Savage Collision: A Hawke Family Novel by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Colleen Noyes

Savage Collision: A Hawke Family Novel (The Hawke Family Book 1)Savage Collision: A Hawke Family Novel by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Savage Collision by Gwyn McNamee is an incredible mix of romance, love, lust, heat, and just the right amount of suspense to keep it interesting. It’s a story about two people who each have their own struggles, hang ups, and walls coming together in the most unexpected way.

Savage Hawke is a man’s man, good looking, powerful, successful and sexy. He exudes all the power you would want in a partner, rough around the edges but a natural born protector.

Danika is the type of woman who walks into a room and commands the attention of everyone there. A woman who puts up with nothing and let’s you know she’s in charge. She has a confidence about her that make the women jealous and the men pant. A woman who will give you a run for your money in the control department.

When their worlds collide in the most unexpected way it takes your breath away. As you read this story you can feel the tension in the room every time they are together. You feel the disgust, the passion, the lust, the heat, the anger. Savage runs a very unsavory business and Danika can’t wrap her head around it. She immediately jumps to the conclusion that he is a disgusting example of a human being. However, you know what they say about don’t judge a book by its cover.

Danika has a job of her own that is becoming increasingly dangerous and she will soon discover just how dangerous. Each of these characters have a past that has built them into who they are now. There are secrets, tragedies, family dynamics, friends, enemies and so much more. This book will take you on a full range of emotions from laughter, to tears, from heat, to ice, from hatred, to love. It will make you stop and think about so many aspects, about what you can give, what you can accept, the true meaning about what love is and isn’t about.

The author did a perfect job of adding more than one layer to the story. She has begun to build a foundation for the secondary characters and you can’t wait to see where they go and if they will show up in future books. I hope this will be the first in a very long line of books with these characters.

Review by @colleennoyes

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Promises of Virtue (Earthbound Angels Book 2) by Randi Perrin – Review by Jana Teppih

Promises of Virtue (Earthbound Angels Book 2)Promises of Virtue by Randi Perrin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Promises of Virtue is the second book of the series of Earthbound Angels and Ms Perrin did not let me down! I got fascinated by Cheryl in the first book and I was curious what Ms Perrin had in mind for her …
This story of a fallen angel in Paris, meeting another Earthbound angel who is stalked by Darkness, and then hey, there is this other American with a little orphaned daughter that is somehow connected to the French angel … what do you think will happen? Anything can happen and will … The twist and turns are mind boggling, the art, the food, the chemistry, the steam … olalla … I wonder if I could say ‘What happens in Paris …. needs to happen again!”
Ms Perrin words transport us where she wants us to go and we simply go along on a ride of a life time! Along Cheryl and Luc’s story, we also get a tour of Paris and insight into Monet.
I finished the book the day I got it and now I am in withdrawal … I hope the next Earthbound Angels story will come soon and will be even better. Ms Perrin keeps lifting the bar on herself!
You can read the book as a standalone I guess but I would never recommend you to do so, you would be missing out on so much so please, read Virtue of Death before you tackle Promised of Virtue, you will not regret it!

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Enigma: The Final Chapter (Enigma #4) by Shandi Boyes – Review by Jana Teppih

Enigma: The Final Chapter (Enigma #4)Enigma: The Final Chapter by Shandi Boyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enigma: The Final Chapter Isaac’s Story Book 4 by Shandi Boyes is the fourth book of the Series and definitely not a standalone. As the title says, it is the final chapter of Isaac’s story but it is not the last book, there will be more! Hugo will get his book and Hunter’s book is next so I am sure or more like I hope, we will hear more about Izzie and Isaac and Callie…
I have loved every book of Isaac’s Story and I have to admit, it has gotten better with every installment. At times I thought I had figured it all out and then… a total twist, there was actually nothing that I had figured out and that made the ending even sweeter!
In the final chapter we really find out if the love and trust between Isaac and Izzie will stand in the face of their greatest challenge so far … We will see how far Izzie will go to protect Isaac and how she will face her greatest fear.
I highly recommend the series to everyone! You will have many enjoyable hours ahead of you!

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Two Hearts Surrendered (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance, #1) by Tamara Ferguson – Review by Jana Teppih

Two Hearts Surrendered (Two Hearts Wounded Warrior Romance, #1)Two Hearts Surrendered by Tamara Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Two Hearts Surrendered by Tamara Ferguson is the first novella in her Two Hearts Wounded Warrior series which seems to be a spin-off her Takes of the Dragonfly series. You can totally read it as a standalone but if you fall in love with this book like I did, you will want to read the other stories in the series and you want to know more about the people you meet at the Dragonfly Pointe in Crystal Rock.
It is a military romance as you can guess from the title of the series. I have read quite a few books that deal with the challenges that the returning soldiers face. I am humbled by the way how Tamara Ferguson is able to convey it to us with her writing.
The story is obviously fictional but filled so much with the real live challenges that the return vets face that it could easily be based on a true story. It is a beautifully written story that you cannot put down, I cried and I laughed and I cried some more … it is so overwhelming, the pain and the love and the understanding and the support …
For me, the underlying lesson to take away is that it does not matter how much you have suffered and how tragic your life is, if there is someone who is willing to stick by you and has unconditional and bottomless care and love for you, do not push them away … there is a blessing in there and an opportunity to be happy.
I invite you to take the time and spend some hours with Luke and Kelly, you will not regret it!

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Ascenders: High School for the Recently Departed (Ascenders Saga Book 1) by C.L. Gaber – Review by Jana Teppih

High School for the Recently Departed (Ascenders #1)High School for the Recently Departed by C.L. Gaber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ascenders by CL Gaber is a young adult paranormal book where the author gives us an imaginative and creative look into afterlife. She has created a whole new world for us and this is just the first step/book. It is the world between life and the afterlife where the children and teenagers and young adults end up when they die and you are not ‘eligible’ to go up or down.
I loved the writing, it felt as if you were sitting in the movies and there was this amazing 3D blowing your mind away story unfolding in front of you and you just have to hold on for the ride!
The story pulled me in from the beginning, it was crazy to follow Walker in her ‘new’ reality where she was the only one who did not know yet that she was dead. I have to admit, I cried a lot when I read the book, I also laughed a lot … and I never really experienced the high school in the way it is generally portrayed in the books and movies so it was fun to read how the author conformed to the ‘high school stereotype’ but made it so fun that you could laugh your pants off.
I loved the dynamics and intimacy between Walker and Daniel, the compassion both of them inspire in us, we keep our fingers crossed until the last page and I have to say that I jumped straight into the second book when I was done with the first one, you just cannot let go of the story as you want to know … what will be the punishment, what will be next…
And then there were the side characters, oh my… it was really cool to make connection to the famous people who we know from the history and who turn up as teachers or guest lecturers at the Academy aka the high school, as the title says!
Put aside some time and enjoy it! You will not regret it!

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Eve of the Exceptionals: A YA Epic Fantasy by Parker Sinclair – Review by Erica Fish

Eve of the Exceptionals: A YA Epic FantasyEve of the Exceptionals: A YA Epic Fantasy by Parker Sinclair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eve of the Exceptionals by Parker Sinclair is my first book by this author. It is a quick read, but on the other hand if you do not pay attention you may miss a lot of symbolisms in the book.

From the beginning of the story, Gem and Prince Ryzyn were special to one another. They just did not know it at the time. Gem was sent after the Heart of Cyan and she did not realize that is what she was supposed to get from the castle. Gem had her hands on it but to make her escape she left it behind with Prince Ryzyn. She knew that she would be seeing the Prince and the Heart of Cyan again.

This story takes you on a roller coaster ride. There are magical beasts, good magic and evil magic. There is a love story in the background between Gem and Prince Ryzyn. If you miss one line the story will not have the same meaning. Magical forces keep moving towards the Heart of Cyan but only one can master the power, and so they thought.

The phrase “Be Swift Be True” will have a new meaning after you finish this story. I cannot wait to read more by Parker Sinclair.

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Breaking Braydon (Breaking and Taking #1) by M.K. Harkins – Review by Jenni Bishop

Breaking Braydon (Breaking and Taking #1)Breaking Braydon by M.K. Harkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jain Parker has devoted her life to research to find a cure for ALS. A disease that took her mother from her life. She has also spent her life hiding the real her just to be taken seriously and to hide her true self from men.

Now the research facility, Bastian Research, that she is employed at now find themselves out of funds to keep it open. Deciding they need help with finding funding they turn to a venture capitalist company. Braydon Decker who has spent his life building his company has no desire to have a normal relationship with a woman. He takes what he needs and kicks them out after being traumatised at school. After looking over Bastian Research proposal, Braydon decides they just do not have the time to help them out. When the Bastian Research team Martin, Jain and Colin go to meet with Braydon and his right hand man Todd, no one expected sparks to fly, least of all Braydon. Will Braydon change his mind and help out the team or will he stick to his guns? Can Jain overcome all her insecurities and a secret she has keep silent about for years?

All these questions and more are answered in this great story. M K Harkins is a very talented writer. Do yourself a favour and read this book you will not be disappointed.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Enigma: The Mystery Unmasked (Enigma #3) by Shandi Boyes – Review by Jana Teppih

Enigma: The Mystery Unmasked (Enigma #3)Enigma: The Mystery Unmasked by Shandi Boyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enigma: The Mystery Unmasked by Shandi Boyes is book three of a four book Series. I do NOT recommend to read it as a standalone! You will lose out on so much!
I read this book in one setting and luckily I had the last book of the series as well already so I did not need to suffer an Enigma hangover and could continue to the last book of Isaac and Isabelle’s story.
There is something about the way Shandi writes, any time I think that it cannot get any better, it does… she creates these powerful pictures and stories with her words, you get sucked into the mystery and questions and heartache along with the characters. You question your sanity and ask yourself what would I do in this situation. You lament and laugh and keep your fingers crossed. You get angry with Izzie and feel like shaking her and when the book is over, you find yourself reaching for the next book as how can one stay angry with Izzie, really?
What is also great about this third book is that you Shandi starts getting more into the secondary characters as well, we learn more about Hunter and Hugo and Reagan … it all fits into storyline so it is not forced.
I recommend that you take a whole weekend for this book and have the fourth book at hand, otherwise the story will haunt your dreams and you will be distracted at work!

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Gravity by Lauren Runow – Review by Jenni Bishop

GravityGravity by Lauren Runow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When 8 year old Lily moves into her new house she meets Trevin. They become the best of friends and inseparable day and night. Trevins life is baseball, music, his mum and Lily. After leaving a baseball game there is a car accident that changes Trevins life forever. For Trevins 18th birthday Lily signs him up for an audition for Sony Records. A week after auditioning Trevin gets the call that starts his dream and gets him away from the home life he hates. Six months later and Lily goes to visit Trevin only to find he has changed and not for the better. Unable to bear what he has become she walks away. He is unable to not have her in his life and vows to prove to her that he should be with her.

After many ups and downs Lily moves in with Trevin but only as friends. After time they realise they should be together but Lily starts to become someone she neither knows or likes and feels the only way to fix it is to walk away to find herself. Is Lily able to find herself and let Trevin back into her life? Will Trevin be able to prove he is able to have the 2 loves of his life, Lily and music?

I loved this story. It is refreshing change from the normal love stories out there. I was with the characters every step of the way through love and heartbreak. Well done Lauren you have done a great job.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Juniper Smoke by Sadia Ash – Review by Jenni Bishop

Juniper SmokeJuniper Smoke by Sadia Ash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Juniper Mills’s life is working at a job she loves in a museum, her autistic twin brother and her best friend. Her mother and an incident at school has lead her to believe the worst in men and has stopped her from having a relationship. Kyle Paxton’s life is his business. He comes from a family that is wealthy but full of hate with no love. His father has been divorced 6 times. He has a system he has lived by for years as he is unable to form loving relationships, due to the horrible loss of his ex girlfriend Chloe. One night at a fundraising event at the museum Kyle comes to Juniper’s rescue and they find they are enthralled with each other. Juniper thinking Kyle is a server and belongs on the kitchen is blown away and can’t believe she treated him the way she did when she finds out who he is.

Kyle decides he has to have this sassy, bold, intellectual woman as his Summer with an expiration date but Juniper wants to be more. As a relationship evolves Kyle realises that his system is no longer working but Juniper realises that in the end his system is all they will have. Kyles brother Royce is trying to become a senator and his fiancee, Denise, is set upon destroying Kyles life. Denise has set her sights on Juniper and takes great pleasure in spilling all Kyles secrets. Is their belief in each other enough to hold them together or will all the secrets tear them apart forever?

Wow I love this story. At times I wanted to slap some sense into both Kyle and Juniper and tear apart some of the others. I loved the way Kyle came to look at the world through Junipers eyes. This is more than just a story of a poor girl meets rich boy it is a story of self discovery, overcoming fears that have haunted them for years and opening themselves to another. I strongly recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed. I was disappointed that the next installment is not available and am waiting with baited breath for it.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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