🧐 OUR WEEK IN REVIEWS → Book reviews

OUR PICKS THIS WEEK
❣️ Redemption by Nicolina Martin
🔊 Song for Me by Lee Piper
❣️ Shame by Nicolina Martin
🧢 Stealing Home by Harlow Cole
🌌 The Breach by C M Bethell
🎯 In the Crossfire by L.P. Dover

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Redemption by Nicolina Martin

Where do I start without giving spoilers?
This is a duet so obviously, it ends with a 'to be continued'
Kerry starts as a loving carefree soul. She loves with all her heart. She has an almost infectious lust for life. After an incident leaves her concerned about little David she shares the incident and her concern with his father.
Let's just say from there it is all downhill for Kerry.
The events that follow leave behind a desperate hollow woman who acts at times on pure instinct and adrenaline. Her constant fear and vigilance have almost left her feral.
Christian did this to himself as far as I'm concerned. I feel no pity for the emotional pain ripping his soul to shreds.
There is a scene where Luciano asks him why he did it then? Seriously? (I would have decked him and I am not a violent person.)
Watching him bury his guilt with more violence and blood was a bit painful. He is what he is, he never tried to deny that but betrayal is betrayal and his was of the worst kind.
Luciano is still a self-absorbed monster whose heart is 10 times too small.
I knew eventually it would happen but I still I withdrew a bit when the moment arrived.
I have to say I Kerry was definitely a force unto herself. Her mindset didn't allow for the best of decisions but she was pretty smart in her paranoia. When it came to protecting her self and she was like a rabid little squirrel. Christian definitely got the short straw in this scenario. I am not sure how he intends to fix this problem ~ honestly, I am not sure if the damage can be repaired.
IMO this first episode was more of psychological suspense at this point than a romance. The story line takes place over a couple of years giving us the events that triggered the characters emotional states, all the hows, and whys...
The story line alternates between their POVs and the timeline jumps back and forth a bit when we switch characters. This was a bit different presentation for me at first as the story line does lapse over the POV but there is a time difference in the telling.
I do know I need the second book now... please
The copy I read was comp
Amazon  Kobo  Nook

Song for Me by Lee Piper

Drake has a lot more patience than I could ever dream of when it comes to dealing with Har.
She is dead set on self-destruction. Every time a logical situation presents itself she goes all psycho high horse independent unthinking cave-woman. 75% of the time her logic made absolutely no sense to me. If she could get it from the collector then why not Drake? How would the change anything? It was still her idea!
I wanted to shake her... okay I'm ranting
Despite the edge to Drake, he was perfect for Har. He was her anchor her rock, even when she couldn't see it. Each time she would start to drift he would slowly reel her back in and ground her. Help her see herself in a positive light. I think in a lot of ways she grounded him as well.
She saw him.
The revelation about his singing and the depth behind his vocals - Ripped my heart out.
Her uncle made me ill.
In Song for Me, their story comes full circle. Harper is forced to face her fears and take that first step, though this time she is not alone. The shattered fragments that somehow became Harper's life are pieced back together. Drake was solid when it came to being there for Har. No matter how hard she pushed or how desperately she tried to run ~
He chased ~ He believed ~ He stayed.
I am smitten with the cast from this series. Each character is written to complement their counterparts. Such a vast array of personalities and quirks make this little group feel like family.
Easy to follow story lines that captivate and hold the reader from the opening page to the closing.
There were a couple of plot related scenes I questioned~ it didn't lessen the overall story they just tickled at the back of my conscience causing me to keep asking why? But that is me.
I am looking forward to the next story in this series
This is book two in their duet so if you were waiting for the complete story you can indulge now.
Amazon

Shame by Nicolina Martin

So did not see that twist!!!

I just entered this series so everyone is a bit of an unknown for me. Despite arriving late I had no trouble following the story line.
I wasn't sure in the beginning if I was going to be able to click with Luca. He seemed a bit soft to be dreaming of playing with the big boys, but his personality was spot on for his role in Carmen's life.
Luciano is just plain psychotic. I would think after clawing his way out of he'll there would be a softer side for those who were also repressed or suffering. Nope! It actually gets his rocks off to stamp out what little spark of hope they may have left in them.
I truly doubt a man that consumed by his hatred could ever be redeemable.
Then we have Carmen our heroine. She straddles the razor's edge between hope and surrender. Her resistance is like a siren's call to Luciano's inner sickness.
This is one twisted tale
I'm not sure about the relationship between Luca and Carmen - it's a beautiful love story but as I came to the final pages I just felt like I missed something.
You ever feel like the HEA is really just an HFN and everything is about to go back arsewards? That is how this feels. Just too easy...
Be prepared - the author holds nothing back - this is a dark tale with a twisted story line.
Don't enter if you have trouble playing in the darkness
Amazon

Stealing Home: St. Michaels Duet - Book 2 by Harlow Cole

Raw - Emotional -
A breathtaking journey of loss, hope, and forgiveness that will stay with the reader long after the final page is closed.

"When you’re hurt, sometimes it’s best to dress your own wounds and clean yourself up, before you reach a hand back and help the guy who fell beside you.”

Brayden comes home while he rehabilitates his injury. His return isn't welcomed by all. For some, it only reignites memories and rekindles the betrayal. The golden boy seems to have it all. A flashy car, sexy women, more money than god. From the outside, it seems he left those he broke behind to glue themselves back together while he picked up his pieces and built the dream. But window dressing is just that ~ dressing ~ designed to trick the onlooker.

"When you feel lost, don't be afraid to wander" - Mrs. F

They couldn't go back, not really. They had to start over. To many wounds had been left untreated. Sure over the years the wounds had scarred over but none, it seemed, had truly healed.
I think in a way Ash new that, but Brayden ever stubborn still lassoing in the stars had other plans. But it seemed for every plan Brayden set in motion he was tossed a curve.
It's okay sometimes to forge a new path if the original one becomes inhibited.

"If life doesn't give you a silver lining, that doesn't mean you can't stitch your own"  ~

So many secrets. It is human nature to rerun the scenarios ~ All the what-ifs that we justify as could or should have been(s).
Our loving Ash has shouldered the guilt for years. She is all that is left standing at this time, only barley, to keep it all together. Her world is on the verge of implosion and she is desperately seeking a way to stop the inevitable. But darn if our girl still isn't stubborn as all get.
Brayden has always had a plan. He came back intending to make right all the wrongs. He may be too late.
Nathan... His world stopped that night. The laughing carefree boy we knew has become a resentful and angry young man. Angry enough to twist the truth and feed the guilt.
I hope we get Nathan's story and Matt's and...
I don't want to say goodbye
Amazon

The Breach: Book One Devon by C M Bethell

What an intense first in series!

"There is a destiny that makes us brothers. None goes his way alone, all we send into the lives of others comes back into our own. We will guard and protect each other, our people and the mortals, until our last breath."

This was the oath that Devon took centuries ago when he walked through the portal. He failed.
A breach between the two worlds has left a village all but annihilated and its inhabitants brutally slaughtered.
It has also left Devon questioning his abilities to lead the guardians.
Devon's character was, for me, easy to get attached to. His personality is laid back with a touch of humor. He is a protector, a leader, a son and a friend. He enjoys living on the edge, seeking out problems and solving them. His fellow guardians are his family as much as his blooded family.
The universe that Bethell created was such a fascinating mix of sci-fi and paranormal. The characters are animated and truly bring something unique by way of their individual personalities to the story line. The world building was detailed and graphic, easy to picture as I read.
It did take me a while to get down the who's who with regards to the cast and events. But once I did I was lost in the adventure.
Devon, Gabriel, Stefan, Ayden, and Catronia make up one group of guardians. And Robert, let us not forget the young go-getter.
Leigh .. i just wanted to stuff her head with cotton - not sure if that would stop the mindlink but one could hope.
Keira had me wanting to knock some sense into her at times. The girl is highly intelligent and truly has the strength required to lead. But as someone who has lived through a tragedy, she is wary of who to trust and takes her role as protector seriously.
The energy between her and Devon was a maelstrom of give and take. It was fun to watch as they tried to make heads or tails of the current between them.
There are so many directions this series can go I am truly excited to see what happens next.
If you are looking for a fast-paced read with lots of action and suspense. Really bad bad guys and gal (fine she was just a pain) and a touching romance - Look no further!
A must add to those who enjoy a detailed and entertaining para/sci-fi adventure.
Amazon

In the Crossfire by L.P. Dover

Layla saw something she liked and she knew just how to get it.
That woman has some serious tenacity! I have always enjoyed a smart heroine and Layla is that and so much more.
Her father and brother have always kept her somewhat 'protected', oh she knew deep down the truth of her family business but chose not to acknowledge it. When push came to shove though she wasn't about to be put on a shelf.
Claws extended she set out to get the truth and maybe a little something just for her while she was at it.
Bryce was undercover, finally, he was in a position to complete his objective. He had a plan in motion, easy in, easy out. That was until all heck broke loose. In a change of circumstances, Bryce finds himself fighting to protect the life of an innocent while simultaneously fighting his growing need for her.
These two were a perfect fit for each other. They clicked as a couple from that first moment. I really liked how Layla was the aggressor, it was fun to see the tables turned.
This was easy to follow with a solid story line that touched the edge of suspense without over the top scenes.
The chemistry between Bryce and Layla was the perfect mix of push and pull. Kept me entertained and rooting for Layla.
I read a comp copy and this was my first venture into this series. Will be reading more of it. The supporting cast is just as intriguing as well as at times a bit infuriating.
Amazon  Kobo  Nook  Google

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