years had to be a combination of the two. “If we’re going to do this—”

“We are,” he said cutting her off.

“If we are, then there needs to be some sort of ground rules.”

His smile was placating. “Right, let’s hear them.”

“No kissing me.”

“Unless you ask.”

“Alfie …”

“You have a lovely mouth, Vera. What kind of man would I be to deny myself?”

Moving on. “And no attempting to seduce me.”

He scoffed. “During working hours.”

Vera threw her hands up, realizing that there was no way she would win in this argument against him. “What’s the point of the rules if you’re just going to ignore them.”

“I hear you quite fine, love. Quite fine. I’m even willing to play this little game of yours because I know how it’ll end.”

She knew better than to ask—knew even that whatever he was going to say, she wasn’t going to like—but she couldn’t help herself. “How’s that?”

“In my bed.”

“I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Have you thought about it?” he asked out of the blue, catching her off guard.

“Thought about what?”

“Punta de Mita.”

Her cheeks bloomed with heat as she thought of that last night they shared together. “Sparingly.”

His smile said he didn’t believe her. “I think about it often because once wasn’t nearly enough.”

“We’re going to keep this professional, Alfie. That’s the only way this can work.”

“And when you beg for it, know that I’m going to give you exactly what your eyes are asking for right now.”

The smart decision would have been to end it there, to just tell him she couldn’t work for him and walk away. She didn’t believe, mostly, that he would try to stop her, but the rational side of her seemed to turn off where Alfie was concerned.

So instead of walking away, she knew she would take the job.

Consequences be damned.

ABOUT LONDON MILLER

With a degree in Creative Writing, London Miller has turned pen to paper, creating riveting fictional worlds where the bad guys are sometimes the good guys. Her debut novel, In theBeginning, is the first in the Volkov Bratva Series.

She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two puppies, where she drinks far too much Sprite, and spends her nights writing.

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ARC: Liam – Stephanie St. Klaire Book Review (Brother’s Keeper #2) + Excerpt

February 24, 2018thegoldenbookshelves Leave a comment

Review

I had high hopes for Brother’s Keeper II: Liam and in the end, not all of them were met.

When I first read the synopsis for Liam, I was drawn to the idea behind it. It seemed edgy, mysterious, suspenseful and full of action with a great romance. When I started reading it, I was a bit disappointed to see that I wasn’t as interested or as captivated by the story as I was hoping I would be. Instead, the book ended up getting a bit boring at times, to the point where I even found myself wanting to skim through. It was also kind of repetitive, overly descriptive and didn’t have enough going one. I did like the premise of the story and the characters were alright. The authors writing itself was also okay but I think the execution of this book fell short for me.

Brother’s Keeper II: Liam had so much potential in my eyes and I kept reading it in hopes of it gripping my attention at some point but it never really did.

A lot of things in this book didn’t hit the mark more me. First, the way it was written was a problem. There were many points in this book where I found myself getting bored. The story would drag a bit and honestly for the first time in a while, I found myself wanting to skim through chapters. It was like nothing was happening, it just wasn’t interesting. There were also times when it would get repetitive. In fact, most of the action scenes were the same just tweaked to make them seem different. After a while, I was just fed up. I think another thing that added to my loss of interest was the over-explaining. There were some chapters that had hardly any dialogue and it was just them explaining situations or tech stuff and like with the action scenes after a while I had enough. I also think there could’ve been more suspense. There was this looming dangerous mystery, which wasn’t all that mysterious, and the suspense just didn’t hold up. Then there was the romance which was not developed at all. I honestly didn’t even feel much of a connection between Felicity and Liam it was just: bang they’re not together, bang they are. Well okay, but where is the depth. It was a romance I couldn’t buy into for that reason.

As for the things I did like, there were a couple. For starters, the authors writing wasn’t bad. It was easy to follow and had the execution of the book been better and more developed, I could’ve loved her writing. I also didn’t think the characters were half bad. They were funny, badass and pretty cool. I was actually interested in each of them and getting to know who they were. If their books have more development I think I wouldn’t mind reading them. And finally, the idea behind the story was great, so brownie points for that. I was very impressed with the premise but like I keep saying, more development and it could’ve been perfect.

Brother’s Keeper II: Liam was not my favorite book, but it had its strengths.

As I said, I wasn’t a huge fan of this book because of the lack of intrigue, the dragginess, the underdeveloped characters and romance and the repetitive, overly descriptive quality of the writing. I did think the characters weren’t too bad, nor was the authors writing in general. I also thought the plot of the story itself was interesting. I think if the book as a whole would’ve been more developed on every front it could’ve been great. The execution just wasn’t the best. I’m giving Brother’s Keeper II: Liam a 3 stars and would recommend it to fans of romantic suspense.

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

BROTHER’S KEEPER II: LIAM by Stephanie St. Klaire just released and for a VERY limited time, you can grab it for just $1.99!

Amazon: http://bit.ly/BrothersKeeperLIAM

iBooks: https://apple.co/2CqdmwH

BN: http://bit.ly/2CpyMdz

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2CoUGNW

Join Stephanie’s newsletter for exclusive details about that book: www.stephaniestklaire.com/newsletter

BLURB:

Running blind, and hiding in plain sight may be your only option, when your villain isn’t just behind you but all around you. When a past Felicity Nichols thought was dead and buried threatens everyone she loves, that’s exactly what she encounters. There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide because her villain can follow her anywhere.

Liam O’Reilly is as loyal and protective as they come. When Felicity falls victim to a cyber stalker who wants something she has, he will stop at nothing to protect her and his family from the danger threatening them at every turn. Technology may make life easier for some, but it’s the smoking gun that can end it all for others.

Power, and money will never be enough – it will only get you so far. The power struggle threatens to turn deadly when Liam meets his match, behind the computer screen, in a race of wills against time.

Can Liam overcome his own past, or will it cost him another broken heart and shattered soul. Can Felicity be the light in his darkness and reveal that love is the most dangerous weapon of all?

Will Liam and Brother’s Keeper Security be able to bring a faceless predator to justice? Or, will Liam lose more than just a second chance at love? One thing is certain… sometimes you have to break the rules to protect what you love.

Purchase the previous book in the series BROTHER’S KEEPER I: DECLAN

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2CyoH1J

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1316795997

Nook: http://bit.ly/2lPDz2k

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lS8jyZ

————-

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Stephanie St. Klaire debuted in 2016, launching her writing career with Rescued, the first book in the widely popular, five book series known as McKenzie Ridge. Stephanie is a Pacific Northwest native currently living in Oregon with her husband, five children, and two ferocious lap dogs.

As a writer, Stephanie brings realistic circumstances to the pages, and fills them with real emotion, reactions, and outcomes. Her characters are passionate, have bold personalities, and full of life. She writes happily ever after’s, with plenty of twists, turns, drama, and of course, steamy romance.

Stephanie has always been a story teller, with the gift of “gab”, and a life-long goal to be a writer. Unfortunate circumstances with her health, finally afforded her the time to do so. Irony at its best, she began writing her first novel at an adverse time, to escape her circumstance and explore the stories in her imagination for relief. She is happy to share those stories with her readers, and bring a little fun, entertainment, and of course smexy characters to the pages.

Follow Stephanie St. Klaire on Social media to learn more about her, and to keep up with her work.

Website: www.stephaniestklaire.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephstklaire/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SSKKrew

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephStKlaire

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephstklaire/

Newsletter: www.stephaniestklaire.com/newsletter

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/stephstklaire

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mBdpAz

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/stephanie-st-klaire

Excerpt

“So, this is a game of who can out technology the other now?” Dace asked with a chuckle.

“Exactly. He gave us a trail. We just need to find it in all of this,” Liam added, his fingers already tapping away. “There’s always a trail.’

“What ever happened to the bad guy just chasing us with a gun?” Luke asked, his tone laced in sarcasm but his question real.

“This is a new kind of manhunt, boys, like hunting someone who isn’t there,” Liam answered. “Technology can make you believe anything and everything then hide it all in an instant, like chasing a ghost. It’s now our greatest enemy while also our greatest tool. It’s how we are going to resolve this as much as it will threaten us.”

“So, get on that interweb thing of yours, Liam, and surf it or whatever. Find him – beat him. Case closed, brother.” Luke ended with a booming team Liam clap of his hands.

“I will, and it’s innerweb.” Liam smiled, focused on his wall of screens. “I just need to find the first needle in the fucking haystack that is layers and layers of coding and programming.”

“Ummm.” Felicity turned from her computer, interrupting the silence surrounding them. “I already may have found that needle you’re looking for. Well, found help anyway.”

Liam stopped what he was doing and listened. All they needed was a small break. “Okay? And?”

“He’s an old…friend. He’s actually how I got hooked up with Wells and ultimately met Dunham,” she explained. “I can’t reach him though. He’s off the grid. But I think I know where he is.”

Liam jumped to his feet and hung his cardigan sweater, swapping it for a jacket.

“Hold on, he needs to do his Mr. Rogers thing and hang the sweater. Are you going to change your shoes too?” Wylie teased. Liam was often the butt of many harassing jokes because he was the quieter brother with all of the fun quirks to pick at.

He flipped his brother off before turning to Felicity. “Let’s go.”

~Veronica

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BROTHER’S KEEPER II: LIAM Release Day Blitz

February 22, 2018thegoldenbookshelves Leave a comment

IT’S LIVE!!! BROTHER’S KEEPER II: LIAM by Stephanie St. Klaire just went live. Get it while it’s just $1.99! VERY limited time sale!

Amazon: http://bit.ly/BrothersKeeperLIAM

iBooks: https://apple.co/2CqdmwH

BN: http://bit.ly/2CpyMdz

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2CoUGNW

BLURB:

Can Liam overcome his own past, or will it cost him another broken heart and shattered soul. Can Felicity be the light in his darkness and reveal that love is the most dangerous weapon of all?

Liam-Teaser1

Purchase the previous book in the series BROTHER’S KEEPER I: DECLAN

Amazon:http://amzn.to/2CyoH1J

iBooks:https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1316795997

Nook:http://bit.ly/2lPDz2k

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lS8jyZ

————-

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Follow Stephanie St. Klaire on Social media to learn more about her, and to keep up with her work.

Website: www.stephaniestklaire.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephstklaire/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SSKKrew

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephStKlaire

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephstklaire/

Newsletter: www.stephaniestklaire.com/newsletter

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/stephstklaire

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mBdpAz

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/stephanie-st-klaire

BK2 countdown (4)

~Veronica

Find me on social media:

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BROTHER’S KEEPER II: LIAM – Stephanie St. Klaire Teaser Reveal

February 15, 2018thegoldenbookshelves Leave a comment

BROTHER’S KEEPER II: LIAM by Stephanie St. Klaire releases Feb. 22!

Pre-order it here: http://bit.ly/BrothersKeeperLIAM

Join Stephanie’s newsletter for exclusive details about that book: www.stephaniestklaire.com/newsletter

BLURB:

Can Liam overcome his own past, or will it cost him another broken heart and shattered soul. Can Felicity be the light in his darkness and reveal that love is the most dangerous weapon of all?

Purchase the previous book in the series BROTHER’S KEEPER I: DECLAN

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2CyoH1J

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1316795997

Nook: http://bit.ly/2lPDz2k

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lS8jyZ

Author Information

Follow Stephanie St. Klaire on Social media to learn more about her, and to keep up with her work.

Website: www.stephaniestklaire.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephstklaire/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SSKKrew

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephStKlaire

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephstklaire/

Newsletter: www.stephaniestklaire.com/newsletter

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/stephstklaire

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mBdpAz

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/stephanie-st-klaire

~Veronica

Find me on social media:

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ARC: The Elder – Celia Aaron Book Review

February 7, 2018thegoldenbookshelves Leave a comment

RELEASE BLITZ

Title: The Elder
Author: Celia Aaron
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 6, 2018

BLURB

A shocking murder.
A suspicious son.
A dedicated detective.
In Azalea, Mississippi, the only thing hotter than the summer days are the men of the King family. When the patriarch Randall King is found dead, Detective Arabella Matthews will race the clock to stop the killer from striking again. Benton, the eldest of the King siblings, has to decide if he wants to cooperate with the feisty detective or conduct his own investigation. The more he finds out about his father—and the closer he gets to Arabella—the more he wants to keep her safe. But the killer has different plans . . .

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37883877-the-elder

PURCHASE LINKS – 99c for a limited time

US: http://1click.bz/TheElderAMZNUS
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AU: http://1click.bz/TheElderAMZNAU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

AUTHOR BIO

Celia Aaron is a recovering attorney who loves romance and erotic fiction. Dark to light, angsty to funny, real to fantasy—if it’s hot and strikes her fancy, she writes it. Thanks for reading.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://www.celiaaaron.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorceliaaaron
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CeliaAaron_
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Celia-Aaron/e/B0129AR52O
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14178108.Celia_Aaron
Newsletter: http://www.celiaaaron.com/newsletter.html

Review

I fell in love with Celia Aarons writing when I read Dark Protector at the end of 2017. Her writing was so captivating and exhilarating and the romance between her characters was awesome. When I had the opportunity to receive an ARC of her newest release, The Elder, I was very excited to dive in.

The Elder is a murder mystery, whodunnit type book with plenty of suspense, a good amount of action and a great romance. Arabella and Benton were great characters and their slow-burning romance was beautiful to follow and was definitely hot. I loved them together and how they grew to like each other and care for each other while doing their detective work. The suspense/action elements were perfect and really helped add to the mysterious side of the story. The writing was just as amazing as in Dark Protector which I loved, but it took me a little longer to get into and was a bit predictable at times. Despite that, I still really did enjoy this book and it further proved why Celia Aaron is a fantastic author and that everyone needs to read her books. I’m giving the Elder 4 stars and would recommend it to fans of mystery/romance!

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

~Veronica

Find me on social media:

FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM – GOODREADS – TWITTER

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