OUR PICKS THIS WEEK
🎭 Crossed Lines by Lana Sky
⚖️ The Real Devil; Journal One by Stacie Santoro
🎲 Master of Revenge by Sienna Snow
💀 Malice by Natalie Bennett
💋 Immortal Promise by Kim Loraine
🤖 Loving L.O.G.A.N. by Breanna Hayse
WANT MORE ➡
Crossed Lines by Lana SkySpeechless!
Quite possibly my favorite of her works to date.
I am a big fan of Sky's writing and as such,
I went into this with expectations
- Shattered-
Preconceived notions of how this would play out
- Shattered-
Nothing was what it seemed.
This was not her usual fare by any means in some ways it was so much more.
I have to be careful here - the slightest slip could spoil the contents.
Unlike her previous works, this isn't physically dark.
It is, however, a slow build story, not a romance really, more of a tale of self-discovery?
No that isn't right either.
Reading Crossed Lines was a bit like riding a roller coaster. The slow build of the story line was like the clicking and clacking of the coaster while on it's way to the top - a false sense of knowing what lied ahead. I was so ignorant of what truly waited for me just a few clicks away.
Once the story peeked I couldn't put it down -trapped in the pages - my lungs fighting to breathe - then slowly the rhythmic click followed by the clack returned and with it my breath. I relaxed believing that the worst was over.
It wasn't.
"He made me feel seen. Heard. Wanted. Alive." - Maryanne
Such a conniving spoiled brat. Always seeking attention. Spinning tails. Sputtering lies.
"He'd be lying if he claimed not to. But you needed him, and he didn't know how to be that for you. What you needed. " - Thorny
The quiet professor. The washed-up writer. The worn-down husband.
I do hope we get more of Maryanne's story. I have a feeling it is not over for her and Thorny
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The Real Devil; Journal One by Stacie SantoroWhat a smashing debut!
Stacie Santoro has just taken everything we know about heaven and He ll - Angels and the Fallen - and smashed it to bits
Vahla is Luces older sister and the CEO of He ll. Yes, you heard me correct seems old Lucifer may be the first fallen but he is definitely not the one in charge of things and from his behavior rightly so.
Mother Nature is having a bit of a snit and it throwing off the balance. Upper management believes Luce is the cause is looking to correct the problem. It has to be his fault right? After all, he is the devil.
But how do you fight mother nature?
And how do you wrangle in a bad-tempered, hurting and angry little bro?
Why with a little sleight of hand and a whole lot of finger crossing.
Let me start with the world-building -
This is one of the most refreshing universes I have had the pleasure of delving into.
The way Santoro threw so much grey into what normally has a very distinct "do not cross" line just made this all that more interesting.
Everything you thought you knew is about to be tossed out and redefined.
Vahla
There is a lot more to this fiery woman than we originally see and wait till you find out how she got her position and what it is she really does. Despite running He ll Vahla is more of a peacekeeper. I know threw me a bit as well. She will sacrifice herself without thought and challenge the norm to ensure that the innocent are protected and the guilty pay.
Lucifer
Slob. Gardner. Man wh. ore. Protector. Deviant. Baby Bro.
We get to see how he got where he is but there is a lot more going on behind the scenes. Little clues are dropped here and there throughout the story giving us a piece of the puzzle but not the whole picture. We do get the jest of why he is looking to take out dear old dad and the rest of his old 'neighborhood'.
The boy has issues but thankfully he has a sis who loves him something fierce.
Wait till you meet the rest of the cast. Such an eclectic group of personalities. The way some of my favorites (Father time, Mother Nature, The Angels, and witches) are portrayed was so unique, truly never thought of them in this light.
This is not only a first in series but a debut author as well.
The long-run story line is solid and I am looking forward to the next journal. I did feel that the author tried to cram in a bit too much in this first journal (a keyword) and some of the scenes felt jumbled that is until she brought us to the end; so many pieces fell into place making me actually go back and reread the book a second time.
Looking forward to the next in this series.
I read a comp copy
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Master of Revenge by Sienna SnowFinally, we get Henna and Zack's story
These two take tension and discord to a whole new level
In the last book, Zack finally decided it was time to raise the stakes.
One night of passion ~ No rules ~No limits
Winner takes all
Is it possible to win and lose at the same time?
The women in this series have always had as much if not more power than the men when it came to the business world and with Henna it is no different. She took nothing and overnight turned it into an empire. She built the connections, She made the investments. She was the mystery behind the rumors. But even the strongest of us look for a release. Enter Zack.
Zack has an edge to him. Out of all the brothers he probably called to me the most as a reader. He is darker emotionally than his brothers. Not mean or evil just ... a pool of anger and pain that constantly drives him, the remnants of his childhood, his anger against Colin. Only one thing he craves more ~ Henna.
Henna will protect the man who has always protected her and her family. She feels she owes him.
Zack wants Henna but he can not see any way for absolution when it comes to Colin.
As the truth is unveiled and past exploits are revealed will Zack and Henna find peace between them or will the skeletons of the past destroy any chance they may have.
Gods of Vegas is a must-read series if you enjoy your romance with a touch of suspense and a bit of intrigue.
Each book is it's own story but also reveals a bit more of the whole picture. They all interconnect bringing the series main plot line together.
The cast is vivid and well written. Strong heroines and seriously yummy heroes.
I want little sis' story .. someone has a secret
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Malice by Natalie BennettAll bets are off in this bloody twisted opening act of the Dahlia Saga.
So many skeletons form the foundation that is the Dahlia house.
Walls that have witnessed the most depraved of acts -
That have stood as silent sentries to the darkness as it was set free to feed.
Morgana has always been led to believe she suffered just a touch. That her mind wasn't quite right.
She craved the escape that was found under a serrated edge.
She was functioning, she was fine - until she wasn't.
Even bloodied and broken she will find a way out of the darkness. Dead or alive she will be free.
Julian had always planned to make her his. He wasn't going to keep her, just play with her. Feed his darker needs.
Until he caught a glimpse of himself in her eyes -
A reflection of his darkness peeking from her soul.
She became his obsession.
His to hurt - to break - to love.
Together these two are toxic! Talk about adding fuel to a fire.
They both crave the darkness. While Morgana refuses to acknowledge her desires - even when they are clear as day- Julian proudly indulges his. He sets out to break her and expose her inner monster.
Will his own desires push him too far?
Can Morgana's mind hold up to the challenge?
This is Not a romance
It is a raw - unforgiving - brilliantly devious - splattered with crimson story about lust - desire and betrayal delivered in a story line that will make you question your own sanity
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Immortal Promise by Kim LoraineEntertaining steamy novella ~
Claire had my hackles up a bit with her quick to act personality in the beginning, she did finally find her footing but it took a few "oops" to get there. Since I am a bit unsure as to how she originally encountered Brandt and how she came to be where she awoke I could be judging her incorrectly (that was a mouth full) IDK. She didn't want to love because she had too so she was going to fight this misinformed misogynistic vampire till the bitter end.
Which led to some pretty entertaining moments.
Brandt seemed a bit stodgy in the beginning and upset that Claire does not awaken all "lovey-dovey " (again this is a scene where I felt like I missed something). After a session of questioning himself and one of Claire's "oops" moments, he does seem to find his footing.
I will admit I was a bit slow to connect with these two but as we got past that awkward hunger phase (lol) they sort of grow on you.
The overall story is engaging and the romance that blossoms between these two is pretty intense.
There is a bit of a suspenseful twist in the story line
And I have questions about Blackthorne...
This can be read as a standalone but I am now curious (and full of questions) about some of the secondary cast members who seemed to play significant roles in this universe.
Amazon
Loving L.O.G.A.N. by Breanna HayseA sweet futuristic love story
Kymberli was always a little different
No one understood her outburst
No one looked beyond the brat
It was easier just labeling her difficult
Lonely and in need of a friend
She created ~ LOGAN
(Lifelike, Overindulgent, Generous, Affectionate, Nurturing)
An AI who would partake in conversation, share in her theories, provide friendship, stave off the loneliness.
Most important though ~ he would provide touch, hugs ~ comfort.
He was perfect.
He was taken from her.
Years have passed, she tried normal, it never worked.
The loneliness still her ever-present companion. Seemed everyone wanted something from her, just not her the person. She had come to accept that until an act of betrayal pushes her to follow her heart and rebuild LOGAN.
My heart broke for the little girl who just needed a release.
Logan complemented Kymmi perfectly. She can probably thank the crimson oops for that (no I am not telling you have to read the story). Her oops leads to LOGAN having a bit more "self" than her original designs had allowed for. It also gave Kymmi what she truly desired. As Logan learned and adapted so did Kymmi. There are a couple of scenes that tugged pretty hard at my heartstrings.
The blend of sci-fi in this was amazingly fun. I was not sure how this would work. The pieces fell together seamlessly allowing me to easily fall into the story and kept me engaged. A whole lot of steam blended with a touch of suspense.
Amazon
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