🧐 OUR WEEK IN REVIEWS 📚 Reviews and Recommendations

💖 OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK 💖
📚  06/02/2019 📚
💷 The Red Ledger: Part 1 by Meredith Wild
🧩  XV by Lana Sky
🍭 Northern Lights: Lena by Breanna Hayse
🔥 Callum's Hell by V.F. Mason
🗡️ Scarlet Mark by Lexi C. Foss
💗 Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin


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The Red Ledger: Part 1 by Meredith Wild

Mystery - Intrigue - Suspense
This was a fast-paced read.
Once the target is in Tristan's sites their is no stopping the events that follow - good or bad - Tristan will add a name to his ledger.

I have so many questions! Anyone who follows my reviews knows how engaged I get in a strong story line and how I enjoy the emotional connection I forge with my characters. I found Tristan easy to connect with, his character was well crafted and there was just something about his aura that called to me. Okay, I may be a bit drawn to his darkness.
Isabel was a bit naive for me in the beginning, but in all honesty, she had her reasons to believe.
As for the story line - Wow
This was one of those that brought me to the edge of my seat right from the opening and kept me there.
The story quickly switches tones from suspense to intense action then to heartfelt moments of sensual exploration only to suddenly thrust us back into the action.
My poor heart never had a chance.

Tristan has no past. His life before Jay is a complete blank. Occasionally glimpses of his possible past grace his dreams but they are like water in a sieve and quickly dissipate upon awakening. He has been okay with that, it has made life easy for him. He follows his orders, collects his rewards and moves forward. No connections, no ties, no nasty emotions.
Isabel is running from her heart. Never said she was rational.
When she becomes the next name in the ledger fate intervenes. A name cried out in a moment of weakness may be the only thing that saves her life.

One carries the answers to the past the other their hope for the future.

Can one lost soul and one broken heart find the pieces to create their perfect picture?
Amazon  Kobo Nook Google


XV by Lana Sky

"The known is always better than the unknown" - Ellen

I am not sure which way is up and which is down and I'm not sure how I feel about it

This is the first in a series and Sky lays a lot of groundwork in the first half of this book. We meet some of the major players and some of the minor ones, who possibly may become major ones. A few of the possible plot-lines are presented and all kinds of dark and nasty secrets are hinted at but very few are fully revealed. Still, no idea who is on the dark side, you think I jest, at this point I honestly think the only person I trust is the one I completely loathe.
It felt like there is a lot more going on in the background and I am just missing a couple of pieces to put this all together, though I have some thoughts.
I admit this is one of the things I both love and loathe about Sky's work. She keeps me on edge throughout her twisted tales. I begin to question everyone's motives and I have found that the cruelest of deeds can actually be the kindest of mercies.
With XV I felt liked I was constantly thirsty for more, I needed answers and I only found questions!!!
The suspense is truly killing me!
Be warned this ends on a bloody big cliff hanger!

Ellen has me on the fence as to my feelings regarding her mental stability. I swear there are times I want to shake some sense of self into her. Only getting glimpses of her past bothered me as I tried to fully grasp her thoughts. I truly wish we had been given more as to Why? How?

Her brother and sister also left me questioning WTF? And Robert?

Mischa will never be redeemable as far as I'm concerned.

I need answers - I need them now

This is a graphic story - lots of blood, torture, darkness - all the gooey stuff vengeance is made of - just a heads up if this isn't your usual cup of tea you may want to skip this one.
Amazon  Kobo  Nook Google


Northern Lights: Lena by Breanna Hayse

Loved it more than candy apples!
This is not my usual genre, the few I have read have been good but not enough to draw me into the genre as a dedicated reader.
Breanna Hale's Lena from the Northern Light series has changed that.
I enjoyed the characters and the story-line flowed so smoothly making it easy to get lost in the fantasy. The cast was engaging and I look forward to reading each of their stories. We were given small glimpses into the lives of some of them which only left me wanting more of them.
I also appreciated the openness with which the Daddy Doms communicated with Lena. They provided explanations and honesty in their expectations of her and their related roles. Being somewhat of a newbie to this genre myself this gave me a better understanding of the Daddy/little roles which in turn allowed me the opportunity to have a deeper emotional connection with the characters. Something I look for in my reads.

Stefan had me from the moment he walked into the room. All the brothers really, but I think because we spent a bit more time with him the connection with this character was a little stronger. He has such an old soul feeling to his character. Lena is a bit naive but highly intelligent. Her world has always been well controlled and her life a set of rigid rules by which to adhere. Watching her grow emotionally, seeing her test her boundaries was a delight.

I would definitely recommend for those who are new or curious about this genre.
Amazon


Callum's Hell by V.F. Mason

I think I say this with each new addition to our happy little serial killer family but Callum quite possibly has stolen my heart!

Callum swore that one day he would have his revenge. Those who tormented him forgot him, left him to die, they would pay tenfold for their crimes against him.
How do I even describe Callum?
A tormented soul forever scarred physically and emotionally from the traumas of his past. Angry. Vengeful. Obsessed. Lost.
Callum for me was very multi-faceted. Unlike the others, his target was acquired through no fault of her own. She was a light that shown brightly next to his darkness. His need for her became an obsession and if there is one thing about Callum that is a given - He always gets what he wants - and he wants is his wild orchid.

Giselle is the definition of kind, sweet, forgiving and so full of light. She has been through the fires of hell and still occasionally has to douse herself in its burning embers to protect the ones she loves. When a sexy stranger offers her the chance to fulfill one of her dreams she jumps on it. Who wouldn't her family was the picture perfect example of hell on earth. I will admit as their skeletons began tumbling from the closet I was shocked as h-e-double hockey sticks! Seriously twisted surprises.

I don't want to give anything away because honestly, this is one read that will pull you to the edge of your sanity and leave you dangling with nothing but a silk thread to keep you from falling over the edge.
Amazon 


Scarlet Mark by Lexi C. Foss

I truly do not know how Foss does it.
I am a big fan of her paranormal and contemporary works, so when I found out she was going to be one of the authors participating in the Cavalieri Della Morte collection - I was ecstatic!
Her first attempt at romantic suspense in "reality" (her words, lol) was faultless.
A Five Star Read
~ The transition from mark to partner
~ The depth of the emotions between the characters, not just romantically but the overall feeling that the characters invoked from me as a reader
~ then the twists OMG. Just wait for it.
~ And the suspense. I was on the edge right from the start
I want more.
Truly, I would like more from this cast and this world.

Let's talk about the main characters.

Killian **sigh** He is one of the few Cavalieri that lives in the spotlight. He is not an unknown and he uses that to his advantage. A playboy who lives off his inheritance. No rules. There is no right or wrong in his playground. He is known for his edgy love life. One night. No emotions. No promises. Behind his love 'em and leave 'em facade is a decidedly ruthless assassin. He has never hesitated when the time came to dispense justice. He knew his marks were guilty and he was more than happy to play judge, jury, and executioner.
Until Amara.
Now he questions everything.
His rules.
Their words.
His heart.

Amara - Her life was a lie. She fought hard to reinvent her world. To escape the pain and degradation that was her life.
She forged a plan. She found freedom. He found her.

She was one wicked kick @ss heroine. She wasn't about to let go of the freedom she had tasted. I honestly do not know how she kept her chit together sometimes. I enjoyed that her personality was so relatable. She got scared, she got cocky, she fought and she hoped.

Can she prove her innocence?
Will he even believe her?

This is my favorite of the Cavalieri releases to date.
The tension and romance from this couple create an off the charts chemical reaction.
The twists - HOLY CHIT BATMAN!~
Do not pass this one up.
Amazon


Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin

"How lucky you are that you get to fail."

The perfect small town romance. I laughed. I cried. I awww'd. I fell in love.


" You can only fail if you're living, and that's not something you should ever take for granted. "
Danielle has spent her life trying to find herself. Manipulating her world to fit the mold so carefully cast for her. It never seemed enough, each attempt always felt like another notch in a long line of fails.

Logan knew from that first moment, he also knew that some things were worth waiting for, worth savoring. Worth the time to get it right. I must say if he definitely took his sweet time.

Sometimes fate needs to lend a hand and for Logan and Danielle, it just took a bit of mud and a couple of strangers.

I loved how this played out. The supporting cast brings so much to the table. From the pain in the backside siblings to the over demanding parents. Even the perfect grandpa.
A full on feels good read
Amazon

#MeredithWild #LanaSky #BreannaHayse
#VFMason #LexiCFoss #EmilyGoodwin
#suspense #romance #darkromance #kidnapthriller
#ageplay #erotica #AP #thriller #billionaire #gothic
#newadult #familylife #serialkiller
#bookreview #bookrecommendation #TBR #KU